DP189: Difference between revisions

It's now time for the semi-finals of the [[Lily of the Valley Conference]], and {{Ash}} has found himself up against [[Tobias]], the trainer who has managed to defeat all the [[Sinnoh]] [[Gym Leader]]s and all the other competitors using only his {{p|Darkrai}}. Tobias, unsurprisingly, sends out Darkrai to battle first, and Ash sends out his {{AP|Heracross}} to battle the Pitch Black Pokémon. Tobias tells Darkrai to use {{m|Ice Beam}} while Ash has Heracross use {{m|Hyper Beam}} and the two attacks collide. Ash then commands {{m|Horn Attack}}, but Darkrai intercepts it with a {{m|Dark Void}} which puts Heracross straight to {{status|sleep}}. Luckily Ash is prepared for this and calls out for a {{m|Sleep Talk}}, which turns into {{m|Megahorn}}. The Megahorn slams into Darkrai, who quickly rebounds and strikes Heracross with a {{m|Dream Eater}} attack knocking it out.  

Ash calls back Heracross, and sends out {{AP|Torkoal}} and commands a {{m|Flamethrower}} but Darkrai intercepts it with {{m|Dark Pulse}}. This causes a huge explosion which sends Torkoal flying back and knocking it out. Now that two of his Pokémon are fainted, Ash knows Tobias and Darkrai are living up to their reputations. Ash decides to send out {{AP|Gible}} next and has him begin with {{m|Rock Smash}} which manages to land a direct-hit. Tobias calls for Ice Beam, and Ash orders Gible to keep dodging. Eventually Gible fires a {{m|Draco Meteor}}, but Darkrai dodges and uses Dark Pulse, knocking out Gible.

Ash sends out his next Pokémon: {{AP|Sceptile}} which has speed and power on its side. Darkrai fires an Ice Beam, but Sceptile dodges and uses {{m|Quick Attack}}, which Darkrai avoids. Ash then orders Sceptile to use {{m|Leaf Storm}} but Darkrai dodges, gets up close and hits with Ice Beam. Sceptile is hurt and stumbles, allowing Darkrai to hit with Dark Void putting Sceptile to sleep. Darkrai then attacks Sceptile with {{m|Dream Eater}} which hits Sceptile and causes him to react in pain from the attack. At this point, Sceptile is floating in his {{a|Bad Dreams|dream}}, wondering what's happening, when he hears Ash's voice calling to him and wakes up immediately in response much to Tobias's surprise and shock. Ash tells Sceptile to use {{m|Leaf Blade}}, and Sceptile lands some hard and direct-hits which manage to knock out Darkrai! Everyone cheers for Ash, but {{an|Brock}} reminds {{an|Dawn}} and {{an|Barry}} that Tobias still has five other Pokémon to battle.

Tobias recalls Darkrai into its [[Poké Ball]] and is impressed with Ash. For the first time in Sinnoh, he now has to send out a second Pokémon. He even admits to Ash that he earned his spot in the semi-final rounds for accomplishing what no other Trainer could while battling him. Not worried in the slightest, he throws a Poké Ball into the air which releases Tobias's second Pokémon...

...a {{p|Latios}}! The Eon Pokémon descends from the sky, strafes past an astounded Ash, {{AP|Pikachu}} and Sceptile then flies around the stadium at an extremely fast speed then heads over to Tobias ready to battle. Ash can't believe what he's seeing, while an equally surprised Dawn looks Latios up on her [[Pokédex]] which explains that Latios can fly faster than a jet plane. Barry is confident in Sceptile's abilities.

Ash tells Sceptile to use Leaf Blade on Latios, but Tobias is ready for this and commands a {{m|Giga Impact}} from Latios who is far faster than Sceptile and hits it in mid-air knocking it out straight away to Ash's shock.

Ash thanks Sceptile for a great job after recalling it, sends out his {{AP|Swellow}} to combat Latios next. The two let out a battle-cry at each other, and Brock tells Dawn that as Swellow is very fast it should have a good chance against Latios. Ash tells Swellow to use Quick Attack, and Swellow speeds forward. However, Latios easily dodges it. Despite its high speed, Swellow is no match for Latios and finds itself on the run from the Eon Pokémon. He manages to get behind him and tries another attack, but Latios once again dodges and begins chasing Swellow. Ash tells Swellow to head to the ground and then use {{m|Aerial Ace}}. Swellow flies up towards the sun blocking it from view and then descends quickly with Aerial Ace powered up. Tobias orders Latios to use {{m|Luster Purge}}, and Latios hits Swellow in the middle of the descent, and Swellow crashes to the ground knocked out having not managed to score any hits against its opponent.

Ash recalls Swellow thanking it for trying its best, but fights back tears knowing he only has one Pokémon left and this battle is all but over. Dawn, Brock, and Barry are not giving up on Ash, and Pikachu is ready for a fight. Not giving up yet, Ash pulls back his {{AP|hat}} backwards and sends Pikachu in knowing that no matter what he and his Pokémon will always give it their all. Despite having gained respect for his opponent, Tobias is certain that this will be their last bout, and hopes that Ash will give him a good fight.

Pikachu starts off with a Quick Attack, and lands a small hit. Pikachu turns around and uses {{m|Volt Tackle}} and Latios spins around as well and uses Giga Impact to counter. The two attacks collide, and Pikachu comes out of it the worst and is sent flying backwards. Wincing, Pikachu lands on its feet and watches as Latios flies into the air and begins another Giga Impact. Pikachu tries to intercept once again with {{m|Iron Tail}}, but like before is sent flying backwards. Latios flies high up in the sky until it was barely visible, then flies back down, a sparkling pink Luster Purge glowing at its mouth. Ash sees Pikachu laying on the ground injured, and orders Pikachu to dodge, which Pikachu does, the Luster Purge narrowly missing.

Latios flies by and arcs up back into the sky, and unbeknownst to it, Pikachu has managed to get onto its back! Latios turns and sees Pikachu hanging on tightly. Pikachu uses {{m|Thunderbolt}} on the flying Latios, causing severe damage. Tobias tells Latios to shake Pikachu off, and Latios flies around trying to shake Pikachu off. However, he is hanging on for dear life and uses Thunderbolt again, causing Latios more damage which is now beginning to take its toll. By now Tobias has had enough and orders Latios to use {{m|Light Screen}}. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt again, but with Latios protected by Light Screen the attack's damage is lessened.

Pikachu tries again and again to knock out Latios but to no avail, while Latios flies high into the sky. Latios twists suddenly to descend and as Light Screen wears off it Pikachu loses his grip and starts falling. Latios lands inches from the ground and Tobias tells Latios to finish Pikachu with Luster Purge. Ash yells out for a Volt Tackle and Pikachu somersault and dives directly towards Latios with Volt Tackle fully powered. The Luster Purge meets the Volt Tackle, but the Volt Tackle slowly cuts through. Pikachu's strength is waning and he is struggling to cut through the attack. Ash yells at the top of his lungs for an Iron Tail, which cuts through the Luster Purge fully and scores a direct hit on Latios, causing a giant explosion which nearly knocks Ash and Tobias off their feet and manages to knock out all of the monitors.