Chapter 13 Onyx Ward Gym Battle
While Florinia is setting up the gym, Ash decides to go to the Onyx Arcade, he purchases some Pokemon so that he can use them on the team.
Ash's New Pokemon in Onyx Ward: Snover, Slugma, Mantyke, Shinx, Nidoran (M) (Event)
After getting through the gym door, Ash finds the Telecom and opens it, inside, Ame is already waiting for him to call back in the Grand Hall.
Ame: Ash? So you're at Florinia's Gym. Okay! So Florinia's fighting style is a little different from what you might expect from a Grass Leader- her team is centered around the sand.
Ash: I think I know because of the Field Note app, I got the Desert Field not long ago.
Ame: Her 'desert rose' fighting style can be tricky- she'll try to stall you out and take you down with residual sand damage and other status effects. Florinia's all about knowledge and strategy, so try something different from that to beat her. Maybe you can find a way to abuse the sand and get lucky? Even if she insists that's not a factor. Or, pick something that hits hard and power through her before she can get her effects going! Brawn over brains, if you will.
Ash: Okay. Desert and Grass...I don't know they mix together...(Leaves and enters the gym arena)
When Ash enters the arena, he is surprised to see a lot of students watching. Some of them are nervous because they are Fern's goons and they are now scared of Ash because of how he defeats Fern with ease.
Florinia: Welcome, Ash. Your assistance in Meteor-related affairs is appreciated. However, that alone fails to merit the appropriation of a Badge. In order to determine eligibility for Badge-ownership, a further trial is required. Do not mistake the impartial application of these tests as unthankfulness. It is a simple procedure.
Ash: I know, let's do it.
Florinia: (Turns to students) Students, please take notes on the standard battling procedure. The demonstration will commence. Hypothesis: Subject displays insufficient data for conclusive success. Expected outcome: Failure. (Sends out Maractus)
Ash: Maractus, huh? Alright. I choose you, Noctowl!
When Ash sends out the Pokemon, everyone is shocked to see the color of the Noctowl. Now they are going to focus on the battle because they know Ash is from a different region.
Maractus goes with Spikes, setting up the field. Noctowl goes for Air Slash, which is being cut off by Needle Arm.
Ash: It will be too easy if that doesn't work. Use Zen Headbutt!
Florinia: Counter: Use Pin Missile.
Maractus shoots out a lot of missiles at Noctowl, causing it to fall to the ground, and the spikes hurt the Pokemon. Ash decides to return the Pokemon for now and goes with Charjabug, much to everyone's confusion because Charjabug is also half Electric and electric moves don't do much in a Desert Field.
Florinia: Offense: Use Nature Power!
Ash knows that the Nature Power of this field is Sand Tomb, but he has Charjabug dodge the attack and goes for Bug Bite, knocking Maractus out of the battle.
The second Pokemon of Florinia is Cottonee, and it goes for Poison Powder, making Charjabug poisoned.
Ash: This is bad... Charjabug! Charge up!
Florinia: Counter: Use Leech Seed.
Charjabug doesn't have that much health because of Maractus, and Leech Seed manages to knock it out. Ash decides to go with Noctowl again, but Cottonee goes for Spore, making it fall asleep.
Ash: Are you kidding me? Leech Seed, Spore, and Poison Powder? Just wake up, Noctowl!
Fortunate for Ash, Noctowl wakes up immediately and goes for Air Slash, but Cottonee still manages to get a lot of health from Leech Seed, and the final move is Protect, which deflects some of Noctowl's moves. In the end, Noctowl goes for Brave Bird, and eventually both of them are knocked out.
Florinia: Reveal third: Ferroseed!
Ash: Pignite! I choose you! (Sends out the Pokemon)
When Pignite is sent out, it gets damaged from Spikes. But Ash notices that Ferroseed has its Defense, Special Defense, and Speed raises but is trapped in a Sand Tomb.
Ash: I see...it has Telluric Seed...
Florinia: Offense: Nature Power!
Florinia tries to trap Pignite in the Sand Tomb, but it uses Flame Charge to dodge the attack and deals some damage. But the ability of Iron Barbs made Pignite take some damage as well. Ferroseed goes for Sandstorm, much to Ash's annoyment since Pignite takes damage each turn.
Ash: Pignite! Use Fire Pledge!
Pignite slams its feet to the ground, and in the end, Ferroseed is knocked out.
Ash: You did great, Pignite. (Hugs the Pokemon)
Florinia: (Recalls Ferroseed) Reveal fourth: Breloom.
The fourth Pokemon appears and it goes for Spore again, Pignite falls asleep and it keeps getting hit by Mach Punch. So Ash has to switch out and he goes for Stunky. Trubbish goes for the Acid, which is super effective, and Breloom gets poisoned.
Ash: Great, now it is poisoned, we can try to deal some more.
Florinia: Mistake: Breloom's ability is Poison Heal, Poison will only heal it, not damage it.
Ash frowns as he can't believe there is an ability like that, and just like what Rini said, Breloom is recovering after Stunky deals some damage. It also lands Leech Seed on Stunky, causing its health to slowly decrease, but in the end, Stunky goes for Acid Spray and defeats the Breloom.
Florinia's fifth Pokemon is Cacnea, and much to his delight, the Sandstorm just stops. It goes for Sand Attack, causing Stunky to be blinded, and then it defeats Stunky with Pin Missile and the Leech Seed.
Ash: Sometimes I hate Leech Seed... (Sends out Glalie)
Florinia: Observation: Flying, Bug, Fire, Poison, and now Ice. I see you have all five types that are super effective against Grass...
Ash: I have to be prepared. Ice Beam!
Glalie goes for the Ice attack, but Cacnea uses Pin Missile to negate it. It tries for Nature Power and Leech Seed again, trying to trap Glalie for some more, but Glalie uses Frost Breath to destroy the seeds and then also defeat the Cacnea with Hyper Beam.
Florinia: Conclusion Forthcoming. (Sends out Cradily)
Ash: A Fossil Pokemon...I see. You don't see that very often in the wild.
Glalie is defeated by a Smack Down from the Pokemon, since it is super effective, so Ash goes for a choice that causes a lot of confusion: Noivern.
Florinia: Confusion: Ash, you do know that Noivern is a Flying Type and Cradily is a Rock Type.
Ash: Type matchups doesn't seem to affect me that much. I believe in my Pokemon. Use Boomburst!
Noivern goes for the attack, which doesn't seem to do that much damage. Florinia decides to play safe by using Stockpile and Sandstorm, but when it goes for Smack Down, Noivern uses Dragon Pulse to destroy the rock and deals some attacks at Cradily.
Florinia: Recover.
Ash frowns as he can't believe Cradily has Recover, which means all the damage he has made is in vain. And Stockpile raises the defenses to make it hard to take damage. But in the end, Noivern manages to tire Cradily out and defeats it with a Hurricane.
Florinia: Very well. (Recalls Cradily) Challenger remains due to receive Canopy Badge.
Ash takes the badge and thanks her, the badge is looking like a flower with pink petals, and Ash puts it in his pocket along with the Bolt Badge from Julia.
Florinia: The Canopy Badge encourages proper behavior among Pokemon up to level 35.
Amaria: (Walks into the room) Excuse me~ Hope I'm not interrupting!
Florinia: (Turns to Amaria) The previous trial was just concluded. Report.
Amaria: Apparently Borealis was seen up around the Beryl Ward recently. If he's there, there's a chance Victoria is too.
Florinia: (Nods)...Understood. Ash, as has been mentioned already, the Beryl and Jasper Wards presently remain under strict lockdown due to flora-incited destruction a la the Obsidia Park. Whereas we caught Obsidia in a budding state, property and economic damage in those wards has been extensive. If Borealis exists there as well, it is highly likely a correlation exists. Being that you alone have had the successful experience of terminating the previous machine, as well as witnessing Borealis, you are an ideal candidate for an excursion into the Beryl Ward. Incidentally, this speaker has created another application that may be of service to you.
Florinia asks for Ash's Pokegear, and Ash gives it to her and she adds something inside.
Florinia: This will install to your Pokegear, and will read data output from the machine we encountered before. Intelligence has revealed the machine is called the Pokemon Ultimation Link System Exaggeratta, or simply "PULSE" for short. This speaker has already entered the data obtained regarding the previously-engaged Tangrowth, but any future subjects must be added separately.
Ash nods as he looks into the data, and he finds the Pulse Tangrowth, also known as Pulse 05C
PULSE 05C Tangrowth: Grass- and Poison-type. Ability: Filter. Hybridized for erratic growth. Its function is to empower nature to reclaim stolen land. Using long, reaching vines, it absorbs corruption from all sources into its body to dispose of it.
Florinia: It may be possible to find data print-outs for each machine in an area near their application, so remain watchful.
Amaria: I'll keep searching the other wards as well! It seems like with Team Meteor snooping about to this extent, we've got a lot of work to do!
Some of the students are finished taking notes, and they notice Amaria is there.
Student 1: Wait, is that Amaria?
Student 2: The Water Gym Leader?
Amaria: (Nervous) Um, hi!?
Student 3: I heard she graduated from here, but I didn't think we'd get to meet her!
Student 4: Amy, give us a battle demo!
Amaria: (Frowns) Guys, this isn't really the time...
Student 5: We've heard so much about you!
Student 6: Just one battle!
Amaria: (Sighs) Oh, dear...
Florinia: We will deal with this and then make preparations for your passage to Jasper, through which you may reach Beryl. The path can be found north of Peridot. One might wish you good luck, however, luck is merely an illusory essentialization of statistics, and is neither inherently good nor bad.
Ash: Sure, see you, Amy, Rini. (Leaves with Pikachu)
After Ash leaves the school, Amaria and Florinia are watching him. Amaria notices a small blush from Florinia, and she decides to tease for it.
Amaria: Looks like you have a crush on someone.
Florinia: (Turns away) Blushing also means a reddening of the face, especially from shame, modesty, or confusion. I was just confused and that's all.
Amaria: To be honest, I'm also confused as well. I love Tania, but after what happened back in the park, I feel some affection towards Ash as well. He seems so special, he always thinks of others before him. And he is so kind as well.
Florinia: My opinion: Maybe in the future, we will be seeing him again. We can ask if he has someone he likes.
Amaria: But first, those students are waiting and we have to give them a good battle.
Florinia: Agreed.
Here is a new chapter, and Ash gets his second badge from Florinia. The next badge is going to be at Lapis Ward, but Florinia asks Ash to search for the Pulses in both Jasper and Beryl. Not only that, Ash is hunting for Borealis as well. Who is he and where did he take Victoria? I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be meeting a girl who is a part of the Elite Four.
