Chapter Six: Master Vs. Wannabe
Misty's eyes widened as her pupils grew smaller. She stared at the boy her age now standing in the arena facing Kris. It was him, she just knew it. She hadn't seen him in years but she knew. He heart beat in her chest so hard it felt like it would explode. Pikachu sitting in her lap was even lost for words as he stared at his own trainer.
Jule looked over the crowd who had gone silent at the appearance of the new trainer. She even glanced over at Misty who had gone ghostly white. Jule shook the redhead's shoulder as she asked, "Are you alright?"
Misty blinked as she looked to Jule and simply said, "It's him."
Was this really him? Was this really the guy that Kris had trained so hard to beat? Only a few days after he started his rigorous training and here was the opponent he waited for.
"Are—are you Ash?" Kris stammered, unable to believe his eyes.
The opposing trainer nodded. "Yeah. I watched your battles, and you have a lot of potential. Show me what you've got."
"I've been wanting to battle you," Kris said slowly, "ever since Misty told me how strong you were."
"Misty?" Ash repeated. A hint of emotion showed across his face, but only a moment.
"Yeah," Kris confirmed. "She helped me train for this gauntlet. But Quilava is too injured now. I really wish we could do this another time."
Ash reached into his coat pocket and threw out two bottles of different colored liquids that Kris recognized as a Full Restore and an Elixir to fully replenish Quilava. Ash had a determined look in his eyes, even more so after hearing Misty's name.
Kris looked down at the two potions at his feet, and to Quilava, silently asking his partner if this is what he wanted. Quilava slowly nodded. Kris set his Pokemon on the ground and took up the potions, spraying him with each. Within seconds Quilava was back on all fours and shaking the residue off his fur.
"Okay," Kris said as he stood fully and looked to Ash, "we're ready."
"Then let's start. Charizard, I choose you!" Ash cried as he threw out the Pokeball in his hand. It burst open and in a blazing light a giant dragon with a fire-tipped tail stood before Kris and Quilava.
"Charizard," Kris said, becoming unsure of this fight now. It was bad enough both Pokemon were the same type, but Charizard was a final evolution and surely had power to back up his strong-looking stance. He looked to his own Pokemon and saw the nervousness in him. He felt just like Kris did inside. Regardless, Kris wasn't going to back down!
"We'll start!" Kris cried as he pointed a finger forward. "Quilava, go! Tear it up with Flame Charge!"
Quilava barked obediently as he rushed for Charizard. A burst of fire surrounded the smaller Pokemon as he sped up. The attack hit Charizard in the chest, but he barely budged.
"Wing Attack!" Ash called to the Flame Pokemon. Charizard's wings spread out and struck the still-burning Quilava, extinguishing the flames and sending him scooting backwards on the ground.
Sweat dripped down Kris's face as he swallowed hard. Charizard was in a league of its own. Regardless of that being a same-type attack, it should have at least knocked the lizard to one knee, but it didn't even move. Quilava at least got the Speed boost, so he could put that to use.
"Use Smokescreen!" Kris commanded. That would buy him some time to figure out how to approach this fight.
Quilava let off the smoke as told and he became invisible to both trainers, as well as the crowd and Charizard who was engulfed in the smoke as well. Kris put his goggles over his eyes to protect them from the smoke and give him an edge of seeing better in the shroud.
"What's he gonna do?" Jule asked Misty who looked to her with worry. "They've never faced such a powerful opponent."
"I know," Misty said slowly. "I didn't expect that Ash had retrieved his Charizard from Johto. He's just way too powerful for Quilava to take on. Kris has trained a lot, but he wasn't ready for this."
"But he's going to give it his all," Jule said. "I just hope he can find a weakness somewhere."
"Focus, Charizard!" Ash told his Pokemon. "Don't let your eyes distract you. Listen for it to move."
Surrounded by the black cloud, Charizard waited patiently with his eyes closed and ears perked. He could hear the crowd rustling. There was a light patter around him. It was that rodent Quilava. He was waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Wing Attack!" Ash ordered again. With a swipe of of his wings, Charizard cleared out a chunk of smoke as he struck to where Quilava was.
"Agility!" Kris called. Charizard's wing missed its mark, hitting only and afterimage of the small opponent. "Flamethrower, now!"
Charizard looked up just as he saw Quilava release his fiery attack from above. "Counter with your own Flamethrower!" Ash ordered immediately. Charizard opened its large maw and flames burst from it, colliding with Quilava's stream. Streams of fire shot in different directions as the attacks collided with power that boomed through the arena.
Covering his eyes from the searing, blinding light emitted from the flames, Kris quickly thought of a plan to counter this attack. "Quilava, dive into the Flamethrowers and hit 'im with a Flame Charge!"
Quilava stopped shooting his fire attack and dove straight down, becoming engulfed in the fire. It wrapped around his body as he dove faster. He hit his target spot on, knocking Charizard in the jaw that staggered him, causing him to stumble backwards.
"Now use Agility to reach the back wall!" Kris drove a fist through the air. "Then bounce off the wall and deliver a Flame Charge tenfold!" Quilava tagged the wall specified, then pushed off hard as he shot back toward Charizard who was still recovering from the previous attack. His plumes flared up and covered him once again for a fast attack that was delivered straight to Charizard's mid-section. The force knocked the lizard from his feet and into a heap on the ground.
An uproar of cheers shot through the crowd. Kris glanced around as he raised his goggles, smiling, feeling powerful at his triumph over the great beast. Even Quilava reveled in the commotion as he started to prance around in an early victory celebration.
"Get up, Charizard!" Ash commanded, and the hulking Fire-type rose to his feet. "Hit back with Slash!"
"Watch out!" Kris tried to warn Quilava who still trotted across the arena, but it was too late. Charizard's sharp claws cut through Quilava's skin and sent him reeling to Kris's feet. "Hey buddy, you all right? Can you keep going?" His Pokemon slowly stood, blood dripping from his new wound. He barked at his trainer, ready to continue.
The Master-to-be smiled to the pro as he said, "This has been a great battle so far. You're really testing our limits." Ash only listened in silence. "Don't count us out yet, though. We've only begun."
"I'm waiting for your best," Ash dared.
"Here it comes! Flamethrower!" Quilava let loose a stream of fire at Charizard. The lizard stood still and took the brunt of the attack.
"Break through and grab Quilava!" Charizard used his wings as a shield as he rushed at Quilava. He snatched up the surprised Pokemon and took to the air. "Give him a loop around with Seismic Toss!"
Kris's eyes widened. Seismic Toss? This wasn't going to be good. What could he do to get Quilava out of this predicament? All he felt he was capable of was watching his best friend fly through the air in a massive loop above the arena.
Misty and Pikachu gaped at the battle as they watched Charizard perform the Seismic Toss. This would be the move to finish everything, they just knew it. Misty closed her eyes, unable to watch anymore. She opened them again, however, when she heard Jule call out. The younger girl was on her feet, cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone.
"Come on, idiot!" she cried. "Stop gawking and kick that lizard's butt!"
Misty looked out to Kris who was looking in their direction. Apparently Jule calling out fired up something in him. A new vigor, even against such a formidable foe nearly about to win, burned through Kris. The wheels were turning in his head. He had a plan for sure.
"Get ready, Charizard!" Ash called. "Now—"
"Smokescreen!" Kris interrupted. "Blow it right in his face!"
Quilava looked up at Charizard from where he was restrained in the lizard's arms. He opened his mouth and blew smoke in the opponent's face. Charizard let out a roar of aggravation as he released Quilava and grabbed at his stinging eyes just before slamming into the ceiling while coming over the top of the loop.
"Way to go, buddy!" Kris cheered, backed up by the crowd. Ash's tough expression didn't falter, however, but Kris was ready to wrap this up. As his Pokemon landed safely on the ground he commanded, "Use Flamethrower! Full power!"
Quilava's plumes raged with fire higher than normal as he shot off an enormous burst of flames toward the ceiling as the dragon fell toward the ground. The fire hit dead on and the larger Fire-type continued to fall.
"Regain yourself, Charizard!" Ash commanded. "And counter with Dragon Tail!"
Another move? How many was that now? Never mind, Quilava was in danger. Kris had to act fast, but it was already too late. The powerful Pokemon swooped through the fire and whipped his fiery tail around, striking Quilava in the face and sending him skating across the arena and landing in a heap.
That last attack had taken out what was left of Quilava. He lie on the ground barely moving. Kris's eyes twitched in disbelief. He came so close! How could it end so quickly?
"What a battle!" the announcer cried suddenly. "Who'd have thought a tiny Pokemon would stand up against such a mighty adversary for so long? Can Quilava make a stand, or is it all over?"
Kris only smiled. Even though he was defeated, it was a satisfying defeat. He knew how he stood up to Ash now, and already had ideas of increasing his chances the next time they met. He began walking onto the battlefield toward Quilava. "You did great, buddy," he said encouragingly. "You should be proud of yourself, because I am. Let's go home and re—"
"Charizard, Flamethrower," Ash demanded suddenly.
Terror rushed through Kris, watching as the fire shot from Charizard's maw and struck his fellow companion. Quilava gave an agonizing cry of pain that split through the arena. Kris felt the color in his face drain as the fires danced around his best friend.
Jule looked on in horror. Poor Quilava. How could anyone be so heartless? The battle was over, but this Ash guy didn't care for that. Did he want to kill Kris's Pokemon?
She looked around for Misty but found that she and Pikachu had disappeared, leaving her in the stands by herself. Where had she gone?
Charizard closed his large mouth and the flames disappeared. Kris looked upon his burnt Pokemon, his limbs shaking in agony. He had to be okay. He would take him home and get him fixed up.
"Again!" Ash ordered Charizard.
Kris saw from the corner of his eye as Charizard loosed another blaze toward Quilava. Without thinking, Kris rushed in front of the attack, turning his back against it, taking the brunt of the attack. He yelled out in pain as he fell to his knees, holding himself up over his partner, protecting him even at the cost of his own life.
"Stop it!"
Ash glanced across the arena, seeing Misty with Pikachu at her side as she ran out to the arena. He waved a hand quickly that caught his dragon Pokemon's attention and stopped him instantly. A glowering look appeared on his face as he watched Misty go to Kris's side, and Pikachu stood between them and Charizard, sparks flying from his cheeks ready for a fight.
"Oh no," Misty said urgently as she looked over Kris's torn clothes and smoldering back. "Look at you. That was so stupid, Kris."
The young boy weakly smiled as he said, "I had to protect Quilava."
"Well he at least has better resistance to fire than you do."
"Misty."
Misty looked around and saw Ash approaching. Pikachu gave a warning cry to him as his red cheeks sparked even more. Ash took to the warning and stopped. After staring at Misty for a moment he finally asked, "Why are you here?"
The redhead rose to her feet. "I came to bring you home. I've been waiting months to find you here in Celadon. Everyone misses you, so please"—tears began falling from her cheeks—"just come home and end all of this nonsense!"
Ash shook his head. "I can't do that, Misty. Go back to Cerulean and leave me be."
"You have to stop this, Ash!" Anger was apparent in Misty's voice now. "You can't be a Pokemon Master anymore because there's no such thing! Devastating your opponent and almost killing them doesn't make you a Master! It makes you a bully!"
"It's not about that anymore."
"Then what is it?"
Ash held a Pokeball to Charizard and returned it in a beam of red light. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to see you again." He turned around and began walking away. Misty's eyes bulged as she saw a large red insignia on his jacket—the large red "R" symbol for Team Rocket.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried, not wanting his trainer to leave. Ash stopped for a moment, but then continued to walk away.
"Team Rocket," Misty said almost inaudibly as her voice caught in her throat.