Ash barely had time to think, much less give any type of command, before the serpentine water type was upon Naganadel. Gyarados coiled around the smaller ultra beast, roaring in challenge right in Naganadel's face. Ash's partner struggled mightily, but Gyarados's bulk kept it firmly in the water type's grasp. "Thunder bolt!" he cried, surprised by Gyarados' speed and ferocity. Naganadel began charging electricity, but the second before it could fire it off, a pair of glowing white fangs chomped down on it's left wing. Naganadael let out an ear shattering cry before stilling altogether. Then it went limp in Gyarados' grip. "Naganadel is unable to battle, and so the winner is Gyarados!" Brock called. Ash withdrew Naganadel, his eyes set upon the sand in front him in concentration. We need to tire Gyarados out. Even after taking Pikachu's thunder head on it hasn't slowed down even a bit! Pikachu is tired, too. No way could he keep up without help. Grabbing the luxury ball, Ash threw the capsule into the air. When it landed, Dragonite stood upon the sand. It cried out, rushing to embrace Ash in a bone crushing hug. "Alright, alright! I'm happy to see you too, Dragonite!" Ash said, laughing. "C'mon, now! we have a battle to win!" Ash's statement was punctuated by a roar from Gyarados, which caught Dragonite's attention. The dragon put on it's serious face, launching itself into the air with a single flap of it's wings. "Keep out of range Dragonite! We can't afford for you to get hit even once by ice fang! Start off with shockwave!" Dragonite glowed, releasing a ring of electricity that expanded outward, striking Gyarados's body. Gyarados recoiled in obvious pain, but it quickly returned it's vicious gaze to it's opponent. "Gyarados, aim for it's wings and use ice beam. Take it down!" Misty shouted. Once again Gyarados reared back, bellowing and releasing a beam of ice at the dragon hovering in the air. "Dragonite, spin with steel wing!" Ash said, clenching a fist out in front of him.
Dragonite spun in place, his wings turning a silvery color that shone under the light of the stars. The beam of ice connected with Dragonite's wings, but steel wing deflected the move, sending shards of ice back at Gyarados. Gyarados shielded it's face, it's long blue tail held up in front it's face. When it dropped it's tail, Dragonite was less than a yard away, fist crackling with electricity. Gyarados ducked, just barely dodging it's opponent's move, only to be knocked back by a dragon tail to the face. "Gyarados, use surf!" Misty cried, hoping to throw the dragon type back. Gyarados roared, and a small tsunami crashed into Dragonite, dragging him to the ground a few feet away. As Dragonite struggled to it's feet, Misty grinned. Perfect! "Now Gyarados! Finish it with ice fang!" Ash shouted to Dragonite "Let's finish this once and for all, Dragonite!" He tapped the opaque, diamond shaped crystal on his left glove, throwing his fist into the air as the gem turned yellow. Dragonite rosed to it's feet, it's left first once more crackling with unbridled voltage. It stood in place as the energy from Ash's glove coursed through the air, Dragonite's body absorbing ever last bit. Ash and Dragonite stood their ground as Gyarados barreled forward, cutting through the waves as if the water wasn't even there.
"We'll reach higher than ever, partner! Feel the energy as it flows through you! Direct it's course! Use Gigavolt Havoc!" Ash shouted. Dragonite slammed it's fists together, and as they parted electricity sparked to life between them. Just as the serpentine water type was bearing down upon Dragonite, shining white jaws gapping, Dragonite thrust the pure energy upward with a punch, his electrified fist throwing off sparks the as it made contact with his foe. Both pokemon bellowed as their moves made contact. The air crackled, and Misty, Ash, and Brock's hair all stood on end from the discharge. The air flashed brightly, and the three humans turned away, shielding their eyes. The light slowly died down, and the three of them found another large crater in the ground where Dragonite had stood. There lay Gyarados, down for the count. Next to Gyarados's unmoving form was a giant shard of ice, and within said shard was the limp form of Dragonite. Ash and Misty stared in shock, jaws slack.
"Both pokemon are unable to battle! As Gyarados was Misty's last pokemon, the winner is Ash!" Brock announced loudly. Misty's eyes dropped in disappointment as she recalled Gyarados. Guess we won't be going for that walk then. She sighed, gathering herself to congratulate Ash, when something slammed into her. She opened her eyes in shock, only to find Ash holding her in his outstretched arms, spinning the two of them in circles. "That was amazing! You and your team have really improved!" And that strategy with Corsola? That was genius!" Ash laughed, setting the gym leader down. Misty smiled at his praise, even as heat infused her face. Then she remembered what she was wearing, and she blushed even harder. Turning around slightly and covering herself with her arms, Misty stammered "Th-thank you! Ash… uh… thank you-" She trailed off, finding herself drawn to his face. She froze, studying the stubble on his face, the lightning shaped scar under his left eye that he had gotten when he first met Pikachu, eyen those gorgeous, deep brown eyes of his that showed soo much emotion within their depths. But she was drawn to his lips most of all. They were so close. Was she imagining it, or were they getting closer? She looked up, finding that Ash was staring deeply into her eyes, and suddenly she wanted his lips to be much closer than they were. Shuddering slightly, Misty closed her eyes, leaning forward, only to stop when she heard a female voice ring out. "DO YOU MIND?! WE'RE-…ASH!?"
