Chapter 17
"Lance"
This is it…This is the last guy that stands between me and…becoming the greatest Pokémon trainer in the world………Are you ready, Pikachu?
"Piika!"
'Of course I am!'
Well that's good…'cause I'm really nervous…
"Pi?"
'Why?'
……It's good to be nervous, isn't it? Richie said so……
"Pikachu!"
'Then we're on our way!'
Yeah……I guess you're right!…Uh…Let's go!
"Pika!"
'Yeah!'
* * *
Lance was a tough-looking trainer. He was wearing a dark outfit that was complete with a black and red cape…
"We will have a four on four battle. Are you ready?"
I glanced at the three other Elite that had lost to me. They were standing on the sidelines with more or less the same expression on their faces.
They think I'm going to win……but this guy seems really confident……He's the last one, I guess he has reason to be……He's never been defeated before……
"…Hey Ash!!"
I looked up. Gary was leaning over the railing and waving at me.
"Forget what I said before! Cream this guy! If anyone can win, it's gotta be you! Make Pallet Town famous, Ash! You can do it!"
"Piiika!!?"
'What did he say!!?'
I blinked.
I think he just cheered me on.
"Pikachu…"
'That's what it sounded like…'
……Wow………
"What are you waiting for!?" Gary shouted, "Go get 'im!"
"Let's go Ash, let's go!" his cheerleaders cheered.
"I said, are you ready?" Lance asked again.
I turned around. I'm ready when you are!
"……Gyarados, go!"
I watched as Gyarados came out of its Pokéball and grew up and up and…up……I suddenly lost all the confidence that Gary had given me just a moment ago.
Who do I have that can stand up to that!?
"Perrr!!"
'Hey Ash!'
Huh?
I looked up and behind me again. This time Persian was sticking its head through the railing to talk to me.
"Perrrrsiiann! Persian, persssiann!"
'Use Pikachu! Gyarados is really weak against electricity!'
Okay! I turned to Pikachu. Pikachu! I choose you!
"Piika!"
'Right!'
Okay Pikachu! Thunderbolt attack!!
"Gyarados! Hydro Pump!"
"Pika CHUUUU!!!!"
Before Gyarados could even aim at Pikachu, it got zapped by one of Pikachu's megavolts.
Good job! Now use Agility, then zap it with another Thunderbolt!
Gyarados recovered after a moment, then tried to hit Pikachu with a blast of water that had the strength of a cannon. Because Pikachu was using its Agility though, it had no problem getting out of the way.
"…Dragon Rage!"
…Agility!!
A giant cyclone of water appeared and spun after Pikachu.
Keep using Agility, but get ready to use Thunderbolt!
Pikachu kept up its light speed pace, and the Dragon Rage kept following doggedly after it. While Pikachu was running, it powered up its electricity, and soon the floor of the gym looked like a sparkling yellow light show.
Attack!!
"PIKACCHHUUU!!!!!!"
Lightning filled the entire stadium, and Gyarados fell to the ground with an earth-shaking thud.
Lance held out its Pokéball, and Gyarados went back inside.
"Not bad……Dragonair! Go!"
A Dragonair………
Oh man, I have to beat it, don't I…? I don't really want to………but…
……Pikachu! Thunder!
"Pika………"
The air around Pikachu darkened and yellow light took its place as Pikachu's Thunder attack charged up.
"……CCHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!"
The dance of electricity went by so fast I missed most of it. What I did see was a gigantic bolt of electricity blast Dragonair and then explode on contact.
"…Dragon……"
Dragonair was seriously hurt, but still not beaten…It was still hanging in there…
"Dragonair, Hyper Beam!"
Pikachu!!! Agility, now!
Pikachu tried to dash out of the way, but Dragonair was too fast. The yellow-orange light of its Hyper Beam attack enveloped Pikachu. When it faded, Pikachu was left lying on the ground, beaten totally.
Pikachu…
I grabbed it and pulled it back to my spot.
That's a strong Dragonair…but Pikachu did weaken it a lot……
…Sandslash! Go!
"…A Sandslash?" Lance asked. He seemed amused. "Dragonair! Use Bubblebeam!"
Yikes! Sandslash! Dig!
"Slash!"
Sandslash disappeared underground just fast enough for Dragonair's attack to miss…but by less than an inch.
…All right…Attack! Now!
A rumbling sound came from the floor of the gym and Sandslash suddenly erupted upwards in a flurry of dirt and claws. Dragonair reared back in an attempt to evade, but it didn't work.
Slash attack now!
"Sandslash!!"
That was all that was needed. Dragonair finally had to give in to defeat. It fell to the ground, cringing in pain.
…Poor thing……
"…Return, Dragonair!" Lance called.
He seemed stunned.
"…No one's ever gotten this far before………All right…I'm not going to hold back…Aerodactyl! Go!"
What!?!
He threw out another Pokéball, and sure enough, there was an Aerodactyl inside of it.
Where did you get that!!? I gasped.
"…That's my little secret……Aerodactyl! Take Down attack!"
Ah! Um…Sandslash! Uhh…Sand Attack!!
"Sand…Slash!"
Sandslash kicked up a large cloud of sand at Aerodactyl, but the dinosaur dove down and raked Sandslash into the ground anyway.
Urrgh……Use……uh…Slash!
"Aerodactyl! Wing Attack!"
Aerodactyl swooped around the stadium for another pass at Sandslash. This time, Sandslash swiped at Aerodactyl with its claw, but Aerodactyl was hardly phased. It brought one wing up to its chest then swung it out with amazing speed and power. Sandslash didn't even have time to blink as it rolled backwards until it finally came to a stop. I could tell with one look that it couldn't fight anymore…
…Sandslash! Return!!
Now what…? That thing's so powerful………I wonder who I can use………
"…Pika?"
'…Ash?'
I glanced down. Pikachu was finally starting to come around…That was good…It wasn't going to help me win though……
…Okay…Against a rock type……Squirtle! I choose you!
"Ssquirtle!"
Squirtle! Water Gun, now!
"…Aerodactyl! Fly up, then dive at it!"
Squirtle sprayed its Water Gun vigorously at Aerodactyl, but Aerodactyl flew up and easily dodged. After a few warm up flaps, it dove down and whacked Squirtle squarely on the head. Squirtle fell over onto its back and looked more than a little dazed…
No!! Squirtle!!
"…You didn't really think a little Squirtle could beat Aerodactyl, did you?" Lance asked.
I can't believe it……Squirtle lost…with one hit…
Ehhh…Squirtle! Return!
I only have one Pokémon left…If I lose this one……Who should I choose?
If there's a Pokémon that can beat Aerodactyl……It's gotta be……
Okay……I'm counting on you…So you'd better try! Charizard! Go!
"ZAAARRRRDDD!!!!"
Charizard blinked and stared at Aerodactyl.
"Charzard?"
'Where'd you find this guy?'
I didn't find it! Lance did! All you've gotta do is beat it!
Charizard grinned, showing all of dangerous teeth.
"Izzaarrdd…"
'With pleasure…'
No way……Oh this is too good to be true!!
I tried to contain myself. If Charizard saw how happy I was, it would stop listening to me.
Lance shook his head. "Now you're in for it……Aerodactyl!! Sky Attack!"
Charizard! Fly!
Charizard flew up into the air, but Aerodactyl didn't really do anything…
…Huh!? It's glowing!
It looked like Aerodactyl was turning yellow…Weird.
"……Now," Lance said.
"Charizard! Double Team!"
Charizard split into three different images, and Aerodactyl blasted through one of the fake ones.
"Charizard! Use Submission!"
"Zzzaaarrr!!"
Charizard jumped onto Aerodactyl's back, then stood up. It sneered down at Aerodactyl then jumped and landed heavily onto its back, sending both of them crashing into the ground.
Uhh…Good! Now use Fire Blast!!
Charizard backed up a good distance, then breathed out a huge Fire Blast.
"Aerodactyl! Razor Wind!"
Aerodactyl pulled itself up, then flapped its wings to try to stop Charizard's attack and hit Charizard at the same time. Charizard's attack was too powerful though, and Aerodactyl ended up getting burnt.
Charizard! Hyper Beam!
Charizard powered up the same attack that had knocked out Pikachu, and when it hit Aerodactyl, their battle was finally over.
"………Re…turn………" Lance said in awe, "………Maybe you're not all that bad……but you can never defeat this Pokémon! Dragonite! Go!!"
The Dragonite that he let out made even Charizard seem small…It had blue wings and tan scales, and with its big black eyes, it might have looked cute…if it hadn't looked so dangerous……
…Charizard, be careful……This is it.
"Zzrrrrrddd…" Charizard growled at Dragonite.
It's gonna fight to the end……It doesn't want to be outdone……
…Charizard! Slash Attack!
"Dragonite! Blizzard!"
Look out!!
Charizard ignored the Slash command and split into five different images.
I guess it's sometimes a good thing to have it not listen to me…
Dragonite's Blizzard attack destroyed two of the five Charizards, but the real one remained unhurt.
Slash attack! Now!
The three Charizards that were left all hit Dragonite at the same time, but only one left red lines on its hide.
"…Dragonite, use Slam…On the middle one."
No, we gave it away!
Double Team!
It was too late. Dragonite swung its giant tail and knocked Charizard down. It got up again though, and it looked furious.
Fire Blast!
"Bubblebeam!"
Not again…
Their attacks both hit each other at the same time. There was tense second or two as we watched to see which was stronger. In the end, the bubbles were able to bore a small hole through the fire and continue on towards Charizard. The Fire Blast was still able to get Dragonite at the same time.
"Chaaaarrr!!!" Charizard roared angrily and hurtfully.
"Gonite!!" Dragonite cried as it ducked and tried to hide itself from the flame.
When the attacks subsided, it looked like the battle was either a tie, or it just wasn't over yet…