The stadium was lonesome at night. But, after the exhilarating match he'd had with Ritchie, he couldn't help but be drawn back to see the place how he'd last remembered leaving it. Wandering around unrestricted, he settled himself on an alcove just beneath the announcer's box.
"Y'can hardly see the stars, huh, buddy?" Ash whispered.
The mouse nestled himself in his trainer's lap. "Pika."
The summer night was wet and hot. The stars were barely visible above the dim glow of Indigo Village's many celebratory lights. The hamlet was alive with festivities. That made the empty stadium seem all the lonelier.
But, that did not mean he was alone.
"Huh? What's that up there?" Ash looked up, spotting a soft, round shape in the sky. As it flew lower, he saw that it was a Dragonite. "... Lance!" he blurted upon recognizing the champion.
Ash stood with Pikachu clinging onto his jacket. The mouse righted himself on Ash's shoulder as they watched Lance's Dragonite land. As the champion praised his partner, another figure stepped out from the darkness of the corridor leading out from the stadium's innards and onto the field.
"Deidra?" Ash furrowed his brows. "... Aw! She's one to talk about unfair treatment! She's getting a private audience with Lance! Let's see what that's about."
Sneaking together, Ash and Pikachu began making their way onto the field. He was eager to see what Deidra could do, anyways, if they were having a match. He didn't want to ruin the suspense, but she seemed so strong! He was excited to see her power.
By the time he made it to the lowest level just before the field, Deidra was standing before Lance. Her fists were balled at her sides and she glared up at the man, chin held high. Lance was speaking quietly to her, eyes harsh but posture not aggressive.
When Lance lifted his hand, and reached out as if to brush her bang away, her own hand darted up, smacking his away. She growled something low and angry before turning on her heel and marching away, her cape fluttering behind her.
Lance stood and watched her go before sighing and shaking his head.
As soon as Deidra was out of sight, Ash jumped down from the lowest level of the stadium seats and walked towards the champion.
"Geez, she took that kinda harsh," he mumbled. "Why'd ya say no to battling her, though?"
Lance quirked a brow. "... I'd say it's bad to snoop, but seeing how you've been good for doing that before…" Quietly letting references to the past go, Lance turned to fully face Ash, sweeping his cape behind himself as he did so. "I was not trying to battle her, though. That was Deidra Agrona, a member of the Johto Dragon clan… And, my younger cousin."
"She's WHAT?!" Ash blurted, looking shocked.
Lance laughed. "Yes, surprising, isn't it?" He quieted, looking dreary. "I'm worried about her, truthfully. She's so stubborn. I'm afraid she's become lost in her pursuit of power. She's not disciplined at all."
"She isn't?" Ash asked, extremely skeptical. Everything about her seemed restrained and calculated, like a Persian waiting to pounce. "She seems so… Serious."
"She is withholding, yes, but just…" Lance shook his head. "Have you seen her team?"
"Uh… Not yet," Ash admitted.
Lance smiled. "Well, she's my cousin, so I won't betray a secret about her you don't know, then. But… She's so adamant about being recognized as a dragon master, but she won't even use a team of dragons, or even pseudo-dragons, like Gyarados or Charizard!" He put his hands on his hips, finally expression some frustration. "It's disgraceful! Being a dragon master is about more than our power! But, that seems like all she can see out of it! She's only competing in this conference to spite me, to make me see that she's so strong she doesn't need my approval or even the elder's!"
Not entirely sure what Lance was talking about, Ash looked to the side. "Uh… Right." He wasn't a big fan of the kind of discipline Lance was talking about, but he had gathered that Deidra was probably lashing out about something she didn't have a right to. Furthermore, she wasn't here to explain herself. Ash had no choice other than to take Lance's side. "Well… I plan on winning this year, so I'll give her a good battle and show her the most important part is the bond with your pokemon!"
"Pika!" Agreeing with his trainer, Pikachu's cheek pouches sparkled.
Lance let out a sigh of relief. "It may mean more coming from you, Ash. Thank you. Family means a lot to me, so do what you can. If you do well, I'll make sure to reward you with a battle again later on!"
"Hey, that's a helluva reward!" the teen said with a chuckle, rubbing under his nose.
"Right. Well, I'll be off, then." Mounting his Dragonite once more, Lance took to the skies, taking off in the direction of the Indigo League building itself.
That left Ash standing in the middle of the stadium field with his starter.
"Pikaka Pi, Pikapi."
"Hm? Yeah, we did tell Dawn we'd be back before it got too late. Let's go so she doesn't worry." He began making his way back towards the cabin.
"Ash Ketchum! Please report to the nearest tank to decide your match-up!"
"That's my cue!" Ash turned back to wink at his companions, before heading for the stand before him with a proud, pronounced stride. "Time to find my next opponent!"
"He sure is eager." May rested her thumb on her chin, watching the trainer claim his fishing rod.
"Shouldn't he be!?" Dawn popped up beside the brunette, placing both of her hands on the girl's shoulders. Her eyes glittered like diamonds. "This tournament's just getting more and more exciting, and Ash is getting closer to victory!"
"That's true," May hushed, motioning her eyes to the right of her. "But, he's not the only competitor here…"
Dawn blushed heavily, cupping her hands over her mouth. She hadn't noticed Max standing right by his sister, toggling with his glasses. "Me and my big, fat mouth…" She quickly moved to correct her mistake, raising a finger with enthusiasm to the boy. "And, that's part of why he's excited; to face other super strong trainers in the final rounds!"
"Thanks a lot." Max replied dryly. "I know Ash is your man and all, but-"
"Max!"
"What!?" The boy snapped, whirling around to the one who'd called his name.
Dawn quietly thanked her lucky stars that the spotlight had been stolen, for once.
"Check it out," Ash gushed, pointing to the screen above. Ash's face was displayed, along with, of course, Max.
"No way! Already!?" Max gawked, running over to peer at the screen, rubbing his glasses to ensure he was seeing this right.
"Already? Max, we're in the top 8." Ash crossed his arms, tilting his head.
"Well, yeah! But…" Max pursed his lips. He thought he'd have more time? But, that was stupid; there really wasn't much room to put this off… But, why did he want to put it off, anyway!?
"C'mon. Show me some energy! We're finally going to have that battle I promised you!" Ash clapped an encouraging hand on the boy's shoulder.
"...Yeah!" Max put on a smile that he thought was convincing enough, adjusting his thick-rimmed glasses. A foreboding shine gleamed over the lenses. "It's time to show you what I'm made of!"
Ash's expression reflected satisfaction, then, and he stood. "Good. Then, I'm going to go swap my team for the big event. Catch you on the field, superstar!" Flashing a thumbs-up and a wink, the messy-haired teen walked off.
"See you there!" Max shouted back, blushing when he noticed his voice crack. He tapped his sneakers against the tiled floor.
"He really didn't get that, huh?" Misty mused, her thumb held to her lips.
"You've got to remember," Brock replied, "Ash may be a lot more sensible, now, but he's still Ash. Sometimes, he forgets that everyone else's viewpoints might be different from his own."
"Hey, don't look so blue!" May jumped onto the scene, crouching to take her little brother's hands. "You've been kicking butt out there, in the tournament; Ash should be the one afraid of you!"
Max's cheeks picked up in a curve, his usually harsh, dark eyes trembling. "You mean it? Thanks sis."
"Aw, you're tearing up~! You really do love your big sister!" May gushed, throwing her arms around Max to pull him in for a crushing hug. "Don't you worry, you'll-"
"I wasn't crying!" Max barked, shoving his sister away. "Don't worry, alright? I'm fine."
While May hummed in confusion, Misty stepped forward. "Just let me handle this, alright? You did your best."
"Treatin' him like a baby sure isn't going to help," Koda agreed dryly.
May pouted. "Hmph… Okay, Misty. I'm counting on you!"
Max had already departed from the group, heading out of the dome as quickly as possible. A park bench amongst the scenic shrubs and grass was a nice spot for him to plop down, he decided.
"Everything's just peachy, huh…" He rolled his eyes at his own sarcasm, reaching into his maroon vest. He pulled out a rectangular metal case, popping the latch. His eight gym badges shone from consistent polishing.
"Having your concerns waved off is never fun, you know."
The boy let out an irritated huff. "Look, if you're gonna give me the same cheesy…" He turned to spite whoever had followed. "...Misty?" Max's features softened, and he sat back down.
"Mind if I sit here?" The redhead smiled softly. When Max shook his head, she took a seat beside him.
"They don't get it, at all." The boy from Petalburg didn't think to question Misty's wisdom. "Everything's just a big game. Ash is just taking this for granted. And Dawn-"
"Dawn has impulse control issues," Misty cut him off. "But, she meant well. And Ash was just clueless."
"Maybe, but that's the thing! He's, like… Not even thinking. About our match, what it's gonna mean… Heck, he probably thinks he's won the thing, already!" Not that the assumption was entirely unlikely…
"Ash thinks differently than you; than most people," Misty corrected herself. "He likes to throw himself at any challenge with no reservations, to shoot for gold, no matter what he's doing. So, he's going to try to beat you, just because he's Ash. He's not looking down on you."
"I mean, I get that, yeah…" Max loosened his grip on his badge case - he'd been leaving fingerprints, he'd noticed. His palms were sweaty. "But, doesn't that bother him at all?"
Misty was about to open her mouth, and Max quickly recalled what Ash and company had told him, a while back; Misty couldn't read his thoughts. "The fact that one of us is gonna lose, I mean. Ritchie didn't even care about the tournament, so it's not the same."
"Now, I know you definitely didn't dig into Ash's first challenge, here," Misty chuckled. "When Ash lost to Ritchie, he was devastated. Moped around for a whole day, before he realized how silly it was. In the end, you can always give it another go."
"Right… Really, I'd feel bad knocking Ash out of the tournament after he's done all this. But, I don't want to lose, either; not after coming this far."
Misty hummed, stretching her arms over her head. Max had a point; Ash had gassed himself up quite a lot for this conference. But, repeating that wouldn't help Max, any. "Just think of it this way; would Ash want you to hold back?"
Max's face instantly went pale. "Oh, hell no…" Suddenly, he wondered how he'd ever forgotten Ash's battle with Morrison. "Ash had a friend at the Hoenn League who felt just like me, and Ash was ready to tear his head off when he realized what was going on."
"Well, there you go. Going in with no regrets would do a favor to both of you, so no second thoughts, alright?"
"Yeah." Max smiled, finally, nodding up to the Gym Leader. "Thanks, Misty."
Misty smiled to herself - his eyes were watering again. But, he wouldn't make May's mistake and point that out. "Anytime, kid. Remember, you're not the only one who's had to deal with being the runt of the litter."
He stood at the threshold of the stadium, a faint, fluorescent glow behind him, and the warm, welcoming light of the sun shining before him. He wiped his glasses clean on his collared shirt before clutching a pokeball in his hand. A wealth of positivity washed over him, then.
Even from inside her pokeball, she kept him calm.
"Gotta focus…" Max straightened his posture, marching into the light of the stadium, and onto the field. Opposite of him was Ash, looking as tall and sure as ever. The boy swallowed, standing sure in his designated box.
"There you are!" Ash waved from across the way. That excited look in his eye that he always had was present. He was eager. "Let's make this match a great one, okay?"
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu waved from the height of his trainer's shoulder.
Max eased a bit at the mouse's encouragement. He took a deep breath before speaking. "Yeah! I hope you're ready to get your butt kicked, Ash!"
Ash laughed. "We'll see!"
"Now, it's time for the fourth match of the quarter-finals!" The familiar, attention-grabbing voice boomed across the stadium. "Ash Ketchum, a seasoned competitor, will face off against a newer, but nonetheless talented trainer; Max Maple! As the stakes get higher, we can only assume that the battles will get more intense!"
The referee grabbed attention from the announcer and the trainers alike. "This will be a full, six-on-six battle! Both challengers may substitute pokemon at any time. The first to defeat all of the other trainer's pokemon will be declared the victor! You may begin!"
Ash seemed to pick up on Max's hesitance to choose first, as he took the initiative to chuck a pokeball. "I choose you, Heracross!"
"Cro!" The Stag Beetle was summoned, appearing poised to battle.
"Heracross, huh…" Max's expression hardened. "Scizor, go!"
The Pincer pokemon appeared opposite of Heracross, snapping his claws.
"I'll start," Ash led. "Heracross, use Pin Missile!"
Heracross obeyed, firing off a green flurry of explosive needles towards Scizor.
"Dodge that, with Aerial Ace," Max quickly countered.
Scizor took off with noteworthy agility, spinning and weaving between the explosive projectiles. Slipping through the last of the assault, he flanked Heracross.
"They must be going for a physical attack," Ash muttered. "Heracross, get out of there!"
Heracross' wings began to buzz, ready to send him soaring off.
"Grab the horn!" Max commanded.
Heracross shrieked, thrown off balance when he was yanked back by his horn.
"Iron Defense!"
Scizor covered himself in a dense metallic sheen, weighing the two insects down.
Heracross struggled, yanked down by Scizor's powerful claw.
"Great!" Max praised, triumphant. "Now, Fury Cut!"
Scizor stubbornly held onto Heracross' horn, slashing at his back with his own free claw. The initial green streak only made Heracross budge, but Scizor was undeterred, slashing back and forth without mercy. Annoyed grunts from Heracross became pained cries, as the attack continued to pile on power.
"That's bad…!" Ash grimaced. "Heracross, Megahorn!"
"Cross!" The Stag Beetle bucked against his captor, his horn glowing white. As much as he struggled, he couldn't quite build the momentum to force himself free.
"Wow! What a start! Despite their gap in experience, Max is taking an early lead, by holding Ash's Heracross captive, helpless against the building power of Fury Cutter!"
"Scizor, Aerial Ace!"
Scizor yanked Heracross into the air with him, stubbornly holding the flailing bug. With a buzz, he shot back down, tackling Heracross into the ground. Nonetheless, the Stag Beetle was irritated to find that he was still in Scizor's clutches.
Ash blinked, dumbfounded for a moment. "I'm impressed… This must be something you picked up from Norman, right?"
"Of course!" Max boasted, proudly adjusting his frames. "Dad inspired it, anyway. We used our superior speed to get close to Heracross; there's no doubt that he's stronger than us, so we had no choice but to bulk up on defense and hold it down!"
"It's a good strategy," Ash smiled. "Or, it would be, if Heracross wasn't used to bigger opponents."
Max swallowed.
"Heracross, use Reversal!"
"Hera!" Heracross grunted, willing himself to stand on his feet, against the immense pressure of Scizor's weight against him. With a grunt, he flipped back, grabbing Scizor's narrow torso. "Her…" He tensed, yanking its body forward. "Hera…! Cross!"
With a roar, the Stag Beetle flipped forward, brutally smashing Scizor into the ground before him.
Wrestled to the earth in a brutal blow that doubled as fighting and ground-type damage, Scizor reeled in pain. His concentration was shattered, and the silver gleam on his red coat lost its luster.
"His defenses are down," Ash noted with confidence. "Hyper Beam!"
Heracross pointed his horn towards his downed opponent, firing a blinding flash of energy. The resulting explosion tore across the field.
The debris quickly cleared, and Scizor lay unconscious.
The referee threw up a hand. "Scizor is unable to battle!"
"Well, that was fast." May bit her lip. "Only two moves…"
"I'm afraid that's what happens when there's a large difference in experience," Professor Oak lamented. "Heracross was one of Ash's earlier captures, and as a fighting type, he's always been fond of sparring with the other pokemon, even on the ranch."
"Heracross was always one Ash could rely on," Brock agreed. "Hopefully, Max remembers that."
"Thank you, Scizor," Max mumbled, recalling his pokemon. He tensed, staring at Ash.
"Heracross, return!" Ash spoke up first, recalling the recovering bug. He couldn't afford to give Max another tactical advantage, he'd decided. "Good job." He replaced him quickly. "Go, Donphan!"
"Phan!" The ground-type sounded, stomping the flat field below him.
Max snapped back to reality, and called on his next. "Go, Poliwrath!"
The rotund pokemon flexed its muscles, and stared down Donphan.
"Donphan, Earthquake!" Ash opened up, without moving a muscle.
"Donphan!" The ground-type brutally stomped the arena, sending dangerous quakes through the fray.
Poliwrath groaned, its bones rattled mercilessly by the underground quake.
"Did you really have to come out swinging with that move!?" Max blurted out, sweating.
Ash smiled at his opponent. "I can't risk taking it easy, since you're such a crafty guy."
Max blushed, flattered as he was bewildered. 'He won't be cutting me any breaks, then…' The boy shook his head. "Poliwrath, use Mind Reader!"
"Poli!" The water-type relaxed, his eyes flickering with cognition. He'd be able to perceive Donphan's next move.
Max smiled to himself, confident. 'Brandon gave Ash heck with Lock-on. It should work just fine for me!'
Ash grimaced, distrustful. "Donphan, brace for impact!"
"Huh!?" Max stammered, thrown off. "Why would he… Okay, then use Circle Throw!"
Poliwrath charged Donphan, ready to toss it like a ragdoll.
"Gotcha," Ash quipped. "Use Rollout!"
Moments from taking a beating, Donphan did what it did best, tucking and crashing into Poliwhirl, knocking it flat on its rear, before spinning on.
"How'd you…?" Max's brows furrowed.
"Poliwrath reads Donphan's mind, not mine," Ash answered with confidence.
Max's brows furrowed. Donphan was still charging, though. "Use Water Gun in front of Donphan!"
Poliwrath fired a jet from his mouth, slicking up the field around his opponent.
"Do-do-do-don!" Donphan sputtered, quickly losing traction. With his momentum built and balance shot, he veered and crashed into the field on his side.
"Now, use Mud Slap!"
Poliwrath spat a mass of grime at the recovering Donphan, obscuring its vision with the impact.
"Good strategy," Ash commended. "Okay, Donphan, use Hidden Power!"
"Don…!" The pokemon cried, rearing his head back. "Phan!" He launched the mysterious energy, missing Poliwrath completely.
"Nice try," Max mocked. "Don't you remember that Mud Slap reduces a pokemon's accuracy?"
"It did what it needed to do," Ash countered. "Take another peep at the battlefield."
Concerned, Max did as told. "The water's all dried up!? And, Donphan's mud is gone, too!" A lightbulb went off in his head. "Then, Donphan's Hidden Power type must be grass!"
"Bingo," Ash confirmed. "Donphan, use Giga Impact!"
"Don!" The Armor pokemon charged, bracing himself with a whirling storm of purple and orange energy. Before Poliwrath could think to counter, Donphan smashed into its body.
Poliwrath was sent flying, smashing into the wall behind Max.
The boy swallowed.
"Poliwrath is unable to battle!" The referee called, ritualistically. "Donphan wins!"
"You're kidding me!" Max exclaimed, looking back to his companion, embedded in the stadium wall. Despite his trembling arms, he recalled his own. "Thanks, Poliwrath…"
"What a start to this match! Ash has quickly and decisively taken down two of Max's pokemon!"
"Oh, dear." Professor Oak cupped his chin.
Delia, nearby, was taking snapshots. "Great job, honey!"
"Max needs our support too, you know!" May fussed, furrowing her brows at the mother.
"Of course!" She blushed, scratching her cheek. "Once Max gets momentum, I'll be sure to capture plenty of memories for him, too."
"Let's hope he finds that momentum, soon." Brock thought aloud. "I'm rooting for Ash, too, but it'd be better for his confidence if he at least gave him a hard time."
"Don't worry," Misty replied coolly. "He'll find it!"
"You good to keep going, Donphan?" Ash checked.
"Donphan!" The pokemon cried in reply, flexing his trunk.
"If you're not switching…" Max chucked another pokeball, with a bit more aggression than the last. "Go, Gengar!"
"Gen-Gengar!" The ghoul appeared, sporting his characteristic big, toothy grin.
"A Gengar… Hold on, is that Koda's Haunter?" Ash's eyes went wide at the realization.
"She is! Well, she was," Max confirmed. "That's how Koda got his Machamp, too."
"Of course! They both can evolve by trading, can't they?" Ash thought aloud. "Okay, then bring it!"
"You asked for it," Max boasted. "Hypnosis!"
"Gen!" The ghoul cackled, sending several hypnotic rings towards Donphan.
They enveloped the Armor pokemon, making his lids heavy. He yawned, instinctively tucking into a ball.
"Ha!" Max cheered, triumphant. "You're trapped, now!"
"Donphan, Return!"
"Huh!?" Max's jaw dropped, his spirits sapping away as he watched the ground type return to its ball. He growled, gritting his teeth.
"You didn't use Mean Look, yet, like you did with Koda," Ash explained.
The younger trainer kept his eyes towards the ground. "Talk about a rookie mistake," he grumbled.
"Go, Noctowl!" Ash chucked a pokeball high.
The golden owl appeared with a chirp, bright sparkles trailing his shiny form.
"I'm not making that mistake again!" Max barked. "Use Mean Look!"
Gengar cackled, conjuring a large, eerie eye with her ghostly powers, staring down Noctowl.
Noctowl trembled at the sight, squawking in discomfort.
"Guess we're in for the long haul," Ash remarked. "Noctowl, Light Screen!"
"Gengar, use Shadow Ball!" Max ordered.
"Ge-ge-gar!" The ghost cried, launching a black, crackling orb at Noctowl.
It struck, shielded by the translucent glow of Light Screen. Noctowl only pecked at his feathers, unbothered.
"What the!? ...Oh. Great." Max's face fell. "I forgot that it's a normal type, too… And with Light Screen, it won't even budge." The realization heated his face with shame. "To top it all off, I've trapped us, with Mean Look…"
"Gen?" The ghost turned back to her trainer, her grin fading away with concern. "Gengar!"
Max shook his head. "No time to mope about it, now! Go ahead and vanish!"
The pokemon cackled in reply, seemingly disappearing into thin air.
"Finding himself at a disadvantage, Max has his Gengar disappear! How will this turn the tide of the battle!?"
"Noctowl, use Foresight!"
The avian peered around the field with scrutiny, a red lamp cast from each of its keen eyes. The skies seemed to be clear of Gengar's presence, and she moved on to the field.
A vague shadow was poking out of the ground. He trilled.
Max's brows furrowed. "Use Hypnosis!"
Purple rings shot from beneath the arena.
"Dodge that," Ash ordered.
Noctowl handily veered away from their influence.
"Now, use Extrasensory!"
Flashy rings all across the color spectrum shot out of Noctowl's eyes, casting a sort of tractor beam on Gengar that yanked it out of the earth, and into the air. With a toss of her head, she threw Gengar back down to the ground.
"Now, use Sky Attack!" Ash continued.
Noctowl spanned his wings, a low trill gradually building to a high-pitched cry, as light gathered around him.
"What'm I gonna do…!?" Max trembled in his sneakers. "I think I've got it… Gengar! Smack a Shadow Ball against the ground!"
She didn't think to question her trainer's orders, forming a ghoulish orb in her claws before smacking it into the ground. In an explosion of dust, the Shadow Ball emerged, coated in rock and dirt.
"Now, throw it!" Max ordered.
Gengar did as told, lobbing the elemental blast at Noctowl.
"Hey, not bad!" Ash commended, impressed. "Way to improvise."
The blast hit its mark, ruffling Noctowl. But, Light Screen reminded Max, and the audience of its presence, dispersing most of the damage.
Noctowl had finished charging. He swept down, emanating a beautiful white glow. Gengar was within his sights.
"There's only one way out," Max muttered. Clenching his fists, he shouted. "Destiny Bond!"
In a self-sacrificial act, Gengar coated herself in a red glow.
"Pull up," Ash quickly instructed.
"Noctowl pulled into a U-turn, soaring back into the air, the energy of Sky Attack wasted.
"What!?" Max blanched, somewhere between frightened and furious. "How'd you make that call so fast!?"
"Even if I didn't see your stunt with Koda," Ash explained, "I've been around the block too much to fall for that."
As Ash's explanation ended, so did the light around Gengar.
"Extrasensory!"
Noctowl cast his psychic powers on Gengar again, roughly chucking it through the air.
Gengar floated back down, little more than an amorphous blob with swirls in her eyes.
"Gengar is unable to battle! Noctowl is the winner!"
"And, Gengar is down! With Max at a three-count disadvantage, things are quickly turning in Ash's favor!"
"There they go again!" Dawn fumed. "Those announcers and their big, stupid mouths, discouraging kids…"
"Didn't Lilian have that problem, too?" Brock recalled. "When you battled Paige and Larkspur."
"Yeah!" Dawn pouted, crossing her arms. She didn't even feel proper cheering for Ash, now.
"I think someone needs to have a word with the Pokemon League and Contest Committee," Misty bitterly remarked. "What kind of environment does it leave for young trainers, to be called out like that!?"
"I'll have a word with the committee, myself!" May huffed. "Keep going, Max! We've seen bigger comebacks! This is your time to shine!"
"Hey, don't listen to that!" Ash called across the field. "You've still got half your team, so make sure you throw everything at me, alright!?"
Max recalled Gengar, making eye contact with Ash. "I will!" At least Ash was on his side, sort of. "This is where we things turn around!" He announced, throwing a pokeball. "Go, Electivire!"
"Vire!" The Thunderbolt pokemon cried, pounding his fists together. He gave Noctowl his wide, Cheshire grin.
"Woah, you evolved it!" Ash marveled.
"Uh-huh. I asked Yas and Kaz about how they evolved their Electivire and Scizor, before we left town. Turns out, they just need a special hold item, just for them! And a lot of experience."
"That explains your Scizor, too…" Ash smirked. "Great, then let's see what you've got!"
"Use Thunderpunch!" Max ordered, unsure whether Light Screen had already died out.
Electivire sprinted at Noctowl, bringing down his hand in an electrically charged chop.
Noctowl swiftly dodged, spinning out of harm's way.
Max frowned. "Try again!"
Several more strikes followed, each as futile as the last. No matter how much Electivire hopped about, being stuck on the ground against an experienced flying type put him at a disadvantage.
"Electivire may have the power to hurt Noctowl, but he can't seem to land a hit!"
"Time to fight back," Ash decided, throwing a hand to the side. "Sky Attack!"
Noctowl pulled out of Electivire's range, charging his potent attack. This time, with urgency; he was aware that simply tanking this opponent's attack wasn't an option.
Within a few, tense moments, Noctowl shot down, smashing into Electivire.
"Electivire…!" The biped grunted, shoved across the ground by the aerial assault. Bucked off by Noctowl's beak, he righted himself.
Though, Max wasn't bothered. In fact, he felt triumphant. He hadn't seen a glimmer of Light Screen for a while… This was his moment. "Electivire, use Thunder!"
"Electivire!" He roared, firing a sizzling streak of lightning at Noctowl.
"Quick, use Light Screen!" Ash ordered.
Noctowl hooted in fright, quickly swiping his wing across his body to conjure a mysterious shield.
Thunder blasted Light Screen, a fraction making it through to hurt Noctowl.
The remainder bounced off of the shield, ricocheting back onto the field below.
A particularly large bolt struck Electivire.
"Yes!" Max cheered, adjusting the frames of his glasses.
"What!?" Ash gawked.
"Vire…!" The Thunderbolt pokemon rotated his arms, building up static that now coursed through his body. His limbs felt light and limber, supercharged by his own attack.
"Wow! In a freak accident, it seems that Electivire's Thunder was knocked back at it, activating its Motor Drive ability!"
"'Freak accident,' my butt," Max replied dryly.
"You planned that…?" Ash stared at his opponent, dumbfounded.
Max smirked. About time, credit was given where it was due. "I did," he confirmed, a mischievous gleam sliding over his glasses. "And, you know where I got that idea, Ash?"
Ash only stared, seemingly clueless.
"It was you!" Max pointed dramatically. "I got that idea from your strategy, against Tate and Liza! When you had Pikachu use Thunder on their Light Screen to bounce back and use as armor!"
"You remembered that?" Ash stood straight, seemingly impressed. "That lil' detail?"
"I may be my own trainer, Ash," Max prefaced, having taken May's mistakes to heart. "But, before I started my journey, my experience of battles was formed by you! May turned to contests… So, I made sure to study your style and pick up everything I could learn from it! And, I knew you'd need to put up a fresh, sturdy Light Screen when the old one faded, so I was just waiting for my chance!"
Ash smiled wide in response. From Max's point of view, it looks as if his eyes were glimmering with pride. "In that case, I'm flattered," Ash confirmed the other's suspicions. "Now, let me see you put that experience to work!" He went on to take the initiative. "Noctowl, use Extrasensory!"
"Thunder Punch!"
Noctowl's eyes began to glow, but suddenly, Electivire was upon him. He shrieked, smacked down by an electrified punch.
"Noctowl!" Ash gasped.
The bird hovered low, shaking free a few charred feathers.
"It's really fast…" Not quite Paul's Electivire, Ash guessed, but that left plenty of room to be impressive, regardless. "Noctowl, you need to put some distance between you and Electivire!"
Still rather rattled, Noctowl pulled back from where he'd been smacked.
"Thunderpunch, again!"
This time, Electivire didn't make it quite as high as his adversary. The yellow blur did, however, appear just below Noctowl. High enough to smash him back down to earth with a sizzling axe handle.
"Oh no," Ash gasped. This was looking grim.
"Now," Max quickly followed up, "Thunder!"
The Thunderbolt pokemon landed with a heavy thud before Noctowl. His twin tails quickly coiled around the bird, unleashing unyielding electricity directly into him.
Light Screen didn't stand a chance.
"Noctowl is unable to battle," the referee called, as he watched Electivire casually toss the unconscious bird towards Ash. "Electivire wins!"
"And, with Electivire's Motor Drive, Max leaves quite the impression with a quick comeback! Things are bound to get interesting, from here!"
"Alright! Way to go, Max!" May whooped. "You show him!"
Delia snapped her shutter furiously, getting shot after shot. "Oh, just look at him!" She turned her camera to the group, where she'd zoomed in on Max's face. "He looks so confident, now!"
"Now, this'll be fun to watch!" Misty beamed, feeling awfully proud. Of Ash and Max, both.
"Ash better be careful, though," Brock thought aloud. "Electivire have given him trouble in the past."
"Not just Paul's, but Surge's, too." Dawn added. She kept her eyes glued to the field.
With a pained chirp, Noctowl slowly opened his eyes. He felt warm and secure, despite the numbing pain. He was in Ash's arms, with his trainer smiling down on him. "Noct," he quietly apologized.
"Hey, I don't wanna hear that," Ash beamed. "You were awesome. You get some rest, alright?"
The bird relaxed as he was recalled in a flash of light. Ash turned back to Max. "Now, that's what I'm talking about!"
"Not bad, huh?" Max puffed out his chest.
"Not at all!" Ash agreed, tossing a pokeball. "Now, it's your turn, Typhlosion!"
The Volcano pokemon appeared in a flash of light, roaring loudly. Flames burst from the hot spots on his neck and back.
'Looks like you're finally taking me seriously.' Max smirked, comfortable with this knowledge. "Electivire, Thunder!"
Electivire threw his hands out, firing a roaring current at Typhlosion.
"Flamethrower," Ash countered.
Typhlosion threw his head forward, firing weaponized heat.
Fire clashed with electricity, sparking before cutting through, clearly overwhelming it.
Max swallowed as he watched the superior move close in. "Fire Punch; block it!"
Electivire coated each of his fists in flames, punching tirelessly at the oncoming flames.
Embers burst and scattered, deflecting most of the brunt from the Thunderbolt pokemon.
While Electivire was burnt in a few spots, though, his fists were roaring with heat.
"Great," Max exclaimed, relieved. "Now, Fire Punch!"
Electivire zipped forward, smashing one fist into Typhlosion's gut, then the next.
Typhlosion flinched from the blows, ignoring the flames that snapped at his fur.
"Wow! Max took the brunt of Typhlosion's Flamethrower, and turned it back on him, with Fire Punch!"
"Good stuff," Ash remarked, "but, Typhlosion's far from done. Aerial Ace!"
Indeed, even Electivire began to cower at the taller pokemon's intimidating gaze. Even with his reflexes, he found himself sorely out sped at close range, where the Volcano pokemon pummeled him with an acrobatic tackle.
"Grab him, with your tails!" Max hurried.
Falling back from his foe, Electivire grinned, snapping his cable-like tails around Typhlsion's belly.
"Crap, no!" Ash's face went pale. "Typhlosion!"
"Thunder!"
"Electivire!"
Typhlosion cried, shocked stiff by the many volts assaulting him, all at once.
"Not this again," Dawn pouted, crossing her arms.
"Ash needs to stop falling for that trap," Brock lamented. "But, maybe he thought Max didn't know that trick."
"Didn't he talk about watching Ash's conferences?" Dawn recalled.
"He always does," May affirmed. "He was glued to the screen during the Sinnoh League."
Electivire released Typhlosion, hopping back to make some distance.
Typhlosion still stood, even as sparks crackled over his body.
"You really need to be more careful," Max taunted. "But, if Paul didn't teach you that lesson, then maybe I have to be the one to do it!"
"You…!" Ash's eyes widened. He swallowed his pride, smiling. "So, that's how you knew." He looked to his companion. "You okay, Typhlosion?"
"Ty!" The pokemon answered, raising a paw to Ash.
Ash narrowed his eyes. Even as the pokemon gestured, his movements were sluggish and stilted. Electricity still clung to his body, making his fur stand up.
"You're paralyzed!" Ash's expression became blank; hard to read, in Max's opinion. Was he scared, but afraid to show it?
"That Thunder attack has Paralyzed Typhlosion! With two of his pokemon suffering from status conditions, Ash is finding himself in quite the predicament!"
"Typhlosion, return!" Ash held a pokeball outstretched, recalling the large mammal with a red beam of light. "Good job."
"Check that out!" Max boasted, smiling from ear to ear. "I've got you on the run, now! How's it feel?" The boy taunted, playing with his glasses that promptly shone in the midday sun.
Ash clipped Typhlosion's ball back to his belt. Without a word, he grabbed another pokeball, clicking the center button with his index finger. His gaze held firmly on Electivire.
