Author's Note: Hmm...who is for Denise? Ash or Paul? But Lucas happens to like Denise more than a friend. Oh boy...
I don't own Pokemon or it's characters, but I own Denise and my other OCs
Enjoy!
Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 126: Pedal to the Mettle!
At Lake Acuity...
Ash, Dawn, Denise, Lucas and Brock have arrived for Ash's Full Battle against Paul, which Reggie had suggested ten days earlier.
"Finally Lake Acuity!"Ash remarked. "Wow!"
"Pikachu..."Pikachu said gently.
"I just remembered there is supposed to be a legendary pokemon in Lake Acuity as well."Dawn admitted.
"Prinplup."Prinplup chirped.
"Yeah, Uxie."Brock replied with a nod.
"Wait, Uxie as in one of the lake guardians in Sinnoh?"Lucas asked.
"That's right, Lucas."Denise remarked with a nod.
"And that means Uxie is going to be watching Paul and me when we're having our battle."Ash commented and looked at Pikachu. "Let's get over there. Paul must be waiting for us."
"Pikachu."Pikachu agreed with a smirk.
Ash started walking towards the Pokemon Center as Denise, Lucas, Brock and Dawn followed him from behind.
Inside the Pokemon Center...
Ash hands in all of his Pokémon to be checked over by Nurse Joy.
"Make sure they are fine, please?"Ash asked.
"Of course, I'd be happy to."Nurse Joy answered.
"Chansey chansey."Chansey giggled.
Brock began to flirt with Nurse Joy.
"Would you please make sure I'm fine too?"Brock flirted. "Or maybe I can make sure your fine too-"
Brock gets hit by Croagunk's Poison Jab, but also with Chansey's Pound causing him to collapse on the floor.
"On second thought."Brock groaned painfully.
Ash, Dawn, Denise and Lucas sweat dropped while Croagunk dragged Brock away.
"Sorry."Nurse Joy apologised with a sheepish smile. "But Chansey can get quite aggressive to people, who approach me in a certain way."
"Nurse Joy do you know if a Trainer named Paul from Veilstone City got here?"Ash asked.
"As a matter of fact, Paul already arrived here earlier and I'm taking care of his pokemon right now."Nurse Joy admitted.
"Paul arrived here earlier?"Denise thought. "Not a surprise since he must be serious about his battle with Ash."
"Cool! I need to find him pronto!"Ash declared.
Ash was about to head out, but Denise quickly caught his arm with her free hand.
"Hold on, Ash."Denise responded with a frown. "You don't know where he is."
Torchic nodded. "Torchic."
"Oh right."Ash chuckled with a sheepish smile.
Ash, Denise, Lucas, Dawn and Brock headed outside of the Pokemon Center and sees three people doing some construction work.
"What's with all the rubble?"Dawn asked.
"Seems that they are fixing the area of the battlefield."Lucas suggested. "I guess that means the battle won't be here."
"Aw man."Ash mumbled.
Then a man with dark green hair approached them.
"Hey, are you Ash from Pallet Town?"the man asked.
"That's me, yeah."Ash answered.
"I've been waiting for you."the man said. "The name is Olivier, I'm a travelling referee. I got a call from Reggie a few days ago asking me to come to Lake Acuity officiate the pokemon battle between you and Paul."
"Great."Ash commented. "But the battlefield is closed."
"Don't worry."Olivier assured. "Reggie said, 'He has a backup plan just in case.'"
"Huh?"Ash said in confusion.
On a clearing beside Lake Acuity, Paul is practicing with Electabuzz under Reggie's watchful eye.
"Now Electabuzz, Thunder Punch!"Paul ordered.
Electabuzz used Thunder Punch on the ground causing a few sparks of electricity to burst out.
"It's amazing you've been able improve your pokemon's moves in just ten days."Reggie stated.
A breeze in the lake gentle blew in the area.
"I remember what you asked me ten days ago."Paul said and looked at his older brother. "So why have a battle now?"
"It just seems like your battle with Brandon had a major effect on you."Reggie exclaimed. "Now it seems like a perfect time."
Inside the Pokemon Center...
Ash picked up Pikachu, Staraptor, Grotle, Chimchar, Buizel and Gliscor, who were all ready and willing to battle Paul.
"Your pokemon are all ready for your battle."Nurse Joy declared. "Now everyone is in tip top shape."
Pikachu, Staraptor, Grotle, Chimchar, Buizel and Gliscor let out positive responds.
"Thanks, Nurse Joy."Ash thanked.
"You all sure look confident."Dawn remarked. "Your definitely ready to battle for sure."
"Prinplup."Prinplup chirped.
"We'll make sure to cheer you on during the battle, Ash."Denise assured.
"Torchic."Torchic tweeted.
"Thanks, Dennie."Ash thanked. "And I'm going to win this too. Just as soon I defeat Paul and his pokemon, he'll have no choice but to finally give a little respect to my training style! So let's move it! We'll show Paul what we got and give him a taste of what we can really do!"
Pikachu, Staraptor, Grotle, Buizel and Gliscor responded in agreement as Chimchar jumped with confidence.
"Chimchar!"Chimchar chanted. "Chimchar!"
"Wow Chimchar, your all fired up aren't ya?"Ash remarked.
"Chimchar reminds a lot of mine."Lucas commented. "Except his sort of the cheeky type."
"Watching Chimchar reminds me what Cynthia told us."Brock admitted.
"You mean when a life meets another life something will be born?"Dawn asked.
"Right, but that's not all."Brock said. "She also spoke of a larger destiny waiting for Chimchar. And Chimchar is the touch stone of Ash and Paul's relationship."
"Everybody, ready?"Ash asked.
Pikachu, Staraptor, Grotle, Buizel, Gliscor and Chimchar let out confident cheers to their trainer.
Denise suddenly felt butterflies in my stomach, but simply kept her smile on her face.
At the Lakefront...
Ash, Denise, Lucas, Dawn and Brock rushed to the lake to meet up with Reggie and Paul.
"Here they come."Reggie stated with a smile.
"Electabuzz, return."Paul ordered.
Paul returned Electabuzz in his pokeball before glancing at his rival and his companions.
"Thanks for coming, Ash. Welcome."Reggie stated and walked forward. "I really believe the two of you were destined to battle each other this way."
"The two of us?"Ash asked.
"You see you two are completely yet your a lot alike too."Reggie explained. "Both of you wish to become stronger with your pokemon yet your training methods are at the opposites. So as long as your both this tuned into each other and also have the desire to become stronger, I think a full battle between each other is avoidable. So as rivals, you need to know each other's current strength. You need to learn how powerful each other has become and that will lead your own evolution as a trainer."
"Wait, me evolve?"Ash asked.
Reggie looked at Paul.
"You too, Paul."Reggie admitted.
"So where do we battle?"Paul questioned.
"Right here."Reggie answered. "Since we can't use the field in the Pokemon Center, so I thought it'd be a great idea to go all out here in the great outdoors."
"Sure."Ash agreed. "How does it sound Paul?"
"It doesn't matter to me."Paul replied with his eyes closed.
"That's settle it."Reggie commented.
"Good!"Olivier called out. "It's all decided!"
Olivier arrived in the area with a air balloon.
"Ready to referee?"Reggie asked.
"I sure am."Olivier answered and looked behind him. "And now for my help."
Team Rocket appeared wearing black clothing as their new disguises.
"That's us!"James, Meowth and Jessie said in unison.
Meowth pressed a button causing the balloon to change into a portable scoreboard.
"Wow, what is that?"Dawn asked.
"It's a potable reference monitor."Olivier explained and looked at Team Rocket. "Okay team, all set?"
"Right!"Team Rocket agreed and saluted. "Couldn't be any more setter!"
The monitor turned on causing Ash and Paul's trainer profiles to appear on the screen.
"Representing Kanto is Ash from Pallet Town and representing Sinnoh is Paul from Veilstone City!"Olivier announced. "We now begin a six on six full battle, there is notime limit and both sides can exchange Pokémon freely as desired! The battle will be over when all six Pokémon on either side are unable to continue! We will now use coin toss to see who will unleash the first attack! Alright then trainers, heads or tails? What will it be?"
"I call heads."Ash replied.
"Then tails."Paul answered.
The monitor showed the electronic Magikarp coin and after the coin flipped, it landed on heads in Ash's favor.
"Heads!"Olivier declared. "So Ash has the honour!"
"Okay Pikachu, let's do this."Ash stated and took out a pokeball.
"Pika!"Pikachu agreed.
"Alright Buizel, I choose you!"Ash stated.
"Torterra, stand by for battle!"Paul instructed.
The pokeballs opened causing Buizel and Torterra to appear in the battlefield.
"Bui bui!"
"Torterra!"
"Torterra, huh..."Ash said quietly.
"Alright!"Olivier shouted. "Let the battle begin!"
"Buizel, return now!"Ash ordered and took out Buizel's pokeball.
"Return?"Dawn said in surprise.
"That's good."Lucas responded. "Buizel is a disadvantage against a strong grass type like Torterra."
Ash returned Buizel in his pokeball and smiled at it.
"Buizel, I really wanted you battle."Ash responded. "But the thing is water types don't work really well against Torterra. So hang tight for the next one."
Ash took out another pokeball.
"Gliscor, I choose you!"Ash declared and threw out his pokeball.
The pokeball opened and Gliscor appeared.
"Gliscor!"
"Paul, remember Gliscor?"Ash asked. "You met it when it was still a Gligar."
Denise bit her lip in worry causing her to hold Torchic a bit tight.
"Torchic!"Torchic complained with a glare.
"Sorry, Torchic."Denise apologised quickly. "Just got little butterflies playing in my stomach."
"Gliscor, Sand Attack!"Ash ordered.
Gliscor started using Sand Attack to blind Torterra from seeing him.
"Using Sand Attack was a wise move."Reggie complemented.
"Ash has battled Torterra simple times in the past and watched it battle as well."Brock explained. "He really knows Torterra's moves, so his blocking Torterra's moves."
"Giga Drain!"Paul ordered.
Torterra unleashed Giga Drain, but the energy sapping tentacles end up plunging into the ground, missing a now airborne Gliscor completely.
"Torterra missed."Dawn said quietly.
"I have the sneaking suspicion Paul used that attack knowing it's going to miss."Brock stated.
"I think your right."Reggie agreed. "While stealing that Sand Attack."
"All this to try and let Ash lower down his guard a bit?"Denise asked.
"Exactly."Reggie answered. "When a opponent's attack misses, a trainer can get too comfortable mentally."
"Now Gliscor use X Scissor!"Ash ordered.
Gliscor use X-Scissor and it scores a direct hit.
Being a Bug-type move, it causes Torterra a good amount of damage, but not enough to defeat it.
"Check it out!"Ash exclaimed. "Torterra took it!"
"Frenzy Plant!"Paul ordered.
Torterra unleashed Frenzy Plant towards Gliscor.
"Awesome."Dawn said.
"Prinplup."Prinplup chirped.
"Frenzy Plant is the most dynamic grass type move with all that sheer power contact."Brock exclaimed.
"But it's a risky move too."Reggie stated.
"Now up, Gliscor!"Ash ordered.
Gliscor was fast enough to fly up and avoid the vines, leaving Torterra immobilised due to having to recharge.
"Torterra is in trouble."Denise commented.
"That's the risk of Frenzy Plant."Reggie responded. "After the attack, Torterra won't be able to move for a while."
"Now's our chance!"Ash admitted. "Use Fire Fang!"
Gliscor hits Torterra with Fire Fang before flying up in the air.
"Use X-Scissor!"Ash ordered.
Gliscor hits Torterra with X-Scissor to give it more damage.
"Yeah! That worked too!"Ash remarked. "Gliscor, let's use one more attack! Steel Wing, go!"
"Torterra, Crunch!"Paul ordered.
Although Steel Wing hits, Torterra uses Crunch and bites down hard on Gliscor's tail, trapping him.
"Gliscor!"Ash shouted. "No!"
"Gliscor got caught!"Dawn said in shock.
"Prinplup!"Prinplup chirped.
Lucas gritted his teeth as Riolu gasped at the sight.
Paul smirked a bit before calling out Torterra's next move.
"Now Giga Drain!"Paul ordered.
Gliscor began having his energy zapped by Torterra's Giga Drain.
"Man, Gliscor is caught tight."Denise complemented.
"Come on, Gliscor!"Ash shouted. "Stay strong!"
"Pika pika!"Pikachu called out.
"So this is what Paul was after."Brock said. "If Torterra became immobilised by the Frenzy Plant, he knew Ash would release a barrage of attacks."
"Right."Reggie answered. "Paul is well aware that Ash knows Torterra's battling style, so he formulated his strategy around that."
"Hang in there, Gliscor!"Ash protested. "Use Fire Fang!"
Gliscor used Fire Fang causing Torterra's Giga Drain to be cancelled out.
"Gliscor is free!"Dawn remarked.
"But Torterra's Crunch did lots of damage on Gliscor's Tail."Lucas warned.
Gliscor winced at the pain that he felt on his tail.
"Okay Gliscor, return!"Ash ordered.
Gliscor returned back in his pokeball as Torterra slowly patted.
"I know this battle is just getting started, but I can hardly breath watching it."Dawn said.
"Me too, sis."Denise agreed. "It's exciting and scary at the same time."
"Prinplup."Prinplup chirped.
"Torchic."Torchic tweeted.
Ash looked at Gliscor's pokeball.
"Take a good rest."Ash instructed. "I promise nothing you did will go to waste."
Ash placed away Gliscor's pokeball before looking at Torterra.
"Torterra has taken loads of damage, but Paul still won't switch pokemon."Ash thought.
Ash went out of his thoughts and took out his next pokeball.
"Now it's time to finish this thing up!"Ash declared. "Staraptor, I choose you!"
The pokeball opened causing Staraptor to appear in the air.
"Staraptor must've evolved from the Staravia I battled once right?"Reggie asked.
"Right."Dawn agreed. "Staraptor even defeated Paul's Honchkrow in a Poke Ringer Match."
"Wow, Paul's Honchkrow?"Reggie said with a smile. "That's pretty amazing."
"Alright, Brave Bird!"Ash ordered.
Staraptor flew forward as he activated Brave Bird to hit Torterra.
"Use Stone Edge!"Paul ordered.
"Stone Edge?"Denise said in surprise.
Torterra hits Staraptor with Stone Edge, sending the Normal Flying type slamming on the ground.
"Straptor!"Ash shouted. "No!"
"Wow. That was super effective."Brock commented. "No wonder Paul didn't switch pokemon."
Ash frowned at his mistake as Paul returned Torterra in it's pokeball.
"There is no doubt in my mind, Paul was expecting Ash to bring out Staraptor next."Reggie stated. "That's why he used Stone Edge to stop Staraptor's Brave Bird and all of Ash's continuous status."
Reggie looked at Brock, Dawn, Denise and Lucas.
"Do either of you know if Ash came up with a battling strategy for today?"Reggie asked. "Like switching which pokemon he will use against Paul?"
"Apparently not, Reggie."Denise answered. "He was going to use the six pokemon he had with him."
"You see except for Pikachu, Ash got all of his pokemon after coming here to Sinnoh."Brock explained.
"I knew it."Reggie admitted. "Paul picked his pokemon line up based on all the previous battles he has against Ash. That's why can predict with such accuracy what pokemon he will have next."
"Weavile, stand by for battle!"Paul ordered.
Paul threw out his second pokeball and Weavile appeared in the battlefield.
"Weavile!"
Staraptor struggled to get up from the ground.
"Staraptor, can you still battle?"Ash asked.
Staraptor nodded and flew in the sky.
"Alright, use Quick Attack!"Ash ordered.
Staraptor hits Weavile with Quick Attack, but the move didn't seem to have an effect on the Sharp Claw Pokemon.
"Use Sword Dance!"Paul ordered.
Weavile's claws started glowing purple as he moved them about.
"It's that..."Dawn started.
"It's called Swords Dance."Reggie responded. "It increases the user's attack power."
"Now use Aerial Ace!"Ash ordered.
Staraptor started flying towards Weavile with Aerial Ace.
"Blizzard!"Paul ordered.
Weavile unleashed Blizzard to stop Staraptor from attacking.
"Now use Metal Claw!"Paul ordered.
Weavile jumped on Staraptor's back as his claws shun white which shocked the heroes and Team Rocket.
"That Weavile is fast!"Lucas said in disbelief.
Weavile hits Staraptor with Metal Claw before landing on the ground.
"Go after it, Weavile!"Paul ordered.
Weavile started flipping towards Staraptor.
"It's coming!"Ash warned. "Use Close Combat!"
"Metal Claw now!"Paul ordered.
Weavile activated Metal Claw again, but Staraptor used Close Combat to cancel it out.
"Staraptor, it has the advantage."Reggie said. "That's a super effective move."
Staraptor uses Close Combat to weaken Weavile.
"Blizzard!"Paul ordered.
"Brave Bird!"Ash ordered. "Let's go!"
Weavile unleashed Blizzard as Staraptor uses Brave Bird to hit it.
"Weavile is unable to battle!"Olivier announced. "So the winner is Staraptor!"
"Staraptor, you were awesome!"Ash remarked.
Pikachu smiled. "Pika!"
"Alright!"Dawn cheered. "That's one pokemon down!"
"Prinplup."Prinplup agreed.
"Don't celebrate just yet, Dawn."Denise reminded. "This is far from over."
Paul returned Weavile in its pokeball, but didn't say anything.
"Dennie is right."Ash thought. "This is no time to celebrate. That Weavile was moving faster than Staraptor."
Ash took out Staraptor's pokeball.
"Staraptor, return."Ash ordered and smiled at the pokeball. "You deserve a good rest."
"Electabuzz, stand by for battle!"Paul ordered.
"Grotle, I choose you!"Ash declared.
The pokeballs opened causing Electabuzz and Grotle to appear in the battlefield.
"An electric type? What's Paul up to?"Ash questioned and called out to Grotle. "Use Energy Ball!"
Grotle fired Energy Ball towards Electabuzz.
"Light Screen!"Paul ordered.
Electabuzz uses Light Screen, protecting itself from Energy Ball.
"Electabuzz took Grotle's Energy Ball."Dawn said with a frown.
"Light Screen is a move that cuts the effect of special attacks down by half."Brock explained. "Energy Ball is a special attack, so Electabuzz barely felt it."
Paul called Electabuzz back in his pokeball.
"Paul is switching pokemon already?"Ash said in surprise.
"Pika."Pikachu responded.
"Honchkrow, stand by for battle!"Paul ordered and threw out his third pokeball.
The pokeball opened causing Honchkrow to appear in the air.
"Honchkrow!"
Grotle glared at Honchkrow.
"Uh oh, Honchkrow."Ash mumbled.
"I knew Paul would take out Honchkrow for this."Denise admitted.
"What do you mean?"Lucas asked.
"Those two battled against each other before."Denise explained. "And right in the middle of the whole thing, Turtwig evolved to Grotle."
"But Grotle still lost that match isn't?"Lucas asked.
Denise nodded in respond.
"I see."Reggie commented. "Then Grotle's angry reaction goes back to that battle."
"Grotle."Grotle growled.
"Alright Grotle, your on!"Ash encouraged. "Time to show those two what you got."
A twisted smirk grew on Paul's face causing Denise to become unimpressed.
"Ash, what are you doing?"Denise thought with a frown. "Pikachu or Chimchar would be a better match against Honchkrow."
"Grotle use Razor Leaf!"Ash ordered.
Grotle used Razor Leaf, but Honchkrow dodged the attack.
"Night Slash!"Paul ordered.
Honchkrow hits Grotle with Night Slash.
"Alright Grotle, Energy Ball!"Ash ordered.
Grotle uses Energy Ball, but Honchkrow was still protected by Light Screen.
"What the?!"Ash gasped. "Light Screen!"
"So I guess the effect of Light Screen must power through the next pokemon is that right?"Dawn asked.
"Not only does Honchkrow have a type advantage, but with Light Screen still on, it increases the damage from Grotle's special attack."Brock exclaimed. "Paul's goal is over all to overwhelm Ash."
"Now use Haze!"Paul ordered.
Honchkrow uses Haze to blind Grotle.
"Paul's battling style seems more different than usual."Dawn commented.
"Normally the battle styles is where his busy polishing his pokemon's moves or what is complete objective is their strength."Brock complemented.
"Razor Leaf, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Grotle used Razor Leaf at the haze, but Honchkrow comes hitting him with Night Slash.
"A Pokemon battle will test both a trainer's intellectual ability as well as judgement."Reggie explained. "Paul has dissected Ash's battling style that keeps Ash from battling soundly and that means Paul is going at it with nothing less for his goal for a 100 percent sure win."
Ash noticed Grotle patting tiredly.
"Grotle has taken a lot of damage...use Synthesis!"Ash ordered.
Grotle uses Synthesis to heal himself.
"Use Sky Attack, quick!"Paul ordered.
Honchkrow charged toward Grotle with Sky Attack.
"Oh no!"Dawn panicked. "Grotle hasn't even recovered fully."
"Grotle use Rock Climb!"Ash ordered.
Grotle uses Rock Climb against Honchkrow's Sky Attack causing an explosion.
However when the explosion vanished, it showed Grotle was defeated.
"Grotle is unable to battle!"Olivier announced. "The winner is Honchkrow!"
"Grotle, return."Ash ordered and Grotle was placed back inside his pokeball. "You battled really well."
Paul returned Honchkrow back in its pokeball as well.
"Ash has miscalculated the time on when to use Synthesis."Reggie complemented. "Using a healing move leaves your pokemon completely vulnerable. Consider your opponent's condition or be an easy target like Grotle."
"It seems like Ash is feeling a lot of pressure."Brock declared.
"You think so?"Dawn asked.
"Grotle was a bad match against Honchkrow even though Ash wanted him to beat it."Lucas reminded.
Denise bit her lip as Pikachu looked at Ash.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu insisted.
"You wanna get into the battle, Pikachu?"Ash asked.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu agreed firmly.
"Yes! Then get in there buddy and show some of your power!"Ash encouraged proudly. "Now let's move, Pikachu!"
Pikachu rushed into the battlefield.
"Magmortar, stand by for battle!"Paul ordered.
Paul sends his Magmortar, who he had time to evolve it from Magmar, which leaves everyone stunned.
"Magmortar."Ash mumbled. "He really evolved it from Magmar."
Denise began feeling her heart racing and her face blushing.
"Why am I feeling like this all the sudden?"Denise thought. "I never felt like this before."
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)
Denise's Team
Torterra (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Seed Bomb and Earthquake
Vaporeon (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Hydro Pump and Aurora Beam
Luxray (Male): Shock Wave, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Ice Punch, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Noctowl (Male): Heat Wave, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Torchic (Male): Ember, Peck, Hidden Power and Fire Spin
With Professor Rowan
Drifblim (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish