@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 120: Playing with Fire!

"Tintri, here we go!" Ash called as he watched his faithful Pikachu dart onto the Silver side of the arena to begin a new battle on a plains field the next morning.

"Indra, let's do this!" Harrison called, summoning an exotic green lizard Pokemon with yellow stripes onto the Gold side of the arena.

Ash balked at the odd Pokemon, and made a T signal to the referee. A time out already--it seems Silver wants to size up the opponent. the announcer commented as Ash read up on his opponent:

"Kecleon, the color swap Pokemon. It has ability to alter its body colors to match its surroundings. However, it will revert to its original colors if it is startled."

"I see..." Ash mused, pocketing his Pokedex as his time out expired. "Tintri, try to catch Indra off guard!"

[Where?] Tintri called back as Indra seemingly disappeared. [I can't see him!]

He did not expect to see a long prehensile tongue to lick him from seemingly nowhere. [Oh, ew! Ew!]

Harrison watched as his Kecleon tossed Tintri with its tongue. "Indra, use Psybeam!"

Tintri braced himself as he took the rainbow beam the Kecleon fired, then darted away into the grass in an attempt to barricade himself.

He gasped as Indra began cutting the grass with his tongue. I have to do something before he finds me...but what?

Inspired, he ran behind the cloaked Kecleon and grabbed its tail, thanks to being able to see its coils. [HAAAAAAAAH!!!] he screeched as he fired a Thunderbolt, knocking Indra out.

Harrison was unfazed. "You should recognize Hanzo!" he called as he heaved another Poke Ball skyward.

Oh yeah--the Sneasel Harrison captured before the tournament opened! Tintri remembered as a familiar Sneasel materialized before him.

He started charging another Thunderbolt, but did not see Hanzo charging at him with silvery claws!

Ash winced when he heard the KA-WHANG! of Hanzo's attack impacting. "Tintri!"

[I'm sorry...] Tintri wheezed as Ash picked him up. [I never saw that...coming...]

"You did fine, okay?" Ash assured Tintri before he was whisked away on a rescue stretcher to the onsite Pokemon Center.

He then heaved a Poke Ball skyward. "River, here we go!"

River attempted firing a Water Gun, but was met by Hanzo's metallic claws. In desperation, River tried ramming the Sneasel with an Aqua Jet. The wave sent Hanzo stumbling backwards, to the crowd's murmurs.

Ash smiled. "River, use Water Pulse!"

Harrison winced as the shining wave knocked his Sneasel out. "Morpheus, you're up!"

Ash watched as a yellow humanoid Pokemon he recognized as Hypno appeared on the Gold side of the field. "River, try Disarming Voice!"

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... River's tiny voice rang through the stadium, but the Hypno didn't even bat an eye at the glowing sound wave that bounced right off of it.

[You are getting sleepy...] Morpheus began as waves of hypnosis went flying from his hands, making River slump to the ground, asleep.

Once sure River was asleep, Morpheus conjured a Psychic blast, sending River flying against the Silver safety barrier.

That was cheap... Ash thought as he found his next Poke Ball. "Luce, come on out!"

He sweatdropped and the crowd roared with laughter as Luce materialized on the Silver side sleeping peacefully. [Well, well well...saves me a bit of work!] Morpheus grinned as he conjured a blue energy ball in an attempt to extract Luce's dream.

[mm...what?] Luce woke with a jump, dissipating the Dream Eater attack before it could extract her dream. [Trying to have my dreams for a snack, are we?] she growled as she charged a Charge Beam. [Go snack on someone else's dream!]

Shocked by the turn of events, Harrison made a T signal to a referee. Time out--Gold. the announcer reported as Harrison asked the referee a question...

---------

Meanwhile, in the Grand Pokethlon Dome, Misty and Michelle made their way into the arena for the next event. "Next up is the Circle Push--do you remember that event?" Misty asked her faithful Golduck.

[Yeah, the one where you try and score the most points by staying in the circle, and pushing others out.] Michelle replied. [I still have fond memories of Ami's grand showing...]

"Well, for now, let's put on a show of our own for this crowd." Misty reminded Michelle.

She looked out over to the main arena in the distance. Ash...I hope you're giving your all against Harrison...

The announcer calling "Ready!" snapped her to attention. "Remember, Michelle--sometimes it's a better idea to start with the low scoring circles instead of going for the high scoring ones right away."

[I'll keep that in mind.] Michelle replied as she braced herself for the start of the competition...

---------

"Mina, let's go!" Ash heaved another Poke Ball skyward.

"Titan, I choose you!" Harrison did likewise, revealing a Steelix of his own in the arena.

"Mina, try Aerial Ace, then I'll try to induce you!" Ash called as the Steelix started whipping up a Sandstorm.

[No go, Ash--I can't see anything!] Mina called back as she tried desperately to fly through the sand.

"MINA!!!" Ash screamed as Titan hit Mina from below with a Dig attack, sending her fluttering to the ground. Luckily, Mina managed to right herself and tried to Pursue the Steelix, gaining a pinkish aura.

Ash growled in frustration as Titan's silver tail whacked Mina to the ground. So much for that idea... he thought as he found Luce's Poke Ball and re-summoned the Ampharos.

[You forget your thunderbolts can't hurt me!] Titan taunted as he wrapped himself around Luce, making the Charge Beam she was charging fizzle out.

Ash winced as he watched Titan use Crunch on Luce. "Luce, try Power Gem!"

[HAH!] Luce created a shining diamond and sent it flying at Titan, freeing her and knocking her opponent out. [Easy as pie.] she assured Ash.

She saw Harrison had summoned Anubis as his next Pokemon. [Let's show him the power of Mega Evolution!]

Ash nodded, then held his right hand skyward. Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Here it is--Mega Evolution! the announcer commented as Luce was engulfed in a burst of red thunderbolts.

When Luce emerged as Mega Ampharos some moments later, the crowd gasped as Anubis braced for the Charge Beam Luce was charging, then redirected the attack back at Luce! "No way...I didn't know Houndoom could use Counter!" Ethan gasped as Luce fainted from the power of the attack.

"Nor did I know that Houndoom could Counter a Mega Pokemon." Brock was equally surprised as Ash summoned Aina.

Harrison was just as surprised. "How? You must be very brave, pitting a Machop against a Houndoom..."

"I believe in Aina." Ash replied before turning business-like again. "Use Superpower!"

"We need to encourage Ash a bit..." Ethan mused as Lyra joined him and Brock in the stands, just as a Flamethrower from Anubis broke Aina's Superpower aura.

"Let's see if our little cheer from his match yesterday still has its magic!" Lyra suggested before cheering "Brickabracka, firecracka, sis boom bah! Ash Ketchum, Ash Ketchum, rah, rah, rah!"

"Brickabracka, firecracka, sis boom bah! Ash Ketchum, Ash Ketchum, rah, rah, rah!" Brock, Ethan, and several others in the stands joined in as Anubis charged to bite Aina, and Aina attempted to Karate Chop Anubis. When both attacks missed, Aina next attempted Submission on Anubis, which pinned Anubis to the ground.

Once sure the Houndoom was not getting up, Aina leaped in the air for a Body Slam...

---------

"Ash is doing very well in this match. Harrison is down to his last Pokémon—Apollo the Blaziken." Professor Oak mused as he joined the group in the stands.

"I don't know..." Lyra cautioned. "Aina still has to battle another fully evolved Pokémon." She let that hang as the Blaziken kicked away the Machop into the safety barrier, to concerned murmurs from the crowd.

"Aina..." Ash began as Aina shakily got up. "Try to stay away from Apollo as much as you can."

[Noted--if they make Pokemon aspirin, I'm gonna need some in the morning.] Aina moaned as she got up.

"Try Superpower!" Ash called.

He watched in horror as Apollo intercepted the attack, then countered with Fire Punch, knocking Aina out.

Both sides now have only one Pokemon remaining! This match has come down to the wire! the announcer reported as Ash summoned Blaze.

Okay...I know this will be challenging as Blaze is a high level Pokémon, plus Ash can induce him into Mega Charizard Y. Harrison thought. I, on the other hand, have not awakened my Heart Song, and so I can't induce Apollo.

Both trainers called at the same time "Use Flamethrower!" creating a huge ball of fire in the stadium...

To Be Continued...