A Bitter Medicine of Strategy
Chapter 2
Later when Ash, Iris, Cilan and Suzie and their pokemons woke up and noticed that the wild Pansage had left, they returned back to their camp and now they were sitting at the camping table.
"This left a bitter taste in my mouth," Cilan sighed.
"I'm sorry, Vulpix. I was careless with that Pansage and you suffered because of it," Suzie said sadly as she tended Vulpix.
"Vuuul..." Vulpix said quietly like it was trying to tell that defeat was fox pokemon's fault as well.
"That Pansage was strong," Ash stated with serious look.
"It's strange." Iris said thoughtfully and turned her attention to Cilan: "I thought that only Panpour would learn Hydro Pump. How that Pansage was able to use that move?"
"I think I know how," Cilan said.
Everybody stared at Cilan as they waited that he would explain and then he said: "Nature Power."
"Nature Power?" Ash repeated with confused look.
"That's right." Cilan explained: "It's a move that allows pokemon use different moves depending on the user's environment. Just like you saw, that Pansage was standing on the rock in the pond which caused Nature Power turn into Hydro Pump."
"Really? Unbelievable!" Ash exclaimed with surprised look.
"Yes, that move is unique." Cilan said with serious look as he crossed his arms over his chest: "And it's only a part of the reason why capturing that Pansage isn't a simple recipe."
"True. We need a plan to success," Suzie admitted as she petted Vulpix's fur:
Both humans and pokemons fell silent as they started to think a plan.
Some time later Cilan said: "That Pansage knows Energy Ball, Role Play, Nature Power and Grass Whistle. In addition it's quick both when it dodges and attacks. We must somehow slow it down or make Vulpix attack before it has time to use its moves. Does Vulpix know any fast attacks?"
"Yes. Vulpix knows Quick Attack. It also knows Zen Headbutt but Quick Attack is faster," Suzie told.
"But using only Quick Attack isn't enough. We need something else too," Iris noted and Axew nodded as a sign that it agreed with Iris.
Ash thought for a moment before he opened his mouth: "What if we would use Attract?"
Others thought about Ash's suggestion.
"It could be useful... But Vulpix doesn't know that move," Suzie said.
"But we have Snivy and Emolga who knows Attract." Ash told to Suzie: "We can use it to stop Pansage and you and Vulpix would take care for rest."
And so trainers and pokemons started prepare their plan.
Cilan, Suzie and Vulpix were hiding behind the trees. Ash, Pikachu, Snivy, Iris and Axew were hiding behind the bushes. Everybody were staring at both Pecha berry tree and a path that led to the tree and waited that Cilan's Pansage would fulfill its share of their plan.
The plan was that Cilan's Pansage would lure the wild Pansage to Pecha berry tree, because most of Pansages liked to share berries with others. When the wild Pansage would arrive, Snivy would use Attract and then Vulpix would battle with Pansage until Suzie would capture it.
Suddenly they heard that somebody was coming toward their direction and then Cilan's Pansage arrived there, the three-leafed wild Pansage following it.
Cilan's Pansage halted and gestured toward the Pecha berry tree, like inviting it to eat. Then Cilan's Pansage climbed to the tree but soon it climbed inconspicuously as possible to another tree and through it Pansage landed to ground and ran to its trainer.
The wild Pansage approached the berry tree but before it had time to climb to the tree, Ash and Iris with their pokemons appeared from bushes.
"Now we got you!" Iris exclaimed.
Pansage turned to face trainers and at the same time Cilan and Suzie with their pokemons appeared from their hiding place.
"Pansage!" Suzie said: "I want battle with you again!"
When it noticed that it was surrounded, Pansage glared at them and growled.
"Okay, Snivy! Use Attract!" Ash ordered immediately.
"Snivy!" the grass snake pokemon nodded, winked and many pink hearts appeared. They circled the wild Pansage for a while and then they disappeared to Pansage's body. But nothing happened.
"What?!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pansage is a female?" Iris asked.
Cilan slapped his forehead: "Why didn't I think that?"
The wild Pansage stared at trainers and their pokemons for a moment. Then it stuck out it's tongue and turned to run away.
"Hey! You aren't going anywhere!" Ash exclaimed as he placed himself in front of Pansage.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said as it and Snivy placed themselves next to their trainer in order to stop Pansage.
But the wild Pansage formed Energy Ball in it's hands and threw it towards them. Ash exclaimed and jumped with his pokemons out of the attack's way. Pansage took advantage of the situation and ran away.
"Pansage! Wait!" Suzie shouted as she and Vulpix ran after the wild Pansage. Cilan, his Pansage, Iris and Axew followed them.
Ash took a Poké Ball from his pocket and returned Snivy back into the ball as he said: "Thank you for trying, Snivy."
Then he and Pikachu ran after their friends.
The wild Pansage was quick but trainers and their pokemons managed to follow it.
"Vulpix! Use Quick Attack!" Suzie ordered.
Vulpix's speed rose and it started catch up with Pansage. Grass monkey pokemon noticed this and ran toward the nearest tree so it would climb to the tree but Vulpix managed to tackle it.
The wild Pansage flew a short distance away from the impact of the attack but then it stood up and glared at Vulpix.
"Well done, Vulpix!" Suzie said as she and other trainers halted: "Use now Flamethrower!"
Vulpix shot fire from it's mouth towards Pansage but Pansage dodged it.
Then the wild Pansage rose it's arms and familiar white aura surrounded it and Vulpix.
"It used Role Play again!" Ash said.
"We must now use other moves, Vulpix." Suzie said to fox pokemon: "Use Zen Headbutt!"
Purple energy spread to Vulpix's forehead as it ran toward Pansage.
However Pansage dodged the fox pokemon's attack and threw Energy Ball toward it but Vulpix noticed the attack and managed to dodge it. After the attack the wild Pansage ran away.
"Vulpix! After it!" Suzie exclaimed.
"Vulpix!" Vulpix nodded and ran after the wild Pansage as trainers and their pokemons followed.
They followed the wild Pansage to clearing where was a large pond.
When she saw that Pansage leap to one of rocks that was in the pond, Suzie halted, making Vulpix and other trainers halt as well: "It's going to use wet surrounding so it would use Hydro Pump."
"I'm sure that Vulpix's Quick Attack will hit before Hydro Pump," Ash said.
"Ash, you little kid. Rushing headfirst doesn't help now," Iris noted with annoyed look.
"True. During this situation you should use feint," Cilan said as he kept an eye on the wild Pansage that stared cautiously at them.
Suzie started to think. She remembered how the previous battle with Pansage had gone and how Pansage had surprised Suzie and Vulpix with its moves. If Suzie would somehow manage to use Pansage's moves for her own benefit...
Suddenly she felt a thin wind and then Suzie got an idea that she thought to be worth to try.
"Let's go, Vulpix," Suzie said to her partner.
When it heard confidence in its trainer's voice, Vulpix nodded and ran toward Pansage with its trainer.
"Seems like Suzie got an idea," Ash said.
"Yes, so it's seems," Cilan confirmed.
"Pansage!" Cilan's Pansage nodded from its trainer's shoulder.
When it saw Suzie and Vulpix coming closer, the wild Pansage rose its hands and shot Hydro Pump toward the fox pokemon.
"Vulpix! Counter with Flamethrower!" Suzie ordered.
"Vulpix!" Vulpix shouted and shot Flamethrower from it's mouth.
Two attacks collided, blocking both of pokemon's attacks. But soon it started to seem that Hydro Pump would overcome Flamethrower!
Suzie noticed this and she shouted to Vulpix: "Don't give up, Vulpix! I know that you can do it! Continue with Flamethrower!"
Encouraged by its trainer, Vulpix continued using Flamethrower. The attack actually seemed becoming stronger because when attacks continued colliding, they produced steam. Because neither of pokemons gave up, more steam was produced and it started to spread.
Then happened something that Suzie had hoped for. Wind started blow steam away from Vulpix and towards the wild Pansage.
"Continue, Vulpix!" Suzie encouraged.
Vulpix continued using Flamethrower and the wild Pansage continued using Hydro Pump but little by little it seemed that Flamethrower would overcome Water-type move as fire turned water into steam which wind still blew toward Pansage.
The wild Pansage had difficulties in steam. Steam was hot and thick which is why it disturbed Pansage's sight and accuracy because Pansage must squint its eyes. In addition it started to feel that it couldn't keep up Hydro Pump any longer. Human's fox pokemon was more stubborn than Pansage had assumed for their first battle.
Finally the wild Pansage couldn't take it anymore. It stopped using Hydro Pump and jumped to water in order to dodge Flamethrower. Pansage swam back to dry land and sighed for relief.
"Now I understood Suzie's idea!" Cilan exclaimed: "She forced Pansage leave the pond as she turned Hydro Pump into steam which disturbed both Pansage's sight and feelings and made it stop using Hydro Pump and leave the pond."
"Wow! Clever!" Ash said with impressed look.
"Now, Vulpix! Use Quick Attack!" Suzie ordered.
Vulpix rushed toward the wild Pansage but Pansage noticed the attack and managed barely dodge the attack.
When it got a short distance away from Vulpix, Pansage stretched out its hand toward the plant on its head.
"Watch out! It's going to do Grass Whistle!" Iris warned others.
Suzie saw this too and she said to Vulpix: "Quickly! Use Zen Headbutt!"
Purple energy spread on Vulpix's forehead as it rushed toward the wild Pansage.
Just when Pansage was going to do Grass Whistle, Vulpix's attack hitted which both stopped Pansage's intended move and caused Pansage to flinch.
"Vulpix! Once again! Quick Attack!" Suzie shouted.
The wild Pansage noticed that Vulpix was attacking again but it hadn't time to dodge as Vulpix once again hitted against it.
Pansage flew from the impact against one of trees and keel over at the root of the tree.
"This is my chance!" Suzie exclaimed as she took a Poké Ball out of her shoulder bag and threw it toward the wild Pansage.
The ball hitted Pansage's head and turned it red energy which was absorbed inside of the Poké Ball. Suzie, Ash, Iris and Cilan with their pokemons waited as the ball shook for a moment until it stopped and they heard click.
Pansage was caught.
Suzie took the ball to her hand and smiled to Vulpix: "We did it! We captured Pansage!"
Vulpix barked happily and leapt to Suzie's arms. Suzie hugged Vulpix and laughed as Vulpix licked her cheek.
"Well done, Suzie!" Ash said as he and his friends ran to Suzie.
"It was smart move to turn Hydro Pump into steam," Iris said with smile.
"Thank you." Suzie said: "And thank you for helping me to capture Pansage. But now we should find a Pokémon Center. Vulpix is tired for battle and I want to get Pansage to Pokémon Center for medical check."
"Wait a moment. I check where is the nearest Pokémon Center." Cilan said and started to go through information from his navigator. Finally he informed to others: "The nearest Pokemon Center is just a couple of kilometres away."
They decided to leave to the Center right after they had unloaded their camp.
Suzie stood at Pokémon Center's front desk when Nurse Joy and Audino brought Suzie's pokemons from medical check.
"Both Vulpix and Pansage are fine. They just need some rest," Nurse Joy told as Audino gave both Poké Balls back to Suzie.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Suzie thanked as she bowed her head before she returned back to lobby where Ash and others were waiting.
Then Suzie took one of balls and let her Pansage out. Grass monkey pokemon looked around for a moment until it focused its attention on Suzie.
"Pansage." Suzie said as she knelt in front of Pansage: "I'm sorry for me and Vulpix being rough during our battle but I wanted capture you so I would use your leaves."
When Pansage heard this, it grabbed protectively its plant and gave a suspicious look to Suzie.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to use too much of them." Suzie said with reassuring tone: "But I would like use your leaves in order to help other pokemons. You see, I have a salon where I focus on pokemon's wellbeing. With help of your leaves, I will help pokemons feel better."
Pansage seemed still little bit suspicious but then it lowered its hands and nodded.
"So you are going to help me? That's great!" Suzie exclaimed with delighted tone. She took Pansage in her arms and hugged it.
"Congratulations, Suzie," Ash said with smile.
"Getting a new partner is always a happy experience but as a Pokémon Connoisseur I would recommend you to be attentive with Pansage. It seems to have a strong personality," Cilan remarked.
Suzie laughed and answered: "Thank you. I keep it in my mind."
Next day Suzie was going to return back to Kanto region. Ash, Pikachu, Iris, Axew, Cilan and his Pansage accompanied her to airport.
"Thank you once again for helping me," Suzie said to them.
"It was you and Vulpix who did most of the work," Cilan remarked with smile.
"But you helped me to plan how to act. If you will ever visit in the Kanto region, then come and visit my salon. I'm more than happy to offer treatment for your pokemons," Suzie said.
"Sounds wonderful," Iris said with excited tone.
"Hey, Suzie. If you some day meet Brock again, then tell him that I know that he will success with his studies," Ash asked.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said with nod.
"I will tell him," Suzie promised.
Just then they heard an announcement from speakers that told passengers, who were going to Kanto, go to the gate.
"Oh, I must go," Suzie said. "I wish you luck with your goals."
"Thank you!" Ash, Iris and Cilan said as Suzie walked to the gate. Before she entered in the terminal, Suzie turned once again and waved to Ash and others who waved back.
They stayed in the airport until Suzie's flight left. After it the trio with their pokemons continued their journey toward their own adventures.
The End
I'm sorry that this story isn't very original but feel free to leave a review. Thank you for reading.
