Ch.32

"Charizard, buff up," Dad says to Charizard who uses Dragon Dance and Sword Dance, drastically raising his offensive stats.

"Dragonair, buff yourself," Lance says at the same time as my Dad. Dragonair then also uses Dragon Dance and Agility. 

"Charizard you know the drill," Dad says as Charizard uses Smokescreen to make another substitute of himself before charging Dragonair. 

"Dragonair, flip the battlefield!" Lance says as Dragonair does another dance, but this time a rainstorm forms atop the battlefield. 

The rainstorm then disperses the Sunny Day and cools down the battlefield while also weakening fire-type moves. Plus the sound of sizzling water on the lava is a somewhat calming sound to me. Right after the rain dance, Dragonair gathered more water-type energy for another move.

Right as Charizard appeared Dragonair released the move which was a large ball of water that shot like a cannon towards Charizard. However, it struck the fake Charizard immediately showing the real one who now closed the distance between the two. Charizard then landed a Dragon Claw which cut deeply into Dragonair who cried out in pain. 

Not giving any chance to Dragonair, Charizard then released his Dragon Breath right at Dragonair. Lance and Dragonair were both unable to respond to the sudden moves which did heavy damage to Dragonair. Right after the two moves, Charizard backed off and flew up above Dragonair. 

"Draongair, take him out of the sky!" Lance says with well-concealed worry in his voice. 

"Charizard, end this," Dad says not worried in the slightest. 

Dragonair then quickly gathers more water-type energy in its mouth. While Charizard gathers normal-type energy in his mouth. The two Pokémon finished gathering two types of energy and released them at the same time. Dragonair released a more powerful than normal Hydro Pump due to the rainy weather. While Charizard released his Hyper Beam. 

The two attacks met as the energy in between them quickly built up. Normally Charizard would have overpowered anyone else, but with the rainy weather, Dragonair was successfully meeting him head-on. Finally, the energy built up too much and caused what looked like a small EMP explosion. 

As the energy exploded outward pushing both Pokémon back Charizard ended up only getting pushed back a few feet. While Dragonair was pushed back almost falling into the lava around the outskirts of the arena. I could tell my Dad and Charizard were holding back since they could have ended it by now. 

"Dragonair, flood this place!" Lance says as Dragonair quickly gathers more water-type energy. 

"Charizard, give them one last push," Dad says as Charizard gathers Dragon-type energy again. 

Dragonair was a second to late as Charizard finished first, closing the distance between them. Dragonair tried to dodge but instead of using Dragon Claws, Charizard tricked Dragonair and instead used Dragon Pulse. As Charizard's gathered energy dispersed towards Dragonair as the wave of energy racked Dragonair's body. 

Dragonair cried in pain as it dropped its current move and collapsed onto the ground. Then slowly pushed itself up while staring at Charizard with a look of contempt and anger. Lance gave a worried look toward Dragonair, while my Dad and Charizard seemed completely unfazed. 

Lance then withdrew Dragonair seeing that he was going to lose no matter what and didn't want Dragonair to injure itself anymore. 

"Lance withdrew Dragonair! The winners are Gym Leader Blaine and Charizard!" the referee says as the whole crowd explodes in cheers and surprise since everyone has very high standards for Lance. 

My Dad then walked over to the disappointed Lance, with the few exchanging words and my Dad handing Lance the gym badge. Lance took it but I could see he was not happy that he wasn't able to defeat my Dad. However, smiled after shaking off his disappointment. 

"Everyone, before you all leave, I have something to say!" Dad says after talking with Lance and making the crowd stop, while the few viewers on the live stream stayed too. 

"I have one more battle today and it is with my son, Lucas! We will be battling in another hour!" Dad says as everyone then looks over to where my Dad was pointing to me. Then everyone got very excited and waved at me. 

My home town was the most exciting as many personally knew me, plus after starting my journey I made a name for myself. I rose to the top next to Lance who just lost against my Dad, so people were even more curious if I would do better than him even more now. 

Lance and Brock went to the Pokémon Center to heal Lance's Pokémon before my fight, while I went with my Dad to talk. Dad sent Torkoal and Charizard to go to the Pokémon Center too. 

"So, how close is Leo to entering the King Rank?" Dad says to me as we sit in the back of the gym away from the public. Where only staff are allowed inside. 

"Right at the cusp," I say to him not hiding anything as I trust my Dad more than anyone else in this world. Leo nods his head hearing the conversation. 

"Good, what about Primeape and Piloswine?" Dad says looking at my other two members. 

"Piloswine still has a decent road ahead of him. As for Primeape, he is a small amount away, plus I have an idea to help him grow. Though I will need your help, at some point," I say to my Dad while finally believing I know how to have him evolve. 

"Though I will need to jump Primeape's stats first and I have an item that I've been looking at," I say as Primeape looks excited hearing me. 

"Good, I'm glad you are making good progress. You know I will help you anytime," Dad says to me patting my shoulder. 

Then after talking a bit more and catching up, it is time to battle him. With a staff member coming back with Charizard and Torkoal's Poké Balls. Walking out we see the place is overcrowded now, with dozens of people standing near the stands just to see it in person. While the live stream was several hundred thousand more than Lance's viewer amount. 

I walk with all of my Pokémon outside their Poké Balls to my side of the arena, with my Dad doing the same as our Pokémon were talking just beforehand. Now they are all looking at each other with excitement for the battle to come. Not only my Dad and I are excited to battle officially, but his Pokémon too, to see how far we've come. 

"Please send out your first Pokémon," the referee says seeing everyone looking at one another with excited looks. 

"Piloswine, you are up first," I say to Piloswine who runs out into the arena while giving an excited battle cry. 

"Go on Magcargo," Dad says as his Fire Snail Pokémon moves out to his place in the arena. Everyone stared at one another with excitement and interest. 

"Begin!" the referee says seeing everyone ready.

"Piloswine, ensure your stats," I say as Piloswine immediately uses Amnesia and Mist, which first raises Piloswine's special defense and then ensures no other changes happen to his stats. 

"Buff up Magcargo," Dad says as Magcargo uses Iron Defense and Amnesia as well. 

"Piloswine, close the distance, but not by too much," 'Then use Mud Slap,' I say to Piloswine who gathers his ground-type Engery while charging toward Magcargo. 

"Burn them," Dad says to Magcargo who quickly gathers his fire-type energy. 

Piloswine charges Magcargo and releases a thick ball of mud toward Magcargo. While Magcargo released a jet of flames toward Piloswine and the ball of mud. Magcargo easily burned through the mud and almost reached Piloswine who side jumped away just in time. 

'Piloswine gather your ground-type energy and use it to enhance your body to slam into Magcargo,' I say to Piloswine who quickly begins gathering his energy, I hope to have him teach himself High Horsepower. 

"Magcargo, release your heat," Dad says as Magcargo quickly begins gathering his fire-type energy. 

Magcargo finished before Piloswine released a wave of intense heat around himself in all directions. Piloswine was too close and too focused on his new move to dodge and took the hit head-on. Piloswine grunted in pain as some of this thick fur got burned away by the heat. Thankfully with his buff and ability of Thick Fat, the super effective fire-type move is no longer that effective. 

Just after Magcargo released his wave of heat, Piloswine finished gathering his energy and used it to launch himself at Magcargo. The speed from using the ground to catapult himself at Magcargo, plus Magcargo's already very slow speed let Piloswine easily hit him. Magcargo tried moving enough to use his shell to take the brunt of the hit and was successful. 

Piloswine cracked the ground as he launched himself and the loud crashing sound of rock on rock was heard as Piloswine crashed into Magcargo's shell. The power from Piloswine sent Magcargo flying back a few dozen feet right into the lava. Piloswine stomped the ground happily at his success. 

However, the lava did not affect the already lava snail-like Pokémon, as Magcargo came out with only a cracked shell. Seeing the cracked shell, gave Piloswine and me some confidence as the hit appeared to be a critical one. 

"Piloswine, don't let up!" I say as Piloswine begins gathering more ground-type energy to launch himself once again. 

"Blast them!" Dad says with Magcargo gathering a lot of fire-type energy, Magcargo's strongest move looks like. 

Thankfully, Piloswine finished first once again launching himself at Magcargo. Just as the ground cracked again from the power behind Piloswine's charge, Magcargo finished gathering his energy. Magcargo released a huge fireball at Piloswine, who could not dodge it due to beelining it to Magcargo. 

The ball of fire quickly reached Piloswine exploding on impact and looking like a napalm bomb went off right on Piloswine. All we could see was the huge explosion of fire and the cry of Piloswine. Then through the smoke of the explosion came Piloswine who was heavily injured, but still smashed into Magcargo once again. 

Magcargo cried out this time not expecting Piloswine to push through his strongest move and got hit head-on. Magcargo crashed into the invisible wall this time and slid down to the lava once again. While Piloswine was breathing heavily with heavy scorch marks on his now mostly burnt-away fur. Almost all his fur from the front half of his body was burnt away, as you could now see his once-covered eyes completely. 

"Piloswine, swallow the ground!" I say wanting to end this since Piloswine will be recalled after this battle anyway, he is too hurt now. 

"Magcargo, blast him one more time!" Dad says as Magcargo pokes his head out of the lava looking at Piloswine with more respect. 

The two Pokémon gather their energy for their strongest moves, with Magcargo finishing first this time. Magcargo then released another huge fireball at Piloswine, just as the fireball was released Piloswine stomped the ground heavily causing a fissure to open up across the battlefield. 

The fireball crashed into Piloswine once again as another huge explosion rocked the battlefield with a pained cry from Piloswine escape from the explosion. Just as that happened, the fissure reached Magcargo who tried swimming in the lava away. Though the fissure sucked in the lava and quickly brought Magcargo to its depths. 

Magcargo let out a cry as it fell into the fissure and my Dad quickly withdrew Magcargo who was about to be extremely injured once the fissure closed. Though just as he withdrew Magcargo, the fire dispersed and showed an unconscious Piloswine. I then withdrew Piloswine and treated him. 

"Both Pokémon were withdrawn! Therefore the battle is a tie!" the referee says since they were both withdrawn at the same time roughly and Piloswine was very obviously unconscious. 

"Please send out your next Pokémon!" the referee says right after and the crowd is even more excited now seeing the first quick but intense fight. 

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AN: Just a reminder I won't be back until after the holidays. I hope everyone has a good holidays and see you all next year.