Greetings everyone, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Let's get this chapter started.
Chapter 46: Ash vs. Sakura
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
The battle between Ash and Sakura began as both Growlithe and Houndoom stared down at each other as Ash and Sakura were ready to get things started.
"Growlithe vs. Houndoom, let the battle begin," the ref announced.
"Houndoom, use Shadow Ball," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who fired the attack at Growlithe.
"Dragons Breath now, Growlithe," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who fired a burst of Dragons Breath at the Shadow ball. "Flame Wheel now, Growlithe," Ash commanded her, who charged in at Houndoom as it hit Houndoom.
"Counter now," Sakura commanded her Pokemon Ash was taken aback by this as Houndoom slammed her horn right into Growlithe. Ash pulled out Growlithe's ball.
"Growlithe return," Ash returned to her Pokeball. "Houndoom, come on out," Ash sends out his Houndoom. He noticed the new Houndoom, which he knew would be trouble. "Careful that Houndoom has Counter," Ash whispered to Houndoom, who nodded.
"Use Flamethrower," Ash and Sakura commanded their Pokemon, who fired their attacks as Ash's Houndoom was stronger, hitting Sakura's.
"Use Return," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who charged at Ash's Houndoom. Hitting Ash Houndoom, sending him back to Ash's side. Sakura remained calm, as did Ash, as the two trainers were giving it their all.
"Houndoom Solar Beam now," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who fired solar energy at Sakura's Houndoom.
"Hyper Beam," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who fired at the Solar Beam as the two moves clashed.
"Now use Reversal," Ash commanded his Houndoom, who charged at Sakura's Houndoom.
"Counter," Sakura commanded as the two Pokemon slammed into each other, sending them back to the wall. Knocking both out.
"Both trainers, Houndoom's, are unable to battle. Both sides are down to one Pokemon each," the ref announced as Sakura and Ash returned their Pokemon.
"Not bad, Sakura. I can see why you were so determined to become a trainer and battled well," Ash said to Sakura, who nodded.
"Given that Houndoom is my first Pokemon that joined my team, you can see why she is one of my best, though the rest of them are as well," Sakura said to Ash, who nodded.
"You raised her well," Ash said, to which Sakura smiled and nodded.
"Thanks, Ash, but I won't back down this time to show you why my sister's Pokemon are known to be one of the strongest in Ecruteak. Flareon, come on out," Sakura sent out her last Pokemon. Ash pulled out Growlithe's Pokeball.
"Growlithe, come on out," Ash sent out his last Pokemon. Growlithe was still feeling the effects of Counter during her battle against Houndoom but shook it off.
"Flareon, use Headbutt," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who charged at Ash's Growlithe.
"Flame Wheel," Ash commanded her, who charged at Flareon as the two attacks clashed. As the two were sent back to their trainers. "Dragons Breath, Growlithe," Ash commanded her, who fired the attack at Flareon.
"Zap Cannon now," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who fired the attack right at the Dragons Breath, slicing through the Dragons Breath.
"Flame Wheel get out of there," Ash commanded Flareon, who got out of there in time and hit Flareon. "You had the right idea, Sakura, but Zap cannon is too inaccurate to be reliable in situations like that," Ash explained to Sakura, who groaned.
"How? How did you know that?" Sakura asked Ash.
"Being the nephew of a gym leader, you know a few strong moves, but they are not useful in hitting the opponent," Ash explained. "Use Bodyslam, Growlithe," Ash commanded her, who ran and jumped at Flareon. "Double team now," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who made clones as Growlithe hit one of the clones.
"Shadow Ball and Flamethrower," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, whose clones fired both attacks at Growlithe.
"Protect now," Ash commanded as she put up a shield blocking both attacks, causing an explosion as the smoke cleared. Growlithe was nowhere to be found. She used Dig.
"Shadow ball behind you," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who did as told, knowing that Growlithe would be right behind Flareon only for her to be under Flareon, hitting Flareon hard. "Flareon!" Sakura said as Flareon got up quickly, growling at Growlithe as Growlithe returned the growl.
"I can't keep using Dig. Mainly because the opponent will use something like that against me, and Counter is a move that can be used against us," Ash thought.
"Ash is strong, that much I can say. I can see why my sisters had trouble against him in battle, which was much tougher than my last few battles," Sakura thought. "Flareon, use Shadow Ball," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who fired a ball of ghostly energy at Growlithe.
"Growlithe, use Dragons Breath," Ash commanded her, who fired the attack at Flareon's Flamethrower. As the two moves hit them, sending them to the ground.
"Like the last battle, these two Pokemon aren't going down without a fight. However, unlike in the last battle, these two aren't pushed to their limits. This is what a real tournament battle should be," the announcer said.
"Flame Wheel and Body Slam," Ash commanded Growlithe, who charged at Flareon.
"Flamethrower and Shadow Ball," Sakura commanded her Flareon as the two moves hit the Flame Wheel, but Growlithe wasn't letting Flareon win this struggle. "Zap Cannon," Sakura commanded her Pokemon, who fired it just as Growlithe reached Flareon, hitting him before it could launch the attack as Flareon was knocked out.
"Flareon is unable to battle Growlithe wins. Moving on to the top 8 is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town," the ref announced Growlithe sighed at this as she wasn't expecting to win this battle. Ash ran over to her, hugged her, and petted her head which Growlithe made a purr upon Ash's touch.
"You did great, Growlithe, and a tough battle," Ash said to Growlithe, who nodded.
"Yeah, I just wished that Houndoom was a Houndour, but glad to fight a Flareon instead," Growlithe said to Ash, who nodded.
"Sorry, I didn't notice that would be the case," Ash apologized. Sakura walked over with Flareon.
"You two battled great today and hoped we could battle again, maybe at the league," Sakura said to Ash, who nodded as Flareon turned to Growlithe.
"You did well, too, Growlithe. We can have another battle one day for a young pup," Flareon said to Growlithe, who smiled and nodded.
"We can have that rematch one day, you two. We should get you two healed," Ash said to Flareon, who nodded as the trainers returned to the Pokemon Center.
The Tournament continued while Ash and Sakura were getting their Pokemon healed. It turned out that both Sakura's and Ash's Houndoom were cousins mentioned by Nurse Joy, which shocked Ash and Sakura as the two Pokemon were returned to Ash Sakura. They both were happy to see them again.
"So cousins, huh, boy?" Ash said to his Houndoom, who sighed, nodded, and looked at Sakura's Houndoom.
"I didn't realize that she was related to me until we got to know each other while we healed; her mother is my dad's older sister, and it makes sense as the last time I saw her was a Houndour," Houndoom said to Ash, who nodded as did Sakura's Houndoom as Ash turned to Sakura.
"Sakura, you did say you got her as your first Pokemon, right? Was it somewhere near Violet City?" Ash asked, to which Sakura took some thought and nodded.
"Yeah, it was. She was injured and wasn't around a pack, though. If I had to take a guess, she must've been separated by them, but she wanted to join my team, not return to it," Sakura said as her Houndoom nodded.
"Sadly, my pack was taken by some trainers wearing a red R on them. I barely got away," Sakura's Houdoom said. Ash and his Houndoom were surprised upon hearing this. Ash translated this to Sakura, who was taken aback by this.
"I'm sorry that happened to you, Houndoom. Do you still want to stay on my team, knowing I couldn't help you there?" Sakura asked, who shook her head and nuzzled Sakura's leg.
"No, I wanted to join your team not only to help them but help you as well as my friend, "Sakura's Houndoom said to Sakura, only this time Slowbro managed to manipulate Sakura's hearing to understand her, which Ash noticed and turned to him.
"I wanted to help you get a chance to understand your Pokemon, Sakura, so you should be able to keep it as long as I am out of my ball, even when you leave," Slowbro said to Sakura.
"Thank you, Slowbro. I'll use this to get to know my Pokemon and my sister's Pokemon during my Journey," Sakura thanked Slowbro, who smiled and nodded. Sakura sadly took her to leave. "I guess I should be heading to Azalea town now that I am out of the Tournament and will get stronger with Slowbro's gift to me," Sakura said to Ash, who nodded. "Ash, next time we meet, we should have a battle as friends," Sakura suggests to Ash.
"Any time, anywhere, Sakura. Until then, see you around," Ash said to Sakura as she left in the opposite direction of Olivine City back to Ecruteak City for her Journey. "So, Slowbro, when would you tell me about your Psychic capabilities gotten stronger to do that?" Ash asked Slowbro.
"I gave her that gift during your first battle after Casey left. Remember, I've gotten stronger as a Pokemon during our Journey since I joined," Slowbro explained.
"So you asked Casey, or did she ask you to do that?" Ash asked as Slowbro nodded and shook his head.
"After her loss, I told her that, and she was happy to accept the capability of understanding Pokemon again, and like Sakura, she is using it the same way," Slowbro said as Ash made a chuckle.
"Glad we met Slowbro. Just tell me next time we aren't going to give that ability to everyone," Ash said to Slowbro who also chuckled as well. "Maybe everyone can understand Pokemon with that power one day, but that would be overdoing it," Ash said, but not jokingly, to which Slowbro nodded in agreement.
"That might be my goal, given that I haven't been in a battle yet," Slowbro said.
"Well, the Whirl Islands has a Water-type Tournament you might get that chance to battle," Ash said to Slowbro, who smiled and nodded.
With the top 16 now done, Sakura is moving on as a trainer and helping improve. Ash will now face Clair, a gym leader, late into the Journey as the Tournament continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. This was a fun battle to write. Yeah, I made both the Houndooms related to each other, but it adds to the backstory and makes things interesting in this story. I forgot to mention this, but the winner of this Tournament gets a firestone as one of the items for winning it. It's Ash vs. Clair next. See you next time.