After leaving Scissor Street, Ash and his companions passed through a town steeped in a fierce fighting spirit. The place was preparing to host the famous Fighting-type tournament, the P1 Grand Prix. At the Pokémon Center, they met a sorrowful girl named Rebecca.
[Insert Image of Rebecca]
The moment Rebecca saw that Ash and the others were traveling Trainers, it was as if she had found a lifeline. She hurried over and pleaded, "Please, you have to defeat my father, Anthony, at the P1 Grand Prix!"
It turned out that Rebecca's father, Anthony, was a dedicated martial artist. Obsessed with winning the P1 championship and claiming the golden belt, he had left home with his Hitmonchan for intense training, to the point of neglecting his family.
Rebecca missed her father dearly and wanted him to come home.
"As long as you can help my dad come to his senses and bring him back," Rebecca said softly, tears welling in her eyes, "I'll agree to any request… anything at all." Her cheeks flushed slightly, hinting at an unspoken promise.
Ash was moved by the sincerity and sadness in her gaze. It was not because of that vague promise, but because he valued family bonds and genuinely wanted to help reunite the father and daughter.
As for which Pokémon to enter into the tournament, wasn't Primeape, whom he had recently caught, the perfect choice?
"I understand," Ash nodded solemnly. "I'll enter Primeape into the P1 Grand Prix and defeat Mr. Anthony's Hitmonchan fair and square. I'll make him realize that there are things more important than a championship!"
Brock was touched as well and decided to enter Geodude to temper its fighting spirit.
The P1 Grand Prix commenced as scheduled, the atmosphere electrifying.
Primeape carved a path through the competition with overwhelming strength, blistering speed, and unique combat techniques Ash had refined using knowledge from his previous life, such as feints that blended offense and deception, and more efficient striking methods. This Primeape, wild yet oddly disciplined, quickly caught the audience's attention.
However, an unexpected incident disrupted the tournament.
In order to win, Team Rocket kidnapped a Trainer named Giant and stole his Hitmonlee to compete.
Facing Hitmonlee's relentless kicking techniques, Brock's Geodude fought bravely, but was outmatched in both attributes and tactics. In the end, it was heavily injured and collapsed.
Reluctantly, Brock withdrew to protect his partner.
In the other semifinal match, Anthony's Hitmonchan displayed astonishing skill. Its strange and nimble footwork allowed it to evade every one of Hitmonlee's kicks before defeating it with ease.
The finals would be a showdown between Ash's Primeape and Anthony's Hitmonchan.
Just before the match began, Meowth sneaked into the arena, attempting to smear special adhesive onto the ring floor to trap Hitmonchan's feet and clear the way for Team Rocket, who had disguised themselves as participants.
But Ash had anticipated this. He had secretly stationed Pikachu nearby. With a precise Thunderbolt, Pikachu zapped Meowth black, and Ash also located the kidnapped Trainer. Team Rocket's cheating was exposed on the spot.
Amid loud boos, Team Rocket was once again escorted away by security.
The final match began.
Anthony's Hitmonchan truly lived up to its reputation. Its Mach Punch struck like lightning, its Drain Punch was unpredictable, and its agile footwork made it extremely difficult to pin down. Primeape's raw power was formidable, yet many of its attacks were skillfully neutralized.
"Primeape, stay calm! Remember what I taught you!" Ash shouted. "Watch its rhythm! Use feints to mislead it! Attack its base!"
Primeape's eyes sharpened.
It stopped charging recklessly and began incorporating the footwork and deceptive techniques Ash had drilled into it. It threw out a feint. As Hitmonchan instinctively slid sideways to evade, Primeape seized the moment when its center of gravity shifted and unleashed a low angled Low Sweep.
Bang!
Hitmonchan lost its balance and crashed to the ground.
"Now! Seismic Toss!" Ash called out.
Primeape grabbed Hitmonchan by the legs and spun around repeatedly before executing the powerful Fighting type move Seismic Toss.
With a final roar, it hurled Hitmonchan down with tremendous force. The attack was devastatingly effective.
Hitmonchan struggled, but ultimately could not rise again.
"Hitmonchan is unable to battle! The winner is Ash's Primeape! The champion of this year's P1 Grand Prix is Ash!" the referee announced loudly.
The entire arena erupted in cheers. Primeape had won the P1 golden belt, the highest honor for Fighting type Pokémon.
After the match, Anthony approached Ash, his eyes burning as he stared at the golden belt in Ash's hands and at Primeape beside him. "Kid, hand over your Primeape and that golden belt. With them, I can definitely defend my title next year!"
Ash refused without hesitation. He held out the golden belt to Anthony. "Mr. Anthony, you can have the belt. It represents your pursuit of strength. But Primeape is my partner. I will never give it to anyone."
His tone turned serious. "But tell me, is this belt really more important than the daughter waiting for you at home? Rebecca has been waiting for you."
Anthony was struck speechless. Only then did he notice his daughter in the crowd, watching him with tear filled eyes.
Memories of her loneliness after he left flooded back. His stubborn obsession crumbled instantly. Shame filled his face. "I… I've been such a fool. I'm sorry, Rebecca! And I'm sorry, Ash. I was out of line."
(T/N: Wtf!!)
At last, Anthony awakened from his obsession and decided to take the belt home, reunited with his daughter.
Late that night, Rebecca found Ash as promised, her face shy yet grateful. "Ash, thank you… for bringing my dad back. I… I'll keep my promise…"
And so, Ash once again enjoyed the tender gratitude of a young maiden.
[Ding! Host has won the P1 Grand Prix championship and obtained the P1 golden belt. Belt has been transferred. Reward: 800 World Points.]
[Ding! Host has successfully resolved a family conflict, guiding Anthony back home and gaining deep affection from Rebecca. Reward: 500 World Points.]
[Primeape's combat skills and bond have greatly improved.]
[Current World Points: 13650.]
Carrying the glory of the tournament and a complicated emotional memory, Ash and his companions continued onward toward their next destination, Fuchsia City.
...
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