Episode 12: For the Crater Good

When we last left Ash and Pikachu, they were locked in combat with Crate, the Horizoport City Gym Leader. Ash's Turcell had fought hard against Crate's Geodude and won, but then fell to his Onix. Now it's Pikachu's turn to battle. However, more is at stake in this battle than just Ash's first badge. His honor as trainer is too, as the mysterious trainer Ryu watches…

Ash and Crate are looking at each other. Their Pokémon are also having a stare down. Ash asks, "Pikachu, are you ready?"

Pikachu turns and looks at him. "Chu!"

"Alright, get in close and hit it with an Iron Tail!"

Pikachu jumps into the air. "Chu, pika!"

Crate commands, "Onix counter again with Slam!" Onix spins around and uses its tail to smack Pikachu away.

"Onixxxx!"

"Pika!"

Crate continues, "Now use Dragon Breath!" Onix breathes a miasma of purplish energy.

"Get out of the way Pikachu!" Pikachu leaps to the side, barely avoiding the attack. Ash thinks, That seems to be Crate's combination of choice. He uses Slam to knock away any attacks, and then uses Dragon Breath to inflict damage. That's also how he beat Turcell.

"Onix, Rock Tomb!" Onix summons several rocks that it sends at Pikachu.

Ash grins. Two can play at that game. He declares aloud, "Pikachu, knock the rocks away with Iron Tail!" Pikachu uses its Iron Tail to deflect each of the rocks that are sent at it. "Now move in for another Iron Tail!" Pikachu runs in, and since Onix was distracted because of its attack, Pikachu lays a hit, and jumps back.

Crate nods. "It would appear that you have already caught onto my strategy, and that you're using it against me."

"You can't keep a strategy that obvious under wraps for long."

"I guess I can't. Alright Onix, use another Dragon Breath!"

"Pikachu, counter it with Thunderbolt!" The attacks of the Pokémon collide, and cancel each other out. "Now use Quick Attack!"

"Rock Tomb Onix!" Onix summons another barrage of rocks and sends them at Pikachu, but with incredible bursts of speed, Pikachu avoids every one, and gets in close to Onix.

"Now switch to Iron Tail!"

"Slam Onix!" Onix attempts to use its tail to knock away Pikachu, but Pikachu manages to avoid it and delivers an Iron Tail to its forehead.

Onix cries out, "Onixxxxx!"

"Keep it up Pikachu!"

Pikachu readies itself for another attack, but Crate commands, "Underground now Onix!" Onix uses Dig to tunnel its way underground.

Pikachu's attack hits the ground where Onix just stood. Pikachu looks around. "Pika?"

Ash says, "Pay close attention Pikachu. There's no telling where it will surface."

Pikachu scans the surrounding area. Before it can get a good read of the field, Onix comes up underneath it, knocking it away. Pikachu lands hard on the ground. It slowly gets up, appearing to have taken a lot of damage.

"Now Onix, Slam!" As Pikachu is still getting up, Onix smacks it with its tail, knocking it back even further.

Pikachu cries in pain. "Pika!"

Ash cries, "Pikachu, are you okay!?" Pikachu struggles, but manages to get up. Pikachu nods at Ash. "Alright, in that case, let's use Quick Attack again!" Pikachu dashes towards Onix.

"We won't allow that one to get through again, back underground Onix!" Before Pikachu can get to Onix, it's gone.

Pikachu frantically looks around the field. Ash shouts, "I've got it Pikachu, keep up the Quick Attack, run around to random points on the field!"

Pikachu nods in understanding and begins its run. Onix comes out of the ground, but completely misses due to Pikachu's unpredictable movements.

"Quickly, get close to Onix, and then let's finish this off with Iron Tail!"

Pikachu turns around and dashes at Onix, who's still recovering from the missed Dig. Once Pikachu gets in close, he jumps up and uses Iron Tail. "Chu, pika!" Onix gets knocked down by the force of the attack. Onix faints.

The referee declares, "Onix is unable to battle!"

Ash and Pikachu cheer. Crate returns Onix. He compliments, "You did a good job defeating my Onix Ash. That took some innovation on both yours and Pikachu's part. However," he pulls out another Pokéball, "this next Pokémon is in a whole different league." He throws it. "Go, Meteorfight!"

Out of the Pokéball comes a Meteorfight. It's larger than Brock's. It declares, "Meteor!"

Brock exclaims, "You have a Meteorfight!?"

Crate laughs. "How else do you think I would have known what to do with yours? Besides, as an expert in meteorites, how could I not have one?"

Ash looks at Pikachu, who is panting, and appears damaged. "Pikachu, why don't you come back and take a break?" Pikachu runs back to Ash's side. Ash pulls out his last Pokéball. "Apprentichick, go!"

Apprentichick comes out flying. It declares, "Apprenti!"

Ash thinks, Since Meteorfight is part Fighting-Type, that means that Apprentichick's Talon Grapple attack will be super effective.

Crate makes the first move. "Meteorfight, use Thunder Punch!" Meteorfight's fist gathers electrical energy and it moves in to attack.

"Use Aerial Maneuvers to get out of the way!" Apprentichick blurs out of its position, and reappears behind Meteorfight. "Now use Talon Grapple!" Apprentichick dives in and unleashes a series of blows with its talons. Several attacks hit, but Meteorfight gets out of the way before long.

"Hit it with Rock Blast!" Meteorfight creates several rocks and fires them like a cannon ball towards Apprentichick one after the other. Apprentichick manages to dodge the first few, but then the last two hit it, knocking it to the ground. "Now move in for another Thunder Punch!" Meteorfight lands the attack.

Apprentichick is thrown back. Ash commands, "Blow it off its feet, Gust!" Apprentichick recovers and begins to flap its wings at a rapid pace, creating a gust of wind which blows Meteorfight back.

"Move into a Meteor Slam!" While still in the air, Meteorfight pulls in its arms and legs and uses its ability to float in this form to hurl itself at Apprentichick, knocking it to the ground. "Now, rapid fire Comet Punch!" Meteorfight uncurls itself and its fists begin to glow. It charges at Apprentichick.

Ash counters, "Quickly, defend yourself with Talon Grapple!" Apprentichick quickly jumps up and goes at Meteorfight. The fast-paced attacks of the two collide. They continue to deliver rapid blows, but both perfectly counter the other's attacks.

"Switch into Thunder Punch!" Meteorfight pulls back its fists and gather electricity around it. The move catches Apprentichick by surprise and hits. Apprentichick falls to the ground and faints.

The referee declares, "Apprentichick is unable to battle!"

Ash clenches his fist and returns Apprentichick. He looks down to Pikachu, who still looks beat-up, but at least a little better than before. Pikachu looks back up at him and nods in understanding without Ash saying anything. Pikachu runs onto the field. Ash turns his hat around backwards and looks towards Crate with determination. "Let's finish this."

Crate nods. "Yes, let's. Meteorfight, use Rock Blast!" Meteorfight generates several rocks and fires them off towards Pikachu.

"Quick Attack Pikachu!" Pikachu dashes towards Meteorfight, avoiding each of the rocks. Pikachu then tackles Meteorfight, knocking down on its back.

"Get up and go in for a Meteor Slam!" It pulls its limbs in again and floats into the air. Once it's above Pikachu, it slams down, impacting Pikachu.

Pikachu cries in pain, "Pika!"

Ash shouts, "Get it off of you with Iron Tail!"

"Chu, pika!" Pikachu manages to whip its tail around and hit Meteorfight off of it.

"Now use Volt Tackle!"

Pikachu dashes towards Meteorfight. "Pika pika pika pika pika pika pikachu!" Pikachu rams into Meteorfight.

"Comet Punch Meteorfight!" Meteorfight quickly recovers and throws punches rapidly, hitting Pikachu several times. "Now Meteor Slam!" Meteorfight goes into a Meteor Slam, and once again hits Pikachu. After landing, it gets off Pikachu, who seems down for the count.

Brock and Brenda gasp. Brenda says, "Oh no, Ash lost…"

The referee begins to hold up his flag and say, "Pikachu is-"

Ash interrupts, "Wait just a second. Something tells me Pikachu isn't done yet."

Sure enough, Pikachu is struggling to get up. It looks badly damaged, but still able to fight.

Crate laughs. "I must admit, I've never seen a Pokémon with enough willpower to keep on going after a blow like that. So you want to continue the battle?"

Ash nods, "You bet, right Pikachu?"

"Pika."

Brock looks at Brenda. "Never count Ash and Pikachu out so fast. Those two can be full of surprises."

Ash says, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaaachuuuuu!" Pikachu launches a quick electric attack that Meteorfight us unable to avoid, however it seems to do little damage.

"Now use Iron Tail!" Pikachu switches to Iron Tail and slams its tail down on Meteorfight.

Crate commands, "Quickly, use Comet Punch while it's still close!" Meteorfight recovers and uses Comet Punch, knocking Pikachu into the air.

Ash seems to have an idea. "Pikachu, straight down with Iron Tail, and then use your tail to bounce back up!" Pikachu guides its fall so it lands on top of Meteorfight. It does as Ash instructed and bounces even higher than it was before. "Now go straight down with a final Volt Tackle!" Pikachu points its head back down and prepares its attack.

Crate commands, "And you go up with Meteor Slam!" Meteorfight curls up and floats straight up into the air.

The two Pokémon collide in midair, causing an explosion. Both Pokémon are thrown in different directions. Both are on the ground and look extremely damaged. Simultaneously, both try to get up. Within a few moments, Meteorfight falls back down, leaving Pikachu as the last Pokémon standing.

The referee holds up his flag. "Meteorfight is unable to battle, Ash the challenger wins!"

Crate returns Meteorfight and walks across the field to Ash. "That was a great battle Ash. I know that I already told you, but you and your Pokémon have willpower like I've never seen before. You definitely deserve this." Crate holds out the same badge that he gave Ryu earlier. "This Meteorite Badge proves that you have achieved victory at the Horizoport Gym."

Ash takes the badge and holds it up in the air in his traditional pose. "Yeah, I just got the Meteorite Badge!"

Pikachu, Turcell, and Apprentichick all join in, shouting, "Pik pikachu!" "Turcell!" and "Apprenti!" all at the same time.

Ash looks at Crate and says, "Thank you. This is my first Tenno gym badge." Ash looks over and sees Ryu getting up to leave. Ash calls, "Hey, aren't you forgetting something!?"

Ryu groans. "I saw you battle. You did nothing to impress me. I see no need to battle you."

Ash asks, "Why don't you just humor me then?"

"Fine. Meet me at the battlefield behind the Pokémon Center in three hours. I'll be there waiting for you. You better not waste my time."

Who's that Pokémon!?

This Pokémon uses an up-tempo song and dance to drive away the bird Pokémon that prey on its flower seeds.

A Pokémon Center chime sounds. Ash is standing at a counter in the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy walks in holding a tray with two Pokéballs and Pikachu on it. She sets it down in front of Ash. "Your Pokémon are all better."

"Thank you Nurse Joy." Pikachu leaps onto Ash's shoulder and Ash grabs his Pokéballs.

Ash walks away towards a nearby table where Brock and Brenda are sitting. Brenda is eating some food and Brock is staring off in the direction of Nurse Joy. Ash joins them. Brenda asks, "It looks like something's on your mind Ash. What's wrong?"

Ash looks down. "It's that Ryu guy. I just can't lose to him. If I do, then that only serves to validate his point."

"Do you think that he's right about Pokémon other than Dragon-Types?"

Ash shakes his head. "No, of course not."

"Then don't worry about. Whether you win or not, you still can believe in whatever you want to believe in. Right Brock?" She waits a few moments, but there's no reply. "Brock?" She turns to Brock who is still staring into the distance.

He murmurs to himself, "I wonder if I try asking her to go out with me again she'd say yes."

His Meteorfight comes out of its Pokéball and holds up its fist. "Meteor…"

Brock freezes up and gulps.

Brenda asks, "Brock did you hear me?"

"Oh, yeah…of course."

Brenda turns back to Ash. "You see, even Brock agrees with me."

Ash nods. "You're right. I should stop worrying about it." He suddenly gets up. "Besides, the battle hasn't even happened yet. No one's saying I'm going to lose it."

Brock nods. "That's right Ash."

It's Maractus!

Ash is now out at the battlefield. Across from him is Ryu. Ash declares, "I won't lose to you. I'm going to prove that all types of Pokémon are powerful."

Ryu makes a motion with his hand to show he doesn't care. "Whatever. The battle will be composed of three individual one on one matches, no substitutions, best out of three wins."

Ash nods. "That works for me."

Brock steps forward. "I could act as the ref for this battle."

Ryu responds, "That's really not necessary, but whatever, knock yourself out."

Brock is taken aback for a moment, but he quickly takes his place in the middle of the side of the field.

Ryu takes a Pokéball of his belt. "Galacerta, to battle!" The lizard covered with the pattern of the night sky appears before Ryu.

Ash grabs one his Pokéballs. "Apprentichick, I chose you!"

Behind a nearby bush, Team Rocket is hiding. James observes, "It looks like the Twerp's in a battle with someone."

Jessie scoffs, "He just got done with his gym battle. Is all that Twerp can think about battling?"

Meowth says, "Maybe so, but I suggest that we sit here and stay low. Maybe the chance will present itself where we can swipe Pikachu."

Jessie and James nod. James says, "I like that type of thinking."

Ryu states, "Take the first move, you'll need it."

"Don't mind if I do! Apprentichick use Wing Attack!" Apprentichick dives in towards the opposing Pokémon, wings glowing white.

As if he doesn't care, Ryu calmly commands, "Galacerta, use Star Daze."

"Certa!" Galacerta creates an array of sparkles of light around it and sends them at Apprentichick, knocking it back.

"Apprenti!"

Ash shouts, "Get back in there and use Talon Grapple!" Apprentichick recovers quickly and dives back at Galacerta, brandishing its talons.

Ryu sighs. "Dragon Claw." Galacerta stands on its hind legs and claws at Apprentichick, knocking it back once more.

Ash looks annoyed. "Get behind it with Aerial Maneuvers and try Talon Grapple again!" In a sudden burst of speed, Apprentichick disappears. It then reappears behind Galacerta and dives in again.

"Get rid of it with Dragon Tail." Galacerta's tail glows green and without even turning around it smacks Apprentichick back. Apprentichick falls to the ground, fainted.

Brenda's eyes go wide. "It was over…just like that…"

Brock is also shocked. After a few moments of hesitation he declares, "Apprentichick is unable to battle. This round goes to Ryu."

Team Rocket looks surprised as well. James asks, "Is it just me, or did that guy just beat the Twerp like it was nothing at all?"

Meowth responds, "No need to get your eyes checked, I saw it too."

Ash returns Apprentichick. He looks upset, but he says to the Pokéball, "Don't worry, you did the best you could."

Ryu returns Galacerta. "I hope the rest of your Pokémon aren't that pathetic."

"You're going to take back those words!" He pulls out another Pokéball. "Turcell, I choose you!"

Ryu also tosses a Pokéball. "Gible, to battle!"

Team Rocket looks angry. Jessie says, "That's that no good Turcell that trapped us in the cave and destroyed out perfect mech twice."

James sighs. "It figures that it's hanging out with the Twerp now.

Meowth comments, "Those two deserve each other."

Wobbuffet joins them. "Wobbuffet!"

Brenda pulls out her Pokédex. "Let's see what Ash is up against."

"Gible, the Land Shark Pokémon and a Dragon and Ground Combo Type. Gible can swim through sand as if it were water. If it comes across a rock in its way, it will use its strong jaws to break through it. Evolves into Gabite at level 24."

Ryu commands, "Use Draco Fang." Gible's teeth grow larger and glow purple, and then it leaps towards Turcell.

"Defend yourself Turcell, Withdraw!" Turcell hides in its shell and Gible harmlessly bites down on its exterior. "Great, now get out and use Molten Slag!"

Turcell pops only its head out and turns it to face Gible. "Tur cell!" It spits a molten globule at Gible.

The attack hits and Gible releases its hold of Turcell. Brenda cheers, "Yeah! That attack worked!"

Ryu, who seems just a little more invested, but not much, commands, "Rock Smash." Gible leaps up and drops towards Turcell with glowing arms.

"Counter with Rapid Spin!" Turcell pulls into its shell and rotates rapidly towards Gible. The two attacks hit each other and send both Pokémon flying backwards.

"Gible, get up and use Dig." Gible manages to recover and digs into the ground.

Ash thinks, Little does he know that I just found out a way to counter Dig. Ash thinks back to Pikachu's battle with Onix and how it used Quick Attack to run randomly around the field. "Use Rapid Spin to move around the field at random!"

"Cell!" Turcell returns to its shell and begins to spin once more. This time it moves around the field in an unpredictable manner.

Ryu grimaces. "Come back up only when you're sure that you can hit it."

After a few moments, Gible comes back up, but just misses Turcell. Turcell then proceeds to change its course and rams into Gible.

Ash cheers, "Great job, now let's give it another Molten Slag!" Turcell quickly emerges from its shell and hits Gible with another molten attack. This knocks out Gible.

Brock declares, "Gible is unable to battle! This round goes to Ash. We currently have a tie; winner of the next round takes the battle."

Ryu returns Gible. As he pockets the Pokéball he states, "Pitiful."

Ash congratulates, "Great job Turcell."

Turcell smiles. "Tur." It's returned to its Pokéball.

Ash looks towards Ryu. "It looks like it all comes down to this."

"So it does." He looks to the Dratini draped around his shoulders. "It's your turn." He extends his arm and Dratini slithers down it and onto the ground.

Ash looks to Pikachu on his shoulder. "I'm counting on you buddy."

"Pik." Pikachu jumps onto the ground and then runs onto the field.

Ash shouts, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaaa chuuuuuu!"

Ryu commands, "Thunderbolt as well."

The two Pokémon launch a bolt of electricity each that collide with each other mid field. The attacks are equally matched.

Ryu immediately commands, "Switch into Draconic Fire."

"Draaa tiniiii!" Dratini breathes a breath of red and purple fire at Pikachu.

"Dodge it Pikachu!" Pikachu attempts to dodge, but fails, the attack still hits.

Ryu gives a minor grin of content.

Ash doesn't hesitate. "Electro Ball!" As the fire's clearing, Pikachu's ball of electricity comes out of the clearing smoke and hits Dratini.

Dratini cries out "Tiniiii!"

"Now use Iron Tail!"

Ryu, now even more invested in the battle, declares "Counter with Aqua Tail!"

"Chu pika!"

"Tini dra!"

The two Pokémon's tails collide, and force each of them back.

"Quick Attack Pikachu!"

"Agility Dratini!"

Now Pikachu and Dratini dash towards each other at high speeds and collide once more at the center of the field, and bounce off of each other again.

Brock thinks, Wow, those two seem evenly matched. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a balanced battle.

"Thunderbolt Dratini!"

"Dodge it Pikachu, and use a Thunderbolt of your own!" Pikachu jumps out of the way and launches a Thunderbolt, but Dratini manages to dodge.

Jessie observes, "It looks like the Twerp's Pikachu has met its match."

Meowth nods. "Yeah, forget Pikachu, we need to get that Dratini."

James asks, "How do you plan to do that?"

Meowth begins to explain, "It's simple. We'll just-"

Meowth is interrupted as a stray Thunderbolt from the battle hits them, causing them to blast off. They all shout, "No fair, we didn't even do anything yet!"

"Wobba wobba!"

The battle continues, no one noticing Team Rocket. Ryu, now fully interested in the battle, shouts, "Draconic Fire!"

Ash counters, "Out of the way with Quick Attack, then use Iron Tail!" Pikacu gets out of the way and goes in for an Iron Tail.

"Stop it with Aqua Tail again!" Once more the two tail attacks hit. Both Pokémon appear worn out and beat-up.

Ash declares, "We need to finish this once and for all! It's all or nothing Pikachu, use Volt Tackle!" Pikachu begins to dash towards Dratini and becomes cloaked in electricity.

Ryu shouts, "And we'll finish this with Dragon Rush!" Dratini floats into air and becomes covered in a green light that takes the form of a dragon. It moves in towards Pikachu.

"Pika pika pika pika pika pika pika pika…!"

"Draaaaaaa…!"

"Chu!"

"Tini!"

The two Pokémon collide, creating a massive explosion. The scene freezes. A dramatic battle between two combatants has reached its climax, but who will win? Ash or Ryu? Pikachu or Dratini? Our hero or his new rival? Find out when the journey continues…

To Be Continued…