Pokemon : Rewind

Drake's brow furrowed as he recalled Ditto into its Poké Ball. He felt the weight of his misstep but refused to let it shake him. He straightened, preparing his next move.

"You fought well, Ditto, but this battle isn't over yet," he murmured, pulling out another Poké Ball with renewed determination.

"Go, Gengar!" Drake shouted, tossing the ball high.

In a burst of light, a Gengar materialized, its mischievous grin and shadowy aura sending a ripple of excitement through the crowd. The spectators roared in anticipation, knowing the danger this Ghost/Poison Pokémon posed.

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Gengar

Type: Ghost/Poison 

Category: Shadow Pokémon 

Ability: Cursed Body 

Strength: Silver Level 

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Ash immediately recognized Gengar's unique power. He knew from past encounters that a Gengar's speed, evasiveness, and variety of status attacks made it a brutally challenging adversary. Even so, Ash didn't waver.

"Lapras, return!" Ash called. The young Lapras, having valiantly battled Ditto, was ready for a break.

In one swift motion, Ash plucked another Poké Ball from his belt. "Let's go, Blastoise!"

Blastoise emerged with a ground-shaking thud, its imposing figure and dual shoulder cannons gleaming. It roared with confidence, ready to take on Gengar.

The battlefield had transformed, the watery terrain from the earlier rain still lingering, dotted with puddles and stretches of melting ice. 

The environment gave the battle an unpredictable edge, forcing both Trainers to adapt their strategies.

Drake made the first move without hesitation. "Gengar, Shadow Ball!"

The Ghost-type twisted its form, its wide grin glowing eerily as a dark, crackling orb of potent energy formed between its hands. With eerie efficiency, the Shadow Ball rocketed toward Blastoise.

"Counter with Hydro Pump, Blastoise!" Ash ordered.

Blastoise rotated its powerful cannons forward and fired twin jets of high-pressure water. The streams intercepted the Shadow Ball midair, detonating the two attacks into an explosion of black vapor that enveloped the center of the field.

Ash capitalized on the obscured view almost instantly. "Blastoise, Rapid Spin—close the distance!"

Blastoise retreated into its shell and began spinning at tremendous speed, gliding smoothly across the battlefield, its path aided by the slick ground. It barreled toward Gengar with startling velocity, like a spinning, armored missile.

Drake reacted quickly. "Gengar, dodge and counter with Thunderbolt!"

Gengar zipped effortlessly to the side, its nimble body practically dancing across the field. Its mischievous smirk disappeared briefly as it focused, conjuring crackling yellow currents of electricity that surged forward, aiming to strike the exposed Blastoise.

"Withdraw!" Ash called.

Blastoise tucked fully into its shell just as the Thunderbolt connected, the move bouncing harmlessly off its hardened exterior.

Now it was Ash's turn to push the offensive. "Spin and launch Aqua Jet!"

While still spinning, Blastoise burst out of the water with impressive speed, propelling itself forward like a torpedo of sheer water power. The dynamic shift from defense to offense took Drake by surprise.

Drake's eyes narrowed. "Gengar, Will-O-Wisp!"

Gengar somersaulted midair as eerie, ghostly blue flames materialized around it. With a flick of its arms, the Will-O-Wisp embers streaked toward the charging Blastoise.

But Ash was ready. "Blastoise, scatter with Flash Cannon!"

Blastoise halted its spin and emerged, shimmering metal-like energy forming in its cannons before firing bright beams of steel energy. The Flash Cannon sliced through the Will-O-Wisp projectiles, extinguishing the spectral flames and pushing Gengar back.

The crowd's enthusiasm climbed as the fierce back-and-forth continued.

---

Drake shifted tactics, understanding that Blastoise's versatility made direct assaults risky. "Gengar, Confuse Ray! Let's slow them down!"

Gengar's malevolent eyes began glowing intensely as an erratic, shifting orb of light took form and floated toward Blastoise.

Ash leaned into Gengar's weakness for flashy tricks. "Blastoise, negate with Iron Defense!"

Blastoise remained still and began glowing metallically as it toughened its shell, the shimmering energy deflecting the Confuse Ray. The orbs of confusion dissipated, leaving Blastoise completely unaffected.

"Now close in with Skull Bash!" Ash exclaimed.

Blastoise tucked its head back, creating a build-up of power before lunging forward at Gengar with incredible force.

Drake reacted as fast as lightning. "Gengar, Sludge Bomb! Aim for the ground!"

Gengar spewed poisonous sludge at the ground directly in front of Blastoise. The attack splattered onto the terrain, forming a slick patch of toxic liquid. Blastoise struck it mid-charge, its weight carrying it through but slowing its momentum.

"Shadow Ball!" Drake capitalized on the stumble.

Through the slowing sludge and sticky ground, Blastoise recovered just as Gengar hurled its Shadow Ball. Ash smirked as if he were expecting this exact sequence.

"Rain Splash maneuver!"

This command wasn't listed in any battle guide or textbook—it was one of Ash's custom strategies. Blastoise blasted water from its cannons at the puddles around it, creating a sudden spray of water droplets that diffused the Shadow Ball's impact. 

At the same time, the burst of energy combined with its own forward propulsion cleared the sludge from its feet, allowing the massive Pokémon to regain its footing.

"Now, Ice Beam! On Gengar directly!"

Blastoise reoriented itself as Gengar floated back, tired from the rapid pace of the exchanges. 

A focused beam of cold energy shot out of Blastoise's cannon and struck Gengar squarely, frost creeping across its shadowy form as it slowed.

Drake clenched his fists. "Gengar, keep moving! Use Hypnosis!"

Even though Gengar was visibly more sluggish from the frost damage, it locked its glowing red eyes onto Blastoise, waves of hypnotic light rippling toward it.

Ash countered with a grin. "Blastoise, Haze! Full field!"

Dark mist poured from Blastoise, entirely enveloping the battlefield and breaking Gengar's Hypnosis halfway through its execution. 

Combining Haze with Ice Beam's frost made the terrain harder for Gengar to navigate while leaving Blastoise adaptable.

---

Drake's frustration showed. "Gengar, hit with Thunderbolt!"

Weakened but defiant, Gengar summoned every ounce of power for one last Thunderbolt. It surged toward Blastoise in a brilliant streak of energy.

"Take it head-on, Blastoise!" Ash cried. "Then finish with Hydro Pump!"

Blastoise planted its feet and absorbed the Thunderbolt, visibly wincing but staying upright. Summoning all its strength, Blastoise roared, unleashing a massive torrent of water in the form of Hydro Pump.

The attack tore through the battlefield, hitting Gengar with full force. The Ghost-type was blasted across the terrain, skidding on the puddles and ice before finally collapsing.

---

The referee raised his flag. "Gengar is unable to fight! The winner is Blastoise!"

The crowd erupted into wild applause as Ash gave a deep breath of relief and grinned. Drake returned Gengar to its ball with a reserved smile, acknowledging Ash's ingenuity.

"You've earned this victory, Ash," Drake said, his voice filled with respect. "But the battle's far from over."

Ash nodded with determination, ready for what was yet to come. Two rounds down, but the challenges ahead promised to test both Trainers to their limits.

---

In the stands, Lorelei smirked. "This kid doesn't just battle; he redefines it. Can Drake turn this around? Or is Ash unstoppable today?" 

The Victor's Cup was proving to be nothing short of legendary. 

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