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"I know you like that brand, but it's really expensive!"
"Pol." Empoleon turned his beak up, refusing to look at his trainer in a stubborn fit as they walked. Well, Dawn walked, and he waddled.
"Farfetch'd of the Sea is pokemon friendly; that's the kind of stuff that only more seasoned coordinators can afford… Or, people with jobs." Dawn's cheek puffed out. "Tell you what; once Ash is done with gyms, we'll be able to settle for a bit. If I can commission some more designs, I'll be able to get you more chow than you'll know what to do with!" She winked.
Talk about an empty promise. All the same, the Emperor pokemon huffed, putting an end to his tantrum. He waddled on through Viridian with a strap around his neck that carried a bag of goods.
The blue-haired coordinator carried two more on each arm. "We've got all we need for a few days, now! I even got some new accessories for you and the others! It's really a shame that Kanto contests don't use pokeball seals…" They would've offered her so much more variety, too.
Before any further planning or moping could take place, a ground-shaking explosion stopped the duo in their tracks, and Dawn trembled with it, losing her footing. "What in the worl… Ah!"
She fell backwards, only to find herself suspended by the arms by Empoleon's wings.
"Thanks, Empoleon. The last thing I need is to hurt myself, now." The klutzy teen exhaled.
"Oh, was that you guys?" A familiar, deepening voice called out, obscured by a cloud of dust. The barely discernible form quickly became more visible, dusting away a cloud of dirt with swings of a red cap. Ash's face revealed itself. "Shoot, sorry about that… We got a little carried away."
"Pikachu…" Short, yellow legs waddled Pikachu up to his trainer, where he rubbed the back of his head, uttering something apologetic to Dawn and Empoleon alike. Dirt, scratches, and a few burn marks coated his normally shiny coat, and a bit of residual static danced off of his form.
"No kidding," Dawn deadpanned, righting herself. "That was just a training session?"
"Hey, we've gotta make sure we're good and ready! Right, guys?"
"Pika!"
Pikachu's cry of approval was echoed by a bellow of enthusiasm from the other combatant; Ash's Tauros, who stood at the center of the courtesy training field in the middle of the city.
"I don't think I've ever seen your Tauros," Dawn remarked, setting down her bags, for the moment. "He's gotta be tough if he can go a round with Pikachu and still be standing." If his place on the field didn't make it obvious enough, the matching burns and ruffled fur said it all.
"Oh yeah. He's always been a trooper." Ash walked over to the bull, petting his mane. Even as he did, though, the pride on his face faltered, knit brows suggesting something else. "I've gotta say, though, I'm worried. He has a lot of moves that do recoil damage, and require him getting up close. He might take a lot of punishment if he runs into a tough fight."
Going into a battle knowing that would inevitably leave a bad taste in Ash's mouth.
"If he learns a lot of moves like that, maybe it's in a Tauros' nature?" Dawn bit her lip, eyes quickly growing wide when a thought snuck up on her. She pulled out her pink Pokedex.
"Tauros: The Wild Bull pokemon. After heightening its will to fight by whipping itself with its three tails, it charges at full speed."
She nodded along. "That's what I thought. It's a natural fighter."
"He's always been like that, yeah… He's gotten me out of a few big jams." He smiled fondly upon the pokemon, who still stood stationary, his tails whipping about. "...Still. You sure you're okay with that, Tauros?"
The large pokemon whipped his head with a cry, roughly stomping the ground. As if he'd cower away from a few bumps and bruises; especially during a serious battle! It'd be a stain on his macho ways if he declined!
His enthusiasm left Ash tickled, and the trainer chuckled. "Well, alright! You're the boss, Tauros! In that case… There's something I wanna try out." His expression became stern.
"Something you wanted to try? Is there some kind of new strategy you haven't let me in on, Ash Ketchum?" Dawn pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes at the teen. Since when was she left in the dark, like that?
"It's just an idea. One I got from one of your contests." Ash grinned a self-assured grin, scratching his cheek. "I had it in my mind for a while, but I never got a chance to try it." He blinked. "Which reminds me, can I borrow your Houndoom for a little?"
"You're not leaving me to haul these things around," Dawn countered, gesturing to the bags that she and Empoleon had been carrying. "I told you I'd stock us up, and I did! We'll be set for at least a few days… But, we need to get them to our room at the center, first! And, you guys are helping out."
"Right, right… I forgot, sorry!" Ash tugged at his collar, flashing an apologetic smile.
"Once we're done, you can work with Houndoom." Dawn reached down, slinging up a bag of goods to hold out to Ash.
Ash took two of the bags in a tight grip. "Sounds like a plan!"
After finishing up practice and stopping for lunch, the group decided it was finally time to make their way to the Viridian Gym.
"Man… It's been a while," Ash mumbled as they approached the building. "Glad the league got their shit together about this gym."
"Hm? What do you mean?" Dawn inquired, walking with him up to the door.
As he opened it for Dawn and Empoleon to walk through, Ash looked to Pikachu. "This gym… Was once run by Team Rocket. The former leader - it was Giovanni."
"What?!" Dawn yelped, looking at Ash incredulously. "How did that even happen?! Doesn't the league check anything here?! Volkner barely gets away with leaving his gym, never mind imagining if… if… Team Galactic ran a gym!"
Ash crossed his arms. "Look! My home region has some issues, okay? The older generation ain't so great."
"... Right. Sorry." She reached out, grabbing Ash's hand. "But, hey, when you win that championship maybe you can influence good change?"
Ash nodded. "Right. Besides, Champion Lance is in charge of two regions. He was probably so busy checking everything that he couldn't double check Giovanni. Plus, with how old that guy is, maybe he's been here for a few championship reigns!"
"That's the spirit! They can cover things up for a little while, but not forever!" Dawn cheered.
"Pika!"
"Empo!"
"Are you two here to challenge me or to go digging up ancient history?"
The group looked across the dimly lit gym. A figure with a long curtain of hair draped around them was leaning against the wall. As they got up and walked to their part of the battle field, the lights flickered on. A man in his older teens stood in a dark jacket with several patterns of cherry red, and his draping hair ending in several wayward spikes was crimson. Platinum hues eyed the duo.
"The Viridian Gym is no longer Team Rocket territory, and it never will be again! I am the new gym leader, Silver! If you're here to challenge me, then do it!" He frowned. "But, if I don't think you're up to it, I'll reject you on the spot. I don't have time for losers, but I'm not Surge."
"Tough guy," Dawn mumbled.
"But, he seems to mean well," Ash added. He did say he wasn't like Surge, after all. "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and I've already got the badge here! I just want a rematch for training!"
"... Right. The professor for this region said you'd come." Silver looked to the side. "It's a weird request, but… I want to do right as the gym leader. I'll accept your request and your invitation to battle. If he approved you, you better be tough!"
"Trust me, I am!" Ash retorted.
"Very well." Silver clicked a pokeball, enlarging it. "Six on six, no items, first one with a full fainted team loses." A pause. "You can substitute if you need."
"You, too," Ash said back. "We ready?"
"Yes."
Dawn quickly hurried to the side of the gym floor. She grunted, whispering to Empoleon. "They certainly got right down to it, didn't they?"
"Empoleon…"
Silver tossed a pokeball. "You're up first!"
The ball introduced the Gym Leader's first pokemon; a short, but sleek creature with dark gray fur, a crown of read feathers, and sharp claws. "Weav!" It chanted, bearing a mischievous grin.
"A Weavile… I've got just the pokemon for this. I choose you!" Ash boasted, tossing a pokeball forward.
The flash from the pokeball took the shape of a Lucario, whose paws were raised eyes focused squarely on Weavile.
"I know this is your first gym battle, Rosa, but I'm counting on you!" Ash beamed with pride, mocking several punches forward. "Let's show 'em what you've got, and win this thing!"
The Aura pokemon replied with a happy yip, punching a fist in the air. She was pumped!
"Its first gym battle?" Silver echoed, disgust quickly etching itself onto his features. "I'm not sure who should be more insulted, me or your pokemon. If you think a type advantage and beginner's luck are going to get you by, you've already lost."
Rosa recoiled at the man's harsh words. Was he saying she wasn't good enough!?
"It's not about beginner's luck. She still knows how to battle! We've worked hard to get this point in our own way… Ever since she joined my team, she's always given her all to get stronger. That goes for all of my pokemon!" Ash barked back, shaking a fist at the antagonistic leader.
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu yelled in agreement. This guy assumed a lot.
Silver's face twisted again. "I think I'm getting nauseous. Great trainers can show their bond with their pokemon through battle; they don't need to preach about it. Either prove your worth, or leave."
"Forget what he says! Both of you, show 'em what you're made of!" Dawn shouted from the sidelines.
"Empoleon!" The water type companion squawked. This guy was just asking for a Hydro Pump.
The referee standing halfway across the field sighed, cleaning his spectacles with the collar of his uniform. Why did he have to get stuck at the gym with the most antagonistic gym leader? These arguments had become pretty typical in this gym. In any case, though, they seemed to be done. He raised a hand high.
"The battle between the challenger, Ash, and the Gym Leader, Silver, will now commence! This will be a full, six-on-six battle. The first to lose all of their pokemon, or to surrender, will be the loser."
"A full battle in a gym? I've never even heard of that…" Dawn's brows furrowed.
"Begin!"
"Go, Rosa! Power-up Punch!"
The Lucario sprinted at Weavile, a glowing fist ready.
"Ice Shard!" Silver countered.
Weavile quickly conjured a chunk of ice, flinging it overhead at its opponent.
Before Rosa could alter her path, she was struck, swallowed in a frosty mist.
"That move's always fast…" Ash lamented. "Don't give up! Close Combat!"
The biped launched out of the mist with a scratchy cry, throwing a furious punch at Weavile.
"Deflect it, with Night Slash!" Silver ordered.
"Weav!" The dark type's claws all took on a violet glow, a pivoting slash crashing one set into the Aura pokemon's paw, deflecting it. Weavile continued, aiming a second slash at Rosa's slim midsection.
A second punch denied Weavile that satisfaction, and Rosa continued, spinning around to deliver a roundhouse kick. Both arms crossed, the pair of glowing makeshift sabers only barely fending it off.
Rosa pushed on with several more jabs, gradually forcing Weavile back towards Silver's end. An uppercut broke Weavile's guard, knocking the pokemon silly. Several more punches and a kick left it helpless, prompting the Lucario to grab its arm, spinning before tossing it across the field like a rag doll.
Dust shrouded Weavile, who struggled to push itself to its feet. That had been painful, to say the least.
"Great job! We've got 'em on the ropes now," Ash praised.
"Icy Wind!"
"Vile!" The dark type swept its arms across its body, discharging a frosty chill that swept across the field.
Even protected by her fur, Rosa shuddered, hugging her arms to her body. Bits of frost even hugged to her coat.
"That move's a pain… But we've still got this. One more Close Combat!"
The Aura pokemon growled, lunging at Weavile once more. A right hook came first, followed by a roundhouse kick that followed the momentum. Fancy footwork allowed several more quick kicks, followed by a strike of her tail.
None of these hit their mark. Weavile hopped, ducked, and swerved, handily dodging every one of the Lucario's attacks.
"Shoot… Right, Icy Wind's slowed her down. Another Close Combat, Rosa! And watch its aura! Don't let its movements get away from you!"
The frustrated fighting type huffed, the aura feelers on the back of her head levitated, a blue glint passing through her hues. A howl preceded another barrage of punches and kicks.
The first few punches sorely missed their target. A nagging chill was slowing down her movements, and Weavile in general were no slouches when it came to speed. The pokemon was chattering mocking commentary as it swerved.
Rosa growled, swinging around for another kick. Weavile leaned to the left, avoiding injury.
Her eyes narrowed, and her foot pivoted. Watching Weavile swerve, Rosa threw a solid punch where its head was about to dip.
"Weav…!" If it could, the crafty pokemon would break into a sweat, awkwardly shuffling back. That was too close.
Silver's eyes arrowed. "Low Sweep!"
A devious grin returned to the Sharp Claw pokemon's face. It dove forward, slamming a foot brutally into Rosa's shin.
A loud squeal prepared Ash for the worst, his eyes growing wide. "Low Sweep!?"
A quick shuffle for his Pokedex answered him. "Low Sweep: A fighting type attack. It injures a pokemon's leg, hindering its movement. Consequently, their speed is reduced."
"That's… Not good." Ash grimaced.
"It's your fault." Silver interrupted. "Neither of you kept your guard up, using a move that makes your pokemon so vulnerable." He was harsh, but he was doing his job.
Ash growled. 'He's right… We haven't been using that move long, and Infernape's more experienced with it than she is. I should've known she'd be more vulnerable.' So much for being at the top of his game.
Meanwhile, Ash's thoughts had left him wide open. "Ice Shard!"
Rosa tried to pivot and swerve out of harm's way. A nagging pain kept her grounded, though, allowing her to be blown back by the dull impact of Ice Shard. Even resisting the move, she whimpered.
"Rosa…!" Ash swallowed. "Can ya keep fighting?"
The Aura pokemon barked back, struggling to right herself. She was conscious not to alert the strangers to her telepathy, so an exclamation would have to do.
"Now, ya know how tough gym battles are. But I know you've got it in you!" With that encouragement, Ash turned his thoughts to the current predicament. 'She won't be able to move around a lot like this...' "Aura Sphere!"
The Lucario didn't argue, drawing back her paws to charge a sphere. It was launched at Weavile.
"Ice Shard!"
Weavile countered by flinging another chunk of ice at the oncoming sphere.
The burst of energy powered through the ice, exploding violently.
"They know they're not gonna win out with that move." Ash's eyes narrowed, searching for Rosa amongst the haze.
He could barely make out her shape, so he let his eyes fall shut. Her aura stood out much more brilliantly. This sixth sense offered a lot more clarity than plain old eyesight. A sudden blur of life zipping past Rosa tipped him off, and a spike in her anxiety told him that his hunch wasn't wrong.
"Low Sweep!" Strike three. Ash wasn't imagining things.
"Rosa, jump! And Power-up Punch, behind you!"
The fog and her condition left her disoriented, but a sudden chilling feeling told her that her opponent was close. Fortunately, Ash was paying attention, and just in time. Rosa sprung off of her good leg, narrowly avoiding Weavile's foot. Her fist lit up and her body twisted, a right hook thrown with a roar.
"Block it, with Night Slash!" Even if Silver couldn't see the fray, he could well enough guess this out.
"Weav… ile!" The Sharp Claw pokemon grunted, roughly slamming a shadow-laced claw into Rosa's fist.
Ordinarily, a fighting type overpowering a dark type with respective moves would be an easy bet. With Rosa airborne, sluggish, and having launched off of only one foot, weight and momentum didn't favor her.
Weavile bared a mischievous grin, bucking Rosa off with a swing of his arm. But his assault didn't end there. Several thorough slices across Rosa's body followed, purple streaks crossing her one after another.
The fighting type cried, landing on one knee. She snarled.
"Shoot… I was sure that would work… Huh?" Ash stared at his Lucario, raising a brow.
The Aura pokemon was, appropriately, enveloped in an ethereal blue aura, growling in what came off as justified indignation. Standing upright, she barked a challenge at Weavile, her vitality seemingly restored.
"What the…" Ash withdrew his Pokedex again.
"Lucario's hidden ability: Justified. When a pokemon is struck by a dark type move, their attack power increases."
"I never knew about that one… Alright, Rosa!" Ash cheered.
Silver raised his brows at the Aura pokemon. "That ability isn't typical of any Lucario I've ever heard of. Yours must be a rarity." Still, all the same… She'd been hit with several Night Slashes, and her typing heavily resisted the move, so he'd hurt his chances more than he'd helped them. His eyes narrowed. "Ice Shard, now!"
Weavile chucked yet another shard at its opponent.
Rosa didn't budge, raising an arm across her chest. When the large hunk of ice drew near, she swatted her paw aside, shattering into shards and dust.
"That attack won't work anymore," Ash boasted. "We've got you, now!"
"Icy Wind, now!"
"Aura Sphere, and make it double!"
Rosa held both paws outward, conjuring a blue orb on each end. She growled, lobbing each of them forward.
Weavile was moments from firing another gust, but the incoming pincer attack made it panic. An instinctive Night Slash struck out on either side of it, crashing into each Aura Sphere that encroached upon it. Its arms trembled.
The trap overcame its victim, announcing its victory with a bright, thunderous explosion.
It didn't take long for the referee to scout out the result. "Weavile is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"
As Silver switched out his unconscious Weavile, Ash took that time to recall Rosa.
"Good job, girl. Take a break for a bit, huh?" Ash suggested. He had a feeling she'd be useful again later and didn't want to use her up quite yet.
"Good call," Silver said calmly, frustrated at his old companion Weavile being bested by what was obviously a child prancing around in an adult's body. That Lucario was tough, yes, and he was not ashamed of being beaten by her power, but something about the idea of a child besting him made him curious about how she was raised. "Alakazam." No formal greeting marked the psychic type's entrance.
"Alakazam, huh? Torterra, I choose you!" Ash announced as he threw his pokeball over an imaginary home plate.
Landing with a heavy thud, Torterra roared in greeting. "Tooooor!"
"Alright, buddy, let's start off quick! Use Energy Ball!"
"Tor!" With a belch, Torterra sent off a jiggly, brilliant green sphere of ultra-dense grass-type energy at Alakazam.
"Psychic; just bat it away." Silver cross his arms after his order.
With a lifting of its spoon, the golden pokemon grabbed ahold of Torterra's attack before lobbing it back at the sender.
"Well, crap. Okay, big guy: eat it!"
When the ball of energy came close to him once more, the Torterra chomped down on it. The ball burst in a magnificent shower of green sparkles. An excited shudder shook through the ground type's body. He felt stronger for having consumed that.
"Good job! Well, let's try Leaf Storm!" Ash instructed. While Alakazam could grab a big, solid, single blast attack like Energy Ball, how would it fare against something that had a multitude of tiny targets?
Sure enough, the flurry of greenery which snaked out from Torterra's flora rushed at Alakazam like a river. It washed over the psychic type, drowning him in cuts and pummeling him with the force of a hundred small batterings. Individually, each leaf was no more significance than a drop of water. But, of course, that was why the name of this move was Leaf Storm; a few drops of water was child's play - a thousands were trouble.
Arms still crossed, Silver seemed as if he were restraining himself. "Use Recover."
Closing his bruised hands together, Alakazam began the healing moves processed. His eyes fell shut and a white glow surrounded him.
"Figures," Ash lamented. "Rock Climb!"
"Reflect!" Silver quickly barked.
The impact was spectacular. A glorious trail of torn and twisted earth was dug up behind Torterra. The soiled soil was only stopped at the glittering pink shield Alakazam had erected. Though its psychically projected defense had protected him from the brunt of Torterra's force and caused his opponent to crash into said defense, the mental connection between the Reflect and Alakazam sent the psychic type sprawling back at impact, anyway.
The pain was all in his head, but that didn't lessen it much.
"Plant 'em with Psychic!" Silver commanded.
Not yet able to rise back to his feet, Alakazam lifted his spoon to channel his powers. Lifting Torterra, the psychic type pushed Torterra back - back ground the dug up earth, through the artificial knolls it had placed in the gym on its rampage with Rock Climb and finally skidding across the gym floor itself. It was only when Torterra reached the end of the agreed upon fighting ring that Alakazam relented.
Silver was brutal, but he tried to play by the rules, as did his pokemon.
"Talk about gaining ground," Ash muttered. "Energy Ball, again!"
"You should know better than this!" Silver quickly reprised. "Focus Blast!"
Now on his feet again, Alakazam fired off his attack. It met with Torterra's in a fiery explosion. Once the smoke bloomed out, Torterra burst through it.
"Oh, I do! Crunch!" Ash grinned. The cover had worked! And, better still, Torterra had anticipated his orders. They were truly in sync!
Latching onto the psychic type, Torterra tossed him with minimal effort. After all, the grass type was far larger than his opponent. Torterra continued to bite, looking down his beak at his opponent who now lay on his back.
Alakazam grabbed his once again bruised arm, a faint pink glow around his body marking the lingering effects of Reflect. While not as pronounced as before, it had still had defensive qualities to speak of.
"Focus Blast! He can't get away!"
The attack went off like a gun. Torterra shied back, eyes dazed and reaching vainly with his forepaws to rub at his face.
"Huh? What's going on?!" Grabbing his Pokedex, Ash quickly read off the entry. "... Lowers special defense?! Well, that ain't good."
"For you," Silver quickly responded. "Now, Psychic!"
Grabbing hold of the still writhing grass type with a telekinetic grip, Alakazam quickly turned Torterra upside down in the air. Though the ground type's legs flailed, it was of no good. Alakazam slammed the creature down, and that was all there was of Torterra's participation in this match.
"He fainted…," Ash grumbled. "Torterra, you did great! You can't help it about being upside down! Return!"
"Poor Torterra… He had such a strong start, too." Dawn lamented.
The tortoise was recalled, and another pokeball was tossed. "Kingler, I choose you!"
"Ku-kii!" The crustacean grunted, stepping from one side to the next on his multitude of legs. He even snapped his hefty claws at Alakazam, telling the PSI pokemon that he meant business.
"Let's go! Crabhammer!"
Not much one for running, Kingler sprung off of his surprisingly powerful legs, wielding his huge pincer like a hammer. If he had anything to say about it, Alakazam was getting clobbered.
"Focus Blast!" Silver countered.
Alakazam pointed its spoons forward, flinging a teal orb of energy at Kingler.
"Ki?" The crab's eyes widened. Not looking to get blasted, he swung his limb forward, smashing the Focus Blast with a brutal use of Crabhammer. He didn't deal damage, but he avoided it.
"Good thinking, Kingler!" Ash praised. He eyed the scene before him. 'Now, Kingler's a lot closer… If we keep this up, then we'll corner 'em.' He pointed forward. "Now, use Stomp!"
Kingler landed, only to spring forward again, one of his feet reared, ready to, well, stomp.
"Hold it, with Psychic!" Silver ordered.
"Alakazam," the psychic type chanted, his eyes glazing over with a blue glow.
"Ku-ki!?" Kingler stammered, suddenly finding himself suspended, wrapped in a bright light of his own. Try as he might to flail, he could barely move a muscle! He was trapped.
"Stay calm, Kingler!" Ash encouraged, not wanting his pokemon to panic. The trainer's black brows furrowed. "We may not be able to move, but we can still attack! Blizzard, now!"
The crustacean's spined maw opened wide, spewing out a freezing flurry that embraced the other end of the field.
"Ala… Kazam…!" The PSI pokemon whimpered in agony, shivering on the spot. He groaned, both of his hands dropping to hug to his body. The intelligent fighter's focus had been broken.
And thus, Kingler was released.
"Now's our chance! Stomp, Kingler!"
Only a short distance from Alakazam now, Kingler lunged. "Ku… Ki!" He roared, brutally slamming a foot into Alakazam's chest.
"Kazam…!" The pokemon wailed, holding its side after skidding backward.
Digging his thumb into his palm, Silver suddenly shouted. "Recover!"
The psychic type was completely enveloped in a familiar glow.
"Alakazam really seems hurt," Ash noted, narrowing his eyes at the pokemon and its trainer alike. "He didn't take that hit as well as the others. Silver freaked out, there, too."
The light bulb went off. 'Reflect must be gone!' Smirking, Ash called out. "Crabhammer!"
Still restoring its strength, Alakazam was helpless to stop the giant, oncoming pincer.
Alakazam was hammered, instantly sent flying into the wall behind Silver.
This call wasn't a difficult one to make. "Alakazam is unable to battle! Kingler wins!"
"Quick thinking," was all Silver had to say as he recalled Alakazam. "But your fun stops here… Feraligatr! It's your turn!" With passion surfacing that hadn't yet been present, Silver called his next pokemon.
The large, blue gator appeared, entering with a loud, feral roar. He hunched over, tiny, beady eyes narrowing upon Kingler. He gnashed his teeth, making an early show of intimidating it.
Its strength was obvious, but hell if he'd turn tail at the first sight of a challenger. "Ki!" The water type croaked back in defiance. He made a point of quickly snapping both of his claws.
"That one's different… It's gotta be his strongest. Maybe even his first," Ash observed. Silver's apathy had disappeared for just a moment when calling it. "Then we'll just pull out all the stops!"
"Do what you want," the leader taunted.
"You asked for it! Kingler, Stomp!"
Already close, Kingler kicked off, slamming his foot into Feraligatr's side.
"Counter, with Slash!"
Reeling from the kick, but still raring to go, Feraligatr snarled, striking Kingler with a beautiful swipe of his claws.
Kingler was launched back, skidding on its four legs across the dirty field. He croaked, feeling the small series of indents across his armored hide. That'd definitely stung.
"Follow up, with Aqua Tail!" The redhead continued.
Feraligatr threw its hefty weight around, stomping a taloned foot down. He roared, pointing his tail at Kingler. A sweeping cyclone of water fired towards the crustacean.
"I know Kingler likes the water, but that's not how he'd order it," Ash remarked, frowning at the assault. An idea came, though, and his smile returned. "Blizzard!"
Staring into the eye of the storm, Kingler hurried to unleash frozen hell.
The coming spiral was subsequently frozen, latching to Feraligatr all the way up to its hips.
"Gatr!?" The water type croaked, doing his best to shake the miniature glacier free.
"Ahaha! I think Kingler'll have that water on the rocks!" The trainer blustered, one hand on his hip, the other gripping the brim of his cap.
Pikachu, who stood behind his trainer, groaned in his own language. Only Ash.
Dawn, on the other hand, giggled. "Well, he knows how to keep the mood light."
Silver's eye twitched. Was he being insulted? "How about you save your jokes for the stage, and battle?"
"Suit yourself!" Ash shrugged. "Kingler, Hyper Beam!"
"Kuu-ki!" Kingler cried, firing a blazing orange beam from his larger claw.
Try as he may to escape, Feraligatr was grounded by the heavy icy adornment. He cried out, blasted by the powerful Hyper Beam that'd come his way.
Smoke and icy dust scattered from the blast, backed by a powerful gust.
When the debris cleared, Feraligatr stood. He winced in pain, marked with some ash and scratches. But the blast had scattered the ice, once again freeing the bulky water type.
Silver, surprisingly, sneered. "Aqua Tail, again!"
"We're just gonna do this over!" Ash warned… but he quickly caught his weakness. Hyper Beam left Kingler huffing and grounded. Unable to move about, he was pulverized by Aqua Tail, swept up in its twisting current. "Ki…!" He groaned, washed up like a beached crab.
"...So much for that," Ash mumbled, swallowing his pride. "You alright, Kingler!?"
"Kiii!" The crab roared back, crawling back into range of Feraligatr. He wasn't done.
"I knew it," Ash boasted. He punched forward. "Now, Crabhammer!"
Kingler lunged, swinging his mighty claw at Feraligatr.
"Crunch!"
"What!?" Ash recoiled.
The hefty pair of jaws snapped down.
Kingler cried, startled by his predicament. His closed pincer was trapped between Feraligatr's many sharp teeth, snapped shut. Try as he may to pull away, he found himself stuck.
"Too predictable," Silver tutted. "A Kingler's greatest weapon is its larger pincer. Anyone could've' guessed that you'd use its Crabhammer as a finishing move… Feraligatr, Slash!"
Kingler was only released when a swipe of his opponent's arm struck, sending him skidding.
He winced from the strike of Feraligatr's sharp claws.
"Now, finish this. Hyper Beam!"
Feraligatr's large jaws parted again, showing off a glowing orb.
It quickly turned to a destructive blast, pulverizing Kingler.
The smoke quickly cleared, revealing an ashen, unconscious crab.
The referee raised his hand. "Kingler is unable to battle! Feraligatr wins!"
"You did your best!" Ash shouted as encouragement to the orange water type. "Return!" After putting away Kingler, he released another pokemon. "Tauros, I choose you!"
Bursting out of the beam of light. Tauros landed heavily on all four hooves. This Tauros was arguably the toughest bull out of Ash's massive herd of the beasts. With a thick mane of shaggy brown hair and a trio of furiously whipping tails, he looked impressive…
To everyone except Feraligatr, who thought the normal type looked like prey. The blue beast licked his lips with its thin, pink tongue. He was still too tired to move yet after using the Hyper Beam, but as soon as he regained his strength, he'd sink his teeth into Tauros.
"Tauros! Use Take Down!" Ash ordered. They couldn't waste any time.
Charging forward, Tauros knocked Feraligatr down and onto its back. Though the impact was enough to leave a bruise on the normal type's shoulder, the satisfaction of starting the match by putting his opponent down made up for it.
"Hope that was worth it," Silver said quietly, keeping himself in check and gracefully restrained. "Feraligatr, use Crunch."
Hissing, the reptile clamored across the gym floor towards the bull.
"Wild Charge!"
Tossing his head, Tauros began stomping towards Feraligatr. The two met in a hurricane of blows. Feraligatr's massive jaws snapped at the air and at Tauros's legs. Tauros struck the floor and Feraligatr. Sparks danced among after images of dark energy. The electric attack was more painful to Feraligatr, but as the two parted, Ash noticed Tauros was panting so heavily that drool trickled from his muzzle.
"You're fighting a losing battle," Silver said. "You haven't used a move yet that doesn't have recoil damage. Crunch impedes on a pokemon's ability to handle damage from future attacks."
"If it's a losing battle, there's no need to hold back!" Ash barked back. "Wild Charge!" He could only hope that the natural hardiness of Tauros's species would outweigh the damage being done. The one was, after all, exceptional.
"Again? … Crunch."
The two met again in the middle of the field. As Tauros kicked out with crackling, golden hooves, Feraligatr lunged. The massive water type latched onto Tauros's mane. Then, it began shaking. As Tauros pawed out furiously to try and free itself of this critical hit, Ash realized the danger here.
"Fissure!" Ash yelled.
Silver's eyes widened and he dropped his posture, preparing for the coming catastrophe.
The shaking started at the middle of the gym. Overhead, the lights flickered and swung lightly back and forth. Dawn dropped onto her butt, having been taken off guard. Empoleon found himself in a similar situation, except on his stomach. Ash, however, with the move's effects, glaring across the field to see what happened.
Too close to escape, Feraligatr's mouth opened in shock within the first few seconds of the move. In that brief amount of time, Tauros managed to get atop the water type, pinning it down to take the full force of the Fissure.
When the gym stopped shaking, it was clear to see the swirls in Feraligatr's eyes. Beyond that, no damage had been done.
Silver clicked Feraligatr's pokeball, returning the brute. "I was hasty. You've only got one move as a surprise left, though."
Ash grinned. "Trust me, it'll be a big surprise."
The quaking soon settled, and Tauros stepped on, letting out a snort.
The referee huffed, finally managing to steady himself. His teeth had rattled far more than he'd like, but he ignored it to adjust his disheveled glasses, all the same. "Feraligatr is unable to battle! Tauros wins!"
The redheaded gym leader held out a pokeball, recalling Feraligatr. "Thanks for battling." Turning his head up to gaze at Ash, his brow twitched. "Count yourself lucky that it worked."
"Thanks, Tauros! You did a great job." Ash called out, pumping a fist for his hardy pokemon. His hand dropped, though, when the pokemon's panting was apparent. "That must've been tough on ya… Sorry." He frowned, adjusting his cap. "Do you still wanna go on?"
He felt sore in at least several places, but if he weren't built to take punishment, he wouldn't be a Tauros. The adrenaline rush of downing a formidable opponent didn't hurt, either. Stomping his hooves against the already fractured gym floor, Tauros cried in enthusiasm.
"Great," Ash voiced his relief. His smile returned. "Then, let's keep going!"
Three down, and three to go.
