Chapter 18: Show Ya Limited Moves!
"Attack!", the two men declare.
And a huge dust cloud forms surrounding the battlefield.
Ash slips into and trance.
Pidgeot and Skarmory are still standing.
Pidgeot falls first and Skarmory catches himself.
Suddenly Ash hears the calls coming from the stands and snaps back into focus Pidgeot and Skarmory are still standing.
And suddenly Skarmory falls first and Pidgeot is panting really hard trying to regain its strength.
"Skarmory is unable to battle, Pigeit wins and this here victory goes to that there boy Ash Ketchum", the ref calls.
Ash walks up to Pidgeot and pats him on the head.
"Good job Pidgeot go ahead and take a nice long rest", Ash says as he returns Pidgeot to his pokéball.
"Alright Ash I conceded defeat and award you this attack badge", Alto says as he approaches Ash and places the badge in his hands.
And Ash is given a silver metallic looking badge that kinda looks like a fist.
"Alright, I won the attack badge!", Ash declares.
"Alright guys, lets head back to the Pokémon center for some good old fashioned rest", Brock says.
As Ash and company return to the Pokémon center Ash decides to make a slight detour before making his way to the cafeteria.
Moments later…
"Ash where did you go?", Misty asked.
"Oh sorry my love, I had to speak with Tracy about something", Ash replied.
Later that night…
"Ahhh…That was a good match even though I managed to beat him in the first try just like the good ol' champ, eh Pikachu. And look my rank's improved not just slightly but greatly. I never thought one could gain so many points from just one gym battle", Ash says to Pikachu suddenly.
"Pikachu?"
Ash rubs Pikachu's head and says goodnight to his long time traveling companion.
"Well they are only gonna get tougher from here so we had better get to trainin'", Ash says.
Ash falls asleep like a light with Misty right behind him giving Pikachu a goodnight kiss before lying in her bed to fall asleep with the rest of the gang.
After a few tosses and turns she just can't seem to put her mind at ease. She crawls out of bed and walks outside to the patio to simply stare at the stars till she felt tired.
Suddenly she began to flashback as to the match that happened only a few hours earlier.
"Yo Pancake you 'bout ready to do this 'ere battle", the ref said country like.
"Yes I is and I told you not to call me that, my name is Alto", the gym leader replied.
"Anyway is you ready?", the ref asked again.
"I is", Alto replied.
"'bout you youngin'?", the ref asked.
Suddenly Ash passed out again and everyone ran to his side. Misty knelt down and instead of slapping him stupid she simply places his head on her lap and strokes his hair until he finally awakens a few minutes later.
"Huh, don't tell me…", Ash asked.
"Yes, you did but at least this time I didn't slap you silly", Misty replied softly.
"You sure you alright there boy?", the ref asked.
"Yes, I'll be fine just need to warm up a little and then we can get started", Ash replied.
"Okay, if you say so", the ref replies.
5 minutes later Ash is ready to go and charged for battle
"Alright best of three matches the gym leader may not make them there substitutions; the party who knocks out all of that there opposing parties Pokémon will be declared that there winner and be awarded this here badge", the ref declares as he hold up the badge to show.
"And begin!"
"Alright Ash; try this on for size, ditto get yo butt out here and give me a hand with this!", Alto declares.
Alto throws his Pokéball out and a little pink blob appears in its place.
"Hah! A ditto huh we've beaten many of them before haven't we eh Pikachu", Ash comments.
"Pikachu!"
"Well no time like the present, Pikachu you're up buddy", Ash orders.
"Pikachu!"
"And let this here match begin!", the ref declares
"Alright ditto transform!", Alto orders.
Suddenly ditto becomes a Pikachu opposite of the one Ash had
Not only is it a Pikachu, but this one has flipped colors, the red is where the yellow should be, the brown is where the red should be and the yellow is where the brown should be.
"What?", Ash says confused.
"Yes my ditto here is a unique one he is, and that's because of his unique genetic code that he has. All natural colors on any Pokémon he becomes is almost practically flipped and even in some rare case not even there at all. And since he only changed this much, it must mean that your Pikachu is a strong one it is", Alto explains.
"I'm really looking forward to this here battle, alright ditto use thunderbolt!", Alto orders.
"Pikachu counter with agility, and then let it up with a couple of your own thunder bolts", Ash orders.
The ditto follows Alto's command and so does Pikachu. But not only does Pikachu evade every attack thrown but it even lands a few of his own attacks.
"Wow I never thought I'd see a Pikachu move so fast in all my life gotta struggle just to keep up with it. Alright ditto if they can do it so can you, agility", Alto orders.
Both Pikachu are running around the battle field exchanging blow after blow with each other multiple times.
"Alright enough toying around time to end this!", Alto declares.
"Ditto, use your momentum and follow through straight into earthquake!"
"What but Pikachu can't use earthquake", Brock exclaims confused.
"Oh, but on the contrary my can, now!", Alto declares.
Ditto leaps into the air and strike the ground with its tail throwing all the weight and power it's got into the impact.
Suddenly the ground splits in two causing boulders to appear and smash into Pikachu offering no chance of escape.
"WHAT?", everyone responds
"That's not possible, there's just no way a Pikachu can do that on its own no matter how much training you give it, or even a ditto copy for that matter", Brock replies.
"I agree, it's just absurd", May agrees
"Absurd is it, well just look for yourselves…", Alto replies.
The boulders fall back to the ground and nothing is there.
"Woah, never seen that happen before, we crushed him so hard there ain't nothin' left. Never thought I'd see the day when…hey wait why aren't you calling it ref? Unless…", Alto says.
"Pikachu, volt tackle 120%", Ash declares.
"Pika, pika, pika, pika, chuuuuuuuuuuu"
"PIKA!"
Pikachu charged at ditto with an immense amount of energy stored, and impacted the fake Pikachu with a power level nearly reaching if not exceeding 9000.
"What, but how is that even possible", Alto exclaims in shock.
"Ditto is unable to battle Pikachu is the winner", the ref declares.
"Well that Pikachu of yours is somethin else Ash", Alto states.
"Well yeah he got to be if he want to win by your rules, ain't that right", Ash sarcastically replies.
"Huh, what you talkin' bout boy?", Alto asks.
"I mean that secret rule you didn't bother to mention at the beginning", Ash replies confidently.
"Huh? What's Ash talking about Brock?", Misty asks.
"Beats me Misty let's just listen and find out", Brock replies.
"I mean that move limit rule you put up", Ash states.
"So you figured it out, just like he did all those years ago, I'm impressed Ash", Alto commends.
"WELL IT'S KINDA HARD NOT TO NOTICE WHEN YOU'RE REF MAKES CERTAIN MOVEMENTS EVERY TIME ONE OF US DOES AN ATTACK", Ash replies sarcastically.
"You may have figured that out but can you still win with the number you have left over especially when you don't even know how many you have left", Alto harshly comments.
"Oh really even if I have no moves left to use I can still kick your butt", Ash smart assly replies
"Heh just as cocky as him as well you really are his…", Alto replies before being cut off by the ref.
"Shut it!", said the ref.
"Oops almost let that one go, anyway Flaaffy center stage", Alto orders.
"Pikachu return", Ash responds.
"Infernape, let's go"
"Alright Infernape lets end this quickly, mach punch!"
"Flaaffy, counter with well, counter!", Alto responds.
Just as Infernape makes contact with Flaaffy he is thrown back by his own attack
"Alright Infernape return!", Ash demands.
"Pikachu, let's get back out there and use thunder bolt", Ash orders.
Thunder bolt impacts Flaaffy and stuns it.
"Now wrap it up with iron tail", Ash orders.
"Chuuuu!" "Pika!"
The iron tail impacted Flaaffy before it can react knocking it out cold.
"Flaaffy is unable to battle Pikachu wins", the ref declares.
"Hah Pikachu is unable to attack anymore now's my chance to take the advantage", Alto thinks.
"Skarmory take to the sky!", Alto orders.
"Pikachu vs. Skarmory let the final match begin", the ref declares.
"Pikachu use…", Ash says something but is voice is cut off.
"Pikachu use…", Ash tries to say again but cuts off again.
"So this must be the limit and substituting doesn't work to reset the counter, gotta think fast", Ash thinks.
"Why won't Ash say something? He cuts off just before issuing his order", May asks.
"Ohhh, that's what he meant, this is the limit I hope Ash has a plan up his sleeve or Pikachu's gonna get hurt", Misty says.
So he figured it out huh?
"Most don't last this long before finally realizing the attack limit is five", "Skarmory finish him drill peck!", Alto thinks and then says.
"No…Pikachu return now!", Ash orders.
"Pika!"
"Infernape, let's go", Ash declares.
"Now start off with flame wheel, and go into flamethrower point blank!", Ash orders.
Infernape charges at Skarmory still using drill peck, with his flame wheel both attacks collide, but Skarmory is still pushing Infernape back.
Infernape stops flame wheel and shifts to flamethrower, but it's dissipated by the drill peck. Infernape comes crashing down into the battle field.
Infernape is unable to battle Skarmory wins, Ref declares
"Good job buddy take a nice long rest", Ash commends as he return Infernape to his pokéball.
"Pidgeot I know your still injured, but I need your help", Ash thinks, Pidgeot let's go!
"What Pidgeot I thought he would be out for at least a week why's Ash bringing him out now?", Dawn asks.
"Ash just what are you thinking?", Misty stands up and yells at Ash.
"Trust me", Ash replies with a smirk.
"What?", Misty replies.
"Trust me I have a plan", Ash replies again with a smirk.
Misty blushes and sits back down.
"Alright old friend you ready?", Ash asks.
"Pidgeoto!", Pidgeot calls out from where its standing spreading its wings out wide revealing a sky blue looking belt wrapped around his waist.
"Alright Pidgeot use gust", Ash orders.
Pidgeot raises its wings and charges power for its gust and just as Skarmory is where he wants him to be launches the attack with a vengeance.
"Wow that's one powerful gust, never in my entire life seen one as powerful as that", Alto commends.
The blade of wind impacts Skarmory and does a moderate amount of damage
But the attack takes its toll on Pidgeot as he is still recovering from the battle with Fearow
"Hang in their Pidgeot I know it hurts, but just bear with me for just a little longer", Ash thinks.
"Alright Pidgeot use quick attack", Ash orders.
"Skarmory mirror move", Alto orders.
Both attackers impact and make a dust cloud in their wake, and both fly off
"Alright Pidgeot I need a miracle, can you do that for me?", asks Ash.
Pidgeot then out of the blue uses aerial ace, and impacts Skarmory before it can recover.
"So you can use aerial ace huh? Well then let's use it again", Ash says.
"Skarmory go from drill peck into your own aerial ace", Alto orders.
Skarmory complies but Pidgeot manages to dodge the drill peck but can't recover in time to dodge the aerial ace.
Both Pokémon land exhausted.
"So we're down to the last attack huh?", Alto says.
"Looks like it", Ash replies.
"Well then Skarmory", Alto says.
"Pidgeot!", Ash yells
"Use aerial ace and give it everything you've got!", Ash and Alto say simultaneously.
Both Pokémon fly at each other one final time.
Another but yet bigger cloud forms at the impact and both Pokémon fall to the ground.
"Pidgeot get up", Ash yells.
"Skarmory don't fail me now get up", Alto orders.
Both Pokémon manage to stand, but barely
Then Misty, breaks out of her little flash back and starts to feel the fatigue due to her day and heads for her bed.
"Ash you really know how to bring out the best even in the impossible times", Misty thinks as she rubs her slightly swollen stomach.
She heads back for her bed and almost quickly falls asleep and it seems just as she falls asleep Ash wakes up unable to stay asleep.
"Only 5 a.m. huh…"
A/N: Misty falls asleep around midnight, while everyone else fell around 10p.m.
"Huh? Well guess I'll take a walk for a bit", Ash says.
Ash exits the room and head for the exit to the Pokémon center.
Misty wakes up dreary and rubs her eyes
"Huh? It's only 5:30, well guess I'll go…hey where's Ash?", Misty says dreary.
"Ash? Where did you go?", Misty thinks.
Misty steps outside and sees Ash sitting on the cliff edge watching the sun rise over the water.
"Ash?", she thinks again.
"Oh hey darling you should be sleeping you're gonna need your energy", Ash comments.
"I'm ok", Misty replies.
Misty takes a seat next to Ash and lays her head on his shoulder and they both place a hand on her stomach.
"What's wrong Ash?", she asks.
"It's…oh its nothing", Ash replies.
"What Ash?", she asks again.
"Nothing", he replies.
*Whack!* (Misty whacks him with her mallet)
"No really", he replies again.
*Whack!* (Misty whacks him with her mallet again)
"Ok…ok, yesterdays match just had me a little worried", Ash finally admitted.
Misty hugs his arm and replaces her head on his shoulder.
"Feel better now?", Misty replies.
"Thanks Misty I needed that", says Ash comfortingly.
"Now on to…", Ash says before he is cut off by a charging Pokémon.
"Mooooo!"
"What's that?", Misty asks.
"It's a Tauros and its outta control, and there's nowhere to run", Ash replies.
"Ahh! Ash I don't wanna fall pull me up quickly", Misty yells as she hangs off the cliff by Ash's arm.
Misty had lost her footing and fallen off the side of the cliff clutching Ash's arms.
"Misty I have an idea but it may scare you a bit but you're gonna have to trust me", Ash says.
"Yes…", Misty simply replies
"Go for it, it's now or never."
Ash jumps off the cliff and grabs Misty in his arms pulls out Fearow's pokéball, "Alright Fearow I need your help, come on out!"
Suddenly Fearow appears from the ball and swoops down after the falling couple, and rescues them by allowing them to grab the rather dark looking belt wrapped around his waist.
"Thanks I owe you one", Ash whispers to Fearow.
Fearow lands behind the Tauros, and Ash returns to pokéball.
"Misty are you ok?", Ash asks.
"Yes, just still…", Misty simply responds.
"Scared I know but don't worry I'll protect you", Ash says confidently.
"Oh Ash…", Misty softly replies.
"Alright Cyndaquil let's go", Ash declares.
The little fire rat appears with his fire ball necklace ready to kick some butt.
"Tauros you're mine, Cyndaquil use flamethrower", Ash orders.
"Quil!"
"Cyndaquil when did he swap for…(Oh I'm sorry my love I had to speak with Tracy about something)…so that's when, Misty thought.
Cyndaquil shoots out a flamethrower bigger than ever
"Yeah that's it", Ash declares.
"Mooooo!"
The Tauros charges off in another direction and flees.
"Phew… that was close", Ash says as he lets out a big sigh.
(Another but yet larger trampling comes their way)
"What's that?", Misty asks.
"Oh shit it's a stampede, Cyndaquil charge up all the power you can and when I say give them the biggest and best flamethrower you've got!", Ash asks.
"Cynda!"
Suddenly the Tauros emerge from the forest charging at Ash and Misty
"Ash!"
"Now! Flamethrower full power!", Ash orders.
"Cyndaquil!"
The flamethrower that is shot out spread like wildfire over all the Tauros waking them from what seemed like a hypnosis, they stop from where they were standing and head back into the forest. Cyndaquil lies down exhausted from the attack. Ash runs over to him at the sight and picks him up and hugs him close.
"Good job Cyndaquil you did just great!", Ash commends.
Cyndaquil cheers at Ash's praise and begins to glow white.
"Ohhh…", Ash and Misty say together.
"Cyndaquil's evolving?", Misty asks.
Cyndaquil gets bigger in Ash's arms just as he is still holding him and evolves into a Quilava right before their eyes. Not only his form changing but the items changes to from a necklace to a flame cape. Misty gives Ash a warm hug as he sets his newly evolved Pokémon and the ground to run around. Ash pulls out his Pokédex to check the entry.
"Quilava, the Volcano Pokemon, This Pokémon is fully covered by nonflammable fur. It can withstand any kind of fire attack."
"Alright Misty, you want me to carry you back?", Ash says as he gets down to give Misty a piggy back ride.
"Sure…", Misty simply responds.
Ash carries Misty as Quilava follows beside them. As they approach the Pokémon center May, Dawn and Brock emerge and begin to get the 411 as to what just happened. Ash guides them back inside and re-tells them what had happened.
What new adventures await our heroes beyond the next horizon; find out next time on Events Unexpected.