Pokémon Journey: XYZ
Hey guys Paradox here and welcome to Chapter 112 and Chapter 29 of XYZ. Here's Ash's rematch with Wulfric for his final gym badge. Not much to be said here but one last thing. For the next two chapters I got something in mind but I'll explain it at the end of this.
For now enjoy.
"The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it."- Woodrow Wilson
Chapter 112: The Icebreaker
The morning came rather quickly for everyone as they head to the Snowbelle Gym. Ash was anxious but more determined to redeem himself. Stepping inside everyone felt the cold sting of winter press against their bodies. "Man how can it be colder in here than it is out there?" Serena asked. "It's the Ice King we're talking about." Ash said as they walk through the hall. Guarding the door to the battlefield were the Bergmite in pairs.
"Suspose you guys remember us right?" Ash asked as all five Bergmite nod. "Well I would like a rematch with Wulfric please." Ash requested. The five Bergmite accept and step aside to let the group pass. Walking through the door, the gang felt an icy chill. "I completely forgot how cold this ice box is." Serena shivered. "The moment one accepts Death's cold hand prepares thy heart."
Across the field the group see Wulfric and Winston stand in front of the ice throne. "Interesting words but I'm not a big fan on fate." Ash said. "Oh yes, you don't seem like the type for acceptance. So you're expecting a rematch kid?" Wulfric asked. "I expect things to differently this time." Ash vowed. "Ohh well in that case let's do this. Winston you mind." Wulfric said. "You got it boss." Winston said as he went to the referee box. "You sure you got this?" Serena asked. "Losing faith in me already?" Ash asked leaving Serena flabbergasted. "Just joking sweetheart. I so got this." Ash smirked.
Once more, Ash took his place on the challenger box and Wulfric vice versa. "The rematch between Ash the challenger and Wulfric the Snowbelle Gym will begin. The same rules apply with the use of three Pokémon per side and the match concludes once one side's Pokémon are unable to continue. Furthermore only the challenger can substitute Pokémon." Winston explained.
"Let's see if you've learned something." Wulfric said as he release his first Pokemon Bergmite. "See for yourself." Ash said as he release Talonflame. "Okay buddy, let's break the ice."
Ash vs. Wulfric: Three on Three
"Talonflame use Flame Charge." Ash calls first as the Scorching Pokémon rockets ahead in a fiery veil. "Even if Bergmite dodges it, Talonflame still gets a Speed stat increase. If I can just build up on it, Talonflame will be the fastest Pokémon on the field and wear Bergmite down." Ash thought.
Just like Ash thought, Bergmite easily skated sideways to avoid Talonflame's attack. "Keep trying buddy." Ash said as Talonflame nods and repeats Flame Charge over and over. Wulfric almost laughed at Ash's obvious strategy to strike Bergmite but then ponder why this action.
Talonflame began to feel his flame sac heating intensely after the fourth attempt. "I'm surprised you haven't made a move yet." Ash said. "It's pitiful your attempts are, you're certain you learn something during your time here?" Wulfric asked. "What makes you think my attempts to hit Bergmite were pitiful? Maybe I have something else in mind." Ash bluffs which made Wulfric feel doubt about his actions. "In that case, use Icy Wind." Bergmite stood then and blew out a cold icy wind at Talonflame.
"Charge in with Flame Charge." On the fifth charge, Talonflame was all fired up and felt speedy like a Heliolisk on a sunny day. Rather than dodging the Icy Wind, Talonflame Charge right through it, letting the fiery melt the ice in its way. Bergmite was surprise and felt a full slam on its body, knocking it back. Wulfric was astonished, He failed to add the increase Speed stat each time Flame Charge was used. While Ash wasn't focusing on hitting Bergmite, he was concern about increasing his Talonflame's speed.
Changing tactics, Wulfric went on the defensive. "Use Sharpen." Bergmite then reduce the polygon count on its body, incasing itself in an ice diamond while increasing its Attack stat. "Gyro Ball." Like a spinning top of frozen pain, Bergmite spun around the field to make itself a difficult target. "Same tricks, different day. Well now we're ready for it. Charge in with Steel Wing. Break that diamond." Still feeling speedy, Talonflame went head first towards Bergmite and slash the side of the diamond enough to crack it. "Now use Fire Blast." At close range, Talonflame fires a star shape blast at Bergmite, creating an explosion that cratered the ground beneath it. When the dust settled, Bergmite was fainted.
"Bergmite is unable to battle to battle. Talonflame is the winner." Winston declares.
"Not bad, a bit unorthodox but I can't argue with the results." Wulfric said. "You gesture to all of me but thanks." Ash said. "But now your troubles just getting started. Avalugg come on out." Wulfric release the Iceberg Pokémon to battle next. "We're ready for it." Ash said. "At least we can cause some damage to Avalugg faster than he can heal." Ash thought. "I'll start with Hail." Avalugg kicks off by roaring to the sky and calls forth stormy clouds that began to drop hail. "Always on the move. Talonflame use Flame Charge." Talonflame charges in while Avalugg simply lets itself get struck causing damage.
"Use Avalanche." From the clouds above, Avalugg hails down ice stones on Talonflame!s head, knocking it to the ground. "Surely you didn't forget about Avalanche and its special ability?" Wulfric asked. "No I did not." Ash said plainly. "Brave Bird." Talonflame retaliated with a strong blue tackle at Avalugg, forcing it back. "Use Blizzard." Taking aim at the fire bird, Avalugg blew a heavy ice storm at Talonflame while still suffering from recoiled damage. To make it worse, the Blizzard completely froze Talonflame entirely, leaving it vulnerable. "Feel winter's cold hand with Stone Edge." As a finisher Avalugg summons stone pillars on which the last one strikes the frozen bird with quadruple the damage. Landing back down to the ground, Talonflame was knocked out.
"Talonflame is unable to battle, Avalugg wins." said Winston.
"Take a good rest buddy. Lucario you're up." Ash return Talonflame and release the Aura Pokémon to take his place. "Similar plan?" Lucario asked via Aura Link. "Yep. Let's start with Swords Dance." Lucario summons a row of swords around him thus sharply increasing his Attack power. "This time Wulfric, waiting ain't an option for you." Ash said leaving Wulfric no choice but to attack immediately. "Use Ice Fang." Avalugg jumps across the field with icy fangs to try to bite down on Lucario. "Jump upward and use Aura Sphere." Lucario quickly dodges up before Avalugg could strike and fires an Aura Sphere at Avalugg's large body. "Now Bone Rush." Coming back down, Lucario struck downward on Avalugg's head with his bone staff for additional damage.
"Gyro Ball." Avalugg quickly spun in place and Lucario couldn't get away in time and was sucked in feeling a spin cycle of pain. Finally Avalugg toss Lucario down to the ground hard as the latter slowly got up. "You got this buddy, use Swords Dance." Lucario increase his Attack even further to compensate against Avalugg's Gyro Ball. "Use Avalanche." Avalugg then summon a storm of ice stones over Lucario's head. "We're ready for you. Deflect them." With its reflexes, Lucario punches and kicks each stone back towards Avalugg, tanking each blow, leaving Wulfric shocked.
"Stop him with Blizzard." Reacting quickly, Avalugg blows out a heavy blizzard that engulfs Lucario. The jackal struggles against the raging wind and began to feel his limbs freeze up. "We gotta get to Avalugg's face. I got it, Lucario force yourself ahead with Force Palm." Holding both palms away from Avalugg, Lucario use Force Palm to jet himself forward against the raging Blizzard towards Avalugg's face. "Use Steel Punch." With the momentum from Force Palm, Lucario struck Avalugg hard to knock him down. "Now Aura Sphere." At close range, Lucario fires an Aura Sphere at Avalugg's head dealing high damage and knocking him out.
"Avalugg is unable to battle, Lucario wins." Winston said.
"Well well, you've impressed us greatly since our last encounter." Wulfric said. "Yep, we float like a Butterfree and sting like a Beedrill." Ash boast. "But mark my words that you will know the sting of winter with my last partner. Abomasnow you're up." Wulfric release the Frost Tree Pokémon at last. "Finally." Ash smirked. "It's anyone's game kid and your Lucario looks drained enough." Wulfric pointed out as he was right. Ash look to see Lucario panting, and his limbs cold. "Can you still go buddy?" Ash asked. "We fight to the last, and I know the blue frog ninja will finish the job." Lucario said. Ash agreed and at the very least Lucario can wear Abomasnow down for Greninja to take over.
"Make your move kid." Wulfric allows. "Alright, Lucario start with Swords Dance." Lucario once again stacks his Attack stats even higher. "It'll only get worse." Ash bluffs. "Sure kid, Use Ice Shard." With haste, Abomasnow hurls ice chunks at Lucario from afar. "Advance while dodge." Lucario dashes ahead while side dodging or baseball sliding to avoid the Ice Shard. "Use Steel Punch." "Counter with Ice Punch." Both Pokémon charge at each other and collide their fists against the other. Unfortunately for Lucario the Ice Punch wound up freezing his arm.
"Use Wood Hammer." Abomasnow took advantage of the opportunity to strike while Lucario was exposed by swinging a green hammer. "Slide under him and use Bullet Punch." Before Abomasnow could swing downward, Lucario slid between him and was now behind him, then striking Abomasnow on the back with his frozen arm, breaking the ice and knocking Abomasnow forward.
"Use Energy Ball." Standing up quickly, Abomasnow quick fires a ball of green energy at Lucario. "Deflect With Bone Rush." Planting his feet, Lucario deflected the Energy Ball away from him using his bone staff. "Now Blizzard." Now changing tactics, Abomasnow blows out a heavy snow storm, something that Lucario couldn't block or deflect as it engulfed him. "Quick strike back with Aura Sphere." Struggling to aim, Lucario slowly but surely forms a ball of aura and fires at Abomasnow, ceasing the Blizzard.
"It maybe too soon but it seems I have no other choice." Wulfric said as he opened his necklace to reveal his Key Stone. Touching it, the Key Stone glowed and began to react to Abomasnow's Mega Stone. In his mind, Ash smirked knowing that got Wulfric on edge to have him transform Abomasnow this soon. Lucario would still have to cause as much damage as possible and then it'll be Greninja's turn.
Mega Abomasnow was unleashed and Wulfric was all fired up. "Try us now. Use Ice Shard." In it's Mega form, Abomasnow fires homing ice missiles from his back towards Lucario. "Use Bone Rush to deflect." With his bone staff in hand, Lucario quickly and successfully deflected each missile. "Use Blizzard." Like before, Mega Abomasnow simply expel ice cold moisture from its body, covering the whole field in a white fog. "Guess we'll have to go on instinct." Ash said as they simply waited for Abomasnow to come to them. Lucario hone his senses to see where Abomasnow might pop up.
"Use Ice Punch." Lucario felt its fur cringe up as Abomasnow turn right behind him with an icy fist. "Use Steel Punch." Lucario quickly reacted and match him blow to blow but became victim to Ice Punch's second effect as Lucario felt its entire arm freeze instantly. "Now Wood Hammer." Unable to move due to pain, Lucario felt a heavy blow with the weight of a semitrailer coming down on him. Abomasnow then clears the fog around him to have Winston see Lucario unconscious.
"Lucario is unable to battle, Abomasnow wins."
"You did your best buddy. We'll take it from here." Ash said. "Your last Pokémon kid." Wulfric said. "Okay...let's go Greninja." Ash release the Ninja Pokémon. "I see, so you're trying to make a total comeback. So let's see how hard you two trained for this." Wulfric said. "It's not our training you should worry about, it's our skill." Ash said.
"Use Ice Shard." Mega Abomasnow quickly fires a set of ice missiles homing on Greninja. "Dodge them." Greninja quickly dashes towards the missiles and using its ninja reflexes actually dodges by hopping from missile to missile. "Water Shuriken." "Use Energy Ball." Greninja went first as it shuck a water star at Mega Abomasnow as the latter countered with Energy Ball. Both attacks created a white smokescreen that quickly disperse as Ash and Greninja figure it was time.
"It seems we are at a disadvantage so let's change that." Ash said as he channels his synergy into Greninja, their minds began to sync and Greninja under went a metamorphosis. Feeling raw power course through his body, Greninja manage to go full form Ash-Greninja. "Your new power will not save you from us. With the cold as our ally your bodies shiver before our might. Use Ice Shard." Mega Abomasnow then quickly fires ice missiles at Greninja.
"Counter with Aerial Ace." Now stronger and faster, Ash-Greninja rushes towards the missiles while simply side jumping so fast that it appears he was phasing in and out of different spots. Mega Abomasnow didn't believe it until a second later when Greninja's foot connected with its face. "Counter with Wood Hammer." Abomasnow looks to its front and tries to strike Ash-Greninja with a green hammer. "Use Night Slash." With two purple Kunai in hand, Greninja counters Abomasnow's Wood Hammer. Blow after blow, Ash tried to find an opening to strike then figures a way as Abomasnow tries to strike overhead.
Greninja read his trainer's thoughts to slide past Abomasnow's side and perform a two strikes in quick succession. Greninja obey and slid past after Abomasnow attacks, then swiping back on Abomasnow's behind causing pain then swiping upward on his belly. "Now use Hydro Pump." Greninja then powerfully spews our a high blast of water that push Abomasnow back.
"Use Blizzard." Mega Abomasnow once more expel cold moisture that fogged the entire field. "Two people can play at that game. Use Double Team around the field." Greninja then made clones around the field which the fog now hid rather well. "Now let's see if you can still attack in this thicket." Ash dares as Wulfric slightly growled. In the fog Abomasnow spot Greninja from behind. "Use Ice Punch." Mega Abomasnow then struck Greninja's back with an icy punch, but see it disperse meaning it was a clone. Mega Abomasnow then spot another and another side by side and quickly struck both but was angered to see both of them were clones.
"It's like finding a needle in a haystack, and the best part is...I know where the needle is." Ash laughed as he knew with his Aura Vision can pick out the real Greninja from the clones. "Kid, there is an easier solution to finding the needle and that is blowing away the whole haystack. Use Blizzard again full force!" Wulfric calls as Mega Abomasnow then expel a full snow storm from its body that ravage the whole field. Ash knew the copies would disappear and there he felt it, his body grew cold and quickly felt numb as his knees suddenly collapsed. He looked ahead to see Greninja frozen solid which stands to reason why Ash felt like he was frozen as well.
"You both now know how the air freezes in your lungs feel. Now end this with Wood Hammer." Like an executioner with an ax, Mega Abomasnow slowly walked as it form a green hammer with his hands. "Come on buddy, we can do this. I believe in you." Ash sent his thoughts to Greninja. There Ash saw the ice on Greninja began to crack and smile. "Use an arc kick Aerial Ace buddy." Ash smiled which Wulfric notice. "Something funny kid?" He asked. "Nope, just about be warmed up." Ash said when he saw Abomasnow on top of Greninja prepared to swing his hammer.
"Now!"
Immediately Greninja broke out of the ice in full kick as he struck Abomasnow in the face once more. "Whew, that was unpleasantly cold. Use Water Shuriken." Ash- Greninja then retaliates with the big water star on its back. "Block with Ice Punch." Mega Abomasnow reacts by punching the Water Shuriken with an icy blow, canceling it. "Patience buddy, we'll let them come to us." Ash said as they simply waited. "Attack now with Ice Punch." Abomasnow charge at it while Greninja simply waited for him to come.
Like a samurai Greninja rested his hand near his hip like readying to draw a sword, because Ash planned to attack using Night Slash with an Iaijutsu style technique. Once Abomasnow came in range, he had felt a breeze shift his face as he then saw Greninja now past him with a blade in hand. Then the blow register in his mind and Abomasnow collapse on his knees. Ash knew no doubt that the quick draw was just as fast as Diantha's Gardevoir or Drake's Lucario on Extreme Speed.
However Abomasnow wasn't done and was slowly getting up so Ash knew he had to make it stay down. With no verbal command and just mental thought from his trainer, Greninja channel all his energy to his arms and legs to strike once more. Then Greninja simply phased out physically and Abomasnow suddenly felt a hundred cuts all over his body. "What is going on!?" Wulfric questioned. Finally Greninja reappeared with his feet smoking from all the running he had done was Mega Abomasnow was too exhausted and too hurt and simply fainted. (If you're curious to what happened, think of this attack to the similar aspects to Greninja's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros Ultimate but just much faster and without the Water Shuriken as a finisher.)
"Abomasnow is unable to battle, Greninja wins and the match goes to Ash the challenger." Winston declares.
"He did it!" Bonnie said. "What a magnificent spectacle!" Clemont added. "He always prevails." Serena smiled for him. "Well done buddy, I guess we can do this thing after all." Ash smile as Greninja reverts back to base form.
"In all my years here kid, I have never seen anything like you two before." Wulfric said as he walked over. "We seem to be one of a kind." Ash smiled. "By the way, what was that last move you two used to finished my Abomasnow?" Wulfric had to asked. "Well Greninja is on all terms a Ninja style Pokémon, combining his natural talents with the use of Night Slash made him faster than the eye can see." Ash explain but neglected that he got the idea of the move from watching Drake and Diantha battle days ago.
"I see, I have battle hundreds of trainers with Greninja but you kid really come out on top and you Greninja are a credit to your species." Wulfric commends as Greninja shyly scratches his head. But Wulfric was right, there was no Greninja like him expect him. "As proof of your victory at the Snowbelle Gym, please accept this Iceberg Badge." Winston offers. Ash happily takes it and now has eight badges.
"With this being your eighth gym badge, you are now eligible to compete in the Kalos League this year." Clemont said. "That's great Clemont, which means it won't be long now." Ash said. "I'll be rooting for you Ash and with skills like yours, you might come out on top." Wulfric said as Ash nods and thanks him and Winston.
Once leaving, the gang figure to head back to the Pokémon Center for Ash's Pokémon to heal but also got another surprise. "Well it's about time you guys showed up." The group saw none other than Drake and Rene standing in front of them. "Guys you're alive." Ash said. "I thought you would say 'you made it'." Rene said. "So how was your first visit to Kanto?" Clemont asked. "Let's just say I prefer Kalos criminals. At least they show etiquette in what they do." Rene said. "Tough but overall successful." Drake said.
"So they're done?" Ash asked after he gave his Pokémon to Nurse Joy. "Done and buried, Team Rocket is over and is now a memory. Our home is finally free." Drake smiled. "That's great Drake, no doubt your people will be proud of your guy's efforts." Serena said. "Speaking of our visit, Mama's got a new toy." Rene showed everyone her new high tech Tonfa. "Switch your bo for batons?" Ash asked. "They're called Tonfa and they can also combine to make a bo. On top of that they can also carry and throw an electrical charge like your Staffs and let's just say I got real evil with these puppies when we whoop Team Rocket's ass." Rene gloated. "Okay, take it easy. I'm happy for you." Ash said. "So what about you guys? I imagine you all must been waiting awhile for us." Drake said. "Actually I just got the Iceberg Badge from Wulfric today." Ash said. "Really, I would've thought you would've gotten it a lot sooner." Rene said.
"Well...today was actually my rematch against him. I lost the day before yesterday." Ash confess. "Ha, loser." Rene laugh as Drake punch her in the arm, earning him a scowl for her. "I took yesterday to think and I recovered today but guess what, I finally figured it out and me and Greninja can finally Synchronize without trouble." Ash said. "Well kudos for you guys finally figuring it out, and guess what Drake had another epiphany while facing Team Rocket like what he did at Ninja Village." Rene said. "It wasn't an epiphany but yes it did happen. I was kinda possessed and I don't remember much, only that I was expelling great power. The worst part is like you, I don't know what triggered it." Drake said. "Well I figured out my power so no doubt you'll figure yours soon." Ash said. "I can be certain about one thing. Something inside of me is alive and it wants out." Drake said.
While his Pokémon heal, Ash and the gang was turn to the TV to see an important events report. "Hello all of Kalos, I come with an important report, at last the event we all been waiting for draws near. This year's Kalos League will take place in none other than Lumiose City in its own Diamondback Stadium." The anchorman said. "Guess that means we know where to go from here." Ash said. "The Kalos League will commence in exactly one month from today. To all trainers who have their eight gym badges to come on down to Lumiose City for the biggest event of the year." The anchorman said as the TV then went to a commercial.
"Let's see...if we take Routes 21 and 22, we'll get to Santalune City and from there it's simply Route 4 back to Lumiose City." Serena said as she check her map. "Great, so we have our heading and it won't be long now guys." Ash couldn't contain his excitement. "You'll be great when the time comes honey." Serena cheered him on. Once receiving his Pokémon back, the group back together was now headed for Route 21 to Santalune City. With the Kalos League in sight, Ash couldn't wait because he felt it in his gut that this was his year as the Journey continues.
Meanwhile in an unknown lab where Lysandre watched monitors of news reports all about the Kalos League. He smiled as soon he plan was close to completion, the airship which housed the Ultimate Weapon was complete and ready to launch. Soon his dream would become reality and all of Kalos will the sacrifice it'll give towards a better future. Suddenly that was interrupted with Xerosic coming in. "This better be important." Lysandre growl. "It's bad sir, someone managed to infiltrate and hack into our secure servers and siphon off critical information." Xerosic said.
"You wrote the encryptions yourself, how possibly could they have gotten in!?" Lysandre asked angrily. "Well sir...they manage to infiltrate Mable and Aliana APC and use codes they had to access our computer network. From there it was only a matter of time." Xerosic said. "How much..did they get away?" Lysandre asked coldy. "Well...everything sir. From the plans of the airship, Project Genisys, finances, executions of orders..sir our entire network." Xerosic said as Lysandre quickly rose in anger over this incompetence. Should the info get to the authories, everything would be expose from their plans to the finances that came from Lysandre Labs which meant the dots would be connected to Lysandre himself and be expose as a criminal mastermind.
"Get me a hold of those two idiots now!" Lysandre orders. On screen was Mable and Aliana reporting in from Route 21. "You two better have an explanation!" Lysandre growls out. "We're sorry sir, three individuals disguised as our men got the jump on us in our APC and downloaded everything. We're currently in pursuit." Mable said. "I don't care how you do it, by any means necessary get the information back and KILL THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE!" Lysandre yells as he signs out. This was a setback and he pray to Arceus that things will set themselves back on track or there will be hell to pay.
Done guys, I'm sorry this took long, these last two weeks have been busy as I approached the end of my college semester. That means preparing for finals, finishing projects and essays. Otherwise here's Chapter 112 and Ash finally has all eight gym badges. Now let me explain how these next two chapters will works.
Rather than the real anime episodes, these next two chapters will be OC chapters. The last part of this chapter no doubt gave hints on what's to come next. The reason for me doing this is to at least give Team Flare one more appearance before the Kalos League. That is the next chapter.
The chapter to come after is not Team Flare based but to bring one last nail to Team Rocket's coffin. It'll bring Ash and Drake a trip down memory lane and will bring an end to Jessie's and James's careers in Team Rocket.
Aside from that, that's it and afterwards we'll finally get to the Kalos League and I'll explain how things will work when we get there. So guys, please leave a Like and Comment on this, it'll mean the world to me. Thanks for reading and this is Paradox signing off. Goodbye.
