Cerise Park.
Ash was training Riolu by having him train with Mimey.
"Riolu! Use a flurry of Vaccum waves!"
"Rio!" Riolu unleashed a barrage Vaccum Waves forward.
"Mimey, Dodge them!"
"Mime!" Mimey had avoided the waves perfectly.
"Riolu, Force Palm! Mimey, you use Reflect!" Ash commanded them both at the same time. Riolu charged in, striking its tiny little baby paws forward as Mimey put up a reflective shield. Riolu hit the shield, pushing Mimey back. "Good job Riolu!"
Ash had brought along Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo to watch Ash perform so that they can learn from him. Goh was practising something else as well.
"Go, Farfetch'd! Super Slow Ball!" Goh tossed a baseball as it curved towards Farfetch'd slowly moving towards it. Farfetch'd kept his eyes on the ball as he hit, sending it afar. "Alright!"
"Ash! Goh!" Professor Cerise called for them. "I have a present for you and your friends."
Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash gathered to see this present. Cerise had taken out 12 tickets. "Tickets to an official Pokemon World Championships Master Class Battle."
"Oh, awesome! That means that Leon's gonna battle!" Ash exclaimed.
"Who's Leon?" Scootaloo asked.
"He's the strongest trainer in the world. The unbeatable champion." Ash answered.
"Woah! But I bet he's not as strong as you Ash!"
"Nah he is. He beat me in a short 1 on 1 sparring battle. But I'm gonna one day beat him. And become the number one trainer as well! That'll get me one step closer to becoming a Pokemon Master!"
"Wow!" Scootaloo adored Ash even more, continuing to look up to him.
"This is a great chance to catch more Galar Pokemon! Farfetch'd, you should come too! " shouted Goh!
"Far!"
"Twilight and the others are gonna love this!" Rainbow commented.
"Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom can't miss this either!" Scootaloo jumped about.
"Galar here we come!"
"Pikachu!"
Returning to Galar, The Mane 6, Spike, Ash, Goh and the CMC all came along with their Pokemon. But they were running a bit late.
"We're gonna be late! Why did you have to have seconds for lunch, Ash!" yelled Goh.
"Sorry! I couldn't resist! But you had an extra dessert too, remember!"
"Would you two stop bickering already! I don't wanna miss this!" Rainbow Dash said. They had luckily made it in time, arriving into the stadium. This was the CMC'S first time here so they were excited, but the location was actually different. This time, they came across a waiting room and there lied a golden statue of some sort of king holding a sword and a shield.
Ash stopped running as he gazed at the statue of the mysterious king, making him freeze for a bit.
"ASH, HURRY UP!" Pinkie yelled.
"Oh, Right!"
The stadium was as alive as it was the last time they went to a Master Class battle.
"This is amazing!" Scootaloo looked around, seeing the huge crowd and how revved up they were all getting.
"Can't believe we're this lucky to be here, girls!" Sweetie Belle said.
"I got some snacks too!" Apple Bloom was piled up with food.
"You should probably see this, Riolu." Ash sent his Riolu out to see this battle.
"Ssshhh! It's starting!" said Pinkie Pie. The Announcer was ready to say his stuff.
"The Championships have over 10,000 participants. Among them, only the eight highest-ranked can enter the Master Class! To show our respect for these eight, we refer to them as the Masters Eight! Today is a battle between these greats! It's time for the battlers to enter!"
The first one was a man who is mostly known as Leon's equal. The entire stadium lighted up to make his entrance flashy.
"The expert who charged his way into the Master Class right after joining the championships...current rank, 7th!" The man waved to the crowd, acting all cool with one hand in his jacket pocket. "He is our very own Galar Region Dragon Gym Leader, Challenger Raihan!"
"7th?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"Dragon?!" so did Spike.
"He looks crazy strong!" Goh said.
"And rather handsome." Rarity gawked.
"So that's Leon's opponent?" Ash commented with stars in his eyes.
"And who else would his opponent be? Born and raised in Galar, never having experienced a single defeat...This Ultimate Trainer continues to extend his flawless winning streak!" Smoke emerged as out of it was the man himself, raising his fist in the air, acting all mighty. Which he was. The crowd cheered for him much louder than they did for Raihan as it could even be heard outside of the stadium. "Ranked 1st in the Pokemon World Championships and Coronation Series! Galar's very own Super Star! Challenger and Champion Leon!"
"Woah... that's Leon?" said the CMC.
"You may use one Pokemon each." Announced the Referee. Leon and Raihan nodded at each other in response.
"The reason I signed up for the Championships...was to put an end to your undefeated streak." Raihan said.
"I'm honored, Raihan," Leon responded. "You should enjoy the tense, still air on the battlefield and the cheering and yelling from the audience too!"
"No, this won't be the kind of flashy match that'll get the audiences fired up." They both took their distances turning their backs to one another. "They've got a severe battle in store!"
"That's great! I'll enjoy this to the fullest." They both then turned around, holding their Pokeballs.
"Both sides, bring forth your Pokemon!"
"Let's go!" Raihan tossed his forward.
"Go forth!" Leon sent his upwards. Both Pokemon came out at the same time. For Raihan, his Pokemon was a real tank of a Pokemon.
"Challenger Raihan sends out Duraludon!"
"Dura!"
"And Challenger Leon sends out his absolute ace, Charizard!"
"CHAR!"
"Duraludon?" Rainbow Dash pulled out her dex. As did Ash and Goh as this was their first time seeing it too.
"Duraludon. The Alloy Pokemon. Its body resembles polished metal, and it’s both lightweight and strong. The only drawback is that it rusts easily. The special metal that composes its body is very light, so this Pokémon has considerable agility. It lives in caves because it dislikes the rain."
"Let the battle begin!"
"Now, you ready for a Champion Time?!" Leon smirked as did Raihan.
"Bring the storm, Duraludon! Metal Claw!" Duraludon made the first move. Its metal arms became even heavier as it lit up. The Alloy Pokemon rushed in, being surprisingly fast for a Steel-Type. Duraludon had struck Charizard right in its stomach, pushing the Flame Pokemon back.
"Charizard. Let's show them your claws as well! Dragon Claw!" Green Draconic energy engulfed Charizard's claws as it charged forward. Leon had definitely changed up his moves since last time.
"Iron Defense!" Duraludon had stood there, taking the Dragon Claw head-on. Its overwhelming physical defense made it so that the Dragon Claw didn't even nudge it. Duraludon's defense was powerful enough to make Charizard fly back. Talk about defense. "Another Metal Claw!" Duraludon went for a second Metal Claw this time.
"Dig!" Charizard had suddenly spun around, smashing his body into the ground and digging a hole that he travelled through, making Duraludon miss its attack. And right from behind, Charizard came back up, sending a tornado of sand rocks that hit Duraludon. "Brick Break!" Charizard followed up with its arm lighting up, flying towards the Dragon.
"Duraludon! Counter with Stone Edge!" Duraludon did just that, getting on all fours as sharp crystal stones rose up from the ground, stopping Charizard in his tracks as one of them struck the Flame Pokemon right in its chest, dealing super-effective damage. The battle had paused for a bit.
"Duraludon. Your strength doesn't disappoint." Leon commented.
"I'll wipe that calm smile off your face, Leon. Let's finish this Duraludon! Steel Beam!" Then, Duraludon's mouth opened up as energy made out of pure steel formed in its mouth. This was a move that was new to not just the ponies but even to Ash and Goh. It's a top-class Steel Move that very few Pokemon know. A move that sacrifices the user's stamina in exchange for immense destructive force. And destructive it was. Coming out of its mouth, the beam raced towards Charizard.
"Charizard! Flamethrower!" But the Flame Pokemon retaliated with its own ranged attack. Both moves clashed, but Steel Beam proved to be the mightier move, hitting Charizard. The move hit its mark, making Charizard go back down, but it was still standing strong. As to be expected of Leon's ace.
"I thank you, Raihan! You've lit the fire in Charizard's soul!"
"Then let's make this a proper show! You know what's coming next!" Raihan held out Duraludon's Pokeball, returning him. Ash and the others leaned forward, knowing what's gonna happen now. The CMC, on the other hand, were not aware.
"Why's everypony leaning forward like that?" Scootaloo asked.
"Just watch. Here it comes." A giddy Rainbow Dash replied.
"Let's go Duraludon!" Raihan's Dynamax band sparked with energy. "GIGANTAMAX!" He tossed the Pokeball upwards, unleashing Duraludon back out into the open. The Alloy Pokemon grew in size. Bigger. Bigger. The skies turned red with clouds forming as Gigantamax Duraludon was here!
"WOAH!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders all said, in awe at what they were seeing.
"Heh. Good. I'm not finished with this battle. And I won't let anyone finish it for me!" Leon returned Charizard to his Pokeball as the smoke formed around him. It was Charizard's turn to match Duraludon's size. "I'll show you what Charizard can really do!" He held out his Pokeball as it grew in size. "GIGANTAMAX!" Tossing his Pokeball brought out Gigantamax Charizard. This absolute monster of a Pokemon.
"IT'S LIKE A GIANT DRAGON!" Sweetie Belle yelled.
"I know right?!" Spike replied.
"Let the winds blow! Stream forward, Sandstorm! Max Rockfall!" Duraludon summoned up a giga-sized rock wall that fell forward towards Charizard.
"Max Knuckle!" Charizard returned the favor by striking its bare fists right at the rock wall. The impact not only destroyed the rock wall, but it caused all the smoke to fly all over the place, almost hitting the audience, but luckily there was a barrier made to make sure no one would get hurt during the scale of these battles.
"Don't give up! Roar my dragon! Max Steelspike!" Duraludon got on all fours, sending huge metal spikes towards the Flame Pokemon.
"I'll show you a true Champion Time! All I need is one hit! G-MAX WILDFIRE!" Charizard's wings had come off as they flew about like a phoenix. The phoenix shaped fire broke through the Steelspikes, obliterating them and charging forward. "Now! Enjoy the climax!" The fire flew up in the air, dashing at the Alloy Pokemon as it crashed into it. Duraludon definitely felt that as an intense burst of flames engulfed it. The fury of Charizard's flames made Duraludon revert back to its normal size, causing it to faint.
"Duraludon is unable to battle! Charizard wins! As such! The winner is Contestant Leon!" The crowd went wild from that intense battle.
"Once again, Leon proves to be something else," Twilight uttered. "So this is what it's like when top-trainers battle..."
"Oh... it was so worth it coming here..." Scootaloo felt like she was about to pass out from all of this as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom caught her.
"Good job, Charizard. Once again, we proved that we are the strongest!"
"Charizard!"
"Thank you for your support everyone!" Leon had then given off his famous pose, making the crowd go wild even more.
"Duraludon, get some good rest." Raihan returned Duraludon.
"You know, Raihan. My dream is to help make the trainers of the Galar Region as strong as they can be." Leon extended his hand out. "I expect great things from the Dragon Gym you run, too."
"Heh. I guess me and the Gym guys should sharpen and polish each other some more, and then I'll challenge you again." The two of them ended up shaking hands. "After all. I will be the one to end your undefeated legend"
"No, it will be me!" Ash shouted from the stands. "It's gonna be me that beats Leon and I'll become the strongest Pokemon Trainer ever!"
"Pikachu!"
"A-Ash! You're embarrassing us..." Twilight blushed. "Even you Pikachu?"
"Ash... Of course! I'll be waiting for you!" Leon responded, waving at him. Leon then turned his attention to another, giving a thumbs up.
"What's this??" The Announcer started talking. "Chairman Rose, the one who helped Leon get here, is in the stadium! He watches with a wide smile!"
There he was. The executive of it all, giving applause to that battle. Ash and the others turned to see Rose Ash especially fixed his gaze on him.
They returned to the waiting lounge after seeing that intense battle. Ash went up to the statue that he saw when he entered here. "You think this is a statue of Leon?"
"It does kinda look like his supreme pose a bit, but I'm not sure." Goh replied to him.
"It looked like this right?" Ash tried to mimic the pose.
"Not even close. It was kinda like this." Rainbow tried to do it but she didn't have any fingers to pull it off perfectly.
"Like this?" Apple Bloom tried the same.
"No, you gotta look more heroic while doing it." So did Scootaloo.
"Leon as the hero, huh?" A voice replied to them. A girl was sitting near the statue, looking at her long blue nails. "Oh, don't' mind me. I'm just talking to myself."
"Oh my. You look gorgeous darling." Rarity admired her look.
"Um... is this a statue of Leon?" Ash asked.
"No no. It's of a legendary hero famous throughout Galar.
"Legendary Hero?" They all said.
"Yep. Long ago... a great black storm covered the Galar Region. Giant Pokemon ran rampant."
"Giant Pokemon? They were all Dynamaxed? " said Fluttershy.
"But they were defeated by a single young hero bearing a sword and a shield. The statue here is meant to depict the young hero of that legend."
"A great black storm. Was it like a typhoon or gigantic thunderclouds?" Goh wondered.
"We still don't know what it is. Did the events of this legend actually happen? Who was this hero, and where did the sword and shield go? What sort of link does it have to Dynamax? Investigating all that stuff is kinda my homework." The girl twirled her hair. "It's so heavy."
"Homework? For like school?" Pinkie said.
"No, no. It's homework for my grandma, who's a Pokemon Professor. I'm her assistant...technically."
"Oh. Well, I'm Ash and this is my partner Pikachu."
"Pikachu!"
The girl gasped, loving the sight of Pikachu as she just noticed it. "It's so cute!" She dashed over it, grabbing its ears. Pikachu twitched at what was happening to it. The girl then noticed Twilight, seeing how she has wings and a horn, different from the ponies she's seen. "And this one has both a horn and wing!" She went over to grab Twilight's ears as well. Twilight was experiencing the most pain she has ever felt and will ever feel.
"U-Um. I'm Goh and this is my partner Ra-" Goh couldn't finish his sentence as she went to grab its ears as well.
"It's also super cute! In fact! All these ponies are the cutest I've seen so far! There's even smaller ones and an Eevee!" She had then grabbed all of their ears, making them wince like they've never winced before.
"I'm from Kanto along with Goh and the others here are from Ponyville at the other world." Ash introduced his friends.
"Oh? I'm Sonia. Nice to meet you."
They cut their chat with Sonia short as they were heading back, entering the outside of Galar.
"A black storm. Giant Pokemon." Ash wondered.
"And a legendary hero." so did Rainbow Dash. "Sounds really cool!" The two of them said.
"Hey! You lot!" A trainer called out to the group. "Is there a Pokemon Center around?!" He was holding his Pokemon in his hands, it was a fainted Chewtle.
"It's right there." Goh pointed right.
"T-Thank you!"
"Wait! What happened?" Ash asked.
"There's this huge weird thing on the bridge that just up ahead! My poor Chewtle!" The trainer ran off.
"Huge weird thing?" Twilight wondered. They decided to have a look, heading to the bridge but they didn't see anything. That's when they saw something ahead. The sound of something dragging across the ground. From the looks of it, it was a Farfetch'd. But it looked a bit different. Much more intimidating and serious even.
"A Farfetch'd?" Fluttershy uttered.
"Check out the size of its leek! It's huge!" Pinkie bellowed.
Rainbow took out her dex to see this different Farfetch'd.
"Farfetch'd. The Wild Duck Pokemon. And the Galarian variant. The Farfetch’d of the Galar region are brave warriors, and they wield thick, tough leeks in battle. The stalks of leeks are thicker and longer in the Galar region. Farfetch’d that adapted to these stalks took on a unique form."
"So this is a regional form huh?" Goh said.
"Far..." Farfecth'd had given off a 'come on' gesture with its wings, wanting a challenge.
"Pika?"
"No! Leave this to me!" Goh stepped forward, taking out a Pokeball. "Now, Go Pokeball!" Goh tossed the Pokeball, hoping to get an instant catch, but the Galarian Farfetch'd knocked it back to him with its leek. "Guess I'll battle it then. Farfetch'd on Farfetch'd!" Go sent out his Farfetch'd to battle. It was Kanto vs Galar. The two Wild Duck Pokemon stared each other down. "Night Slash!" Farfetch'd ran in, swinging its leek forward at its serious counterpart.
But the Galarian one proved to have an advantage due to its leek being heavier than a Kantonian's. It stopped the smaller leek from making contact.
"No good. Farfetch'd block it!"
That wouldn't help either. It also used Night Slash, sending its Kanto counterpart flying with a good hit to the stomach, making it faint in one hit.
"One hit?!" Pinkie yelled.
"R-Return!" Goh returned his Farfetch'd.
"Farfetch'd..." It told them to bring it on even more.
"So you've just been forcing trainers crossing this bridge to battle you?" said Ash.
"Far!" It looked over at Ash.
"Fine! I'll take you on!"
"Pika!"
Just then, Riolu had come out of Ash's Pokeball, wanting a go.
"Rio!"
"Riolu? You came out on your own?"
"Rio! Riolu!"
"I see. So you wanna fight, huh?"
"Ri!"
"Far..."
"Riolu! Vacuum Wave!" Riolu started off by releasing a wave of vacuum. Farfetch'd hit it away with its leek by using Night Shade once more, preparing to use it on Riolu as well. "Another Night Slash? Riolu! Force Palm!" Riolu ran up to Farfetch'd, striking its baby palms on its chest. Farfetch'd felt that, but it retaliated by slamming the leek down towards Riolu. "Double Team!" Riolu created illusionary clones of himself, tricking Farfetch'd. He's definitely learned some new moves.
"Far?"
"This is the results of our training! Follow it up with a Vacuum Wave combo!" All the Riolu's had then fired repeated waves of vacuum at the Wild Duck Pokemon. Farfetch'd took all the hits as it raised its leek up, going for another Night Slash. "Is it planning to fight us with just Night Slash?! Use Double Team again!" Riolu once again moved around Farfetch'd showing clones of himself zipping about.
Farfetch'd could see through it this time, swinging its leek around. It was strong enough to create a small whirlwind, destroying the clones. This didn't look like any Night Slash. A red streak surrounded the whirlwind.
"What's that?!" Goh said, pulling out this Rotom Phone.
"That move is Brutal Swing." The phone explained. Riolu fell on his back, still not out yet.
"Oh no, Riolu!"
Riolu got up with his body all tattered up.
"Oh, dear. I'm not sure Riolu can carry on like that." Fluttershy worried.
"But look. Farfetch'd looks like it used up all its strength with that Brutal Swing." Rainbow Dash pointed out. Farfetch'd was indeed a bit exhausted. The leek is heavier than it at the end of the day.
"I know you can still go on, right Riolu?" Ash said. Riolu responded to his words , getting back up on his feet. But slipping back down. "Come on! You can do it!" Riolu had finally stood up firm. "I believe in you, pal. You haven't yet given up have you?"
"Riolu!" The Emanation Pokemon let out a mighty cry. Farfetch'd raised its leek up once more.
"Here it comes Ash!" Twilight called out.
"I know! Time for the second part! Riolu! Reversal!" Riolu had learned a new move, rushing in forward as it returned all the damage back to Farfetch'd, knocking it back.
"You did it!" Scootaloo bellowed.
"No. Not yet. Farfetch'd! Hang in there!" Ash suddenly said, supporting the opposing Pokemon. "Stand up!"
"Huh?! Aren't you supposed to be on Riolu's side?!" Twilight exclaimed as the others were confused about why Ash was telling it to get back up.
"Farfetch'd hasn't given up yet either. I like its guts." Ash smirked.
"Pikachu!"
Farfetch'd got back up, raising its leek up with a battle cry.
"Ash, you idiot!" Twilight face-hoofed.
"Well done. Let's finish this, Farfetch'd! Right Riolu?"
"Rio!"
Unfortunately, Farfetch'd had fainted due to overworking itself.
As a favor, Ash and the others took it to the Pokemon Center to get it, Riolu and the Kantonian Farfetch'd healed up.
"We've restored your Pokemon to full health. Indeedee, if you would." Nurse Joy said to her helper Pokemon. A male and female Indeedee.
"Indeed!" The two of them brought their Pokemon back to them. Heading outside, Farfetch'd wanted to continue.
"You still wanna go on?" Ash asked. "You really love battling, huh?"
"Far."
"Well in that case..." Ash took a knee. "Wanna come with us?"
"Farfetch'd?"
"Riolu, Pikachu and the others. You could get stronger in my team!"
Farfetch'd took a moment to think about it. He looked into Ash's eyes, seeing the burning passion in it. He enjoyed battling just as much as itself. "Farfetch'd."
"He agreed!" Fluttershy translated.
"Awesome! Then go! Pokeball!" Ash tossed the Pokeball as it sent Farfetch'd inside.
1...2...3.. GET!
"I got a Galarian Farfetch'd!" Ash picked up the Pokeball.
"Pika-Pika!"
"Rio!"
"Congrats on another new Pokemon Ash!" Pinkie congratulated him.
"Alright, Farfetch'd come on out." Ash sent his newly caught friend to see him. Farfetch'd immediately went to strike Riolu, but the baby Pokemon avoided the impact.
"Oh, no fair Ash! I wanted to catch it! And you get the cool parts!" Goh groaned.
Deep within the bushes, there was a Pokemon that watched over them. A Sobble.
Today, the group had experienced another amazing Pokemon Battle. As Ash's path to reaching Leon continues and the road to the Pokemon League in Equestria carries on and the inclusion of Ash's newest Pokemon, the journey continues.
Chapter 83 End!