"The third match of the Indigo Plateau Conference, moving us from the top 32 to the top 16, is about to commence! On the red side, we have Ash, and on the green side, Lizzy!"
Announced the commentator as the clock neared 10 a.m., the excitement in his voice reflecting the charged atmosphere.
"Ash! Ash! Ash!" The crowd's chants rose, at first a chaotic mix of voices, but gradually gaining rhythm and volume.
Soon, the entire stadium echoed with Ash's name, as more and more spectators joined the cheer.
Amid this wave of applause, Ash emerged from the tunnel, his ever-faithful Pikachu trotting beside him.
To the crowd, Pikachu might appear as Ash's adorable mascot, but those who knew Ash understood that Pikachu was much more—a symbol of Ash's resilience and strength.
"The prowess of Ash needs no introduction," the commentator continued, voice now raised to match the crowd's energy.
"During the four days of qualifiers, Ash swept through his matches, defeating his opponents in one-versus-three battles and securing his place in the main rounds! Outside this stadium, Ash is regarded as one of the top contenders for this year's Indigo Plateau Championship!"
As he spoke, on the opposite side, a girl in a traditional red kimono appeared from the green tunnel.
Her entrance was met with an equally enthusiastic response from her fans, who chanted her name with fervour.
"Victory, victory! Miss Lizzy, win! Victory, victory! Miss Lizzy's the best!" Her fanbase was notably diverse—more than three-quarters were women, reflecting her widespread popularity.
Like Ash, she, too, had been pegged as a favorite to take the championship this year.
Lizzy made her way to her Trainer's platform, her movements calm and graceful. She smiled softly, looking over at Ash.
"Please give me more advice…" she said, her voice amplified by the stadium speakers for everyone to hear.
The courtesy surprised Ash for a moment before he smiled back, realizing that this was all part of her pre-match ritual.
"This upcoming match between Ash and Lizzy will be a six-on-six Pokémon battle!" the referee announced from the stand.
"The match will end when one side loses all six Pokémon!" With the rules stated, the referee gestured for both trainers to guess for who would go first.
"Heads," Ash called, his tone calm and confident. The referee tossed the coin into the air, catching it deftly and flipping his hand to reveal heads.
"I'll take the first move!" Ash said, taking a deep breath. He preferred taking the offensive, giving him the advantage of setting the pace.
Though this approach would allow Lizzy the chance to counter, Ash trusted his strategies.
"Player Ash has chosen to attack first. Now, both trainers, please release your Pokémon!" the commentator announced, building anticipation.
"Pidgeot, let's go!" Ash shouted, adjusting his cap as he threw his Poké Ball high into the air.
The ball spun before opening, releasing a flash of white light that materialized into Pidgeot's powerful form, with wings spread wide and ready for battle.
"Pidgeot! Ash's first Pokémon is making its debut in this tournament!" Though the commentator had Ash's information on hand, the choice still surprised him.
"As expected… it's Pidgeot," Lizzy said quietly, though her expression showed no shock.
She had studied Ash's past battles and knew his main team members well.
But she had her own countermeasures in mind. "It's time…Scizor, let's show them your strength!"
She threw her own Poké Ball into the air. It opened, revealing Scizor in a burst of light—a striking red Pokémon covered in metallic armor.
With its two pairs of translucent wings, Scizor looked formidable and poised for combat.
Scizor was the evolved form of Scyther, achieved by holding a Metal Coat during evolution.
The sharp scythes on Scyther's arms had transformed into powerful pincers, each adorned with eye-like markings that added to its intimidating presence.
Ash quickly assessed Scizor's stats and strengths as they appeared before him, giving him a slight edge.
Scizor
Type: Bug, Steel
Category: Pincer Pokémon
Ability: Swarm or Technician
Hidden Ability: Light Metal
Light Metal: Reduces Scizor's weight by half, allowing for greater speed and agility in battle.
Strength: Silver level
Although Scizor had wings, it was no longer a Flying-type due to the addition of its metal armor, meaning it couldn't sustain long or high-altitude flights.
But thanks to the Light Metal ability, its weight was halved, granting Scizor a level of agility in aerial combat that was almost as fluid as its pre-evolution, Scyther.
Lizzy knew Ash's Pidgeot and Charizard could counter Bug- and Grass-type Pokémon, so she had reserved her evolved Scyther, now Scizor, for precisely this type of matchup.
If Ash had sent out Charizard, she would have hesitated, but against Pidgeot, she was confident in Scizor's abilities.
Ash, meanwhile, was surprised to see Scyther had evolved, but quickly adjusted his focus.
He understood that with the Light Metal ability, this Scizor had a level of speed and aerial manoeuvrability that made it dangerous.
"Scizor! Lizzy's choice is also making its debut in this tournament," the commentator announced, ensuring the audience followed the excitement.
"The match—begins!" declared the referee.
"Pidgeot, use Gust!" Ash commanded, his strategy now one of cautious testing.
He wanted to gauge Scizor's abilities before committing to any major offensive.
Initial appearances could be deceiving, and he knew the true strength of a Pokémon wasn't always immediately visible.
Pidgeot screeched, flapping its wings forcefully and whipping up a fierce gust of wind.
The powerful current twisted into a mini-hurricane, barreling toward Scizor on the ground.
"Endure it, then use Sword Dance!" Lizzy countered confidently. She was willing to take the damage to boost Scizor's power at minimal cost.
Despite the intense winds, Scizor held its ground, crossing its arms in front of it as the Normal-type energy activated.
Two ethereal swords appeared above Scizor's head, crossing and shattering in unison, showering it in a faint stardust-like glow.
With the Sword Dance complete, Scizor's attack strength increased by two levels. The red aura around it flared, signalling the power boost.
The commentator kept pace with the battle, explaining each move.
"Pidgeot attempts an aerial assault, but Lizzy has Scizor countering with Sword Dance, using the momentum of Ash's attack to gain a stat advantage!"
Ash took in the setup, his mind racing with calculations. He knew that with Sword Dance, Scizor's physical attacks were now significantly stronger.
He would need to be cautious, as this would make any physical hits from Scizor far more dangerous.
The arena held its breath as both trainers locked eyes, each strategizing their next move.
With two highly skilled Trainers, each move would need to be precise, as a single mistake could turn the tide of battle.
The crowd watched eagerly, knowing they were in for an intense, tactical showdown.
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