Chapter 12 Annoying Fern Blockade

Before heading to Oynx Ward, Ash heads to Coral Ward to break open the warehouse, so that they can free the Day Care Couple.

Old Man: Oh, you're not with Team Meteor, are you?

Old Woman: Have you come to save us? At last!

Ash: Yes, we are here to save you.

Old Man: We run the Day Care in the Obsidia Ward. Team Meteor abducted us so we could no longer raise the Pokemon of other Trainers.

Old Woman: They said they were going to impersonate us and start stealing Trainers' Pokemon instead!

Old Man: We overheard one of the assailants talking about storing the stolen Pokemon in a different warehouse. I hope they get returned to their owners all right.

Old Woman: If the Meteors are gone, we should get back to our house and restore our business's reputation. Thank you so, so much, young Trainer. Please drop by any time. (Leaves)

Ash smiles as he saves the couple, but when they go to another warehouse, they find the same Team Meteor grunt leaving with a Ditto in the cage. As Ash tries to find him, he is no longer in sight, but he finds a Happiny and takes care of it. In another one of the houses, he finds a Spoink instead.

Ash's New Pokemon in Coral Ward: Spoink, Happiny (Event)

Back in Obsidia Ward, Ash shows how much he has bonded the Pikachu to a woman inside, and he receives a Soothe Bell as a gift, but when showing his other Pokemon, the woman notices the Glameow.

Woman: Wait. This is one of that other gaudy salon's Glameow, isn't it? Now that I think of it, that's a pretty respectable marketing strategy. Anytime someone sees a Glameow, they'd think of that place, right? (Stands up from her seat) All right, time to do one better. I've got a Pokemon that'll really kick off our image. Say, why don't you battle it so I can take some footage of it in action?

Ash decides to help out as he battles the Tsareena, and Ash remembers how Mallow is also at Professor Oak's lab as he is sad. But once he is done, he receives a Bounsweet as a gift.

Ash's New Pokemon in Obsidia Ward: Bounsweet (Event)

The last place he has gone is the Obsidia Department Store, and one of the staff members decides to explain it to him.

Staff: Here at Obsidia, we sell everything a Trainer could possibly need, from Revives to Reaper Cloths! Unfortunately, many of our rarer items have very limited stock. In order to prioritize our inventory for only our most loyal customers, the Obsidia Department Store has developed a membership system! Each customer is given a Membership Card on which they collect Stickers! Stickers are sometimes given out by Department Store staff, but also might be traded between other Trainers. They are rare, but worth it! With each Sticker you collect, you'll be granted access to a new floor of the Department Store!

Ash: I see...so I have to collect stickers...

Staff: Oh, don't you have a Membership Card yet? Please, take one! It comes with one Sticker already!

Ash takes the membership card with a sticker, and that means he can go to the second floor, which is the Status and Friendship Berries. After that's done, they go to another house and find a runaway Lillipup, after searching for a while, he and the owner finds the Pokemon at the Onyx Ward, because of how hard it is to tame, the owner gives Ash its Pokeball.

Ash's New Pokemon in Onyx Ward: Lillipup (Event)

In Onyx Ward, Ash notices the Pokemon Trainer School, there are two entrances, and Ash decides to go into one of them, only to see Fern waiting for him.

Fern: Ash.

Ash: (Uninterested) Fern, what do you want?

Fern: A little birdie told me you were coming here to challenge my sister. And I also heard something else interesting. Apparently, she brought you along to clean up that whole mess in Obsidia?

Ash: Yeah, so what?

Fern: I'm forced to ask myself, why? You and I were both there at Mosswater. Why did you get invited to that and not me? And that incompetent girl who went and got herself captured? Maybe if I were there, she still would be too.

Ash: (Angry) Hey, don't you dare say Victoria is incompetent!

Fern: So here's what I think, Ash. I think you don't deserve to challenge her. I think you're not good enough. So I'm not going to let you.

Ash: Who are you to say like that, your sister invited me. So move aside.

Fern: Not if I say so. (Turns around) Trey, go tell the other kids not to let Ash in. Skye, go hit the switch for the gate. (Turns to Ash) Maybe you don't understand why I'm doing this, Ash. It's not like I care whether or not you beat the Flobot. But this is a matter of pride.

Then the door separates from Fern and Ash, causing both him and Pikachu to get angry.

Fern: And you're not worthy. (Leaves)

Ash: I hate him so much. Why do they even have that kind of door at a school?

Pikachu shrugs, and then they decide to find another way to the school, and fortunately, they find another door, but it is guarded by students.

Student: Hey, you're the one they said to keep out, huh?

Ash: Like you could keep me out, I'm here to challenge the gym and I'll get my badge no matter what.

The students start to get frightened by Ash's tone, but they don't let him pass unless he beats them, and Pikachu manages to defeat his Pokemon in the end. Inside the school, Ash notices that there is a lot of books and students training and reading. Ash also notices the Pokemon Center and heals his Pokemon. On their way, some students are trying to stop Ash from reaching the gym, but they are no match for Ash as they are defeated.

On the second floor, Ash was given a Coin Case from a student who laments about the Onyx Arcade's system being locked down. And they also notice the personal diaries of Julia, Florinia, Amaria, and a person called Titania. Ash decides not to invade their privacy as they leave the books alone. He also accidentally listens to a boy talking to himself, and the boy accidentally breaks the vase, causing the door to the 3rd floor to get opened. On the third floor, they see a lot of students working on the tests about Field effects, and Ash picks one for the Desert Field to his Poke Gear.

Field Notes 12 Desert Field:

"The field is rife with sand." Ground Type Pokemon's Special Defense boosted by x1.5. Activated abilities like Sand Force, Sand Rush, and Sand Veil. Sun and Sand last for 8 turns. Certain attacks like Burn Up, Dig, Heat Wave, Needle Arm, Pin Missile, Sand Tomb, Searing Sunraze Smash, Solar Beam, Solar Blade, Thousand Waves boosts by x1.5. Sand Attack's power amplifies. Dry Skin damages the user. Sand Tomb damages 1/6 health each turn. Water attacks decrease by x0.5 when the attacker is grounded. Electric attacks decrease by x0.5 when the target is grounded. Shore Up heals 100% Max HP. Nature Power becomes Sand Tomb. Camouflage becomes Ground Type. Secret Power may lower Accuracy. The Telluric Seed boosts Defense, Special Defense, and Speed but applies Sand Tomb to the user.

Ash: For some reason, I think Florinia is going to use this field... (Pikachu nods)

When he continues to move on, they find the door locked again, much to his annoyance. But fortunately, a boy with red hair comes to his rescue.

?: Oi, what's all the ruckus? Heard half the school's up in arms over some challenger or another. Don't suppose that's you?

Ash: So you're here to stop me as well?

?: Rock on. The half that's riled is all just Fern's roadies. Can't stand the lot of them myself, and I donno why anyone puts up with him. Man's got all the charm of a dusty Stunfisk and about as much honor. (Looks at the gate) So you're locked out, huh? This switch's what does the deed, but it's a little janked out at times. Scoot. (Checks the gate buttons) Sometimes you just gotta give it a good bang.

The boy presses a lot of buttons, and then the gate opens.

Hardy: Works every time. Name's Hardy, by the way. Gym Leader by profession, rock star by aspiration... Student by technicality.

Ash: So you're a gym leader as well. Name's Ash and this is my Pikachu.

Hardy: I've got chords to catch, so I'mma split. You keep on keepin' on, mate. Give Fern hell for me.

Ash: Will do. (Bids farewell to Hardy) I like this one more than Fern.

After walking for a while, Ash notices that the gate is blocked and there are some questions that he needs to answer if he wants to get through, so he decides to do those quizzes. But during that, he is also ambushed by Fern's people, and he has to break his way through.


Florinia: (Hears the explosions and walks towards Fern) Question: What's the source of the explosions? Battle practice doesn't commence until eleven o'clock.

Fern: (Uninterested) Nothing. (Annoyed by the fact Ash doesn't want to stay out of the gym)

Just then, Ash finally arrives and he is not happy to see Fern with Florinia.

Florinia: Question: Ash, why are you engaged in the battle against my students?

Ash: Because your brother ordered them to try to kick me out of the gym. That's why.

Fern: (Sighs) Look, Ash, really, don't take it personally, but I know a loser when I see one. You can only coast by on luck and pity for so long. So come on, smile! By not letting you embarrass yourself in our Gym, really I'm doing YOU a favor.

Ash: Even if I lose, it won't be embarrassing. You are the one that gets embarrassed because what you said reflects on what you do. (Cold tone)

Florinia tries not to laugh at Ash's comment, but Fern is not happy as he starts to get mad.

Fern: (Tries to keep calm) Yeah, I didn't really think you'd be smart enough to listen to me. Have it your way, man.

Ash: (Taunts) Now the loser who hides behind the students starts to fight, huh. Just so you know, you're going to lose this one.

Fern sends out Sandile and Ash decides to go with Charizard, wanting to sweep his team as much as possible. Charizard manages to use Flamethrower all the time to defeat Sandile, Roselia, and even Dartrix. Fern is shocked that he lost so easily.

Ash: Maybe in your boasted ego, I'm just a loser. But just so you know, only true losers will boast about others being losers.

Fern: (Growls) You're infuriating, really. Outcome or not, the difference between us isn't that great. So why is it like this again, huh? Is it the badge? You think you're SO cool, just because you're doing the whole Gym League thing?

Ash: Oh I'm not the only one doing so, people challenge the leagues all the time. (Florinia nods in agreement)

Fern: And apparently the Flobot agrees. No, you know what? Two can play at that game, Ash. If a second-rate Trainer like you can keep up, then I won't have any problem sweeping the Reborn League. I should thank you, Ash. But I'm not going to. You haven't earned that, and I've got better things to do. Later, loser!

Ash: Sure, later loser. (Sees Fern leaves and turns to Florinia) I'm sorry, Florinia. But I can't stand your brother's cockiness.

Florinia: Apology accepted. Request: Ash, you can call me Rini as well. I like that name.

Ash: Sure, Rini.

Florinia: Since you also pass the whole test without any failure, you can immediately challenge my gym. I will be waiting in the back of the gym field.

Ash nods as Florinia leaves to prepare for the gym.


Here is a new chapter, and Fern got his butt kicked by Ash's Charizard. A lot of you guys hate him, just like me. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the gym battle.