Chapter 39 Byxbysion Gym Battle

Ash walks towards the battlefield as he is going to start his gym battle with Aya, the Poison Gym Leader and also Cain's big sister.

Fern: I'm not sure who I want to lose more.

Aya: (Glares at him) Do you just hate everyone by default, or what?

Fern: Nah, just you.

Hardy: Hey, lay off o' her, mate.

Aya: No, no! It's fine, it's perfectly fine. He's right. It's not like I'm good at this. I shouldn't even bother.

Hardy: Hey, now's not the time to doubt yourself. Chin up. You're gonna rock this fight.

Aya: (Mutters) I'd be better off if everyone just left me alone.

Hardy: The challenger, Ash, faces the Leader, Aya, in a six-on-six Double Battle!

Aya: (Turns to Ash) I don't even really want to do this. I just got saddled with it.

Hardy: Either competitor can make substitutions. The battle's over when all six of either Trainer's Pokémon can no longer fight! And roll!

Aya sends out Nidoqueen and Toxapex at the same time, and Ash decides to go with Tauros and Gabite for the battle. Tauros goes with Take Down and Gabite goes with Dragon pulse, however, Toxapex manages to recover its health after the attack, and Nidoqueen blocks Tauros attack with ease. Then Nidoqueen goes for Crunch and Toxapex goes for Sludge Wave, Gabite goes for a Dig to dodge the attack, but Tauros takes a lot of damage. When Tauros goes for a Horn Attack, Nidoqueen grabs the Pokemon again. However, Tauros goes for Water Pulse, dealing damage to the Pokemon. As for Gabite, the attack causes Toxapex to be defeated, giving Ash the first win.

The third Pokemon for Aya is Venusaur, and Nidoqueen goes for Stomping Tantrum on Tauros, but it is defeated when Tauros goes for Water Pulse again. So his fourth Pokemon is Drapion. Gabite tries to go with Draco Meteor, but before the meteor can land, Drapion goes for Cross Poison and Venusaur goes for Power Whip, which causes both Pokemon to get knocked out. The next two Pokemon are Klang and Infernape. Infernape goes for Dig attack, but Drapion goes for the Fire Fang on Klang, dealing some damage, but it gets hit by Klang's Discharge and so is Venusaur. Infernape also jumps from the ground and deals a Mach Punch on Drapion, causing a lot of damage. Drapion goes for Aqua Tail, which also deals a lot of damage on Infernape. Venusaur uses Leech Seed on Klang, but Infernape goes for Flare Blitz, which knocks out Venusaur in the end.

Fern: (Thinks) Just why is this dude so strong? He is just a sore loser...

Aya sends out Salazzle as her fifth Pokemon, and it goes for Heat Wave, knocking out Klang from the battle. Ash goes for Golem, hoping for a Type advantage as it goes for Mud Bomb, however, it doesn't seem to do much damage because of the field effect. But Infernape also knocks out Drapion from the battle using another Dig.

Aya: Just finish it already, why don't you? (Sends out Dragalge)

Dragalge goes for Hydro Pump, hitting Infernape, but it causes a big mistake as Infernape's Blaze ability is activated. Golem goes for Rock Slide, causing both Pokemon to flinch, and Infernape goes for Acrobatics on Salazzle, knocking it out. While Dragalge tries to go for Hydro Pump again, Infernape and Golem go for Flare Blitz and Stone Edge at the same time, finally knocking it out of the battle.

Aya: (Sighs) So I lost. At least that means I don't have to deal with you again, I guess.

Fern: Cold. I think I woulda preferred it if Ash had bombed after all. Whatever. Later, losers! (Leaves the gym)

Ash sighs as Fern finally leaves, but Aya is still depressed as Hardy rushes toward her.

Hardy: Heyo, Aya, don't take a couple of losses too hard, aye? It happens, and you put up a solid fight. You just psyched yourself out beforehand.

Aya: (Lowers her head) I don't care.

Hardy: C'mon, no need to be so cold about it.

Aya: What, you sensitive to rejection too?

Hardy: Nah, I mean you're being cold to yourself. You deserve better than that, aye?

Aya: ...Whatever. I never wanted this anyway. It was never supposed to be my job. But my stupid baby brother dumped this onto me. Emphasis on the baby. (Lowers her head) He probably hates us.

Hardy: Why would he hate you?

Aya: Ask him. I'm just not a good person, I guess. But he hasn't talked to any of us since he ran away. One day he just up and left. Didn't say goodbye. Didn't even take his Pokémon with him. He was the one who went out and earned the Gym Leader title. And then he decided he was over it. So now I'm stuck doing it. Mom won't even talk about him anymore. And I'm not cut out for this.

Ash is now curious, what has happened to Cain with his family? From his reaction after standing in front of the gate before rushing away, he knows something is going on.

Hardy: Hey, calm down already, a'ite? You're fine. Tell ya what- why don't I stick around for a bit and help you guys out with some stuff?

Aya: Why? Just leave me alone.

Hardy: Nah, I don't think that'd be a good move right about now. Why don't you start by giving Ash their righteously-earned badge? Then you and I'll get stuff worked out, aye?

Aya: Sure. (Takes out the badge and hands it over to Ash) This is the Blight Badge. Take it.

The badge looks like two leaves that are purple and black like they're a blight, and Ash takes it and puts it in his pocket.

Aya: Pokémon up to level 50 will listen to you now. And you can use the Machine Strength outside of battle.

Ash frowns, he still hasn't gotten the TMX from Strength after it was stolen.

Aya: You can go now.

Hardy: Ash, I look forward to seein' you in my Gym up in Agate City someday. Don't let me down, aye? Peace!

Ash: (Nods) Before I leave, I want to say something about Cain.

Aya: So you know about Cain?

Ash: We met and stop Team Meteor together a few times. I don't know why he hates you guys or something else, but deep down inside, he cares about you. When he heard that Team Meteor is going to attack the wasteland, he rushes back here to check if you guys are okay. Even though he was just a few inches away from your house...

Aya is surprised, she didn't know Cain was just here a few minutes ago, but she just nods before Ash leaves the gym.


After getting back to the entrance, he finds Cain standing there.

Cain: Sorry. I just... Felt like I had to get out of there. You know how you can't really touch an open flame, even if you want to for some reason? Like your body just won't... let you? ...It was like that. Everything just kind of... burns ...Do you understand what I mean?

Ash: I think I understand what you mean...I mean, my friends betrayed me because they want me to do something else rather than my own dream. I tried to reach them, but I just can't as well...

Cain: Well...Thanks. When I was over there, staring down the front door in all its menacing grandeur... I thought, "Wow, I really didn't think this through." Not a single part of it. I came here because I felt like I had to, and not only did I not do anything, but there was nothing to do. But all this running around, trying to save the kids, even the whole bit about challenging the League... It's just been reacting to my circumstances one after another...No clear path- just running in circles...Even that's still easier than staying back there though. And at some point I realized, if I keep going, I'd have to fight Aya too.

Ash: Yeah, I actually got the badge already. (Shows him the badge)

Cain: The funny thing is, I still have that badge from my time, albeit brief. Several of them, in fact. I doubt they're valid in any technicality, but...Who would know, right? You know, you already beat her and earned your badge... So, hypothetically speaking, if I fight you now... And if I win... That kind of counts, right?

Cain wants to fight Ash for the Blight Badge that he possesses, and Ash knows that Cain is not in his right mind, so he decides to battle him to knock him into his senses. Cain's first Pokemon is Alolan Marowak, and Ash goes for Palossand to battle. Marowak lands the Will-o-Wisp, which burns the opponent, and then goes for Shadow Bone, Ash has Palossand go for Earth Power, and then Shadow Ball, eventually knocking out the Marowak.

The second Pokemon is Alolan Muk, and Ash continues to use Palossand. Palossand goes for Stone Edge, but Muk goes for Disable after taking the hit, and then it uses Knock Off, knocking Palossand out of the battle. Ash goes for Infernape for the next battle, and it goes for Flamethrower, dealing a lot of damage, and knocking it out with a Mach Punch.

The third Pokemon is Primarina, it uses Sing to make Infernape fall asleep, so Ash switches to Torterra for the battle. Torterra goes for Vine Whip, which deals a lot of damage because of the field effect, but Primarina is capable of using Icy Wind, and it causes a lot of damage to Torterra. The match ends up a draw after Torterra goes for a Wood Hammer.

The fourth Pokemon is Meowstic, and Ash goes for Gabite to battle. Meowstic goes for a Light Screen to boost the defenses, and Gabite goes for Crunch, dealing a lot of damage because it is not a special attack. However, Meowstic goes for Shadow Ball, only to be dodged by Dig, and then it is defeated by Draco Meteor. It is also the same time when Gabite evolves into a Garchomp, but Ash is a little scared.

Ash: I have my own Garchomp...but...

Garchomp looks at Ash, showing him that nothing needs to worry about as he will protect him, Ash nods as he continues to use him in battle.

Cain: You know, I can't help but feel a little nervous here, haha! (Sends out Nidoking)

Nidoking goes for a Shadow Ball, but Garchomp dodges the attack and lands a Dragon Claw, and it is the same time when the Light Screen effect is gone. Ash has Garchomp goes for Stone Edge, but Nidoking goes for Poison Tail, getting Garchomp poisoned. But in the end, Garchomp delivers a Dig Attack and knocks it out.

Cain: That's okay, this was probably a bad idea anyway... (Recalls Pokemon) Sorry. That was out of line. But you're so cute when you're enabling my avoidance issues, haha~

Ash: Good to see you're back in your own self, Cain.

Cain: We should probably go...Now that all the fires are put out, we gotta figure out how to get to those kids. I'll just go to the Railnet and see if I can figure anything out. Maybe let's not talk about this little excursion ever again...? I think I'd appreciate that... Until later~

Ash nods as he sees Cain leave to the Railnet, and Ash sighs as he has the Strength problem that he needs to solve.


Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Ash gets his fifth gym badge, but he still can't use Strength because there is still no TMX. Where is it and how will Ash find it? I hope you like this chapter.