Chapter 18 Destination: Coronation

At the Cerise Laboratory, Ash is looking at his Rotom Phone and he says, "There are over 10000? That's so many participants! That's making me fired up!"

"They are not called the World Coronation Series for nothing! They're insanely popular!" Serena says.

While they are chatting, Raboot just opens one of its eyes as he looks at them. Ash says, "That's fine! The more rivals, the more exciting! And there are more and more trainers who keep signing up after me!"

Ren looks at the phone and says, "I see...everyone starts in the Normal Class, huh? And above that is the Great Class, Ultra Class, and then the Master Class."

Professor Cerise says, "Everyone starts in the same line, your momentum greatly depends on whether you win or lose your first battle. The first battle is vital."

"I got it, let's do it, Pikachu!" Ash says as Pikachu agrees.

Serena says, "And how are you going to do it?"

"If I want to battle Leon again, then, first of all, I gotta enter the Great Class." Ash says, "In that case, there's only one thing to do! That is to win and win some more!"

Besides Ash, Gengar is fired up and Ash asks, "You're fired up as well? Gengar?"

Gengar nods, but Raboot just turns away from them, much to Ash's sadness.

"It looks like the best way to rapidly climb the ranks is to fight someone ranked much higher than yourself." Professor Cerise says.

"So basically, strong trainers?" Serena asks.

"I wonder if there are any participating trainers nearby..." Ash says. "And I hope they are as strong as I can find..."

"You can just look into it yourself!" Professor Cerise says. "Just search for Vermilion City."

As checks for the phone and then he finds a trainer, he says, "I choose this trainer."

He shows a female trainer with the number 2109 on it. Cerise asks, "Isn't that the substitute gym leader in Vermilion Gym?"

"Vermilion Gym? Wasn't Lt. Surge the Gym Leader there?" Ash asks.

"Exactly, but I hear he's out training right now, trying to refine his mastery over the Electric Type Pokemon." Cerise says.

"I see, it is just like how Clembot is to Clemont." Serena says.

"His substitute, Visquez, is quite formidable as well." Cerise says. "Are you sure you should start with such a high bar?"

"Of course, now I'm really fired up!" Ash says.

As Ash and Serena head towards the Vermilion Gym, Serena says, "By the way, you told me that you have challenged the Vermilion City Gym, right?"

"Of course. I got it from Lt. Surge after fighting his Raichu. It was my third badge in this region...and to tell you the truth, the first gym badge that I got not from pity."

"Not from pity? You got badges out of pity?" Serena asks, "That doesn't sound like you would do."

"What should I say? The first Gym I lost, but Brock still wants to give me the badge, Cerulean and Celadon are interrupted by Team Rocket and because I send them blasting, I got the badge. Saffron City is because I managed to make the Gym Leader laugh, and Viridian City was taken over by Team Rocket."

"So it is basically those three's fault that you didn't get your gym badges officially." Serena says while rolling her eyes.

After getting to the gym, they knock on the door, and then a strong woman comes out and she says, "Are you the one that requests the battle in the World Coronation Series?"

"Yes, and I want to have a battle with you." Ash says. "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town."

"Very well!" Then their Rotom phones say, "Official Battle Appointment has been made!"

Inside the Gym, Visquez says, "I didn't expect Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town will be coming here. I wanted to meet you and your Pikachu as well."

"What? You know me?" Ash asks.

"Lt. Surge told me about the young boy who once overcame him and Raichu in a spectacular battle; Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and his Pikachu." Visquez says.

Raichu is firing up and Visquez says, "This Raichu is my comrade, trained by the captain himself!"

"I see." Serena says. Then one of the Gym trainers asks, "And who is this young lady?"

"This is Serena, my girlfriend. She came to cheer me on during the battle." Ash says and Serena bows, "It's nice to meet you."

Ash says, "Visquez, I just entered the Coronation Series, and this will be my first battle!"

"I'm honored that you'd choose me as your historic first opponent!" Visquez says.

Just then, a Drone Rotom flies in and it says, "The World Coronation Series has approved this Normal Class battle! The battle will be between Vermilion Gym's Visquez and Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

"Happy to have you as a judge again, Drone Rotom." Visquez says.

"So that's a drone Rotom? I have never seen one before!" Ash says.

"The battle will be a 2 vs 2." Rotom says as both trainers soon take their places at the ends of the battlefield. Serena and the other trainers are moved to the stands.

"Now allow me to explain the official rules! You are free to switch Pokemon during the battle. When all of a trainer's Pokemon have fainted, that trainer loses, and the other trainer that remains wins! And the battle judge will be myself, as approved by the Coronation Series!

"What are those?" Serena is surprised to see some grey ball like things on the walls.

"All right, both sides send out your Pokemon at the same time!" Rotom says.

Then Visquez sends out Raichu while Ash goes for Pikachu. Serena scans the Raichu and it says, "Raichu, the Mouse Pokémon. An Electric type, and the evolved form of Pikachu. As Raichu's body fills with electricity, its demeanor becomes more aggressive."

"Hang in there, Pikachu!" Serena says, while Raboot is just looking at the field with a blank expression.

"Let the battle begin!" Rotom says, and the battle begins with a clash of two Thunderbolts, Serena says, "Wow...Ash and Pikachu are both going at full throttle!"

"Use Volt Tackle!" Visquez yells, and the Gym trainers are surprised to see her going her strong move.

"Pikachu! Iron Tail!" Ash says as Pikachu is using the move for a grounding effect. Visquez says, "That's..."

"The strategy that the Lieutenant was praising for." The gym trainer says. "He is discharging the power of Volt Tackle into the ground! And the power of Iron Tail is helping him withstand the impact from Raichu's tackle!"

"Don't give up! Pikachu!" Ash yells. "Disperse all the Electric power into the battlefield!"

Still, Raichu eventually pushes through and sends Pikachu flying. Raboot starts to show worry, but then he quickly turns away, not wanting to show any feelings.

Serena says, "Brute force wasn't enough, huh?"

"Catch him!" Visquez says. Mid-fall, Raichu surprises Ash by using its tail to catch and fling Pikachu. "Is that even possible?" Serena gasps, and Raboot opens his one eye again.

"Hang in there, Pikachu!" Ash yells. "Iron Tail!"

Ash quickly counters by having Pikachu use Iron Tail while spinning, bouncing off a wall to hit Raichu. However, just before the attack hits, Visquez has Raichu use Reflect to shield itself, avoiding a lot of damage.

"An impressive call...Raichu would have taken a lot of damage if we hadn't put up the Reflect just in time." Visquez says.

"Turn every bad situation into a chance! That's how we've always fought!" Ash says. "Don't push yourself, Pikachu. Return!"

Pikachu is surprised at first before he gets back, and Ash pets him, "You did well, Pikachu."

Pikachu squeals at the affection, and Ash then goes for Gengar.

"We're counting on you, Gengar." Ash says, and Visquez continues with Raichu.

"Gengar...I wonder how this battle will go..." Serena says.

Gengar opens up with Night Shade, which Raichu tries to counter with Thunderbolt, only for Gengar to dodge it and deal a direct blow on Raichu. Gengar then moves on to use Ice Punch, easily phasing through Raichu's tail and dealing another hit.

"How could it move like that?" The gym trainer is surprised. Serena says, "I see, he took advantage of Gengar's intangibility!"

As Gengar is sent back, Ash says, "Good, Gengar! That tail isn't scary at all!"

"Use Volt Tackle!" Visquez says, but it gets stopped in its tracks by Gengar's Psychic, which then sends Raichu slamming into a wall, taking it out of the fight.

"Raichu is unable to battle!" Rotom says, and Ash cheers for his Gengar, "You did it!"

Serena smiles and says, "I know you could do it! Ash! You used Gengar's unpredictable movement to your advantage!"

She also notices Raboot is now interested in the battle, and she smiles.

"Return, Raichu. You fought so well. I will avenge you." Visquez says as she recalls her Pokemon.

"I have my own way to counter tricky movement! Go! My squadron's ultimate lethal weapon!"

She sends out an Electrode, and Serena also scans the Pokemon. "Electrode, the Ball Pokémon. An Electric type. Electrode reacts to stimulation with explosive power. Feared far and wide, it's known as "The Bomb Ball."

Just then, Serena notices the walls and she realizes something.

"Use Magnet Rise!" Visquez says as Ash and the others are surprised. "That's not the only thing we can do with our Electromagnetic Levitation!"

The chunks of the battlefield are rising to the air as well, Ash asks, "What is this?"

"Most challengers counter the Electric Type with Ground Type moves, The Electromagnetic Levitation we've developed to counteract that can even control space! Meaning: Electrode has no weakness."

Electrode starts bouncing around the floating floor pieces, rapidly striking Gengar from all directions. Ash yells, "Gengar! Watch Electrode's movements carefully!"

Serena notices the wall and she says, "So those are made by Electrode's attack!"

"Good, Gengar can't get out of Electrode's electric cage!" The gym trainer says.

"Above you!" Ash yells as Gengar notices that the Pokemon is on top of it. Even Gengar's attempt at flinging Electrode away with Psychic only momentarily slows down the assault.

Gengar tries to use Night Shade, but Electrode evades the attack and uses Discharge, knocking Gengar out.

"Gengar is unable to battle!" Rotom says.

"Take a nice long rest." Ash says as he recalls Gengar, then he asks Pikachu to get back to the field. The Magnet Rise's effect also wears off in the end of the battle.

"Now, it's one on one..." Serena says.

"Let's end this battle! Electrode! Use Rollout!" The move strikes Pikachu time and time again, getting stronger and faster with each hit.

"Do something!" Ash is surprised to hear Raboot worrying for Pikachu, and Serena says, "If that continues, Pikachu will lose!"

"My Electrode's attacks deal more damage the more it gets to accelerate!" Visquez says. "How long can Pikachu last?"

"In that case..." Ash says, "Pikachu! Get on top of Electrode and use Iron Tail!" Ash yells.

Pikachu jumps on Electrode and uses Iron Tail, quickly bringing the Ball Pokémon's rolling to a stop.

"Now Pikachu, spin it in reverse!" Ash says. Pikachu starts running on top of Electrode to spin it in the opposite direction and gain control over its momentum.

"That's insane..." Serena says with a sweat drop. The gym trainer says, "He took control of Electrode!"

"Finish it off! Iron Tail!" Ash yells.

Just before Electrode hits a wall, Pikachu jumps off of it, and as Electrode is sent bouncing off the wall, Pikachu lands a finishing Iron Tail. However, Electrode then suddenly starts to detonate, the final blow having activated its Aftermath Ability.

"Use Electro Web!" Ash yells, having Pikachu block the attack.

Visquez says, "I can't believe it..."

"Well done, Pikachu." Ash says to his mouse Pokemon, and Rotom says, "Electrode is unable to battle! Pikachu wins! Which means, the winner is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

In the end, Ash and Visquez shake hands, Visquez says, "I lost, and I'll tell this to Lt. Surge about this battle. I'm sure he'll want to battle this new and stronger you as well."

"I'd love to battle Lt. Surge again as well." Ash says.

Rotom says, "Based on the results of the battle, the World Coronation Series' rankings will be updated!" Then it flies away.

"Ash!" Serena hugs Ash, and she says, "Congratulations!"

"Thanks." Ash says. Pikachu tries to show off to Raboot, but it just mutters, "Congratulaions to you as well." Before turning it away.

"That was incredible! I never could have come up with any of your tricks!" Serena says. "But that battle was intense!"

"I owe it all to Pikachu and Gengar." Ash says.

Just then, his Rotom Phone rings and he looks at his rankings, which shows all the way to 3763.

"Wow, I just ranked up a lot more than I thought." Ash says, and Serena says, "You're right! Since you defeated Visquez, who had a high rank, your own rank skyrocketed!"

"I know." Then they bid farewell to Visquez and the gym trainers before leaving the gym.

Here is a new chapter, and no new Pokemon is captured since this is a battle chapter.