Ash's Pokemon Journey
Summary: This story is about how I think that ash's journey should have gone through, Kanto, Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and Unova. Smart, a psychic and an Aura user. I do not own pokemon.
Note: I am not doing the Kalos Region. So fairy pokemon and Mega Evolutions don't exist.
Chapter 127
Cassidy and Butch in Sinnoh,
Meeting Reggie
And Dawn's First Gym Battle
Today the gang had come to a desert; they needed to cross it to get to Veilstone City. Because of all the sand Ash called the desert a great place to train Hippopotas and his new pokemon Gligar. A few days ago the gang had come to a city which had trouble with a swarm of Gligar and their leader Gliscor, the evolved form of Gligar. The swarm had got blown into the city because of a storm and the swarm kept on nicking fruit from shops. But the gang helped Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy get the swarm back to the forest. In the midst of that excitement Ash caught a Gligar and Paul, who also visited the city, captured the Gliscor; he found it worthy to be on his team.
Ash sent out his Hippopotas and Gligar. "Okay you two," he said "we are going to train at this desert today". Hippopotas liked that because he liked sand. Gligar was happy too; it was a female and she liked Ash a lot. "Before we do start training I have something special for you two" said Ash. He took out two TM's from his ruck sack. "Hey I've seen those in shops," said Dawn "but they are expensive". "No need to worry Dawn I saved up a lot to get some TM's" said Ash. "Which ones have you got?" asked Brock. Ash had the TM for water pulse and sandstorm. Hippopotas could learn all two moves and Gligar could learn sandstorm. Ash returned the pokemon to their pokeballs, placed the TM's one by one on their pokeballs and then released them. "Okay now let's see your moves" said Ash.
Hippopotas had learnt new moves ever since Ash caught him; he learnt roar, protect, double team, hidden power, mud slap and strength as well as now knowing water pulse and sandstorm. As for Gligar; she knew poison sting, sand attack, harden, quick attack, steel wing, x-scissor and the egg moves metal claw and cross poison as well as sand storm. "Okay see those rocks in the sand?" said Ash "strike them with your metal claw Gligar and Hippopotas use strength". Hippopotas and Gligar got to work at once. Gligar was the type pf pokemon who wanted to please her trainer and earn his attention and approval. It wasn't long before Gligar started to smash up rocks with metal claw and Hippopotas started to tackle rocks around. "Wow Brock," said Dawn "Ash's Hippopotas has gotten stronger and Gligar sure isn't backing down even though it's new". "Well Gligar loves Ash," said Brock "so she's determined to gain Ash's approval". Dawn thought that was amusing.
Suddenly where was a rumbling noise coming from under the sand. "What's going on?" asked Dawn, worriedly. Before her question could be answered, some big hippo like pokemon came out of the sand. "They're Hippowdon" said Brock.
Dawn looked at Hippowdon on her pokedex: Hippowdon, the heavyweight pokemon. The evolved form of Hippopotas. It brandishes its gaping mouth in a display of fearsome strength. It raises vast quantities of sand while attacking.
"They probably live here in the desert" suggested Brock.
Suddenly a giant robot came towards the Hippowdons and hit them with rockets. "What the hell?!" shouted Ash. Just then, to the gang's surprise, Cassidy and Butch came out of the robot. "Oh great it's you two!" shouted Ash. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the brats" said Cassidy. "Haven't seen you in a while" said Butch. Dawn asked Brock who they were as she had never met them before. Brock explained to Dawn that Cassidy and Butch were other members of Team Rocket. Cassidy looked at the Hippowdons and declared they would be right for the boss. "You're not taking these pokemon anywhere!" shouted Ash. He ordered Pikachu, Hippopotas and Gligar to get ready to fight. Cassidy and Butch sent out all their pokemon to battle and they had new pokemon; Cassidy had a Charizard and Butch had an Aggron. "Let's help Ash" said Brock. Dawn and Tomo agreed since Team Rocket had too many pokemon for Ash to defeat himself. But before anyone did anything the Hippowdons attacked the robot with stone edge and then they used dig to get away. "Grr the Hippowdons got away," growled Cassidy "come on Butch let's get after them". Butch turned to the gang. "You brats better not get in our way again; we will show no mercy next time" he said. He and Cassidy returned their pokemon and left in their robot. "They're gone" said Ash. "Where'd they go?" said Tomo.
Cassidy and Butch were away in their robot. "I can't believe we actually ran into the brats here" said Cassidy "Well what would you expect they get anywhere" said Butch. Suddenly a phone in the robot went off. It was from Dr Namba and he asked them if they found the Hippowdon. He wanted a Hippowdon to research its sand; what for though was a mystery. Cassidy explained that they found the Hippowdons and were chasing them now. "Do not fail me!" shouted Dr Namba, and the phone call ended. "I really don't understand that old man sometimes," said Cassidy "I mean what's so special about a Hippowdon's sand?" "Ah when that guy has something on his mind, who knows what he's thinking" said Butch. The duo just continued with searching for the Hippowdon again.
Meanwhile the gang had got over their surprise. "So those two are other members of Team Rocket?" Dawn asked. "Giovanni has hundreds of people working for him," answered Ash, who remembered them "I wonder what they are doing here in Sinnoh anyway?" "I don't know but we need to find the Hippowdons before Cassidy and Butch do," said Brock "who knows what they will do to them". "Yes but how shall we find them?" asked Tomo "the Hippowdons dug into the sand and this desert is full of it". "Gligar can help us with this;" said Brock "Gligar can use her soundwaves to help us find the Hippowdons". "Good idea, Gligar can you try to locate the Hippowdons for us please?" said Ash. Gligar was eager to please Ash and she took off into the sky and used her sound waves to try and locate the Hippowdons. "I hope Gligar can find them" said Dawn. After Dawn said that, Gligar started crying out in excitement. "You found them Gligar?" asked Ash. Gligar nodded yes. "That's great, thank you" said Ash. Gligar was happy to have done a good job and she flew into Ash to hug him. This was her way for affection to him. Ash got Gligar off him and everyone ran off to find the Hippowdons.
Luckily the gang did find the Hippowdons and they were happy to see they were okay. But then Cassidy and Butch came again in their robot. "Let's stop them!" shouted Ash. He called out his Zangoose, Staravia and Chimchar to help Pikachu, Gligar and Hippopotas. Dawn sent out Piplup, Wormadam, Ariados, Pachirisu, Clefairy and Drifloon to help. Brock called out his Sudowoodo, Probopass, Croagunk, Happiny and Nuzleaf. Tomo sent out Electivire, Chimchar, Shellos, Growlithe, Sceptile and Tauros to battle. "Everyone protect the Hippowdons!" shouted Dawn. Cassidy and Butch noticed the pokemon and sent out all of their pokemon to fight back. "The pokemon can distract the brats while we get the Hippowdons" suggested Butch. "Great idea" said Cassidy. The battle was on.
While the pokemon were fighting, Cassidy and Butch proceeded of capturing the Hippowdons with their robot. They fired rockets at them to weaken them first. Ash's Hippopotas noticed this and he ran towards the robot to stop it. "Look Cass," said Butch "that Hippopotas is coming towards us". Cassidy smirked. "That puny thing couldn't do any harm to us," she chuckled "we are lot stronger than it". As soon as Hippopotas got close to the robot, Cassidy used the robot's arm to knock it away. The gang noticed what was happening and Ash became worried for Hippopotas. Hippopotas was shaken from that, but he wasn't willing to give up and let Team Rocket take the Hippowdons. "Ha give up you little pipsqueak," laughed Butch "you don't stand a chance against our robot". Despite Hippopotas was small, he wouldn't let Butch's words make him quit. Hippopotas roared and then he glowed and evolved into Hippowdon. Cassidy and Butch were in trouble now. Hippowdon charged towards the robot and tackled it really hard. "Look at Hippowdon go," said Brock "we must help him at once". The others agreed and they commanded their pokemon to attack. Together they all defeated Team Rocket's Raticate, Houndour, Sableye, Tentacruel, Granbull Charizard, Primeape, Hitmontop, Mightyena, Cloyster, Shuckle and Aggron. Ash's Hippowdon and the wild Hippowdons, who saw everything, charged at the robot together. Cassidy and Butch were in trouble now. "Hippowdon use your hyper beam attack" said Ash, who just found out on the pokedex that his Hippowdon knew hyper beam now. Ash's Hippowdon got ready to use hyper beam and so did the wild Hippowdons. Cassidy and Butch tried to get away with their pokemon, but it was too late. The hyper beams attack hit the robot and sent Team Rocket and their pokemon flying.
The gang was happy that Cassidy and Butch were gone. The wild Hippowdons were grateful to the gang for helping them. "What a day," said Ash "and I hope we don't see Cassidy and Butch again". "Me too" said Brock. To the gang having Jessie, James and Meowth around was bad enough. So with the trouble over, the gang spent some more time watching the wild Hippowdons before they could leave.
All the while, Cassidy and Butch decided to just find a Hippopotas so Dr. Namba could just evolve it for the research; that was more of an easy solution than getting a Hippowdon. Then get back to Kanto at once.
Today the gang had finally made it to Veilstone City and they looked at it from a hill. "What a beautiful city" said Dawn, admiring the view. "And here is where badge number three is" said Tomo. "After the gym I can get my third frontier plaque because the next battle facility is outside Veilstone City" said Ash. "Well this is certainly to be fun isn't it?" said Brock.
Suddenly something blue flew straight in front of the gang. "What was that?!" gasped Dawn. "That was an aura sphere attack" said Ash. Ash's Lucario, who was with the gang, wanted to know where that came from and took off. "Let's follow Lucario, hurry" said Ash.
Following Lucario led the gang to a big field, and there was a girl having a fight with a Lucario. Lucario was firing aura spheres and the girl as deflecting them with her feet. "That Lucario must belong to that girl and they're training each other," said Brock "we saw trainers fight with their own pokemon, especially fighting type, to train before". Ash watched the Lucario. "That Lucario feels cross and upset" he said. "Why would it be cross and upset?" asked Tomo.
Before Tomo's question could be answered, a thunderbolt nearly hit the gang. It was from an Electabuzz. Piplup was cross with the Electabuzz and charged at it. Electabuzz knocked Piplup back and into Pikachu. That made both of them mad, but before they did anything Ash's Lucario grabbed them to make them stop. "Enough you two!" Ash said, angrily, at Pikachu and Piplup. Pikachu and Piplup apologized. The girl and her Lucario noticed the gang and asked them what was going on. "Don't worry miss," said Ash "this Electabuzz was about to give us trouble but we have stopped it".
Just then a young man came up. "I thought you were up to something Electabuzz" he said. Electabuzz did its best to look innocent. "Hang on a minute," said Ash "that's Paul's Electabuzz". "Oh do you know Paul?" asked the man. "Yes he's become a rival of mine, but not a friendly one" said Ash. "Sorry, my brother is always like that with rivals" said the man. The man introduced himself as Reggie and Paul was his younger brother. Reggie was also a pokemon breeder and Paul always left his pokemon with him to look after and train. The gang introduced themselves and Ash and Tomo explained they were here to battle the gym. "Well how about that," said Reggie "you've got two challengers today Maylene". Reggie explained the girl was Maylene, the gym leader of the Veilstone gym. As Maylene had a Lucario, it was clear she used fighting type pokemon. Hearing made Ash and Tomo say to her they wanted to battle for the gym badge. "I'm sorry, but can you go to another gym?" said Maylene. Her Lucario got cross when she said that and he was about to fire another aura sphere, but Ash's Lucario stopped it from doing so. "What do you mean go to another gym?" asked Ash "Tomo and I want to battle you".
Maylene was just about to answer, but three men with black belts turned up. They were Maylene's gym assistances and her students. "I'm not going back to the gym!" argued Maylene. "Stop," said one of them "that is unacceptable. A gym leader does not act in this manner in front of other trainers". Ash was confused and he asked Reggie what was going on. Reggie explained that Maylene was a tough battler and she became the gym leader just six months ago. Maylene tried to tell them that she didn't want to become a gym leader anymore, but of course her Lucario didn't accept this. Reggie stepped forward and asked her if it was because what Paul said to her. "Paul was here and he battled Maylene?" asked Ash.
Reggie explained the whole story. The story was Paul did battle Maylene for the gym badge. Her gym specializes in fighting type pokemon. By this time Paul had evolved his Murkrow into a Honchkrow and he had captured a Magmar. That of course was to replace Chimchar after he abandoned it. Because Honchkrow was a flying type pokemon it easily defeated two of Maylene's fighting type pokemon. Then Magmar easily defeated Lucario because Lucario was part steel type as well as fighting.
"It was totally out of sync with Lucario and my other pokemon," finished Maylene "it wasn't even like a gym battle against a gym leader. I can hardly blame the challenger of what he said to me". "What did Paul say?" asked Ash. He felt that Paul must have said something very mean to her and he was right. Paul said Maylene was the weakest gym leader he had ever met and the badge was light weight like she was. Those words of course made Maylene upset and her spirits crushed. Dawn felt sorry for Maylene and understood how she felt because of her two contest losses. Reggie tried to apologize to Maylene for what Paul said, but Maylene believed she was weak and started to run off. Her Lucario wanted to follow, but Maylene shouted at it to stay away.
"What should we do Ash?" asked Tomo. It was clear as crystal that Maylene wasn't going to accept his or Ash's challenge. "We stay here;" said Ash "I want to battle Maylene and I'm not going anywhere till I get my gym badge from her". "Yeah me neither" agreed Tomo. Maylene's Lucario was happy to hear that; it wanted Maylene to battle them. Reggie wanted to go and console Maylene, but Dawn stopped him. "Let me talk to Maylene" she said. As Dawn understood what Maylene was going through, she felt it was better she spoke to Maylene. Dawn asked Maylene's Lucario to lead the way and off they went. Ash's Lucario decided to follow too.
Dawn and the two Lucarios came to a stream where Maylene was meditating. "What do you want?" Maylene asked Dawn, when she saw her. Dawn sat down next to Maylene. "I understand how you are feeling because I feel the same with myself too," said Dawn "you see I lost the first round of pokemon contests two times in a row, so I'm taking a break now. Even though I tell everyone I need recharging I feel that I'm not cut out for contests. Ash has won three contest ribbons already and I'm way behind him now". "Ash is doing pokemon contests too?" asked Maylene. "Yes and he is a very good coordinator too; a whole lot better than I am" answered Dawn. Maylene sighed. "To tell the truth when I start to consider that winning or losing in a gym battle can change a challenger's life it kind of scares me. I can't seem to concentrate like I used to". Maylene's Lucario was about to get angry again, but Ash's Lucario stopped it. 'Listen to what she has to say' he said in his language. Ash had taught him to be patient and to listen what others have to say more. Maylene's Lucario backed off. "I can't continue to be a gym leader like this," continued Maylene "not after what Reggie's younger brother said to me". "Ignore what Paul said," said Dawn "he's just a rude guy to says rude things to anyone; he's always rude to Ash too, but Ash doesn't let him get him down and neither should you". "Gym battles used to be fun whether I won or lost," said Maylene "but now I don't feel like that anymore". "I know that fact;" said Dawn "after losing twice I don't know what to do anymore. And I also feel I'm dragging Ash, Tomo and Brock into my problems". "I feel I'm just causing trouble for Lucario and my students" said Maylene.
It was then Ash's Lucario used metal claw to slice a rock in half. "Hey what are you doing Lucario?" asked Dawn. Lucario turned to Maylene's Lucario and beckoned it to come at him. "I think that Lucario wants my Lucario to battle it" said Maylene. "You can tell that's Ash's Lucario;" chuckled Dawn "it has a real fighting spirit like Ash does". Maylene's Lucario fired an aura sphere, but Ash's Lucario countered it with his own. Then he moved in with blaze kick. "Wow it knows blaze kick?" asked Maylene. It was clear that her Lucario didn't. Maylene's Lucario dodged before Ash's Lucario could kick it. Then the two Lucarios pushed each other back with force palm. Ash's Lucario was happy to be fighting a tough opponent, and Maylene's Lucario was happy to be having a battle even if it wasn't a gym battle. "It's obvious your Lucario wants to battle," said Dawn "but it's clear from its anger that it wants to fight alongside you". Maylene was still uneasy about that.
Suddenly Dawn had an idea. "I know you and I can have a battle Maylene?" she said. Dawn suggested that since her and Maylene had loss their confidence because of what they went through; Dawn thought the battle could help them both raise their spirits. At first Maylene wasn't sure, but her Lucario was very keen on the idea so Maylene agreed to.
Back with the others; the boys were talking to Reggie in his house. Ash had his Chimchar out of his pokeball. Reggie recognized it at once and remembered it was Paul's before. Ash explained to Reggie about Paul abandoning Chimchar. "I take it you've seen Paul's intense training and battles Ash?" asked Reggie. "We have seen everything" replied Ash. He couldn't believe that Reggie and Paul were brothers; Reggie was a lot nice than Paul was. "With what Paul said to Maylene it's no wonder she feels down and doesn't want to battle us;" said Ash "any gym leader would feel that if somebody called them weak. Mind you Misty, Lt Surge, Janine and Chuck wouldn't get upset; they would beat the rude person up, especially Misty". "I agree with that one" said Brock. Tomo agreed too. "I heard from Paul that you've battled the gyms and leagues in Kanto, Johto and Hoenn Ash" said Reggie. "That's right and now I'm doing it in Sinnoh" said Ash. "Hey Ash," said Reggie "you can have a battle with me. I know I'm no substitute for the gym, but I would like to see how Paul's rival fights". Ash agreed and suggested on a three on three pokemon battle, like he did with Paul when they first battled.
Brock noticed a line of picture frames on the mantelpiece, with badges in them. They were Reggie's; Reggie used to be a trainer in the past, battling gym leaders and collecting badges.
Just as Ash and Reggie were going to battle, Dawn, Maylene and the two Lucarios turned up. Ash's Lucario went to join Ash's side. Brock and Tomo watched on the sides with Dawn and Maylene.
Reggie sent out a Bibarel to battle first and Ash sent out his Turtwig to battle. Turtwig started off by using bullet seed, but Bibarel dodged and used secret power. Because they were battling on grass, Turtwig fell asleep when Bibarel hit him with secret power. "Oh no Turtwig wake up" said Ash. Bibarel attacked Turtwig with take down, while he was asleep, and then Turtwig woke up. Reggie was surprised that Turtwig woke up already and ordered Bibarel to use super fang. Turtwig dodged it and then used razor leaf. As Bibarel was part water type, razor leaf was super effective on it. Ash then ordered Turtwig to use energy ball. Bibarel tried to attack with ice beam, but Turtwig dodged the ice type attack and proceeded to use energy ball. The attack scored another super effective move and Bibarel was defeated, making Ash the winner of the first match.
Maylene was impressed with Ash's Turtwig. Dawn explained to her that Ash had been a trainer for five years now and was a strong trainer too. She also explained that Ash had other grass pokemon that had taught Turtwig a few new things. Maylene thought that was nice.
Reggie returned Bibarel and sent out a Swalot next. Knowing Swalot was a poison type pokemon, Ash returned Turtwig and sent out his Zangoose to battle. Zangoose started off with slash and Swalot got hit by it. "Swalot use stockpile" said Reggie. Swalot took a big gulp of air and made its body larger. "We need to watch out with this move Zangoose" said Ash. "I bet Swalot is going to use spit up next" said Tomo. "You know that move?" asked Maylene. "Yep some of my pokemon know stockpile, spit up and swallow" answered Tomo. Ash ordered Zangoose to use crush claw next. Swalot got hit by it but could still fight on and it used stock pile again. Before Ash could give Zangoose another command, Swalot used spit up and Zangoose got hit by the beam of light. Zangoose was hurt but he could still continue to battle. Ash ordered him to use crush claw, but Swalot used sludge bomb and Zangoose got hit by it and fainted. Reggie was the winner of the second round, so he and Ash were down to one pokemon each.
Reggie returned Swalot and sent out a Staraptor next.
Ash looked at Starpator on his pokedex: Starpator, the predator pokemon. The evolved form of Staravia. It has a savage nature. It will courageously challenge foes that are much larger.
Ash sent out Pikachu to battle Staraptor. Pikachu started off with thunderbolt, but Staraptor dodged it and used brave bird. Pikachu tried to dodge it, but Staraptor hit him good with brave bird. "What a move" said Dawn. Brock explained about brave bird being a very strong flying type move, but he also told her that whoever used it took damage too. Reggie ordered Staraptor to use steel wing next. "Use your tail Pikachu" said Ash. Pikachu used his tail like a spring board to jump high and dodge Staraptor's attack. "Now Pikachu volt tackle" said Ash. While still in the air, Pikachu charged with volt tackle. Staraptor tried to counter attack with wing attack, but Pikachu knocked Staraptor out. So Ash was the winner of the battle.
Maylene was impressed by Ash's battling style; she didn't her eyes off not even for a minute. Reggie returned Staraptor. "I can't remember the last time I ever had an exciting battle like this thank you" he said to Ash. "No, thank you for this battle Reggie" said Ash. He was happy that Reggie didn't battle anything like Paul. Reggie turned to Maylene. "So Maylene," he said "would you like to battle Ash now?" Before Maylene could answer, Dawn stood up and announced she was going to battle Maylene first.
That surprised the gang; especially since this was the first time Dawn was going to try out at a gym.
So instead of Ash and Tomo getting ready to battle Maylene, it was Dawn getting ready to battle her. Maylene had asked for the gym battle to happen tomorrow so she could get herself ready too. She had decided to use Piplup, Drifloon and Ambipom. Her pokemon were doing some training right now.
Piplup was going through his moves. Over the months he had learnt fury attack, brine, ice beam, rain dance, protect, head-butt and aerial ace. So he had grown ever since the journey began. Ambipom was ready to go because she had a lot of battling experience because of her time with Ash. Drifloon was training with Tomo's Drifloon; they had trained together ever since Tomo and Dawn caught them. They both knew the moves constrict, minimize, astonish, gust, payback, focus energy, stock pile, spit up, swallow, shadow ball, psychic, silver wind and air cutter.
Ash and Tomo were sorting out which pokemon to use too. Ash had decided to use Staravia, Buizel and Lucario. Lucario wanted to battle Maylene's Lucario and Ash agreed to let him. Tomo decided on using Farfetch'd, Pidgeotto and Xatu. Ash had his Swellow with them to give them flying exercises. "I have to say Ash your Swellow looks magnificent," said Reggie "in fact all of them do". "Well our older pokemon help our new pokemon train at Prof Oak's lab" explained Ash. "Say Ash," said Reggie "because of my Staraptor's brave bird move. Are you interested of having Staravia learning that move?" "Staravia already knows that move;" said Ash "my Swellow knows that move and taught it to Staravia". "My Pidgeotto knows it too" said Tomo. Ash asked his Swellow and Staravia and Tomo's Pidgeotto to show their brave bird attacks and the three pokemon performed them perfectly. Reggie was impressed. "You guys have magnificent pokemon" he said; he really was different than Paul.
Dawn saw it too and told her pokemon they needed to get their spirits up too. Reggie noticed Dawn with her pokemon. "What's the story with Dawn?" he asked the boys "she doesn't seem the type to me to do gym battles as well as contests". "You're right she isn't;" said Brock "but I think she's doing this to help Maylene regain her confidence". "I also reckon she's doing it because Maylene is feeling down the same way Dawn is now" said Ash. He explained to Reggie about Dawn's contest losses. "Oh I see," said Reggie "well then let's up this gym battle between Dawn and Maylene will help both of them get their confidence back".
At the time Maylene and Lucario were meditating in the gym. The Veilstone Gym was one of those ancient Japanese houses with lots of corridors and doors that slide and there were three big buildings. One building was the gym, another building was the training area and the last was storage area. The three students from earlier were watching her; they were anxious about her gym battle tomorrow. Maylene promised Lucario and the students she would fight seriously in the gym battle between her and Dawn tomorrow. The students were happy to hear that and so was Lucario. Maylene asked one of the students, whose name was Connally, to be her referee for the match and he agreed.
That night before the gang went to bed, Dawn was thinking about her gym battle tomorrow. As this was to be her first, she was starting to feel the first time jitters. "How do you feel about tomorrow Dawn?" asked Ash. "Well I am starting to feel the nerves" answered Dawn. "I understand because I got a bit of the nerves when I first started challenging gyms," said Ash "and even now my heart ponds when I'm about to have a gym battle". "My heart has started to pound too ever since I started doing the gyms" said Tomo. Brock explained to the others that even gym leaders feel nervous then they start being a gym leader. "Were you nervous when you first became the Pewter gym leader Brock?" asked Ash. "Oh yes," said Brock "a gym leader's big priority is to bring out the very best in their pokemon. When I first started I feared that I wouldn't even be half as good as my father was when he was the gym leader. But I got to meet and battle lots of different trainers and I learnt that even great gym leaders get shaped up by the challengers through all the gym battles". "Well then," said Ash "let's hope that the battle tomorrow will bring Maylene's level up a bit". The others hoped so too.
The next day the gang made it to the Veilstone Gym. Dawn shouted out she was ready to challenge the leader and they entered the gym. Connally and Maylene were there waiting for them and Reggie was also there to watch the match. Dawn took her place on the battle field and the boys sat on the side with Reggie. Connally explained the gym battle was a 3 on 3 pokemon battle. Maylene sent out a Meditite to battle first.
Dawn looked at it on her pokedex: Meditite, the meditate pokemon. It always trains deep in mountains. It levitates when it heightens its spiritual power through meditation.
"Now let's see what Dawn will choose" said Reggie. But when they looked at her, she was feeling jittery again. 'Oh wow,' thought Dawn 'this feels so different than when I'm watching Ash and Tomo on the sides. I don't know if I can really do this'. Ash stood up. "Dawn you show Maylene what you can do," he said "and Maylene show us your strength as a gym leader". Hearing what Ash said gave Dawn back her confidence for this and sent out Drifloon first. Reggie pointed out that Meditite's fighting type moves won't do anything on Drifloon as it's a ghost type pokemon, so Drifloon was a good choice for Dawn.
Dawn started the battle by telling Drifloon shadow ball. "Detect" Maylene said to Meditite. Meditite's eyes glowed green and it easily dodged the shadow ball attack. Detect was a move that help users dodge the opponent's attacks. Maylene knew her Meditite's fighting type moves wouldn't work so she ordered Meditite to use confusion. When she told it to do that she moved her arms about and so did Meditite. Reggie explained Maylene mirrors her pokemon's moves as she is a warrior herself, and it makes her-self feel stronger. She also becomes one with her pokemon when they battle. Meditite moved Drifloon up and down and sideways with confusion. "Don't give up Drifloon, use gust" said Dawn. Drifloon sent out a gust attack from its body and Meditite was blown back. "Good move but we aren't done yet, use thunder punch" said Maylene. Meditite jumped in and punched Drifloon with thunder punch. "That's not good," said Ash "Drifloon is weak to electric types attack. Maylene must have had Meditite learn thunder punch to fight flying type moves". "Yes she used that against Paul too even though his Honchkrow defeated it quickly," said Reggie "and it also knows fire and ice punch too". The boys knew that could be trouble for Dawn. "Don't give up Drifloon, use air cutter" said Dawn. Drifloon released an air cutter attack, but Meditite used detect and Meditite dodged the attack. Maylene ordered Meditite to use thunder punch again and Drifloon got hit by it before he could even do anything. Drifloon couldn't take anymore after that electric type move and fainted. So Maylene was the winner of the first battle round.
Dawn returned Drifloon and sent out Ambipom next. She ordered her to use swift and the stars hit Meditite at once. "Meditite drain punch" said Maylene. Meditite moved in to use drain punch, but Ambipom blocked it with one of her big hands. Then she hit Meditite hard with double hit, causing it to faint and making Dawn the winner of this round.
Maylene returned Meditite. "You approach a battle like a contest" she said to Dawn. "You're right and I'm having a lot of fun doing it" said Dawn. Maylene turned to her Lucario. "You ready to go?" she asked it. Lucario was ready and it walked onto the battle field at once. "Lucario looks different than it was yesterday" said Tomo. "The bond between those two is strong," said Reggie "Lucario must be sensing the confidence building up in Maylene". 'Father I sense that she does have her battling spirit back' said Lucario. 'I do too Lucario,' said Ash 'pay close attention to how her Lucario battles'. 'Yes father' said Lucario.
Dawn started off by telling Ambipom to use aerial ace, but Lucario used bone rush to block her attack. Then Lucario hit her hard with the big bone. Poor Ambipom got thrown back and fainted.
So Dawn was down to her final pokemon while Maylene still had two. "Wow," said Tomo "Maylene's Lucario is strong alright". "When Maylene and Lucario work together perfectly in sync, they can be hard to beat," said Reggie "Dawn has definitely reawakened Maylene's passion for battling and lit up her fighting spirit". Ash also felt that Dawn's fighting spirit was lighting up too. Dawn sent out Piplup.
Piplup started off with bubble beam, but Lucario dodged it and used aura sphere. Piplup did get hit by the aura sphere attack, be we wasn't beaten yet. Piplup used whirl pool next and Lucario became trapped by the whirl pool. "Alright Piplup, time to use peck" said Dawn. Piplup jumped onto the whirlpool and slid down it, ready to peck Lucario. "Lucario metal claw" said Maylene. Lucario broke the whirl pool attack with metal claw. "Dawn and Maylene are looking pretty good out there" said Brock. Reggie was impressed with how this battle was going, especially with Dawn using contest skills. Dawn ordered Piplup to use bubble beam, but Lucario dodged it and hit Piplup with force palm. Piplup was hit, but he wasn't down yet. Maylene ordered Lucario to use aura sphere, but Piplup used aerial ace to charge through the aura sphere and hit Lucario. This made Dawn wonder if she and Piplup could win this battle. Maylene was having fun and feeling good from this battle. Reggie was wondering if Paul would still have beaten Maylene, if she was in the condition she was in now when they battled. Maylene ordered Lucario to use aura sphere again and Dawn ordered Piplup to use bubble beam. The aura sphere and bubble beam created a little smokescreen and Piplup charged into the smoke to use peck. But Lucario had dodged thanks to the help of smokescreen and it hit Piplup hard with force palm. Poor Piplup couldn't take any more and fainted. So Maylene was the winner of the match.
Connally cried tears of happiness for Maylene's victory. Lucario thanked her Lucario for all its hard work. Dawn went over to Piplup to see if he was okay. Ash walked over to Dawn. "That was very good for your first gym battle Dawn" said Ash. Brock and Tomo agreed. "I have to admit it was fun even though I lost" said Dawn. Ash could feel that Dawn had regained her fighting spirit and confidence from this match. Maylene walked over to Dawn. "I can't thank you enough Dawn," she said "I forgot all about my fears and winning or losing. And I realised of how much fun it was". "Wait till you battle Ash and Tomo," said Dawn "they'll make it more exciting than our battle, especially Ash". "That's right," said Maylene "so who will I battle first?" "It's Tomo," said Ash "it's his turn to battle a gym leader first and then it's me". Maylene understood.
Thanks to Dawn having a battle with her, Maylene agreed to continue being the Veilstone Gym leader, now that her confidence and fighting ability was back, and she couldn't wait to battle Ash and Tomo.
Sorry for the wait. I couldn't leave out Butch and Cassidy. I reckon that if Ash ever did catch a Hippopotas, the episode with the Hippowdons would be where it would evolve then. I know Jessie and James and Meowth were in that episode too, but I decided to leave them out this time. I can't believe that in the lost leader strategy episode that Ash agreed with Brock that they look for another gym; that is something that Ash would never want to do, especially like in the Cilan takes flight and Flint sparks the fire episodes and he refused to go find another gym then. If Ash ever did get a Lucario in the anime, there's no doubt that Lucario would want to battle Maylene's Lucario, which is why Ash will use his in the next chapter. I had Ash's Gligar have the egg moves cross poison and metal claw because I couldn't make up my mind of which one to have, so I chose both.