Chapter 10 Sepertine Gym Battle
The next morning, Ash and Alice finally arrive at the gym for the gym challenge.
Alice: Ash, I want to give you a tip. Donna uses Poison Type Pokemon. This means that Grass-type and Bug-type attacks don't work well against her, so be careful. And she will be using three Pokemon for her battles.
Ash: (Smiles) Okay, thanks.
Alice likes the smile that captures her heart, so she smiles back, giving him the courage to defeat the gym. Once they get inside, they see the gym looking like a maze. The maze is made of bushes with red and white roses on them.
Ash: Hey Alice, those roses sure are beautiful.
But just as Ash is trying to approach it, Alice stops him by grabbing his hand.
Alice: Well, the gym here sure looks like a maze of rose hedges and trees. Ash, be careful not to get poisoned on their thorns. But I am sure that you can make it.
Ash: Okay. I'll be careful.
The two of them are blushing at how they are so close to each other, and that's when Donna approaches them at the other side of the battlefield.
Donna: Oh hey Ash, hey Alice! I'm glad you came! Did I miss something?
The two of them break out of their holding in embarrassment, Donna is curious, but she decides to brush it off.
Donna: Well this is the gym... Well, my Gym, I guess. This used to belong to my dad, so I just started growing my roses here.
Ash: (Nods) I can tell, and you really did a good job.
Donna: I've loved Poison-type Pokémon since I was born. They can be tough, but beautiful, too. Just like every rose has its thorns! Let's do our best, okay? Choose up to three Pokémon for our battle and we should go! Here is my first Pokemon! Tadart!
As she sends out the first Pokemon, it is a half tadpole half frog-like Pokemon with a leaf attached to the tip of the tail.
Ash: (Notices the leaf on the tail) I have to guess that it is not only a Poison Type but also a Grass Type. So Budcheep! I choose you!
As Budcheep appears, it flies into the air and growls. Just as the match begins, Tadart then disappears inside the maze.
Donna: Camouflage is now set, first, Leaf Darts while moving!
Ash: (Yells) Budcheep, dodge it!
Because its color is very similar to the bushes, Budcheep can't see where the attack is from, and thus it gets hurt.
Ash: (Grits his teeth) Budcheep, Wing Attack on the hedges!
As Budcheep manages to cut through the hedges and hits the Tadart, causing it to be sent backward.
Ash: Nice job, Budcheep.
Budcheep tries to cheer, but it suddenly falls with agony, Ash notices the purple on the face and he realizes one thing.
Ash: What? You got poisoned, but how?
Donna just gives him a smirk, as she knows what is going on.
Donna: Every Gym Leader in the Rikoto Region has field effects of their sides. For example, the maze is also poisonous, so I will try to think twice if I were you. Tadart! Use Growl!
Ash sees how the Tadart is charging its attack, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
Ash: I know, Alice has told me about this. (Opens his eyes wide with determination) But I can still do this, use Sing!
The two Pokemon are battling with their voices, but in the end, Budcheep's Sing goes through the attack and then making Tadart asleep.
Donna: (Scared that the attack went through and Tadart has to wait until it wakes up) Oh no...
Ash: (Yells) Time to deliver the final attack, finish it with Echoed Voice!
Budcheep continues to growl, with the attack getting powerful each time, Tadart eventually can't hold on and faints.
Donna: Tadart return! (Recalls her fainted Pokemon and then looks at Ash with determination) I have to admit, I am impressed with your skills, but here is my second Pokemon. Spidox!
A black spider-like Pokemon appears on the field, the spider also has a red H on its back. Ash looks at Budcheep, finding that it is still poisoned.
Ash: Budcheep, do you want to continue?
Budcheep nods, despite being in pain with the poison.
Ash: (Nods) Now Budcheerp, give him a Peck!
Donna: No, you won't. Dodge it and then use String Shot!
Spidox just jumps onto the hedge and then shoots out the silk. Ash gasps as the poison is affecting Budcheep, causing him unable to dodge the upcoming attack. In the end, Budcheep is being tangled with silk and then being thrown to the ground, fainted.
Ash: (Recalls Budcheep) Return, Budcheep, you deserve a good rest.
Alice is watching in the stands with Pikachu, Pikachu frowns at the fact that Ash lost his first Pokemon.
Alice: Don't worry, right now it is only a tie, Pikachu. (Rubs Pikachu's ears, causing him to squeal with enjoyment) Ash has two more Pokemon while Donna is the same...I wonder how it will go.
Ash: (Throws a Pokeball) Moonky! I choose you!
As the monkey Pokemon appears, it roars.
Donna: Ah, the same Moonky that you captured yesterday. It is a Psychic-Type, a good type match-up for Poison Type. But you do know that Spidox is also a Bug Type, which has an advantage over Psychic Types, right?
Ash: I know, but I know I can win as well. Moonky, let's start with Confusion!
Donna: Dodge it and then use Bite!
Moonky is bitten by the arm and he gets poisoned by the Poison Touch.
Ash: (Groans) Oh man... Now even Moonky gets poisoned as well?
Donna: My Gym is a Poison Gym and Poison is my favorite. Now bind him!
Spidox keeps attached on his arm and then Moonky tries to shake it off.
Ash: Damn it, now it is going to be just like Budcheep...what should I do? (Notices the trees in the gym and comes up with the idea.) Those trees are poisonous, so I couldn't risk Moonky...wait...Moonky was already poisoned. (Forms a smirk on his face) Moonky! I have a plan! Use Agility and swing on those trees.
This causes Moonky to grin and Donna to be confused. Moonky tries to jumps on and off the trees and spins around like a wild monkey, and Spidox is getting dizzy.
Donna: (Panics what Moonky is doing) Quick, Bite him and slow him down!
Spidox just bites it harder, and it causes Moonky to fall off the tree, much to everyone's surprise. In the end, both Pokemon are found lying on the ground fainted, with the Moonky on top of Spidox.
Donna: Return, Spidox... (Recalls her Pokemon) That is a crazy idea, since Moonky is already poisoned, the trees aren't affecting him and then he tries to use nature to attack my Pokemon. Nice thinking.
Ash: (Smiles) Thanks, but we still have one more Pokemon.
Donna: (Throws the Pokeball with style) You're right. Here is my final Pokemon, Feva!
The final Pokemon appears on the field and Ash gets a look at the Pokemon. It looks like a small girl with purple hair and a purple dress.
Ash: Since you show me the Pokemon I have never seen before, it is natural that I do the same, here I go, Gardevoir!
As the Pokemon appears, Alice is surprised at the appearance of the Pokemon.
Alice: Wait, you are using Gardevoir already?
Donna: (Gasps in awe) I have never seen a Gardevoir before, but I can tell that it is strong.
Ash: She is strong, of course. After all, she is one of the Pokemon that I brought here from another region.
Donna: I see, but we will be using this move to our advantage. Use Fever.
As the Pokemon shoots out the move, then Gardevoir suddenly becomes ill. Ash notices that instead of the purple on the face, the face is red.
Ash: (Surprised) Wait, Gardevoir is burned...
Pikachu: Burn? Not Poison? I thought this is the Poison Gym...
Alice: (Sighs) No, this move is her specialty, it inflicts the burn instead of the poison. But it is also serious as well.
Ash: Gardevoir, I know you can hold on. (Gardevoir nods) Use Future Sight.
Gardevoir's eyes glow and then the Future Sight is set, now it is waiting for the time to strike.
Donna: Let me give you a Punishment for the Future Sight.
Then Feva hits the Pokemon hard. Gardevoir falls, but it manages to get back up.
Donna: Use Fever again!
Ash: Teleport as quickly as you can!
Donna: Don't let her escape!
Gardevoir and Feva are having a dodge ball game, but Feva can't hit the Gardevoir, much to Donna's frustration, eventually, Feva is tired.
Ash: Now this is the end. The Future Sight is leashing its power!
Donna gasps as the Psychic-Type move shoots from the air and attacks Feva, causing it to faint in the end.
Donna: I am sorry, Feva. (Hugs the Pokemon) I need a bit more training...
Ash hugs Gardevoir, but Gardevoir can't hold on because of the fever.
Ash: I'm sorry that you still have your fever. (Uses Burn Heal on Gardevoir) Take a good rest (Recalls the Pokemon)
Donna also recalls her Feva and then walks towards Ash.
Donna: Even though I lost, that was a good battle! I've got a lot more to learn it seems. I'm happy to give you this. That's the official Gym Badge of Serpentine City, the Thorn Badge!
She shows the badge, which has a pink circle with purple thorns on the outside, Ash takes the badge and thanks to her. Alice and Pikachu come to the battlefield from the stands and Pikachu hops onto Ash's shoulder, nuzzling him.
Ash: (Laughs) Stop it, Pikachu. It tickles. (Pets Pikachu)
Alice: (Walks to Ash and smiles) Congratulations, Ash. You won against your first gym in this region.
Ash: Thanks, I couldn't have done it without your help. (Alice blushes after hearing the comment)
Alice: (Turns around) It is nothing...You are the one that battles, not me...
Donna: You know, you two really look like a couple. Maybe you should become one.
The two people are now blushing even redder, before things can become much awkward, Rodney walks into the gym.
Alice: Rodney? What are you doing here?
Rodney: Oh, hey, Ash, Alice. So Ash, how did your battle go? (Notices the badge) You won? Wow! That's a cool badge!
Donna: So you're my next challenger, I'll accept your challenge.
Rodney: (Nods) Oh, and you should head back over to the Trainer's school and see what it is that Mr. Bella has for winning the gym match. I'll catch you later!
Ash and Alice nod as they walk to the trainer's school, they find that Mr. Bella is teaching students about battling.
Mr. Bella: (Notices Ash and Alice) Ah, you're back...And what's that? The Gym Badge! Congratulations! Now as I said before, I will give you something that will help you with your journey, but seeing as how you managed to get the Gym Badge so easily, I would like you to battle my students. It may help you, as well as them, become better trainers. After defeating them, I'll give you that special item I promised.
Ash and Alice nod as they help the teacher out, and after defeating four students with ease, they go back to the teacher.
Mr. Bella: Well, well, you've beaten all of my students! As promised, here is your reward for beating them!
As they see a pair of Clippers in his hands, Ash takes the Clippers and he is confused.
Ash: What can we do with this?
Mr. Bella: Simple, your next destination will be Crestlight City, which needs to go through the Dullfern Forest. Believe me. There are a lot of spider webs on the way.
Alice: Okay. Thanks for the gift. (Leaves with Ash)
Ash gets his first badge in the Rikoto Region, and what challenges will come after they arrive at Dullfern Forest? Find out in the next chapter.