Ash vs Bertha
"And that concludes our lesson on Sinnoh's history, any questions?" Bertha asked as she turned to face a group of students. She volunteered to chaperone the field trip to the Celestic Town ruins as the teacher had been overcome by an illness and the trip risked cancelation if she didn't help out, apart from the teacher being a good friend of hers she didn't want to upset the kids.
"Yes, my daddy said that long ago people and Pokemon could actually get married. Is that true?" One of the students suddenly asked causing Bertha to turn an embarrassing shade of red as that was the last thing she expected to be asked!
"Er-Yes, yes it is true. But that was thousands of years ago, you have to understand that you can't do so nowadays!" Bertha hastily responded while awkwardly looking to the side.
Ash and the others happened to walk in right at that awkward moment, Zach and Cinderace looked at each other and shared a look of disgust.
"Gross!"
"Ace!"
"Hm?" Bertha turned as she heard an older individual speak up, her eyes widened from surprise as she took note of Ash and Dawn's presence along with two strangers that appeared to be the same age as them.
'Thank Arceus,' She uttered a sigh of relief as she was thankful for a change in subject. 'And it looks like Ash finally found a girlfriend, heh.' Bertha smirked to herself before waving her hand in greeting.
"Ash, Dawn it's great to see you again!"
"It's great to see you too Bertha, I actually tracked you down as I hoped to have a battle with you but it looks like you're busy. We can come back later if you want?" Ash offered as he was quick to take note of the students.
'Classic Ash, mind always focused upon the battlefield!' Marnie smirked to herself as she silently shook her head.
"Hm? Oh no no no, the lesson's actually over and if you ask me I think it's about time the students got to witness a Pokemon battle in action!" Bertha hastily waved her hands.
Zach and Dawn gave each other a look as they had a feeling Bertha was eager to get the children's minds on something else and they couldn't blame her.
"Alright, you hear that Pikachu? Looks like we're getting that rematch after all!"
"Pika pi!" Marnie couldn't help but smirk as the two excitedly cheered out.
"What do you say kids, are you ready to see an Elite Four member and Pokemon League Champion battle it out?" Bertha asked her class.
The little girl opened her mouth as if she was going to try prying further into the embarrassing subject only to be drowned out by a sea of excited cries and shouts!
"Yes!"
After Bertha arranged for her students to get some refreshments as it was nearing their lunch time, the group made their way to the Pokemon Center's practice field and got into position. Ash and Bertha stood on opposite ends of the battlefield while the students and the others stood on the side of the field, Zach edged away from the students as he still wasn't a huge fan of crowds. Dawn noticed and edged closer to him so he wouldn't have to be alone, the two shared a brief glance and smiled at one another. Marnie smirked at the sight and kept her distance.
"Alright Ash if it's alright with you I'd like to make this a five on five matchup," Bertha spoke while glancing towards the students. She was being respectful of their spectators, not wishing for the students to be dragged home without seeing the end result. "And let's make things interesting, neither of us are allowed to switch. Once a Pokemon is out you've got to stick to it and adapt to the situation!"
"Sounds good to me! Pikachu you mind sitting this one out?"
"Pika!" Pikachu gave his trainer a salute.
"Alright! Well if you're ready we can get things started!" Ash exclaimed with a wide grin.
Bertha smirked lightly and gave a silent nod of confirmation as she threw a Pokeball forward. "Nidoking let's go!"
"Nidoking!" The Poison type stomped his foot against the ground and huffed out as he made eye contact with Ash.
Ash looked his opponent over for a moment before reaching for a Lure Ball. "Totodile I choose you!"
"Toto! Tototo dile!" The students cheered and laughed as Totodile cheerfully danced in place.
"Thunderbolt!" Bertha shouted.
"King!" Electricity sparked around Nidoking's horn shortly before a bolt of electricity fired towards Totodile!
"Dodge it!"
"Toto!" Totodile leaped aside as the bolt fired towards him, barely missing him as the blast struck where he stood mere seconds before!
"Hydro Pump!"
"Toto!" A geyser of water erupted from Totodile's mouth and shot across the field, striking Nidoking and pushing him back as he uttered out a pained grunt.
"King..."
"Whoa that little guy sure packs a powerful punch!" A student gasped out in amazement.
Bertha smirked as she glanced towards the student. "Take that as a lesson to not judge others based on their appearance, alright Nidoking use Earthquake!"
"King!"
"Shoot Hydro Pump at the ground!"
"Toto!" Totodile aimed at the ground as the geyser erupted from his mouth, sending the crocodile flying into the air and out of range of Nidoking's attack! Once Totodile was high enough he adjusted his aim and fired the rest of the geyser at Nidoking!
"Counter with Thunder!"
"Totodile..." Marnie clenched her fists, worry shined in her eyes as she watched the electric bolt tear through the geyser. The bolt reached Totodile within seconds and delivered a powerful shock to Totodile!
"T-Toto..." Totodile cried out as electricity surged through his veins, his body soon went limp as he dropped from the sky and fell to the ground below! Dust and dirt flew upwards as Totodile crashed against the ground, obscuring the view as he appeared to have been taken out.
"Totodile ret-" Ash paused midsentence as a light blue aura shined through the dust cloud along with a pair of bright blue eyes.
"Toto... dile!" Totodile cried out.
"That's Torrent!" Ash exclaimed. "Totodile you still up for this?"
"Toto!" Totodile turned and gave his trainer a thumbs up.
"Alright then let's finish with Hydro Pump!"
"Toto... dile!" A massive geyser of water erupted from Totodile's mouth and blasted towards Nidoking, striking the Pokemon and knocking him off his feet before he could even muster up a counterattack! Nidoking collapsed onto his back and uttered out a pained grunt as swirls filled his eyes.
"Nido... king..."
"Alright Totodile, you were amazing!"
"Pika pi!"
"Toto!" Totodile blushed lightly before uttering out a surprised gasp as a bright blue light engulfed his body! His jaw became rounded while two sharp fangs became visible at the corners of his jaw. Red spikes appeared at the top of his head while a singular diamond shaped spike formed atop his tail, although his appearance grew more fierce some he was still the same Pokemon deep down as the newly evolved Croconaw excitedly danced in place!
"Croco, croco croc!"
"Croconaw the Big Jaw Pokemon, once Croconaw has clamped its jaws on its foe it will absolutely not let go. Because the tips of its fangs are forked back like barbed fishhooks, they become impossible to remove when they have sunk in!"
"You evolved! Typhlosion and Bayleef will be so proud of you!"
"Croco!" Croconaw grinned while feeling rather pleased that he was catching up to his friends!
"Not bad but I'm sure Croconaw doesn't have much fight left in him," Bertha stated as she returned Nidoking to his Pokeball. "Let's see how he'll fare against this next one, Whiscash let's go!"
"Whiscash!" The catfish cried as it emerged from it's Pokeball.
"Aqua Tail!"
"Croco!"
"Zen Headbutt!"
"Cash!" Whiscash's forehead glowed bright blue as he shot across the field like a missile, Croconaw's tail smashed against the catfish's head as he made his approach but soon found himself launched up into the air as Whiscash's attack overpowered his own!
"C-Croconaw..." Croconaw collapsed against the ground as swirls formed within his eyes.
Whiscash didn't get out of it without some scratches though as the catfish appeared to be slightly battered from the Aqua Tail attack.
"Croconaw return, you were great out there and deserve a long rest." Ash returned Croconaw to his Lure Ball before reaching for a Pokeball. "Alright Leavanny I choose you!"
"Leavanny!"
"Use Leaf Blade!"
"Leavanny!" Leavanny's arm blades glowed a bright green color as he raced forward to slash at his opponent!
"Belch!"
A purple cloud emitted from Whiscash's mouth upon him uttering a loud belch. Leavanny slashed Whiscash across the face before pressing his hands against his nose as the disgusting smell was getting to him!
"Leavan!"
"Better keep our distance..." Ash muttered out. "Alright Leavanny use Leaf Storm!"
"Future Sight!" Whiscash's eyes glowed blue as a ball of blue energy appeared in front of him before disappearing into the air.
Leavanny raised up his arms as his body became outlined in a green energy, a large number of leaves began spiraling around his body before making their way towards Whiscash as Leavanny thrusted his arms forward. Whiscash grunted out as the leaves repeatedly pelted against his body, Croconaw had already dealt a decent amount of damage shortly being taken out and the two Grass attacks had taken their toll on Whiscash. The catfish collapsed against the battlefield as swirls filled his eyes.
"Alright Leavanny!"
"Pika pi!"
"Leavanny!" Leavanny took a light bow as Bertha returned Whiscash to his Pokeball.
"Mamoswine let's go!" Bertha tossed a Pokeball up into the air which promptly burst open to reveal the large mammoth Pokemon!
"Mamo!"
Ash clenched his fists as he knew overcoming Mamoswine certainly wouldn't be an easy feat for Leavanny, Grass attacks were still super effective but at the same time Ice attacks were super effective against Leavanny!
"Leavanny let's start things off with Leaf Storm!"
"Leavanny!"
"Counter with Blizzard!" Bertha ordered out with a light smirk.
"Mamo!" A sudden chill filled the battlefield followed by a storm of ice and snow, Leavanny's leaves died out and hit the ground before they could reach Mamoswine while Leavanny himself was knocked back!
"L-Leavanny..." He shivered before uttering a yelp as the blue ball returned and dropped down on top of him! Leavanny's body swayed back and forth before falling face first against the dirt as swirls formed within his eyes. "Lea...vanny..."
"Leavanny return!" Ash returned Leavanny to his Pokeball and quickly reached for another. "Melmetal I choose you!"
"Melmetal!"
"Whoa that one's new!" A student gasped out.
"It looks awesome!"
"I want one!"
Ash chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh, well far as we know it's the only one!"
"Metal!"
"Alright Melmetal let's start things off with Double Iron Bash!"
"Melmetal!" Melmetal began rapidly spinning in place.
"Earthquake!"
"Mamo!" Mamoswine raised his frontal hooves into the air before slamming them against the ground, the battlefield began shaking but Melmetal didn't appear the least bit phased as he continued spinning in place before extending his arms as he rocketed towards Mamoswine.
"Mel! Metal! Mel! Metal!" He cried out as his fists repeatedly bashed against Mamoswine's head! The mammoth let out a groan before suddenly dropping to his side resulting in a collective gasp from the students, even Bertha herself appeared to be stunned for a brief moment as Melmetal annihilated Mamoswine with a singular attack!
"Man that Melmetal sure is powerful," Marnie commented.
Even Ash himself was briefly stunned by shock as he sure wasn't expecting that result! "Wow..."
"Pika..."
Bertha silently returned Mamoswine as she was too stunned to properly speak, her words returned to her as she gripped another Pokeball. "Rhyperior let's go!"
"Rhyperior!" The rhino roared out as he burst from his Pokeball.
"Tail Whip!"
"Rhype!" Rhyperior turned his back to his opponent and began wagging his tail.
"Dynamic Punch!"
"Melmetal!" Melmetal's fist became coated in a light blue aura as he raced across the field and pulled back his fist as he prepared to take a swing at his opponent!
Bertha smirked to herself as everything was going according to plan. "Fissure!"
"Rhy!"
Rhyperior leaped up and crashed his fist against the ground causing golden cracks to form and race towards Melmetal who was unable to avoid the incoming attack as he was too close! Melmetal let out a groan as the attack made contact with his foot before toppling over in defeat, a loud thud emitted across the area as his body collapsed against the ground.
"Metal..."
"Melmetal return, you were great out there and deserve a nice long rest." Ash returned Melmetal to his Pokeball before reaching out for another. "Alright Buizel I choose you!"
"Bui bui!" Buizel punched at the air as he burst from his Pokeball.
"Use Rain Dance then follow up with Hydro Pump!"
"Bui!" Buizel raised his arms into the air as a heavy rainstorm began pouring down upon the battlefield, Buizel then opened his mouth and fired off a powerful geyser towards his opponent! Rhyperior grunted out as the attack struck him directly in the face, his eyes filled with rage as he let out a menacing roar!
'Swift Swim!' Bertha recognized the ability as Buizel appeared to be moving faster. She had to work fast if she planned on winning this! Surely another Fissue wouldn't hurt? "Fissure once more!"
"Buizel spin your tails!"
"Bui bui!" Buizel's tails began rapidly spinning causing the weasel to levitate off the ground and safely out of harms way!
"Whoa that's so cool!" A student gasped out in awe.
"Heh," Bertha smirked. "Clever..."
"Now use Aqua Jet!"
"Bui!"
"Counter with Thunder Fang!"
Buizel's body was surrounded by a watery veil as he blasted towards Rhyperior like a rocket, striking him directly against the chest! Rhyperior uttered a pained growl before sinking his electrically charged fangs into Buizel's neck, giving the weasel quite the shock!
"B-Bui..."
"We've got a surprise of our own, Rhyperior use Surf!"
"Rhy!" Rhyperior raised his arms as a massive wave of water formed beneath him and lifted him up into the air, the rhino Pokemon smirked down at his opponent as the wave moved towards him.
"Buizel let's try your Ice Punch!"
"Bui!" Buizel's fist turned an icy blue as he punched outwards before striking his fist through the wave, the wave quickly turned to ice before shattering to pieces as it failed to support Rhyperior's weight. The rhino flailed his arms and legs about as he fell towards the ground below!
"Rhy!"
"Hydro Pump!"
"Bui!" Buizel aimed upwards and shot off another water geyser, blasting Rhyperior further into the air before the rhino came crashing against the ground with a loud and heavy thud, dust kicked up and covered the field as the rainstorm died out, temporarily obscuring the view before the dirt faded from view to showcase the defeated form of Rhyperior who laid sprawled out on his back with swirls formed within his eyes.
"Rhy..."
"Alright Buizel!"
"Pi Pikachu!"
"Bui!" Buizel flashed the two a light smirk in response while Bertha recalled the downed Rhyperior to his Pokeball.
"Hippowdon let's finish this!"
"Hippo!" Hippowdon cried out as he emerged from his Pokeball.
'There you are!' Ash was sure that Hippowdon would come out at some point and he was glad he was right as he and Torterra had been itching for a rematch!
"Yawn!"
"Hippoooo!" Hippowdon yawned out causing Buizel to utter one of his own, the weasel's eyes began to droop as a tired expression formed across his face.
"Hydro Pump!" Ash quickly ordered out. There wasn't time to set up Rain Dance so he resorted to firing off an attack instead!
"Bui!" Buizel opened his mouth and fired off a water geyser at his opponent shortly before his eyes sealed shut, a light snore emitted from his throat.
"H-Hippo..." Hippowdon gritted his teeth as he was pushed back by the attack.
Bertha smirked at the sight of the sleeping Water type before extending her arm as she shouted out. "Heavy Slam!"
"Hip...powdon!" Hippowdon cried out as he leaped into the air before crashing down upon his opponent! Buizel gasped out as he was squashed against the ground, his breath drained right out of him while his eyes opened up to reveal swirls indicating that he'd been taken out!
"Buizel return, take a good long rest. You deserve it," Ash smiled at Buizel's Pokeball upon returning him to it, he placed it back upon his belt and reached for his final Pokeball. "Torterra I choose you!"
"Torterra!" Torterra cried out while gazing at Hippowdon with a look full of determination!
"Earthquake!" Ash shouted out.
"Torterra!" Torterra raised his frontal feet into the air before slamming them against the ground resulting in the battlefield shaking as the ground cracked beneath Hippowdon!
"H-Hippo..."
"Yawn!"
"Close your eyes!" Ash was ready this time as he knew what he was getting into. Torterra closed his eyes as Hippowdon yawned out, Torterra didn't see it so he was able to avoid the contagious yawn and the consequences it carried! "Now use Leaf Storm!"
"Torterra!" Leaves flew from the tree atop his back and spiraled around his body before making their way towards his opponent, striking Hippowdon in a repetitive manner as the hippo was pushed back once more!
"H-Hippo..."
"Ice Fang!"
"Hippo!" Hippowdon's fangs turned an icy blue as he lunged forward and sank his teeth into Torterra's neck!
"T-Torterra..." Torterra shivered from the chilly cold.
"Counter with Wood Hammer!"
"Terra!" Orange energy formed between Torterra's front paws and took the form of a large log, Torterra grabbed hold of it with his paws before hurling it at Hippowdon. Hippowdon was knocked to his feet as the log came crashing down on top of him, the hippo let out a weakened groan as he rose back to his feet before proceeding to stare his opponent down.
'Only got one last shot at this from the look of things.' Bertha thought to herself with an amused smirk. "Ice Fang!"
"Hippo!"
"Counter with Iron Head!" Torterra lowered his head as a shiny aura surrounded it. Torterra locked onto Hippowdon and charged forward headfirst, striking his head against Hippowdon's chest as Hippowdon sank his teeth into Torterra's neck! Both Pokemon groaned out from pain as they came to a stand still and for a moment it looked as if it could go either way or even end up a draw!
Ash, Bertha and the others all eagerly watched on with anticipation as they awaited the end result.
"H-Hippo... don..." Hippowdon's legs soon gave out resulting in the hippo collapsing face first against the dirt as swirls formed within his eyes.
"Torterra!" Torterra let out a victory cry as Ash shouted out one of his own.
"Alright, we just beat Bertha!"
"Pi Pikachu!"
"No way..." A student gasped out.
"I didn't know it was even possible for an Elite Four member to lose..." Another chimed in.
Bertha chuckled from amusement as she returned Hippowdon to his Pokeball. "We're Elite Four members, not gods. Everyone loses once in awhile, even fellow Champions! No matter how strong you are there will always be somebody that comes along to beat you, it could be months from now or even decades later! Nobody can win forever." Bertha explained to the students before turning to congratulate Ash. "Well done Ash, Torterra... you two have certainly grown more powerful since the last time we met, you've still got a ways to go before you're at Cynthia's level but if you continue down the path you're taking I'm sure that you'll stand a chance against her."
"Well that's the plan, it's my goal to become the World Champion after all!"
"Pi Pikachu!"
"Torterra!"
"Well I wish you the best of luck with that." Bertha gave Ash a sincere smile. "Now I hate to cut things short but I've got to get these students back to their parents."
"Don't worry about it, we have to head out soon anyways as I've got a match coming up at-" Ash went silent as his Rotom Phone began vibrating indicating that somebody was either calling him or had issued a challenge via the World Championship app. Ash quickly retrieved the phone from his pocket before a look of surprise formed across his face.
"It's Bea!" Marnie's eyes narrowed at the mention of the Fighting type specialist. "She's challenged me to a rematch at Veilstone City!"
"Wonderful..." Marnie muttered out.
"Isn't there a Fighting Gym Leader there? She's probably continuing her quest to become the strongest Fighting type trainer." Zach theorized.
"Yeah, that's our friend Maylene." Dawn confirmed.
"Either way I can't wait to see how her team's grown since our last battle, I'm sure she's got plenty more Fighting types by now!" Ash excitedly exclaimed.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu cried out.
Well the length's shorter than I expected it to be, felt like it'd be longer given I worked 18 hours on this one which incidentally is longer than the previous chapter hehe.
"Your battle scenes are getting better and better! Do you plan on making custom moves or sticking to "natural" ones?" Thank you and probably not, I created Voltage Vortex in Electric Blossom to compensate for Pikachu's lack of a Psychic Let's GO attack but I'm keeping that and any moves that he and Chloe's Eevee learn in the future exclusive to that universe.