Episode 15b: A Gruff Act to Follow (part 2)


"...And representing the Diamond side, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!" Cole announced as Ash faced Roark on the Diamond side of the arena.

"Now it's time for you to see some real battling!" Ash smiled down at Paul.

"Show me what you've got, Wonder Boy." Paul smirked as Roark summoned Crystal.

"What?" Dawn gasped as the Cranidos appeared in the arena. "I thought Roark was going to save Crystal for last, like he did with Paul."

"Gaia, here we go!" Ash heaved a Poke Ball skyward. "Start with Mega Drain!"

Brock smiled as Gaia leaped into the air, creating a green aura around her. "That was a smart move on Ash's part. Draining Crystal early should give him an advantage."

"Crystal, use Headbutt!" Roark commanded.

The group watched as Crystal leaped into the air and slammed Gaia in the stomach with Headbutt. "That had to hurt..." Brock noted as Gaia hit the ground.

"Crystal, time for our secret weapon!" Roark smiled. "Flamethrower."

Ash gasped in horror at the wave of fire headed for his Budew. "Gaia, try Double Team!"

He heaved a sigh of relief as the fire hit a few Gaia copies. But his pulse quickened as Crystal slashed away the other copies with a claw. "Gaia, try Energy Ball!"

"Way to go, Ash!" Dawn called as Crystal went flying against the Pearl safety barrier.

Ash saw Crystal charging at him with a glowing blue head--a sign the Cranidos was about to use Zen Headbutt. "Gaia, try another Mega Drain!"

Both attacks collide, causing a massive explosion. When the smoke cleared, Ash's heart sank when he saw Gaia had fainted. "Gaia is unable to battle. This match goes to Pearl." Cole announced.

"You did well, Gaia--get some rest." Ash sighed as he recalled the exhausted Budew.

He looked over at his faithful Pikachu. "You're up, Tintri!"

[Let's do this!] Tintri squeaked as he skittered into the arena.

"Electricity's not gonna work here, so start with Brick Break!" Ash called.

"Crystal, dodge and use Zen Headbutt." Roark countered.

Ash grinned as Tintri intercepted the charging Cranidos with Iron Tail. The force of the attack sent Crystal backwards into the safety barrier again. "That should finish Crystal!"

[Oh yeah?] Crystal countered before charging at Tintri!"

"Tintri, try to dodge and use Disarming Voice in the air!" Ash called.

He gasped as Crystal jumped to meet the Pikachu in the air, hitting Tintri and canceling out the attack. Jao wiisha--! Tintri attempted to sing, only to be knocked to the ground by Zen Headbutt.

Paul was unimpressed by the match unfolding before him. "If he calls that real battling, I shudder to find out what fake battling is..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Tintri's tiny voice rang through the Gym, snapping Paul to attention. "Then again, maybe Wonder Boy's got what it takes!"

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"Tintri, use Quick Attack!" Ash called.

"Crystal, counter with Flamethrower!" Roark urged his Cranidos.

Ash smiled as Tintri weaved around the flames and delivered an Iron Tail to Crystal's head. "All right!"

"Crystal's still in it despite being hammered like that?" Dawn was impressed.

"That's the Rock type for you." Brock mused. "They can take quite the licking and keep on ticking in the right hands.

Ash gasped when he heard Roark's next order. "Crystal, use Head Smash!"

"Tintri, Disarming Voice at full power!" he almost screamed to his Pikachu, aware of the Cranidos barreling at Tintri.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... he heard Tintri sing as Crystal smashed into him seconds later. The sound waves melded with the impact, causing a massive explosion.

Tintri came crawling back from the smoke after a few tense minutes. [I did what I could...]

"That you did, bud." Ash replied before finding the Poke Ball Brock had lent him. "Terra, let's go! Start with Brick Break!"

"Crystal, use Flamethrower!" Roark countered.

Terra, rolled away from the Flamethrower and bit down hard on Crystal's arm.

She gasped as Crystal threw her off with Zen Headbutt! [WHOOOOOOAAA!!!!]

Roark watched as Tera went flying into the Diamond safety barrier. "Crystal, use Flamethrower!"

Ash gasped in horror as Terra was engulfed in flames! "Terra, if you can, use Brick Break again!"

This time, Roark gasped as Terra's attack sent Crystal crashing through a rock. "Crystal is unable to battle--this match goes to Diamond." Cole announced.

But no one expected Terra to collapse in exhaustion seconds later! "Diamond has no more usable Pokemon--Pearl wins." Cole smiled.

Paul smirked as Ash went to retrieve Terra. "You call that 'real battling', Wonder Boy? That would win an award...for Best Comic Acting, that is!"

To Be Continued...