Chapter 29: Venesi City Gym Battle
"We're here, this is Venesi City." Ash says. Serena looks around and she says, "Wow, this place is huge...look at the structure and the boats..."
"I know, this place is a good place if you want to relax." Sheldon says.
As they are walking on the road, they see a Pokemon running into the alley, Ash chases it, and then it has nowhere to go as Ash manages to capture the Pokemon.
Ratsy: The Vandal Pokémon: Dark Type. They use the paint-like substance on their tails to mark their territory. They are considered pests as they will paint over brand new buildings.
"So it is just like a Smeargle..." Ash says, and Aurora says, "That might be true.
And then they get to the park, where they see a lot of strange statues, and some of them are interacting with the trainers and they are shocked. "Why are the statues moving like that?" Serena asks with fear.
"That's Gargryph, it is a Pokemon with a signature ability known as Rebuild." Sheldon says.
"Rebuild? What is that?" Ash asks.
"Rebuild is an ability that will heal if the Pokemon isn't damaged in the turn." Aurora says, and Serena decides to capture one of them.
Gargryph: The Gargoyle Pokémon: Rock Type. They spend most of their time standing so still they are often mistaken for statues. They perch on the rooftops of Venesi City, guarding it against outside attackers.
"That's nice to know." Ash says. "So where is the gym?"
"The gym is actually this building." Sheldon says as they look at an opera house in front of them. Serena says, "An opera house? That is so amazing!"
"I know. And it will be amazing to see who the gym leader is." Aurora adds as they enter the gym. Inside the gym, they can see the full stage and a man is standing on it. Ash asks, "Are you the gym leader?"
The man is wearing a mask and he says, "Ah, a challenger approaches. Let me see if you have the wisdom to solve this puzzle? Show me in battle."
As the man sends out a Mismagius, Ash says, "So I guess he wants to battle. In that case, Ratsy, I choose you!"
Ash sends out the mouse Pokemon as it battles the man. Serena asks, "What does he mean by a puzzle?"
Sheldon says, "Let's say this gym leader is a mystery, nobody, except for the challengers, knows who the gym leader is, as he or she likes to hide."
Serena is confused, and they see Ash's Ratsy evolves and defeat the Mismagius.
Raffiti: The Street Art Pokemon: Dark Type. Evolved from Ratsy at LV:30. They spray paint to create elaborate signs that only other Raffiti can understand. Their adept knowledge of color theory has led some to consider them artists on par with humans.
After defeating his Duplicat and Trawpint, the man says, "Aha! Very clever! Surely you have figured out something's amiss."
Ash asks, "You are not the gym leader, right?"
"Nicely done. You have surely seen through my ruse by now. Yes! It's true, I am not the True gym leader you seek. But, were you expecting...this?"
Just then, the floor opens and Ash and Pikachu fall through it. Serena yells, "Ash!"
Once the floor disappears, Aurora says, "That's why it is mysterious. The gym leader doesn't want anyone to watch the gym battle."
"But what about Ash? How are we going to save him?" Serena asks.
"He will be fine, after all, it is Rosalind..." Sheldon says and Serena widens her eyes at the name.
"Oww...Ash mutters as he looks around. "Serena? Sister Aurora? Sheldon? Where are you?"
Pikachu is also calling out to their friends, but all they can see is darkness and suddenly, spotlights appear and it shines on a woman, she says, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages!"
Ash is confused and he asks, "Who are you?"
The woman turns around and she says, "Let me tell you a story. There was once a little girl who dreamed of being a star in the opera. But the theatre is steeped in old traditional views, and women were not allowed to perform on stage. So she came up with a plan. She cut off all her hair, and put on boy's clothes, and auditioned as a boy. It worked, she got the part, and when she acted on the stage, she dazzled and enchanted everybody that came to see her plays."
She lowers her head and says, "But this wasn't enough for her. In a world of lies and deception, she grew tired of the biggest misconception of all. So one day, she left her boy's clothes and concealing makeup behind. When the curtain rose, the audience saw her for who she really was; their beloved star, a woman. The audience was struck dumb because they could not deny what they knew to be true in their hearts: that she, a woman, could act as well as any man. From then on, there was a change. The theatre changed its policies and women could audition."
Ash asks, "Are you the girl that you are speaking of?"
"That's right. I am Rosalind, star of the stage and gym leader of Venesi City. You have done well, overcoming trickery and deception to find your way here." Rosalind says as she snaps her fingers, causing the battlefield to rise to the field, much to Ash's shock.
Once they are now on stage, Serena yells, "Ash! You're safe!"
"Serena? Sister Aurora? Everyone?" Ash is confused, and the fake Gym Leader steps forward as the referee and explains the rule as a five on five. Rosalind says, "Have you got what it takes to defeat me? Let the final act begin!"
Rosalind sends out a Pokemon that looks like a bird with lots of dots., but it is different. "What is that Pokemon?"
"It is a Dramsama, and it is Psychic and Ghost, so Dark Type will be great." Aurora says, and Ash sends out Vilucard.
"Use Confuse Ray." Rosalind does the first move and it causes Vilucard to get confused. Ash says, "Calm down and use Bite!"
Vilucard is flying in circles because of the confusion, causing Ash to facepalm, Ash says, "Vilucard, snap out of it!"
"Use Night Shade!" Just then, Dramsama hits the Pokemon as it falls to the ground, and Ash can only facepalm. Ash says, "Try to Bite again!"
Ash yells, and Vilucard finally snaps out of confusion and hits the Dramsama, but it glows as it turns out to be an illusion, and a smaller Pokemon appears and Sheldon says, "That's Masking...the pre-evolved form."
Rosalind says, "As you can see, Masking's ability is Illusion, which you can see in Zoura or Zoroark."
Ash says, "But still...it is a Psychic Type. Use Foul Play!" Rosalind says, "Block it and use Aerial Ace!"
As both attacks collide, in the end, with the Super effective move and the Confusion affecting, both Pokemon faint in the end. "A Draw..." Ash says.
"I see you are much more to expect. Here is my second Pokemon: Winotiger!" Rosalind sends out her Fairy and Fighting Type Pokemon, and Ash says, "Is that Jackdeary's evolution?"
"It is a little creepy..." Serena says.
Ash sends out Splendifowl as his next Pokemon. "We will have to hope that it is not going to damage us a lot." Ash says. "Use Air Slash!"
As the attack shoots at Winotinger, Rosalind says, "Dodge it and then use Misty Terrain!"
The field full of mist appears and Ash says, "Misty Terrain is going to be hard to see...Ash says, "Use Teeter Dance!"
Ash tries to land the Confusion on the Pokemon, but the field's effect caused it to fail.
"Moonblast!" Rosalind says as the attack shoots Splendifowl to the wall, but Splendifowl hasn't fainted yet as Winotinger goes for a High Jump Kick.
"Wait for it and dodge!" Ash says as Splendifowl dodges at the last second, causing it to damage itself.
Aurora says, "Good, Winotinger crashed itself."
"Now finish with Hyper Voice!" Ash says as the attack eventually defeats the Pokemon.
"That was a close one." Rosalind says to Ash. "But that doesn't mean that I lose yet. Miasmedic!"
The third Pokemon appears and Ash says, "A Fairy and Poison Type..."
"Use Toxic!" Rosalind says as Ash widens his eyes, Splendifowl is poisoned and it falls to the ground, then Miasmedic defeats the Pokemon with the Psychic.
"Then I'm going to use a Psychic Type. Come out, Brainoar!"
Ash sends out his brain fish Pokemon, and he says, "Use Ancient Power!"
"Dodge it." Miasmedic dodges the upcoming fossils, and it goes for Attract, much to Ash's surprise. "Oh no..."
"This is bad..." Serena says, "It can use Attract..."
Ash decides to trust Brainoar and he says, "Don't let your love for it affect the battle. Use Rest!"
Just as it sleeps, it recovers the health and Rosalind says, "You are using Rest to stop the attract...very clever."
"And not only that, I have it learn Sleep Talk as well." Ash says, and then it uses Psychic to finish the Miasmedic.
"You are very good, Ash." Rosalind says. "But here is my fourth Pokemon. Duplicat!"
Once the Pokemon appears, it goes for the Transform and it is now a Brainoar. Both of them use Hydro Pump to collide each other, but Rosalind has Brainoar uses Ancient Power to knock out Ash's.
"I didn't know Duplicat can be that strong after it transforms..." Ash sighs. "Pikachu, I need your help."
Pikachu rushes to the field and Rosalind says, "I have never seen a Pikachu in the Rikoto Region, but it will be great to have it as an opponent."
Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on Duplicat-Brainoar, and it gets super effective and it gets paralyzed, Brainoar uses Rest and Sleep Talk, causing it to heal, and uses Psychic to damage Pikachu. Pikachu goes for a Volt Tackle and then it hits Brainoar, but it also gets recoil damage. In the end, it is a draw as Brainoar and Pikachu crash with each other with another Volt Tackle and Zen Headbutt.
"Look like an innocent flower, but be the serpent under it. Now we both have one Pokemon left." Rosalind says, and Ash adds, "And thanks to the Masking, I know what your final Pokemon is."
Rosalind sends out her Dramsama, and Ash decides to use Mismagius, which is also strange to Serena. "Using Dark Type will be better than Ghost...I wonder what is he thinking?"
"Maybe he has a plan." Aurora says.
Dramsama uses Will-o-wisp, giving the burn to Mismagius. Mismagius throws a Shadow Ball, causing it to take a lot of damage.
"Use Shadow Ball as well!" Rosalind says as both Shadow Balls are colliding with each other. But Ash's manages to get through Rosalind's, causing the Dramsama to get defeated after the attack.
"Spectacularly done. You deserve this Drama Badge." Rosalind says as she shows the badge to Ash, and Ash thanks her for the badge.
"Be not afraid of the greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. I don't know to which of those categories you belong, but you certainly have greatness within you." Rosalind says. "I do not doubt that with your wits and your strength, you will reach the stars! And above all: to thine own self to be true."
Ash nods at the gym leader's words while they are heading to the Pokemon Center.
Here is a new chapter, but that doesn't mean Venesi City is done. There is a second chapter to it and it is related to the Contest. I hope you like this chapter.
Ash's New Pokemon: Archilles, Electruxo, Splendifowl, Gararewl, Terlard, Dunsparce, Gyarados, Felunge, Empirilla, Eshouten (Nuclear), Brainoar, Arbok (Nuclear), Pajay, Astronite, Ampharos, Harylect, Vilucard, Drilgann, Cocancer, Corsoreef (Nuclear), Sableau, Gellin, Mismagius, Barand, S51, Chimical, Harptera, Snopatch, Titanice, Daikatuna, Jackdeary, Miasmedic, Duplicat, Vaporeon, Esepon, Glaceon, Nucleon, Raffiti, Seikamater
Serena's New Pokemon: Metalynx, Kinetmunk, Nimflora, Tofurang, Gyarados (Nuclear), Blubelrog, Eshouten, Ludicolo, Firoke, Tanscure (Nuclear), Sponaree, Jerbolta, Baaschaf, Trawpint (Nuclear), Herolune, Sableye, Corsoreef, Whimsicott, Barand (Nuclear), Glavinug, Paraboom, Inflagetah, Frikitiki, Quetzoral, Tracton, Slothohm, Selkid, Jolteon, Flareon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Gargryph
Jessie's New Pokemon: Trawpint, Tubareel, Gliscor (Nuclear)
James' New Pokemon: Kinetmunk (Nuclear), Tanscure