220. Double Battles

May chased the Wurmple but didn't get far, and Ash didn't follow behind her too much after letting the Rocket Trio go.

Before he could make sure May was safe, he was stopped by a young man, "Your Pokémon seems to be very powerful. Would you like to have a battle with me?"

Now Ash's appearance was very interesting. Pikachu is running with him on the ground and not on his shoulders, but his little Ralts was lying lazily on his head, and her green hair seems to be wearing a small green hat on him.

The whole scene was very cute.

It turned out to be an invitation to fight, and Ash would never refuse a fight in a moment where he had close to no points!

This boy's name is Franklin. "Is it okay to double battles with you?"

A doubles battle is just like its name, it's a battle where two Pokémon under the same Trainer in this case are used at one time to battle. Here in the Hoenn Region, this has been adopted as one of the many official rule of the battle.

When it comes to this kind of battles, Ash has little to no experience.

The little he remembers was that the last Gym Badge on the Orange Islands was a doubles battle against an aunt, in that battle he used his Pikachu and his Charizard, his two most trusted and strongest Pokémon.

However, the Orange League's Gym Challenges were not formal one. Later it was officially adopted by the Hoenn League after seeing this battle for being good at testing the Trainers commanding abilities and their Pokémon's ability to respond quickly. There was also the fact that they found this style help many of their Trainers able tk better connect with their Pokémon.

"Of course, that's no problem with me!" Ash was very confident in his bond with Pokémon.

The battle soon started from there.

Franklin, who launched the challenge, was the one who went first, "Come out, Ariados, and Yanma!"

Both of his Pokémon's were Bug-types, Ariados is a common Bug and Poison-type Pokémon, and Yanma is a little more rarer Bug and Flying-type Pokémon.

Ash just nodded his head, the legendary insect-catching boy?

Whern will he see his favorite character, Youngster Joey?

"Stand by for battle, Treecko, Taillow!" Ash naturally sent out the two Pokémon he had recently captured in the Hoenn Region.

Using Pikachu and Dratini would be too much of a bully and each one could defeat their opponent in less than a second, and Ralts has not yet formed a fighting force and is being pampered by him.

"Ariados, use String Shot!" Franklin took the lead in launching the offense. The spider silk formed many large and thick webs that Ariados shot them towards Ash's Treecko and Taillow.

"Get away from there!" The moment Ash ordered them to get away, Franklin launched another attack.

"Yanma, let's use your Sonic Boom!"

Yanma has the ability to vibrate its wings at very high speed, which can even shatter glass windows. In fact, this is just its Sonic Boom attack on a much weaken vibration.

"Quick Attack!" Ash just gave a command, but both Pokémon immediately took action!

Ash's offense for Pokémon's like them is to attack with fast and precise attacks, so it is natural that both of them can use Quick Attack!

Taillow faced Yanma in the air, avoiding its Sonic Boom attacks, and pecking at it hard!

Treecko clung to the ground and moved as fast as he could. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Ariados. He waved his thick tail and sent Ariados flying away.

This scene made Franklin look at him sideways, a little more hesitant. How could he attack so cleanly? His tactics of coordinated attacks from the ground and the air were cracked by Ash from the beginning in an instant!

Ash, just who are you?

"In this case, Ariados use Night Slash, and Yanma use Swift!" Franklin adopted a joint attack tactic, and the two attacks crossed their attack towards two of Ash's Pokémon's.

When the Night Slash hit Treecko, Swift also hit Taillow. But after a while, the Night Slash hit Taillow, and Swift turned to hit Treecko.

They have to face different attacks from two directions at any time. This tactic is indeed only encountered in doubles battles.

"Taillow, throw Treecko up into the air!"

Treecko jumped up, grabbed Taillow's feet, and with a combined force, Treecko leaped towards high sky.

These attacks suddenly lost their target and were all directed at the ground!

"How is that possible?" Franklin was stunned when he saw Treecko jumping in the sky. What kind of magical tactics is this?

Ahs smiled slightly, "Taillow, use Aerial Ace!"

This is a Flying-type attack that Taillow has only recently learned. It sent Treecko up into the air and then lands on the ground itself. All attacks fall on the ground around him and fail to hit him.

"Treecko, use Pound!"

Franklin finally realized what Ash was planning on doing. He actually switched the positions of the ground and air, with his Treecko responsible for the air attacks and his Taillow responsible for the ground attacks!

But now it's already too late, Aerial Ace hit Ariados solidly, and Treecko's Pound falling from the sky is like a giant palm, slamming Yanma deeper into the ground!

"It seems the winner has already been decided!" Ash and Franklin looked at each other and smiled.

"Ash, you are really awesome. I thought I saw it wrong but looks like I'm correct, you were the last Silver Conference Champion and apparently the youngest Side Elite. Your strength is really admirable!" Franklin shook hands with Ash with admiration, "You must win this years Hoenn League Ever Grande Conference as well. Since you are already at the level of those Elite 4's members like those reports says, this will be very easy for you!"

"Of course!" Ash is very confident about this!

After his unofficial battle against Lance, some medias found about him and were waiting for him to challenge the Kanto or Johto Elite 4 when he turns 20 years old.

Feeling Ash's confidence and joy, the little Ralts above him also cheered up.

Saying goodbye to Franklin, Ash saw that May also successfully subdued her target Wurmple. Then she remembered that she had seen Ash just now, "Ash, thank you for coming to take care of me!"

"It's nothing. Thanks to you getting here, I had a good battle!"

May said from Ash's hand as he picked her up in his arms became injured her ankles.

When the two slowly returned to the camp with a blush, May more than Ash, Brock had already prepared lunch for them, which was still the same delicious and tasty meal they always ate. "Then since everyone is finally here, it's time to start dinner!"

Ash released his Dratini, Treecko and Taillow, as his Pikachu and Ralts were already outside with him. "It's time to eat guys. You two have won another battle. Eat more this time or celebrate!"

May also took out two of her Poké Balls, "Then I'll release my adorable Torchic and Wurmple too!"

Wurmple just had some minor superficial injury. He stayed in the Poké Ball for a while, and now he has recovered more than half of it. His big eyes were staring at the bowls of Pokémon food in front of him, and he just jumped up and down on them.

Before May and Brock had time to stop it, thsi little guy actually ate all the three Pokémon foods belonging to Torchic, Lotad and itself!

Fortunately, Dratini was the fastest and immediately protects his own food and Ralts, which was all stuff bought by Ash. He really can't give it to Wurmple, or something bad will happen to it!

Pikachu, Treecko, and Taillow were also fast enough to take their food away from Wurmple before he ate theirs too.

Seeing its eating appearance, Brock was shocked, "What the Giratina, why is this Wurmple is a glutton beyond imagination?!"

He also wanted to say, 'Why does Mays Pokémon's eat so much??'

After eating, the Wurmple twisted and crawled to May's feet, curled up and fell asleep right there.

"Looks like it just got full and wanted some rest!" Max knelt down and looked at his sister's second Pokémon, and he seemed to like it a bit.

"The most important thing for Bug-type Pokémon at this stage in their life is to eat and accumulate energy for their final stage of evolution. Brock, I will trouble you to prepare more food in the future for this little glutton!" Ash patted Brock's defeated shoulders and left these matters to him. Well at least he can be rest assured.

"Sure enough, this little one is just like me!" May picked up her sleeping Wurmple and took it back back it's Poké Ball.

Brock nodded and smiled, "Yes, maybe he will become a big shot in the future!"

The team of Ash, Brock, May, and Max's next step is finally to go to Rustboro City!