Chapter 46 Fighting Gym Battle
While they are walking back to Premoggin Softlands, Lillie has trained up her Chimchar, and now it is also an Infernape that likes to compete with Ash's.
Ash: Looks like both Infernape is getting along well.
Lillie: So Ash, you told me that your Infernape was abandoned by your rival and that's when you captured it, right?
Ash: (Sighs) Yeah. But I'm glad that Infernape is now stronger and thanks to him, I managed to defeat him for the first time.
And right now, Ash and Lillie are now at the Battle Hall, as they want to see if Lee is finished with everything in the Battle Mall.
Lee: (Notices Ash and Lillie approaching them.) I think everything is running smoothly here. I'm ready to battle whenever you are. Meet me in front of my house, it's just west of here.
Ash: Okay, that doesn't sound too far at all.
But as they are about to leave, Ash and Lillie notice Kelani and her Salazzle at the stairway. Kelani is seemingly trying to calm Salazzle, but the Salazzle doesn't seem to be doing anything.
Kelani: (Notices Ash and Lillie.) Oh, hi! Ash, Lillie. It's good to see you again!
Lillie: Hey, Kelani, what are you doing here?
Kelani: I heard that this place had some pretty good stuff for sale. And the rumors were true! I've been looking for a good souvenir to take back to my best friend in Zhyion.
Ash: (Curious) Oh, what did you buy?
Kelani: I was able to buy a Dusk Stone, see she has a Honedge, which will be an Aegislash someday, so I'm sure she'll love me forever once she gets this gift!
Ash and Lillie are wondering if she is gay, but they don't want to say anything as they have to respect them, their thoughts are also interrupted by a loud roar.
Salazzle: LAZZ!
The three of them are looking at Salazzle as Kelani has a weird expression, from the looks of it, she doesn't seem to be happy.
Kelani: Ugh...
Lillie: Is there something wrong?
Kelani: Sorry about Persephone, Ash and Lillie. She's a bit anxious to battle someone, yet she refuses to battle anyone "unworthy". (Notices Ash.) Hmm... Say, Ash, would you like to...
Salazzle: LAZZLE! (Shakes her head.)
Kelani: What? You don't want to have a battle with Ash?
Salazzle: LAZZ! (Nods.)
Kelani: Sigh...Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to battle, but Persephone isn't having any of that.
Lillie: But Ash is a World Monarch... Surely he is worthy, right?
Ash: It is just a title, it doesn't really mean anything.
Kelani: Maybe if you can get Lee's badge she'll be willing? Yes, that will suffice. Come find me again after you get the Kickboxing Badge if you'd like to battle us. We'll be waiting.
Ash and Lillie nod as they bid the girl farewell, then they go to find Lee for the eighth badge.
After leaving the Battle Hall, they find Lee in front of his house as he is waiting for Ash and Lillie.
Ash: I guess this is the second time that the whole place is an actual Gym...the first one being Chelsea's Water Gym...
Lillie: Yeah, but I think it is nice. Don't you think so?
As they get to the battlefield, they are surprised to see Emily and Gladion also there.
Ash: Hey, Emily. What are you doing here?
Emily: I've always beaten you to Badges, so I'll let you go first this time, Ash!
Ash: How nice of you. I mean, looks like I finally caught up to you, huh?
Ash then walks to the battlefield, where Lee is waiting.
Lee: Well, here we are. As I told you before, my name's Lee. I'm also known as Instant Lee because of how fast my kicks are.
Ash: Instant Lee, huh? It will be nice to see the kicks...
Lee: This is where I train. A lot of people have come asking to be taught how to kick like me. Not just martial artists, but many different kinds of people. I'm not really the teaching type, though. I understand there's the expectation of Gym Leaders being role models, but I'm more interested in personal strength.
Lillie: Okay... (Nods with an agreement.) That sounds interesting if you ask me.
Lee: That's why when Barker mentioned the idea of a Battle Mall, I approved it right away. It would give people something else to come here for. I really do think you can learn more by being your own student and teacher than by being someone else's. After all, no one knows your strengths and weaknesses better than you do. Do you know yours well enough to defeat me?
Ash: We don't know if we don't try it out. I mean, I made a lot of mistakes in the past, but I also learn from them. I won't give up until it is over.
Lee: I like your spirit. Now let's start.
Referee: The match between Gym Leader Lee and Challenger Ash is about to begin. Each Trainer will be using 6 Pokemon, and when one side loses all their Pokemon, the other side wins. Now please send out your Pokemon!
Lee: Now for the match from the stars, I choose Meissa!
The first Pokemon for Lee is a Medicham, and Ash goes for Banette to battle the first Pokemon. It goes for Acupressure to raise its stats, and also Meditate, but it doesn't seem to attack, much to their surprise.
Gladion: Fighting Type does not affect Ghost Type...I guess the match is over very soon.
Then Ash has Banette use Shadow Ball, knocking out the Pokemon.
Lee: I guess you are lucky that your Banette is facing my Meissa, but my second Pokemon is going to be Mintaka!
The next Pokemon is a Sawk, and Ash decides to change into Togekiss. It goes for Poison Jab, and the attack is super effective, which is not good for Ash. To make things worse, it is also poisoned.
Lee: Let's Bulk Up your moves!
It goes for the move to raise its Attack and Defense Stats, and then it goes for Low Sweep, which hits Togekiss at the leg, cutting its speed.
Ash: Hang on there, Togekiss, use Sky Attack!
Toegkiss glows and then it goes into the air, and it lands the attack, causing Sawk to be defeated, but the poison also makes Togekiss faint in the end.
Lee: Now you're still in the lead, but here is Altair!
Ash sees that the third Pokemon is Hawlucha, he decides to have Pikachu battle this one.
Lillie: Now I really don't know what its nicknames are about...
Emily: I know. They are the names of the stars. Meissa is a star in the constellation of Orion, and so does Mintaka. And Altair is in the constellation of Aquila.
Gladion: I start to wonder what kinds of stuff you are reading... Who would have thought of the names of those stars?
Lillie: (Sighs) Obviously Lee, or else he wouldn't nickname his Pokemon.
Gladion: Way to say the obvious.
Hawlucha deals some damage to Pikachu with the Flying Press, and the Feather Dance is lowering Pikachu's Attack stat.
Ash: Good thing that my Electric moves are usually Special Attacks, use Thunderbolt!
Without lowering the damage, Thunderbolt is in full power, and it damages Hawlucha a lot. Then it goes for Electro Web, which blocks Hawlucha's Flying Press, defeating the Pokemon in the end.
Lee: It seems like my Hawlucha is a little impatient...but here is Sirius!
The fourth Pokemon is Blaziken, and Ash goes for Inteleon for this Pokemon.
Emily: Sirius is a star in the constellation of Canis Major.
Gladion: Then why did he name his Blaziken with this name, shouldn't be Lucario that might be suitable for this name?
Lillie: Perhaps he doesn't have Lucario in his team, I mean, just because he specializes in Fighting Type doesn't mean he has to capture every Fighting Type in the world to be one.
Lee: Like usual, use your Bulk Up and Low Sweep!
As Blaziken is pumped up by raising its stats, it kicks Inteleon in the leg, causing it to groan in pain.
Ash: Stay right there and use Snipe Shot!
Inteleon uses its hands as a gun as it shoots at Blaziken, dealing a lot of damage. It also goes for Acrobatics, which is also super effective. But the lowering attack causes Blaziken's Liechi Berry to do its work, but before it goes for Blaze Kick, a Liquidation knocks it out of the battle.
Lee: I see your Pokemon is talented, here is Alrakis!
The fifth Pokemon is a Mienshao, and Ash continues to use Inteleon to battle.
Emily: This one is also weird as well, it is in the constellation of Draco, why doesn't it use on Kommo-o?
Lillie: You know, you really like to research the nicknames...
Emily: Well, they are interesting.
Lee's Mienshao uses Drain Punch, and it deals a lot of damage to Inteleon, and with the knee injury, Inteleon misses the Snipe Shot.
Lee: Finish this with U-turn!
Ash is surprised to see the move knocking out Inteleon, and Lee switches into his Hitmonlee.
Ash: This is so sudden...
Lee: Now who will be facing Cursa with its strong kicks?
Emily: And Cursa is a star in the constellation of Eridanus.
Lillie and Gladion aren't listening to Emily as they are concerned for Ash, as he goes with Vespiquen to battle. Hitmonlee goes for High Jump Kick, but it is a good thing that Vespiquen manages to dodge in time.
Ash: Good, now it is our chance. Use Air Slash!
But Hitmonlee manages to endure the attack, and Ash notices that it is holding the Focus Sash, which disappears after it is used. Hitmonlee goes for the final struggle by using Blaze Kick, but Vespiquen knocks it out with the Attack Order.
Lee goes back to use Mienshao, and Ash goes for Charizard for the final one. Charizard isn't looking down on this Pokemon because he knows that Mienshao is a high leveled Pokemon. And it goes for Arcobatics, which deals a lot of damage to Mienshao. Mienshao goes for Drain Punch, but the health that it drains isn't enough as it is defeated by Air Slash.
Referee: Mienshao is unable to battle, which means the winner of the gym is Ash Ketchum!
Lee: It's like you knew both yourself and me! (Recalls Mienshao and takes out a badge from his pocket.) The Kickboxing Badge is yours.
Ash takes the Kickboxing Badge and he thanks him.
Lee: I see you have eight badges now. In some other regions, you'd be on your way to challenging the Elite Four. But here, you're one badge left to the halfway mark. I think you have the potential to reach the top, though.
Ash: Thanks, Lee. That was a good battle as well.
Lillie: Good job, Ash. (Hugs Ash for his win.)
Emily: Yeah, that was a great battle. Now it is my turn!
Then they decide to watch how Emily battles the Gym Leaders, Ash realizes that Emily also battles just like himself. He smiles at how he is a role model to his sister. After that, they see Emily also beat Lee and get the badge, then they bid farewell as Ash and Lillie have a match with Kelani in the Battle Mall.
Here is a new chapter, and Ash has his eighth Gym badge in Ceolis, but this is a game with 18 badges, which means that there are still more gyms waiting for Ash. I hope you like this chapter.