BTW I finalized a design of her (I'm still not happy with it, but see what you think) I just have to scan it and show you, Dryuu.
-I'm just happy that you actually fullfilled my request. Thanks.
-I have good reason for Torterra to evolve. Remember that, under the circumstances, Ash can't summon his other Pokemon arsenal just by a phone call.
MH24: Grounded, Part IIITorterra himself was impressed with his own massive size. Swampert, however, was indifferent. The thought that must be going through his head right now is summed by the following saying: "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."
Armand must have thought of the same thing. "Congratulations, Ash, you have a new Pokemon. However, there is a setback to a newly-evolved Torterra. Can you figure it out?"
Torterra blinked, just finding out what Armand meant. Ash, however, took a little while longer. When it did click, Ash slowly said, "Torterra's weight..."
"Exactly. There is a huge difference between the weight of Torterra and its previous evolution. It will take some time to get used to it, and not exactly fitting when it's right in the middle of the battle, eh?
"Now, let's continue! Swampert, pound that titan with more Hammer Arms!"
The Mud Fish Pokemon took a running leap, smashing his arms continuously, without even rest or hesitation between each hit, at Torterra. As expected, the latter couldn't move, only stationary as he took every hit.
"Hang in there, Torterra!" Ash shouted worriedly. 'What attacks does Torterra have?' he thought desperately.
Of all memories Ash had of any Torterra, the one that came into his mind first was that of his bitter rival, Paul. "Use Giga Drain!"
Again something became a painful reminder of Paul to Ash. Torterra's "peaks" started glowing green. Swampert, faster tha he looks, jumped back when he saw what was coming.
All three peaks became long, green ropes of light, and started chasing Swampert. The latter instinctively used Endure, and Ash knows Armand has a trick up his sleeve.
When Swampert literally snapped off the Giga Drains, Ash shouted, "Be careful, Torterra!"
Sure enough, Armand shouted the next command. This time it was Ash who anticipated the move; only he doesn't know how to counter it yet. "Endeavor!"
Swampert also glowed white, then started charging back towards Torterra. The latter, finally getting used to his own weight, planted his thick feet firmly on the ground, bracing for impact.
The two Pokemon collided so violently, that their impact sent invisible shockwaves throughout the entire arena. At that close proximity, Ash knew that he had one chance. "Torterra, Bite Swampert, so h doesn't let go, then use Giga Drain again!"
Torterra did as he was ordered to, and clamped onto Swampert's head. The latter couldn't escape now, and the green rope-like projectiles from before wrapped themselves around the Mud Fish, quickly and efficiently draining him of his energy.
Once Torterra was done, the Giga Drain let go, and Sawmpert toppled to the ground. Upon closer inspection, it was easy to tell that- "Swampert is unable to battle."
"Nice work, Torterra!" Ash called enthusiastically. His Continent Pokemon, completely forgetting about his weight, AGAIN, jumped up and down in joy. This caused th entire ground, and the whole building for that matter, to shake like in an earthquake.
Everyone sweatdropped at this gesture as they were thrown off their feet by the earthshaker. Even Armand was comically knocked down.
"I have to give your Pokemon credit for his, er, enthusiasm, Ash," he said, as he got back to his feet. "Some credit for you as well. Most of my previous challengers haven't been able to get past my Swampert.
"You'll be the first to see my real powerhouse in battle. Go, Rhyperior!"
Out of Armand's third Pokeball, a Pokemon even larger than Torterra appeared. It's main color is dark-brown, with red-orange plates dotted around its body. Its long, large, rocky arms have rough blades at the joints, and its huge fists are mostly balled up. Having no neck, the plates mentioned before surround his rocky face like a samurai in armor. On the bridge of his nose are two horns, one larger than the other. The latter was nearly half the size of a human arm, and looks like a drill.
"Uh-oh," Ash muttered.
"Now we get serious. Rhyperior, Rock Blast!"
The Drill Pokemon aimed his hands towards Torterra. The balled fists opened up front, revealing a gaping hole in each hand. With the sound like a cannon blast, Rhyperior fired several boulders in Torterra's direction.
Still not used to his own weight, Torterra couldn't move from his spot. Helpless, he could only endure as the boulders pelted him.
"Torterra, retreat into your shell!" Ash suggested. The Pokemon complied. One boulder barely missed his head as it, along with Torterra's massive legs, Withdrawed into his shell.
"Rhyperior, begin to close in," Armand commanded. The Drill Pokemon, being no fast himself, lumbered towards Torterra, still firing Rock Blasts.
"Bullet Seed!" Ash ordered. Seeds, fired at very high velocities, came from the opening of the shell where Torterra's head used to be. The small, in comparison to Rhyperior's boulder projectiles, seeds smashed through the latter and pelted Rhyperior. However, the Drill Pokemon was unfazed, and he lumbered on, closer and closer to Torterra.
Surely at close, point-blank range, Torterra's Bullet Seed would have dealt scathing damage to Rhyperior, especially considering the latter is 4 times weak to it. It took a while for Max to understand why.
"Ash, it's Rhyperior's Solid Rock ability! Super-effective moves don't deal as much damage as normal!"
"Thanks for the tip!" Ash shouted back. To Torterra, "Okay, buddy, new strategy: We have to- Oh, no..."
At that moment, Rhyperior managed to lift Torterra's shell over his head! All three of Armand's guests were in shock at such an amazing effort.
"Fury Attack!" Showing off more of his strength, Rhyperior managed to hold Torterra over his head by just one arm. He then started punching at the shell with his other hand.
Ash could hear his Pokemon's howls of pain from within the shell. 'Come on, Ash, think, don't let anyone down now, especially not Torterra,' he thought. "Leech Seed!"
From Torterra's "tree", several seeds started falling off. However, they couldn't hit Rhyperior just below them, instead landing around him.
"Use Crush Claw with both hands, Rhyperior!" Armand commanded.
The Drill Pokemon tossed Torterra into the air, then upon hitting each other again, the former hurled Torterra a good distance, claws glowing upon impact. Torterra crashed into a large boulder, creating a cloud of dust.
"Torterra!" Ash called desperately. When the dust cleared, Torterra is seen re-emerging from his shell. The toll of Rhyperior's continuous attacks are shown on torterra when his feet are shaking.
However, Torterra convinced everyone that he's ready for more by roaring. Ash sighed in relief. "We're not about to give up easily, are we, Torterra?" Ash asked. The Pokemon nodded.
Armand smirked. "You are as resilient as your Pokemon, Ash. Maybe this will teach you a lesson. let's finish this, Rhyperior! Horn Drill!" Rhyperior pawed the ground, and then charged towards Torterra, his horn spinning rapidly.
"Rock Smash, Torterra!" Ash said in retaliation. The Continent Pokemon slammed one of his front legs on the ground, hard, creating a fissure. The fissure trailed towards Rhyperior, smashing up small rocks along the way.
The Rock Smash fissure cracked under the strain of Rhyperior's weight. But, it impeded him only for a second, as Rhyperior struggled back up, and continued to charge towards Torterra.
However, it did buy Torterra enough time, and Rhyperior's Horn Drill instead smashed the boulder behind where the former once stood.
"Wood Hammer, Torterra!" Torterra managed to stand on his hind legs for a moment. In this instance, he slammed his wooden front legs at Rhyperior, who was still struggling to get his drill out of the rock.
"Stone Edge, Rhyperior!" Upon recovering from the attack, Rhyperior's blades at the arm joints glowed, and he slashed with them at Torterra. The attacks rarely missed, and Torterra used another Wood Hammer to knock his opponent backwards. Rhyperior landed on back where, Ash remembered, the spot Torterra's Leech Seeds fell earlier.
"Grass Knot!" Ash called at the last moment.
Torterra's eyes glowed, and a leech seed just behind rhyperior began to grow quickly into a grass rope. Rhyperior tripped backwards, stumbling. His Solid Rock wouldn't have protected him from the damage Grass Knot calculated, from Rhyperior's weight. He was instantly knocked out.
"Rhyperior is unab- Wait-"
Just as Rhyperior fell, Torterra's knees buckled as well. "Torterra!" Ash shouted. The Pokemon was also knocked out.
The decision is very clear. "Both Rhyperior and Torterra are unable to continue the battle. With one Pokemon remaining, the challenger Ash is the winner!"
After the call, Ash jumped into the arena to check on his Torterra. His friends immediately followed suit. "You okay, buddy?" Ash asked. Torterra weakly nodded. "Good job. I'm so proud of you."
Armand applauded calmly as he approached Ash. "Congratulations, Ash. Here." Armand handed his challenger the Gaia Badge from his jacket. "You deserve it."
"Thanks, Armand." As Ash took the badge, he and Armand shook hands. Then, as part of his usual style, Ash shouted, holding the brown badge high in the air, "I won the Gaia Badge!"
---
Mask was muttering to himself over his breakfast. It was about Ash's recent victory over Neo Lavender Gym. As usual, he doesn't dine with his prisoners/guests, and was all to himself. "Two badges, six more to go. You still have long to go, Ash."
The only other person in the room was the MiB who reported Ash's progress. "Sir, what about the eighth leader? You still haven't chosen a candidate, and the list of trainers waiting for whoever it is to appear have been piling up. We-"
"Do not worry. I already have a perfect candidate for our eighth in this region." Mask stood up, and walked into the grand balcony of his room. The horizon was a slight shade of blue, indicating the sun's about to rise in that direction.
Five floors below Mask, is the courtyard. There are several of Ash's Pokemon there, accompanied by Brock, Misty and May. There were no guards around, even in an open area, since no one can do anything when a Pokemon are wearing Limiter Bands.
Majority of Ash's Pokemon are being chased in groups by Pichu, who was acting like it was all a game. Unfortunately, that was not the case; the former are quite afraid of the latter now, because of "recent happenings". The only ones indifferent were a wise Noctowl, and Snorlax, who was just sleeping. Obviously the Owl Pokemon thinks that running away from a baby as too juvenile.
CONTINUED
-Too much spoilage, eh? Or maybe not...
-Yes, Mask still eats, he lifts his mask only when he's alone. Unlike WoL, where he was a man hypnotized by a mask, this time he's just human.