Chapter 2: Stronger

When we last left Ash, he had just challenged Crawford to a battle. Let's see how well he fares.

"Challenge accepted, Ash, so how do you want it? Full battle, three on three, one on one?"

"Let's do three on three!" Ash shouts.

"Fine by me. Can someone be our referee?"

"I'll do it!" says Brock. "Okay! This battle will be a three on three match with both trainers allowed substitutions! Ready, and start!"

"Blastoise, I choose you!" Ash yells. "Blast!"

"That looks like a well-raised Blastoise, Ash, but it won't be able to phase me or my Pokemon. Pinsir! Defeat our foe!"

"Pinsir!"

"You can have the first move Ash."

"Alright! Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!"

To Ash's surprise, Pinsir doesn't try to dodge. Just before the blast hits, however, Crawford yells, "Pinsir, use Fury Cutter!"

To everyone's amazement, Pinsir cuts the wall of water in half. Before Ash can snap out of his surprise, Crawford tells Pinsir to use Superpower.

"Blast!"

"Ah! Blastoise!"

"Hurry, Pinsir! Guillotine!"

"Withdraw, Blastoise!"

Just before Guillotine can connect and end the battle, Blastoise saves itself by retreating into its shell.

"Good recovery, Ash, but you shouldn't let your guard down like that. Your move."

"Use Rapid Spin with Hydro Pump Blastoise!"

Blastoise goes speeding toward Pinsir with gallons of water coming out of its shell, but once again, Pinsir just stands there. Once Blastoise gets close, Crawford yells, "Pinsir, Rock Smash!" With incredible strength, Pinsir stops Blastoise dead in its tracks.

"Now, use Guillotine!"

Pinsir opens its pincers wide and viciously closes them down on Blastoise, ending the battle.

"Blastoise is unable to battle! Pinsir wins!"

"Grrr…" roars Ash. "Infernape, I choose you!"

"Fern!"

"Good type match-up, Ash. But will it be enough to garner yourself a victory against me and my Pinsir?"

"Go, Infernape! Mach Punch!"

Infernape flies toward Pinsir, but Pinsir catches the punch.

"What?!" Ash yells.

"Too slow, Ash. Pinsir, Vital Throw!"

Infernape goes flying high into the sky, and Pinsir follows.

"Infernape, don't let him catch you! Use Flamethrower!"

"Pinsir, Harden!"

Using Harden, Pinsir flies straight through the flames unhindered.

"Don't let up, Pinsir! Use Megahorn!"

"Ape!"

"No, Infernape!"

Without missing a beat, Crawford says, "Finish it with Seismic Toss!"

Pinsir grabs Infernape and brings him it down with a huge pile driver.

"Infernape is unable to battle, so Pinsir wins!" yells Brock.

"This isn't going well." muttered Ash.

"Come on, Ash. Is that all you can offer me?" questions Crawford.

"I'm not done yet! Let's go Pikachu!"

"Pika!"

"Okay, Ash, it's now or never. Come at me with everything you have!"

Pinsir and Pikachu exchange blow after blow. For every Seismic Toss or Megahorn Pinsir conjures up, Pikachu counter with a Thunderbolt or Iron Tail, so neither can get the upper hand. So, to finish the battle, Ash yells, "Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" "Pinsir, use Megahorn!"

When they collide, they go into a life or death struggle, neither able to ice the other.

"Gooooo!" Ash roars.

"Come on, Pinsir!"

A huge explosion thunders across the area, and when the dust settles, both Pokémon have been knocked out.

"Aw, man!" Ash laments.

Then he runs over to Pikachu and says that he did great and shouldn't worry about the loss.

"Well, Ash, I had a great deal of fun with our battle, but to be honest, I'm a little disappointed. You'll have to get stronger. Much stronger if you want to be a contender. You still have 3 months until the tourney, so you should use that time wisely to come up with strategies and train both your Pokémon and yourself. I hope to see you there. Bye, everyone!" Then, he disappeared in a large plume of smoke.

"Wait!" yelled Ash, but it was no use. He was gone.

"Man, Ash, you got creamed!" says Gary.

"Yeah, he's really strong. I hope I can battle more guys like that at the tournament, but for now, I have to get stronger."

Meanwhile, at Legend Island, Crawford has arrived to report to his master.

"Have you invited them, Crawford?"

"Yes, Master, and I battled Ash Ketchum. He was able to KO Pinsir after using 3 Pokémon."

"Interesting. Thank you, Crawford."

"My pleasure." Crawford then left.

"Good, he's gone. Now I can finally go back to trying to beat that damned blue-eyed skeleton."