(Did ya like my first chapter? If so, great! If not, TOO BAD, 'CUZ I'M GONNA KEEP WRITIN' THIS STORY! Now, where'd we leave off? I think the narrator I hired can say it better than I can; BESIDES, HE'S ON THE CLOCK AND OTHERWISE I'D BE PAYING HIM JUST TO STAND THERE. TAKE IT AWAY!)

In our last chapter, Ash and company arrived in Taupe Town, which, according to rumor, holds a Pokemon gym that grants a badge allowing permanent entry to any Pokemon League. Upon reaching their destination, they met Alex, the local Nurse Joy, Claire, Alex's sister, and Michael, Claire's boyfriend. Upon hearing of Ash's Frontier champion status, Michael requested a battle, and proceeded to have his Raichu beat Pikachu into the ground. However, when talking to Ash later, he requested another battle—in the gym!

(Very nice summary. NOW LET'S GET STARTED.)

The Ultimate Battle

Chapter Two: A Perfect Defense!? The Battle Begins

"The gym!?" May, Max, Brock, and Ash exclaimed.

"But you clearly said 'there is no gym on this barren wasteland of a town'!" Max argued.

"And he's right." Claire told him.

"Then how—?"

"You'll understand when I show you." Michael said calmly. "The battle will begin tomorrow. I can't tell you much right now, but I will tell you it'll be a six-on-six match, so I suggest you select six strong Pokemon you really trust."

"For now, though," Claire told them. "You're welcome to spend the night."

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Little do our heroes know that at this exact moment they are being watched. Three notorious thieves from the infamous Team Rocket are listening just outside the window. They are: Jessie, a long, maroon-haired girl with a knack for coming up with ingenious plans, James, a blue-haired boy whose skills in battle are unmatched, and Meowth, the talking Scratch Cat Pokemon with wits as sharp as his cla—wait, who wrote this? (Meowth looks up from keyboard before being tackled to the ground by MultiplePersonas) That's it! I'm going on my break!

"So," Jessie said. "The gym is real."

"With plenty of Pokemon to steal." James added.

"Da betta ta earn our daily meal." Meowth rhymed.

"So, what's the plan, Jess?" James asked. "The typical giant robot maneuver?"

"As if!" Jessie said. "Need I remind you we're tapped out? Besides, if every one of that Michael's Pokemon is as strong as that Raichu, even a robot will be helpless!"

At her words, a Pokeball on her belt opened and Wobbuffet, her irritating blue blob Pokemon, popped out. "Wob-buffet!" it said, putting its hand to its forehead and nodding in agreement.

Jessie sighed and held up its Pokeball. "I said 'helpless', not 'hopeless'." She said as she recalled it.

"So, whaddya suggest we do?" Meowth asked.

"Yeah," James added, his previously released Mime, jr. (a small, cute Clown Pokemon) imitating him as he did so. "This is the chance of a lifetime!"

"Then we'll just have to be sneaky, like always!" Jessie snapped. "Come tomorrow, they won't know what hit them!"

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Ash sighed as he stared at the blank videophone. Dinner had been hours ago, and afterward everybody had turned in early. May, Max, Brock, and Pikachu were all asleep in the bunk beds in the next room, and Michael, Claire, Alex, Chansey, and Raichu had retired to their rooms on the upper level. Ash, meanwhile, had decided to make a few calls and select his team for tomorrow's battle. So far, it wasn't going well.

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Flashback…

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"Hello?" a blue-haired girl who seemed to be in her early twenties said with a yawn as she stared into her videophone.

"Hey ,Liza." Ash said, addressing the guardian of the Charicific Valley. "Sorry for calling so late."

"It's fine," she said, regaining her composure instantly. "I suppose you wanna make sure Charizard made it back okay? Well, see for yourself."

Liza turned the camera toward the corner of the room. Lying in the corner were two massive orange dragonlike Pokemon with big, batlike wings and flames burning at the tips of their tails. One of them had a pink bow on its head and was easily recognizable as Liza's female Charizard, Charla. The other was Ash's own male Charizard, which smiled and waved as soon as it saw him.

"Actually, it's kinda the opposite." Ash said as Liza turned the camera back to herself. "Ya see, I've got a big battle tomorrow and—."

"You were hoping for Charizard's help?" Liza finished. Ash nodded. "Sorry, Ash, but I can't help you. Charizard's fighting fit, but it's just not up to another long journey, especially overnight."

"Okay," Ash sighed. "Thanks anyway." He said as he hung up.

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End Flashback…

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The next call was just as much of a letdown.

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Flashback…

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"Cobalt Police and Fire Department." Said the woman who answered the phone. This one was in her twenties, too, and also had blue hair, though it was a darker shade than Liza's, and she was wearing a police uniform. "Please state the nature of your call." Then she smiled when she saw who was calling. "Oh, hello, Ash." She said cheerfully.

At the sound of the caller's name, a Pokemon climbed onto the desk and stared at the screen. It looked like a blue turtle with a brown-and-white shell, and it was currently wearing a black firefighter's jacket. "Squirtle!" it said with a grin.

"Hey, Squirtle!" Ash laughed. "Just who I wanted to see, 'cuz I've got a match tomorrow and—."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ash." Jenny said, shaking her head. "I'm afraid Squirtle can't battle tomorrow. A herd of Camerupt just moved into town, starting fires with their Eruption everywhere. We need the Squirtle Squad here until we can get the Camerupt to move on."

"Okay." Ash said, disappointed.

"Well, good luck with your battle, Ash!" Jenny said as she hung up.

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End Flashback…

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And the last call had been a little over the top…

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Flashback…

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"Hello, Ash." An elderly man in a white lab coat said groggily, rubbing his eyes. It was Professor Oak, the man who had given Ash his first Pokemon, and who takes care of other Pokemon not on his team. "A little late to be calling, isn't it?"

"Sorry, Professor," Ash grimaced, sweatdropping and rubbing the back of his head. "It's just that I've got a huge battle tomorrow, and—."

"You wanted to use some of the Pokemon you have here." Professor Oak finished. "I understand. What would you like me to send over?"

"Well," Ash said. "Bulbasaur, for starters, and maybe—."

"I'm sorry, Ash," the Professor interrupted. "But Bulbasaur is needed here. You see, a newer trainer recently caught two feuding Gyarados that he couldn't quite tame, so…well, see for yourself."

Professor Oak reached up and turned the camera around the lab to a soundproof window. Through it, Ash could see two enormous blue sea serpent-like Pokemon apparently roaring in anger. They were also firing yellow-orange beams from their mouths (Hyper Beams) at each other. On the ground was Ash's Bulbasaur, a small, bluish, dinosaur-like Pokemon with a big green flower bulb on its back, which it was currently reaching two vines out of (its Vine Whip attack) and using them to try and restrain one of the Gyarados as Ash's gold-and-red Noctowl (an Owl Pokemon that is normally brown-and-black) flew in front of it and stared into its eyes for a Hypnosis attack, which didn't seem very successful.

"As you can see, Ash," Professor Oak said, turning the camera back toward himself. "We desperately need Bulbasaur here, and Noctowl, too, at least for now. We need to hold them off until we can calm them down, seeing as they're so strong that the trainer only caught them because they weakened each other."

"Why don't you just put 'em back in their Pokeballs?" Ash suggested.

"They broke the recall mechanisms when I let them out." The Pokemon Professor explained. "I'm trying to fix them right now. As for your battle, what other Pokemon might you like to use?"

"I don't know." Ash replied. "I was kinda hopin' for Bulbasaur."
"Well," the Professor suggested. "How about Bayleef? You haven't used that one in a while. Or Kingler? It hasn't seen any action since—."

"Muk!" called a deep voice from the Professor's left as Muk (Ash's overly affectionate purple-grey sludge Pokemon) oozed onscreen. "Muk!" it yelled again upon seeing its trainer onscreen.

"Muk, please!" Professor Oak pleaded. "This is neither the time nor the place!"

Muk ignored him. "Muk!" it boomed as it oozed over and covered the monitor and camera, blocking Ash's view completely.

"Ash," he could hear the Professor say. "I'm going to need you to call back later. I have some cleaning to do."

Ash sighed and hung up the phone.

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End Flashback…

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Ash sighed again. Bulbasaur, Charizard, and Squirtle were his oldest Pokemon that he could still call upon (next to Pikachu), and three of his best. In fact, they, along with Pikachu, were the same ones he had used to beat Brandon. Things would be a lot harder without them.

"Switching out your team for tomorrow?" A voice asked from behind him.

Ash turned to face the speaker. It was Claire, who was smiling at him and looking wide awake.

"Trying to," Ash replied. "But it's not easy. I don't even know what type of Pokemon Michael uses."

"Well," Claire said. "I can't tell you what he'll use, per say, but I can tell you he doesn't limit himself to one type. You're better off just picking a well-balanced team."

"Doesn't make things much easier." Ash grumbled.

"True," Claire said with a smile. "But I have something that might."

Claire reached into her pocket and pulled out a string necklace with a small orb filled with what looked like lightning as a pendant. "Here." She said, holding it in front of Ash's face.

"What is it?" Ash asked.

"It's a Light Ball." Claire explained. "If a Pikachu holds it, the power of its electric attacks'll be doubled."

"Where'd you get it?" Ash asked excitedly.

"I gave it to Michael years ago." Claire said with a sigh. "He gave it back when he evolved his Pikachu into Raichu. This thing'll only work for a Pikachu, after all, which is why I'm letting you borrow it."

"Why are you giving me this?" Ash asked as he took the pendant. "Do you want me to beat Michael?"

"Honestly?" Claire queried. "No. But I do want a good show. That last battle was so one-sided! I was bored to tears! No offense, of course." She added, putting her hands up defensively. "Anyway, you don't have to use it. It's your decision. Good night, Ash."

Claire gave him one last smile before turning and walking up the stairs. Ash stared at the Light Ball for a moment before placing it in his pocket. He'd decide later. Right now, he was going to bed.

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After a good night's sleep, Ash and company are raring to go. Everyone's had their breakfast and is ready for what's sure to be an amazing battle.

"Ash, have you chosen your six Pokemon?" Alex asked.

"Switched 'em out before breakfast." Ash said proudly.

"And Michael, have you chosen yours?" Alex asked.

"Yes," Claire answered for him. "And it took forever!"

"So?" Michael said. "We have a lot to choose from up there."

"But is it really wise to leave them out in the open with no alarm or security system or anything?" Alex inquired.

"Is it really wise to say that in front of company?" Michael countered. "Honestly, what do you think will happen? What, do you think some thieves will break in and steal all of 'em, earning not only a huge profit but the previously lost respect of their employer? I mean, that's just ridiculous!"

"Fair enough," Claire agreed. "Now let's go."

"Chansey, you watch the Center while we're gone." Alex instructed.

"Chansey." It said with a nod.

"You still haven't said where the gym is." Max pointed out.

"Please say it's not too far away." May pleaded.

"Not at all." Michael replied with a huge grin.

Michael walked over to the Chansey statue in the corner and pulled off its hat. The egg in its pouch popped open to expose a numbered keypad. Michael typed in a quick three-digit code and placed the hat back on the statue. The egg went back to normal, and the entire statue slowly moved to the right, exposing a staircase to a brightly lit underground hallway. "After you." Michael said, the Raichu on his shoulder nodding in agreement.

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"Did ya hear what dey just said?" Meowth said as they watched the heroes descend the staircase and the statue slide back to its original position.

"Yes, that was a pretty descriptive, not to mention accurate hypothetical situation." James said, his Mime, jr. mimicking his movements.

"Not dat!" Meowth said. "If he had a hard time decidin', den all his Pokemon must be supa-strong!"

"And all that's standing between us and them is that Chansey!" Jessie laughed. "So, once we punch out that Poke-pediatrician there'll be a plethora of potent Pokemon just packaged and prepared to be purloined!"

"What is it with you and alliterations?" James asked.

"What is it with you and wearing women's clothes?" Jessie countered.

"Touché." James sighed.

"So, all we need now is a plan ta get past dat Chansey." Meowth summarized.

"No problem." Jessie told him, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

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Ash and co., meanwhile, had reached the end of the hallway and arrived at an enormous battlefield. It was as big as an official Pokemon League stadium, though with a lot less seating. There was just one row of bleachers on one side of the arena.

The battlefield itself's design was pretty much the same as a basketball court, except sunken two feet into the floor and with tall podiums for the trainers (one red, one blue) where the hoops would be. There was still an electronic scoreboard opposite the bleachers, though.

"It's awesome!" Max shouted.

"It is, isn't it?" Michael agreed. "All right, take a seat everybody. Ash, climb up on the platform for the battle of your life!"

Claire, May, Max, and Brock took a seat as Michael and Raichu and Ash and Pikachu climbed onto the podiums (Ash on the blue, Michael on the red) and stared each other down.

Once on, Michael pressed a few buttons on his podium and the scoreboard lit up, showing a picture of Michael on the left and a picture of Ash on the right. Each of them had six blank boxes for the Pokemon they'd be using.

"Okay, Ash," Michael announced. "Here are the rules for the gym: Each trainer is allowed six Pokemon. You are allowed to make substitutions, but I am not. However, before I use each of my Pokemon, I am allowed to choose the arena and conditions, and they will remain that way until I choose my next Pokemon. Understood?" Ash nodded. "Then let's go!"

"Wait!" Brock called. "You don't have an official judge!"

"Oh, yes they do." Alex told him, walking over until she was under the scoreboard. Then, to Brock's delight, she grabbed the bottom of her white skirt and pulled it and her top over her head, exposing a matching black-and-white vertically striped skirt and top. "I'm this gym's official judge!" she proclaimed, holding up two flags. "Now, start the battle!"

"For the arena," Michael announced. "I'll choose the desert terrain."

Everyone watched in awe as Michael hit several buttons on his podium and the arena folded back and was replaced by another floor that completely filled the arena with fine sand.

"Now for my Pokemon." Michael declared. "I choose Slaking!" he said, tossing a Pokeball. In a flash of light, a large Pokemon that seemed like a cross between a sloth and a gorilla appeared and lay down on its stomach in front of Michael. The first box under Michael's picture lit up to show a picture of the Pokemon.

"A Slaking!" Brock exclaimed.

"Just like Dad's!" Max proclaimed.

"Great starter, baby!" Claire cheered.

Ash, meanwhile, just flipped open his Pokedex and scanned the Pokemon. "Slaking," it said, displaying the Pokemon's picture. "The Laziness Pokemon. Hordes of these Pokemon have been known to gather around trees when fruits come into season, then wait for ripened ones to fall."

"Now that's lazy!" May commented.

"I don't get it, though." Brock stated. "Slaking's a forest Pokemon. Why use it in a desert battlefield?"

"You'll see." Claire said slyly.

"Well, if you're starting with big and lazy, then so will I!" Ash announced. "Go, Snorlax!"

Ash tossed a Pokeball of his own and a Pokemon resembling a black-and-white teddy bear appeared. It was as tall as Slaking, though much wider, with tiny arms, and big, round feet with no legs to speak of. A picture of it appeared in the first box under Ash's picture.

"The first match will be Snorlax vs. Slaking on the desert arena." Alex announced. "Let the battle begin!"

"Snorlax, start off with Ice Punch!" Ash commanded. Snorlax nodded and charged at Slaking, its fist out and covered with frost.

"Slaking, defend!" Michael ordered. Slaking moaned and raised its hands in front of Snorlax's fist, halting the attack completely.

"What the—?" Ash stuttered. "How did—?"

"A well-trained Slaking's hands are as hard and tough as steel plates." Michael explained. "You'll have to do better than that to hurt Slaking, Ash. Now," he said, turning to Slaking. "Use Blizzard!"

"Sla…king." Slaking said with a yawn as it sent a flurry of hailstones from its mouth at Snorlax, blowing it backwards and dealing a fair amount of damage.

"That's one strong Blizzard attack." Brock commented. "Imagine if it had done normal damage."

"What do you mean?" May inquired.

"Snorlax has a trait called 'Thick Fat'." He explained. "It's a protective layer of blubber that lowers damage taken from Fire- and Ice-type attacks, but that Slaking's so powerful, it might not make much difference!"

"Then maybe this will!" Ash cried. "Snorlax, use Hyper Beam!"

"Snor!" Snorlax replied, opening its mouth and shooting a beam just like the one the Gyarados were firing straight at Slaking.

"Slaking, Fire Blast!" Michael said confidently.

"King." Slaking sighed before producing a flame shaped like a five-pointed star from its mouth. Unlike other Fire Blasts, though, it didn't plow toward the opponent. It just stayed right in front of Slaking, completely blocking the Hyper Beam before fading.

"Wow!" Ash exclaimed. "I've never seen Fire Blast used like that before!"

"It's nothing." Michael said modestly. "Just a little trick I invented."

"Doesn't mean you're gonna win, though." Ash cried. "Snorlax, give it a full-contact Body Slam!"

"Snorlax." The Sleeping Pokemon grunted as it charged at Slaking and jumped, preparing to hit it with a belly-flop.

"Slaking, send it back with Strength!" Michael yelled.

Just as Snorlax was about to collide, Slaking raised its arms and caught Snorlax and tossed it back!

"Whoa!" Max exclaimed. "Did you guys see that?"

"I saw it, but I don't believe it!" May told him.

"Snorlax!" Ash called out to his battered Pokemon. "Are you okay?"

"Lax." Snorlax said with a nod as it got up and stared down Slaking.

"Now do you see, Ash?" Michael asked, his Raichu nodding in agreement. "Slaking has created the greatest defense known to Pokemonkind. Small attacks are too weak for Slaking's hands, special attacks can't make it past my defensive Fire Blast, and physical attacks will be in vain against Slaking's Strength! Face it, Slaking's untouchable!"

"Mikey's right, Ash," Claire agreed. "When he starts with Slaking, you can say goodbye to any future strategy!"

"So that's why he used the desert arena!" Brock realized. "The sand softens the blow from attacks even more!"

"Exactly," Claire replied. "Now defeating Slaking's twice as hard!"

"But not impossible!" Ash objected. "Snorlax, try another Body Slam!"

Snorlax nodded and pounced at Slaking again.

"Slaking, Strength!" Michael yelled.

Once again, Slaking raised its arms, caught Snorlax, and threw it back, leaving the Sleeping Pokemon all the worse for wear.

"Switch out, Ash!" Brock urged. "Snorlax is exhausted!"

"What good'll that do?" Ash demanded. "Slaking hasn't even broken a sweat yet!"

"Then what can you do?" May yelled.

Ash responded with another command to Snorlax.

"Snorlax, use Rest!"

Snorlax yawned and laid down on its stomach, apparently falling asleep, though with its squinty eyes it was hard to tell when it was awake. There was a slight glow around Snorlax as its scrapes disappeared.

"Using Rest to recover and get another chance, eh?" Michael summarized. "Too bad it leaves Snorlax vulnerable until it's done! Now, Slaking," he commanded. "Use Blizzard!"

Slaking lazily lifted its head and fired another wave of hailstones at Snorlax.

"Snorlax, use Sleep Talk!" Ash commanded.

"Sleep Talk?" everyone repeated.

May took out her Pokedex and searched under attacks. "Sleep Talk," it said. "This move can only be used when a Pokemon is asleep. It will then use one attack from its repertoire at random."

"You expect to protect yourself using a random attack?" Michael laughed.

As if to answer him, Snorlax jumped to its feet and crossed its arms as it was surrounded by a green force field. The Blizzard attack collided with it, but Snorlax remained unscathed.

"Snorlax used Protect!" May cheered.

"You got lucky, Ash." Michael announced. "It won't happen again. Slaking, hit it with Fire Blast!"

"King." Slaking groaned before shooting a star-shaped conflagration at its opponent.

"Sleep Talk, Snorlax!" Ash cried.

"You actually expect that to work again?" Michael laughed, Raichu joining in.

Pikachu and Ash glared at them as Snorlax jumped to its feet to perform an attack again. As the Fire Blast neared it, Snorlax opened its mouth and fired a Hyper Beam, which collided with the Fire Blast and, to everyone's surprise, plowed through it and struck Slaking square in the face!

Slaking sputtered and coughed. It seemed to have taken a lot of damage!

"No way!" Claire gasped. "He actually touched my Mikey's Slaking!"

"Michael looked a little stunned himself, though he shook it off quickly. "It's okay." He said. "Slaking, use Slack Off!"

Slaking moaned as it was surrounded by a white aura, not unlike Snorlax when using Rest. When the aura faded, most of Slaking's injuries were gone.

"Oh, yeah!" Claire cheered. "Way to get back in the game, Mikey!"

"No problem, Babe." He laughed, before turning back to the battle. "Slaking," he ordered. "Finish it with another Fire Blast!"

Slaking shot another Fire Blast, but just as it did, Snorlax jumped to its feet.

"Snorlax is awake!" Max declared.

"Do something, Ash!" Brock yelled.

"Snorlax, use Protect!" Ash cried.

Snorlax reacted and put up the force field just in time. The Fire Blast hit, but Snorlax was unharmed.

"You can't hide behind Protect forever, Ash." Michael said. "It only works so many times in one battle."

"Then I'll just have to win right now!" Ash countered. "Snorlax, hit it with Hyper Beam!"

"Snorlax!" Snorlax nodded, before charging and firing another yellow-orange beam at its opponent.

"Defend with Fire Blast!" Michael yelled.

Slaking moaned and complied, projecting the flame in front of it. Once again, it completely blocked the Hyper Beam before fading.

"Now use Blizzard!" Michael ordered.

"Protect, Snorlax!" Ash replied.

Snorlax crossed its arms and prepared for the oncoming attack, but this time the force field didn't appear. The Blizzard hit Snorlax head-on and sent it sprawling back.

"I told you it won't work forever!" Michael laughed.

Ash, however, was too preoccupied to listen.

"Why didn't the Hyper Beam work?" he thought. "It hit the Fire Blast dead-on. Why didn't it overpower it like it did when Slaking—?"

"That's it!" he shouted. "Snorlax, use Body Slam!"

"Snor!" Snorlax grunted as it ran and jumped at Slaking.

"Send it back with Strength!" Michael yelled.

"Sla…king!" Slaking huffed as it caught the massive Pokemon and threw it back toward Ash.

"Body Slam again, Snorlax!" Ash commanded.

"Strength, Slaking!" Michael yelled.

Once again, Snorlax leapt at Slaking, and once again, Slaking caught it and threw it back.

"Body Slam!"

"Strength!"

"What's Ash doing?" Claire asked as Snorlax pounced at Slaking for the fourth time in a row.

"I don't know," Max said as it was tossed back again. "But I'm sure he's got a plan."

By now, the two Pokemon looked pretty different from the repeated exchanges of physical force. Slaking looked pretty winded, but Snorlax was positively exhausted. It was covered in bruises, scrapes, and sand, and was panting heavily.

"Time to end this." Michael announced. "Slaking, use Blizzard!"

"Snorlax, use Ice Punch!" Ash yelled.

As the hailstones approached Snorlax, it delivered a frozen punch straight to the center of the attack. The flurry split down the middle and passed harmlessly around either side of Snorlax.

"Nice one," Michael grinned. "But it won't work against this: Slaking, finish it with Fire Blast!"

"Hyper Beam, Snorlax!" Ash screamed. "Give it all you've got!"

The two Pokemon's attacks collided in the middle of the arena and pushed up against each other. For a second they were evenly matched, but soon enough, the Hyper Beam won out. It pushed through the Fire Blast and nailed Slaking right in the face, sending it sprawling back in pain.

"Now," Ash yelled. "Finish it with Ice Punch while it's stunned!"

Mustering all its energy, Snorlax ran at Slaking and delivered a frozen uppercut to its chin.

"Sla…king." Slaking moaned, slumping to the floor with swirly eyes.

"Slaking is unable to battle." Alex announced. "Victory for this round goes to Snorlax!"

"All right!" Ash cheered. "Way to go, Snorlax!"

"Snor!" Snorlax said, before slumping over and going swirly-eyed, too.

"Pardon me." Alex said. "Snorlax is unable to battle as well. This round is a draw!"

The pictures of Snorlax and Slaking on the scoreboard went dark as the trainers recalled their unconscious Pokemon to their Pokeballs.

"Wait," May said. "I don't get it. Why'd the Hyper Beam work this time?"

"Simple," Brock said. "Slaking's able to put more power into a defensive Fire Blast than an offensive one, since it keeps the attack close and can keep fueling it. When Ash realized that, he made a plan: First, he used an ineffective Body Slam again and again, not only to tire out Slaking, but to burn off Snorlax's energy and lower Michael's guard. Next, he waited for a Fire Blast. Since he knew Hyper Beam could plow through an offensive one, he just had to conserve the rest of Snorlax's energy until one came along. Finally, after the Hyper Beam hit, Slaking was momentarily stunned, giving Snorlax time to muster up its strength and deliver the finishing blow."

"Exactly," Ash said. "Slaking can't defend while attacking. That's the flaw in his strategy!"

"Congratulations, Ash." Michael said with a smile. "You're the first person to defeat Slaking with only one Pokemon since I made that defensive strategy, and, more importantly, you learned an important lesson: No strategy is perfect. There's a chink in everyone's armor. In battle, it's your job to find and exploit that weakness. Remember that, Ash, in the next round."

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Ash has triumphed in one of his toughest battles yet, and it's only the first round! Does he have what it takes to make it all the way? I hope so, because I'm paid by the chapter. We'll find out in the next installment of Pokemon: the Ultimate Battle!

(That narrator is GOOD! So, what'd you readers think? TELL ME YOUR OPINIONS. NO NON-FLAME REVIEW GOES UNAPPRECIATED! 'Til next time!)