(Well, here we go. The final chapter. NARRATOR-DUDE, TAKE IT AWAY!)
In our last chapter, Michael's Feraligatr proved to be a challenge for Ash, especially with the condition that both trainers wear shock collars to share their Pokemon's pain! Even after Charizard pulled out everything in its arsenal, both Pokemon were still in it. However, just when things looked hopeless, Charizard learned Blast Burn, its strongest attack yet! On Michael's suggestion, both Pokemon used their most powerful attacks in a final bout to prove superiority. Whose Pokemon will be the winner? Let's find out.
(Nice work. LET THE CHAPTER BEGIN!)
The Ultimate Battle
Chapter Six: The Final Round
"Both Pokemon are unable to battle!" Alex announced, (Wow, that was quick!) staring at the two unconscious forms as their pictures on the scoreboard went dark. "This round is a draw! Both trainers may remove their collars."
Ash and Michael, still struggling to stand from the pain, removed their collars, held up their Pokeballs, and recalled their Pokemon as Alex went and collected the chips.
"Blissey, help them out." Claire said.
"Blissey." The Happiness Pokemon replied. It ran over to Ash's podium and healed him with its Softboiled, then did the same with Michael before returning to Claire's side.
"Thanks, Blissey." Michael said once he'd fully recovered before turning to Ash. "That was incredible, Ash!" he exclaimed. "One of the best battles I've ever had! And you, you were just amazing! Your determination, your dedication, your ability to think on your feet. It was all so perfect! You're truly a gifted trainer, Ash."
"It's nothing." Ash said, he and Pikachu rubbing the back of their necks in embarrassment.
"It is not nothing!" Michael yelled. "You've proven knowledge of an important fact: A Pokemon battle isn't just between two Pokemon—it's between their trainers as well. If a trainer wants to win, they have to be just as strong—no, stronger than their Pokemon. Remember that—in life, and the next round."
"What kind of battlefield will this one be on?" Ash asked.
"I was thinking…this one, without the collars." Michael told him.
"That's it?" Ash asked. "Just a regular battlefield and a regular battle?"
"I would think you'd be happy about it." Michael said, Raichu nodding in agreement. "No home-field advantages, no special conditions. Just a full-out test of a trainer's skills. Besides," he added. "I need to wind down after that last battle."
"Just a normal battle, huh?" Brock repeated. "This might be the toughest round yet."
"Whaddaya mean?" Max demanded. "All the others were tough! This one's easy!"
"It seems easy," Brock corrected. "But in all those other battles, Ash used the unusual conditions to his advantage in one way or another. This time, he has to depend on pure skill."
"You're catching on." Claire told him, causing him to blush.
"Now for my Pokemon." Michael announced. "Ready, buddy?" he asked, turning to Raichu.
"Raichu." It said confidently, jumping off the podium and into the arena.
"My Pokemon will be Raichu." Michael declared. "Oh, and by the way, it's no longer overcharged. What will your Pokemon be, Ash?"
Ash didn't respond. Instead, he paused for a moment and reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant that Claire had given him. "Here," he said, placing it around Pikachu's neck. "Maybe this'll give us a fighting chance."
"Chu?" it asked, cocking its head in confusion.
"Trust me." Ash whispered.
Michael, Claire, and Alex took note of this, but none of them said anything.
"Ready, Ash?" Michael queried.
"Yeah," Ash declared. "I choose Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu said, jumping into the arena and staring down Raichu.
"So," Brock commented. "Ash is having a rematch."
"But what's that thing around its neck?" May asked, scanning it with her Pokedex.
"Light Ball," the Pokedex said, displaying a picture of the pendant. "This amulet, when worn, can double the power of a Pikachu's special attacks."
"A Light Ball!?" Max exclaimed. "Where'd Ash get one of those?"
Claire blushed, but stayed silent.
"Well," Michael said. "There's certainly no rule against using items to increase a Pokemon's power. If you want to use it, be my guest."
"The final round will be Pikachu vs. Raichu!" Alex announced as the images of Pikachu and Raichu appeared on the scoreboard in the last boxes under the pictures of their trainers. "Let the match begin!"
"Raichu," Michael yelled. "Start off with Thunderbolt!"
"Rai." Raichu said, squeezing its cheeks and sending a blue blast of electricity at Pikachu.
"Pikachu, dodge and use your Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.
"Pika." Pikachu replied, jumping aside and squeezing its cheeks to send a yellow blast at Raichu. Pikachu's attack hit and left Raichu slightly charred.
"Wow!" Max said. "That did a lot more damage than last time!"
"That Light Ball really works!" May agreed. "Pikachu's stronger than ever!"
"This match will be a lot closer than the last one." Brock said with a nod.
"Just because Pikachu's attacks are stronger doesn't mean it's better at defending!" Michael said. "Raichu, give it another Thunderbolt!"
Raichu nodded, squeezed its cheeks, and sent another blue blast at Pikachu.
"Jump and use Iron Tail!" Ash said.
Pikachu leapt into the air, avoided the blast, and somersaulted forward, its tail glowing white as it attempted to slam it into Raichu.
"Raichu, counter with your Iron Tail!" Michael shouted.
"Raichu." Raichu responded, the lightning bolt shape on its tail glowing white.
As Pikachu came down toward Raichu, Pikachu raised its tail and blocked Pikachu's. For a second, the tails pressed against each other, but Raichu quickly won out, knocking Pikachu to the ground and sending it skidding back on all fours.
"Quick Attack, Raichu!" Michael commanded.
"Rai, rai." Raichu said as it sprinted toward Pikachu on all fours at a high speed, leaving a white streak of light behind it.
"Pikachu," Ash yelled. "Dodge and use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" it said, jumping aside and sending another yellow blast of electricity at its opponent, leaving Raichu more charred than before.
"Ash is really fighting hard." Brock commented.
"Having Pikachu wear that Light Ball seems to be raising his confidence." Claire said, taking note of what she saw.
"Not bad, Ash," Michael commented. "But an impressive lead won't win you the match."
"You've certainly proven that." Alex said, rolling her eyes.
"Ignoring that." Michael said as he turned back to the battle. "Raichu, enough playing around! Hit it with a full-on Volt Tackle!"
Raichu nodded and once again sprinted toward Pikachu on all fours, this time surrounded by a glowing blue aura.
"Pikachu," Ash said confidently. "Meet it head-on with your Volt Tackle!"
"Chu!" Pikachu said, rushing straight at Raichu as it was enveloped in a yellow aura.
The two Pokemon collided in the center of the arena, and to Ash's surprise, Raichu easily overpowered Pikachu, knocking it back and dealing massive damage as both their auras faded.
"What happened?" Ash asked. "I thought the Light Ball increased the power of Pikachu's Electric-type attacks!"
"It increases the power of its special attacks." Michael corrected. "Volt Tackle is a physical attack, where Raichu still has the upper hand."
"Then I'll just have to win without it!" Ash declared. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu nodded and sent another yellow wave of electricity at Raichu.
"Dodge and counter with Quick Attack!" Michael ordered.
"Raichu." Raichu smirked as it quickly dodged the Thunderbolt and ran toward Pikachu and rammed into it. Pikachu looked shaken, but stood its ground.
"Finish it with Thunder!" Michael shouted.
"Pikachu, Thunder!" Ash yelled.
Both Pokemon squeezed their cheeks and sent huge blasts of electricity (blue from Raichu, yellow from Pikachu) at each other. The attacks collided in a beautiful display, and forced up against each other. After a minute, though, the yellow Thunder gained dominance and plowed through the blue, zapping Raichu for an enormous amount of damage.
"Rai." Raichu said, falling backwards and landing (fully conscious) on its back in front of Pikachu.
"Awesome!" Max cheered. "Pikachu's special attacks are even stronger than Raichu's!"
"Thanks to that Light Ball, Ash is one attack away from winning!" Brock grinned.
"Yeah," Ash thought, staring at Pikachu. "Thanks to the Light Ball."
"Time out!" he yelled, putting his hands together in a "T".
Everyone turned to Ash and stared at him in surprise.
"Any particular reason for this, Ash?" Michael inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"It'll just take a second." Ash said as he climbed off the podium and ran onto the battlefield next to Pikachu. Slowly, he reached down and pulled off the Light Ball.
"What's Ash doing?" May asked. "He was about to win!"
"Chu?" Pikachu asked, confused.
"I don't want to win this way." Ash explained. "You can win without this, can't you, buddy?"
"Chu!" Pikachu replied confidently.
"How about we start over?" Ash asked, turning to Michael. "I wanna win fair and square."
Michael shrugged. "It's okay with me if it's okay with the Pokemon." He said.
The two Pokemon nodded as Raichu jumped to its feet and stared Pikachu down.
"Ready, buddy?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu replied.
"All set, pal?" Michael inquired.
"Rai!" Raichu answered.
"The final round of Pikachu vs. Raichu has been reset!" Alex declared. "Let the battle continue!"
"Raichu, Thunderbolt!" Michael ordered.
"Raichu." Raichu smirked as it squeezed its cheeks and sent another blue blast of electricity at Pikachu.
"Pikachu, use your Thunderbolt!" Ash cried.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed as it mimicked Raichu and sent out another yellow blast, though considerably smaller than the last few.
The attacks collided, but this time the blue won out and Pikachu was badly shocked.
"Now that the Light Ball's gone, Ash, Raichu's special attacks are much stronger than Pikachu's." Michael told him. "Looks like you'll have to find another way to win."
Ash growled in response to this. "Pikachu," he yelled. "Use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu nodded and rushed full-speed ahead toward Raichu and rammed into it. Surprisingly, it didn't do much damage.
"What the—?" Ash gaped.
"Speed-based attacks don't work as well on larger opponents." Michael told him.
"Then use Iron Tail!" Ash shouted.
"Pika." Pikachu said as it leapt up and somersaulted toward Raichu, its tail glowing white as it did.
"Raichu, Iron Tail!" Michael said.
Raichu smiled, the lightning bolt on its tail glowing white as it raised it and hit Pikachu, knocking it back several feet.
"Raichu's tail is longer and more flexible than Pikachu's, Ash." Michael lectured. "It doesn't have to pull off such easily disrupted moves."
"This is bad." Brock said. "Everything Pikachu does, Raichu can do better."
"Pikachu's gotta have some advantage!" Ash thought desperately. "Come on, think! What's different about them?"
"That's it!" he exclaimed. "Use Thunderbolt!"
"Chu!" Pikachu said as it sent another yellow blast at Raichu. The blast hit dead-on, but Raichu didn't seem to show any sign of damage.
"Raichu, show it a real Thunderbolt!" Michael laughed.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash shouted.
Just as Raichu began squeezing its cheeks, Pikachu ran at it and rammed it in the stomach, halting the attack.
"Raichu, Iron Tail!" Michael yelled.
"Pikachu, jump back and use Thunderbolt!" Ash instructed.
As Raichu attempted to swipe Pikachu with its glowing, Pikachu leapt up and back and shot another yellow Thunderbolt at Raichu, which once again appeared to do no damage.
"Raichu, Thunderbolt!" Michael ordered.
"Quick Attack!" Ash commanded.
Once again, Pikachu rushed forward and rammed Raichu before it could launch the attack, this time jumping back afterward.
"What's Ash doing?" Max asked. "He isn't making any sense!"
"It looks like a hit-and-run strategy." Brock told him. "Launching attacks quickly and avoiding the opponent's."
"Too bad a hit-and-run strategy only works when you can do some decent damage." Claire said. "As it is, Pikachu's using up more energy than it's taking from Raichu."
"Claire's right, Ash." Michael smirked. "Now, Raichu," he commanded. "Use Quick Attack!"
"Raichu." Raichu smiled as it sprinted at Pikachu.
"Pikachu, jump back and use Thunder!" Ash shouted.
"Pika!" Pikachu said as it jumped above Raichu. "PI-KA-CHU!" it shouted, squeezing its cheeks and sending a large, yellow electric blast at the now-stationary Raichu. Raichu took the attack, but still showed only minimal signs of damage.
"Even Thunder's not doing much!" May said as Pikachu landed on all fours on the side of the arena opposite Raichu.
"Not good!" Max worried.
"Raichu, time to end this battle, once and for all!" Michael ordered. "Use Thunder!"
"Rai…CHU!" Raichu shouted, squeezing its cheeks.
Then, something unusual happened. Raichu produced a huge, blue blast of electricity, like usual, but this time it didn't move toward Pikachu. It stayed in place, enveloping and shocking Raichu.
"Rairai!" it screamed, crying in pain.
When the light faded, Raichu looked like it had taken a lot of damage!
"It shocked itself!?" May exclaimed.
"That happens when Raichu's overcharged." Ash said with a smile.
"Overcharged?" Michael repeated, his eyes going wide. "Of course!" he realized. "All those Electric attacks, and stopping Raichu from using any of its own. It all makes sense now! You were forcing Raichu to keep building up electricity until this happened!"
"Yeah," Ash smirked. "And with nowhere in this arena to stick its tail and discharge electricity, Raichu's Electric attacks'll just hurt itself!"
"That means Raichu can't use any of its best attacks!" Brock summarized.
"Way to go, Ash!" May and Max cheered.
"And Pikachu's still got some energy left." Ash said. "What was it you told me? 'Volt Tackle's an awesome move, but only when used correctly'? Well, now that Raichu can't counter with any of its best attacks, I think I'm about to. Pikachu, win this with Volt Tackle!"
"Pika." It nodded. Once again, Pikachu ran towards Raichu, its body surrounded by a yellow aura as it prepared to finish Raichu off. "Pikapikapikapikachu!"
"Nice strategy, Ash," Michael laughed. "But there's one flaw: Not all of Raichu's attacks use electricity. Now," he said, turning to Raichu. "Use the attack that proves our closeness! Use Return!"
"Return!?" Brock repeated. "That attack gets more powerful the closer the Pokemon using it feels to its trainer!"
"And Mikey's relationship with Raichu is almost unparalleled!" Claire added with a smile, her Blissey nodding in agreement.
"It's true." Michael agreed. "But don't take her word for it. Let Raichu prove it!"
"Rai." Raichu said with a grin. It got down on all fours and charged at Pikachu once more. Its body was again enveloped by an aura, but not a blue one. This aura was a shade of the purest pink. "Rairairairaichu!" it yelled as it shot at Pikachu with the speed of a bullet and the force of a wrecking ball.
"Keep going!" Ash and Michael shouted. "Give it all you've got!"
The two Pokemon collided in the center of the arena, resulting in a bright flash of light that obscured all vision. When the light faded, one Pokemon fell forward, unconscious.
"Pikachu is unable to battle!" Alex announced as Pikachu and Ash's pictures on the scoreboard went dark and Michael's half was fully displayed, the word "winner" written above his picture. "Victory goes to Michael and Raichu!"
"Great job, Mikey!" Claire cheered.
"He lost." Brock, May, and Max said, their heads drooping as the scoreboard went dark and he and Ash climbed down into the battlefield and walked up to their Pokemon.
"That was a great battle, Ash." Michael congratulated. "Possibly the best I've had since my best match with Claire. That strategy of overcharging Raichu was a stroke of genius!"
"Thanks," Ash sighed, scooping Pikachu into his arms. "I guess I'm not gonna get that badge, though, huh?"
"Don't be so sure." Michael grinned. "You may have passed the test. If you did, you've earned the badge, anyway."
Ash's eyes went wide. "So, did I pass?" he asked excitedly.
"What am I, a mind reader?" Michael shrugged.
"How good at it do you have to be to read your own?" May asked.
"Only the gym leader can decide if he passed." Michael said.
"You mean you're not the gym leader!?" Ash exclaimed.
"Did I ever say I was?" Michael countered, he and Raichu smiling wearing identical smiles.
Ash thought back to everything Michael had said to him. "No," he realized. "But then, who is?"
"That'd be me." Claire said, standing up and striking an elegant pose. "I'm the Taupe Town gym leader!"
"She did the paperwork." Michael said, rolling his eyes.
"And I can trump Mikey anytime." His girlfriend laughed.
"That's one opinion." He shrugged.
"Whatever," Claire sighed. "But I've still got the better win-loss record, and I'm still the leader."
"Okay," Ash said, sweatdropping. "So, did I pass?"
"Well, you certainly didn't get an 'A'." Claire said. "You totally took the bait when I gave you Mikey's Light Ball."
"I knew it!" Michael said. "I knew it as soon as you told me 'use Raichu in the final round'!"
"I always tell Mikey what to do for the final round." Claire explained. "The rest are tests of his own, and they're always different."
"Got it." Ash said. "So, did I pass?"
"Well," Claire sighed. "You used the Light Ball, which was the whole test."
"But I took it off!" Ash protested. "And I was about to win, too!"
"No, you weren't." Michael told him. "Raichu's tail was right under Pikachu. One Iron Tail would've sliced the Light Ball right off, and given Raichu the chance to win with a surprise attack."
"Well, I still took it off." Ash said. "And I still almost won, afterward!"
"I know." Claire said. "A good trainer knows not to rely on shortcuts or gimmicks. A great trainer decides to act upon that knowledge. You did that a lot sooner than Mikey did, Ash."
"Huh?" Ash said, raising his eyebrow in confusion.
"I told you that Mikey gave back the Light Ball because he evolved his Pikachu," Claire said. "What I didn't tell you is that Mikey evolved his Pikachu because of the Light Ball."
"I got sick of depending on it to win." Michael said, Raichu nodding in agreement. "Pikachu and I decided it was time for both of us to move on and evolve."
"Okay," Ash said. "But did I pass?"
"Well, you're a long shot." Claire told him. "I'd say…yeah, you did."
"I did?" Ash repeated excitedly.
"Yep," Claire said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small, metal badge. "And because of that, I now present you with the Master Badge as proof."
"Awesome!" Ash exclaimed, taking the badge and staring at it. It was designed after the Master Ball: White on the bottom, purple on top, with a red "M" just above the button in the center. "I got a Master Badge!"
"Pi, pikachu!" Pikachu said, having regained consciousness a minute ago.
"I'll bet you can't wait to use it, huh?" Claire asked.
Ash paused and stared at the badge again.
"Actually," he said after a minute. "I think I'll just stick with battling in gyms. It's more fun, anyway."
"That's good," Michael said, snatching the badge. "'Cuz this thing isn't worth the steel it's made of."
With that, he took the badge between his hands and effortlessly broke it in half!
"It's a fake!?" May exclaimed. "But Brandon said—."
"That it's a rumor." Claire finished. "A rumor that the three of us fed to Elite Four members and Frontier Brains to tell top trainers."
"Remember how I said that people usually repeat the rumor to me as soon as I ask?" Michael asked.
"Yeah." Ash said, nodding.
"It's because I'm where they heard it, and I asked them to repeat it to me." He laughed. "For liability purposes, it's carefully worded so it's what tells of the gym's payoff. That way, nobody can get into any legal trouble."
"But the 'testing for greatness' part is totally true, though," Claire said. "And the badge is the final test."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"The true paradox of the Master Badge, Ash, is that a trainer that's truly destined for greatness will opt to achieve without it." Claire told him.
"You're destined for great things, Ash." Michael said. "As long as you keep trying and never let anything stop you, you'll achieve your dream for sure."
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So, Ash passed every test, and truly proved he's destined for greatness. What awaits him in the future? I'm not sure, but I am sure that he has plenty of adventures left to come, in the World of Pokemon!
(Not bad. BUT THE STORY WOULDN'T BE FINISHED WITHOUT THIS: )
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Team Rocket, meanwhile, were clinging to the torn basket of their wrecked balloon in the middle of the lake they had landed in.
"Well, dis is just poifect!" Meowth complained. "We're wet, we're broke, we're Pokemon-less…"
"And I thidk I caught a (AH-CHOO!) cold." James added. "Oh, by dose is all stuffed ub."
"Here, have some nasal spray!" Jessie said, chucking the bottle at his head.
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Hang in there, Team Rocket. Your day will come. Maybe.
(Excellent work, Narrator-dude.)
Glad you think so. Here's my bill. (hands bill to MultiplePersonas)
((Stares at bill) I SHOULD SAY THIS IS EXPENSIVE, BUT CONSIDERING YOUR SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS, I'D SAY THAT'S A BARGAIN. I'LL PAY YOU AFTER THE CHAPTER.)
I'll be waiting.
(Well, readers, so ends my second fic ever. WHAT WILL I DO NEXT? I'M NOT SURE. I'M THINKING A PREQUEL TO THIS, either of Paul coming to the gym or of how Michael and Claire met. What do you think? Tell me (ALONG WITH YOUR OPINION ON THIS CHAPTER) in your review. 'TIL THEN!)