c142: Ash and Serena Fight Hand in Hand!!
"Let's go! Let us, the 'Lumiose City Twins,' be the first to test your skills!"
The moment Ash threw out his challenge, two sharply dressed boys on the sidelines wearing vintage-style vests and matching hats stepped forward confidently and climbed onto the battlefield. They were well-known throughout the summer camp as a synchronized pair hailing from the Kalos Region.
"I'm Stéphane from Lumiose City in Kalos, and my partner Pokémon is Inkay!"
"And I'm Erwin, also from Lumiose City, and my partner is Flabébé!"
"Bang! Bang!"
The two boys wasted no time. In perfect unison, they tossed their Poké Balls, which popped open mid-air with synchronized flashes of light.
"Ka-La~!"
"Flaa!"
Out floated two Pokémon unique to the Kalos Region, small but full of personality. Stéphane's Pokémon, Inkay, hovered with a mischievous glint in its eyes. Despite its squid-like appearance, it had an unusual typing of Dark and Psychic. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, an Inkay was famously used by Team Flare, and James of Team Rocket caught one in the anime continuity during their time in Kalos.
[Inkay]
Level: Lv.8
Type: Dark / Psychic
Nature: Naughty
Ability: Suction Cups
Potential: C (Average)
Moves (Copyable)
Proficient: Hypnosis, Tackle
Unusual: Peck, Wrap, Payback
Erwin's Pokémon, Flabébé, floated gently above the grass with its signature red Fairy Flower clasped tight. In Kalos lore, it is said that a Flabébé chooses its flower at birth and remains bonded to it for life. This Flabébé held a red bloom a common type, unlike the rare white variant. Upon evolution into Florges, the color of the flower and body changes, symbolizing its chosen bond.
[Flabébé]
Level: Lv.7
Type: Fairy
Nature: Gentle
Ability: Flower Veil
Potential: C (Average)
Moves (Copyable)
Proficient: Tackle, Vine Whip
Unusual: Fairy Wind
Ash narrowed his eyes as he observed both opponents' Pokémon. Without delay, he and Serena stepped forward, mirroring the Lumiose duo's confidence.
"Let's go, Froakie!!"
"I'm ready Clefairy, you're up too!!" Serena called out with new conviction.
"Bang! Bang!"
Twin Poké Balls burst open. Ash's Froakie landed with a nimble hop, ready to act in sync with its Trainer as always. After two intense weeks of focused skill training mostly on Water Pulse and Quick Attack Froakie had steadily grown stronger and more agile, now standing confidently at Lv.16. It had also developed a sharper battle sense, thanks to Ash's daily regimens and joint mock battles.
Meanwhile, Serena's Clefairy twirled onto the field, glowing with a soft pink light. Although Serena's training had not been as rigorous as Ash's, her progress was still impressive. Influenced by Ash's tenacity and guided by Professor Sycamore's lessons on Fairy-type tactics, she had committed herself to daily sessions. As a result, her Clefairy had grown from a timid companion to a competent battler, now at Lv.9 one of the highest among her fellow new trainers at camp.
In previous chapters, it was shown that Serena initially struggled with battle confidence, but under Ash's encouragement, she overcame her hesitations and practiced tirelessly, particularly with Clefairy's Disarming Voice and Sing moves, refining timing and support synergy.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation. This wasn't just any friendly match it was the first round of the grand closing doubles tournament, and already sparks were flying between two confident pairs.
Ash whispered to Serena, "Let's show them how far we've come."
Serena smiled back. "Right. Clefairy and I are ready."
As the sun gleamed over the battlefield, the first match of the "Friendship Doubles" was about to begin with Ash and Serena fighting side by side, not just as partners in battle, but as kindred spirits in growth.
At this moment on the battlefield, all four Trainers had released their Pokémon, and the atmosphere had reached a fever pitch, radiating intense energy.
Professor Oak, who had stepped onto the field to serve as the match referee, scanned both teams and, seeing that they were fully prepared for battle, raised his hand with authority. "Let the match begin!!"
"Ash… Ash…"
"Ash...Ash…"
"Serena! Serena!"
"Serena! Serena!"
The opening match of the Closed Camp Challenge had officially begun. The most promising summer camp participants stepped onto the stage, igniting passionate cheers from their fellow students in the Baji Performance Area, who had gathered to watch the long-anticipated doubles showdown.
"Serena, remember Clefairy doesn't have a healing move, so conserve her strength in this first round. Focus on support. Use her to pin down one of their Pokémon so Froakie can strike cleanly," Ash transmitted his voice to Serena using the aura bond he'd been subtly nurturing during their time together at camp a technique hinted at in earlier manga arcs, including Ash's aura sensitivity during Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu.
"Got it," Serena nodded confidently, not questioning Ash's tactical guidance.
As Ash and Serena coordinated quietly, Stéphane and Erwin wasted no time executing their opening moves.
"Go, Inkay use Hypnosis!" shouted Stéphane.
"Flabébé, attack with Vine Whip!" commanded Erwin.
"Ka-La~!"
"Flaa!"
The two Pokémon, already airborne, launched their dual assault. Inkay, ribbons waving hypnotically, twirled like a spinning top. Its bioluminescent body emitted undulating waves of psychic energy aimed at Froakie. Flabébé, meanwhile, whipped its glowing red flower forward, its slender vines lashing out to strike Ash's Pokémon from above.
Ash had correctly predicted their plan. In this matchup, Serena's strength was solid, but Ash and Froakie had proven time and again especially in their camp trials against Gary and Tieruno that they were the frontline duo. The opposing side had chosen to focus both attacks on Froakie, hoping to overwhelm him quickly and double-team Serena later.
However, they had underestimated Froakie's battle-tested awareness and Serena's now-sharp instincts.
"Froakie, dodge and then Quick Attack!" Ash barked with resolve.
"Clefairy, use Copycat on Inkay's Hypnosis!" Serena echoed, her timing perfect.
"Kroaah!"
"Pii~!"
With grace and speed, Froakie leapt high, twisting mid-air to avoid Flabébé's vines, his sharp eyes narrowing instinctively to avoid being caught in Inkay's hypnosis glow. In a blur, he zipped forward, his small body cloaked in speed.
Simultaneously, Clefairy ignored by the opposing team stood calmly, copying Inkay's move with Copycat. Her eyes shimmered briefly, then glowed with the same hypnotic wavelength, targeting Flabébé directly.
Seeing the tide shift, Serena didn't hesitate. Following Ash's earlier strategic cue, she issued her next command.
"Clefairy, use Hypnosis on Flabébé!"
Bang! Just as Serena finished speaking, Froakie slammed into Inkay with a blinding Quick Attack, knocking the Dark/Psychic-type Pokémon backward into the air.
"Ka-laa!!"
"Flaa…" Before Flabébé could react, Clefairy's imitation Hypnosis landed cleanly, and the Fairy Pokémon's petals trembled as it drifted slowly into a trance.
"Inkay!!" Stéphane cried out in shock.
"Flabébé!!" Erwin gasped.
Neither boy had expected their aggressive opening gambit to be turned on them so quickly—and so decisively. They had aimed to eliminate Froakie, but now both of their Pokémon were disrupted: one launched into the air, the other trapped in sleep status.
In truth, their tactic of doubling up on Ash at the start wasn't a bad idea. Taking out a stronger lead Pokémon first to shift the odds in a 2v1 scenario was a common strategy in camp matches echoed by Tieruno during earlier rounds. However, what they hadn't accounted for was the fact that Ash wasn't easily overwhelmed, and Serena had developed reliable battlefield awareness over the past two weeks.
Inkay and Flabébé were now in trouble Inkay sent flying, and Flabébé visibly slumping into sleep status, leaving them both exposed.
Faced with this perfect reversal, Ash wasn't about to let the opportunity go to waste.
"Froakie, Water Pulse! Finish it!" he commanded with no hesitation.
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