"Spearow, keep your eyes on Koffing! Use Agility and Focus Energy repeatedly!"
Meowth had been engulfed by Koffing's Smog, taking damage and becoming poisoned. Ash didn't hesitate for even a moment—he immediately ordered Spearow to take advantage of the opening and boost its speed and critical-hit potential.
Why didn't he press the attack immediately?
Two reasons.
First, Meowth was currently surrounded by poisonous smog. Spearow didn't possess any ranged special moves yet. Charging straight into the toxic cloud could easily put Spearow in danger as well.
Blowing away the smog with its wings before attacking was also inefficient—it was far better to simply let the poison slowly eat away at Meowth.
Second, attacking Koffing right now wasn't part of Ash's initial plan.
Koffing, as a Poison-type Pokémon, was extremely troublesome. If Spearow got poisoned and the battle dragged on, the continuous damage would eventually spell defeat for Ash's side.
So the moment the opponents released their Pokémon, Ash had already decided:
Focus down Meowth first with Clarissa.
Then deal with Koffing afterward.
Attacking Meowth immediately was too risky.
So Ash chose the safer approach—have Spearow lock down Koffing, preventing it from assisting Meowth, while boosting its own speed and critical potential with Agility and Focus Energy.
…
"Meowth! Get out of the Smog!"
"Koffing, use Sludge Attack on Happiny!"
Realizing they had lost the initiative in the first exchange, the opposing Trainers quickly adjusted.
From the swirling purple cloud, a nimble yellow figure burst out—
Meowth.
But its pale fur was now dotted with ugly purple poison stains. It looked miserable.
Above the battlefield, Koffing puffed out its cheeks and prepared to fire a Sludge Attack at Happiny.
That was when Ash moved.
"Clarissa, attack Meowth! Spearow—Quick Attack on Koffing!"
His commands fired off like bullets.
"Happiny, use Sweet Kiss!" Clarissa followed immediately, remembering Ash's advice: control first, attack later.
"Pu-gu~!"
Happiny puckered her lips and blew a cute flying kiss. The pink heart with tiny angel wings drifted toward Meowth.
At the same moment—
Spearow exploded into motion.
WHOOSH—!
With a flash of speed, Spearow's Quick Attack struck Koffing before it could even fire its Sludge Attack.
BANG!
The floating gas Pokémon was sent flying.
"Meow?"
Down on the battlefield, Meowth was struck by Happiny's Sweet Kiss.
Its expression instantly turned dreamy and dazed.
"Perfect opportunity!" Ash's eyes lit up.
"Clarissa, attack now!"
"Spearow, Fury Attack on Meowth!"
"Happiny, use Disarming Voice!"
Happiny had already slipped into the rhythm of battle. Hearing Clarissa's order, she opened her tiny mouth.
"Pu-gu~!"
Ripples of pink sound waves spread toward Meowth.
Already injured and poisoned from Koffing's Smog, Meowth was in terrible condition.
"Meowth! Dodge it!" its Trainer shouted desperately.
But Meowth was confused.
It didn't respond.
Instead, it stood there, gazing dreamily at Happiny.
BANG!
BANG!
Disarming Voice struck first.
Then Spearow's Fury Attack rained down.
Two heavy impacts later—
Meowth's eyes turned into spirals.
It collapsed on the battlefield.
Meowth had lost the ability to fight.
"Meowth!!" its Trainer cried in panic.
But nothing could change the result.
…
"Koffing! Use Poison Gas on the entire field!"
Seeing his partner fall, Koffing's Trainer grit his teeth and counterattacked.
"Koffiiiing!"
A thick purple cloud of toxic gas poured from Koffing's mouth.
"Spearow, drop altitude! Return to Happiny and blow the gas away!"
Spearow, already boosted by Agility, flipped through the air and swooped down beside Happiny.
FLAP! FLAP!
Its powerful wings churned violently.
The descending poison gas was blown backward, rolling away from the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Clarissa wasn't idle.
She was a smart girl.
After watching the battle unfold, she had already begun to understand the flow of combat.
"Happiny, use Sweet Kiss on Koffing!"
"Pu-gu~!"
Happiny looked up at the floating gas Pokémon and blew another adorable kiss.
"Koffing! Close your eyes and retreat!"
After seeing what happened to Meowth, Koffing's Trainer panicked and ordered an immediate retreat.
"Spearow, Quick Attack!"
Spearow shot forward like a bullet.
Now that Meowth had been defeated, the battle had become two versus one.
Even if Spearow were poisoned, Ash was confident they could finish the fight quickly.
Because of that—
He attacked without hesitation.
WHOOSH—BANG!
Koffing, retreating with its eyes closed to avoid Sweet Kiss, was slammed head-on by Spearow's Quick Attack and sent tumbling backward.
"Koffiiing!!"
"Koffing, use Sludge Attack!"
"Spearow, dodge!"
At that moment—
Clarissa seized the opportunity.
"Happiny, Sweet Kiss again!"
While Koffing's attention was fixed on Spearow—
Another pink heart with angel wings floated toward it.
The battle's momentum had completely shifted.
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