Chapter 54: Subhail Gym Battle
As they enter the Gym Field, they ride the chairlifts to the half-top of the mountain-like area since the battlefield is actually on top of it. Rodney says, "This really is a great skiing field, and it really suits Alice."
"I know, but a mountain inside of a gym reminds me of the Cyllage City Gym. Where the gym is on top of the Big Wall as I needed to climb on it."
"That sounds dangerous." Keira says as they finally reach the top. They are surprised to see that the battlefield is surrounded by mirrors, and Keira is confused, "Mirrors? What is she planning?"
"I have to assume that it might be related to her Field effect." Rodney says. "I still remember the field effect from the Greenpine City Gym, where they use status effects by spraying powders."
"I still remember that, it was not fun at all." Ash says with a sweatdrop. "But let's hope Alice's Field effect is going to be a good one."
"Of course, she is your girlfriend and she will take it easy on you." Keira says.
"Are you really sure about that?" As they look up, they see Alice standing at the peak of the mountain. She starts to do some skiing as she shows off her moves very well. Once she gets to the field, she jumps off her ski gadget and asks, "Do you like my entrance?"
Ash is just staring in awe as Rodney says, "Ash can't take his eyes off you, I think you did a good job."
Alice blushes a little and she snaps Ash out of his trance, Ash says, "Alice, you were so beautiful when you are skiing, but that doesn't mean I am going to take it easy on you since I want to get my seventh badge."
"I wouldn't dare about it." Alice says. "But with the rules, I have to do the introduction. I am Alice, the Gym Leader here. I specialize in Ice Types, they can be fragile or they can be strong and sturdy, each battle is a new experience. So let's make this one never forget!"
Ash says, "Of course. I have been waiting for this moment when we face together. So what is the Gym effect?"
Alice says, "You inspired me to have this Gym effect back in the Crystal Cave. Back when you evolve the Blitzglow into Blitzboom, you told me how the Crystals reflect the moves, it will be the same here, if we miss a move, then the move will be reflected the one who does the move."
Ash says, "So we have to make it direct attack, or else we will be the ones who get damaged. Very Clever."
"Now let's start the battle with Snower!" As the Snowman Pokemon appears, Ash says, "Then we will do the same."
As both Snowrong appears on the field, Alice says, "Let's start with Fake Tears." Snower does the move and it has a great impact on Snowrong, and its Special Defense goes down. "Snowrong, don't let that affect you, use Shadow Ball!"
"Dodge it." Alice says as Snower dodges the Shadow Ball that is aiming at her. Much to Ash's surprise, even though the Shadow Ball misses the mirror, the other mirror will still bounce the move back to Snowrong, causing it to deal a lot of damage.
"What? It didn't hit the mirror, why does it get sent back?" Keira is surprised.
Alice says, "I use some of my aura to make it happen, I wasn't bluffing when I said that the moves will reflect the owner."
"And I wasn't expecting that would happen as well. Looks like we need to be even more careful." Ash says.
"This battle really is going to get interesting. Snower, use Freeze Dry!"
Ash tells Snowrong to dodge, and the attack hits back on Snower, but it doesn't seem to get much damage. Ash says, "Freeze Dry is an Ice Type Move, which means that it is not very effective. Right now I need to have Snowrong recover its health. Snowrong! Use Recover!"
Snowrong glows as its health is getting back, and Ash yells, "Dark Pulse!"
"It isn't going to work, dodge it." Alice says as Snower dodges the attack. But much to her surprise, Ash is smirking and he says, "Good, now jump on top of Snower using Infestation!"
As Snower is hit, then the reflecting Dark Pulse hits both Snowrong as they all faint at the same time. Rodney says, "That move is really reckless, but it is also smart as well."
"Yeah, to sacrifice his own Pokemon for defeating her Pokemon..." Keira says. "Even I wouldn't have thought of that."
Alice thinks, "He is Ash of course...he always has a plan to overcome the disadvantage...but that is the reason why I love him."
Alice recalls her Snower and says, "I admit that I didn't think of it, but here is my second Pokemon. Husky!" As the Pokemon appears, the little Huskpup barks to cheer his mother while Pikachu doesn't know who to cheer.
"Paul, I choose you!" Ash sends out his Polarpaw, who is growling at the female Huskhold. Alice says, "That won't stop me, Husky, Frost Claw!"
As the move goes under the hail, it becomes faster and then it hits Polarpaw. Ash notices how Polarpawl is sent backward, he yells, "Paul, use Uproar!"
Husky can't dodge the attack since it gets reflected everywhere and then it is hit by the sound-based move, then Alice says, "Don't let him use a move, Sucker Punch!" As the attack hits Polarpaw, it doesn't do a lot of damage because Polarpaw is Fighting Type. Alice yells, "Pursuit!"
Huskhold continues to fire the Dark Type attack, and like the Sucker Punch, it doesn't work really well on Paul. Ash says, says, "Since the field uses the Special Attacks to reflect, it can't be reflected by the physical attacks, Rock Smash!"
"Dodge it!" Alice smirks as Husky dodges the attack, causing it to punch the mirror behind the place where Husky was in. And just then, the reflection from the mirror punches Paul as it takes a super-effective hit. Ash gasps and says, "What? It can reflect Physical moves?"
"Of course, these crystals are powered up by the aura." Alice says, but this time Ash is smirking, much to her confusion. Ash says, "Thank you for telling me that, you just gave me an idea of how to win this battle. Paul! Use Submission!"
Alice widens her eyes as the Polarpaw uses the Submission to hit the Pokemon, then they both crash to the mirror, causing another draw. "Another draw again?" Keira says.
"Yeah...Alice sure is as strong as Ash..." Rodney says. "And in fact, it was Ash that made the draw..."
Alice says, "Well, here is my third Pokemon. My first partner ever since I come to this region, Crys!" As the Crystiwing appears, Ash says, "It will be fun playing games with you. But I have to get serious if I want to win. So I choose you, Incineroar."
As the Pokemon appears, it shows its taunt at both Crys and Alice. Alice knows this Pokemon and she isn't going to be affected by the Taunt. Alice says, "I was wondering when you are going to send out a Fire Type Pokemon. But that is not going to stop me as it is also a Dark Type. Crys, use Bug Bomb!"
As the move lands on Incineroar, it gets a lot of damage. Ash says, "Don't let it affect you, use Flamethrower!"
"Dodge the attack and then use Squall Blow!" Alice yells as the attack gets back on Incineroar and then Incineroar is also blasted by the attack.
Ash says, "Now let's go for the Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar spins around and then it hits the Crystiwing, causing it to be in pain as Ash says, "Now use Flare Blitz!"
And then the Flare Blitz hits the Crystiwing super-effectively, causing it to faint in the end, but Incineroar also faints after the recoil damage from the move.
"This is the third draw..." Rodney says. "Alice and Ash really are a couple."
"Yeah." Keira says. "They have been training together and they also know each other's weakness. But Ash can't have a draw with Alice in the next turn, since they both have one Pokemon left."
Alice says, "I can't believe that we have come to this. But for my final Pokemon, I decide to use Pauline." As the Polarpaw appears, Ash says, "I see, the first Pokemon you befriended with...then like other gym leaders, my final Pokemon is a Legendary Pokemon."
Rodney and Keira are surprised at the fact that Ash uses Legendary Pokemon on Gym Leaders, and Ash takes out a Cherish Ball and says, "Your opponent is going to be this Pokemon, Kyurem, I choose you!"
The Ice Dragon comes out of the Pokeball and gives a roar, Alice gulps at the sight of this Pokemon since she knows a lot about it. In fact, she knows a lot of Ash's Legendaries, but never once she can defeat them. And for Kyurem, he is powerful as he can change its forms.
"We can still do this, Pauline. Use Cross Chop!" Alice yells, and the attack successfully hits Kyurem. But Kyurem changes into White Kyurem and then it uses Fusion Flare, Pauline dodges the attack, but the attack didn't hurt much on Kyurem. Alice is using the field to her advantage since she knows that the attacks that she uses will likely miss, but in the end, Polarpaw is tired of dodging and it is defeated by Glaciate.
"Wow...I definitely never forget this..." She heals Pauline and returns her. "It seems like you won the battle."
"Thanks, no hard feelings, right? You managed to push me into a corner every time, maybe without Kyurem, I won't be able to win." Ash says while giving a hug to Alice.
Alice smiles and then she melts into the hug, after they stay for a while, Alice breaks the hug and takes out a Badge. "As proof of your victory, you have earned this badge. The Polar Badge."
Ash takes the seventh badge as he puts it into his badge case. Rodney says, "So now that Ash is done, it is our turn, right?"
Keira says, "Yeah, even we are friends, we are not going to lose as well."
Alice nods as they all have a battle with them. In the end, Rodney and Keira win against Alice. But Ash knows that she holds back a little since she is hard to beat when she gets serious. Rodney admires his badge and says, "Now we just have to beat Wade and we are in the Pokemon League."
"Yeah." Keira says. "We are really close to our goals."
Once they ski down to the ground floor as they get outside of the gym, they wait for Alice as she is preparing her own Double Team for the gym. After Alice comes out, Rodney's phone rings and he answers the call. After a short while, Rodney's face turns into that of horror.
"What's wrong?" Ash asks with concern, and he has a feeling that something bad is going to happen.
"Professor Pinewood called me, he needed us to go back to Sario Town as soon as we can...it seems like Team Solar and Team Lunar are already there and they have hold both your parents hostage...Ash..."
"What?" Ash is shocked. "How did they manage to catch them?"
"No matter what reason is, we have to fast!" Alice says as they rush there.
Here is the seventh Gym battle, but uh-oh, it seems like Team Solar and Team Lunar are up to something bad...what will Ash and the others do? Find out in the next chapter.
