Chapter 145: A Champion's Fall! Ash vs Lance Part 2

"Go, Exeggutor!"

The Alolan variant of the Grass type emerged, the three heads swaying in the breeze as Urshifu glared him down.

"Alright then, use Aerial Ace, Urshifu!"

"Seed Bomb!"

Urshifu sprinted forward, moving so fast he began to glide off the ground, pushing himself through the barrage of seeds to body slam Exeggutor, though the size difference meant it didn't so much to faze his opponent.

"Leaf Storm!"

"Ice Punch!"

Urshifu jabbed his Ice-covered fist into Exeggutor's side, making the Grass-Dragon cry out in pain. But before Urshifu could strike again, he was assaulted by a barrage of leaves, forcing him back to Ash's side of the field.

"Now use Mega Drain!"

Before Ash could utter another word, Urshifu collapsed to one knee as his energy was sucked right out of him and into Exeggutor.

"Finish this off with Wood Hammer!"

"Ice Punch!"

Urshifu looked up to see Exeggutor speeding towards him, giant hammer poised ready to strike him. Grunting, he met it with another Ice Punch, creating a small explosion that rocked the battlefield. Once the dust had settled, Urshifu was out cold on the ground.

"Urshifu is unable to battle, Exeggutor wins!"

"Urshifu, return! You did great, get some rest."

"You're doing well, Ash, but I'm turning this around starting now!" Lance declared. "As the champion of Kanto and Johto, I cannot allow you to go any further! My pride as a champion won't stand for it!"

In Celadon City, Ritchie and his Pikachu Sparky watched the battle on a screen at the Pokemon Center.

"What do you think, pal? Does Ash have a chance?"

"Pika Pikachu!"

"I don't know, but this battle is getting me fired up!"

"Vincent, hurry up!"

"Chill out, Mariana," Vincent called back, before bringing the popcorn and other snacks into the room. "You know how packed the supermarket is at this time of year? I'm lucky to have gotten out alive!"

"Hey, Ash Ketchum? Isn't that the guy you tied with in the Johto League, Vincent?"

"Sure is, Jimmy! Too bad he's about to lose."

"Hey, what makes you say that?"

"He couldn't defeat me, what makes you think he has a chance?"

"Well, I say he's going to win!" Mariana huffed.

"What about you, Jimmy?"

"Sorry pal, but I'm with Mariana. Go, Ash!"

Ash chuckled, and tilted his hat back around.

"Yeah? Well, we'll see about that! Go, Dragonite!"

Lance chuckled as Ash's Dragonite gave him a bone-crushing hug before flying onto the battlefield.

"Spirited, isn't she?"

"You know it! Dragon Tail, Dragonite!"

"The same, Exeggutor!"

Dragonite swung her tail around to strike her opponent, only to be met in kind. The two battled like this for a few minutes, but as hard as Dragonite fought, Exeggutor pushed back even harder.

"Dragon Pulse!"

"Dragon Dance to dodge!"

Exeggutor tried to fire off a Dragon Pulse, but Dragonite gracefully evaded it no matter how hard he tried to hit her.

"Now, use Dragon Claws!"

Once she was behind him, Dragonite swiped her claws across all three of the heads, making the dual type roar in pain as she flew back to Ash's side of the field.

"Now use Moonlight, Exeggutor!"

"Hurricane!"

Exeggutor launched a bright orb of light from his palmtops, only for it to be batted back by the huge gusts of wind created by Dragonite, Exeggutor himself barely managing to stay upright. One look at Exeggutor and Lace could tell he was nearly ready to tap out.

"Exeggutor, finish this with Dragon Hammer!"

"Charge up a Draco Meteor!"

Dragonite took to the air, giving herself a wide berth to charge up her attack. Exeggutor began swinging his heads around, charging up a massive hammer before swinging it, the head changing into a dragon's head as it reached Dragonite.

"Now!"

Just as the attack struck Dragonite, she launched her own attack, the meteors raining down on her opponent, striking Exeggutor over and over. When the dust settled, Exeggutor had fallen over, too tired to continue.

"Exeggutor is unable to battle, Dragonite wins!"

"Alright, way to go Dragonite!"

Dragonite let out a happy trill, and clapped her claws.

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

"This is turning into a real nail biter," Meowth said, munching on popcorn.

"I'll say!" James agreed. "Champion Lance is down to two Pokemon, while Champion Ash still has three!"

"Oh, please!" Jessie huffed. "If it weren't for that Urshifu, he'd be behind right now. Just wait, the twerp will fall soon enough."

"Go, Dragonite!"

A taller, much more menacing Dragonite than Ash's stomped onto the ground, letting out a mighty roar.

"Dragonite, you good to stay in?"

Although she felt intimidated, Ash's Dragonite didn't want to let him down, so she nodded.

"Alright then, use Dragon Rush!"

"Icy Wind!"

Dragonite sped towards her opponent, gritting her teeth and pushing through the icy blast of wind assaulting her to reach her target before slamming into him, nearly sending him flying.

"Dragon Tail!"

Recovering quickly, Lance's Dragonite slammed his tail into Ash's, sending her straight into the ground.

"Dragonite!"

With a grunt, Dragonite pushed herself out of the crater, shaking herself off to get ready to fight again.

"Thunder Punch!"

"Ice Punch!"

Before she could take to the air again, Lance's Dragonite pounced once more, outstretched claw sparking with electricity. Pushing through her pain, Dragonite met him with a claw encased with ice, the two locked in fierce combat for several minutes…

Before Ash's Dragonite fell over, utterly exhausted, Lance's stepping aside to allow her to fall. She tried to get up one more time, but in the end she just didn't have the strength.

"Ash's Dragonite is unable to battle, Lance's wins!"

"Dragonite, return! Great job girl, get some rest."

"Come on Ash, are you even trying? I want a challenge!"

"Ask and you shall receive! Go, Pikachu!"

"Pika!"

Lance smirked as Ash's ace jumped onto the battlefield. He knew just how capable he was, and looked forward to it.

"Alright Dragonite, use Hurricane!"

"Stand your ground, Pikachu! Use Iron Tail!"

Pikachu acted quickly, digging his tail into the ground to anchor himself against the heavy winds. That didn't last long, though, as the heavy wind eventually pushed him into the air.

"Electroweb!"

Quickly, Pikachu threw up a web to cushion his fall, bouncing slightly as he hit it.

"Now use Volt Tackle!"

"Ice Beam!"

Pikachu took off, speeding towards his opponent like a rocket. Dragonite tried to hit him with an Ice Beam, but Pikachu easily evaded every attempt before leaping into the air and slamming into Dragonite's stomach, making the giant roar in pain.

"Breaking Swipe!"

"Iron Tail!"

As Pikachu fell from his opponent's chest, Dragonite tried to swipe at him with his claw, only for Pikachu to bat it away with his tail.

"Now use Volt Switch!"

Suddenly, Pikachu turned into a bright orb of electricity, shooting right into Dragonite's stomach before returning to Ash.

"Good work, buddy."

Pikachu smiled, and nuzzled Ash's cheek.

"Go, Rillaboom! Use Wood Hammer!"

Before Dragonite could recover, Rillaboom bounded over and slammed his mallet right into Dragonite's chest, sending the Pseudo-Legendary spiraling into a wall unconscious.

"Dragonite is unable to battle, Rillaboom wins!"

"Alright, way to go Rillaboom!"

Rillaboom roared proudly, beating his chest fiercely.

"Dragonite, return! You did well, get some rest."
"It's all down to this, Lance! Show me what you've got!"

"You asked for it! Go, Gyarados!"

The minute Lance's Gyarados appeared, Lance Mega Evolved him, the Water/Dark type letting out a fierce roar. Rillaboom snorted, pointing his drumstick defiantly at the mighty Pokemon.

"Drum Beating, Rillaboom!"

"Whirlpool!"

Rillaboom began pounding on his drums, summoning a mass of vines to strike Gyarados. But his solo was cut short by a whirlpool of water forming around him, battering him about and causing him great pain.

"Solar Blade, Rillaboom!"

Catching a ray of sunlight, Rillaboom tore out of the torrent, speeding towards his opponent to strike.

"Ice Fang, Gyarados!"

Gyarados slithered forward and met him in the middle, powering through the Solar Blade before biting down hard on Rillaboom, causing the Grass type great pain.

"Now Hydro Pump!"

"Branch Poke, Rillaboom!"

Gyarados lifted RIllaboom into the air before blasting him out, but not before Rillaboom got one last hit in. The Hydro Pump sent Rillaboo straight into a wall, and when the water died down Rillaboom slumped over out cold.

"Rillaboom is unable to battle, Gyarados wins!"

"This is it," Chloe said aloud. "Both of them are down to their last Pokemon."

"It'll be a close call either way, that's for sure," Hop nodded.

"Go Ash, go! You can do it!"

"You ready, buddy?"

"Pi!"

"Alright! Pikachu, I choose you!"

Pikachu leapt onto the battlefield, cheeks sparking estatically.

"Alright Ash, this is the finale! Gyarados, use Hydro Pump!"

"Counter Shield!"

The crowd watched in stunned amazement as Pikachu dropped to the ground and began spinning, generating enough electricity to keep Gyarados's attack away.

"Counter Shield?" Leon wondered aloud. Cynthia, who was standing next to him, smiled knowingly.

"Ah, I remember that! Nice to see they're keeping at it."

"He's done this before?"

"Believe me, Leon, you haven't seen the least of his abilities."

"Aqua Tail!"

"Electro Ball!"

Gyarados swam through the air, Pikachu's small ball of energy barely even fazing him as he kept at it.

"Jump, then use Electroweb!"

Just before Gyarados could smash his tail onto him, Pikachu jumped, before tossing a web down onto him, pinning him by the tail to the ground.

"Free yourself with Thrash!"

"Thundershock!"

Gyarados broke free, but not before getting a powerful jolt of electricity straight to the face. Enraged, he swung his tail up and smacked Pikachu across the face, sending him flying back to Ash's side of the field.

"Pikachu, you ok?"

Despite how hurt he was, Pikachu picked himself up off the floor and gave him a thumbs up.

"Alright then, let's end this!"

"Pi!"

"10,000,000 Volt thunderbolt!"

Pikachu grinned as Ash tossed his cap to him, levitating into the air as electricity began building up around him. Gyarados, in his enraged state, tried to slap him out of the air again…

"Now!"

Only to be blasted back, the huge amount of electricity exploding and covering the arena in smoke. Once it had dissipated, Gyarados was on the ground, too tired to continue.

"Gyarados is unable to battle, Pikachu wins! Which means the match goes to Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!"

"Yes! Way to go, Pikachu!"

Despite how tired he was, Pikachu ran right into Ash's arms, nuzzling him as Lance walked up to shake his hand.

"You have become truly powerful, Ash. Your Pokemon have responded to your strong and upstanding nature. I am honored to have fought you."

''Thanks, Lance. I'll give you a rematch any time!"

"Yes! He did it, I knew he would!" Lillie cheered, waving her pom poms excitedly.

"Way to go, Ash!" Chloe cheered, though she doubted he could hear her over Lillie.

"Impressive," Hop said to himself. "No wonder Lee's so interested in him."

"What an exciting match, folks! But we still have much more where that came from, so let's find out who's next."

"Ooh, I hope I'm next!" Iris said cheerfully.

"Our next competitor is…Number 3, Steven Stone! And his opponent will be….Number 5, Diantha!"

The two chosen competitors looked at each other, and nodded.

"Good luck, I look forward to it."

"Same."

"Wait a minute," Iris gasped. "You mean I have to fight Cynthia?"

Her idol just chuckled.

"Go easy on me, alright?"

Needless to say, the fun was just getting started.