Kanto - Indigo League

The next day Ash woke up early and ushered the four Pokemon he would be using to the bathroom and gave all four of them a nice relaxing bath. Today he would be battling Paul and he wanted his Pokemon to be less stressed as possible. One of the best ways to do that was a good massage and calming wash followed by a light but healthy breakfast. Brock and Chloe had also taken to waking up early and going for their volunteer shifts. Gou however took his time and Misty did as well, she had to cheer her Pokemon up too, they were a little down they lost. Misty had taken her Pokemon out the night before and met up with other water Pokemon trainers, they had created their own little niche by the lake.

Ash, "Alright boys and girls! Today we are battling against Paul. I want you all to do your best and give him the battle of the century."

The Pokemon cheered at that and Ash returned three of them while Pikachu climbed his shoulder. Ash rubbed the yellow mouse's chin getting a purr from him before heading to the large stadium. The stadium he was heading to was one of the newer ones that was built two years ago and could hold more than two hundred thousand people. It was very large and could almost match one of the Galar stadiums.... Almost being key word here.

Announcer, "Welcome to the quarter finals where our eight participants will battle to have a chance in the semi finals. Let's welcome our quarter finalist."

The crowd cheered at that and the announcer continued, "Now let's see who'll battle first."

The wheel which was on the opposite side facing them turned till the arrow landed on the green colour. Ash's colour was blue, Jessilina was red and Ethan from what he knew was yellow, which meant that Tyson would battle first. Ash and the others left the battlefield to a designated area kept separated from the audience for them as Tyson took his place facing his opponent Gavin.

Announcer, "Choose your Pokemon!"

Tyson, "Let's go Hariyama!"

Gavin, "Let's go Machamp!"

Announcer, "Begin!"

Ash, "Wao!"

Paul approached him, "You are not using Lucario?"

Ash gave a grumble, "I'm banned!"

Paul, "What? Wait... Does it have to do with the blue energy?"

Ash nodded, "Yup! Till it's hundred percent healed, no Lucario or Charizard or Milotic."

Paul looked a little disappointed, "I was actually looking forward to facing your starter with mine."

Ash, "We could battle after the League is done, a full six on six."

Paul, "You'll be okay by then?"

Ash nodded, "According to my Doctor, yeah I will."

Jessilina, "Tyson won the first match."

Ash and Paul looked up and Tyson's Hariyama was standing over Machamp, who was recalled by Gavin. Gavin chose Slowking next and the battle continued with Hariyama and Slowking both having a double knock out and Tyson was in the lead. The next two Pokemon were Tyson's Meowth and Gavin's Marowak and the two Pokemon fought and Ash noticed it was the same Meowth from the anime. The battle ended in Tyson's favour with three Pokemon still standing but Gavin not wanting to loose chose his starter Swampert who defeated Meowth. Tyson's Empoleon fought against Swampert and it became a match between two different water starters. Tyson or rather the dual steel and water type won the match and they moved on to the semi finals.

Ash, "That was very impressive!"

Jessilina, "Indeed! It's your turn next Ash."

Ash looked up and saw the wheel arrow had stopped at blue, "It seems so, let's go Pikachu!"

Paul, "See you down there!"

Announcer, "Welcome to the second match of the quarter finals! Trainers choose your Pokemon."

Paul, "Stand by for battle, Poliwrath!"

Ash, "I choose you Primeape!"

Announcer, "Begin!"

Ash, "Leer, Karate, Fury, scratch and low kick."

Paul twitched, "Use belly drum followed by mind reader, counter accordingly."

Ash gave a shit eating grin, mind reader was useful only when the Pokemon can hit their opponent with it. Primeape was moving around as he used fury swipes and gave Poliwrath a karate chop. Poliwrath was hit and looked at his opponent annoyed before using mind reader again and this time countered the fury swipes with mega punch. Primeape gave a leer at that making Poliwrath bristle before the monkey Pokemon used low sweep.

Paul, "Get up Poliwrath use rain dance!"

Ash, "Rest Primeape, then use taunt followed by seismic toss."

Poliwrath used rain dance to power himself up while Primeape rested to recover his lost energy. The two Pokemon finished at the same time before Primeape tainted Poliwrath and the water fighting type attacked the monkey Pokemon. Primeape was waiting for it and grabbed him and gave him a powerful seismic toss.

Paul, "Poliwrath get up!"

Poliwrath was a little shaken but got up slowly, "Poli!"

Ash gave an appreciative whistle, "Tough guy, let's do this then Primeape brick break!"

Paul, "Use hydro pump!"

Primeape rushed at the tadpole Pokemon just as he shot hydro pump. The monkey Pokemon jumped high to avoid the powerful shot of water and came down on the water type with a powerful brick break. Poliwrath fell to the battlefield hard.

Announcer, "Poliwrath is unable to battle, Primeape wins the first round."

Paul returned Primeape, "Stand by for battle Ursaring!"

Announcer, "Begin!"

Paul, "Hammer arm!"

Ash, "Thunder punch!"

Paul twitched on hearing that, 'He could have easily won the first round. Doesn't matter he won anyway.'

Two Pokemon known for their short tempers jumped at each other and attacked the other to get a victory. Primeape grunted as the hammer arm landed and Ursaring hissed as he was punched with the thunder punch. An electric type attack usually does not effect an Ursaring but thanks to being paired up with a punch it was painful. They separated and went at it again without their trainers promoting the two attacks clashing.

Paul, "Hyper beam!"

Ash, "Swagger! Outrage!"

Primeape swaggered and dodged the hyper beam attack before blowing up on the bear Pokemon. Ursaring grunted but didn't give in and used hammer arm again before shooting another hyperbeam. Primeape hit him with another thunder punch before he was blown away by the attack.

Announcer, "Primeape is unable to battle Ursaring wins. Both sides are down by one Pokemon each."

Ash, "Return Primeape, rest up. Now your turn Muk."

Announcer, "Begin."

Paul, "Use focus blast ..... What's wrong?"

Ursaring grunted, "Ursa."

Ash, "Muk poison gas."

Paul, "Move Ursaring."

Ursaring hissed as he tried to move his body, the damn monkey had paralysed him with those electric attacks. No wonder he looked smug despite being beaten. The bear winced as the poison gas enveloped him and he could do nothing but try to hold his breath in.

Ash, "Now fire punch!"

Paul cursed inside his head as Muk used fire punch on the gas surrounding Ursaring and created a powerful explosion. Ursaring could only watch incredulously as the air around him exploded and he could just feel the pain as he fell. He heard his trainer call him but he was having a hard time getting up at the moment thanks to the paralysis and then the explosion.

Announcer, "Ursaring is unable to battle, Muk wins the match. Quite an unexpected combination but it was super effective."

Pikachu cheered, "Pika pika!"

Paul, "Return, now stand by for battle Fearrow."

Announcer, "Begin!"

Paul, "Drill run!"

Ash, "Harden followed by poison gas!"

Paul, "Gust!"

Fearrow flew above Muk creating a gust that blew away the poison gas before using drill run. Muk gave a laugh at the attack making Fearrow disgruntled and separate from him, despite the special solution used to make Muks smell less horrid. They still stink!

Paul, "Sky attack!"

Ash, "Dark pulse!"

Muk created a dark pulsing ball tinted with a light purple colour representing his poison type. He shot the attack at Fearrow who dodged and created another ball. The flying type attack hit the poison type, something that Muk was waiting for before he hit Fearrow with the dark pulse. Fearrow gave a screech as he was affected by poison the same way Muk was affected by the powerful attack.

Paul, "Fearrow let's end this fury attack!"

Ash, "Acid armour followed by sludge."

Muk nodded and covered himself in acid just as the attack fell on his person. Fearrow winced on coming in contact with them acid but gave it his best and Muk attacked him using sludge. Both Pokemon glowered at each other before separating and were at a standstill before falling in dead faint.

Announcer, "And we have yet another double knock out. Ash however is on the lead with two healthy Pokemon while Paul has one left."

Paul returned Fearrow, "Stand by for battle Torterra!"

Ash, "Return Muk, let's go Wigglytuff."

Announcer, "Begin!"

Paul, "Razor leaf!"

Ash, "Defense curl roll!"

Wigglytuff curled in on herself and rolled around the field as Torterra used razor leaf to attack her. Wigglytuff rolled around picking up speed and moving faster and faster before it automatically turned into gyro ball.

Paul, "Wood Hammer quick!"

The gyro ball hit the wood hammer very hard making a clang sound which resounded through the field. Wigglytuff rolled back before going in for an attack again and Torterra used hammer arm to defend itself again. Wigglytuff attacked Torterra a third time but this time instead of wood hammer Torterra retaliated using drain. Wigglytuff tched on feeling her energy get absorbed by the continent Pokemon and moved away.

Paul, "Leaf storm!"

Ash, "Use disable!"

Paul twitched as Ash gave a grin and Pikachu laughed, the electric type knew how powerful Wigglytuff's disable was. Charizard, Blastoise, Milotic, himself and many others were unable to use their signature powerful moves after that particular move was used. Torterra looked confused when he was unable to summon a leaf storm before he glowered at Wigglytuff who was grinning.

Paul, "Tch solar beam, just because that move was disabled doesn't mean the energy behind it was."

Ash, "Solar beam as well Wigglytuff."

The grass starter and Kanto fairy type both shot solar beam, and the two attacks were equal in power. Torterra however started to use sunny day half way through and the solar beam and started to overpower Wigglytuff. Seeing that she was at a disadvantage Wigglytuff used mimic to copy what Torterra was doing and the two Pokemon created a large solar ball which exploded. When the dust and the light cleared Torterra and Wigglytuff were both down but Torterra started to get up and stood tall.

Announcer, "Wigglytuff is unable to battle, Torterra wins the match."

Ash, "Return Wigglytuff. Thank you for the battle. Ready Pikachu?"

Pikachu chirped before jumping from his shoulder, "Pika pikapi!"

Announcer, "Begin!"

Paul, 'Can't use leaf storm yet so.', "Leech seed!"

Ash, "Iron tail."

Pikachu narrowed his eyes at the seed and vines before his tail glowed and he cut the vine and seed to half. Pikachu then jumped and cut the other leech seed before coming down on Torterra hard and fast.

Paul, "Withdraw. Razor leaf."

Ash, "Iron tail on the shell!"

Pikachu nodded, the mouse had noticed the dents Wigglytuff had left earlier. The electric mouse hit the same area with iron tail before he jumped away to dodge the sharp leaf blades.

Ash, "Agility and add thunder bolt to the iron tail."

Paul, "Sunny day, recover your strength and use earthquake!"

Pikachu used agility to jump as the field shook from the earthquake before his tail crackled with electricity. The yellow mouse's came down as a bright yellow electric ball and the iron tail boosted with electricity landed on Torterra hard. Torterra hissed and the two Pokemon separated and looked at each other before the grass starter fell exhausted.

Announcer, "Torterra is unable to battle, Pikachu won the match."

Pikachu gave a sigh and fell too, "Pikapi!"

Ash picked Pikachu up, "You were awesome buddy thank you! We'll work on increasing your stamina and energy levels. Okay!"

Pikachu nuzzled him, "Pikaaa pikapi~"

Paul, "Good match."

Torterra got up and nodded, "Tor!"

Ash, "Your Torterra is a mess, my Venasaur is at the centre. Let's head over there first."

Paul, "Right your Venasaur is learning how to heal right?"

Ash nodded, "After the mess with Team Rocket that destroyed the Viridian Pokemon centre. We decided having a healer in the team would be good. It's not easy to learn, I won't deny it but totally worth it."

Paul, "Isn't the course pricey?"

Ash nodded as they left the field Pikachu in his arms, "Yeah, it cost me fourteen thousand, four hundred and fifty pokedollars for one semester. Next semester I'll have to pay another fourteen thousand."

Paul walked, "It takes two years to complete right?"

Ash, "Yep! I have to actually pay fifty two thousand but they agreed to let me pay in installments. It let's me meet up with Venasaur too."

Paul, "I think I might be able to afford it, my travels and battle through Sinnoh and Unova earned me enough to pay."

Ash, "I think it's worth it. You can attend some of the classes too. Some lessons are on human illness and accidents and how to handle them. I am certified to apply first aid during emergencies."

Paul at Brock and Venasaur, he could see the usefulness of having a partner who can heal on your team. He fingered the pokeball holding his Ivysaur and decided to apply for it in the next region. That way he can meet up with him through the journey in that region at the Pokemon centre. And make sure Ivysaur's training didn't lag behind just because she was focusing on healing more. Jessilina was battling against her opponent on the screen and her Arbok was easily dominating the Steelix. Paul had to give it to that woman, for a former Pokemon coordinator Master, she was stronger than most gym leaders, and that was saying something.

[A. N.: Almost over! The Kanto region is almost over.]