Chapter 53: Alice's Teaching
Once they are back at the Gym, they see that Rick is there waiting for them. Rick says, "Oh, it is you losers again?"
Rodney asks, "Who are you calling losers? We may have lost to you, but Ash has won against you every time and Alice hasn't battled you."
"It is no use, Rodney." Ash says. "What are you doing here?"
"I am here to challenge the Gym, but the Gym Leader isn't at the Gym at this moment..." He grits his teeth. "Since you are here, how about a battle?"
Ash says, "Oh? Want to lose again before the Gym Battle?"
Alice says, "Then why don't I face you this time?" This causes everyone to look at her. "You? Don't make me laugh, wanting your girlfriend to back you up?"
Alice says, "I am the Subhail City Gym Leader." This causes him to shut up and stares at her. "Surprised? You should be."
"Then if you are the Gym Leader, then I will challenge you for my seventh badge to prove I am the strongest." Rick says.
Then they go into the battlefield, Alice requests to use 4 Pokemon and then Rick sends out Mystablet against Alice's Snowrong, Snower. Snower manages to defeat Mystablet even though it takes a lot of hits from the Steel attacks like Metal Burst and Flash Cannon. But with Ash's training, she uses Spite to wipe their PP and then uses the snow and the Shadow Ball to defeat him. The second Pokemon he uses is Toxitoad, and it uses Shadow Ball to defeat the Snowrong. So Alice sends out her Rinolar, Rini. Rini gets poisoned thanks to the Toxic, but with the Avalanche and the Earthquake, it manages to defeat Toxitoad.
Rick is surprised that he is losing this badly, but she shakes it off and then sends out Stegasteel. "You do know that Rini is Ground Type, right? Earthquake."
As she uses the move, he tells Stegasteel to dodge it, and just then the hail ends and he aims for the Solar Beam, knocking out Rini in the end.
"Stegasteel can learn Solar Beam?" Keira is surprised.
"I don't know about it." Rodney says, but Ash is just watching, hoping that Alice can make it through this.
Alice sends out her Isealcle, and it uses Dive to sneak attack, causing the Pokemon to get hit, and then she finishes up with an Aqua Tail. Rick says, "How can this be...I managed to sweep through the six gyms, only to almost be defeated by the seventh one?"
Alice says, "You treat me as well as my friends losers, which is the reason you are losing now, change that thought, and maybe you have a chance to win. I heard from Lizzy about everything, you care about your Pokemon, you have a goal to prove you are strong. But looking down on others isn't the way to become strong, in fact, it makes you not only weak but bringing shame to your family."
Rick stares at her, he tries to retort, but he fails, because the one standing in front of him isn't the one who was traveling with Ash, but the one that is the seventh Gym Leader. Then he calms down and sends out his final Pokemon, Dinopion. Dinopion uses Power-Up Punch to boost the Attack stat and then finishes with Close Combat.
"You are right...This isn't me..." Rick says. "Even though you aren't weak, but I am going to be the strongest of all of you."
Alice says, "Glad to hear that, now here is my final Pokemon. Kristen!"
As the Pokemon appears, Rick flinches a little as the Pokemon reminds him of his sister, the person he hasn't defeated yet... Not only that, but Alice also mega evolve her Pokemon.
Rodney says, "Now he is scared?" Ash says, "His sister uses the same Pokemon, remember?" "Oh yeah..." Rodney says.
But Rick manages to overcome the Cryodra, but he still loses after it uses Sheer Cold in the end. After losing, Rick asks, "Why?" Alice is confused as he says, "You could have defeated me with the Sheer Cold as soon as you send out that Pokemon, but why?"
Alice says, "The reason you did this, is because that you kept losing to your sister's Cryodra, who keeps using Sheer Cold on your Dinomite, or now Dinopion? You think that it isn't fair that she beat you every time. You take the loss so easily that you try to deny it, using nasty words for others is because you want others to suffer your pain?"
Ash, Keira, and Rodney are shocked as Rick manages to nod his head, feeling humiliated than ever. Alice takes out the badge and says, "Here."
Rick stares at the badge and asks, "Are you pitying me?"
"No, I want you to use this badge as a lesson. You are on the right track, your method is right, but the only thing you have to change is your attitude."
"And why should I listen to you?" Alice asks.
"Both me and Ash are similar to you in the background." This causes shock to them. "Maybe even worse. But we never give up, and we didn't act the same way as you. This is the reason we can overcome our problems."
Rick stares at her again and then this time he looks at the badge. He sighs, "I guess you are right...I am really sorry for the way I acted before..." The 4 people sigh in relief as he says, "But that doesn't mean I truly respect you, well, besides Ash and Alice of course."
Rodney says, "Hey!" Then Rick leaves before saying, "Just you wait, I will defeat you once I get my final Gym Badge."
After he leaves, Ash says, "Alice, you did great, in fact, you really are a Gym Leader."
Alice blushes and says, "Thank you...Ash. it means a lot."
Keira says, "After seeing that battle and your teaching, now I am starting to worry if I can ever get the badge from you."
Rodney says, "Maybe we should do some more training before we battle you."
Alice nods. "Besides, I really need some more Ice Type Pokemon as well, there are still some of them I haven't capture yet."
"Sure." Ash says, "Let's go train together, right? Pikachu? Huskpup?" The two Pokemon nod in agreement.
During the training in Frosthail Forest, they encounter two different ape-like Pokemon training in the forest, Alice says, "What? Two different Sascrush in the same place?"
"Sascrush? You mean they are the same species?" Ash asks. Alice nods as they decide to capture the Pokemon. Ash uses Branchio to help to capture the black one while Alice captures the white one. In the end, Brachio also evolves.
Brachiodon: The Sauropod Pokemon: Grass and Ground Type. Evolved from Brachio at LV;45. Brachiodon were near extinction until they adapted by growing a pelt of leaves, which camouflages them and protects them from predators.
Apein: The Ape Pokemon: Normal/Ice and Dark Type. As human development encroaches on the rain forests, sightings of Apein have become rarer and rarer. They have taken to hiding among treetops nowadays.
Sascrush: The Rumored Pokemon: Normal/Ice and Dark Type. Evolved from Apein in Tropic Jungle/Frosthail Forest. Due to their keen senses, Sascrush were elusive to cameras until recently. Their large footprints in the mountains used to inspire folk-tales of giants.
After asking why the Tropic form of Sascrush here in the forest, he says that the rigid form Sascrush takes him here as they can train to be strong together. Then Ash and Alice also decide to help them out, Alice also named her Sascrush Sans.
"Ash! Help!" Pikachu's cry immediately catches their attention, "What's wrong?" Alice asks.
"Huskpup...is missing again!" This causes shock to them as they are really worried. They also quickly send out his parents to find the missing Pokemon. Then Rodney and Keira also notice them. "What's wrong?" Keira asks.
"You haven't seen a little Huskpup around have you?"
"No?" Rodney says, "You Huskpup goes missing?"
"Yeah, he has just hatched a few days ago...I am worried about it because it is so young..." Alice frowns.
Ash says, "Yeah, where did it go?"
Just then, as the two Huskold barks, they hear a fainted Huskpup's scream. Rodney says, "It seems like the sound is coming from there."
"Let's go!" Keira says.
As they find the Huskpup, it is surrounded by two bat Pokemon as Alice says, "Oh no, Battic..."
The two Huskold barks as they gain the two Pokemon's attention, then they have a battle with Battic lost to the two Huskold. Huskpup then rushes back to his family as they nuzzle one another.
"I am glad that it is safe now." Ash says.
"Me too."Alice says, "But we should capture these two bats as well." Then they toss the Pokeball and capture the two Pokemon.
Battic: The Blizzard Pokemon: Poison and Ice Type. Battic are most active during blizzards when most prey they hunt are lost in the storm. They use sonar location to bypass the snow obscuring their vision.
"That was really great." Keira says. "Their parental love really makes them stronger than it looks."
Rodney says, "Well, I can imagine what will happen in the future." This causes Ash and Alice to blush harder.
Back at the Subhail Icecaps, Ash accidentally falls into the water due to melt ice, Alice, Keira, and Rodney help him get back to the surface, but much to Rodney and Keira's surprise is that Ash doesn't look like he catches a cold.
"Wow, how did you manage to resist the cold?" Rodney asks in surprise.
"Well, this thing help me." He takes out the cannon and says, "It produces heat."
"I see...But why did the ice melt?" Keira asks.
Then they see a Pokemon who is walking by with a burn. "So it is that Carbonix..."
Ash sends out Tapire to battle that Carbonix, but it immediately calls for the second one to help. So Alice also helps out as they manage to capture those two. Tapire also evolves in the end.
Tapiblaze: The Smoking Pokemon: Fire and Poison Type. Evolved from Tapire at LV:46. Tapiblaze produces a unique smoke that would put all that approaches into slumber. Now and then, one may find a sleeping Tapiblaze, hypnotized by their own smoke.
Carbonix: The Extreme Pokemon: Ice Type. Carbonix can produce two types of liquid that can either rapidly freeze or scorch anything in contact with it. They are used in cooking before electricity became common.
"Well, I hope that I can get used with Carly after that battle." Alice says. "Carly? That is her name?" Ash asks as she nods.
"Come to think of it...it seems like my former Unova Starters all become Poison Type." Ash says.
"Yeah, Tapiblaze, Salaslam and Cobolta... is this a coincidence?" Alice asks.
"Or maybe your sister is messing with you." Rodney suggests.
Just as they are sitting down, Ash and Alice feel like the place they are sitting is moving, so they stand up and see that it is a Pokemon that looks like an Igloo. To calm the Pokemon down, Ash and Alice use their Moofork to help out. In the end, their Moofork evolves and defeats the two Pokemon, also capturing them.
Avaldeer: The Red Nose Pokemon: Ice and Normal Type. Evolved from Moofork at LV:45. Avaldeer guides hikers through snowstorms using its bright red nose. For this, it is highly revered in mountain towns.
Iggle: The Igloo Pokemon: Ice and Rock Type. Iggle's shell is composed of highly compressed snow. Having been packed together so tightly, not even fire is enough to break it.
Iglow: The Igloo Pokemon: Ice and Rock Type. Evolved from Iggle at LV:44. Iglow move as slow as the glacier, even with the legs they developed from their pre-evolution. They would stand in one place and pull in food with freezing wind.
After apologizing to Iglow, they decide to travel with them, and Alice names her Iglow Iggy.
"Ash? Is that you?" They then see two penguin-like Pokemon and two Puffin-like Pokemon approaching them. Ash says, "Noctowl? Is that you?"
After Ash hugs the penguin-like Pokemon, he says, "Not that I don't like it, but how do you know it is me?"
"Because you are the last one that comes back." Pikachu replies as he nods. "I see, so you found everyone else..." The wise Pokemon asks as they nod. Then he introduces to the group of the family that takes care of him. They thank the family as the family decides to join the team.
Puffle: The Puffin Pokemon: Ice and Flying Type. Having fragile beaks, Puffle opts to freeze the fruits they feed on before eating them so they do not break their beaks.
Puffpeak: The Puffin Pokemon: Ice and Flying Type. Evolved from Puffle at LV:46. Puffpeak use their glowing beak for communication between flocks. There are theories that their beaks are colored after auroras.
Pinglett: The Penguin Pokemon: Water and Ice Type. Pinglett are unable to balance themselves well when walking, preferring to stay beside their parent Pinglades for safety and comfort.
Pinglade: The Penguin Pokemon: Water and Ice Type. Evolved from Pinglett with Water Stone. Pinglades wings are powerful enough to slice through blocks of ice. Female Pinglade go out searching for food while the male Pinglade look after the baby Pinglett.
Alice names her Puffpeak and Pinglade Puff and Ping, then they decide to go back to the gym as Rodney and Keira are ready to face her.
Now that Ash has all the Pokemon back, the next chapter will finally be the Gym. I hope you like it.
New Pokemon: Brachiodon, Sascrush, Battic, Tapiblaze, Carbonix, Avaldeer, Iglow, Puffpeak, Pinglade
