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With Ana on her feet, and causing the Electric Terrain, Ashley felt sweat trickle down his neck. She was bleeding. He was tempted to call the match off, but seeing the look in her eyes...[break][break]

Like Trainer, like Pokemon.[break][break]

But this was only the beginning. Isaac took advantage of the eletrical terrain, as Ashley was laughing, knowing damn well that he was fighting brilliance versus brilliance, brain to brain, and with a smirk, he watches Kilimanjaro pump up Duster, and Duster conjures up the force of a Blizzard. This, is where Ashley would figure he had to make one of his signature insane reckless plays.[break][break]

One look in Reinhardt's eyes, and Ashley nods. "Earth Power. Don't stop till he's out cold." This was a predicament, but Ashley was now playing with a foot on the blade, with Isaac on the other. He needed Reinhardt for Kilimanjaro, but right now Duster was a problem. No matter how he sees it, Ana is having trouble getting a move off, and that's okay.[break][break]

Time to push it to the limit.[break][break]

Reinhardt swipes for the bone baton once more, only to, if a dodge was made, to grab the arm, and begins to quite literally slam the poor Alolan Marowak into the ground around them like a ragdoll. EARTH POWER by literally throwing the small bone baton hurler around into the ground. The weather was going down and further down. Which would give out first, the boneman or the king? Either way, Ashley watches on. Only to throw a Pokeball out to return Ana. She would have to be used for later.[break][break]

And in with the other Fire Type, his last Pokemon. Sunny pops off from his shoulder, and begins to use FLAME CHARGE, at nothing. Nothing except to stay warm and to up his speed. Prepare for the weathering of the battle. Ash was trying to figure out a tactic.[break][break]

He was plotting his next move carefully.[break]

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Why did that sound so... ominous?[break][break]

It perplexes Ashley as he looks at Isaac. And his confidence shatters. No, shatter isn't the right word, it's see-through. Fear peeks its way through him. Isaac could see through him for a moment, and it left Ash... feeling off. Sure, it was probably nothing, but... he couldn't shake the bad feeling in his gut. His intuition was right sometimes.[break][break]

Shake it off. Isaac is fine... right? He was preoccupied, but he needed to focus on the battle. Ana was speeding through the spikes, and as she would reach her mark, the mark happened to throw something. And little Ana had yet to hone her body, which led to the most terrifyingly loud bang that it could, as the Pikachu began to tumble, and slide on the ground. But on the return, ha, Reinhardt was on it. Because as Ana slid on the ground with a cry, Reinhardt came in with the kingly defense.[break][break]

By that, he leapt upwards, and right atop of the Bonemerang's return, forcing its momentum to change as it spun upwards towards him. The king slapped the bone back to its recipient, not without a POISON TAIL to lug it back to its recipient with a little extra spice, as Reinhardt took the Mud Bombs, leaning over Ana to protect her as she got back to her feet.[break][break]

"Shake it off, babygirl. You can do it. Reinhardt. Swap partners." Not without, however, the entire field not conducting in an ELECTRIC TERRAIN. Ana was angry.[break]

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"Don't hate the player, hate the strategist." True, he was also playing off of Shockmaster's own ego, and goading her into the fight, and even as Ana would take the attack, she did so knowing damn well it wouldn't hurt as bad. It didn't. Ana takes it, and the big toothy grin of a Pikachu responds. For a moment, she is ready to charge some thunder, some power, but the Pokeball slaps her, and before Ana can fight back, Shockmaster was in stasis.[break][break]

Ashley smirks. Just what he wanted, but as the Lava Plume comes, Reinhardt retailiate with an EARTH POWER, to open a hole in the floor to bunker in. Ana wouldn't be fine, but finds her escape in the hole Reinhardt makes, the duo now with a wall to protect from the lava, as Reinhardt roars to life.[break][break]

When Duster comes out, Ashley chuckles. Another full evolution. Exactly what he wanted.[break][break]

Here was the gameplan. He knew Isaac had a bunch who were fully grown. Ashley, on the other hand, can count those full evolutions on two hands at a whopping seven. He never caught Pokemon higher than what he knew, because the thing about Pokemon was to learn how they operated as they grew was part of the game. His ode to Jubilee. It was a means to allow them to grow with Ashley. Like Jelly did in the manor. Like Bongo did against THEO BECKETT and soon after against himself on Mt. Pyre. Like Maple did against Cillian Quinn. And how Bass did on the expedition. Each time, it was limit breaking, and each one left Ashley more and more powerful.[break][break]

It was only a matter of tim-[break][break]

A flash of white. A whistle, and Ashley felt himself grinning ear to ear, as the king rose from the lava plume'd grave, eyes ready to destroy. The Nidoking rose from the hole, carrying his friend, the Pikachu. Though shorter than Bongo considerably, the beast takes steps out, and roars again. Reinhardt had fought a number of foes. From fighting Theo on the beach, to helping Felix Gallagher in the bunker, to assisting with his first kill with Zev Harcourt, and Mt. Pyre.[break][break]

"Set it up!" Reinhardt's eyes flash with resolve, and from his hands, he swipes out the TOXIC SPIKES, as Ana races off her friend, and begins racing through the spikes, towards Duster. "And knock'em down!" Another VOLT TACKLE. If only he knew about the Lightning Rod.[break][break]

Or perhaps, Ashley was still thinking two steps ahead.[break]

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This was the bread and butter of the bread and butter, the creme de la creme, the ten out of ten. This is what he's been waiting for, what its all about. With it, he went all out. A chef outfit, a white 4-way apron, and most of all, the piece de resistance, the chef hat. It's big, its poofy, its every bit the stupidest part of the whole outfit, but it ties everything together, really.[break][break]

But what is a chef without his co-chef, standing behind him was the dwarfing Rillaboom, in a chef outfit with the sleeves ripped off, and a chef hat of his own. Bongo stands strong, no drum sticks, but at attention, flexing his overgrown gorilla musculature as Ashley throws a finger upwards, the next on the stage.[break][break]

"Sup everyone. Name's Ashley, and this is Bongo. I could come out and make an announcement about how I'll floor these chefs, but they are all capable people in their own right. I am humble to be able to cook with such people!" This was where he starts, a humble person, a flexing gorilla behind him wearing a silly chef had.[break][break]

Ashley grins. His confidence not wavering in the slightest as he throws a fist into an open palm. "I dedicate tonight to my partner, who without I would likely not be here." He says sweetly, a big sunny smile on his face as he places a hand on his heart, only to return to his demeanor from before. Confidence still exuding from his very soul.[break][break]

kepler brueshaber never once left his mind.[break][break]

"Bongo here has helped me in the kitchen for years, and is a master at the craft. But he was a little smaller back then, now he's become more Ramsey than I ever could." Bongo fires off a smile with his teeth glimmering in the light as he flexes. "Me myself, I've watched food channels, bought a number of books, cooked from sushi off the coast of Hoenn, to boeuf bourguignon off within the city of lights in Kalos, to Unovan-style pizza over across the sea. Either way I see it, enjoy the show!" He mimics Bongo in the same exact way, flexing his own musculature, and while smaller than the gorilla, it is at least impressive to look at.[break][break]

[break]

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The new Pikachu was readying herself already, eyes set forward towards Shockmaster, but the unfortunate thing was... Shockmaster couldn't hurt her. That wasn't going to sit well, and leaves a sour taste in Ashley's mouth. It would do nothing in the end, but with a hand forward, as Kilimanjaro fires the artillery Mud Bombs, Ashley calls out. "You were too small to handle it before, Ana. Volt Tackle Shockmaster. Show her your strength. Make her respect you."[break][break]

The electricity would do nothing, and as she is dodging and weaving through the bomb and splash of mud, to race, Shockmaster administers what is the last bit that Magneto can take, but not without a final strike. Throwing one more BULLET PUNCH at Shockmaster, as a last resort, the Shock Wave hits definitely. Right on collision, the Metang falls unconscious, not even able to dig the fist in, floating listlessly. But using the body of the Metang as a launchpad, Ana hops up, and with her own VOLT TACKLE, slams with enough force into Shockmaster's head to have the same validity as a normal TACKLE, the Pikachu making sure her head was level.[break][break]

A message sent. They fight eye-to-eye. To pity her was to treat her like a baby. She was not one. Not now. Though she had held her breath the whole way, as she hops back down and skids on the ground, she prepares herself.[break][break]

"Shockmaster-" He calls out to the opposition, his eyes are staring towards her, and Ash smiles. "-do not hold back. You hurt her more by showing her pity. See her as an opponent." He turns towards Isaac, and nods towards him, returning Magneto. The first blood had been shed, but so came the last Pokeball. With it, as he throws it out, there stands a Nidorino. And Reinhardt eyes Kilimanjaro with a smile. Raring to go.[break][break]

Throwing a smile, he regards Isaac. "Down one. Time to kick it into gear." He didn't lose faith. Not for a second.[break]

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Throwing a fist to an open palm, Ashley watches the Rock Slide get two hits in before the Ice Punch parries begin, and with it Ashley can't help but show his own cockiness. He had been training to no end, and put Isaac on the backfoot. Well, it had been that way. But as Shockmaster was smashing those rocks together, Ashley watched Ana cower a little.[break][break]

With a smile, he calls out. "You're doing great, Ana. Keep it up!" The Pichu turns her head back, and with it her fear begins to melt away. A shine of brilliant white light blinding Ashley as his confidence left him, and he watched the form move.[break][break]

Even Magneto was busy watching... which, unfortnately, left them wide open. And with it, Kilimanjaro made a deadly play, leaving only a moment for Ashley to respond as Ana would become her new, bigger self, goggles on her head, ears to the side. "Magneto, Magnet Rise, UP!" It was instant, but as Magneto would float, the Eruption would collide into their back, and unfortunately, led the poor flying disc to fall nigh limp within the air. But they turned around towards Kilimanjaro. Revenge in their eyes.[break][break]

Never forget its a two-on-two, a lesson Ashley knows well from Mt. Pyre.[break][break]

With the new and improved Ana, Ashley pointed out. "Keep Shockmaster busy, and keeping playing nice. Magneto? Steel Roller our firey friend!" The idea? Make Isaac switch out of Shockmaster. Right now, he was fighting an uphill battle, and with Ana now stronger, strengthened by her previous Nasty Plot, it meant that the next attack she makes would hurt. She just needed a target that wasn't immune to her damage. PLAY NICE and STEEL ROLLER are used in tandem with two different targets, and as Ashley watches on, he knows that Shockmaster is greatly weakened, let alone looking roughed up.[break][break]

The real trouble was the powerhouse Kilimanjaro.[break][break]

"Don't worry. I didn't forget about him. Sorry, buddy." Ashley wipes his mouth, thumb resting on his chin. A taunt. Magneto was going to do best they could to stay up, but they weren't going to be much longer.[break]

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It's brilliant, sure, but the thing about Ashley is how brilliance can easily be misconstrued or correctly deduced as recklessness, depending on whomst is the one watching onwards. And with Ana covering the face, it wasn't settled, but it was in Ashley's favor... and then Isaac pipes up about an old movie he used to watch at one of his foster parent's houses.[break][break]

With Magneto taking a hefty Fire Punch bop, but getting his Bullet Punch, the magnetic disc would wince on, when Shockmaster ran away, and with it came the bucking head of the electric beast, and Ana was too small to hold on. But Ashley already knew this was coming.[break][break]

"HA! You think I didn't think that one through?" He's clicking his tongue, and with a hand forward, he calls out for Ana. "Kiss, let go, and play nice, Ana! And Magneto? Meteor Mash the rocks into her flank!" The Rock Slide was an obstruction, but thing about obstructions were if used in such a way, they were ammo. And last he checked, Shockmaster was blind, as Ana kissed her forehead with a PLAY NICE to lower her attack, only to be flung off, landing onto the ground nearby with a tiny tumble. Goggles ON![break][break]

Now, they weren't perfect aim, but Ashley learned something on Mt. Pyre. Use the world to fight back. If the world provides you an earthquake, you break the earth and make the quake back. If it provides fire and brimstone, you light it aflame. If it gives cover with foliage, take the stealthy approach.[break][break]

With Magneto damaged, and Ana only taking a tumble, it wasn't easy, but Ashley makes the choice, now thinking on Mr. Miyagi thanks to his friend on the other side of the ring. It's okay to lose, but not to fear. Though he wants Ana to retreat, to use Reinhardt, he weathers it with her. "Not matter who's stronger. Matter who's smarter." He calls out to the little Pichu, Ana smiling in return with a quick nod.[break][break]

Ashley loved that little mouse. The spitting image of Jubilee. Magneto was cool too, albeit looking rough. They had their fisticuffs up, ready and waiting.[break]

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Thing about it is, Ashley doesn't necessarily want Ana or Magneto to be hurt. But he's been so lax recently on training, that he needs to ensure both are up for any foe. The thing about punching up in your weight class is that even if the punches are harder, it'll be a good lesson when they're big. Training early was important.[break][break]

When Shockmaster comes out, Ashley's lips curve upwards, he could tell Isaac was serious. Good. He was worried Isaac would take him too lightly, so as he watches on, he considers his tactics carefully, but Kilimanjaro's entrance pushes the smile into concern. But with a chuckle, he nods. His opponents won't likely go easy, and will look for every advantage they can. As he runs a hand through his styled hair, he shoots a smirk towards Isaac. Confidence? Or arrogance?[break][break]

Either way? Ash had a plan.[break][break]

First came the fire, than the flame, and Ashley would have to power through, so as the downpour comes, Magneto begins to speed forward, spinning like a top, as Ana held on. With a maniacal little grin, Ana begins her first move; NASTY PLOT. This was a means to utilize one of Ashley's first battle lessons to the little Pichu.[break][break]

Always plan two steps ahead. "Ana, onto Shockmaster's head! Magneto, keep'er busy!"[break][break]

Magneto would attempt to avoid that Eruption, speeding beneath, and going for an uppercut BULLET PUNCH to Shockmaster, while Ana would hop off and onto the head of the Electivire. The little Pichu grinning, grabbing onto the head of the Electivire.[break][break]

Here's the thing about artillery. If Kilimanjaro tries to fire back out, that's three targets. Meaning? Isaac has to hurt himself. And the worst part? Even as Magneto takes the Fire Punch, they are busy with bopping with the Metang, not handling the Pichu on the head.[break][break]

Ashley's smirk widens. "Hope you're ready for the two-v-one, dude. You're getting thrashed."[break]

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It isn't wrong to believe Ashley didn't understand the battle bug. After all, battle had led to nothing but pain and suffering for the young man at twenty-five. Yet, with the first fight against THEO BECKETT, he found himself getting more and more into the idea of getting better. Against jayden cross, he realized a threat might come where he needs to be stronger. With Mt. Pyre against paxton concordas, PENELOPE LIVY, Farhan, and even Isaac, he knows that if he isn't good enough, he doesn't get to decide who lives or dies. Bullet, Pluto, Sushi, and Jubilee were the examples.[break][break]

The battle with Cillian Quinn taught him enough and how to play, but he can't keep using Isaac as a crutch. He sought out Zev Harcourt, not only for his own selfish reasonings, but because Ash never wanted to be weak enough again. To lose another of his family. Or Kep. Therefore-[break][break]

He stares at his opponent, and throws his fist back to connect to Isaac's, silver hair adorned on his head. "After the year we've had? Heh. Bound to happen, man." There he stands, knowing damn well Isaac is his better.[break][break]

Even so, he can't help but smile.[break][break]

With a turn of his heel, he begins walking to the other side of their arena. The gladitorial combat about to begin as he answers. "Last request? Don't even think about going easy on me. Come at me as if I am the enemy. Got it?" He can't help but smile on his walk over to the other side... and with it, he throws two Pokeballs out.[break][break]

"Say hello to my first two." A Metang appears, making fisticuffs with his floating metal arms. With it, atop of Magneto, the goggle-wearing Pichu, who was grinning, standing atop the flying saucer, Ana. "Magneto. Ana. We're battling Isaac today. Remember what we worked on." Both Ana and Magneto provided the best thumbs-up they could muster.[break][break]

He awaits Isaac's own choice in Pokemon.[break]

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Today is the day.[break][break]

Weeks upon weeks of working out at the gym, and the results speak for themselves. Ashley is sore, incredibly so, but he's built some muscle. It's not the greatest, but he's at a sixty pound barbell right now. His core has been worked as well, and he can tell that the muscle is coming in rather well. He's sure Kepler would like that. Two months of work, and while he's still on beginner weight class, he's getting somewhere.[break][break]

But that wasn't the important thing. Today, he invited a friend for a rematch. Back before Mt. Pyre, they had a duel with one Cillian Quinn , who thrashed them both. But it wasn't a challenge at Gavin. He wasn't different enough to pose much challenge yet, even if his aim was an Admin.[break][break]

No, today? He walks with his Scorbunny, Sunny, on his shoulder. His second, his coach, and in a small little jersey himself to apply that position. Walking into the training room, he places a hand over the other three Pokeballs he has. Confidence curves lips upwards. These few months, he truly has become something better than he initially started as.[break][break]

Standing in the opposing seat, he gives a fistbump to Sunny, and awaits the challenger. His best friend, standing in his attire made for summertime.[break]

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