Chapter 98; Blazing fury

Torchic used a quick flipping maneuver to parry the headbutt from Aron. The attack did minimal damage but Torchic came out unscathed.

"Very good" Sonic encouraged them both "now again".

The two pokemon cried out and repeated the attack exchange. Sonic smiled.

Since he was going to challenge Brawly today, Torchic needed to ready to fight. Machop was certainly strong but with good preparation, Torchic would be a match for it.

As for Hariyama…

"Raichu are you ready?" Sonic asked it as it stood in the distance, facing him.

"Rai rai".

"Do it already" Sonic heard in his mind.

"Ok" Sonic nodded and got to his knees.

He started spinning, preparing a homing attack.

Raichu charged thunder punch.

"Here I come!" Sonic's voice came from his spinning ball form as he was launched towards Raichu.

Raichu punched Sonic's ball form with thunder punch, sending him sprawling back. Though the attack affected them both, their training had lessened the effects or more accurately made them more immune to them.

"You got me good there partner" Sonic hopped back up "the training is paying off".

"Rai!"

"Let's go fight the fighting types!" Sonic heard in his mind.

He grinned and recalled his pokemon, heading to rendezvous with Wally.

As he walked, he recalled the last two days, following Ash's battle with Brawly.

Following their return to Dewford town, Sonic immediately went back to training to fight Brawly. Roxanne had only rock types so it was natural that he couldn't use anything but his Raichu. Now this was not the case. Torchic would need to carry its weight.

Combining the training of Aron to help it grow and Torchic to prepare it, he had had Torchic master using scratch to parry close range attacks while using ember from far away if need be. By using focus energy first, not only did Torchic become better at knowing when to parry due to the increased focus but the parry could do some serious damage.

And of course, not only to fight Brawly's Hariyama but also Steven again in the future, Sonic knew Raichu and he would have to continue growing in power, cultivating their strength and empowering their bond further.

Since their other team members were out of reach for this journey, Sonic decided to use his powers to help Raichu train, at first using his speed to increase Raichu's reflexes and later his homing attack in an attempt to replicate powerful moves like meteor mash.

With this training regimen, not only did Raichu's power keep increasing but also both and it and Sonic became more durable, their sharing of the pain becoming less of a factor.

And if they were to run into Shadow again, his Salamence wouldn't stand a chance, that Sonic was certain of.

Arriving at the beach, Sonic saw Brawly from far away, riding a wave. The waves were actually large that day.

Wally approached Sonic with Ralts.

"Hey. Is it time?"

"Yes. How did training go for you?"

"Ralts did grow in power a bit and even learned teleport".

"Teleport? Nice. With a little more growth, it could be an easier way to get around for you".

"You teleported with your pokemon?"

"Not exactly. My Alakazam helped us escape silph co that day with its mother using teleport. Everyone mocks it for its battle effect but miss its actual usefulness" Sonic explained.

Wally pet Ralts as it had stuffed itself in his arms.

"I'm looking forward to it then. Hey look. Brawly is coming out".

As Brawly slowly walked out of the water, holding his surfboard, people started gathering around as it was obvious what was going to go down.

Raichu noticed Ash and his friends also approaching and let Sonic know by tapping him with his paw.

"You're still here?" Sonic casually asked Ash.

"You saw my battle with Brawly. It's only fair I see yours".

"That's good" Blaze walked out from behind Sonic, accidentally scaring him "perhaps you will learn something by observing".

"Woah where did you come from? How do you even do that?" Sonic asked her, surprised at her ability to get close unnoticed.

"I wish to observe this contest myself. Steven would have too but he has left since the day you battled him to attend to some personal matters".

"The only thing one can learn from this jerk is how to fight dirty. Maybe that's why Knuckles fired that hydro pump when Eusine was busy talking" Ash fired back at Blaze.

"Hey watch it. My friends have nothing to do with our issues" Sonic warned him.

"Yeah or else what?"

Sonic refrained from replying. Actions would speak now. All that was to be said had been said.

Brawly set his board by burying it in the sand a bit and took out a pokeball from a small watertight pocket on his surfing suit.

"Ready to get this show on the road my dude?"

"Ready as I'll ever be" Sonic nodded with a smile by taking out Torchic's pokeball.

"Trainers ready?" Brawly's apprentice Shauna asked them as she refereed just like she did with Ash.

"Ready" both said at once, their similar voices almost merging into one.

"Then send out your pokemon!"

"Machop battle time!"

"Torchic come on out!"

Machop and Torchic faced down each other, with sparkles coming out of Torchic.

"So his Torchic has not evolved yet. Unexpected" Ash commented.

"We have trained a lot for this battle either way. I wasn't going to make your mistake of blindly challenging someone" Sonic fired back.

"Battle start!"

"Torchic focus energy!"

Torchic used the move, an aura of power surrounding it as it got hyperfocused.

"Machop! Karate chop!"

Machop jumped and came down on Torchic.

"Hold… hold… parry with scratch!"

With a lightning fast move, Torchic used its clawed legs to parry the attack, breaking Machop's momentum.

"Now scratch it!"

Again moving super fast, landing on one leg and hopping again, Torchic scratched at Machop, dealing big damage. After repeatedly sparring with a pokemon twice resistant to scratch, hitting a normally affected one showed the results of their training.

Machop hopped back up but instinctively kept its distance.

"That was a great start for him. Torchic is obviously in its element" Max quickly recognized the training.

Sonic smiled at the attempt of Brawly to come up with a strategy.

"Not going to attack? I'll make you! Torchic ember!"

Torchic fired ember at Machop. The superpower pokemon dodged but it was only the beginning.

"Don't let it relax! Ember rapid fire!"

Using Knuckles' variation of the move, Torchic fired back to back embers, weaker than a fully charged one. But the result was what Sonic was hoping for.

Machop not only couldn't dodge them all but had less time to think overall. Brawly was essentially backed into a corner.

Machop could try attacking up close but it was obvious Torchic had trained for close encounters. But if kept his distance, defeat was certain.

"Machop! Prepare a cross chop!"

Machop stopped, taking the embers head on as it crossed its hands, preparing to charge.

"Keep firing Torchic!" Sonic instructed it.

"Go! Cross chop!"

"Parry with scratch!"

Unlike karate chop, Torchic couldn't fully parry cross chop, taking damage and getting knocked down. After the attack however, Machop took burn damage as the embers had burned it.

"What happened to machop? That should have knocked out Torchic" Ash was confused.

"Burn weakened cross chop" Brock explained to Ash "Sonic was actually smart about it, he predicted cross chop needs around 3 seconds to charge before attacking, and took advantage of the opening".

"Heh. He talks a big game about fighting head-on but needs to weaken the opponent first. Just like him to not play nice. Can't say I'm surprised" Ash replied.

The comment earned him an angry look from Blaze.

"Torchic enough playing around! Use scratch to end this!"

"Cross chop! Before…!"

He was meaning to say before the attack landed but Torchic landed scratch before he could even finish the sentence. Overwhelmed and with burn taking the final toll, machop fainted.

"Machop is unable to battle! Torchic is the winner!" Shauna declared.

Torchic cried out in excitement and rushed to Sonic for pets before just as excitedly standing before Brawly who took out Hariyama's pokeball.

"Your Torchic is insane my dude. And I thought Ash's Treecko was a great fighter".

Ash fumed at this. In his eyes the only reason Torchic was this strong was because Sonic deliberately trained too much so he wouldn't lose.

"Alright Hariyama! Ride it dude!"

Hariyama came out, causing Torchic to actually involuntarily hop because of the shock of Hariyama's landing.

"Ready Torchic?"

"Torchic!"

"Hariyama! Arm thrust!"

Hariyama prepared to smack Torchic with its massive hands.

"Torchic parry the first with scratch then dodge!"

Torchic quickly parried the first arm thrust with scratch then quickly scurried out of the way as the next one slammed into the sand.

"Ember!"

The ember landed but Hariyama was barely affected.

"It has thick fat?" Sonic wondered for a moment, giving Brawly and opening.

"Hariyama quick! Knock off!"

Hariyama used its signature attack on Torchic but instead of just shoving it back, it kept it down, immobilizing its legs so it couldn't scratch again.

"Now Hariyama! Arm thrust!"

Hariyama started slamming its other massive hand down on Torchic. The fire type cried out in pain but refused to go down.

"Come on Torchic! You can do this! Ember it to break free!"

Torchic instead, after the final arm thrust, cried out loudly and used a new move; it started hitting Hariyama's hand holding its legs with its beak.

Hariyama cried out in pain and stumbled back, holding its hurt hand with its other hand.

"What was that?" May inquired.

Blaze was quicker to identify the move.

"Peck" she said in actual awe.

"Peck?!" Sonic exclaimed in pleasant surprise. This was probably the best move Torchic could have learned in the moment. A flying type move.

"Then let's not waste time! Torchic peck it!"

Torchic rushed Hariyama, pecking it hard on the legs, then following up with a scratch, causing Hariyama to stumble.

"Torchic! Torchic! Combu!" Torchic cried out as it began glowing.

"No way! It's evolving!" May said in awe, as her Torchic had yet to evolve.

"Of course it would" Ash commented, crossing his arms on his chest, not surprised in the least.

The shape of Torchic changed and when it came out it was…

"Combusken!" Sonic was beyond elated "you really are going to become Blaziken one day!"

"Combu!" combusken cried out as it hopped onto Hariyama, pecking it some more.

"Hariyama! It's not over yet! Seismic toss!"

Hariyama grabbed onto combusken with its massive hands and jumped spinning three times, preparing to slam Combusken down.

But combusken had one more surprise to unveil.

Using another move it learned in the moment, double kick, it kicked Hariyama in the legs causing it to cry out in pain and let go, ruining the attack and causing the massive fighting type to crash head first into the sand.

"What was that?" Sonic wondered in surprise before seizing the opening "peck!"

Combusken pecked down on Hariyama mercilessly, causing the massive fighting type to go down, just as overwhelmed as Machop before it. Brawly was at a loss for words.

"Hariyama is unable to battle! Combusken wins! The winner is Sonic the hedgehog!"

"You were AMAZING Combusken!"

Combusken rushed to hug Sonic with its newly grown arms, having waited so long for this momemt.

"Well now I see why you have conquered two leagues. Congratulations. The Knuckle badge is yours".

Sonic received it with a smile.

"Six to go" he said before shaking Brawly's hand.

The crowd cheered at them for the awesome battle before dispersing.

Wally immediately approached Sonic as did Blaze.

"That was awesome! Torchic single handedly bested both of his pokemon!"

"It was a rather impressive display of strength and growth from your Torchic, well now Combusken. You two must have been training for quite a while for it to handle two fighting types so well, let alone pick up two moves and evolve at the same time".

Ash however had not left and was not going to make it easy for Sonic.

"So. How much convincing did Torchic need before agreeing to evolve?"

"There was no convincing. Torchic evolved naturally".

"Sure it did. Must feel nice to only live to build power".

"I see you have not learnt anything from our talk two days ago" Blaze calmly berated Ash.

"There's nothing to learn from that. For all I know your cousin's pokemon chose to evolve! But can he say the same for his?!" Ash countered pointing at Sonic.

"Would you just knock it off already?" Wally tried to stop Ash "I was training with them. He didn't try to control Combusken at all. If anything it has shown to be a little clingy at times".

Combusken proved him right by hugging Sonic's leg. Sonic smiled though felt a bit uncomfortable as combusken was more humanoid now and it just felt awkward.

"Not to mention it's a girl" Sonic thought, forcing the thought of a female Blaziken crushing on him out of his mind.

"May also has a Torchic and it has yet to evolve. So spare me the Sonic didn't overtrain speech. It's obvious he pushed it to".

"Why are you comparing incomparable things? Is the duo of me and my combusken the same as the duo of May and her Torchic?"

"Don't try to smart your way out of this".

Sonic shook his head.

"So you're still going to prepare for the Hoenn league the same way as the previous two? You won't give it your all in your training?"

"I will give it my all but in the training that is best for my pokemon. And this time we will beat you!"

Sonic shook his head.

"I can't… I can't even argue with you anymore. Your ideals are from another reality".

Blaze then decided to speak up, stopping their argument.

"Do you know what the vocabulary definition of an idiot is?"

"Stupid?" Ash looked at her half-annoyed and half-confused at her question.

"I said the vocabulary term. Allow me to recite it for us all. An idiot is a person who repeats the same thing over and over and anticipates different results".

Sonic and Wally's jaws dropped.

"I'm pretty sure that was the biggest roast in history" Wally whispered to Sonic.

"Are you calling me an idiot?" Ash got into Blaze's face.

"I do not recall calling you this specifically. Draw whatever conclusion you desire from my statement".

"Oh you think you're so smart because your cousin is the champion. Must be easy having such a footing to insult others".

Blaze's eyes narrowed.

"I do not allow others to insult me, certainly not a brat like you".

"You did it first. When you called me inadequate!"

"Very well then. I offer you the opportunity to prove yourself to everyone present. Face me and my pokemon in a contest of strength. A single two against two battle. Single battle rules. How does that sound?"

"You got yourself a deal, lady" Ash agreed in an instant.

"Ash what about the contest?" May asked him.

"Contest?" Sonic looked at them in silent question before dropping it.

"No worries May. I'll make it quick".

"Maybe we should bail?" Wally whispered in Sonic's ear.

"Nah. I want to watch this. I'd like to witness her battle prowess for myself" Sonic said intrigued.

"On three we call out our pokemon" Blaze said taking out a pokeball.

"You bet!"

"One, two, three!"

"Tailow I choose you!"

"Marshtomp, please assist me".

Both Tailow and Marshtomp appeared. Sonic quickly scanned the latter.

"Marshtomp, the Mud Fish Pokémon, a water and ground type. Marshtomp is the evolved form of Mudkip. It is able to move and swim more quickly through mud than through water".

"Water and ground? Well that takes away two of Ash's picks" Sonic commented, having experience from training his Quagsire. Pikachu and Treecko were useless.

What annoyed him the most was that Treecko should have had been the optimal choice. A grass type had a massive advantage over a pokemon like Marshtomp.

Knuckles' Victreebel had once knocked out Sonic's Quagsire when it was still a weepinbel with a single vine whip.

Then he realized Ash was using a flying type.

"Where was this during your rematch with Brawly?"

"I didn't need Tailow to win! Treecko was strong enough!"

Sonic shook his head in frustration but decided to remain calm and watch and see what happened.

"You may make the first move" Blaze allowed Ash.

"Here we come! Tailow! Use wing attack!"

Tailow charged Marshtomp. The mud fish pokemon didn't budge in the least, looking at Tailow in question, as if it was wondering if it was worth it fighting back.

"A Tailow with a flying move. Which, as already stated, you did not utilize against the gym leader. Disappointing" Blaze mocked Ash.

"Show her disappointing Tailow! Peck!"

Tailow pecked Marshtomp. This time the attack annoyed the water and ground type.

"Marshtomp, take down".

Marshtomp pushed Tailow off before using take down.

The difference in sizes made the attack devastating, knocking Tailow out with a single blow.

"Perhaps I spoke too soon. Your tailow being flying and normal type would have barely been cannon fodder even against fighting types".

"Don't you dare mock Tailow! It took many thunderbolts from Pikachu and didn't go down when it joined us!"

Blaze tilted her head in slight confusion.

"Is this supposed to be a defense? Because from where I am standing, you have just confessed that your Pikachu, the same Pikachu that has gone toe to toe with Sonic's Raichu in not one but two leagues, struck at a low power and very young and inexperienced flying type multiple times and didn't knock it out?"

"Yes! Because Tailow is incredibly strong and you have no right to call it weak!"

"Or -the more probable scenario - you are delusional and your Pikachu has grown weak".

Ash's eyes got bloodshot.

"Take back what you said this instant!"

"Or what? You're going to throw a tantrum?"

"Fine then! We will make you eat those words! Ready Pikachu?!"

"Pika pika!"

"I choose you!"

Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder. With Raichu being in its pokeball it felt more relaxed than it would feel if it was observing.

"Ash this matchup isn't in your favor" Brock tried to warn Ash.

"He is correct" Blaze confirmed "this face-off is far too unbalanced to call it a fair contest. I offer you the chance to you to pick another pokemon. I shall not swap".

"I don't need to. Pikachu has got this in the bag!"

"Ash, from a technical standpoint they're both right" Max tried to deter him "the only one of Pikachu's attacks that will hit normally is quick attack and it's its least powerful move".

Ash contemplated actually heeding their advice for a moment before refusing.

"No way! I believe in Pikachu! He is not weak! We will win this".

Blaze merely blinked.

"Very well. The chance was offered, you rejected it. Remember that. Marshtomp. Mud shot!"

Marshtomp quickly picked up some sand and threw it at Raichu, using its water typing to turn it into mud.

"Counter it with iron tail!"

He was trying to replicate Sonic's use of iron tail against projectile attacks like he had done in the Johto league against Ash's Bublasaur.

Pikachu span and attempted to use iron tail to either disperse or repel the mud shot but it failed miserably.

The mud shot covered Pikachu head to paws, dealing great damage and covering its fur with mud, decreasing its speed by a little bit.

"Be honest. How many times have you practiced this move? Or was this the first attempt?" Blaze accurately guessed this was Ash's first attempt.

"Grr. Lucky break! Pikachu quick attack! Run through the water!"

Pikachu used quick attack in a circle. The water cleared the mud off due to it being recent and therefore not solid enough to stick.

Pikachu then slammed into Marshtomp but to Ash's shock the water and ground type stood its ground.

"Water gun" Blaze instructed calmly.

Marshtomp blasted Pikachu with water. Pikachu rolled on the ground. Sonic was both disappointed at this because Pikachu only a month and a half ago had withstood a hydro pump from Suicune and now a water gun could deter it but also guilty because a month in bed was bound to have this effect.

Blaze made the same observation but had a different opinion.

"Not just inadequate as it seems. You're also lazy".

"What did you just say?!"

"You select a bad fight on purpose which makes you inadequate. And from your Tailow and Pikachu's performance, it is obvious the first has barely put any effort into actual training and the latter has yet to return to its former level of power. So the facts have spoken. You are lazy".

Ash was fuming.

"PIKACHU WAS BEDRIDDEN FOR A MONTH! BECAUSE OF HIM!" he screamed pointing at Sonic.

"Womp womp" Blaze mocked him "this is the excuse of a boy. Champions do not require excuses. They continue forward, face the challenges head on and conquer them despite the odds. You are no champion and certainly you are not a pokemon master. You are a bratty child throwing tantrums".

"Pikachu iron tail!"

Pikachu jumped towards Marshtomp. The attack had little effect because of the water typing.

Blaze however was not going to play with Ash as Sonic often did, trying to give Ash a chance to fight back in hopes of his power coming out.

"Marshtomp grab it".

With a quick move, Marshtomp wrapped its arms around Pikachu, immobilizing it entirely.

"No! Pikachu break free with thunder!"

Pikachu invoked a thunder but it achieved nothing.

Blaze smirked.

"Inadequate, lazy and a moron too. Finish this Marshtomp. Mud shot. Make it extra sticky".

Marshtomp threw Pikachu upwards and just as it came back down, delivered a devastating mud shot with no chance of dodging or blocking.

Pikachu was slammed into Ash who was knocked down, also getting covered in mud.

Sonic and Wally were awestruck by Blaze. She was by far one of the most impressive trainers Sonic had seen to date that wasn't a champion.

Blaze recalled Marshtomp after thanking it with a faint smile. She then approached Ash once again dead serious.

Ash looked up towards her with a frustrated look.

"Lucky break. We'll get you next time, just you wait".

Blaze's expression didn't change one bit unnerving the Pallet town boy.

She glanced towards Sonic for a moment before looking at Ash again.

"Luck played no part in this battle. Sonic and his friend Knuckles tried being nice to you in the Johto league. But I am not nice, nor will I pretend to be. You are weak".

"Don't call me weak!" Ash tried to get to her level only to trip in the mud and fall back down.

"I'm not sugarcoating it for you. You are lazy, weak and entitled to your dream. You have no idea what it truly takes to become a real champion".

"Shut up!"

"Make me".

Ash tried to get up again, only to once again trip in the sticky mud.

Blaze shook her head in disappointment.

"You deliberately used a pokemon without any actual experience in battle and pit Pikachu against my Marshtomp knowing the level of disadvantage you were putting yourself in. You once again set yourself in an impossible situation to prove a point. You denied yourself all advantages. And when you inevitably lost, you tried to use the excuse of your Pikachu's injury to justify defeat in a match you had no chance of winning whatsoever".

She got down to his eye level.

"I watched footage of all of your matches in the Kanto and Johto leagues, and even your battle for the orange league. You battle like a child. You were weak in Kanto, you were weak in Johto and you are still weak now. Your victory in the orange league means little to nothing. You never stood a chance against Sonic".

"So you're ok with Sonic cheating to win?" Brock asked Blaze.

Blaze shot him a look before directing the reply to Ash.

"Sonic's illegal move that resulted in your Pikachu's injury is by no means excused or fair, but it had no real effect on the overall battle. You forfeited that battle yourself in your childish, immature need to satisfy your pride. And unless you grow up, ditch that pride and the need to prove meaningless points, forever you shall remain weak".

And just to twist the dagger more, believing Ash needed a real wake up call, Blaze added on final thing.

"Or allow me to be more accurate. Forever you shall remain weaker than Sonic".

Ash's face was distorted as his spirit breaking was felt like an aura. Sonic was shocked to even see tears in his eyes.

"Blaze this was a little too harsh, don't you think?" he tried to reason with her.

She turned to him with the same ferocity as she just talked to Ash, causing the hedgehog to flinch.

"You want to continue sugarcoating his weakness, no issue with me. But it doesn't change the truth. I stand on the facts. And the facts speak for themselves. You had him beat with or without that accidental illegal move. This is irrefutable" she said in the same tone as she had berated Ash, before once again congratulating him on his victory against Brawly and walking off with a "until we meet again".

Sonic tried to talk to Ash only for Brock to silently block his way. Getting the hint Sonic and Wally also left.

Wishing to be alone for a while, Sonic retreated away with his speed, but not before promising Wally to visit that fishing club Mr Briney had suggested before contacting him to take them to Slateport city.

As Sonic stood at the edge of the town he tried to organize his tangled mess of thoughts. He couldn't deny his guilt of what he did to Ash's Pikachu but couldn't shake Blaze's words out of his head either.

Her words were cruel and unforgiving but also held truth. Even if they hadn't broken Pikachu's tailbone, it would have still lost. Because Ash just had to prove Sonic wrong about evolution.

"But why is he so obsessed with the idea? It can't be only because of Lt Surge's Raichu as he claimed in Alto Mare right? Or was it my outburst on him for how he got Sabrina's badge?" he continued to wonder as he gazed into the endless horizon to the east, where Slateport city awaited them.