Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Let's get this chapter going. Shall we?
Chapter 62: Ash vs. Norman Round 1
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
It's the next day of the P1 Grand Prix as Ash is prepared for his fight against Norman. The winner of this match would be facing Brawly in the tournament finals.
Ash and Norman head towards the ring, ready to fight in the semifinals. "Now, for the Semifinal's last match, these two trainers have shown their strength in the Tournament. But who will win Power or weight," the announcer said as Ash and Norman arrived at the rink. "Now, will both trainers release their Pokemon and let this battle begin." Ash and Norman pulled out their Pokeballs.
"Slaking, come on out," Norman sent out his Pokemon.
"Primape comes on out," Ash also sent out his Pokemon. The two Pokemon were in the middle of the ring, staring each other down as Slaking showed how intimidating he could be.
"Let the battle begins," the announcer said as the bell rang.
"Slaking, use Earthquake," Norman commanded his Pokemon, who jumped and slammed his feet into the ring, shaking it.
"Jump and then use Cross Chop," Ash commanded Primape, who jumped and dove towards Slaking, hitting him.
"Counter," Norman commanded his Pokemon.
"Aerial Ace, dodge it," Ash commanded Primape, who moved out of the Counter and slammed her fist into Slaking's face, only for him to brush it off like it was nothing.
"You're going to need to do more than that to take Slaking down, let alone do some real damage, given that it's known as the lazy Pokemon moves like that won't have much effect against him," Norman said to Ash, who remained calm and figured that was the case. Still, he knows that Slaking has a Counter and needs to get around it and watch his moves. "Now that you are familiar with this Pokemon, shall we take this up a few notches, young man? Attract now," Norman commanded his Pokemon.
"Not good use, Aerial ace. Get out of there," Ash commanded her, who barely dodged the move. "Does he plan on facing more than male Pokemon in this Tournament, or did he overhear mine and Primape's conversation?" Ash thought, not expecting that Attract would be used.
"Cross Chop now," Ash commanded, who slammed her arms right into Slaking, damaging Slaking.
"Focus Punch," Norman commanded his Pokemon, slamming his fist into Primape and sending him to the belt. "Now Attract," Norman commanded his Pokemon affecting her.
"Primape, snap out of it," Ash said to Primape, who was now fascinated with Slaking, as the audience was surprised to see that Primape was affected by a move like that.
"Now that I say is checkmate, young man, you battle well, but this match is over. Body slam," Norman commanded his Pokemon.
"Primape counter now," Ash commanded Primape, who barely managed to hear it and used that move to slam Slaking right into the ring using the Power of the body slam right into him. "Now, Thrash," Ash commanded, hoping this would help her snap out of the Attract, she managed to land multiple blows on Slaking as it managed to snap her out of the Attract, and since she had managed not to get confused from the side effects of Thrash, it worked. Norman was impressed, as most trainers would give up from that, but Ash was unique; he knew his Pokemon and how they worked more than the trainers he's faced in the past few months as a gym leader.
"Well, Ash, when I think I got you beat and figured you come up with this plan, not bad," Norman said to Ash, who smiled and nodded.
"Just because a Pokemon like Slaking is known for being lazy doesn't mean that I shouldn't let my guard down regardless of how it is only able to recover from using a move every time," Ash said as Norman was impressed that Ash had learned that much from just this battle. "Primape, use Cross Chop now," Ash commanded her, who slammed her fists right into Slaking's face hard before it could react.
"Counter now," Slaking commanded his Pokemon as he slammed his fist into Primape hard. As she fell to the floor, struggling to get up. As the announcer was counting for the first time in the entire Tournament.
"Primape, come on, you can do it. I'm not just winning this for myself. It's for our team, for what you wanted to win this Tournament and get your title back," Ash said to Primape, who was hearing this and was getting up quickly just before the announcer counted to ten which would've ended the match if he did.
"The battle will continue, but does Primape have enough strength to continue? It seems both sides are at their limits," the announcer said. Ash was concerned and hated to admit it while he said he would throw in the towel as Primape shook her head at seeing that Ash would do that.
"Primape!" Ash said, concerned about his Pokemon. This had happened before when his Pokemon were pushed past their limit and still wanted to fight.
"Primape's aren't quitters, Ash. This is what we are born to do. Fight past our limit and will never go down that easily, you've been there for me since I rejoined the team, and I have faith in you, and we agreed to get through this Tournament till the end as a team," Primape said to Ash whose eyes widened upon hearing this. "Please, Ash, don't give up this easily, especially since we are this close."
"Well, Ash, will you continue or give up? Nothing wrong with that, knowing that you did your best," Norman asked Ash, who shook his head, and Norman was surprised by this. "Well, if that is the case, then time to show the error of your ways as a trainer. Hyper Beam."
"Dodge it with Aerial Ace, and then Brick Break," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who charged, dodged the Hyper Beam, and used the new move Brick Break slamming right into Slaking, sending him to the mat. "End this with Seismic Toss," Ash commanded her, who grabbed Slaking, and minus how minuscule she was, she managed to lift the heavy Pokemon, spin him around, and send him to the belt of the rink.
"I know what you are planning, Ash, but it isn't going to work. Focus Punch now," Norman commanded his Pokemon, who barely broke the rink with his weight and went towards Primape as Slaking managed to get where Primape was.
"Dodge and Brick Break now," Ash commanded his Pokemon as she ducked and slammed her fist right into Slaking in the chin hard, sending him to the ground and knocking him out. Ash and Norman were surprised by this.
"And that is the match winner, Ash, and Primape. Moving to the finals is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town," the announcer said as Ash ran into the rink; Primape was exhausted from that match and passed out as Ash grabbed her and returned her to her ball.
"
To have a final, we need both Trainer's Pokemon to be their best. So with that, we will wait until Primape gets better to continue the Tournament," the announcer said as Ash sighed and looked down, realizing that he did push Primape too far. "I need to remind you, folks, that Primape wanted to continue, not Ash, so don't be hard on the guy. He's doing what his Pokemon wanted, not the other way around," the announcer said. This took Ash aback.
The crowd nodded and understood that this wasn't Ash's doing. Ash isn't at fault here, nor should he be punished for pushing Primape that far even though it happened in a previous Tournament. Ash and Norman both got their Pokemon healed in the Pokemon center. Luckily Primape was okay to rest for tomorrow. To continue the Tournament and Nurse Joy let Ash off with a warning.
"Your lucky that Primape's are known for this young man. And I saw you were planning on doing the right thing in giving up. But please, no more of this type of situation. She's the only fighting type you have that the league knows about, Ash. Please don't push your Pokemon like that anymore, as a league official and concerned Nurse," Nurse Joy asked Ash, who nodded and agreed not to do that. Nurse Joy took her to leave.
"Well, Ash, you impressed me during that battle, regardless of what happened today. I can see you as a pretty good challenger for me if you ever decided to go to Hoenn," Norman said as his Slaking was healed but in no shape to battle for a bit.
"Thank you, sir, and I might do that, but not right after I take on the Johto league, not right away," Ash said to Norman, who nodded. "You remind me of myself when I started my JourneyJourney as a trainer, headstrong and planning, Ash. Don't lose sight of your goal and what you believe in," Norman told Ash. Who was surprised by this and nodded?
"I would also let you know that my son and Daughter will be a trainer soon. One is about to turn 8, and the other will be ten by the time I head back to Hoenn," Norman said to Ash, who was curious as to why he would say that and why his son would be a trainer sooner than expected.
"That is all I can say. My daughter May isn't a big fan of Pokemon. She was willing to do so now. As for Max, his grades and how he's grown to know Pokemon have gotten the league to make an exception for him to be a Trainer for now if he is willing to, given that he will turn 9 in a few months," Norman said to Ash who was curious as to why the league allowed this but lets it go.
"My gym, the Pettalburg gym, is the third city when you arrive in Hoenn, so stop by, and I will happily accept your challenge anytime," Norman said to Ash, who nodded. "Until then, I'll be taking my leave. My boat will leave for Olivine soon, and I will return to Hoenn. But be on the lookout. There are a few more Hoenn gym leaders here in Johto for the Whirl Cup, so be prepared, and best of luck with Brawly," Norman said before turning and leaving.
"Even tougher gym leaders are coming my way, man. I can't wait to face them, but I need to focus on ensuring Primape is rested and not off. Training tomorrow isn't going to be easy, and Brawly is the current champion of the P1 Grand Prix," Ash thought to himself as he looked at the Pokeball that Primape was and smiled.
"We need to be at our best to take on whatever comes our way, not just Primape but everyone as well as myself; look out, Brawly, and anyone else I face. Because Ash Ketchem won't back, don't and won't give up on getting stronger for myself and my Pokemon."
Not far from where Ash was, a familiar Purple-haired trainer was watching this and smirked. "With that attitude, he's going to need more than that if he wants to be the best, and I know how to test him to see if he can back that up," Paul said as he took his leave was watching the P1 Grand Prix and headed towards the Whirl Islands.
With the P1 Grand Prix in its final match, Ash sets his site on finishing what he started. What is left is Brawly, the one who one the recent competition. What does he have in store for our hero, and what does Ash have to combat him? As the P1 Grand Prix concludes.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. This chapter was more challenging to write than the other chapters in this Tournament. But I hope you enjoyed it. That said, before I get reviews questioning May and Max's ages. Max was requested to start his Journey in the story, and I have plans team-wise for him. As for May, we all know she will be shown but won't join Ash after the Rustboro gym battle. I mentioned that before. As for the best rival, Paul will be when the Whirl Island comes. You'll see I have big plans, which were hinted at in the fire-type Tournament. We have one more battle and chapter of this act of the story: the next chapter. See you next time.