Ch 53: Taking sides
Ash was in his quarter finals matchup against a man from Mossdeep city. This was the first six on six matchup. Ash's opponent Bill had knocked out four of Ash's pokemon and Ash had done the same. "Medicham use force palm" Bill said. "Pikachu dodge and use iron tail" Ash said.
Pikachu waited until medicham was close then lurched back avoiding the force palm. When Medicham's hand hit the ground Pikachu jumped forward and smashed his now metal tail into Medicham's face. "Medicham!" Bill said. Medicham fell backwards and hit the ground unconscious.
"Medicham is unable to battle" The ref said. "Alright that's five for Ash, he only needs to knock out one more of Bill's pokemon" Morrison said. "Medicham return" Bill said. "Great work Pikachu just one more" Ash said. "Pika!" Pikachu said with enthusiasm.
"Alright go Roserade" Bill said. Roserade got out and held his arms out in front of his face. "A grass type, that means Bill has a type advantage" Max said. "Max haven't I told you already that type doesn't mean everything" Red said. "Not to mention this is Ash's pikachu" May said. "That Pikachu clearly is Ash's first pokemon. You can only see a bond like that with a trainer and their first pokemon" Felix said.
"Well it wasn't always like that. I remember when Ash first got pikachu , neither of them liked each other at all" Delia said. "Roserade use sweet scent" Bill said. Roserade opened up his petals and let out a very sweet auroma that filled pikachu's senses with tingling happiness. Pikachu slowly walked closer to roserade. "Pikachu snap out of it!" Ash said.
"Roserade use energy ball" Bill said. Ash used his aura to connect with pikachu's. When theor aura's connected Pikachu snapped out of the sweet scent. When he snapped out of the trance he lurched back, barely avoiding the energy ball.
"What? how did you do that?" Bill said. "How did Ash snap pikachu out of that sweet scent?" Norman said. "I think I know, he connected with Pikachu's aura. He has learned about using his aura at a younger age than I did" Felix said.
"Pikachu use quick attack" Ash said. "Roserade use double team" Bill said. Roseraide quickly made copies of himself around pikachu. When pikachu hit a copy it vanished. "Now use energy ball roserade" Bill said. The real roserade unleashed an energy ball and hit pikachu. Pikachu got up and turned to the real roserade. "Roserade venoshock" Bill said.
"Pikachu dodge and use quick attack" Ash said. Pikachu ran like lightning avoiding the venoshock then hit roserade. Roserade stumbled a little when he was hit. "Roserade use poison sting" Bill said. "Pikachu keep the pressure on him, use irontail" Ash said. Pikachu jumped up and knocked roserade's petals away from him with his tail.
He then bashed roserade across the face making roserade stumble again. "Finnish this with fusion bolt" Ash said. Pikachu ran forward and grabbed roserade. Pikachu turned blue and a massive charge of electricity formed around him and roserade. Despite roserade's type he felt immense pain from the fusion bolt. When pikachu ended the attack roserade hit the ground knocked out.
"Roserade is unable to battle. The winner is Ash Ketchum of Pallot town" The ref said. "Alright Pikachu!" Ash said. Pikachu ran back to Ash and into his arms. "That's Ash's pikachu alright, probably the strongest pikachu in the world" Morrison said. "May, do you have any idea how Ash trained his pikachu to use fusion bolt. Pikachu aren't suppose to be able to learn fusion bolt" Red said.
"I actually don't know how. When I traveled with Ash five years ago his pikachu didn't know fusion bolt. But when I met him in Oldale down a few months ago he knew it" May said. "I've been wondering that as well Red. If Ash has taught his pikachu to use fusion bolt then he has done something no trainer has ever done before" Felix said.
Back in the pokemon center Ash gave his pokeballs to nurse joy. "Great match Ash, now you're in the semifinals" Morrison said. "Morrison when's your match" Ash said. "They haven't posted the other matches yet. There was a problem with the system" Max said.
"Ash i've been wondering, how did you teach your pikachu fusion bolt. Pikachu aren't suppose to be able to learn fusion bolt" Red said. Ash looked at pikachu on his shoulder and said "Well, I'm not exactly sure how it happened myself".
"Three years ago Pikachu and I were training all day everyday. I kept thinking about when I saw Zekerom in Unova use it and we started practicing. After a month he finally got it" Ash said.
"That still doesn't explain how he learned it" Red said.
"Hey guys look! The new matchings are up!" Barry said. Max and Morrison ran over to the screen to see who they were facing. "Uh oh" Morrison said. "What is it?" Ash said. Ash looked up at the screen and saw Morrison was facing Max.
"I have to face Morrison" Max said. " Well Max don't think I'll be going easy on you" Morrison said. "Yeah well I don't want you too, I got , Red, May, and Ash on my side right!" Max said. May and Red both nodded, but Ash didn't.
The who group turned to Ash. "Ash you are rooting for Max right?" May said. "Heck no he's rooting for me, because he's just as excited about our rematch as I am" Morrison said. "Well I, uh…. Look guys I don't like being put in these situations" Ash said . "Come on Ash I'm your girlfriends brother!" Max said.
"Well I'm your rival who's facing someone else" Morrison said. "May you think Ash should root for me right" Max said. May sighed "I would like him to, but I can't tell Ash who to root for Max" May said. "What your the girlfriend, aren't you suppose to be holding the leash in the relationship or something" Max said.
Two hours later in stadium C Max stood on one end of the battlefield with Morrison on the other. The field was suited for ground type, as it was covered in sand and rocks. "Quarter finals match 4. Morrison of Verdanturf Town vs Max of Petalburg city" The announcer said.
"You can do this Max!" Caroline said. "Ok We can do this, go Linoone" Max said. His linoone came out and ran in front of Max. "Arcanine time to battle" Morrison said. His arcanine came out and roared at Linoone.
"Arcanine he'll tear Linoone apart" Barry said. "You don't know that" May said. "Linoone use headbutt" Max said. "Arcanine use flame charge" Morrison said. Arcanine covered himself in fire and ran at Linoone. The two collided and Linoone was sent back singed by the fire. "Linoone!" Max said. "Arcanine flamethrower!" Morrison said. Arcanine unleashed fire from his mouth on Linoone.
"Oh no!" Max said. "Linoone is unable to battle" The ref said. "Geeze that didn't take long" Barry said. "Morrison has really gotten stronger" Ash said. "Linoone return. This will be harder than I thought" Max said. He took out another pokeball "Go Vibrava" Max said.
Vibrava came out and started flying above arcanine. "Vibrava use sand attack" Max said. Vibrava flew down and splashed sand into Arcanine's eyes. "Arcanine use flamethrower" Morrison said. "Vibrava dodge and use sand attack" Max said. Vibrava quickly moved out of the flamethrowers path and splashed even more sand into arcanine's eyes. "Arcanine are you ok?" Morrison said.
Arcanine was trying to get the sand out of his eyes with his paws. "Vibrava use screech" Max said. Vibrava let out a piercing screech that made half the audiance cover their ears. "I see what Max is doing he's wearing down arcainine with stat moves rather than direct attacks. Very smart" Ash said.
"That's it Max you're using your head" Norman said. "Vibrava use sand attack again" Max said. "Arcanine use flamethrower" Morrison said. Arcanine could hardley see when he unleashed flamethrower. Vibrava avoided the attack and picked up some sand. "Arcanine use fireblast!" Morrison said.
Arcanine unleashed a symbol shaped burst of fire at Vibrava , this time hitting him and knocking him out. "Vibrava!" Max said. "Vibrava is unable to battle" The ref said. "Geeze a one hit KO" Red said.
"Max don't give up" May said. Max returned Vibrava and took a deep breath, "I can do this" He said. He took out his third pokeball and sent out a huntail. "Alright huntail use water pulse" Max said. Huntail sent out water pulse toward arcanine. "Arcanine dodge it" Morrison said. Arcanine couldn't see where the attack was comeing from and got hit.
"Yes direct hit" Max said. "Arcanine use thunder fang" Morrison said. "Huntail use hydropump" Max said. Huntail waited until Arcanine got close then unleashed a massive jet of water on him. When the hydropump ended Arcanine was on the ground unsconscious.
"Arcanine is unable to battle" The ref said. "Yes" Max said. "Great job Max keep it up" Norman said. "Arcanine return, get some rest you've earned it. Ok Mightyena let's go" Morrison said. Morrison's Mightyena came out and roared at huntail. "Huntail use icebeam" Max said. "Mightyena dodge and use sand attack" Morrison said.
Mightyena jumped to the side avoiding the icebeam and smacked his paw into the ground sending sand into huntail's eyes. "Oh no" Max said. "You're not the only one who can play that game" Morrison said. "Huntail use waterpulse" Max said. "Mightyena dodge use sand attack" Morrison said. Mightyena once again avoided Huntail's attack and sent sand into his eyes.
"Now Morrison is using that strategy" Red said. "If Max is going to have a chance he has to try something different" Ash said. "Mightyena use howl" Morrison said. Mightyena let out a loud howl that raised his attack power. "Huntail quick use screech" Max said. "Mightyena use giga impact" Morrison said. Mightyena ran forward and impacted huntail before he could use screech.
"Huntail!" Max said. When huntail landed he was knocked out. "Huntail was unable to battle" The ref said. "Don't give up Max the match isn't over yet" May said. "Huntail return. Ok this isn't good" Max said as he took out his next pokeball. "Go nuzleaf" Max said. Nuzleaf came out and stood in front of Max.
"Nuzleaf use razor leaf" Max said. "Mightyena use rock smash" Morrison said. Mightyena ran forward through the razor leaves. "What!?" Max said. Despite being hit by the strikes Mightyena continued running until he reached nuzleaf and unleashed rock smash. Nuzleaf was knocked back before Mightyena pounced on him again.
"Nuzleaf quick get him off with pound" Max said. Nuzleaf pounded at Mightyena's face with his arms. "Mightyena use assurance" Morrison said. Mightyena unleashed the attack and knocked nuzleaf out. "No!" Max said. "Nuzleaf is unable to battle" The ref said. "Max only has two pokemon left" Delia said.
Max returned nuzleaf and looked closely at his next pokeball. "I have to make this one count" He said. "Go Gallade" Max said. Gallade came out and starred at Mightyena. "Gallade use confusion" Max said. Gallade's eyes glowed as he hit mightyena with a psychic attack.
"Mightyena use sucker punch" Morrison said. "Gallade use teleport" Max said. Gallade vanished then reappeared behind him. "Confusion" Max said. Galladehit with another psychic attack Mightyena and was knocked out . "Mightyena is unable to battle" The ref said. "Mightyena return, you were great. Ok go swampert" Morrison said.
Morrison's swampert came out and smacked his hands onto the ground. "Swampert use mud bomb" Morrison said. "Gallade use teleport" Max said. Swampert's attack missed and Gallade reappeared behind swampert. "Confusion" Max said. Swampert was hit with a psychic attack but managed to stay on his feet. "Swampert use mudbomb!" Morrison said.
"Gallade use teleport!" Max said. Swampert launched his attack too fast and gallade was hit before he could teleport. "Alright! Swampert use muddy water" Morrison said. Swampert sent out a massive wave of water filled with thick mudd. "Gallade use teleport" Max said. Gallade tried to teleport but was still recovering from the mud shot.
Gallade was hut and knocked out by the muddywater. "Gallade it unable to battle" The ref said. "Alright swampert" Morrison said. "Max only has only pokemon left" Norman said. "Can he still pull this off?" Barry said. "No match is over until the last pokemon is knocked out" Ash said. Max returned Gallade and then closed his eyes as he took out his last pokeball. "This is it, my last chance" Max opened his eyes and threw the pokeball.
Max's grovyle did a few frontflips as he came out of his pokeball. "This is it grovyle, give it eveyrthing you got. Use bullet seed" Max said. "Swampert use mud bomb" Morrison said. Both pokemon opened their mouths and unleashed their attacks. Depite mud bombs power the bullet seed broke the mud apart and continued on to hit swampert. "Grovyle use leafblade" Max said.
Grovyle ran with incredible speed at Swampert. "Swampert use hammer arm" Morrison said. Swampert hurled his right arm and knocked grovyle to the ground. "Great use hammer arm again" Morrison said. "Grovyle quick dodge it" Max said. Grovyle jumped back narrowly avoiding the hammer arm. "Now use leafstorm" Max said. Grovyle unleashed a hurricane of leaves at swampert engulfing him.
"Now use leafblade" Max said. Grovyle ran over and slashed swampert with both his arms blades. When he landed swampert fell to the ground unsconsious. "Swampert is unable to battle" The ref said. "Swampert return, Alright Max you've put up a really good challange. But now it's time for me to win" Morrison said. Morrison threw his next pokeball and Metang came out.
"Grovyle use bulletseed" Max said. "Metang use iron defense" Morrison said. Metang held his arms in front of him and tightened his defense. The bullet seeds bounced off Metang "Metang use meteor Mash" Morrison said. "Move grovyle" Max said. Grovyle tried to move but Metang was too fast and Metang's attack knocked grovyle into the air. "Hyper beam" Morrison said.
Metang unleashed a massive attack that hit and knocked out grovyle. "Grovyle!" Max said. "Grovyle is unable to battle, the winner is Morrison" The ref said. "We did it Metang!" Morrison said. Max fell to his knees and dropped his head towards the ground. "Grovyle return. I , I , I lost" Max said. Tears started rolling down from Max's eyes.
"Max lost, this is going to be hard for him" Norman said. Morrison walked over and offered Max a hand. "Max you did good" Morrison said. Later in the hotel Max was in his parents while parents comforted bhim. "Max it's ok, loosing is part of a trainers journey and everyone looses sometime" Norman said.
"Max it's alright to feel bad that you lost, I felt the same way when I first lost at the pokemon league five years ago and so many leagues after that" Ash said. Max wiped the tears from his face. "Thanks Ash, it's just hard to come this far only to lose" Max said. "Max don't give up, loosing is a learning experience, it lets you know what you need to do different so you can grow" May said.
"You're right, I'm going to start training again and get right back into action" Max said. "I trained you well Max, but I'm afraid after the pokemon league is over we'll have to part ways" Red said. "Thank you Red, for everything" Max said.
Later that night Ash and May were in the hotel's work out room. While May ran on the treadmill Ash was using the abb cruncher. "Seven, eight" Ash said. Sweat rolled down Ash's forehead as he got up from the machine. "Is that all you got Ash" Morrison said.
Ash turned and saw Morrison doing squats with a large barbell over his shoulders. He went down and came back up. "That makes twenty" Morrison said. " I don't do squats Morrison" Ash said. "What come on man" Morrison said. He reracked the weight and walked over to him. "Don't wimp out on me, if you act like this in the gym how will you act in our battle" Morrison said.
"You talk the talk, can you walk the walk Morrison" Ash said. "It that a challenge" Morrison said. Ash turned to the pull up bars and Morrison soon after. "Oh you're on" Morrison said. They walked over to pull up bars and jumped up to grab the bars. "Three two one go!" Morrison said.
May and two other trainers were using the treadmills while a tv played the matches still going on in stadiums C and A. The hotel's gym also had several machines specifically for pokemon's use. Pikachu and blaziken were on treadmills designed for pokemon. Lucario was using two arm curling pulleys and bulbasaur was lifting up two dumbells with his vines.
May was watching the match going on in stadium C , a young man from Littleroot town with brown hair and blue eyes named Harrison was battling with a blaziken."Blaziken use overheat" Harrison said. Blaziken unleashed a massive attack that knocked out his opponents slaking. "Slaking is unable to battle, Harrison is the winner" The ref said.
"This guy looks good really good" May said. She looked back at Ash who was still doing pull ups. "Ash can beat him, I know he can" May said. Ash and Morrison dropped to the ground both breathing deeply. "How, huh, many?" Ash said. "Fifteen" Morrison said. Ash smiled, "Seventeen" He said. "Aww man" Morrison said.
May got off the treadmill and walked over to Ash. "I'm exhausted you ready to go back to the room?" May said. "Yeah" Ash said. They returned their pokemon and Pikachu got onto Ash's shoulder. "I'm taking a show first" May said. "Alright" Ash said. The two walked toward the elevator when May remembered what she wanted to tell Ash.
"I saw this guy named Harrison with a Blaziken on the tv, he was incredible" May said. "Wait Harrison, and he had a blaziken. I think that's the guy who beat me at the Mt. Silver conference" Ash said. " Really" May said. "I actually hope I face him, so I can see how much I've improved since then" Ash said.
An hour later in Ash and May's room May was sitting on the bed closest to the window with pikachu in her lap. "I'm glad Max is over loosing, but I still feel bad that he lost" She said as she petted Pikachu. "I guess even if he did win he would have eventually faced Ash and we both know who I would have rooted for then" She said. "Pika" Pikachu said.
Ash came out of the bathroom while he dried his head with a towel. May turned her head when she saw him shirtless. "You're so hot" She said. Ash's face turned red a little as he got into the bed and May cuddled up next to him. "Goodnight" May said. "Goodnight" Ash said. The two were about to fall asleep when they heard a loud noise out on the balcony.
"What was that?" Ash said. Pikachu got up and ran out toward the balcony. "Pika!" He said excitedly. Ash and May walked out to the balconey to see Charizard and Charla standing out on the edge of the baloney. "Charizard" Ash said. Charizard grabbed Ash, May, and Pikachu in his arms and hugged them tight. "Charizard it's great to see you, but what are you guys doing here?" Ash said.
Charla let out a happy growl and the three turned to see a very small charmander in her arms. "Char" The little charmander said. "Is that?" May said. Charizard let out a very joyful groan.
