Disclaimer: I don't own pokémon.
AN: Thanks for reviewing! Please send in either OCs or old Anime characters for the Cup. And please review!
Answers to questions:
ghost509: Ash is gonna have to win the tournament first, and that's not a done deal. If he wins the Cup, then he gets to face Gowly. I won't say whether or not that'll happen. You're going to have to read to find out. J
Chapter Twenty Two
After finally getting through Twist Mountain, Ash and his friends arrived in Iciruss City. The quartet consisting of Ash, Brock, Gallade, and Pikachu arrived in the city late at night. They walked into the pokémon center exhausted, and after getting a room, the group fell asleep on the soft beds, which were a nice change from the sleeping bags from the previous nights. It was also warn in the center; unlike Twist Mountain, which was freezing.
That night, Ash once again experienced his recurring dream. He was in a cave that was similar to Twist Mountain, only it was different. This mountain felt older, more powerful. Anyways, Ash was following a Lucario. The Lucario was leading Ash deeper and deeper into the cave; although, Ash felt like the duo was gaining height. It felt like they were climbing up; even though, Ash couldn't see the outside world. Just as Ash saw light up ahead, signaling the outside world, the cave started to shake. Lucario jumped in front of Ash as a Rhyperior appeared. The Drill Pokémon looked unhappy and angry, fierce even. Rhyperior kept trying to hit Ash, but the Lucario kept blocking it. Ash sat watching, paralyzed with fear. He wanted to help Lucario, but he didn't know how. He didn't have any pokémon on him. Eventually, Rhyperior defeated Lucario and went to strike Ash! Just as Rhyperior's drill was about to stab Ash, Ash woke up with a start. He was sweating, and his heart was racing. After taking a few deep breaths, Ash stood up and walked over to the window. He looked out at the moon lost in thought over the strange dream he just had. Eventually, Ash got tired and returned to bed.
The next day, the quartet entered the Iciruss Gym bright and early. Brycen silently greeted the group before heading to his side of the field. Ash walked over to his box, along with Pikachu and Gallade, while Brock went to sit in the stands.
A referee walked up. "This will be a three on three battle between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Brycen of the Iciruss Gym. Since this battle is for a Commissioner's Coin, there will be no substitutions. The battle will end when one side is out of usable pokémon. Begin!"
Brycen silently sent out his Lapras.
"Lapras, eh? I choose you, Gallade!" Ash pointed towards the field and Gallade ran over to take his place.
On the frozen field, Lapras and Gallade glared at each other. It looked as though Lapras had the field advantage, since the field was ice. Ash realized that he would have to be careful in order to avoid Gallade slipping on the ice.
"Hydro pump!" Brycen suddenly spoke up for the first time.
"Dodge and use leaf blade!"
High pressure water erupted from Lapras's mouth, but Gallade dodged out of the way by jumping into the air. On his way down, Gallade's fist glowed green before he whacked Lapras's head. The attack sent the transport pokémon's head reeling. Unfortunately for Ash, Lapras stood strong.
"Psychic coupled with hydro pump!" Brycen suddenly said.
Lapras's eyes glowed before Gallade's entire body started to glow. The blade pokémon struggled to move but failed. Ash started shouting encouragement at his pokémon, but Lapras was too strong. When Lapras was sure that Gallade couldn't move, she opened her mouth to unleash more pressurized water. The attack struck Gallade head-on. Lapras turned off her psychic as Gallade picked himself up from the attack.
"Indeed." Brycen intoned. "Gallades have high special defenses, which absorb my Lapras's hydro pump. No matter. Thunderbolt!"
"Hurry Gallade! Use drain punch!"
As Lapras charged up electricity in her horn, Gallade rushed at her with glowing fists. Seconds before Lapras released her electricity, Gallade's fists connected with the transport pokémon. The attack broke Lapras's concentration as Gallade's energy went up and Lapras's energy went down.
"Now that you're close, psychic and hydro pump!"
Gallade, who was standing inched away from Lapras, was once again paralyzed by psychic. Ash was frantically running through various ways that could defeat psychic while Lapras charged up another hydro pump. Suddenly, Ash's face lit up as he figured out a way to stop psychic.
"Use night slash to free your hands and strike Lapras!"
Gallade's fists glowed a dark purple and they were slowly freed. As Lapras unleashed her hydro pump, Gallade's freed hands slammed into Lapras. The resulting collision of the attacks created a giant explosion that sent both pokémon flying. When the smoke cleared, both pokémon were seen on the ground knocked out with swirls in their eyes.
"Both Lapras and Gallade are unable to battle!"
Brycen silently recalled his fallen Lapras and sent out his Beartic. He then folded his arms as he waited for Ash to send out his second pokémon.
"You did and awesome job Gallade! Return." Ash recalled Gallade before taking out another pokéball. "I choose you, Infernape!"
Ash's flame pokémon appeared on the field.
It looks as though he has the type advantage. Brycen thought to himself. But he'll be in for a shock.
"Brine!"
Water shot out from around Beartic and headed towards Infernape.
"Dodge and use mach punch!" Ash suddenly cried out.
Infernape's fist glowed, and faster than anyone could see, he dodged the attack and slammed a fist into Beartic. The freezing pokémon roared in anger at the super effective attack.
"Now, keep up the pressure with flamethrower!"
"Dodge with dig!"
As Infernape unleashed a plume of flames, Beartic began to dig under the ground. As the flames were just about to reach him, Beartic disappeared underground.
"Brine!"
Water soon shot out from the hole that Beartic dug. Infernape jumped out of the way before he could get hit. Just as Infernape landed, Beartic shot out of the ground and slammed into Infernape, who was sent flying. Infernape slowly got up from his crash site.
"Way to go Infernape! Use flamethrower!" Ash shouted.
"Counter with brine!"
Infernape's fire was met with Beartic's water. The two attacks collided and neutralized each other.
"Mach punch non-stop!"
"Dig!"
As Beartic started to dig another hole, Infernape rained down punch after punch. Before Beartic could finish digging its hole, he collapsed to the ground with swirls in his eyes.
"Beartic is unable to battle! Infernape is the winner!"
Brycen silently recalled his signature pokémon. Without uttering a word, Brycen then proceeded to release his final pokémon. On the field, a Froslass appeared.
"Flamethrower!" Ash called out, hoping to end this battle soon.
"Stop it with psychic!"
Froslass's eyes glowed and then both Infernape's fire and Infernape himself glowed. The flames dissipated, and Infernape was lifted into the air before he was sent flying into a wall. The flame pokémon struggled for a while before finally getting up. He then beat his chest and a red aura enveloped him.
Blaze has activated! Ash thought to himself. Let's use that to end this battle!
"Flamethrower once more! Full power!"
"Disable!"
As Infernape unleashed powerful flames, the fire died out.
"What?" Ash looked confused.
"Disable disables a previously used move. Now, end this with shadow ball!"
A ball of dark aura was released from Froslass's hands. The attack hit Infernape head on and caused a small explosion. When the smoke cleared, Infernape was seen lying on the ground with swirls in his eyes.
"Infernape is unable to battle! The winner is Froslass!"
"You did great Infernape! Return!" Ash recalled the fallen flame pokémon to his pokéball. Ok. I'm done to my last pokémon. It's all up to him now. "I choose you, Charizard!"
Another flame pokémon appeared on Ash's side of the field. The red lizard let out an angry roar as he spread his massive wings.
Hmm. This pokémon is powerful. Brycen thought to himself. I'll have to be careful.
"Shadow ball!"
"Dodge and use flamethrower!"
As Froslass released another dark ball of energy, Charizard flapped his wings and took to the sky. This allowed him to dodge Froslass's attack, and he then charged up flamethrower. These flames looked even more powerful than the ones powered up by Infernape's blaze. Froslass was hit and was sent crashing into the ground. The snow land pokémon slowly stood up though. Ash and Brock were shocked that Brycen's pokémon could sustain such a powerful attack from Charizard.
"Thunderbolt," Brycen calmly spoke up.
Froslass released electricity that was sent racing towards Charizard. The flame pokémon didn't have enough time to react and was struck. The attack sent him plummeting to the ground. As everyone looked on, the lizard slowly stood up and roared in indignation.
"Use overheat!" Wary of disable, Ash called out a different fire type move.
Charizard's body turned red. It then released a white fire with a red-orange flame spiraling around it from its mouth. Froslass, who was too tired to move out of the way in time, was hit by the powerful fire type move. As the referee looked at Froslass, he reached his decision.
"Froslass is unable to battle! The winner is Charizard! That means that the winner of the match is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!"
Brycen recalled his fallen Froslass and walked over to where Ash, Pikachu, and Charizard were celebrating. Brock, too, approached the celebrating trio.
"Congratulations Ash! You have demonstrated your battling prowess. As proof of your victory here, I present to you the Ice Coin!" In Brycen's palm lay a light blue, almost white coin.
Ash accepted the coin and posed with it. "Yes! We now have all ten coins!" Ash said as he looked at his two pokémon.
"All ten? Then that means you're ready to enter the Cup."
"Yep!" Ash exclaimed with a gleeful expression on his face.
"You still have a few weeks though. I suggest you train in Pallet Town for a while before you head to Pokémon Isle. Based on the trainers I've battled, this tournament will be filled with some of the toughest competition around."
"Ok. Thanks for the advice Brycen."
"Good bye and good luck," Brycen said as he waved to Ash and co.
Ash recalled his Charizard before he, Brock, and Pikachu walked out of the gym. The trio waved to Brycen and went to the pokémon center so that Ash could heal his injured friends.