Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 42: On the Defensive
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
The next tournament day began as many trainers prepared for their next match.
Ash and Flannery arrived at their retrospective trainers' boxes. Flannery held out two fingers, indicating a 2v2 battle. Ash accepted the challenge.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, the battle is a 2v2 battle that'll be interesting," The announcer said as Ash wondered what Pokemon she'll be using, but he also had a new Pokemon ready to battle today's battle.
"Numel comes on out," Flannery sent out her first Pokemon Ash looked up and knew that this would be a tough battle given that it's a ground/fire type but pulled out his first Pokeball.
"Growlithe, come on out," Ash sends out his first Pokemon. Growlithe was still shaken but was fine to battle in this tournament.
"Growlithe vs. Numel. Let this battle begin," the ref announced.
"Numel, use Magnitude," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, whose legs slammed on the ground.
"Jump and use Flame Wheel," Ash commanded her, who jumped out of the way and slammed right into Numel.
"Fight back with Double Edge," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who slammed into Growlithe, sending her to the ground.
"Growlithe, you okay?" Ash asked her who was shaking while getting up but nodded. Ash knew that Growlithe was still recovering from what Damian did to her but could battle why he used her in this type of battle.
"I'm fine, Ash. I want to get stronger because of what happened. Please, I can continue," Growlithe said to Ash, who nodded.
"Okay, if you say so, use Flamethrower," Ash commanded her, who fired the attack.
"Amnesia Numel," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who took the brunt of the attack. Ash was surprised by this as Flannery smirked. "Now Rollout," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who rolled right through the Flamethrower.
"Growlithe, jump now and then use Dragons Breath," Ash commanded her. Flannery was surprised as the Dragons Breath hit its mark as Numel slammed into the ground. "End this with Stomp," Ash commanded her, who jumped at Numel, hitting it.
"Rock tomb," Flannery commands her Pokemon with one last ditched effort as Numel is knocked out, and the move barely misses Growlithe.
"Numel is unable to battle Growlithe wins," the ref announced as she howled in happiness and ran to Ash, who petted her head, which she happily enjoyed. Flannery returned her Pokemon, turned to Ash, and smiled at seeing this.
"Well, Ash, you're a tough opponent, that's for sure, but I've saved my last Pokemon for the last Torkoal. Come on out," Flannery sends out her last Pokemon. Ash looked it up and could tell this Pokemon would be harder to take down.
"Growlithe, use Dragons Breath," Ash commanded her, who fired it right at Torkoal.
"Protect now," Flannery commanded her, who protected herself from the Dragon's Breath. "Now, use Eruption," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, which Ash wasn't aware of that move as Torkoal launched from her back a bunch of lava stones right at Growlithe.
"Get out of there, use Flame Wheel," Ash commanded her, who used Flame Wheel to get around the attacks, only for one to strike her down, knocking her out. "Growlithe!" Ash yelled.
"Growlithe is unable to battle Torkoal wins," the ref announced as Ash ran over to Growlithe and carried her to the trainer's box.
"You did great, Growlithe. You earned that win, and now get some good rest," Ash said to her, who nodded and rested beside Ash. Ash turned to Flannery and pulled out his last Pokeball. "Houndoom, come on out," Ash sent out his last Pokemon. Ash wanted to save Charizard for a later battle.
"Houndoom, huh? I thought you would use Charizard, but oh well, time to win this. Use Flamethrower," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who launched the attack at Houndoom.
"Faint Attack now," Ash commanded him, who dodged the attack and charged at Torkoal.
"Iron Defense now," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who hid in her shell as Houndooom slammed right into its shell, barely lifting it but sending Houndoom back a bit.
"We are seeing the incredible defensive capabilities of the Turtle Pokemon Torkoal from the Hoenn Region folks. Capable of taking hits and dishing it back," the announcer said to the crowd, who was in awe by this. Ash was also impressed and knew he had to do something to get around this.
"Torkoal, use Eruption," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who fired the same attack right at Houndoom.
"Faint Attack, and then Sludge Bomb," Ash commanded him, who dodged it and then fired a Sludge Bomb right at Torkoal, hitting her.
"Ugh, Iron Defense doesn't work with moves like that clever Ash, but this isn't the end," Flannery thought. "Fire your Sludge Bomb," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, which hit Houndoom dead center as he was getting up from that, only to feel the effects of the Poison taking effect.
"Torkoal, use Eruption," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who fired its attack, hitting Houndoom but barely damaging it. Ash and Flannery were surprised by this.
"The amount of damage that Eruption is determined by the amount of damage that Torkoal didn't take it seems like her defense took a heavy amount of damage during that Sludge bomb and Faint Attack combo," the announcer said as Mr. Moore sighed at this as he warned her about that but didn't listen.
"Ugh, Flamethrower now," Flannery commanded her Pokemon, who fired the attack at Houndoom.
"Houndoom, use Reversal," Ash commanded him, who charged at Torkoal through the Flamethrower with no time for her to use Iron Defense and slammed right into Torkoal hard, sending it on its back and knocked out.
"Torkoal is unable to battle Houndoom. Wins moving on to the next round is Ash Ketchem," the ref announced as the crowd cheered. Growlithe smiled at this as Ash ran to Houndoom. Ash pets Houndoom, who wags his tail.
"Congratulations, Houndoom, you did an awesome job," Ash said to Houndoom, who nuzzled Ash.
"Tough battle, but we did it," Houndoom fell from the Poison's effects as Ash returned Houndoom to his ball.
"Ash, you did a good job, and I hope that if you come to Hoenn to stop by Lavaridge town for a rematch at the gym when I take over," Flannery said to Ash, who nodded at this.
"You bet I will take one day, but until then, it's still here in Johto, but good battle," Ash said to Flannery as the two walked off.
While the tournament went on, Ash got Growlithe and Houndoom healed. And noticed the tournament was on the TV in the Pokemon Center. Gary, Silver, Ritchie, and Sakura made it to the next round, but Ash noticed that Casey was up against Paul in the next battle.
"This battle, ladies and gentlemen, has been a good one so far, but only one will be left standing in this one-on-one battle," the announcer said on TV as it pans to a Magmar vs. Arcanine.
We headed to the battlefield where this match was taking place.
"Arcanine use Reversal now," Casey commanded her Pokemon, who charged in at Magmar.
"Use Thunder Punch," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who slammed its fist right into Arcanine, which barely got up.
"End this with Cross Chop," Paul commanded his Pokemon, whose arms crossed and charged at Arcanine. "Fight back with Return Arcanine," Casey commanded her Pokemon, who slammed right into the Cross Chop, damaging them. However, the damage from this battle was too much for Arcanine to handle, and she fainted.
"Arcanine is unable to battle Magmar wins; moving on to the next round is Paul from Veilstone City," the ref announced as Casey ran to her Arcanine after seeing this. Paul returned his Pokemon and then looked at Casey.
"Not, bad kid. You know how to use your Pokemon well for the daughter of a Breeder. I rarely give that type of complement to trainers that aren't my brother or gym leaders, but I'll make an exception to give you a rematch anytime," Paul said to Casey before leaving. Ash was surprised as he saw what Drew meant by him being more than just all talk.
"Now, we are in the top 64, ladies and gentlemen. There will be a day off, and the next matches will be the following," the announcer said. Ash vs. Drew, Blaine vs. Mr. Moore, Daniel vs. Clair, and Gary vs. Paul were the big highlights of the tournament bracket, as we were still in two brackets that would become one bracket when the top 32 came after this match.
"That said, ladies and gentlemen enjoy your day off, and we'll see you in two days for Ash vs. Drew in the first match," the announcer said just as Casey arrived at the Pokemon center looking defeated.
"So, you saw that match. I almost had him, Ash, but Paul is adamant," Casey said to Ash, who nodded at this.
"Yeah, Drew mentioned that he is the type like Damian but doesn't abuse them as badly," Ash said. Casey nodded as she saw what Ash meant by this before heading to Nurse Joy to get her Pokemon healed.
With the tournament now in the top, 64 things were heating up, and Ash was facing one of his old friends as the tournament continued.
Stay tuned.
Done and done, man, was this fun to write? This is only a tiny taste of what I have in store for you all, as we will see two of those battles in the coming chapters. I know these chapters are short, but do you want long, drawn-out chapters with nothing but fluff and not much going on, or do you want them straight to the point? I'm different than the type to write ten thousand words per chapter, maybe five or six thousand words at max. That said, remember everyone that Hoenn captures is still going on request-wise, as we will be nearing the halfway mark once we hit the Whirl Islands. That said, it's Ash vs. Drew in the next chapter. See you guys next time.