Saffron Dojo Courtyard
Ritchie was currently facing Grey with the two of them holding pokeballs.
"I hope you are ready this time kid." Grey declared. "Show them our strength, Donphan."
"This is it. I will battle with everything I have, so that there are no regrets." Ritchie nodded. "After our last meeting, I trained harder than ever for this, and I'm ready! Zippo, I choose you!"
Ritchie's Charmeleon had evolved into a mighty Charizard.
"I see that; however, I'm not sure you can stand up to me." Grey smiled. "Guess there is only one way to know for sure."
"Yeah, there is." Ritchie nodded. "Let's go!"
Ritchie vs Grey (P. I)
"Donphan, use ancient power." Grey ordered.
"Zippo ascend to dodge and use flamethrower." Ritchie commanded.
The rocks appeared and flew at Charizard who ascended into the air before unleashing a mighty flamethrower down on the ground type.
"Donphan, use hyper voice to ground that pokemon." Grey commanded. "Then, combo it into a rock slide."
Donphan's voice filled the area dealing out damage and sending Charizard crashing into the ground. This was followed by falling rocks further smashing the flame pokemon into the ground.
Zippo, fight through the pain and strike with dragon pulse!" Ritchie exclaimed.
"Use stone edge." Grey commanded.
Charizard built up his dragon energy and unleashed it into Donphan while large stones came up from the ground pelting the evolved starter. In the end, both pokemon collapsed to the ground with swirls in their eyes.
Dark City Warehouse
"Return Zippo." Ritchie smiled at the pokeball. "Thank you for showing how hard we've worked buddy."
"Seems you weren't just talk." Grey stated genuinely impressed. "I do love it when the potential filled trainers I battle start live up to that potential. Show me how much you've really grown against my next pokemon. Show them our strength, Gengar!"
"I'm not just here to prove my strength." Ritchie declared firmly. "I'm here to bring you in. Happy, I choose you!"
Ritchie's Butterfree and Grey's Gengar appeared ready to battle.
Ritchie vs Grey (P. II)
"Gengar, use thunderbolt." Grey commanded.
"Happy, use psychic." Richie ordered.
Gengar charged up his electricity only to be grabbed by psychic energy and slammed into the ground dealing out massive damage.
"Now, follow it up with bug buzz." Ritchie ordered.
"Dodge it and use icy wind." Grey declared.
Butterfree attempted to land on Gengar who vanished and appeared behind the bug/flying type. The shadow pokemon then whipped up a freezing wind which greatly hurt the butterfly pokemon. Unlike before, a couple of moves weren't going to bring him down.
"Let's try a thunderbolt once more." Grey declared.
"Happy, get up and use psychic again!" Ritchie declared.
Gengar, once again, tried to use thunderbolt; however, Ritchie had worked with Happy extensively to counteract these types of more powerful moves when it really mattered. As a result, Butterfree was able to pick up and slam Gengar for more damage.
"Now, use hurricane." Ritchie ordered.
"Gengar, end this with dazzling gleam." Grey commanded.
Happy began to generate the hurricane when he was struck by a blast of fairy type energy sending the butterfly pokemon crashing to the ground with swirls in his eyes.
Dojo Courtyard
"That was great Happy." Ritchie praised as he returned his pokemon. "Take a nice, long rest."
"An impressive level of improvement; however, my Gengar is still standing." Grey stated.
"That may be, but Happy still weakened your pokemon more than enough for my next to wrap this part of our battle up." Ritchie declared. "Tulip, I choose you!"
Ritchie's Fearow appeared ready to battle.
Ritchie vs Grey (P. III)
"Tulip, use drill peck." Ritchie ordered.
"Gengar, use phantom force." Grey commanded.
Gengar became completely see through causing Fearow to fly straight through him.
Ritchie remembered this attack. "Fearow, gain some distance and wait just a bit."
"That won't help you." Grey declared.
A circle of ghost energy appeared beneath the flying type before erupting around him.
"Gengar, use shadow ball." Grey commanded.
"Tulip, use drill run." Ritchie ordered.
The flying type was cloaked in ground energy before smashing into Gengar knocking him back.
"Now, follow it up with a sky attack." Ritchie commanded.
"Gengar, finish this with dark pulse." Grey ordered.
Fearow cloaked himself in powerful, sky energy before flying at Gengar. The ghost/poison type let loose with a dark pulse into the oncoming bird. Despite the damage, Fearow pressed on slamming into Gengar. Both pokemon were on the ground with swirls in their eyes.
Dojo Courtyard
"Tulip, you were great." Ritchie returned his friend. "Take a nice, long rest."
"Most impressive." Grey stated. "You're certainly looking stronger than the last time you got to my last pokemon." He smirked. "That said, my pokemon is on a whole other level from last time. Go, Electivire!"
"So, he evolved his Electabuzz." Ritchie picked his next pokeball. "Well, you're not the only one whose evolved a pokemon since our last battle, and I'm not just talking about Zippo. This next pokemon is the one who will wrap this up! Mythic, I choose you!"
Ritchie's Hakamo-o had evolved into a powerful Kommo-o. The moment the dragon/fighting type appeared, he locked eyes with Electivire. This pseudo legendary remembered his lose in their previous battle, so he roared fiercely ready to avenge his and his trainer's loss.
"That's it Mythic." Ritchie nodded. "When we were training together, I promised you'd get your shot at Electabuzz. Even though he evolved, I'm positive you can win." Ritchie held out an arm. "Let's do this together!"
"Komm!" Kommo-o roared with determination.
Ritchie vs Grey (P. IV)
"Electivire, use ice punch." Grey declared.
"Mythic, use protect before knocking them back with dragon pulse." Ritchie ordered.
Electivire charged in with his fist coated in ice only to be met by a green shield which completely blocked the attack. As the barrier faded, Kommo-o breathed in and expelled their dragon energy into the thunderbolt pokemon knocking him back.
"Follow it up with earthquake." Ritchie commanded.
"Use screech to lower his defense." Grey ordered.
Electivire screeched at Mythic lowering his defense by two stages before being greatly damaged by the earthquake.
"Now, strike with ice punch." Grey commanded.
"Mitigate the damage by using drain punch." Ritchie ordered.
The two pokemon charged at one another with ice and fighting energy covered fist, respectively. They slammed their fist into each other's faces. While Mythic took a great deal of damage, it was partially healed thanks to drain punch.
"Electivire, use cross chop." Grey ordered.
"Mythic, protect before using close combat!" Ritchie instructed.
Electivire charged in with fighting energy covered hands and chopped at Mythic only for the scaly pokemon to throw up the green shield managing to block him. Once the barrier came down, Mythic lunged forward beating down on the thunderbolt pokemon.
"Now, use giga impact to end this." Grey ordered.
"Here it comes." Ritchie smiled. "Mythic, use boomburst at full power."
The dragon/fighting type let loose with compressed sound which slammed into the charging pokemon. At first, Electivire was able to push forward only to end up going unconscious. The thunderbolt pokemon rag dolled across the ground before stopping with swirls in his eyes.
Dojo Courtyard
Mythic stared at his defeated enemy for a moment before crying to the heavens in victory. "Kommo-o!"
The scaly pokemon then fell back with swirls in his eyes as he had fainted to.
"You were amazing Kommo-o." Ritchie returned his pokemon. "Thank you for giving it your all." He then looked up as Grey had returned his pokemon and got on his knees. "You aren't going to try and run?"
"Kid, I'm not stupid." Grey declared. "You still have two pokemon left, and despite the likelihood I could get away, I'd rather not risk it. You did good though and only proved the validity of my rules to me. Anyways, I surrender and will go wherever you wish me to."
"Sparky and Kicks, I choose you." Ritchie declared. "Sorry, but I'm not buying this surrender, so my pokemon will be keeping an eye on you." He then looked to the dojo. "After Surge finishes with his target, we'll be taking you both in."
"Fair enough." Grey stated.
Silph Co.: Top Floor
Jessie and Mondo were facing off with Butch and Cassidy while Meowth had stepped back to let them handle this. The former Rocket grunts vs the loyal Rocket grunts. Everyone was ready to send out their first pokemon.
"Arbok, I choose you." Jessie declared.
"Go, Tauros." Mondo stated.
"Battle time Cloyster." Butch declared.
"You're up Tentacruel." Cassidy stated.
The four pokemon appeared ready to battle
Jessie & Mondo vs Butch & Cassidy (P. I)
"Tentacruel, use icy wind on Arbok." Cassidy declared.
Butch added, "Cloyster, hit Tauros with smart strike."
"Arbok, dodge and use glare." Jessie ordered.
"Tauros, show them you won't be outdone in a competition of strength by using wild charge." Mondo commanded.
Tentacruel glowed with icy blue energy causing the air around Arbok to grow colder. The cobra pokemon escaped and glared at Tentacruel inflicting paralysis. Tauros cloaked himself in lighting while Cloyster's horn glowed with steel energy. They collided with Tauros winning.
"You know Jessie, I'm surprised you'd willingly turn your back on Team Rocket when you simply refused to give up in training." Cassidy smirked. "I mean, how many partners was it?"
"You seem to forget that the only reason I was made an official member of Team Rocket was because of James." Jessie retorted. "Just like he was the one to help me get into Team Rocket, he was the one who enlightened me to the truth."
"That's right." Meowth declared. "Jimmy showed the three of us that Team Rocket isn't the organization we thought it was. He opened our eyes to other possibilities."
"We can be more than agents waiting to outlive our usefulness." Mondo declared. "Just as James carved his new path with his friends, we can carve our own paths with each other. We choose to live rather than survive under Giovani."
"Like James, you three are fools." Butch crossed his arms. "Cloyster, use icicle spear on Tauros."
"I agree." Cassidy declared. "Tentacruel, use hydro pump on Arbok."
"We were fools, but now we're much wiser." Jessie retorted. "Arbok, strike Tentacruel with dark pulse."
"Everyone in Team Rocket is just a disposable pawn that Giovani will use as he sees fit, and that's no life for us." Mondo declared. "Tauros, dodge and use body slam on Cloyster."
Tentacruel attempted to generate water only for the paralysis to hit him resulting in the jellyfish pokemon taking dark pulse straight on. Cloyster began shooting out icicle after icicle while Tauros dodged. Once Cloyster was done, he slammed into the bivalve pokemon.
"I'm starting to get tired of this." Cassidy declared. "Butch, it's time."
Butch nodded. "Right."
"Tauros, use ice beam on Tentacruel." Mondo commanded.
"Arbok, use mud bomb on Cloyster." Jessie ordered.
"Cloyster dodge and use protect to defend Tentacruel." Butch commanded.
"Tentacruel, use blizzard." Cassidy ordered.
"Tauros, quickly use thunderbolt on Cloyster once protect falls."
Arbok fired off the spheres of mud, but Cloyster dodged to the left landing before Tentacruel. He then threw up the green barrier which blocked Tauros' ice beam from hitting Tentacruel. The jellyfish pokemon was glowing an intense, icy blue before letting blizzard rip.
The attack washed over the room hitting every pokemon there. Tauros then radiated electric energy before discharging his thunderbolt which slammed into Cloyster the moment his protect fell. In the end, the room was covered in snow while Cloyster and Arbok had fainted.
Silph Co.: Top Floor
"Return Arbok." Jessie put the pokeball back on her waist. "You fought better than ever."
She was going to remember to thank James for his breeding expertise. Honestly, she's never seen Arbok so strong before.
Butch returned his Cloyster before looking at Cassidy. "Cloyster's off the table, so don't lose your cool this time. The last thing we need is for me to lose my last pokemon to your attacks."
"Yeah." Cassidy sighed and rolled her eyes. "I remember Biff."
"The name's Butch!" Butch shouted.
While they were arguing, Jessie sent out her next pokemon. "I choose you, Lickitung!"
This prompted Butch to do the same. "Battle time Primeape."
Jessie & Mondo vs Butch & Cassidy (P. II)
"Primeape, use brick break on Tauros." Butch ordered.
"Tauros, dodge and use ice beam." Mondo commanded.
"Tentacruel, use bubble beam on Lickitung." Cassidy stated.
"Lickitung, brace yourself and use thunderbolt." Jessie instructed.
Primeape charged forward with a fist cloaked in fighting energy only for Tauros to dodge to the side. The wild bull pokemon then unleashed an ice beam into Primeape. Lickitung managed to brace himself against the bubble beam before launching thunderbolt at Tentacruel.
"You really do bug me Jessie." Cassidy declared. "Tentacruel, use dazzling gleam on Lickitung."
"Lickitung, dodge and finish Tentacruel with power whip." Jessie ordered.
Tentacruel charged up fairy energy and fired it only for Lickitung to jump to the right. He then formed a whip of green energy and slammed it into Tentacruel sending the jellyfish pokemon crashing into the wall. The water/poison type then collapsed to the ground having fainted.
"Tauros, use zen headbutt." Mondo commanded.
"Primeape, dodge and use seismic toss." Butch instructed.
Tauros cloaked his head in psychic energy and charged at Primeape; however, the fighting type jumped over the wild bull pokemon. He then grabbed the normal type's back leg, jumped into the air, and spun around before throwing Tauros into the ground fainting him.
Silph Co.: Top Floor
"Tauros, return and take a long rest." Mondo then looked at Jessie. "Sorry about that. I thought I could take him down."
"Don't worry about it, Mondo." Jessie sighed reluctantly. "You're currently in better shape than I am."
Cassidy returned her Tentacruel. "You're up Hypno."
"Cassidy, what are you doing?" Butch asked.
"What?" Cassidy asked.
"You do remember what Mondo's second pokemon is, right?" Butch asked.
Cassidy realized she messed up while Mondo realized this was a golden opportunity. "Go, Ditto!" The transform pokemon appeared ready to battle. "Use transform on Cassidy's Hypno."
Ditto because an exact copy of Hypno giving his side the advantage against Primeape and an equal/above choice to combat their Hypno.
"Great, now we got to deal with that." Butch shook his head. "Hurry up and stomp Jessie already while I'll try to hold Ditto off."
Jessie & Mondo vs Butch & Cassidy (P. III)
"Lickitung, use screech on Hypno." Jessie ordered.
Butch said, "Primeape, hit D. Hypno with thunder punch."
"Hypno, strike Lickitung with Zen headbutt." Cassidy commanded.
"D. Hypno, stop Primeape with psycho cut." Mondo instructed.
Lickitung screeched at Hypno lowering his defense by two stages; however, the hypnosis pokemon was able to slam their psychic covered head into the normal type. Primeape tried to slam their lighting infused fist into D. Hypno only to be knocked back by psycho cut.
"Primeape, use seed bomb on D. Hypno." Butch commanded.
"Lickitung, use muddy water on Hypno." Jessie ordered.
"Hypno, use hypnosis on Lickitung." Cassidy declared.
"D. Hypno, use meditate." Mondo instructed.
Primeape shot green spheres in an upward arc while D. Hypno meditated raising his attack by one stage. Lickitung tried generating the muddy water only to be hit by hypnosis sending him to sleep.
"Lickitung, get up and use power whip on Hypno." Jessie tried.
"Hypno, finish this with wake-up slap." Cassidy ordered.
"Primeape, use close combat." Butch commanded.
"D. Hypno, dodge and end this with psycho cut." Mondo instructed.
Lickitung remained asleep until Hypno rushed over and slapped him awake. The normal type fainted shortly after. Primeape charged at D. Hypno who lunged to the right avoiding the oncoming fist of the fighting type and launching a psycho cut which fainted him.
Silph Co.: Top Floor
"Return Lickitung." Jessie put the pokeball back on her waist before looking to Mondo. "It's up to you."
"Yeah Mondo." Meowth spoke up. "Finish this."
"I'll do my best." Mondo declared.
Butch returned his pokemon. "Wrap this up already Cassidy."
"I plan on it." Cassidy stated.
Mondo vs Cassidy
"Hypno, use fire punch." Cassidy commanded.
"D. Hypno, counter with ice punch." Mondo declared. "With your free hand, use thunder punch.
The two pokemon charged one another with fire and ice fist, respectively. Their fists smashed together cancelling each other out. Then, a lighting covered fist smashed into Hypno's face sending him flying back into a wall.
"Hypno, get up and use zen headbutt!" Cassidy commanded.
Hypno, end this with headbutt!" Mondo ordered.
The two pokemon slammed their heads together, but it was no contest thanks to D. Hypno's earlier meditate raising his attack. Hypno crashed at Cassidy's feet with swirls in his eyes. Cassidy and Butch had been defeated.
Silph Co: Top Floor
"D. Hypno, use hypnosis to put them asleep." Mondo quickly ordered.
"Wait…" Butch/Cassidy tried.
They were interrupted by hypnosis which saw the pair collapsing to the ground out for the count.
"Alright Meowth, you got that rope Genesis gave us?" Mondo asked.
"Sure, do kid." Meowth brought it out. "Just you wait, and I'll have them bound quickly."
Jessie looked at the pair with a contemplative look.
Mondo noticed this and approached her. "Is something wrong Jessie?"
"I may not have been the one to beat them, but I still won today." Jessie stated. "For the longest time, I've wanted that definitive win over them. A win where they have everything to lose rather than one where they still get something out of it. Now, I got that win, but it feels hollow."
"I kind of know what you mean." Mondo stated. "You, James, and Meowth were my biggest idols, and these two were your biggest detractors. For the longest time, I wanted to defeat then, yet never thought myself capable. Maybe there's a point to all of this."
"What do you mean?" Jessie asked.
"Well, think about it." Mondo stated. "Neither of us really care about Team Rocket anymore, so the competition seems to exist for them. The thing that drove our prior feelings is no more, so where we'd take satisfaction, we now take none other than knowing they'll be going away."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Jessie looked to the doors which led into the president's office. "Think Genesis is okay in there?"
"I'm not sure, but I do have faith that he can end this." Mondo declared. "I also know he would hate for us to interfere."
"Yeah, it's probably best to wait and see." Jessie agreed.
Meowth had just finished tying up Butch and Cassidy.
Cross vs Archer (Silph Co.)
James vs Proton (Saffron Gym)
Ash vs Ariana (Silph Co.)
Genesis vs Giovani (Silph Co.)
Alright, these are the four remaining battles of the Saffron War, and I want to do them in the next two chapter while sort of getting into the end game of this. That's not to say there isn't a good chapter or two of 'clean up' to attend to. There's a lot of character to character moments to hit once all the fighting dies down. What I'm essentially saying is that Cross vs Archer, James vs Proton, and Ash vs Ariana will all be covered next chapter no matter how long it will be.
it it turns out longer than this and the past chapters, then we can just consider it a special kind of like that hour long episode during Super's Tournament of Power. Once that chapter drops, it'll be Genesis vs Giovani with a more immediate aftermath of this whole arc. Like people coming back together, seeing certain individuals, and so on. So, look forward to that.
Reader: I do my best to develop ad many characters beyond our main group.
lrbrenneke: I can say a certain someone whose been observing everything will technically be in the Orange Islands.
Elemental-Aura: I essentially took a game aspect and applied it with some level of logic for the pokemon world. In games, pokemon that should need water to move, can fight just as effectively on land, so trainers just need to really work with those pokemon to get them fighting on lan. That was also part of the reason I let Gary have a Kingdra. Look, it was always said Gary is some cream of the crop trainer, but we didn't really get proof of that in canon Kanto.
Especially with Gary being knocked out before Ash was in the Indigo League. That's one of the things I've worked hard to show case in this story. Applying everything I've said before this, Kingdra's just another example of that. Of course, confronting Damian was sort of another step in the right direction for Gary. Damian, I believe, could have been that dark mirror of Gary. While Team Rocket may fail here, there had another chance in a certain other region...
As for Calem & Verity vs Hun & Attila: One after another, a new generation will succeed us.
Serena vs Petral was in fact to show that actual admins, those there before people like Damian, still have danger to them. Even though our heroes have grown so much, you can't take criminals lightly.
I'm glad your were anticipating Vicious vs Surge. I honestly didn't think anyone would be as I decided this, while being one of three six on six battles for the arc, would be set up to introduce Vicious rather than just have him come on out for the movie. Of course, just because this was to set up Vicious, it didn't mean I hadn't taken care in the match as your pointed out with the tanks and speedy boys.
i felt this was another step in character development for Janine as well as showing readers something I personally learned myself. Janine learned that you can love your family, but that doesn't mean you have to be who they are or value what they do. She wasn't to integrate values from Surge on what it means to be brave and fight four her home and family.