AN: Yeah, yeah, the chapter is short. I'm busy. I'll send out another soon enough. Anyways, this chapter is just the very short list of things that happen in Celadon city, including Ash's battle with Dust and the latter's gym battle, though it isn't just listed, and some nifty stuff takes shape. Yes, battling is going to happen a lot. Not liking battling and reading this fanfic would be like watching DBZ's Namek saga for the plot. Dumb.
At 11:30 in the morning the next day, Ash decided he would fight Dust. The latter agreed, but without Krabby, he was forced to use another pokemon. Naturally, that would be Charmander. Brock stood to the sidelines as the referee. "This will be a six-on-one battle between Dust Stern and Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. The challengers may begin at any time."
The first fight was Charmander v. Pikachu. A quick dig then a fire punch knocked him out. Charmander was too slow for the gym, but Ash had no strategy to fight the digging opponent and Pikachu was a glass cannon. To be fair, Charmander was damaged a fair bit by the thunderbolt. Next was Charmander v. Bulbasaur. A single flamethrower. Dust was beginning to think Charmander might be strong enough for the gym after all. Next was Squirtle. Dust corrected his thinking immediately. Charmander's attempt against Squirtle using a thunder punch was thwarted with a well-timed ice beam, and dig was escaped by covering the floor in ice. Charmander took a rapid spin to the gut just to land a single thunder punch. This was less of a curbstomp than expected. Ash was pissed, but still knew he could win if he played his cards right. Squirtle stood back up and barraged Charmander with water guns, which were accurate and packed a punch. Charmander found a blind spot of Squirtle's and sent a tiny flamethrower. Squirtle flinched long enough for a dragon rage to smash him into a rock. Pidgeotto got Pidgeott-owned with a literally explosive leap and thunder punch followed by flamethrower from Charmander, but cracked Charmander's wrist with a wing attack. Next was Primeape, which refused to listen and spammed rage and mega kick, until Charmander used a fairly improper but effective enough acrobatics followed by dig. Finally, it was the battle Dust was waiting for.
Charmander stood arms crossed, glaring at Dratini, who was surprisingly taller than Charmander. The fight was much better than expected, and after hordes of dragonbreath, thunderpunch, and even water pulse, courtesy of Dratini, both pokemon were close to the ground, literally pushing themselves up. Charmander collapsed first, followed only 1.5 seconds later by Dratini. Drama obviously ensued, and Ash yelled very loudly both in happiness at not losing and anger at almost losing a 1v6, but stopped when Dust pulled out an opened empty pokeball. Ash tried taking it, but Dust then broke it in half. "Well, I suppose that would make us rivals then? Unfortunate, and just when I was hoping you would actually lose to me." Ash stood stock still for a while, delved into memories of Gary and a fishing pond, not even noticing when the other's left.
The next morning at 8 am at the Celadon gym, Dust entered through the front door and directly challenged Erika. She accepted and the battle was off. Duskull and Eevee were the ones being used at this gym, even though the match was technically a 3v3. Dust figured a toxic and venoshock combo even from a low level pokemon like Skorupi could take out the Bellossom Erika tended to use in the final if Duskull and Eevee somehow lost. Since Charmander only trained for two weeks, he was out as well as Skorupi.
Brock walked in to watch the battle, curious about another Pallet native, but was immediately kicked out because the day before, he was with Ash, who had insulted Erika's perfume. Then, the battle began. First, Erika released a Roselia. Dust replied with Duskull for the first battle. Roselia started with a poison powder, but it was easily dispatched with a Will-O-Wisp, which went on to damage Roselia as well. Next, Duskull's dark pulse slammed into the slightly burning Roselia, making it fly back. Landing, it conjured up shadow balls, one in each bouquet, and launched them quickly at Duskull, who was too slow to dodge.
As Duskull fell to the ground, Dust called to use Tactic 1. A small cloud rose from Duskull's impact, but when the dust lowered, Duskull was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, it appeared behind Roselia, who was unable to turn fast enough, and used a payback, which sent Roselia rolling again. Roselia regained its balance and used sunny day. The intended effect was decreasing the amount of shadows to hide in, but for the grass type match, it was a mistake, as an empowered blast of Will-O-Wisp knocked it out, requiring a burn heal to avoid risking permanent injuries.
Next up was an unexpected pokemon, Tangrowth. Dust's eyes widened as he realized why sunny day was used. Tangrowth disappeared the second round two began, appearing behind Duskull with a power whip. Dust was forced to reveal something he didn't want to yet. He clapped once, and three hands from Tangrowth's shadow reached up and grappled it. Three more shadowy arms emerged and began whaling on the overgrown vine cluster. It did little damage, but it held it long enough to allow Duskull both to get distance and shoot a quick dark pulse, which hit it right in the face.
Finally, it broke free, then started lumbering quickly to Duskull. It's arms turned a brownish black unlike the purplish black Krabby used for knock off, then it turned its back to Duskull, whirling the other way in a brutal swing. The dark attack smashed into Duskull with an audible crack and squish as both marrow and compact bone flew from its skull. It was alive, but very angry, showing off its new curse attack before passing out. Dust immediately returned it, tears nearly spilling. Instead, he spoke his regrets in missing the attack and not having a command ready, then sent out Eevee. The sunny day was waning, but not gone.
Dust clapped four times as Eevee materialized and Erika narrowed her eyes, worried about what could happen. Eevee quick attacked right in front of Tangrowth, then used the new attack practiced all week prior. A grey ball materialized as sunny day ended and the ball turned a deep orange. Sending it at the very much slowed down vine pokemon caused it to burst into flames before Erika could do a thing. She shook her head, returning her pokemon.
"Why, I never!" Erika pointed, with the other hand across her forehead in faux, inapropos offense. "Only a couple shots for my Tangrowth, hmm?" She was serious again, talking to herself. "Then I guess I'll give him a better challenge." She reached behind her onto her own personal belt instead of the final gym ball.
And a Sceptile appeared. 'Fuck my luck...' "Eevee, double time on another sunny day!" Brown and faint orange energy appeared as Sceptile drain punched at Eevee. "Screw that, time to see if the new move works, detect!"
And Eevee did indeed somehow dodge it, her eyes turning red for just a moment. "Eevee, swift!" A pointblank barrage of stars knocked Sceptile off balance as she followed up with a double kick when Dust stomped. Jumping up, she called on the same power used against Drakarune and...farted just a tiny bit. Well, that wouldn't do. Dust facepalmed. She did that in one battle against a wild Dodrio, ignoring Dust's orders just as he had called for a swift. The same thing just happened, instead he ordered her to use weather ball. She just looked at her ass for a moment, confused beyond reasoning, then shook her. Head. Sceptile was both confused and...Dust looked at its waist, facepalming even harder. 'Who knew Sceptile had that kind of turn on…A dragon plant aroused by farts. Interesting. Well, I don't judge.'
Erika was also embarrassed, realizing why Sceptile's red waistband was increasing, and she squeed a little. Eevee took this rather long break to regather herself and fire-weather ball Sceptile in the face, sunny day having been secretly used while Sceptile was readying drain punch. Erika remembered she was in the middle of a battle with a Sceptile in heat, (AN: That sounded better in my head) and gave the order for a dual chop. Eevee defended with double kicks as both went blow for blow, using their move over and over, but Eevee was taking more damage. Dust's ingenious mind chose then to strike again.
"Eevee, give it the ol' cutesy-wootsy!" Eevee mixed a charm and baby doll eyes to fully raise the tent, and it may as well have acted as attract. Another weather ball brough Sceptile from its stupor, and it gathered up a solar blade, which Eevee was unable to block or dodge. Dust couldn't exactly say he was shocked at the loss, but he did still have two more available pokemon, regardless of their lower levels. Just as Dust held up the ball for Charmander, something red slammed into the field. It looked toward Dust with a "claws up" as it clicked menacingly at the blinking Erika and Sceptile. Krabby has joined the fight.
Nurse Joy ran in right behind him, shouting obscenities, then turned to Dust. "Your Krabby wouldn't let you fight a gym battle without you. He's only been treated for an hour, but I don't think you should let him fight in these conditions, sir!"
Dust looked down at Krabby, who was glaring at the grass lizard standing tall on the other side. "No, Joy, I don't think I'll take that advice, after all. I feel something interesting emanating from him, and I want to know what it is." Dust's eyes were somewhat glazed over, as if not looking into the real world. Meanwhile, he was confused in his head. 'This...shouldn't be possible. I know I've made slight advancements in aura training over the past two weeks, but to see type energy with my eyes. It's something else. I can see water aura swirling throughout him, fighting and dark aura on his pincers, even the rock aura in his mind and heart. Nothing short of beautiful.'
Krabby stood at max height, though it was not exactly intimidating, his aura was. Krabby had been changed after that fight with Drakorune. 'He only woke up to eat and talk occasionally, but I wonder...Was he actually meditating. Why can I sense THAT of all things inside him, in only our third gym?' Krabby was more serious, more streamlined, and most importantly, he emanated wisdom. Not intelligent wisdom, but understanding of the world around him.
Nurse Joy sighed something about hormones and pissing contests and walked away gesturing to herself flamboyantly. After a moment, the offput judge continued the match, but Erika raised her hand. "I have been tasked to test your skills by Lance himself, so I apologize for what I'm about to do. Then, touching a rainbow earring, a bead on Sceptile shone as well. 'I've said this before, but seriously...FUCK MY LUCK!'
A group of bright lights shot out of each, touching each other and turning into a shining white from the original stunning rainbow. The dazzling display forced both me and Krabby to block our eyes. In place of Sceptile stood a two foot taller, sharper tailed dragon, with fruits lining its back, which was now pointed at us. It disappeared in an instant, a dual chop at the ready behind Krabby at almost 5x Tangrowth's boosted speed. Krabby, naturally, was flung across the arena before I could blink. He climbed up to his feet and glared at Sceptile, who was waiting patiently. Dust clapped twice. Krabby surrounded himself with a pinkish sheen before his shell cracked and exploded, using agility and shell smash simultaneously.
Dust stomped, then clapped as Krabby used a hard hitting knock off on the ground, then leapt from floating rock to floating rock, pincers overhead in what seemed like a last ditch effort despite the fight just beginning. But by some mysterious force of the world, Krabby began to shine as he leapt, and his shine shattered as he neared Sceptile to reveal sharp spines all over him and a slightly larger left claw. However, his right claw was different from normal Kingler claws. Instead of a small discarded claw, it was a red chamber leading into Krabby. Thirdly, while his top and spikes shone red, his lower half was a crisp, riveting black. Finally, white markings adorned his face, shining brightly. As he turned his right claw back, shooting water in a hydro pump-like fashion to use liquidation, his now grown claw turned a vibrant aquamarine in a crabhammer. It was effectively a step above liquidation, he shouted loudly. "Krablannon!"
Sceptile was also not sitting with a thumb up his ass throughout this period, rather using the last bit of artificial sunlight to form another solar blade. The two clashed, and while Sceptile was stronger and had type advantage, Krablannon had a 30% boost from his ability affecting liquidation. Sceptile finally pushed Krabby back, though, as he went flying through a couple different floating rocks and trees. Krabby wasn't fucking around though, and prepared his strongest attack, his mind actually able to hold up a full strength ancient power due to his self imposed mental training (which conveniently gave him access to all the psychic moves of his line, such as rest, which was used in abundance to heal).
Sceptile readied a dragon pulse in reply, a stab move necessary to beat the extremely advanced attack. When the massive blue cannonfire from Kingler's seemingly alternate evolution impacted Sceptile's roar of draconic energy, an explosion rocketed the gym. Everyone was knocked over, regardless of not being hit, and smoke flew up all around. When the dirt fell from the field, both were standing, a boiled crab and a fried lizard. Both were still in their frms, but this was not true of Krablannon, who soon reverted into a normal Kingler and passed out, while Sceptile shook off the blast and roared, standing tall. Dust looked at Kingler as he closed his eyes, and understood what had just happened, as well as why he could talk with him throughout the fight without ordering a move.
"So that was a battle bond?" Dust suddenly felt a massive pang in his heart as blood began falling from his mouth and hel fell over, his last thoughts not on the pain. "Even with Battle Bond, we lost to a level forty Mega Sceptile. We'll have to train that up for the next go at this gym." And he drifted off into a dark void with only him and Kingler within.
AN: Alrighty then, so some people are saying Krabby can't have battle bond without being Kingler first... Yes, I agree, hence the reason the second to last word in this chapter is Kingler and not Krabby. Kingler is Krabby's final evolution, and after losing, Krablannon reverts into Kingler, not Krabby, to signify he underwent both evolution and battle bond. This actually happened in the anime as well. Ash's Greninja used its battle bond form the same episode as it evolved from Frogadier while fighting a Bisharp in I think episode 7 of XYZ. Krabby was also fully healed when he made it to the gym for an hour, which I don't think is unreasonable as it had been two days since Dust made it to Celadon. Joy had only chased him because she didn't want him to fight yet. Now, as for what's gonna happen with Lance? Well, it'll be something. Get ready for more lore and a teensy bit of action next chapter!