Chapter 57
The flames of Moltres had done its job and now heated his very soul down to the core. Though he had been nervous the night before, Ash now felt an invigoration within his spirit. Meeting up with Brock after the opening ceremonies, the pair headed off toward the lobby. Not only did he have to register for the tournament, but Ash was also curious to know who his first opponent would be.
The constant buzzing of excited voices droned out all around from Trainers of every size and shape going from point A to point B, some already having registered and gotten their first round opponent, while others were going in the same direction as Ash and Brock. But Ash had seen no sign of Gary, Pierre, Otoshi, or any of the other Trainers he promised to meet here at the tournament. He had seen Gary briefly during the opening ceremony, but that was it. It wasn't surprising, however, from the amount of people that were actually here.
Finally getting to the lobby, Ash and Brock only had to wait in a small, quick-moving line before being called over by a young woman behind a counter. "Welcome to Pokémon Village," she greeted as Ash approached. "I need your identification so I can check you in, please." Ash reached into the pocket of his jacket to retrieve his Pokédex, but he barely had his fingers around the red device before he was pushed out of the way by his traveling companion.
"Ash can check in while I check out your beautiful smile," Brock said to the girl in a flirtatious tone, and leaned against the counter. "I could check that out all day..." The young woman's mask of professionalism broke, and she stammered with her mouth opening and closing like a fish, but Ash quickly pushed the Pokémon Breeder out of the way just in the same manner that he had and gave the counter girl a nervous chuckle as an unsaid apology before giving her his Pokédex.
She finally found her voice and opened up his Pokédex before clicking a few buttons to bring up his picture on the screen. "Is this your first time at the Pokémon League?" she asked politely as small talk as she did so.
"Uh, yes!" he smiled back, and her face lightened warmly as she placed Dexter into her computer. After pressing a few keys on the keyboard in front of her, she removed the Pokédex and handed it back to its owner.
"Well, that's it! You're all checked in."
"Thank you," he said, and took his Pokédex back. "Uh, miss, who am I battling at the Indigo Stadium?"
"Hold it, Ash!" Brock interrupted, rising from the ground that he had been laying upon. "You don't start out at the Indigo Stadium." Brock looked up at the TV screen above the woman's head, and Ash followed his eyes.
"What do you mean, Brock?" The display showed an aerial view of the stadium where Ash had just been in earlier that morning.
"At the Indigo Plateau Conference of Pokémon League, they use four different battlefields." As Brock explained this, the screen changed from the screensaver to four different selections featuring a different element. "Rock, grass, water, and ice. You have to win your matches on all four battlefields before you can battle in the Indigo Stadium." And, ducking down and resting his chin on the counter, a goofy grin spread across Brock's face. "Isn't that right?"
The woman didn't reply verbally, and only gave a nervous laugh in response. "Brock, how'd you know about that?" Ash asked.
Proudly, Brock shot up and pulled a book out of his vest pocket. "Because I studied this: the Pokémon League Trainer's Book – the source for everything every Pokémon Trainer needs to know about the Pokémon League." Once again, a blush spread across his face, and he turned to the girl as if looking for praise. "Right, miss?"
"That's... right..." she muttered with an uncomfortable smile. But Ash didn't pay attention to this, and looked at the four selections with a finger to his chin.
"Uh, what field do I have to battle on first?" he questioned.
"All you have to do is press this button," the Pokémon League official told him, gesturing to a red button in front of her keyboard. She pressed the top, and it lit up. "Where ever the light stops is where your first match is." Hearing beeping coming from up top, Ash saw that a light was spinning around in a clockwise motion on the screen. "Good luck, Ash." Faster and faster it spun, and he tried to keep up, but it eventually got too fast to follow with his eyes, so putting all of his faith in his hand, he pressed his gloved palm to the button's polished surface and pressed it silently. As it had started, the light slowly began to slow down, and eventually, it stopped on the blue section in the upper left. His first match would be on the water field.
"All right!" Ash said, his eyebrows coming together as he smirked. His best Pokémon was a Water-type, so he was sure to win.
"The water field it is," the young woman affirmed, and began to type on her keyboard. "Now the system will select your opponent." Ash watched as his picture appeared on one half of the screen, and after a few keystrokes from the woman's keyboard, another picture popped up beside it. This one featured a young man with long turquoise hair and a flamboyant pink top.
"I guess that's the guy I'm gonna beat!" the black-haired boy stated confidently.
"His name's Mandi," the receptionist told him. "You're the third match. Be there by one! And good luck."
"Thanks!"
o 0 o
Since they still had some time before Ash's match, so Ash and Brock decided to go get some food while they waited for the time to pass. They walked down the main street with all the shops, and while Ash's eyes were on the lookout for a good restaurant, Brock's nose was buried in the Pokémon Trainer's guide. "It sure was lucky that I got the water field first," Ash said with a small smile on his face. "Blastoise and I are gonna win for sure!"
"I'm not so sure just relying on Blastoise is such a good idea, Ash," Brock replied, not looking up from the book. The Pallet Town Trainer raised an eyebrow and turned to Brock, but before he could ask him why, he heard another voice call out to him from the sidelines.
"Hiya, Ash," Gary called in his sneering voice, and him and Brock looked to their right to see Gary sitting under an umbrella-shaded table. His cheerleaders were seated all around him, but he was the only one drinking from a cup of coffee. "So, you're on the water field first?"
"Y-yeah," Ash sputtered in response. "How about you?"
"I'm battling on the ice field first," Gary answered with an everlasting smug look. "Well, I really hope you win your first battle, Ashy-boy. I would feel just terrible if you lost." The somewhat kind words that Gary was saying was throwing Ash off, and it almost made him more uncomfortable than when he was being mean to him.
"Yeah...? Why's that?"
Gary scoffed and placed his palm on his chest. "Cause I want the pleasure of beating you myself. Then you'll see what a real Pokémon Master looks like."
"Gee, I thought I had confidence..." Ash murmured as a shadow fell over his eyes cast down from the brim of his hat. But Gary didn't hear him, and instead looked at the clock tower that was nearby.
"Hey, it's getting late. Time for my first victory," he said, and stood up from his seat. "Well, looks like I gotta run, Ashy-boy. I look forward to seeing how much you've improved compared to me." And with that, he gave Ash a smirk and departed from the cafe with his cheerleaders in tow.
"Gary, Gary, he's the one; he's gonna be the Champion!"
Ash wasn't sure what annoyed him the most: Gary or his cheerleader's obnoxious cheers, and his lips peeled back in a snarl. "I'll show him!"
"You know, that was actually surprisingly... tame for Gary," Brock commented, letting the book hang while his fingers kept his spot on the page.
"Paging Trainer Ash Ketchum! Paging Trainer Ash Ketchum!" A woman's voice rang out over the intercom system and echoed throughout the park. "Please go to the nearest courtesy phone for an important call."
"For me?" Ash asked no one in particular. Luckily, the Pokémon Center was nearby, so it was just a quick walk from there. As expected, it was a large center that was filled with many Trainers, but Ash didn't pay any attention to it and looked for the video phones. There was a line of them with each of them occupied, and once a young man hung up from his own phone call, Ash stepped forward and typed in the combination that showed his name in the 'CALL WAITING' section. When the screen lit up, he saw Professor Oak's smiling face on the other side.
"Hi there, Ash!" he greeted.
"Professor Oak!" Ash said with slight surprise. It wasn't often the professor went out of his way to call him. "Is... something wrong?"
"No, I was thinking you might want to swap one of your Pokémon," the gray-haired professor suggested.
"What for?"
"So you can use different Pokémon," Professor Oak responded matter-of-factually. "In fact, Gary just traded two of his Pokémon to get ready for his first battle." Professor Oak's dark eyes then pulled down to the corner of the screen, and at the same time, a familiar scarlet claw rose into the view-screen. An idea flashed in his head, and he grinned from ear-to-ear.
"Hey! Krabby'd be perfect for a water battle!" Hearing its Trainer call its name, Krabby gurgled and looked at the camera.
"Krabby doesn't look too shabby!"
"Professor, could you send Krabby right away?"
"Can do, Ash! But because you already have six Pokémon on you, you'll have to send me one of yours, first."
Ash thought for just a moment before deciding. "I'll send you Tauros." Professor Oak nodded and smiled down at the Water Pokémon by his monitor.
"This should really cheer you up, Krabby," he said to the Crab Pokémon, who nodded and looked happily at Ash in response. Ash placed the Safari Ball on the transporter beside the video phone, and Professor Oak stood up and walked out of the camera's view. "This should just take a moment." As quickly as he left the screen, his mom's face soon took its place.
"Honey, you look thin; are you eating all right?"
"Mom?!" he exclaimed, surprised at seeing her at the professor's lab. "You're there?"
"Professor Oak invited a bunch of us over here," she explained. "We saw you and Brock on television! Everyone in the neighborhood is rooting for you, sweetie!" She pivoted the camera just a bit to the right and a handful of acquaintances from his mother's restaurant, some of their neighbors, and even his aunt Hillary and cousins Trey and Troy were there; the boys holding a sign up that they had scrawled 'FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!' on its white surface. Even Mr. Mime was there, in its usual green apron and smiled at the camera while looking up from its sweeping.
"That's really... great. Can they put down those signs, please," Ash sputtered, feeling his face burning from embarrassment while he heard Brock chuckle from behind him.
"All set," the Professor's voice rang through the speakers. "Now to begin transport."
A bright light shot down from the transfer device, and it converted Tauros's Poké Ball into energy. In a blink of an eye, it disappeared, and an animation on screen showed a generic Tauros picture following a line. On the other side of the line, a generic picture of a Krabby was moving the opposite way. "Here comes Krabby!" Ash sang, and chuckled with excitement as a bright light similar to lightning sparked down and formed into a normal red and white Poké Ball. Clutching the metal sphere in his hand, he held it up to the camera as proof. "It's here, Professor; the Poké Ball's here!"
"I got your Tauros as well," the gray-haired professor confirmed. "Good luck."
But before he hung up, his mom's face appeared in the screen once again. "Ash! Just remember to brush your teeth, go to bed early, and make sure to wear clean you-know-what every day!" Under normal circumstances, this would have been embarrassing considering that half of the neighborhood was behind her, but Ash was so excited that he felt like nothing could stop him, and he instead smiled at the camera that projected his face to Pallet Town.
"Mom! I'll do everything you say!"
"We'll be watching you and cheering!" she winked, and a loud uproar behind her from his supporters almost overwhelmed her voice. "Good luck in your match, honey!"
o 0 o
Cradling Krabby's Poké Ball in his hands like a newborn egg, his elation was projected into his voice as he bounced from foot to foot with the Pokémon Center at their backs. "With Blastoise and Krabby, this match should be pretty easy!" A chuckle grabbed the pair's attention, and they looked directly in front of them to see Ash's water field opponent standing in front of them. A single hand rested on his hip, and he was looking at Ash with a calm, almost confident face.
"You must mean easy for me," he interjected. "I am the Astounding Mandi. I am your opponent."
"I'm Ash!" the smaller boy greeted, and walked forward while holding his hand forward. "It's very nice to meet you!" The turquoise-haired young man frowned at Ash's hand, and slowly reached his own hand out, but before Ash could shake his opponent's hand, he pulled it away in a flourish. He opened and closed his hand, and a Poké Ball seemed to appear out of nowhere and bounced into his hand.
"I'm sorry," he apologized with his eyes closed and a roll of his tongue, and with a smooth gesture of his hand, the red and white sphere bounced off his palm and onto the tip of his index finger where it spun around and around. "My hands are for Poké Balls, not for people..."
"You know, in the guidebook, it says that every Trainer should conduct themselves with dignity and restraint before and during a match," Brock spoke up with a slight frown, but Mandi only chuckled in response.
"That's an unfortunate word," he replied, and with a swing of his hand, he opened his eyes and caught the Poké Ball before it clattered to the ground. "I'm afraid your eager little friend... will be no match for me." He waved his hand that held the Poké Ball and it disappeared as quickly as it reappeared, and he turned on his heel. "Lovely meeting you," he said in a tone that hinted it was not, and Ash only watched with furrowed eyebrows as his first-round opponent walked off.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about, Ash," Brock assured him, but instead of being disheartened, Ash only smirked.
"He just talked himself into the toughest match he'll ever have."
o 0 o
Finally succeeding in their original goal of finding someplace to eat, Ash and Brock were eating a couple of hamburgers. Ash couldn't battle on an empty stomach, after all. His mind wasn't on Mandi, either. In Ash's experience, anyone with overconfidence was bound to lose. But it seemed Brock wasn't thinking the same thoughts as he.
"Ash, are you sure you want to use Krabby against Mandi?" he brought up after swallowing a mouthful of his food.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, you've never used Krabby in a battle," he pointed out.
"Brock, you were the one that said that I should have more variety instead of just relying on Blastoise," Ash argued lightly.
"True, but just think: you only get to use three Pokémon, and you have to pick the right ones," he elaborated. Ash's eyes drifted from Brock to the other Pokémon Trainers in the restaurant. They had long since finished eating, and were looking at their Poké Balls as if they were trying to figure out a jigsaw puzzle. "A lot of matches are decided before they even start; when Trainers pick the right or wrong Pokémon to battle with."
Ash's brows came together in realization, and he put down the little bit of his hamburger that had yet to be eaten on the tray in front of him with his mind a million miles away. "You could be right..."
"Well, it's still your decision," Brock said after swallowing the last bit of his own food, and this made Ash's face lighten a bit.
"I know; thanks Brock," he smiled at his friend.
The cheers erupting from the nearby TV monitor by the cash register grabbed their attention, and they turned around to see an icy battlefield being displayed through the camera. "We're here on the ice field where Gary Oak has just scored an impressive victory." After the camera was finished panning over the freezing-looking stadium, Gary's face appeared on the screen, giving the camera a peace sign. "Gary, how are you feeling about your first win?" Ash pulled in a gasp upon seeing that his rival had made it through his first round match.
"Well naturally, winning your first battle is always important," he answered professionally with his arms crossed. "Of course in every Pokémon match, there has to be a winner and there has to be a loser. I'm just relieved that everything went according to plan." Despite the frosty background, a fire burned in the pit of Ash's stomach. Since Gary had to win, now Ash had to, as well.
o 0 o
When Ash showed up to the water stadium, he could hear the crowd roaring at the battle happening inside. He had arrived at the tail end of the battle, and a redheaded girl's Starmie and a Seaking were sending attacks back and forth. Hidden in the shadows of the entryway, him and Brock watched silently as the Starmie fired a Water Gun at the opposing Seaking, but the Goldfish Pokémon dodged the water jet coming out of its top appendage and dove down. It continued its descent and tilted its body until it finally drove its horn into the Mysterious Pokémon's gem-like core. The purple Pokémon fell onto its back and its gem began to flash.
"Starmie is out of the match! The winner is Seaking!" the referee called, raising the green flag in his hand. The water-bound Pokémon splashed into the water, and re-emerged in front of its Trainer, leaping out of the water and into its owner's waiting arms. Though the brown-haired boy got soaked, neither of them cared as they embraced over their victory.
"What a finish! Seaking's Horn Attack sank any chance of a Starmie comeback, and the green Trainer is the winner!"
As a picture of the young man's face appeared on the screen, Ash's hand tightened and began to shake. "We're up next..." he muttered, trying to hide the fact that his voice was shaking as well.
"Don't be nervous; I'm certainly not!" Brock said proudly with his arms crossed over his chest, and Ash sent him a sideways glance. Of course he wasn't; the wasn't the one that was going to battle.
A Pokémon League official waved to Ash from the sidelines; they had finished preparing the stadium after the last battle. The cheer of anticipation from the crowd sounded so loud in his ears, but the open maw leading out into the battlefield seemed so far away in contrast. He let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and pulled his eyebrows together. He needed to be confident. "I'm ready..."
The crowd called out louder as Ash made an appearance in the sunlight, and he stepped out onto the green booth. The battlefield was circular and a deep pool of water, but there were circular marble platforms dotted throughout the pool for land-based Pokémon. This was it. His first stadium of his first match of the Pokémon League.
"And now, the start of the third battle on the water field!" the announcer cried, his amplified voice drowning out the yell of the audience, but Ash tried not to pay any attention to them, and only looked ahead as Mandi stepped up onto the red box. "On the green side is newcomer Ash Ketchum from Pallet. On the right side – a Pokémon League favorite – the Astounding Mandi. Ketchum's accompanied by his coach as he faces one of the most popular Pokémon Trainers, known for his exciting battle style." The 'coach' of course, was referring to Brock, who sat on a bench behind Ash.
Mandi took the compliment with a smug look, and his cool eyes flashed confidently at Ash. "Each Trainer is allowed only three Pokémon. Now let the battle begin!" A bell rung, and the referee held out both of his flags, signaling the start of the battle.
"It's showtime," Mandi began, and raised his hand. Closing his empty hand, as he opened it, a Poké Ball grew from its travel size to normal. "Now Ash, watch me work my magic." Ash didn't have any kind of flourish like he did, but produced his own Poké Ball.
"I have some tricks of my own!" he cried, rearing his arm back. "I'm not just some twerp!"
"Go, Exeggutor!"
"Go, Krabby!" Both Trainers threw their Poké Balls out, and both Pokémon appeared on the respective sides. On a marble platform, Krabby appeared on Ash's side, and though the Crab Pokémon had grown with time over at Professor Oak's since he had last had it on his team, it was still tiny in comparison to Mandi's Pokémon.
"Exeggutor!" the Grass and Psychic Pokémon's three heads chanted, and each pair of eyes glanced across at its opponent.
"Mandi's starting with Exeggutor while Ash is commencing with Krabby!"
"What Pokémon is that?" Ash asked, retrieving his Pokédex and quickly scanning Mandi's Pokémon.
"Exeggutor, a Coconut Pokémon. Also known as 'The Walking Tropical Rain Forest.' Each coconut has a distinct face and its own character. Its special attack is Hypnosis."
Closing the cover to his Pokédex once the entry was over, he looked forward at Mandi and his Pokémon and smirked. Even if Brock was right and Krabby would be defeated here, that Pokémon should be a piece of cake for Blastoise and Bulbasaur as his his backup. "Exeggutor, Psywave now!"
"Exeggutor!" His Pokémon dipped its body forward, and its eyes began to glow light green before a ring of white energy shot out at Krabby.
"Krabby, dive in and Harden!" Ash instructed. A small gurgle was barely eligible as the Crab Pokémon scuttled to the side and splashed into the water. Moments later, the Psywave attack scraped against the marble where Krabby stood previously, leaving a dig in the smooth surface. But despite the fact that Krabby had dodged his attack, Mandi smirked.
"Now, I've got it..." The green glow in its eyes from the Psywave attack faded, but it soon started up again as Exeggutor stood up straight. In the center of the pool of water, Ash's eyes caught movement. The water was starting to... spin? Faster and faster, it began to spin on its own, and with each passing second, the whirlpool began larger, parting the water in the center until it reached the bottom of the pool. Ash's Krabby was exposed! Krabby looked around, unsure of what was happening, but was soon sucked into the swirling water and Ash let out a gasp.
"Krabby!"
"Krabby looks like a rubber duck in the whirlpool! Things don't look for the newcomer from Pallet."
"Quick, Ash! Switch to Blastoise!" Brock called, standing up with panic in his face. "It looks like that Exeggutor is using a Psychic attack!" Ash's mind was racing as he decided whether or not to recall his Pokémon, but Mandi extended his arm and commanded before he could make up his mind.
"Exeggutor, Egg Bomb attack!" he ordered. With its eyes still glowing with Psychic energy, Exeggutor fired a barrage of glowing white egg-shaped projectiles high into the air. The soared straight up, and then stopped once gravity got its hold on them and soon began to rain down on the whirlpool, sending up splashes as they exploded upon contact.
"Wow! Exeggutor is giving us quite a show! It looks like fireworks down there!"
Ash bit his lip, and finally made a decision; poor Krabby was helpless out there as the swirling water carried it around and around. Holding out its Poké Ball, he called, "Krabby, return!" And though the red beam of energy attempted to shoot at his Pokémon, it was moving too fast, and was repelled by the water. He tried again, only for it to be blocked by a geyser of water from the result of an Egg Bomb's explosion.
"It looks like Exeggutor's barrage has created a wall of water, making it impossible for Ketchum to recall Krabby."
"C'mon!" Ash exclaimed, feeling himself getting slightly frustrated, looking ahead as Exeggutor fired another barrage of Egg Bombs from its leaves high into the air and continued to have them rain down over the continuing whirlpool.
"Exeggutor is getting drenched out there, but its not even flinching; Mandi has trained it well as Exeggutor seems to have the strongest traits of both Psychic and Grass-type Pokémon." Mandi watched the scene silently with a small smile on his face and his arms crossed, but suddenly, his face changed. Krabby had finally managed to break free of the whirlpool and poked its scarlet head out of the whirlpool's top.
"All right, Krabby!" Ash cheered. "Now! Use your... ViceGrip!" Krabby gurgled and jumped from the water with one of its pincers held forward. Since Exeggutor was still executing the pair of attacks, it didn't have time to register that Ash's Pokémon had broken free of its trap. It pinched its claw down on Exeggutor's leaves, and both Egg Bomb and Psychic stopped instantly as the Coconut Pokémon reeled back.
"Exeggutor!" it cried.
"Exeggutor, Hypnosis!" Mandi said with a frown, but Krabby held on tightly, and Exeggutor was so thrown off that it shook back and forth to try and get the opponent to let go of it.
"Now Krabby has control and has clamped onto Exeggutor's leaf plume and is stopping it from launching any attacks."
Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Ash smirked and continued his onslaught. "Leer attack!" Krabby chittered and finally let go of Exeggutor, landing on the same marble platform as it. As Exeggutor regained its bearings and looked down, Krabby's eyes began to glow light blue, which immediately intimidated Exeggutor. The Pokémon let out a cry as it flinched back. "Now! Stoooomp!" Using the momentary flinch to its advantage, Krabby launched itself at Exeggutor and extended its right feet. With precise aim, it drove the appendages directly into one of the coconuts' forehead.
"Exeggu..." Mandi's Pokémon cried out, and fell onto its back with a thump. "Tor..." Mandi's lips peeled back from his teeth in annoyance when he saw the swirls in its eyes.
"Victory for the green!" the referee on the sidelines declared.
"Krabby, you did it!" Ash cheered happily.
"Ash did it...!" Brock murmured in awe behind the Pallet Town Trainer. "Krabby did a great job!" Drinking in the cheers of its first victory, Krabby climbed atop Exeggutor's fallen figure and raised its claws in the air in celebration. Suddenly, the Water Pokémon's body began to glow white. A gasp escaped from Ash's mouth as Krabby's form began to grow larger, and one of its claws blew up to an astounding size. More crests sprouted from its head like a crown, and when the glow faded, a new Pokémon similar to Krabby stood in its place.
"Goo-kie goo-kie!" the Pincer Pokémon gurgled.
"Oh no!" Mandi exclaimed, his mouth dropping in horror at the new development.
"It looks like the intensity of the battle has caused Krabby to evolve into Kingler!" the announcer commentated, and as he did, Ash produced his Pokédex once again.
"Kingler, the evolved form of Krabby. A Pincer Pokémon whose claws can pinch with the power of 10,000 horsepower."
"That's awesome!" Ash commented with a grin, and looked back at the battlefield as Mandi recalled his Pokémon. "Well, I'm sticking with Kingler all the way!"
A loud ding rang from the scoreboard, and only of the lights disappeared under Mandi's face. "Now the Astounding Mandi must decide which of his two remaining Pokémon he will choose to battle against Ash's Kingler." Despite the loss and evolution, Mandi regained his confident face and raised his Exeggutor's Poké Ball and a new Poké Ball in between his fingers.
"The kid's had some beginner's luck, but his luck's run out." He closed his fingers, and when he opened his hand back up, only one Poké Ball remained and grew larger in his hand. He threw his Poké Ball out, and it burst open in the air. "Go, Seadra!"
The light formed together in midair, and a blue seahorse Pokémon with a cream-colored belly appeared and splashed into the water. "Doo!"
"Seadra?" Ash's Pokédex was still in his hand from scanning Kingler, so he pointed the scanner at Seadra to find out more about it as well.
"Seadra, a Dragon Pokémon. The evolved form of Horsea. Seadra has a violent temperament, and the quills that cover its body can render its victim unconscious."
"His Kingler may be strong, but he's no match... for my speedy Seadra," Mandi stated, and opened his eyes to look upon the battlefield. "Seadra, use your Agility."
"Doo!" his Pokémon cried again, and shot forward with extreme speed. The Water Pokémon moved so fast that it looked as though it were gliding on the water.
"Kingler, Water Gun, now!" Ash ordered. Kingler gave a small cry and shot a stream of water from its mouth at Seadra, but Mandi's Pokémon easily swerved around both it, and the second, third, and fourth blast of water it shot out, all the while getting closer and closer to Kingler. "Kingler, look out!"
"Dra!" the Dragon Pokémon spat, and gained speed as it neared its target.
"Kingler, Bubble!" Obeying its Trainer's command, Kingler opened its mouth and released a spray of sea foam from its mouth. Like before, Seadra served to the left to avoid the spray of bubbles, and then when Kingler fired again, it dodged to the right as well. Ash growled in frustration, but Mandi chuckled.
"Kingler's too slow to hit my Seadra when it's using its Agility," he told him. Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Kingler was sharing its Trainer's frustration, and it released another Bubble attack at Seadra. Like the previous times, Seadra drifted to the side to avoid it, but skidded on the spray of bubbles that were floating on the surface of the water from Kingler's first blow and was launched into the air.
"Oh no!" Mandi cried.
"How about that? Kingler's Bubble attack caught Seadra and sent it flying!"
"Seadra!"
"All right!" Ash cheered. "Now Kingler, Crabhammer attack!" With Seadra vulnerable in the air, Kingler bent its six legs and leapt high into the air. In one swift move, it brought its larger claw up and then finally slammed it down onto Seadra. The Pokémon plummeted through the air and splashed into the foam-covered water.
"Mandi's speed strategy is just no match for Kingler's crushing Crabhammer attack as Seadra is knocked cold! Ash could be well on his way to victory, but will Seadra surface belly up, or ready to battle?" Mandi was quivering – with anger or nerves Ash couldn't tell – but his eyes were glued directly on the spot that his second Pokémon had parted in bubbles upon landing. Finally, the water began to shift as something surfaced, and the Water Pokémon floated on its back and a weakened grunt.
"Seadra has been defeated!" the referee announced, waving Ash's flag into the air. "The victory goes to Kingler!" His announcement followed a ding as another one of the red squares under Mandi's face on the scoreboard disappeared as well.
"We did it! We did it! Kingler beat Seadra!" Ash cheered, hopping up and down with excitement. "Two down, one more to go, Kingler!"
"Cookie, cookie!" his Pokémon grinned on the marble platform back at its Trainer.
"He was scared, but he was tough enough to stick to his strategy," Brock muttered to himself with a smile on his face. "And the crowd seemed to be on Ash's side. Everybody's rooting for him!" He was right – Ash's second victory in a row against the popular Pokémon Trainer rang out an even louder applause than when they first walked out on the stadium.
Mandi recalled his Seadra into his Poké Ball and stood with his eyes closed. The only part moving on his body was his fingers, opening and closing as some sort of calming mechanism. "Now the Astounding Mandi is just one Pokémon away from defeat. Can he stage a magical comeback?"
Despite having his back against the wall, a slow smirk crept up on the magician's face. "The answer is he can; and he will!" He raised his hand finally, and in between his fingers was a small Poké Ball. "Let's see if your Kingler... can handle this." Ash's excitement faded as his eyebrows came together; what was Mandi's trump card that he was so confident over? He was about to find out. "And now, Pokémon fans, may I present... Golbat! Go!" A bright light formed between his palms, and the Poké Ball seemed to rise up in his hands before the flamboyant Trainer threw the red and white sphere high into the air. It flew just a few meters before opening, and releasing a blue Pokémon with a great, wide maw.
"This Pokémon is the ace Mandi hid up his sleeve. Now Golbat is taking this water round sky-high! There's no telling what will happen now!"
"This is the worst thing that could have happened to Ash..." Brock commented quietly, not wanting to worry Ash too much. "Kingler is really vulnerable against air attacks."
"Not so fast," Ash threw over his shoulder with a smirk. "Kingler, dive underwater!"
"Cookie cookie!" his Pokémon responded, and scuttled forward before diving deep into the crystal blue pool.
"All right Golbat; we've got them now," Mandi smiled, and his final Pokémon nodded and flew higher in the air. "Take Down attack!" The Poison and Flying Pokémon chittered and tucked one of its wings in so it would curl in the air, and then dove down using gravity and the momentum of its fall to gain speed.
"Kingler, Crabhammer attack now!" Ash ordered. As Golbat got closer to the water, Kingler surfaced in an explosion of water, and its claw shot up and struck at the Bat Pokémon. But at the last second, Golbat chittered and vanished. Kingler flinched slightly as Golbat reappeared behind it, and Ash and Brock gasped at the surprise attack.
"Golbat is countering Kingler's Crabhammer with a behind-the-back Double Team attack!"
"Golbat, Razor Wind now!" Mandi called, taking the opportunity of Kingler being in the air and surprised to his advantage. Upon his command, Golbat spread its wings farther and then gave them a great wave. A gust of wind blew out from them, and along with the wind was small glass-like blades of white energy that sliced at Kingler. The Pincer Pokémon was completely defenseless and had no chance of dodging the attack, and it was sent flying backwards by the Normal-type attack, not stopping until it slid to a stop on one of the platforms.
"A stunning turnaround! This could be the end for Kingler!"
"Hang on, Kingler!" Ash encouraged his Pokémon, but Mandi was also feeling confident and interjected with his next attack.
"And now... we win with a Mega Drain!" Golbat's eyes glowed an orange hue, and it opened its maw wider as it swooped down to sink its fangs into the Water-type Pokémon.
Brock gasped in horror, knowing the Grass-type attack would be fatal to Ash's Pokémon, but Ash was prepared, and countered with an attack of his own. "Hyper Beam, now!" Immediately, Kingler's eyes shot open and began to glow light blue. Jumping to its feet, it extended a claw and held it up toward Golbat. A shimmering orange ball of energy formed quickly between the pincers, and with a loud grunt, it fired the blast in the form of an orange beam straight at Golbat. The Bat Pokémon tried to open its wings to curl upward in the air, but it only managed to catch air like a parachute just in time for the Hyper Beam attack to make contact. Golbat grimaced in pain as the attack surrounded it, and Mandi gasped in horror.
Finally, the attack faded, and Golbat hung momentarily in the air – still glowing orange from the residual effects of the attack – before plummeting to the ground. The blue Pokémon landed on its back on a platform and let out a puff of smoke, but didn't rise back up. "I can't believe it!" Mandi exclaimed.
"Golbat is unable to battle! Victory goes to the team of Ash and Kingler!" the referee declared, and after Kingler gave a victory cry, the crowd went absolutely wild at the spectacular match.
"And what a finish!" the announcer cried over the PA system as Ash's picture lit up on the view-screen. "Pokémon League rookie Ash Ketchum has scored a stunning victory in his first match without even once changing Pokémon!" Ash only stared in disbelief with his mouth formed into an 'o' of silent surprise, but reality soon set in and he let out a chuckle, both of happiness and relief, and excitedly pumped a fist in the air.
"I DID IT! I won my first battle!" he cheered. Mandi was feeling quite the opposite feelings as Ash, and fell to his hands and knees in shame.
"But I am Mandi the Astounding... How could I lose?"
"You did it, Ash!" Brock congratulated, running up to the booth his friend stood at. The Pallet Town boy whipped around, and his smile felt like it would never fade.
"Thanks, Brock!" Turning back on his heel, he launched himself over the bar separating the box from the watery battlefield and leapt from platform to platform until he reached his Kingler, and wrapped his arms around the Pincer Pokémon. "We actually did it, Kingler!"
"Cookie cookie!" His Pokémon grinned happily, and waved its claws up and down. After embracing his Pokémon the best he could, he pulled back and looked his Pokémon in the eyes.
"You were... unbelievable!"
"Googie... googie!" Kingler responded, and it was the happiest that Ash had ever seen it as it accepted the praise.
"Now, don't forget Ash, it says in the book that winning Trainers should hold themselves with dignity and restraint," Brock reminded, turning to the page in the book and looking out at Ash, but neither he nor Kingler were on the battlefield any longer. Instead, he heard familiar cheering, and turned toward the entrance where news reporters were standing, all of them wearing a mask of second-hand embarrassment. Ash was jumping from foot to foot with his hands in the air in front of the cameras.
"We won! Yeah! I'm gonna win every battle just like I did this one!" he burst, and then winked and gave a victory sign to one of the cameras. "Hi, Mom! Hi everybody in Pallet! I hope you're taping this, Mom! I'm the winner! Whoo-hoo!"
-end-
Ash:
Party:
Blastoise (Poké Ball)
Moves: Skull Bash, Dig, Hydro Pump, BubbleBeam
Pidgeotto (Poké Ball)
Moves: Gust, Quick Attack, Whirlwind, Double-Edge
Bulbasaur (Poké Ball)
Moves: SolarBeam, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Leech Seed
Charmeleon (Poké Ball)
Moves: Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Skull Bash, Slash
Primeape (Poké Ball)
Moves: Thrash, Mega Kick, Scratch, Seismic Toss
Kingler (Poké Ball)
Moves: Water Gun, Bubble, Crabhammer, Hyper Beam
At Professor Oak's Lab:
Muk (Poké Ball)
Moves:
Tauros (Safari Ball) x2
Moves: Fissure, Horn Attack, Take Down
Badges:
Boulder Badge
Cascade Badge
Thunder Badge
Marsh Badge
Rainbow Badge
Soul Badge
Volcano Badge
Earth Badge
Brock:
Party:
Onix (Poké Ball)
Moves: Tackle, Bind, Dig
Geodude (Poké Ball)
Moves: Seismic Toss, Tackle
Zubat (Poké Ball)
Moves: Whirlwind, Supersonic
Psyduck (Poké Ball)
Moves: Tail Whip, Water Gun, Disable, Confusion
Vulpix (Poké Ball)
Moves: Fire Spin, Flamethrower, Agility, Quick Attack