Soon morning came, heralded by the shining light of the sun crossing over the mountain. Sunlight shone over the small clearing, stirring a particular Pokemon trainer from his slumber. Try as he might to shield his eyes from the morning sun, it was no use.. "Alright, alright, I'm up. Man, the sun's gotta be the worst alarm ever." His eyes turned to Pikachu, who slumbered beside him. "...Okay, the second worst alarm."
Ash stood, letting out a loud yawn as he stretched his arms high over his head. A short walk brought him to a creek flowing over the edge of the plateau. He knelt down, splashing a bit of water onto his olive skin. His hands dipped under briefly, soaking them in the brisk body of water. This, combined with the chilly morning air was enough to wake the trainer up completely. He turned back towards the campsite, only to find Pikachu and Sceptile rousing from their slumber as well. "Morning, guys!" The two were greeted with his signature goofy grin and responded in kind. Pikachu chimed the same message in return, and the Forest Pokemon simply gave his trainer a nod.
"Guess it's time to get started. Okay, everyone, come on out!" Ash made his way over to his backpack, grabbing four Pokeballs before tossing them forward. Pidgeot, Lapras, Charizard, and Gible appeared, each looking wide awake, ready to start the day. "Okay, we're all gonna start training now. I'm going to split you guys into pairs. Lapras and Gible, you guys work on dodging and accuracy together at the creek. Pidgeot and Charizard, I want you guys to work on your attacks and aerial maneuvers together at the front of the cave. Pikachu, Sceptile, you're coming with me!" The group nodded along, turning to their partners to get to work.
Meanwhile, Ash donned his cap, jacket, and backpack before making his way into the cave. "Sceptile, we're gonna try to work on the rocks in here and see if we can find any clues to you learning a rock type move. Sound good?" He was met with a nod, and the two stopped at a spot Ash deemed sufficient. "Now, let's go! Pikachu, use Iron Tail to knock some rocks down!" Pikachu obliged, leaping up high to strike the cave walls with a series of blows, shattering stone with his solid steel extremity. Several boulders were dislodged from the walls, falling down towards the trio of companions.
"Sceptile, just do what you did when you fought Charizrd!" Sceptile looked dubious, but was quick to comply. Hazel eyes narrowed, focusing on each of the rocks as the grass type raised his arms above his head. A faint glow began to surround him, a strange sixth sense making itself known to the Pokemon. He felt in harmony with the stones, somehow. As quick as the sensation came, though, it left and he was forced to leap out of the way of a falling rock. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted another falling towards Ash.
Before the male could even think to react, a boulder had been split in two right over his head, each half falling harmlessly to the ground. Sceptile landed with grace, the leaves on his forearm glowing brightly from the cleanly executed Leaf Blade attack.
Still recoiling from what unfolded before him, Ash shot a grateful smile to his Pokemon. "Man, that was close... Thanks a lot! Did you make any progress or figure anything out?" Sceptile paused, hesitating before turning back towards the wall of the cave. It was pummeled once more with a series of frustrated Pound attacks, dislodging several more chunks of stone. The Forest Pokemon did his best to harmonize with the chunks of rock, hoping to exert some control over them the same way he was able to with grass type moves. Unfortunately, though, he wasn't having much luck.
Many more attempts followed, leaving the cave floor littered with sliced boulders, broken up rubble, and a couple of very frustrated individuals. Letting out a sigh, Ash climbed to his feet. "Alright, this isn't going anywhere." Ash lamented, his voice weighed down in disappointment. "Guess we should head ba-"
Before the word could leave Ash's lips, the ground began to rumble, giving way violently to none other than a roaring Onix! Its eyes looked strained and tired, showing the signs of a very angry, irritated Pokemon. An earth-rattling roar followed as the rock snake lunged towards Ash, Pikachu, and Sceptile with the sort of malice that only a truly enraged Pokemon could exhibit.
Ash shouted at the top of his lungs, his heart racing at the sight of the titanic creature heading towards the trio. "Let's get outta here!" Ash turned on his heels, running for the campsite, only to feel his heart sink as the rocky leviathan's long form was blocking the path. Dark hues darted left and right, searching desperately for a sign of salvation. Lo and behold, a source of light could be seen towards the other end of the cavern. "I think I can see an exit... Let's make a break for it!"
Meanwhile, the adolescent's scream quickly alerted his other Pokemon, who gathered at the entrance to the cave. Charizard and Pidgeot hovered above, scanning the area before taking off above the cavern. Lapras took off down the creek in the same direction, with Gible riding on her back. Onix began to thrash about, slamming its head on the cave wall. The impact dislodged several more boulders, sending them down towards Ash and company.
"Look Sceptile, it's using Rock Slide!" The moment he made the observation, a rock fell painfully close to his backside, forcing him to abandon the thought and run ahead. 'No time for that, Ash. We've gotta get out of here!'
Ash and his two companions sprinted out of the remainder of the tunnel, finally coming to a halt when they entered broad daylight. The rumbling and rattling finally came to a halt, leading the trainer to believe that Onix had given up his chase. On the other end, he found all four of his remaining Pokemon surrounding the exit, having been waiting for Ash's escape. Upon finding their trainer in one piece, the four seemed to relax, relieved that he hadn't been hurt. Ash was bent over his knees, letting out an exasperated sigh now that he had the chance to rest.
"Well, what's all this commotion? I could have sworn I heard a pissed off Onix. I guess you are the cause of that, aren't ya, boy?" A deep, gravelly voice could be heard, nearly scaring the Pallet trainer out of his socks. He turned to find himself face to face with the one thing he'd never expected - another human being up in the mountains. He was a tall, burly man, sporting a white martial arts uniform. His face was creased and aged, amber eyes betraying his old appearance, full of life and energy upon first glance. He definitely appeared to be of the mountains; his beard was unshaved and hair tied back behind his head.
Ash reached to scratch the back of his neck, flashing a sheepish smile. "Eheh... Yeah, I guess I was. I was trying to figure out how to teach Sceptile here how to use a rock type move." He gestured to the grass type beside him. "But, I guess Onix didn't like all the noise..."
The older male raised a brow. "Well hittin' around rocks certainly isn't going to get you anywhere. But, still... I'm surprised to see someone your age up here. Ya gotta be awful tough to rough it out in - or to even be allowed here! Unless you snuck in?"
"Oh, no!" Ash waved his hands in front of him, quickly denying the notion. "I got permission from Professor Oak to train here. I'm trying to get stronger and learn more about battling so I can become a Pokemon Master!" Ash reached for the brim of his cap, adjusting it out of habit when he spoke of his dream. Realizing that neither had properly introduced themselves yet, Ash quickly corrected this. "Oh, and I'm Ash Ketchum. This is my partner Pikachu, and my other pokemon: Sceptile, Pidgeot, Charizard, Lapras, and Gible!" He gestured to each pokemon respectively.
"Nice to meet ya, Ash! I'm Randy, a blackbelt trainer who lives up in these here mountains. If you're looking to become a Master, then you chose a pretty good place to toughen up." He paused, studying the trainer and his teammates alike. They had flocked to his defense rather quickly, so they must have been well trained. "...Ash. What would you say to a battle? I want to see just how tough your Pokemon are!"
Ash's black hues glistened, the boy's heart already beginning to race at the thought. This guy looked like he's been up here for heck of long time. If he was able to live here among so many powerful pokemon, just imagine how strong he could be! "I accept! Ready whenever you are, Randy! I'm not gonna lie, battling someone tough as you is pretty exciting!" Ash ran a good distance to allow for a battlefield between for the two, standing in a wide stance opposite of Randy. Ash's Pokemon had scattered to the side of their makeshift arena, each eager to get in on the action. "Okay, ready when you are!"
"We'll have a three on three match," the blackbelt announced whilst raising three fingers. "I want to see what your pokemon are capable of. Now feel free to choose your first pokemon!" He held a pokeball in his palm, waiting patiently for the younger trainer, meeting him with a stern gaze that was almost unnerving in discipline.
"Right!" Ash nodded, pausing momentarily before turning to his team. "I want you guys to watch this battle, alright? We're about to go head to head with someone really strong!" The group nodded. Ash looked between each of his pokemon, soon making his first choice. "Lapras, you're up first!" Ash pointed toward the improvised battlefield, and the Transport pokemon soon made its way opposite of Randy.
"Lapras? Interesting choice for this terrain... Poliwrath! Time to battle!" A pokeball was thrown with vigor, bursting open to release the water/fighting type hybrid. "Poliwrath!" The creature chanted its name in a bellowing cry, flexing both of its arms, fists raised over its head. "You can make the first move, Ash!"
"Alright, we will! Lapras, start off with Surf and lead into Body Slam!" Before his opponent could get a handle on what he'd planned, the water type let out a high-pitched cry, conjuring a small tidal wave that swept from under his body, carrying him onto the current just above the battlefield. Soon, gravity did its job and his heavy body was falling towards Poliwrath. It and its trainer were equally stunned. Sure enough, the attack was successful. Poliwrath let out a pained grunt, struggling before pulling itself from under Lapras' body.
"I have to admit, that was a pretty odd move you just made... Not bad." Randy complimented, which left a smirk on Ash's lips.
The young trainer brushed his thumb quickly under the bridge of his nose, a bit proud of the combination himself. "Hah, thanks! But we're just getting started!"
"Don't get too cocky. It may get the better of you! Poliwrath, use Mind Reader!" Poliwrath's eyes fixated on Lapras, each emitting an eerie purple glow. Ash grit his teeth, brows furrowing at the situation he was now in.
'Now they're gonna have an easier time landing hits... I've gotta do something!' He pointed a finger forward, shouting his next command. "Lapras, use Ice Beam, back to back! Don't let it get a hit on you!"
Lapras let out a loud cry in response, charging a chilling sphere of energy in his mouth before firing it towards Poliwrath. Poliwrath made a quick leap to the side, avoiding the ray completely. Still, the assault continued, several more freezing blasts homing in on the defending water type. The fighting type ducked, jumped, and leapt from rock to rock with impressive agility, avoiding every single attack. It seemed quite nimble for such a burly Pokemon, but Ash didn't have time to be frustrated with this, as another command bellowed through the mountain air.
"Poliwrath, use Rock Slide!" Randy shouted and Poliwrath threw its arms upwards once more, conjuring a rather daunting attack. A series of boulders and rocks appeared from seemingly out of nowhere, levitating above the field before raining down towards Lapras. Needless to say, this would end very badly if Ash didn't think of something quick.
"... Lapras, use Water Pulse! Shoot all those rocks outta the sky!"
The Pokemon opened his mouth wide, firing off a pressurized sphere of water towards one of the boulders, bursting it to pieces. Another blast followed and a number of more after that shot into the air, blowing away one incoming rock after the other. Lapras exhibited excellent marksmanship, knocking every single rock out of the sky. Ash let out a sigh of relief, but said relief was short lived.
"Dynamic Punch!" A throaty yell from the martial artist caught Ash's attention, but by the time he could think to call for a counterattack, Poliwrath had lunged toward Lapras, throwing a powerful haymaker toward the ice type's head. The punch connected, sending the aquatic Pokemon reeling from super-effective damage.
"Lapras!" Ash called out, inwardly cringing at the damage. That Poliwrath looked really strong - and Lapras was part ice type, too. "Are you alright?" He was far from it - Ice Beams fired wildly every which way with no target at all, and Lapras' eyes were glazed over with an eerie fury. Dynamic Punch had caused confusion. "Lapras, try and snap out of it!" Ash pleaded, just before being forced to duck under a stray beam that came inches away from freezing the poor trainer.
"Let's finish this! Poliwrath! One more Dynamic Punch!" The Tadpole Pokemon didn't waste a moment, rushing towards its opponent, ducking under a stray Water Pulse as it pulled back its fist, winding up for a devastating final blow. The attack struck true, sending the Transport Pokemon reeling across the battlefield. He finally landed on his side, the swirls in its eyes indicating lost consciousness. Lapras was out of the battle!
A low growl left the trainer from Pallet. He'd lost the first round. Not only that, but he had lost by a pretty wide margin. Still, he managed a smile as he held out Lapras' pokeball, returning him in a flash of red light. "You were awesome, Lapras. Thanks for putting up a good fight!" Although he'd shown his thanks and put on a nice face, it was very transparent. Sweat was dripping down his brow, and his gloved hands were tightened into fists. He'd gone into this confident as ever, but this Randy guy had stomped him out at the very beginning. Still, it had only just begun. Now he would just have to try twice as hard!
Ash's other Pokemon looked on in shock. Seeing Ash lose so decisively wasn't something they witnessed often. This guy must have been something special. "You guys are pretty tough... But, we're not backin' down yet! Pidgeot, you're up next! Let's show 'em what we're made of!" Ash turned to the avian, pointing dramatically towards the battlefield. He was answered by a shrill battle cry as Pidgeot spread her wings wide, soaring over the battlefield before maintaining steady flight over Ash's side. 'That was no good... He creamed us. I'm gonna need to really be serious now. No more goofin' around!' Pitch black brows furrowed, Ash's expression hardening with determination. One of his hands reached up for his cap, gripping the bill before sliding it to the back of his head. The older man raised a brow at the gesture, but anyone who knew Ash would know that this could only mean one thing - Ash meant business.
"A flying type... Good choice. But type advantages won't decide this battle! Poliwrath, Mind Reader!" It would be much to Randy's surprise, though, that Ash was one step ahead of him.
"Pidgeot, Quick Attack! Now!" Unlike Lapras, Pidgeot took no time at all, its body surrounding herself in white streaks of light before crashing straight into the water type's stomach. Poliwrath stumbled back, having lost concentration needed for the attempted move.
"Use Rock Slide!" Randy called out once more, and his orders were followed. A number of boulders appeared once more, heading straight for the flying type that was already close by. Ash, though, wasn't going to take that sitting down.
"Pidgeot, use Aerial Ace, now!" Once again, Pidgeot became shrouded in light as she pulled up towards the sky, entering a loop that allowed her to avoid the rocks completely. A final boulder was very close to hitting the flying type before she disappeared completely. Before Randy could think to respond, Poliwrath was struck in the stomach once more by a smoothly executed attack from Pidgeot. She quickly pulled back into the air above, gaining distance from the formidable water type.
"Now! Let's finish it! Use Sky Attack, now!" Ash shouted to the heavens, pumping a fist into the air with vigor. Large beige wings were spread out on each side of Pidgeot as she charged her finishing move, a vibrant white glow overcoming her form. After several seconds, Pidgeot took off with speed that seemed to nearly cause a sonic boom, generating a strong wind that bellowed down over the battlefield. Poliwrath was doing its best to regain its composure, climbing to its feet in preparation for the incoming attack.
"Fight back, Poliwrath, use Dynamic Punch!" The blackbelt roared, shouting encouragement to his Pokemon. Energy began to gather in the hybrid's fists, accumulating in what could be a devastating counterattack. Before the fist could be swung, though, Sky Attack struck home, overwhelming the battlefield with a booming explosion.
The smoke soon began to clear, revealing Poliwrath to be unconscious. Satisfaction was reflected in Ash's smile and his tension seemed to fade. While the first round hadn't been at all in his favor, Pidgeot had picked up the slack quickly, delivering a flawless victory. The trainer's morale was back, and he didn't plan on letting up now. One pokemon down meant there were two more to go!
"Return, Poliwrath!" Randy held out its pokeball, returning the unconscious Pokemon before throwing another sphere. "Impressive! But let's see how you handle Primeape!" Ash was greeted with the Pig Monkey next, whom let an angry huff out of its flat nostrils the moment it entered the arena. It hopped around on its short, shackled hind legs, both fists raised in front of its body.
"A Primeape... I have a feeling it's only gonna get harder from here." Ash noted aloud, reflecting on his own experiences with the pokemon. He'd raised one himself - though 'raised' could be used loosely. His had quite the temper and plenty of power to match, making it rather difficult to handle. Like with Poliwrath, it was probably best to overwhelm it before it had the chance to stage a furious assault. "Alright, Pidgeot! Round two! Take Primeape on with Aerial Ace!" Ash threw his arm forward, pointing towards the opponent, and Pidgeot quickly pursued. A quick loop increased her momentum, making success a sure thing as she swooped down to crash into the fighting type.
"Primape! Roll out and use Thunderpunch!" Randy shouted loudly, pulling his arm back before punching into the air with remarkable might. So much so, that it might be comparable with the power of his Primape. The pokemon's tiny eyes narrowed as its opponent closed in within an arm's reach, its arms tucking into its body. It rolled to the side at the very last second, leaving Pidgeot to pass through thin air. The bird frantically checked left and right for its opponent, having no luck. A cry from her trainer caught its attention first.
"Pidgeot! Look out!" But it was too late. The air was pushed from her lungs, a sharp pain striking through her entire body. Primape's fist was buried into her stomach, the limb dancing with sparks of electricity. A deadly uppercut had landed, sending the bird sprawling across the battlefield.
"Pidgeot!" Ash called out, nails digging into his palms as he had watched his proud pokemon sustain a painful blow. "Hang in there, and fight back with Quick Attack!" The avian flapped her wings, correcting her flight just as she skirted the ground. A quick turn brought her shooting back towards Primeape, silver light trailing her that gave her the appearance of a comet. Before it could fight back, the Pig Monkey was struck hard, being thrown backwards off its feet, with the flying type still in pursuit. Both of its fists tightened, preparing for the command that was sure to come.
"Primeape, Assurance, now!" Both of its arms were brought over its head, fists linking as its attacker came closer by the second. A feral shriek cut through the air, both fists being smashed brutally into Pidgeot's head. The flying type was rattled, crashing before skidding across the dirt. Ash's jaw dropped, charcoal eyes trembling at the sight of his ally being completely subdued.
"What the heck was that!?"
A smirk spread across Randy's bearded mug, muscular arms crossed over his chest. "That was Assurance! A dark type move that's meant to be used as a counter-attack! When it's used after Primeape's received damage, it comes down on you with twice the power! Perfectly suited for a seasoned fighter like itself. If you plan to defeat us, you're going to have to be more thorough than that."
"Then we will be! Pidgeot, use Quick Attack to get outta there!" Ash threw a hand towards the sky, and Pidgeot followed, shooting off in a trail of silver light. 'Primeape fights a lot better when we're close up... We can't give it the chance to land a hit like that again!' Ash watched with satisfaction as Pidgeot escaped, his mind racing to try to concoct a strategy that could bring the fighting type down. His thought process was cut short, however, by a booming shout from his opponent.
"Use Rock Slide!"
Once again, a barrage of rocks was thrown towards the escaping flying type, intent on knocking her out of the sky. "Keep using Quick Attack to dodge it!" Already in her stride, the avian didn't waste a moment in weaving between boulder after boulder, several times coming within inches of being scraped by the careening projectiles. But years of flight and experience had benefitted her well, and it hadn't taken a single hit.
"Primeape's gotta be a bit tired out, now... Now's our chance! Pidgeot, Hyper Beam! Now!" The flying type's beak parted, many particles of light gathering into a sphere the color of the sun. Soon after, a brilliant beam of energy was launched, cutting through the air at incredible speeds before crashing into Primeape. The battlefield was covered in smoke, forcing Ash to cover his mouth to keep any stray ashes away from his mouth. The debris soon cleared, revealing Pidgeot flying above, who was still catching her breath from the overwhelming blast.
"That oughta do it!" Ash spoke to himself aloud, satisfied with the success of his counter attack. His eyes turned to their opponent, though, who was lying in a heap in the bottom of a small crater. Small twitches indicated its consciousness, but it looked to be unable to move. "Awesome job, Pidgeot! You really held your own out there!" Ash shouted in praise to the bird above, who was currently recovering from the draining attack it had dished out.
"Use Rock Slide!" A sobering shout boomed through the air, followed by Primeape pushing itself to its feet. Another huff of hot air left its flat, pig-like nose, fierce eyes centered on its formidable opponent. Despite Ash's hopes and suspicions, it wasn't down for the count just yet. For all he knew, it may have been faking its pain all along. Black irises trembled, teeth grit in frustration.
"Pidgeot, you gotta get back in there! Finish it off with Sky Attack!" The avian didn't waste a second, spreading both of her beige wings outward, once more gathering light into the core of her being.
Another angry screech from Primeape echoed through the air, followed by a flurry of boulders being thrown towards their flying target once more.
"Man, this guy really likes using rocks, doesn't he?" Ash muttered, briefly pausing on that thought before recalling the urgency of the moment. "Pidgeot, now!" He'd nearly been too late, watching on as Pidgeot just barely ducked under an incoming rock. She shot forward, ablaze with the same brilliant light. She ducked and barreled past multiple stones, coming closer and closer to homing in on her opponent. Eyes comparable to those of a hawk centered in on the Pig Monkey pokemon, intent on pursuing it with laser-like focus.
This would be her downfall, as a boulder came flying seemingly out of nowhere, crashing directly into Pidgeot just under its beak - her functional blind spot. Ash could only watch in horror as his Pokemon had its focus knocked right out of her, finally being pummeled by several more boulders. The devastating blows took their toll, leaving an unconscious Pidgeot to fall limp to the ground.
With frustration etched into his features, Ash held out a Pokeball, calling back the knocked out Pokemon in flash of light. "You put out an awesome fight out there, Pidgeot... Good job!"
His gaze then turned to Randy, hardened hues not faltering in the face of his overwhelming opponent. Despite the disadvantage he was at, he continued to express defiance.
"That Rock Slide's a pretty nasty move! I could probably use somethin' like that." He momentarily turned his gaze to Sceptile, who seemed to be watching the battle intently. Maybe, just maybe they were sharing the same train of thought right now. "...But, I have one Pokemon who Rock Slide won't be able to beat! Gible, it's your turn!"
The short, stout dragon type waddled his way onto the field, wearing the same vacant expression he always had. The man opposite of Ash bore an amused smile, arms still folded over his chest.
"A ground type! Once again, a wise move, Ash. But do you think your Gible has what it takes to withstand our fists of fury?"
"I know Gible does, and we'll show you! Gible, use Rock Smash!" Ash punched through the air as he called for the move, sharing heated enthusiasm with his Pokemon, every bit as excited as either of the two combatants. Gible followed his lead, leaping forward towards Primeape with a glowing fist. His stubby arm was thrown forward, aiming to land the first blow of the round.
Randy and Primeape, however, had other plans. "Big mistake! Primeape, let's show them how dangerous we really are up close! Use Close Combat!" The older male roared, throwing a fist forward with great force, much like Ash had done. Primeape immediately sidestepped the blow, pulling back his own fist before throwing the first punch.
A coy smile ran across Ash's lips, a giddy feeling of success growing in his chest. "Just what I was banking on! Gible, bite down on that punch, now!" He'd invested his hopes in an all-too-familiar tactic with the Land Shark Pokemon, who opened his mouth at the last moment, catching the fist between his powerful jaws, much to Randy's dismay.
The Blackbelt grit his teeth, both brows raised in bewilderment. What sort of tactic was that!?
"Now! Draco Meteor!" A grin had broke out on Ash's face as he shouted, excitement positively shining off his features. Sharp teeth sunk into Primepe's fist, hoisting its entire body above Gible himself. His jaws made a forklift seem delicate. A brilliant orange glow formed in the center of his body, quickly growing into a light that shone brilliantly out of the corners of his mouth.
Before Primeape could even think to act, an orange sphere of energy launched it into the sky, carrying it high above before the orb hit a high point. The launch was followed by an earth-rattling explosion, raining down a multitude of energy blasts onto the battlefield that fell like meteors. Primeape came crashing down last, singed rather harshly and completely unconscious.
"...Not what I was expecting. That's quite the powerful grip your Gible has, Ash! You caught me off-guard. And I'm guessing you planned that counter all along, didn't you?" His coy smile was mirrored by Ash - the returned gesture affirming Randy's suspicions. A gleam of mischief went off in Ash's eyes.
"You bet! We're just full of surprises!"
"I can see that. Well... You're not the only ones! Hitmontop, let's show them!" The martial artist drew his arm back, winding up before lobbing the Pokeball towards the fray. It burst open, revealing a blue and beige Pokemon that stood atop its head, balancing on a spike atop its skull. "Once again, Ash, you can have the first move!"
"That's fine with us! Gible, use Rock Smash!" Ash threw an open palm forward, and Gible didn't hesitate in leaping towards his opponent. Radiant light surrounded his arm once more, energy gathering before being applied in a punishing blow to Hitmontop. The fighting type was sent spinning across the battlefield, tracking oblong paths in the dirt as its speed picked up from the momentum of Gible's attack. The attack had been seemingly ineffective, drawing a gasp from Ash.
"Now, Hitmontop, keep on going and use Rapid Spin!"
Arms and legs quickly became nothing but a blur, swinging back towards Gible nearly faster than the eye could see. The Sand Shark was knocked into the air before his trainer could say a word, leaving Ash stunned, to say the last.
"Man, that's fast!" Ash uttered aloud, his mouth hanging open in sheer surprise. If he lost his focus again, though, it could cost his partner dearly. "Gible, burrow underground for a Dig attack!" The small Pokemon immediately dived towards the ground headfirst, rapidly paddling his arms in a motion that allowed him to burrow under the dirt.
"Hitmontop, you use Dig, too!"
"What!?" Ash shouted out, watching as the spinning top began to accelerate, acting as a drill that plowed straight into the ground below. The boy stared on through gritted teeth, for once being on the receiving end of a surprise strategy. While he had been losing this match, up until now it seemed to be through a delivery of skill and brute force, rather than unusual counter-attacks like his own. This was beginning to seem more uncertain than before... But, that was no reason to give up. "Gible, bite down on it as soon as you can!"
The two combatants continued to tunnel underground, leaving the entire bout in their hands as their trainers could only watch on from above the terrain. The suspense left Ash unusually tense, his stance widened and fists closed tight. If he wanted to get the jump on this guy in any way, he'd have to use everything he'd learned up until this point. Hoenn's Drake of the Elite Four had taught him to clear his mind during battle and focus only on the match at hand. He would have to pay extra attention to catch on to whatever transpired now. A stressed sigh left Ash's lungs, both eyes closing as he attempted to regain s sense of calm.
Underground, Gible was chewing through layer after layer of dirt, burrowing rapidly through the soil towards where Hitmontop had been. Not before long, the dirt around him began to tremble. A sound akin to a drill seemed to be getting ever closer, the soil before him sounding more and more shallow. A spinning top then burst through the dirt, heading straight for the dragon type with frightening speed! Gible opened his mouth wide on cue, waiting until just the right moment to clamp down on the fighting type, chomping down on the spike on its head with razor-sharp fangs. This was its opportunity to stop Hitmontop dead in its tracks... Or, so Gible thought.
Still trapped by Gible, Hitmontop began to spin and accelerate, throwing its poor opponent for a loop as he was spun around endlessly, slammed against one wall of dirt after another. The spinning top turned up towards the surface, continuing to drill upward without missing a beat.
Up above, the two Pokemon soon burst through the ground, only to reveal Gible latched onto Hitmontop's horn, spinning about in a frenzy as he held on for dear life.
"Okay, maybe that wasn't such a good idea... Gible, let go! Get outta there!" While Ash desperately called for his Pokemon to escape, Randy made a similar command.
"Throw Gible way up high, Hitmontop!"
The two Pokemon executed their commands simultaneously, with Gible freeing his teeth from his foe, and Hitmontop bucking its head into the air. Gible was sent flying above as a result, leaving the fighting type just above ground in the burrow below. Tiny stubby arms flailed, making a very futile attempt by Gible to regain his bearings. Watching from below, Ash threw his fist into the air as he shouted for another move.
"Gible, fire right back down with Dragon Pulse!"
The stout dragon's mouth parted wide once more, becoming the bearer for a bright, potent teal sphere of energy that charged in mere moments in the creature's infamous maw.
"Giii... BLE!" A high-pitched cry sounded as the blast was sent plummeting towards the Earth, closing in on a still-grounded Hitmontop, still hanging just out of the hole it had dug up. Alas, it was too late, and the Dragon Pulse attack struck with devastating impact. Gible landed on his hind legs, standing sure as ever waiting for the smoke to clear.
"That oughta do some damage!" Ash celebrated aloud, confident as ever as he waited to see the result. The sight he was greeted with, however, wasn't quite what he'd hoped for. Hitmontop had emerged from the small burrow, returning to its usual headstand stance. Pardon the occasional small scratch, it seemed to be totally unharmed. "Man, you've gotta be kidding me."
"Sorry, Ash, but it'll take a lot more than an attack like that to take down Hitmontop! Now, strike back with Triple Kick!" The fighting type didn't waste any time in hopping onto solid ground, winding up before breaking into a spin that made the one from before look docile. Gible did his best to jump out of range, but he was met with three solid kicks, two from each of its legs and a final blow dealt from its spiked tail. The final strike sent him reeling, flying towards the solid rock cliff beside the battlefield.
"Gible! Look out!" Ash shouted in warning, leaning forward heavily as if he wanted to aid the soaring Pokemon. He looked like he was going to hit the solid surface, hard. The trainer grit his teeth, bracing for impact... Only to find himself staring in disbelief. "...Huh?"
Rather than rolling over in pain, Gible had landed just fine - just in the way he would want to, in fact. His eager jaws had latched around a large rock that stuck out from the cliffside. Gible chewed on the stone with enthusiasm, seeming to have completely forgotten about the battle. Ash slapped his hand against his forehead, letting out a groan of embarrassment "Oh, Gible... Do ya have to do this now?" Just as the complaint passed through his lips, however, an idea struck Ash. "...Gible! I want you to put those jaws to work and take that rock with, you, alright! Go right for Hitmontop and just trust me!"
The dragon complied at once, chomping down on the stone to dislodge the majority of it from the wall. Short, but powerful legs launched him towards Hitmontop, rock still held between his jaws. Randy could only watch with interest, his mind attempting to contemplate just what Ash had in mind here. What difference was a single stone going to make against a fighting type?
"Now, spit it out at Hitmontop!" Ash called out the next phase of his maneuver, and his Pokemon quickly complied. Utilizing his powerful mouth, Gible spit the rock towards his opponent with great force, turning the stone into a projectile.
"You should know better than to use a rock against a pokemon like Hitmontop, Ash! Hitmontop, use Triple Kick to crush it to bits!" The fighting type winded up, readying itself to decimate the stone, and hopefully land a hit on Gible as well. But, Ash had other plans in mind.
"Now, use Rock Smash!" Ash declared, dark hues glimmering with excitement. The command drew surprised expressions from Randy and Hitmontop alike. Gible didn't waste a moment. His small arm began to glow, raising above his head before crashing down upon the large stone, which had come within mere inches of the defending fighting type. The rock was crushed into bits, showering Hitmontop in dust and debris. It recoiled out of shock, stopping its spinning completely.
"Now's your chance! Bite down on Hitmontop's head!" Being a ground type, Gible was hardly hindered by the debris and he chomped down on the spike atop the fighting type's skull once more. "Now, use..."
"Not so fast!" Randy shouted, interrupting Ash's command. "We're not going to allow you to use that Draco Meteor trick again! Hitmontop, use Rapid Spin to shake it off!" As the Spinning Top Pokemon prepared itself to counter, Ash called out the remainder of his command.
"...Dragon Pulse!" Compared to Draco Meteor, it had much shorter charge time, which allowed Gible to quickly launch the teal sphere of energy from his jaws. The blast enveloped Hitmontop, sending it soaring across the battlefield along with it, with dust and smoke thrown up in its wake.
"Hitmontop, use Bide!" Upon hearing the command, the fighting type began to glow, skidding across the ground before finally coming to a halt. It winced from the blow, but was able to shake off the damage nonetheless. The development caused Ash to grit his teeth, black irises trembling as he began to understand the meaning of this development.
"Bide... This is no good! If we don't wrap it up now, we're done for!"
Punching the air once more, Ash cried out his next command. "Gible, finish it with Rock Smash, now!" The dragon type vaulted forward once more, striking the Spinning Top with remarkable vigor. Hitmontop continued to careen back, turning into another spin. Clearly, that wasn't enough to finish it off. Ash grit his teeth in frustration, sweat beginning to drip down his brow. 'Oh man... We're in trouble! Bide's gonna go off any second now!' Ash's patience was slipping away, the boy being fully aware that his next move would decide the battle.
"Gible, use Draco Meteor!" The trainer from Pallet threw caution to the wind, throwing an open hand to the sky as he called for what may very well be his last attack. The stout Pokemon turned his body upwards, focusing all of his draconian energy into a single point at his core. The center of his body began to glow brilliantly, slowly rising before firing out of his mouth in the form of a large energy sphere. The attack soared high into the skies, hovering just as it had before bursting. A multitude of smaller orange blasts rained down on the battlefield, several of them homing in on Hitmontop.
Ash leaned forward, black hues entirely focused on their opponent. This was it... This had to work! What he saw, though, gave him a feeling of despair in the pit of his stomach. Hitmontop had begun to glow just as he was pummeled with the blasts. Smoke surrounded the fighting type, only to be blown away into mere wisps as a brilliant red blast of energy fired out of the debris, homing in on Gible with such speed and ferocity that no one could think to react. The dragon could only stare blankly like a Stantler in headlights, hit head-on by the counter-attack.
"Gible!" Ash shouted in worry, watching as the small Pokemon was sent flying, careening towards Ash before being caught in his arms. Soon, the smoke began to settle, allowing both combatants to observe the damage. Hitmontop was somewhat scorched, but still steadily standing. Gible, on the other hand... His eyes had turned to swirls, and he'd lost consciousness. "Oh man..." The teen whined, managing a smile as he pulled out the creature's Pokeball. "You put up a great fight, Gible. Thanks a lot!" Red light enveloped the creature after Ash's usual praise, returning him to his capsule.
Ash's eyes turned upward towards Randy, admiration shining in his eyes. He maintained his smile; one with a hint of sadness. But, behind his disappointment was an overwhelming feeling of exhilaration. His limits has been tested, just the way he liked it. "I guess I lost... You guys were incredible! Thanks for the awesome battle, Randy! You, too, Hitmontop."
Randy returned his victorious pokemon to its sphere, then making his way over to Ash. "For someone so young, you put up a hell of a fight. It'd be my honor to battle again someday!"
Ash beamed up at the rugged veteran, wearing a smile that only Ash Ketchum could wear after such a scathing defeat. "It was my honor to battle you! I hope we get to battle again someday, too!"
The blackbelt wore a warm smile, nodding before turning towards the campsite. "That would be fantastic. But, I'm out on my lonesome with purpose. So, I'm going to head out now. Maybe one day you'll come across me again." With that, the elder man grabbed his bag, turning to head deeper into treacherous jaws of the cave.
The adrenaline of battle was still coursing through his veins. A smile was still plastered on his face that wouldn't leave. It was enough to make him question his own thought process, but that notion quickly fled. "I won't lose next time." Ash whispered under his breath, looking to the rodent that sat atop his shoulder. "Let's go to the Pokemon Center, buddy!"
Pikachu offered his trainer a sympathetic smile, reaching to gently pat his marked cheek. "Pika!"
The two made a speedy departure to the small hospital sitting at the foot of the caverns, leaving the three defeated Pokemon with Nurse Joy to recuperate.
"Thanks, Nurse Joy!" Ash bowed his head slightly in respect, flashing the pink-haired woman a smile before turning on his heel to stroll outside. The scent of pine and fresh air greeted him, once again welcoming him to the outdoors. Nature wasn't alone, however, as his remaining Pokemon had stood outside waiting for their trainer. Charizard and Sceptile had been waiting patiently, and Pikachu was already accompanying him. "Wasn't that an awesome battle, guys?"
He was met with a silent nod from Charizard and Sceptile and a hearty cheer from Pikachu. "Even if you weren't in it, I'm sure you guys learned something from it!" His gaze drifted over to Sceptile, who met it with certainty. He could see it in his eyes. There was no doubt Sceptile had been paying close attention - even moreso than Charizard or Pikachu.
"I think I figured out how you could use Rock Slide." Sceptile nodded, all but confirming he was on the same page as his trainer. Before the matter could be discussed any further, a series of rings could be heard from the Pokemon Center.
"Ash Ketchum, your Pokemon are finished healing! Please come inside to retrieve them." Nurse Joy's voice blared over an intercom, prompting a smile from the trainer.
"Alright, guys. Let's go pick our friends up! We should probably congratulate 'em for a job well done, too!"
Ash spent the remainder of the day playing with his Pokemon, allowing them to recharge and regain their morale after a hard day's match. The tightly-knit group finally succumbed to sleep, hearts full of happiness and faces recovering from the laughter. They dreamed pleasant dreams of future battles and future victories.
Soon after, morning arrived once more, the warm arm of the sun nudging the sleepy teen out of his slumber. After a few failed attempts at evading the its lure through tossing and turning, Ash gave in, he and Pikachu awakening to begin the new day. Breakfast came and went, and after waving off Nurse Joy, Ash departed to a grassy slope atop the first tier of the mountain, which was sparsely detailed with the occasional patch of grass, even a spring flowers gracing its presence.
"This'll make a great place to train," he mused aloud, reaching to gently adjust the end of his red cap. "...And the weather's perfect!" A soft breeze caressed the field, blades of grass and flower petals dancing as the metallic capsule was gripped, being tossed into the sky. A flash of light pooled together in the form of Sceptile, the lime-colored Pokemon landing gracefully on his hind legs.
"Alright, Sceptile, time for us to work on Rock Slide!" Sceptile's posture shifted, a battle-worthy stance assumed by the grass type. "Now, if you think back to how Primape and Poliwrath pulled it off... They only controlled the rocks when the attack started. After that, they'd fall freely and the rest'd work on its own. So I think we'll give that a shot!"
"Tile!" The Forest Pokemon chanted in agreement. Many attempts ended in failure, bearing very little fruit. The duo kept at it, though, never being ones to give up. The sun soon reached its height in the clear blue sky, and small steps were being made. Pebbles were beginning to move, in a similar process by which leaves were supernaturally manipulated by his inherent abilities. Trainer and pokemon alike toiled, working tirelessly through the day to reach the proverbial pot of gold.
By the time the sun began to plan its nightly slumber, Sceptile had made wonderful progress, willingly tossing rocks around. The work was a bit sloppy, but more than enough to leave his trainer with a beaming, un-erasable grin. "Hey, looks like you finally pulled it off! Awesome job, Sceptile. Now, what do ya say we get something to eat? All this hard work's got me starving!"
He was met with a curt nod from Sceptile, whose bravado was quickly cut short by a rather loud growl from his stomach. Face reddening, the stoic pokemon quickly avoided eye contact.
A chuckle left Ash as he reached for his remaining four pokeballs. "I'll take that as a yes. Alright everyone, c'mon out!" The spheres were all tossed up in tandem, releasing the remainder of Ash's team. "Hey guys, Sceptile here managed to learn a new move!" He was met with cheers and cries of congratulations from Pikachu, Pidgeot, Gible, and Lapras. The one pokemon that caught his leery gaze, however, was Charizard. Rather than shouting his approval, a brief look of approval was cast. Hazel eyes locked with teal, holding momentarily in a gaze that needed no words. He would expect a greater challenge next time around.
"Okay, so what do you all say we go in for dinner!" Ash rallied the team, only to nearly get trampled in the process. A third day had passed under the unpredictable skies of Kanto and Johto, lending Ash and his Pokemon a tad more experience, a new technique, and an inch of humility. While the fruits had been great, however, today was only just the beginning.
