Good mor-NING! I'm so happy [musical note]. This story will be finished soon. And then I can write another one. Yay! [another musical note]

Heniway, the eighth and final Gym looms in front of the gang. Will they get the Badge? Find out, in:

No Such Thing

Disclaimer: I own a lot of stuff. Pokémon is not an example. Ad is.

"Misdrea!"
Ad turned to Misdreavus. It was struggling against an invisible wall.
"How come we can't get through, but Misdreavus can't?" asked Ash.
"I don't know. I guess we'll find out inside," said Brock, motioning to the door.
"I'm staying out here with Misdreavus," said Ad. He turned to May. "I think you'll have to stay here as well."
"Yup," said May, knocking on the wall, "I will. Goodbye then. Ask Chelsea what this barrier is."
"Yes siree," said Ash, climbing through the door.

There was a small, circular room through the door. Sitting in the centre was a small girl, fretting and looking jumpily around.
"Excuse me?" asked Ash timidly. The girl leapt up and darted behind her chair. She peeked out from behind.
"W-w-what d-do you w-want? D-do you have any g-g-ghosts with you?" she stammered meekly.
"Yes; two actually..." started Ash, but Misty clamped her hand over his mouth. "No, none, whatsoever."
"Can you check if there are any g-ghosts caught in the ghostproof wall trap?" requested the girl, creeping out, standing up, and tipping her head onto her shoulder.
"Um...there are two," said Brock, "but they're our friends. They won't hurt you."
"You are com-ple-tely sure about that?" said the girl, the hairs standing up on the back of her neck.
"Yes."
"Alright then. But don't say I didn't warn you." The girl pulled a small lever by the side of her chair. There was a scream from outside, and Misdreavus and May tumbled in. The girl gasped.
"I know that Misdreavus. Ad!"
And, speak of the devil, Ad stumbled through the door.

"What happened to the wall, Chelsea?"
"I neutralized it. But I think I'd better start it up again." Chelsea reversed a connection, and pulled the lever again.
"What do you need an anti-ghost wall for?" asked Ash, bamboozled.
"Well..." said Chelsea, shifting her gaze and twiddling her thumbs, "I'm scared of ghosts."
"WHAT?" yelled Ad. "YOU LIVE ON TOP OF LAVENDER TOWER, THE MOST HAUNTED PLACE IN POKÈWORLD, AND YOU'RE SCARED OF GHOSTS?!?"
"Yes, and there's no need to shout," said Chelsea, annoyed. "I just felt that here was the only place they wouldn't dare come. It being high up, sunlight pouring in, all that."
"Ah. Anyway, I didn't come here to muck about with ghostproof walls. I came here to battle!"
"Alright. If you insist."

"The challenger, Ash Ketchup of Pallet Town, will face the Leader, Chelsea Oddhill, in a two-on-two battle, time limit five minutes."
"Funny name," remarked Chelsea.
"It's Ketchum really. Brock's just dumb."
"I choose you, Bayleef!"
"Charmander, go!"
The two Pokémon squared up. Charmander was going to have to finish this – and fast. He let out a quick Ember. Bayleef dodged, and used Razor Leaf. The leaves whipped past Charmander, and got caught in the flame. Charmander span around, and the leaves went flying out. They hit Bayleef like little bullets.
"Bay!"
"Four minutes!"
Bayleef struggled to its feet, limped over to Charmander, and used Stomp. It trod on its fiery tail. Charmander howled in pain; so did Bayleef. Bayleef had burnt its foot badly. Now was Charmander's chance... It used Fire Spin. The vortex of flames surrounded Bayleef, and its leaf was burnt. It tried to tend its leaf and foot at the same time, failed, and fell over backwards.

"Bayleef, return. Croconaw, go!"
"Three minutes!"
Croconaw leapt out, and looked at Charmander. It used Bubblebeam. Charmander sidestepped. Croconaw tried again. Charmander sidestepped again. Croconaw used Bubble, and the huge bubble floated into Charmander, breaking in half. The two halves came together and encased Charmander. Charmander started floating into the air. Croconaw sniggered, and used Water Gun. The stream of water pierced the bubble, and Charmander came crashing down. It fainted.

"Two minutes!"
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
Pikachu jumped into the fray. It had just two minutes to faint Croconaw. It looked around. The floor was bare. Pikachu used Thunderbolt, but Croconaw jumped away. Croconaw used Bubblebeam. The bubbles hit Pikachu, but hardly did any damage. Croconaw thought. It had to strengthen its attacks. "Use Thief!" Croconaw jumped forward, and swiped at Pikachu. The rodent Pokémon braced itself, only to find that no damage was done. Pikachu stood up, and looked to see Croconaw dancing madly. It was holding Mystic Water.
"Now why was Pikachu holding that?"
"One minute!" Croconaw used Hydro Pump. It pushed Pikachu back, but wasn't very effective. Croconaw didn't have much time: it needed to have enough power for a one-hit wonder. It used Rain Dance.

It was the biggest mistake it ever made.

Pikachu summoned up all its energy, and used Thunder. The electricity conducted through the rain, and hit Croconaw. It was super effective, and Croconaw fainted. Brock bashed the gong.
"Your time is up. Ash fainted 2, Chelsea 1. So, I declare Ash the winner."
"Yes!" cried Ash, jumping into the air.

"Well done. Here's your Badge."
The Badge was shaped like a clock. The two hands pointed to twelve o' clock (Lunchtime, said Ash, and Brock wondered if he should use the mallet).
"It's the Time Badge. It signifies that it's time for you to do the Masters tournament. Registration is right through here." Chelsea tapped the wall, and there was a flash of red. When it had subsided, there was a hole in the wall. The group crawled through.

Inside was something that looked relatively like a Pokémon Centre. Ash came through, and went up to the desk.
"Hello. Can I register for the Masters Tournament?"
"Certainly. Can I take your Pokémon?" chimed Nurse Joy.
"Ohhh..." drooled Brock. Misty tugged his ear. "Don't make me whack you..."
Brock remembered that he had the mallet. "Yes sir!"
Misty thought. "He's acting very suspiciously."

"You have all eight Badges?" asked Joy.
"Yes," said Ash, spreading out the Badges.
"Hullo, Ash!" came voices from the side.
"Huh?" said Ash, turning around.

You like? Review. Easy as QPZ.

The next chapter will be up soon, as I have an idea in my head for it.
The quest for the Badges is over! Now for the Masters tournament.

And so, in the immortal words of Ford Prefect...

"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime, doubly so."

GOODNIGHT!