It all comes down to this.
A Double Battle where the Fate of the Multiverse hangs in the balance.
Who will come out on top?
Who shall Fall?
Find out as we enter: The Final Battle
-Kid Arceus
The Final Battle: The Ketchums vs. Giovanni and Tobias (Part 1)
The battlelines had been drawn. Within the Holy Chamber, tucked away within a ball on Giovanni's belt was a beast of pure evil, fated to have a battle with Ash so that it may change his destiny. To claim the powers of Arceus for its Master. With his grey haired servant, Tobias, at his side donned in a red cloak, the villainous Giovanni planned to catch Ash by surprise in a two on one battle. He himself would be shocked to find that an additional contestant would come to the side of the Aura Guardian in an attempt to foil his plans.
Sporting the red bandana May had gifted her, tied around her thigh, Alexa popped her collar up, then held out a single Pokeball. Her brother, Ash, took the time to rub each of his wrists, which had his Grey Mega Bracelet and Black Z-Ring. If he was going to take out Giovanni, he would need to use some of his strongest moves and Pokemon in order to attain victory. But more importantly than that, he had to do whatever it took to keep him and his sister from losing on the Immortal Battlegrounds.
"Spiritomb!" Tobias shouted, throwing out the ghastly Keystone-bodied Pokemon, which soon revealed its face from within its stone.
"Swellow!" Alexa said, throwing out her ace of the skies, whose attention was soon drawn to the Unown swirling high above it.
"Lycanroc!" Ash called out, as his canine Pokemon jumped forwards, taking the field, baring its fangs with a snarl.
"Honchkrow!" Giovanni called out, throwing an Ultra Ball onto the field. Bursting from its ball, was a Honchkrow with a puffed chest, and large hat. Soaring upwards, it began an aerial chase with Alexa's Swellow. Lycanroc, was left on the ground to face off against Spiritomb: the Pokemon known for having very few weaknesses.
Giovanni stared into the green eyes of Ash's canine that was currently circling his partner's Keystone Pokemon. 'I anticipated the Venusaur first. No mention of a Lycanroc in Mewtwo's report... Ketchum must've known Mewtwo was in his thoughts and kept his true roster hidden from our peering eyes. But- this will do nicely.'
Without speaking any words on when to start, the four trainer's called out their commands to their Pokemon. First, lunging forwards was Ash's Lycanroc, who raised its front limbs high into the air, before driving them into the battlefield below. Jutting upwards from below was a powerful Stone Edge, which tore its way across the field at the opposing Spiritomb. Retreating into its solid-rock Keystone, Spiritomb was met with a jagged rock which sent it flying backwards through the air. Embedding itself into the ground, the Forbidden Pokemon revealed itself from its prison once more, letting out a menacing chuckle, firing off a Shadow Ball from its green mouth. Lycanroc gazed at the orb making its way across the field, but before it could make contact with the canine Pokemon, Swellow dove down to intercept the attack. Absorbing the Shadow Ball into its body, Swellow came out the other end receiving no damage due to its Normal typing, allowing it to posses an immunity to Ghost type moves. After this maneuver was performed, the two Ketchum siblings shared a nod.
"Honchkrow, deal with that Swellow!" Giovanni exclaimed, yelling to his crow like Pokemon. Nodding its head, the Big Boss Pokemon enveloped its body in blue flames. Rocketing forwards, Honchkrow rammed into Swellow's left wing, sending the Hoenn bird Pokemon spiraling down to the ground. Honchkrow touched down in front of Giovanni, brushing off its chest with its right wing-tip.
"Swellow! Are you okay?" Alexa called out to her Ace of the Skies, who rose back up to its two feet, keeping its injured wing tucked into its body.
'I'm alright!' The Swellow responded in a feminine voice. Attempting to push itself off the ground, the Pokemon fell forwards, skidding its chest across the ground.
"Return!" Alexa called out, calling the regional bird back to its ball. Pulling the next Pokeball off her belt, she tossed it onto the field making her first substitution. Appearing on the field, rising up from one knee was the very first Pokemon Alexa had received: her partner Lucario. Jutting its arms outwards, it formed a blue bone-staff made of Aura in each hand.
Lycanroc lunged forwards, standing next to its partner in battle. Driving its paws into the ground once more, a large Stone Edge tore its way across the field. Leaping upwards, Lucario balanced itself atop the largest stalagmite, throwing each of its staffs at the aerial Honchkrow. Flying upwards in a loop, Giovanni's Honchkrow evaded the attack, before rocketing forwards at Lucario with a Brave Bird.
'Gotcha!' Lucario thought to itself. Jutting a single palm outwards, moments before Honchkrow hit its target, Lucario fired off a Force Palm strong enough to stop the oncoming attacker. As the Dark/Flying type fell towards the ground below, Ash's Dusk Lycanroc propelled itself forward with an Accelrock, dealing the finishing move to the bird Pokemon. Honchkrow was knocked backwards, becoming the first Pokemon to faint during the battle.
"One down, four to go…" Giovanni said, returning his fainted Pokemon. "Then my victory shall be assured…"
'He's saving Mewtwo for last…' Ash said through the Aura, speaking into his sister's mind. 'I can feel it. He's trying to pick off our other Pokemon first…'
'Hey Ash, where's Spiritomb?' The teen said. Glancing onto the field, as the only Pokemon present were their own Pokemon.
"Phantom Force!" Tobias shouted, as his voice echoed throughout the golden battlefield. From high in the air, a rift with purple coloration appeared, where Spiritomb's Keystone flew out and collided with Alexa's, who had still been perched atop Lycanroc's Stone Edge. Falling towards the ground below, Lucario touched down on the ground next to Ash's Lycanroc on two feet. Hovering high above the field was the ghastly Sinnoh Pokemon, who let out a maniacal laugh giving away its position. Manifesting a purple flame in its mouth, Spiritomb soon launched a Will-O-Wisp at the Ketchum sibling's Pokemon.
"Lucario, return!" Alexa shouted, recalling her partner Pokemon.
"Lycanroc, Protect!" Ash declared.
As the Will-O-Wisp sought out its target, Ash's Lycanroc slammed its paws into the ground, which sent a protective rock spire upwards to shield itself from the status move. As for Lucario, it's body was converted to energy as it returned to its trainer's Pokeball, which allowed it to avoid getting a burn. Throwing her next ball out onto the field, the Alolan starter Torracat landed on the field.
"Nyar-nyah!" The Torracat growled as the bell around its neck ignited on fire.
'Now this takes me back…' Lycanroc thought to itself, looking at its current tag team partner, reminiscing on its time spent in Alola.
"An attempt to run and hide… you are certainly one who does not want to deal with consequence," Giovanni said to Alexa, throwing his next Ultra Ball onto the field. "Machamp, take on that mangy mutt." The four-armed Fighting type burst onto the battlefield and charged towards its opponent. With its lower set of arms, Machamp shoulder-tackled the Lycanroc. Baring its fangs and snapping its jaws, it attempted to clamp down onto Machamp's flesh as the two wrestled each other.
'Hang on Lycanroc!' Torracat called over to its ally, dashing over towards the two brawlers. Appearing from the shadow in front of it, halting the feline in its tracks, was the fearsome face of Spiritomb.
Yards behind Spiritomb, Machamp continued its Submission maneuver, using its upper set of arms to hoist a Thrashing Lycanroc into the air. "Lycanroc, use Rock Throw!"
Lycanroc let out a howl as three boulders manifested over it and Machamp's heads. Soon after, Machamp tightened the grip on the back of Lycanroc's neck. A crunching sound could be heard, causing the Pokemon to lose its concentration on its move. Each boulder landed on the ground around the two Pokemon. In an instant, Machamp drove Lycanroc's body downwards before delivering a knee to its stomach.
The muscular Machamp flexed, letting out a low growl. "Mahhh!"
"We gotta help Lycanroc!" Alexa shouted to her Pokemon. "Use Crunch!" Torracat arched its back, bared its fangs and lunged forward at the being which emanated from the Keystone. Hitting its target, Spiritomb soon retreated to the shadows below, as Torracat now had clear passage to aid its partner.
As Machamp pulled its two right arms backwards, ready to deliver a dual punch to the grounded Lycanroc, Torracat jumped and latched onto the Pokemon's shoulder with a Fire Fang. Sinking its teeth into its opponent's muscular body, the feline hung for a brief moment as the Machamp's right shoulder went up in a small explosion of flames, leaving a scorched spot on its muscle.
"Way to go Torracat! We sure taught him a thing or two!"
"Foolish child," Giovanni said, as a smile grew on his face. "The only thing you have done is invigorated my Machamp's Guts ability." As Giovanni spoke, the grey muscles on Machamp's body bulged outwards as veins began to pop out, with its pupils turning white in color. Rage and testosterone filled its body as its status condition primed it for a brawl. "Not to mention, I have never seen any issue in enhancing a Pokemon beyond its natural abilities."
"Lex!" Ash exclaimed, turning to his sister.
"Ah nuts!" The teen said, slapping her forehead.
"Use Power-Up Punch!" Giovanni yelled. His Machamp obeyed, rocketing forwards towards Torracat.
"Use Protect!" Alexa shouted.
"Stone Edge!" Ash called out.
As Machamp shot across the field it was met with several rock pillars, all of which were no match for the brutality of this Pokemon. Each shattered when met by the fists of the Kanto Fighting type. Machamp soon crashed into the protective barrier that housed Torracat, causing a few cracks to spider outwards. Having its momentum slowed, Machamp lumbered backwards as Torracat was now out in the open once again.
"Let's go! Flamethrower!" Alexa shouted.
"Bullet Punch!" Giovanni said calmly.
"Lycanroc, Accelerock!"
"Phantom Force!" Tobias exclaimed with glee.
Machamp rocketed towards Torracat with its two shiny fists on the left side jutted outwards, just as the cat Pokemon swelled its chest. Lycanroc soon launched itself forward, but before it could intercept Machamp, it was met with the troublesome Spiritomb. Machamp continued, delivering an uppercut to the stomach and chin of Torracat, causing it to spit out tiny embers. Torracat soared upwards, before landing on the ground in a heap in front of its trainer.
"Torr-" The injured feline moaned out.
"End him," Giovanni said, receiving a nod from his Machamp, who looked at the injured feline with a white glow still in its eyes.
"No! Torracat!" Alexa exclaimed, reaching for her Torracat's ball in order to return it.
Machamp advanced forwards, cracking its knuckles but was soon stopped in place by a cyclone of fire which swirled around its grounded opponent, keeping it from being touched. As the bell around its neck rang out, radiating orange with heat energy, Torracat found its footing from within the cyclone as it rose up onto its legs. Its eyes turned red in color, which shone through the wall of fire. Letting out a cry, Alexa's Torracat was cloaked in white energy as it began to grow in size, standing upright onto two legs in the process. Watching on with wide eyes, a tear rolled down Alexa's cheek as one of her dreams was coming true before her very eyes. Suddenly emerging through the flames, a bulky, clawed fist socked the Machamp with an uppercut, sending soaring across the field onto its back.
Emerging from the pillar of fire was a new, fully evolved Incineroar who cocked its head back, threw out its arms and let out a deep roar as loud as a jet engine. As it did, the flames from behind swirled around it, forming a flaming belt around its waist. After it's battle cry, the Pokemon paused for a moment, before hunching its body forwards with a menacing glare on its face. Incineroar flexed its muscles and snarled, with a new intensity to its persona. Now back on its feet, Machamp froze in place, as its hulking muscles soon reverted back to their normal size.
"What?!" Giovanni shouted as his stat booster was soon dispelled.
"That was Intimidate!" Ash exclaimed. "Incineroar's got a Hidden Ability!"
"Incineroar," Alexa said softly to herself, as she locked eyes with her newly evolved Pokemon, who gave a nod of its head, while maintaining a grimace on its face. "OH YEAHHH! LET'S BRING IT!" The teen said excitedly, as the bipedal tiger Pokemon leapt high into the air, ready to take on Giovanni's Machamp in battle.