"Karla!" Sundae's voice rang out as her Pokémon, Karla Karla, roared and prepared its next move. The Ground-type warrior lifted its Bone Club, charging it with energy before launching it toward Pikachu.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to dodge! Then counterattack!" Ash commanded confidently.
"Pika-pi!" Pikachu's eyes narrowed with determination as it darted forward at blinding speed, effortlessly dodging the incoming Bonemerang. The bone whizzed past, missing Pikachu by a hair, before looping back as it returned to Karla Karla. But by then, Pikachu had already positioned itself behind its opponent, ready to strike.
"Bang!" Pikachu's swift movement caught Karla Karla off-guard, sending it stumbling. The bone, having returned with force, struck Karla Karla squarely on the head, causing further damage and knocking it off balance.
"Karla Karla!" Sundae gasped, eyes wide in disbelief. Her formidable Pokémon had been hurt by its own attack, something she had never seen before.
"Great job, Pikachu!" Misty cheered, her excitement momentarily breaking through the stunned silence that had gripped the group of students watching the battle. They exchanged uncertain glances, processing the reality unfolding before them.
"Karla Karla without Earthquake isn't a match for Pikachu," Ash said calmly. His eyes remained focused on the battle, confident in Pikachu's speed. In real life, speed wasn't just a number in a game; it was a decisive factor.
"Karla..." Karla Karla let out a groan as it struggled to recover from the double blow of Pikachu's Quick Attack and its own Bonemerang. Though Pikachu's initial attacks hadn't done much damage, the self-inflicted hit had taken a significant toll.
"Get up, Karla Karla!" Sundae's voice wavered, a hint of panic seeping through. The match was no longer following the script she had envisioned. Karla Karla's sluggish movements couldn't match Pikachu's nimble footwork.
"My Pikachu isn't just fast," Ash remarked, a hint of pride in his voice. He considered this next move a bit excessive, but ending the battle quickly was now his priority.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" Ash commanded, swinging his arm forward in a decisive motion.
"Pika-pika!" Pikachu's call rang out as it surged toward Karla Karla, its tail beginning to glow with an intense, metallic sheen. The Steel-type energy enveloped its tail, transforming it into a weapon as hard as iron.
"What?!" This time, it wasn't just Sundae and her classmates who were surprised. Misty and Brock's eyes widened as they recognized Pikachu's move.
They hadn't known that Pikachu had mastered Iron Tail. In fact, it had been only a week since they left Mt. Moon, and although they were aware Ash was training Pikachu to learn the move, they didn't realize he had succeeded. The idea that Pikachu could pick up a non-native move like Iron Tail in such a short time was remarkable.
The truth was, Pikachu had learned Iron Tail back in Cerulean City, but there had been no opportunity to use it until now. Ash had not been intentionally keeping it a secret, but the moment never came up before.
"Bang!" Pikachu jumped, spinning mid-air as it flipped above Karla Karla. Using the momentum, Pikachu brought its glowing tail down with crushing force onto Karla Karla's back. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, cracking the ground and creating a spiderweb of fissures.
"Karla!" Karla Karla let out a final, pained cry before its eyes shut and its body slumped to the ground. The battle was over; Karla Karla had fainted and could no longer continue.
"How... how could this happen?" Sundae's voice was barely more than a whisper, shock written all over her face. Her Karla Karla had been defeated without even putting up a significant fight, despite having the advantage in both strength and type.
The students watching were equally stunned. They had all looked up to Sundae as their best trainer, yet she had been beaten so easily by an outsider. The realization left them silent and uneasy.
A sudden burst of applause shattered the quiet tension. Everyone turned to see an older man standing in the doorway, clapping his hands with a look of admiration.
"Principal!" Several students jumped in surprise and quickly bowed in respect. Sundae turned away, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Grandpa..." she muttered, barely able to meet his gaze.
"Well done! Both you and your Pikachu are exceptional!" The principal nodded to the students and Sundae before stepping closer to Ash. His eyes were sharp, evaluating the young trainer in front of him.
Ash, who was about the same age as Sundae, stood there with an air of maturity. It was clear to the principal that this was no ordinary trainer. If Ash could be persuaded to join their Pokémon Research School, it would be a huge boost to the school's prestige.
"Thank you," Ash said politely, extending his arm so Pikachu could leap onto his shoulder.
"You handled that battle well!" The principal's smile grew, noting Ash's composed demeanor. He liked that Ash hadn't been overly triumphant about the victory. It spoke to his potential as a future Pokémon Master.
The other students couldn't help but look at Ash in a new light. Here was someone their age who had just defeated Sundae, the top of their class, without even breaking a sweat. Even Sundae glanced at Ash with newfound respect. This trainer was different.
"Would you consider joining our Pokémon Research School?" The principal's tone shifted to one of earnest invitation. "With your skills, I'm confident you'd be at the top of the class and graduate with unmatched strength. We can even offer you a substantial scholarship."
"What?!" The collective exclamation from Sundae and the other students filled the room. The idea of Ash being offered a spot, and such a prestigious one at that, was shocking.
Misty, standing by Ash's side, felt a pang of anxiety. She knew what this opportunity could mean for Ash and felt proud of him, but at the same time, she feared what it might mean for their journey together.
Brock, on the other hand, remained calm. He knew Ash well enough to guess his answer and trusted him to stay true to himself. Beside him, a student named Lin Wei exchanged a thoughtful look with Brock, intrigued by Ash's choice.
"Thank you for the offer," Ash began, meeting the principal's eyes, "but I must decline."
The principal's brow lifted in surprise. "Are you worried about missing the Indigo Plateau Conference? If that's the case, don't be. You'd still be able to qualify directly for the Conference upon graduation."
Ash shook his head. "No, that's not it. Your school is impressive, but I want to earn my place through my own efforts and those of my companions. I want to see more of the world, encounter more Pokémon, and meet more trainers. That's the journey I want."
Understanding dawned on the principal's face, followed by a look of admiration. He recognized Ash's passion and ambition and knew that a trainer with such dreams wouldn't be easily swayed.
"It's a shame," the principal said, giving Ash's shoulder a reassuring pat. "But I respect your decision. I look forward to seeing your performance at the Indigo Plateau Conference and, someday, in the Elite Challenge or even the Championship."
"You won't be disappointed," Ash replied confidently.
Even as the students processed what had just happened, a sense of anticipation filled the room. They had just witnessed a battle that would be remembered for a long time.
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