Chapter 36: Rampardos To Headbutt!
Last time on "Pokémon Sinnoh Journey", Ash was finally having his rematch in a Gym battle against Roark for his first Sinnoh region badge. Ash's Pikachu and Aipom have defeated Roark's Onix and Geodude. However, Ash is now about to face Rampardos, who evolved from Cranidos after the Aerodactyl incident. How will Ash have victory in this tough situation?
Roark: 1 Pokémon
Ash: 3 Pokémon
"Here we go! Time to get busy! Aipom, let's keep going! Swift, let's go!" Ash called. Aipom nodded and unleashed Swift, which was aimed at Rampardos! Roark and Rampardos just stood, not doing anything, which confused everyone, including Ash! "Why won't Rampardos do anything?" Dawn asked. The Swift made a hit, causing an explosion around Rampardos! Ash gasped with this, with Aipom also startled as well!
The smoke cleared, showing that Rampardos didn't look hurt at all! "It's like nothing happened to Rampardos at all!" Dawn gasped. "You don't think that it's because of the high defense?" Hikaru asked. "I knew that it wouldn't do much damage, but I didn't expect to see no scratches!" Brock exclaimed. "Oh man! How am I going to get past Rampardos' defense?" Ash asked himself, sweating. "I think that now is our turn! Rampardos, use Headbutt!" Roark called.
"Aipom, dodge it!" Ash called. Aipom was about to dodge, when suddenly, Rampardos was very close to Aipom directly, that Aipom couldn't move! Rampardos bashed into Aipom, sending it to the ground! Aipom fainted! "Aipom cannot battle! Rampardos is the winner!" Ian announced.
Ash: 2 Pokémon
"They defeated Aipom in one hit!" Hikaru gasped. Monferno, Luxio, and Eevee were amazed to see such power as well. "I know that Rampardos was stronger than before, but clearly, I didn't expect this!" Brock explained.
"That was a well done battle, Rampardos!" Roark complimented. Rampardos only let out a grunt, irritated that the battle wasn't much of a challenge than before. Ash returned Aipom, thanking it for its efforts.
"Impressive, don't you think?" Roark asked. Ash looked up and grew more determined when Roark expressed that the battle would be more difficult than it was behold! "I suggest that you put that special training of yours to good use now!" Roark suggested.
"You were right when you said that the battle isn't over until it is!" Dawn exclaimed. "It seems that Roark is giving Ash a test!" Brock stated. "A test?" Hikaru asked. "Being a good Gym Leader means to give challengers a tough situation to see if they can pass it or not. Roark has defeated Aipom with one hit, proving that Ash is given more pressure than before!" Brock explained. "I get it... So, now Ash's advantage has been turned around, you mean?" Hikaru asked. "Right." Brock answered.
"Pikachu, can you get in there?" Ash asked. Pikachu nodded and faced Rampardos for another battle! "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt, let's go!" Ash called. Pikachu attacked with a fierce Electric Type Attack! "Rampardos! Dodge, then use Zen Headbutt!" Roark called. Rampardos used his speed to dodge and aim the Attack towards Pikachu! "Argh! Dodge by spinning!" Ash called. Pikachu leapt in the air and attempted to spin dodge Rampardos' Zen Headbutt, but took the hit!
Ash gasped with this as he witnessed Pikachu's back smoking as Pikachu slid towards near a rock! "Rampardos won't let the opponent like Pikachu to dodge!" Hikaru growled. "Okay then, try this on for size! Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash called. "Rampardos, use Headbutt!" Roark called. Both Pikachu and Rampardos charged at each other to make physical contact!
"Jump, Pikachu!" Ash yelled. Pikachu dodged Headbutt by jumping onto Rampardos! Roark grew startled with the dodge! "That's one mistake that Rampardos has made!" Hikaru snickered. "Using a jump instead of a spin dodge was a clever way to dodge Rampardos' Headbutt!" Brock commented.
"It's easy to accomplish something when you try different things and all!" Dawn stated. "New strategy, huh, Ash? Well, it won't matter! Throw Pikachu in the air with your tail!" Roark called.
Pikachu was thrown into the air by Rampardos' tail! Pikachu started to topple, losing balance in the air! "Hang in there! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" Ash yelled. Pikachu regained balance in the air, by attacking with the Steel Type move! "Rampardos! Intercept with Zen Headbutt!" Roark shouted. Rampardos charged at Pikachu with the physical Psychic Type move, giving pressure to Pikachu! Pikachu nearly lost his focus before slamming into Rampardos with an Iron Tail!
Electricity began to course through Rampardos' body! "Yes! Static is working!" Dawn cried. "I don't think so! Mold Breaker will nullify status problems like Static!" Hikaru argued. Hikaru was right. Static disappeared, with Rampardos roaring at Pikachu! "Finish it, Rampardos, with Zen Headbutt again!" Roark called. Pikachu was knocked out after bring hit by Zen Headbutt, and getting recoils from the boulder behind it! Pikachu fainted!
"Pikachu cannot battle! Rampardos is the winner!" Ian announced. "Pikachu!" Ash called. He ran to his partner's side and picked him up. Pikachu looked at Ash sadly, sorry for not winning the battle for him. "Hey, you were great out there!" Ash assured. "What a way to lose. And after all that hard work for training last night!" Dawn sighed. "And Rampardos barely took any damage, thanks to its high defense. Even Iron Tail didn't do much at all!" Hikaru explained.
Ash: 1 Pokémon
"Ash only has Turtwig left now." Brock stated. "Hey, even if Ash battles, I'm sure he'll succeed, since he trained very hard last night! The battle he lost the other day was a lesson to him! And, he'll use that lesson to win this Gym battle!" Hikaru reassured. Brock looked at Hikaru and smiled. Hikaru knew just what words to say if others were about to feel down in a tough situation.
"Oh! I forgot! I was supposed to explain of what I did in the previous two days with my Mom!" Hikaru gasped. Brock and Dawn nodded to Hikaru, allowing him to leave the battlefield to contact his Mom. Ash saw what Hikaru was doing and grew left out for a bit, but then shook it off. He had a Gym battle rematch to win, so he couldn't lose focus right now! He took out Turtwig's Pokéball, ready for the final battle!
Meanwhile...
Hikaru was walking in the hallway to find a phone booth to call his Mom to explain what his progress were. He found one near the entrance and dialed her phone number. Hikaru waited and waited for her to answer, until his Mom finally showed up! "Hi, honey! Where are you? You haven't called me in three days!" Hinata, Hikaru's mom explained. Hikaru rubbed the back of his head and chuckled nervously.
"Sorry, Mom. I had a busy day yesterday and the other two days, that I kind of forgot to call you." Hikaru laughed nervously. "YOU FORGOT!? How could you!? You saw how Johanna might react to Dawn, but you decide to ignore me!?" Hinata shrieked. "No! I did not mean that! There was some trouble during the few days because of the idiotic group that calls themselves, Team Rocket." Hikaru explained.
"Oh yes! The criminal organization of the Kanto region! I've heard about them! They always cause trouble in the Kanto and the Johto region! Anyways, how are you doing? Where are you right now?" Hinata asked. "I'm currently at Oreburgh City with the others right now. And also, guess what? Both Shinx and Chimchar have evolved into Monferno and Luxio! And, I also earned myself a Sinnoh region badge! The Coal Badge!" Hikaru exclaimed.
He showed his mom a bright, brown badge to his Mom, who squealed with delight! "That's so amazing, son! And two evolutions in those three days!? I'm so proud of you!" Hinata exclaimed, happy to hear the best news that she ever heard. "I promise to call you again. Ash is having his Gym battle right now! It's one to one now." Hikaru stated. "Alright, then. Go cheer your friend! It's nice to see that you have friends to travel and talk to!" Hinata giggled.
Hikaru blushed with that statement and promised his mom again that he'll call again someday when he had the chance. Hinata bid him well and shut of her video phone. Hikaru sighed and headed back to watch Ash's final battle with Roark!
"Turtwig! I choose you!" Ash called, sending out the Grass Type Pokémon! Turtwig glared at Rampardos, remembering their last battle. "Turtwig!" Turtwig cried. "Well, aren't you a spirited one? Well then, it all comes down to this!" Roark smirked. "Do it, Turtwig! Go!" Ash shouted. Turtwig charged towards Rampardos! "Rampardos, use Headbutt, go!" Roark called. Rampardos also charged at Turtwig, aiming to land the Attack!
"Alright, Turtwig! Up close and jump!" Ash shouted. Turtwig leapt in the air and rolled on Rampardos' back! "Ash, I think you're forgetting about Rampardos' tail! Use it on Turtwig!" Roark called. Rampardos prepared to launch Turtwig in the air like he did with Pikachu! But, Ash wasn't planning to fall for the same trick! "We haven't forgotten! Use Bite on Rampardos' tail!" Ash called. Turtwig stopped rolling and bit onto the tail!
Rampardos grunted in pain with Roark startled with the trick! "Yeah! Throw it now!" Ash called. Turtwig use his strength to throw Rampardos to the dirt! The Headbutt Pokémon landed with a thud! "Oh no!" Roark gasped. "Turtwig actually threw Rampardos' away!" Dawn exclaimed. "Small things can cause a big surprise!" Brock explained. "Now, Turtwig! Razor Leaf, let's go!" Ash called. "Intercept with Flamethrower, Rampardos!" Roark called.
The Razor Leaf Attack was burned to crisp, making it useless! "No good! We're too far away for Razor Leaf to do its work!" Ash growled, sweating. "How about this? Rampardos, use Head Smash, now!" Roark yelled. Rampardos glowed with a blue aura and began to charge after Turtwig! "Turtwig! Don't move unless I say to move!" Ash called. Turtwig nodded, waiting for Ash's signal! Rampardos came closer and closer with Turtwig waiting for Ash's call!
"Razor Leaf, let's go!" Ash called. Turtwig fired another Razor Leaf Attack! Unfortunately, Rampardos ducked to dodge, and smashed Turtwig towards a rock! "Turtwig, no!" Ash yelled. Turtwig was skidded toward the ground with painful grunts! "Is there any hope now?" Dawn asked. "Well, there is a chance of Rampardos have an after shock, so any side could win it!" Brock explained. "Turtwig, use Synthesis!" Ash ordered.
Turtwig obeyed and began to gain health energy from the sun! But, Rampardos immediately finished charging up from the shock! "Flamethrower, Rampardos!" Roark called. Rampardos fired the Fire Type move, causing the Synthesis to stop and to force Turtwig to dodge the attack! "Way to go, Turtwig!" Ash complimented. However, Turtwig began to pant from the damage he had received from the Head Smash Attack, even with some health it had from Synthesis!
"Now, what do I do? The only thing that Turtwig can do is to launch Raxor Leaf from far distances, and to dodge Rampardos' attacks! How are we supposed to win the battle at this situation now with Rampardos' speed... And that Flamethrower!? (!) That's it!" Ash thought, having an idea. "Turtwig! Use Razor Leaf while you run!" Ash called. As Hikaru arrived back, he witnessed Turtwig running while launching the Razor Leaf Attack! "(?) Did Ash figure out what he needs to do?" Hikaru thought, hopeful for Ash.
Roark just smirked with this strategy. "Turtwig is too far away to make Razor Leaf to work! Rampardos, intercept with Flamethrower!" Roark yelled. The Headbutt Pokémon fired another Flamethrower Attack, burning all the Razor Leaf that was being sent at it! "Keep it up, and don't stop!" Ash called. "Keep the fire going, Rampardos!" Roark called. Flamethrower and Razor Leaf collided more, until Roark grew confused to see what was going on!
Finally, he understood. "I get it, Ash is camouflaging Turtog with the burnt Razor Leaves! Let's switch to Zen Headbutt, Rampardos!" Roark called. Rampardos stopped using Flamethrower and leapt toward the air with Zen Headbutt! "Revolve and jump!" Ash called. Turtwig made a run and a jump! "Still trying to get behind us? Rampardos, you jump as well!" Roark called. Rampardos jumped, until realizing it made a mistake!
Turtwig tricked Rampardos and Roark! It spun underneath Ramaprdos, creating a surprise attack! "Nice work, Turtwig! Now, use Razor Leaf, full power!" Ash called. Turtig fired Razor Leaf at Rampardos, sending it toward the air! "Ah! Rampardos!" Roark gasped. Rampardos smashed toward the ground, and fainted! "Rampardos cannot battle! Turtwig is the winner! The victory of this match goes to Ash, from Pallet Town!" Ian announced.
"We did it, Turtwig! We won!" Ash called, running to his Grass Type Pokémon. Turtwig ran over to Ash and leapt toward his stomach, looking up at him! Pikachu came to share the victory, too! Dawn and her two Pokémon cheered! "Alright! Ash did it! He actually won!" Dawn cheered. "It's amazing to see how Ash switched his strategy around to earn victory! Right, Croagunk?" Brock asked, not noticing that Croagunk had just came back from the unknown walk.
Croagunk only gave a croak, staring at Ash and his two Pokémon. "He really did it. Guess all that training finally paid off!" Hikaru exclaimed, grinning at the now, cheerful and happy trainer. Ash had won the Gym rematch. Later, it was evening as Ash recieived the Coal Badge, his first Sinnoh Badge from Roark. Roark expressed his feelings on how he was impressed with his Pokémon's battling styles, and the way he used his strategy.
Ash thanked Roark for the badge, and raised the badge high in the air, with Pikachu, Aipom, and Turtwig cheering alongside with him! "We've got the Coal Badge!" Ash cried, happy for his first achievement.
And so, Ash has won his first Gym Badge against Roark in his Oreburgh Gym battle in a rematch! More Gym battles are to be sure to come to Ash and Hikaru's way, with more Pokémon Contests coming to both Dawn and again, Hikaru's way, too! Stay tuned!
To be continued...