Chapter 9 – Infiltration (Mega Battle)
—It's right there—Jessie said hiding behind a bush with the guys and pointing to three Team Flare grunts who seemed to be walking in circles around nothing.
—But where's the base? —Ash asked curious.
—Don't you see they're walking in circles? The base is there!
—I see! But how are we going to see the entrance?
—They have a remote control which makes the base be visible, they only use it at night when people are sleeping and no one sees—James added.
—Ok, Inkay go! —Jessie said with a low voice releasing her Pokémon.
—Inkay! —the Pokémon exclaimed with enthusiasm.
—Don't be noisy! You're going to be a good Pokémon and use hypnosis on those guys, ok?
—Inkay! —the Pokémon exclaimed understanding Jessie's commands.
Inkay began to walk slowly and smiling until it appeared in front of the grunts.
—Oww! It's such a beautiful Pokémon! —a grunt exclaimed.
—Inkay! —the Pokémon exclaimed with happiness.
—Can we keep it? —a grunt asked.
—Inkay! —the Pokémon shouted releasing psychic waves that put the grunts to sleep.
—Yes! —Ash exclaimed excited and he and Team Rocket stop hiding behind of the bush as they walked to Inkay.
—Good job cutie, now get back to your pokéball—Jessie said happily.
—Well, there are three grunts and we're three people—James commented.
—What? —Ash questioned shocked. He knew what James implied.
—We better put their uniforms on, that way we can go unnoticed—Jessie added.
—…all right—Ash said ashamed.
—We're sorry, we know you'd better like to dress as a girl but this is all we have—Jessie added laughing.
—What? No! —Ash shouted embarrassed.
—We're not judging—Meowth commented.
—Shut up and let's get dressed!
Ash and Team Rocket started to take the grunts' uniforms and their characteristic big glasses and then they put them on.
—Hey, we look so fancy—James said modeling a little.
—Stop it! —Jessie slapped James for him to stop playing—I found the control! —Jessie exclaimed excited pressing one button and suddenly the secret base became visible.
—Oh…my…God! —everyone exclaimed in amaze.
The secret base was huge! It was like 30 meters tall and it had hundreds of windows. The ground started to tremble again.
—Ok, let's go!
They entered in the base and then Jessie pressed the button again for no one to notice that the base had become visible for a moment.
As they walked normally, they could evade dozens of grunts before being noticed.
—Where exactly are we going? —Ash asked curious.
—Hey! You, you three! Come here! —a scientist exclaimed. It was Gary!
—Oh…yes? —Ash asked crestfallen so Gary could not recognize him.
—…—Gary instantly recognized Ash and Team Rocket—I need you to come with me—he added starting to walk in front of them.
—Do you think he noticed us? —James asked worried.
—C'mon grunts! We don't have the entire day!
—I hope not, let's follow him, he could take us to the place where they keep Clemont and the others—Ash said starting to follow Gary—…professor Oak?—Ash added unsure if that was the way they called Gary in that place.
—Yes?
—Now that you have achieved your goal to have captured the legendary Pokémon, what's next?
—You can't ask him that! —Jessie exclaimed mad with a low voice pinching Ash.
—Ouch!
—…that's none of your business—Gary added without turning back—by the way, it's weird that you have your Pokémon out of your pokéball—Gary commented about Meowth.
—Oh! Don't worry about that, this Pokémon is very stubborn and it doesn't like its pokéball—James added nervous.
—I see—Gary said skeptically—this way—he took some stairs down and Ash and Team Rocket followed him.
They reached the basement of the building which was illuminated by fire lamps.
—This is a prison! —James added scared.
—Well, well, well, nice try Ashy-boy, I admire your cleverness to have infiltrated our secret base—Gary said laughing now facing Ash and Team Rocket.
—Where are my friends? Where is Pikachu? Where is the real Gary?! —Ash shouted very angry taking his glasses off.
—What? The real Gary? I am the real Gary—Gary said walking to Ash.
—Of course you're not! The real Gary would have never joined Team Flare!
—Would the real Gary do this? —Gary asked smiling now giving Ash a sweet kiss.
—What? Why did he kiss him? —Jessie asked shocked.
—Don't see, Meowth—James commented covering Meowth's eyes.
—I am Gary, there's not a real one or a fake Gary—Gary said smiling separating his lips from Ash, who started to cry.
—But…
—Oh, Ashy-boy, I love your innocence—Gary said laughing, he got his right hand into a pocket of his lab coat.
—…that night, did…did it mean something to you? —Ash asked crying.
—…let's say that it was really fun—Gary said laughing.
—Fun? Just fun?
—Oh my God! You're crying!
—I don't know what you're talking about but we're not letting you continue with your evil plans! —Jessie exclaimed taking out one of her pokéballs.
—Oh! You're so annoying—Gary said pressing a button from a remote control he had in his pocket, a magnetic field appeared that took Jessie's pokéball to the ceiling—now, whenever you try to use a pokéball, that's what's going to happen, you can't do anything.
—A battle…—Ash said.
—What? —Gary asked surprised.
—A Pokémon battle.
—Why would we have a Pokémon battle right now?
—The real Gary would never deny me a Pokémon battle—Ash said crestfallen—it's a tradition we both have—he added smiling now facing Gary.
—You keep on thinking I'm a fake Gary? Gosh! —Gary said laughing out loud.
—A Pokémon battle!
—…fine, follow me—Gary said after taking a long breath.
Gary started to walk to the end of the room and they suddenly were in a gym field. He walked to the other side of the field. Gary pressed another button in his remote control and a giant hand appeared from the ground, taking Team Rocket to a cage which also appeared from the ground.
—Clemont! Serena! Bonnie! —Ash exclaimed happy to see his friends in the cage.
—Ash! —Serena exclaimed excited.
—I knew Ash would come to save us—Clem said happily.
—Why are you guys dressed like that? It's no fashion—Serena added disgusted.
—Sere! It's not time for your fashion things! —Clem exclaimed.
—Hey! You! Bad boy! I hate you! —Bonnie exclaimed really angry to Gary.
—…should we start our battle? —Gary asked ignoring Bonnie's comment.
—I'd be very pleased—Ash said smiling.
—Beat him! Beat him! —Bonnie shouted angrily.
—God, shut up! —Gary exclaimed pressing one button that electrified the cage.
—Ah! —everyone shouted in pain.
—Stop that! Focus on our battle!
—Ok. How many Pokémon do you have?
—Five…oh! —Ash exclaimed remembering Pikachu was not with him now—four.
—Four—Gary said thoughtful—well, let's make it a short three to three battle, 2 wins of 3, is it ok with you?
—Totally.
—Why are they going to battle? —Serena asked confused to Team Rocket.
—I…I don't know—Jessie answered.
—Wow, you guys really don't know anything.
—Let's make it interesting, if I win I'll take you with your friends to that cage.
—What if I win?
—Oh darling, you're not going to win—Gary said pretty confident in him winning—but let's say…I'll set you all free.
—I want Pikachu back.
—Pikachu? I don't know where he is, I'm sorry.
—…ok, I accept your bet then.
—Yay! Ash, good luck! —Serena exclaimed really excited.
—Thank you—Ash said smiling.
—Go! Pyroar! —Gary shouted releasing his lioness fire Pokémon.
—It's a very beautiful Pokémon! —Ash exclaimed surprised of Pyroar's hair.
—Pyroar is more than beauty. Now you go, Ashy-boy.
—Ok, we'll start with Skiddo, go buddy! —Ash shouted releasing his goat grass Pokémon.
—What? Grass is weak against fire! —Clemont exclaimed worried.
—Go Ash! —Serena kept cheering him up.
—Typical Ashy-boy, always defying Pokémon nature—Gary said smiling—use Ember!
Pyroar released fire from her mouth going towards Skiddo.
—Skiddo, use dig! —Skiddo avoided the attack by digging a hole in the ground.
—Very clever, Ashy-boy—Gary said smiling.
—Thank you—Ash said happily.
—Pyroar, use Earthquake! —Gary shouted with a horselaugh on his face.
—Oh no! —Ash exclaimed worried.
—No! —Serena exclaimed worried too.
Pyroar used Earthquake which ended up defeating Skiddo.
—Good job, buddy—Ash said returning his Pokémon back to its pokéball.
—You're so beautiful and strong my lioness, get back for some rest—Gary smiled and also returned his Pokémon back to its pokéball.
—Hell! That was short—Meowth commented surprised.
—It was a very intelligent strategy—Clemont added.
—Well, choose your next Pokémon, Ashy-boy.
—We're not losing this time, go Tyrunt!
—Go, Umbreon!
—There no weakness between them—Clemont said.
—You're using your Umbreon so early?
—You start—Gary said blinking his eye.
—Ok, Tyrunt, use Dragon Tail!
—Quick Attack!
Umbreon's Quick Attack was faster and hit Tyrunt first.
—Damn!
—Sometimes speed is more important than attack.
—I know.
—Umbreon, use Feint Attack!
—Evade it and use Dragon Claw!
—There's no chance your Tyrunt can evade my Umbreon's speed—Gary said laughing.
Surprisingly, Tyrunt was fast enough to evade the attack and its Dragon Claw hit directly to Umbreon, defeating her.
—I told you I knew speed was vital—Ash said smiling.
—Wow! Great strategy, Ashy-boy, you're definitely like wine, better every year—he said smiling.
—…thanks—Ash said blushed.
—Ok friend, you did it great, come back—Gary said returning Umbreon to its pokéball.
—You did a great job too, come back.
—I don't really understand—Clemont said.
—What is that thing you don't understand, bro? —Bonnie asked curious.
—Gary is so lovely with his Pokémon, I…I know him just a little but I can say there's no logic, he would have never captured those legendary Pokémon.
—So, that's what Ash is thinking, that's why he hasn't given up on saying that's a fake Gary—James said surprised.
—A fake Gary? —Serena asked surprised.
—It's this thing, moments ago Ash was insisting that this Gary was fake, that the real Gary would never do something like that, just like the blonde guy said—James explained.
—Yeah, and they also kissed—Jessie said laughing.
—What?! —Serena shouted so jealous.
—So, 1 to 1, I guess next battle will decide the winner—Gary said.
—Frog! —Frogadier went out of its pokéball without Ash telling him to.
—So you want to battle, Frogadier? Ok, let's do it my friend! —Ash exclaimed excited.
—I chose you, Kirlia! —Gary exclaimed releasing his Pokémon.
—A Kirlia! —Ash exclaimed amazed—ok Frogadier, use Shadow Sneak!
—Teleport!
Kirlia instantly avoided Frogadier's attack, even though it was Ash's fastest Pokémon.
—Where is it? —Ash exclaimed confused looking through the entire place.
—Extrasensory—Gary said without telling Kirlia to appear.
—Where is it?
—Where's Kirlia? —Serena asked worried.
—I don't know, but look how confused is Frogadier looking to the entire place—Bonnie said.
—This is the longest time lapse of a teleport start and end I've ever seen—Meowth commented.
—Hey! Make Kirlia appear now! —Ash shouted.
—Don't be so boring, Ashy-boy—Gary said laughing.
—Don't call me Ashy-boy! —Ash shouted furiously.
—…now! —Gary shouted and Kirlia appeared behind Frogadier hitting him directly.
—Frogadier! —Ash exclaimed worried.
—…frog! —Frogadier woke up, he had resisted the attack.
—Yay! —Ash exclaimed happily.
—I always knew your Frogadier was well trained—Gary said.
—Your Kirlia did a great move combination too—Ash recognized.
—Kirlia, use Confusion!
—Water pulse!
—Thunderbolt! —Gary shouted before Kirlia used Confusion.
—Agility and move away!
—Keep using thunderbolt!
While Frogadier was jumping around the entire place, Kirlia kept using thunderbolt but none of them could hit Frogadier because of his high speed.
—Frogadier, keep jumping and use Strength!
Kirlia was already tired of using lots of Thunderbolt attacks so Frogadier could grab it. Frogadier had Kirlia on its arms and it was about to use the attack.
—Teleport!
Kirlia teleported away before Frogadier could embrace him with all his strength.
—Damn! We were so close!
—Frog! —Frogadier exclaimed really angry and it started to shine.
—What? —James asked surprised.
—Frogadier is evolving! —Clemont exclaimed full of joy.
—What? Really? Awesome! —Ash shouted so excited to see his Frogadier reach its final evolution.
Frogadier evolved into Greninja!
—Why is Gary smiling? —Bonnie asked worried.
—Why are you smiling? —Ash questioned curiously.
—I knew your Frogadier was about to evolve so this was like a training to make it evolve.
—What? You did all this to make Frogadier evolve on purpose? Why? —Ash asked surprised.
—I just really wanted this last battle to be interesting—Gary said taking out a stone from his pocket. It was the Dawn Stone Gardevoir had given him!
—A Dawn Stone! —Clemont exclaimed surprised.
—What is that stone for? —Serena asked curiously.
—Just watch.
—Kirlia, take this—Gary said launching to stone to his Kirlia.
Kirlia grabbed the stone and he started to shine just like Greninja had done moments ago.
—It's evolving! —Ash exclaimed surprised.
Kirlia evolved into Gallade!
—Wow! Damn! This is getting so serious! —Ash exclaimed excited.
—Go Ash! Go! —Serena shouted to cheer Ash up.
—Osh! —Gary exclaimed disturbed by Serena's cheers so he pressed the electricity button again.
—Ah! —everyone exclaimed in pain again.
—Hey! Why did you do that? —Ash questioned surprised.
—They don't let me concentrate. Gallade use Leaf Blade!
—Greninja…Agility! —Ash exclaimed worried.
Greninja started to run again, he avoided Gallade's attack.
—Keep using Leaf Blade until you strike him!
—Greninja…oh God! Keep using Agility!
—Ash! Attack him! —Clemont shouted.
—I don't know any of Greninja's attacks—Ash said worried.
—Nin-ja! —Greninja exclaimed using Water Shuriken against Gallade's Leaf Blade. The attacks neutralized each other.
—Wow! —Ash exclaimed amazed.
—That was Water Shuriken so you can tell your Greninja to use it again—Gary said smiling.
—Hey! Thanks! —Ash exclaimed smiling—Greninja, use Agility and then Water Shuriken against that Gallade!
—Gallade, Thunder Punch!
Greninja released dozens of Water Shuriken and Gallade punched them all using Thunder Punch making the Shuriken disappear at contact.
—Both of them are very strong—Jessie said surprised.
—Nin-ja! —Greninja exclaimed using Waterfall on his own.
—Gallade, teleport…—Gary waited until the waterfall became really close but not hit Gallade—now!
Gallade teleported before Greninja's Waterfall could hit him.
—Damn! That Teleport is really annoying! —Ash exclaimed disturbed.
The battle kept going on for other ten minutes; in that time Ash had learned the attacks Greninja could use by now.
—Ice Punch! —Gary shouted.
Gallade made his swords into ice and started to run to Greninja.
—Greninja, Fire Punch!
Gallade's ice swords and Greninja's fire hands hit together, neutralizing the attacks once again.
—Water Shuriken!
—Teleport!
—Damn! Stop using that!
—No! —Gary exclaimed laughing— Gallade, use Psycho Cut!
—Greninja, Dark Pulse!
Gallade's psychic waves were hitting Greninja's dark pulses; the attacks were both strong and stayed to the same distance to each Pokémon. Gallade kept emitting psychic waves and Greninja kept emitting dark pulses. The pink waves and the black pulses began to expand to the sides and up.
—Greninja! Keep doing it!
—Gallade, don't stop!
—Both of them are really strong—Clemont said surprised.
Gallade was getting tired, Greninja too. However they didn't stop emitting their respective attacks, both of them were really prideful.
Greninja's dark pulses began to expand slowly into Gallades psychic waves so the pulses were getting close to hit Gallade.
—Yay! Keep going, Greninja! —Ash exclaimed excited.
—C'mon Gallade! Stronger! —Gary shouted.
Gallade used its maximum power and its psychic waves were not closer to Greninja.
—Greninja!
Greninja reached its maximum power too and its dark pulses were now balanced with Gallade's waves. By this time, Gallade was emitting a pink aura around him and Greninja a black one.
—It's like a colorful parade—Bonnie commented because half of the entire place was pink and the other half was black.
—Nin-ja!
—Lade!
Greninja and Gallade were sweating. They kneeled to the floor, both of them were too exhausted to keep on attacking but they knew that if they stopped the other's attack would hit them. Ash and Gary kept shouting their Pokémon's names and the Pokémon kept doing their best.
—This is bad—Meowth said worried.
—Why? —Jessie asked curious.
—Gallade and Greninja are exceeding their maximum power by too much. Their out of the maximum potential, they're using their vital force to keep increasing the power of their attacks.
—That doesn't sound good—Clemont said.
—Vital force? —Serena asked surprised.
—Yes, if they don't stop they might not only be defeated, they might die—Meowth said worried.
—Ash! Tell Gary to stop this now! —Serena shouted desperately.
—Why? —Ash asked confused.
—If Gallade and Greninja keep attacking with that power they might die!
—What?! —Ash exclaimed shocked.
—They're using their vital force to keep their attacks growing stronger and stronger each second!
—Ashy-boy, the battle is here! —Gary exclaimed madly pressing the electric button again; he could not hear what Serena was shouting to Ash.
—Ah! —everyone shouted again in pain.
—Gary, we have to make them stop!
—What? Are you giving up? —Gary questioned surprised.
—Look at them! They're exhausted! —Ash exclaimed worried.
Gary turned to Gallade and he could see him about to give up, he was sweating, his eyes were about to close.
—Please! —Ash shouted in desperation.
—…I'm not going to lose! —Gary shouted.
—Let's make them stop at the same time, so no one will lose or win.
—…I can't trust you—Gary said—Gallade, keep using all your power!
—Gary, no! —Ash exclaimed desperate.
—I don't want to see—Bonnie said scared, covering her eyes.
Greninja had a few of its energy left, so as Gallade. Ash was really worried because none of the Pokémon wanted the fight to stop. Gary was worried too, he was about to tell Gallade to stop when…
—Greninja, stop! —Ash exclaimed crying.
—Nin-ja? —Greninja turned to Ash with a look of surprise.
—Please, I don't want to hurt you! Stop now! —Ash shouted in tears.
—Nin-ja! —Greninja refused very prideful.
—Greninja! —Ash exclaimed worried.
—Gallade, stop! —Gary exclaimed.
—Lade? —Gallade did the same as Greninja, he also refused to stop.
But it didn't take long, their vital energies ended, they stop attacking at the same time and in consequence their attacks landed directly on each other. Gallade and Greninja were defeated at the same time, it was a dramatic tie.
—Greninja! —Ash exclaimed running to Greninja.
—Gallade! —Gary exclaimed doing the same.
—Nin-ja! —Greninja said smiling.
—You…you are so strong, my friend! —Ash shouted in happy tears, hugging his Pokémon seeing that Greninja was ok—get back to your pokéball.
—Lade! —Gallade said smiling.
—You…you did an awesome job! Now get back—Gary said smiling, hugging and returning his Pokémon to his pokéball.
—Well, it was a tie—Ash said smiling.
—Each one of us still has one Pokémon—Gary commented.
—What? Haven't they learned the lesson? —Bonnie asked irritated.
—Stop fighting! —Serena shouted desperately.
—…let's do it! —Ash exclaimed energetic.
—We're talking about Ash, nothing can take his battle spirit away—Clemont added smiling.
—But this time we're not going to let our Pokémon use their vital energies too much! —Ash exclaimed.
—I totally agree with you. But don't expect this one to be an easy battle. I saved my toughest Pokémon in case something like this happened.
—We keep thinking alike, I also saved my strongest Pokémon for the end—Ash said smiling.
Gary smiled.
—Go, Blastoise!
—I knew it! —Ash exclaimed so happy—just like the old times, go Charizard!
—I also knew that you were saving your Charizard for the end—Gary said smiling.
—…that's not it—Ash said getting a clock out of his pocket and putting it around his wrist.
—A clock? —Gary questioned curious.
—Yes. Professor Sycamore told me to use this if and only the situation was extreme, well this is already extreme! —Ash exclaimed pressing his clock and Charizard started to glow.
Charizard had mega-evolved into Mega Charizard Y! Gary had a very pleased smile on his face.
—Why is Gary smiling again? He scares me—Serena said worried.
—I believe I know why you're laughing, please tell me it's because that—Ash said overjoyed.
—Of course! —Gary said pressing the green gem on his necklace and Blastoise started to glow.
Blastoise had mega-evolved into Mega Blastoise!
—Mega Blastoise versus Mega Charizard Y—Ash said with the hugest smile he had ever had.
—Let the real battle begin, now! —Gary shouted overexcited.
—Oh, yeah! —Ash exclaimed turning his red cap back.
