Ch 52: The competition Heats up

"This is the last round in the three on three match-ups" Max said. Ash and the others were in the main center waiting for the match-ups for round three. "It doesn't matter who they put me against I'm gonna win" Morrison said.

"If you get put against me you won't" Max said. "You wanna bet" Morrison said. "Guys look the round 3 match-ups are up!" Barry said. Ash looked up at the screen and saw Barry's picture next to his. "Wait we're facing each other already?!" Barry said.

"I guess so" Ash said. "Ash you better win , I need to beat you in the finals" Morrison said.
"Does that mean you're rooting for Ash?" Barry said. "Well duh" Morrison said. "Our match begins in an hours I'll see you there Barry." Ash said.

Ash and May were down by the lagoon watching a few sealeo and walrain in the shallows. "Didn't you say that you never faced Barry in the Sinnoh league" May said. "We battled each other a few times but never in the league itself" Ash said. "Barry's been doing pretty good from what I've seen so far but he's not as good as you" May said.

"I shouldn't be cocky about it, that could cost me the match" Ash said. "I suppose you're right, That kind of attitude lost me some contests early in my career" May said. May stopped for a moment when Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder to hers. "Ash what pokemon are you going to use against Barry?" May said.

"Well starting this round each stadium has a specific field and mine has a water type. So I think I'm going to use my Buizel, and my Oshawott"Ash said. "What about your third pokemon?" May said. "I"m not sure yet" Ash said. "It does sound like a good idea to see what your opponent's pokemon are before you choose your last one" May said. May started petting Pikachu on the head and Ash turned his head towards her.

"May now that the grand festival is over what are you going to do?" Ash said. "I'm not sure, It was nice winning the grand festival but I don't feel like doing another one any time soon. So I really don't know what I'm doing next. Ash what are you going to do when the pokemon league is over?" May said.

"I really don't know either. I suppose I could go back to training nonstop but, that just feels incomplete" Ash said. "Ash what is going to happen to us? We live in different regions and our time here together is getting closer to its end" May said in a concerned tone. Ash did say anything for almost a minute then put his arm around May's shoulder and kissed her.

"May I love you, and I promise you now matter what happens we're going to make it work" Ash said. "Pika" Pikachu said in an upbeat tone to May. "Maybe I am worrying to much, I love you and you love me that's what matters most" May said.

Thirty minutes later May was in the stands sitting next to her parents. "Ash better win this, I can't have my perfect pokemon league win unless I beat him to do it" Morrison said. "Alright Ash I didn't come all this way just to loose. Time to go , Staraptor!" Barry said. He sent out the massive bird Staraptor who quickly flew up into the air in front of Barry.

"We can do this, I choose you Buizel" Ash said. Buizel came out of his pokeball and flexed before jumping into the pool of water. "This could be tough one to call Ash has the field advantage, but Barry has the type advantage" Max said. "Type's don't always decide a Match Max" Red said.

"Staraptor arial ace" Barry said. Staraptor flew like lightning toward buizel. "Buizel under the water" Ash said. Buizel swam deep under the water while staraptor citcled above him. "Buizel use icebeam" Ash said.

Buizel came out of the water and unleashed icebeam on Staraptor. "Staraptor look out!" Barry said. Staraptor was too late to avoid the attack and was hit across the chest. "Staraptor quick use wing attack" Barry said. "Buizel back under the water" Ash said. Staraptor tried to fly after buizel but the icebeam left several pieces of ice froze on him, slowing him down. Buizel got far enough under the water to avoid Staraptor's attack.

"Dam it" Barry said. "Staraptor stay close to the water and get ready to use wing attack" Barry said. "Buizel use brick break" Ash said. Buizel jumped up and bashed staraptor across the face. "Staraptor arial ace" Barry said. "Buizel into the water" Ash said.

Buizel quickly got back into the water just before Buizel could get to him. "Ash is certainly taking advantage of the field" Norman said. "He planned ahead for this, he's gotten a lot more mature than when he started his journey" Delia said.

"Starraptor we can do this don't give up use whirlwind on the water" Barry said. Starraptor created a powerful gust that shook up the water forcing buizel to the surface. "Perfect now use brave bird" Barry said. "Brave bird? That causes damage to the user" Max said. "Barry knows that but he is willing to take that risk" Morrison said.

"Buizel use aqua jet" Ash said. Buizel hurled himself at starraptor in a jet of water. Starraptor started to glow blue as he flew at Buizel. Both pokemon put every bit of power they had into their attack as they collided. Ash and Barry both watched closely as their pokemon landed ended their collision. Buizel and Starraptor both landed in the water.

"Starraptor!" Barry said. Starraptor was floating belly up in the water, "Starraptor us unable to battle" The ref said. Buizel was breathing deeply trying to stay conscious, while he had endured the impact he was very hurt. "That's it Ash you got it" May said. "Starraptor return, alright we can still do this" Barry said.

"Buizel return, get some rest buddy" Ash said. "That was smart of Ash I don't think buizel could go on much longer" Felix said. "Ok go Oshawatt" Ash said. Oshawatt came out of his pokeball and took his pose holding up his scalchop up. "Another water type alright , go Skarmory" Barry said. Skarmory came out of his pokeball and flew over Barry.

"Oshawatt get into the water" Ash said. Oshawatt quickly got into the water and swam toward the bottom. "Ha I've seen your stratagy and I've learned from it. Skarmory use sandstorm" Barry said. Skarmory whipped up a powerful sandstorm over the water.

"Now Oshawatt won't be able to see above the water, that's a problem" Norman said. "Now force him out of the water with spikes" Barry said. Skarmory unleashed dozens of spikes into the water. "Oshawatt get to the surface" Ash said. Oshawatt swam to the surface but couldn't see because of the sandstorm.

"Perfect now Skarmory use air slash" Barry said. "Oshawatt use razor shell" Ash said. Oshawatt took his scalchop but couldn't see Skarmory. "Air slash!" Barry said. Skarmory flew past Oshawatt and slashed him. "Oshawatt!" Ash said. "Barry's new stratagy it to prevent Ash from taking advantage of the water. Very smart" Red said. "Ash will figure a way out of this I know he will" May said.

"Oshawatt use surf" Ash said. Oshawatt gathered his strength then hurled a massive wave of water up into the air. The surf washed away the sand storm and hit Skarmory. "Skarmory!" Barry said. "Well that takes care of the sandstorm" Ash said. "Pika" Pikachu said.

" Ok Skarmory use spikes" Barry said. Skarmory unleashed dozens of spikes down toward the water. "Oshawatt use hydro pump" Ash said. Oshawatt opened his mouth and unleashed a powerful jet of water that caught all of the falling spikes. "What the!?" Barry said.

When the hydropump hit Skarmory he was also hit with his own spikes. "Yes, just like I planned" Ash said. "Wow" Max said. "See what did I tell you" May said. "Alright that's it time to end this. Skarmory use steel wing!" Barry said. "Oshawatt use revenge" Ash said. The two pokemon collided and like the first battle both landed in the water. This time however, both pokemon were knocked out.

"Both trainers' pokemon are unable to battle" The ref said. "A draw? Well I guess Ash is still in the lead" Morrison said. "Skarmory return, you did your best" Barry said. "Oshawatt return, get some rest" Ash said.

"Ash Ketchum is ahead one pokemon but this battle could still go either way" The announcer said. " Alright this is it, we can do this. Go Empoleon!" Barry said. Barry's first pokemon came out and landed in the water. "That empoleon is Barry's first pokemon and probably his strongest" May said. "Not only that he now has an advantage on the water field" Red said.

Ash looked at his third and final pokeball. "I choose you" He said throwing the pokeball. The pokemon that came out was none other than Ash's squirtle. "Squirtle" He said as he took out his shades and put them on before jumping into the water. "Wow squirtle that was one of Ash's first pokemon" May said.

"A squirlte, hah my empoleon is fully evolved" Barry said. "My squirtle has proved on many occasions that evolution isn't everything" Ash said. "Empoleon use mist" Barry said. Empoleon opened his beak and filled the air with a thick mist. "Squirtle go under water" Ash said. Squirtle took off his shades and then dove under the water.

"Two can play at this game; empoleon go under the water and use metal claw!" Barry said. "Squirtle use withdraw" Ash said. Squirtle quickly got into his shell as empoleon bashed him with his left wing. Squirtle was hurled back through the water in his shell. "Squirtle use rapid spin" Ash said. Using the momentum that empoleon gave him, squirtle came back in his shell and bashed empoleon in the face.

Empoleon was hurled up and out of the water . "Empoleon!" Barry said. Empoleon got up and shook himself. "Empoleon get back in the water and use drill peck" Barry said. Empoleon jumped in and hurled himself at squirtle, while spinning himself. "Squirtle dodge and use brick break" Ash said. Squirtle moved like lightning in the water, easily avoiding the drill peck. When he was directly under empoleon he used brick break on his stomach.

Empoleon was knocked out of the water again. "Come on" Barry said. "That's it Ash keep it up!" May said. Empoleon got up and stared down at the water. "Ok we can figure this out. Let's think Ash's squirlte is too fast in that water. Wait that's it!" Barry said. "Empoleon use icebeam" Barry said.

Empoleon unleashed icebeam in the water. "Keep using icebeam" Barry said. Empoleon kept using icebeam until the water was completely frozen. "Alright let's see how fast you are now. Empoleon use drill peck" Barry said. "Squirtle quick use iron defense" Ash said.

Squirtle tightened his defenses and held his ground as empoleon flew at him. Squirtle was hit but held his place. "Comeon iron defense" Ash said. Squirtle's iron defense held but the ice was too slippery and squirtle was hurled back into the wall.

"Squirtle!" Ash said. "Pika!" Pikachu said. "Way to go empoleon!" Barry said. Squirtle got up and took his shades back out. "Squirtle!" He said as he put them on. "That's it squirtle we got this!" Ash said. "Empoleon finnish this with drillpeck" Barry said. "Squirtle use skullbash" Squritle angled and then hurled himself at empoleon. Everyone in the stadium watched closely as squirtle and empoleon collided.

"Comeon empoleon" Barry said. When the mist from the broken ice cleared Squirtle was standing over a unconscious empoleon. "Squirtle!" He said flexing. "Empoleon is unable to battle. The winner is trainer Ask Ketchum" The ref said. "We did it!" Ash said. Ash rushed out onto the ice and picked up Squirtle in his arms.

"That's my boy" Felix said. "That's right Ash you stay in this thing so I can beat you" Morrison said. Barry fell to his knees, "No, I've trained so long and hard for this" Barry said. He took empoleon's pokeball and returned him. "I'm sorry guys, I failed you" Barry said. Ash walked over to Barry. "Barry that was a great match" Ash said.

"Thanks Ash, you deserve this win, and I guess I don't" Barry said. "Barry don't lose confidence in yourself. You're a great trainer and someday you're going to win a pokemon league" Ash said. Barry got up "You're right, I can't give up. After I see who wins this, I'm going to get right back to training!" Barry said.

At the end of the day Morrison and Max both won their matches. Ash and May were in their room with Max and Red. "I can't believe I made it to the quarter finals" Max said. "Keep in mind Max the competition will be stiff now" Red said. "I can do it this is what we've trained for" Max said.

"Morrison looked really good in his match today, he's even better than he was last time" Ash said. "I'll let you take care of beating him Ash. He seem's pretty aliment on facing you" Max said. "He's not the only one. I wanna face Morrison again he was a great challenge the last time I faced him" Ash said.

"I'm glad you gave Barry his confidence back Ash. It might have been a while before he recovered from this" May said. "It was the right thing to do, Barry put up a good fight" Ash said. Later that night Ash and May were in bed. Ash was trying to sleep but he couldn't get the idea of facing Morrison again off his mind.

"Facing Morrison again might be the strongest opponent I've ever faced" Ash said to himself. "I guess that mean's I'll get the best challenge".