The Young Master's Quest Ch. 24: The Final Battle
Sunday…
Ash was psyched. Today is the day he's been waiting for. He'll finally battle Prince Israel for the title of "Pokémon Master." He got up out of bed and did his morning preparations.
After he finished, he got Pikachu & went to the door to Misty's room. He knocked & the aqua trainer came out a few seconds later.
"So are you ready?" Misty asked.
"You bet I am! I can see it all now. 'Ash Ketchum: Pokémon Master.'" Ash replied. Misty chuckled.
"Wait until after the match before you start writing your autobiography."
The couple went to the dinning room for breakfast. When they arrived, they saw everybody from last night at the table. The guests, the gym leaders, everybody. Prince Israel was sitting next to Jasmine. Ash & Misty went to the only two free spots at the table, which was across from the two Johto gym leaders.
"Hello Ash." Israel said in a hate-filled tone.
"Hello Israel." Ash replied in the same way.
(A/N: I hope someone got that joke. If not, watch an episode of Seinfeld that has the character Newman in it.)
"So are ya ready for the match today?" Israel asked.
"Yeah. You?" Ash replied.
"I was born ready for this. You got the pokémon you need?"
"Yep."
"Ok. It's not too late to switch pokémon, ya know."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Our match is at one & it's 9:00 right now." Israel said while looking at his poké gear. The conversation ended after that. Ash started to eat his breakfast.
Afterwards, Ash went to the nearest phone, which was in the front hall. He picked up the phone & dialed the number for Prof. Oak's lab.
"Hello?" Prof. Oak said as his face appeared on the screen.
"Hiya! It's me, Ash!" Ash replied.
"Oh. Hi. Congratulations on getting the Jeweled Crown Badge."
"What? How do you—?"
"It was mentioned in the news. I'll be watching your match today."
"Dang! News DOES travel fast!" Ash exclaimed. Oak chuckled.
"So what can I do for you?"
"Oh right. I need to switch pokémon for the battle."
"Ok. Which pokémon do you want?"
"Heracross, Tauros, and Kingler."
"And which ones do you want to send?"
"Hmmm… I'll send Totodile, Noctowl, and Cyndaquil."
"Ok. You know the routine." Prof. Oak said. Ash then put the two poké balls & lure ball in the transporter. The three balls glowed white & were soon replaced by two poké balls & a safari ball.
"I got them, Professor!"
"Alright then. Good luck in your match." Prof. Oak said as he hung up. Ash took the balls and attached them to his belt. His team now consisted of Pikachu, Bayleef, Phanpy, Heracross, Kingler, and Tauros.
Later…
The stands in the castle's outdoor field were filled to capacity. Everyone was waiting for the long awaited match between Prince Israel III & Ash Ketchum to begin. There were cameras everywhere. Ash was waiting on the side of the field facing the backyard. Misty was on his left & Pikachu was on his shoulders.
"It's almost one o'clock. Where is he?" Ash asked impatiently.
"He'll be here soon. I don't think he would do that to you." Misty said. Just then, the clock struck one.
"The prince isn't here so I award the match to—" The ref started before he was cut off by a flourish of trumpets. The doors below the clock opened as Prince Israel stepped through. Jasmine was on his right & Sadie was walking on the ground. Confetti was flying everywhere as they made their way to the field. The band stopped playing when the trio reached their end of the field. They were standing in a way that made them look like Team Rocket.
"Sorry we're late. It took forever to get the band ready for our entrance." Israel said.
"Very well. Despite the prince's late entry, I'll allow this battle to commence!" The ref said. The audience showed their approval of the call by cheering & yelling. "Now set up the field."
The ground started to shake as four posts rose up from all corners of the field. The posts on Israel's side were blue & the ones on Ash's were red. When they stopped rising, the top of the posts started to glow a rainbow of colors.
"What are these for?" Ash asked.
"You'll see." Israel replied.
"The rules are simple." The ref started. "Each trainer is allowed six pokémon. The match ends when all of a trainer's pokémon have been knocked out. Anything else, Boss?"
"Umm… Oh yeah! Music!" Israel yelled. The music for Kanto's gym battles started to play.
"Hey! Why don't you use your own country's theme?" Misty asked.
"I don't like Johto's gym battle theme. I prefer Kanto's." Israel replied. He stuck his tongue out at her.
"Now then. Poké fight…!" The ref started.
"Ready…!" Israel said as he tossed a silver master ball.
"Go!" Ash as he tossed a poké ball. They both opened in a flash. The two pokémon were revealed to be Zap Master & Phanpy. The posts hummed and the area above the field became dark and cloudy.
"What the...?" Ash asked.
"That's what the posts are for." Israel said. "They display a holographic image of the type of environment the stronger pokémon thrives in. The image will change whenever the trainer who is winning so far switches pokémon. Oh, one more thing. Raise the barrier!" A fence-like grid of yellow energy started to surround the pokémon. It then stretched upward into the sky.
"This barrier will protect us from our pokémon's attacks. When you need to switch out, the barrier will disappear. Any questions?"
"Just one. Why the image?" Ash asked.
"It's just to add more life to the battle. It doesn't give either of our pokémon an advantage if that's what you're thinking."
"Oh."
"ENOUGH STALLING! FIGHT ALREADY!!!" The ref & the audience yelled.
"Alright, alright!" The two trainers yelled.
"Phanpy! Earthquake!" Ash ordered. Phanpy jumped up & landed on the ground, causing it to shake & rattle. Zap Master, who was standing on the ground at the time, flew up into the air, avoiding the attack.
'Hmmm… Phanpy's a ground type & Zap Master's an electric type. I can't hit Phanpy with a Thunder attack, so I'll use the next best thing.' Israel thought.
"Zap Master! Prepare for a Sky Attack!" Zap Master started to glow red after hearing its command.
"Umm… Try a Rollout attack!" Ash ordered. Phanpy rolled into a ball & jumped into the air.
"Ha! Too late! Give it to 'im, Zap Master!" Israel yelled. Zap Master swooped at Phanpy. It passed by the ground type in a streak of light. It seemed as if Israel's zapdos didn't do anything to the tiny elephant, but Phanpy stopped its Rollout attack and landed on the ground with a thud.
"Phanpy is out of the match. The winner is Zapdos!" The ref said. The crowd roared as Zap Master did in triumph. On the titantron, one of the little red blocks representing Ash's pokémon disappeared. The barrier disappeared as Ash called back his pokémon.
"Go! Tauros!" He tossed the safari ball. The bull pokémon then appeared in the field. Israel shrugged & called back Zap Master.
"Go! King Ho-oh!" He tossed a gold master ball. The god-like bird type also appeared. The barrier rose up again & the sky above it became golden.
"It's beautiful." Misty said to herself.
"Tauros! Take down!" Ash said. Tauros charged towards Ho-oh and hit him in the head. Ho-oh stumbled back.
"Israel!" Jasmine yelled. "Why'd you let him do that?"
"What? It's not like Tauros caused any severe damage." Israel defended. "King Ho-oh! Scared Fire!"
King Ho-oh rose up into the yellow sky. A gold cloud covered his entire body. He flew so high up that when he used his attack, all that anyone can see was a small sparkle. Suddenly, the whole field was engulfed in flame. The crowd screamed in terror. Luckily, the barrier was up to protect everyone from the attack. After the blaze subsided, Tauros was seen with a dazed look. He was burned all over.
'I thought King Ho-oh was gonna turn him into a hamburger for sure! Good thing he didn't though. I may have been disqualified.' Israel thought. Ash looked away & called back Tauros in shame.
"Go! Kingler!"
"Crap!" Israel yelled as Ash tossed the ball into the scorched field. The crab with the wonder claw then appeared. Israel got in a thinking pose.
"I'll leave King Ho-oh in." He said to the ref. He raised the barrier and the match continued.
"Huh? But why?" Jasmine asked her boyfriend.
"You'll see." Israel replied with a smirk.
"Resume the battle!" The ref said.
"King Ho-oh! Sunny Day!" Israel said as he got some sunglasses on. King Ho-oh shot a bright light from his beak into the sky. It flew past the fake holographic sky. In a few moments, the sun's light intensified.
"Kingler! Use Water Gun!" Ash ordered. Kingler fired a water gun at Ho-oh.
"Think again!" Israel yelled with glee. The water gun that was heading, full blast, towards Ho-oh, disappeared in the sun's rays.
"What happened?" Ash asked as he turned to Misty.
"Sunny Day weakens water attacks." She replied while giving Ash a "Duh! Ya shoulda known!" look.
"Oh." he replied.
"And it raises the power of fire attacks."
"- -;;; Crap."
"I want some crab legs! King Ho-oh! Sacred Fire!" Israel yelled like a madman. King Ho-oh did his move from Super Smash Bros. Melee again.
(A/N: In case you didn't guess, King Ho-oh's Sacred Fire attack is supposed to be like the attack Ho-oh uses in SSBM.)
After that wave of flames, Kingler was done for the day.
"Oy! Kingler! Return!" Ash growled, calling back Kingler. "Go! Heracross!" He sent out the bug type. Israel called back King Ho-oh & sent out Dark King. The area above the field took on a cave-like look as the royal tyrannitar appeared.
(Me: Would you please stop doing that already!?
Izzy: What?! Can't I give him a fighting chance?)
"Heracross! Submission!" Ash ordered. Heracross ran up to Dark King, grabbed him, spun him around a few times, and slammed him to the ground. All in the span of three seconds! Whew!
"Man, for a bug, it sure is fast!" Israel said. "Use Hyper Beam!" Dark King charged energy & then fired at Heracross, which knocked it against the barrier. Heracross slumped over defeated.
"Dark King is the winner!" The ref said.
"Go! Bayleef!" Ash ordered after calling back Heracross. "Razor Leaf!" Bayleef shot a flurry of leaves at Dark King. He seemed to be weakening! Is this it!?
"AWW HELL NAW! Dark King! Return!" Israel yelled while calling the dark/rock type back.
"Deal with this Aqua King!"
(Me: ::Glares::
Izzy: Last time, I swear.
Me: ::Arms crossed:: Uh huh.)
Suicune appeared and the cave setting turned into an ocean setting. Due to the sunlight, the whole field turned blue.
"Hey! Israel! Love the choice on atmosphere!" Misty yelled.
"Thanks. Ice Beam!" Israel ordered. Suicune shot Bayleef before it can even react. Needless to say, the spicy pokémon was frozen solid.
"So much for the bad side effect of Sunny Day, huh?" Jasmine asked. Israel chuckled.
"Heh. You gotta be prepared for anything, I always say." The sunlight then returned to normal. Ash called back Bayleef.
"My last pokémon." Ash said to himself. "Go! Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu yelled as it ran inside the perimeter of the barrier.
'I should just keep Aqua King in and take care of Pikachu, but I want vengeance.' Israel thought while taking a quick glance at Sadie, who was licking herself.
"Aqua King! Return!" Suicune returned to its poké ball. "Go! Sadie!"
"Meowth?" Sadie looked at her master, who was pointing towards the field. Israel looked at her.
"Well? Go on." The meowth nervously walked to the field. It seemed apparent that she wasn't expecting to battle today. The barrier was raised and the posts deactivated to reveal a clear blue sky.
"Why did they turn off?" Ash asked.
"Sadie's a normal type. She doesn't have a particular environment." Israel replied.
"Resume!" The ref yelled.
"Sadie! Slash!" Israel ordered.
"Pikachu! Agility!" Ash said. Sadie started to claw at Pikachu, but the mouse dodged every single strike.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Pikachu's body started to crackle with electricity and shot its attack at Sadie.
"Sadie! Use Mimic!" Sadie's body then started to crackle as well and both pokémon used their attacks. The attacks collided and caused another explosion, engulfing the whole field in smoke.
"Now what?" Ash asked. He saw Pikachu standing, but where was Sadie?
"Sadie! Pay Day!" A few sparkles appeared in the smoke as some coins came towards Pikachu. It dodged a few as more started to come.
"Now use Slash!" Israel ordered. Sadie came out of the smoke and started to attack Pikachu as it was dodging the remaining coins. Sadie clawed at the mouse, not getting a single strike.
"Pikachu! Tackle!" Ash ordered. Pikachu bashed right into Sadie & sent her flying towards the barrier in front of Israel.
"Sadie! Screech!" He ordered.
"Roooowww!!!" Sadie yelled.
"Pika…" Pikachu groaned as the shrill sound entered its ears.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash yelled over the sound. Pikachu started to charge energy.
"Again? Sadie! Use Mimic again!" Israel ordered. The two pokémon used their attacks & caused the third explosion of the day.
"Sadie! Slash that pikachu!" Sadie jumped out from the smoke and was approaching Pikachu fast.
"Pikachu! Thunder!" Ash yelled.
"PIIIIKAAAAAACHUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!" Pikachu roared as it did its attack. A bolt of lightning struck Sadie. She roared in pain as her body crackled with electricity & fell over.
"S-Sadie?" Israel stuttered. He studied Sadie's form from his part of the field. She didn't move an inch. Memories of that night at the hotel came flooding back to him.
'Oh no…'
"Meowth is out of the battle!" The ref yelled. One of the green blocks representing Israel's pokémon disappeared from the titantron's screen. The barrier also disappeared & Israel ran into the field. He scooped Sadie up in his arms & tears started to fall from his face.
"Oh Sadie! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen!" He sobbed. "Here. Go back into your master ball. You'll be ok." He held the gold master ball & Sadie went inside.
"Israel, I hope you're not giving up just because one of your pokémon got knocked out." Ash said.
"What!? Of course not! We're finishing this." Israel replied. He walked back to his part of the field.
"What are you gonna use?" Jasmine asked. Israel sniffed and wiped a tear from his face.
"I didn't want to use this, but Ash is really asking for it." He pulled out a gold master ball with his left hand.
'What I don't get is how did Pikachu get powerful enough to beat Sadie. I better take a look.' He thought as used his right hand to get his pokédex. He pointed it at Pikachu & pressed a button, soon the electric pokémon's stats were displayed.
"WHAT!?" He exclaimed.
"What happened?" Jasmine asked.
"That pikachu is at level one hundred!!!!!" Was the answer. Ash overheard this and was grinning from ear to ear.
"How did that happen?" Misty asked.
"I suppose it was all that training we did this week, plus Pikachu beating Sadie." Ash replied.
"Ummm… If you guys don't mind, we still have a battle to complete." The ref said.
"OH CRAP! WE ALMOST FORGOT!!!!" Both couples yelled. They both got back to their fighting positions.
"You'll certainly be able to do it. Make Ash pay for Sadie's defeat." There was a hint of malice in Israel's voice as he held the master ball in his hand.
"Go! Great lord of Darkness! King Mewtwo!" He yelled as he tossed the ball. It opened and the great psychic type appeared in a flash of dark energy. The posts came back to life and darkness took over the serene blue of the sky. The music for the battle changed to Mewtwo's theme.
(A/N: Mewtwo's theme is the music that plays when you battle him in Pokémon Stadium 1.)
King Mewtwo turned to his master as the barrier went back up.
"::Master, what the matter? Your face is red & wet. Where's Sadie? She's usually with you.::"
"Sadie was defeated by that pikachu." Israel answered, pointing at Pikachu. "I want you to defeat it."
"::I will, master, but a pikachu? Isn't that overkill?::"
"Duh! That's the point! And be careful. That pikachu is good." That statement was meant with laughter from the pokémon.
"::Master, this IS a pikachu we're talking about! I'll be fine!::"
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash said. Pikachu launched the attack at King Mewtwo, who just waved it off with a Confusion attack.
"::Do you mind!? I'm trying to have a conversation with my master.::" He then turned back to Israel. "::Is there anything else?::"
"Nope. You're right. Beat that rat!" The prince replied. "King Mewtwo! Psychic attack!" King Mewtwo glowed blue and tossed Pikachu against the barrier.
"Good! Now charge up a Shadow Ball." Israel ordered. Mewtwo got into a defensive stance as he prepared the Shadow Ball. Pikachu got up when the ball was fully charged.
"Pikachu! Agility!" Ash called. Pikachu started to run around again.
"King Mewtwo. Slow down that pikachu, if you don't mind." Israel said. King Mewtwo's eyes glowed & Pikachu was lifted into the air.
"Pikachu! Try to get free!" Ash yelled. Pikachu tried to break free, but Mewtwo's hold was way too strong.
"King Mewtwo! Shoot your Shadow Ball at it!" King Mewtwo followed the order and shot it at Pikachu, who got hit by the dark energy. The blue light vanished from Mewtwo's eyes & Pikachu fell to the ground.
"Pikachu! Thunder!" Ash said. Pikachu summoned a bolt of lightning, which rained down on Mewtwo. Israel snapped his fingers & King Mewtwo redirected the attack back at Pikachu. The mouse ran around the field, but the attack still followed Pikachu and it hit it's mark.
"I'm having so much fun!" Israel yelled. Pikachu then got up & was seeing red.
"PIKA PI PIKA KA IK PIKA!!!!!!!!" It roared.
"::My, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?::" Mewtwo teased. Pikachu screamed some more profanities at the psychic type. When it uttered its last curse, it started to glow white.
"Huh?" Both Israel & Ash asked.
"Why is Pikachu glowing like that? It can't evolve without a thunder stone." Israel said. Electricity started to come out of its body.
"::Is that an attack?::" King Mewtwo asked.
"It doesn't look like any attack I've ever seen. Unless…" Israel said. Everything got blurry.
::::Flashback::::
A younger Israel was in Prof. Oak's lab, picking up his first pokémon.
"I think I'll take this bulbasaur!" He said with much enthusiasm. He then picked up the poké ball.
"Very well. Here are your pokédex & poké balls." Oak said as he handed Israel the items. He only took the pokédex.
"Thanks, but I won't be needing the poké balls."
"Are you sure?" The professor asked.
"Yeah. I'll be the greatest pokémon master in the world." Israel proclaimed.
"Before you go, I have to tell you something. Watch out for a rare pokémon attack called 'The Poké Force.'" Prof. Oak said.
"'Poké Force?' What's that?" Israel asked.
"It's an attack that very few pokémon can use. They can only use it when the tension of the battle gets too high. It's very powerful, but leaves the user weak for a few turns."
"If it's so rare, how do you know it's not just a normal attack?"
"Scientists have been researching the attack for years. It would be valuable if a TM for the attack was created."
"Well, I'll look out for it. See ya!" Israel yelled as he ran out of the lab.
::::End Flashback::::
"That attack. It IS the Poké Force!" Israel said.
"The legendary move?" Jasmine asked.
"Yeah. If it's as powerful as Prof. Oak said, King Mewtwo may be in trouble." Israel said. Pikachu glowed an even brighter shade of white and hurled its attack towards Mewtwo.
"::Uhh… Master.::" King Mewtwo said nervously.
"Quick! Defend yourself!" Israel ordered. King Mewtwo raised up a shield as the attack hit. He struggled against the force. A few seconds later, an explosion of massive proportions was heard. The barrier almost fell to its sheer force. After the explosion, Mewtwo was seen staggering. Pikachu wasn't any better either. It was gasping for air. Israel then checked out the pokédex to see how much damage the poké force caused. He gasped at the number.
"That attack left Mewtwo with only one HP!!!!!!!" He yelled. The others gasped as well. A HUGE grin then overtook Israel's expression as he looked around the field at the cameras—both TV AND security.
"I got that attack on camera!!!" He practically screamed. "I'm gonna make that into my gym's TM!"
"::Hey! What about me?!::" King Mewtwo's voice yelled in Israel's mind.
"Oh right. King Mewtwo! Recover!" Israel said.
"Finally!" Mewtwo said as his body glowed a rainbow of colors. Most of the scars from Pikachu's Poké Force disappeared.
"Now let's end this! King Mewtwo! Hyper Beam!" King Mewtwo charged energy in his left hand and shot it at Pikachu. Pikachu, barely conscious, couldn't avoid the attack.
"Pikachu is out of the match! The winner is Prince Israel!" The ref yelled. The crowd roared.
At sunset…
The entire group (plus Jasmine) was outside the city. A limo was behind them & a forest lied ahead of them.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us to the Johto League?" Israel asked.
"Nah. We'll be fine. I could use more training." Ash replied.
"Well, your Pikachu is in fine shape. You should do very well." Israel said. Pikachu was asleep in Ash's arms.
"Thanks! I'll be back someday for a rematch!"
"And I'll be waiting. I hope to see you all in Silver Town."
"Don't worry! We'll be there! Gotta cheer Ash on, ya know." Misty said.
"And I'll have a new girlfriend by then!" Brock yelled. Everybody laughed.
"Well, we'll show up too. Isn't that right Israel?" Jasmine asked.
"Sure. It'll be the reunion of the century!" Israel yelled. Ash, Misty, and Brock started to walk away. "Remember, friends forever!"
"Friends forever!" The three trainers yelled as they walked off into the sunset. Israel turned to Jasmine.
"Well, let's go home." And they walked to the limo.
---------------------
A/N:
Izzy: ::While waving:: Well that's it! Good bye everyone!
Me: Oh no ya don't! We still got one more chapter to go!
Izzy: ::Pouts:: So close…
Me: Chill. Anyway, stay tuned. The epilogue is coming up next!