The next room Ash was participating in was appropriately was called the flood room since it flooded with water. Ash stood on the far side of a pool with platforms evenly placed around a 6 meter deep pool. A blonde haired man in a fancy white chef suit also designed for Pokemon battles stood on the other side. Weirdly, he was facing the other way.
"... No, I simply can't say." He then turned to Ash. "Ash Ketchum. I have a question I must pose to you." Unlike everyone else whom sounded like either what we think is English dub or English with a French accent, this man sounded German. "Do you think Pokemon battling can ever be worthy of being called an art?"
"Sure. That's the point of Pokemon contests and showcases, right?" The teen trainer shrugged.
"Indeed. You see, cooking is the type of art that disappears as soon as it is completed. Pokemon battles are the same. Even memories of sweet victory soon fade after the battle ends. In order to devote yourself entirely to such a life, made up of fleeting experiences, that is truly artful. Amusingly, the female referee that came up wore both a cook's outfit and a blue bikini swimsuit.
"The Pokemon League battle of Ash Ketchum and Siebold Friedrich is about to begin! Each trainer shall use six Pokemon in a one-on-one! When all Pokemon on one side are unable to continue, the battle is over. Let the match begin!
"Barbaracle, splash out!"
"Charizard, I choose you!" Ash's choice made Siebold's eyes slightly widen and his mouth to smile.
"Ah, talk about your deja vu. Your fellow finalist Alain once challenged me with his own Charizard before." Ash gasped.
"He fought you before?!"
"Indeed. He wished to face every challenge with Charizard, likely to prove they were the best of all the trainers with Mega Evolution. So, are you going to give me a similarly artistic battle, or something new and fresh?"
"Why don't you see?" Ash thrust out his bracelet of key stones.
"Alright then."
"Mega Evolve!" Both of the trainers yelled as Barbaracle grew more appendages and a thicker rock body while Charizard spread his wings out, turning into his Y form. An artificial sun shined brightly over the battle field.
"Oh, so you're trying to weaken my water flavoring with your sun as hot as peppers?"
"Yeah. Not to mention that water types are generally of the special type instead of physical, which is why I went for that."
"Hmm, your battle strategy is not without its artistic logic, but you only made things a little dry. I have more than just water you know. By all means, take your turn."
"Alright then. Charizard, use Solar Beam!" Charging up his powerful attack, the Flame Pokemon unleashed a green blast which exploded against the Collective Pokemon, forcing it down into the water since the platform was destroyed. "Alright, way to go Charizard!" Ash congratulated his Pokemon, only for Siebold to smirk.
"Stone Edge." The Elite Four member ordered and as a result a barrage of stones shot from the water and bombarded the fire/flying type and he howled from the pain.
"No!" Ash cried out as his Flame Pokemon fell onto the platform in front of Ash, unconscious.
"Charizard is unable to battle! The winner is Barbaracle!"
"But how?!" Serena called out in frustrated confusion. "That thing was hit with a move that exploited its 4X weakness!"
"That's what Multiscale is for darling." The Elite Four member chuckled. "Even against a grass type move, my Collective Pokemon will not fall so easily on the first turn."
"Charizard, return. Sorry buddy, I thought we could get him more than that. Take a good rest. Greninja, I choose you!" Ash then sent out his Ninja Pokemon starter.
"But wait, isn't Greninja weaker in the sun too?" Monica asked as she was puzzled.
"Only with Water Shuriken, and unless we're talking about a five times hit, it's not going to be too useful this time since Siebold's Pokemon are water types anyway."
"Barbaracle, Stone Edge!" Forming white orbs that turned into rocks afterwards, the water/rock type tried to hit the water/dark type but Ash was prepared this time.
"Dodge and use Ice Beam!" Leaping high into the air, Greninja fired a zigzagging beam of icy energy which hit the Collective Pokemon head-on, whom started to freeze over, now encased in ice.
"No!" Siebold exclaimed.
"Yeah, now use Dark Pulse!" This time, Barbaracle was done for as it was bombarded by purple and black rings, shattering the ice around it. Reverting back to normal, the water/rock type fell onto its back.
"Barbaracle is unable to battle! The winner is Greninja!" And thank goodness it happened early on, for she started to evolve into Ash-Greninja.
"Well, I'm certainly in hot water now, aren't I?" Siebold remarked as he returned his Pokemon. "Oh well, it's time to move onto the main course. "Starmie, splash out!" Another Pokemon he recognized from his past, this time being Asnix who turned out to be Sina under mind control. Ash smirked as he came back to the battle just after Starmie Mega Evolved, having some more yellow accents and red crystals floating around the Pokemon.
"Use Hydro Pump!" Siebold ordered, and even with the sun the Mysterious Pokemon unleashed a mighty looking torrent of water that could knock out the mighty Ash-Greninja... if it ever had a chance to.
"Dodge and use Dark Pulse!" Moving at such speeds it appeared to have teleported, the incoming attack missed, and even with its awesome speed, Starmie only had time to turn around before being blasted into the water thanks to Greninja appearing from behind it above. A glow was seen in the water before Starmie came up defeated.
"Starmie is unable to battle! The winner is Greninja!"
"Yeah, nobody can pose a threat to Greninja!" Serena cheered.
"Go Greninja go!" Shauna encouraged the Ninja Pokemon.
"Starmie, return. My apologies, their strategy was too spicy to cool off. Rest now. Blastoise, splash out!"
("Sheesh, are all of his Pokemon going to be ones I've fought before?") Ash chuckled as he saw the Shellfish Pokemon Mega Evolve. "Greninja, return."
"Oh, not going to keep your ace out the whole time?" Siebold inquired.
"Well, as powerful and swift Greninja is, she's also very frail. If your Blastoise or any of your Pokemon got a lucky hit in, that's likely going to be it for her, so I want to be sure that when I bring her out again, the odds of her getting hit aren't as high."
"Very clever Ash."
"Yeah. Alright then, Florges, I choose you!" Sending out his Garden Pokemon, Siebold smiled.
"Oh, I must say your white Florges is such a rare treat thanks to its rarity. Such elegance and beauty that the rest of us only get glimpses of. Your Florges must be proud." The fairy type in question blushed, giggled and swiped a hand down towards the water specialist as if to say, 'oh stop'.
"She was a gift from Shauna there in the stands. Back when our journey was relatively starting. She's been a great help, and I'm very thankful for both Florges and Shauna."
"Aww, you're welcome Ash!" The dark toned girl yelled back in response, a huge grin on her face.
"Beautiful. Such is the fantastic bond of friendship. It truly warms my heart so. Again, you have the first move."
"Alright. Florges, surpass evolution! Mega Evolve!" As soon as that was done, further impressing Siebold due to her even more enhanced beauty, Ash requested, "Use Wish!" Waving an arm over and thus creating a shooting star, Florges finished her turn while the Elite Four member sighed.
"As much as I hate to bring harm to such beauty, I will not lose this battle. Use Water Pulse!"
"Counter with Calm Mind!" Closing her eyes, Florges composed herself before being subject to a watery explosion.
"Alright, now use Skull Bash!" Jumping from platform to platform, the Shellfish Pokemon managed to get to Florges's platform and bash his forehead into the fairy type, but he could see that through the vapor, she was still smiling. Wish took effect as all the damage she sustained were healed.
"Energy Ball!" Foming a green sphere, the Garden Pokemon shoved it into Blastoise's armored stomach, which exploded and sent the flying water type yelling into the water. "Now use Calm Mind!"
"Use Aura Sphere!" Bursting out of the water, Blastoise aimed his three cannons at Florges and fired three spheres of fighting energy and they exploded against her. But it was too late now.
"Energy Ball." One orb of green energy later and that was it. Flying back from an explosion and falling onto a platform so hard it cracked, the Shellfish Pokemon reverted back to normal as he groaned while unconscious. The sun above faded away, meaning water type moves were back to normal.
"Blastoise is unable to battle! The winner is Florges!"
"Alright Ash, beat his whole team with Florges!" Shauna cheered Ash on and Florges.
"He's doing very well with Florges, all things considered." Monica giggled.
"Fast, strong and specially bulky. Siebold's going to have a hard time with this." Serena chuckled confidently.
"Blastoise, return. You did great. Rest now. Seems like I need to go on the defensive with a safe flavor. Milotic, splash out!" Now on the aquatic field was the Tender Pokemon. "Ash, while you have the most beautiful fairy type one can have, let me show you the most beautiful water type! Mega Evolve!" While the bright rainbow glow of the evolving process obstructed how she was changing, when the shining was finished with a rainbow helix, everyone was in awe at what they saw. Her blue and pink tail was twice as long and the four tail fins it used to have now more looked like six transparent fins glimmering like crystals. Her pink eyebrow like protrusions went from two to four as they also now had a shimmering film in between as if her head was surrounded by a cape of starlight. She was so beautiful that even Florges turned red in the face with jealousy. "Haha, even your Florges is envious of my artistically fantastic water/fairy type, truly the most beautiful of any dual types."
"Well then, let's see which of our fairy types can outlast the other. Calm Mind!"
"Use Scald!" Further enhancing herself, the only discomfort from this attack was the fact that Milotics attack was scalding hot. So hot in fact the Garden Pokemon combusted into flame from a burn.
"Florges, use Wish!" Casting the healing move on herself again, Siebold took the opportunity to have his Milotic Scald Florges again.
"Scald, once more!"
"Counter with Moonblast!" Forming a pink sphere, Florges launched it at the incoming water which was easily pushed away thanks to the strength it possessed and exploded decently powerful against the Tender Pokemon. While recoiling back in pain, she still appeared to be ready and able. Unfortunately for her, Florges's Wish healed the majority of the damage the Garden Pokemon has accumulated, even if the burn still took a small toll as she grunted.
"No, it can't end like this! Use Blizzard!"
"Calm Mind, once more!" Again, the fairy type closed her eyes and maintained her composure, even against the strong bouts of snow making her feel chilly.
"Energy Ball!" After another burn, Florges created a giant green sphere which she threw through the blizzard and headed right for the frightened Milotic before being subject to an explosion so large a large portion of the water was misplaced and everyone had to brace against the shock wave. In the middle of a destroyed platform, Milotic floated unconscious.
"Milotic is unable to battle! The winner is Florges!"
"Ash is unstoppable." Serena remarked.
"Thanks to my Florges gift to him." Shauna giggled.
"I guess I have no choice. You've been enjoying your main course so much, I'll have to bring the dessert out early. Gyarados, splash out!" Sending out the Atrocious Pokemon, Ash couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh man, with the exception of Milotic, all your Pokemon are ones that I've fought before."
"Just because you've had one dish before doesn't mean one similar can't be much better. Mega Evolve!" After the transformation, Serena and Trevor paled when they heard him say, "Use Dragon Dance!" As the extra large water/dragon type flailed around in the air, glowing orange and growing in power, Monica wondered what it was.
"What's Dragon Dance?"
"It's a move that boosts the physical power and speed of the one that used the move."
"Moonblast!" Ash commanded, but Siebold was no longer messing around.
"Aqua Tail." Water began to spin around the Atrocious Pokemon's tail, managing to swipe away the Moonblast and charged with enough speed and momentum to smash the Garden Pokemon into the back wall. And for any hope she survived that, a burn took what was left and the fairy type fell to the ground, back to normal.
"Florges is unable to battle! The winner is Gyarados!"
"Florges, are you okay?!" Ash ran to his Pokemon while his friends grew worried.
"Florges was his best shot of winning against Mega Gyarados and she fell instantly." Trevor started to tremble.
"What could Ash do now to win?" Monica inquired.
"Now? Survive until he can wittle down Gyarados long enough to survive." Serena answered as she watched Ash return his Pokemon and go back to his spot.
"Greninja, I choose you!" Sending out his transformed ace, it was questionable on who would win this now.
"Aqua Tail."
"Dodge it!" Even though Gyarados at this point was 1.5X faster than the Ninja Pokemon, the speedy water/dark type was still agile enough to teleport away via jumping before the aquatic tail could tag her, though her platform was destroyed. "Now use Dark Pulse!" Firing a barrage of purple and black rings, they crashed down into the Atrocious Pokemon's back, but it was not too badly injured from it.
"Go up and use Dragon Tail!" Soaring towards the now defenseless Ninja Pokemon, Gyarados slammed its green glowing tail into the water starter with such force, she smashed into the water a sound not unlike an explosive going off.
"Greninja!" Ash cried out. Floating back up, Greninja was knocked out.
"Greninja is unable to battle! The winner Gyarados!"
"Greninja, return. That looked like it hurt real bad. I'll make sure you're treated good. Lucario, I choose you!"
"Do you think Lucario will be fast enough to even defend himself?" Shauna asked Serena.
"We just have to hope so."
"Aqua Tail!" Siebold ordered.
"Aura Sphere!" Forming a ball of blue energy, Lucario was able to throw it in the nick of time before being swatted by the overwhelming power of Gyarados, smashing into the same back wall that Florges did but to the opposite of Ash's side as he transformed back to normal with a groan.
"Lucario is unable to battle! The winner is-" The announcer would be unable to continue as the Aura Sphere, which never missed unless blocked by a ranged attack, exploded against the water/dragon Pokemon's back. It screeched with agony before reverting back to normal and splashing into the water. "Oh. Um, both sides are unable to battle. It's a tie."
"Hmm, what a surprise flavor. A bitter taste delayed by a few seconds." Both trainers returned their Pokemon and thanked them. I'm willing to bet you're going to use Garchomp. I do warn you though, my next Pokemon could one shot yours before he gets the chance to get up close. Kingdra, splash out!" A cyan colored seahorse has been summoned. A Mega Stone was strapped in a harness to its stomach. "Mega Evolve!" Now admittedly this Mega Evolution wasn't that different appearance wise. A slightly longer snout, more stringy stuff, a longer curled tail, etc.
"Well, that's not necessarily true. Talonflame, I choose you!"
"Oh, I see. You're trying to weaken him however you can so Garchomp has a better shot. Well then, I'd like to see you try. "Kingdra, use Hydro Pump!"
"Brave Bird!" Even though the Dragon Pokemon spewed a powerful stream of water much faster, the Scorching Pokemon was able to spin around the torrent while engulfed with flame, and to Siebold's fearful surprise, the bird landed a blow, if not significant.
"Dang, there goes my multiscale advantage."
"Ah, so there's a reason you were banking on Garchomp. So that he'd be unable to K.O your Pokemon and take the win."
"Hydro Pump!" Siebold yelled, and the recoiling bird was drenched in water and was beaten in one go.
"Talonflame is unable to battle! The winner is Kingdra!"
"Talonflame, return. Thanks, now we have the means to win. "Garchomp, I choose you!"
"Quick, use Blizzard!" Siebold tried to stop the Mega Evolution.
"Jump into the water!" Leaping into the swimming pool, the dragon/ground type's platform was frozen over. "Now, surpass evolution! Mega Evolve!"
"Freeze the water with Blizzard!" Taking the opportunity, the entire pool's surface was frozen over. But the glowing could still be seen under the icy surface.
"Break out with Break Break then Dragon Claw!" With quick concise slices, the Mach Pokemon smashed through the ice with white glowing scythes before they turned green and proceeded to defeat Kingdra with two swipes, the Dragon Pokemon neighing in agony before transforming back and splashing into the water.
"Kingdra is unable to battle! The winner is Garchomp, and the victor of this match is Ash Ketchum!"
"Alright, way to go Garchomp!" The Mach Pokemon turned to Ash as he reverted back and nodded with a proud grunt.
"Kingdra, return. Thank you Kingdra. Your effort is appreciated." Putting his Pokeball away, he turned to Ash. "Ash, I shall store my memory of you and your Pokemon forever away within my heart. I have just one bit of advice. Devote yourself entirely, so even that which will fade and disappear is ingrained forever upon your heart and mind. That is the only fate for any human."
"I'll be sure to remember that. Thank you." Ash bowed, and then went to recover and choose his next Elite Four member.
A/N: Another intense battle. Especially Ash's level 75 Pokemon facing against level 85 Pokemon. Also, if you wondered why I gave Siebold the last name Friedrich, I didn't like any of his VA names so I decided to tinker with him somewhat. Siebold is actually a German name, and given that he's a big artist of sorts, I looked up German artists and found a particularly popular one is Caspar David Friedrich, an artist of the Romanticism genre on emotion and individualism as well as the glorification of nature. Something I thought suited someone like Siebold to an extent. What'd you think?