Pokemon: A different Ash

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"Sand Attack, and Steel Wing!" The moment Scyther took a hit, Ash seized the opportunity to press forward.

Repeating the same strategy, Pidgeotto flared its Steel Wing, then swung its wings again, kicking up a wave of dust from the ground and swooping toward Scyther.

"Forget it! Scyther, use Swords Dance!"

Although Steel Wing has more power than Wing Attack, being a Steel-type move, it may not be as effective against Scyther as Flying-type moves.

Gary watched as Ash relied on his old tricks, knowing that Pidgeotto, with its keen eyesight, was perfect for this style of battle—continually using moves to obscure vision while its own sight remained unaffected.

But Gary wasn't about to stay idle and quickly issued an order to Scyther. Scyther's eyes narrowed as she heard the command. She crossed her arms in front of her, and a blue light emanated from her body as she started the Swords Dance.

As Scyther spun, a gust of wind formed, sweeping away the sand and dust kicked up by Pidgeotto.

Once the Swords Dance was complete, Scyther's twin scythes glowed as they cut through the dust and scattered it.

"Swords Dance can clear away Sand Attack!" Misty exclaimed from the sidelines, surprised. Typically, Swords Dance is used to increase a Pokémon's attack power, but Gary had cleverly used it to disperse Pidgeotto's sand and dust.

"With enough creativity, any move can be used in unexpected ways to gain an edge in battle," Professor Oak remarked thoughtfully as he watched the field. The battle between Ash and Gary had exceeded his expectations.

"Ash, now your Pidgeotto has nowhere to hide! Scyther, use Fury Cutter!" Gary called.

"Alright, let's settle this with a direct clash—Pidgeotto, use Steel Wing!" Ash commanded in response, setting the stage for a head-on confrontation.

Scyther's twin scythes glowed with a green light as it dashed toward Pidgeotto, while Pidgeotto's Wings shone brightly. Both Pokémon charged at each other, radiating powerful energy.

"It's a head-on battle, and Pidgeotto should have the advantage due to its type!" Misty watched the field anxiously, clasping her hands together.

Pidgeotto's Flying-type nature gives it a natural resistance to Bug-type moves like Fury Cutter, giving it an edge in this clash.

"That may be true, but Scyther has boosted its attack with Swords Dance," Professor Oak explained seriously. "Plus, Fury Cutter becomes stronger with each consecutive hit. Even with the type advantage, Pidgeotto may struggle if Scyther can land a few hits."

Hearing Professor Oak's analysis, Misty grew even more nervous.

Both Pokémon rushed to the center of the field, their attacks colliding. Wings met scythes with a loud clash, and the resulting force reverberated through the stadium.

"Hm?" Professor Oak murmured, stroking his chin as he observed the battle with a thoughtful look.

*Slice!*

*Crack!*

Under the intense collision, a powerful gust of air swept through the battlefield, sending both Pokémon flying backward from the impact. They crashed to the ground simultaneously, the swirling air and kicked-up dust obscuring everyone's view.

As the smoke began to clear, both Pokémon lay on the ground with their eyes closed. Brock glanced around the field, hesitating to announce the result of the match just yet.

"Shhh!"

At that moment, Scyther slowly opened her eyes and used the scythes in her hands to push herself up from the ground. Brock glanced over at Pidgeotto to check its condition.

"Pidgeotto is down..." Brock began to announce the result.

But just as he was about to speak, he noticed Scyther, who was halfway standing, suddenly stumble forward and collapse. At that exact moment, Pidgeotto opened its eyes.

*Squawk!*

Letting out a triumphant cry, Pidgeotto flapped its wings and gradually lifted off the ground. Although it seemed weak and injured, it managed to rise.

"Ah!! This...!"

Everyone gasped in surprise. They had assumed Gary would win, but the outcome was completely unexpected.

"Ahem! Scyther is unable to battle. Pidgeotto is the winner!" Brock announced, just as astonished by the sudden reversal. Gary's face fell slightly as he took in the result.

"How could this happen? Gary lost," murmured some of the fans in the front row, disappointment clear in their voices.

Even though it was only the first match, Gary had never lost before.

"Just now, Scyther's attack should have been stronger than Pidgeotto's!" Misty exclaimed in surprise. According to Professor Oak, Scyther's final strike should have overpowered Pidgeotto.

"That's true in theory, but in that final clash, Pidgeotto activated the special effect of Steel Wing," Professor Oak explained. "Steel Wing has a chance to enhance the user's defense upon impact, which lessened the damage Pidgeotto received."

In that moment of collision, a faint shimmer had appeared around Pidgeotto's body. It was brief, and the chaotic gust from the impact made it hard to notice unless you were watching closely.

"So that's it!" Misty said, realization dawning on her. She realized that battles weren't just about attacks but involved many subtle details and strategies that she hadn't fully appreciated before.

"It was indeed a high-level duel, showcasing the skill of both trainers. Today's match looks like it's going to be incredibly exciting," Professor Oak said, watching proudly. He could already see how much Ash and Gary had grown and looked forward to the upcoming rounds.

"Come back, Scyther! Thank you!" Gary said, taking out Scyther's Poké Ball and returning her. He offered a quiet word of encouragement before pocketing the Poké Ball.

"That was a great battle, Ash!" he said, looking over at Ash with a nod.

"Same to you!" Ash replied, tipping the brim of his hat with a grin.