Greetings everyone, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Before we began, I wasn't expecting this tournament to be this long as the following four chapters, including this one, are left of the tournament. Let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 32: Ash vs. Casey Round 2
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon speech"
The next day of the tournament was about to begin as Ash and Casey were ready for their battle to start as they walked out to the battlefield.
"The first battle of the top 8 is now about to begin as these two trainers have made a big splash during the tournament, and we should have something good here in today's battle," The announcer said as Ash and Casey have now arrived at their trainer's box. "Now, will the two combatants let out your one Pokemon," the ref said.
"Bayleef comes on out," Both Ash and Casey sent out their Grass-starters this time. It won't end like the last time Ash's Bayleef battled. Casey's Bayleef was bigger and male, and Ash's Bayleef was female and slightly smaller, so it was easy to tell who was who, even though Ash's Bayleef had a few scars on her body.
Ash and Casey's Bayleef were staring each other down, not in an angry way but in a rival way. "Ash's Bayleef vs. Casey's Bayleef, let the battle begin," the ref said. Ash was raring to go.
"Casey, I'll let you go first," Ash said to Casey, showing sportsmanship towards her, who nodded at this.
"You got it, Ash, 'cause here I come," Casey said to Ash as her Bayleef launched its attack at Ash's Bayleef.
"Bayleef use Vine Whip," Casey commanded her Bayleef, who launched its vines right at Ash's Bayleef.
"Use Ancient Power, Bayleef," Ash commanded her, who used said move only for Casey's Bayleef attack to hit her. Casey was smiling at this. She's seen Ash Bayleef's moves during the tournament and knows that Ancient Power takes a while to start. Ash realized this and knew he had to stop starting with this move, but he knew that Casey had something up her sleeve. "Use Razor leaf," Ash commanded her, who launched her attack at Casey's.
"Use Iron Tail, Bayleef," Casey commanded her Bayleef, whose tail glowed a steel-like color and slammed right into the Razor leaf attack and into Ash's Bayleef, which Ash was caught off guard upon seeing that move. Casey seeing this, took this to her advantage. "Now Hidden Power Bayleef, "Casey commanded her Pokemon, who fired a power of Psychic energy right at Bayleef, and it looked to be doing more damage to Ash's Bayleef.
"That Hidden Power attack's typing depends on certain things about the Pokemon from the looks of how much pain Bayleef is at. It has to be one of her type weaknesses," The announcer said as Ash realized that Casey had this planned from the beginning.
"You see, Ash. I've been saving this move exactly for our battle in this tournament. You've shown all your cards when it came to Bayleef's moves. Now it's being used against you," Casey said to Ash. Who remained calm during this even though Casey was right about all that.
"Your right about that, Casey, but that doesn't mean that we won't win this battle," Ash said to Casey, who glared at Ash, wondering what he had planned. "Use Razor Leaf, Bayleef, and then Ancient Power," Ash commanded her, who fired both attacks, which came straight at Casey's Bayleef much faster, hitting her Bayleef as the side effects of Ancient Power started to show on Ash's Bayleef.
"Ugh, he was banking on the side effects of that move to work clever," Casey thought, but she remained focused. "Now use Hidden Power Bayleef," Casey commanded her Pokemon, who fired its attack at Ash's Bayleef.
"Razor Leaf now," Ash commanded her, who fired her attack at the Ancient Power. As it caused an explosion. "Now Vine Whip Bayleef," Ash commanded her, who fired her vines at Casey's Bayleef, catching his legs and sending him to the ground.
"Bayleef, use Razor Leaf," Casey commanded as he attacked Ash's Bayleef, only to hit the air. She wasn't in the direction of her vines. She was slight to the right and had a powered Solar beam which caught Casey off guard.
"Fire Solar beam, Bayleef," Ash commanded her, who fired it as it hit Casey's Bayleef, but it didn't knock him out.
"Use Synthesis Bayleef," Casey commanded her Bayleef, which caught Ash's Bayleef off guard as Ash didn't know what that move did, only to see that her Bayleef was slightly healed. Ash was surprised by this.
"Synthesis, just like absorb and mega drain Ash, but only does heal the user then attack the opponent's Pokemon," Casey explained to Ash, who now has to deal with this.
"Casey isn't pulling any punches in this battle. I could win with Solar Beam there, not just catch her off guard," Ash thought, smiling at this. "Not bad, Casey. You have gotten better since we last battled," Ash said to Casey, who smiled at this as this was an excellent complement to this situation.
"Now, this, ladies and gentlemen, are what good sportsmanship and this tournament are all about. Showing the growth not only in the grass types but also in the trainers. But who will claim this victory is anyone's guess," the announcer said as the crowd cheered.
Ash's Bayleef was already ready to fire another Solar beam. Ash noticed this as he realized that the sun was much hotter and brighter today than usual, so it didn't take so long for the Solar beam to charge. On the other hand, though, Casey had yet to notice this, which Ash could use to his advantage.
"Now use Earthquake Bayleef, "Ash commanded her, who slammed her feet to the ground, causing Casey's Bayleef to be shaken.
"Now use Hidden Power," Casey commanded her Pokemon, who fired his attacks at Ash.
"Razor leaf and then Bodyslam," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who fired the attacks and hit Casey's Bayleef.
"Synthesis now, Bayleef," Casey commanded him, who used the attack which Ash was waiting for.
"Got you, Casey, just as I planned. Solar Beam now before he can recover," Ash commanded his Bayleef, who fired it just as Casey's Bayleef was about to start healing again, only to be met with the Solar Beam attack, this time to be knocked out.
"Casey's Bayleef is unable to battle. Ash's Bayleef wins moving onto the next round is Ash," The ref said as Casey was surprised by this and a bit hurt, thinking that her strategy would be used against her. On the other hand, Ash was celebrating with Bayleef. Casey smiled at this as she walked over to her Bayleef and petted his head.
"Well, Ash, you won today's battle but didn't think that this was the end," Casey said to Ash, offering a handshake to him, which Ash accepted.
"You did great, Bayleef, and I must admit you are stronger than I thought you would be," Casey's Bayleef said to Ash's Bayleef, who smiled and nodded.
"Same to you. Your trainer is a good trainer when she isn't running her mouth. That is, at least she knows what she is doing when it comes to raising you," Ash's Bayleef said to him as Casey was looking to step in and have an argument about this. "But, I will admit she meets my expectations, so no more arguments from me," Ash's Bayleef said as Ash chuckled at this.
"Given that I asked you to cool it with this attitude the other day, I guess Casey rubbed off on you, huh?" Ash said to Bayleef as the group went into the stadium.
"I guess you can say that Ash," Ash's Bayleef said. Ash and Casey got their Pokemon healed. As that was over, Casey was about to leave and continue her Journey, but Ash noticed. "So you are departing from the group, Casey?"Ash asked Casey, who nodded at this.
"I agreed to join your group until we arrive here. Now that I am out of the competition, I might head off to Ecruteak City for the next gym battle," Casey said to Ash. "But don't think that this is the only competition that we'll be seeing each other," Casey said to Ash, who was now curious about what she meant. "There's another that will be in a month from now outside Ecruteak on the way to Olivine City."
"Maybe we'll see each other there until then. Take care. After all, we are rivals, so any competition we participate in helps that grow more," Ash said to Casey, who nodded as she took off.
Ash returned to the stadium as the tournament had now arrived at its last match. Tyson vs. Drew as the two were heading to the battlefield, ready to face each other as friends and rivals.
With the tournament in its big match, things are heating up as it continues.
Stay tuned.
Done and done, man. This chapter was fun to write. Yeah, little has changed regarding growth for Ash's team, but this was an entertaining battle in the tournament. Happy Pokemon Day, everyone is all I can say, given that this is going out on April 1st, the day the anime came out. This might be it for this week chapters-wise for this story as next week, and maybe tomorrow is when we start the third act for my Unova story. Other than that, it's Drew vs. Tyson's next chapter of this story. See you all next time