Pokémon: The Prism League Chapter 6: Coordinating a Trainer
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
12 months until the Prism League
After four months of training Ash had established a solid routine to fallow. At the beginning of each morning Ash and his Pokémon would start out with a session of stretching fallowed by a five mile run. Next Ash would return to the lab for practice battles with his friends where Cilan and Gary would observe his Pokémon then give their feedback ranging from attacks to the set up of his teams. After that Ash would practice what he had gone over with Gary and Cilan then apply it to his battles fallowed by testing new battle strategies. Then ending the day with another study session with Professor Hale and another round of battles. Today Cilan made a suggestion that greatly confused Ash.
"You want me to battle how?" The dark-haired trainer asked his friend.
"I want you to battle like a coordinator." Cilan repeated.
"But why?"
"Think about it Ash, some of your best moves and strategies have come from just watching May and Dawn in contests, if you can learn to think more like a coordinator then you'll be able to battle on a whole different level." Brock jumped in knowing what Cilan was thinking.
"Precisely, there's also that added benefit that by adding a new element to you battling style you'll throw off opponents who think you only possess a trainer's skills." Cilan finished.
"When you put it that way it does sound like a good idea." Ash said finally understanding.
"And who better to help you then two top coordinators." Cilan said turning to May and Dawn.
"No need to worry Ash we're going to make you the best coordinator you can be." Dawn proclaimed confidently.
"Why is it every time you say that I start to worry even more?" Ash sweat-dropped.
Dawn pouted at the remark while May stepped in. "The first thing we need to do is teach the basics of Contest battling."
"I know how to battle in a contest."
"You know the rules of contest battles but you still battle more like it's a gym battle when your in a contest." Dawn replied.
"That's right, we've got a lot of things to cover." May added.
"Oh boy." Ash said nervously.
May and Dawn began the task of teach Ash how to battle like a coordinator. Being more accustom to gym battles Ash was use to dodging opponents attacks then countering back while coordinators used their opponents own attacks as the counter. Another lesson was learning combinations, Ash had preferred learning ones that were better suited for attacking and less for being visually appealing for obvious reasons.
From the sidelines their friend watch a the Dawn and May coordinated Ash.
"I never thought I'd see the day Ash would be learning to be a coordinator." Max said watching his sister instruct Ash.
"Me nether, it kind of strange to think of Ash battling differently." Iris thought aloud.
"Yeah Ash's battling style is so important to him." Bianca added.
"I still remember when Ash didn't have a battle style, he just went in and hopped for the best." Misty said laughing as she remembered Ash's early days.
"I think it's neat that Ash is going to try and battle like a trainer and a coordinator." Molly said being most excited to see how Ash would do.
"As do I, if Ash is able to apply these new tactics to his battling style that alone will be proof of the tremendous progress he's made." Cilan weighed in.
"That's true it takes real skill to combined two different styles together, we've seen Ash take a few contest style moves and make them work in battle but this is a whole different scale." Brock observed.
After continuing the basics Dawn purposed a battle with Ash jumping at the chance. Ash took his spot for battle with May taking the opposite position while their friends watched from the sidelines. "Blaziken take the stage!" May released her starter fire type.
"Blaaa!" (Right!)
"Go Gengar!" Ash then released the mischievous ghost.
"Gengar!" (Ready!)
"Ash is using Gengar." Bianca stated surprised.
"It's a good choice, in a contest one of the best thing to do is use your Pokémon's natural abilities and ghost types have abilities that not many other Pokémon have so Gengar is a good way for Ash to get uses to battling like a coordinator." Dawn explained to the artist.
"Alright Ash lets get going, Blaziken use Fire Spin!" May ordered then a spiral of flames was shot from Blaziken's mouth.
"Gengar dodge it." The ghost type did as it was told and jumped into the air and began levitating dodging the attack. "Now use Shadow Ball."Gengar formed a black orb in between its hands then fired it striking Blaziken knocking it back.
"Blaziken are you alright?" May asked her Pokémon.
"Bla blaziken." (No problem.)
"Great, use Sky Uppercut!" May order. Blaziken rush underneath Gengar its claws glowing blue. "Now Fire Spin!" The fire Pokémon unleashed another spiral of flames around itself before launching into the air with its claw engulfed by flames then smashed them into Gengar.
"What!" Ash cried in surprise as Gengar groaned in pain.
"Now Blaze Kick!" May commanded. Blaziken's feet became covered in fire then by spinning a full 360 it gathered the remaining flames from the Fire Spin then struck Gengar once more knocking it back down to earth with a painful thud while Blaziken landed gracefully.
"Wow that was some combination." Misty said impressed.
"Brock how did Sky Uppercut work on Gengar, I thought fighting type attacks didn't work on ghost types." Molly asked the breeder.
"They don't, but May had Blaziken use Fire Spin and that gave it the properties of a fire type attack." Brock explained.
"That was pretty good May." Ash complimented his training partner. "But now it's our turn Gengar Night Shade!" Two beams of dark energy shot from Gengar's eyes.
"Blaziken Flamethrower!" A blast of fire from its mouth that collided with the Night Shade causing an explosion that covered the field in smoke.
"Gengar use Shadow Punch!" A shadow in the shape of a fist formed around Gengar's hands which then reached across the field and struck Blaziken in the face and stomach.
"How did the attack hit through the smoke?" May said franticly.
"Shadow Punch always hit its target without missing." Ash elaborated. "Gengar get in close and use Night Shade." Gengar flew across the field then phased through the ground then reappered behind the still dazed Blaziken and fired its Night Shade attack striking the Hoenn region starter. "Now Shadow Ball!" Gengar once again form a Shadow Ball and fired it at Blaziken.
"Send it back with Blaze Kick!" May said thinking fast. Blaziken's foot was set ablaze then struck the Shadow Ball sending it back covered in flames smashing into Gengar. "Now use Flamethrower!" Blaziken unleashed another flamethrower that was dodged by Gengar levitating off the field leaveing a the ground covered by fire. Gengar looked above to see Blaziken had jumped over it and was coming down with a Blaze Kick smashing the ghost Pokemon into the ground and the fire and was now pinned under its opponents foot.
"Gengar get out of there!" Ash advised. Doing as it's trainer said Gengar phased into the ground escaping from Blaziken. "Use Shadow Punch!" Two shadow shaped fist rose from the ground and began pummeling Blaziken but giving it no target.
"Blaziken no!" May cried worried.
"Having Gengar hide under the ground makes for an effective defence." Cilan observed.
"And because Shadow Punch always hits it doesn't matter if Gengar can't see Blaziken." Bianca added.
"That's true but don't count May out just yet." Max vouched for his sister's abilities.
"Blaziken use Mega Kick on the field!" Blaziken's raised its foot high glowing blue then brought it down on the field cracking the earth disturbing Gengar's hiding place forcing it out of the ground. "Fire Spin!" The Hoenn Fire type hit Gengar with another spiral of flame trapping in the fire. "Finish up with Blaze Kick!" Blaziken jumped into the fire spiral and assaulted the ghost type with Blaze Kick this time however Gengar could not move freely being trapped by the flames and took the attack dead on.
"Gengar!"
"A combination that deals a good amount of damage and also prevents Gengar from using its movement." Cilan said watching intently.
"That's May for you, she's almost the opposite of Ash, she battles like a coordinator but use a mixture of moves that you would normally see from a gym battler." Brock joined in.
"Flamethrower!"
"Shadow Ball!"
Both Pokémon launched their attacks which met in a stalemate in the center of the field. "Now Gengar Dark Pulse." Gengar formed an orb the pulsated dark energy in its hand then fired a beam of black and purple circles at the Shadow ball giving it the energy to overpower flamethrower and hit Blaziken. "Night Shade!" Doing as Ash commanded Gengar moved in on Blaziken fired its Night Shade attack covering Blaziken in dark energy.
"Blaziken Sky Uppercut!" The duel fire and fighting type's claw once again began to glow this Blaziken grinded its claws against the energy of the Night Shade attack making its claw glow purple before breaking out and attacking Gengar.
"Looks like May can use that Sky Uppercut attack with more then just Fire type attacks." Ash thought to himself as he looked his and May's Pokémon over, both were battered bruised and breathing heavy. "Nether of them can keep this up for much longer."
"Alright Blaziken use Fire Spin!" May ordered.
"Counter with Dark Pulse!" Ash commanded.
Both attack were fired and met in the center of the field in yet another stalemate both Blaziken and Gengar both giving as much energy as they could to their respective attacks hopping to overpower the other until the attacks exploded.
"Time to finish this up Blaziken use Overheat!" May said surprising everyone. Blaziken turned faint red as it gathered all the energy in it body then then unleashed a white fire with red and orange flame spiraling around it from it's mouth.
"Gengar counter with Dark Pulse!" Gengar fired another Dark Pulse that barely managed to hold May's attack at bay. "Use Night Shade!" Gengar was now attacking with both Night Shade and Dark Pulse that was holding off the attack still could not match Overheat. The attacks finally gave way causing a shock wave the left Gengan dazed.
"Now Blaziken use Flamethrower!" May said keep the pressure on.
"Gengar dodge it!" Ash cried out giving Gengar just enough time to escape into the air dodging the flames.
"Blaze Kick!" May gave one last order then Blaziken jump high above Gengar then came down with its fiery attack.
"Gengar Shadow Punch!" Gengar charged Blaziken in the sky with its fist enveloped in shadow.
The two Pokémon collided in midair the force of their attacks causing a shock wave that knock them both from the air. Blaziken was sent flying towards May then landing unsteadily before skidding to halt and rising to its feet. Gengar however landed in front of Ash completely knock out and unable to battle.
"Gengar!" Ash called out rushing to his Pokémon's side. You ok Gengar?" Ash asked as he helped the ghost to sit up."
"Gen gen." (I'm fine.) Gengar replied with its usual grin.
"That's good." Ash said breathing a sigh of relief.
"Gengar gar." (Sorry I lost.) Gengar said as it's grin faded.
"Don't worry about it you did awesome." Ash congratulated his Pokémon.
"You both did great." May said walking up to Ash with Blaziken at her side.
"Thanks May but I guess I still have a ways to go before I get battling like a coordinator down."
"That's true but for your first try after just learning about it you used Gengar's natural traits you countered wonderfully and your combinations were spot on, you did amazing." May encouraged her friend.
"You think so?" Ash asked.
"Of course she does, we all do." Said Dawn.
"That battle was amazing." Molly said in aw of both trainers.
"You really did show a lot of progress Ash. Said Brock.
"Yeah for battling differently then how your use to you really do a good job." Said Misty
"The blending of battle and coordination was wonder mix that left me wanting to see even more." Cilan evaluated.
"It was really cool to watch." Iris agreed.
"Thanks everybody." Ash thanked his friends. "Battling as a coordinator is different but I like it and beside no matter what I'm a battler through and through."
Like I said a few of these chapter are going to be shorter but that also means they will be coming out faster. Also I am aware that Molly was the antagonist in the third movie but to be fare she was not the first antagonist to become friends with Ash after everything was over and she was definitely not the last. And before someone asks no Ash is not going to be battling like a coordinator the rest of the story, the idea is that he is just going to incorporate that style into his own more.
Please read and review.