Chapter 39: Brock vs. Ash (2)
"Brock! I only lost the last round because I was careless! In this round, Squirtle versus Squirtle, I definitely won't lose to you!" Ash declared confidently to Brock, looking at the two Squirtle on the field.
Hearing Ash, Brock replied, "Ash, please begin your performance. Let's see how you plan to beat me."
After hearing Brock's response, Ash commanded his Squirtle, "Squirtle! Use Water Gun! Test out the opponent!"
Hearing Ash's command, Squirtle shot a stream of water from its mouth. The stream shot straight towards the opposing Squirtle.
Seeing Ash's Squirtle attack his Squirtle with Water Gun, Brock commanded his own, "Squirtle! Jump left and dodge!"
Just as Brock's Squirtle heard the command, it saw the Water Gun about to hit it. Startled, it quickly dodged. And just like that, the stream of water flew past Squirtle's feet.
Seeing his Squirtle dodge the Water Gun, Brock commanded, "Squirtle! Good chance! Now, use Water Gun!"
Hearing Brock's command, Squirtle shot a stream of water from its mouth. The Water Gun rapidly flew towards Ash's side.
Seeing a Water Gun coming towards his Squirtle, Ash commanded it, "Squirtle! Use Withdraw to block the Water Gun!"
Hearing Ash's command, Squirtle withdrew its entire body into its shell. Subsequently, Squirtle became just a turtle shell on the field. The Water Gun directly struck the turtle shell. The force of the Water Gun pushed the turtle shell several meters back.
After the Water Gun hit, the Squirtle emerged from its shell, completely unharmed. Seeing Squirtle was fine, Ash commanded it, "Squirtle! Quickly, use Skull Bash on the opposing Squirtle!"
Hearing Ash's command, Squirtle quickly charged forward, then leaped up, executing Skull Bash. Squirtle's entire body hurtled towards Brock's side. Brock saw Ash's Squirtle using Skull Bash. Because Skull Bash's accuracy is 100%, dodging wasn't possible; they could only endure it directly.
Brock commanded his own Squirtle, "Squirtle! Use Withdraw! Withstand the opposing Skull Bash!"
Hearing Brock, Squirtle pulled its arms and legs into its shell, becoming a turtle shell on the field.
Subsequently, Ash's Squirtle struck the turtle shell with Skull Bash. Both the turtle shell and Ash's Squirtle hurtled together towards Brock's direction for several meters before both Squirtle ended up lying on the field. Moreover, both Squirtle's eyes were spinning, indicating that both Pokémon had lost their ability to battle.
Brock and Ash both looked at the Squirtle on the field, seeing both were unable to battle. Both trainers recalled their Squirtle, then walked towards each other.
Brock said with disappointment, "Ash, this round counts as a draw. You really have gotten stronger." After speaking, he thought, Sigh! My decision not to train my Pokémon much recently was a mistake. Starting today, I need to treat every single Pokémon well and train each one properly.
Hearing Brock, Ash replied with disappointment, "Yeah, it's a draw... But you won the last round, and this round was a tie, so that still means you won overall! Brock, you really are amazing! You haven't even trained your Squirtle recently, but I have trained mine, and you still won in the end! Do you have some secret method that can make me stronger?"
Hearing Ash, Brock reminded him, "Ash, Pokémon battles aren't just battles between Pokémon; they're also battles between trainers. Put that way, can you understand?"
After hearing Brock, Ash shook his head and replied, "I don't understand."
Brock sighed at Ash's response and said, "Ash, let me put it simply for you. Pokémon battles involve the Pokémon battling each other, but they also involve a duel between the trainers. You can understand the 'trainer duel' part as giving commands to your Pokémon and figuring out how to evade the opponent's attacks. However, there's much more a trainer needs to learn, such as understanding the field environment, using strategies, knowing the damage of moves on different Pokémon, and so on. So, Ash, both you and I still have many, many things to learn. Let's both do our best!"
Hearing Brock's explanation, Ash lowered his head silently, thinking about something unknown. Seeing Ash lower his head in silence, Brock also closed his mouth. An unknown amount of time passed, and evening slowly descended. Both Brock and Ash snapped back to their senses.
Seeing the sky had gradually darkened, Brock said to Ash, "Ash, it's gotten late. We should head back, otherwise Misty and the others will worry."
Hearing Brock, Ash replied, "Okay." Subsequently, Brock and Ash recalled the Pokémon that were training, then headed together towards the lighthouse. And so, a silhouette appeared: two boys and two Pokémon (Pikachu & Meowth) walking on the beach at night.
By this time, Brock and Ash had returned to the lighthouse. Misty, Daisy, and Melanie had already finished making dinner and were about to go call Brock and Ash when they saw them return.
Seeing Brock and Ash come back, Misty asked worriedly, "Ash! Brock! Where did you go to train? Why are you only coming back now?!"
Hearing Misty, Daisy, who was nearby, said, "Misty, don't scold Brock and Ash now. The food is ready; let's just go eat! If we wait longer, it'll get cold and won't taste as good."
Melanie nearby also chimed in, "Yes! Let's call Dr. Bill to eat with us too!"
Subsequently, Brock and the group went to eat dinner.
Brock and Ash trained their Pokémon on this beach for over a month. During this month-plus, Brock and Ash trained their Pokémon like this: In the mornings, they trained the Pokémon's moves and stamina. In the afternoons, the two of them had their Pokémon battle each other. In the evenings, Brock explained Pokémon knowledge to Ash. They persisted like this for over a month.
And after more than a month of training, both Ash's and Brock's strength had improved significantly. Moreover, it also caused some of their Pokémon to evolve. For example: Zubat evolved into Golbat; Charmander evolved into Charmeleon (this was Brock's Charmander that evolved; Ash's did not). Squirtle evolved into Wartortle (this was Ash's Squirtle that evolved, while Brock's did not).
One evening during that month, just after Brock and the group had finished dinner, a sound came from the direction of the sea. Hearing this sound, Dr. Bill became excited and exclaimed, "It's here! It's here! I've waited for almost a year! It's finally come again! Today, no matter what, I must find out the true identity of this giant Pokémon!"
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