Chapter 32 Battle against Giovanni
Ash, Alice, and the others are now at the entrance of Viridian City Gym, and Ash says, "This is it...I mean...I think I have been waiting for this..."
"I am sure you are, this is your sixteenth badge, and if you get this one, you can just challenge the Elite 4." Alice says.
As they enter the gym, it is very dark, just like the other times when he enters the place. "Is anyone in the Gym?"
"I have been waiting for you, Ash." Just then, the lights are shining on Giovanni, who is sitting at a chair looking at him. Ash says, "Uncle Giovanni..."
"You're willing to call me uncle even after all the things I have done to you in the past. I am really touched." Giovanni says. "And I see you have some gym leaders who come to watch the gym battle as well."
"I guess so, since the League Conference is near." Ash shrugs. "But you know why I am here, right?"
"Of course, you are here for the Gym Badge." Giovanni says as he stands up. "And how about a five versus five? I am sure that it will be a great challenge to you."
"Well, I did have a five-on-five gym battle against Tiamat, so it is not a big deal." Ash says.
"If you don't mind, I would like to see this battle as well." As they look at the seats, Adam is there and Ash says, "Dad? What are you doing here?"
"Wait, he's your father?" Brock asks as they have never seen him before. Adam flinches a little, and then he walks from the seats and hugs Ash. He says, "I can't miss my son's final gym battle in this Kanto Region, can I?"
Giovanni coughs and says, "Looks like your son already knows you're his father."
"I guess so, though I wonder how long have you known the truth?" Adam asks.
"Did you think after you taught me aura, I couldn't sense the similar aura that you had with me?" Ash says. "Though I didn't mention back at Rota because I knew you wanted to keep a secret."
"I see." Adam says with a smile. "And I am very proud of you to master that much."
"So he is Ash's father? How come we have never seen him before?" Misty asks, and Alice says, "Because he is the leader of the Royal guards of Rota, he has duties to attend. And he is also a traveling aura guardian to protect Pokemon."
"I see..." Brock says, since he has been to Rota before.
Giovanni says, "Now that the reunions are done, how about we start our gym battle?"
Ash says, "You bet I'm ready."
Giovanni takes out a Pokeball and sends it out, revealing it to be a Golem. Ash says, "I choose Vileplume."
As he sends out his first Pokemon, Giovanni says, "A Grass Type Pokemon, it should be four times super effective to my Golem, but I won't let you beat me this easily. Use Steamroller."
The Bug Type attack hits Vileplume as it deals some damage. "Petal Dance." Ash yells, but Golem manages to use Rock Blast to knock out the attack, and in the end, Vileplume is confused and then Golem gives out an Earthquake to knock it out.
"No way...Ash's Vileplume was just beaten like that..." Misty says.
"That Golem looks tougher than mine..." Brock says. "No wonder he is the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto..."
Adam just looks at Ash and says, "My brother Giovanni is also known to be Giovanni of the Earth, as he has mastered the Ground Type Pokemon to the fullest."
Ash grits his teeth and sends out Slowbro, using the Surf, it manages to knock out the Golem. Giovanni looks at his first Pokemon being down, he says, "This should have been expected."
He sends out Dugtrio, and it causes the others to be surprised. Giovanni doesn't seem like the type of person who will use Dugtrio. Giovanni says, "My Dugtrio's ability is Arena Trap. Which means that until it is defeated, your Slowbro is not going to escape."
"Then I'll just defeat it with Slowbro." Ash says.
Giovanni has Dugtrio uses Tri-Attack, causing Slowbro to get paralyzed. "Slowbro, it is still a Ground Type, use Water Pulse."
"Protect." Giovanni says as Dugtrio creates the trap, and then it uses Dig to send Slowbro into the air, "Use Beat Up."
Ash widens his eyes to see a Dark Type move, and Slowbro is being hit four times and it is knocked out. Alice says, "Wow, this gym leader is another new level for Ash...So far Ash has two losses while the Gym leader only has one."
"This is a battle I can't lose, because I found my dream of being a Pokemon Master, and I can't let it go..." Ash says, "Pikachu, I choose you."
As he sends out the mouse Pokemon, Giovanni says, "You do realize that Pikachu is an electric type, right? How disappointing."
"I have a plan, and I intend to do it. Pikachu, use Splishy Splash!" Ash yells.
Pikachu suddenly creates a yellow wave that washes Dugtrio, causing it to get knocked out instantly. Misty asks, "What is that move? I don't think I have seen it before."
"That's Splishy Splash." Alice says. "It is a Water Move only Pikachu can learn."
"I see, it has learned a Water Move." Giovanni says as he recalls Dugtrio. "But in front of my Nidoqueen, it is still nothing."
The third Pokemon appears on the field, and Ash has Pikachu uses the Double Kick, which is not very effective and Pikachu gets poisoned by Nidoqueen with the ability Poison Point, and then it uses Venoshock, which deals a lot of damage to Pikachu.
"Venoshock deals twice the damage when the opponent is poisoned." Tracy says, "I'm surprised that Pikachu is still standing after that damage."
"Pikachu, don't give up, use your Dig attack!" As Pikachu goes underground, Giovanni has Nidoqueen use Earthquake, but it is too late, Pikachu gets out of the ground before it hits, and in the end, it creates a giant blast of sand that obscures their vision. In the end, both Pokemon are knocked out, making the match a draw.
"Being an Electric Type, your Pikachu is really strong indeed." Giovanni says as he sends out a Nidoking.
"I am going to choose Dragonite for this one." Ash says as he sends out his Pokemon, but as it is sent out, Dragonite goes to hug Ash, Ash says, "Dragonite...not now..."
"Looks like Dragonite likes to hug Ash..." Misty says. "Just like Muk..."
Nidoking starts with a horn drill, but Dragonite dodges it and uses Dragon Pulse. Nidoking tries to get him out of the air, it uses Earth Power and hits Dragonite.
"Let's make the weather our advantage. Use Rain Dance!" Ash says.
As the rain appears, it causes Nidoking to be weakened. Then Dragonite goes for the Hydro Pump, hurting Nidoking badly. Both of them go for Thrash and Outrage at the same time, trying to settle the score as they clash with each other. But they are both sent back to the wall after the attack, and they both get knocked out.
Giovanni says, "We are both down to our last Pokemon, and I guess that you are going to use Charizard, so I'll tell you what I am using, I am going to use Rhyperior."
"Why don't you think I will use my other Pokemon?" Ash asks, and Giovanni says, "Adam and I are related, that means I can also use Aura as well. I noticed that you have been trying to save your Charizard for last."
He looks at him and says, "You reminded me a lot about my past, about the times before I form Team Rocket. Before the time when I thirst for power and fame."
"Then I'll do it." Ash sends out his Charizard and Giovanni sends out Rhyperior. Misty says, "He already told him that he would use Rhyperior, why is he still going to use Charizard?"
"Ash has faith in this Pokemon, I guess." Alice says. "He wants to use Charizard to settle the score as he is the strongest besides Pikachu. (Greninja is not in Ash's team.)
The two Pokémon deal serious damage to each other, Rhydon gaining the upper hand. But just as Rhydon is about to finish the match with Horn Drill, Charizard uses Seismic Toss and rides on Rhydon, driving Rhydon to the ceiling, and throwing him down to the floor.
Giovanni says, "What? I lost the battle?" But then he decides to laugh, "Ha, that was a truly intense fight! You have won!"
Ash nods and he takes out the Earth Badge, and Giovanni decides to exchange one for him. After the others congratulate Ash, they all head back to Pallet Town, with Giovanni and Adam also coming along.
That night, Adam and Ash are sitting at the hill near the house as they are looking at the stars, Adam asks, "So Ash, I have some things that I need to tell you."
Ash sighs and he says, "Are you going to tell me if I am mad at you for not appearing in my life for all these years? To be honest, I was hurt by your actions. A lot of people mock me for not having a father by my side, and Mom told me that I shouldn't pay attention to what they said."
"I see..." Adam frowns. Ash continues, "Thanks to my mom, she told me a lot about you, and she told me how you missed me and how you want to see me again. I know that during these years I have been traveling alone in the regions, and I don't even have your phone number, so basically, we just missed each other."
Adam says, "But now that we met again, I guess it is time that I reveal some things to you."
Ash is confused, and Adam says, "There is an aura technique known as Aura Disguise, with the disguise, you can change into any kind of person you want. Do you want to learn how to use it?"
Ash says, "You mean just like how my mother disguise as Queen Ilene?"
"That is not an Aura Disguise, that is just a normal disguise." Adam chuckles a little. "Aura Disguise is to make everyone around you not able to recognize you. You basically become another person. It is not a mask or something, more like plastic surgery, but Aura as the surgeons."
"That sounds interesting, but why do I need to do that? I mean... no one might be trying to kill me or anything else." Ash asks.
"You are maybe right at that time, but in the past, Aura Guardians are hunted by people because of their strange powers. But that is in the past." Adam says. "Disguising is now for fun, and to tell you the truth, in every region, there is each one of my and your mother's disguise as the member of Gym Leader, or Elite 4 and Champion in some cases."
"Really?" Ash is surprised at the news, and Adam says, "Our real identity is used in Kanto, but I'll be glad to face you in a gym battle again once you finish Kanto."
"If that's the case, I think I should try to learn how to do it." Ash says. "But tomorrow...it is getting late now."
Adam nods as he brings Ash back to the house so they can rest.
Here is a new chapter, and this is the final gym battle of the Kanto Region. The next chapter will be Grand Festival and I hope you like this chapter.