Chapter 7: Serpentine Gardens

Ash and Alice arrive at the Serpentine City after leaving the Mossy Forest, the buildings there are all pink and beautiful, and an aroma is filled in the air. Ash smiles, "Wow, not only that this place looks beautiful, it also has a great smell."

"I know." Alice says. "The gym leader of this city is kinda like me, as we recently get our positions not long ago."

Rodney then notices them and he yells, "Alice! Ash! Over here!" Ash and Alice notice him and they go towards them.

"Hello, Rodney." Alice says as they greet with one another.

"So you made it! Did you find your friends?" Rodney asks. Before Ash can reply, he says, "Wait, don't tell me! I wanna see them in a battle!"

"So you want to battle now?" Ash asks.

"Of course, but first, I think we should check this place on my right out. It's the trainer's school!" Rodney says.

Alice frowns as she remembers the past, Ash holds her hand to make sure she is fine.

"Don't worry." Rodney says. "This school is different from the one in Kalos, maybe we might learn something cool if we go in."

"I guess so." Rodney says as they walk inside the school.

As they go inside, they meet the teacher Mr. Bella, Mr. Bella is delighted to know that Alice is a gym leader, he says, "You know, before my daughter taken over, I was also a gym leader."

"So your daughter is Donna?" Alice asks. "We got the positions at the same day."

"I see." Bella says. "I taught her everything that she knows about being a gym leader. Though she's still new to it all, I think she's finding her feet."

"Awesome, then it would be easy." Rodney says. "I am going to get my first badge."

"I am not too sure about that, young one." Bella says. "She maybe new as a gym leader, but she is quite experienced in being a trainer. You definitely have an intense battle ahead of you."

"Well, maybe we should go check out your daughter." Ash says as they bid farewell to the teacher.


Once they are arrived at the gym, they find Clyde there and they ask about the gym, he says, "I am sorry, Donna's not at the gym at the moment."

"Did she tell you where she went?" Alice asks him.

"She says that she's taking a short break and is relaxing at the Serpentine Gardens."

"The Serpentine Gardens?" Ash asks. "Maybe we should go find her on our own."

"I agree." Alice says. "The Serpentine Gardens is north from here, so we should be able to get there today."

"Aw man...I wanted to battle her though!" Rodney whins.

"But how about we have a battle together now?" Ash asks.

"Oh wait, that's right. I forgot that I wanted to see your new Pokemon, so why don't we have a battle for now?" Rodney asks.

"I already asked that." Ash says with a sweat drop as they start to battle.

Rodney sends out Budcheep first, Ash says, "How about I show you one of the Pokemon that only comes from Alola? Go! Freezy." Ash sends out the Ninetales, and Rodney and Alice are amazed at its beauty.

"Wow...A Ninetales, but why is it white?" Rodney asks.

"This peaceful Pokémon is known to rescue people from treacherous mountain accidents, so it is now an Ice and Fairy Type." Ash says.

"That is so cool, and she is also pretty." Alice smiles. "I really want to own one."

"Well, you are also pretty as well." Ash says without thinking, but then he realizes it as well as Alice, they blush together. "Did I just say that?" Ash mutters.

"You mean it?" Alice asks.

"I think it is not the time that you two are flirting each other." Rodney says. "We have a battle to go."

"Right." Ash says as they have a battle. Freezy uses moves just like she is dancing, and with the Aurora Beam, it defeats Budcheep easily. So Rodney sends out Salatad next. Ash says, "Freezy, you did a good job, please take a rest. Now go, Elecritter."

As the Pokemon appears, Rodney says, "So he is your new Pokemon?"

"Of course, and it is his first battle."

Thanks to Elecritter getting a critical hit while using Thunder Shock, Salatad is then defeated. "I really enjoy the battle." Rodney says. "And I see that you are going to win with ease."

"You bet." Ash says as Alice is smiling at him. Rodney says, "So Ash, can we have a private moment for now?"

Ash and Alice are confused, then Ash says, "Sure. Pikachu, can you go with Alice for a while?"

Pikachu nods and leaves off his shoulder, then Ash asks, "So what do you want to talk about?"

Rodney says, "You see, I knew Alice longer than you, but you managed to make her smile like that. I don't know how you did it, but you did a good job."

Ash blushes and asks, "Thanks?"

"And I can clearly tell you that you have some spark with her, I want to say, a girl like her comes once in a blue moon, you should try to ask her out."

Ash nods and says, "I'll try."

Rodney nods and then they hear a sound. "Nice battle, but it could've been better." They see a person with a red hair walking towards them.

Ash asks, "I am sorry, who are you?"

"The name's Rick. I am a trainer from Rassic City, and I'm traveling through Rikoto to collect badges. I am going to beat the Pokemon League and defeat the Elite 4 and Champion so that I can be the Champion of this region."

"Oh, okay." Rodney says. "So you are taking on gyms as well, we would take on this gym, but the gym leader is not here."

"That's because I defeated her, so I guess she needed to take a break." Rick says with a proud voice.

"Oh man." Rodney sighs.

"Ash, Rodney? Are you done?" They then see Alice and Pikachu walking towards them. Rick says, "A Pikachu...it is quite rare in this region...Anyways, I am gonna head to Dullfern Forest. There might be strong Pokemon there. See you later, losers!"

As the three watch him leave, Rodney says, "Wow, that guy is a bit full of himself."

Ash says, "Yeah...he kinda reminded me of my rivals, Gary, Paul and Trip... They are also full of themselves, but I beat them in the League."

Alice says, "I would like to hear that story later, so what did you two talk about?"

"Nothing special, just want him to keep a sharp eye on you." Rodney says. "I am going to train some more before I go to the gym, so I'll see you later."

Once Rodney leaves the sight, Ash asks, "So Alice, should we go to the gardens?"

"Sure." Alice smiles.


Once they get inside the garden, they see a lot of pink colored Pokemon basking under the sun. "What are those Pokemon?" Ash asks.

"Well, they are Lavenseed." Alice says.

Lavenseed: The Lavander Pokemon: Grass and Fairy Type. Lavenseed spends most of their day basking in sunlight for necessary nutrients. They are attracted to kind people, though large crowds may scare them away.

"So it can learn a move known as Light Burst...it lowers the Special Defense..." Ash says through the Pokedex.

A Lavenseed bounces towards them, she shows a great smile and the two people smile back. "I guess we are treated as kind people, huh?" Ash says.

"You bet. She is also a cutie as well." Alice says.

Ash bends down to the Pokemon and asks, "Do you want to come with us?"

The Lavenseed dances around them and signalling that she wants to come. "That is a beautiful dance you have there, Lavenseed." Lavenseed blushes as Ash taps her with the Pokeball, sucking her in.

Just then, they see a girl sees them and says, "To think that you manage to befriend a Lavenseed already, you guys really are something."

"Um...you are..." Ash asks, but Alice beats him to it. "Donna, it is great to see you again."

"Alice, same here, what are you doing here, and who is this handsome boy?"

Alice blushes a little and says, "He is Ash Ketchum, he is the son of Delia Ketchum. And I decided to travel with him."

"Oh my, that is quite a shocking news. I am Donna, it is nice to meet you."

"So you know my mother?" Ash asks in confusion.

"Of course, everyone knows her of course for obvious reasons." Donna says. "She is the queen after all."

"By the way, what are you doing here?" Alice asks. "Why aren't you at the gym?"

Donna looks around, "I was just relaxing here in the gardens, it's so peaceful and beautiful here, it helps me unwind after a tough gym battle."

Ash says, "I can tell, just looking at those flowers make our heart calm. Right? Alice?"

"Yeah." Alice says.

She bends down and smells at one flower, "This garden always reminds me of when I was a kid...I'd water the roses here while my dad tried to find a Bug-Type Pokemon..."

Ash and Alice also smell at the flowers, and then Ash says, "You see, Donna, the reason we come to this place is to have a Gym battle with you."

"Oh, you're wanting to battle? Well, I guess that would be fun. How about we go back to the gym together?" Donna asks.

"Sure." Ash says. But then he looks around and asks, "By the way, have you two seen where Pikachu went?"

"Pikachu is missing?" Alice asks.

"You mean the Pikachu that was originated from the Kanto Region? It is quite rare to see one here." Donna says.

Just then, they hear a voice, "Give back those berries!"

"That sounds like Pikachu!" Ash says. "Let's go."

As they decide to see what is the ruckus, and they see that Pikachu is chasing a monkey swinging in the trees. "A Moonky?" Donna asks as Ash scans the Pokemon.

Moonky: The Cheeky Pokemon: Psychic Type. Moonky can be difficult to train due to their rambunctious nature. They're said to have come from the moon ages ago.

"Pikachu, what is wrong?" Alice asks the mouse while he is still chasing the monkey.

"He stole the berries from those Lavanseed!" Pikachu says. "I am going to help them get the berries back."

"Then let us help you as well. Follow my command Pikachu, use Agility on the trees!" Ash says.

Pikachu nods and then he rushes towards the tree. Moonky notices him and then shoots him with a small rock, causing him to stop.

"What the..." Ash says.

"That was Trick Shot, a fairy move that often flinches the opponent." Donna says.

"If that's the case, Thunderbolt!" Ash yells as Pikachu shoots out the attack, it lands on the Moonky's branch as Moonky is about to fall.

"Oh no!" Alice gasps.

"Go! Pokeball!" Ash says as he throws the Pokeball, and the Pokemon is captures with ease. Pikachu also uses the chance to catch all the fallen berries. Once he gathers the berries, he then gives them to the other Pokemon to share.

"Well, that is quite a catch." Alice says.

"Yeah, and the Lavenseed are happily eating the berries..." Donna says. "Ash Ketchum sure is a special guy just like the rumors said..."

Suddenly, Ash's Pokeball pops out as Salatad decides to join with the berry feast, Ash sighs and says, "Being a different Pokemon, but the personality is the same..." Ash groans as the two girls chuckle a little.


Once they are back to the city, Donna decides to go back to her gym first since she has to prepare, so Ash and Alice go to the Pokemon Center to check out Moonky.

Back in the center, Ash decides to fill Moonky with some berries, the Moonky is hesitating at first, but seeing how sincere that the trainer is, he agrees and then eats the berries. Alice says, "You know, it is a good thing that you have a Psychic Type. Since Donna's typing is going to be Poison."

"Poison Types I see. I can't wait to battle her, she seems to be strong, and this will be my first step to prove those murderers wrong." Ash says the last sentence with anger as Alice understands.


Now Ash has captured two new team members, Ash will catch all Pokemon and train them in order to fight the traitors. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next chapter will be the gym match.

New Pokemon or Evolution: Lavenseed, Moonky