Haunter darted into Clefable's body. Then Clefable evolved, but not into Gengar. The Pokémon still looked like Clefable, only with demonic wings.
"Ash, the urban legend was only half right. Haunter possessing Clefable really can make Clefable evolve, but not into Gengar."
"Then... what is this?" I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
"You don't need to know. Shadow Claw!"
The Shadow Claw came straight at me. Seeing this, Pikachu immediately leaped in front of me and took the blow head-on.
"Pikachu, are you all right?"
"Pi... ka..."
This "Clefable" was far too strong. Pikachu couldn't even stand after taking a single Shadow Claw.
"Damn it! Then I'm counting on you, Pidgeot!"
"It's useless. Shadow Ball!"
The Shadow Ball struck Pidgeot, knocking the Pokémon out in a single hit as well.
"What's wrong, Ash? Is that all you've got? How disappointing."
It was true. I was in serious trouble now. I had no Pokémon left who could fight.
Just as despair set in, the egg I was carrying began to shake. What Pokémon would hatch from it? And could I escape Professor Oak?
The egg Mr. Lance had given me was finally about to hatch.
"Swablu, Swablu." It was a Swablu.
"Another speck of dust. Shadow Ball!"
It was over. A newly hatched Swablu clearly couldn't withstand that Shadow Ball.
Huh? The Shadow Ball hadn't hit Swablu. That was Protect.
"Hmph, a cheap trick. Another Shadow Ball."
"Swablu, hoo!"
That was Dragon Pulse, and it had blocked the Shadow Ball.
"What? A newly hatched Pokémon could actually block Shadow Ball!"
I knew that if this dragged on, we would end up losing. But a crowd of Clefairy surrounded me, making it hard to break through.
Suddenly, a beam shot in from the distance. It was Hyper Beam! I didn't