Whee!

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Chapter 5: Ersatz Pinnacle

 

            He faced Giovanni proudly, waiting.

            The first match began.

            It wasn’t too difficult…Squirtle was a speedy foe, and Golem simply flailed around, against the roaring tides.

            Flood with Surf and then finish with Hydro Pump.

            That was simple enough, Ash decided. He waited for the next pokemon. A Kingler? Well…

            Hey Pikachu, get ready for another fry-up.

            Pikachu was more than happy to comply.

 

            Giovanni next sent out an Arcanine. Interesting. He had used Rock and water so far, so now fire? Maybe there was a pattern. In any case, Pikachu didn’t feel like fighting Arcanine, so Ash swapped.

            “Giovanni, this is a 3 on 3 match for the Earth Badge, isn’t it?”

            “No, I prefer a full 6 on 6.”

            “Really?” A devious light sparked in Ash’s eyes. * If he wants it that way… *

            “Let’s continue, then.” Squirtle reappeared, and Arcanine swapped with Roar, pulling out Sneasal.

            That was rather smart of Giovanni, actually, a good Fire Blast almost took Sneasal out, but as Arcanine breathed out a Flamethrower to finish the deal, Sneasal smirked and used Destiny Bond.

            You’re not getting away, you dog.

            Arcanine was understandably startled, but fainted just the same. Ash recalled Sneasal, and sent her to the dream realm for a brief healing stay.

            No one else could see the bare flickers of shadow.

 

            Giovanni now had a Nidoking out. Hmm… poison and ground, so using Pikachu was definitely not an option, Squirtle could do with some more exercise, but on the same hand Nidoking knew electric moves more often than not.

            Better not take too many unnecessary risks, shall we?
            Pidgeot, there we go, good girl… I’m so glad you evolved, you know. Pretty one, you’ll do just fine.

            Let him laugh. Steel wing.

            Oh! Didn’t that startle him? Ash chuckled, seeing the flabbergasted expression on the man’s face, which slid into sheer incredulity at the sight of the Icy Wind move.

            “Come on, next pokemon.” Ash said, as Giovanni now released a Venusaur.

            Contrary to popular belief, starters were not that uncommon. Oak was not the only professor who gave out those things, really.

            Ash smirked, one eyebrow tilting up in an elegant veneer – or at least a façade – of pride.

            Why wouldn’t he be proud?

            In any case, Pidgeot flew far away from those vine whips, charged up Sky Attack, and blasted back with more power than Venusaur assumed.

            Really, birds weren’t weak! Even if Pidgey were common, many still used them. However, the real potential often lay untapped.

            Idiots.

 

            Giovanni’s last pokemon was his last chance, maybe. He touched the panel underneath his desk and revealed Mewtwo.

            “You may have defeated my other five, but this is one that does not lose easily.” Giovanni told Ash.

            Ash rolled his eyes. * Psychic type… not Mew, so that leaves one since I’m in Kanto… *

            Mewtwo was still hard to beat, Chosen or no. Luckily…

            < I still have dream realm access, so now I call Umbreon from the Dream Realm! The Chosen of shadows commands, come. >

            Sure enough, there was a flash of light, and Umbreon appeared.

            “Let’s go, Umbreon.” Ash said quietly.

            Mewtwo paused in its game of pulling Pidgeot’s feathers out, despite the indignant squawking coming from said female, and turned to face this new threat.

            Pidgeot took the time to heal, before using Desert Storm. Still, that protective covering did more than dampen mewtwo’s powers, it was still a shell of defense.

            The ground and electric and wind energy hit, but little of it was transferred. In any case, Mewtwo simply used Recover.

            < Return. Do not worry. > Ash reassured her, holding up the poke ball. Pidgeot seemed to sigh and vanished.

            < I thought? >

            < Don’t’ worry, I still love you just the same girl, relax. >

            < I shall try. >

 

            Umbreon charged.

            Teeth bared, still, it only struck armor. Mewtwo laughed and used Disable, but… when it attempted Psychic, nothing happened.

            Or did it? Umbreon chomped down hard on an arm, cracks showing in the metal. Don’t underestimate me, psychic cat.

            < And who are you? >

            Why, I am the fox of the night shadows. Umbreon replied, Moonlight curing all incurred damages. Now… face your fate!

            Mewtwo flung out another two Psychic moves, and again they passed right through Umbreon.

            Mewtwo used Barrier… Umbreon ran straight into an invisible wall.

            < Not so cocky now? > Mewtwo taunted.

            Umbreon did not rise to the bait. Instead, he butted against the Barrier. * I am angry, so Frustration… *

            Anger sparks sprang from his head and flew through the barrier.

 

            Mewtwo jumped as one hit. < What the? >

            Giovanni was equally surprised. * What is going on here? * “Mewtwo, Swift!”

            The stars hit, they never miss, but Mewtwo had to take the barrier down to do so, and in that instant Umbreon used Faint Attack.

            Faint attack doesn’t miss either.

            Once inside the barrier, a Shadow Ball slammed into Mewtwo, before Umbreon finished with another Faint Attack.

            Mewtwo fainted.

            Thus, the blue barriers went down.

 

            Ash smiled. “Well, looks like the earth badge is mine.”

            Giovanni was startled, very startled, the man would not admit it normally, but he did hand over the badge.

            After Ash had gone, he paged his scientists. They hadn’t made much headway into Johto or Houen, and maybe that was where this new pokemon was from. Still, being able to beat Mewtwo?

            That was worth considering.

            He checked the list of statistics he had again.

            So it was called Umbreon, evolved from Eevee but they weren’t quite sure what stimuli…

            In any case, it was most likely stone like the others.

            Dark-type pokemon were also a new addition. They were good against psychic-types, but what was the weakness?

            His scientists weren’t sure, but they said Rock was a good possibility, and also ground.

            Perhaps…

            So Dark-types were also good against ghosts. Umbreon obviously could learn all the Technical Machines Eevee could, and most likely a few extras. Shadow ball, was it? that was the TM one of the Johto gym leaders gave out.

            But it learned a ghost-type move; were they not strong against ghosts?
            Maybe these dark-types could learn a variety of skills. It was worth pursuing. He should pay Elm a visit.

 

End Chapter

Complete 4/25/04