Chapter 144: The Pride of Kanto! Ash vs Lance Part 1

"Alright buddy, are you ready for this?"

"Pi!"

Ash smiled, and made his way to the battlefield. He was both nervous and excited at the same time. He'd fought alongside Lance multiple times, but never against him.

As he reached the end of the tunnel, he saw Alain coming the other way.

"Hey Alain, your match was awesome!"

Alain chuckled, and gave Ash a fistbump.

"Thanks, too bad I lost though."

"Are you kidding? You were awesome!"

Alain chuckled.

"Well, I'm glad you think so. I'd better go heal my Pokemon. But Ash, don't you dare lose until the end. I want us to have a real match."

Ash chuckled, and gave him a thumbs up.

"I look forward to it!"

"Alright folks, that was an awesome first bout, but now it's time for the next match! We've got a good one for you this time! The champion of Alola, Ash Ketchum, will be going up against the champion of his home region of Kanto, Lance!"

"Go Ash!" Lillie cheered, having changed into her cheerleading outfit. Ash smiled, and blew her a kiss as he entered the arena. Lance soon appeared as well, and the two shook hands.

"I've been waiting for this match a long time, Ash," Lance told him. "Give it all you've got, and I will do the same!"

Ash chuckled.

"As you wish!"

"This will be a six-on-six battle, with no time limit! Each trainer can switch out their Pokemon as often as they like! In addition, each trainer is allowed one use of Mega Evolution, Dynamax, or a Z-Move! Are you ready?"

"Ready!"

"Ready!"

"Then let the match begin!"

"Dracovish, I choose you!"

"Go, Flygon!"

"Dracovish, use Dragon Rush!"

"Dragon Claw, Flygon!"

Dracovish ran forward, ready to ram into its opponent. Flygon was ready to combat it, meeting them halfway and striking back with his claws. The two clashed for a few minutes before separating, waiting for their next orders.

"Dragon Breath!"

"You too, Dracovish!"

The two let loose their breath blasts, the two energies clashing for control in the middle. For a bit, the two were evenly matched, but Flygon soon proved to be stronger, pushing the attack right back into Dracovish, knocking them over.

"Now use Dragon Tail!"

"Ice Fang!"

By the time Dracovish had recovered, Flygon was almost on him, swinging his tail around to strike. Dracovish was quick though, catching his tail within their mouth and coating it in ice. Flygon tried to break free, but Dravoish held firm.

"Now use Brutal Swing!"

Dracovish circled his head around a few times before tossing Flygon into the air as hard as he could. Everyone strained their eyes to see where he would land, but the sun made it difficult.

"Dragon Rush, Flygon!"

Just when it looked like Dracovish might pull out the win, Flygon came speeding towards his opponent, slamming into him with so much force that Dracovish got embedded into the ground, knocking him out.

"Dracovish is unable to battle, Flygon wins!"

"Ash sure is in a tough spot, huh?" Diantha thought aloud.

"Oh please, Lance just got a lucky start," Cynthia chuckled. "Lance hits hard and fast, but Ash is creative."

"Excuse me?"

The two turned to see Iris standing awkwardly behind them, phone in hand.

"I was wondering if we could take a selfie together? Pretty please?"

The two older women smiled.

"Sure, why not?"

"Serious or silly?"

"Let's do both!"

Diantha and Cynthia leaned in close while Iris got the camera ready.

"Alright, say cheese!"

"Cheese!"

Steven smiled, before turning to Leon.

"What about you? What are your thoughts on the match?"

Leon chuckled, and shook his head.

"Too early to call. But if Ash wants to win, he'll need to bring his all."

"Dracovish, return! You did well, get some rest."

"Come on Ash, that's how you start? This isn't even a warm up!"

Ash grinned.

"Who said I was giving up? Go, Sirfetch'd!"

Lance smirked, and shook his head.

"Still haven't learned, have you? Flygon, use Sand Tomb!"

Sirfetch'd had been on the field for less than a minute when the ground beneath him began to sink. He struggled to break free, but the sinkhole had him firmly in his grasp.

"Earth Power!"

Suddenly, a huge plume of lava erupted from underneath Sirfetch'd, sending him soaring into the air. Flygon scanned the air for where he would, preparing his next attack.

"Brave Bird, Sirfetch'd!"

Suddenly, Sirfetch'd dive bombed right onto his back, sending Flygon into a flailing fit as he tried to throw him off, but Sirfetch'd refused to fall.

"Rock Smash, Sirfetch'd!"

Raising his sword high, Sirfech'd smashed it down onto Flygon's head, sending Flygon falling from the air while Sirfetch'd leapt off, landing gracefully while his opponent hit the ground hard. When the dust had settled, Flygon was out cold.

"Flygon is unable to battle, Sirfetch'd wins!"

"Wow, da twerp sure came back quick!" Meowth whistled.

"Who cares?" Jessie said, picking her ear. "Everyone knows Lance is going to win."

"Care to bet? Twenty bucks says he only takes down two more!"

"30 says this is all he gets!"

"I bet he wins!"

Jessie and Meowth stared at James in shock, who just shrugged.

"What? Someone had to do it."

"Flygon, return! Good job."

Lance then took out his next Pokemon with a proud smile.

"There's the Ash I was waiting for! Go, Aerodactyl!"

Sirfetch'd steeled himself, sword ready to strike as he awaited Ash's next move.

"Sirfetch'd, use Meteor Assault!"

"Ancient Power!"

SIrfetch'd charged forward, cutting through all of the stone hurled at him in his mad dash. Once he reached his target, he began slicing at his opponent, the fossil Pokemon trying in vain to fly away.

"Stone Edge, Aerodactyl!"

Before Sirfetch'd could land another blow, a huge stone pillar rose up in front of him, smacking him in the beak and sending him flying back. For good measure, Aerodactyl summoned another one behind him to crash into, inflicting even more damage to him.

"Wing Attack!"

"Iron Defense!"

Aerodactyl rushed forward, wings ready to strike. Sirfetch'd raised his shield to defend himself, but even that did little to lessen the impact, nearly knocking Sirfetch'd over.

"Air Cutter, Aerodactyl!"

While Sirfetch'd tried to pick himself up, Aerodactyl kept him pinned down with air slices.

"Now, grab him and take it into the air!"

Aerodactyl swooped in, snatching Sirfetch'd in his claws and rising high into the air before he could break free.

"Now, let him go!"

"Brick Break!"

Just before being dropped to the ground, Sirfetch'd managed to slice Aerodactyl across the stomach, causing his opponent great pain before he hit the ground. Once the dust had settled, Sirfetch'd was unconscious.

"Sirfetch'd is unable to battle, Aerodactyl wins!"

"Sifrfetch'd, returns! You did great, pal. Get some rest."

"Man, this battle is getting intense!" Chloe said aloud.

"Vee," Eevee agreed. Hop just chuckled.

"What do you expect? This is The Masters Eight!"

"You can do it, Ash!" Lillie cheered, shaking her pom poms.

"Urshifu, I choose you!"

"An Urshifu, huh?" Lance mused. "I've heard of them, but I didn't expect to meet one. I look forward to battling it."

"Oh yeah? Well, you won't be disappointed! Urshifu, use Rock Smash!"

"Thunder Fang, Aerodactyl!"

Aerodactyl swooped in, teeth charged with electricity as he bit down into Urshifu's fist. But despite the type disadvantage, Urshifu didn't so much as flinch, instead punching it forward until Aerodactyl let him go.

"Close Combat!"

"Take to the skies, Aerodactyl!"

Aerodactyl tried, but Urshifu's pummeling was enough to keep him grounded.

"Hyper Beam, Aerodactyl!"

Aerodactyl recovered quickly enough to fire off a point blank Hyper Beam, sending Urshifu flying. Finally having a moment to catch his breath, Aerodactyl relaxed a bit.

"Surging Strikes!"

Suddenly, Urshifu rushed forward, striking Aerodactyl with his fists encased with water. Aerodactyl, too exhausted from the Hyper Beam, Aerodactyl could only collapse in defeat.

"Aerodactyl is unable to battle, Urshifu wins!"

"Alright, way to go Urshifu!"

"Return, Aerodactyl! You did well, get some rest. Go, Altaria!"

The Dragon-Flying type swooped in, glaring Urshifu down intensely.

"Urshifu, do you want to continue?"

Urshifu nodded, flashing Ash the thumbs up.

"Alright then, bring it Lance!"

"With pleasure! Altaria, use Moonblast!"

"Whirlpool, Urshifu!"

Urshifu quickly crossed his arms over his chest, summoning a huge vortex of water around himself, blocking the Moonblast.

"Now, unleash it!"

With a loud roar, Urshifu dispersed it as one big wave, sending it crashing down over Altaria, leaving him soaked.

"Smart," Leon commented. "That Moonblast would've done major damage if it had connected."

"Not only that, but Altaria's too soaked to fly thanks to that maneuver," Steven thought aloud.

"Using an offensive move for protection," Cynthia said with a smile. "Typical Ash fashion."

"Go, Ash!" Iris cheered. "You can do it!"

"Aqua Jet!"

"Disarming Voice!"

Altaria let out an ear piercing screech, making Urshifu cringe as it hit his ears. But in spite of the pain, he charged forward nonetheless, ramming right into Altaria and sending him flying.

"Alright Urshifu, finish him off with Thunder Punch!"

"Dazzling Gleam!"

Urshifu charged forward once more, this time his outstretched fist surrounded by electricity. Altaria tried to blind him with a brilliant flash of light, but that did nothing to deter his opponent. At last, Urshifu struck the Dragon Type, the surging power creating a small explosion that rocked the arena. When the dust had settled, Altaria was out cold, while Urshifu stood, weary but triumphant.

"Altaria is unable to battle, Urshifu wins!"

"Alright, way to go Urshifu!"

"Shifu!"

"Altaria, return! You did well, take a well earned rest."

Lance's shocked expression soon turned to a wide smile.

"I'm glad I got to face you, Ash! But now it's time for the kid gloves to come off!"

"Yeah? Then bring it!"