Chapter 23 Lapis Gym Battle

After leaving the orphanage, Ash calls his mother to ask about the adoption process.

Delia: I'm sorry, Ash. But the adoption process isn't ready yet. Ame is already pushing the staff.

Ash: I see, there is something I want to ask as well. Painter and Fantasia...I think I might have found them.

Delia: (Widens her eyes) Are you sure it is those two? Did they have a Cleffa doll and a Jirachi?

Ash: They do, and Fantasia also has an Amethyst Pendant, that's why Team Meteor killed us, right?

Delia: (Covers her mouth with tears) Where are they? Are they safe?

Ash: They are at Dr. Sigmund Connal's Orphanage...they told me that both of their parents are killed...they didn't know we are still alive.

Delia: Why didn't you tell them?

Ash decides to reveal what they told him, about Dr. Connal and use Electric Pokemon to shock them. Delia is horrified, and she is also trembling with anger.

Delia: If I charge into the orphanage and asks for them, then it will reveal to Team Meteor that I'm alive. So here's what you need to do, find a chance and bring them out of the orphanage.

Ash: But won't we break the law? I mean, they aren't 18 years old.

Delia: Sigmund already broke the law by using Electric shocks on them. So I'm sure that the authorities will stand by your side.

Ash: Okay, right now, I'm going to get my third badge. After that, I'll think of a way to bring them out.

Delia nods as they end the call, and Ash rushes to the gym to tell the news.

Cal: (Finds Ash) You're back. Any news?

Ash: Yes, Doctor Sigmund will come by soon.

Victoria: A doctor will come by later? That's probably best...

Shelly: A d-doctor...? Am I sick...?

Victoria: Oh, honey- not sick, no. We just want to make sure you're holding up okay.

Ash: And I also have a message for you as well. Shelly, you have to remember, rather than feeling sad for yourself, you have to think about helping the one who's most hurt by what happened.

Shelly: "Help the one who's hurt most?" That's right. What am I even c-complaining about...? Heather's the one who lost her dad... I need to find her...

Victoria: (Quickly stops her by pushing her to the chair) Honey, no. What you need to do is stay right here and rest.

Shelly: N-no, I think- I think I'd rather be doing something...Rather than sitting here and d-dwelling on it...

Ash: And besides, Heather's mother is good friends with my mother, and they promise that my mom will be Heather's godmother. So now that Heather's parents are gone, my Mom decided to adopt her.

Victoria: Wow, that's nice of you...

Ash: So you don't need to worry about Heather not having a family, we can give her one.

Shelly: (Nods) I'll- I'll call Heather. We have kind of a signal... If I use my Pokémon to send an Air Slash up into the sky... Um, she should come by... If she sees it. I'll send the signal out, and then... (Turns to Ash) Ash, you're a League challenger, right? Did you want to have a Gym Battle?

Ash widens his eyes in shock, and Cal is also concerned for Shelly.

Cal: You sure you're up to that? The last one didn't exactly go too hot. But, I guess at least Ash isn't gonna be a jerk about it.

Shelly: (Nods) I'm sure. It'll be a good d-distraction while we wait.

Victoria: If that's really what you want... Just don't push yourself too hard, okay?

Shelly: Mhm. I'll go send the signal, and then wait in my gym. Just, um... Just come by whenever you're ready.

Ash nods as he goes downstairs, he enters the room and finds a telecom. He takes a deep breath and calls Ame.

Ame: Ash? So you're going to fight Shelly, right?

Ash: Yeah, although something happened to make me this late to challenge her.

Ame: By the way, did you know that some Leaders in Reborn choose to fight in Double Battles? Shelly is one of those. Her tag team strategy focuses on setting up rain to cover her Fire-type weakness, and then going for a safe sweep. If you don't let her set the rain up, Fire-type attacks in her Forest Arena will make short work of her. But, if the rain does come, go with the flow and use Water moves to ride that wave! Many of her bugs won't resist it, so that extra power can be her own undoing. Good luck!

Ash sighs a little, Bug Type Pokemon in Double Battles, and he sees a lot of staircases with some buttons on them. After defeating some Gym Trainers, they go to the buttons and press one of them, and then the bookshelves that have the color of the buttons will rise, and those that aren't on it won't.

After 15 minutes, Ash is now sitting on the ground of the second floor, and the bookshelves form a path for him to go.

Ash: We finally did it...why does it have to be this hard...

Victoria: You really run a lot while trying to complete the gym puzzle. But now you can face her.

Ash: (Stands up) Yeah. And I intend to win. (Walks towards the battlefield)

Shelly: What did you think of my garden library? (Noticing how Ash is heavy breathing) Sorry, I'm kind of a bookworm~ Hehe... Actually, I just spent a lot of time reading so I could be good enough for my brother.

Ash: (Looks closely at Shelly) Your brother is Bugsy from Johto, right?

Shelly: (Nods) I wanted to be just like him, so I came here to do this! But no matter what I did, it was never enough. He always just p-pretended like I didn't exist.

Ash: (Gasps) I'm sorry, I didn't know that...

Shelly: It's fine though, I know my place.

Ash: (Shakes his head) Shelly, do you know I am actually a Champion of a region?

Shelly: (Shocked) You are?

Ash: Yeah, but still, it was never enough. I never told everyone why I am here. You see, when I become it and come back home, I accidentally heard that all my friends want me to give up my dream. But now that I think of it, I don't need their approval to do this, they have no right to determine my dream. I'll just do what I believe.

Shelly: (Stunned but noticed Ash is right) You're right, Ash. Thank you. I really need to get that off my chest.

Ash: No problem.

Shelly: Sorry, we kinda got off topic... So... You're here to fight, of course. Um, as- As a heads up, some Leaders fight in Doubles! Like me, I prefer it, because...Because, well, I think it's nice for at least my Pokémon to have friends to fight alongside? Anyway, um- Let's get started...! So, um... Good luck! (Sends out Masquerain and Illumise)

Ash decides to go for Sudowoodo and Mantine for this battle. And Illumise goes for Rain Dance, setting up the rain. Masquerain goes for Struggle Bug, which tries to lower their Special Attack.

Ash: Luckily Sudowoodo is a Physical Attacker, but to play it safe, I'll go with Rock Slide! And Mantine, now it is raining, use Water Pulse!

Both of Ash's Pokemon attack each of their opponent, and they deal a lot of damage. But Masquerain dodges the Water Pulse and goes for Bubble Beam on Sudowoodo, causing a lot of damage. As for Illumise, it goes for Dazzling Gleam, blinding both Pokemon with damage. And Sudowoodo is defeated by Masquerain's Bubble Beam, but Mantine defeats Illumise with Bounce.

Their third Pokemon are Araquanid and Quilava, which is not good for Ash because Quilava is hit by the Bubble Beam as well. When the rain stops, Araquanid goes for another Rain, much to Ash's annoyance. But at least Masquerain is defeated by Quilava's Rollout. Her fourth Pokemon is Anorith, which is also part Rock Type and is not a good match-up for both Pokemon, and it goes for Rock Slide, defeating Mantine.

Ash decides to go for Gliscor, and Gliscor goes for Acrobatics on Araquanid, but Araquanid manages to stay still and goes for Icy Wind, which hurts Gliscor a lot.

Ash: This gym sure is tougher than I thought. I can't just give up. (Notice the rain stops) Use Lava Plume now! And fast!

Quilava goes for the move, and the Forest Field turns into a Burning Field.

Shelly: Araquanid! Use Rain Dance! Put off the fire!

Ash: Gliscor! This is your chance! Acrobatics!

When Araquanid is preparing for Rain Dance, Gliscor quickly defeats the Pokemon it can do anything.

Shelly: So quick. But my next Pokemon is Bugsy! (Sends out Volbeat). I usually nickname the Pokemon that are close to me.

Ash: I see, but you haven't thought of the names of the first four, is that right?

Shelly: (Nods) But don't worry about that.

Then she has Anorith go for Rock Slide again, knocking out Quilava, so Ash goes for Klink to battle. Klink goes for Gear Grind, which defeats Anorith in the end. So Shelly's last Pokemon is a Yanmega that she named Heather.

Shelly: Hehe...Failing again...but don't worry about it. Use Giga Drain on Gliscor!

Yanmega goes for the attack, and Gliscor faints in the end. Since the field is the burning field, Ash decides that his last Pokemon goes for Torkoal. Both Pokemon are going to Struggle Bug because of how strong Ash's Pokemon are, but in the end, Torkoal goes for Overheat, slamming the speedy Yanmega to Volbeat, and both Pokemon faint in the end.

Shelly: I'm still not good enough, huh... (Frowns as she recalls both Pokemon) Yeah...I probably never will live up to his expectations. N-not like this, at least...

Ash: Shelly, I'm a Regional Champion and not everyone can give me a hard challenge like that. You are doing a good job, so stop saying bad things about yourself.

Shelly: (Feels touched at Ash cheering for her) You're right. Ash, you did really well! Um...

Shelly walks toward Ash and gives him the third badge: Cacoon Badge.

Shelly: Um, since you have that Badge now, Pokémon up to level 40 are probably gonna like you. It also lets you use the move Rock Smash outside of battle. Thanks for helping me with everything. Ash.

Ash: No problem, Shelly. And by the way, do you want my opinion about you and your brother? Because I have battled him a lot of years ago.

Shelly: Sure?

Ash: You're much stronger than he'll ever be. You always had that courage, you just needed someone to show you that it's there.

Shelly: (Nods and asks with a shy tone) Ash, can I make a request?

Ash: What is it?

Shelly: You told me that your family is going to adopt Heather, that means she is going to call you brother, right? Can I call you my brother as well?

Ash: (Widens his eyes in surprise) Sure, I mean, I don't mind about it, but what about Cal?

Shelly: Cal and I have similar problems related to our brothers, that's why we are hanging out with each other. (Blushes)

Ash knows that Shelly might have some feelings for Cal, but he decides not to ask for more as they walk back to Victoria and Cal.


Here is another new chapter, and Ash finally gets his third Badge from Shelly, but the adoption process hasn't finished yet, so what is going to happen? I hope you like this chapter.