Chapter 66: Ash vs. Paul pt2: conclusion
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
Thunderbolt, Meteor Mash, and Thunder Punch clashed with each other as the two Pokemon stared each other down. Lapras was determined to win this match, no matter what. Metagross was happy to be facing an actual challenge. Paul and Ash glared at each other, knowing that this part of the battle was just starting.
"Metagross, use Earthquake," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who used the move by slamming its arms into the ground.
"Dragon's Dance, and then use Return," Ash commanded as she used the move and charged right at Metagross, slamming right into it.
"Meteor Mash," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who slammed its arm into Lapras. "Man, this Lapras is very durable to take those hits like that. Ash must've raised it well beforehand," Paul thought.
"Hydro Pump now, Lapras," Ash commanded his Pokemon as she launched it right at Metagross, who was sent to Paul's side.
"Brick break," Paul commanded his Pokemon as he charged at Lapras with its arm.
"Ice Beam now," Ash commanded his Pokemon. As the two moves clashed again, Metagross's leg got frozen.
"Ugh, rotten luck," Paul said.
"Now, use Thunderbolt," Ash commanded Lapras, who launched her attack, landing a hit on Metagross and knocking it out.
"Metagross is unable to battle Lapras wins," David announced as Paul returned his Pokemon.
"Alright, you did great, Lapras," Ash said to Lapras, who nodded.
"Thanks, Ash, that was a fun but challenging battle. I'm up for more," Lapras said to Ash, who nodded and turned to Paul.
"Well, Paul, what do you have to say now?" Ash said to Paul while maintaining composure.
"Humph, I wouldn't be celebrating too soon, Ash. You may have beaten three of my Pokemon so far, but I won't let you get the best of my team, especially with a strategy based on luck like that," Paul said to Ash, who closed his eyes and sighed.
"I may be predictable and make mistakes, but at least I'm trying my best for the time being," Ash said as Paul smirked.
"Humph, you are already showing off your patheticness to me. Making excuses," Paul said, pulling out his Pokeball. "Alright, Gyrados, standby for battle," Paul sent out his next Pokemon. It was Ash's turn to be surprised that Paul owned one.
"Ash, snap out of it. I'm not letting its intimidation of scaring me get to me," Lapras said to Ash, who nodded.
"Humph, your Pokemon is either brave or as pathetic as your speech earlier, Ash. We'll see," Paul said to Ash and Lapras.
"Lapras, Thunderbolt," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who fired the attack right at the Pokemon.
"Dragon Pulse, now," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who launched the attack at the Thunderbolt, causing an explosion. "Now, Giga Impact," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who charged at Lapras.
"Psychic now, Lapras," Ash commanded her, who used the attack on Gyrados to connect the attack on Gyrados. Paul was surprised that Lapras managed to hold Gyrados in place. "Got you, Ash, Avalance now," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who launched a bunch of ice right at Lapras, hitting her and causing an explosion, only for Lapras was still standing and wasn't going to let an Ice-type attack do her in given that she is part one as well.
"Use Thunderbolt," Ash and Paul commanded their Pokemon as they launched their attack, hitting both of them, shocking them, and sending them to the ground and struggling to get up. As both of them were still raring to go.
"Ice Beam," Ash commanded his Pokemon, firing the attack at Gyrados.
"Giga Impact," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who also used the attack, and the two Pokemon clashed their moves as it, caused one massive explosion. The smoke clears, and both Pokemon are knocked out. Paul and Ash were surprised by this.
"Gyrados and Lapras are unable to battle," David announced as Ash and Paul returned their Pokemon.
"You did great, Lapras. Get a good rest," Ash said to her in her ball. Paul only had two more Pokemon, his two strongest ones.
"Ash, I wasn't expecting you to tie that one, given that Gyrados has been on my team since the beginning of my Journey. You may have one Pokemon ahead of me, but don't think that these two won't go down without a fight," Paul said, pulling out his next Pokeball. "Torterra, standby for battle," Paul sent out his next Pokemon.
"Charizard, come on out," Ash sent out his next Pokemon. Both starters stared each other down as Torterra still showed signs of its battle against Scyther.
"I should give you a heads up, Ash, that Torterra here is my first Pokemon and my starter, so if you think that your starter here can take him down that easily, you are surely mistaken, as it has ground type in it," Paul said as Ash shook his head as that confused Paul.
"Charizard may be one of the starters of Kanto, but the starter honor goes to Pikachu here, but Charizard is one of my strongest as well," Ash said to Paul. Who wasn't expecting to hear that he had a different starter? It now made sense why this day meant a lot to Ash and Pikachu. "Charizard use Dragonbreath," Ash commanded his Pokemon.
"Stone Edge now, Torterra," Paul commanded his starter, which launched its attack, causing a pillar wall to block the attack as it shattered and sent right at Charizard.
"Charizard use Mega Punch," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who was dodging the rocks sent at him and slammed his fist right into Torterra.
"Frenzy plant now," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who slammed his feet into the ground as the thorns slammed right into Charizard, sending him to the ground. Charizard got up, roared, and glared at him as Torterra smiled, seeing a good battle foe. "Humph, I can see why he is capable of taking on Pokemon no matter the size," Paul said. "Leaf Storm," Paul commanded his Pokemon, launching its attack at Charizard.
"Flamethrower and Dragonsbreath," Ash commanded him, who launched the attacks right at the Leaf Storm and hit Torterra. As Torterra gets up as well, struggling as the paralyzing it.
"Synthesis now," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who was regaining health. After dealing with that move in the grass-type tournament, Ash didn't try to attack it, knowing it might be a trap.
"Flamethrower now, Charizard," Ash commanded his Pokemon, firing the attack at Torterra.
"Hyper beam," Paul commanded his Pokemon as the two Pokemon launched their attack at each other. It caused another explosion, sending Charizard and Torterra to the stadium's wall and knocking them out.
"Charizard and Torterra both are unable to battle. Paul is down to one Pokemon, and Ash is down to two left in this battle," David announced. Ash and Paul returned their Pokemon as Paul glared at Ash, thinking he had made it this far in his challenge to test Ash.
"Don't think this will change my views on you right now, Ash," Paul said to Ash, who turned to Paul. "So far, you've made it to where your friend Casey has been, and she put up a big fight against this Pokemon, but can you that will show if you are willing to earn my trust," Paul pulled out his last Pokeball. "This Pokemon isn't just mine, but was my brother's ace in the past, Drappion standby for battle," Paul sent out his last Pokemon, who let out a roar then glared at Ash, who remained calm and pulled out his Pokeball.
"Scyther, come on out," Ash sent out his next Pokemon. "You ready, Scyther?" Ash asked him, who nodded.
"Ready as always, Ash. Let's get this going," Scyther said to Ash, who nodded.
"Alright, Scyther, use Fury Cutter and Slash," Ash commanded his Pokemon.
"Brick Break and Cross Poison," Paul commanded his Pokemon as the two slashed at each other. "Now, Night Slash," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who slashed his arm into Scyther.
"Counter now," Ash commanded his Scyther, who slammed his scythe at Drappion, sending him to the ground.
The two Pokemon stared at each other as Scyther started to glow, and that was with the Metal Coat on his scales, as this was enough battle-wise for him to evolve into Scizor. Ash noticed that he knew a new move.
"Now, Metal Claw," Ash commanded his newly evolved Pokemon, who charged in at Drappion and slammed his pinchers right into Drappion.
"Brick Break," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who slammed his arm right into Scizor, sending him back hard. "Giga Impact," Paul commanded his Pokemon, charged toward Scizor with tremendous energy.
"Get out of there," Ash said to Scizor, who tried to get out of the way only to get struck, sending him to the ground and knocking him out.
"Scizor is unable to battle Drappion wins," David announced as Ash returned Scizor, praising him for the hard work.
"You're Scizor is properly raised that much I'll give him standing up to Drappion like that and still trying to think that he could win," Paul said.
"He gave it his all. That is what matters, Pikachu. You ready?" Ash said to his starter, who nodded.
"Let's do this, Ash," Pikachu ran onto the battlefield. Paul smirked at this as he knew that Ash had something planned for this battle.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack and then Iron Tail," Ash commanded his partner, who charged in at Drappion and slammed right into him as if Drappion couldn't move after using the Giga Impact. "Thunderbolt now, Pikachu," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who launched the attack at Drappion.
"Block it with Brick Break," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who slammed his arm at the Thunderbolt, breaking it in half and right into Pikachu. "Now, Cross Poison," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who charged at Pikachu.
"Dodge it with Quick Attack and then Thunderbolt," Ash commanded Pikachu as Pikachu barely got out of there and used Thunderbolt at Drappion.
"Giga Impact," Paul commanded Drappion, who slammed right into Pikachu, who was hit and sent to the ground but got up. "Humph, as stubborn as his trainer is. I'll give you that much to both of you. You know when not to quit and keep fighting until the very end. That is what I want to see in a Trainer and determined who is worth my time and who is a pathetic joke which isn't worth my time," Paul said to Ash and Pikachu.
Ash sighed and understood why Paul was the way he was. But there's always another way to get a second chance. Pikachu was already sparking with electricity at Paul's statements more than usual.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack," Ash commanded Pikachu, who ran towards Drappion only for the electricity building around him to become part of the Quick Attack and was part of the move, which made everyone surprised, especially Paul, Regi, and David. The move slammed right into Drappion hard, sending him back. "What was that?" Ash said, not knowing what the move was.
"Volt Tackle, a move only Pikachu knows, and it's similar to Giga Impact but with the recoil of Double Edge than Hyper Beam," David explained. Ash knows why Drappion couldn't strike back when Pikachu landed moves after Giga Impact was used. Ash and Paul knew that this would be the last move and knew what to use for the last attack of the battle.
"Pikachu, Volt Tackle," Ash commanded Pikachu, who charged at Drappion.
"Giga Impact Drappion," Paul commanded his Pokemon, who also charged at Pikachu. As the two Pokemon clashed, the two moves caused a massive explosion.
The smoke cleared a short time later as both Pikachu and Drappion barely stood, panting as Drappion was crackling with electricity as Pikachu was panting heavily. As both Pokemon fell simultaneously, everyone was surprised by this.
"Both Pokemon are unable to battle. The match ends in a draw," David announced as Ash ran to Pikachu as Paul returned his Pokemon to his ball. Regie walked over to Paul.
"Looks like a draw to me, and I must say, Paul. Ash knows what he's doing," Regie said to Paul, who sighed and nodded and walked over to Ash, who picked up Pikachu.
"It is a tie, a tie it is, Ash. You may be pathetic as a person, but as a trainer, you know what you are doing," Paul said to Ash, who got up with Pikachu in his arms. "You shouldn't change as a person, just as a trainer, because if you act as you did back in the P1 Grand Prix, you will never be able to beat me, yet alone Damien, who is even more pathetic as a trainer," Paul said.
"Right now, I need to get stronger as a trainer if I want to beat him at the league to get rid of what he has done," Ash said, which Paul sighed.
"I'll give you this, Ash. You are already there so far, and while I prefer stronger Pokemon, what he does is worse," Paul said to Ash, who nodded.
"Last I saw, he's here in the Whirl Islands, but that was before the P1 Grand Prix so he may be gone," Paul said. Ash sighed as he knew Damien was more a coward than a battler who only wanted to battle in the league.
Later, the group healed their Pokemon at the Pokemon Care at Ash's Uncle's house. As Paul and Regie took were about to take their leave.
"So you two are heading to the Whirl Cup later," Ash said to Paul and Regi, who nodded.
"Yeah, since it's later in the week, we will be exploring for more Pokemon to join the team since many of them will be 3v3 battles. I suggest you be on your guard as this event will be bigger than before," Regi said as Ash was curious about it.
"This isn't just the usual Whirl cup, Ash. This year is the anniversary of when it all started, and they invited many trainers from all over the other regions, from gym leaders to Contest champs to actual Champions. The latter either use water types or have one or two on their teams," David said to Ash and Paul.
Ash was curious about who else would be there but knew this would be a tough competition if they got even the champions involved in this tournament.
"Humph, I took that they are asked to hold back to make it a fair competition to the contestants," Paul said, and David shook his head which Paul was surprised.
"That much I will tell you. Until then, you two should be more focused on your team than worry about the competition," David said to everyone.
With a grueling battle over, Ash and his friends have gotten word about what will come in the Whirl Cup. What else is in store for our heroes? As the Journey continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done, man. This chapter took a lot of work to write. Yeah, this match ended in a draw, and yes, Pikachu knows Iron Tail and Volt Tackle. Given that Pikachu, from this point onwards, won't be in gym battles, he has been working on his moves and learned them, so let that be please in the reviews. I may have shown my hand in what I planned in the Whirl Cup. But that is a small fraction of what is going to be shown.
Lastly, Scizor must be traded to evolve in the comments before I get it. Remember, the only evolution that would require trading was the Haunter trade a while back, so they need to battle with the held item similar to, say, Sneasel or Gligar. As for the Hoenn captures, I have Numel, Feebas, and Swablu up for captures. That said, it's the Chinchou episode next. See you next time.