Chapter 10- Aquamarine’s Challenge

 

(Location- Scarlet City)

 

“(HMPH…) HAAAA!” G.I. Jolt slammed a brick wall with his large fists. The wall cracked and pieces of it fell to the ground

 

“No bad G.I. but let me show you how to do this…” Cleft stepped up and slammed a spot on the wall with his spiked gloves. In no time at all, the wall crumbled

 

“You’re making me look bad…” G.I. Jolt growled

 

“Well you should be happy. After all, with FIENDS like us, who needs enemies?!”

 

POW!

 

“OW!” Cleft exclaimed when Bonsai punched him on the back of the head, “What was that for?!”

 

“You deserved it, for saying such a stupid joke!” said Bonsai

 

“You’re saying my jokes are stupid? Well, my FISTS have something to say to you, as does my middle finger!” Cleft argued back

 

BAM!

 

“UGH!” Bonsai and Cleft were both knocked out, when G.I. Jolt grabbed their heads and slammed them into each other.

 

“That’s better… thanks Jolt” AntiArctic sighed, “If those two didn’t stop arguing soon, I swear, I would’ve killed them just to shut them up”

 

“Who wouldn’t? They’re like this whenever Sky’s not around…” G.I. Jolt shrugged, “Speaking of Sky Render, tell me again, how come he’s not letting us just go all out and BEAT that Ketchum kid up?!” G.I. Jolt complained

 

“It’s just a precaution… You know Aquamarine, he always fights his battles alone because he tends to lose control and smash up everything, including us if we get involved.” Twin Dreamer looked down on them from in the air, “Oh well, what HE doesn’t know won’t hurt us. HAAAAA…” Closed his eyes and stretched his hands out, towards the north end of the Green Forest. Using psychic power, he could see Ash… “We all know I’m a great psychic, now let’s see how well I am a sniper!” His eyes flashed. “TWIN DREAM!!!!” Two beams of energy spiralled through the air…

 

(Location- Green Forest)

 

“Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!” Jessie yelled as she jumped from the tree branch

 

“Surrender now or prepare to fight!” James shouted as he jumped down

 

Meowth! That’s RIGHT!” Meowth finished the motto and jumped.

 

“HAA!” Ash threw the rings he swiped from the 00 elites. Each one of them clamped and locked their legs together…

 

CRASH!

 

Jessie, James and Meowth screamed as they hit the ground head first. “Oh yeah!” Ash cheered at the success of his ‘ring toss’, “Not only am I the master of pokémon, but I am also the Lord of the R…” He stopped when Jessie, James and Meowth got up and threw off the rings. “Never mind…”

 

“YOU TWERP! YOU ARE GONNA PAY…” They all yelled

 

WHOOSH!

 

The Twin Dream beams flew inches above Ash’s head. His hat was blown off by the rush of air, but the beam flew right at Team Rocket.

 

KABOOM!!!

 

“YEAAAARGH!” Team Rocket yelled as they flew through the air

 

“WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT?!” Jessie yelled

 

“I DUNNO!” Meowth yelled, “ALL I KNOWS IS THAT…”

 

“TEAM ROCKET’S BLASTING OFF AGAAAAAIN! (Ping!)

 

“Well… that was unexpected” Ash sweatdropped

 

(Location- Scarlet City)

 

“DAMMIT!” Twin Dreamer yelled, “I missed!”

 

“Ha! You really got to work on your aim TD!” G.I. Jolt smirked

 

“SHUT UP! DON’T CALL ME THAT! TWIN DREAM!” Twin Dream fired his attack at Jolt, a different version of it, instead of a beam, it was a mind-burning wave…

 

“YAAAAAAH!” G.I. Jolt yelled, his head felt like a truck hit it, like it was about to explode, and then his mind went blank and he fell…

 

“Huh?” Bonsai, Cleft and AntiArctic looked up, just in time to see the gigantic figure of G.I. Jolt falling in their direction… “AAAAAAH!!!”

 

CRASH!!!

 

“(Sigh…) Of all the teams I could’ve joined… why did it have to be with this band of idiots?” Goth sighed as he sat on the top of the roof and watched them

 

(Location- Teal Ville streets)

 

Misty walked on the sidewalk, Togepi in her arms. After that last incident with Doppelganger, Ash hadn’t let her out of his sight, with a few exceptions. Ash was hiding behind a telephone pole; make that, halfway up the pole. There were a few people staring at him. Although he kept out of Misty’s sight, total stealth wasn’t one of his specialties.

 

“No, there is no reason in particular I’m following her, Pikachu” said Ash

 

Pika?” Pikachu said curiously, standing on Ash’s shoulder.

 

“For the last time Pikachu, I am NOT stalking Misty!” Ash said angrily

 

Kachu? Pi Pika!”

 

“I’m not hiding!”

 

“Pi Pikachu!”

 

“I’m up here because it’s fun to climb telephone poles!”

 

Pika, Pika!” Pikachu pointed downwards

 

“No, why would I be worried?” Ash looked down, “WAAAA! Where’d she go?” He slid down the pole, “WAAAA! SPLINTERS!” He waved his hands frantically.

 

(Somewhere else in the Teal Ville Streets)

 

Misty walked down the streets, minding her own business, when she stopped. Ahead of her, there was a guy walking in her direction. He didn’t see her, but before he did, Misty ran into an alley. The guy had sleek blue hair, a dark blue T-shirt with a black vest and a silver chain around his neck. He also had a metal object slung across his back. The guy was about as old as her, but and a little shorter than Brock. He wore black biking gloves, same design as Ash’s but these one had studs on the back of the hand. The guy walked right past her, and Misty sighed in relief.

 

“(Good, he didn’t see me)” She sighed, “How did he know where to find me? Oh well, that doesn’t matter, just as long as he doesn’t see me! UGH… this is gonna give Ash some trouble…”

 

“Give me what kind of trouble?” asked Ash, appearing right behind her

 

“WA!” Misty jumped, “ASH! Don’t do that!” She punched Ash over the head

 

Ow” He sweatdropped “What kind of trouble?”

 

“Well Ash… it’s like this…”

 

(A few minutes later)

 

“WAWAWA-WHA-WHAA-WHAAAAT?!” Ash exclaimed, “BOYFRIEND?!?!”

 

“I already told you! He may have a crush on me, but he is NOT my boyfriend!” Misty said angrily “That guy is SO annoying! The more I hate him, the more he loves me! The main reason I left Cerulean city was to get away from that idiot. Unfortunately he’s not just a regular idiot, he’s a persistent idiot… ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?!”

 

Ash’s eye was twitching “Boyfriend… she has a boyfriend… she has a boyfriend…”

 

“Will you SNAP OUT OF IT!” Misty slammed him with a mallet. “I just told you, I really HATE that guy! He thinks he could impress me by being a strong trainer. That didn’t impress me. I have never liked him, and never will!” Misty pulled up her backpack and reached inside, “Now where is it… AHA! Here it is!” Misty tossed aside the dinky little wooden mallet, and pulled out a GIGANTIC Sledgehammer, “I’ve been saving this one since the start of my journey in case that moron ever shows up again! This hammer can bust up diamonds as if they were made of glass! Now if that loser starts stalking me again… I can just bash his head…”

 

“So, you’re saying you never kissed or anything?” Ash asked nervously.

 

BAM!

 

“You haven’t even been listening!” Misty shouted after she bashed Ash’s head with diamond-busting hammer, “There’s no way I’m gonna waste MY first kiss on HIM! To me, the first kiss is just as valuable as my virginity…” Misty stopped and checked to see if Ash was finally listening, to her relief, yes. “Anyways, after I slapped him with that first restraining order, I quickly left Cerulean City to go on my journey, but chances are he also decided to go on a journey of his own. So just… watch out, because I know him, and he is REALLY determined, and has probably been training three of four times harder than you. Anyways… let’s beat it. I’m not sticking around for him to find me!” She stepped out of the alley.

 

Ash sighed in relief and stepped out of the alley, following her. What they didn’t know was that Aquamarine, who was also second strongest out of the Super Fiends… was standing up on the rooftops, watching them right now.

 

“I didn’t hear WHAT they said. But that guy… acting so… FAMILIAR around her… just WHO does he think he is?! Wait a second…” Aquamarine looked through a pair of binoculars; he could see Ash’s face clearly. “That’s Ash Ketchum!” He spoke, looking through the binoculars, “Defeated Team Rocket on many occasions, and the mighty elite agents 001, 003 and 004. Then he defeated Doppelganger and insulted the Missingno and the Super Fiends, and if what I heard is true…”  He pulled down the binoculars, “HE’S the guy traveling with Misty?!” He held picked up a photocopy of a certain picture (the one Pikachu took in Ch. 5, with Ash and Misty leaning towards each other, their faces only an inch apart and they look like they’re about to…) “UN-FOR-GIVABLE!” He ripped the picture in half. “ASH KETCHUM! You’ve done some damage, but THIS CROSSES THE LINE! You may have beaten Doppelganger, but I’m stronger in EVERY WAY! ASH KETCHUM! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” He crushed the binoculars to pieces. As he dropped the pieces, he sighed, “Ugh… I have GOT to stop doing that. This is how I lost my cell phone, my pokédex, my gameboy, and this is why I have to get up to change channels…”

 

(Location- Teal Ville streets)

 

“All right, now just where is that dead-man Ash hiding?” Aquamarine asked himself, looking left and right for the one who matched the picture, “Hmm… let’s see. If I were an ugly kid with a horizontal Harry Potter scar on each cheek and stupid enough to try and steal away MY girlfriend, Misty, where would I be?”

 

(Meanwhile)

 

Rolling around at the speed of sound, got places to go, gotta follow my rainbow… Can’t stick around, have to KEEP moving on, just what lies ahead, only ONE way to FIND out! Must keep on moving ahead, no time for guessing, follow my plan instead! Trusting in what you can’t see, take my lead, I’LL SET YOU FREE! Follow me, set me free, trust me and we will escape from the city, I’ll make it through, follow me…” Ash sung as he sped down the road, listening to a CD. He turned it off for a second and switched the headphone feature to the transceiver phone, “Hey Ebi!” Ash called him through the transceiver headphone, “How do you turn up to the super speed?”

 

“(CRRR…) Why do you want it?” Ebi asked

 

“I got several reasons (along with this song putting me in the mood to go faster) I’ve completely mastered flying this thing and the rings stuff, and now I want to try to master super speed” Ash answered “I tried to do the foothold twisting thing, but the clips wouldn’t budge this time!”

 

“I changed it because it’s dangerous! And activating it with the footholds is risky and it could be turned on by accident! Why do you want to learn it?”

 

“Two reasons!” He said, “One, if I’ve mastered Super Speed, then I’ve PERFECTED regular! Two, Misty hasn’t seen this thing, and I want to have completely master this thing by the time she does! I wanna look cool doing this!”

 

“(CRRR…) In short, you wanna impress her right?” Said Ebi

 

“NO!” Ash yelled, “And don’t change the subject! How do I use it?”

 

“Fine…” Ebi sighed, “I’ve changed the commands! You don’t twist the holds or anything! Now it’s voice activated! All you have to do is say…” He spelled out the words, “I’d say the real word, but it’d turn up the speed right now and you’d crash! Say it a second time to slow down! Hey Ash! Think it’s safe to do it here? Don’t you want to do it in the forest? You’ve practiced regular flying there!”

 

“No way! Too many trees, too many obstacles! I crashed into too many earlier on! I’ll give it a shot when I get used to straight line flying!” Said Ash “Okay! Here goes…” Ash took a deep breath “Maximum… uh… afterburner” The boosters flared up and the entire scenery went all blurry. Ash was flying at a tremendous speed “WAAAAA!” Although this time, it wasn’t AS bad as the first, but in all the confusion, obstacles are hard to notice…

 

Aquamarine turned around and saw Ash. (Ash is a fair distance away, and approaching at a high speed) “ASH KETCHUM! I AM GOING TO KILL…”

 

BAM!!!

 

“WAK!” Aquamarine fell to the ground when the board flying at the speed of sound hit him on the forehead, “GWUH…”

 

Ash yelled the words out a second time and the board slowed down to its normal speed. Ash sighed in relief. He could tell he’s no longer going the speed if sound because he could hear again.

 

“(BZZT!) ASH! I heard a metal clanking somewhere along the way! Did you hit something?” Ebi asked through the transceiver as Ash zoomed on the QuickSilver

 

“I dunno!” Ash shrugged as he landed “The only thing on my mind were the bugs flying into my mouth! PWAH!” He spat out all the insects and picked up the board. As he was walking, he noticed Aquamarine lying on the sidewalk, with a large bump on his forehead. “Hey! Are you okay?”

 

“GWUH…” Aquamarine didn’t notice Ash

 

Meh…” Ash shrugged and walked off, putting the headphones back on, “…Danger is lurking around every turn, trust your feelings, got to LIVE AND LEARN…

 

An hour later, Aquamarine got up and rubbed his head, “Aghow… GRRR… After I KILL Ash Ketchum, I’m gonna hunt down whoever hit me back there!”

 

(Location- Teal Ville Town Square)

 

“All right guys! Use the combo attacks! HYDROTHUNDER” Ash yelled. Totodile fired the jet of water and Pikachu electrified it. The electrical water was too much and Dragonite fell to the ground. “What’s the matter? Too much for ya?” Ash smiled

 

“GRRRR!” the punk growled

 

Another punk, dressed sort of like a Pirate stepped forwards, “You may have beaten me once, but you’re not gonna win again! Everybody, GO!” He threw all his pokéballs, releasing Donphan, Machamp, Venomoth, Golem and Pinsir came out.

 

“All right!” Ash clapped his hands together, “You were never THAT strong a trainer, and I remember that battle we had (in pokémon the first movie) a long time ago!”

 

After a very short fight all the guys and their pokémon were beaten

 

“I wouldn’t be so harsh on your guys, but you should’ve thought of THAT before joining the Missingno gang you jerks!” Ash called out at them.

 

“GRRRR… RETURN!” Pirate called back his pokémon

 

“So it’s true, this kid really DID beat Doppelganger!” the punks gasped, “This is bad! We’re no match for him! RUN AWAY!” they all ran

 

“Oh yeah! Gotta love pokémon team battles! That way I can use combination attacks! Great work guys!” He called all his pokémon into pokéballs, “Okay! That’s victory number 48! My pokémon must have at least levelled up at least twenty levels each! By now, I could take on anyone! Team Rocket, Missingno, Super Fiend, BRING EM ON! Who wants to battle me next?!” He called out, and sweatdropped. Everyone in the area ran away, both good the bad. “Lousy deadbeats! Am I just too strong for you?!” He sighed, “No one wants to battle… STUPID JERKS!” He looked and in the distance he could still see the group of Missingno henchmen running. He picked up a solid Pester Ball and hurled it as hard as he could…

 

SMACK!

 

“GWAH!” One of them fell over, face-flat to the ground. The ball opened up and released its foul smelling gas, causing all the punks to cough and yell. The gas cleared, and they turned their heads and looked at him.

 

“Come on! If that doesn’t get them to fight me, then I don’t know what will!” Ash said anxiously. He sweatdropped as they continued to run, “Okay… then I don’t know what will. No one wants to battle, and I’m on a roll…” He sighed. He suddenly snapped back to attention, his instincts were warning him… “DANGER!” He raised the QuickSilver and spun around just in time. The harpoon flying at him ricocheted off his shield and flew into a statue, decapitating it.

 

Ash looked at the harpoon. The rope attached to it pulled it out of the rubble, and Ash looked to where it was headed. There was a sound of metal clanking as it withdrew into a metal gun. Aquamarine (he had a large band-aid on his forehead) held the gun, growling and then slung it across his back, “Damn, I almost got him”

 

“WHAT TH’HELL’S YOUR PROBLEM?!” Ash yelled at him, his heart still beating a mile a minute and his hands were shaking.

 

Feh… after all the stuff you did, you ask me what’s MY problem?” Aquamarine laughed to himself, “Talk about the irony. And they call US fiends…”

 

SMACK!

 

“GAK!” Aquamarine fell over when Ash threw the statue head at him.

 

“Now we’re even! And before I start clobbering you, you’d better tell me who YOU ARE!”  Ash yelled at Aquamarine

 

Grrr…” Aquamarine growled as he pulled the harpoon gun off his back and aimed it at Ash, and pulled the trigger.

 

“HMM!” Ash stepped to the side and caught the harpoon in his hand. Letting it fall to the ground, he shouted, “That harpoon trick is real lame! Even Doppelganger’s smoke and mirror is more impressive than that!” Ash and Pikachu stepped forwards

 

Aquamarine withdrew the harpoon back into the gun “Funny you should mention that weakling, Doppelganger. Because I happen to be MUCH stronger than daddy’s boy…” He crossed his arms, and pulled out a pokéball, “Kraken, GO!” He released his pokémon. It was a Tentacruel. A HUGE Tentacruel

 

“WA! Since when do Tentacruel get that big?” Ash gasped, looking at the fifteen-foot tall pokémon

 

“Back in Puerto Vista a few years back, I saw some Team Rocket clowns dump some chemicals on a Tentacool and made it evolve into a massive Tentacruel. I did the same thing, but used less of the stuff and watered down the chemicals, and that’s how I got Kraken!”

 

“Whatever! Size doesn’t matter with high levels! You can beat him Pikachu!”

 

“PIKAAA!” Pikachu shocked Kraken

 

Kraken wasn’t hurt, but angry “TENTA!” Kraken whipped down with his Tentacle. The concrete ground cracked, and Pikachu barely dodged.

 

CHU!!” Pikachu jumped up and shocked him with an even stronger attack

As Pikachu and Kraken continued to fight…

 

“I’M only gonna ask you once…” Aquamarine said coldly, “WHO do you think you are!”

 

“Well… I’m Ash Ketchum. 14 years old, I come from Pallet Town. I’m a great pokémon trainer. I rival with another high level trainer from Pallet (who used to be my best friend, but now he’s just a lousy backstabber) and am in the top sixteen of the indigo pokémon league, Orange League champion, Johto league top…”

 

“Shut up!” He yelled, “I am Aquamarine! Cerulean City’s number 1 trainer!”

 

“Aquamarine? Yeesh… talk about your girly names…” Ash stared at him, “Were your parents expecting a girl, or were just that cruel?”

 

“HEY! SHUT UP!” Aquamarine yelled, “I was asking who you think you are, being so… FAMILIAR around Misty!”

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Ash stared at him, “Wait a minute! You’re the guy that Misty hates!” Ash then smirked and took a fighting stance, “Looks like I’ll be adding another good deed to my list… when I eliminate Misty’s idiot stalker!”

 

“WHAT’D YOU CALL ME?!” Aquamarine shouted, “THAT DOES IT! ASH KETCHUM! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” he pulled out his trident, “DEEP SKEWER!”

 

“WA!” Ash exclaimed as the attack almost hit him, but fortunately he tripped over, and missed it, “GRRR! HA!” Ash shouted, kicking his leg up…

 

THUNK!

 

“AGH…!” Aquamarine’s eyes opened wide, when Ash kicked him in the groin… “URK!” He exclaimed when Ash jumped into the air and stomped on his head, slamming his face into the concrete so hard, the ground cracked

 

“FIRST YOU STALK MISTY, AND NOW YOU COME HERE TRYING TO KILL ME?! YOU RETARD! I’LL SHOW YOU!” Ash shouted as he kept kicking Aquamarine

 

“Pikachu!” Pikachu sweatdropped and continued to jump and dodge. Kraken SURE could hit hard with those tentacles, and that would REALLY hurt if he was whipped with one.

 

“TENTA-CRUUUUEL!” Kraken caught Pikachu in one of the tentacles, and sensed victory

 

“PIKAAA!!” Before Kraken could crush Pikachu, Pikachu unleashed a strong thunder wave, paralyzing Kraken. Because of the paralysis, Kraken couldn’t move, and that gave Pikachu the opening he needed, “PI-KA-CHUUUUUU” With all the electricity in his body, Pikachu hit Kraken with the strongest thunder attack. Kraken got hurt and collapsed…

 

“Oh yeah! In your face, you retard!” Ash stood triumphantly on top of Aquamarine’s body, with one foot on the fiend’s head. Aquamarine wasn’t moving, and it didn’t look like he was breathing for that matter… (like anyone cares). Ash kicked Aquamarine one last time, and walked off. “Come on Pikachu, let’s leave the retard here!” Ash stopped, and turned around. “Oh, and I’ll take this too!” He bent over, reached into Aquamarine’s pockets, took his wallet and walked off.

 

(Two hours later)

 

“So you’re saying he beat you?” Sky Render spoke to Aquamarine over the phone.

 

“Yeah… ugh…” Aquamarine rubbed the back of the head

 

“Listen Aquamarine…” Said Sky Render, “You’re a genius of battle. The earth trembles beneath your strength, and you defeat pokémon masters in a single breath. So tell me this. Just HOW did you lose to some unarmed kid!?”

 

“He wasn’t unarmed! He had a flying skateboard!” Aquamarine complained

 

“Uh-huh… a flying skateboard”

 

“I’m telling the truth here!” Said Aquamarine

 

“Sure you are. Hold on for a second…” Sky Render put down the phone…

“Hmmm…” Aquamarine stood quietly, listening. On the other side, he could hear Sky Render, saying ‘Hey guys! Get a load of this! Aquamarine says he lost because the kid has a flying skateboard!’ followed by the unmistakable sound of mocking laugher coming from the rest of the fiends, “GRRR!” Aquamarine slammed the phone shut. “Damn you Ash Ketchum! First you steal Misty, now you humiliate me in the eyes of my team! GOD DAMMIT!” He slammed the wall with his fist, and the wall began to crumble, “GRRR!” Aquamarine growled, (a tear in his eye, clutching his now broken hand) “I swear… ASH KETCHUM! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!”

 

(Location- Teal Ville Streets)

 

“ACHOO!” Ash sneezed as he walked down the streets. “Ugh… what was that all about?” he asked, wiping his nose…

 

SMACK!

 

“WA!” Ash fell face flat to the ground

 

“That is payback for what you did back there!” Aquamarine yelled, standing on Ash’s head.

 

“WHY YOU!” Ash reached up and grabbed both of Aquamarine’s ankles, tripping him. Ash got up and swung Aquamarine around by his legs and tossed him into the wall. “You again?! You wanna fight?!” Ash charged at Aquamarine

 

WHAM!

 

“Not now you idiot!” Aquamarine shouted as he uppercutted Ash, sending him flying “I’m only here to give you this!” Aquamarine, and tossed a letter to him.

 

“What’s this?” Ash looked at it, “A challenge note?”

 

“A challenge note! What does it look like?!” Aquamarine yelled, running off

 

“Fine then!” Ash opened the letter. Sure enough, it was a challenge note.

 

I challenge you! Meet me  tomorrow in the GreenForest Clearing ,near the lake. Bring whatever pokémon or weapons you need, and come alone, but it won’t matter anyways because I am going to kill you, and your friends should you decide to bring them along (this does not include Misty).

 

PS: This message will self destruct

 

“Huh?” Ash stared at the last part

 

BOOOM!

 

“WAAA!” Ash shouted when letter bomb exploded. “Waaaaaa…” he lay on the ground, “Ouch… I guess he wasn’t happy about me taking his money. I should’ve done that when I OFFICIALLY beat him. Waaaaaa…”

 

(Location- Ebi’s Place)

 

“Yow! OW! OWWWW!” Ash yelled

 

“Quit whining!” Misty tied a bandage on his arm, a little too tightly. He was struggling so much that Bayleef had to restrain him with the vines. “I’m trying to help you! And this is also practice for me when I become a doctor in the future!”

 

“Well doctors usually practice on cadavers!” Ash spoke through clenched teeth

 

“If you don’t stop whining, I WILL be practicing on a cadaver” Misty said threateningly, shutting Ash up. Misty reached the end of the bandage on Ash’s arm, and in order to tighten it, she put her foot on Ash’s arm, grabbed the bandage with both hands, and gave it a GOOOOOD yank. (OO) Ash’s eyes opened wide from that last bit. He didn’t make a sound, but inside, he was screaming.

 

“There! All better!” Misty clapped her hands and slapped Ash on the back reassuringly. “I guess by NOW you’ll learn to not train your pokémon using pester balls!”

 

As soon as she left, Ash fell to the floor on his back (××). The torturing session was over. “Even Melanie was a great healer, but she didn’t make the cut because she wasn’t a Nurse Joy.” Said Ash, “Now in Misty’s case, next time I’m injured, I’ll try and strangle myself to death. That’ll be much gentler…” Ash groaned

 

Ebi walked into the room and looked at him. “Um, Ash…” he sweatdropped, “Next time you’re mortally injured, you come to ME and medical help.” He held up a large tomato, “This is a Maximum Tomato! The VERY same they use in Kirby games, as well as the Smash Bros. Tournaments! Because I was an employee in there, I…”

 

“Ebi? Shut up and give me the tomato.”

 

(A few minutes later)

 

“GRRR!” Ash ripped the bandages off his arm and sighed in relief of getting those things off. If he left them on any longer, he would have gotten gangrene. “Ah,” he wiggled his fingers, allowing the circulation to pass through. He was still sore, but any cuts, bruises or burns have been healed. “Man, those Maximum Tomatoes sure come in handy! Hey Ebi, do you think I could put some in the Quick…”

 

“No!” Ebi snapped at him. “Just because I help you a bit doesn’t mean I’ll give you everything for free! Those things are really rare, and if you want them, it’s gonna cost ya…”

 

“Never mind!” Ash interrupted him. Pikachu closed his eyes and sighed. As Misty opened the door and walked out, Ash got up and followed her. “Hmmm… should I tell her about Aquamarine? When I opened that letter bomb, for a split second, I saw a letter that said to come ALONE. Should I go by myself?” Ash remembered what Misty told him about going out and doing stupid things, a few chapters back when they were in Scarlet City.

 

Ash rubbed the back of his head “Well, I may have a few bruises, but I’m fine! During the past few years, I’ve been zapped, scorched, half-drowned, whipped, frozen, fallen over a cliff, and bashed up big time, each on more than one occasion! I’m alive, and unharmed! What more could you want?”

 

Misty slapped him in the face, and glared at him, her face was red and burning with anger, and there was a small tear in the corner of her eye, “You can start by not being so stupid!” With that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

 

“Ouch!” Ash thought to himself, “No, she doesn’t NEED to know. And I think she’d be MUCH happier not knowing about this. The same thing as me having enough money to get her a FERRARI instead of some ratty old bike…” He thought to himself. He didn’t know HOW strong Aquamarine is, but he’d have to prepare for this match…

 

(Location- Green Forest Lake)

 

The night has passed quicker than Ash would’ve wanted. After that bombing he got from Aquamarine, he just didn’t feel AS confident about beating up Aquamarine. It was around 6:00 in the morning, and Misty, Brock and Ebi were asleep and wouldn’t know he was missing. Although the QuickSilver was a pretty good weapon for fighting, it wouldn’t be that strong against a spear. While Misty was asleep, Ash left her mallet, but took the bigger badder sledgehammer. She wouldn’t notice, because she’s always using the mallet anyways…

 

“Are you ready Pikachu? You and Bayleef are our main fighters in this match,” Ash asked Pikachu

 

Pika!” Pikachu answered

 

“Good…” Ash said. Suddenly, he sensed something… DANGER!

 

“JAVELIN RAIN!” Aquamarine yelled

 

“WA!” Ash dove out of the way of the javelins

 

“So you’ve FINNALY arrived!” Aquamarine stepped out of the trees and smirked

 

WHACK!

 

“OW!” Aquamarine fell on his back when Ash bashed his head with the sledgehammer

 

“Again with the spears! Will you QUIT trying to hit me with these things?!” Ash yelled, and then pulled up the QuickSilver and blocked when Aquamarine shot that harpoon from the gun.

 

“NO!” Aquamarine pressed a button on the gun that reeled in the harpoon, “This is a serious match!”

 

Whaddaya mean?” Ash crossed his arms

 

“This isn’t just ANY match you know!” Aquamarine yelled, “This is not about me, it’s about MISTY!”

 

“What does this has to do with her?” Ash yelled

 

“EVERYTHING!” Aquamarine yelled and dashed towards Ash with his trident.

 

“WAAA!” Ash jumped out of the way. Aquamarine missed and got his trident stuck in a tree. Ash growled, grabbed onto Aquamarine’s hair and smacked his face into the trunk. “Hey! What is this? I thought this was supposed to be a pokémon battle!”

 

“GRRR! Well you obviously were expecting something other than a pokémon match, seeing how you brought that sledgehammer along! What’s the matter? Too scared to fight in a Rupture match? HAAAAAA…” Aquamarine growled

 

“Rupture what?” Ash wondered, but Aquamarine broke his train of thoughts

 

“TIDAL SPEAR! HAA!” Aquamarine yanked the trident out of the tree trunk and slashed. Even though it didn’t hit Ash directly, it left a blue trail of energy, and the shockwave it sent through the air was enough to send him flying and hitting the ground with a loud thud.

 

“OWW!” Ash got up. Pikachu stood on all fours and his cheeks were sparking.

 

“You act that way around Misty, it’s unforgivable! She deserves better than you! HARPOON STRIKE!” Aquamarine yelled and fired the harpoon from the gun, Ash tilted his head to the side, missing it

 

“Deserves better? What are you talking about!?” Ash yelled, attaching the QuickSilver to his right arm in the weapon/shield mode and holding the sledgehammer with both hands, “Deserves someone with a big mouth, full of hot air and such lousy aim? Yeah right!”

 

“This isn’t gonna be a measly pokémon battle who decides who’s better with pokémon!” Aquamarine yelled and pulled out the trident, “This battle is far more important! This one will determine WHICH one of us is worthy of Misty’s feelings!”

 

“Will you quit it with the babbling long enough to give me a STRAIGHT explanation!?” Ash shouted

 

“We’re both similar, we’re both powerful trainers, we’re both strong fighters, and we both want Misty!” Aquamarine tightened his grip on the trident, “Now this is a test of skills, strength, and who’s worthier of her hand!”

 

“WHAT?!” Ash’s face went red, with both embarrassment and rage, “Oh shut up and let’s battle! Pikachu, attack!” Ash told Pikachu, “Whatever this jerk is talking about, I want to beat some sense into him!”

 

“ASH KETCHUM! If you’re truly worthy of her, then you’d be able to beat me!” Aquamarine yelled, “Prepare to lose! Ogopogo, I CHOOSE YOU!”

 

“GROOOOOOAAAAR!” A powerful Gyarados appeared and swung its gigantic tail.

 

“WAAAA!”

 

“PIKAAA!”

 

Ash and Pikachu jumped out of the way. The tail missed them, but smashed several trees to pieces.

 

“Stupid jerk! You’re only supposed to try to injure my pokémon!” Ash yelled

 

“PIKA!” Right when he heard Ash say that, Pikachu attacked Ash with lightning

 

“WAAA! That’s not what I meant Pikachu… LOOK OUT!” Ash grabbed Pikachu by the tail and pulled him out of the way of the Hydro Pump. “Whoa, sorry about the rough treatment”

 

Pika…” Pikachu sighed as he hung upside-down. As uncomfortable as this was, it was better than being hit by a blast of water as strong as a cannon

 

“I think I’ll use a different pokémon! Bayleef! Use Razor Leaf!” Ash released Bayleef

 

“BAYYYY BAAAAAAY!” Bayleef fired several razor sharp leaves at Gyarados, but they just bounced right off.

 

“WHAT?!” Ash looked at Ogopogo. It seemed like a normal Gyarados, then he noticed something. Along his long body, he was wearing some sort of silver armour, and a spiked helm was covering his head. “You’re giving pokémon weapons and armour! That’s cheating!”

 

“I said this was more than a measly pokémon battle! This is a full fledged ‘RUPTURE BATTLE’, and absolutely anything goes! Super Fiends just don’t get paid enough, and buying that armour put a HUGE dent in my account”

 

“You’re a super fiend?!” Ash tightened his grip on the heavy hammer, “So the Missingno guys have finally sent in another one!”

 

“Lots of super fiends may work for the Missingno gang, but I’m not one of them!”

 

Wa?”

 

“You see…” Aquamarine explained, “The super fiends are like a brotherhood, but we have lives of our own! Lots of us were trained fighters and worked as mercenaries, but I never worked as one, and I don’t plan to work for that band of weaklings! But I am not fighting you as a super fiend, I am fighting as Misty’s lover! Even if you were to beat me to a bloody pulp (yeah, I’d like to see you try that) I will not let you win!” Aquamarine returned to the battle, “Ogopogo, DRAGON RAGE!”

 

“ROOOAAR!” Ogopogo roared and fired a blast of fiery energy at Bayleef. Bayleef got hurt and collapsed…

 

“DAMN! With that armour, the Gyarados is tough!” Ash said to himself, “Hmm… Maybe… Even though metal armour bay defend against grass type attacks, it gives an extra weakness!” Ash pointed towards Ogopogo, “Pikachu! I know the more power you put into the thunder, the less accurate it is, even with a move that inaccurate, the metal will surely attract lightning! THUNDER!” Ash yelled

 

“PI-KA-CHUUUU!”

 

Ogopogo! Defend yourself from the lightning!” Aquamarine yelled

 

“ROOAAAR!” Ogopogo yelled and straightened up. The lightning hit him, but it didn’t have ANY effect whatsoever.

 

“WHAT?!” Ash yelled

 

“I saw you do that HydroThunder attack, and with Ogopogo’s Water and Flying traits, a critical hit from an electrical attack would do TWELVE times the damage! This special armour absorbs any types of electrical attacks harmlessly!” Aquamarine laughed “And that’s not all! Now that the armour’s electrically charged, if you so much as touch Ogopogo, you’ll suffer the electrical energy of your own thunder attack! All right Ogopogo, use CRUNCH!”

 

Ash growled. He couldn’t put any scratches on this armoured Gyarados! “Whatever! I had a backup plan anyways!” Ash laughed, “I saw this in a game where if you hit a berserk guys, they’ll attack anyone near to them, friend or foe!” Ash yelled

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“THIS!” Ash threw a TON of pester balls at Ogopogo. The purple gas was released, and the armoured Gyarados roared in fury. Ogopogo was thrashing about!


“GROAAAR!” Ogopogo turned to Aquamarine and in his berserk rage he attacked

 

“WHOA! YOW!” Aquamarine jumped high into the air as Ogopogo lunged forward and attempted to bite him, “OGOPOGO, RETURN!” Aquamarine called Ogopogo into a pokéball, dropped to his knees and sighed. Growling, he turned to Ash, “HARPOON STRIKE!” he fired the harpoon from his gun.

 

“WA!” Ash held up his right arm quickly. Sparks flew when Ash deflected it. Ash growled, he was lucky to have that shield thing, especially when fighting a crazed psycho with a lot of weapons. This wasn’t a situation to be taken lightly. “Oh so that’s how you wanna play it, huh?!”

 

“YEAH!” Aquamarine pulled out the trident and charged towards Ash

 

“Do nothing Pikachu!” Ash told Pikachu, “I wanna fight this freak myself!” Ash started running towards Pikachu, “As much as I hate fistfights, the only thing I enjoy more than a pokémon battle is to beat the living HELL out of a jerk like him!” The QuickSilver was attached to his right arm, and he was whirling the sledgehammer over his head with both hands. Even though he had some pretty good weapons, the outcome of this match determined on how hard either of them would fight. This wasn’t gonna be easy…

 

Aquamarine leapt into the air and dove down with the trident towards Ash, “PREPARE YOURSELF! ASH KETCHUM! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!”

 

“COME ON!” Ash yelled. He stood ready as Aquamarine sped towards him…

 

It’s Ash Vs. Aquamarine! Aquamarine is hoping to defeat Ash, and be the only one for Misty and win her heart! Will Ash just LET him win? No way, but Aquamarine is ready to kill, and would Ash stand a chance against this powerful fighter? Find out next time on PUA! Email me at mikazuchi@hotmail.com anytime!

 

TO BE CONTINUED