Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 84: Cameron's Secret Weapon

The next morning at Vertress Stadium felt brighter than the last one, but the air still pressed against my chest like something heavy.

Golly adjusted her glasses near the tunnel wall, looking from my belt to the referee station. "Remember the field rules, the battle count, and the substitution limits. Cameron may forget something, but you cannot."

Pikachu climbed onto my shoulder and pressed his cheek against mine. His meaning came with a bright spark of confidence. "We battle him seriously. We do not laugh when he tries hard."

"Ash, this is going to be awesome!" Cameron called. "I have been saving something really big for you!"

"I am counting on it," I shouted back. "Give me everything you have!"

The referee raised both flags. "This Vertress Conference match between Ash Ketchum and Cameron will now begin. Each trainer may use six Pokémon, and substitutions are allowed."

Cameron struck his headband against his forehead. "Right, right! Six Pokémon. I totally knew that."

Something about the way he said it made Golly's warning echo in my head, but the referee had already signaled the start.

Cameron grabbed his first Poké Ball and threw it high. "Now this is my secret weapon! Let's go, Hydreigon!"

The three-headed dragon burst onto the field with a roar that shook the nearest camera drone. Dark wings snapped open, and its side heads snarled at the crowd as if the whole stadium had challenged it.

"So that is your secret weapon," I said, reaching for my own Poké Ball. "But Iris has one, so I have practiced against that kind of pressure before."

I laughed once and threw my Poké Ball. "Gigalith, I choose you!"

Gigalith landed with a deep crash, crystals gleaming in the stadium lights. Hydreigon beat its wings and hovered above the field, all three heads watching different angles.

"Hydreigon, Tri Attack!" Cameron shouted.

Three lights formed at once, fire, lightning, and ice twisting together before blasting toward Gigalith. I called for a dodge, but Gigalith's heavy body moved half a moment late.

The attack exploded across Gigalith's side, forcing it to skid back through broken dirt.

"Stay steady!" I called. "Rock Blast!"

Gigalith's crystals flashed, and stones fired upward in rapid bursts. Hydreigon twisted between them, faster than something that big should have been.

"Dragon Pulse, full power!" Cameron yelled.

Hydreigon's center head released a roaring blue beam. Gigalith braced, but the Dragon Pulse hit hard enough to push it nearly to the boundary line.

Gigalith growled through the dust. Its meaning came slowly, like stone grinding under pressure. "I can hold. Tell me where to stand."

"Then stand right where it has to respect you!" I called. "Rock Smash!"

Gigalith lunged when Hydreigon came lower for another pass. Cameron yelled for a dodge, but Hydreigon's side head moved the wrong way first. Gigalith's glowing strike slammed into Hydreigon's body and drove it down.

"The real battle is just getting started!" Cameron shouted. "Dragon Rush!"

Hydreigon wrapped itself in draconic force and charged like a storm falling out of the sky. Gigalith tried to brace, but the impact hammered through its defense.

"Flash Cannon!" I called, needing distance before Hydreigon could turn.

"Dragon Pulse!" Cameron shouted right over me.