"Okay, Psyduck, let's try this again," Misty said.
After seeing Ash's battle, Misty had to know how Ash did. He made his Duck Pokémon so strong and it was unevolved! She had to know. So currently, her and Ash's Psyduck were out of their Pokeballs, attempting to learn the Psychic-type move.
Ash's match was at noon today on the Ice Field. Misty had asked Ash a few questions about training Psyduck, which Ketchum was more than happy to share with the future Water-type master. Right now, the gang was in a field near Pokémon Village. Ash and Brock were sitting nearby on a picnic table while Pikachu had decided to nap. And since people were mostly gone for the day, either training or battling, Ash opt to take out Mew. She was very energetic while Mewtwo, on the other hand, had decided to stay in his Pokeball for the time being. The Ancestral Pokémon was currently entertaining Togepi by Transforming into various small Pokémon.
"Psy..." Misty's said, still not processing what he was trying to learn.
Misty just sighed at her Duck's Pokémon antics, "What am I going to do..."
Ash decided to address her, "Misty, you can't rush Psyduck's training. It takes time for Psyduck to master its Psychic abilities."
"Then how did you manage to train your Psyduck?" Misty questioned.
Ash thought back to his training with his. Admittedly, he had some trouble with his Psyduck. "It wasn't easy. It took me about... 4 weeks for Psyduck to master Calm Mind."
"4 weeks?!" Misty cried.
"Yeah," Ash admitted before having a more determined tone in his voice, "But I didn't quit on him just like how you shouldn't. Never give up till it's over."
Misty began to ponder what Ash said. True, there have been a few times when Psyduck pulled his weight but most of the time he was his confused self. Maybe this would be beneficial for her.
Taking her friend's advice, she began to calm herself and teach her Psyduck Calm Mind to soothe any future headaches.
Ash's match came around at about noon. He entered the Ice Field with a calm demeanor and his Pokémon ready for the battle.
"Welcome to the Ice Field, folks! We have an exciting match today! On the red trainer side, we have Ash Ketchum, a trainer who has yet to lose a single Pokémon in battle! And on the green trainer side is Pete Pebbleman!"
The referee declared the match, "This is a three on three battle between these two trainers. The match is over when one side has lost all of their Pokémon and is unable to battle. Trainers, choose your first Pokémon."
"Nidoqueen, let's go!" Pebbleman shouted and sent out the female Drill Pokémon. "Nido!"
"Tauros," Ash said, sending out the leader of his Wild Bull herd. "Moo!" Nidoqueen backed off a bit, Tauros' Intimidate ability lowering her attack.
In stands, Brock commented on Ash's choice, "Wow. He's using one of his Tauros. This should be interesting."
Misty nodded along, "Yeah. I wonder how he will fare on an ice field."
"Battle begin!"
"Nidoqueen, Dragon Pulse!" Pete started the battle with a strong move. Nidoqueen bellowed before firing a multicolored beam of draconic energy.
"Blizzard," Ash commanded. Tauros mooed before sending a chilling breeze that intercepted the Dragon Pulse, causing an explosion.
"Iron Head." The Wild Bull Pokémon charged forward in a silver aura, running through the smoke and ramming right into the female Drill Pokémon. She bellowed in pain from the impact and was shoved back. Tauros swerved around, the ice making it hard for him to stop.
"Superpower!" Nidoqueen flexed her muscles, a red aura surrounding her, and grabbed Tauros by the horns. "Now, throw!" The female Drill Pokémon began to lift the bull, but there was a difference between the two Pokémon.
Recalling his training days, Ash remembered observing his own Nidoqueen go toe-to-toe with his Tauros. It often ended in a draw, sometimes his Nidoqueen winning or his Tauros. And at close range, the bull had few tricks.
"Megahorn," Ash countered and his Wild Bull Pokémon's horn began to grow in size, gaining a lime-green coloring. The Bug-type attack caused Nidoqueen to partially readjust her grip, which Ketchum continued to add pressure at close range.
"Ice Beam." An orb of ice energy appeared from the Normal type's mouth and fired a three arc beam that struck the Poison/Ground-type in her chest, causing some ice to form.
"Zen Headbutt." A blue psychic glow encompassed the bull causing the female saurian to release her grip and get smashed in her chest from the impact, doing massive damage due to her Poison typing.
"Hyper Beam," Ash finished as the match was his. Tauros charged a dark magenta orb before unleashing it and taking Nidoqueen out of the fight
"Nidoqueen is unable to battle, Tauros is the winner!"
Back in the stands, Ash's friends were once again blown away at seeing Ash's Pokémon in action.
"Man, that Tauros is strong," Brock let out.
"Makes me wonder if the rest of the herd is just as strong..." Misty thought aloud.
"I bet so," the Pewter City Gym Leader said, folding his arms, "If that was the herd leader, imagine what the whole herd could be capable of."
On the Ice Field, Pebbleman returned his Drill Pokémon before Ash did the same with his Wild Bull Pokémon.
Pete sent out his next teammate, "Go, Cloyster!" Out came the evolved form of Shellder, opening his shell with his menacing appearance. "Cloy!"
Ash chose his next teammate, "Dewgong." The Sea Lion Pokémon let out a happy cry before enjoying the ice terrain she was on. "Gong~"
Her trainer just chuckled at her antics. Dewgong, being an Ice-type, enjoyed the ice and snowy climate as he discovered during his days of training. Which gave Ash a few ideas of utilizing this habit.
"Cloyster, start with Water Gun!" Pete called and the Bivalve Pokémon fired a stream of water from its mouth.
"Counter with Hidden Power." The pinniped like Pokémon glowed green before having the same colored orbs circle around herself. She fired the Hidden Power and it effectively pushed the Water Gun back, hitting the shellfish like Pokémon.
"Slide across the terrain and use Iron Tail." This was a part of Dewgong's fighting style. Using the Ice to her advantage, the Sea Lion Pokémon skated across with her tail turning to steel. She whacked her tail fins against the shell of Cloyster.
"Clamp on her tail!" Pete ordered and the invertebrate like Pokémon closed its lavender shaded on the tail of Dewgong.
"Gong!" The pinniped Pokémon shrieked in pain as the Clamp attack damaged her tail. Ash felt himself cringing in pain as well at the sight.
"Well folks, it seems Pete is the first person this whole tournament to land a hit on Ash's Pokémon!" the announcer recognized.
"Ouch, that has to sting..." Misty said from her position.
"Yeah, although that's impressive that this is the first time Ash's Pokémon has received damage," Brock commented and Waterflower nodded along at the claim.
"Dewgong, use Aqua Tail to free yourself!" The Sea Lion Pokémon gained a determined look on her face and her tail gained a swirl of water around it. Since Cloyster had closed the tail on itself with its shell, the Aqua Tail struck true and hit its 'pearl.' The Water-type attack caused the Bivalve Pokémon to release its grip on the tail and the pinniped Pokémon slide away.
"Now Aqua Ring." Dewgong glowed and summoned a watery veil around herself. The Aqua Ring shimmered as Dewgong glowed green and recovered health.
"Aqua Ring?" Misty repeated before Brock explained the move. "It's a Water-type move that allows the user to restore health. It usually lasts a few turns." Misty nodded along before secretly wanting to see if her Pokémon could use that move themselves.
"Cloyster, fire Pin Missile!" The shellfish like Pokémon's shell shined with white energy, missiles firing all over the place.
"Double Team!" Ash took action from the Bug-type move and his Pokémon split into multiple images. The Pin Missile spread to all of the clones but ended rather quickly. "Now, Smart Strike!" Dewgong's horn glowed with silver energy, elongating itself. She charged forward, nailing the shell and doing super-effective damage to the Bivalve Pokémon.
"Cloyster!" Pete cried out to his Water/Ice type. The invertebrate Pokémon began to tire from the ruthless attack of the marine mammal Pokémon. Ash noticed this and was ready to end the match.
"Use Drill Run!" Dewgong's horn lengthen itself again and she skated forward. Her body began to twist, spin, and resemble a drill.
"Use Harden!" Pete called out, in an attempt for Cloyster to defend himself. The Ground-type move nailed the exterior of the shell, still doing exceptional damage to the Bivalve Pokémon. The Sea Lion Pokémon skated back to her side after the attack while the invertebrate pried its shell open to reveal its swirly eyes.
"Cloyster is unable to battle! Dewgong is the winner!"
"What an astounding turn of events! Ash manages to pull out a win even when getting damaged!" The announcer shouted.
"Dewgong/Cloyster return," both trainers recall their Water/Ice types before pulling out their last Pokémon.
"We at least know he's not untouchable now," Pete muttered before sending out his last Pokémon.
"Go, Arcanine!"
Out came the Fire-type 'Legendary' Pokémon. "Arf!"
Ash, having never seen one during his journey, decided to scan it.
[Arcanine, the Legendary Pokémon and the evolved form of Growlithe. The sight of it running over 6,200 miles in a single day and night has captivated many people.]
After that, Ash selected his Pokémon. "Squirtle."
Out of his Pokéball, the former gang leader Pokémon smirked at his opponent.
"We'll fry that turtle! Use Dragon Rage!" Peebleman taunted. The striped beast Pokémon bellowed blue draconian energy towards the turtle Pokémon.
Ash didn't deter hearing the Dragon-type move, "Use Hydro Pump."
Squirtle took a deep breath before expelling a torrent of water. The Water-type attack was able to even out the Dragon Rage, surprising Pete at the strength the Kanto Water starter had.
"Use Flamethrower!" Arcanine unleashed a torrent of flames, intent at frying the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. Said turtle was not fazed by the heat as his trainer made his next move.
"Gyro Ball around the field." Tucking his head and limbs into his shell, the turtle spun around the field with a silver ring. Blitzing around the Ice field, the 'Legendary' Pokémon was struck in the flank.
"Now, Aqua Tail." The Kanto Water starter popped out of his shell and the tail gained a swirling vortex of water, smashing against the back of the Fire-type who howled in pain as the attack connected.
Pebbleman grits his teeth from the attack. His opponent was using the field to his advantage. But he soon had an idea to take care of the terrain. "Use Fire Blast!"
The striped canine Pokémon fired a kanji-shaped five-pronged fire attack towards the turtle.
"Dodge it." Squirtle jumped out of the way before the Fire attack melted the ice.
"Again!" Arcanine heeded his trainer's command and unleashed Fire Blast again. He kept the attacks going, melting the field as the turtle avoided each attack. Soon the flames melted the entire field, leaving only two platforms of ice for the two Pokémon.
"Now you have nowhere to run!" Pete taunted, thinking his plan was perfect. He rubbed under his nose, having a smug look on his face.
"Actually," Ash said to his opponent, "You just made the battle ours. Squirtle, into the water."
The Tiny Turtle Pokémon grinned and dove into the water, swimming with such speed.
"Ahh!" Pete cried, forgetting the basics that Water types have the advantage in bodies of water. And on top of that, Arcanine was a sitting Psyduck on the platform. The 'Legendary' Pokémon echoed his trainer's expression.
"Let's end this, Squirtle! Use Surf!" Ketchum ordered.
Squirtle glowed blue before a small wave soon followed the turtle from behind. Arcanine could only watch as the wave rose above him and came crashing down onto him. Squirtle popped his head out of the water and Arcanine followed but was belly up from the attack.
"Arcanine is unable to battle! Squirtle is the winner! Therefore, Ash is the winner!" the referee declared and the crowd cheered for Ketchum.
Squirtle popped out of the water and bounded to his trainer. Ash picked up the Tiny Turtle, smiling as he did. "Nice job out there." Squirtle grinned from the praise and let out happy cries of "Squirt!"
Another round down and Ash was excited for the next day.
A/N: Recently made a new Pokémon story, one where Ash trades his Tauros herd. Feel free to check it out.