Fighting a Hard Challenge
Ash's POV
Ash was sitting with his Pokémon, and they were all ready for their battle with Alec. "This is it, everyone. We'll be battling Alec, and we're going to win!" Ash said confidently.
"Wow Ash, you're really excited for this," Serena commented.
"Yeah I am!" Ash said.
"But still, Alec is a powerful trainer. How are you going to beat him?" Clemont asked.
"I have no clue," Ash answered. The group fell to the ground in response.
"Why am I not surprised?" Bonnie asked.
"Clemont, you've battled Alec before: what's his strategy like?" Serena asked.
"I'm really not sure," Clemont started. "My only battle with him was shortly after he became a trainer, and he didn't have much of a strategy back then."
"What Pokémon did he use?" Bonnie asked.
"Let's see, he had Ethan when it was still an Eevee. He had a Charmander named Flame that evolved it Charmeleon during our battle, and a Froakie he called Stealth," Clemont answered. "I'm sorry it isn't more."
"That's okay Clemont. I'll find out when we battle," Ash reassured him
"You ready Ash?" Alec asked as he came out from the other room with Ethan beside him.
"You bet I am!" Ash answered.
"Then let's do this," Alec said as the two headed to the battlefield. Clemont then stood in the referee spot.
"Alright. The battle between Alec and Ash will now commence. This will be a 4 on 4 battle with substitutions," Clemont told them.
Alec's POV
"Alright Hawlucha, you're up first!" Ash said. Hawlucha ran out onto the battlefield ready to fight.
[Just like we planned,] Ethan commented.
"We did," Alec replied. "Kitten, you're up!" Alec shouted as he threw the Poké Ball and the female Meowstic appeared.
[Bonjour monsieur, a pleasure to do battle with you,] Kitten greeted with a small bow.
[Uh… what?] Hawlucha asked in confusion.
"You okay Hawlucha?" Ash asked, noticing his Pokémon's uncertainty.
[Sorry, I'm good,] Hawlucha answered, getting back into it.
"Battle… begin!" Clemont shouted.
"Hawlucha, use Karate Chop!" Ash started.
"Dodge and use Nasty Plot!" Alec shouted. Kitten jumped over Hawlucha gracefully and raised her special attack.
"Hawlucha, X-Scissor!" Ash commanded. Hawlucha used his arms to make an X and charged right at Kitten.
"Use Psychic!" Alec shouted. Kitten's ears extended and glowed blue, stopping Hawlucha cold. "Extrasensory!" The psychic wave slammed into Hawlucha and he crashed into the ground.
"Hawlucha is unable to battle. Kitten wins," Clemont declared.
[It was an honor to battle you, kind sir,] Kitten told Hawlucha, doing another small bow.
"Kitten, return," Alec said. "Good work."
"Wow Alec, I underestimated you," Ash told him. "But I won't make the same mistake. Fletchinder, I choose you!" Fletchinder flew onto the field and hovered in place.
"Fletchinder's up next huh. Well then. Duke, let's go!" Alec shouted as he threw an Ultra Ball. Lycanroc Midday Form then appeared on the battlefield.
"Wow! What Pokémon is that?" Bonnie asked.
"This is Lycanroc. He's a Pokémon I caught in the Alola region when I traveled there for a bit," Alec explained.
"Then let's see what he's got. Fletchinder, use Flame Charge!" Ash shouted.
"Counter with Accelerock!" Alec commanded. The two Pokémon hit each other, but Duke overpowered Fletchinder and sent him across the field. However, Fletchinder managed to recover.
"Fletchinder, use Steel Wing!" Ash shouted.
"Slow him down with Rock Slide!" Alec shouted. Rocks then started to appear and Fletchinder struggled to not get hit, but one landed on his wing and trapped him. "Stone Edge!" Alec shouted. Duke slammed his front paws into the ground and light blue pillars started heading toward Fletchinder.
"Fletchinder, get out of there!" Ash warned. It was in vain, however, as a pillar came up from beneath Fletchinder. He fell back to the ground with swirls.
"Fletchinder is unable to battle. Duke wins," Clemont said.
"Nice work Du-" Alec started when Duke tackled Alec to the ground and started licking his face. Alec started laughing in response. "I'm glad to see you too Duke," Alec said through his laughs.
[Come on buddy, you can do that later,] Ethan told Duke, pushing him off.
[Sorry. I was just so excited to battle with you again,] Duke apologized.
"It's alright Duke. Return for now," Alec said.
"You okay Alec?" Serena asked.
"I'm good. Duke was just happy to see me," Alec explained. "You ready for the next round, Ash?" Alec asked him.
"You bet! Froakie, I choose you!" Ash shouted.
"Alright then. Leo, let's go!" Alec shouted. The Poké Ball opened to reveal a Shiny Luxray facing Froakie.
[Let's go,] Leo said confidently.
"Don't get cocky Leo. Ash can still surprise us," Alec warned.
[You worry too much,] Leo answered.
"Use Wild Charge!" Alec shouted. Leo enveloped himself in electricity and charged at Froakie.
"Use Double Team!" Ash shouted. Froakie multiplied right then and there and Leo charged through a bunch of fakes before stopping. "Now, Water Pulse!" Ash shouted. The Froakies jumped into the air and all threw balls of water at Leo and hit. Leo emerged unharmed but was looking mad. All the Froakies were still there and Alec couldn't tell which one was real.
"Clear them out with Discharge!" Alec shouted. Electricity flew out of Leo's body and hit all the copies and the real Froakie.
"Froakie, use Cut!" Ash shouted.
"Ice Fang!" Alec commanded. Leo bit down on Froakie's blade, freezing it solid. Ice traveled up his body and Froakie was frozen with only the head clear. "Now throw him and use Hyper Beam!" Alec ordered. Leo spun and threw Froakie into the air. He then aimed a purple-black beam right at Froakie and fired, causing an explosion.
When the smoke cleared, Froakie was laying on the ground, unable to continue. "Froakie is unable to battle. Leo wins," Clemont declared.
"Nice one Leo," Alec said as he petted his head.
[That was fun,] Leo told Alec.
"Alright Leo, return," Alec said.
"I've got to say, Alec, you're really strong. I haven't had a battle like this in ages," Ash commented.
"You did say you wanted my full power, and this is it. So, what are you going to do about it?" Alec asked, smiling.
"I'm going to win, that's what I'm going to do. Ready Pikachu?" Ash answered.
[You bet,] Pikachu said, making a fist.
"Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash shouted. Pikachu leaped into the air and landed on the battlefield.
"You ready Ethan?" Alec asked his partner.
[Always,] Ethan said.
"Ethan, let's go!" Alec shouted and Ethan ran onto the field.
The two Pokémon stood in place, staring each other down in anticipation. While that was happening, Alec overheard a conversation between Serena and Bonnie. "How's Ash going to win this? Alec's been controlling this battle since the beginning," Serena pointed out.
"Pikachu can take down anything Alec throws at him," Bonnie said confidently.
"But even if Pikachu does beat Ethan, Alec still has Kitten, Duke, and Leo to use. This is an uphill battle for Pikachu," Clemont pointed out.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash started.
"Wait till he gets close and use Iron Tail!" Alec shouted. Pikachu started running toward Ethan and he stood his ground with his tail held up. Once Pikachu was close Ethan's tail glowed a light blue and he spun, slamming into Pikachu's face.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.
"Use Dark Pulse!" Alec commanded. The purple-black rings and electricity collided in the air and exploded. "Dark Pulse once more!" Alec shouted. Ethan fired into the smoke and a cry from Pikachu told them that Ethan hit.
When the smoke cleared, Pikachu was just standing back up. "Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" Ash shouted.
"Counter with your own Iron Tail!" Alec ordered. Both Pokémon jumped into the air and their tails clashed, causing sparks to fly between them. It appeared both Pokémon were even in power.
"Electro Ball!" Ash shouted. Pikachu smiled as he formed the ball of electricity on his tail, and Ethan couldn't move. Pikachu fired, sending Ethan flying back toward Alec's side of the field.
"You okay, Ethan?" Alec asked. Ethan responded by chuckling.
[Oh I'm just great! I haven't had a battle like this in ages!] Ethan excitedly.
"Good to hear, use Psychic then Dark Pulse!" Alec shouted. Ethan's eyes glowed blue and Pikachu was frozen in place as purple-black rings fired from Ethan's mouth. Unable to move, Pikachu took the full blast from Ethan's attack.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted. Pikachu started to stand back up with cuts and bruises on his body. "You alright buddy?" Ash asked.
[I'm good, let's win this!] Pikachu answered.
Alec noticed Ash's face turned serious and could tell he was trying to find a way to get back in this. "Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash shouted. Pikachu ran toward Ethan once again and Alec chuckled.
"We've already figured out how to counter that. Ethan, Iron Tail!" Alec commanded. Ethan got ready to hit Pikachu again, but Pikachu surprised them both by running around Ethan. "Ethan, wait! Don't try to attack! Predict Pikachu's movements!" Alec ordered.
Ethan nodded and watched Pikachu closely, waiting for the opportunity. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt while running!" Ash shouted.
Before Alec could process what Ash just said Pikachu fired Thunderbolt right on Ethan. When the electricity stopped, Pikachu was still running around Ethan. "Got to get Pikachu away from Ethan, but how?" Alec asked himself. His attention was then brought to Ethan's rings. Rings, that's it! "Ethan, use Night Shade from all your rings, like Discharge!" Alec shouted.
"What's he thinking?" Bonnie asked. Ethan nodded and purple-black lightning erupted from every ring on Ethan's body. Caught off guard, Pikachu was hit by one of the Night Shades and was flown.
"Now Dark Pulse!" Alec shouted. Ethan turned toward Pikachu and was about to fire when two electric nets came out of nowhere and grabbed Ethan and Pikachu.
"What the! Who did that?!" Ash asked. The group looked up and saw a familiar Meowth shaped balloon as the two nets attached themselves to the bottom.
"Not these guys again!" Bonnie shouted in annoyance as Team Rocket did their motto.
"Thanks for wearing each other's Pokémon down for us. Makes it really easy to capture when they're already weakened," Jessie told them.
"Now if you don't mind, we'll leave with our prizes," James said.
"And even if you do, you can't do anything about it," Meowth mocked as they started to leave.
"Oh they aren't going anywhere," Alec said as he pulled a Poké Ball from his belt. "Get them both back my friend," Alec told the Pokémon inside the threw it with all his might. "I'm counting on you, Flame!" Alec shouted. The Poké Ball opened and flames erupted from the Poké Ball and a 6' 3" Charizard appeared in the air and let out a roar that shook the ground.
"Is that a Charizard?!" James asked in worry.
"I don't like where this is going," Meowth said, worriedly.
"Flamethrower!" Alec shouted. Flame breathed in readying his attack, small flames flew out of his mouth before a jet of flames burst from his mouth, destroying the balloon in a single shot. The two nets had broken, leaving Ethan and Pikachu to fall to the ground. Flame then swooped beneath them, safely catching them on his back. Flame then landed back on the ground and Ethan and Pikachu got off.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted as his partner jumped into his arms.
"Thanks Flame," Alec said as he scratched Flame's chin.
[Good to see you again Flame,] Ethan greeted his friend.
[Good to save your butt again,] Flame joked.
[I had it under control,] Ethan told him.
[Sure, that's why Alec called me out to blow up the balloon. You had it,] Flame mocked.
[Hilarious,] Ethan said.
"Wow! What a Charizard!" Bonnie said as she ran up to Flame.
"So this is Flame," Serena said.
"Hey, Alec, we going to finish our battle?" Ash asked.
"Yeah we are!" Alec answered. "Flame, you wanna watch?" he then asked.
[Sure. It's been a while since I've seen Ethan kick some butt,] Flame said.
The two trainers returned the field with Pikachu and Ethan in battle stances. "Alright, battle resume!" Clemont shouted.
"Ethan, Dark Pulse!" Alec shouted at the same time Ash shouted "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
The two attacks collided and exploded causing smoke to cover the battlefield. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash shouted. Pikachu sprinted out of the smoke right in front of Ethan.
"Iron Tail!" Alec shouted. Ethan reacted quickly and slammed Pikachu in the face sending him back to Ash.
"Pikachu, use Electro Ball," Ash ordered. Pikachu flipped in the air and flung the attack at Ethan.
"Springboard!" Alec shouted. Ethan got the message and jumped into the air and used Iron Tail on the Electro Ball to throw himself into the air.
"Using my own move against me, Alec? Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Ash commanded.
"Use Psychic to hold Pikachu in place and use Iron Tail!" Alec called out. Pikachu froze as Ethan came down and swung his tail on the top of Pikachu's head and he fell to the ground hard. When the dust cleared Pikachu had fainted.
"Pikachu is unable to battle. The winner is Alec," Clemont declared.
"Nice work Ethan!" Alec said as he ran up to him with Flame right behind him.
[Thanks. I think I need a breather though,] Ethan said.
[Nice battle Ethan,] Flame congratulated.
"Hey Alec, that was some battle," Ash said as he came up with Pikachu in his arms.
"Thanks for giving us a good one. Pikachu's pretty strong," Alec commented.
"Well, you and your Pokémon are clearly stronger. So I'll just have to train till I can beat you!" Ash said.
"We'll see if that day comes," Alec said.
The two handed there Pokémon to Nurse Joy and once they got them back, they headed off to Coumarine City, and Ash's next gym battle.