Chapter 11: Quick like Flint

Ash and friends have arrived for the second round battles of Day 2 of the World Tournament.

"Good afternoon, everybody!" yells the announcer. "I hope you're all ready for some all-star battling, because we've got 64 ace trainers that are just aching for a battle! These battles will decide the top 32! Those trainers will then compete for a spot in the Labyrinth Challenge! Now, let's get started! First match will be Kanto/Johto League Champion Lance vs. Ethan!"

Ash's friends' matches go off without a hitch. Gary sends Flash Gordon back to MetLife Stadium, Tyson filets Sammy Chung, and Paul makes a stand to beat Billy Chin. Now, it is Ash's turn.

"Next match will be between the Sinnoh Elite Four member, Flint vs. Ash Ketchum!"

"Nice to see you again, Ash, but I'm not gonna go easy on ya." says Flint.

"Wouldn't want you to." replies Ash.

"Ready! Begin!" yells the ref.

"Drifblim!" yells Flint.

"Pikachu, you ready buddy?" asks Ash.

"Pika!"

"Great. Now Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Dodge, Drifblim, and use Shadow Ball." says Flint, calmly.

"Send it back with Iron Tail!"

Pikachu whacks the Shadow Ball back.

"Blim!"

"Ah! Drifblim!" cries Flint.

"Don't let up, buddy! Use Thunder!" yells Ash.

Flint, knowing Drifblim can't dodge, says, "Get as close as you can to Pikachu, Drifblim."

Drifblim gets quite close to Pikachu, and, when it's hit by Thunder, its Aftermath ability activates and gives Pikachu reasonable damage.

"Pika…"

"You ok, buddy?" asks Ash. "Pika!" "Phew. That was really sly, Flint."

"Guilty as charged, Ash," says a grinning Flint. "Now, Steelix, let's pummel 'em!"

"Steel!"

"Steelix, roast 'em with Fire Blast!"

Steelix lets loose a blazing inferno upon Pikachu.

"Pikachu! Dodge it with Quick Attack!"

Pikachu is able to avoid the blaze and tries to get behind Steelix.

"Not so fast, Ash! Steelix, hit it with your tail!"

Steelix's tail suddenly erupts out of the ground, sending Pikachu flying.

"Now, use Flash Cannon!" yells Flint.

"Counter it with Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu attempts to defuse the Flash Cannon, but it can't keep it from connecting.

"Pikachu is unable to battle!"

"Grr… Charizard, I chose you!" yells Ash.

"Charizard, eh? Don't think I'll be defeated by a Fire type easily, Ash," says Flint.

"We'll just see. Charizard, Heat Wave!"

"Dig, Steelix!"

"I can't just let Steelix keep running away using Dig," thinks Ash. "Ah! That's what I can do!"

"Charizard! Fly down the hole!"

"What are you up to, Ash?!" shouts Flint.

Once Charizard goes down the hole, Ash yells for it to use Flare Blitz. Flint tells Steelix to get out from underground, but he's too late. Steelix is scorched by the Flare Blitz and sent careening out of the ground by the explosion.

"Steelix is unable to battle!"

"Well, Ash, it seems that I just might have to start getting serious with you. Burn bright, Rapidash!"

"Dash!"

"Rapidash, use Sunny Day!"

The sky suddenly becomes extremely bright due to Sunny Day.

"Now, use Solarbeam!"

"Counter it with Flamethrower, Charizard!"

Flamethrower defeats Solarbeam, but Rapidash keeps moving closer and uses Flame Charge.

"Burn right through that Flamethower, Rapidash! Show them that our spirit's hotter!"

"Don't let up, Charizard!"

Rapidash is able to charge through the Flamethrower, although it still sustains some damage.

"Now, Horn Drill, Rapidash!"

"Dragon Claw, Charizard!"

The Horn Drill connects, causing Charizard to faint, but Charizard is still able to connect with Dragon Claw.

"Charizard is unable to battle!"

"Snorlax, I choose you!"

"Lax!"

"It looks like Snorlax is awake this time, folks!" yells the announcer.

"That's all well and good, Ash, but it's much too slow to avoid Rapidash. End it quickly with Horn Drill, Rapidash!"

Just as Rapidash is about to K.O. Snorlax, Ash yells for it to use Protect. Rapidash's Horn Drill goes through the barrier, but Horn Drill is negated. Rapidash's horn then gets comically stuck in Snorlax's rolls of fat.

"Aw, c'mon!" yells Flint.

"I got you know, Flint! Snorlax, Body Slam!"

Snorlax crushes Rapidash by slowly rolling over onto it.

"Rapidash is unable to battle!"

"While I have to admit that was kind of funny, Ash, that just fired me up even more! Fire away, Simisear!"

"Sear!"

"Cook up Snorlax with Inferno!"

Simisear sends the massive conflagration hurtling towards Snorlax.

"Snorlax! Use Surf!" yells Ash.

The collision of the huge amounts of fire and water create a large swath of steam. When it clears, Simisear is nowhere to be found.

"Huh? Where'd it go?!" yells Ash.

Snorlax then suddenly falls several feet into the ground.

"Ah! Snorlax!"

"While that steam was up," Flint explains, "I had Simisear dig Snorlax up a proper pot for cooking. Now, Simisear, trap Snorlax in there with Fire Spin!"

The perimeter of the hole is covered in flames, trapping Snorlax.

"Now, Inferno once again!"

"Hyper Beam, Snorlax!"

Hyper Beam creates a lane of safety for Snorlax, but Simisear then jumps out of the raging Inferno and appears before Snorlax.

"Focus Blast, Simisear!"

"Lax!"

"Snorlax is unable to battle!"

"Good job, Snorlax! Sceptile, I choose you!"

"A grass type? Against my burning hot Simisear? What kind of trump card are you gonna pull, Ash?" asks Flint.

"You'll just have to wait and see! Sceptile, Leaf Blade!"

"Roast it with Fire Punch, Simisear!"

Just as Sceptile neared Simisear, Ash told it to use Detect to avoid the Fire Punch and connect with the Leaf Blade.

"Sear!"

"Hold on, Simisear! Use Inferno!"

It seemed as if Sceptile was engulfed in the flames, but when the flames dissipate, Sceptile is missing.

"What?!" exclaims Flint.

"You're not the only one who can play the Dig game, Flint! Go, Sceptile!"

Sceptile erupts from the ground, uppercutting Simisear.

"Simisear is unable to battle!"

"Not bad, Ash. But it's not quite enough to put my fire out! Infernape, let's burn through their defenses!"

"Ape!"

"Lead off with a Mach Punch, Infernape!"

"Parry it with Fury Cutter, Sceptile!"

The two Pokémon trade blow after blow, but it's a stalemate.

"Infernape! Get in close for Close Combat!"

"I won't let you! Sceptile, use Solarbeam!"

"Huh? How can you…!" Flint looks up into the sky and remembers the Sunny Day he put up. "Using my own stratagem against me, eh? Well, it won't work! Use Flare Blitz to burn through it, Infernape!"

Using Flare Blitz, Infernape is able to burn through the Solarbeam and use Close Combat on Sceptile.

"Aw! Sceptile!"

"Make your last punch a Fire Punch, Infernape!"

"Tile!"

"Sceptile is unable to battle!"

"Amazing job, Sceptile. Garchomp, I choose you!"

"Garchomp? This'll be just like fighting Cynthia! Infernape, combine Flare Blitz and Flame Wheel!"

Infernape envelops itself in the normal cloak of Flare Blitz, but it also adds the rolling power of Flame Wheel to make itself a wheel of pure fiery destruction.

"Combining moves?! In that case… Garchomp! Combine Giga Impact and Dragon Rush!"

Garchomp engulfs itself in a mix of two moves respective cloaks and rushes to meet Infernape. The collision results in a massive explosion, and when the smokes clears, the two Pokémon can be seen exchanging blows.

"Close Combat, Infernape!"

"Brick Break combo, Garchomp!"

Both Pokémon continue to trade blows, each taking considerable damage.

"Infernape! Let's end this with Fire Pledge!"

Infernape jumps back, punches the ground and unleashes the Fire Pledge.

"Counter with Sandstorm, Garchomp!"

The Sandstorm fizzles out the Fire Pledge and covers the battlefield with a sandy mist.

"Quickly, Garchomp! Trap Infernape with Sand Tomb!"

Using the low visibility, Garchomp is able to cover Infernape in sand.

"Infernape, break out, quick!"

"Don't let it, Garchomp! Close quarters Draco Meteor!"

"Fern!"

"Infernape is unable to battle!"

"Heh, I didn't think it'd come down to this. Show them just how hot our spirit still burns, Magmortar!"

"Mortar!"

"Magmortar! Fire Blast!"

"Dragon Pulse, Garchomp!"

The two moves collide, and when the smoke clears, Magmortar is aiming its cannon arm point blank at Garchomp.

"Solarbeam!"

*Poof*

"Agh! It was a Substitute?!" questions Flint.

"That's right! Garchomp, Dig!"

Garchomp goes for an uppercut on Magmortar, but Magmortar, too, disappears in a puff of smoke.

"Huh?!" yells Ash.

"You're not the only one who can use Substitute, Ash. Magmortar! Solarbeam!"

Magmortar, who had been using the light of the Sunny Day to hide itself in the air, shoots the energy beam down onto Garchomp, causing it to faint.

"Garchomp is unable to battle! Both Trainers have only one Pokémon remaining!"

"You did great, Garchomp. Feraligatr, I choose you!"

"Gator!"

"Ah, good type match up, Ash, but it won't be easy to take down Magmortar with just water."

"We'll see, Flint! Feraligatr! Take Magmortar down with Hydro Pump!"

"Counter it with Fire Blast, Magmortar!"

Once again, steam covers the battlefield.

Using the mist as cover, Magmotar sneaks behind Feraligatr.

"It's over, Ash! Solarbeam, Magmortar!"

"Not so fast! Raind Dance, Feraligatr!"

Using Rain Dance, Feraligatr removes Sunny Day's effect of allowing instant Solarbeams.

"What?! Get out of there, Magmortar!"

"Hydro Cannon, Feraligatr!"

Feraligatr lets loose a massive torrent of water that swallows Magmortar, but Magmortar still gets up.

"I'll admit that you took me by surprise with that, Ash. But, I have a contingency for this exact occasion. Thunder, Magmortar!"

"Agh! Dodge it, Feraligatr!"

Feraligatr is able to dodge a few Thunders but is ultimately hit.

"Get up, Feraligatr!"

Feraligatr is able to get up, and once it does, it's engulfed in a blue aura.

"That must be its Torrent ability," says Flint. "We've gotta finish this now, Magmortar! Use Hyper Beam!"

"Evade it with Waterfall!"

Using Waterfall, Feraligatr dodges the beam by riding the Waterfall up into the air.

"Before it can recharge! Use Hydro Cannon!"

"Magmortar, no!" yells Flint.

"Magmortar is unable to battle! The winner of this bout is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!"

"You did an amazing job, Feraligatr. Now we're in the round of 32!"

Flint, stunned, walks over to Ash.

"Well, Ash, not only did blot out the blazing Sun, you also quenched my fiery spirit. You're definitely a top-notch Trainer. Congratulations!" says Flint.

"You were amazing, too, Flint. I honestly wasn't sure if I could beat you. Thank you for the fiery battle."

"My pleasure, Ash. I guess I'll go see what Volkner's up to. See you around, and good luck!"

"Bye, Flint!"

After the last few battles, everyone is culled back into the stadium for the Champion's closing address.

"And so ends another day of intense battling!" he says. "To all those who lost, don't be discouraged! You're all amazing trainers. Just keep working towards bettering yourselves even further! Also, since you're not active participants anymore, feel free to ask me for an exhibition match if you see me strolling around the village! To all those who won, congratulations on advancing! I'm looking forward to seeing who the 16 who'll get the chance to face me will be! Remember that just because you have the chance doesn't mean you actually will! You'll have to defeat many a trainer just to take me on, and let me tell you, they're no slouches! Goodnight to you all! The next round of the tournament will begin in two days!"

After the speech, our heroes begin their walk back to their cabins.

"So, all of us are still in the tournament, huh?" asks Gary. "Hope you guys are ready to be beaten at my hands."

"The day I lose to you is the day that I tell Ash he's a better trainer than I am," states Paul.

"Aren't I, though?" asks Ash. "I mean, I did beat you in the Sinnoh tournament."

"That was nothing but a fluke," says Paul.

"Well, if that's how we're going, then I'm the best trainer out of all of us," says Tyson. "I beat Ash, Ash beat Paul and Gary's… well, Gary."

"Hey! I'm standing right here!"

Suddenly, the group hears a lot of noise coming from the village.

"Whoa! What's going on?" asks Ash.

When they go to investigate, they see Crawford battling Steven, the Hoenn Champion. Crawford's Pinsir is charging toward Steven's Aggron.

"Brick Break, Pinsir."

"Iron Defense, Aggron! Then use Metal Burst!"

Pinsir hits Aggron with a brutal Brick Break, but it's unfazed. Then, Aggron unleashes its Metal Burst, sending Pinsir flying.

"You're just as good as always, Steven," says Crawford.

"Likewise, Crawford."

"Steven! Crawford!" interjects Ash.

"Ah, it's Ash," says Crawford. "Nice to see you again. Were you guys drawn here by our battle?"

"Yeah, it sounds like you guys were really going at it," says Gary.

"We haven't seen each other in a very long time, so we thought we'd test each other's strength," says Steven.

"You guys know each other?" asks Ash.

"Indeed," says Crawford. "We both started our respective journeys at around the same time and became bitter rivals and eventual friends. He became the Hoenn Champion while I sought to better myself under the World Champion's teachings."

"I still don't quite agree with your decision to do that, Crawford, but I still respect it," says Steven.

"So, which one of you is stronger?" asks Paul.

"Well," says Crawford, "I think that Steven leads the all-time series, but we're about equal."

"I'd say that's about right," says Steven.

"We're sorry to have interrupted your sparring match, guys," apologizes Tyson.

"It's no problem at all," says Steven. "You could watch the rest of it if you'd like. We were only doing a three-on-three and we each only have two Pokémon left."

"Sure!" yell our 4 trainers.

(Meanwhile, back at the Champion's HQ)

"Agh! Not again!" yells the champ. "I'm never gonna beat this game."

"What's wrong, boss?" asks Gideon.

"I'm having a very bad time."

"What? That dude's easy to beat. Here, I'll show you."

Gideon proceeds to flawlessly beat the boss.

"There."

"Gideon, I'm not sure if I love or hate you right now… Anyway… are you as excited as I am about the challenge?"

"Is that even a question?"

"Haha! I guess not. I'm just dying to have a real challenge, you know? Ever since I beat Shunsui after he cashed in his rematch, it's been pretty dull as far as challengers go."

"Well, it's looking like the pool this year has some depth. I'm thinkin' you're prayers'll be answered."

"I sure hope so."

What kinds of Pokémon will Crawford use other than his Pinsir? Will Ash and Co. advance to the Labyrinth Challenge? Will the Champion receive the battle he's been hoping for? Find out next time.