Episode 111: Time of a Rival

Ash, Brock, and Brenda are walking through some treacherous terrain. It's a rocky wasteland as far as the eye can see. The most prominent landmarks are the series of rocky pillars that are scattered across the land.

Today our heroes find themselves secluded in a rocky wilderness. It might end up a lonely day for them.

To prove the Narrator wrong, a voice cuts the silence by ordering, "Hakamo-o, use Brick Break!" Ahead of the group, one of the pillars can be seen toppling, throwing up dust and debris.

Ash gasps. "That voice!" He rushes towards the source.

Brenda shouts, "Ash, wait up!" She and Brock chase after him.

Once the dust settles, Ryu can be seen ahead. A Dragonite stands behind him, and a Hakamo-o stands in front of him. Ash says, "Wow, did Hakamo-o topple that pillar all by itself? It's got some crazy power. And your Dragonair evolved into Dragonite! That's awesome!"

Ryu grimaces at the sound of Ash's voice. "What do you want?"

Heala emerges from its Pokéball on its own accord, perhaps sensing the presence of its rival Jangmo-o, now a Hakamo-o. It shouts, "Heala la la!"

Hakamo-o glares back at it intensely.

Ash says, "It looks like Heala wants a rematch. I've got to admit, I've been wanting one too. What do you say? Want to have another battle?"

Ryu finally turns to Ash and asks, "What would be the point?"

Ash takes a deep breath, his friendliness starting to wane. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You don't have any other Dragon-Types than that Heala, and I've already defeated it. I have no reason to battle you. My time would be better spent training."

Ash objects, "I'll have you know that Heala has gotten a whole lot stronger since we last battled. And you know what? It's because of our battle that it happened. You can't tell me that Hakamo-o didn't get any stronger because of that battle."

Ryu admits, "It did. That doesn't mean it will happen again. Now please, just leave me alone."

Heala barks, "Heala! Heala la!"

Hakamo-o stares back at it, perhaps also wishing for battle, but then a glare from Ryu causes it to quickly turn away and ignore Heala.

Now annoyed, Ash objects, "My team and I have gathered six Tenno gym badges. You haven't battled any of them except for Heala since I first was starting out here in Tenno. We will provide you with a challenge worth your time, I can promise you that."

Brock whispers, "Ash, he's not worth it. Calm down."

Ryu states, "I've told you before, and I'll tell you again. I am a Dragon trainer. My interest lies solely in Dragon Pokémon. You only have the one, and I've already defeated it. Now stop wasting my time."

Brenda puts a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Come on, Ash. Let it go."

Ash shakes his head. "No, I won't let it go. Look at Heala. It needs this battle. And I won't let Ryu insult me or my Pokémon." An idea comes to Ash. He steps forward and demands, "What if I had more Dragon Pokémon?"

Ryu raises a brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I have more Dragon-Type Pokémon, and I can get them here. Let me keep Pikachu, and I'll battle you in a full six-on-six battle with five other Dragon Pokémon."

Ryu laughs slightly. "You're telling me that you have five Dragon Pokémon? How is this only just coming up now?"

"Because unlike some people, I train all types of Pokémon, and over my journeys, I caught and trained several dragons, just like Heala. I haven't brought them up before because I try to start out fresh every region I go to. But you know what? If the only way to prove to you that Heala and I are worthy opponents is to bring them out, then that's what I'll do. What do you say?"

Ryu slowly nods. "A full battle against a team of five Dragon Pokémon. That would be worth my time. You've got yourself a battle."

Ash nods. "Good. Then what do you say we meet back up here tomorrow at this time?"

Ryu nods as well. "We'll see you then." He, Dragonite, and Hakamo-o turn to leave.

Brock asks, "Ash, are you sure you want to do this?"

Ash looks to Brock. "Why not?"

"What does giving in to him and giving him what he wants get you? If you want to prove yourself, you've got to do it on your own terms."

Brenda agrees, "You know that guy's wrong. But think about it, even if you win, if you did so with a team of dragons, you're not really proving anything to him. If anything, you're proving him right."

Ash shakes his head. "No, Heala needs another chance to prove itself. If this is the only way to get it, then that's what I need to do." He starts to walk away, and Heala follows. "Now come on, we need to go back to the Pokémon Center so I can make some phone calls."

Ash is now in a Pokémon Center on the holographic video phone with Professor Oak. Ash asks, "Is everything ready, Professor?"

Oak nods. "Yes, I've got your Pokéballs ready for transport. But…"

Ash questions, "But what?"

"Ash, my boy, are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Ash shows some momentary surprise, but then pieces things together. "You talked to Brock already, didn't you?"

Oak nods. "Yes, he called me up on his Pokéssistant before you made it back to the Pokémon Center. I must admit that I agree with him."

"Professor, Heala needs this battle."

"Does Heala need it, or do you need it?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I think you're only using Heala as an excuse. You've let this become personal. And I'm afraid it's become too personal."

Ash objects, "So what if it has become personal? I've had rivals before. How's this any different?"

"A rivalry can be healthy, but I'm afraid this might be more. Ash, why is it that you want to defeat Ryu so bad?"

The question takes Ash by surprise. "Well… it's because the way he determines the strength of Pokémon is wrong."

Oak asks, "Is it, though?"

Ash is even more taken aback. "Well… yeah… of course it is. He determines a Pokémon's worth based entirely on its type. That's closed-minded, it's wrong."

Oak slowly nods. "Everyone measures strength in their own way. Everyone has their own values. And if you're battling purely to prove him wrong, I'm not sure that's the right reason. Pokémon battles are about the things that connect us, not the things that separate us."

Ash has no response for this. He stares at the professor, unable to retort.

"Look, Ash, I'm not going to tell you not to go through with this battle, but I must warn you, with this battle, you are playing Ryu's game with Ryu's rules. Be careful."

Ash nods. "Don't worry professor, I know what I'm doing. Everything will be fine."

Oak nods. "Alright. Then I wish you the best of luck, Ash my boy. Initiating the Pokémon transport now."

Who's that Pokémon!?

They lay their eggs deep inside their nests. When attacked by Heatmor, they retaliate using their massive mandibles.

Ryu leans up against a stone pillar, resting for the night. A brilliant display of stars shines above him. Dragonite leans up against an opposing pillar. Ryu looks to Dragonite and says, "Something is on your mind, isn't it?"

Dragonite responds with an affirmative roar.

Ryu nods. "You're thinking about our battle tomorrow." Dragonite affirms again. Ryu thinks momentarily. "If Ash really can provide us with a team of five Dragons to battle, this is a rare opportunity to better ourselves." Dragonite nods in agreement. "And you know as well as I do that this is a battle we cannot afford to lose. If we lose a battle of dragons against someone like Ash, then what business do we have striving to become true masters of the Dragon-Type?"

Ryu suddenly stands up to take a look at the stars above. Dragonite joins him. A shooting star streaks across the sky. Ryu puts hand on Dragonite's shoulder in a caring manner. "Ash is like no other trainer we've battled. Others have insisted we're wrong about the superiority of the Dragon-Type, but he's the only one who keeps coming back after we defeat them. And now he's battling in our world. No one's ever done that before. But what does that mean? Does it mean he's admitting we're right, or does it mean that he's defying us all the stronger?"

Dragonite shrugs, unable to give a response.

Ryu strokes its back slowly. "Ash doesn't know the half of what we've been through together. If he did, maybe he wouldn't be so quick to judge us. And that means there's only one thing to do. We have to work all the harder to prove to him that we're the ones who are right. We have to show him a full battle the likes of which only a Dragon Master can." Ryu suddenly pauses to contemplate something. He then chuckles as a slight smile comes to his face.

Dragonite looks at him questioningly.

"Since when did I start caring what Ash thinks?" He chuckles again. He and Dragonite simply continue to stare off into the starry expanse in silence.

It's Durant!

It's the next day. Ash and Ryu stand opposite of each other in a clearing surrounded by the rock pillars. Ash has look of absolute determination plastered to his face. Even Ryu shows more interest on his face than usual.

Brock stands midfield between them, with two referee flags. He announces, "As agreed upon, this will be a full battle, where each trainer will use six Pokémon. Substitutions are allowed at any time by either trainer. The winner will be the one with the last Pokémon standing. Both trainers will send out their first Pokémon at the same time. Are the trainers ready?"

Ash announces, "We're ready."

Pikachu adds, "Pik-pika!"

Ryu also agrees, "Ready."

Dragonite adds a growl.

Brock nods. "In that case, let the battle begin!"

Ash and Ryu both throw their Pokéballs at the same time. Ash shouts, "Gible, I chose you!" and Ryu shouts, "Garchomp, to battle!"

Once on the field, Ash's Gible looks up and down Ryu's Garchomp with its vacant stare.

Ash says, "Don't worry about it, Gible, the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

Gible nods and responds with a blunt, "Gible."

Ryu raises a brow, seemingly disagreeing with Ash's choice of Pokémon, but not vocalizing it.

Garchomp stares down at the diminutive Pokémon and chuckles. "Gar chomp chomp chomp."

Ryu warns, "Do not underestimate your foe, Garchomp."

Garchomp looks questioningly back at Ryu but doesn't make a fuss about it.

Ash is the first to make a move, "Okay Gible, use Rock Smash!"

Gible leaps at Garchomp with a glowing white fist. "Gible!"

Ryu calmly counters, "Put a stop to it with Dual Chop." Garchomp's arm-scythes also begin to glow. The first arm collides into Gible's attack, neutralizing it, and then the second arm swings around, slamming Gible in the chest, sending it flying backwards.

Gible hits the ground and tumbles head over heels, remaining completely stiff the entire way. After skidding to halt, it quickly stands up erect again. To signify it's okay, it announces, "Gible."

Ash quickly declares, "Let's get serious! Draco Meteor!" Gible begins to gather dragonic energy in its core.

Ryu actually looks slightly impressed. "Your Pokémon knows the ultimate Dragon-Type move?"

Ash grins, liking the fact that he's impressed Ryu. "Yup, taught it the move myself."

This impresses Ryu even more.

Ash shouts, "Go, Gible! Do it!"

"Giiiiiiible!" From its mouth, Gible launches a large orb of orange energy into sky.

Ryu warns, "Be ready, Garchomp!" Garchomp adopts a ready stance.

The orb of energy reaches its zenith and explodes into dozens of smaller orbs. Notably, one of the orbs veers off and quickly flies out of sight, going who-knows-where. The remainder cascade back down onto the field.

Ryu shouts, "Dual Chop!" With its glowing arms, Garchomp begins to slash its way through the incoming meteors. Each time one approaches, Garchomp chops at it, causing it to dissipate.

Seeing his attack not landing, Ash grimaces. He quickly changes attitudes when he gets an idea. "Gible, Rock Smash, both arms!" Gible lunges at Garchomp as the meteors continue to fall. It punches at Garchomp with one arm, forcing Garchomp to parry with one of its own. Gible bounces back to floor, then leaps again to attack with its other arm. Garchomp blocks again. "Keep going Gible! Keep on the pressure!"

The two Pokémon continue to rapid attack each other. Gible takes more time between attacks, due to its small stature, forcing it jump up and down. Garchomp, on the other hand, has to switch back and forth between blocking Gible and deflecting the cascading Draco Meteor.

This dynamic display keeps up for as long as the Draco Meteor falls, but before long, the last meteor hits the ground. Once this happens, Garchomp is able to put its full attention back on Gible, and promptly overwhelms it, hitting Gible straight in the chest and sending it slamming against a stone pillar.

Once again, Gible stands right back up and tenaciously, or obliviously, declares, "Gible."

Ash says, "Alright Gible, Rock Smash again!"

Brenda gasps. "What is he doing? That's not going to work any better this time than before."

Ryu seems skeptical as well, but commands back, "Dual Chop again!" Garchomp leaps at Gible to deflect it.

Ash grins. "Gible, get low and use Draco Fang!" Instead of leaping up to attack, Gible keeps on running forward and cancels its Rock Smash. Instead its fangs grow larger and glow green. From underneath Garchomp's outstretched arm, Gible leaps straight up and bites down on the arm.

Garchomp cries out in shock and pain, "Gaaaar!"

Brenda realizes, "It was a fake out! Ash knew Ryu would counter the move the same way! Way to go Ash!"

Garchomp flails its arm about in an attempt to get Gible off, but Gible won't budge.

Ash grins. "Once Gible bites down, good luck getting it off."

Ryu retorts, "We'll see about that. Garchomp, slam it hard against the column!"

Ash's eyes widen. "Gible, let go!"

But Garchomp is too fast. It rushes towards the nearest stone column and slams its arm, and Gible along with it, against the stone. This knocks Gible right off. Not only that, but it causes Gible to become dazed. It stiffly staggers from one foot to another.

Ryu commands, "Finish it, Dragon Rush!" Garchomp prepares itself to rush at Gible.

Ash realizes there is no way Gible can manage to dodge in this state. He pulls out a Pokéball and announces, "Gible, return!" Gible is returned to the Pokéball before Garchomp can prepare its attack. Ash stares at the Pokéball momentarily, contemplating his next move.

Brenda says, "That's for the better. There's no way Gible could have beaten its evolved form."

Brock, able to talk due to the momentary pause in the battle, disagrees, "If that really were going to be the case, Gible would have lost in moments of the battle beginning. The fact that it managed to stay in there for as long as it did means that that was actually a very even match."

Ash pulls out his next Pokéball. "Goodra, let's go!"

Ash's Goodra appears and happily cheers, "Goodra!"

Ash explains, "I actually left Goodra back in Kalos, but thankfully Professor Sycamore was able to help get it here. Thanks for coming to help, Goodra."

Goodra looks back to Ash and grins. "Goodra!"

Not really caring, Ryu starts the battle back up by ordering, "Let's deliver that Dragon Rush now!" Garchomp leaps into the air and becomes cloaked by a harsh blue light. That light forms into the shape of a serpentine dragon. Garchomp dives in at Goodra.

Ash was prepared for this. "Just what I thought. Goodra, use Ice Beam, full force!"

"Gooooodraaaa!" Goodra attacks with a beam that saps the heat from its surroundings. The large beam hits the diving Garchomp, encasing it entirely in ice. Garchomp crashes to the floor, and the ice shatters.

"Quickly Goodra, Dragon Pulse while it's down!"

The Dragon Pulse hits ground instead of Garchomp, as Garchomp disappears. Ryu recalled it last-second.

Brenda observes, "Wow, this battle is so intense. Both of them are using their substitutions at the best time."

Ryu already knows exactly what comes next. "Salamence, to battle!"

A mighty Salamence appears and roars to intimidate its opponent. "Salaaaaaa!" The Pokémon leaps up to fly.

Ash is ready to get the battle going again and promptly orders, "Goodra, use Ice Beam!" Goodra prepares for another high-powered Ice Beam.

Ryu was expecting that. "Not again! Salamence, use Fire Blast! Wide range!"

"Meeeeence!"

An explosion of fire bursts from Salamence's mouth just as Goodra launches its Ice Beam. The heat from the Fire Blast neutralizes the cold of the Ice Beam, cancelling the attack entirely and generating a massive cloud of steam.

Ryu shouts, "And now Breaking Swipe!" Salamence suddenly dives down at Goodra from within the steam cloud and slams the opposing Pokémon with its glowing tail.

Brock says to himself, "Ice is the Dragon-Type's greatest weakness, it figures that Ryu would have a strategy ready to deal with a move like Ice Beam. I hope Ash has a counter-counter-strategy ready."

Ash looks like he's coming up with one as Brock speaks. "Goodra, get back up and use Dragon Pulse!"

Goodra manages to bounce back up and flings an orb of purple energy at the airborne opponent.

"Draconic Fire, Salamence!" Salamence breathes purple flames back. The two attacks collide and cancel.

Ash is ready with a follow-up order, "Now let's show them your newest move! Use Outrage!"

"Goooooodraaaa!" Goodra becomes cloaked in a violent red aura. It aggressively leaps at Salamence. While in midair, Goodra launches one of its retractable horns at the flying Salamence. The tip of the horn hits Salamence like a fist to the face. Once this first one lands, Goodra unleashes a fury of successive blows. Once Salamence is stunned by this, Goodra uses both horns at once to slam Salamence down into the floor. Goodra then lands on the floor, ready for more.

Ryu shakes his head disapprovingly. "Outrage is among the most powerful Dragon-Type attacks, but I don't think you're ready to properly use it. Are you ready for the drawbacks?"

Ash grimaces, showing that he knows what to expect, but was hoping to not have to deal with it. "Goodra, keep up the assault!" Goodra, still glowing red, charges at the downed Salamence.

Ryu calmly orders, "Use Dragon Claw to deflect it."

Goodra begins another flurry of attacks, but this time Salamence is prepared for it. Salamence's claws glow green with energy, and this energy grows several times larger. It claws back at Goodra, deflecting many of its attacks. Goodra is attacking too furiously for Salamence to block every attack, but with most of the attacks blocked, the bulk of the damage is avoided. At one moment, there is a slight slowdown in Goodra's movement.

Ryu notices this and orders, "Do it!"

Salamence manages to get in its Dragon Claw during this lapse in attacks from Goodra. This just seems to further enrage Goodra, but also stuns it momentarily.

With it stunned, Ryu commands, "Now fly up high!" With several powerful wingbeats, Salamence is propelled upwards. The blowback from this also knocks Goodra off its feet, further delaying it from pursuing Salamence.

Once Goodra regains mobility, in the blind rage it's still experiencing from Outrage, it attempts to leap up at Salamence, even though it's obvious that it can't make it that high. It also tries to scale a pillar but slides down. It roars angrily, "Gooooooo!"

Ash urges, "Goodra, you have to remain calm! Don't waste your energy!"

Goodra is completely unable to even consider Ash's suggestion. It continues to do everything it can manage in an attempt to reach Salamence.

Brenda asks, "Why isn't it just using a ranged attack like Ice Beam?"

Ryu is the one to answer. "Outrage is an extremely powerful move that deals continuous devastating blows but blinds the user in an intense rage. Goodra can think of nothing else right now but physically striking Salamence. If one doesn't train properly to use the move, it can be a greater hindrance than help when the foe knows how to counter it."

Ash grimaces at hearing this backhanded insult.

Goodra's anger suddenly subsides, but it is replaced by an intense confusion. Goodra begins wander about aimlessly, unable to focus.

Ryu adds, "And once the anger subsides, the Pokémon is left confused. And that means Goodra is wide open. Salamence, use Giga Impact!"

"Salaaaaa!" Turbulent swirling energy begins to gather around Salamence. The Pokémon dives down to strike Goodra. It looks like it's all over for Goodra.

Ash grins, knowing exactly what to do. "Goodra, leap straight at the attack!" Goodra attempts to listen to Ash, but ends up stumbling to the side, just as Salamence is about to make impact. Goodra avoids the attacks entirely.

Ryu gasps. "What the…?"

Ash announces, "Thanks for that one, Brenda."

Brenda gasps. "That's what Wispirit and I did during our last Contest!"

She has a flashback to her final round battle against Damien and his Abyssoul, when Wispirit had been confused. With an incoming attack, Brenda shouts, "Wispirit, fly straight towards the attack!"

Wispirit flies in towards the incoming attack, and suddenly veers to the right. Its confusion makes it incapable of flying in a straight line. This causes it to avoid the attack entirely.

When the flashback ends, Ash asks, "Did you really think I was so reckless as to leave myself completely open without a plan? Did you really think I didn't know the side-effects of using Outrage?"

Ryu slowly nods. "I see I underestimated you this time. A mistake I won't make again."

Ash grins. "Well, unfortunately for you, now it's you that has to deal with the drawbacks of their attacks! Salamence can't do anything after attacking with Giga Impact! Goodra, even confused you should be able to hit it! Use Ice Beam with a wide spread for good measure!"

Goodra begins to fire off its Ice Beam, essentially at random. But it doesn't take long for it to home in on Salamence.

Ryu declares, "You're wrong, for we too have a back-up strategy! Now Salamence!" Salamence spreads its wings out further, allowing them to catch the wind and blow it higher into the sky, thus avoiding the Ice Beam and becoming a harder target.

Ash gasps. "That's the same strategy that Gliscor and I would use."

Ryu points out, "It really isn't that hard of a technique to figure out. And now that we bought the time to allow us to move again, Salamence, use Breaking Swipe!" Salamence dives down once more, readying itself to attack with its tail.

Ash urges, "Goodra, straight at it!" Goodra once again zigzags about. It manages to dodge the attack initially, but the Breaking Swipe is such a wide attack that sweeps straight into Goodra, knocking it aside.

"Follow up with Dragon Claw!" Completely relentless, Salamence quickly flies at the downed Goodra and swipes at it with its claws. That's it. Goodra can't take anymore. It's knocked out.

Brock makes it official. "Goodra is unable to battle!"

Ash clenches his fist, upset to have taken the first loss of the battle. It wasn't in vain though, as Salamence looks extremely tired out. Ash contemplates his next move, deciding how to best press this advantage.

Not far away, Team Rocket lurks in the shadows, watching this battle. James says, "This is great. Those two will completely wear each other out, and when all is done, we'll have not one, but two teams of Dragon-Type Pokémon ripe for the taking."

Jessie adds, "And Dragon-Type Pokémon are the rarest and most valuable there is."

Meowth agrees, "Our future is looking bright, as in the brightness of gold and silver."

Ash pulls out his next Pokéball and throws it. "Get back in there, Gible!"

Gible reappears. "Gible."

Ryu pulls out a Pokéball as well. "Salamence, take a rest, you need it." This surprises Ash. Ryu swaps Pokéballs. "Hakamo-o, to battle!"

"Hakamo!"

Ash comments, "Hakamo-o, huh? Alright then." He takes out Gible's Pokéball again. "Sorry Gible, but you're going to have to wait a little more." He recalls Gible, surprising everyone watching. "This is your battle, let's go Heala!"

Heala appears. "Healalala!" It sees its opponent and grows serious.

Hakamo-o grins intimidatingly back. "Haka…"

Team Rocket all gasp. James says, "Little Heala's up next!"

Jessie cheers, "Yeah, take 'em down Heala!"

Meowth skeptically asks, "I know we helped that little Pokémon grow stronger and everything, but shouldn't we be preparing to steal the Pokémon?"

James says, "There's no reason we can't cheer for Heala while we do that."

Meowth considers this for a moment. "True. In that case, go Heala, go!"

All together, they shout, "Go Heala!"

Wobbuffet appears to join them. "Wobbuffet!"

Heala and Hakamo-o continue their stare down. It is plainly obvious that both Pokémon take this battle with the utmost gravity.

Ryu thinks to himself, I hate to admit it, but it is because of Ash and Heala that Hakamo-o has become the proficient battler it is today. We won in our last battle, but I can see desire to win in Heala's eyes. As an expert of Dragon-Types, I can tell that there is nothing it wants more right now than to win. He looks to his own Pokémon. And Hakamo-o feels the same way. We will give this battle our all. We will not lose.

At the same time, Ash is looking to Ryu and thinking, Just as Ryu is my rival, Hakamo-o is Heala's. The first step to winning this battle is to win this round. We may have lost before, but Heala has grown so much stronger since then. Heala and I are completely in sync right now, we both have the same goal, our minds are unified. We will give this battle our all. We will not lose.

The Narrator declares, Both trainers have sent out three Pokémon, Ash is down one Pokémon, Ryu is down none, and neither trainer is willing to lose. This intense battle between rivals is only just beginning and is about to be brought to the next level. Who will win? Who will lose? Find out next time, when the battle continues!

To Be Continued…