Pokémon: The Final Journey

Chapter 3: Round One Rages On!

Ash watches on as Nando celebrates his victory with his Roserade when all of the sudden someone taps his shoulder. "Hey Ash!" yells the exhausted Cameron. "Oh hey Cameron." responds Ash, "Why are you so out of breath?" "I came running over to get you, Gary and Stephan's battle is about to begin!" "Then what are we waiting for!? Let's go!" Ash and Cameron race to the Fourth Stage just in time for Stephan and Gary to be introduced.

Alright folks lets get the third battle on Stage Four started!" bellowed the MC. "On the red side we have Stephan from the Unova Region! And on the blue side we have the grandson and assistant of Kanto's very own Professor Oak, Gary Oak! "I knew we'd have this battle," yells Stephan, "after I met you in Johto when you were running an errand for your grandfather and Professor Elm told me about you I knew I'd battle you one day! And that day is today!" "You sound confident," retorted Gary, "you better be if you want to beat me." "Alright let's see what our trainers will battle on!" A flat, icy terrain reveals itself. Okay trainers, time to reveal your pokémon!" announces the MC. "Golem! Let's go!" Calls out Gary. As Golem lands on the ice it lands with a thud and crushes the ice around it. "Zebstrika! I need you!" "What?!" exclaims Ash, "Why would Stephan use Zebstrika?" "He must have a strategy." responds Cameron. "Okay folks this battle between Stephan's Zebstrika and Gary's Golem will officially begin!" "Golem, lets try to finish this up with one move, Rollout go!" Golem starts rolling down the field creating trench of crushed ice behind it. "Quick Zebstrika bounce!" Zebstrika launches itself up into the air dodging the rollout. "Golem stop!" As Golem stops it creates a huge crater of ice around it, which it turn also leave sit completely exposed. "Golem get up!" "Zebstrika now!" Zebstrika starts to crash down towards the ground as Golem slowly gets back up. As Zebstrika draws closer to Golem an idea forms in Gary's head. "Golem rollout towards me now!" Golem's rollout allows it to escape and Zebstrika crashes into the crater Golem created and pushes it even deeper into the ice. "Good, Golem, now return to my side!" Golem rolls over to Gary and stops right in front of him." "Zebstrika! Are you okay?" Zebstrika gets back up to its feet and lets out a cry showing that its not backing down yet. "Rollout again!" "Dodge it Zebstrika!" Zebstrika attempts to dodge it, but Golem's rollout has tripled in power and speed since it's original rollout and hits Zebstrika with a critical hit sending it flying into the barrier. "Zebstrika! Don't give up!" Zebstrika stands back up ready to fight, although it does look fatigued. "Alright Zebstrika! Volt tackle!" "What?!" exclaims Gary, "You're using an electric type attack on a ground type?! And I thought you were actually starting to put up a fight. Golem! Finish off Zebstrika with a rollout with four times the power it started with!" Both pokémon charge towards each other with powerful attacks that tear through the ice. "Quick Zebstrika use protect!" Zebstrika quickly stops and shields itself as Golem's rollout collides into it and Golem is sent flying back crashing into the ice towards Gary. "Zebstrika now use bounce!" Zebstrika flies up into the air. "Golem dodge it!" Golem easily rolls out of range as an smirk appears on Stephan's face. "What are you smiling at?" Gary asks. "Oh its just you did exactly as I planned. Now Zebstrika crash towards the center of the ice using Flare Blitz!" Zebstrika charges up a fire that forms around it as it crashes head on into the ice, slowly melting the ice away until there only two thin patches of ice left. One for Zebstrika and one for Golem. Because of Golem's dense weight it's patch of ice cracks and falls apart sending Golem crashing into the water. "Oh I see now," comments Ash, "this was Stephan's plan all along!" " Now Zebstrika bounce up and crash down using volt tackle!" "Golem if you can hear me push off the bottom and use rollout to counter!" From the surface Golem shows no sign of response and Zebstrika dives into the water full power with the volt tackle sending sparks flying all throughout the water. A few moments later a puff of smoke shoots out of the water along with Zebstrika who soars over to the lone patch and crashes into destroying it and sinks back into the water. Golem then appears and climbs out of the water onto to Gary's podium as Zebstrika floats back to the surface belly up and unable to continue. "Zebstrika is unable to battle!" announces the MC, "Which means the winners of the match are Golem and Gary!"

"Wow," exhales Cameron, "Even with Stephan surprising Gary with that flare blitz he couldn't win." "Hey you win some, you lose some." claims Ash, "Even Stephan knows that." "Zebstrika return! You did a great job today, thank you." Stephan says as he walks over to Gary. "Everything I've heard about you is right Gary. You are truly one of the greatest trainers I've ever battled." "You were great too," assures Gary, "Sure I was talking trash about you halfway through that battle, but you shut me up as soon as you lead me in with that volt tackle that turned into a protect. From that point I knew this was a serious battle, and what a battle it was. I'll admit I hope for a rematch one day, stop by Pallet Town before heading back to Unova after the tournament is over and I'll be waiting. You are staying to watch the rest of the tournament right?" "Of course!" exclaims Stephan, "Why wouldn't I? I still have to watch you beat Ash!" "Hey now, who said I would be even battling him?" "I do! You're to and you're going to win!" "Hah, alright whatever you say."

"Alright folks we'll take a 30 minute break and return with the battle of Tyson and Harrison!" announces the MC. "Hey guys did you see our battle?" Stephan asks as he and Gary walk up. "Yeah we did! You both did great!" answers Ash. He and Gary lock eyes and enter another moment tensity between the two. "Hey look!" exclaims Cameron breaking the silence. "Tyson and Harrison are about to battle!"

With Gary joining Nando in round two its time to find out who will join them. Harrison or Tyson? We'll find out when we return!