Chapter 94: Ash vs Allister

The Battle Festival began the next day. Ash's match against Allister was first, and Ash was in the stadium's locker room getting ready. Lillie was there, helping him prepare.

"Are you going to Mega Evolve Lucario this time?"

Ash shook his head.

"No, I'm saving that for Bea. If her Machamp is as strong as he was during the last tournament, then I don't want her to get wise to my tactics too early."

Lillie nodded in understanding.

"But even so, I'm sure Allister will be tough to beat. But that's what we want, right buddy?"

"Pika Pikachu!"

Attention, please. Ash and Allister, report to the battlefield for your battle. Repeat, ash and Allister, report to the battlefield.

"Guess that's my cue!"

Lillie got up, giving him a quick kiss before leaving for the stands.

"Good luck, give us a good battle."

"Don't I always?"

"Without fail."

Allister was slowly making his way to the battlefield, nerves wracking his entire body. To his surprise, he found Bea waiting just before the entrance for him.

"Big sis? What are you doing here?"

"What? I can't wish my little brother good luck?"

Bea stooped down and gave Allister a big hug, which he returned.

"Go get him, little bro."

"Thanks…big sis."

At last, Ash and Allister arrived in the stadium, the crowd cheering for them as they took their spots.

"Good luck, Allister! I can't wait to see what you're capable of."

"Uh, thanks."

Unlike most battles in the World Coronation Series, the battle in the Battle Festival had a human referee, who explained the rules from his Aegislash.

"This will be a 3-on-3 battle with no time limit! Each trainer may switch out their Pokemon as often as they like, and a winner will be declared once all Pokemon on either side are unable to battle! In addition, each trainer may use either a Z-Move, Mega Evolution, or Dynamax once per battle! Trainers, are you ready?"

"Ready!"

"Ready."

"Then let the battle begin!"

"Dracovish, I choose you!"

"Go, Cursola."

Curious at the Pokemon he had never seen before, Ash took out his Rotomphone for information.

"Cursola, the Coral Pokemon, and the evolved form of Galarian Corsola. Its shell is overflowing with its heightened otherworldly energy. The ectoplasm serves as protection for this Pokemon's core spirit."

"Cool! I didn't even know Corsola could evolve."

"Battle Begin!"

"Cursola, use Hex."

"Power through with Ice Fang, Dracovish!"

Dracovish rushed forward, biting through all of the spectral energy from Cursola before clamping down hard onto her head, encasing it in a block of ice.

"Now go for Brutal Swing, Dracovish!"

"Ancient Power, Cursola!"

Cursola tried to throw Dracovish off her by pelting him with rocks, but Dracovish held firm before tossing her into the air, Cursola landing on the ground with a hard thud. Once the dust had settled, Cursola was out cold.

"Cursola is unable to battle! The round goes to Dracovish!"

"And Ash Ketchum takes the first win!"

Allister silently returned his Cursola to her Pokeball, hand shaking as he pocketed it.

"Go, Polteageist."

Ash was surprised to see an old teapot appear out of the Pokeball instead of a Pokemon, until a pink blob lifted the lid and emerged.

"Polteageist vs Dracovish, begin!"

"Shadow Ball…please."

"Bite, Dracovish!

Dracovish ran forward, absorbing the Shadow Balls with his tremendous jaws before clamping down on Polteageist, though the Ghost type managed to absorb some of the damage by ducking back into its teapot.

"GIga Drain, Polteageist!"

"Crunch, Dracovish!"

Dracovish clamped down even harder onto Polteageist, though he started to wince as Polteageist started to drain his health from within.

"Dragon Pulse, Dracovish!"

"Polteageist, use Shadow Ball!"

Polteageist fired off another Shadow Ball right into Dracovish's mouth, but this did little to change the outcome as Dracovish expelled it from its mouth, launching it back to Allister's side of the field, its teapot spinning around before tipping over. Polteageist spilled out, unconscious.

"Poltergeist is unable to battle! Dracovish wins!"

"Alright, way to go Dracovish!"

"Draco Dracovish!"

Allister returned Polteageist to its Pokeball, worry starting to show on his face beneath his mask. Taking out his last Pokeball, he glanced down at it, deep in thought.

"You can do it, I believe in you. Go, Gengar!"

Ash grinned. He could sense how strong Gengar was, and looked forward to the battle.

"Dracovish, do you want to stay in?"

"Vish!"

"Alright then, use Dragon Breath!"

"Dodge, then use Night Shade!"

Gengar floated over the Dragon Breath with a wicked laugh before shooting dark energy beams from his eyes, hitting Dracovish dead center and knocking him back.

"Now use Hex!"

"Gengar!"

Gengar clasped his hands together, sending out orbs of spectral energy, which besieged Dracovish, making him cry out in pain.

"Dazzling Gleam!"

Before Dracovish could pull himself together, Gengar floated right up to him and unleashed a brilliant display of light from his body, knocking Dracovish out cold.

"Dracovish!"

"Dracovish is unable to battle! Gengar is the winner!"

Allister pumped his fist, glad to have finally gotten a win against Ash. Ash sighed, but still returned Dracovish to its Pokeball with a smile.

"Great job, Dracovish. Get some rest. Go, Rillaboom!"

Rillaboom roared proudly, giving his stump drum a hard thwack as he glared Gengar down.

"Gengar, use Phantom force!"

Gengar laughed, before disappearing from view. Rillaboom scanned the battlefield, looking for his opponent.

"Behind you, Rillaboom! Use Branch Poke!"

Twisting around, Rillaboom jabbed Gengar in the eye with his stick, making Gengar stumble back.

"Will-o-Wisp, Gengar!"

"High Horsepower, Rillaboom!"

Rillaboom charged through the fire orbs, smashing his stump drum right over Gengar's head before smashing him with his feet. However, he didn't get through the attack unscathed, for Gengar's attack left him burned.

"Rillaboom, can you keep going?""

"Boom!"

"Alright then, Drum Beating!"

"Sludge Bomb, Gengar!"

Gengar threw his arms forward, shooting out rounds of poison straight at Rillaboom. The Drummer Pokemon grunted as the attack hit, retaliating by summoning massive vines to shoot up and attack Gengar from beneath him. By the end of it, both Pokemon were worn out, but neither was ready to quit.

"Alright Rillaboom, time to go big or go home!"

Ash returned Rillaboom to his Pokeball, allowing galar particles to surround it before tossing the massive ball into the air, revealing a Gigantamaxed Rillaboom. Not wanting to be outdone, Allister did the same to his Gengar, the two titanic Pokemon staring each other down.

"Gengar, use Max Ooze!"

"Max Guard, Rillaboom!"

Poison began to shoot up all around Rillaboom, but he was quick to shield himself, using his leaf tendrils to form a wall around his body as the poison washed over him. Allister was beginning to get desperate.

"Max Starfall, Gengar!"

"Max Quake!"

Gengar opened his mouth wide, sending out several shooting stars right at Rillaboom. Rillaboom grunted as the stars hit him before banging his drums even louder, making the ground underneath Gengar shake wildly, dealing a great amount of damage to him.

"G-Max Terror!"

"G-Max Drum Solo!"

Gengar roared, launching spirals of phantasmal energy right at Rillaboom. Rillaboom grunted, fighting through the pain to keep playing his drums, summoning up massive vines to attack his opponent. The onslaught of attacks continued until the Gigantamaxing wore off, leaving the two at their normal size. Before any more commands could be issued, both Pokemon collapsed to the ground, too exhausted to continue battling.

"Both Pokemon are unable to battle! As Allister has no Pokemon remaining, the battle goes to Ash Ketchum!"

"And there you have it, folks! After a hard fought battle, Ash Ketchum moves on to the Quarter finals!"

"Yes! Way to go, Rillaboom!"

"Boom!"

Allister silently returned Gengar to his Pokeball, staring at it for a few moments before saying:

"Good job, Gengar."

Allister then walked over to Ash and offered him a handshake, which the trainer from Pallet Town accepted.

"You did good, Allister."

Allister then took off his mask, shocking Ash as he looked at the kid's face for the first time.

"You're good, but big sis is better. Don't expect an easy win."

Ash chuckled, and gave him a thumbs up.

"I look forward to it!"

Allister slowly made his way back to the entry tunnel, where Bea was waiting.

"You took your mask off. I think you look nice without it."

Allister nodded, making room for her to head towards the battlefield for her match.

"Good luck, big sis."

Bea smiled, and gave Allister a hug before making her way to the stadium.

"Bea?"

Bea stopped, looking back at the younger boy.

"Win one for me."

Bea smiled, and nodded.

"I always do."