บท 19: Chapter 19: The Tides of Battle(Blaze and Ash)
Blaze stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Misty's right, Ash. You can't just throw a Poké Ball and hope for the best. You need to weaken the Pokémon first, lower its defenses. Then, and only then, should you try to catch it." His words carried the weight of experience, and he met Ash's gaze, silently urging his younger brother to think strategically.
Ash's fingers tightened around Caterpie's Poké Ball, his knuckles white. "But I thought... maybe I could catch it off guard," Ash mumbled, his voice trailing off as he avoided Blaze's penetrating stare.
Blaze's sharp amber eyes softened, just a fraction. "It's about more than that, Ash. You've got to understand your opponent—its strengths, its weaknesses. Otherwise, you're just setting yourself up for failure."
Misty folded her arms, her face still tight with concern. "Ash, you can't keep making these kinds of mistakes. Caterpie could have been seriously hurt." Her voice cracked with frustration, but underneath, there was an edge of fear—a fear for Ash, and for the Pokémon he was responsible for.
Ash looked down, the reality of his decision sinking in. But before he could fully grasp the gravity of his mistake, the wild Pidgeotto circled back, its eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. It had tasted blood and wasn't going to let its prey escape so easily.
Blaze's mind raced, analyzing the situation with the precision of a seasoned trainer. Pidgeotto was fast, faster than Caterpie could ever hope to be. If Ash didn't act quickly, it would be over in a matter of seconds.
"Ash, listen to me," Blaze said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Caterpie can't win this fight. You need to call it back—now."
Ash hesitated, his hand trembling as it hovered over the button to recall Caterpie. But before he could make a move, Pidgeotto dove, its wings a blur as it sliced through the air with terrifying speed.
"Caterpie, dodge it!" Ash shouted, but the small Bug-type barely had the strength to move, let alone evade the oncoming attack.
The impact was brutal. Pidgeotto's tackle sent Caterpie flying across the forest floor, its tiny body tumbling helplessly through the underbrush. Blaze's jaw clenched, his heart pounding in his chest. He had seen enough battles to know how this would end if Ash didn't act soon.
Misty's gasp echoed through the clearing, her hands flying to her mouth. Even Pikachu, usually so full of energy and cheer, looked stricken, its ears drooping with worry.
Blaze's eyes flicked to Tempest, his Riolu, who stood at the ready, muscles tensed and aura flaring with restrained power. But Blaze held him back with a single glance. This was Ash's fight, his lesson to learn. But if it came down to it, Blaze would intervene—no hesitation, no regrets.
"Ash, you have to call it back!" Misty's voice was shrill, panic seeping into her usually controlled demeanor. "Caterpie can't take another hit like that!"
Ash's fingers twitched, indecision written all over his face. Blaze could see the internal struggle—his brother's pride battling against the stark reality before him. But time was running out, and the wild Pidgeotto wasn't going to wait for Ash to make up his mind.
Just as Pidgeotto swooped in for another attack, Ash made the call. "Caterpie, return!" His voice cracked with desperation, the beam of red light barely catching Caterpie in time. Pidgeotto's talons sliced through the air where Caterpie had been only a heartbeat before, smashing into the ground with a force that shook the forest floor.
Blaze let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. His fingers, which had been twitching over Tempest's Poké Ball, relaxed. Ash had made the right call—barely. But the battle wasn't over yet.
Blaze stepped forward, his voice low and firm, cutting through the thick tension in the air. "You did the right thing, Ash. But now it's time to end this. Pikachu's your best bet—Flying-types are weak to Electric attacks." Blaze's words were sharp, precise, each one a calculated move in the mental chess game he played with every battle.
Ash's eyes met Blaze's, and for a moment, there was a flicker of doubt. But then it was gone, replaced by a steely determination that Blaze knew well. Ash wasn't going to back down—not now, not ever.
"Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash's voice rang out, filled with renewed energy. Pikachu leapt forward, landing with a thud on the soft earth, its cheeks sparking with electricity.
The wild Pidgeotto, still dazed from its failed attack, shook its head and turned its gaze on Pikachu. But it was too late. "Pikachu, ThunderShock, now!" Ash commanded, his voice strong and confident.
A bolt of electricity shot from Pikachu's cheeks, crackling through the air before slamming into Pidgeotto with a blinding flash of light. The bird Pokémon let out a shriek as it was thrown to the ground, its wings twitching uncontrollably.
Blaze nodded in approval, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Ash had done it—he had turned the tide of the battle with a single decisive move.
As the wild Pidgeotto lay stunned, Ash pulled a Poké Ball from his belt, his hands steady and sure. "Poké Ball, go!" he shouted, hurling the ball with all the strength he could muster.
The ball connected with Pidgeotto, absorbing it in a flash of red light. Blaze watched, his heart swelling with pride as the ball wobbled on the ground, once, twice, before finally clicking shut.
Ash's face lit up with a triumphant grin. "I did it! I caught Pidgeotto!" he exclaimed, his voice ringing with victory.
"Well done, Ash," Blaze said, his voice carrying a rare warmth. He clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder, his eyes gleaming with pride.
But the moment was cut short by Misty's sharp voice. "A Pokémon Master also knows not to send a Bug-type against a Flying-type! Birds eat worms, Ash!" she snapped, her tone laced with exasperation.
Blaze couldn't help but laugh, a deep, hearty sound that broke through the tension. Tempest and Pidgeotto joined in, their amusement clear. Ash's face flushed with embarrassment, but Blaze clapped him on the shoulder again, his voice both supportive and teasing. "You'll get there, Ash. Just remember, strategy comes first."
The laughter faded, replaced by the distant rustling of leaves and the soft hum of Pokémon hidden within Viridian Forest's depths. Blaze's eyes narrowed as he scanned the trees ahead, his senses honed from years of training. The peaceful moment was too good to last.
"Stay sharp, Ash," Blaze murmured, his voice dropping to a low warning. Tempest, ever attuned to his trainer's mood, stiffened beside him, the aura around him shimmering faintly.
Ash opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but the answer came before he could speak. A rustle in the underbrush, louder and more deliberate, drew their attention. Blaze's hand instinctively moved to his belt, brushing against Tempest's Poké Ball.
"Prepare yourself," Blaze said, his tone hardening as his sharp amber eyes flicked towards the movement.
From the shadows emerged the unmistakable forms of Team Rocket. Jessie, her long magenta hair catching the dappled sunlight, led the way with a smirk that could curdle milk. Beside her, James adjusted his uniform with exaggerated care, while Meowth strutted forward, his grin as wide as the day was long.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Jessie's voice dripped with mockery as she sauntered closer, her eyes locking onto Ash and Blaze. "Looks like the Ketchum brothers have wandered right into our little trap."
Blaze didn't flinch. His eyes flicked to Ash, who was already tense, Pikachu's cheeks sparking with barely contained electricity. "This isn't the time for hesitation," Blaze murmured, his voice laced with urgency.
With exaggerated theatrics, Jessie and James launched into their trademark motto. Blaze's mind, however, was already working, analyzing the threat, calculating potential moves. The motto was a distraction, and he knew it.
Pikachu tensed up even more, sparks now flying off its cheeks. Blaze could see the strain in the little Electric-type's eyes, but there was no time to rest.
"Stay sharp, Ash," Blaze repeated, his tone steady as steel.
The Ketchum brothers stood ready, but Team Rocket wasn't about to wait for an invitation. Just as Jessie and James finished their motto, Meowth leaped into action, his claws gleaming as he launched a flurry of Fury Swipes directly at the brothers.
Blaze reacted instantly, sidestepping the wild slashes with practiced ease. "Tempest, now!" he commanded.
Riolu sprang forward with a burst of speed, his eyes locked onto Meowth with lethal precision. With a fluid motion, Tempest intercepted Meowth's attack, deflecting the Fury Swipes with a well-timed Bullet Punch that sent the feline Pokémon skidding back.
"Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that," Blaze muttered, his voice a low growl of warning.
Meowth snarled, preparing to strike again, but before he could, Jessie's hand lashed out, her palm connecting with the side of his head in a sharp smack. The sound echoed through the forest, and Meowth stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock.
"Get it together, Meowth!" Jessie snapped, her tone sharp as a razor.
Blaze didn't miss a beat. "They're cracking," he muttered to Ash, his voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't make them less dangerous."
Tempest returned to Blaze's side, his eyes never leaving Team Rocket. The bond between trainer and Pokémon was palpable, a silent communication that needed no words.
Jessie and James recovered quickly, their expressions hardening with renewed determination. With a synchronized motion, they released their Pokémon—Ekans and Koffing. The sight of the slithering Ekans and the hovering Koffing sent a ripple of tension through the group, but Blaze remained unshaken.
"Tempest, be ready," Blaze commanded, his voice carrying the calm authority of a seasoned leader. Riolu responded with a low growl, his stance shifting as he prepared for the inevitable clash.
Koffing floated ominously above the ground, its toxic vapors leaking into the air, while Ekans coiled itself, ready to strike at a moment's notice. The battlefield was set, and Blaze's tactical mind was already dissecting the situation.
Koffing hovered menacingly above Pikachu, who was still recovering from the earlier assault. Blaze's sharp mind raced, assessing the situation. "Ash, now's not the time for hesitation," he called out, his tone cutting through the rising tension.
Ash nodded, his confidence bolstered by Blaze's unwavering presence. With a swift motion, Ash released Pidgeotto, the bird Pokémon soaring into the sky with a powerful flap of its wings.
"Keep Pidgeotto moving, Ash! Don't let them lock on!" Blaze's command was precise, reflecting his deep understanding of aerial dynamics.
Pidgeotto darted through the air, executing Blaze's orders with flawless precision. The bird Pokémon's sharp eyes tracked both Ekans and Koffing, its aerial maneuvers a testament to Blaze's training.
Koffing responded with a thick, choking SmokeScreen, the dark cloud enveloping the battlefield. Blaze's eyes narrowed as he watched the smoke spread, his mind already calculating the best counter-strategy.
"They're trying to blind us," Blaze muttered to himself, his tone edged with frustration. But his mind churned, seeking a way to turn the situation to their advantage. "Ash, don't lose focus."
From within the smoke, Ekans slithered underground, disappearing from sight. Blaze's eyes widened slightly as he realized their plan. "Ash, keep Pidgeotto in the air! Ekans is setting up an ambush!"
Pidgeotto adjusted its flight, rising higher to avoid the hidden threat below. Blaze's heart pounded in his chest, but his mind remained clear, every thought focused on the battle at hand.
Koffing, relentless in its pursuit, hurtled after Pidgeotto, determined to bring the bird Pokémon down. "Don't let up, Pidgeotto!" Blaze's voice was sharp, his words infused with the urgency of the moment.
Pidgeotto banked hard, narrowly avoiding another Sludge attack. Blaze's mind worked furiously, searching for the perfect moment to strike. "Ash, wait for it…then hit hard!"
As the smoke began to dissipate, Blaze seized the opportunity. "Ash, now! Gust attack, full force!" His voice rang out like a clarion call, filled with the sharp edge of command.
Pidgeotto responded instantly, its wings generating a powerful gust that cut through the remaining smoke and left Koffing exposed. The gust sent Koffing reeling, but just as it began to recover, Ekans burst from the ground, its fangs gleaming with poison.
Blaze was ready. "Pidgeotto, dodge and Quick Attack!"
Pidgeotto executed the move flawlessly, its speed unmatched as it darted away from Ekans and slammed into Koffing with a powerful Quick Attack. The impact sent Koffing crashing to the ground, its defenses shattered.
Blaze's eyes burned with triumph as he watched Team Rocket's plan unravel. The bond between him, Ash, and their Pokémon had carried them through yet another trial, their trust and teamwork solidified in the heat of battle.
But Blaze knew this was just one of many challenges they would face. As the dust settled, he exchanged a glance with Ash, both brothers silently acknowledging the battles yet to come.
"We're not done yet," Blaze said quietly, his voice filled with determination.
Ash nodded, his gaze steady. "We'll keep getting stronger. Together."
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