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Chapter 5- The Extreme Showdown: Infernape versus Greninja!
"Well, Ash," said Rahl with a slight smile. "It's been fun, this battle. It got my blood racing, my heart accelerating, and excitement rushing through my soul. However, this must end. And it will end."
Ash grinned toothily. "Don't worry Rahl," he teased. "It'll end with my win!"
"We'll see," said Rahl, smirking slightly. "Infernape, go!"
His Pokeball burst open, revealing the Flame Pokemon. Infernape roared loud and long, looking challengingly at Ash.
"Greninja, I choose you!" The Ninja Pokemon, now out of its Pokeball, glared intently at Infernape with pale red eyes. Infernape returned the glare, eyes narrowing.
"Well then," said Ash, "we'll make the first move! Greninja, use Aerial Ace!"
Serena thought that Greninja, although it didn't show it, was just as pumped as his trainer, because she had never seen it move faster. Greninja crossed the distance between Infernape and itself quickly, its legs glowing white.
"Infernape, use Mach Punch!" shouted Rahl.
Infernape's fist blazed blue, and it charged as well. It collided hard with Greninja, getting a kick to its face for lack of defence, but it managed to punch Greninja on its face. Both Pokemon landed on their feet, ready to fight till the end.
"Cut!"
"Mach Punch, again!" commanded Rahl.
Greninja's gleaming sword slashed hard at Infernape, the Pokemon countering with a glowing blue fist. Mach Punch managed to snap the thin blade in half, and it smashed hard into Greninja's chest, making the ninja frog fly backwards.
"Mach Punch is super effective, since Greninja is part Dark," said Clemont, a little worried. Serena was worried as well, and she clasped her hands in anxiety over her heart once more.
"Water Shuriken, let's go!" said Ash quickly.
The Ninja Pokemon back-flipped and fired several shuriken from its hands, fast as lightning, and they hit Infernape just as accurately. Infernape winced slightly at the super effective move, but stood strong.
Rahl nodded. "Good, now use Thunder Punch!"
"Greninja," ordered Ash, "use Aerial Ace!"
Greninja's legs glowed white again, while Infernape's left fist crackled with yellow electricity. They moved as quickly as lightning, and battered each other as hard as they could, neither of them giving an inch. If Infernape was kicked by the swift Ninja Pokemon, it retaliated just as fiercely with an electrically-charged punch at Greninja's face or stomach. Ash and Rahl both wiped sweat from their foreheads, and continued to give commands.
"This is wonderful," said Clemont exuberantly. "Thunder Punch and Aerial Ace are good moves to use against Greninja and Infernape respectively. I really don't know who's going to win."
'I do hope Ash wins,' thought Serena, but did not say it out loud so as not to make Rahl feel hurt. Bonnie (and Dedenne) were too absorbed in the battle to listen to what Clemont was saying.
"Greninja, use Double Team!"
"Mow them all down with Flamethrower!"
As the many copies of Greninja appeared on the field, Infernape shot them away with its amazingly powerful Flamethrower. Soon just a lone Greninja was standing on the field, looking very surprised.
Ash gritted his teeth while Rahl clenched his fist. Both the trainers wanted to win so much…..it was almost painful to watch.
But there had to be a winner, and there had to be a loser, since one could not exist without the other, and both Ash and Rahl understood that, which was obviously why they were enjoying the battle so much, knowing that one would lose and the other would win, eventually.
Ash grinned widely. "Me and Greninja are gonna win this, just y'all see!" he shouted. His eyes strayed towards Serena as he said this, and the honey blonde found herself blushing.
"I don't think so, you know," commented Rahl, who was grinning as well, though not as widely as Ash. "We're gonna win!"
"We'll get even, even, EVEN stronger!" roared Rahl and Ash at the same time, clenching their fists while Infernape and Greninja mimicked their respective trainer's movements. "LET'S GO!"
"Yaaaaaay! Ash-Greninja and Rahl-Infernape have stolen the show, and are having a fight to the death!~" said Bonnie, gleefully jumping up and down. Dedenne squealed in excitement while Squishy gurgled appreciatively.
"Wow…." said Serena, quite astonished by Rahl-Infernape's appearance.
"I hear you," said Clemont. "Infernape now looks so much more intimidating!"
The cyclone of flames surrounding Infernape almost instantly coalesced into its tail. The flames on its head blazed white, similar to Rahl's hair, and the crown above its eyes was now lined with gold. Its tail, which was previously brown, was now thicker and white. It thickened out even more at the end, like a torch, out of which was issuing warm orange flames. The tail was also encircled occasionally with gold. It held itself more regally now, and its eyes, now a dark grey, glittered with power.
Greninja itself had transformed into its Ash-Greninja state. With a large Water Shuriken on its back, and its eyes gleaming crimson, it was hard to decide which one of the Pokemon looked cooler, or more terrifying. Both grinned at each other once more, Ash and Rahl doing the same.
"All right Infernape, use Thunder Punch!" roared Rahl, punching the air with his fist. Infernape leaped forward, copying its trainer with a fist crackling with electricity.
"Greninja, Aerial Ace!" commanded Ash, lifting his leg up as if he was going to dig his heel onto the face of an imaginary enemy. Greninja's foot descended very much the same way as Ash's; and both the attacks collided with a fearsome explosion that rocked the arena, and showered Clemont, Serena and Bonnie with dust.
"Waaah, I can't see!" wailed Bonnie in protest. Serena blinked sand out of her eyes and peered at the arena. To her astonishment she saw Infernape and Greninja still going at it; Infernape repeatedly punched Greninja as hard as it could while Greninja returned the blows with sharp kicks of its own.
"Flamethrower!"
"Water Shuriken!"
"Thunder Punch!"
"Aerial Ace!"
The battered and beaten Pokemon fought on, and harder than ever. If Greninja scored a hit on the Flame Pokemon, Infernape would instantly kick it up. If Infernape managed to sock Greninja on its chin, it found itself being bombarded furiously with multiple Water Shuriken the size of Frisbees.
The other three were now so absorbed in the furious battle that Rayquaza itself could've appeared and none of them, especially Serena, would've noticed. The honey blonde's eyes were on Ash only, and her face was the colour of strawberry ice cream.
'He looks so handsome when he's battling…' she thought, failing to stop her face becoming redder. However, it was clear to Clemont, and only Clemont, that Infernape held a slight upper hand in the battle.
"Now, Mach Punch!" ordered Rahl.
"Cut, now!" shouted Ash.
"Greee ninja!" cried Greninja, slashing at Infernape with two swords sharp as steel in its hands. Infernape countered with hard punches to Greninja's midriff. Both Pokemon were looking exhausted, and were breathing heavily, which did not escape the notice of the two trainers. (How could it not?)
"End this Greninja, use Water Shuriken!" roared Ash, mimicking Greninja unslinging the shuriken on its back and flinging it at Infernape. However, Ash and Greninja both stumbled, and released the shuriken in a rather unrefined, sloppy manner.
"Oh no-" said Clemont, horrified.
"Flare Blitz!" screamed Rahl.
"Feeeerrrr naaaape!" Infernape showered the arena with blinding blue flames. It rushed towards the shuriken and burst straight through it, shocking everyone.
"No… no…" whispered Serena, all happy thoughts expelled from her mind by a black shadow of horror, the horror that appeared when she saw Ash lose…
"This is the end!" roared Rahl. "Infernape, go!"
The Flame Pokemon finally smashed into Greninja, and the sheer force of the blow slammed Greninja away into the air. Ash gave a horrifying jolt at the pain rushing through his body, Greninja's pain rushing through his body. The Ninja Pokemon twirled helplessly in mid-air, and fell, cracking the ground on impact. Ash's knees buckled severely, and he fell as well, completely unconscious.
There was silence, smoke streaming everywhere. Infernape deactivated its Rahl-Infernape mode, but did not cheer in delight or happiness. Both Rahl and Infernape were looking gravely at Ash and Greninja, both lying on the ground severely injured.
"G-Greninja is unable to battle," coughed Clemont. "Therefore, the match goes to Rahl."
But there was no whooping from the winner's end; instead Rahl (who had quickly returned Infernape to its Pokeball after muttering brief congratulations to it) was running to Ash and helping the boy up, panting slightly.
"Ash needs medical help," croaked Rahl hoarsely, holding Ash up by his arms. "Come on, let's go to the Centre."
"Pika pika," said Pikachu.
"Yes," agreed Serena sadly, hoisting Ash up by his other arm. Bonnie trailed behind worriedly along with Clemont, Dedenne and Squishy both looking concerned for Ash. Clemont took Greninja's Pokeball from Ash and gently tapped the Ninja Pokemon with it. Greninja returned to the Pokeball, and stayed there. Pikachu leaped up on Serena's shoulder and nestled there, almost crying at Ash's wounds.
There was silence as Rahl, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie entered the Pokemon Centre. Nurse Joy gaped at Ash in shock, but after a quick explanation from Clemont, she nodded, promising to treat Greninja properly while his trainer recuperated. The white haired trainer asked for a room in which Ash could rest, and Audino allocated one to them immediately. Rahl checked Ash over and turned towards Serena, looking worried.
"Serena," said Rahl in a low tone, looking at her. "I won't sugarcoat it; Ash is in a bad way. His injuries are really bad, and well…" his face darkened, "he's pretty sick as well."
Serena felt sick herself, as did Pikachu, obviously. The little Mouse Pokemon was gazing at Ash and disregarding the bruises along its own body. Bonnie looked stricken, Dedenne had a miserable look on its face, and Squishy was just gurgling quietly to itself. Clemont however, turned to Rahl and said, "But what about you, Rahl? You should be just as injured as Ash is. After all, the match was pretty intense."
A low, humourless chuckle escaped Rahl's lips. "You needn't worry about me, I'm fine," he replied. "Infernape's gone to the infirmary; that's enough for me. I am not too badly wounded."
"But why are you not injured, but Ash is?" asked Bonnie.
"Nenene," agreed Dedenne, and Pikachu also looked at Rahl.
"I am injured," said Rahl, "I'm just ignoring the pain, because Ash is worse off than I am."
"Come on," pleaded Clemont. "You rest as well, its fine-"
"No can do," Rahl winced. "Ash is injured, and that's it. No more arguments."
"Leave it, guys," said Serena, not looking up. Everyone but Rahl looked at the honey blonde in shock.
"Serena-" started Clemont.
"He's right," said Serena, finally looking up at the blond inventor. "Ash has a fever, Clemont. Rahl doesn't."
"Thanks," said Rahl. "All right, we need a couple Super Potions, some Oran Berries, some ice and some mint, if you can find it. Get going, Bonnie, Serena. Clemont, I want you to help them."
"Got'cha," said Clemont, hurrying after the girls.
Rahl sighed, and looked at the still-prone Ash. "You idiot," he whispered. "Serena is in love with you, and you reciprocate. Get on with your relationship, or she'll give up. They all do."
Ash stirred slightly and Rahl shifted, careful not to disturb him.
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-Nirgends101