"I have to say Ash, that sounds like quite the exciting dish." Cilan said over the phone.
Ash had called him out of the blue, and offered an interesting idea. He and some friends would be in town, and Ash wanted to have a big battle while they were here.
"Do you think we can do it?" Ash asked. He was still on Charizard, flying over Castelia at the moment.
"I'll get the others to help set everything up. I look forward to this." Cilan said, joyfully. "We've been working on this, ever since you battled us. It's sure to be a fight unlink any others.
Ash had felt bad about leaving Goh and Chloe at the airport. It wasn't that they weren't capable, it was just that Charizard had the air battle experience. He wanted them to have something to enjoy for coming out here, and a battle like this wa just the thing.
In front of the Striaton Gym
"Why do you think Ash wanted us to meet him at this restaurant?" Chloe asked looking at the odd place. "It definitely doesn't look like the kind of place he'd normally eat at."
"Maybe it's food is different than how we expect, Ash did travel through most of this region after all." Goh said.
"Fair, I just hope he's not hurt." Chloe said worriedly.
In the back of the Striaton Gym
"I must say Ash, that is a delectable tale." Cilan said with great interest.
"Thanks, I think?" Ash said, not sure how it was delectable. "So you're not weirded out by how I'm dressed?"
"Far from me to judge one's choices. If you're happy, then I'm happy for you." Cilan said. "Now would you like the meal first, or the battle?"
"Surprise me." Ash said with a smirk.
In the waiting area
"Hello!" Cress said.
"And welcome to the Striaton Gym!" Chili said.
"We've been expecting you." Cilan said walking up.
"Of course Ash would chose to eat at a gym." Goh said with a laugh.
"If you would kindly follow us. We can get things started." Cress said excitedly.
"Hey guys." Ash said from atop an arena.
"Ash what's going on?" Chloe said heading up the stairs.
"Something fun, to pass the time before we leave." Ash said.
"What happened to Zekrom?" Goh asked getting on task.
"It got scared, and flew off. Shouldn't be bothering anyone for a bit." Ash said.
"If you two would kindly stand at your spots, we can begin." Cilan said, from the other side of the arena.
"In a normal Pokémon battle, it's one trainer and one Pokémon against another trainer and another Pokémon." Cress explained.
"But here in Unova, we have a couple unique battle styles. What you're standing on is our patented triple trainer rotation battle arena." Chili said.
"The rules are simple. Each trainer sends out a Pokémon. When either side is fully defeated, the battle is over." Cilan continued. "However, whoever's in the center, can rotate the battlers to the left or right. Also, you can only attack Pokémon adjacent to yours."
"Alright, I think I get it. Cinderace let's do this!" Goh said sending out his starter.
"Sounds like an interesting experience. Eevee you're up." Chloe said.
"Well Pikachu, how about it?" Ash said pumped.
"Passage!"
"Pansear!"
"Panpour!"
"Come on out!" The three gym leaders said in unison.
"Cinderace use Pyro Ball on Pansear!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt on Pansage!"
"Eevee use Assist on Panpour!
"Pansear use Dig!"
"Pansage use Bullet Seed!"
"Panpour use Scald!"
Pyro Ball missed its target, as seeds and electricity flew through the center of the stage. Eevee ended up with Oshawott's Hydro Pump, evening out the water attacks.
"Hold on!" Ash shouted stepping on the switch. "Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt on Panpour!"
"Cinderace use BlazeKick on Pansage!"
"Eevee use Assist on Pansear!"
"Pansage use Solar Beam!"
"Pansear use Dig!"
"Panpour use Water Pulse!"
Attacks flew left and right, smoke billowing up.
"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Pansage use Seed Bomb!"
"Cinderace use Pyro Ball!"
"Panpour use Hydro Pump!
"Eevee use Copycat!"
"Pansear use Brick Break!"
As the attack collided, Eevee was knocked out. Pansear was able to get close, and deliver a hard hit. It was now Ash and Goh against three gym leaders.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Pansage use Acrobatics!"
"Pansear use Brick Break!"
"Panpour use Hydro Pump!"
"Cinderace use Bounce!"
Pikachu was able to block the incoming attacks with relative ease, but even with Cinderace's speed, Panpour was able to knock it off balance.
"Goh switch me back to center!" Ash shouted, seeing this battle going south fast. Cinderace and Eevee were down, and they hadn't taken out one of the monkeys.
"Alright Ash, it's all up to you." Goh said switching Ash back into the center position.
"Aright Pikachu use Discharge!" Ash commanded.
"Pansear use Dig!"
"Pansage use Acrobatics!"
"Panpour use Cut!"
Electricity crackled, zapping all of their opponents. When the smoke cleared only Pansage and Pikachu were left standing.
"Pansage use Bullet Seed!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
As the attacks fired down at Pikachu, he ran around the arena dodging the seeds.
"Now Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Pansage use Seed Bomb!"
Pikachu knocked the attack back, blasting it in Pansage's face.
"While they're distracted use Quick Attack!"
As Pansage tried to recover from its own attack, he was hit by Pikachu, ending the battle.
Later on that day
"So when Ash said the stuff about the corsets, and wigs to Iris?" Chloe asked wondering the truth behind it all.
"Every last bit of it. She made both of us do it too. Plus Pikachu and Pansage." Cilan said, shuddering.
"So we won, does that mean we earned gym badges?" Goh inquired.
"Last I checked, it was Ash who beat us!" Chili said. "You two were the first ones out."
"So only Ash gets the badge?" Goh said confused.
"He would, if he didn't already have the badge, and we weren't currently minor league." Cress explained.
"Cilan, why didn't you say something, Iris and I we could have…" Ash tried saying.
"I didn't want you to worry. We make more than enough off of the restaurant, besides in a few months they'll decide who the official gym leaders are again, and we'll have another shot." Cilan said with a smile.
"That's why we installed that arena, a unique flavor of battle gives us an edge." Cress said calmly.
"Well, we'll be rooting for you three." Chloe said hopefully.
