Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 80: Chim-Charred!
Ash faces off against Denise in a training match, while Brock, Dawn and their pokemon watch on.
"Alright, Pikachu, Turtwig and Buizel, I wanna use all three of you."Ash admitted.
Buizel responded in understanding.
"We are ready when you are, Dennie."Ash stated.
"Great, let's get started then."Denise remarked with a confident smirk.
Hoothoot, Chimchar and Vaporeon responded in agreement.
"Chimchar use Flamethrower, Vaporeon use Shadow Ball and Hoothoot use Aerial Ace!"Denise ordered.
Chimchar, Vaporeon and Hoothoot fired their attacks at Pikachu, Turtwig and Buizel.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt, Turtwig use Razor Leaf and Buizel use Aqua Jet!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu used Thunderbolt on Chimchar's Flamethrower while Turtwig used Razor Leaf at Vaporeon's Shadow Ball.
Buizel used Aqua Jet and ends up combing with Hoothoot's Aerial Ace.
Hoothoot, Chimchar and Vaporeon stare at Pikachu, Turtwig and Buizel in approval.
"Wow, you three are working well."Ash commented. "Keep that up and the fourth gym badge will be ours."
Pikachu, Turtwig and Buizel cheered at Ash's response.
"And thanks to you for helping us train."Ash admitted.
Hoothoot, Chimchar and Vaporeon chirped happily at him.
"No problem."Denise answered with a smile. "We are both aiming to get that fourth gym badge."
Gligar gets excited and hugs Ash, but ends up knocking him down.
"Gilgar is at it again."Dawn giggled.
"I think Gligar wants to be on the action too."Brock stated.
"Sorry Gligar."Ash apologised. "But you got to wait a little while longer to be a gym battle."
Tears began to form on Gligar's eyes.
"First we have to give you more experience at battling against lots of different trainers."Ash explained.
Gligar got happy and accidentally hits Ash on the face with his tail making him drop on the floor.
Denise chuckled as she helped Ash up.
"Man, Gligar does love you a lot."Denise said in amusement.
"I think Gligar is trying to show off that battling spirit."Brock suggested. "Hey Gligar, what do you say a nice battle with us?"
"Sudowoodo!"Sudowoodo responded.
An excited smile grew on Gligar's face.
"Cool."Ash complemented. "Okay Gligar, let's give it a try."
Sudowoodo and Gligar got ready to battle each other.
"This is one serious practice battle."Dawn admitted.
"Piplup."Piplup agreed.
"Let's see how this goes."Denise stated.
Grotle nodded. "Grotle."
"Chimchar."Chimchar replied.
Suddenly a strong wind blew around the area.
"Okay, Gligar use Steel Wing!"Ash ordered.
Dawn and Denise closed their eyes from the wind while Gligar was blown away.
"Gligar!"Ash shouted and looked at Staravia." "Staravia, go after Gligar!"
Staravia flew after Gligar as Ash went after him.
"Ash, wait up!"Denise protested.
Meanwhile...
Paul and his Electabuzz shock a wild Drapion in an attempt to catch it.
This fails, however, as Ash's Gligar falls from the sky and hits a rock, right in front of Paul and the Drapion escaped.
"You stopped our training, get out."Paul said coldly.
Gligar's eyes began to be filled with tears of fear.
Staravia leads Ash and his friends to Gligar and Paul.
"It's Paul!"Ash said.
Gligar ran into Ash's waiting arms and cried.
"Are you alright?"Ash asked. "We were worried."
"Thank goodness Gligar's alright."Dawn said.
Chimchar hid behind Denise's leg in fright seeing his old trainer, while Pikachu gives Electabuzz a friendly greeting.
"Did you have your Pastoria Gym challenge yet?"Ash asked.
"I can't imagine why two losing coordinators like you two would have any concern about gym battles."Paul insulted.
This confused Ash, Brock, Dawn and their pokemon while Denise simply frowned.
"Paul, what do you mean?"Dawn asked.
"I saw the Wallace Cup."Paul replied.
"I entered the Wallace Cup because Denise asked me to."Ash admitted. "She said it would help Buizel's battle skills."
Buizel responded with a postive expression.
Paul chuckled with a smirk on his face.
"What's so funny?"Ash demanded angrily.
"Remember the reason I entered the tag-battle at Hearthome City?"Paul asked.
"Yeah…"Ash answered quietly.
"Well you gave me a hard time because I did it to get my pokemon into better shape for a real battle!"Paul snapped.
Both Ash and Denise glared at him.
"But that's exactly what you pulled at the Wallace Cup, get it?"Paul retorted.
"What did you say?"Ash demanded.
"Pika pi!"Pikachu replied.
"Brock, I smell a fight coming on."Dawn said worriedly.
Brock didn't reply and remained silent.
"When I was in that tag battle, the only thing I was thinking about was trying to win it!"Ash shouted. "The only thing you were thinking about was how you could power up your own pokemon!"
"Well the fact is, I did win it, but you weren't able to win the Wallace Cup, were you?"Paul questioned and smirked. "Another perfect example of just how strong you aren't."
"Look both of us and Denise have the same goal of winning the Sinnoh League someday right?"Ash admitted. "And of course we also want to beat the league champion Cynthia too."
"Your point?"Paul questioned with a frown.
"After you battled Cynthia, you told me to do whatever I want, to battle my own way, and you told me that's what you were going to do too."Ash complemented.
"I…guess I said that."Paul replied simply.
"Yeah, well ever since that time, I've been thinking more and more about what it really means to be strong."Ash said. "And that means believing in the strength of my friends and pokemon and that's because I trust and love them!"
Pikachu and the others cheered at their trainer on as he defended them on their behalf.
"That's why I'm working so hard to make my pokemon as strong as they can be, the way I know how, we both have the same goals, but the way we get them couldn't be more different."Ash commented.
"Hmmph, you sure get worked up."Paul replied smugly.
"What?!"Ash demanded angrily.
"Easy, Ash."Brock instructed and looked at Paul. "Didn't any of the things Cynthia said mean anything to you, Paul?"
"That's not my thing."Paul replied.
"Of course not."Denise responded with a glare. "A moron like you wouldn't understand that."
"Be sure to taste your words before you bring them out."Paul admitted smugly.
Denise huffed and looked away as a bit of pink appeared in her face while Ash was getting more angry.
Paul looked at Electabuzz.
"We're wasting our time here."Paul said.
The rude trainer returned Electabuzz to his pokeball and began to walk away from the heroes.
"Not so fast, Paul!"Ash shouted. "Let's have a battle, I want to show you how strong we got."
Paul ignored and continued walking.
Chimchar suddenly runs after Paul.
"Chimchar!"Chimchar yelled.
An amused smirk grew on Paul's face.
"Fine by me."Paul admitted. "How's three-on-three sound?"
"You got it!"Ash responded determinedly and walked forward. "Thanks, Chimchar."
"Let's do it everyone!"Ash announced and looked at his other pokemon.
Ash's pokemon cheered at their trainer.
"Don't get careless."Brock warned.
"Since there is no turning back, good luck."Denise complemented.
"Thanks Dennie."Ash remarked and looked at Dawn. "Dawn, we'll need a coin toss."
"Alright, choose it you guys, is it gonna be heads or tails?"Dawn asked she got ready her watch for the coin-toss.
"Your move, Paul."Ash said.
"I choose tails."Paul replied.
"Alright, coin toss here we go!"Dawn remarked and flipped the virtual coin.
The coin landed on heads in favor of Ash.
"It's heads!"Dawn said. "So Ash, goes first."
"Alright!"Ash responded. "Now, who should I start with?"
Gligar began jumping up and down with excitement.
"Whoa, Gligar is psyched."Brock said.
"Gligar wins first prize for enthusiasm."Dawn added.
"Ok Gligar, I like your attitude, this'll be your first battle!"Ash said.
Gligar happily went to the field.
"Gligar's gonna be my first choice!"Ash announced.
"And foolish too."Paul insulted with a dark smile. "Now Gliscor, stand by for battle!"
His pokeball opened and Gliscor appeared.
"Gliscor!"
Gligar started becoming very nervous about facing his evolved form and former friend.
"Of course, he would choose Gliscor on purpose."Denise responded with a small frown.
"That's part of his strategy."Brock answered. "Paul's way of putting pressure on Gligar."
"Hey Gligar, don't worry!"Ash assured. "You just do what I tell you and stay calm!"
Gligar got over his fear and does a battle stance.
"Gligar, X-Scissor, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Gligar leaped into the air to slash his evolved form.
"Gliscor, Knock Off!"Paul ordered.
Gliscor bashed Gligar's head with the Dark-type attack, sending Gligar to the ground.
"That one's gotta hurt."Brock commented.
Gligar's eyes formed tears from the pain.
"Come on Gligar, Sand Attack!"Ash ordered.
Gligar gets up and started to throw sand in Gliscor's face, but the Fang Scorp pokemon was unaffected by the attack.
"I see."Brock admitted. "Ash is using Gligar's Sand Attack to make it harder for Gliscor to land a direct hit."
"But look at Gliscor, it's acting like it doesn't feel a thing."Dawn said.
"That's probably because it doesn't."Brock stated.
"Ouch."Denise replied quietly.
"Use Guillotine!"Paul ordered.
Gliscor leaped up into the air and it's claw began to glow white, surprising Ash and Gligar.
"Quick, counter-attack with Steel Wing!"Ash ordered.
Gligar countered with Steel Wing but it's no good as Gliscor scored a direct hit and slammed Gligar into the ground, knocking it out.
"Oh man, Gligar."Ash mumbled.
"Just one hit."Dawn said.
"You see, Guillotine is a move that will instantly knock out your opponent if it manages to make contact."Brock explained. "Paul's a tough one."
Denise bit her lip as Ash comforted Gligar.
"Come on, you did your best."Ash assured.
Paul returned Gliscor in his pokeball.
"I think now would be the perfect time to let your Gligar know that a loss is the trainer's fault."Paul retorted.
Ash turned his head and growled at his rival.
"So I guess is your own fault when you lose?"Denise questioned.
Paul was taken aback a little, but simply smirked.
"That doesn't happen since I don't lose."Paul replied smugly.
Denise narrowed her eyes at him.
Ash looked at Gligar.
"You stay here and cheer for the rest of us, ok Gligar?"He said.
Gligar answered with a nod.
"Now Ursaring, stand by for battle!"Paul stated.
The pokeball opened and a roaring Ursaring came out.
"Whoa, Ursaring."Ash said.
"Chimchar!"Chimchar responded and rushed forward.
"Huh, you want to go next?"Ash asked.
"Char!"Chimchar answered with a nod.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu protested.
Chimchar turned around and tells Pikachu he can do it.
In response, Pikachu wishes Chimchar good luck.
Chimchar rushed into the field.
"This is interesting."Paul admitted.
"Okay Chimchar, go for it!"Dawn called out with a smile.
"Piplup piplup!"Piplup cheered.
"Okay Chimchar, Flamethrower now!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar fired Flamethrower and Ursaring blocked it.
"It didn't even dodge."Dawn responded.
"I guess that's the confidence it has."Brock suggested.
Denise didn't say anything but continued watching the battle.
"Flamethrower is a bit powerful now, isn't it?"Ash asked.
"Focus Blast now!"Paul ordered.
Ursaring shot the Focus Blast at Chimchar, who also tried to block it, but skidded back, like with Ursaring, who had blocked his Flamethrower.
The Normal Type pokemon threw the Focus Blast at Chimchar.
It exploded, but sustained little damage to the Chimp pokemon as he glared back, screeching at his former trainer.
"Awesome, the way you took that!"Ash chuckled. "Now use Dig!"
Chimchar dug to the ground.
"Hammer Arm in the ground!"Paul ordered.
Ursaring used Hammer Arm on the ground, unearthing Chimchar and knocking him into the air.
Denise became alarmed when she remembered when Shinx got effected when Chimchar attacked him from the ground.
"Chimchar use Flame Wheel!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar shot towards Ursaring with Flame Wheel.
"Catch that!"Paul ordered.
Ursaring blocked the Flame Wheel and caught Chimchar in his claws.
But, Ash didn't seem concerned to that.
"Oh yeah?"Ash questioned. "Counter with Scratch, Chimchar!"
"Secret Power!"Paul ordered.
Ursaring began to glow pink before throwing Chimchar to the ground.
"Chimchar use Flamethrower, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Due to the mysterious power of Ursaring's Secret Power attack, Chimchar was flinched and can't attack.
"Chimchar, what's wrong with you?"Ash asked.
"What could've gotten into Chimchar?"Dawn said.
"He has become scared."Denise muttered with a glare.
"Right."Brock agreed. "In rocky terrain like this, Secret Power can cause the opponent to flinch in fear."
"Are you sure that it's the Secret Power that's got you scared?"Paul questioned with a smirk.
"Come on, Chimchar!"Ash encouraged. "Snap out of it!"
Vaporeon, Hoothoot and Ash's pokemon all cheered at Chimchar to stand up.
"You can do it, Chimchar!"Dawn protested.
"Chimchar, wake up!"Denise called out. "Don't be afraid!"
"Chimchar, you've got a chance to pull off a counterattack, so don't blow it!"Ash warned.
"Use Hammer Arm!"Paul ordered.
Ursaring uses Hammer Arm on Chimchar, burying him in a pile of rubble.
This caused the heroes and their pokemon to become surprised.
"Chimchar, no!"Ash shouted.
Paul smirked. "Hmph, guess that's that."
Denise looked down in disappointment.
"It can't be."Dawn said quietly.
"Look there!"Brock protested.
Suddenly Chimchar emerged in a flaming fury.
"Your alright!"Ash remarked.
Chimchar let out an angry shout, having accessed Blaze, although it's not like any Blaze anyone's seen before.
The heroes pokemon watched in astonishment.
"Whoa, what happened?"Ash asked.
"Oh my gosh..."Denise whispered with a stunned look.
"Is that what I think it is?"Dawn asked.
"It's Chimchar's special ability: Blaze!"Brock answered.
"Wait...that doesn't look like the Blaze that I've seen."Ash commented.
Remembering how Chimchar activated Blaze during his battle with the Zangoose, Paul realised that Chimchar was finally awake as this is the power he was trying to unlock all along.
"Chimchar is finally awake."Paul said simply.
"This must be what Paul was talking about."Ash admitted.
"Paul couldn't had that happened even with their special training at all."Dawn said.
"Chimchar wasn't being forced to use Blaze from his friend's cheer."Brock answered. "Chimchar wants Ash to win and Chimchar also wants to show Paul what it can do, and when you combine that with all the support of Ash's pokemon that would explain where all the massive power comes from."
"Is this probably a sign that will unlock Chimchar's hidden power?"Denise thought in curiosity.
Chimchar shouted and leapt up.
"Looks like we really got through Chimchar!"Ash stated and became serious. "Time to show Paul what Chimchar is really made of! Full power Flame Wheel, go!"
Chimchar charged towards Ursaring with Flame Wheel.
"Ursaring, Focus Blast!"Paul ordered.
Chimchar's Flame Wheel smashed through the Focus Blast and collided with Ursaring knocking it out.
Paul returned Ursaring back in its pokeball.
"That must be the most powerful Flame Wheel that I've ever seen."Paul stated.
Chimchar continued screaming causing his flames to be released more.
"Hey Chimchar, you won it!"Ash called out.
"The battle is over, please stop!"Dawn reminded.
"I don't think that Chimchar even hears!"Brock admitted.
"Oh no..."Denise whispered nervously.
"Chimchar, stop it!"Ash ordered.
However Chimchar instead powers up another Flame Wheel and charged at Ash, who quickly got out of the way.
"Paul, look out!"Denise warned.
Chimchar goes for Paul, who narrowly avoid being hit.
Now Chimchar was bouncing all around, setting fire to the forest.
"Look the fire!"Brock shouted.
"Quick Piplup, Whirlpool!"Dawn ordered.
"Now Buizel, Water Gun go!"Ash ordered.
"Vaporeon use Water Gun too!"Denise ordered.
Piplup used Whirlpool to put out the fires, while Buizel and Vaporeon backs him up with Water Gun.
"Chimchar, stop!"Ash demanded.
Chimchar was now completely uncontrollable and attempts to get away, however he was blocked by Pikachu, Piplup, Buizel, Staravia, Vaporeon, Turtwig and Hoothoot.
Gligar watched the sight in awe.
Paul watched quietly as Chimchar continued roaring in anger.
"Chimchar, stop!"Ash protested as he grabbed Chimchar.
Chimchar showed no sign of calming and bites him in the shoulder causing Ash intense pain.
"Ash!"Denise shouted in fear.
She wanted to rush forward but Brock blocked her way.
"Denise, stay here."Brock ordered.
"But Ash is..."Denise started.
"Ash will handle it."Brock assured.
Pikachu blocked the other pokemon from helping Ash.
"Blaze is supposed to help out a fire type pokemon when they really need it."Dawn said. "But to totally lose control like that?"
"Dawn for all we know, this could be Chimchar's true power."Brock responded.
Denise became quiet hearing that.
The intense heat caused by Chimchar began to hurt Ash, but he refused to let go and kept begging Chimchar to stop.
"Urgh, Chimchar, enough!"Ash ordered. "You won already! It's over! You won!"
Chimchar continued roaring in rage.
"CHIMCHAR, STOP!"Ash screamed.
Chimchar finally calmed down and regained control.
"Whoa, that was intense, but you're okay now."Ash remarked.
"Ash, are you okay?"Denise asked with a hint of worry as she rushed forward.
"I am fine, Dennie."Ash responded.
Chimchar looked down in fear.
"Still frightened?"Dawn asked softly.
"After going through all that, I am not surprised."Brock answered.
"Chimchar, you were great."Ash chuckled rubbing Chimchar's head. "I guess you were just surprising us with all the power that you've got."
"Yeah, you really showed out your hidden flame."Denise agreed kindly.
The heroes pokemon responded in agreement.
"You really think you'll be able to control that?"Paul asked.
"Who knows? I sure don't."Ash replied as he stood up. "But if anyone can, Chimchar can do it."
"Chim?"Chimchar said and stared in surprise.
"Such spoken just like a fool."Paul replied cruelly. "Once you two figured out how to control that flame, we'll battle again."
The ruthless trainer picked up his bag and left.
Denise and Ash glared at Paul.
"Okay Paul, it's a deal!"Ash complemented with a smile.
"Paul wasn't able to see Chimchar's true power, but Ash was able to that's gotta mean something."Dawn admitted. "I just know it."
"It shows no one knows a pokemon's potential, so trainers will have to trust their intuitions the best they can."Brock replied. "And the way that Ash learns how to deal with Chimchar's powers is going to have a huge effect on when his next battle with Paul will become."
"Hey, let's you and I train more, so that we can win the whole Sinnoh League, okay?"Ash asked.
"Chimchar!"Chimchar agreed happily.
Denise hugs Ash from behind, feeling happy he was safe despite Chimchar's sudden rampage.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite
Vaporeon (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Aurora Beam
Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Ice Punch, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoothoot (Male): Silver Wind, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish