While the commentator held the crowd's attention, Ash and Caster returned to their platforms.
"Caster, you're really strong!"
Ash looked across at him. "I don't think I can beat you, but I'm still going to give it everything I've got. You'd better do the same!"
"Don't worry. I will."
Caster met Ash's gaze. "Ash, I consider you a worthy rival. You still have some growing to do, but I believe you'll become a Pokémon Master someday. We're both young. We've got a long way to go..."
He knew Ash could handle a loss, but it was still worth softening the blow.
After all, Ash was this world's chosen one. If Caster wanted to get involved in the various storylines surrounding Legendary Pokémon, he would inevitably cross paths with Ash.
Better to build that relationship now than scramble to do it later!
"Both Trainers, please take your positions!"
Worried the two would get caught up in conversation, the referee hurried over to remind them.
"Pikachu, you swept the first half. Take a break for the second!"
Caster patted his eager Pikachu, signaling it to settle down.
Caster took every battle seriously. He wouldn't hold back, and he certainly wouldn't let his own Pokémon take hits and lose on purpose. That was a line he refused to cross.
Pikachu had already beaten three opponents in a row. If it stayed in for the second half, it could very well sweep all six.
That would be a little embarrassing for Ash, though.
Two separate three-Pokémon sweeps still looked better than one Pokémon sweeping the whole team.
Once Pikachu had settled down, Caster took out a Poké Ball. "Go, Dragonair!"
"Droo!"
The long, slender Dragonair appeared, elegant and magnificent. Rather than landing, it floated through the air like a dragon from myth.
"Charizard, I choose you!"
Ash sent out Charizard.
"Roaar!"
With a few gentle beats of its wings, Charizard flew up to face Dragonair.
Ever since Caster and Shellder had defeated it, Charizard had changed its ways. It listened to Ash now and worked hard at training.
This Charizard was already much stronger than its counterpart in the original story. It had even learned several new moves.
Its eyes burned with eagerness to fight, and the flame on its tail grew larger.
Then Charizard got doused with cold water. Literally.
As Dragonair released a mysterious aura, the weather changed. In the blink of an eye, the clear sky filled with dark clouds.
Huge raindrops poured down, soaking Charizard through.
The flame on its tail, which had only just flared up, shrank again under the rain.
"Here comes the rain! Caster's finally getting serious!"
In the competitors' lounge, Gary narrowed his eyes at the screen.
Ding, ding!
The bell rang, marking the start of the second half.
"Roaar!"
Charizard snorted out a thick cloud of black smoke, trying to block Caster and Dragonair's view.
It didn't work!
In the rain, Dragonair could sense the movement of every raindrop.
As long as the drops struck Charizard, its position would be exposed.
Besides, the rain soon washed the Smokescreen away.
"Droo!"
Dragonair cried out. Water surged around its body, and it rocketed into the cloud of smoke hanging in midair.
The Water-type move Aqua Jet!
"Roaar!"
The attack connected, and Charizard cried out in pain. It had clearly taken a heavy hit.
The rain had given Aqua Jet a considerable boost in power.
But just then, the flame on Charizard's tail flared up.
Its Ability, Blaze, had activated! With Charizard's health running low, its Fire-type attacks grew stronger.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Charizard endured Aqua Jet's impact. Fighting through the pain, it swung a claw hard at Dragonair, which was right in front of it.
A talon of emerald energy formed around Charizard's claw, making it look much longer and larger.
"Charizard's learned Dragon Claw?"
Caster raised an eyebrow in surprise.
On second thought, it made sense.
Charizard had always had plenty of potential. It had been weak during the Indigo League Conference in the original story only because it refused to obey Ash or train.
With those problems gone, it was only natural that it would grow stronger.
Wham!
The claw struck Dragonair, sending it reeling backward with a pained expression.
"Now! Grab Dragonair and use Seismic Toss!"
Ash gave his next command.
Charizard beat its wings and lunged forward. It gripped Dragonair's neck with both claws, then began to spin with Dragonair in its grasp.
Dragonair still had a chance to break free before Charizard started the throw. Once it had Dragonair spinning, though, it would be too late.
Caster wasn't about to let that happen. "Wrap!" he shouted.
"Droo!"
Dragonair's eyes snapped open, and its slender body began to coil around Charizard like a python.
Fortunately, Charizard reacted fast. Realizing something was wrong, it abandoned the throw, released Dragonair, and pulled away.
It wasn't about to retreat without getting another hit in, though. As it escaped, it blasted Dragonair with Flamethrower.
Fortunately, the rain greatly weakened Fire-type attacks, so Dragonair took little damage.
"Ash, you and Charizard have both come a long way. But it's time to end this!"
After that brief praise, Caster's voice turned sharp. "Dragonair, use Thunder!"
In the rain, Thunder couldn't miss.
Charizard clearly didn't know moves like Protect or Substitute. It was also running low on strength after taking Aqua Jet.
If Thunder hit, Charizard would lose.
"Droo!"
Dragonair lifted its head. The orb on its neck began to glow, drawing on the lightning within the storm clouds.
Ash and Charizard had been backed into a corner, but neither was willing to give up.
"Charizard, use Flare Blitz at full power!"
An idea struck Ash, and he shouted, "Charge straight at it!"
"Roaar!"
The bolt was still forming overhead, but it could strike at any moment.
Charizard couldn't afford to waste time. Fierce flames burst from its tail and spread over its entire body until it was a dragon wreathed in roaring fire. Ready to risk everything, it charged at Dragonair.
Boom!
Just as Flare Blitz was about to hit Dragonair, an enormous bolt crashed down from the clouds.
The golden flash was blinding, and the thunderclap was deafening.
For a moment, everyone in the stadium was dazed and couldn't see or hear a thing.
At last, Ash looked up at the sky. "Did it work?" he asked hopefully.
Charizard had already crashed to the ground. It lay unconscious, its eyes rolled back.
With Thunder bearing down on it, Charizard had been doomed.
If Flare Blitz could deal enough damage before Charizard went down and drag Dragonair into Thunder's range, Dragonair would suffer too.
With a little luck, they might knock each other out.
Unfortunately, even after the smoke cleared, Dragonair hadn't fallen.
"Droo!"
Scorch marks and wounds left Dragonair battered, but it still floated steadily in the air.
The close call had shaken it, though.
Thank goodness for the rain!
And thank goodness Charizard's trump card had been the Fire-type Flare Blitz rather than the Dragon-type Dragon Rush!
Otherwise, even with Dragonair's size, strong defenses, and high stamina, it might have gone down too.
"So it still wasn't enough?"
Ash felt helpless.
They couldn't bring it down!
They just couldn't bring it down!
With Charizard defeated, the rest of the battle was a foregone conclusion.
Ash sent out Squirtle, then Bulbasaur, but neither stood a chance against Dragonair.
One Thunder took Squirtle out!
Then an Icy Wind took Bulbasaur out too!
The two fell one after the other. It took less than ten seconds for both to go down.
"Bulbasaur is unable to battle! The winner is Caster from Cerulean City!"
As soon as the referee announced the result, the commentator shouted, "Congratulations to Caster for advancing to the semifinals of this year's Indigo League Conference!"