Gary must have been wandering that forest for quite some time. Even though Ash's group had spent two days training in Phanpy Valley, they had still managed to catch up to him.
Gary had arrived in the Johto Region before them, but he was as stubborn as ever. He claimed he had spent so much time in the forest because he was busy catching several new Pokémon and had simply lost track of time. Ash just smirked. Who are you trying to kid?
Led by Gary's Hoothoot and supported by Ash's ability to pinpoint the Ghost Types' positions, the four of them quickly exited the Forest of Illusion and arrived at Eastgate Town. Since it was late, they decided to rest at the Pokémon Center and battle the following morning.
The next day at dawn...
"The battle between Ash and Gary will now begin! Each trainer is limited to one Pokémon. Let the match start!" Brock announced as the referee.
"Go, Blastoise, my sweetheart!"
"Charizard, I choose you!"
Blastoise looked incredibly imposing. It was Gary's starter Pokémon, and he had raised it to a high level of perfection. For all his arrogance and posturing, Gary definitely had the skills to back it up.
However, the current Charizard was not to be outdone in terms of presence.
"Your Charizard seems to have gotten stronger. But the disadvantage in Type is something you can't overcome!" Gary offered a rare bit of praise before shouting, "Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!"
Two massive pillars of water erupted from the cannons on Blastoise's shoulders.
"Charizard, dodge and close in!"
Water Type moves were super effective against Charizard; a direct hit would be devastating. But Ash remained calm. As their bond level increased, the silent understanding between him and Charizard had deepened.
Having just shed the Macho Brace, Charizard felt lighter than ever. In the blink of an eye, it stayed low to the ground, gliding beneath the water jets to get right in Blastoise's face.
"Dragon Claw!"
Glowing green claws slashed upward, striking Blastoise's heavy frame and actually knocking the massive turtle backward.
"How is that possible!" Gary stared in disbelief, but his reflexes were still sharp. "Blastoise, Rapid Spin!"
Blastoise began to spin violently, using the momentum to stabilize its landing.
"Not bad!" Ash and Gary said in unison, a rare moment of mutual respect.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
This time, Ash took the initiative. Fire moves might be resisted by a Water Type, but they still dealt damage.
"Use Rapid Spin again!"
Gary had trained Blastoise well. The whirlwind created by the high-speed rotation blew the flames aside. But in that exact moment, the next attack from Ash and Charizard arrived!
Gary realized the trick immediately. "Damn it, Ash is actually using his head!"
The ineffective Flamethrower had been a mere smokescreen to distract them.
"Dragon Claw!"
However, this time, Charizard failed to manifest the energy. The move flickered and died out, meaning Ash had lost his opening.
"Oh, what a shame!" Misty sighed from the sidelines, then stood up to cheer. "Ash, Charizard, keep going!"
Seeing Charizard looking at its own claws in confusion, Ash just laughed. "Better luck next time, buddy!"
"Roar!"
Gary and Blastoise had regained their footing. "Dammit, Ash! Are you using me as a sparring partner to practice new moves?"
Gary had been shocked by the Dragon Claw earlier, but seeing Charizard fail to repeat it made him realize the move was brand new. He was furious that Ash was using their "serious" match as a training session.
"Haha, don't be like that, Gary!" Ash admitted it openly. Given their history, he knew Gary wouldn't hold a grudge over a bit of tactical greed. Gary was the best possible opponent for high-level practice, and Ash wasn't going to waste the opportunity.
"Charizard, let's go! One more time, Flamethrower!"
"Hmph, the same trick won't work twice! Blastoise, intercept it with Hydro Pump!"
Fire and water met in the center of the field, creating a massive explosion of steam that shrouded the entire arena.
"Blastoise, use Skull Bash!"
"Charizard, use Dragon Claw!"
Inside the thick fog, both trainers simultaneously ordered their Pokémon into close-quarters combat.
"Roar!"
A cry of pain from Charizard echoed through the mist.
"Ash, the flame on Charizard's tail is like a lighthouse in this fog! Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!" Gary laughed triumphantly, certain he had the upper hand.
But even after the command, no water jet emerged from the mist.
"What's going on?"
Gary couldn't see Ash's face, but Ash was smiling. Gary assumed they were both blind in the steam, but Ash's Aura allowed him to maintain absolute control of the situation. He had predicted Gary would try to counter the fire with water.
A wealthy kid like Gary had too much pride; he would never willingly play the role of a sparring partner, which made his movements predictable.
As the steam cleared, Charizard was seen clutching its stomach, panting heavily from the damage it had taken. However, Blastoise was already down, eyes swirled in unconsciousness.
"Blastoise!" Gary cried out, but he quickly composed himself. "Return. You did a great job."
"Blastoise is unable to battle. Charizard wins! Therefore, the victor is Ash!" Brock declared.
The duel between rivals had reached its conclusion.
"Ash, you really have gotten stronger." Gary walked over and extended his hand. "Let's save the final showdown for the Johto League. I'm going to keep getting stronger I won't let a guy like you catch up to me!"
Gary, like Ash, was a true trainer who could accept defeat with grace.
"I won this time, and I'll win next time too!" Ash laughed, gripping Gary's hand firmly.
*Bond Level:*
Charizard: 195/255
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