Wow, now I understand why writers suffer from Burnouts! Seriously, writing a battle without Jade is challenging. I don't know how but just one read at my draft and he would sprout out ideas which I would elongate and occasionally improvise into my story.
Part of the reason I am not that pumped could be the fact that I am struck under lockdown also. Anyways, here is the chapter. Before you read, try guessing who Ash is fighting with. Now, the reviews:
Reader: I am happy that the standoffs didn't affect the pace much. And don't worry, Greninja will come. Especially thanks to Pokemon Journey's episode on bond phenomenon. And yes, Ash will fight every elite four. But don't assume all will use their pokemon the same, because I will try as much as I can to make them varied, suiting their personality. And like I said, a region's elite four and champions will be facing that region's team only. Also, don't worry, Greninja will return for other battles. I just wanted this one without him for once.
Without further ado,
Let's take off.
"So, this is it, huh?" Ash asked, standing in front of the elite four's resident battle castle, which doubles as her office.
Ash had to say, he assumed he would get Wikstrom, considering he is free now compared to others. But alas, there is a mistress more interested in battling him and if things are on his way, of which he will make sure, she will be defeated.
But first things first, Ash has been presented with a great hurdle. How does one enter this building?
Ash placed a hand under his chin as he thought hard. The building kinda resembles the castle exterior, except this is concrete walls that are just…. 14 feet or so above the ground. The entrance was a metal gate, with no knockers. There doesn't seem to be any guards and it has been 10 minutes since he arrived. What should he do? Go knock on the door with his fist? Will people even hear? Maybe…
All this while Pikachu was having the time of his life. His trainer, technically speaking champion of two regions, is trying to find how you should knock the door. Hilarious A grade content.
After much deliberation on Ash's part and much more mental laughing on Pikachu's, Ash cleared his throat. But alas, a voice came through the intercom, that was a part of the door. Ash was pretty sure it was an air vent or something, not an intercom.
"Oh my god" the voice was distinctly female with distress and hurriness behind, "Sorry to keep you waiting, I was going for a coffee and didn't think the champion would be an hour early…"
The female on the other side was clearly ranting as the doors slid open. Ash sighed, today was his first official match against an elite four. But the start doesn't seem to resonate with it.
"Pi pii pika." Pikachu shared his thoughts as they walked in.
"This way please. I am very sorry. Really sorry for keeping the champion waiting" A brown haired female with many streaks of white, who is probably in her mid thirties, distressed 24*7 by the looks of it, said as she walked off in a direction.
Ash was getting embarrassed at her nervousness, he was clearly intimidating her and she is in such a hurry that she forgot that she is still holding that cup of coffee in her left hand. Which was spilling out coffee since the escort's(?) steps are wobbling.
"Hey, calm down. It is no big deal and you are still holding your cup, please drink it if you want. The coffee is being spilled." Ash pointed out. Pikachu sighed, this woman was a mess.
And just like that, the woman got off into another rant as she stopped and apologized to Ash as she drank the entire cup in a gulp and then started to gush her throat was burning, which prompted another sorry rant for the actions.
Eventually, Pikachu could no longer hold it and his infection spread to Ash, causing both of them to laugh uncontrollably. This caused the woman to laugh as well, completely dissipating her nerves.
"Why are you panicking so much?" Ash asked, after she was completely free of her nerves.
"The first champion of Alola. How can I not when he is having a look on his face screaming I did rather not be here?" Ash could sense she was once again going into her rants.
"Hey hey, that was because you were bowing and apologizing too much to someone who is at least 2 decades younger than you. Anyone would be uncomfortabl…" Ash said as he realized he had indirectly called out on her age. 'Oh man, sorry prof burnet. It seems the etiquette classes didn't help at all.'
The woman though was not an angry or indignant rant about her age but rather cooled down and was now having a confident and calm posture. Which relieved Ash since he had managed to escape an angry and sorry rantings.
"You are quite the unique champion, if you don't mind, umm, sir?" The woman said as she questioned the last part.
Ash just smiled, he got that a lot. To be fair, he doesn't know what title he should have. Kukui didn't care but Burnet was quite strict on something to alleviate his position as champion.
Thankfully, Ash could see the light at the end of hall as he rushed forward and entered the field. It was an open stadium, but with way less seats in stands, only two rows and a large red soil field in center. This is going to be an interesting battle.
"Magcargo, you are up." Malva sent out her Magcargo.
"Hawlucha, battle pose." Ash called for his Hawlucha. His Pikachu, who was standing near his feet, cheered for Hawlucha.
Hawlucha materialized, striking his battle pose with a small red cap fluttering behind him. The red cape was actually a big handkerchief, but when they tied it around Hawlucha for the bandana effect, they ended up with a mini cape that runs midway his back.
"Hawlucha? What is the matter? You think I am not strong enough to start with Pikachu, or better yet Greninja?." Malva asked as she pushed her glasses back from the tip of nose.
Ash though just shrugged. "There is nothing wrong with starting with Hawlucha. After all, all of them are equal in their determination and hardwork."
"True, but an ace will always be an ace. Anyways, let me get through these appetizers." Malva said as she smiled.
"They are not anything less than my Pikachu or Greninja. We will have to show you." Ash argued back as Hawlucha and Pikachu let out an angry bark.
"Who is denying that? It has been so long since I got to fight a champion level strong pokemon." Malva explained, "Magcargo, lava plume."
"Hawlucha, go in." Ash commanded.
Magcargo shouted as the ground in front of her cracked open with spewing lava, the crack wide spreading towards Hawlucha, spewing lava along the way, who dodged the move by jumping over and getting near to Magcargo, who unleashed another lava plume, in the direction. She knew better to anticipate such.
"Now, cross chop through it." Ash ordered.
Rather than flying over the lava and escaping it, Hawlucha pressed his legs hard into the ground as the crack shot towards him. But at the last moment, Hawlucha jumped forward and soared through the air, slashing the rising lava with his right hand covered in cross chop energy. Once he reached near enough, Hawlucha spinned, dissipating the nearby lava with a swipe of his right hand and struck a mid-air ready to strike pose with his back facing magcargo, face turned to look at her and left hand ready to be swung at her and his body arched to put as much for as possible. And proceeded to complete the swipe.
Malva had to agree, the blow really felt like a powerful blow. It was strong enough to send Magcargo reeling back. But, unfortunately for him, a bluish-purple aura surrounded Magcargo as her defense dropped and speed increased.
"Shell smash." Malva ordered. She knew it will be a very dangerous gambit, but the result would be worth it.
Magcargo's shell cracked as it decreased in size and a dense purple-red aura surrounded Magcargo.
Ash then and there knew this match is going to be dangerous. Shell smash is no small move, Cilan had demonstrated how broken the move can be. But Ash isn't without any counters.
"Magcargo, lava plume." Malva ordered.
Magcargo roared as a slab of lava started cracking from Magcargo and continued cracking its way towards Hawlucha.
"Hawlucha, Aerial ace." Ash ordered.
Hawlucha launched upwards as he locked onto Magcargo and flew at incredible speed towards Magcargo, who couldn't dodge the move and was hit with the flying type move. Further, decreasing her defense and increasing her speed.
'This will be an even more dangerous gambit on my side.' Ash thought.
"Magcargo, earth power." Malva ordered.
Magcargo once again unleashed another crack on ground towards Hawlucha, which was now spewing out yellow beams of energy as ground nearby collapsed and Hawlucha escaped by flying away into the air easily.
Ash knew if he had to win, he had to draw near to magcargo. And he might know the exact thing.
"Flying press." Ash commanded.
Hawlucha soared higher as he struck another pose with his body spread out, facing the ground and came down crashing on Magcargo with increased speed as he twirled in air. But unfortunately for him, Magcargo gained too much speed.
"Gyro ball." Malva ordered.
Magcargo rolled into a ball, with metallic energy coating him as he rolled away from the press. As Hawlucha got up, he was hit in the front with the attack. Hawlucha immediately pressed his hand against the rolling Magcargo but was being pushed back nonetheless.
"Go, use earth power." Malva ordered.
"X-scissor." Ash countered.
Hawlucha clutched Magcargo and rolled along with it as he threw Magcargo off the ground. Then, further using the momentum, Hawlucha launched himself towards Magcargo, with the X-scissor ahead of him as he spinned along his body axis. Being in the air, Magcargo couldn't do much as the attack hit her on the head. Magcargo was rolled backwards, the usual defense drop and speed increase proceeded, as she fell to the ground while Hawlucha continued gliding higher. That was when Malva understood what was happening.
"Lava plume." Malva ordered.
"Finish this, Flying press." Ash countered.
While the last attack further increased Magcargo's speed, she was completely worn out and couldn't get out the attack in time and was squashed by the flying press. When Hawlucha got off, Magcargo was clearly fainted.
"Magcargo is unable to battle." The referee declared.
"Impressive skills. But we are not done yet, Talonflame, come out." Malva substituted in her Talonflame.
"Hawlucha, Aerial ace." Ash ordered.
"Acrobatics." Malva countered.
Hawlucha locked his aim on the fire bird as he leapt forward but the bird became a streak of red and orange as it charged up Acrobatics. But Aerial ace is a never miss, once locked, the pokemon cannot escape, only counter. Hawlucha could see where Talonflame was and promptly flew after him. Both pokemon tried to catch up to each other and when charged enough, Talonflame met Hawlucha head on. The collision of attacks knocked back both pokemon.
"Talonflame, heat wave." Malva ordered.
Talonflame screeched as flames covered his body and thin and concentrated orange waves of heat emanated from him. Hawlucha dodged through all of the waves, but the waves were increasing in number.
"Hawlucha, cross chop." Ash helped. Hawlucha's hands glowed as hawlucha either dodged or cut through the waves, dissipating them and got near Talonflame, hitting him square on chest with the cross chop.
"Hurricane." Malva ordered.
The falling Talonflame changed its course as he flapped his wings harder creating a tornado charging towards the airborne Hawlucha. Being only a glider, Hawlucha couldn't escape the strong tornado and was struck in the tornado. When the attack died, Hawlucha fainted.
"Hawlucha is unable to battle." The referee declared.
"Thanks Hawlucha, you were awesome." Ash said.
"What do you think, Ash? Shall we get serious?" Malva stated.
Ash was furious, all his pokemon worked hard to be the strongest. He understood the wish to fight a champion's ace. It was his signature, thus the most requested one. But in his view, each and every one is his signature one. That he will prove to her, since one is raring to go.
"Noivern, come on out." Ash called.
Malva sighed as she at least wished for Goodra, as despite his less than spectacular record, Goodra was still a beast compared to Noivern.
"Talonflame, steel wing." Malva ordered.
"Noivern, acrobatics." Ash ordered.
Talonflame charged at Noivern who just smirked as he was engulfed in light blue energy and disappeared in an instant, leaving Talonflame gaping as to where he is. But then he came down crashing from above onto Talonflame. But once the attack ended, Noivern was covered in flames.
"Flame body." Ash said, understanding. "Noivern, dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
Noivern screeched as he released a draconic serpentine in a form of purple-blue energy. The energy twisted as it went after Talonflame, who was trying to escape it but wasn't having much success. Meanwhile, Noivern was once again caught up in flames.
"Brave bird." Malve ordered as Talonflame charged up and flew even faster before taking an U-turn and cutting through the dragon pulse with his brave bird and was coming at Noivern at full power.
"Boomburst." Ash ordered.
Noivern smirked as he unleashed a powerful wave of boomburst to Talonflame's face, knocking back the pokemon out of his attack. But Noivern too suffered from the burn.
"Steel wing." Malva ordered.
"Stop it." Ash ordered.
Noivern went head on with the steel wing and caught it with his hands. The attack caused quite the damage but Noivern caught the pokemon.
"Dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
"Heat wave and get out of there." Malva ordered.
But before Talonflame could charge up the flames, Noivern unleashed a close range dragon pulse, pummeling the pokemon to ground.
"Hurricane." Ash ordered.
Noivern unleashed a powerful hurricane on the fallen Talonflame, once the burn completed its effects that is. Talonflame got up and tried to escape but in the end, he was too late and ended up fainting.
"Talonflame is unable to battle." The referee said as flames once again covered Noivern.
"Hang in there, Noivern. I know you can." Ash called out for his Noivern, who got determined not to faint so easily.
"Well, it won't be for long. Chandelure, come out." Malva called out to her Chandelure, "Use hex."
Ash knew that should Hex connect, it would be game over for Noivern.
"Dodge with Acrobatics." Ash ordered.
Noivern used the speed from Acrobatics and dodged the hex as it connected with Chandelure, who was knocked back.
"Noivern, return." Ash switched back his Noivern, knowing it will be useless to use Noivern against hex. Pikachu too let out a breath of relief. He forgot about the substitution part. "Talonflame, come out."
"Chandelure, use Shadow ball." Malva ordered.
"Talonflame, use flame charge." Ash countered.
Malva was confused, 'Why would you use flame charge with a talonflame, who are known for their incredible aerial speed?'
Talonflame easily dodged the shadow ball as she charged on to Chandelure with flame charge and hit head on. But to their surprise, Chandelure floated as if nothing happened.
"Flash fire." Ash said as he gritted, knowing he had seemingly increased the pokemon's special attack.
"You catch on fast, but not fast enough. You didn't do your homework? It isn't like my pokemon aren't known to the entire Kalos region." Malva taunted Ash. For a champion, the boy was massively underprepared, which implied it was his power and wit that made him a champion. And she wants to see that power.
"Chandelure, shadow ball. Till it connects." Malva ordered.
Chandelure shot a barrage of shadow balls at Talonflame who was having difficulty with dodging the bigger balls.
"Talonflame, flame charge." Ash ordered. "Over and over."
Talonflame surrounded himself with flames as she avoided all the flames and her speed kept on increasing.
"Now." Ash shouted.
Once Talonflame reached full speed, she went on a collision course with Chandelure, who couldn't escape due to Talonflame's superior speed. Although the attack didn't do much except for giving Chandelure more juice and pushing her into ground, Malva suspected a hidden motive.
When flames engulfed Chandelure, she understood what Ash was trying.
"Talonflame, brave bird." Ash ordered.
"Use overheat." Malva countered.
Chandelure used all the fire he had gathered and unleashed an overpowered Overheat at incoming Talonflame. But with Talonflame's superior speed maxed out, the brave bird easily slashed through Overheat as Talonflame brought a devastating Brave bird on Chandelure.
Chandelure was still standing, or floating though, but barely. Especially with the special attack drop.
"Chandelure, Inferno." Malva ordered.
Chandelure unleashed a large torrent of flames towards Talonflame, the flames widespread and wild making escape harder for Talonflame.
"Steel wing, circular form." Ash ordered.
Talonflame understood what Ash was asking and powered up her steel wings as she dived into the inferno. Malva was confused, when a white ring of steel shot out of the inferno and collided with Chandelure. The collision created a small explosion as Chadelure was knocked back into the wall behind her.
When the dust cleared, Talonflame was still flying above the ground with fire in her eyes.
"Chandelure is unable to battle." The referee declared as Pikachu jumped in joy, three down and halfway through.
"Hum, a speed demon? Let's see how you fare now." Malva said as she released her Torkoal. As soon as Torkoal was brought into the battlefield, the sunlight from above turned harsh.
"Talonflame, brave bird." Ash commanded.
"Stop it." Malva ordered.
Torkoal got a determined expression as he rooted himself. When Talonflame was near enough, he pushed up his frontal limbs, lifting his front part of body upwards such that Talonflame hit his undershell.
Torkoal dug his hind feet into the ground to stop the momentum behind the brave bird and waited for it to dispel as he held upon Talonflame's wings with his front legs.
"Body slam." Malva followed up.
Torkoal used his weight to push down Talonflame under him and squashed her onto the ground. Talonflame tried to escape but she was now under Torkoal, with his frontal limbs holding down the ends of her wings and his shell pressing hard into her back.
"Talonflame, use fire blast." Ash ordered.
Talonflame cawed as she let her body and Torkoal's be engulfed in flames as she shot the heat downwards into the space compressed in between herself and ground. This resulted in a massive explosion that shook the ground and blasted off Torkoal. Talonflame on other hand only took the initial damage as she used her speed to fly away the instant Torkoal was lifted off the ground.
But then, Torkoal and Talonflame were engulfed in fire and sparks respectively. The secondary effects will make this battle even harder.
"Talonflame, fire blast again." Ash ordered. He knew Talonflame's speed is too high to make any difference due to paralysis, but momentarily complete paralysis might be dangerous and something to look out for.
Talonflame cawed as her body was once again engulfed in flames, which she tossed forward, in the form of lines stretching from center to pentagon vertices.
"Torkoal, use solarbeam." Malva ordered.
The solarbeam easily charged due to the harsh sunlight and cut through fire blast, hitting Talonflame right in the chest. The solarbeam was very powerful but thanks to the dual fire/flying typing, Talonflame didn't take much damage. But Torkoal did take some from the burn.
"Talonflame, flame charge." Ash ordered.
"Now, use overheat." Malva ordered.
Torkoal shouted as he unleashed a very powerful stream of fire on the incoming Talonflame, who couldn't redirect due to paralysis taking hold of her. The attacks collided and a very big, fiery explosion took place, with fire spewing out everywhere on the field, thankfully not till the trainers.
When the flames died down, the sunlight came down and Talonflame fainted in the middle of the fiery hell.
"Talonflame is unable to battle." The referee declared.
"Thanks Talonflame, you did amazing." Ash said as he recalled Talonflame. Malva wasn't joking, that Torkoal was on another level of power. But, he still is on the winning side.
"Houndoom, let us raise hell." Malva said as her smile grew to its maximum and substituted her Houndoom.
The dark dog stood in the middle of flames, in front of her mistress. She growled as she looked at Ash, the flames pairing Houndoom's eyes with murderous burning eyes and Houndoom howled. Immediately, all the flames still burning and heating the ground were absorbed into Houndoom, in a vertical spiral, framing the pokemon as a pokemon that is about to unleash hell fire upon the person her mistress points to.
Normally, any sane person or even Ash would be terrified of this. But he had seen too much terrifying stuff on his journey, that this was making him raring to go.
"Ohh yeah, I am pumped up and you better be careful." Ash declared as he sent out his Goodra and twisted his cap halfway to back.
'Finally.' Malva thought. It had been long since anyone challenged her. Most elites and conference winners reserve her to be third or last, due to reputation of being involved with Team Flare, and thus they would be defeated by others beforehand. Diantha was graceful to recognize her and let her continue as Elite four, but not without some social service and what not.
It has been months since she had a good challenger and she was absolutely ready to ravage this chance for all it was worth.
"Houndoom, flamethrower." Malva ordered.
"Goodra, counter with outrage." Ash ordered.
Houndoom howled as she unleashed a powerful torrent of flames, that can be compared to Torkoal's previous overheat, just more refined and concentrated towards Goodra, whose eyes glowed red as smoky blue energy radiated off her.
Goodra then roared as she ran up to the flames and just slashed through them with her bare hands, which too were covered in the blue energy. Malva couldn't believe her eyes. The Goodra she saw in League and this one seems to be completely different. She wondered what kind of training Goodra took to reach such levels of power.
Goodra had managed to get to Houndoom as she held the dog's tail and dragged her back as she was about to escape. Goodra then proceeded to beat the fire out of Houndoom with that blue energy pulsing.
"Use crunch." Malva ordered.
Houndoom barked menacingly as she bit onto the fist Goodra was about to bring upon her. Hard. Goodra roared as the blue energy dissipated off her and the attack ended, the confusion taking its effect. That was when Malva remembered something after she let out a sigh of relief.
"Release the hand now." Malva shouted, but it was no use. The damage was done as the crunch had caused Goodra to snap back to reality of pain, as the dragon literally jodo tossed the dark dog over her shoulder. Thankfully, there were no bloody holes but the pain from effects of dark energy was still giving Goodra a hard time.
"Go in for a fire fang." Malwa ordered.
Houndoom ran fast upto Goodra who was nursing her hand and didn't process what Ash had ordered as she was once again bit by a flaming hot jaw.
Fire spreaded all over her as she fell to the ground. Ash could see that Goodra was burned on top of all, so he needs to bring out his big guns.
"Goodra, rain dance." Ash ordered.
Malva gritted through her teeth as Goodra's cry caused a downpour in the stadium, but the interesting thing was that the steam coming from Goodra. It seems as though Goodra's ability is hydration.
"Now is the time. Goodra, devastate this field with dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
Goodra roared as she fired off a very large and murderous looking dragon's maw onto Houndoom.
"Houndoom, escape and use nasty plot." Malva ordered.
Houndoom narrowly escaped the dragon pulse as she was powered up by the nasty plot. But Malva knew better than to let her fight now.
"Houndoom return. Your time will come. Go, Pyroar." Malva brought out her Pyroar, who was irritated as there was rain.
"Please sweetie. Let us show them how strong we are." Malva pleaded with her pridess, who agreed to the battle.
"Goodra, dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
"Pyroar, noble roar." Malva ordered.
Pyroar made her move first as she roared loudly in a very deep and rich sound, the attack making Goodra face away as her attack and special attack decreased. But she nonetheless released the draconic energy, which Pyroar dodged at the last second.
'Pyroar's speed and reflexes seem to be very good.' Ash thought.
"Pyroar, hyper voice." Malva ordered.
Pyroar roared in anger as she let out an ear shattering scream onto Goodra, who was knocked back by the attack.
'The attack had too much power behind it, but why?' Ash thought, he knew about Hyper voice but this was beyond the force. Then it hit him, 'Royal pokemon.'
"Goodra return." Ash said as he recalled Goodra. 'Let's hope I am correct' "Noivern, you are up."
Noivern appeared out of his pokeball, as he happily sang due to the rain. But Ash knew he did not have much time.
"Noivern, use boomburst." Ash ordered.
"Counter with hyper voice." Malva said.
Both attacks collided and matched their powers as the collision increased the tempo of raging winds from rain. 'I was correct. If I am not wrong, it is the rivalry ability.' Ash thought. But then Noivern was once again covered in flames, albeit slightly less intense due to the rain.
"Noivern, wrap this up. Hurricane." Ash ordered.
Noivern flapped his wings as the raging winds all formed a tornado that hunted Pyroar.
"Use Hyper voice." Malva ordered as she knew Pyroar would never run away.
"Go in with Boomburst. Boost it up." Ash ordered.
Pyroar roared another wave of hyper voice, but the attack collided with Boomburst that was surrounding the hurricane as Noivern circled around, shooting his attack along the hurricane, strengthening the attack.
True to her pride, Pyroar took the attack head on, the attack greatly damaging her due to Boomburst and Hyper voice being combined into the monstrosity alongside rain.
"Go inside with Acrobatics." Ash ordered.
Malva was surprised to see Noivern, boosted by the light blue energy, cut right through the hurricane and attacked Pyroar, causing the pokemon to let out a roar of pain. But unfortunately, the flames once again engulfed him as he stopped, still inside the hurricane. Thus, both pokemon were struck inside the hurricane that raged on its final seconds as the boomburst and hyper voice faded.
Then the rain stopped as the hurricane ended and both Pyroar and Noivern fell to the ground. Ash and Malva waited, but no pokemon got up.
"Noivern and Pyroar are unable to battle." The referee declared.
"Great work Noivern. You should be proud." Ash said as he returned Noivern.
"I take it back. An ace is an ace, but that doesn't mean others are no less interesting to fight." Malva said. These battles were really something she was craving for. True, her battle with Pikachu and Greninja can be even more intense but she isn't sure if her team can tank that, especially Greninja considering Noivern and Goodra's insane power.
"Thanks. This is a really awesome battle. Let's give it all we got." Ash said as he sent out his Goodra.
"All we got? Good joke Ash, but we aren't joking. Come out Torkoal." Malva brought out her Torkoal. The sunlight once again turned harsh.
"Goodra, dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
Goodra roared as she let out a powerful dragon pulse in the form of a maw onto Torkoal who couldn't dodge the move.
"Torkoal, use amnesia." Malva ordered.
Torkoal used the move in time as the dragon pulse did less than it would and the burn caused some damage.
"Goodra, get near." Ash ordered.
Goodra was running towards Torkoal who was rooting his legs.
"Solar beam." Malva ordered.
Torkoal shot a dense solar beam onto Goodra, which pushed her back. Malva knew fire type moves wouldn't do much due to the fat and fluid helping them dissipate but Solar beam was another story.
"Outrage, full power." Ash ordered.
Malva was pretty sure the full power was gonna be insane and she was right, as Goodra literally punched through the solar beam and swiped her tail across Torkoal's face, sending the turtle spinning on his underside.
The burn followed afterwards.
"Overheat." Malwa ordered.
Torkoal was spinning and was engulfed in flames, but shot out a powerful stream of fire that chaotically spewed out due to Torkoal's spinning. Goodra was hit hard but she shielded her face by pinching her flexible horns at the incoming fires. But the burn damage after the attack made Torkoal faint.
"Torkoal is unable to battle." The referee declared.
"Thanks, Torkoal." Malva would generally thank them after the match, all at once but Torkoal did put up a lot for her today. "Houndoom, time to return."
Meanwhile Ash looked at the referee who was looking fine, just a bit disheveled compared to Ash, who was soaking in some parts and kinda burned up some parts. 'How can they stand like nothing happened?'
Goodra looked at Houndoom as she growled and charged at the dark dog.
"Houndoom, no holding back. Mega evolve." Malwa tapped her key stone, which reacted with the mega stone which was attached to Houndoom's hind leg and Houndoom sucked all the resident flames from Torkoal once more as she mega-evolved.
"Mega Houndoom, show them the fires of hell. Flamethrower." Malva ordered as soon as Houndoom completed her evolution. This time, the heavily boosted flamethrower sent Goodra soaring through the air.
Goodra crashed as the outrage ended and confusion seeped in.
"Flame thrower once more." Malva ordered. But to her disamyal, the harsh sunlight faded, making the flamethrower lose much needed power.
"Goodra, listen to my voice. Rain dance." Ash shouted, "Rain dance Goodra, rain dance."
Mega Houndoom fired off another flamethrower as Goodra struggled to get up amongst the flames, before she was engulfed in flames, a burn. Which unironically, helped Goodra as she let out a cry to the skies. Which were again answered with rain, the hydration cleansing her off the burn.
"Use crunch." Malva ordered. This battle was literally getting on her nerves. Why can't the Goodra lie down and let Greninja take over? Goodra should be beyond done by now and had set up rain for Greninja.
The rain seemed to build Goodra's confidence as she stood still and strong with Mega houndoom charging at her. But at the last moment, when Mega Houndoom leapt to bite her, she brutally swung her head as her flexible horns took hold of Mega Houndoom's elongated horns and twisted Mega Houndoom into Judo throwing over Goodra's shoulder.
But rather than sending it over her shoulder, Goodra swung, keeping Mega Houndoom's back facing ground as she hit her hard with her tail.
Mega Houmdoom was tossed into the air by the strike as she was still reeling from the blow to her back.
"Goodra, end this with thunder." Ash ordered.
Malva's eyes widened as she racked up some ideas to counter, before she yelled for a flamethrower. Thunder crashed down onto Mega Houndoom from the clouds as she fired off the flamethrower at the incoming thunder.
Yet, the flamethrower was no match, decreasing the power of thunder by not so much as Mega Houndoom was beaten into the ground from the Thunder.
"Goodra, dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
"Houndoom, dodge by leaping over it." Malva ordered, waiting for her chance.
Mega houndoom and Ash both understood what Malva was going for. Mega houndoom ran as fast as she could, dodging the move by leaping over the dragon pulse that crashed into the ground, where she was.
"That's it, crunch." Malva ordered.
"Outrage." Ash countered.
Mega houndoom saw the blue energy radiating off Goodra, and thus she latched onto Goodra's fist, relieving it when Goodra swung it in the opposite direction, giving her some distance from Goodra. Goodra ran towards her, with Houndoom running away, being aware of the extendable horns and tail. But she misplaced a step onto mud as she was kicked in the gut, skidding across mud.
Goodra once again became confused, but the last drops of rain partially snapped her out of it. With that the rain ended and Mega houndoom roared.
"Nasty plot." Malva ordered.
"Goodra, use dragon pulse." Ash ordered.
Goodra was still reeling from confusion as Houndoom powered up.
"Flamethrower and end this now." Malva ordered.
"Goodra, if you can listen, roll over to your left." Ash shouted.
Goodra's senses were still foggy but she trusted Ash as she rolled to what she assumed as left. Unfortunately, she rolled forward, but towards right. And Ash understood that except her hearing… that is it.
"Goodra, hear it. Dodge and hear." Ash ordered.
"Flamethrower, don't growl." Malva ordered.
Mega houndoom breathed in deeply as she let all the fire gather, waiting for it to charge up as she watched Goodra. Goodra was rolling randomly, seemingly following some signal. Which was confusing Houndoom, where should she throw the atack.
She gauged where Goodra will roll to and unleashed the flamethrower, but the attack hit only a side of Goodra as Goodra rolled away. Then, Goodra got up from its rolling and crouched as she was getting her senses back.
"Flamethrower." Malva ordered.
"Thunder ahead." Ash ordered.
Goodra got enough of her senses in order and released a powerful wave of thunder from her horns on the incoming flamethrower, which resulted in an explosion.
Both the pokemon were on their last reserves, Goodra more so due to the fact she was not mega evolved, but determined not to fall and fail like last time.
"Goodra, dragon pulse." Ash ordered again.
Goodra once again released a massive form of draconic energy towards Mega houndoom, who howled as she backfired with her flamethrower.
"Outrage through the pulse." Ash commanded.
Goodra knew this was a stupendous idea, but she had known enough of her trainer to grow accustomed to this. So, she roared as she let the furious rage fill her and she charged forward at the draconic form she released.
Just as she cut the tail of the draconic she had sent out, all the form was decimated by the flamethrower, through which she powered through and hit Mega Houndoom, once again resulting in a fiery explosion.
When the flames stopped raging high, both pokemon were found fainted on the ground.
"Goodra and Houndoom are both unable to battle. The match winner is Champion Ash." The referee declared.
"Mist." Malva shouted as heavy mist began to spray across the field, clearing the field and cooling it down.
"Focus on Goodra and hydrate." Malva issued her command as a medical team appeared and all of her and his pokemon that battled. They had also given him and Malva some soft drinks and Pikachu a berry shake.
The electric mouse cried out happily as he slurped the berry juice.
"Good battle Ash. You have grown leaps and bounds in a short time." Malva said as she held her hand forward.
"Thanks for the battle. You too did great." Ash smiled as he shook his hands with her.
And there is the chapter. I am quite pumped to write the next chapters, considering Greninja will be in them and I just saw the Greninja's episode about training Lucario. That being said, those might not be pumped right away. The reason? Greninja.
While I love the kalos arc of pokemon, I found a glaring problem while writing this chapter. Talonflame has flame body, which was revealed when she used the ability as a Fletchinder TO HATCH NOIVERN'S EGG. All of the bird's moves are physical, so how on earth was there no burn at all in the anime? Except Greninja's battle bond and that one off Goodra's hydration, there was no mention of abilities at all, why? Maybe I am nitpicking but it always felt as if abilities are like stats and typing to a pokemon. If this is a translation error, please clarify.
That out of the way, I hope the battle was great and enjoyable. I tried to do as much Justice to each pokemon as I can, but due to stat nature Hawlucha didn't get much exposition, so I apologize for it. Bcoz I like him too, he is like a real pokemon on the kalos team. He was Snivy incarcerated, strong in battle and personality no matter what. And Greninja fans, don't worry. Next battle will feature him but don't expect Pikachu to be any less than champion.
Hope you liked the story and I would like to hear your thoughts on this. Too much burn preference or plot armor for Noivern? Should I stop with the pre battle scenes and all? Or just how bad or wonderful this is, I would like to hear. Anyways, until next time,
- Junior