Hoenn Part 10
Ash enters the Petalburg Gym, ready for his battle against Norman. Norman stands at the other side of the battlefield and he says, ""I have been looking forward to this battle, Ash."
"Me too. I am more than willing to take you up on your offer." He replies.
Watching from the sidelines, May says, "Well, I want to see how this will turn out."
"Of course Dad will win." Max says excitedly.
"But we should relax and enjoy the match without worrying the final result." Caroline replies.
Kenny is the referee announces the rules of the match: three Pokémon, but only Ash is allowed substitutions. Raising his flags, Kenny signals for the match to begin and both Ash and Norman send out their first Pokémon.
"Alright, Slakoth, you are first." Norman sends out his first Pokemon.
"Pikachu, I choose you."
"Yay! I get to battle." He says as he runs to the field.
Utilizing Pikachu's Speed, Ash orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack, Slakoth dodges and counterattacks with Shadow Ball. Jumping out of the way, Pikachu attacks with Iron Tail but misses once again as Slakoth leans out of the way. Dazed, Pikachu is unable to dodge Slakoth's Hidden Power, and is blasted across the arena.
"Wow, Mr. Norman is something... He knew from watching Ash before that he favored using Pikachu as an opener, using its powerful speed attacks to knock the enemy off balance and gain control of the battle. By using a slow Pokémon like Slakoth who could dodge Pikachu's attacks, Norman was forcing Ash to fight at his pace, giving him control over the match." Mark says.
"That is my dad, you know." May says.
As Pikachu recovers from Hidden Power, Ash realizes that he needs to change his strategy. He decides to try Electric attacks and orders Pikachu to attack with Thunder. However, Slakoth dodges this attack as well, and responds with Blizzard. The incredible cold keeps Pikachu from attacking back.
"Pikachu, return for now." Pikchu nods and goes back to Ash.
"Torkoal, I choose you!" He sends out the said Pokemon.
Torkoal uses Flamethrower, which easily blasts through Slakoth's Blizzard and scores a direct hit, knocking Slakoth out.
"The real match has just begun. Vigoroth, you are next!"
Dodging Torkoal's Overheat, Vigoroth knocks Torkoal out with Scratch. With Torkoal down, Ash sends Pikachu back into the arena.
"So by using the hyperactive Vigoroth right after the slow laid back Slakoth, Norman is able to disorient his opponents and knock them off balance, as the skills necessary to defeat Vigoroth are completely different from those used against Slakoth." Minami says.
"Ash sure is in trouble." Max says.
In the arena, Vigoroth dodges a Thunderbolt from Pikachu and attacks with Scratch. Pikachu blocks the attack with Iron Tail, but is hit with a surprise attack when Vigoroth uses Flamethrower.
"Wow, I don't know Vigoroth can use Flamethrower…" Max says.
"It is because that Norman is fighting Ash more seriously then he fights normal Trainers." Caroline replies.
"I think Ash should switch out Pikachu." May says.
"But if he does that, his only reserve Pokemon will be the already injured Pikachu…" Minami says.
"She is right, he has no choice but to use Pikachu as long as possible." Reisa says.
Sizing up Vigoroth, Ash suddenly comes up with a plan. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash yells as Pikachu dodges a Flamethrower from Vigoroth.
As Pikachu closes the distance, Norman orders Vigoroth to use Scratch, but is surprised when Ash tells Pikachu to take the hit. Vigoroth's Scratch attack hits home, but the powerful Pokémon is suddenly paralyzed by Pikachu's innate Static Ability.
"Now it is our chance! Iron Tail!" Ash yells as Pikachu uses the move to knock Vigoroth out. However the effort is too much for Pikachu and he passes out as well, resulting in a double KO.
"A double KO…" May says.
"I have never seen Pikachu lost so badly…" Max says.
"Yeah. Norman is something else."
"Her is my final ace. Slaking!"
"If that is the case, Combusken, I choose you!"
Once the two Pokemon are on the field, Ash says, "Combusken, use Fire Spin!"
Combusken uses Fire Spin, but Slaking easily blocks the attack with its hands, sustaining no damage at all.
"Sky Uppercut!" Combusken attacks again, but Slaking grabs it mid attack and tosses Combusken back across the arena.
"Use Focus Punch." Slaking starts to charge the attack, but Combusken uses Flamethrower and it hits in the face. The attack angers Slaking, who begins to go into a rage. It attacks with a powerful Earthquake. Which causes Combusken to fall.
"Please, Combusken, you can still fight, right?"
Combusken then makes his eyes glow wide and starts to evolve into Blaziken.
"Awesome, A Blaziken!" Ash says as he scans the Pokemon.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.6 Blaziken: The Blaze Pokemon: Fire and Fighting Type. Evolved from Combusken at LV:36. It learns martial arts that use punches and kicks. Every several years, its old feathers burn off, and new, supple feathers grow back in their place.
"He evolves during the battle again." May says.
"Ash probably will win this." Minami says.
Slaking tries for another Earthquake, Blaziken dodges the Earthquake by jumping.
"Close Combat!" Ash yells as Blaziken charges forward, but Slaking grabs it in midair and tosses Blaziken into the ceiling.
"Fire Blast!" "Hyper Beam!" Slacking's Hyper Beam cuts through the Fire Blast and sends Blaziken flying.
Watching Blaziken struggle to its feet, Norman says, "How about you forfeit for Blaziken's safety?"
"As long as he doesn't give up, I won't either." Blaziken stands up and activates Blaze, which power ups Fire Attacks.
Leaping back into combat, Blaziken dodges both an Earthquake and Slaking's clumsy attempts to grab it. It begins bouncing around the arena. Dodging a Hyper Beam, Blaziken hits Slaking with a powerful Peck.
"Nice recovery, Ash." Norman says. "But you'll need more than just speed to beat Slaking."
He orders Slaking to attack with Focus Punch while Ash tells Blaziken to use Sky Uppercut. The two attack each other at the same time, and after a moment's pause, Slaking falls to the ground.
"Slaking is unable to battle, Blaziken is the winner, which means the match goes to Ash Ketchum!"
Max says in shock at his father's loss, "He beat… Dad…"
Then everyone except Max comes to congratulate both Ash and Norman for a hard fight.
"Ash. Since you beat me, here is your prize. The Balance Badge." But before Ash can grab it, Max suddenly grabs it and runs away.
"Max? What are you doing?" May yells, but in vain. So they chase him as they see him locked in the Greenhouse.
"How could you...how could you beat Dad..." Everyone can hear Max crying behind the door. "Dad is supposed to be the strongest!"
"But Ash is a Champion Level, and you know how strong he is, right?" Reisa asks.
"You mean it is okay to let Dad lose the battle?" Max yells back.
"That's right." Norman says. "Losing is just as important as winning, and that sometimes life's most important lessons are learned through losing."
Ash then decides to say, "If you don't want to give me the badge then don't. In fact, beating your father in a fight has already taught me a lot that I am satisfied without one..."
Then Max is touched by their words and then he comes out, wiping his tears, he says, "I am sorry. Ash. I shouldn't do that."
Ash takes the badge back and thanks them. Then Max turns to his father, "Dad, you are so awesome, I want to battle you after I become a trainer."
"I am sure you will." Norman says, and then they bid farewell to May and Max's parents as they continue their journey.
They get a call from Professor Birch and Brandon that Professor Oak and Eve are heading to Littleroot Town, so they go there and meet them.
"I can't believe I meet Professor Oak in person, can I have your autograph?" Max says after seeing him in person.
"Why, yes. Max." Professor Oak says as he signs his name.
Eve says, "So Reisa, you are still traveling with Ash, huh?"
"Yeah, Lillie promises me to watch over him since she has work to do." Reisa says. "But with Mark and Minami here, they are going to help me as well."
"Indeed. Brother also got 5 Badges and 2 Ribbons while May has 2 Ribbons." Minami says.
"Actually, I get three ribbons." Ash shows his Ribbon case.
Everyone is shocked, since they didn't know when Ash got the third ribbon, "Hey, when do you get the third ribbon?"
"The Lavaridge Contest. When you guys are having a hot spring."
"You should have told me!" May says. "I could have taken part of it."
"But then I'll beat you, and you will fall into despair again." Ash says as she sulks down. "True..."
Team Rocket tries to take over their Pokemon with a new mecha, Ash and his friends stop them and send them flying.
"They are gone again..." Eve says.
"Swifty moving, Fly high, a Starmie shines in a darkening sky." Oak says.
"Wow, it is an honor to hear a poem from the Professor Oak." Max says as they laugh.
Before they go, Oak asks, "So where are you heading next?"
"I think it is time to go to Fortree City. I can't wait to challenge my aunt." Ash says.
"Oh, Aunt, Winoa is next one?" Eve says in surprise.
"Wait, you mean...the Fortree City Gym Leader is your Aunt?" Max asks in shock.
Reisa says, "Aunt Winoa is originally a member of the Ketchum Family, and she married to Uncle Steven, the former Champion."
"No way..." May says.
"Yeah, right now we should go there." Then they bid farewell to the Professors and leave.
Once they are back at the Route 118, they see Steven Stone standing on the middle of the road.
"Uncle Steven, it is nice to see you again!" Ash says.
"Oh my, Ash, Reisa, Mark, Minami, Max and May, how are you guys doing?" Steven says.
"We're doing great." Reisa says. "Ash has five badges and he is going to challenge Aunt Winoa next."
"Oh, then you must be prepared since Winoa isn't going to let you have the badge." Steven says. "It's good to see that your journey is going well. You know… In this vast world, there are many kinds of Pokémon. They come in many types. Should you raise different types? Or will you only raise Pokémon of a certain type you like? I wonder what you think, as a Pokémon Trainer?"
Max says, "That is a good question."
Ash says, "Yeah. But since I am a type switching Pokemon, I like all of them."
Mark says, "To me, I prefer Fighting Types."
"As for me, Fairy type is my favorite." Minami says.
"I want to be like my Dad, who specializes in Water Types." Reisa says.
"Thanks for your opinions, although it is not something I should be concerning myself with… But somehow I find myself wanting to know what you think. I suppose I should be going. I hope to see you again though."
Suddenly, Ash's Pokeball pops out as Latias and Latios appear, Ash asks, "What's wrong?"
Latias says, "Before we come with you, your father has made copies of us to guard your Secret Base in the Mirage Island, but we saw that 2 submarines are approaching the island."
"What? Take us there." Ash says as they nod.
"Mind if I come with you?" Steven asks.
"Sure. Uncle." Reisa says as they go there immediately
They fly with Latias, Latios and Steven's Metagross and arrive at the island, they see two people fighting over some Pokemon on the island.
"Team Magma and Team Aqua?" Ash says in shock.
The girl turns to them.
"Who are you? I am Courtney. For the time being...get away from me. The Pokémon behind you... Its Mega Stone... No more...no less. That is what... That's what we of Team Magma seek. How about it? Will you get away from me... or not?"
The man says, "Oh ho! I have no time to worry about that! The name's Matt! That's Team Aqua Admin Matt to you! What I want from you is that Latias behind you there. But that Mega Stone… We of Team Aqua are definitely gonna need the transcendent power of Mega Evolution to achieve our ambitions. How 'bout it? If you get out of our way, we won't rough you up."
Then the two of them glare each other.
"I will not send both Latias and Latios to you. Neither of you should be on our secret base."
"So this is your base…" Courtney says.
"Then we will destroy it." Matt says.
They send out Camerupt and Sharpedo. Ash sends Larion and Steven sends out Cradily to battle them. They beat them and Larion evolves into Aggron.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.55 Aggron: The Iron Armor Pokemon: Steel and Rock Type. Evovled from Lairon at LV:42. Its iron horns grow longer a little at a time. They are used to determine the Aggron's age. The gouges in its armor are worn with pride as mementos from battles.
"Oh ho! Strong, ain'tcha? You're an interesting punk, too, I'll give you that! I love interesting, strong dudes! That's why I love my bro, Archie! And that's why I'm gonna start loving you from now on, too! Next time I see you, I'll smash you up real good, OK?" Matt says as he leaves.
"As anticipated. Unanticipated. You. Target lock...completed. Commencing...experiment. You. Forever. Aha... " Courtney says as she also leaves.
"What a bunch of weirdos." Max says.
"Yeah. At least our base is saved." Mark says.
"And I have another Mega Evolution to use." Ash says as he hugs Aggron.
"Speaking of which, May. I notice that only you don't have a Key Stone. How about you take this?" Steven gives May a Key stone, she is shocked at first, but then she thanks him.
"So May, do you have any mega stones?" Steven asks.
"I only have a Delcattinite. I need a Moon Stone to evolve Skitty."
Steven then gives her and Ash the moon stone and Skitty evolves into Delcatty. Both Pokemon purr at May and Ash as they are happy that Steven helps her a lot.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.50 Delcatty: The Prim Pokemon: Normal Type. Evolved from Skitty with a Moon Stone. Rather than keeping a permanent lair, it habitually seeks comfortable spots and sleeps there. It is nocturnal and becomes active at dusk.
Once they are back at Route 118, Steven bids farewell to them as he leaves to Fortree City first.
Here is another chapter. I basically change the third battle of the gym in the anime, since it is already good enough. And I put the plot of the game inside this episode. Matt and Courtney are there to capture Latias or Latios due to their bosses' order, but before they can do anything, Ash and the group arrive with Mega Latias and Mega Latios.
Ash's Current Pokemon:
Butterfree, Pikachu, Lapras x2, Mewtwo, Mew, Meganium, Azumarill, Espeon, Steelix, Mantine, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Sceptile, Blaziken, Marshtomp, Mightyena, Zigzagoon, Beautifly, Dustox, Lombre, Shiftry, Taillow, Wingull, Gardevoir, Masquerain, Shroomish, Ninjask, Shedinja, Exploud, Makuhita, Nosepass, Delcatty, Sableye, Mawile, Aggron, Medicham, Manectric, Plusle, Minun, Volbeat, Illumise, Gulpin, Shapedo, Wailord, Flygon, Cacturne, Altaria, Zangoose, Seviper, Solrock, Crawdaunt, Lileep, Anorith, Milotic, Absol, Sealeo, Gorebyss, Relicanth, Shelgon, Latias, Latios, Jirachi, Gallade, Sylveon
In Home or with Lillie:
Venusaur, Blastoise, Pidgeot, Raticate, Fearow, Arbok, Raichu, Sandslash, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Clefable, Vileplume, Venomoth, Dugtrio, Persian, Golduck, Primeape, Poliwrath, Alakazam, Machamp, Victreebel, Tentacruel, Golem, Rapidash, Slowbro, Magneton, Farfetch'd, Dodrio, Muk, Cloyster, Gengar, Hypno, Kingler, Electrode, Exeggutor, Marowak, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Weezing, Rhyperior, Kangaskhan, Seaking, Starmie, Mr. Mime, Jynx, Pinsir, Tauros, Gyarados, Ditto, Omastar, Kabutops, Aerodactyl, Snorlax, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Dragonite, Typhlosion, Feraligatr, Furret, Noctowl, Ledian, Ariados, Lanturn, Xatu, Ampharos, Bellossom, Sudowoodo, Politoed, Jumpluff, Sunflora, Umbreon, Slowking, Unown x28, Wobbuffet, Girafarig, Forretress, Granbull, Scizor, Shuckle, Heracross, Ursaring, Magcargo, Corsola, Octillery, Delibird, Skarmory, Houndoom, Kingdra, Donphan, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Larvitar, Tyranitar, Lugia, Honchkrow, Weavile, Lickilicky, Yanmega, Porygon-Z,
In training: Charizard, Charla
Reisa's Current Pokemon:
Feraligatr, Quagsire, Azumarill, Slowking, Blastoise, Politoed, Omastar, Kabutops, Seaking, Octillery, Starmie, Tentacruel, Gyarados, Lanturn, Corsola, Lapras, Mudkip, Relicanth, Ludicolo, Sharpedo, Corphish, Wingull, Huntail, Sealeo, Surskit
May's Current Pokemon:
Torchic, Beautifly, Delcatty
Mark's Current Pokemon:
Blaziken, Lucario, Breloom, Hariyama, Meditite
Minami's Current Pokemon:
Primarina, Carbink, Mawile, Togepi, Swablu