Episode 31: Setting Things Straight (part 2)
Part 2 of episode 31 in my Fan Fiction series about the Pokémon journey of Ash and Angie. Involves some MorpheusShipping (Ash and Angie liking each other) so if you don't like that idea, stop reading here. The rest, I hope you enjoy this fan-fiction.
"So what are youdoing here, Paul?" Angie inquired.
She was the first to break the silence that fell, since Ash was still too surprised to talk, after suddenly being confronted with the trainer that seemed to have become his arch rival.
"Oh, I visited the Victory Road, hoping to find some trainers I could have a challenging fight with, but I found none," Paul explained, "I should have known there were no really strong trainers in this region. Not much has changed since I first came here."
Ash clenched his fist at hearing Paul talking so disdainfully about his home region, but he managed to control himself.
"Just how long have you been watching us?" Ash asked.
"Oh, if you think I have been spying on you smooching, don't worry, I couldn't be less interested in what you two feel like doing together..." Paul said, on his usual 'I am not interested' tone.
Ash sighed a little of relief, he wouldn't have like to hear Paul had been watching him and Angie a moment ago.
"So, where are you going then?" Ash asked.
"I was heading back to the Pokémon Center in Viridian City, to see where I should be going next," Paul replied, "maybe Johto will have some more exciting challenges to offer than Kanto. But then I heard someone shouting my name, and when I came here it turned out to be just you."
"Still as friendly as ever, I see..." Angie remarked.
"Being friendly doesn't win battles," Paul countered her remark, "so if you two have nothing else of interest for me, I am off again. Be seeing you, I guess."
Paul turned his back towards our friends, and started walking away. Ash watched his rival and then he looked at Angie with a knowing glance. Angie smiled back at him, and Ash took a bold decision.
"Hey Paul! Hold it!" he shouted.
"Now what!?" the purple haired trainer said, annoyed at being called.
"If it's a challenge you want, you can get it!" Ash stated.
"Oh really?" Paul said, seriously doubting Ash's remark, "where then?"
"Right here! Right now!" Ash said, with his eyes flaming, "you and me! That is if you still dare to..."
"You've got to be kidding," Paul replied, "you, a challenge for me?"
"Just wait and see..." Ash said, "this time it will be different, you'll see."
"Well, maybe you'll be able to beat one of my Pokémon before I waltz all over you," Paul stated, "okay, count me in!"
"Okay, how about a six versus six fight then?" Ash proposed.
"Normally I wouldn't hesitate at an opportunity to beat all your weak Pokémon at once, but as I was saying, I am on my way and I don't want to waste that much time on you, so I was thinking about a three versus three," Paul replied.
"Fine!" Ash answered, "Angie, will you be the referee for this one?"
"Sure, Ash," Angie agree, and good luck!"
"Can I count on you being impartial when I battle your boyfriend?" Paul said, while raising his eyebrows.
"I can assure you that I won't let my feelings get in the way of my judgment of this battle!" Angie replied, as she glared at Paul, "so may the best trainer win!" she added, "but I hope it will be you, Ash..." she secretly thought.
Ash released all his Pokémon, to decide which ones he would pick for the upcoming important battle. Ash looked carefully along the impressive line up of his team. Buizel was already doing a warming up, making some punching movements in the air, as if he was boxing against an invisible opponent. Staravia was hovering a above the ground, with it's mighty wings flapping with strength, trying to draw Ash's attention. Grotle was looking at Ash with it's usual, "pick me, pick me!" expression on it's face. Monferno was jumping up and down, apparently eager to take on it's former trainer, and show how strong it had become. And Gliscor was looking at Ash with an even more affectionate look than Grotle. "Aw! How can I choose without hurting the feelings of the Pokémon that won't get a chance to battle!" Ash thought.
"Can you speed it up a little?" Paul said, noticing how Ash was still pondering about his selection. "I'll make it easier to decide for you, I'll choose Honchcrow, Weavile and Torterra."
"Okay, than I'll pick Pikachu, Buizel and Stara..." Ash started, when he suddenly felt something holding his leg.
It was Gliscor, who was looking up at Ash, with tears almost forming in it's eyes.
"Okay, you can fight too," Ash gave in, "Staravia, I hope you're not too disappointed..."
Ash's Bird Pokémon had fallen out of the sky at hearing Ash change his mind, and was now covering it's eyes with a wing. Grotle, although also quite disappointed at not being chosen, set his feelings about this aside, and stepped up to Staravia, to comfort it, brushing Staravia's back with one of the bushes that grow on Grotle's back. That seemed to help and the bird Pokémon seemed to accept Ash's decision.
Next battle it's your turn, okay?" Ash said to Staravia.
"Staravia!" the winged Pokémon answered, apparently happy with Ash's promise.
"Can we finally get it on then?" Paul said, getting more impatient.
"Okay, each trainer will use three Pokémon," Angie started stating the rules, "since I understand one of the trainers is in a hurry, I suggest that substitutions during battle are not allowed, to speed things up. The first trainer who is out of usable Pokémon loses. Are you okay with these rules?"
"Alright!" Ash nodded, although he worried a little about not being able to switch Pokémon during battle.
"If that means we can start fighting now, I agree too," Paul said.
"Trainers, ready? Go!" Angie gave the starting signal.
"Weavile, go!" Paul released his first Pokémon.
"Buizel, I choose you!" Ash responded.
"Weavile, Shadow Ball!" Paul commanded.
"Dodge it, then Aqua Jet!" Ash yelled.
The Shadow Ball missed Buizel, but before the water Pokémon could get closer to Weavile, it had launched another Shadow Ball, which hit Ash's Pokémon on the side, knocking it off course.
"Now do Slash!" Paul ordered.
With amazing speed, Weavile ran up close to Buizel, and tried to hit it with it's sharp claws. Buizel barely managed to dodge this barrage of attacks, even though it was no slow Pokémon itself. "Buizel can't keep this up forever..." Ash thought. "I need to get a little more distance between Buizel and Weavile... but how...? he pondered. "Wait, that's it!"
"Buizel, do Water Gun and then jump up in the air while spinning fast!" Ash commanded.
Buizel did as Ash told him, and created a spiraling orb of water, forming a cage around Weavile. It tried to get out, but the rotating water bounced it back, keeping Weavile trapped.
"So this is your famous Counter Shield technique, then?" Paul remarked, "impressive..."
"Pretty cool, hey?" Ash gloated.
"But not impressive enough!" Paul shouted, disturbing Ash in his happy thoughts, "If you want something cool you can get it! Weavile, Icy Wind, then Slash!"
With it's freezing breath Weavile froze the cage of moving water, and then shattered it with it's claws. The shards of ice flew off in all directions, hitting Buizel in their path, almost knocking the proud Pokémon over.
"Oh! Buizel! Is everything alright?" Ash wondered, worried about seeing Buizel taking a lot of hits.
"Bui, bui!" the brave water Pokémon answered, while glaring at it's opponent.
"Okay, that's the spirit!" Ash cheered, "do Water Pulse!"
Buizel formed a sphere of water between it's front paws, then hurled it at Weavile. But the nimble Pokémon dodged the attack with ease. "That Weavile is too fast," Ash thought, "and Counter Shield also doesn't work... If there was only a way to make Buizel faster..." Then an idea formed in Ash's mind, "perhaps there is a way..."
"Buizel, do Aqua Jet!" Ash shouted.
Angie watched Ash's next move with disbelief. "He knows Weavile is too fast and will simply dodge that attack again. Don't get stuck in trying a tactic that doesn't work, Ash!" she thought.
"Now! Aqua Pulse!" Ash added a new command.
While Buizel was speeding through the air, it formed another sphere of water with it's front paws, and launched it at Weavile. With the added speed of Buizel's Aqua Jet, this Water Pulse moved much faster than when launched from a stationary position. Paul suddenly realized the danger of this new situation.
"Weavile, quickly, do Shadow Ball!" Paul shouted.
Weavile tried to launch a Shadow Ball to intercept Buizel's accelerated Water Pulse, but it was too late, and both the Water Pulse and the just released Shadow Ball, exploded in Weavile's face. The smoke from the resulting explosion had just cleared, when Buizel's Aqua Jet hit Weavile, before it had time to recover. The ice Pokémon was knocked over, and didn't get up again.
"Weavile is no longer able to battle," Angie declared.
"Seems I may have to look for another ice Pokémon," Paul said, as he recalled Weavile into it's Poké Ball. "Okay, this round is for you, Ash! Now let's see how you deal with my next Pokémon!"
Without any introduction, the purple haired trainer threw another Poké Ball. Honchcrow appeared. "So he's saving Torterra for last," Ash thought. "Buizel looks kinda tired, better make sure this battle is finished quickly..."
"Honchcrow, do Night Slash!" Paul commanded.
"Buizel, spin around and do Water Gun!" Ash reacted, knowing Buizel was not strong enough at the moment for a direct attack like Aqua Jet.
The water Pokémon tried to form a new Counter Shield, but Buizel couldn't spin around fast enough to make a strong shield. The rotating streams of water were much further apart from each other as a result, and far less powerful. Honchcrow's wing was glowing with the dark energy of the Night Slash attack, and now came diving towards Buizel "This is going all wrong!" Angie thought, as she watched Ash's Pokémon struggle. And indeed, it took Honchcrow little effort to pierce through the watery shield, and knock Buizel over. The water weasel Pokémon landed flat on it's face, and tried to get up again, not willing to give up yet.
"Finish it with Dark Pulse!" Paul shouted, sensing victory was near.
"Buizel, defend yourself with Water Pulse!" Ash yelled, uncertain whether his Pokémon still had the energy to perform this attack.
Buizel tried to form a watery sphere, but before it had done so, the Dark Pulse hit it's target, and Buizel shivered, as flashes of dark energy ran all over it's body. For a moment the water Pokémon stood motionless, as if it was still holding on, but then Buizel fell down, and fainted.
"Buizel is unable to continue, choose your next Pokémon, Ash!" Angie stated.
"Well done, Buizel! Now you go get some rest!" Ash said, as he made Buizel return to it's Poké Ball.
"So, who is the next one to fall?" Paul taunted the trainer from Pallet Town.
Ash grumbled a little and clenched his right hand into a fist, then he turned around towards Pikachu, and looked at it with a knowing glance. Pikachu jumped forward, it's cheeks sending of little sparks, while it was glaring at Paul.
"So, you choose Pikachu?" Paul informed, "seems like a wise choice, but it won't help you..."
"Pikachu, let's start with Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded.
"Honchcrow, do Haze!" Paul reacted quickly.
A smoke cloud enveloped Honchcrow, hiding it from sight. Pikachu stopped it's attack, not knowing where to aim for now. "Huh?" Ash wondered, "what is he up to?" Angie also watched this unexpected move with prying eyes, trying to see where Honchcrow went. "I have a bad feeling about this..." she thought. Suddenly, without warning, a dark sphere of energy came from the cloud, heading straight for Pikachu.
"Watch out!" Ash yelled, alerting Pikachu to the danger.
The electric mouse Pokémon jumped aside, but was barely able to dodge this unexpected attack. Ash ordered Pikachu to send a Thunderbolt at the place where that first Shadow Ball had come from, but the stream of lightning just went straight through the cloud, apparently missing Honchcrow. Then from another place in the cloud, a new Shadow Ball came racing towards Pikachu. Ash's buddy was able to dodge it again, but not fully, as part of the orb of dark energy scorched the little Pokémon's side.
"Buddy, are you okay?" Ash asked, deeply worried, as he saw Pikachu's face twitch a little.
"Pika pikaa!" Pikachu replied, indicating it was still willing and able to keep battling.
"Alright! That's the spirit! Keep hitting that cloud with your Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu kept tirelessly firing it's electric attacks at the cloud in which Honchcrow was hiding, while Paul was smiling at these seemingly futile attacks. Suddenly one Thunderbolt didn't shoot straight through!
"You've got him!" Ash cheered, "Pikachu, give it all you got!"
"Pikaachuuu!" the little electric Pokémon uttered, as it turned up the power.
Honchcrow dropped out of the cloud, it's body shivering with electricity. But a few seconds later, Paul's Pokémon began to recover.
"Do Sky Attack!" Paul shouted.
Honchcrow started to glow, as it was building up energy. "This is our chance!" Ash thought, realizing that Paul's Pokémon needed time to charge up for this attack.
"Pikachu, hit Honchcrow with Thunder while it is still charging up!" Ash commanded.
Ash's Pokémon did as Ash asked, but Honchcrow, although being unable to actively dodge while getting ready for it's Sky Attack move, suddenly folded it's wings together, and dropped down a few meters from the sky, so Pikachu's attack flew right over it's head, missing Paul's Pokémon. "Shoot!" Ash thought, for blowing this opportunity, and Angie sighed briefly. Honchcrow had finish it's preparations for the next attack, and now came swooping down on Pikachu!
"Jump, then spin around!" Ash yelled.
Pikachu started running forward, took a jump, and started revolving around it's axis, trying to create an air cushion around itself, that would allow it to slide right past Honchcrow's attack. A little trick Ash learned from Dawn, in the Sinnoh region. That seemed to work at first, but Pikachu's tail got touched by one of the dark/flying type Pokémon's wings, throwing Pikachu off balance, making it crash land on the ground. The yellow Pokémon managed to get up again, but it was breathing heavily, while recovering from the hit it just took.
"Almost there," Paul stated, approving of the way this battle seemed to be taking a turn in his favor now, "do Sky Attack again!"
Honchcrow started charging up for it's next move again. Ash looked at Pikachu, and his mind was racing about what to do. "A thunderbolt wasn't powerful enough to bring Honchcrow down..." he thought, "so we have to try something different..."
"Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" Ash commanded.
Angie's jaw almost dropped to the ground, as she heard what Ash's next move was.
"Just in case you forgot, unless your Pikachu learned to fly, it can never get close enough to hit my Honchcrow this way!" Paul reminded Ash, pointing at his Pokémon that was high up in the air, clearly out of reach.
"Just wait!" Ash said, as his eyes started to shine with confidence.
"PikaPikaPika...Pi-Ka!" Pikachu uttered as it was gaining speed, and was now almost directly under Honchcrow.
"Now use your tail to jump up in the air!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu placed it's jagged tail on the ground to launch itself straight up, and engulfed in electric energy, the little mouse Pokémon came shooting right at Honchcrow. Unable to move while still preparing for it's next Sky Attack, Pikachu hit Honchcrow directly, causing it to drop down from the sky, with the enormous electric charge still running all over it's body. Paul's Pokémon hit the ground with a loud thud, and passed out. Pikachu landed on it's feet, and with sweat drops all over it's battered body, watched Paul recalling his fainted Pokémon.
"Not bad... not bad at all..." Paul remarked, referring to Ash having beaten two of his Pokémon, "but it ends here! Torterra! Come out!"
Paul sent out his ground/grass type Pokémon, which emerged from it's Poké Ball with a mighty cry. The large and fully evolved Pokémon caused the ground to tremble as it took a few steps forward, in the direction of Pikachu.
"Pika?" Ash's little buddy said, as it watched the much larger Pokémon come closer...
(to be continued...)
My 50th fan-fiction chapter. I apologize for any typing errors, or grammatically not 100% correct sentences. Remember, I am not a native English speaker or writer. I tried to make this story as close to the Pokémon series as possible, so that the characters will react roughly the same in this fictional story as they do in the series. Comments are always welcome, you can use the review function on this FanFiction site for that.
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any trademarks of Pokémon. Any similarities to the works of others is purely accidental, and not meant as an infringement on anyone's achievements.