Chapter 11
"So," said Latios, "your first battle is with Gary?"
"Yep!" Ash grinned. "I just need to pick my team. He's going to go down!"
"Can I battle?" asked Pikachu.
"Sure," said Ash, nodding to the electric mouse, "and other than that, I think I'll use Charizard, Skye, Bayleef, and Totodile."
"What about your last Pokémon?" Brock scribbled something down in a notebook.
"Well," Ash turned to Latios and Latias. "I was thinking of using one of you two,"
Latias fidgeted. "I don't know if I'd be any good, but I can try."
"Really? That would be great, Latias!" Ash smiled at the red eon Pokémon. He hadn't expected her to volunteer anytime soon. Sure, she had agreed to be backup for his battle against Clair, but even then, she was hesitant. "Let's start training right away!"
Misty shook her head as Ash burst out of the Pokémon Center. "Same old Ash,"
~~~
Latias loved working with Ash. She used to hate battles and fighting, but now she didn't mind as much. Her favorite part was Ash's support, even when she made a mistake.
"Nice Mist Ball!" He praised, watching as Latias' attack nearly knocked down a tree. "Now aim the attack and don't let Pikachu dodge it this time!"
Latias concentrated on another attack. She wasn't going to miss that mouse this time.
Pikachu slipped out of the way of the Mist Ball. "Come on, you can do better than that!"
"You're gonna get it now!" said Latias with a playful smirk. "Take this!" A simple Psychic pulled the Mist Ball back, exploding on Pikachu's back.
"Hey!" Pikachu spluttered.
"Whoops!" Latias giggled. "I guess it really wanted to hit you."
"Did you think of that yourself?" asked Ash.
"Kinda," Latias shrugged. In truth, she had seen Ash use moves with each other so many times, it seemed almost natural, though Ash had never taught her that specific combination.
Ash grinned. "You're going to do great tomorrow, just try not to get too nervous."
"Don't worry, I won't." She was a tiny bit worried about the battle, but Latias knew that Ash would like her all the same, even if she got knocked out in the first move. One of the many reasons she was in- inspired by him.
Still, she leaned in all the more when Ash gave her her customary head rub.
The Next Day…
"Ready to roll?" Ash asked his team. He had spent a good portion of the night researching Gary's Pokémon and trying to figure out what moves they might have until his Pokémon had to drag him to bed. He did need his sleep, after all.
"Let's go crush some Gary!" Pikachu pumped a paw in the air.
"Alright then," said Ash, "Latias, I'm going to save you for last as a surprise. Bayleef, you're up first!"
"Got it!" Bayleef whipped the leaf on her head around.
Ash smiled and returned Skye, Bayleef, Charziard, and Totodile. Pikachu jumped on his shoulder as Latios and Latias turned invisible.
The group had just walked into the stadium when Ash heard footsteps behind him.
"How's it going, Ashy-boy?" asked Gary.
"Hello, Gary," said Ash. "Did you want something?"
"Just wondering if you're prepared to lose," Gary smirked. "You might have made it this far, but I'm afraid this is as far as you'll go."
"I could say the same thing," Ash held out his hand. "May the best trainer win?"
Gary shook it. "May the best trainer win."
"The day of the Johto League Silver Conference Victory Tournament has finally arrived! It's been a hard journey for the sixteen different trainers who've earned the privilege of battling today! And I guarantee you'll witness a competition you'll never forget!"
The crowd went wild as the announcer's voice rang across the stadium.
"The air here in the Silver Stadium is charged with excitement! Ladies and gentlemen, keep in mind that from the beginning of this tournament, the battlefield will be randomly chosen and constantly changing from grass to rock to water, and ice! These matches will be six-on-six battles, making every trainer's strategy all the more important!
"The first match in this first round will be a battle between two trainers of the same age and from the same hometown! Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and Gary Oak, also from Pallet Town!"
"Gary, Gary, he's our man! If he can't do it, no one can!" A squad of cheerleaders yelled from the sidelines.
Ash rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Gary? Need some extra motivation to take me on?"
"Nope!" Gary tossed his head. "I just want more people to see you lose!"
"Folks, it would not be an understatement to say this will be one of the finest matches you'll see anywhere! Fasten your seat belts, this battle is about to begin!"
Ash watched as a giant screen lit up one side of the stadium. On it were pictures of Ash and Gary, along with six black boxes next to each of them, representing each of their Pokémon.
"And it looks like Gary Oak will be sending his Pokémon out first!"
"Let's go Nidoqueen!" shouted Gary.
Ash took a deep breath and tossed his first ball. "Go Bayleef!"
~~~
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