♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝔹𝕪 𝔻𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕪 (𝔸𝕞𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘) ♛

Chapter 29: PRELIMINARIES (5)

But it did not stop there. The memory continued, all condensed into a second.

Viridian Forest. Cerulean City. S.S. Anne. And finally, Lavender Town.

No one saw what was happening to Ash. For if someone did…

They would have saw short-lived embers of blue flames from his hands.

Blue watched the battle with a face of sympathy.

"Raticate's speed…" she began.

Ash snapped out of his trance. The feeling he felt dissipated.

'What the…?'

"Arcanine has inherited it and surpassed Raticate himself."

A clash of [Thunderbolt] and [Flamethrower] blinded the spectators.

"He trained hard until he was able to reach his maximum speed," Blue continued, unflinching at the light.

"That allowed him to learn [Quick Attack]… just like Raticate."

Emerald green eyes declared the end.

"I'm done with you."

"Before it evolved into a completely new move…"

"[Flare Blitz]."

"A Godlike swiftness, [Extremespeed]."

And a blazing charge shattered the earth.

Jolteon defeated by the large paw on its neck. A howl of victory signalled the end. And a confident Gary stood victorious, acquiring the right to participate in the main tournament.

"I knew he was strong, but this is nowhere close to what he was a year ago," Misty said aloud, recounting the time Gary challenged her for the Cascade Badge.

Ash then walked away.

"Red?" Blue uttered out, wondering where her friend was going.

And the boy made his way to the battlefield.

Gary shook hands with Volkner before the latter left.

Footsteps beckoned closer behind him. The orange-haired boy did not move a muscle. He already knew who it was.

"Hey…"

The green eyes turned to look at the red ones.

"Red."

The two smirked at each other, acknowledging one another.

Tension was in the air. The crowd stared at the two rivals.

Blue was worried another episode back at Saffron General Hospital was going to occur again.

But…

Beep! Beep!

Ash and Gary got slightly startled at the sound, the former looking at his Pass.

L-08 MATCH 6: RED VS REIJI

"Welp, looks like ya got a match coming up," Gary said.

"Yeah. You coming?" Ash asked.

Gary shrugged his shoulders and began walking out of the battlefield.

"Lead the way."

{ Each Trainer is allowed 2 Pokémon for this Match. }