Author's Note: So from the reviews I've gotten, it seems that the last chapter was not my best work. Sorry about that. There were a couple things from the last few reviews that I'd like to touch on though. It seems that it was expected that the Elite Four battles were all going to be six-on-six matches. There are a few reasons why I decided to make the three-on-three. One is because in most of the Pokemon games I've played the members of the Elite Four only used five Pokemon while the champion used six. And from the research I've done in preparation for this story the Unova Elite Four each only use four Pokemon (unless the challenge mode is engaged in Black 2 and White 2. Then they use five each). So I just decided to make it an even three-on-three for the purposes of this story.

Another think that came up in the reviews was that a lot of people seemed surprised that Caitlin had psychic powers. My guest review, lord destroyer, wondered if that aspect of Caitlin was in the manga. Not only was it in the manga, it was mentioned in the games too in Caitlin's dialogue to the player. So with all that said, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.


Chapter 55: Dark Gambler Grimsley

Ash walked downstairs to the lobby of the Pokemon Center that evening to use the PC. After taking some time to rest after his battle with Caitlin he had come up with a possible strategy to use against the next member of the Elite Four, but for it to work he needed a couple of his old Pokemon to pull it off. When Ash arrived downstairs though he saw that the PC was already in use by a man with a fairly pale complexion and dark hair styled to make him look as though he had horns. His outfit consisted of a dark-blue suit with a red shirt and a long yellow scarf. Ash was about to ask the gentleman if he was done using the PC when he noticed what was on the screen. The man was using the PC to play online poker. Suddenly the PC made a buzzing sound and the words, "you lose" appeared on the screen in big red letters.

"Damn!" the gentleman cursed. "Well, another hundred bucks down the drain. Looks like my luck's left me again."

"Um, excuse me." Ash spoke, getting the man's attention.

"Oh, sorry kid. Bet you want to use the PC, huh?" the gentleman quickly realized. "She's all yours. Just do me a favor and don't tell Nurse Joy what I was just using it for. She gets a little uppity about it."

"Sure, no problem." Ash agreed with a raised eyebrow.

"Wait a sec. You're that kid, Ash Ketchum, aren't you?" the gentleman realized. "The one who's challenging the Elite Four, right?"

"Yep, that's me." Ash confirmed.

"Nice to meet ya kid, the name's Grimsley." The gentleman greeted as he shook Ash's hand.

"Wait a minute, you're the next member of the Elite Four I'll be up against?" a rather surprised Ash asked.

"You got it." Grimsley confirmed. "Hey, sorry your first battle against us was so rough. Caitlin can be pretty intense as you've probably realized."

"Don't worry about it." Ash replied. "I mean I did win, right?"

"Sure enough, but Pokemon battles are about fun, right?" Grimsley pointed out. "I was watching your battle with Caitlin and it didn't seem like you were having a blast."

"Well there was a little at stake on that battle." Ash pointed out.

"Yeah, when it's a high stakes game it's hard to just relax and have a good time." Grimsley agreed. "You won't have that problem with me though. Tomorrow let's just have us a good time. Course I won't be holding anything back though, which means you shouldn't either."

"Don't worry, I won't." Ash assured him.

"Didn't doubt it for a second. Well, see ya in the ring kid." Grimsley replied before walking off.

Ash found his next opponent to be a little odd, though it seemed like Grimsley was a nice enough person. Brushing off the encounter, Ash got on the PC to contact Professor Oak's lab in Kanto.


Ash headed out to the arena with Pikachu and Lucario at his side. When they got to the door, Misty and the others were waiting for him. Mewtwo was there as well, wearing his cloak.

"Ready for your next battle?" Misty asked after giving Ash a peck on the cheek.

"I think so." Ash replied. "I'm actually not that tense about facing Grimsley after meeting him last night."

"You shouldn't let your guard down. Grimsley is a member of the Unova Elite Four after all." Chili pointed out.

"Don't worry, I'm not taking this lightly." Ash assured the group.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second exciting day of the Elite Four Challenge!" Chet announced into his microphone on the arena floor. The audience cheered in response. "It's actually pretty rare for this challenge to even have a Day Two, so let's all welcome back the trainer who made it happen, Ash Ketchum!"

The audience cheered again as Ash stepped up to the battlefield with Pikachu and Lucario.

"Now then, the second member of the Elite Four our challenger will be facing is a bit of a rogue and a scoundrel, but is by no means a weak trainer." Chet announced. "Please welcome Unova's own Dark Gambler, Grimsley!"

The audience roared with approval as Grimsley walked out, giving the audience members a wave. A few of the Dark Gambler's female admirers in the front rows threw roses at his feet.

"Well Ash, I hope you're ready for one whirl of a battle." Grimsley told him. "Like I told you last night, I won't be holding anything back."

"Bring it on." Ash dared.

"This match will be a three-on-three battle!" Chet declared. "And… begin!"

"Let's go Krookodile!" Grimsley called with the throw of his first ball.

Bursting out of the thrown ball was a large red crocodile-like creature with black stripes and a white underside. The creature stood on its hind legs and had well developed arms. Around its eyes was a black mask-like shape that also looked like a pair of sunglasses with pointed rims.

"Go Bulbasaur!" Ash called with his own throw.

Emerging from the ball was a fairly small blue-green reptilian creature that stood on four legs. Its eyes were red and it had large green spots on its body. On its back was a large green plant bulb.

"I don't think I've ever seen that Pokemon before." Bianca told the others on the sidelines.

"Hey, isn't that one of the Pokemon they give to new trainers in Kanto?" Chili asked.

"Yeah, but Ash caught Bulbasaur after he started his journey." Misty explained. "It's sort of a long story. But for the last few years Bulbasaur's been at Professor Oak's lab helping to keep the peace between the other Pokemon living there."

"You're kidding me, right kid?" Grimsely asked Ash with a raised eyebrow. "And here I thought you were gonna take this battle seriously."

"You shouldn't underestimate Bulbasaur just because he's not fully evolved." Ash told him.

"Whatever." Grimsley shrugged. "Okay Krookodile, use Crunch!"

Krookodile rushed forward and picked up Bulbasaur in its jaws. After clamping down hard on the small grass reptile, the desert croc flung Bulbasaur into the stadium wall. But when the dust settled, Bulbasaur was already on his feet.

"Use Leech Seed!" Ash commanded.

From the top of the plant bulb on his back, Bulbasaur launched a small brown seed that hit Krookodile on the snout. The seed burst open and strong green vines wrapped the desert crocodile's jaws. Just then Krookodile began to glow with a red energy that began to flow into the bulb on Bulbasaur's back.

"Use Dragon Claw!" Grimsley commanded.

"Attack with Razor Leaf!" Ash ordered.

As energy continued to flow from Krookodile to Bulbbsaur the desert croc charged in with its raised claws glowing with a blue light. But before Krookodile could slash down, Bulbasaur launched a pair of sharpened leaves from the sides of his bulb. Krookodile was hit in the chest by the attack and stumbled to the ground.

"Finish with Vine Whip!" Ash commanded.

Bulbasaur launched a pair of whips from the sides of his bulb and whacked them into the top of Krookodile's head. When the attack ended the desert croc was out cold.

"Krookodile is unable to battle!" Chet declared. "Round One goes to Ash and Bulbasaur!"

"Well, that shut me up." Grimsley remarked as he called back Krookodile. "Still, as strong as that Bulbasaur of yours is, I doubt he'll do well against my next Pokemon. Let's go Liepard!"

Emerging from Grimsley's second ball was a fairly large cat Pokemon that was primarily purple in color. Its snout, underside, and legs were all dark-yellow and it had yellow rings on its back like spots. Around its eyes was a sort of pink mask. Liepard snarled at Bulbasaur upon emerging.

"Okay Bulbasaur, use Leech Seed again!" Ash commanded.

"Dodge and use Arial Ace!" Grimsley ordered.

The grass reptile shot another seed at Liepard, but suddenly the dark feline seemed to vanish and the seed missed its target. A second later Liepard reappeared behind Bulbasaur surrounded by white streaks and kicked him into the air with its right front leg. Bulbasaur hit the ground hard but managed to recover.

"Man, looks like Bulbasaur took a pretty bad hit from that attack." Chili observed.

"Bulbasaur will lose this battle." Mewtwo coldly declared.

"Well that's a pretty negative thing to say." Misty told Mewtwo.

"Yeah, not to mention mean." Bianca added.

"I am only stating a fact. There is no way Bulbasaur can match the Liepard's speed. And with Liepard using a Flying-type attack it is only a matter of time before Bulbasaur falls." Mewtwo pointed out.

"I hate to say it, but Mewtwo might be onto something." Chili agreed. "That Liepard of Grimsley's is one of the fastest Pokemon I've seen. With the way things are, it's not looking good right now."

"Use Vine Whip!" Ash commanded back on the battlefield.

"Dodge and use Arial Ace once more!" Grimsley ordered.

Bulbasaur deployed his whips to strike Liepard, but the cat Pokemon vanished once more and the whips merely hit the ground where Liepard once stood. An instant later Liepard appeared behind Bulbasaur again through a mass of white streaks and kicked into the air. This time when Bulbasaur hit the ground he was not so quick to get back up.

"Don't give up Bulbasaur!" Ash called. "Use Solar Beam!"

"Sucker Punch." Grimsley commanded.

Bulbasaur began to charge the bulb on his back with solar energy that began to glow in a large spot on the front of the plant. But before Bulbasaur could fire the beam Liepard dashed in before anyone could blink and slashed Bulbasaur in the face. Bulbasaur fell onto his side and was unconscious.

"Bubasaur is unable to battle!" Chet declared. "Round Two goes to Grimsley and Liepard!"

Ash called Bulbasaur back and got out his next Pokeball. "Go Heracross!"

Flying out of Ash's ball was a large blue Hercules-beetle-like Pokemon that stood at almost five feet tall. It had an axe-shaped horn and well developed arms and legs.

"You're full of surprises, you know that kid?" Grimsley told Ash. "I've had quite a few trainers use Fighting Pokemon against me, but never a Heracross before. Have to say though, I'm surprised you haven't used that Lucario of yours yet."

"I just thought it'd be a good idea to save Lucario for last." Ash replied.

"Saving your trump card until the end. Smart move." Grimsley praised. "Okay Liepard, use Arial Ace again!"

"Fight back with Counter!" Ash ordered.

Liepard rushed in surrounded by streaks of white light and slashed Heracross in the chest. The beetle was hit, but an instant later glowed with a golden aura that hurled Liepard back a few feet. It took a moment for Liepard to recover.

"Not bad kid, not bad at all." Grimsley commented.

"Use Mega Horn!" Ash commanded.

"Sucker Punch!" Grimsley commanded.

Heracross began to fly at Liepard as its horn began to glow with an orange light. But before the beetle could get in rage, Liepard quickly swooped in and slashed Heracross in the face. Heracross recovered though and used its glowing horn to toss Liepard into the air. But after being thrown through the air Liepard managed to land back onto its feet.

"It looks like Liepard's taken a lot of damage." Bianca observed.

"Yeah, but so has Heracross." Chili pointed out. "This could be anyone's battle."

"Use Takedown!" Ash commanded.

"Hit that bug with Payday!" Grimsley ordered.

Heracross flew at Liepard again in an attempt to slam the feline Pokemon into the ground. But Liepard jumped up and slashed Heracross again in the face, causing gold coins to scatter to the ground. Heracross fell to the floor and was out cold.

"Heracross is unable to battle!" Chet declared. "Round Three goes to Grimsley and Liepard!"

"I don't believe it." A shocked Misty commented on the sidelines. "That Liepard managed to take out two of Ash's best Pokemon."

"If this keeps up he doesn't stand a chance." Bianca added.

"Looks like you'll have to use that trump card of yours kid." Grimsley noted as Ash called back Heracross. "Think it'll be enough?"

"Let's do it Lucario!" was Ash's only reply. Lucario nodded and stepped onto the battlefield. "Use Bullet Punch!"

"Sucker Punch!" Grimsley commanded.

Lucario leapt in with a paw raised in a white glowing fist. But before the jackal Pokemon could land a blow Liepard leapt in and slashed Lucario in the side of the face. Lucario quickly recovered though and slammed his fist into Liepard's face.

"End it with Aura Sphere!" Ash commanded.

Before Liepard could get back to its feet Lucario threw a ball of blue light that hit the cat Pokemon in the face. Liepard crashed back to the ground on its side and was unconscious.

"Liepard is unable to battle!" Chet declared. "Round Four goes to Ash and Lucario!"

"Yikes! No wonder you were saving that Lucario of yours for last." Grimsley commented as he called back the fallen feline. "Guess there's only one card I can play that has a chance in this battle. Let's go Scrafty!"

Emerging from the ball was an orange lizard-like Pokemon that stood on two legs. Its chest and stomach were grey and atop its round head was a large red crest like a Mohawk. Around its heck like a hood was a mass of shed yellow skin. There was more of this skin around its legs that made it looks as though the Pokemon was wearing a pair of baggy yellow pants.

"Use Focus Blast!" Grimsley commanded.

"Aura Sphere!" Ash ordered.

At the same time as Lucario threw another ball of blue light, Scrafty tossed forth a ball of blue-green light with both its arms. The two attacks collided and created an explosion of light.

"Use Hi-Jump Kick!" Grimsley ordered.

"Dodge and use Ice Punch!" Ash ordered.

Before the light of the explosion faded, Scrafy jumped high into the air. Then just as the light died down the lizard Pokemon came crashing down towards Lucario to deliver a powerful flying kick. But at the last second Lucario rolled out of the way, causing Scrafty's leg to slam into the ground. Before Scrafty could recover Lucario came from behind and struck the other Pokemon with a paw covered in an icy mist. In a matter of seconds Scrafty was completely encased in ice.

"Finish this with Bone Rush!" Ash commanded.

A ball of blue light formed in Lucario's paw and formed into a metal bone. With club in hand the jackal Pokemon began to strike the frozen lizard repeatedly. Once the attack finally ended the ice cracked and Scrafty fell to the ground face-first.

"Scrafty is unable to battle!" the referee declared. "Victory for the whole match goes to Ash and Lucario!" The audience cheered with approval.

"Damn! Now I know why Alder thought we should challenge you." Grimsley told Ash as he called back Scrafty. "You're no slouch kid."

"Thanks." Ash replied. "You're pretty tough too."

"Well, it's been fun Ash." Grmsley declared as he shook Ash's hand. "I'll be keeping my eye you for the rest of the challenge. You're going to have it pretty tough in your next battle."

"What do you mean?" Ash asked.

"Well you see the next member of the Elite Four, Marshal, he has it out for you for some reason." Grimsley revealed. "Don't ask me why, he wouldn't tell me. But my point is you shouldn't let down your guard."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Ash replied.

"Be seeing you kid." Grimsley told him before walking off. Misty and the others joined Ash a moment later.

"Looks like you had fun out there." Misty observed.

"Yeah, course now I'm a little worried about my battle with the next member of the Elite Four." Ash replied. "Grimsley said the guy doesn't like me for some reason."

"How could that be?" Misty wondered. "You haven't even met the Unova Elite Four besides Caitlin and Grimsley."

"I know. But whatever's going on, it looks like I better be ready." Ash decided.


Author's Note: This ended up being a fairly fun chapter to write. Mainly because I rather like Grimsley's character. Anyway, for the time being I'm going to go back to updating this story on a weekly basis. It kinda seems like I've been working a little too hard on it lately.

Please review and let me know what you think.