DP187: Difference between revisions

The [[Lily of the Valley Conference]] quarterfinals [[Full Battle]] between {{Ash}} and [[Paul]] continues from where it left off, with {{AP|Buizel}} trapped in the grip of {{p|Drapion}}'s tail. When Buizel tries to use {{m|Sonic Boom}} with his free tail, Drapion just grabs it with its pincer, shutting the attack down. Ash instructs Buizel to inflate and instantly release the floatation sack on his neck, which allows him to escape and hit Drapion with {{m|Water Gun}}, propelling himself into the air in the process. However, Paul expected this outcome and has Drapion use {{m|Toxic Spikes}}, which litters the field with them and {{status|poison}}s Buizel when he lands. Drapion then uses {{m|Pin Missile}} to finish Buizel off, finally bringing Ash down one Pokémon. Watching at home, Reggie explains that Paul knew he had his opening when Buizel escaped, and since a Trainer is liable to let their guard down after a successful escape, Paul knew he had the perfect opportunity to use Toxic Spikes and then score a quick knockout with Pin Missile.

Ash recalls Staraptor, and, now aware of Drapion's battling style of luring opponents in and trapping them with its tail, sends out the much bigger {{AP|Torterra}} (only for Paul to scoff and [[Reggie]] to remark that it was foolish for Ash to do this), who instantaneously gets poisoned by the Toxic Spikes. In the bleachers, {{an|Brock}} remarks that if Ash was using a Poison-type in this battle, then poison and poison would cancel out, resulting in the immediate elimination of the Toxic Spikes. The two Pokémon let out their battle cries, as Drapion goes in for a Cross Poison, but Torterra overpowers it with a quick {{m|Energy Ball}}. Ash has Torterra immediately follow that up with {{m|Leaf Storm}}, hitting Drapion again, before it pulls itself together and shuts the attack off with Pin Missile, resulting in a huge explosion. Ash, thinking Torterra is too big for Drapion to entrap, then has him go in for a {{m|Rock Climb}}. However, it turns out that Ash has underestimated Drapion; it manages to stop Torterra's attack cold with its pincers, vindicating Paul and Reggie's earlier statements about it being a bad move for Ash to send Torterra out against it. Drapion then uses {{m|Poison Fang}} to send Torterra plummeting back down to the battlefield, causing him major damage. He then uses {{m|Synthesis}} to regain some energy, but despite this, he ends up getting taken out after Drapion uses another Pin Missile.

Ash sends out Gliscor and Paul sends out his fourth Pokémon, {{DL|Paul|Ninjask}}, which uses {{m|Agility}} right from the start. Ash tells Gliscor to use its newest attack, {{m|Stone Edge}}. However, with Ninjask's Agility and {{a|Speed Boost}} [[Ability]] working in conjunction, Gliscor is unable to land a hit. Ninjask comes in with a quick {{m|Fury Cutter}}, hitting Gliscor countless times. While falling, Gliscor regains lift and tries to use {{m|Fire Fang}}, but Ninjask dodges, reappears from behind, and hits Gliscor in the back with another Fury Cutter, knocking it into the battlefield. Gliscor manages to stand up, but ends up getting poisoned from the Toxic Spikes, so Ash recalls it in favor of {{AP|Infernape}}, who also gets poisoned from the Toxic Spikes. Ash realizes that he's at a major disadvantage as long as the Toxic Spikes are active, but he quickly comes up with a plan and has Infernape use Dig, which surprises everyone since a Flying-type like Ninjask is immune to {{t|Ground}} attacks. Infernape then uses {{m|Flare Blitz}} from underground, illuminating the entire field in a bright red light and a subsequent eruption of fire, which not only eliminates the Toxic Spikes, but also causes Ninjask massive damage. Reggie is shocked at the unusual strategy, noting that Ash's tactic had to have surprised Paul as well. After Infernape resurfaces, Paul tells Ninjask to use {{m|Giga Drain}}, and it begins sapping Infernape of his energy. However, it turns out that all of the damage it endured from Infernape's underground Flare Blitz took a major toll on its speed, which allows Infernape to carefully scrutinize its movements and intercept it with a {{m|Mach Punch}}, knocking it out. Ash and Paul are now tied with three Pokémon each, and since Infernape is starting to get tired, Ash recalls him.

Paul sends out his fifth Pokémon, {{DL|Paul|Froslass}}, and Ash chooses {{AP|Pikachu}}. Paul starts things off by having Froslass use {{m|Hail}}, and a thick cold mist soon covers the entire battlefield. Froslass' {{a|Snow Cloak}} Ability then comes into effect as she begins fading in and out of view, preventing Pikachu from following her movements, and the situation becomes even more dire when Pikachu starts to take damage from the Hail. Ash commands him to use {{m|Thunderbolt}}, but the Hail severely restricts the attack, and it doesn't even come close to hitting Froslass. Paul has Froslass use {{m|Ice Shard}}, and Ash commands Pikachu to dodge, but he doesn't do so in time and suffers a direct hit. {{an|Barry}} worries that the attack barrage will become one-sided at this rate. Ash decides to use physical attacks instead and has Pikachu use {{m|Volt Tackle}}, but this doesn't work either, as Froslass simply phases through it and takes no damage. Froslass attempts to use another Ice Shard from behind, but Pikachu dodges it by leaping into the air, before finally scoring a hit on Froslass with a super-effective {{m|Iron Tail}}, knocking her into the ground; with all of the damage this caused, Hail finally subsides, leaving Froslass with nowhere to hide. Although Paul is impressed at this, he continues battling and has Froslass use {{m|Ice Beam}}, which [[Status|freeze]]s Pikachu. Froslass then prepares to use another Ice Shard, but Pikachu manages to escape his icy prison by smashing through it with Volt Tackle, then hit Froslass with it before she can launch the Ice Shard. As Pikachu suffers from the [[recoil]], Froslass is revealed to have fainted, thus leaving Paul with two Pokémon remaining. Although {{an|Dawn}} and Barry are happy that Ash is in the lead again, Brock reminds them that while Ash may have more remaining Pokémon, they have all taken considerable damage, whereas one of Paul's remaining two Pokémon has yet to enter the battle. Because of that, Ash is still operating at a disadvantage. Ash knows the round took a lot out of Pikachu, so he calls him back to the sidelines.  

Paul sends Drapion back out and Ash calls on Gliscor again, encouraging it to show Paul what it learned from [[McCann]]. Drapion uses Pin Missile to start things off and Gliscor dodges easily by launching into the sky. Gliscor uses Stone Edge, and Drapion uses Cross Poison to neutralize the attack, leaving behind a large smoke cloud that encases Gliscor. Ash then tells Gliscor to use {{m|Giga Impact}}, and it readies the attack, before flying erratically inside the smoke cloud to keep Paul and Drapion guessing about where it will emerge from. When Gliscor does emerge, Paul commands Drapion to use Poison Fang, but Gliscor hits Drapion in the back before it can do so. Paul commands Drapion to turn around and counterattack like it did with Buizel and Staraptor, but both are shocked to find Gliscor is nowhere to be seen. They then look up to see that Gliscor had used the recoil from the attack to quickly launch itself back into the air, safe from attack while it recharges from using Giga Impact. Reggie then remarks that Paul can no longer predict Ash's strategies, and with Paul's greatest strength now rendered moot, the winner of this battle is now anyone's guess. Reggie's thoughts are proven right as Paul realizes that he fell for Ash's strategy of using Stone Edge to divert his attention. He then has Drapion launch yet another Pin Missile, but Gliscor fearlessly flies right into the attack, expertly dodging every shot. It then readies an {{m|X-Scissor}} and dives straight for Drapion, with both Ash and Paul ready to give it their all as the battle enters its final stages.