Chapter 280: The Rising Twin Stars

a/n; Guess what a bonus chapter since the previous 2 were too small for my conscience

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Two days had passed, and Ash had advanced through two more qualifiers on the Rock and Water Fields, each time winning with his trademark one-through-three pokemons. 

Now, Ash found himself entering the fourth round, with only a few more matches separating him from the main tournament.

Despite facing progressively stronger opponents, Ash continued to stand out, proving he wasn't just a one-hit wonder but a rising star in his own right. 

Not far behind him, Gary matched Ash's every victory, showing his skills were no less impressive. 

Though officially ranked lower than Ash, Gary's true strength was undeniable—on par with, if not surpassing, trainers of even higher levels.

With both Ash and Gary dazzling audiences in three consecutive matches, the Pokémon League saw an opportunity. 

They promoted the two as rising "Twin Stars," capturing the rivalry between them and igniting public excitement. 

After all, what was a good story without a pair of rivals? Fans began comparing them to the heroes of classic comics, each with an "old enemy" to test their limits.

"Today, Ash surprised everyone by sending out Haunter on the Water Field instead of Blastoise, who was expected," the announcer recapped after the day's matches. 

"Despite Haunter not yet evolving into Gengar, it's impressive how he's mastered Phantom Force, a skill usually reserved for fully evolved Gengars."

Footage of Haunter stealthily using Phantom Force to sneak behind his opponent, smoothly following up with a Shadow Ball attack that knocked out his Rival's Pokémon. 

Although he didn't reveal his secret Aerial Ace move, Haunter's tactics left fans buzzing with excitement.

The post-match review then shifted to Gary's performance. Today, Gary battled in the Ice Field, where most non-Ice-Type Pokémon struggled. 

But Gary's Sandslash, moving with surprising agility, overwhelmed his opponent's Pokémon, even those that had the advantage over him.

As both Ash and Gary's reputations soared, fans online dubbed them the "Twin Stars," convinced that these two were the most promising trainers in the Indigo Plateau Conference. 

But while the excitement swirled, Ash and Gary stayed focused, paying close attention to each other's matches but never directly interacting.

When the title "Twin Stars" came up on TV, Gary let out a quiet scoff, refusing to admit any rivalry. Ash, on the other hand, wasn't fazed by it, though Misty and Brock couldn't contain their enthusiasm. 

They saw Ash's rising fame as a sign of great things to come, predicting that after the conference, Ash's name would be known across Kanto—and maybe even beyond.

As the fourth day approached, Ash prepared to face his next opponent in the Ice Field. His Rival, drawn by lottery the day before, turned out to be a familiar face: a young Trainer dressed as a samurai.

"Long time no see, Ash!" The samurai boy, gripping a toy katana at his side, gave Ash a challenging smile.

Ash blinked, recognizing the boy from the Viridian Forest. "Samurai! I didn't expect to see you here."

"I've been watching your matches," Samurai said, his voice filled with resolve. "You've grown stronger. But I'm not the same either. This time, I'm going to beat you!"

Ash smiled. "I'm looking forward to it. Show me how much you've improved."

The referee stepped forward, reading the match rules. "This will be an Ice Field battle. Each Trainer may use three Pokémon, and the match ends when one side's three Pokémon are defeated."

After the coin toss, Samurai won the right to attack first. "I'll take the rear position!" he called, indicating a counter-strategy he had likely prepared in advance.

The referee signaled to both Trainers. "Send out your Pokémon!"

Without hesitation, Ash tossed out his Poké Ball. "Beedrill, you're up!"

Seeing Beedrill, Samurai's eyes widened. "It's the same Beedrill from back then…"

With a grin, Samurai threw his own Poké Ball. "Butterfree, I'm counting on you!" Out popped his Butterfree, evolved from the very same Metapod Ash had once battled in the forest.

The two familiar Pokémon took their places, each determined to prove the strength of their Trainers.

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