AG178: Difference between revisions

Ash is excited that he might run into Ho-Oh, but Brandon doesn't want them to follow. Ash reveals that he won six Battle Frontier Symbols and runs off. Brandon and the others pursue Ash. Meanwhile, Team Rocket find a {{p|Smoochum}} statue and set off a boulder trap similar to the one Ash set off.  

Ash runs into the door leading into the King’s chamber, which quickly opens, letting him inside, and shuts immediately thereafter. {{an|May}} and Max push against the door, but it does not budge. Brandon tries to find the mechanism that opens the King's chamber. Inside the King’s chamber, all of the torches light automatically as Ash stands up. He finds the King's throne under an enormous monument of the King himself and a stone orb shaped like a {{Ball|Poké}} resting on the seat. Thinking Ho-Oh is inside, he grabs the orb and holds it above his head, commanding it to emerge. Brandon gets the door open and they get inside. Brandon tries to get Ash to set the orb down, but the mysterious object suddenly activates. The orb levitates in the air as a dark voice chants a spell, enveloping Ash in dark energy. He falls to his knees, still surrounded by a blue and black aura. The others stare in shock as Ash gets back on his feet and laughs with a deep, sinister voice.

Max thinks Regirock is down and out, but the Rock Peak Pokémon breaks out of its tomb and immediately uses {{m|Hyper Beam}}. In an astonishing move, the King orders Sceptile to use the referee as cover. Sceptile initially hesitates, not used to Ash using such dirty tricks. The King tells him to obey, so Sceptile leaps behind the frightened referee, [[Samuel]], forcing Brandon to cancel the attack. The King uses Sceptile’s Leaf Blade on Regirock’s leg, causing it to kneel down. Regirock uses {{m|Lock-On}}, targeting Sceptile. The King orders another Leaf Blade on the other leg, rendering Regirock immobile. Regirock uses Hyper Beam again. Sceptile’s attempt to dodge fails as Lock-On ensures that the attack hits. Hyper Beam comes around and Sceptile is blasted to the ground and faints. The King refuses to admit defeat and orders Pikachu to battle. May, Brock, and Max defend Pikachu and try to break through to Ash. The King appears resistant and orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, but it refuses. Brandon reminds Ash that they’re his good friends, and Ash gets {{AP|Pikachu}} to use {{m|Thunderbolt}} on him. The attack frees Ash from captivity and purges the King from his body. Brandon uses a counter of the spell to banish the King's spirit back to the orb. Ash returns to normal, much to his friends' relief. Brandon admits to Scott that Ash's friends freed him from the spell.

As the sun sets, Brandon tells Ash that his own carelessness and arrogance attracted the King and rendered him vulnerable. Ash admits that he may be a foolish kid at times, but he still wants the chance to battle Brandon fair and square. Unfortunately, Brandon declines the challenge as he has some more ruins to visit, but he tells Ash he will get in touch when the time is right. He advises Ash to train hard in the meantime. Brandon and Samuel enter the Battle Pyramid, and Scott advises the group to stand back. The Pyramid's corners slide outward and dust begins to be kicked up. The massive structure lifts into the sky on rotors that keep it aloft, allowing Brandon to move to the his next ruins site. May notices a golden bird in the sky, and the whole group witnesses the real Ho-Oh flying in the distance. Ash remembers how he saw it [[EP001|when he first started out]] on his journey. He uses this to inspire himself to train for the official battle. But for now, the [[Grand Festival]] is on the horizon, and May cannot wait to put herself to the ultimate test.

* {{p|Pidgey}}