AG126: Difference between revisions

The day before the [[Ever Grande Conference]] is due to begin, {{Ash}} continues his {{pkmn|training}} regime with his {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} as {{ashfr}} watch on. During the session, {{AP|Glalie}} unleashes an {{m|Ice Beam}} and scores an unintentional direct hit on Ash’s rival [[Morrison]]. After recovering, Morrison reveals his eighth [[Badge]] to the group, admitting that he can now compete in the Hoenn League, which {{an|Brock}} congratulates him on. Not wanting to be left out, Glalie pops up behind Ash's head to say hello, which Morrison instantly recognizes as the {{p|Snorunt}} that he had met the [[AG118|first time]] he and Ash met each other two months ago. Spotting the rest of Ash's Pokémon team, Morrison calls out his team for comparison: {{p|Growlithe}}, {{p|Gligar}}, {{p|Swampert}}, {{p|Steelix}}, {{p|Girafarig}} and his main Pokémon {{TP|Morrison|Beldum}}, all of which receive approving comments from both Ash and Brock.

With Team Rocket gone, Ash and Morrison climb out of the pitfall trap and thank Tyson for his assistance. Suddenly, Brock runs up, breathless and with a worried look on his face as he reminds Morrison that he still needs to register for the Conference. Scared that he might not be able to take part in the League after all his hard work of collecting Badges, Morrison instantly runs off to register, leaving a trail of dust behind him. At the [[Pokémon Center]], Morrison manages to register for the tournament with five minutes to spare and reunites with Ash, his friends and Tyson. Morrison again thanks Tyson for his assistance. Meowth tips its hat before storming off, seemingly agitated. Tyson decides that he should leave as well, admitting that Meowth had been through a lot. Tyson wishes Ash and Morrison all the best in the preliminaries, and the pair reply confidently.

The preliminaries, a set of one-on-one matches kick off the Ever Grande Conference. Morrison is up first, and selects his Beldum to take on {{OBP|Jump|AG126}} and his {{p|Electabuzz}}. To start things off, Morrison orders a {{m|Take Down}} [[Move|attack]], and Beldum immediately fires itself right at the opposing Electric Pokémon. Jump and Electabuzz however do not seem worried, and Jump taunts Morrison and orders Electabuzz to use {{m|Protect}}. Electabuzz does so, shielding itself with its arms. This defensive maneuver pays off, as the force of its attack being blocked sends Beldum flying back and smashing into the battlefield. Morrison tells Beldum to get up, as Ash and {{ashfr}} look on worried. However, Ash is confident that Beldum will pull through. Morrison once again orders a Take Down attack, and once again, Jump simply laughs the attack off and orders for Electabuzz to use Protect again. This has the same result as last time, and Beldum is once again sent flying back.

However, outside the stadium, not everything is as innocent and happy as Morrison. Lurking in the shadows, [[Jessie]] and [[James]] smirk as they prepare for their latest money-making venture as snack vendors, Meowth however is less impressed.

Ash, his friends and Morrison make their way to another stadium, this time to support Tyson and his trademark Meowth in their preliminary match against [[Vivica]] and her {{p|Persian}}. [[Max]] remarks that this match up will be interesting as Tyson's Meowth becomes increasingly aggravated at the sight of its evolved form. Finally, the referee starts the match and Tyson's Meowth instantly dashes towards Persian without even waiting for an attack order. Ash and friends are shocked by this sudden action, but Tyson remains calm and orders a {{m|Slash}} attack. Meowth extends its claws and leaps towards Persian, but its vicious Slash is dodged by its evolved counterpart incredible leap. Seeing an opening, Vivica quickly tells Persian to use its {{m|Fury Swipes}} as it lands. Persian quickly turns around and jumps towards Tyson's Meowth, using its claws to land several vicious blows on its opponent. Tyson orders a {{m|Double Team}}, so Meowth back flips and creates several identical clones of itself which surround Persian. Unfazed by Meowth's sneaky attack, Vivica orders a {{m|Water Pulse}} attack, creating huge pulses of water to surge through the battlefield which destroys the Meowth copies and hits the real Meowth, sending it flying back. Meowth manages to land on its feet. Vivica calls for {{m|Shadow Ball}}, which smashes Meowth right into the stadium wall. Not one to give up however, Meowth thrusts himself forward as Tyson orders an Iron Tail, sending Persian spiraling backwards. Tyson instantly orders a follow up Thunderbolt attack, though Vivica has her Persian {{m|Dig}} underground to avoid the attack. Meowth charges up its energy and aims its attack at the dig hole. The attack rips right through the ground until it hits its target, and Persian is thrust straight out of its underground hiding place and out into the open once again, screaming as it's still being shocked by the Thunderbolt mid-air. The attack eventually ends, and Persian is sent smashing into the ground and out for the count. Vivica calls out to her Pokémon, but the referee announces that it is unable to battle, declaring that Tyson and Meowth are the winners. However, Meowth does not want to battle to end there, and it extends its claws once again and runs towards the fallen Persian. Tyson attempts to hold Meowth back, but it frees itself from its Trainer's grip and leaps towards Persian as the crowd are left startled by the ferocity. But before it can attack, Tyson [[recall]]s Meowth back to its {{i|Poké Ball}}, gazing at it in concern.

Later, Ash's preliminary battle, against a young, martial arts user called {{OBP|Gilbert|AG126}} and his {{p|Hitmonlee}}. Tyson, Brock, Max, May and Morrison cheer Ash on from the audience, and the referee starts the battle off. Both Pikachu and Hitmonlee charge towards each other, with Gilbert commanding a {{m|Rolling Kick}}, and Ash ordering Iron Tail. Hitmonlee leaps towards Pikachu and kicks hard with his extendable legs. Though Pikachu quickly dodges and quickly unleashes his Iron Tail on Ash's command, sending Hitmonlee crashing down to earth. Gilbert tells Hitmonlee to use {{m|High Jump Kick}}, and Hitmonlee attempts to hit Pikachu while combining his attack with forward flips. Pikachu, however, uses his amazing speed to dodge all three kicks, leading Hitmonlee further and further towards the stadium wall. Seeing his chance, Hitmonlee thrusts forward to attack, but Pikachu makes a last minute dash to safety, causing Hitmonlee to [[Crash damage|hurt his knee]] against the hard surface of the stadium wall. Both Pokémon land and face-off, but Hitmonlee starts to feel the pain of his strained leg. As Hitmonlee's legs are his main source of attacking, they are also his weak spot, and so Gilbert senses that he'll have to end the battle fast, even if it means taking a risk. Ash orders Pikachu to attack, and Gilbert tells Hitmonlee to use {{m|Mega Kick}}. The Fighting Pokémon responds, and smashes his foot hard into Pikachu, but he feels pain while doing so. Thinking fast, Ash orders an Iron Tail just before both Pokémon hit the ground. The impact of the attacks cause a dust cloud to appear, and when it clears, Pikachu has struck Hitmonlee's head with his Iron Tail after using the attack to cushion the blow of the vicious kick attack. Hitmonlee falls to the ground, and Pikachu is declared the winner. Ash congratulates his best friend as he jumps into his arms for a celebration hug.