Thank you all for waiting! After a long, trying journey, and plenty of chapters, we've reached the moment you've all been waiting for – Ash's big, make-or-break battle for the Championship! We sincerely hope you enjoy the beginning of this thrilling battle. We'd love to hear what you think of this latest installment, so please review, if you have a moment!
Also, please be sure to check out our tumblr, another-rxad, where we'll be posting fanart for this chapter!
Enjoy!
Early morning. The summer sun was already in the sky, filtering warm daylight into the cabin's bedroom through a crack in the curtains. Hushed chatter could barely be heard, filtered through the walls.
The room was empty, except for two. Pikachu stood atop the bottom bunk, his ears bouncing as he watched his trainer prepare for this long-awaited day. He could barely sit still.
A belt's buckle was fastened into place with a click. Jade fingerless gloves were tugged snugly onto his hands by their pale green cuffs. Last, but definitely not least, the official Pokemon League cap was placed onto his head, burns, tatters, and all. Every detail a symbol of trials met, struggles endured, and victories earned.
For once, Ash turned to a mirror, body-length against the wall, courtesy of the cabin, adjusting his wild, dark bangs to be presentable to his standards. After all, he thought, today was the big day. Possibly, a defining moment in his life.
His dark eyes shone with a vibrant shade of copper, lit with enthusiasm. Grinning, he punched towards the mirror. "Yes! Today's the day!" He turned to the window, parting the curtains and raising the glass to let in the fresh summer breeze. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply.
Ash smiled to himself, turning to scoop Pikachu into his arms for a hug. "I bet you're excited too, right?"
"Pika!" Pikachu cooed, nuzzling his face into Ash's chin. Obviously!
"Thought so. But, just in case… you sure you don't wanna use your Thunder Vest?" He looked to the dresser beside the bunk, as did his partner. The protective jacket laid atop it. "I checked with the league, and they said it's okay, since you're diagnosed, and all."
Pikachu's eyes fell shut, and his ears fell. Exhaling, he turned to look sharply into Ash's eyes. He shook his head. "Pika, Pikachu!" He didn't need it. He was at his best, today! He wiggled out of Ash's arms to stand atop his shoulder, throwing his head up for, from a Pikachu, what passed as a ferocious roar. "Pikaaaaa!" He was pumped!
Ash grinned, inspired by his partner. He could barely contain himself, pumping a fist in the air. "Yes! The day is ours!"
Just then, the door creaked open, and the duo turned their attention towards it.
"That's the spirit!" Dawn stood in the doorway, along with Empoleon and Buneary. She sported her cheerleading outfit, with her hair tied in a ponytail - Ash was used to that, and Buneary's usual outfit came as no surprise. Empoleon, however, shocked he and Pikachu alike.
The Emperor pokemon had a new look, sporting a sparkly, white sequin shawl.
"You guys all geared up to cheer us on?" Ash winked. "And, look at Empoleon! He looks great!"
"We went for a simple angle, to dazzle," Dawn explained. "Empoleon's already so ornate, that he doesn't need much extra decoration. My boy's a natural spectacle!"
"He sure is," Ash agreed. "I bet I'll see you, all the way from the stands!"
Pikachu looked down to Buneary, who was beaming at him, predictably. He smiled, hopping down to her level. "Pikachu!" He spoke, complimenting her on her outfit. It was the least he could do, for cheering for them!
Buneary swallowed, shyly covering her eyes with her ears. The urge to hug Pikachu was great, but she resisted. "Bun…" She thanked him casually, pulling herself together.
Gathering her courage, Buneary reached to grab Pikachu's paws, looking boldly into his eyes. "Buneary," she asserted, wishing him the best of luck! This battle was his!
Pikachu was surprised to feel Butterfree aflutter in his stomach, his face tinged with a streak of red. Genuinely flustered for once, he laughed, shyly thanking her. "Pika… Pikachu!" He'd do his best!
"I think it's time we all got going! We still need to find our seats." Delia entered the room, ruffling the cap atop Ash's head. "And, we don't want you to be late for your big match!"
"Hey, I just got that on perfectly," Ash huffed, fixing his cap atop his head.
"I thought competitors' friends got dibs on the best seats?" Dawn asked.
"That's only for up to three," Delia corrected. "With everyone in our group… well, we better not test our luck, haha! It'd be inconsiderate to everyone else, otherwise."
"Then, I guess we should get going. C'mon, Pikachu!" Ash held his arm out, and Pikachu boarded it. He turned for the door, stopping short when a hand came close to his face. "Hey!"
Dawn, hand held out, gave a cheeky smile before raising it higher. "You're not leaving without one of these!"
Ash smirked. "Wouldn't think of it!" He pulled a hand back, throwing it forward for a high-five.
The duo exchanged a laugh as they left the room. Delia smiled to herself, following, after.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for your patience! The moment you've been waiting for is almost here - the final match of this year's Indigo League Conference!"
Even over the loudspeakers, the announcer's voice could barely be heard. The stadium was packed, the crowd rowdy, and energy abundant. Chatter over the match dominated the crowd, and food vendors walked up and down the aisles.
Delia, Dawn, and Brock sat in Ash's entourage area, close to the field, itself; Empoleon had managed to snag the seat beside his trainer, while Buneary sat in her lap. A couple seats down, Misty accompanied Max and Koda. Nearby, Professor Oak sat beside May and Drew.
Delia swallowed heavily, reaching to wipe her eyes.
"Miss Ketchum?" Dawn turned to the older woman, concerned.
"It's just…" Delia sniffled, smiling to herself, even as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm so proud of him. Even from the start of his journey, he was beating everyone's expectations." From the early days when Gary had been boasting his superiority, Ash swore to surpass him. Some may have doubted him, but she didn't.
"I've always bragged about him. Even way back, when he placed in the top sixteen."
Dawn held a hand to her heart, touched. She should have known!
Brock smiled to himself. "How're you feeling, now that Ash is so close to winning?"
"I'm happy as long as he is." She whispered, brushing an auburn bang out of her face. "I've thought for years that Ash could make a living as a professional battler, knowing that he'd been supporting himself since he'd been to Johto. I never really worried about his future. But, if he can make it to Hall of Fame and become renowned as a trainer, that'll make him happy. I want him to focus on his dreams!"
Dawn swallowed, reaching for Delia's hands to grab them. "He will! And when he wins, we should celebrate, big-time!"
Delia's expression turned soft. "Just what I'd expect from my da-"
"The wait is over! The finalists have entered the arena!"
Down on the field, Ash stepped out of the inner chambers of the stadium, with Pikachu atop his shoulder. Walking to his box with a confidence stride, his jacket swirled around him.
Deidra approached from the opposite end, alone. Her lavender cape, clasped to her short-cut tank top with golden guards, fluttered around her.
"Many competitors have graced our presence with their greatest efforts, stunning battles, and their wonderful pokemon! All in the pursuit of proving which trainer and their pokemon will rise above the rest! Today, we'll have our answer, in the battle between two titanic trainers!"
"In one corner, we have a hometown favorite - Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town! A young veteran of Pokemon League competitions, who this time, has blown through the ranks, with tremendous power and ability! Today, he stakes his claim for the Championship, with his trusty Pikachu at his side."
Ash smiled to himself, taking a deep breath. His spirit was contagious, his energy boundless. Basking in the announcer's praise, Ash grabbed a pokeball from his belt, extending it towards his opponent. "Hey, Deidra!" He called, grinning at his opponent. "Gotta say, I'm super excited to battle you. With that said…" A glimmer in his eyes, he shouted across the field. "I've come to this battle to win!"
An uproar of applause rang for Ash, inarguably from the fanbase he'd gathered during the tournament.
"And, standing in Ash's way is someone equally powerful - a stern, ferocious battler, who's swept the competition without any meaningful resistance, thus far! A disciple of the Dragon Clan, associated with none other than the Champion Lance, himself, Deidra Agrona is dead-set on bringing home the gold!"
The woman scowled, glowering Ash with her visible yellow hue. "Are you certain your connections are going to carry you to victory?"
Ash furrowed his brows, taken aback. "Uh, come again?"
"This will be a full, 6-on-6 battle!" The referee shouted, earning the stadium's attention. "The match will conclude when all of one trainer's pokemon are rendered unconscious, or either trainer surrenders. Either competitor may switch pokemon at any time. No time limit!"
Ash adjusted the brim of his cap.
Deidra cracked her knuckles.
Raising a hand, the referee shouted. "You may begin!"
"My path to victory is one I'm going to find, alongside my pokemon!" Ash winded up, tossing a pokeball forward. "Staraptor, I choose you!"
Deidra ignored Ash, chucking her own pokeball. "Dragonite!"
The Predator pokemon circled the field, gliding idly on the breeze. His gaze was glued to his bulkier opponent, who wasn't yet airborne. So far, she was oddly still, and oddly calm.
"Dragonite's bulkier than Staraptor, so we might have an advantage," Ash thought aloud. "Staraptor, start building up speed!"
"Star!" Staraptor cawed, sweeping across the field with a quick boost of momentum. He made a point of shooting past Dragonite, ruffling its wings.
Dragonite huffed. A flap of her wings kicked up a cloud of dust.
In the moment Ash took to guard from the dust, she was airborne, circling Staraptor in an airborne dance. Ash narrowed his eyes. "So, it's fast, too…"
Deidra stood with her arms crossed, silent as the two pokemon sized each other up.
Staraptor hummed lowly, uncomfortable with how close Dragonite was drifting in his airspace. He shot up, out of the dragon's reach.
Suddenly, he was looking into the wide, jade eyes of his opponent. He startled.
"No good… Push ahead, with Aerial Ace!"
Staraptor turned upwards, falling back into a nosedive, that quickly became a loop. Increasing his speed, he threw himself at Dragonite. He had her, now.
"Extremespeed!"
Staraptor struck. Where Dragonite had been, he'd only hit thin air.
The breath was suddenly knocked from Staraptor's lungs, his entire body slammed by an orange blur.
As Staraptor fell, Ash extended his pokeball, recalling the bird in a flash of light. "That might be the wrong situation for Staraptor… best not to take any chances."
"As fast as Staraptor was, its speed was seemingly no match for Dragonite! With that power play, Deidra has claimed control of the first round!"
"I've never seen Deidra's Dragonite, before." Misty frowned, folding her arms. "I've only ever seen her use her Metagross. Does that mean she's going all out, against Ash…?" Her brows knit together. "I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or a bad thing…"
"It's good." Koda replied. "If she feels she can't steamroll Ash with just one pokemon, she must be on edge."
"It doesn't matter," Max shrugged his shoulders. "Ash is supreme, when it comes to thinking of plans on the fly. No matter what she does, he'll find a way around it!"
"Time for a change in strategy… Floatzel, it's your turn!" Ash called, summoning his next pokemon.
"Float!" Floatzel cried, standing tall with his paws crossed. Squinting, he sized up his airborne opponent. She looked tough, and she had to be a formidable flyer, if Ash'd called him out, with his roster.
Ash pointed forward. "Use Aqua jet!"
Quickly surrounded in a torrent, Floatzel launched himself into the air, throwing himself at Dragonite.
"Thunderpunch," Deidra ordered.
Dragonite growled, rearing a fist, sizzling with electricity.
The water surrounding Floatzel suddenly dissipated. As gravity pulled him in, Dragonite came in swinging, just over Floatzel's head. The Sea Weasel grinned, resuming Aqua Jet to smash into Dragonite's belly.
Dragonite groaned, offset by Floatzel's attack.
"What a move! Floatzel pulled himself out of a tight situation by releasing his own Aqua Jet, prepping him to slip past Dragonite's defenses!"
Deidra scowled. "Dragon Pulse!"
Dragonite had already recovered. Throwing her head forward, she blasted the falling Floatzel with an explosive violet blast.
"Powerful," Ash muttered. He smiled, nevertheless. "But, Floatzel's seen much worse!"
"Don't let them recover," Deidra barked. "Extremespeed!"
Black smoke billowed around the impact point. Floatzel stumbled out of the debris, shaking his head. "Float…"
"Your flotation sac," Ash shouted, "Now!"
Eyes half-lidded, Floatzel trusted his trainer's instincts, and heavily inhaled.
A pressure struck his stomach, and he struggled to hold his breath. The worst came and went, though, as he bounced harmlessly off the ground, like a beach ball, slipping deviously out of one's grip.
"Way to hang in there," Ash commended. "But, she's putting on the pressure… Let's change things up! Rain Dance!"
Floatzel nodded to Ash, raising his paws.
"Extremespeed!"
Suddenly, Floatzel felt a great impact, and was sent sliding across the field.
Ash grimaced. "Rain Dance, again!"
Floatzel cried in response, pushing himself onto his feet with his front paws.
"Once more," Deidra ordered.
By the time Floatzel's arms were raised, Dragonite was upon him, and brutally body checked the water type.
"Ouch! Floatzel is doing his best to set the field in his favor, but Deidra's made it her mission to make him work for it! Dragonite is showing no mercy!"
The Sea Weasel growled through grit teeth, thoroughly irritated. His body was sore, but it hardly compared to his suffering pride.
"Floatzel's really getting ticked off," Ash muttered. "Better give him some space. Hydro Pump, towards the ground!"
Floatzel didn't hesitate, spitting a torrent at the ground. The recoil blasted him skyward, well out of Dragonite's reach.
"After it," Deidra ordered.
Dragonite huffed, pursuing Floatzel with a flap of her wings.
"Now!" Ash called, punching towards the sky. "Rain Dance!"
Both paws were raised above the Sea Weasel's head, conjuring a small, blue orb. With a toss, it was chucked above the field.
Dense, black clouds quickly formed above the fray, gathering into a violent downpour.
With a dismissive flick of her wrist, the other would-be-winner called out her next command. "Ignore it. Thunderpunch!"
Ignoring the rain, Dragonite roared, throwing a punch.
Ash shouted over the storm. "Ice Punch!"
Sporting a grin, Floatzel turned into a spin, angling his descent out of Dragonite's reach. Triumphant, he raised an icy fist. "Float!" He cried, smashing his icy paw into Dragonite's face.
Dragonite grunted, rubbing her jaw, numbed by a thin layer of frost.
"Quick," Ash hurried, "Aqua Jet!"
Floatzel put a stop to his descent, throwing himself at Dragonite in the form of a powered-up water torpedo.
"Catch it!" Deidra ordered.
Dragonite, with little time to waste, held her arms out at length. She roared, smashing them inward.
Floatzel's eyes turned to pinpoints, the air smashed out of his torso. Aqua Jet dissipated, his body held firmly in Dragonite's grip.
Deidra firmly closed an outstretched fist. "Thunderpunch!"
"Groaaargh!" Dragonite howled, her body bursting with sizzling bolts of electricity.
"Floatzel!" Ash gasped.
"Ooh! Trapped for a super-effective attack!"
Electricity fell away from Dragonite's body. Floatzel was still in her grip, trailing wisps of grey smoke.
Ash grimaced, playing with the brim of his cap. "That ain't good… Floatzel, get out of there!"
"Zel…" The water type hung limp, eyes half-lidded. He squirmed, but the effort was half-hearted. Dragonite didn't budge.
"Not good." Ash exhaled, his eyes growing wide. They were in a pinch.
"Come on, Floatzel! Snap out of it!" Max shouted, waving a fist at the scene.
"That had to hurt pretty bad," Koda remarked. "He might be out."
"A Thunderpunch up-close is no joke, for a water pokemon," Misty replied, stern. "But, if I know anything about Ash and his pokemon, that Floatzel is as gutsy as he is. And with the rain, they have the home field advantage… there has to be a way."
"It's over." Deidra closed a fist. "Dragon Pulse!"
Dragonite huffed, squeezing Floatzel in her grip. He'd put up a fight, but hardly enough to satisfy her. Nevertheless, she opened her mouth wide, conjuring a violet swirl of energy.
"Come on, Floatzel!" Ash stomped the field, and cupped his hands around his mouth. "You can do this! I know you've got more fight in you! You always have!" He clutched a fist.
Deidra crossed her arms, silent.
"Floatzel…" The Sea Weasel blinked. In a painful haze, he'd been tempted to surrender. To allow slumber to take him out of Dragonite's grip.
Ash's voice rang clear, like a bell. That wasn't him at all. "Zel!" Floatzel slapped his own cheeks. This wasn't over!
But, Dragon Pulse was only a blink away.
Ash closed his fists. "Ice Punch, on its arms!"
"Float!" Floatzel cried, slamming two chilling paws into Dragonite's forearms.
Dragonite anticipated pain. Instead, she felt nothing. She felt numb, in fact.
As Floatzel fell from her grab, she realized that her arms were trapped in blocks of ice.
"Floatzel took a lot of damage, but it's returned the favor by freezing Dragonite's arms with Ice Punch! What will Deidra do, now!?"
"Tch…" Deidra tightened a fist. "After it!"
Regaining her focus, Dragonite dove in pursuit.
"Perfect!" Ash grinned, punching the air. "Now, Dragonite can't use its arms… Ice Punch!"
Deidra stopped the ground. "Dragon Pulse!"
Dragonite pulled back, firing a twisting pulse of energy at Floatzel.
Floatzel cried, swinging into the blast with chilling power.
Dragon Pulse split, flickers of draconian energy mixing into the heavy downpour. Mostly nullified, the attack only managed to push Floatzel down to the earth, below.
This Floatzel was awfully persistent. Deidra threw a hand out. "Extremespeed!"
Dragonite roared, streamlining her body before shooting forward with blinding speed.
"This time, we'll beat that speed." Ash grinned, throwing a hand forward. "Dodge, with Ice Aqua Jet!"
"Float!" Floatzel quickly turned into a spin, the rain around him aiding in forming an Aqua Jet, bursting with vigor. With Dragonite only a blink away, Floatzel launched upwards.
Dragonite barely stopped short, turning upright to skid on her feet.
By that point, Floatzel had twisted Ice Punch into Aqua Jet, seeping the water with an unforgiving chill. Turning into a backflip, Floatzel passed his opponent, landing upright.
Dragonite howled, as her wings were basked in freezing water, covering them in ice.
Ash smirked. "Bingo."
"Swift Swim is doing Floatzel quite a favor! Not only did he dodge Dragonite's Extremespeed, but now, both its arms and its wings are frozen! The mythical pokemon is finding itself in a real bind, folks!"
"Yes!" Dawn cheered, pumping both of her pom-poms in the air. "Way to use our move in a pinch!"
"Your move?" Delia tilted her head.
"Ice Aqua Jet was a combination that I came up with, for contests, when Floatzel was still my Buizel. But, Ash perfected it for battles, after I traded him for Aipom. And now, they figured out how to use it without help, with Ice Punch! It's our very own signature move, just like Counter Shield!"
"A signature move of your very own… Oh, that's precious!" Delia cooed, clasping her hands together. "And, it looks so effective!"
"It's one of Ash's favored moves, when he has the chance to move it," Brock replied. "And this time, it came through in the clutch."
Dragonite hissed as she fell to the ground, no longer able to fly. Hunched over, she snorted at Floatzel. That slippery weasel was getting on her nerves. She roared. "Fight me head-on, not like a coward!"
Floatzel smirked, crossing his arms, triumphant. "Quit talking like a sore loser, and I'll think about it."
Dragonite snorted. He was in for it, now.
Deidra's eye twitched. What exactly the pokemon were saying escaped her. But, it was plain as day that her very own dragon was irritated, and that cocky Floatzel wasn't helping matters. "Unsurprising, that your pokemon is just as poor a sport as you are."
"Floatzel talks a big game, because he plays a big game." Ash smiled, brushing his thumb over his nose. "Give him what he wants, and we'll walk the walk!"
"Insolent…" Deidra showed her canines, and stomped the field, ignoring the splash kicked up by her shoes. "Set yourself free. Fire Blast!"
Dragonite roared, bathing herself in a roaring, burning star. As quickly as the fire engulfed her, it began to flicker away, tempered by the constant downpour.
Dragonite stepped out of the inferno, her arms thawed, and her wings freed. She huffed, triumphant.
"A risky move on Deidra's part, to thaw her Dragonite, but the reward was great!"
Deidra threw a hand out. "Dragon Pulse!"
Dragonite threw her head forward, launching a destructive beam.
"Dodge that!" Ash commanded.
Floatzel began to sprint, avoiding Dragon Pulse's initial burst.
Dragonite roared, continuing the stream in pursuit.
"Keep running," Ash urged. "It's following you!"
Floatzel slid along the slick field, avoiding several explosions that trailed behind him. The ground rattled behind him, chunks of earth displaced by Dragonite's power. Floatzel winced.
"Good job… but that could be nasty if it hits." Ash pulled a hand back, then punched forward. "Use Ice Punch, on the rain!"
"What'd he say!?" Max gawked.
"Dude, I'm not even going to ask," Koda deadpanned.
Floatzel turned on his heel, winding up an Ice Punch. With a cry, he punched forward.
Frost billowed through the air with sharp precision, snatching up the pouring rain.
A barrage of icy needles flew off Floatzel's paw, bombarding Dragonite.
Dragonite roared in pain, halting Dragon Pulse to guard with her arms.
"Well, that's new!" May marveled, leaning forward in her seat.
"I can't say I've seen Ice Punch used as a projectile, before." Drew crossed his arms.
"He's getting the most out of his moves," Professor Oak added, arms crossed thoughtfully. "That Rain Dance was meant to take advantage of Floatzel's Swift Swim, to remove Dragonite's advantage in speed. But, not only does it power up his water type moves, he's managed to combine it with Ice Punch to freeze the precipitation into a weapon."
"I've never seen Floatzel use that combination, before!" Dawn marveled, clasping her hands together. "But, why does it feel familiar?"
"If I recall, Candice's Abomasnow used Ice Punch in the same manner - as a well-trained Ice type, it's unsurprising that it could manipulate the move." Brock held a thumb to his chin. "But, Ash found a way, even with Floatzel. Whether he'd planned that out a long time ago, or came up with it on the spot, I can't say for sure."
"Keep it up!" Ash encouraged, punching the air.
"Float! Zel! Float!" Floatzel grunted, punching the falling rain repetitively, sending wave after wave of ice at Dragonite.
"With an odd spin on Ice Punch, Floatzel has Dragonite on the ropes!"
As Dragonite recoiled, Deidra's fist tightened to the point of it hurting. She threw a hand out. "Fly out of its range, now!"
Dragonite responded quickly, rapidly beating her wings. A gust of pure power shattered the incoming shards, and she took to the sky.
"Dragon Pulse!"
The dragon type soared about the field, coming back around to launch an explosive Dragon Pulse as she coasted the sky, beckoning the image of a ravaging dragon spewing flames, from old fairy tales.
But, this assault was all too real.
Ash threw an arm out. "Use Hydro Pump, on the ground!"
Floatzel turned his head down, blasting away at the field. The jet propelled him into the air, narrowly escaping Dragon Pulse's reach.
Deidra pointed towards the airborne water type. "Dragon Pulse!"
Ash kneeled to one knee, punching the ground. "Ice Punch!"
Floatzel reared his fist behind his head, chilling the air around it. Mist spraying from Hydro Pump's remains clung, freezing around the pokemon's paw.
There was a glimmer in Ash's eye, from below.
Dragonite opened her mouth, preparing Dragon Pulse.
Floatzel swung downward, delivering a fierce punch to Dragonite's skull.
The behemoth was sent spiraling towards the battlefield, disoriented.
Ash smiled to himself. "Awesome. One more thing to work with!" A loud thud shook the field as Dragonite hit the ground, bringing Ash out of his thoughts. "Long-range Ice Punch, again!"
"Float! Zel!" Floatzel punched away at the rain, launching an onslaught of ice.
"You're stronger than them!" Deidra shouted, stomping the ground. "Thunderpunch!"
Dragonite flew towards Floatzel, only to be met head-on by a storm of ice. She roared, stopping to guard herself with her arms. The assault continued, and she wrapped her wings around her hide.
"Dragonite is being held hostage, by Floatzel's persistent attacks! What will it do!?"
"We've got 'em on the ropes!" Ash encouraged, punching forward. "Keep attacking!"
"Float! Zel! Float! Zel!" Floatzel huffed, swinging one frozen fist after the next. With every swing, Dragonite stepped back, unable to fight back. If he could just keep this up a bit longer...!
"Zel!" He cried, punching the air. This time, only bits of frost tumbled off.
The heavy rainfall had dissipated.
"Now," Deidra shouted, "Put an end to this!"
Finally feeling relief, Dragonite uncoiled. She sneered, and launched herself at Floatzel.
The water type scowled, throwing his body forward to counter with Ice Punch.
Dragonite slipped past the blow, and swung with all her momentum.
A shocking punch to the jaw rocked Floatzel, sending him sliding across the slick battlefield, towards Ash's feet.
"Floatzel!" Ash tensed, wiping sweat from his brow. "And, we were so close, too."
"Just as they were on the cusp of victory, Ash and Floatzel saw the end of Rain Dance, and they paid the price! This could be the end for Floatzel. But, Dragonite also looks like it's seen better days!"
Floatzel stumbled, struggling to stand on two feet. Shocked, clobbered, and worn, he settled for leaning forward, taking heavy breaths.
Dragonite slammed her tail against the field, and rubbed her jaw.
"You're doing great," Ash encouraged. "Way to tough it out. But, we better wrap this up quick…" Dragonite looked tired, as well, from what he could see. "Time to finish this! Ice Aqua Jet!"
"Float!" Floatzel burst forward with Aqua Jet, spinning himself into an icy spiral.
"Don't let it get any further," Deidra roared. "Fire Blast!"
Dragonite howled, launching a blazing star in Ice Aqua Jet's path.
Fire and ice collided, the former blasting the latter into a billowing cloud of steam. Heat cascaded across the field, rustling Ash and Deidra, alike.
Deidra grit her teeth. "This is the end! Dragonite, Thunderpunch!"
Dragonite roared, ascending above the steam, fist coated in wild electricity.
Ash smirked. "Use Hydro Pump, in front of you!"
Dragonite plummeted into the vapor, and the field quaked.
Floatzel shot out of the steam, sliding towards Ash, unharmed. "Zel!"
"Now!" Ash punched forward. "Hydro Pump, one more time! The other way, this time!"
Floatzel turned, spraying a powerful jet that launched him towards the clearing steam.
"Now, add an Ice Punch to that Hydro Pump!" Ash ordered.
An icy paw was raised into the stream, freezing the length of Hydro Pump as Floatzel flew.
The steam died away, and Dragonite stood, yanking her fist out of a crater in the field.
Collective gasps could be heard, as Floatzel's fist was completely encased by a huge crescent of ice, dwarfing the length of his body. Gritting his fangs, he reared his arm.
Go!" Ash roared, punching forward.
Dragonite looked up, and stared, like a Stantler in headlights.
"Zel!" Floatzel cried, striking Dragonite with all his might.
Upon impact, the ice shattered into bits, and Dragonite was sent tumbling.
Deidra stared, speechless, as Dragonite landed before her, her fierce eyes turned to defeated swirls.
"Dragonite is unable to battle," the referee called, raising a hand. "Floatzel wins the first round!"
"A close call, but a win, nonetheless! With even 'Ice Aqua Jet' failing to finish the fight, Ash and Floatzel surprised everyone, with a combination of Hydro Pump and Ice Punch! Something you'll only see here, in the conference finals!"
"Yes!" Dawn cheered, jumping out of her seat. "Way to give it to them, Floatzel!"
"Bun-Buneary!"
"Empol!" Empoleon cheered, thrilled for his former teammate.
Ash exhaled heavily. "Phew… and that was just the first round, huh? Talk about a close call." The trainer wiped sweat from his brow, smiling to himself. "Somehow, I got the feeling it'll only get tougher from here."
"Pikachu," the electric mouse agreed. His own heart was racing, even from the sidelines.
"Float…!" Floatzel had made his way to Ash, bearing a smirk. As if to say, 'told you so.'
Ash smirked, extending a fist to bump with Floatzel's. "You were amazing, Floatzel. Our first step to victory!"
"Floatzel!" The Sea Weasel eagerly returned the gesture. He was sore, and tired. On the other hand, he was more pumped up than ever. He was ready for more, now!
"I thought all you had was your connections."
Ash looked across to Deidra.
"I was wrong," she admitted. "You might be creative."
Ash smirked, brushing his index finger over the bridge of his nose. "You like that, huh? The truth is, I came up with that on the spot! During that last Ice Punch, Floatzel powered up with what was left of Hydro Pump. So, I thought we'd take that up a notch. But, I can't take all the credit. Floatzel was the one who followed through on my idea!"
Floatzel turned to their opponent, his arms crossed.
Face schooled into an almost tranquil fury as always, the dragon specialist returned her Dragonite. Wordlessly, she tossed her next pokeball out.
Her would-be signature pokemon roared into action. Its legs rotated.
Ash tensed. "Here it is…" Deidra's most reliable team member was Metagross, wasn't it? He couldn't risk losing Floatzel too soon. Though the weasel-otter was tired, Ash didn't want to burn through his team faster than he had to. "Alright, Floatzel, let's start off with Rain Dance."
"Meteor Mash."
Metagross's curled, metal fist slammed into Floatzel's cheek. For a brief moment, the collision lasted; a momentary connection between Floatzel's cheek, the expression of concentration for the Rain Dance shifting into shock. Floatzel tumbled across the battle field.
He did not move.
Biting his tongue to keep from cursing, Ash balled a hand into a fist. "Floatzel!" He quickly returned the pokemon, satisfied to see the pokeball accepted the otter. He was knocked out, but otherwise fine. "Thanks, buddy."
"The stubborn fighter, Floatzel, has been knocked out! Though he'd taken a lot of damage, there's definitely something to be said for Metagross' overwhelming power!"
Ash's eyes flashed dangerously as he brought out his next pokemon. "I'm tellin' ya, Deidra, don't go playin' roughshod on me! It ain't nice! Torterra, I choose you!"
"Terra!" Torterra roared, stomping his trunk-like limbs into the field.
The dragon specialist only lifted her chin. "Brutality is the language of those that only recognize strength and simplicity. You will earn my civility when you act civil," she coldly replied. Without further word, she returned her Metagross, letting a new pokemon take its place on the field: Salamence.
In the stands, Dawn gasped. "She's switching out!"
"There was a type disadvantage," Brock explained. "She doesn't seem fond of taking risks."
"Yeah, but… It's so strong. It's all she's used until now." Dawn frowned. "It's like Tobias with his Darkrai."
"Then, it's proof of Ash's strength. He can put anyone on the ropes. And, unlike Deidra, it seems, he has no problem with type disadvantages. As much flak as he catches for doing it, it's normal to him. It won't throw him off like it's throwing her off," Brock said.
"... I don't think she's afraid," Dawn quietly said. She held her pom-poms tighter. "I think she's saving it. It's only been using Psychic up until now, too… So, she's keeping it as her ace still, I'm sure." Her eyes widened. "She only called out Metagross to get rid of Floatzel!"
Brock flinched. "You think…?"
Delia smiled. "Hehe, that's my Ash! He's good at putting on the pressure!"
Nodding, Dawn braced herself. With Empoleon, Buneary, and Rura at her side, she began cheering again. "Ash, Ash, get her goat! Keep her on the rope!"
Deidra took the initiative. "Flamethrower!"
Salamence roared, launching a torrent of flames.
Ash's expression was stern. "Charge through it!"
"Terra!" Torterra roared, stomping forward into the brunt of Flamethrower.
"What's this!? Torterra's charged right into a super-effective Flamethrower! Ash must have a lot of confidence in his pokemon."
Deidra watched, standing still. "Either you're extraordinarily bold, or you're senseless."
"Torterra can take the heat," Ash boasted. "Now, use Crunch!"
Flamethrower came to an end, and the Continent pokemon charged out of the smoke, sinking his teeth into Salamence's wing.
The dragon roared, unprepared for Torterra's assault.
Deidra held a hand out with curled fingers, tightly closing it into a fist. "Dragon Claw!"
Indignant, Salamence dug one foot into the field. He raised his other foreleg, slashing brutally across Torterra's shell with elongated, emerald claws.
Torterra grunted, lowering his head in defense.
"You've got it," Ash coached. "Giga Drain!"
Emerald wisps ensnared Salamence, beginning to sap it of its strength. Salamence roared in protest, irritated by the parasitic force. The damage being dealt was minimal, but unpleasant, nonetheless.
Deidra's visible eye narrowed. "Disengage!"
Salamence flapped his wings, leaping backwards. Giga Drain's reach snapped at its legs, falling short of reclaiming its target.
"Got 'em!" Ash beamed, closing a fist. "Hit it with Rock Climb!"
Torterra slammed his full weight down on the field, sending rumbling quakes through the earth.
A pillar of earth erupted several yards away, shooting skyward, and into Salamence's underbelly.
The Dragon pokemon recoiled, the wind knocked from its gut. "Agh!" It coughed, retreating to the air.
"Ouch! Torterra has Salamence out of its space, and it's reclaimed the offensive, with an unorthodox use of Rock Climb!"
"Oh, we're just getting started." Ash grinned. "Again!"
Torterra angled himself towards Salamence, and slammed his weight against the earth.
The earth shook in a low, barely noticeable rumble beneath Deidra's feet. She scowled, throwing a hand out. "Keep pulling away!"
Salamence turned into a horizontal spin, handily avoiding an outcrop that shot into the sky beside it.
"Where it's coming!" Ash commanded with confidence.
As Torterra hit the earth, Deidra tensed. "Pull back! Now!"
Salamence heeded his trainer's gut instincts, and pulled desperately to stop short.
Rock Climb shot up right in front of him. He snorted, agitated.
"I can't believe it! Ash really has Salamence on the run!" Max gawked, leaning forward in his seat.
"Didn't you say he could work his way out of anything?" Koda glanced at Max before returning to the action. "Still…"
"I did, but like, there's no way a Torterra should hold the upper hand against a Salamence! It's just a bad match-up." Max adjusted his glasses. "But, those Rock Climbs… I don't think that move's even meant to be used, like that!"
"I've certainly never seen it used that way." Misty crossed her arms, brows furrowed. "I've had it used against me in the gym, to let earthbound pokemon get a quick rise up, in the water. But I've never seen them raise that high, let alone stick around that long! I don't know what kind of training Ash is doing…" She trailed off, looking to her friend, below.
He looked confident, then. Aggressive in his strategy, but far from desperate. But, then again, one could only guess what he was thinking, right now. The same could be said for Deidra.
"Don't let them predict your movements," Deidra coached.
Salamence roared, swerving through the air above. What he lacked in his body's mobility, he made up for in speed.
"He's moving too fast, now." Ash frowned. "And his flying's harder to predict, now… Keeping this up'll waste energy. Hang tight, Torterra!"
"Terra." Torterra acknowledged Ash, waiting patiently.
Furrowing her visible brow, Deidra didn't move a muscle beyond speaking. "Salamence, use Flamethrower."
Turning in his high cruising altitude, Salamence circled around to aim directly for Torterra. As the dragon drew closer to the ground type, its horrible mouth opened wide. Out of the black chasm spewed a river of fire.
Ash's dark eyes zeroed in on the pillar of heat. "Torterra, block it with Rock Climb!"
Bracing himself, Torterra focused on creating trail with Rock Climb both further ahead and wider out than he was. As he reached higher into the air, the bottom of the jet of fire licked across the stones. The Flamethrower didn't touch him and Salamence was forced to bank to avoid collision. Torterra stood atop his spire, looking at the dragon warily.
"Dragon Claw," Deidra called, impassive as ever.
Salamence's claws raked across Torterra's hard shell suddenly. The dragon had zoomed by, taking the tortoise by surprised and off guard. Crumbles of grass and dirt fell from the grass type's shell. An ugly, muddy mark was left behind.
"She's hitting hard. But, we can hit harder! Torterra, Earthquake!"
Torterra watched as Salamence flew around the other earthen pillars in the battle arena. Slamming his foot down, he began their collapse. The tremors were contained to the battlefield themselves thanks to the advanced technology of the stadium, but even the flying Salamence did not escape their wrath. As his spire of stone fell under his weight, the other pillars of rock began to topple.
Salamence now had to avoid an avalanche of rocks. The first stone hit him, knocking him off course.
Deidra's chin dipped. "Roost, defensive stance," she called.
Salamence obeyed. Landing on the ground, Salamence tucked its tail and its neck to its sides and folded its hardy, thick, leathery wings over its body. As the stones collapsed, Torterra rode them out, landing atop a pile of rubble.
Salamence was nowhere to be found.
"What a turn of events!" the announcer called. "But, if Salamence doesn't show up soon, for safety regulations, we'll have to call Salamence fainted and ask Deidra to return it!"
Having barely waited for the announcer to begin his second sentence, Deidra was already speaking. "Dragon Claw!"
As the announcer finished talking, Salamence burst from the stone, all fangs, fury, and claws. It was upon Torterra with the Dragon Claw, flashing a dangerous and draconic blue.
"Giga Drain!" Ash ordered.
The very greenery which Salamence had previous defiled glowed, leeching the dragon's vital energy. The two reptilian pokemon were locked into combat, Torterra's viney growths snaking across Salamence's stout, short legs while the dragon dug its claws into the soil of Torterra's shell.
"Make it yield," came Deidra's voice, heavy and laced with thick and heavy threats.
Obedient and eager to continue the battle, Salamence was all too happy to do so. It lifted its weight, taking its bright yellow-blue claws off Torterra for a brief moment. Then, it came crashing down, dagger-like claws burying further into Torterra's earthen shell. The inner layers, the living tissue, were spared, but months of growth were split asunder. Torterra's eyes widened and watered.
The Giga Drain vines tightened fiercely as Salamence got ready to pounce once more.
The narrator's voice was rapid-fire. "This is a contest of endurance, folks! Can Salamence hold out before Torterra drains it dry?! Will Torterra be able to withstand such a penetrating attack?!"
Unfortunately, Torterra yielded on the third pounce. Groaning at its sore shell, it watched as Salamence shuffled backwards, looking at its forelegs.
Then, it got ready to fly away and regain the upper hand.
Ash wouldn't let it. "Crunch! Bring it down!"
Rushing forward to keep his opponent from retreating, Torterra latched down on the dragon's tail as it tried to take off. Swinging his head, the ground type began the laborious process of trying to anchor a dragon.
Deidra was quick on the draw, as always. "Flamethrower. Finish it, Salamence."
Belching fire again, a torrent of fire washed over Torterra. The tortoise, however, hung on. Ash and cinder laid like waste over his face and upon his shell, like a bonfire's remains sprinkled around a campsite.
Ash analyzed the scene for a moment. Then, he returned Torterra. "Good job, buddy. But, I think you need a break." Truth be told, Ash didn't quite think wasting Torterra's strength this early on was a good idea. While he was faring decently against Salamence, between Flamethrower and the aerial advantage, it wasn't quite worth the effort. Instead, he'd use a different ground type. "Gliscor, I choose you!"
As soon as Gliscor appeared, it took to the air. Salamence, temporarily baffled at the agile flying type, gawked. Shortly after, the dragon ascended.
"Stone Edge!" Ash called, a hand thrown out at the order.
Gliscor turned, launching a summoned bevy of rocks.
"Roost," Deidra ordered, though this time an acidic overtone that had thus far not been laid on so thick lacquered her tone.
Salamence was hit fully but once. Hunkering down on the debris strewn battlefield, it once again erected its wings as would-be shields. Battered less worryingly by the Stone Edge, Salamence glowed a soft white, recovering energy.
Ash, meanwhile, smiled. "Alright, here's our opening! Gliscor, hit it with Poison Jab, quick!"
Beside him, Pikachu jumped with glee. "Pi-Pi!"
Gliscor dived, stinger at the ready. As the dragon unfolded its leathery wings, the Sinnoh flying type struck the sharp stinger between its shoulder blades. The dragon roared. Not yet ordered by Deidra, it reflexively knocked away Gliscor with a Dragon Claw.
"Good boy," Deidra called.
"Huh. That's the first time I've heard you praise your pokemon," Ash noted, testy with his opponent after her intense disparagement of his attempts to be friendly with her.
Tone icy, she rebuked him. "I don't need to assure them what they're doing is right. We know what we're doing is right. I can't say the same for you."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" the trainer demanded.
She didn't answer.
Gritting his teeth, Ash let it go. "Stone Edge!"
"Flamethrower!"
Gliscor flew above the Flamethrower and was carried higher by the heated air. While riding the updraft, the flying type released the Stone Edge. Salamence, with its strength restored, swiftly dodged the attack.
"Tailwind," Ash ordered, knowing they needed to keep their speed advantage.
As Gliscor picked up speed, Deidra curled only one fist, the other settling on her hip. "Dragon Claw."
Gliscor dodged, slipping past Salamence's swipe like butter sliding across a hot pan.
The trainer from Pallet Town pumped his fist. "Alright! Now, Stone Edge!"
Salamence roared as the rocks hit it, knocking it down below the aerial space that Gliscor was now dominating.
"Dragon Claw," Deidra called again.
"Poison Jab!" Ash gleefully shouted.
The dragon's claws once again glowed with blue and yellow energy. Gliscor, however, deftly dodged, flying belly to belly with Salamence as it dived. Its sharp stinger dragged along Salamence's stomach, leaving an inky purple trail.
Though the dragon was not yet poisoned, it was thoroughly frustrated.
As was, it seemed, Deidra. Flicking the very ends of her bangs with the first irritated snort that Ash had heard out of her, the dragon specialist raised her hand. "Use Outrage!"
Heavy, angry steam tinged royal blue and gold worked up like a lather over Salamence's body. The dragon's movements became twitchy, bordering on feral. The dragon didn't fly towards Gliscor; it fell like a comet, bashing its head into the sky scorpion's side.
"She's getting desperate again," Ash noted. Though he was glad to have her on the ropes, he wasn't at all a fan of how she played when she felt cornered. "Giga Impact!"
Gleaming green and white, Gliscor circled around to gain momentum. It flew towards Salamence. As it drew closer, it braced for the collision.
Instead, it was swatted away. Gliscor tumbled through the air, catching itself a few yards before the ground. High above, Salamence let out a mighty roar, tail lashing furiously.
Ash watched, briefly. And, he realized, then, that he understood why Lance was famous for his mastery of dragons. Truly, the powerful fury they exhibited when pressed was intimidating. He didn't have any shame in admitting that.
But, it wouldn't make him quit. He just needed a new strategy.
"Gliscor, return! You did good out there." He fumbled with his hand on his belt, wondering what to do next as the ferocious dragon looked down at him and his starter.
"There's a lot of swapping this match, but nothing for the record books, considering this is the finals!" the announcer said, voice barely cutting through the tension in the air. "Salamence has a lot of raw power! No trainer worth their salt would want to needlessly sacrifice pokemon to that."
In the stands where Max and Koda were seated by Misty, the young Hoenn native frowned.
"That's not a good feelin'," he muttered. "Feeling cornered… I hated being cornered by Ash, but I hate seeing him feeling the same."
Koda frowned. "... Kinda weird seein' the big dude on the ropes. He's usually so collected."
Misty nodded. "I remember him being like this as a kid, but, yeah, this isn't good…"
"Maybe it's my bias because that's the only other league of his I've seen, but this kinda reminds me of when Ash battled Paul," Dawn noted, holding Rura in her arms.
Delia giggled. "That's cute that you know his battles so well! Let's celebrate after by watching some of the DVDs of the leagues he's been in that I've been collecting!"
"Yeah! But… For now, I've gotta cheer!"
Empoleon raised a flipper, sparkly clothes fluttering around him. "Empo!"
The dragon specialist spoke up, clear voice, for once, tinged with something dissimilar to her typical hostility. "Pick quickly, or withdraw," she crisply said. "Outrage still affects Salamence, and he won't wait long to fight."
Ash jerked his head down, locking eyes with his opponent. "Is that a threat?" he asked, taken aback.
Pikachu bristled. "Pikapi!"
The wind blew through.
Deidra answered, shutting her visible eye. "It's just the truth."
As Ash looked to the referee's box with his hand gesturing towards her, the announcer fumbled to speak into his microphone.
"The referee, judges, and general league official members present would like to remind Deidra Agrona that threats are inappropriate at any league official event!"
Opening her eye, Deidra looked to the champion's booth.
Ash frowned. "That's fine. I won't leave him hanging. Salamence, here's a battle you'll never forget! Staraptor, I choose you!"
Staraptor barely fully materialized when Salamence was upon it, soaring through the air like a missile.
"Ride that Tailwind!" Ash ordered. "Dodge!"
Staraptor obeyed, and just in time. As the bird soared into the air, Salamence thundered by, going so fast and so intently that it slammed into the ground. The dragon hissed and turned, glaring at its airborne opponent.
The dragon took off again, claws outstretched to tear into Staraptor.
Ash wouldn't let the battle get physical, though. "Hyper Beam!"
The beam of pure white light slammed the dragon once more into the ground. As the light faded, Staraptor's flaps grew slower. The dragon, disoriented, gathered its bearings on the ground, groaning and growling ineffectually.
"Take it easy!" Ash warned. "Just ride Tailwind for a bit!" He watched as his bird soared, body too tired to even flap. Meanwhile, Salamence stumbled drunkenly around. They'd done it! Salamence now had to fight through its confusion as well as the terrific impact of Hyper Beam! He'd given Staraptor the perfect opening. Grinning, the trainer rubbed under his nose as he looked to Deidra. "The best defense is a good offense!"
Squinting her eye, Deidra saw that Salamence had stopped stumbling around. "Roost," she said, not even answering Ash.
No longer bothered by her rudeness, Ash grinned. "Brave Bird!"
Staraptor glowed white as it charged. Deidra watched this, calculating Salamence's rest. As Staraptor grew closer, Salamence opened its wings again. It was ready. She ordered it once more. "Dragon Claw!"
Too late to dodge, Staraptor collided with Salamence's outstretched head. Staraptor was, in turn, batted off to the side by Salamence's Dragon Claw. Salamence growled in pain while Staraptor watched quietly from where it laid on the ground.
"Flamethrower!" Deidra called.
"Spin to dodge!" Ash ordered, calling on another one of Dawn's techniques. He was sure he heard her squealing from all the way in the stands, but he didn't have the time to check.
As the bird rolled across the ground to get away from Salamence's fire, the attack ran out.
Ash spoke quickly, trying to get the advantage. "Close Combat!"
For once, it was Salamence who was overwhelmed by the fury of another. Battering Salamence with a barrage of heavy wings and sharp talons, the bird established that it was by no means lightweight, despite its light bones.
"Take it down," Deidra ordered. "Dragon Claw!"
Salamence retracted his head, quickly growing sick of the bird's onslaught. He roared, bringing two sets of glimmering claws down upon Staraptor without mercy.
The bird plummeted, crashing into the field below.
"Staraptor!" Ash gasped.
"Pi-chu-ka!" Pikachu called out in worry.
"Staraptor's delivered a vicious onslaught, but Salamence still hasn't budged!"
Ash frowned, looking up to Deidra. She was silent. Ash's brows knit together. "Nothing, huh? So, you think you can rest easy? Well, Staraptor's far from done!" Ash roared, pointing sky-high. "Aerial Ace!"
"Raptor!" The Predator pokemon trilled, quickly ascending from the crater he'd made.
As Deidra remained silent, Ash grew suspicious.
"Star… raptor!" Staraptor cried, smashing into Salamence's jaw, knocking the latter higher.
Deidra spoke up. "Flamethrower!"
Salamence craned his neck, blasting Staraptor with an onslaught of red flames. The bird cried, drowned in the streaming fire.
Black smoke died away, the last of it trailing wings that crossed protectively over Staraptor's slowly falling form. They spanned, allowing the bird to glide. A few burnt feathers weren't going to stop him.
"That power's insane…" Ash's eyes trembled. He nudged the brim of his cap to wipe sweat from his forehead. "A head-on dogfight won't work, like this. How are we going to get around that…?"
Staraptor looked down to his trainer, his head beckoned for any sort of command. The silence outlasted most of Ash's on-the-spot thinking.
"Dragon Claw!"
Ash was ripped from his thoughts by a single command, as Salamence burst through the air, closing in on Staraptor above. The trainer's eyes narrowed. He smiled. "Guess we'll go for broke… Staraptor!" the trainer called, closing his fists at his sides. He punched forward with both.
"Aerial Combat!"
There was a gleam in the bird's eye, as Salamence was upon him. Several glowing claws were raised, and struck. Staraptor turned belly-up, falling into a backwards somersault. The wind kicked up with Dragon Claw ruffled his feathers as he slipped by.
Passing Salamence, Staraptor turned, delivering a brutal kick to the dragon's side.
Salamence recoiled, hissing in anger. He turned to deliver his wrath, but Staraptor was already gone. He heard Deidra's voice.
"Above!"
Salamence turned his head upward, and promptly suffered a painful blow to the skull, courtesy of Staraptor's wings. Snarling, he snapped his jaws at Staraptor out of instinct, only to eat thin air.
Deidra scowled. "Keep it out of your air space!"
The dragon obeyed, climbing the sky to move out of Staraptor's range. Maybe now, he'd finally get the drop on-
A rising kick to the jaw silenced Salamence's thoughts, and he roared with fury. He readied a Dragon Claw on his own, and felt a blow to his gut.
"Staraptor was struggling, but it's clearly overwhelming Salamence with a novel combination of Close Combat and Aerial Ace!"
Frustrated, Salamence coiled his wings defensively around his hide, giving up altitude to guard.
Seeing Salamence cowering left Deidra in a state of thoughtful shock. Not a scenario she was familiar with, nor was she comfortable with it. "Drop, for Roost!"
Barely managing to fend off another slash from Staraptor's talons with a flap of his wings, Salamence was content to drop, digging his monstrous limbs into the ground. Surrounded in a faint glow, he began to recover stamina.
"We're pushing it towards its limit." Ash grinned, filled with the rush of a high-stakes battle. "Keep pressing, Staraptor! Don't let up!"
"Star!" Staraptor huffed, turning into a dive directly below. Following Salamence, he dipped into forward flight.
"Behind you!" Deidra warned.
Salamence heeded it, brutally swinging his tail behind him. He then felt recurring blows to his gut, much to his shock. He was grounded, wasn't he!?
"You've got him!" Ash encouraged, closing a fist. "Keep kicking!"
"Star!" Staraptor cried, his wings pressed to the ground under Salamence. He repeatedly kicked his feet against his opponent, feeling it flinch with every blow.
"Mence…!" Salamence cried, losing composure with every kick. Even as Roost healed him, he felt his stamina slipping with every blow.
Deidra's eye widened. "Disengage!"
Springing off its four limbs, Salamence jumped backwards, removing himself from Staraptor's range.
"Staraptor!" The bird cried, shooting forward, once more.
"What an awesome combination!" Dawn cooed, closing her fists.
"Bun! Bun! Buneary!" Buneary cheered, hopping in Dawn's lap. She loved that brutal brawling style!
"It is," Brock agreed. "The speed and mobility of Aerial Ace to stay ahead of Salamence, while overwhelming it with the relentless attacks of Close Combat. Ash had an excellent solution to Salamence's power, all along."
Dawn's brows knit together. "But, still… is it just me, or is Staraptor slowing down?"
The two, plus Delia, looked down to the field below, where the bird continued to harass the dragon. Salamence had disengaged, and Staraptor followed. Rather than pass it as he had before, though, Staraptor was met with a brutal Dragon Claw, and was sent tumbling across the field.
From the field, Ash encouraged his pokemon, and like clockwork, Staraptor had pushed himself onto his feet. A shrill battle cry showed their unified fighting spirit, and he took off again.
"No, you're right," Brock replied. "The speed that kept it so far ahead of Salamence's senses is failing. You know better than anybody how difficult combinations can be, Dawn."
"That's right." Dawn pursed her lips. "Combinations are great, but combining two powerful moves at once takes a lot of concentration, and a lot of effort… it's impressive that Staraptor's kept it up as long as he has." The coordinator huffed, and shot up in her seat, much to her pokemon's shock. "Come on, Ash! Come on, Staraptor! You're almost there!"
"Flamethrower!" Deidra shouted, throwing an arm out.
Salamence bared his fangs, firing a snapping storm of heat.
Staraptor shrieked, flattening his body across the ground. Embers snapped over his body, basking him in heat. His heart raced. He'd only been inches from taking the attack's full force. Now, he laid with his wings spanned across the ground, at Salamence's feet.
"This is over," Deidra said. Staraptor was easy prey, now. "Dragon Claw!"
Salamence glowered down upon the bird with a menacing grin. He raised his claws, flickering with draconic energy, and struck at Staraptor.
"The ground," Ash urged. "Close Combat!"
There was a glimmer in the Predator pokemon's eye. He smashed both of his wings into the ground before him, kicking up rubble and dust.
Debris clouded Salamence's vision, and he recoiled.
"Get him!" Ash coached. "Old-fashioned Close Combat!"
Staraptor lunged, kicking away at Salamence's face without mercy. Whenever the dragon stumbled, he pushed forward, gaining ground. Salamence couldn't retaliate.
"Got you," Ash cheered. "When Salamence is on the ground, he's not going to have a flying type's advantage against fighting type attacks! Staraptor doesn't need Aerial Combat anymore."
He quickly regretted his boasting when Deidra stared daggers at him.
"You'll regret your presumptions against a dragon type. Salamence, Outrage!"
A primal light ignited within Salamence. He shrieked, rearing his head back before bashing it into Staraptor's body.
Breath knocked from his lungs, Staraptor tumbled through the air. He found no relief, when he was battered by Salamence's foreleg. He shook his head in mid-air, spinning to meet Salamence.
A smack of the dragon's tail left him airborne.
"Not good!" As grimaced, watching Salamence relentlessly pursue Staraptor. "Hang in there!"
Groggy, Staraptor flapped his wings. He'd righted himself, but he could only see shade. Salamence hovered over him, coated in a violent red aura. The bird flinched.
"No good… whenever Staraptor pulls himself together, Salamence is already there." Ash squinted, and his eyes widened again. "...Staraptor! Stay loose! Don't try to engage!"
Salamence roared, bringing his head down for a brutal headbutt.
Staraptor was sent flying, refusing to tense. He was sent plummeting towards Ash.
"You think you can tough it out, just a bit longer?" Ash checked.
"Star…." The bird shook his head. He'd taken a lot of damage… but, he hadn't come this far, just to lose!
"Good! But you're tired… just hang here and relax, okay? Wait for my signal."
Salamence was already in hot pursuit, snapping at the air in blind fury.
"He's lost his target," Ash thought aloud. "He'll be done any second now! Staraptor, Brave Bird!"
"Star!" Staraptor zipped forward, coated in a blazing blue aura.
Salamence swung rapidly, before Staraptor had even claimed its airspace.
The bird slipped low, turning straight up. He smashed into Salamence's side, alerting the Dragon as he soared by. Sparks danced around him, delivering the pain of recoil.
"A stubborn effort," Deidra remarked, "and your last chance. Flamethrower!"
Salamence looked above, and launched a pillar of heat.
"A bit of recoil ain't gonna stop us," Ash countered. "Staraptor, spin!"
Heat began to creep up on Staraptor's tail feathers. Still rising, he spun, dancing around the flames.
"Now's our chance!" Ash roared, pointing towards Salamence. "Hyper Beam!"
The Predator looked below, and parted his beak. A brilliant orange light built, and blasted Salamence.
An explosion rippled through the skies, igniting it with thick smoke.
Salamence fell from it, landing unceremoniously on his back.
The referee peered over, and raised a hand. "Salamence is unable to battle! Staraptor is the winner!"
In the stands, Delia stood to her feet, whooping and hollering. "That's my boy!" The woman pointed to the scoreboard. "He's got a two to one advantage!"
Dawn and her little cheerleading team also jumped for joy.
Brock, meanwhile, only nodded. "He's got the edge, but Deidra's Salamence got in good licks on three of them… Ash can't rest easy yet.
"Great work," Ash commended, kneeling to check on his winded pokemon. Staraptor perched on the ground before him, huffing in exhaustion. The trainer smiled, stroking the feathers atop the pokemon's head. "You take a quick breather until Deidra keeps it coming, alright?"
"Star…" The pokemon nodded, favoring his trainer's praise and affection. He didn't dare lift a wing. Not for a moment, at least.
"Pika-Pikachu!" Pikachu praised, patting Staraptor's wing. He'd put up a heck of a fight!
Ash watched Salamence disappear from the field, and stood. Toying with the brim of his cap, he sent Deidra a smirk. "So? How about that?"
The grown woman met him with cold indifference, and silence.
Ash laughed to himself. "I'll take the cold shoulder over insults, I guess. But, either way… not gonna lie, I'm really enjoying this battle! You're really putting us through the wringer here."
The trainer pumped a fist, his eyes glimmering with hardened determination. "But, I can promise you one thing, Deidra - this battle's just getting started!"
