Pokémon – The Quest's End
A fanfiction by BenRG
Disclaimer
Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters, their human friends and enemies and all the technologies of the Pokémon universe are the property of Nintendo., Creatures Inc. and Game Freak Software. This is a non-profit work for free distribution through the Internet. No breach of copyright intended.
Author's Notes
This is an Alternate Universe story, closely linked to my Original Character story, 'The Journey'. Most of the events of Ash Ketchum's past have occurred as in the canon timeline. However, I have added one or two Pokémon to Ash's team that I feel he needs. I have also taken some liberties with some of the newer Pokémon, due to my unfamiliarity with the Ruby- and Sapphire-version Pokémon.
I don't know what they are going to call May's little brother Masato in the English-language dub of the animé. I have selected the name 'Matt' as being as good as any other.
Censor: PG-13
Continuity: Takes place eight years after Ash began his Journey.
The Story
Chapter 4 – Battle Royal
Indigo Plateau Stadium; Built into a limestone bowl in the foothills of the Icy Mountains, it is one of the wonders of the Pokémon Islands. As well as being the largest stadium ever built (seating well over 150,000 spectators), it is both the focus and the symbol of the dreams of every Pokémon Trainer in the world. For while many may dream of it, only the very, very best ever battle in the stadium's classically-designed multi-environment arena.
In the West Stand, high over the Challenger's Platform, a very worried Delia Ketchum was being shown to her seat by Professor Oak. "Delia, I'm sure that Ash is fine," the elder scientist was saying. "He has had a lot to think about over the last day or so, so I'm not surprised that he hasn't had time to come to breakfast in the hotel restaurant."
Delia sat down with a sigh. "Even so," she said. "Samuel, was I right to tell Ash the truth about his father?"
Oak grinned at his lover. "Delia, in all the years I have known you, you have always done what is best for Ash and Bonnie. This time was no different." The white-haired man reached out to stroke a finger along Delia's cheek, making the woman blush. "Ash is a lot smarter than people thing," he continued. "He understands what you did and why. I think you will find that he approves of your actions."
"Hey Mom! Professor!" Bonnie's loud greeting prevented from Delia from continuing the discussion. Ash had agreed with his mother that there was no need to discuss their last conversation with his little sister. Bonnie had never known her father and had shown less interest in him than Ash. Delia had agreed to tell her if she specifically asked, but she doubted that her little girl would ever care. "You were blushing, Mom!" Bonnie teased. "Did I interrupt before you could kiss the Professor?"
Delia blushed even more brightly, making Bonnie giggle and earning her a mock swat around the ear from her mother. Misty, Brock, May and Matt had all arrived with Bonnie (the three girls had spent the night at an impromptu sleepover that, in Delia's opinion, should have got Ash worried). "Misty, dear, have you seen Ash today?"
"No, I haven't," Misty said quietly. "When I called the Trainer's Lodge, they said that he had already left that morning to collect his team for the match."
"Well, at least he hasn't dropped his challenge," Delia said. "I was worried that maybe…"
"There is no chance of that," Misty said in her usual forthright way. "Ash is too determined to give up his dreams for anything."
"Besides," Brock added, not really sure why Delia thought that Ash would withdraw, "he might get nervous at facing a big match, but that only makes him try harder."
Delia smiled in agreement. At that moment, the level of ambient sound in the stadium dropped dramatically as a man walked out to the centre of the Pokéball mark on the main field. Delia immediately identified the portly, bearded Chief Executive of the Pokémon League, Trevor Goodshow. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Pokémon lovers of all ages," he announced through the stadium's PA system. "It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the climax of this year's Pokémon League, the battle for the title of The Pokémon Master. I ask you to give your wholehearted welcome to the Challenger, Master Trainer Ashton Satoshi Ketchum!"
The crowd went wild. Ash was still only a young man, but his inimitable style and boyish enthusiasm in all his pursuits had already earned him a firm fan-following throughout the Islands. Ash walked out, his clothes clean and pressed, and wearing his original Pokémon League hat. He passed down the length of the honour guard of pretty women in the League's colours, who were holding plain flags of red, yellow, blue, gold and silver.
Brock noticed something immediately. "Hey! Where's Pikachu?"
Misty realised that Brock was right. The ever-present electric-type was not in his usual place on Ash's shoulder. That was nearly unprecedented. Misty could count the number of times that Pikachu was not in Ash's team on the in the last five years on the fingers of one hand. "Maybe Ash decided not to use him," May suggested uncertainly. "After all, electric-types have a weakness against dragon-types…"
"Everything has a weakness against dragon-types," Brock countered firmly.
"Yeah, only ice-types are any good against them," Matt said knowledgeably. "Ash only has one: his Lapras."
"Ash doesn't really like using Lapras in battles," Misty commented. "Besides, Pikachu is his favourite. He uses him even when it is against a type disadvantage. Anyway, even if Ash wasn't using Pikachu in battle, he wouldn't leave him in storage. He'd want him to see this battle!" Misty's blue-green eyes began to darken in anger. "I'm going to talk to him about this," she promised angrily.
"Calm down, dear," Delia said quietly, gently touching the girl on the wrist. "I'm sure that Ash has a good reason for his team choice today."
Out on the field, Goodshow turned to Ash. "So, Ash, are you ready for this?" he asked.
"Yes sir, I am," Ash said firmly.
Goodshow noticed, with some glee, that there was no hint of doubt in the boy's eyes. He nodded and raised his microphone again. "And now, please give a welcome to our defending champion, the Pokémon Master for the last ten years… Lance Knight!" Lance strode out of the tunnel and down the line of flag-bearers. The crowd cheered, and Ash was sure that he could hear scores of girls scream 'Lance, we love you!' at the tops of their voices. However, he was also sure that he could hear Misty booing as loudly as she could. Somehow he managed to hide his grin.
Lance looked insufferably confident. He swaggered down the line of flag bearers, stopping occasionally to flirt with one of the girls or to wave to the crowd in an irritatingly imperious fashion. The man was wearing a pseudo-military uniform with lots of gold braid and a red-lined velvet cape over one shoulder. He smirked at Ash as he halted at the opposite end of the starting circle. "Not to late to back down, kid, even now," he said. "There's no need for your Pokémon to get hurt."
"Spare me," Ash snorted, fearlessly meeting the Champion's eyes.
"Lance, for the love of God, cut out the conquering hero act," Goodshow snapped. "It makes you look like an asshole and that reflects on the League." Lance rolled his eyes as the League's CEO walked off.
The match referee took Goodshow's place on the centre mark. "All right, gentlemen," the man said. "I want this to be a good, clean battle. No dirty moves, no mind games and no 'accidental' near-misses on the opposing Trainer. Got that?" Ash nodded tensely. Lance put a hand to his heart in a way that communicated offended innocence. The referee nodded. "Okay, then, to your platforms and may the best Trainer win."
"Thank you, I'm sure that I will," Lance said with a poisonous smirk.
As the two men took their places on their platforms, Lance's trimmed in gold and Ash's with a clear material that looked like quartz or some other crystal, the referee used his lapel microphone to declare the rules of the match to the audience. "This will be a six-on-six match. If a Pokémon is withdrawn, it will be considered knocked out and cannot be used again in this match. The winner will be the Trainer with a Pokémon left standing at the end of the match."
The sound level dropped again as the beginning of the match drew ever closer. Lance unbuttoned his cape, flung it aside and smiled at Ash contemptuously. As if this kid could beat him! Even so, only an idiot didn't use every weapon at his disposal. "Just before we begin," Lance shouted, "there is something that you should know, Ash." Ash looked at him curiously. "I am your long-lost father," Lance announced and grinned, waiting for his revelation to have the desired effect by ruining the boy's concentration at this critical moment.
To Lance's surprise, there was no surprise and no mixed emotions in his son's eyes. Instead, nightmarishly, Ash smiled at Lance in a way that made the older man think of hungry Feragatyrs. "I know," the young challenger said jovially. "But no good trainer uses his Pokémon to settle personal scores, 'father.' I'm here for your title, not to punish you for your sins." Ash grinned ferociously. "That's just a bonus," he added.
Lance swallowed nervously as a thrill of sound passed around the stadium. The contempt in Lance's voice and the cold steel in Ash's voice had declared that Lance's words were true. This was more than just a match for a title. This was father against son for offences that no one wanted to guess at.
In the West Stand, Sam squeezed Delia's hand and she smiled at her lover in a grateful fashion. "Mom?" Delia looked at Bonnie. "Is it true?" the girl asked, her face uncharacteristically pale.
Delia nodded sadly. "Yes, my darling," she said. "I'm sorry that you had to find out this way. I hoped that you would never have to learn this truth."
Bonnie smiled in a shaky way and took her mother's free hand, squeezing it tightly. "It's okay," she said. "I understand why you did it."
The referee had taken charge of the situation again. "The Challenger will choose his Pokémon first," his amplified voice declared.
Ash nodded and pulled a standard-type Pokéball off of his belt. "Okay, let's see what this guy is made of," he declared. "Noctowl, I choose you!"
"Oooooowwwlll!" Ash's psychic-capable flying-type materialised high above his side of the starting circle, seemingly surrounded with sparkles as the sunlight caught his unusual golden chest feathers.
Lance was not overly impressed, although he had to admit that his son's Noctowl was an aesthetically-pleasing creature. However, looking good and fighting well were distinct concepts. He pulled out a Fast Ball and threw it forwards. "Okay, time to earn your keep, Salamence!"
Lance's newest Pokémon materialised with a flash of white light and landed, hard, on his side of the starting circle. The indigo-coloured creature spread its' huge wings and bellowed at the top of its' voice.
[Loudmouth,] Noctowl mocked, still holding his position. Salamence scowled angrily and ground its' jaws in frustration.
Then things started moving very quickly. Ash pointed towards his opponent's Pokémon. "Okay, Noctowl, use Hypnosis!" Noctowl's eyes began to glow a glassy blue colour and Salamence's head began to sway from side to side.
"Damn it! No!" Lance called out. "Focus, Salamence! Counter with Scary Face!" Salamence shook his head upon hearing his Trainer's words and snarled before making the most amazingly threatening face at Noctowl. The bird-like Pokémon retreated a few paces, looking uncertain. "Great! Follow up with Headbutt!" Lance commanded.
The impact of Salamence's graceful head against his own sent Noctowl tumbling through the air. Ash winced but didn't panic. "You can take it, Noctowl! Use Confusion!" The golden owl arced through the air and shot back towards Salamence, his eyes glowing with power. The air around the dragon-type's head seemed to shimmer and the huge Pokémon groaned with pain as the psychic attack made his synapses misfire.
Lance growled in frustration. "Use Leer, Salamence!"
"Use Growl, Noctowl!" Ash countered.
Lance bit his lip in thought. Ash could keep up countering him forever. He had to create an advantage. "Use Focus Energy and then use Headbutt again!"
"Use Razor Wind!" Ash countered. Golden-red earth-type energy flared around Salamence as he powered up for his next attack. Simultaneously, Noctowl summoned a whirling vortex of wind in between his wings. Then, Salamence sprung forwards and slammed his head into Noctowl again, knocking the smaller Pokémon tumbling through the air. Noctowl scraped to a halt at Ash's feet, quite unconscious, his eyes crossed over in a vaguely comical way. Ash sighed and pulled out Noctowl's Pokéball again. "Nice try, Noctowl," he said. He swapped Pokéballs, pulling out a gold-and-white Ultra Ball. "Okay, subtle didn't work so good, let's try brute force! This one is all yours Snorlax!"
With a white flash, Ash's oversized teddy bear materialised on the challenger's side of the starting circle. Lance grinned. "Nice concept, son," he called out mockingly, "but Snorlax aren't half as tough as they look! Use Fly, Salamence!"
"Use Reflect and then Hyper Beam!" Ash countered. Snorlax concentrated and his body was suddenly surrounded by a glassy force-field bubble. Salamence charged forwards, taking to wing and seizing Snorlax, carrying him into the air. The dragon-type arced around and tried to slam his opponent into the ground. However, thanks to the Reflect shield, Snorlax just bounced along the arena floor like a massive pinball. The earth-type Pokémon swivelled on a foot to track the dragon-type as it arced around. Snorlax opened his mouth and a rolling red-gold sphere of earth-type energy appeared in between his jaws. Out of this issued a powerful beam of red-gold energy that caught Salamence mid-air and swatted him from the sky. The dragon-type fell to the ground on Ash's side of the arena with a crash that made everything shake.
Lance was virtually vibrating with anger. However, he was veteran of too many battles to lose his focus due to such frustrations. "He'll be too weak to attack again at once, Salamence," he called out. "Quickly! Use Dragon Claw!"
Salamence staggered to his feet, shaking his head in a dazed way. Then, with a defiant roar, he sprang towards Snorlax, lashing out with a foreleg surrounded by sparkling green dragon-type energy. Snorlax was blown back a few yards by the impact and he nearly fell at the foot of Lance's platform. However, the Reflect force field had worked its' magic again. "Tough beast!" Lance said appreciatively. "Use Dragon Claw again!"
"Use Ice Punch, Snorlax!" As Salamence pounced forwards again, he was met by Snorlax's right fist, which was surrounded by sparkling blue-white ice-type energy. The impact made the dragon-type's head snap backward on his long neck and he fell onto his back, his wings and limbs limp.
"Salamence! Salamence, can you hear me?" Lance was startled to say the least. Snorlax, in his experience, didn't get so tough. Obviously, Ash had been working hard with this one. With a shrug, he recalled the Pokémon to its' Fast Ball and swapped balls. He raised the Lure Ball and threw it forwards. "Okay, Gyarados, let's show him what real power is like!"
"GYYYRRR!" Lance's Gyarados bellowed at the top of its' considerable voice. Snorlax, who had waddled back to his starting mark, didn't even look concerned.
Ash considered his next move carefully. Being partly a water-type, Gyarados didn't share the usual dragon-type vulnerability to ice-type attacks. It was also a very tough Pokémon overall, with very few obvious weaknesses. "We'll have to hit it hard and fast! Use Hyper Beam, Snorlax!"
"Use Hyper Beam, Gyarados!" Lance countered. It all came down to speed, and Gyarados was far quicker than the lumbering Snorlax. The serpentine water/dragon-type opened its' fearsome mouth to generate a whirling red-gold ball of energy, out of which shot the familiar red-gold beam that was one of the most powerful conventional attacks used by Pokémon. The energy blast slammed into Snorlax, knocking him off his feet. The bear-like earth-type hit the ground with an enormous impact half-way to Ash from his starting position.
"Sn… snore…" Snorlax moaned. The big Pokémon tried to rise to his feet and failed, collapsing onto his back.
"Oh, pal, don't feel bad," Ash said. "You did great. You don't have anything to be ashamed of." Ash pulled out Snorlax's Ultra Ball and recalled him.
"Barely a challenge, eh Gyarados?" Lance laughed, stroking his Pokémon's forehead lovingly.
Ash's mind whirled for a few seconds before he decided on his next move. He pulled out a standard-type Pokéball and threw it forwards. "Okay, now it's up to you Growvyle!"
Ash's grass-type from Houen materialised with a bright flash of light. There was something intimidating about the noise that its' arm- and tail-mounted leaves made as they snapped erect to their fighting position. Gyarados looked at his new opponent with a slight wariness that made Ash grin.
Lance scowled. "Use Hyper Beam again, Gyarados!" he commanded.
"Use Agility!" Ash countered. Growvyle turned into a green blur that shot from side to side as it darted forwards. Gyarados unleashed his red-gold energy beam, but it struck the point where Growvyle had been standing just a moment before. The energy blast blew a substantial crater in the arena floor, but pyrotechnics aside it had no effect on Growvyle. "Great! Now use Leaf Blade!" Ash commanded.
Growvyle darted forwards and slashed his razor-sharp arm leaves across Gyarados' belly. The serpentine dragon-type bellowed in pain and reared back, trying to escape its' tormentor. "Don't panic, Gyarados!" Lance called out in a commanding tone of voice. "Use Dragonbreath!" With a snarl, Gyarados spat out a whirling green gaseous sphere that struck Growvyle in the chest and knocked him onto his back. "Yeah! Now use Bite!"
Ash winced in empathic pain as Gyarados bit down on the grass-type's shoulder, making him shriek in pain. "Oh no! You okay, pal?" Ash called out.
Growvyle staggered to his feet. [I don't know,] he hissed. Ash realised that his Pokémon was trembling. The Dragonbreath attack must have triggered some kind of partial paralysis. That would explain why he couldn't dodge the Bite attack.
"Use Quick Attack!" Ash ordered. Growvyle gathered himself and flung himself forwards, turning into an indistinct green-and-red blur. He slammed his fists into Gyarados' bottom jaw, knocking him backwards. "Great job, pal!" Ash called out. "Now get over here!" Ash reached into his medical pouch, slung from his belt. Growvyle ran towards his trainer as fast as he could. Ash pulled out a disposable hypodermic and used it to inject a dose of Paralyse Heal into his Pokémon's jugular vein. At that moment, he heard Lance command a Hydro Pump attack. "Dodge!" Ash shouted.
Growvyle leapt to one side and Ash was newly grateful for the polarised electrostatic field protecting the front of his platform. The twin torrent of water spat out by Gyarados slammed into the shield right in front of the young man's face, making him instinctively jerk backwards.
Lance snapped his fingers in disappointment. "We'll have to do this close-up Gyarados! Use Leer and then Surf!"
"Use Screech and then Leaf Blade, Growvyle!" Ash countered. Gyarados stared levelly at his opponent, his eyes seeming to glow with malice. Seemingly unaffected, Growvyle raised his head, opened his mouth and uttered a teeth-rattling screech that made every living thing in the stadium wince instinctively. Then, Gyarados was moving, generating a wave of water around him as he raced over the arena floor towards Growvyle. However, Growvyle was moving too. The grass-type shot towards his opponent, leading once again with his lethally-sharp arm leaves. The blade-like extremities slashed across Gyarados' belly, sending the water/dragon-type reeling off to one side. The snake-like Pokémon tumbled end-over-end for a few yards before coming to a halt.
The referee had no doubt after completing his examination. "Gyarados can no longer battle. Bout to Challenger Ash Ketchum and Growvyle!" The crowd roared their approval of the hard-fought bout and Growvyle leapt towards Ash. What started looking like an attack ended with an excited hug.
Lance recalled Gyarados to his Lure Ball and scowled. The arena's maintenance teams were just filling in the crater left by Gyarados' Hyper Beam attack, so he had a moment to contemplate his next move. The boy's Pokémon were all definitely strong. Lance touched a grey-and-white Super Ball for a moment before shaking his head. No. There was more than one way to pluck a weed. He would try the less-expected route first and, maybe, catch the boy unawares. He pulled out a standard Pokéball and threw it forwards. "Okay, let's show him the meaning of power, Altaria!"
The evolved dragon/flying-type materialised above its' end of the starting circle, most of its' body invisible in the icy cloud it generated around itself as a defensive mechanism. Growvyle looked up at the bird-like creature and snarled deep in his throat as he jogged over to his own starting position.
Ash pursed his lips thoughtfully. As well as the dragon-vs.-grass advantage, Altaria also had a flying-vs.-grass advantage. He briefly considered swapping Pokémon, but if he did, he wouldn't be able to use Growvyle again. He would have to try something different. Lance smiled proudly, pleased to have confounded his opponent. "Okay, use Fly!" Altaria swept towards her opponent
Ash decided on his move. "Use Double Team, Growvyle!" There was a momentary blur and then there were dozens of Growvyle in as rough semi-circle. Unable to tell the difference between them, Altaria hesitated before sweeping towards one, her talons outstretched. She shot through empty space with a squawk of surprise. "Great!" Ash crowed. "Use Solarbeam!" Growvyle flared his leaves and began to glow as he absorbed solar radiation.
Lance spat a silent curse. "Focus your mind, blast it Altaria! Use Dragon's Wrath!" The bird-like dragon-type finally located her enemy and glared at him, her eyes shining with green dragon-type energy. Then, with a loud cry, she flung herself towards him, a storm of green power building up around her. At that moment, Growvyle opened his mouth, a sparkling golden radiance visible within, and spat out a beam of golden-white light. The Solarbeam attack caught Altaria right between the eyes. However, she was strong enough to take a hit and keep going. She struck Growvyle hard and sent the grass-type Pokémon sprawling, skidding along the ground until he had almost reached the base of Ash's platform.
Lance nodded, pleased. "That's more like it," he said harshly. "Now, finish this with a Peck attack!"
Growvyle staggered to his feet. [I can take her, Boss!] he hissed.
Ash didn't know whether to be pleased or appalled at the grass-type's bravery. He decided just to pay tribute to it by letting him keep fighting. "Okay, then! Use Dragon Claw!"
Lance's eyes opened just a little wider in a way that gave Ash a little satisfaction. As Altaria shot forwards, Growvyle leapt up to meet her mid-air. A glowing green claw slashed across the bird-like Pokémon's chest and knocked her from the sky. It was instantly apparent that she had fainted. As the referee confirmed this to the spectators, Lance looked at Ash and, for the first time, he saw fear in the eyes of the man who was once his father. That didn't please the young challenger at all. Fearful men are far more dangerous.
Lance decided to stop pussy-footing around. "Okay, Ash," he snapped angrily, "I'm taking off the kid gloves!" The Pokémon Master pulled out the grey-and-white Super Ball containing his starter. "Out you come, Charizard!"
The powerful-looking fire/dragon-type materialised high above its' start mark and lightly dropped to the ground. Growvyle looked determined, but Ash knew that the first Pokémon that he had caught in Houen was hopelessly outmatched. Growvyle had been badly hurt over the last two bouts and was facing a 4-to-1 type disadvantage. No amount of bravery or skill as a trainer could overcome this. Ash pulled out Growvyle's Pokéball and raised it. "That's enough, Growvyle," he called out. Growvyle glared at Ash in an accusing manner. "You've already done more than enough, pal," he said. "Now let the others take the strain." Growvyle nodded and visibly relaxed as Ash recalled him to his Pokéball. The boy had no doubt about who to choose next. He pulled out a Lure Ball and threw it forwards. "Out you come Croconaw!"
Croconaw materialised right on his starting spot and immediately began to dance ecstatically. Evolving hadn't changed his enthusiasm, that was for certain. However, watching a Croconaw perform his mad dance was a little more intimidating than watching a Totodile do the same. Lance's Charizard, of course, wasn't visibly affected. Charizards, as a rule, rarely admitted to doubt, uncertainty or fear, even when facing a potentially overwhelming adversary.
"Okay, Croconaw, let's have a Surf attack!" Ash commanded, determined to finish this quickly.
"Use Smokescreen!" Lance countered. Charizard breathed out a black cloud that completely obscured Croconaw as he dived onto his belly and began to ride towards his opponent on a wave of water that he had created. The smaller water-type missed with his opening attack.
Ash realised that his opponent's Charizard was the faster of the two. "Okay, use Scary Face!" Croconaw, now clear of the smokescreen, grimaced at the dragon-type, forcing her to take a step back in horror at what she was seeing. "Great! Now use Water Gun!" Croconaw spat out a pressurised jet of water that caught Charizard in the face.
"Use Fly attack!" Lance countered. His Charizard took to wing.
Ash groaned. There was no way of avoiding what was to come. "Use Defence Curl, pal!" he called out. Croconaw tucked himself inwards, moving the less armoured parts of his body into protected areas. As he did so, Charizard came racing down and snatched him into the air. The dragon-type carried her opponent a few dozen yards and then dropped him. Croconaw ploughed into the arena floor, digging a long furrow in the sand. "Don't let up!" he called out. "Use Leer and then Water Gun again!"
"Use Smokescreen and then Dragon Rage!" Lance ordered. Charizard breathed out another jet of black smoke that obscured Croconaw as he began to glare dangerously at his opponent. A few moments later, a pressurised water jet comfortably missed the airborne dragon-type. Charizard seemed to take a moment to gather herself. She began to glow green with dragon-type energy and then dived into the whirling black smoke. There was a loud 'crunch' and Croconaw flew out of the smokescreen. The water-type hit the ground and lay there for a moment before staggering to his feet, looking rather dazed. "Now, use Fire Blast!" Lance commanded.
Ash winced. Even against a type disadvantage, Fire Blast was a powerful attack indeed. "Use Hydro Pump!" he commanded. Croconaw tucked his tail in between his legs and fired a jet of water alternately from his mouth and the tip of his tail. The attack struck the huge fireball of the Fire Blast attack and they interacted, turning into a thick, humid fog bank. Ash could figure out what was going to happen next. After all, he knew what he would do, under the same circumstances. "Use Defence Curl again, pal!" he commanded.
Croconaw complied just as an airborne Charizard emerged from the fog and used Body Slam on her opponent. The impact was so powerful that it pounded the water-type into the sandy arena floor. The referee ran over to Croconaw, but the verdict was a foregone conclusion. "Croconaw can no longer battle!" He declared. "Bout to Champion Lance Knight and Charizard!"
Lance laughed aloud and opened his arms, not (as Ash initially thought) to hug his Charizard, but to shake his fists at heaven. "You should have taken the hint, boy!" he shouted out. The man smirked as he looked at his son's scowl.
Ash was angry all right. He was angry that he had let his father's bluster get to him. He was a Pokémon Trainer, and he was a professional. He would fight as best as he knew how and he would let the moral issues of the battle settle themselves. He tucked Croconaw's Lure Ball onto his belt and pulled out a grey-and-white super-type Pokéball, containing one of his strongest Pokémon. "If water won't cut it, then let's try fire!" he called out. "Charizard, I choose you!"
With a bright flash of light, Ash's Charizard landed opposite his opponent. The two creatures glared at each other dangerously. In the stands, Misty immediately could tell the difference between the two Pokémon. Ash's Charizard was a slightly darker shade of orange-red, and his horns were slightly shorter.
Professor Oak leaned forwards (noting, with a smile, that many of the other spectators were reacting similarly). Native battles of this kind were notoriously hard to judge. Much would depend on the relative skill of the respective Trainers.
"Okay, Charizard," Ash said urgently. "This is going to be a tough one, but I believe in you. You've got to move fast and you've got to be accurate. Are you ready?"
"CHAR!" Charizard barked; He was ready, all right.
"Use Dragon Rage!" Lance ordered, rightly deciding not to use a fire-type attack against another fire-type.
"Fly, Charizard!" Ash commanded. Charizard spread his wings and shot upwards, so fast that he sucked some of the arena floor sand after him in his wake. Lance's Charizard, glowing green with dragon-type power, landed on the spot he had occupied only moments before, looking around her in befuddlement. At that point, Ash's Charizard looped back around, seized her on either side of her wing roots and flung her forwards to slam into the ground a few feet in front of his Trainer.
"Damn! Counter with a Flame-thrower attack!" Lance commanded. His Charizard turned around and breathed out a long stream of orange-yellow fire that boiled around Ash's Charizard.
"Don't panic, pal!" Ash called out. "You can handle this! Use Smokescreen!" Lance's Charizard disappeared in a rolling cloud of black smoke. "And again!"
"Blast! Wake up, Charizard!" Lance spat. "Use Whirlwind!" The Pokémon Master's Charizard responded as best she could, but the soot from her opponent's Smokescreen attacks had got in her eyes. The whirling vortex of disrupted air that she had generated in between her wings cleared the smokescreen, but missed Ash's Charizard by a wide margin.
"Great! Use Dragon Rage!" Ash called out. Charizard shot forwards and slammed into his opponent, physically driving her into the base of Ash's platform. "Now let's finish this!" Ash called out. "Use Rage attack!"
"No! Damn it, use Fly!" Lance countered. His stunned Charizard was too slow to avoid the first whirling series of scratches from her opponent. She launched herself into the air, avoiding the second, then looped around to strike Ash's Charizard head-to-head, dragging him half the length of the arena. The only affect on Charizard seemed to be to make his tail flame boil up brighter than before. He lashed out again, sending his opponent reeling.
"No!" Lance shouted. "Don't hold back, Charizard! Use Slash!" Ash's Charizard winced away as his opponent's claws dragged across his chest. His tail flame mounted brighter still, and the next strike from his claws sent Lance's Charizard down to the ground. The referee's verdict came as no surprise to anyone.
Lance found himself breathing very hard. Somehow, he managed to gain enough self control to recall his beaten starter and swapped Pokéballs. "Very impressive," he admitted hoarsely. "Let's see how you face a more exotic opponent! Come on out, Aerodactyl!"
Ash quickly ran through what he knew about the Pokémon. Aerodactyl was a rock/dragon-type, giving it a definite advantage against Charizard. It could fly, but its' real advantage lay in the wide range of moves that it learnt, especially the recently-classified earth-type moves. Charizard landed on his side of the starting circle and snarled. [Let's do it!] he roared.
Ash had to smile at his fire/dragon-type's confidence. "You've got it, pal! Use Roar!"
"Use Ancient Power!" Lance countered. Aerodactyl took to wing and began to glow red-gold with earth-type power. Charizard raised his head and uttered the most bone-rattling roar that Lance had ever heard. Aerodactyl visibly quailed in fear. Then he unleashed his energy blast, striking Charizard in the middle of his chest.
Ash winced as the impact drove Charizard backwards a few paces. Nonetheless, his dragon-type stayed on his feet and seemed still able to fight. "Use Seismic Toss!" Ash commanded.
Lance's mouth dropped open. "Evade it, Aerodactyl!" he cried out. However, the Roar attack had slowed Aerodactyl's reactions and he wasn't able to get out of the way before Charizard seized him and flung him end-over-end through the air. The fighting-type attack paid off. Aerodactyl struck the centre of the arena, making a considerable crater, and lay unmoving.
Ash called Charizard over for a hug as Lance recalled his beaten Pokémon and the arena maintenance teams raced to fill in another crater. The Pokémon Master took a brief glance at the scoreboard, which only confirmed what he already knew. He had only one Pokémon left while Ash had two. Well, it was just as well that he saved his best until last, the Pokémon that he had the most confidence in. "Very well," he said, his voice like ice. "Let's proceed with the real test, shall we?" Lance pulled out a green-and-white Safari Ball and activated it. "It's all up to you now, Dragonite!"
"Gooonnn!" Dragonite cried out in his delicate voice as he landed opposite Charizard.
Ash narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. The Dragonite was one of the most powerful Pokémon that were generally used by Trainers, learning a wide range of moves from electric-type defensive moves to powerful dragon- and earth-type attacks. He could not toy with this opponent. "Up, Charizard!" he called out, pointing upwards. Charizard took wing.
"Follow him, Dragonite!" Lance responded. "Use Dragonbreath!" The two dragon-types rose into the sky, beginning a dramatic aerial ballet, dodging around each other's flight path and throwing powerful attacks back and forth. Finally, Charizard connected with his second Flame-thrower attack and sent Dragonite tumbling towards the ground. At the very last moment, the dragon/flying-type caught himself and stabilised his flight-path. "Well done!" Lance called out. "Now, quickly! Use Thunderwave!" A crackling wave-front of golden-white electricity caught Charizard as he dived in pursuit of his opponent. His nervous system partly shorted-out, the fire/dragon-type dropped to the arena floor.
Lance smirked as he looked at his son's Pokémon trying to regain its' feet. In a way, it was a little cute, how loyal Ash's Pokémon were and how far they were willing to go for him. "Hyper Beam," he ordered without inflection. Ash winced and looked away as the red-gold energy beam slammed into Charizard, flipping him over onto his back and knocking him out.
Lance folded his arms in an imperious way and watched as Ash recalled his Charizard to his Super Ball. "Don't say that I didn't warn you, Ash," he called out in a superior tone of voice.
"This battle isn't over yet," Ash responded. He pulled out the Super-type Pokéball containing his last Pokémon for the day's battle.
Up in the stands, Misty suddenly leant forwards. The Super Ball had a small yellow thunderbolt painted just above the recall lens. "Hey! I recognise that Pokéball!" she called out.
Straining his eyes to their limits, Brock agreed. They had never before seen Ash use this ball before, though. Its' assigned occupant wasn't a great fan of Pokéballs. Besides, he enjoyed riding on his Trainer's shoulder too much to ride in his Pokéball. "That's Pikachu's Pokéball!" he agreed.
Ash activated the ball and threw it forwards. "It's all down to you now, pal!" he yelled. "I know that you'll do me proud! I CHOOSE YOU!"
The ball split open and spat out a flash of white light that resolved into an unexpected shape… A body twice as long than before. A streamer-like tail that doubled the Pokémon's length, tipped with a sharp thunderbolt. Flattened ears tucked close to the head. The Pokémon continued through the air before landing on his end of the starting circle. "RAICHU!" it squealed.
To be continued…
