Chapter 95: Motherly Love

Ash made his way to the stands, where Lillie greeted him with a big kiss.

"You did it! Way to go, Ash!"

Ash chuckled, but happily kissed her back.

"Rillaboom was amazing!" Chloe added. "The way he tanked those super effective hits was incredible."

"Hey, don't forget about Dracovish!" Goh piped in. Ash just chuckled.

"Thanks, guys! It wasn't easy, but my Pokemon pulled through."

"I just hope Allister doesn't take his loss too hard."

Before anything else could be said about Ash's match, Bea's match started and drew their attention away. After a long hard match, Bea and her Machamp came out on top.

"Man, that Machamp is super strong!"

"I thought it was bad enough regular sized, but when she Gigantamaxes it? You'd better watch out, Ash."

But Ash wasn't too worried.

"That's fine, we love a challenge! RIght, buddy?"

"Pi!"

Up next was Melony's battle against Gordie. The mother and son shook hands, Gordie less willingly than his mother, before they took their places on the battlefield.

"This will be a 3-on–3 battle with no time or switching out limit! The battle will continue until all Pokemon on either side are unable to battle! In addition, each trainer may use Mega Evolution, a Z-Move, or Dynamax once per battle! Trainers, are you ready!"

"Ready!"

"Ready!"

"Then let the battle begin!"

"Go, Frosmoth!"

"Stonjourner, let's rock this joint!"

The crowd oohed and ahhed as the two types took their stance. Gordie grinned maniacally.

"Ha! This will be easy, my Rock Types will pound your Ice Types into dust!"

"Now Gordie, don't be so hasty. You forget, I raised you, so I know all of your tricks."

"Not all of them! Stealth Rock!"

Stonjourner roared, launching several small stones from his body, covering the battlefield in several sharp spikes. Melony smirked, humming impressively.

"So, my son has learned some new tricks after all? Alright then, Powder Snow!"

"Rock Polish!"

Stonjourner took a defensive stance, allowing his body to take on a temporary sheen, his speed increasing as the dusting of snow washed off him.

"Using a speed boosting move for defense? Oh, look at my little man coming up with new strategies!"

"MOM! Not in front of the audience!"

Melony giggled before turning to her Frosmoth.

"Use Hail!"

Dark clouds covered the arena and hail began to fall, pelting Stonjourner.

"Now, Aurora Beam, full power!"

"Rock Blast, Stonjourner!"

Stonjourner started shooting rocks out like cannonballs at Frosmoth, only for almost everyone to be reduced to pebbles by the powerful energy beam, which struck Stonjourner head on and almost made him fall over. A few of the rocks did manage to his Frosmoth, but she was in better shape than her opponent.

"Now use U-Turn!"

"Don't let her! Use Stone Edge!"

Stonjourner roared, summoning large pillars of rock to block Frosmoth's path. Frosmoth expertly weaved around them, before ramming right into Stonjourner before recalling itself to its Pokeball.

"Good job, Frosmoth. Go, Lapras!"

Gordie snarled as his mother's ace Pokemon appeared.

"Don't think that scares me! Stonjourner, use Rock Slide!"

"Water Pulse!"

Stonjourner stomped on the ground, sending a cascade of rocks to fly up and crash down on Lapras, making her cry out in pain. But the success was short-lived as the Water Pulse hit Stonjourner, knocking the rock type out.

"Stonjourner is unable to battle! Lapras wins!"C

"And with that, Melony takes the first win of the match! Can Gordie even up the score?"

"Great job, Lapras! Return!"

"Return, Stonjourner! You did great."

"Go, Darmanitan!"

"Rock 'n roll, Shuckle!"

A pure white version of Darmanitan appeared, pounding his chest to try and intimidate Gordie's Shuckle. This got Ash's attention, and he took out his Rotom Phone for more information.

"Darmanitan, the Zen Charm Pokemon, Galarian form. An Ice Type. On days when blizzards blow through, it comes down to where people live. It stashes food in the snowball on its head, taking it home for later."

"An Ice Type Darmanitan? Sweet!"

"Alright Shuckle, Rollout!"

"Icicle Shard, Darmanitan!"

Darmanitan roared, shooting out icicles from his body like spears at Shuckle, who retreated into his shell to avoid them before launching himself right at the Ice Type, running into it and throwing it backwards.

"Don't let him get to you! Keep him back with Blizzard!"

"Keep at it with Rollout, Shuckle!"

Darmanitan opened his mouth and let loose an icy blast right at Shuckle. The attack slowed Shuckle down, but he still kept going, managing to hit Darmanitan even harder than the first time. This time, the blow forced Darmanitan into his Zen Mode.

"Rollout, one more time!"

"Ice Punch, Darmanitan!"

Darmanitan howled with rage, punching Shuckle as hard as he could. The attack did manage to slow Shuckle down, but he was still met with enough force to send Darmanitan flying into a wall, knocking him out.

"Darmanitan is unable to battle, Shuckle wins!"

"Ha! How do you like that, mom?"

Melony smirked, returning her Darmanitan to his Pokeball.

"You did well, Darmanitan. Go, Frosmoth!"

"Shuckle, do you want to keep going?"

Shuckle turned to his trainer, and with a look of sheer determination nodded his head.

"Alright then, use Rock Tomb!"

"Ice Beam, Frosmoth!"

Shuckle tossed huge chunks of rock into the air, which fell and formed around Frosmoth, creating a cocoon that trapped her inside. But not for long, as a huge icy blast broke through, sending Shuckle skidding backwards.

"Come on Gordie, don't tell me this is the best that my darling son can do?"

"You want it? Come and get it! Sandstorm, Shuckle!"

Shuckle growled, creating a flurry of sand that covered the battlefield, though still leaving enough visibility for the audience to make out what was going on.

"Use Giga Drain, Frosmoth!"

"Stone Edge, Shuckle!"

Frosmoth glowed brightly, sucking energy from Shuckle as he struggled to stay upright. With a great amount of effort, he slammed one of his tentacles down hard into the ground, summoning large pillars of rock that struck Frosmoth, sending her fluttering about as she tried to stay upright.

"Frosmoth!"

"Stone Edge, one more time!"

Before Melony could order a move in retaliation, Shuckle slammed another tentacle into the ground, summoning even large rocks that squeezed Frosmoth hard, finally knocking her out.

"Frosmoth is unable to battle! Shuckle wins!"

"And with that folks, Gordie has turned the tables! Can Melony turn them back around, or is this the end?"

"Not by a longshot! Go, Lapras!"

"We're not scared! Shuckle, use Rollout!"

"Brine, Lapras!"

Shuckle retreated back into his shell, attempting to go in for another Rollout attack, only to be repelled by a sharp blast of water from Lapras, sending him spiraling into a wall.

"Now use Surf!"

Just as Shuckle picked himself up he was knocked back down by a huge tidal wave, finally putting him down for the count.

"Shuckle is unable to battle, Lapras wins!"

"It all comes down to this, folks! The next battle will decide the match!"

"Come on, sweetie! Don't tell me you're throwing the match?"

"As if! Go, Coalossal!"

"Surf, Lapras!"

"Tar Shot!"

Before Lapras could summon another tidal wave, sticky black tar shot out from Colossal's mouth and hit her, trapping her on the ground and preventing her from moving.

"Now use Heat Crash!"

Before Lapras could free herself, Coalossal charged and rammed right into her, breaking her free from the tar but launching her back into a wall. Lapras cringed as she forced herself up to her feet.

"Alright Lapras, time to teach my son some manners!"

With that, Melony quickly returned Lapras to her Pokeball, gigantamaxing it before tossing it into the air, the transport Pokemon letting out a fierce roar as she emerged. Gordie just smirked.

"You're not the only one who can do that, you know! It's showtime, Coalossal!"

The crowd cheered as the two giant Pokemon stared each other down.

"Max Geyser, Lapras!"

"Max Guard, Coalossal!"

Lapras shot out a huge burst of water from her mouth, but Coalossal was quick to shield himself with a wall of rock, his shield taking the brunt of the attack.

"Now use Max Flare!"

"Max Geyser, again!"

Lapras tried to blast Coalossal again, only for most of her attack to be evaporated by a massive fireball, leaving only a small splash to hit Coalossal, barely making him flinch while the fireball hit Lapras dead center, making her cry out in pain.

"Alright, let's finish this! G-Max Volcalith!"

"G-Max Resonance!"

Lapras roared, creating a massive bubble of ice cold water above Colossal, ready to dump it on her enemy. Coalossal, not wanting to be outdone, stomped hard on the ground, summoning giant pillars of rock to smash into Lapras, just as the bubble came crashing down onto him. As the dust settled, two brilliant flashes of light illuminated the arena, revealing a weak but still standing Coalossal and a passed out Lapras.

"Lapras is unable to battle! Coalossal wins, which means the winner is Gordie!"

"Ha! Yes, who's the man? That's right, I'm the man!"

Melon smiled, and gripped her son in a tight hug.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you, sweetie!"

"MOM!"

"Gordie will move on to the Semi-Finals! Let's hear it again for both of these strong competitors!"