Pidgeotto looked helpless; it had already done its best to follow its Trainer's instructions, but the little bug opposite it was simply too nimble.
Ash disliked the middle-aged Shamate man's attitude toward his Pokémon, but it also gave him an idea. He taunted, "You've got the nerve to blame your Pokémon? You're the one too scared to fight up close. How did someone like you become the reigning champion?"
That was right-he was using trash talk.
Since his opponent was an impatient man with a short fuse, the chances of him losing his cool rose to over ninety percent.
The middle-aged Shamate man's earlier scolding had already angered some of the spectators, and they joined in with jeers of their own:
"He's right!"
"Don't blame your Pokémon for your lousy commands."
"You don't even have the guts to face a young guy head-on. What kind of champion are you?"
Excellent. This unexpected assist from the sidelines proved very effective, thoroughly enraging the middle-aged Shamate man. "You rotten little brat! Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack and take it out!"
Fine, they would fight up close. He refused to believe Applin could be faster than Pidgeotto!
"Pidge!" Following its orders, Pidgeotto gathered a white glow of Normal-type energy before its beak and swooped down like a meteor toward Applin as it rolled along the ground.
"Oh? He's chosen a close-range move! Is our reigning champion finally ready for a head-on showdown?!" Seeing this, the commentator outside the arena immediately stirred up the crowd.
With his opponent taking the bait, Ash promptly ordered, "Applin, use Sucker Punch!"
Before anyone could react, the gray Rock-type energy enveloping Applin instantly switched to black Dark-type energy.
Just before Pidgeotto's Quick Attack could connect, Applin's Sucker Punch struck the side of its face.
The blow forcibly interrupted Pidgeotto's