Chapter 4
"What kind of guy is that Necromancer?" Ash asks Alice, who shrugs and says, "I don't know. But necromancer sounds like an evil job. I heard that those people use black magic to communicate with the dead, sometimes they even bring the dead back as mindless zombies who listen to only the person."
"That sounds horrible...we have to stop him for sure." Ash says as they finally reach Toadstool Woods. The Pokemon living there are Morelull, Vulpix, Lotad, Drowzee, Seedot, and Cleffa. However, none of them are going to capture new Pokemon, so they just continue their way forward and find the Necromancer in front of them.
"So you have finally decided to show your face! And you have not brought any of your shiny friends along with you!" The Necromancer taunts with a mocking laugh, "Your Dragonslayer friend, in particular, is so pathetic, not even willing to face me."
"We may not know the strength of Dragonslayer, but as the princess, I won't tolerate any ill words against people who are trying to protect the people from evil guys like you!" Alice says.
"Indeed, the two of us are going to defeat you once and for all." Ash says.
"Very well. You stand no chance. I will be your demise!" Necromancer says as he waves his wand, summoning a Misdreavus.
"Ash, how about we play fair by taking turns sending out Pokemon?" Alice asks.
"Sure. Unlike some people, we don't play dirty." Ash replies.
After sending out Rookidee, Necromancer says, "You're going for a bird against my powerful ghost Pokemon?"
"This tiny bird is going to defeat you and your Pokemon once and for all." Alice mocks back.
"Then, take this! Psychic!" Necromancer yells.
"Dodge it and use Hone Claws" Alice yells as the Pokemon dodges the attack and starts to sharpen its claws.
"Now let's go with the Power Trip!" With the Hone Claws, the move gets a power up, but Necromancer yells, "No you won't! Shadow Ball!"
Much to Alice's surprise, Rookidee gets hit by the Shadow Ball, and it falls to the ground while groaning in pain.
Ash says, "Alice, recall your Pokemon, I'll handle that Misdreavus." Alice nods as she sends back the Pokemon, then Ash goes for Zoroark to battle.
"An ancient Zoroark is not going to stop me! Dark Pulse!" Necromancer yells.
"Dodge it and use Bitter Malice!" Ash yells, and the attack turns out to be super effective as it hits Misdreavus, causing it to get frostbite.
"What? What's going on here?!" Necromancer yells in horror after seeing the status condition from the Misdreavus.
"Bitter Malice...The user attacks its target with spine-chilling resentment. This may also leave the target with frostbite. This move's power is doubled if the target has a status condition." Alice says.
"We can't go on with this. Use Nasty Plot now!" Necromancer yells, and Misdreavus starts to raise its Special attack.
"Don't let it finish, use Dark Pulse!" Ash yells as Zoroark creates a dark pulse and shoots at Misdreavus causing it to faint in the end.
"That is one down..." Alice says while wiping his sweat.
"I thought the both of you are just annoyances, but it turns out that you're more than I thought." Necromancer says. "Ekans!"
The second Pokemon that the Necromancer sends out is an Ekans, with the Intimidate ability, Zoroark's Attack stat is lowered. It goes for the Glare attack, causing Zoroark to get paralyzed.
"This is getting bad..." Ash gulps a little. "Zoroark, use Extrasensory!"
Zoroark manages to land a super-effective attack on Ekans, but Ekans just dodge the attack and Necromancer says, "Say goodbye to your Zoroark. Use Crunch!"
Zoroark is bitten by Ekans as it falls to the ground and fainted. Ash grits his teeth as he lost his Zoroark in a battle. Alice says, "Now both of us have one Pokemon down. Let me handle this with Aron."
Alice sends out her Aron, which is a Steel and Rock Type, Necromancer says, "Damn it...the wall of steel is going to give me trouble..."
"Glad that you know it." Alice says, "Aron, use Headbutt!"
"Dodge it and use Glare!" Necromancer yells, and Aron is getting hit by the attack and gets paralyzed. Ash says, "Not again..."
"It is not going to bother me." Alice says.
"Oh really? Take the Crunch attack!" Ekans charges at Aron as it is going to attack, but Alice says, "Harden!"
The Ekans is in pain after bitting the hard skin of Aron, and Alice says, "Finish with Rock Tomb."
Then Aron creates some rocks as which sends Ekans flying to the ground, Necromancer is not happy as he sees that his second Pokemon has fallen.
"You're not going to get lucky this time!" Necromancer sends out a Hypno, and Alice decides to go for Metal Claw, but it is blocked by Detect.
"I don't remember Hypno learning the move..." Ash says.
"Torment." Necromancer commands, and Hypno manages to hit Aron, subjecting him to Torment. Alice says, "Torment just makes me unable to use the same move, but I can still do this, Rock Tomb!"
When the Rock Tomb manages to hit the Hypno, it turns out to be a Zorua in disguise.
"A Zorua?" Ash and Alice gasp in surprise. Necromancer says, "Night Slash!"
"Block it with Protect!" Alice yells, and Aron manages to block the Night Slash before it hits, but when Zorua attacks again, the paralysis causes Aron to be unable to dodge, and Aron faints in the end.
"Poor Aron..." Alice says with horror while cuddling the Pokemon. "I'm sorry."
"He may be our enemy, but he is also powerful as well." Ash says, "Do you want me to use my Pokemon, or do you want to use Rookidee?"
"I'll go with Rookidee." Alice says as she sends back the bird Pokemon.
"It has taken a Shadow Ball, do you think it can take another hit?" Necromancer asks.
"I believe in my Rookidee!" Alice yells, "Use Fury Attack!"
"Detect!" Necromancer yells, and the attacks cause them to clash with each other, but Rookidee doesn't want to give up as it starts to glow, evolving into a Corvisquire.
"What? A Corvisquire?" Necromancer gasps in surprise.
"Alright, now it is powered up." Ash cheers and so is Pikachu. Alice says, "Use Pluck!"
Corvisquire goes for the attack and it manages to hit Zorua, Necromancer yells, "Like I'm going to lose! Use Torment again!"
"Don't let it do it! Pluck once more!" Alice yells, and the attack causes Zorua to faint before the Torment can be subjected to Corvisquire.
"Now you've really done it." Necromancer is angry as the final Pokemon is Hypno. "Hypnosis!"
Hypno shakes the coin like a pendulum and it causes Corvisquire to fall asleep. Alice gulps as it goes for Nightmare and Confusion, knocking the Pokemon out.
"I'm sorry, Ash. I tried my best..." Alice says.
"Don't worry, Hypno is a strong Pokemon. And I know how to deal with it. Heracross! I choose you!" Ash says.
The final Pokemon for Ash's side is Heracross, and Necromancer says, "A Fighting Type, huh? This should be easy! Hypnosis!"
Ash smirks as Heracross is hit by the attack and falls asleep. "Let's finish that oversized bug with Confusion!"
"Sleep Talk and dodge the attack!" Ash yells, and both Alice and the Necromancer are surprised at the turn of events.
"Megahorn!" Ash commands, and Heracross manages to hit Hypno with the attack and it groans in pain. But it has a Sitrus Berry and it is using the item to recover some health.
"If only I could've used Pluck with Corvisquire..." Alice mutters.
"Don't worry, I can handle this." Ash replies. "Heracross, now Sleep Talk again and this time, go for Throat Chop!"
Heracross immediately flies towards the Hypno, slashing the Pokemon's throat. Necromancer says, "Nightmare! Now!"
Hypno tries to use the Ghost Type move to make Heracross lower some health, but Heracross manages to wake up at the moment, and Ash smiles, "This is the end! Heracross, Aerial Ace!"
Heracross continues to strike the Hypno time after time, and Hypno eventually falls to the ground fainted, much to the surprise of Necromancer.
"What is this?" Necromancer can't believe that he is out of Pokemon, meaning that he lost the duel. He sighs and says, "I underestimated you, Prince Ash and Princess Alice. Your victory against the Haxorus was no fluke."
He takes out a key from his pocket and hands it over to Alice, he says, "Take this, the Necromancer Key."
Alice and Ash are confused, but they get the key from the Necromancer. But just after it's done, he gives out an evil laugh and says, "But your victory against me was in vain. I will of course continue to..."
"Pathetic? I was watching the whole time!" They notice that the Dragonslayer is leaning against the tree, much to their surprise.
"You were?" Necromancer gasps.
"Yes, and now you are going to come along with me!" The Dragonslayer then takes out a rope and binds the Necromancer, much to the man's horror.
"This is not the last that you'll hear of me!" While he is tied up, he glares at the Dragonslayer.
"Is that the best line you've got? Can't come up with anything more original? Let's go!" Then the Dragonslayer nods at Ash and Alice before dragging the Necromancer away.
"So I guess this is it?" Ash asks.
"I guess so..." Alice says as she looks at the key. "But what can this key do?"
"I wish it could be this day every day! Your excellent battling spirit is commendable." They turn to see that the Grand Wizard is walking toward them. Alice says, "Grand Wizard! You've come as well!"
"Both of you have the characteristics of true heroes! Good has been restored to this part of the Kingdom! Well..." Grand Wizard says.
"Well what?" Ash asks.
"There are rumors that a coven of witches are causing chaos with another rampant Pokemon. The Pokemon is said to be in Mangrove Swamp. And once again, there is some dark energy involved. The kingdom depends on people like you to stand up for what is right, so make your way over once you're ready."
After the Grand Wizard leaves, Alice says, "Still, it doesn't explain what this Necromancer Key can do..."
Ash looks at the Dex Orb and then the key, he says, "Maybe this is kind of like a gym badge in other regions..."
"Gym badges? What are those?" Alice asks.
"You see, in other regions, there are gyms, which people can test their bond with Pokemon by battling trainers known as Gym Leaders, once you manage to prove your strength and defeat them, you will be getting a badge, and once you have 8 of them, you can reach the Elite Four and then the Champion."
"So if what you said applies to what happened here...if we get 8 of the keys, we will be able to reach Rosemary City and find my Mother." Alice gasps. "And the Grand Wizard said that the next Dark Pokemon is in Mangrove Swamp, right? We should go there to see if we can find the second key."
"You're right, let's go." Ash says as they all leave the Toadstool Woods.
And here is a new chapter, as you can see, the keys are like the badges in this game, some of the locations are locked up unless you have the corresponding key. The Necromancer is not that hard to beat, that is if you compared it to the Dark Pokemon. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the second phase of the story, that is the problem of the witches.