Chapter 345 - 343: Ash vs Falkner Part 1

Chapter 345: Chapter 343: Ash vs Falkner Part 1

After Giselle’s hard-fought victory and the warm congratulations that followed, Ash decided the group needed a proper rest before his own challenge. Using the Teleporter, he and his harem returned to the familiar comfort of Pallet Town.

The moment they stepped through the doorway of the Ketchum residence, Delia, Amber, and Cynthia were already waiting with bright smiles.

"Welcome home!" Delia cried, pulling Ash into a tight hug.

Amber bounced on her toes. "Big brother! You’re back!"

Cynthia, resting a hand on her growing belly, offered a gentle, radiant smile. "It’s good to see all of you safe."

Giselle stepped forward proudly and held up her newly earned Zephyr Badge. The silver badge shaped like a pair of wings gleamed under the living-room lights. "My first Johto badge," she said, her voice soft with happiness.

The other girls crowded around her, cheering and hugging her tightly. Cynthia’s eyes shone with sisterly pride. "You did wonderfully, Giselle. We’re all so proud of you."

Amber turned to Ash with curious eyes. "Big brother, where’s your badge? Show me!"

Ash chuckled and ruffled her hair. "My battle is tomorrow. Falkner is going to use his elite team against me."

Amber tilted her head. "Elite team? What’s that?"

Cynthia answered calmly, resting a hand on Amber’s shoulder. "Most powerful trainers keep more than one team. Gym Leaders usually battle regular challengers with their standard team. An elite team is made of Pokémon they have trained for years partners with deep bonds and far greater experience. It’s a much stronger challenge."

Amber nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "So big brother’s fight is going to be harder... Okay. You better win!"

That night the household settled into a peaceful rhythm. The girls quietly gave Ash and Cynthia private time together, respecting the expectant mother’s need for calm and closeness. Ash spent the evening holding Cynthia, listening to her soft breathing, and resting a hand gently over their growing children.

The next morning the family shared a warm breakfast. Delia served her famous pancakes while Amber chattered about everything she had done while they were away. After the meal, heartfelt goodbyes were exchanged.

Delia hugged each of them in turn. Cynthia kissed Ash softly and whispered, "Come back with that badge." Amber made Ash promise to win "extra hard."

Using the Teleporter once more, the group returned to Violet City. They made their way straight to the towering Gym. Falkner was already waiting on the rooftop battlefield, the wind tugging at his jacket as he stood with quiet confidence.

As Ash stepped onto the field, a familiar blue system window appeared in his vision.

[Ding!]

Mission: Defeat Falkner’s Elite Team

Rewards:

Flyinium Z ×5

Flying Gem ×5

Ash accepted the mission silently. His eyes sharpened with focus.

The referee raised a flag. "This will be a three-on-three battle between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Gym Leader Falkner! Each Trainer may use three Pokémon. Begin!"

Falkner threw his first Poké Ball with a confident motion. "Pidgeot, take the skies!"

A powerful, well-trained Pidgeot burst forth, its large wings beating the air with authority. Its feathers gleamed under the open sky, and its sharp eyes locked onto Ash with battle-ready intensity.

Ash’s expression remained calm. He reached for a Poké Ball of his own. "Fearow, I choose you!"

Fearow appeared with a fierce cry, spreading its broad wings. The Razor Claw it carried caught the sunlight as the two Flying-types faced each other high above the rooftop.

"Pidgeot, start with Aerial Ace!" Falkner commanded.

Pidgeot became a blur of speed, streaking forward in a nearly unavoidable charge.

"Fearow, Agility!" Ash countered.

Fearow’s body glowed as its speed surged. It twisted aside at the last moment, the Aerial Ace grazing only a few feathers.

"Now, Pursuit!"

Fearow wheeled around and slammed into Pidgeot from behind with a dark-energy-enhanced strike. Pidgeot cried out but recovered quickly.

"Pidgeot, Whirlwind!"

A powerful gust erupted from Pidgeot’s wings, trying to force Fearow out of position.

"Drill Peck through it!" Ash ordered.

Fearow spun into a tight corkscrew and drove its beak straight through the wind, striking Pidgeot hard in the chest. Sparks of impact flashed as the two birds broke apart.

Falkner’s eyes narrowed. "Pidgeot, Quick Attack into Steel Wing!"

Pidgeot vanished in a burst of speed and reappeared with its wings glowing metallic silver, slamming into Fearow with a heavy blow.

Fearow was knocked back but righted itself mid-air. "Fury Attack!" Ash called.

Fearow launched into a rapid series of sharp pecks, each one landing with precision thanks to its Keen Eye. Pidgeot tried to create distance with another Aerial Ace, but Fearow’s increased speed from Agility let it keep pace.

"Pidgeot, Air Slash!"

Multiple blades of compressed air shot toward Fearow.

"Dodge and counter with Drill Peck!"

Fearow weaved between the slicing winds and answered with another spinning beak strike. The two Pokémon collided again and again, trading powerful blows high above the battlefield. Wings beat furiously, feathers scattered, and the sound of impact echoed across the rooftop.

Pidgeot used a sudden Gust to push Fearow back, then followed with another Steel Wing. Fearow tanked the hit and responded with a relentless Fury Attack, its Sniper ability making every critical peck hit harder.

The battle continued in a fierce aerial dance. Pidgeot tried to overwhelm with speed and cutting winds; Fearow answered with raw power, precision, and unyielding stamina.

After more than a dozen exchanges Aerial Ace, Agility, Pursuit, Drill Peck, Steel Wing, Air Slash, Fury Attack, and repeated counters both birds showed signs of fatigue, yet neither yielded.

Fearow’s eyes locked onto its opponent with absolute focus. Ash’s voice rang out clearly over the wind.

"Fearow... finish it with a full-power Drill Peck!"

Fearow climbed higher, then dove like a living spear, its beak spinning with devastating force. Pidgeot met the attack with one last Steel Wing, but Fearow’s strike broke through. The impact sent Pidgeot crashing down onto the battlefield.

The referee raised a flag. "Pidgeot is unable to battle! Fearow wins!"

Ash’s Fearow hovered above the field, breathing hard but still ready, its wings steady against the sky. The first victory of the elite-team challenge belonged to Ash.

Falkner recalled his fallen Pidgeot with a calm expression and immediately reached for his next Poké Ball. "You’ve forced me to take this seriously. Noctowl, take the field!"

A large, powerful Noctowl emerged with a deep, resonant cry. Its eyes glowed with sharp intelligence, and its broad wings cast a wide shadow across the rooftop as it hovered steadily in the air. This was clearly no ordinary Noctowl its presence alone felt heavier, more experienced.

Fearow remained in the sky, breathing hard but still locked onto its new opponent. Ash’s eyes narrowed. "Fearow, stay sharp. This one’s different."

"Noctowl, start with Hypnosis!" Falkner commanded.

Noctowl’s large eyes flashed with eerie light, sending waves of sleep-inducing energy toward Fearow.

"Agility!" Ash countered immediately.

Fearow’s body blurred as its speed surged again, weaving through the Hypnosis waves before they could fully take hold.

"Now, Pursuit!"

Fearow dove from behind, cloaked in dark energy, and struck Noctowl hard across the back. The owl Pokémon rocked in the air but quickly recovered.

"Noctowl, Reflect!" Falkner ordered.

A shimmering barrier of light formed around Noctowl, reducing the power of physical attacks.

"Fearow, Drill Peck!"

Fearow spun into a high-speed corkscrew and slammed its beak into the Reflect barrier.

Cracks spread across the shield, but it held for the moment.

Noctowl countered at once. "Air Slash!"

Multiple blades of compressed air shot toward Fearow. The bird twisted through most of them, but one blade grazed its wing, drawing a sharp cry.

"Fury Attack!" Ash called.

Fearow closed the distance and unleashed a rapid series of precise pecks, each one aimed at the same weakened point on Noctowl’s wing.

The Reflect barrier finally shattered under the pressure.

"Noctowl, Psychic!"

Invisible force slammed into Fearow, stopping its assault and hurling it backward through the air. Fearow tumbled, then righted itself with a powerful beat of its wings.

"Aerial Ace!" Falkner continued.

Noctowl became a blur and crashed into Fearow with a nearly unavoidable strike.

Fearow was driven lower, closer to the rooftop.

Ash’s voice rang out. "Fearow, climb and use Drill Peck at full power!"

Fearow forced itself upward despite the damage, then dove with everything it had left.

Its beak spun like a living drill as it collided with Noctowl in a spectacular mid-air impact.

The force of the blow sent Noctowl reeling, feathers scattering across the sky. For a moment it looked as though Fearow might finish the fight.

But Noctowl endured. "Now... Moonblast!" Falkner commanded.

A sphere of pure fairy energy formed in front of Noctowl and exploded against Fearow at close range. The blast overwhelmed the already exhausted bird. Fearow cried out one last time before falling to the battlefield, unable to continue.

The referee raised a flag. "Fearow is unable to battle! Noctowl wins!"

Ash recalled Fearow with quiet gratitude. "You did great. Rest now."

He reached for his next Poké Ball without hesitation. "You’ve shown me your strength, Falkner. Now it’s my turn. Pidgeot... I choose you!"

In a flash of light, Ash’s Golden Alpha Pidgeot appeared. Her feathers shone with a rich golden sheen under the sunlight, and her presence immediately changed the atmosphere of the battlefield. With No Guard ability active and a top speed reaching Mach 3, she hovered with absolute confidence, her sharp eyes locked onto Noctowl.

The wind itself seemed to shift around her as she spread her wings wide, ready for the next clash.