This chapter is focused on Galea, the old lady from the AG episode On Olden Pond.
''Stop, Right There!''
Ash didn't bother to take another step towards the water, as the sound of the rifle unlocking rang in his ears. Smirking to himself, he partially wheeled, not to desperate to know who would have plucked enough courage to stop him. Since, he knew the voice belonged to a woman's; he was charmed by her beauty. She was 5''9, four inches shorter than him. She had grown more beautiful than the last time he saw her. Those blue hues, pink hair, broad chest, ~no wonder Brock would yip just looking at her.
'' That's not a toy for pretty girls like you,'' Ash simpered.
''Thanks but I am also part deadly…'' Tiffany combated, taking an aim.
''I'm familiar with the word,'' he sniggered, lazily running a hand through his messy hair, studying her hands that were slightly trembling. ''Go ahead, shoot. I' would love to be your first kill, or you could lose the gun, and I can be your first kiss. You pick.''
''What are you doing here?'' she pressed, totally ignoring his cheesy lines.
''What does it look like I'm doing? Going in there for a swim…and maybe to pee IN THE lake…'' he yawned.
''You will leave this place IMMEDIATELY!'' she spat, disgusted by the intentions.
''Why not rather stay and chat?'' Ash smoothly refuted.
''Then you have spoken your last!'' a voice caused Ash and Tiffany to stop their 'chat', as they turned to see an old woman come into the view. Ash gazed at the old woman before him. At her age she should have one foot in the grave. Were it not for the lines in her face, he'd think her sixty at the most given her sharp mind and easy motion; but they are so deep and saggy - like the skin no longer has a connection to the skull underneath. Her hair was wispy over a scalp that shows signs of pressure sores, pink from constant contact with pillow or chair. From the inky folds extended a withered hand, clasping a bamboo cane that clacks onto the ground. She stood beside her granddaughter, hands holding the bamboo cane in her usual posture.
''Hey there, Grandma Dearest!'' Ash repelled, voice laced with sarcasm ''your granddaughter and I were just hitting it off.''
Tired of his flirting, Tiffany groaned and intimidated, ''You don't wanna piece of my grandmother, so leave.''
''I'm fairly certain no one does. As for the leaving part, I ain't leaving empty handed. It's her that I want,'' Ash desirously pointed a finger at the old lady, who stood there with a foreseeable look on her face.
''My Grandmother? Are You Insane?'' Tiffany snapped, looking between her grandmother and the stranger.
''You had to make this awkward?'' Ash had to catch himself before stumbling over in pure disbelief. Shrugging his shoulders, he pulled himself back up, ''Word on the street is that she's a powerful Pokémon Trainer. And I wanna see if it's true.''
''Alright. We'll have a 1 on 1 Battle. But if I beat you, do you promise to leave and never show your face here ever again.''
''That and not to pee in the lake…'' Ash trailed off.
''I shall beat some manners into you.'' she raised the stick into his path.
''But before, I'm gonna kick your ass, which by the way is not as hot as your granddaughter's,'' Ash countered, before rolling his eyes, and winking at the pink haired hottie, who just couldn't help but blush timidly.
''You just pissed me off~'' the grip of her hands tightened on the handle of her walking stick, as her eyebrows twitched.
The two trainers, old and young, went their separate ways, taking their spots on each side of the battlefield. Ash stood straight, stoic as ever, while Galea was flustered.
A wry smile bloomed on her lips as her professional experience seeped in; standing straight and hands no longer clasped behind her back. A certain fire flickered in earthen colored eyes as she scanned the battlefield; gaze drifting around.
She pulled a Pokéball free, tossing it forward. It opened, revealing..
"reon!"
Her smirk remained, almost taunting. Her Pokémon were well trained enough and bond so strong that she need not speak a single command for them to know what she wanted. It was a similar trick she pulled off in their last battle.
''I Choose You!'' Ash had lobbed a Pokéball forward, the sphere bursting open. The Rogue Pokémon appeared, looking just as intimidating as ever.
''Quick Attack into the water. Now!'' the old woman initiated, scrunching her nose.
Without wasting a moment, a silver streak surrounded her Vaporeon, as the water type darted towards the water body, prefacing a speedy dash with the intention to camouflage itself in the river.
''You heard her. She wants Vaporeon in the water. Aqua Jet!'' Ash began the battle with his usual introduction and Crawdaunt took the cue right away.
"daunt!" It cried, summoning a powerful swirl of water around his form, launching him towards Vaporeon. Moving with far more speed and sureness than before, it matched its speed with Vaporeon, startling her in the process, and slammed its right claw into Vaporeon's side, sending her soaring into the water. The brutal swing of the pincer sent the Bubble Jet Pokémon bombing into the water.
Under the surface, Vaporeon gasped and heaved, having had the air knocked right out of her on impact. It was quite fortunate that she was able to breathe comfortably underwater… Knowing she needed to be present for her trainer's commands though, she peddled toward the surface, quickly ascending before her head popped out of the water.
''Rain Dance!'' The lady bellowed
Vaporeon let out a howl of its own name towards the sky, which darkened almost instantly. Clouds appeared and sheets of rain began falling.
''Acid Armor!''
Just as Ash had anticipated the command, right before it could escape Galea's lips, Vaporeon dipped its head under the water once again, as it's body fluxed into a liquid state, vanishing from the sight of the Rogue Pokémon.
In an attempt, he assumed, to limit Crawdaunt's mobility. Clever, he was tempted to praise. But perhaps not quite clever enough
''We'll fight invisibility with misdirection! Double Team!''
Of course, his talents came into play soon enough.
The crustacean plunged itself into the water, and quickly split itself into different copies, lining the surface of the water in an array that threatened Vaporeon to discern the mystery of the true Crawdaunt.
''Keep on using Double Team every time Vaporeon lands a hit!''
Twelve became twenty-four, twenty four became forty- eight everytime Quick Attack would hit an after-image. Energy was flowing out of Vaporeon's limbs though it kept engaged in the battle. Everytime it made a hit, Crawdaunt kept multiplying itself. But that wasn't the end of Ash's plan. And somehow Galea had sensed this. Crawdaunt should have attacked by now. But where could the real one be? Not on the left. Not on the right. not from the front. That could only mean…
''Behind you, Vaporeon!'' Galea warned, her eyes wide open, an arm reaching out for her Pokémon. Her heart was beginning to race.
''Crabhammer!''
Taken off guard at first by the warning, Vaporeon her head around to invite a devastating blow to the face that sent her skidding across the surface of the water.
Galea noticed a smile had crept on the opposition's lips as she visualized what could be the reason for the smirk. There in the lake lay the answer. Right what was gonna be her signature maneuver, her opponent had beat to her easily. Vaporeon mewled to her trainer, as her body was confined in weeds, wiggling for a way out. Her paws and back legs were constricted by the messy strangle of the weeds.
"Oh, crap…" Tiffany cursed under her breath, baring witness to the Pokémon's strength. If they were going to win this one, they'd really have to kick their attacks up a notch.
''Oh No!'' For the first time ever, Galea's expression was faltered into a look of fear. Her eyes wide and shaking. Her hand trembling almost about to lose the grip on her stick. Tiffany softly mumbled out to her, for this was the first time she was seeing her grandmother in this condition.
''What's the face about? I just took a page outta your book!''
''How do you know?'' Galea's eyes narrowed. Had she met him before?
'''Let's just say your strategy is as seasoned as you are…''
''Watch it! No one calls me old!'' Galea hissed.
''That's because they don't have to~'' Ash deadpanned, raising in hands in an obvious matter-of-fact gesture.
''Vaporeon, use Acid Armor once again!'' Galea seethed.
Once again, Vaporeon managed to dematerialize itself into water.
Ash tutted. So quick to assume she had gotten away.
''Here's something you would never see.'' A smile picked up on Ash's lips, a hand thrown outward. ''Crabhammer on the water!
One claw was pulled back, a shrill cry followed, the large pincer slamming on surface of the water, white fissures that parted the water, was sent towards the spot where Vaporeon had last been. A minute passed by, and if Ash had confidence in that move, then one…two…three… and Vaporeon was sent shooting out of the water, by the heavy impact.
''And there it is…'' Ash sighed, before glancing at the old woman, who calmly smiled to herself, both of her hands stationed on her stick. Let out a soft chuckle, he effused ''Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You never had Vaporeon evade any of Crawdaunt's water type moves. You thought I would miss on the fact that Water Absorb happens to be Vaporeon's special ability?''
''There comes a challenge like this once in a decade. I'm impressed by your quick wit and your battling style. Tell me, young man, who are you?''
''My name doesn't guarantee a win, old lady,'' Crossing his arms, Ash called out ''Guillotine!''
Crawdaunt was eager to comply, as it surfed expeditiously to greet Vaporeon's face with a series of deadly precise slash of its glowing claw.
There was no way she was going to question Ash now. There was no way she could answer him move to move. But this wasn't going to be over in forfeit. In 60 years, she had never forfeited a battle, and she wasn't planning on throwing in the towel today either.
''Hydro Pump!'' Galea commanded in desperation. Ash didn't falter an inch.
A powerful jet of water shot out of the pokémon's mouth, when Crawdaunt began to spin, its powerful claw cut through the water like a hot knife through butter. A small smirk picked up in the corner of the other trainer's mouth.
''Step on it with Aqua Jet!''
The Rogue pokemon let out a cry, raring to continue. Several twists and turns followed the trainer's command, bringing Crawdaunt mere inches away from its target. Aqua Jet dissipated on a whim, as Crawdaunt raised its glowing pincer. With little time to react, Vaporeon was greeted with a rattling blow to the chest, sending her flying helpless into the rock that lay in the center of the lake, right where Crawdaunt was slammed years ago when it was just a Corphish. Losing its breath with the collision, the water type fell unconscious, without laying one hit at Crawdaunt.
Silence lasted a moment or so, all onlookers seemingly making sure that their eyes weren't betraying them.
''I guess that's it…'' Ash concluded.
After Crawdaunt had been kind enough to usher an unconscious Vaporeon back to the shore, Galea calmly recalled it, Tiffany now joining by her side.
''There we're done. Thank you, Vaporeon. Take a good rest.'' A red beam encapsulated the rock type, returning it to a Pokéball that the elder pocketed. She slumped her shoulders before breathing a sigh, turning to the young lad who just hooked a flawless victory.
''You have beaten me fair and square. Enjoy that swim,'' Galea playfully conceded. Rolling his eyes, Ash couldn't help but smirk, before recalling the snobbish Crawdaunt, and turning away to walk in the other direction he came from.
''You still think I came here for a swim?'' he quipped, without turning his back.
Very soon he was out of sight. His figure diminishing with distance, into the woods. Tiffany simply groused, her lips twisted. ''What a jerk!''
Chuckling softly at her granddaughter's foul mood, Galea took a minute to switch by looking at her. ''Had he been 50 years older, I would have clawed that shirt off him and…'''
A scream interrupted Galea's speech, as Tiffany waved apprehensively. ''Grandmother! I beg you not to finish that sentence!'' Tiffany blew in Galea's face as the older woman backed away nervously; beads of sweats ran down her face, as she surrendered trepidatiously.
''I was just pulling your leg sweety…'' Galea let out a soft, motherly chuckle at her situation.
I would like to reveal the next two stops for Ash's adventure: Fuschia City and Cinnabar Island.
The next three chapters will be
The Snake Charmer (Battle Pike Queen Lucy)
Taming a Ninja (Elite 4 Koga)
Not Hot Enough! (Gym Leader Blaine)
Also I needed a bit of guidance with the Lucy Chapter. I'm gonna make it a 3-on-3 battle with Lucy's Pokémon as: - Seviper, Milotic and Gyarados. I have chosen Serperior as Ash's choice, but am not sure about the other two. All suggestions are welcome.
Thank you
See you, until next time ; )