Chapter- 14: Ash fights Harrison

369 13 5
                                    

"This is a three- on- three battle between Red from Hell and Harrison Mercer from Littleroot Town. Trainers can substitute. Please send out your first Pokémon!"
"Hariyama, go!"
"Metang, it's war!"
"How brilliant! A Metang!" Steven announced, stars in his eyes. "A Steel- Type like Metang will definitely crush-!"
"Objection!" Giovanni, the referee, shouted, "NO bias in here..."
"Hariyama, use Focus Punch..."
"Oh, come on...! Metang, show them what TELEPORT LOOKS LIKE!" Metang casually teleported away to avoid the strange Fighting- Type Attack.
"Hariyama, return! Go, Steelix, use Earthquake!"
"How pathetic...! Metang, Magnet Rise!" As of now, the Battle was going as suggested, Metang was easily avoiding everything.
Harrison was furious. Red seemed to be playing with his Pokémon.
"Fine with me. Dig." Steelix vanished underground.
"Really? Harrison..." Ash sighed, "Metang, use Psychic. Don't let him escape. "
Harrison's eyes widened in horror: "Steelix, Hyper Beam underground now!"
"Iron Defense. Then Teleport."
Red... Harrison recalled, was genuinely surprised when Metang was damaged by the explosion that Steelix created.
Surge shouted: "Show 'em you're not an underdog, Red!"
"Steelix, return!" Blazikein had to play the field... as long as Harrison managed to defeat that Metang.
______________________________________

"Uncle!" Steven cried, as Derrick joined him.
"Hello, Steven. I'm hurt that you didn't call me up. I see Red's Metang grew much stronger since I last saw him at the Hive. In less than a month, too."
Realization dawned on Steven: "You gave him that Metang?!"
"In less than a month? How can a Pokémon grow that powerful in a month?" Drake interrupted. "What did Red feed him?"
"Baked Lays chips. I'm kidding, Drake. Anyway... yes. I gave him the Metang: The potential he has is amazing, " Derrick's voice took on a much more serious tone as he looked at the female judges, who were drooling over Ash, "I want Red surrounded by good company, Steven, Drake. Keep an eye on him. Be friends. He needs friends to keep him afloat. And girls, of course..."
He cast a glance at the girls as he said that sentence.
______________________________________

"Blazikein, use Blast Burn!"
Ash's eyes widened: Metang was just securing strategic significance by reading Blazikein's mind by Psychic, and Teleport was an energy- consuming move. Metang wouldn't be able to dodge, and Harrison didn't waste any precious time converging on the new opening.
"Close Combat! Flamethrower! Fire Blast! Keep hitting! Blast Burn!"
Metang was getting hit, until-
"Metang, use Iron Head!"
Harrison looked at him as if he'd gone mad. A Fire- Type and a Fighting- Type wouldn't be too hurt by a Steel- Type move.
But... yet, Blazikein was.
"I used Psychic to guide the Iron Head to the weakest spots Blazikein had. Information I'd gained by reading his mind, yet again with Psychic. Blazikein will be ended... Metang, Psychic, now!"
Once Metang started, he didn't stop: he was badly hurt, but he ragdolled Blazikein like a puppet with strings.
"Now, our Trump Card. Hypnosis, finish him. "
The sleep swamped the last of Blazikein's health, and he collapsed like a marionette with strings cut.
"Blazikein is unable to battle! The round goes to Metang! Harrison, please send out your next Pokémon!"
"Hariyama, go! Ash... I must commend you... but this Hariyama is special. Disable, then return. "
Hariyama disabled one move: Magnet Rise, before Harrison sent out Steelix.
"Now! Magnitude, then Earthquake! At intervals, end him!"
Harrison's strategy became clear: keeping Metang confined and using Ground- Type moves to cause enough super- effective damage before Disable ran out.
Until...
"Metang, use Gyro Ball!"
______________________________________

"Did he just use a Steel- Type move on a Ground- Type? Of all stupid-" Drake began.
"NO," Derrick interrupted. "Either he's stalling for time in a last- ditch attempt to injure Steelix or-"
"Or?"
"Metang's coat is shining. I think he's stalling for Time for... the event..."
Steven caught on: "You mean-"
"Yes."
______________________________________

Harrison stared in horror as a blue light... a very familiar one, engulfed Metang.
A thunderous metallic roar burst forth as four legs appeared in place of two. The size of the metallic plate became hulking and monstrous...
"METAGROSS!"

Metagross, the Iron Leg Pokémon.
Type: Psychic/ Steel.
Gender: Male.
Ability: Psychokinetic Power.
Class: SS+.
Status: Pseudo- Legendary.
Moves: Iron Defense, Iron Head, Gyro Ball, Steel Beam, Metal Claw, Psychic, Body Slam, Teleport, Magnet Rise, Light Screen, Hyper Beam.

So Metagross had learnt Light Screen and Hyper Beam as well.
"Light Screen with a bit of Psychic in it, form a shield. "
"Hyper Beam!" Harrison shouted, a crazy glint in his eyes.
"All the walls, Metagross. "
The Hyper Beam reflected back at Steelix and hit him, knocking him down. Impenetrable walls sprang up everywhere... locking him in a cage.
"Collapse that cage with Psychic and then use your own Hyper Beam for good measure!"
Harrison could only watch as Steelix was devastated by walls. Even as he struggled to rise, Metagross blasted him into a wall... making the ship shake.
"Steelix is unable to battle! Metagross wins! This round goes to Metagross! Harrison Mercer, send out your last Pokémon!" Even Giovanni looked shocked as he announced this.
The result was already a foregone conclusion. Despite the fact that Harrison had an entire extra year of experience.
Harrison raised his hand... and recalled Steelix.
Then...
"I forfeit this battle! I don't want my Pokémon to be hurt even further! I know I'll lose anyway!" Harrison looked broken when he shouted that.
His two strongest Pokémon were unable to defeat one of Red's Pokémon: he had but one left.
But vengeance would be his.
Morty, Falkner and Surge looked gleeful. Cynthia, Lorelei and Karen were still drooling. Derrick and Drake remained calm and stoic. Steven had a hand over his mouth. Giovanni looked neutral. Finally, he nodded.
"Harrison Mercer has forfeit the match! Therefore, Red from Hell is the victor of the match!"
______________________________________

(A/N: 1. Ash destroyed Harrison, and Paul, and began a couple of sweet rivalries. And Metagross evolved. You shall soon see why Ash is powerful.
2. Giovanni is the judge. Is Giovanni the leader of Team Rocket? We shall see.)

Art of War: Game of ChessWhere stories live. Discover now