I'm back. I'm not dead. The story hasn't been discontinued. I just got really into Pokémon Black 2 and then Stardew Valley which took up all my free time. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
-Face
Ash stared in suprise at Gladion who if anything seemed annoyed at the crowds loud reaction. He looked across to the referee who had begun to explain the rules of the match. A 3 on 3 where each trainer was allowed the use of one gimmick and substitutions were allowed.
Ash looked around the stadium which appeared to be a lot more packed than it had been for the first round. Word of the battle had definitely spread as every seat was occupied with the majority having trainers with Alolan Pokémon next to them, cheering for their Champion.
The referee then called for each trainer to call out one Pokémon.
Ash called out Infernape who roared across the Stadium soaking it in after half a decade as Gladion calls out a Kommo-o.
The referee then calls for the match to begin.
"Let's start this with a barrage of Acrobatics Infernape", Ash commands, gesturing towards Kommo-o with one hand.
Infernape launches its self at Kommo-o its arms ready to launch the Acrobatics when Gladion calls for a Clanging Scales.
The loud screeching noise rings through the stadium, causing many of the trainers to cover their or their Pokémon's ears from the sound.
The sounds hits Infernape though only slightly buffering him. The Acrobatics hit Kommo-o who let out a grunt of pain that caused her to stop the Clanging Scales.
The annoyance showed on Gladion face as he called for a Bide.
Infernape faltered slightly, momentarily looking back at Ash. "Dont worry. Keep attacking and we'll break through.", he encouraged, causing Infernape to continue the barrage which bit by bit battered Kommo-o back towards Gladion.
Kommo-o stood their focusing and taking the attack until Gladion called for him to release the attack.
The large beam of energy hit Infernape square on, who had just been about to launch another Acrobatics, which made him get launched into a wall just to the side of Ash.
Infernape stepped out, clearly very damaged, reflecting Kommo-o that also looked on the verge of exhaustion.
Gladion didn't let up though, telling Kommo-o to attack with Reversal.
Ash ignored the commentator, who was talking about how his victory in the first round might've been a fluke. He grimaced slightly, proceeding to tell Infernape to use stone edge at his feet.
A large column of rock shot out the ground, throwing Infernape up as the Reversal hit and destroyed it. "Now an Aerial Ace straight into his back".
The attack hit Kommo-o who was recovering from its attack, causing it to crumple to the ground, knocked out.
The stadium fell silent as the referee made the call, telling Gladion to return his Pokémon.
Gladion did, replacing her with Silvally, inserting a water disc that caused a blue ripple to go through its body.
The referee barely had time to call for the battle to resume before both Ash and Gladion had called for Thunder punch and Multi-attack respectively.
Both attacks hit their marks, Infernape's slightly before. A flash of electricity went through Silvally, making it slightly flinch before it hit Infernape, the Water type Multi-attack hitting him with Super Effective damage which made him collapse to the ground like Kommo-o had.
The Referee announced that Infernape was knocked out which caused a roar of support from Alolan trainers in the crowd.
He then brought out Lycanroc, who stared at Silvally, holding back the urge to reunite with his old friend.
The commentator began to talk about the recently discovered form and its rise in popularity since its discovery and use by the first Alolan champion.
The referee restarted the match yet again and Ash commanded Lycanroc to use Accelerock. Lycanroc smashed into Silvally, knocking it back before Silvally looked at him in suprise and recognition.
Lycanroc then whispered for Silvally to keep his identity a secret, with Silvally promising him that it would.
Fueled by determination to win the recently discovered rematch for his trainer Silvally stood ready to fight.
Gladion looked at Silvally with momentary confusion before shrugging and calling for a Tri-attack.
The three elemental attack went towards Lycanroc but was blocked by multiple stone edges that obscured Gladions view.
Ash called out for Lycanroc to use Bulk up who made a small noise to show it had used the move.
Gladion told Silvally to use Crush claw in the direction that the sound had come from.
Lycanroc barely dodged the attack, jumping onto the stone edge, which left it vulnerable to the a Tri-attack which struck him and caused him to become burned.
Lycanroc roared in defiance, hitting a Rock Slide back at Silvally which caused some of the remaining Stone edges to crumble onto it, trapping it.
Gladion called for a Multi-attack and the water powered move ripped through the stone. Ash called for another Bulk Up as Silvally was breaking out of its makeshift prison which managed to finish just as Silvally escaped.
"Lets use Surf to wash away their defenses", Gladion said pointing at the field.
Ash waited until Silvally had built up the start of the wave before asking Lycanroc to use the Stone edges to get closer and use Thunder Fang.
The wave swept towards Lycanroc as he began to jump, using the Stone edges to climb higher.
Lycanroc jumped off the highest remaining rock, turning midair to avoid the high wave and opening his mouth and biting down on Silvally.
The electricity pulsed through Silvally and caused the second wave it was producing to pool uselessly next to it as the Thunder Fang both Flinched and Paralyzed Silvally.
Panic flashed through Gladion's eyes and as he called for Silvally to use Multi-attack the electricity pulsed again stopping the attack.
Lycanroc tightened its grip on Silvally, using Thunder Fang again, causing the already severely weakened Synthetic Pokémon to collapse unconscious.
Gladion thanked and returned Silvally and pulled out a third Pokéball, releasing his own Lycanroc onto the field. Gladion's Lycanroc looked at Ash's like Silvally had and the two had a similar exchange.
The referee announced that if Red won the next match then the match would go to him before beginning the battle yet again.
Both Gladion and Ash called for moves, with Gladion's using Swords Dance and Ash's using Bulk Up.
Ash's Lycanroc then uses Accelerock to hit Gladion's off balance. But Gladion's hits him back with a Counter which hits Ash's Lycanroc away.
As Ash's Lycanroc tries to recover, Gladion's uses Earth Power which hits Ash's Lycanroc back to him.
"Dont worry Lycanroc just hold out for a little longer. Then we can show them just how much stronger we've gotten.", Ash reassured. "Let's use Double Team to give them something to attack."
The stadium was suddenly filled with copies of the Dusk Lycanroc which caused the Midnight Lycanroc to look around in anticipation.
Ash ignored Gladion's Lycanroc and got his Lycanroc to use another double team.
Gladion groaned, "Attack them all with Outrage, don't stop until you get the right one".
Gladion's Lycanroc began to tear through copies of the Dusk Lycanroc until it was struck by a stone edge, which sent it and all the other Lycanroc copies into the air.
Ash's Lycanroc then used Drill run which allowed it to go spinning through the air and crashed into Gladion's Lycanroc, forcing it into the ground and dealing Critical damage.
Gladion crossed his arms and began to use a Z-move, "The full moons Z-Power washes over us and the crumbling world. And then it sealed it up.". Gladion's Lycanroc jumped into the air, forming jagged spikes of rock. "Take this".
Ash's Lycanroc jumped across the incoming rocks, managing to avoid a few before its earlier burn caused a searing pain to flash through its body, making the last of the spikes to crash into it, knocking it back down, breathing heavily.
Ash raised the arm that contained his Z-Band, the individual crystals glowing with Z-Power as it enveloped him and his Lycanroc.
"Let's do this together Lycanroc. Let us summon the power of our True and Complete bonds to help us face and overcome our challenges. Our Hybrid Z-Move. Use Splintered Rage".
Lycanroc struck the ground with the Z-Power and all of the rock that made up the battlefield broke up, large fragments of rock and ground surrounding Gladion's Lycanroc on all sides. Pieces of sharp rock also emerged and, as Lycanroc roared, barrelled towards Gladion's Lycanroc at full speed.
The shards hit Gladion's Lycanroc and then the ground swallowed it, a deep ravine being the only thing to show it had even been there in the first place. A sharp bright orange light shot out of the crack, illuminating the entire stadium, causing everyone to look away as the beacon was even brighter than the sun.
When the light had died down the ravine had completely disappeared, the only thing in its place being a small crack and Gladion's Lycanroc, that lay there knocked out.
A loud cheering shook the whole stadium as Gladion stared dumbfounded at his Lycanroc, who, besides the scratches that marked its body and swirled out eyes, seemed perfectly fine despite the clear strength of the move.
The referee finally registered what had happened and announced Ash as the winner, telling the crowd that they would have a performance round to determine the winner of the match.
Ash returned to his competitors room and let out his team for the final round.
Pikachu sat on his shoulder as he explained to Krookodile, Incineroar and Dewott his plan for the round.
He really wasn't looking forward to this. The part where he had to act something out and help his Pokémon to make it look cool. Yeah. That was easy.
The problem was that he had to dance. Or at least do something that would pass as dancing.
Why hadn't he asked Serena to help him learn. She would've blushed like she always did but she'd be great at it even if she thinks she wouldn't.
He noticed that Krookodile was giving him a strange look and only offered an uncertain grin back. As a bell went off to tell them it was time to perform, Pikachu wriggled back into his pocket, no doubt to eat some more ketchup.
As they left the room to begin their performance, Krookodile put his places on top of the blue mask he'd put on to hide his face.
As they walked onto the stage he handed Krookodile back the glasses and listened to the judges explain the rules of that round.
When they told him to begin his performance he gave Krookodile the cue to start a small Sandstorm and Incineroar the cue to use Heat Wave.
He began to stumble around, pretending to be lost in the Sandstorm when Dewott used a carefully aimed Air Slash to knock his hat off and into the sky.
He then told Krookodile to retrieve it, acting as his trainer. He looked as Incineroar used Sunny Day which caused the sand in the sandstorm to reflect the light as it had been turned partly into glass by the Heat Wave and floated as Dewott continued to use Air Slash to keep as many pieces up as he could.
Incineroar and Krookodile then took part in a mock battle, Stone edge, Rock Slide and Low Kicks flew around and littered the stage with rocks that he jumped from, one to the next, chasing his hat around the stage.
'You wouldn't catch him dead dancing. Unless it was with Serena. Then he would. Get your head back into the game Ketchum', he told himself. 'No matter how much you want her to be alive she isn't'.
He kept running around, not bothering to pay attention to how long he had left. He'd be able to get his hat when Krookodile 'won' the match so that wasn't a concern.
He noticed Dewott adding Icy Winds into the sandstorm which gave the wind a crystalline effect. He grinned. Of course Dewott would do something like that.
He noticed that Krookodile was ready to use bulldoze, which they had agreed to be the final signal and grabbed the hat, putting it on his head as the sandstorm stopped, the ice from the icy winds falling to the ground after the sand and other debris.
He looked around, they'd definitely done a good job. He was stood maybe 10m higher than he had started, the whole stage decorated in a desert theme with sand and rocks strewn around, Krookodile stood 'victoriously' over Incineroar.
The crowd roared in approval, which had died down to performers after the champion had lost and the battle round was over.
They called out Lana and Kiawe who had gone before him and had decently reenacted the battle between Kyogre and Groudon, with Primarina acting as Kyogre, Turtonator acting as Groudon and Charizard as Rayquaza.
They counted up the votes and he managed to win with 73%. Which he thought was very good seeing as the crowd had a lot of Alolan people in it.
He quickly thanked his old friends before Gladion stopped him. And asked him to stay behind to 'chat about something'
Well that's the chapter. Hope it was worth the wait. Also an I an idiot for not knowing it was spelt suRprise and not suprise. I'm not changing it though. It's too funny for that. Hope you enjoyed the chapter
-Face