Me: I thought I'd never finish this story! I don't own Pokemon, of course. To Takeruto, yes I did use that quote from the previous chapter in my bio, but I don't think it's up there now.
Ash: Where have you been? Why haven't you finished this story?
Pikachu: Pika! Pika, pikachu. (Yeah! The explanation better be good, too.)
Me: (groans) I needed a breather, okay? And now that I'm relaxed. I can unveil to you-as well as everyone else-the latest chapter of The Power of Two! I also don't own "Pokemon Johto." We all know where this song's from, don't we?
Ash: Is it just me, or does this guy like to showcase his stories?
Pikachu: Pika, pika. (I agree with you there.)
Me: Hey! You're lucky Pikachu's here, pal.
Ash: And if Pikachu wasn't here, then what, huh? I don't have just one Pokemon-I've got quite a lot of 'em!
Me: True, true. Onward to the story!
Pokemon: The Power of Two
Chapter XVII-Ho-oh V.S. Lugia!
"If I cried like that every time Ash lost a battle, I'd be waterlogged!" -Misty
"She's only kidding!" -Ash Ketchum
In our last adventure, Ash finally reunited with the Legendary Pokemon, Lugia. However, Ash
knew he would have to battle against his old friend, so he and his Pokemon got right to the
point! Even with multiple attacks from Pikachu, Chikorita, Charizard, Espeon and Entei, Ash
still couldn't defeat this powerful Pokemon, and when Lugia launched his Aeroblast, it looked
like curtains for our hero and most of his Pokemon, until Team Rocket intervened! With
Wobbuffet's Counter attack, Lugia was weakened enough for Ash to capture in Gary's Master
Ball! Now, Ash and Misty have to work with all of their Pokemon, Legendary or not, against
Giovanni, and Ash has to send Lugia against Ho-oh in an attempt to recapture him...
(Theme song; Fanfare starts as Ash says the name of the episode)
Ash: Ho-oh V.S. Lugia!
With narrowed eyes, Ash knew if he and Gary were going to battle on equal ground, he'd have to evacuate Charizard and mount Lugia for the time being. He was about to lean down and tell his Pokemon what he was going to do, but the Psychic/Flying type stopped him.
"They already know what you have to do, and they understand-even your stubborn Chikorita."
Turning to eye his Grass Pokemon with a look of profound amazement, Ash saw Chikorita hop off his shoulder and glance back at him with a wistful look in her eyes.
"Chiko, chikori."
Ash grimaced as he felt tears come to his eyes. He looked over at Pikachu and Espeon, and saw that they'd sided with Chikorita.
"Pika, pikapi."
"Good luck, Ash."
The tears came full force at that time. They were trickling down Ash's cheeks as he hugged his Pokemon tightly.
"Thanks, everyone." The second Ash jumped off Charizard and landed on Lugia, he heard the Fire/Flying type's roar of confidence.
"Gary and I-we both have the same goal in life: we both want to be Masters, Pokemon Masters.
We both need to show how our skills have improved in Pokemon battle, and so we battle different opponents as fast as possible to make it to the top. That's why we came to Johto when we did...a new world of Pokemon, and a new place entirely but the goal's the same-you still gotta catch 'em all!"
"Lugia...AEROBLAST ATTACK!"
"Ho-oh...SACRED FIRE ATTACK!"
Everybody wants to be a Master, everybody wants to show their skills
Everybody wants to get there faster, make their way to the top of the hill
Each time you try, gonna get just a little bit better
Each step you climb, one more step up the ladder
Chorus: It's a whole new world we live in!
It's a whole new way to see!
It's a whole new place with a brand-new attitude!
But you still gotta catch 'em all-and be the best that you can be!
Pokemon Johto!
As a ball of concentrated energy appeared in Lugia's mouth, a ball of fiery energy appeared in Ho-oh's mouth.
"Ash Ketchum, you'd better not die on me! I've had to see you die on too many occasions!" Misty yelled from below.
"I won't, Mist-I promise." Ash admitted to himself, retreating back into his mind that only Espeon, Mewtwo, Mew and Lugia could pierce with their Psychic powers.
"The two of us are alike in a lot of ways-we both tried to make a statement during the Johto League." Ash thought as the two attacks were launched at full power, striking on impact and injuring both Legendary Pokemon hard!
"I carved my mark by beating Gary's Umbreon with Pikachu's help. I wasn't alone in the victory circle-I had my Pokemon by my side. The one person I could always count on was Misty-she would be by my side always, offering a kind word of encouragement when I found out I was the Chosen One..."
"You can do it..."
"...worried that I'd died on her during my journey to Lavender..."
"Ash! Open your eyes, please, Ash!"
"...and even against Mew and Mewtwo back on New Island..."
"Please, no..."
As Lugia finally stopped rocking back and forth, Ash brought himself back to the present and focused on the target.
"Recover, Lugia!"
"You too, Ho-oh!"
Ash gritted his teeth as both of the Pokemon were restored to full health.
"No one said this would be easy." Ash muttered cynically.
Everybody wants to make a statement, everybody needs to carve their mark
Stand alone in the victory circle, stake their claim when the music starts
Give it all you've got-you can be the very best ever
Take your best shot-what you've learned will come together
Chorus: It's a whole new world we live in!
It's a whole new way to see!
It's a whole new place with a brand-new attitude!
But you still gotta catch 'em all-and be the best that you can be!
Pokemon Johto!
"Raikou, Suicune-destroy that ship with your Hyper Beam attacks! You too, Golduck!" Misty yelled, sending out her Water-type to battle with two other Legendary types. Within seconds, three well-aimed Hyper Beams struck the ship and rocked it, causing it irreparable damage!
"You said this ship could take hits from that number of Hyper Beams!" Giovanni growled at the collector.
"I said it could take one hit, not three."
"Grrr...evacuate, and grab the-"
Giovanni's orders were interrupted as Suicune fired a Hydro Pump attack, causing the computer console to spark and fizzle.
"The hypnotic inducer-get it!" Giovanni gasped out, but that's when Jessie, James and Meowth chose to come in.
"Hey, boss, what's going on?" Meowth asked.
"If you three want to redeem yourselves, grab that hypnotic inducer!" The three villians turned and saw it, then raced for it. At that time, a computer console exploded, destroying the hypnotic inducer and sending Team Rocket...
"...Blasting off again..."
"Wobbuffet!" (ping!)
As Lugia and Ho-oh rammed each other repeatedly, causing significant damage, the spell Lawrence used on Gary broke, since the hypnotic inducer had been destroyed.
"Huh? What's going on? Ash-is that you?" Gary looked at Ash with a confused look in his eyes.
"Lugia, stop! Espeon, what's going on here? Is Gary playing another trick?"
"No, Ash." Lugia explained it while Ash recalled Charizard and Espeon back into their Pokeballs, Pikachu and Chikorita leaping up into his lap. "Apparently, Gary was under hypnotic influence caused by Giovanni. The device has been destroyed."
"Maybe so, but I haven't been destroyed!" Ash, Pikachu, Chikorita, Lugia, Gary and Ho-oh looked to see Giovanni, aiming a weapon similar to what Lawrence used to capture Lugia before while inside the wrecked airship that had landed near Misty's position.
"Look out!" Ash screamed as he jumped and dived in the path of the weapon, oblivious to Pikachu, Chikorita and Misty's cries.
"PIKA PI!"
"CHIKORI!"
"ASH, NOOOOOO!"
It's a whole new world we live in (live in, live in, live in...)
It's a whole new way to see (to see, to see, to see...)
It's a whole new place with a brand-new attitude (attitude, attitude...)
Ash gulped to himself as Giovanni fired the ray at him in a concentrated beam of red energy.
"And I thought it was over when I battled Whitney back in Goldenrod City..." Ash said, closing his eyes and waiting for the beam to hit.
"CHIKO!" Chikorita cried out as she fired her Vine Whip attack and pulled Ash back up in time. The ray shot past him and past the Pokemon to disperse in the skies behind them.
"Thanks, Chikorita." Ash grinned in success as did Chikorita, who was pleased by her latest victory.
"Chiko!"
But you still gotta catch 'em all-and be the best that you can be! Pokemon Johto!
Giovanni roared in fury, turning back toward his partner who was surrounded by Onix, Geodude, Golbat, Pineco and Brock, who had Melody, Maren and Slowking with him.
"Face it-you're outnumbered and outPokemon'd!" Brock responded. Misty, Ash, Melody and Maren all eyed Brock with a weird look.
"What-Ash is the only one who gets to make stupid jokes?"
Ash and Misty fell over; Melody giggled and Maren just shook her head.
"What Brock said, Giovanni. You're outnumbered, so give it up!" Ash declared confidently.
"Pikachu!"
"Chiko!"
Chorus: It's a whole new world we live in!
It's a whole new way to see!
It's a whole new place with a brand-new attitude!
But you still gotta catch 'em all-and be the best that you can be!
Pokemon Johto!
Pokemon Johto!
Pokemon Johto!
POKEMON JOHTO!
"Oh, I'm outnumbered, am I? Haven't you ever played poker, my young friends-a Royal Flush always wins against a Full House! Persian-Screech attack, NOW!" Giovanni demanded defiantly. The Cat Pokemon appeared and made an excruciating noise that not only the Pokemon could hear, but so could Ash and the others!
"Pikachu-Thunderbolt, now!" Ash gasped out.
"Pika...CHUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!" The Lightning-type used a full-on Electric attack against Persian, but he dodged it.
"Good! Now, use your Bite attack against Entei!"
Persian yowled and leaped directly at the Legendary Pokemon.
"Entei...FIRE BLAST!" Ash screamed as loud as he could. The Fire-type roared as he sent a gigantic star of fire at Persian. Once it hit, the Cat Pokemon was charbroiled and knocked out.
"I'm not finished yet! Venusaur, GO!"
"I think you are. What kind of Pokemon is this, Ash?" Gary finally spoke up, trying to remember what the last thing was that he recalled before this.
"I'll tell you later. Entei-"
"Venusaur, use your Solar Beam!" It took some time for Venusaur to charge up, so that's when Ash made his move.
"Charizard, Entei, Flamethrower!"
"CHARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!" The two Pokemon fired two blasts of extremely hot fire at Venusaur, but he moved out of range, and Brock screamed as he recalled all his Pokemon in time and ducked next to Melody and Maren to avoid getting burned!
"Golduck, try your Fury Swipes!"
Before Golduck could even fire, Venusaur shot a powerful beam of concentrated sunlight that hit Raikou, Suicune, Entei, Golduck and Misty all at the same time!
"MISTY!" Ash cried out.
"PIKACHU PI!"
Ash gasped worriedly as he recalled Entei in time, but wasn't able to save Misty or any of the other Pokemon from Giovanni. A helicopter had arrived and some Team Rocket members were loading up the Pokemon onboard, and even Misty!
"Hmm? What is a Pokemon trainer doing with a Pokemon like this?" Giovanni pulled Togepi out of Misty's backpack, which got Ash and his Pokemon mad.
"Put Togepi down now!"
"Pika, pika!"
"Chiko!"
"CHARRRRRRRRRR!!"
Giovanni smirked with ease. "Since you seem to care so much for the little runt, I'll bring him too. I offer you a deal-you give me Entei, Lugia and Ho-oh, you get your friend and her Pokemon back; if not, I'll kill her and her Pokemon!" Giovanni laughed evilly as the helicopter took off, while all of the other Pokemon were still trying to recover from Persian's Screech attack!
"BRING BACK MISTY NOWWWWWWWWWWW!"
Oh, no! It looked like things were finally going our way, and then Giovanni kidnaps Misty! Will Ash agree with Giovanni's offer, or can our heroes stage a rescue operation? You'll just have to wait and see!