Sun and Moon, huh? I'm intrigued...but anyway, on with the story!
"PIKACHU, I CHOOSE YOU!"
"NIDOKING, LET'S DO THIS!"
After a battle with Serena that Ash emerged victorious from, he had been surprised by a visit from Gary Oak, his rival from Kanto. Gary had challenged him to a one-on-one battle to see who was really ahead of the game.
"I hope you're ready Ashy-boy!"
"I sure am!"
"Then you can have the first move!"
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
Pikachu landed a successful Iron Tail, but Nidoking stood his ground.
"Aren't you going to attack, Gary?"
Gary stood silent as Ash questioned his motives.
"OK, then! Pikachu, Iron Tail again!"
Again, Pikachu landed Iron Tail, and started to make Nidoking weary. However, Gary still stood silent.
"Let's finish this! Iron tail once more!"
Gary grinned.
"Grab his tail, Nidoking!"
Before Pikachu could land the attack, Nidoking used both hands to stop him.
"WHAT?!"
"Now what're you gonna do, Ash? Last time I checked, you're Pikachu only knows Thunderbolt, Electroball, Quick Attack, and Iron Tail! Since Nidoking is part Ground, Electric attacks won't work, and Quick Attack and Iron Tail could only deal significant damage if you're on the ground! Face it! You're stuck!"
Ash was at a loss for words.
He's right! I can't really do anything if Nidoking keeps holding Pikachu!
"NOW, SLAM PIKACHU INTO THE GROUND!"
Pikachu was forced into the Ground, and Nidoking pinned him there.
"Earthquake!"
A forceful earthquake surrounded the area, and Pikachu was getting hurt badly. Suddenly, Ash's eyes lit up.
"THAT'S IT! Pikachu, use your tail to get dirt in Nidoking's eyes!"
Pikachu, still pinned, used his tail to kick up dirt in his opponent's eyes. Startled, Nidoking staggered around, freeing Pikachu.
"GREAT JOB, PIKACHU!"
"Not quite! Nidoking, use Bulldoze to trap Pikachu again!"
"PIKACHU, USE IRON TAIL ON THE GROUND TO SEND YOU IN THE AIR!"
Bulldoze missed, but Ash's plan worked as Pikachu used Iron Tail to soar in the sky.
"Interesting, Ash. Very interesting. However, I'm still one step ahead. USE ICE BEAM, NIDOKING!"
"USE THUNDERBOLT WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT, PIKACHU!"
The two moves collided, with each side not giving in an inch.
"We need some extra power! Pikachu, use a combination of Quick Attack and Iron Tail!"
"Nidoking, stop!"
Pikachu began the combination and was honing in on Nidoking. Ash was gritting his teeth, so was Gary. As Pikachu got closer, Nidoking stood ready.
"GOTCHA, ASH! NIDOKING, AIM HYPER BEAM STRAIGHT AT PIKACHU!"
Nidoking let loose a Hyper Beam aiming straight at Pikachu. The latter dived headfirst into the Hyper Beam, but Ash knew his friend was okay.
"Stay strong, Pikachu! Keep running!"
Through the Hyper Beam, the two trainers could see Pikachu running through, still honing in on Nidoking. The Hyper Beam ended and Pikachu charged into Nidoking at high speed, and then completed the combo with an Iron Tail. Both were still standing.
"Let's finish this, Ash!"
"Let's do it!"
"IRON TAIL!"
"SUPERPOWER, NIDOKING!"
Both Pokemon charged at each other with Superpower and Iron Tail. Pikachu jumped and aimed the Iron Tail, while Nidoking had jumped too, with Superpower prepared.
"GO, PIKACHU!"
"FINISH THIS, NIDOKING!"
Nidoking landed Superpower while getting hit with Iron Tail, and vice versa with Pikachu. The two crashed to the ground, both panting. Nidoking got up, and stared at a Pikachu, who was still on the ground.
"Looks like this is it, Ash!"
"PIKACHU, GET UP!"
"HYPER BEAM!"
"PIKACHU, RUN!"
However, it was too late. Nidoking had scored a successful Hyper Beam, knocking out Pikachu.
"Pikachu!"
Ash ran over to Pikachu, who was bruised and battered, while Gary returned Nidoking to his Pokeball. He then walked over to Ash.
"Although I hate to admit it, you've got one gutsy Pikachu."
"What do you mean?"
Serena and Bonnie ran over to Ash and Gary.
"Most Pokemon couldn't last two Hyper Beams and a Superpower from a Nidoking."
"This Pikachu isn't like most Pokemon."
"You just don't get it, do you Ash?"
The three looked at Gary.
"When I say they couldn't last, I mean they couldn't last! Nidoking has the power to kill any Pokemon in its path with enough training. However, I've managed to restrain his power. I don't want any Pokemon to suffer what one of my Pokemon had..."
"What do you mean, Gary?"
Clemont finished setting the table.
"LUNCH IS READY! COME AND GET IT!"
"Come on, Ash. Let's eat!" Serena urged Ash, but he was planted to the spot.
"I'll be right there, Serena."
Serena slowly walked away with Bonnie, before turning back to look at Ash.
"You see, Ash," Gary explained, "As I studied in my Gramps' lab as a researcher, I also studied specific Pokemon. One of my favorite was a Raticate. I found him as an innocent little Rattata, and decided to take him under my wing. We played together, trained together, until finally, he evolved into a Raticate. Our bond was unbreakable. Like yours and Pikachu's..."
Ash stayed silent. Gary stood with his hands in his pocket.
"Then one day...I met this one trainer. A rather mysterious one. I met him aboard the S.S. Anne. He was wearing a red vest and jeans, and had a red cap. When I met him, we battled, you know how it goes...but when I used my Raticate, he went full force. His Pokemon was relentless. I could still remember the flames that consumed my Raticate from his Charmeleon. He pounded my Raticate, even when it already lost. But he still continued to harm my Pokemon. Brick Break, Dragon Claw, you name it. Until finally, he used Focus Punch and sent him flying."
A tear slid down Gary's face.
"I ran over to Raticate. He could barely breathe. I wanted to give the trainer a piece of my mind, but he had vanished. The second I got off the ship, I ran towards the Pokemon Center, Raticate in hand. But by the time I gave him to Nurse Joy, it was too late. It didn't take long for her to return to me and give me the news."
His formed a tight fist. He clenched his teeth.
"It was over. I walked over to Lavender Town and buried one of my best friends. I was about to join him...I called out Kingler to finish the job with Guillotine, but I stopped myself."
"I'm really sorry, Gary. I can't imagine what it felt like."
He put his hand on Gary's shoulder only to have it brushed off.
"It's because you never will, Ash Ketchum. You never will understand how it feels to have one of your friends die in front of your eyes! NEVER!"
"Gary?"
"But you will understand how it feels to have your dreams die! You'll feel the aching pain and sorrow of having to say goodbye to the hope and will have to dream nightmares about how you failed! HOW YOU LET YOURSELF DOWN AND YOUR FRIENDS DOWN AND THE WORLD DOWN! IT WILL DRIVE YOU MAD WITH INSANITY, KNOWING THAT YOU'RE HELPLESS AGAINST IT! HOW YOU'LL CONSTANTLY THINK OF HOW WEAK YOU REALLY ARE!"
Ash stood, surprised at this sudden outburst. Gary stood staring at him, seething with rage.
"That's why..."
Ash listened.
"That's why I'll finish the job myself. You're not getting to the Pokemon League. You're not getting to the Elite Four. I'LL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER TOUCH THE TITLE OF KALOS CHAMPION!"
"I'll prove you wrong! Like I did when we were kids!"
"But we're not kids, Ash! This is not the Orange League. This isn't some minor tournament. THIS IS THE KALOS LEAGUE, THE BATTLE FOR CHAMPION TITLE."
Gary stood panting, then finally glared at Ash.
"I'll see you soon, Ashy-boy! Real soon..."
He then walked off. Ash walked to where his friends were eating, thinking of his former rival turned enemy.
"Are you OK, Ash?" Clemont asked.
"I think we should get a move on."
"But you didn't eat!" Serena protested.
Silently, Ash healed his Pikachu. While Clemont cleaned up.
Ten minutes later, they were ready to continue on to Snowbelle City.
"Are you sure you'll be fine on an empty stomach?" Serena asked.
Ash looked at Serena with determination.
"I'm not hungry for food. Only for victory."
TO BE CONTINUED...