"Hey guys, you'll never guess what happened!" Ash said jogging back over to Rosa and Elliot, with Riolu, Pikachu and Dewott in clear view with him.
"I swear if he traded Servine for magic beans, I'm not leaving this beach." Rosa said.
"Even better!" Ash said as Serperior coiled into view behind him.
"Well you were close with the idea of a beanstalk." Elliot commented.
"So that means only Dewott hasn't evolved now." Hugh said running up.
"Hugh what are you doing here?" Rosa asked.
"Seriously, we know the only other progressive way out of Mistralton City is blocked off for the season." Ash reminded. "But you know Hugh, while you're here, how about a quick match."
"Goodbye relaxing day at the beach." Rosa said with a sigh as she got out of her chair.
"Let's keep it short and simple, how about a three on three for this match?" Hugh offered.
"Sounds good to me." Ash said, grabbing his Pokeballs and returning his Pokemon to keep it fair. "Alright, ready when you are." Ash said, holding one Pokeball.
"Simipour I choose you!"
"Let's go Trubbish!"
"Simipour use Scald!"
"Trubbish use Sludge Bomb!"
Trubbish sent out a blob of poisonous sludge at Simipour before being struck by the stream of hot water pushing him back.
"Trubbish use Double Slap!"
"Simipour use Fury Swipes!"
Trubbish trotted forward slapping his arms at Simipour before being knocked back by the water types claws.
"Trubbish use Sludge Wave!"
"Simipour use Scald!"
Trubbish sent out a wave of sludge, striking Simipour with it before being hit by the hot water once more, having inflicted a burn from the attack.
"Simipour use Scald!"
"Trubbish use Sludge Bomb!"
Trubbish sent out another, this time slower and a bit weaker sludge bomb, only to be blasted by the hot water once more, knocking him out of his match.
"You were great Trubbish, don't worry you'll get them next time." Ash said, recalling his poison type.
"Elliot, do you really think Ash believes that?" Rosa whispered from where they were.
"Trubbish hasn't had much luck at all, it's hard to say." Elliot admitted.
"You were amazing Simipour now it's someone else's turn." Hugh said. "Emboar I choose you!"
"We've been waiting for this one. Dewott come on out!" Ash called out.
"Dew!" Dewott said, wielding both of his scalchops.
"BOAR!" Emboar roared, flames coming from his mouth.
"Emboar use Heat Crash!"
"Dewott use Aqua Jet!"
Dewott rocketed forward, spinning around the flaming Emboar before slamming into the mighty fire type from behind.
"Emboar use Arm Thrust!"
"Dewott use Razor Shell to counter!"
Dewott used his dual scalchops to block each of Emboar's arms as the larger fighting type struck repeatedly.
"Do you think Dewott can win? I mean I know he has the type advantage, but Emboar is fully evolved and a lot bigger than him." Rosa said concerned.
"I think Ash has this under control." Elliot said, watching the battle as it played out.
"Dewott use Revenge!"
"Emboar use Rollout!"
Emboar curled into a ball, launching at Dewott as the water type waited, and struck him, sending him careening back from the impact.
"Dew-OTT!" Dewott yelled, throwing both of his scalchops in arch's at Emboar, striking the recovering fire type twice before it could get back up.
"Dewott!" Ash yelled.
"Dew!" Dewott argued back.
"I get it, you want to prove you're still strong, but don't listen to what others are saying, and you still have to fight fair against Emboar." Ash reminded.
"Dew! Dew!" Dewott argued once more.
"If you want to beat him as is, I'm more than happy to help you do that, but you can't just go beating someone up while they're down, especially without me issuing a command, if this was a competition fight, you could've gotten us disqualified." Ash said calmly. "So, how about you work with me rather than against me and we can win this fair."
"Dew!" Dewott said with a smirk, offering a scalchop to Ash.
"No I'm good." Ash said, only for Dewott to still hold it out. "Are you sure?"
"Dew." Dewott said with a nod, placing it in Ash's hand, now holding just the one right in front of him, waiting for Emboar to get back up.
"Alright Emboar use Head Smash!"
"Dewott use Aqua Jet!"
Dewott and Emboar launched at each other, head first, striking at the same time with a resounding thud as both recoiled back from the hit.
"Dewott end this with Razor Shell!"
"Emboar use Arm Thrust!"
The two Pokemon shook their heads before racing forward, striking their blows at the same time as everything seemed to stop as they both fell.
"Wait, is that a tie?" Rosa asked.
"I think it is." Elliot said.
"So what does that mean?" Rosa asked.
"It means that Hugh has upped his game, I'm now in a no win situation." Ash said with a smirk, returning Dewott to his Pokeball. "I can tie or I can loose."
"I've come a long way since we met in Accumula Town." Hugh remarked.
"You have, but you're not winning today. Serperior I choose you!" Ash countered.
"Come on out Eelektrik!" Hugh called out.
"Serperior use Leaf Storm!"
"Eelektrik use Discharge!"
The two serpentine like Pokemon sent out their attacks against each other with electricity surrounding Serperior and leaves surrounding Eelektrik, both taking damage from the other's attack.
"Serperior use another Leaf Storm!"
"Eelektrik use Acid!"
Serperior let loose another leaf storm, stopping Eelektrik's attack as the leaves struck him more and more.
"I don't get it, why is Ash having Serperior only use Leaf Storm? Doesn't it usually get weaker with each use." Rosa said in confusion.
"Normally yes, but with Serperior having the ability contrary, it actually is getting stronger every time they use it. In fact, all of Serperior's special attacks benefit from that boost." Elliot remarked with an impressed tone.
"Serperior use Leaf Storm!"
"Eelektrik use Crunch!"
Eelektrik swam forward in the air, latching onto Serperior, avoiding the leaves altogether.
"Serperior use Wring Out!"
Serperior wrapped themself around Eelektrik, squeezing the electric type until they let go of him.
"Now Serperior use Energy Ball!"
Serperior released Eelektrik in a single swift movement, Finishing with releasing an energy ball from the tip of their tail, striking Eelektrik and knocking them out.
"I have to admit Hugh, you definitely had me on the ropes for a bit there." Ash said impressed. "It'll be hard to beat you by the time the Pokemon League rolls around."
"You really think so?" Hugh asked.
"Keep working on those tactics of yours and you'd be a threat to anyone in the competition." Ash said with a smirk.
"Alright, I will, see you guys around!" Hugh said, running off.
"Did you mean what you said?" Rosa asked.
"Yeah, and I'm going to need all the help I can get if I want to stop Team Plasma when it comes time for the league." Ash said, knowing Hugh already had his own reasons to fight them.