Chapter 87; semifinals, round 2
Knuckles took deep breaths to keep himself cool and focused. It was time.
As he patiently waited for the announcer to call him to the arena, he couldn't help but wonder what was coming his way when it came to Ash.
The guy was incredibly unpredictable as an opponent and his pool of pokemon was very diverse.
Although a lot of his pokemon were not fully evolved and some like Bulbasaur and totodile were first forms, he would still have to be on his guard.
In the moment, Knuckles understood why Sonic wanted Ash to grow his team to their full potential. The kid did have the heart and virtues required to be a pokemon master. But it just felt like he lacked the required power to achieve that.
"And now without further ado, let's welcome our two combatants! Ladies and gentlemen give a warm welcome to the first contestant! Ash Ketchum from Pallet town!"
Loud cheers reached Knuckles who inhaled a deep breath before exhaling waiting for his own entrance.
"And his opponent! The chosen one of the North wind!"
Knuckles grinned as he walked forward. He recalled the rumors of Sonic in Kanto when he was dubbed the chosen one of Moltres.
"Give a round of applause for Knuckles the Echidna of the Sonic heroes!"
Knuckles got into the arena with his chest propped forward to give himself confidence.
Just as he arrived the arena changed. The habitat created was a desert with a small hint of rocks on the side.
"Well. Guess it's finally happening" Ash spoke to Knuckles.
"Yeah. It's time we settle our score once for all and truly prove which one of us is worthy to battle Sonic!"
Ash took out a pokeball.
"That will be me! Count on that!"
Knuckles took out Victreebel's pokeball intending to lead with it.
"I'll make you eat those words!"
"Battle…" the referee raised his two flags "start!" be quickly waved them downwards.
"Go Victreebel!"
"Tauros! I choose you!"
Knuckles was rather impressed by the appearance of the wild bull pokemon. He was equally as annoyed when Tauros' intimidate kicked in, weakening Victreebel.
"That's a rather good opening" Tails spoke to Sonic.
"Kid's finally learning something" Sonic replied as he began thinking of possible counters to such an opening.
"Alright! Let's go tauros! Horn attack!"
Tauros charged forward, horns first.
"Victreebel! Razor leaf!"
Victreebel used its variation of razor leaf where its side leaves were stretched outwards, like blades. It then charged towards tauros, as if they were jousting.
Tauros' horns slammed into Victreebel, sending it backwards with extreme force, although the razor leaf made sure the exchange was equivalent.
"Don't stop Tauros! Take down!"
"Use sleep powder!"
Victreebel dodged the attack, baiting Tauros into a cloud of sleep powder. Tauros attempted to attack again before the effects of the move kicked in and it fell asleep.
"Oh no! Tauros wake up!"
"Sludge bomb!"
Tauros was showered in sludge bombs. The sleep condition, prevented Tauros from getting poisoned but Ash knew it was only a matter of time before Tauros fainted.
"Wake up Tauros!"
"More sludge bombs!"
The sludge shower continued, leaving Ash no choice. The conditions wouldn't get any better to pull this move off.
"Tauros rest!"
"What?!"
Tauros, already asleep as it was, began healing by sleeping.
"I don't believe it! Ash used sleep powder against Knuckles!" Tails said in shock.
"He never seizes to impress" Sonic answered with a hint of a smile, his arms crossed on his chest.
After regaining all of its health, Tauros awoke and let out a loud deep moo.
"Victreebel! Razor leaf!"
This time victreebel used the normal version, unleashing a barrage of leaves towards Tauros.
"Charge through them and use take down!"
Tauros charged forward, unhindered by the sharp leaves. Victreebel took the attack head-on, the hit being critical.
Victreebel attempted to rise but fainted, slumping on the sand.
"Victreebel is unable to battle! Tauros wins!"
"Way to go Tauros!"
"Pika pi!"
"Mooooo!" Tauros cried out back to Ash and Pikachu.
"Ash actually took the lead" Brock smiled, very impressed that his friend was performing this well in this tournament, a far better rank than Kanto already, being in the semifinals and all.
Knuckles recalled Victreebel.
"You were great. Don't you worry, we got this" Knuckles assured it before selecting the next pokemon to go with.
"Tauros return!"
Knuckles' eyes widened. Ash had deliberately recalled Tauros, giving himself a switch disadvantage.
"The intimidate" Knuckles realized "he wants to reuse it later. He is actually picking up from Sonic a lot more than I give him credit for. After all this was Sonic's move throughout the tournament if he assessed it to be the correct move. Ash knows my pokemon since I only have 6 but I don't know his" Knuckles surmised in his mind.
Ash not only had the lead when it came to the number of pokemon standing but he was actually fighting with strategy and not just improvisation.
Knuckles shook his head to stop his overthinking. He had to pick a pokemon.
His palm grabbed Typhlosion's pokeball.
"Send out your pokemon… now!"
"Typhlosion! You're up!"
"Heracross! I choose you!"
The two pokemon faced down each other. Knuckles smiled. He had the type advantage.
But he also knew the strength a Heracross had. He would have to be careful.
"Time to test the waters" he thought "flamethrower!"
"Plow through with megahorn!"
Heracross flew straight towards the flamethrower but was overwhelmed.
Knuckles remembered Ash attempting to use the same move against Gary's Blastoise as it fired hydro pump. It didn't work then. He felt a pinch of disappointment. Ash was by no means an easy opponent but such a move was just disappointing to see from someone like him.
"Flamethrower again!"
"Dodge and use horn attack!"
Heracross sidestepped to avoid the flamethrower then slammed its massive horn into Typhlosion.
"Grab onto Heracross and use flame wheel!"
Typhlosion grabbed Heracross and started rolling, taking the bug type pokemon with it. Although the move wasn't very well executed due to the sheer difference in size, the result was still to be expected. Heracross was thrown off the flame wheel and toppled fainting.
"Heracross is unable to battle! Typhlosion's the winner".
"Return Heracross. You were great, your effort won't be in vain. Alright next one! I choose you! Kingler!"
A kingler appeared, taking Knuckles aback. He hadn't seen Ash use Kingler before and it changed everything.
"Do I switch out into Ampharos? I have one more switch compared to him… alright let's do it!" he thought "Typhlosion return! Ampharos! Give them a shock!"
The signature johtonian electric type came out. Ash was annoyed that he had to deal with another bad matchup but remembering Knuckles' lineup, he decided he had to switch. Heracross was out of commission so he would need something to handle Knuckles' Tyranitar.
"Kingler return! Charizard, I choose you!"
Charizard roared as it soared.
"Trading one bad matchup for another? You disappoint me Ketchum".
"We'll see what you have to say in halftime! Charizard! Flamethrower!"
"Counter with thunderbolt!"
The two attacks collided with great force canceling each other out.
"Let's see you block this Knucklehead! Charizard! Use dragon rage!"
"Dragon rage?!" Knuckles exclaimed, both surprised and perplexed.
Ampharos tried to use light screen to block the attack but it went through. Thankfully dragon rage's damage was very little to a fully trained pokemon.
"Big deal. Unblockable but weak. Thunder wave!"
"Fly away to dodge it!"
Charizard soared but was still hit, its wings paralyzed, causing it to plummet down.
Ash hated having to resort to this move but if Charizard was to crash down at least it could try taking ampharos with it.
"Charizard! Take down!"
Charizard moved its wings just enough to change the trajectory of its fall, causing it to crash into Ampharos, breaking the light screen in the process.
Dust rose on the battlefield because of dessert field. When it settled charizard stood up, with Ampharos struggling on the ground.
"Way to go Charizard!"
Charizard roared with pride, satisfied it had won against a bad matchup.
"Counting your pokemon before they hatch? Big mistake! Ampharos thunderbolt!"
Ampharos, using the last bit of its energy, struck at Charizard, angering the Kanto fire starter which blasted Ampharos with flamethrower, knocking it out. The damage however was done. Charizard was covered in bruises from the unexpected thunderbolt.
"Ampharos is unable to battle! Charizard's the winner!"
Ash was mad at himself for celebrating too soon. His eyes found Sonic at the stands.
The look of disapproval from his rival made Ash even more determined to win.
He turned his gaze back to Knuckles. The echidna was now another pokemon down, with his Typhlosion being injured, but the two pokemon Ash worried about the most, Tyranitar and Suicune had not hit the field yet.
"We can't mess this up now! We trained too much to lose! I will prove him wrong here and now!"
Knuckles recalled Ampharos.
"Well done Ampharos. Get some rest. Alright. No time like the present! Tyranitar, let's roll on some rocks!"
The massive pokemon emerged and let out a loud roar. Ash kept a cool face despite the anxiety.
If he beat Tyranitar then his odds of winning would go up significantly. But before that he would have to make a choice.
Throw another of his switches out and weaken Tyranitar through Tauros, potentially not achieving anything as Tauros had no actual super effective moves against Tyranitar, or risk it all by having Charizard fight the pseudo legendary and throw kingler out to finish the job?
"His Heracross is still up. It will be very annoying to handle especially without Charizard. What do we do?"
"Pika pika" Pikachu climbed on his shoulders, smiling at him assuringly. Charizard also looked back at him the same way.
They were both willing to continue as they were. Ash smiled, trusting his team members.
Then he remembered Charizard still had something to weaken Tyranitar with. All Ash had to do was play it carefully.
"Contestant Ketchum are you ready to proceed?" the referee asked him.
"I'm sticking with Charizard".
Knuckles' eyes narrowed. Ash had to be planning something. But what?
"Tyranitar! Let's do this! Crunch!"
Tyranitar running towards Charizard, its teeth ready to chew.
"Charizard soar quick!"
Charizard spread its wings and soared before Tyranitar got to it.
"Big mistake! Rock slide!"
Tyranitar fired its rocks towards Charizard. The flying and fire type danced around the rocks, way out of reach.
"Looks like stalemate" Knuckles commented.
"Not quite! Charizard flamethrower on the sand!"
Charizard, still flying out of reach for Tyranitar's rock slide to strike, rained fire on the sand, intending to heat it up and turn the field into an oven.
"I saw that strategy already, what makes you think it will work on me?! Tyranitar! Time to reveal our new move! Sandstorm!"
Tyranitar smacked the ground with its foot, raising the sands and causing a heating sandstorm. Charizard's move had backfired.
But Ash had seen a version of this coming.
"Now Charizard! Fire spin!"
The attack came out of nowhere and surrounded Tyranitar, trapping it in the vortex, chipping away at its health as sandstorm did the same to Charizard.
"Charizard quick! Lift Tyranitar and use seismic toss!"
Charizard grabbed onto Tyranitar but it proved too heavy to lift. Knuckles grinned.
"You made the same mistake against Gary! Now it's going to cost you! Crunch!"
Tyranitar bit Charizard hard causing them to plummet down.
"Finish this with rock slide!"
Tyranitar's move found its mark, knocking Charizard out of the fight.
"Charizard is unable to battle! Tyranitar's the winner!"
Ash recalled Charizard, thanking it for its effort.
The fight was lost but it was far from over. Ash may have been unable to best Tyranitar in the moment, but the fire spin was still there.
Knuckles couldn't switch out Tyranitar for the time being. And that was Ash's only chance.
"Kingler! I choose you!"
Kingler appeared again, facing Tyranitar.
Tails caught on to Ash's strategy.
"He trapped Tyranitar in! He knows Knuckles' team. Therefore he must have something to counter Heracross and sacrificed Charizard as a strategic move. Now Tyranitar has to fight a losing battle!"
Knuckles came to the same conclusion but remained steadfast. He wouldn't go down without a fight. Tyranitar felt the same way.
"Let's go Kingler! Water gun!"
The water attack came through and even though the power level made it strong enough to hurt Tyranitar it was far from capable of knocking it out.
"Is that the best you can do? Earthquake!"
Tyranitar slammed its foot down sending shockwaves towards Kingler which took massive damage, yet remained strong.
"Kingler! You need to knock it out! Use crabhammer!"
"Crabhammer?!" all of team Sonic said at once, not seeing the powerful move coming.
Tyranitar was slammed by the attack, going down but getting back up.
"No more games Tyranitar! Rock slide!"
Tyranitar roared and fired rock slide.
"Counter it with hyper beam!"
Kingler charged and unleashed the powerful beam in such a way the rock slide was deflected and smacked Tyranitar instead. The hyper beam struck right afterwards, shoving the massive pokemon backwards.
The fire spin burned one final time, taking away the last of Tyranitar's energy. The massive godzilla looking pokemon toppled with a huge thud, knocking Kingler up momentarily as the sandstorm seized.
"Tyranitar is unable to battle! Kingler is the winner!"
Knuckles was in complete denial. Ash was actually beating him. And he was ahead by one pokemon.
As the battle took a break for the two trainers to compose themselves, Knuckles met with Sonic and Tails.
"He is actually winning. I can't believe it. Despite all our training and all our power he is actually keeping up".
"I didn't see this coming in all honesty" Tails admitted "he is a formidable trainer but I didn't expect him to use such pokemon".
"That's what I've been saying all along. If he can beat someone like champion Drake of the orange league by using Squirtle and Bublasaur against a freaking dragonite, imagine what he could with fully grown pokemon. No scratch that. We are witnessing what he can do with fully grown pokemon" Sonic said, deeply impressed by Ash and especially impressed by Kingler surviving that earthquake from Tyranitar. Part of him wondered why Ash didn't go with Kingler against him in Kanto.
On the other side of the arena, Ash was meeting with Brock, Misty and surprisingly Gary. He was over the moon.
"Oh yeah! We got this battle in the bag!"
"That was an impressive battle so far" Brock agreed "especially the way you handled the Tyranitar. Trapping it and weakening it over time was a very smart move".
"It's so impressive you can actually rival Knuckles and Sonic" Misty complimented Ash who rubbed his nose with a hint of gloating.
Gary had not spoken a word so far.
"What are your thoughts on the battle?" Ash asked him.
Gary was dead serious as he spoke.
"Honestly? I think you're again celebrating too soon".
"How so?"
"I used the exact team I used against you in our battle, against their friend Tails. And whether you believe me or not, he gave me quite a challenge".
"Tails gave you a challenge? But he is not taking part in the tournament. Isn't he just the brains in their team?"
Gary shook his head.
"I was afraid you would say that. You have no idea how strong these three really are. My battle with Tails ended in a draw because I had beat his five pokemon before the legend of thunder joined him for the duration of the battle and beat me utterly and decisively".
Gary put his hand on his childhood rival and friend's shoulder.
"I considered Tails weak before battling him. But I learned that he is insanely strong and at the same time, the least strong of the three. You're battling Knuckles, in other words their beta. You got the lead now. But you still have to beat Suicune".
He let go and turned to leave. Just as he was about to head to the stands he looked over his shoulder.
"If you can't beat Suicune here and now, then you are still a very long way from even dreaming of rivaling Sonic. I know what I'm saying here. So beware of what you're actually up against Ash. And for the love of Ho-oh, do NOT let up until you have won".
And with those words Gary left.
After his defeat at Ash's hands again, he remained isolated for the rest of the day, trying to find a new path to follow as the path of power just wouldn't seem to work out. Not when truly powerful trainers like Sonic and his crew were out there.
Their effect on Ash was the final evidence Gary needed to start reconsidering everything.
Ash was now showing great promise because of that effect. The way of training as well as the hours he had put into training had made him actually capable of rivaling team Sonic in the moment.
But for Ash to truly stand a chance of defeating them, he would need to defeat the legendary beasts, more accurately, Suicune and Entei.
And Ash had barely beaten Dragonite at the orange islands. That made Gary question his childhood friend's chances against a pokemon of Suicune's caliber.
The break ended and Ash faced Knuckles again as they took out a pokeball each, waiting for the referee's signal.
The arena changed once again. This time it was resembling the top of a mountain.
Knuckles thought long and hard before going with his Typhlosion. If his gut was right, he knew what Ash would go for.
"Battle… continue!"
"Typhlosion! Let's turn up the heat!"
"Tauros! I choose you!"
Tauros emerged, intimidating Typhlosion. Knuckles' eyes narrowed. His guess was right but it didn't make the situation easier for him.
"Tauros! Horn attack!"
"Typhlosion! Dodge with quick attack then flame wheel!"
Typhlosion dodged the horn attack before using the momentum built by the quick attack to use the flame wheel. Making a complete U-turn, Typhlosion slammed into Tauros which cried out.
"Tauros! Take down!"
Tauros attempted again to slam into the spinning Typhlosion. Though the attack worked and Typhlosion's flame wheel came to a halt, the recoil of the take down as well as the force applied on Tauros when it clashed with Typhlosion were massive, greatly weakening the bull pokemon.
"Tauros rest!"
"Not gonna happen! Typhlosion! Flamethrower!"
Typhlosion unleashed a powerful jet of flames, empowered by blaze. Just as Tauros was falling asleep, the flames engulfed it, knocking it out before it could heal itself.
"Tauros is unable to battle! Typhlosion's the winner!"
Things were even once again in terms of numbers. But Sonic and Tails were still observing with anxiety about their friend. He is was by no means in the clear. Typhlosion was basically running on will, the blaze kicking in, keeping it from fainting. Heracross was up but Tails was sure that for Ash to sacrifice Charizard early he needed to have another flying type.
Suicune would be Knuckles' greatest asset in this fight but with the odds so overwhelmingly against them, they couldn't be sure it would win.
Ash recalled Tauros, thanking it. He then grinned. It was secret weapon time.
With Typhlosion in place, there was not better way to reveal one of his orange island catches. Which also happened to be one of his strongest pokemon. He had considered using it against Gary but had gone for his Primeape instead which did an amazing job.
"I choose you!"
A thud shook the battlefield as something massive came out with a loud roar.
Knuckles stumbled back, his eyes widening. He never expected Ash to have a…
"Snorlax" he stuttered.
The sleeping pokemon, unfortunately for Knuckles, wasn't living up to its name. It was eager to battle. One of its feet slammed into the ground, sending shivers down both Knuckles and Typhlosion's spines.
"Ash has a snorlax?!" Tails exclaimed at the stands.
"This is a very strong and resilient species. Knuckles is in trouble" Jasmine correctly assumed.
"Sonic… what are Knuckles' chances now?" Jet asked him.
"Well… I've narrated the story of my battle with a snorlax back in Kanto. And we also have Ash's story about how he tried to have a snorlax moved so a river could be unblocked. In other words Knuckles is facing down a literal immovable object. And even though he is strong… I can't say for sure Knuckles is an unstoppable force…"
Knuckles was thinking the same thoughts.
"Typhlosion stay on your toes. This will turn ugly soon".
Typhlosion braced itself despite the exhaustion.
"Snorlax! Headbutt!"
Snorlax charged forward, not particularly fast but with each step causing the ground to rumble.
"Quick attack! Then flame wheel!"
Typhlosion repeated the combination of attacks, easily dodging the move. Once again using its momentum it turned into a burning wheel.
"Ram him!"
Typhlosion rammed right into Snorlax's belly.
To Knuckles' horror, the attack wasn't only absorbed but deflected, shoving Typhlosion back roughly.
"You gotta be kidding me!" he grabbed the sides of his head in shock.
"It has thick fat!" Tails said in horror "Fire and ice attacks pretty much won't work!"
"Snorlax now! Body slam!"
Snorlax jumped, which was am impressive for its size. Pointing its belly downward, it prepared to slam dunk on Typhlosion.
"Get out of there Typhlosion!"
The attack landed, causing a mini earthquake.
Ash was smiling confidently after the attack while Knuckles was gritting his teeth in anxiety.
Snorlax then pushed against the ground to get up.
Underneath its belly was a hole dug into the ground.
"What?!" Ash's eyes widened.
"Now Typhlosion!"
Typhlosion dug its way out of the ground, slamming right into Snorlax's face, disorienting the massive pokemon.
"Now! Flamethrower!"
Typhlosion's jet of flames hit Snorlax square in the face, sending it crashing down on its back.
Snorlax didn't move.
"Snorlax is unable to battle! Typhlosion is…"
"Wait!" Ash shouted as he noticed Snorlax's body wiggle as if it was breathing.
A loud snore gave the confirmation.
"It's sleeping?!" everyone of Knuckles' friends exclaimed in shock.
"It knows rest too!" Knuckles whispered in realization that all of their hard work was reset just like that.
Typhlosion's exhaustion had begun taking its toll on it as the flames on its back were visibly losing their intensity.
"Typhlosion! Burn Snorlax with all you got! Before it gets back up!"
Typhlosion let out a cry and unleashed its flames again, engulfing Snorlax completely. But the thick fat was protecting Snorlax from them to a great extent.
After a while Typhlosion stopped to catch its breath. And – "of course it had to be now" Knuckles thought – Snorlax awoke.
"Now Snorlax! Headbutt!"
Snorlax headbutted Typhlosion so hard it was launched out of the arena and crashed into the wall, fainting instantly. Knuckles rushed to its side.
"Typhlosion is unable to battle! Snorlax is the winner!"
"Way to go Snorlax!"
Snorlax let out a cry the resembled a roar.
Knuckles stroke Typhlosion's back affectionately.
"You were amazing. You can rest now. Leave the rest to us ok?"
Knuckles then returned to his position. He was now officially out of alternatives.
He took out Heracross' pokeball, putting all of its faith in it.
Suicune handling three back to back opponents would be too much.
"Go Heracross!"
Heracross came out, eager to battle.
Ash contemplated switching out Snorlax for Kingler. But unlike Typhlosion, Suicune was of a size similar to Snorlax. Its attacks wouldn't be nearly as effective against the beasts. Heracross itself was big but not as big as Snorlax.
Ash's best bet was using Snorlax's bulk against Heracross which he was much more familiar compared to Suicune and fire everything he had left at Suicune afterwards.
"Snorlax! Body slam!" he initiated the battle.
"Repel it with megahorn!"
Heracross stood its ground and unleashed megahorn on Snorlax, managing to actually stop it in its trucks.
"Now brick break!"
Despite its small hands, Heracross' attack had a devastating effect. Snorlax roared in anger as it was shoved back.
"Don't stop Snorlax! Headbutt!"
"Megahorn!"
The two attacks collided, shaking the battlefield. Snorlax was clearly meeting its match.
Ash gritted his teeth. Knuckles had trained Heracross well. Probably had taken some ideas from Sonic too.
"No!" he thought with determination "I won't doubt myself! Not now! Snorlax can win!"
"We'll never get anywhere with head-on clashes. Time to overwhelm him" Knuckles thought on his own end.
"Heracross! Double team!"
Dozens of Heracross clones appeared, driving Snorlax and Ash into a corner.
"Your Snorlax is indeed strong Ash. But let's seen it shake off this many attacks! Heracross! Megahorn!"
The heracrosses all launched towards Snorlax, smacking it with their horns. Snorlax couldn't tell which one was the real one so in its mind they were all attacking.
"Now to finish this! Heracross! Brick break!"
The brick breaks rained down on Snorlax, causing it to roar very loudly from the pain.
Ash tightened his fist. He had hoped to only use this move against Sonic but if he didn't he wouldn't even get a chance to face him.
"Snorlax! Fire hyper beam on all the heracrosses!"
With an eardrum piercing cry, Snorlax charged and fired the hyper beam while rotating. The hyper beam struck the clones one by one, causing them to disappear, until it struck the real Heracross which ended up being a critical hit.
Heracross toppled. Knocked out.
"Heracross is unable to battle! Snorlax is the winner!"
"He's almost there!" Misty exclaimed "Knuckles has only one pokemon left!"
Brock nodded with a smile before going serious again.
"One pokemon sure. But I think which pokemon that is, makes the situation a lot less simple".
Misty's smile disappeared.
Brock was right.
The greatest battle was at hand.
Brock recalled Heracross before cracking a smile.
"A most impressive strategy Ash. I only hope it fits into your overall plan".
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Knuckles took out his final pokeball.
"We've trained against hyper beam you know. We discovered, my friends and I, its huge drawback early on".
Ash's eyes were filled with realization.
"Suicune! Time to turn the tide!"
The aurora pokemon came out majestically, its mane and ribbons dancing in the wind.
"Cuuuuuune!"
"Suicune! Knock out Snorlax! Hydro pump!"
Suicune charged hydro pump and fired.
Snorlax took the attack head-on unable to move or react because of the hyper beam as it was recharging.
The force of the attack mixed with the pressure of the water and the inability of Snorlax to heal signaled the end of the battle for it.
Snorlax fell back and caused a mini quake, fainting.
"Snorlax is unable to battle! Suicune's the winner!"
Ash, bewildered by Suicune's power, felt doubt getting a grip on him.
"How do we defeat Suicune? What if we're not strong enough to do so?"
Pikachu's cheek rubbed against him, electrocuting him slightly. Pikachu was looking at him with a look that read a very empowering thought.
"It hasn't happened yet. So you have nothing to fear".
"You're right" Ash answered even though Pikachu hadn't said anything "we will not fear what hasn't happened yet" he took out his second to last pokeball "we will win this! Kingler! I choose you!"
Kingler came out, clicking its massive clamps. Suicune took a predator's stance, ready for battle.
"Kingler! Use water gun!"
The water gun merely tickled Suicune.
"Not enough! Suicune! Extrasensory!"
Kingler was roughed up very badly from the attack. Ash was mad at himself for testing the waters literally.
"Kingler! Crabhammer!"
Kingler moved surprisingly fast. Its massive clamp closed on Suicune's leg. Suicune roared in pain.
"Bite!"
Suicune bit down on Kingler, causing the water pokemon to release the North wind.
"Kingler! Now or never! Hyper beam!"
Kingler charged the move and fired.
Suicune dodged with ease. Knuckles smirked.
"Big mistake! Point blank hydro pump!"
Suicune got in front of the still Kingler and fired a powerful hydro pump right in its face.
Mirroring the case with Typhlosion earlier, Kingler was sent flying out of the arena. Ash watched it crash on the stands in shock.
"Kingler is unable to battle! Suicune is the winner!"
"Cuuuuuune!" Suicune roared with pride, having evened the odds.
Ash took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Suicune was a devastating opponent. And he had made the same stupid mistake of using hyper beam twice, allowing Suicune an opening twice.
"Pikachu. It's all up to you now. I'm at fault for Kingler's defeat. I was hoping we could have weakened Suicune more. But now… now I have to bestow all our hopes onto you. Are you up for it?"
"Pika pi!"
"Good then!"
Ash grabbed his hat and span it the other way. Pikachu jumped on his left hand, raced across his shoulder and up to the edge of his right hand.
"Pikachu! I choose YOU!"
"Pika pika! Pikachu!"
"Cuuune!" Suicune replied as the final confrontation began.
"This is it!" Tails anxiously said "one of them loses now!"
"Come on Knuckles!" Sonic thought.
"Pikachu! Quick attack!"
"Piiiikaaaa!" Pikachu raced across the battlefield, smacking Suicune.
Just as Sonic had predicted about quick attack at the start of their journey, it was merely a love tap.
"Suicune! Hydro pump!"
"Dodge it quick!"
The hydro pump was fired. Pikachu was barely quick enough to dodge, but Suicune was not going to let it find an opening.
"Ice beam!"
Ice beam struck Pikachu. Surprisingly, the electric mouse pokemon sprang back up, peaking Sonic's interest.
"Pikachu! Use agility! Don't let Suicune strike you!"
Pikachu started running circles around Suicune, hoping to disorient it.
Unfortunately for Ash, Knuckles was aware of this strategy. Sonic had told him and Taiks about his first battle with Ash.
"Suicune! Use ice beam to freeze the ground ahead!"
Suicune fired ice beam, creating a line of frozen surface. Pikachu eventually tried to cross it, only to slip and roll on the ground.
"Hydro pump!"
Pikachu was again blasted with water and much more roughly than the first time.
"Stop running around and fight me head-on Ketchum!"
"Don't tell me how to battle!"
Knuckles scoffed.
"Sonic was right about you".
"What?!"
"Your Pikachu is not fighting head-on because it knows it can't win! Where's your thunderbolt?! Your thunder?! Why haven't you used them already?! I'm here striking you with all our might and how do you respond?! With tricks and dodges! Is this how you expect to be a pokemon master?!"
"I am going to be a pokemon master! And I'm going to do it my way!"
"Grrrr! Wake up already you foolish boy! To achieve something so great you need to earn it! And to earn it you need power! Power you deny yourself over fear of change! Sonic was right in his assessment of you! You hold yourself back! As for me? I only have one thing to say! You will never surpass him!"
Something snapped inside Ash. Maybe it was Knuckles' words or the look Pikachu gave him when they crossed eyes.
Its eyes were gleaming with determination.
Pikachu let out a loud cry, aimed at Raichu.
"You're wrong! I'm not weak! I promised I would beat you one day and I'm a pokemon of my word!"
Sonic was able to hear those words as Raichu took them in, its battle spirit fully ignited.
Pikachu then unexpectedly fired a powerful thunderbolt, not unlike the one it had fired on the day it and Ash had met and Pikachu saved him from a flock of spearows.
The thunderbolt came crashing down on Suicune with such speed and intensity that it ended up being a critical hit.
"Cuuuuuune!" the North wind roared in pain as Knuckles was caught off guard.
"Finally! Counter with ice beam!"
Once the thunderbolt dissipated, Suicune fired ice beam. The ice beam connected but Pikachu again sprang right back up.
Ash, witnessing the power and remembering the first day of his journey as well, realized Knuckles made a valid point. They were facing Suicune, a legendary pokemon. Charizard had gone all out against Moltres in Kanto and had only ended in a draw.
If he wanted to beat Knuckles and later Sonic, they needed to really go all out.
"Pikachu! Quick attack! Give him everything you got!"
Pikachu launched itself towards Suicune. Halfway through the attack it span through the air, as its tail began glowing.
"Is that?!" Sonic's eyes widened.
The attack, although clearly not very effective, disoriented Suicune.
"You learned iron tail!" Ash exclaimed in realization.
"Well, what do you know" Knuckles grinned "maybe there is hope for you after all. But that doesn't mean I will let you win! Suicune! Extrasensory!"
Pikachu was hurt by the psychic attack but remained unfazed.
"Iron tail!"
"Bite!"
The physical attacks clashed. Neither pokemon prevailed as they were both forced back.
"Again Pikachu!"
"Not this time Ketchum! Suicune! Hydro pump!"
Still grasping how to use iron tail quickly and effectively, Pikachu was blasted in the face by the hydro pump. This time it had to force itself to stand up.
"Your sudden improvement was good Ash, but it came too late! It's over! Suicune! Finish this! Hydro pump!"
"Pikachu! Jump on Suicune! Quick attack!"
Pikachu launched itself in the air, grabbing onto Suicune's mane. Knuckles was horrified by what that could mean.
"Suicune shake it off quickly!"
Suicune started rampaging around the field, trying to violently shake Pikachu off but it was hanging on for dear life.
"Pikachu! Now or never! Thunder attack!"
"Pikaaaaa….. CHUUUUUU!" Pikachu invoked thunder, the attack crashing down on Suicune. The North wind roared very loudly, with its eyes open wide, as it was fried inside out.
The attack eventually stopped and the exhausted Pikachu was shook off, rolling in front of Suicune. Pikachu managed to stand up as the two pokemon were breathing heavily.
"You fought valiantly. But it's over! Suicune! End this with ice beam!"
Suicune charged ice beam. Pikachu had no more energy and merely braced itself.
"No Pikachu!" Ash reached out to it.
Ice bean grazed Pikachu momentarily.
Pikachu opened its eyes instinctively and witnessed Suicune firing the ice beam while falling on its side.
The aurora pokemon toppled and laid still.
Silence spread throughout the stadium. Knuckles, Ash, Pikachu, every single one of the spectators were in shock, barely processing the scene.
Eventually the referee approached Suicune and examined it.
"Suicune… is unable to battle! Pikachu wins! The winner of the round is Ash Ketchum!"
Cheers erupted all around the stands, everyone screaming their lungs out to honor the trainer who had taken on Suicune and prevailed.
"We… did it… we did it! We did it Pikachu!"
"Pika pi!" Pikachu jumped into Ash's embrace, overjoyed at its achievement.
Knuckles upon hearing Suicune was down, approached it and asked it if it was ok. Suicune nodded at him with a faint smile. Knuckles returned the smile before lowering his head and letting his tears of frustration go.
"Knuckles… lost" Tails muttered in disbelief "Ash… is in the finals…"
"He overpowered Suicune. Pikachu overpowered Suicune…" Sonic also muttered before the same maniacal smile was etched on his face. Tails was kinda crept out.
Ash found Sonic in the stands.
"You better watch out! We're coming for you!"
The promise filled Sonic's soul to the brim with adrenaline and excitement. That team was by far one of the strongest he had seen Ash come up with.
"This is it… this… this is the Ash I have been itching to fight all along" Sonic said in glea to Tails and his friends as the celebrations continued.