Chapter 21-Tag Team Trouble Part 2! Torchic's Truth!
As our heroes continued their way to Shaluor City, they made their way to a town called Slackstack where they were holding their annual Tag-Team Tournament which Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Serena, and Jaden all signed up for.
Twilight was paired with her old friend Flurry Heart, Jaden with Star Lilly, Serena with Masquerade, and Rainbow paired with her rival Lighting Dust.
The first round of the Tournament began with Sernea and Masquerade easily won due to Masquerade's formal strong defensive play and Serena's quick thinking. Jaden and Star Lilly were able to pull through as opponents didn't cooperate. And Twilight and Flurry Heart showed compete trust has won theirs.
With Rainbow and Lighting, they sent Jolteon and Torchic with some difficulties along the way, both Jolteon and Torchic beat their opponents' Rhydon and Magmar allowing them to advance to the second round. However, both Rainbow and Lighting have some ugly thoughts about each other.
How will the tournament go?
It was late at night outside of the Pokemon Center. Rainbow, Ash, Applejack, Zane, and Sunset had called out their Pokémon and done some training.
"You guys did awesomely! And that's how I want you to battle in the second!" Rainbow grinned at her Pokémon with them smiling in agreement. "Thanks for helping, me with training."
"No problem, we've got to be in top form for the Shaluor Gym!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pikachu!"
Suddenly, just as the training was about to continue they saw something blasting off into the air.
"What was that?" Applejack asked.
"That was Fire Spin," Sunset replied.
"That could only mean," Zane gave it some thought then went on.
"Wait up!" Ash yelled as he and the others ran after him.
At the Pokémon Center...
"As you can see, a Pokémon's potential ability is greatly influenced by the quality of the relationship with its Trainer, which is evidenced by otherwise, unthinkable displays in the powers of their moves and abilities!" Masquerade explained his new formula to Serena, Rarity, and Bonnie.
"Sounds great! Though, I don't have a clue about what you said. but sounds like you said the better friends with Pokémon and Trainers are, the better and stronger they get, right?" Serena asked.
"Yes, precisely! You do get it!"
"Friendship is the key?" Bonnie asked. "I can't wait till I get older!"
"Dedenne!"
As Rainbow and the others were running to see what caused the fire. Far from them, a beaten-up Torchic was exhausted from the heavy blows she took. Surrounding her, was all Lighting and her Pokémon. Hereacross, Drifblim, Garbodor, and Gothietelle.
"Garbodor, Sludge Bomb! Drifbilm, Shadow Ball! Hereacross, Brick Break! and Gothietelle, Energy Ball!"
All four of her Pokémon prepared for their attack. They then all unleaded it on Chimchar!
"Torchic, Flame Charge!"
Torchic took a deep breath and did before creating a giant Flame Charge and stopping all of the incoming attacks. Rainbow, Applejack, Zane, Ash and Pikachu, and Swellow came by to see what had happened.
"Lighting! What's going on!?" Rainbow yelled at her but Lighinting ignored her.
"Fire Spin, now!"
Torchic shot Fire Spin but only to hit Rainbow.
"Ahh!" Rainbow went to the ground making Torchic run over to see if Rainbow was okay.
In the bushes, Team Rocket was spying on them, concerned about the small fire type.
"Obviously, the rude Twerpette is at it again," Jessie said.
"Working Torchic to the bone,' James added.
"I wish she would lighten up," Sonata said.
'"My head," Rainbow groaned as she got up. "Man! You just on keep on getting stronger, you know!"
"Torchic!"
"We're not done here, Torchic!" Lighting snapped which made Torchic come back for more training making Rainbow more irritated by her rival.
"What are doing, Lighting? Why is Torchic the only one getting the hard work!?" Rainbow asked.
"It's none of your business."
"It is so, we're a team!"
"I still don't understand why you entered this thing!"
"You wouldn't understand, it's a good chance to give my Pokémon some uses in real combat experience!"
"What do you mean!?" Sunset snapped. "You're not that you're pushing your Pokémon way too hard this!?"
"Also don't you think you're being rude to other trainers in the Tournament?" Applejack asked.
"I needed Torchic to be hit by the Surf, get it?"
"But what if Torchic would've lost!?"
"Then it would be useless."
"Useless?" Zane was shocked by her answer. "Do you realize that Surf is a Water-type move that effective Fire-Type with ease? How do you suppose that makes her useless it's one of her weaknesses?"
"Well, it's more likely the best way to raise Torchic's hidden strength."
"If wanted to do that, wouldn't make sense to improve on the strong point."
"Give a me break! Spending a second on improving a Pokémon's strong point is a complete waste of time!"
"I assume you train all your Pokémon that way?" Ash asked.
Only Garbodor smirked as Torchic slumped sadly.
"No, this is exactly what Torchic wants."
"Torchic is that true?" Rainbow asked receiving a nod from it.
"There are other ways to get stronger and to improve on your power!" Zane explained.
"Zane's right. You don't have to do it the hard way," Sunset agreed.
"Come on, Torchic, we're leaving," Lighting ordered.
"Torchic..." Rainbow said silently.
With Team Rocket...
"Man, that Torchic has got it bad," Adagio said.
"She ain't going her any mercy," Sonata added.
"I just had a thought, perhaps if we get chummy with Torchic, we could wrap our fingers around that Soothe Belle," Jessie suggested.
"Well..." The others were intrigued.
"Woobbuffet!"
Much later, Lighting was training Torchic with harsh training methods.
"Hereacross, Megahorn!"
Hereacross use horn and attack. Torchin quickly dodged it.
"Gothietelle: Energy Ball!"
Gothietelle fired Energy Ball that hit Torchic but luckily she braced it.
"Shadow Ball!"
Drifbilm prepares to use Shadow Ball.
"Counter, with Fire Spin!"
Torchic try do Fire Spin but the Shadow Ball went too fast and send Torchic to the ground! She did everything she could to get up.
"Get up!" Lighting snapped unfortunately with all the heavy blows she took, Torchic couldn't so she stayed down. "Wake it, with Thunder Wave!"
Gothietelle, having no hesitation prepared to use Thunder Wave, then suddenly a Shadow Ball stopped Gothietelle in its tracks. All of Lighting's Pokémon and Lighting grew startled by the interference. The one who stopped was Zane's Gardevoir.
"Knock it off!" Zane yelled as he and the rest ran over to help the weakened Fire-Type.
"You have done more than enough!" Rainbow snapped. "Attacking at the same is bad enough, but making it get with Thunder Wave!? You've lost it!? "
Rainbow grabbed Torchic off the ground.
"I'm taking Torchic to the Pokémon Center! Got it!"
"Be my guest."
At the Pokémon Center, Jaden was helping out Nurse Joy and Nurse Redheart with the Pokémon from the tournament then worked on Torchic.
"Talk to me, how's Torchic?" Rainbow asked.
"Much better, Torchic's need some rest,' Jaden replied.
In the hobby, everyone was having conservation, and Team Rocket listen to it.
"So, Torchic went through some tough training, huh?" Jaden asked Lighting.
"I'm sure Rainbow told you," she muttered.
"I treated it, so she didn't have to tell me a thing. At this point, Torchic will get stronger or be scarred for good. Why do you have to push so hard, anyway?" Jaden asked only for Lighting to be silent. "I'm not because I'm Rainbow's friend, I'm asking because I'm Torchic's friend."
"Believe it or not, we all want the same thing. I mean it."
"I don't get a thing!" Rainbow admitted.
"I'll never forget that first day..." Lighting explained of how she met Torchic. "I was out and about in the middle of the forest, then I heard a Pokémon shriek. And the shriek was Torchic who was running away from a couple of Zangoose. It might've been for food or territory but they wouldn't stop! They managed to corner it to a cliff."
"As the Zangoose made their move, Torchic roared as she activated her ability Blaze and use ver powerful Flame Charge and easily smashed the Zangoose showing no type of mercy! I have never seen a Torchic whose strength and stamina like that and after that show of force, I knew I had to have it, I knew that if I had that kind of firepower... I could win the Kalos Legaue for certain! Ever since then, we haven't even come close to duplicating that power!"
"I get it. you're trying to recreate the stress of when those Zangoose attacked, by putting it under massive pressure."
"I need to Torchic beyond the limit! By recreating that power... Torchic could be strongest of all the Fire Type Pokémon!"
"Hold on, Lighting! You've to let it rest!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"You have to! Torchic's health depends on it!" Jaden scolded.
"If you intend to get Torchic back right now, then making a huge mistake!" Bonnie snapped.
"Bonnie and Jaden are right, Torchic needs a lot of rest!" Clemont added.
"The only reason, you pushing Torchic like this, is because you're just impatient!" Twilight got in her face. "If you really want her to strong as you describe then you have to let it rest!"
Lighting said nothing and walked out.
The next day it was the second round of the Slackstack Tag Team Tournament...
It's just the second day, and we've had over 24 hours of excitement, as already two teams have punched into the semifinals, Maserquade and Serena and Jaden and Star Lilly, and the last two spots in the semifinals, these last two second-round matches coming up anything can happen!"
On the battlefield, Twilight and Flurry Heart and there opponents Kendra and Lillian had their Pokémon. Aromatisse and Corsola, Delcatty, and Chansey.
Alright, let the battle commence!
Tag Battle
Twilight and Flurry Heart vs Kendra and Lillian
"We'll take the first move. Decatty, Iron Tail!
"Chansey, Egg Bomb!"
Delcatty leaped in the air to land Iron Tail on Corsola, and Chansey thee egg toward Aromatisse!"
"Aromatisse, Dodge, and used Charge Beam!"
"Corsola, counter with Power Gem!"
Corsola fired its Power Gem which hit on Decatty's blindside. and Armoatisse's Charge Beam had hit Chasney.
"Chasney, Use Double Edge on Corsola!"
Chansey charge relentlessly on Corsola, but Twilight was ready!"
"Corsola, Bubble Beam, let's go!"
Corsola fired Bubble Beam stopped Chansey and it was out!
Chansey is unable to battle!
"Aromatisse let's finish this with Charge Beam!"
"And Corsola you use Power Gem!"
Both the Power Gem and Charge Beam made contact and Delcatty was out!
Delcatty cannot battle! The winners are Corsola and Aromatisse!
And there you have it, folks, the winners of the third-second match are Twilight and Flurry Heart, who is about to move to the semifinals!
And now our final battle of the second round! Our two teams are poised and ready! So! Pokémon to the battle!
"Ninjask, Let's go!"
"Ninjask!"
Lighting took her Pokébal and threw out a Pokémon that surprised everyone.
"Torchic, stand by!"
In the stands, Ash and the others were shocked even Team Rocket.
"Is she lost her marbles? Torchic is too tired to battle!" Bonnie shirked.
"Dedenne!"
"Torchic, you need to rest!" Rainbow said.
"Nin Ninjas!" Ninjask tried to reason with the Pokémon.
"Tor Torchic!" Torchic replied, wanting to fight.
"Okay..." Rainbow said then turn to Ninjask. "Ninjask, make sure to protect Torchic during the battle!"
"Ninjask!"
With Team Rocket...
"I thought Torchic, was supposed to take a backseat," Jessie thought.
"I guess, mean streak didn't get the memo," Aria scoffed.
"Not very kind-hearted," James implied.
"What heart?" Meowth asked.
On the battlefield...
"Metagross, out!"
One of the strongest Steel Types, Meteagross was sent out.
"A bad match-up for Ninjask but since Ninjask knows Shadow Ball which is effective since Metagross is a Psychic," Jaden explained.
"But, Torchic holds, they could win," Star Lilly said.
Zangoose! Come Foreward!"
The familiar Pokémon that gave Torchic a scare.
"A Zangoose!"
Lighting smirked, realizing that Torchic might have a chance.
"Lighting, we'll take on Zangoose! You take care of the Metagross!"
Let the battle begin!
Tag Battle
Black Belt and Tamer vs Rainbow and Lighting
"Meatgross! Bullet Punch, let's go!"
Metagross began to spin with its legs.
"Torchic, Fire Spin!"
"X-Sccissor!"
Zangoose got his jumping boost from Metagross and began to over Torchic.
"Ninjask, Shadow Ball!"
Ninjask fired Shadow Ball at Zangoose only to be knocked down. And opposing Pokémon attacks went through.
"Now use Psychic on Ninjask!"
Metagross used Psyihc and send Ninjask right into Torchic.
"Zangoose, Crush Claw go!"
Zangoose leaps into the air and prepares to use Crush Claw.
"Intercept with Fury Cutter!"
Ninjask flew down and stop the Crush Claw from hitting Torchic and send it back!
A splendid move by Rainbow as Ninjask stops the Crush Claw!
"Metagross, Bullet Punch!"
"Use Flame Charge on Metagross!"
Torchic did Flame Charge and struck Metagross before it a had chance to recover.
"Our chance is here, Crush Claw!"
"Flame Charge, again!"
Torchic tried to Flame Charge again, but Zangoose pinned him down.
"Now, Fire Spin!"
Torchic prepared to use Fire Spin but she got a good look at Zangoose's scary face causing it to whimper.
This does not look good for Torchic as Zangoose has it completely wedged!"
"I guess that's it."
What does she mean by that's it? Can't worry about it! Ninjask, you've gotta help Torchic, use Shadow Ball!"
Ninjask shot Shadow Ball forcing Zangoose to release Torchic then stumbling back as Metagross was back in action.
"Zangoose! Fire Blast!"
Zangoose uses Fire Blast and aims it at Ninjask.
"Ninjask!"
Torchic got in front and braced the Fire Blast making her firepower grow!"
"Give Torchic a command!"
Lighting did nothing and turned away.
"I got no choice... Torchic use Fire Spin!"
Torchic was even more surprised that Rainbow gave her a command.
"That's right! Now!"
Torchic fired the Fire Spin that hit Metagross as he fainted to the ground.
I don't believe it, Torchic did Fire Spin but Rainbow gave orders! Ninjask's Trainer!
"This is insane!" Pinkie gasped.
"Unbelievable!" Bonnie and Clemont had no words.
"Quickly, Zangoose! Crush Claw!"
As Zangoose charged forward, Ninjask got up and suddenly fired a Hyper Beam that damage it, and Zangoose was on the ground, completely knocked out.
Metagross and Zangoose are unable to battle! Torchic and Ninjask are the winners!
"We did it!" Rainbow cheered. "And you learn how to use Hyper Beam!"
We now have our final four Tag Teams, but only one of them will win the Soothe Bell. Find tomorrow as we conclude our tournament!
The stadium jumbotron shows the semifinal matches.
Semifinal #1 Serena and Masquerade vs Twilight and Flurry Heart
Semifinal #2 Jaden and Star Lilly vs Rainbow and Lighting
"I guess Rainbow made it to a third day after all," Bonnie said. "Mircales can happen."
'
That evening Lighting walked out of the stadium taking out Torchic's Pokéball, only for a blue light to come out, meaning Torchic was wild Pokémon.
"You are out of here," Lighting Dust snapped.
Then Rainbow and the rest arrived.
"Lighting? So that's the end of your training?" Rainbow asked.
"Yeah, that's right. Clearly, I need a new Fire-Type!"
"You're giving up on Torchic? What happened to the two of you on getting stronger together? All that progress and you're throwing it away?"
Lighting made no answer and walked away. Torchic lowered her head sadly, as she began to the walkway to the wild. Rainbow grew sorry for it, then made up her mind.
"Hey, Torchic! Come with us!"
Torchic stopped to see Rainbow, then Lighting suddenly stopped.
"Are you sure?" Rarity asked.
"Of course! We'll blast and work hard!" Rainbow assured and her Pokémon agreed.
"Listen to Rainbow, You can come with us if you want. It's your choice," Fluttershy added.
Then Magmar, Fennekin, Chimchar, Quilava, and Flareon all agreed.
As the second round come to end. Lighting decided to release Torchic, and now, Rainbow planned to let Torchic join in its choice.
What could Torchic's choice be as the journey continues