As always, I don't own pokemon.
Disclaimer: See above. Pokemon belongs to Shogakukan Comics, Nintendo, Game FREAK, and who knows whom else. A lot of rich companies…
This is fanwork and no profit is being made. Please do not plagiarize or steal characters.
Notes: for telepathy, for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.
Chapter 17: Minefield – VS Golbat
Ash was doing an admirable job of not panicking. As he was currently being held captive by a Muk, with a Golbat's wing pressed against his throat; that was saying a lot.
Lance watched impassively, waiting for him to get out of the mess. They hadn't even found Koga yet.
Well, poke balls weren't really an option, as the muk was covering them.
Red winked his left eye imperceptibly. A second later, a kadabra appeared in the room, blasting apart both pokemon in an eye blink.
Ash smiled, getting up.
"Not bad." Lance said calmly. "Shall we go?"
Ash nodded, as Lance guided him past the voltorbs set in the floor to the next room. That was when the invisible walls popped up.
Red reacted instantly, ducking a set of shuriken that might have pinned him to the wall, before his Shiny Rattata used her Dazzle move, conveniently blinding the thrower.
There was a cry torn from an unwilling voice box.
Then, Venus filled the air with Stun Spore.
Dragonair's Safeguard protected Lance and Ash, but unfortunately, not the other.
Aya coughed, feeling her arms freeze up. Looks like he isn't bad. Now let's see how long I can hold him off before my brother finishes his lesson with Janine.
She dropped a poke ball, as her Venonat began hurling Solarbeams in all directions.
Ash and Kadabra jumped around, as Rattata jumped at Aya, teeth shining. Fortunately, Aya was wearing the proper guards and armor and was unhurt. However, it served to distract her long enough while Kadabra nailed Venonat with a Psychic.
Next, two poke ball shurikens flew in, releasing a pair of Zubat after embedding themselves in the wall.
"More?" Ash asked. "Okay then…"
His eyes sparkled as Raichu popped out and thunderwave the area.
Needless to say, those poor Zubats did not fare well either.
Come on, where's the gym leader? Raichu asked.
I would like to know that also.
Kadabra's eyes glowed redly as he began to scan the area.
That was when Koga walked in with no warning, as a kunai nearly took off Ash's head. Fortunately, rattata whacked it out of the way with her tail.
Red snapped back to reality, as kadabra used disable.
Koga was fast enough to avoid though, and sent a couple more sharp pointy objects flying at the young trainer.
Rattata dazzled again. Luckily, Koga was a bit more adaptable than Aya, and only spent a few seconds blinking away dizzy spots.
During this time, Ash swapped all his pokemon for Skarmory. Koga blocked the bird's steel feathers with his own sword as they dueled.
A swift attack hit him in the chest.
Koga jumped back, Koffing smogging up the arena. That might help… His Golbat perched on his shoulder and sent out the necessary supersonic waves to determine positioning, however…
Koga jumped as Skarmory nearly drilled through his chest. How did it hide -!
"Drill Peck!"
Koffing exploded, but Skarmory's armor protected him from most of the attack. Skarmory then screeched, freezing Golbat long enough to knock it off Koga's shoulder and use Steel Wing.
The banged-up Golbat dropped like a rock.
"Very
impressive." Koga admitted, handing over his Soul Badge. "How did you hide your
Skarmory in the mist?"
"I didn't." Ash said calmly.
"What?"
"Skarmory was always there. However…" Red paused. "Skarmory was right behind golbat, waiting to strike."
"But Golbat's echolocation!"
"Skarmory's steel body would stand out in this gym." Ash nodded. "But Skarmory was practically on top of Golbat, so when its echoes went out, it seemed as if Skarmory didn't exist."
"No tricks." Lance said with a smile.
"I will have to learn how to defend against that." Koga said, as he bid the two trainers goodbye, Skarmory proudly flying overhead. Skarmory's thoughts were simple enough.
I just won, and I feel great! Master gave me some fresh berries too. Yummy…
I don't care about what master feels, as long as he is nice. And he is. I'm his favorite, I think, almost every time there is a poison type, and it's my field.
He doesn't push me too hard though.
Kadabra has a share of the market as well. But Kadabra keeps to himself and spends a lot of time meditating.
It must be some psychic tradition.
I love flying through the air. The wind beneath my wings is cool, and I don't have to flap like those tiny pidgeys.
Of course, I still don't' know how dragons fly, especially the ones without wings. Maybe they float like the balloon Jigglypuffs.
That would be funny. A giant balloon!
This berry is very sweet. It's like the sky in color. Very sweet, there are a lot of them. Yum.
More food for me! I'm so glad kadabra doesn't like these!
I don't need to hunt much with master around; he brings good food. Plus, I can stop by any tree to get the bugs.
Yummy, yummy.
"So, only earth badge left?" Lance asked Ash.
"Hai!" Ash cheered. His chocolate eyes sparkled with happiness.
Lance shook his head. Another shift from boastful to child, but at least it means he is still pure. He must stay that way.
Lance stopped by a stand and got two ice creams, chocolate for himself and strawberry vanilla cheesecake for Ash. "Here, my treat."
"Arigato, Lance.' Ash said, beaming as he dug into the tasty confection.
Yes, stay that way… you have to; it's for all our sakes…
End Chapter
Completed 3/17/04