Chapter 99: Battle Three With Bea

An hour later, it was time for the final match. The entire crowd waited with anticipation as Ash and Bea got ready.

"Can you believe it? This is their third match."

"Who do you think will win?"

"It's tough to say," Chloe said. "They've both won and lost once to the other, but Ash has never faced her Gigantamax Machamp yet."

"You can do it, Ash!"

Everyone turned to see Lillie in a cheerleading uniform, her and Snowy holding identical sets of Pom Poms.

"Where did you even get that?"

"Dawn made them for me!"

"Can she make me some?" Chloe asked, getting Goh's attention.

"Why do you want those so badly? He asked.

"So the next time you have a mission, you'll have a little extra motivation," Chloe said with a wink, making Goh blush as everyone laughed. At last, the lights dimmed, and the announcer chatter began.

"Alright ladies and gentleman, let's get this final match under way! In the red corner, she's the stoic gym leader of Stow-on-Side with a sweet tooth, Bea!"

Her fans cheered wildly, but Bea kept her eyes focused on her opponent standing before her.

"And in the green corner, all the way from Pallet Town, the up and coming rising star of Kanto, and the champion of Alola, ASH KETCHUM!"

Goh raised an eyebrow at the announcement of Ash's title.

"They're finally including his championship status? They haven't before."

"Apparently, it took a while for it to get officially recognized," Lillie said. "Professor Kukui mentioned it the last time I called him, said it was a whole lot of paperwork."

"Wait, Ash is a champion?" Chloe asked.

"Oh yeah, you weren't there when I found out," Goh said. "It was during the time we went to the old Power Plant."

"Man, I need to go on more of your adventures."

Bea had also noticed the change in Ash's introduction, and smirked.

"So, you're a champion? I should've known when I saw your Urshifu. Only someone with real skill could earn Mustard's trust."

Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah, it wasn't easy, but we pulled through! Just like we're going to win this tournament?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!"

After they shook hands and retreated to their respective sides of the battlefield, the referee began to explain the rules.

"This will be a 3-on-3 match with no time limit! The battle will end when all Pokemon on either side are unable to battle. Each trainer can switch out as often as they like. In addition, each trainer is permitted only one use of Mega Evolution, a Z-Move, or Dynamax once per battle! Red corner, are you ready?"

Bea nodded silently.

"Green corner?"

"Ready!"

"Then let the battle begin!"

"Go, Grapploct!"

"Pikachu, I choose you!"

"Octolock, Grapploct!"

"Don't let him get too close! Iron Tail, followed by Electro Ball!"

Pikachu leapt over Grapploct's lunge, then struck him on the back of the head with his tail. Although the attack didn't do much damage, it did cause him to stumble back, not helped by an Electricity orb to the face right after.

"Now use Thunder Wave!"

While Grapploct was trying to recover, Pikachu released waves of electricity, giving Grapploct paralysis. Bea cursed under her breath, realizing her usual strategy wouldn't work.

"Octazooka, Grapploct!"

"Volt Tackle, Pikachu!"

Grapploct tried to move, but his Paralysis proved too much for him to overcome, allowing Pikachu to ram right into him, nearly throwing him off his feet. However, this gave Bea the opportunity she needed.

"Submission, Grapploct!"

"Thunderbolt, Pikachu, full power!"

Grapploct wrapped his tentacles around Pikachu and leapt into the air, and began spinning him into the ground. Pikachu wasn't worried, however, and shocked him hard. Grapploct tried to keep his hold on Pikachu, but the electricity was too much, and he let go as he collapsed to the ground, too exhausted.

"Grapploct is unable to battle, Pikachu wins!"

"Wow, that was awesome!" Chloe said. "Grapploct barely got any hits in."

"Ash and Pikachu trained really hard on his speed technique," Goh explained. "He knew Grapploct would be trouble, so he wanted to make sure Pikachu could outspeed him."

"Bea won't have an easy time now," Lillie said. "Grapploct was the heavy hitter in their last two battles."

"Don't count her out yet," Korrina added. "She still has Machamp, and you never know who her third Pokemon will be."

Bea considered her choices very carefully. If she was going to beat Pikachu, she needed someone who either hit from a distance, or hit him before he could attack.

"Go, Hitmontop!"

The Handstand Pokemon spun around for a minute before stopping in the battlefield, glaring Pikachu down.

"Gyro Ball, Hitmontop!"

"Keep your distance with Agility!"

Himontop began to spin around rapidly, becoming nothing more than an advancing ball of steel making its way towards Pikachu. Pikachu, knowing he wouldn't be able to fire off an attack in time, dashed around the battlefield quickly to avoid him. He managed to evade him for a while, but eventually he began to wear out, and Hitmontop was still advancing. Ash knew he had to change tactics, and fast.

"Let him get in close, then use Iron Tail!"

Pikachu came to a complete stop, allowing Hitmontop to get real close before he jumped over him, slamming his tail into Hitmontop, stopping the attack dead center.

"Counter, Hitmontop!"

Hitmontop was quick to recover, dealing a quick kick to Pikachu's stomach, launching him right into the air and hard back on the ground, though he was quick to get back on his feet.

"Thundershock, Pikachu!"

"Triple Kick, Hitmontop!"

Hitmontop began spinning again, rapidly approaching Pikachu. Even the bolts of lightning Pikachu was putting out wasn't enough to stop him, and before long he was kicking him into submission. Once Hitmontop was done, Pikachu was still conscious, but Ash could tell he was running out of steam.

"This isn't working…Pikachu, return!"

Pikachu nodded, quickly running back to Ash's shoulder as Ash took out another Pokeball.

"You did great, buddy. Get some rest, and I'll send you back in a bit."

"Pika!"

"Go, Urshifu!"

Bea smirked when she saw the powerful mascot of her old dojo. This would be interesting.

"Close Combat, Hitmontop!"

"Rock Smash, Urshifu!"

Hitmontop ran towards Urshifu, ready to do battle with him, only to run smack dab into a slab of rock Urshifu had summoned from the battlefield, before Urshifu slammed his fist through it and into him, knocking him back.

"Low sweep, Hitmontop!"

"Brick Break, Urshifu!"

Hitmontop acted quickly, kicking Urshifu right in the shin, making Urshifu grunt. But he was quick to strike back, dealing a hard slap to his smaller opponent, sending him spinning back to Bea's side of the field.

"Mach Punch, Hitmontop!"

"Surging Strikes, Urshifu!"

The two Fighting types charged towards each other, fists glowing with their respective attacks. They met in the middle, running past each other as they made contact. After a minute, Hitmontop collapsed, too tired to continue.

"Hitmontop is unable to battle, Urshifu wins!"

Bea groaned uncomfortably as she returned Hitmontop to his Pokeball.

"You did well, Hitmontop. Get some rest."

She was down to her last Pokemon, while Ash still had all three. She knew Machamp was strong, but was he strong enough?

"I believe in you. Go, Machamp!"

Her ace burst out of his Pokeball with a roar, giving Urshifu a respectful nod, which was returned.

"Alright Machamp, it's three against one. Can you do it?"

Machamp nodded, and gave her four thumbs up. Bea returned the nod, a look of sheer determination on his face.

"Right then, use Revenge!"

"Focus Punch, Urshifu!"

Machamp charged, all four fists ready to strike. Urshifu stood fast, saving his energy for a counterattack. At last, the two met, Machamp's fists striking Urshifu over the head while the Wushu Pokemon struck him in the gut. Both Pokemon recoiled from the damage, but it was clear Urshifu took the bigger hit.

"Counter, Urshifu!"

"The same, Machamp!"

Urshifu dealt another hard punch to Machamp's gut, making the bigger Pokemon stumble. But he was quick to fight back, punching him even harder with his two lower fists.

"Now use Vital Throw!"

While Urshifu tried to recover, Machamp quickly grabbed him with all four arms, spinning him around above his head before slamming him into the ground so hard the battlefield cracked. Urshifu struggled to get up for a minute, but in the end his arms gave out and he collapsed, unconscious.

"Urshifu is unable to battle! Machamp wins!"

Ash stared in shock for a moment, unable to comprehend it before a wide smirk appeared on his face.

"Wow, that was awesome! Now I want to beat him even more."

Bea smirked, her blood pumping as well.

"Then you better bring it, because we're not going down without a fight!"