Chapter 57 Vanhanen Castle Gym Battle Part 2

Ash finally gets to the last round of chess, and this time Gossip Gardevoir is the one that watches the game. This time the Black pieces are Rook on F8, Pawns on D2, D7, E6, F4, and H6, Knight on F7, King on H7, Queen on A4, and Bishops on C1 and E1. The White pieces are Pawn on B3, Knights on B1 and F3, King on D1, and Bishop on F1

Gardevoir: And so our challenger has made it this far! But can he surmount the final trial!? We'll find out now~

Ash knows that the final one is the hard one, so he decides to promote the Pawn into a Bishop, and move both Bishop to E4 and E5, as for the knights, he moves them to E7 and B3.

Gardevoir: Well, what a pity. It seems you've solved it~ Anyway~ I'll be seeing you again soon, buuuut... I mean, my master is the most intelligent, handsome, cunning, elegant, and charming man in the world. Even if you're his son, do you really think you can beat him? Stay tuned to find out~

When Ash walks into the final room, he finds that everyone is there, Luna, Cain, his mother, and Elias are at the sides, while Radomus is standing in front of him.

Radomus: Well met, Ash. I believe there is no further cause for ado. Are you ready?

Ash: You bet, Dad.

Cain: Go Ash, beat his butt~

Gardevoir: Ahaha~ As if anyone could beat my master!

Radomus: Now, now. There's no need for such an attitude, Gardevoir.

Luna: Please pay no mind to Gardevoir's capriciousness. She can hardly help it. Moreover, I wish both of you good luck.

Elias: The battle shall be a six-on-six Double Battle. Either Trainer will be allowed to make substitutions. The battle ends when all of either Trainer's Pokémon have been knocked out.

Radomus: The tactics and art of Pokémon can be said to be not unlike those of the game of chess. Though archaic mechanics and strategies are seldom considered by the average Trainer, one must rise above such mediocrity in order to succeed. However, unlike chess, there are certain aspects that can be betrayed. Indeed, I believe it's high time for Black to make the first move.

When Elias yells the word begin, Radomus goes for Reuniclus and Malamar. Ash goes for Accelgor and Drapion for the first battle. All of them are treated as Pawns, so Ash goes for the first move by having Accelgor use Lunge on Malamar, however, with the ability Contrary, it boosts the Attack stat instead, and it goes for Trick Room, much to Ash's frustration. Reuniclus goes for Focus Blast, trying to damage the Drapion, but Drapion dodges the attack and goes for Crunch, only to be stopped by the Pawn effect as a Focus Sash. With both Pokemon becoming quicker, Malamar lands a Superpower on Drapion, also knocking it to 1 HP. But Accelgor goes for Bug Buzz, knocking out the Malamar, and Reuniclus misses another Focus Blast, so Drapion defeats the Pokemon with Crunch.

The third and fourth Pokemon for Radomus are Slowking and Metagross. Both of them get Rook and Bishop respectively. Metagross goes for Strength, which causes the chess piece to move forward and slams into Accelgor, knocking it out, so Ash goes for Incineroar for this battle. Slowking goes for Scald on Incineroar, but Drapion takes the attack instead, causing itself to faint. So Ash's fourth Pokemon is Manectric. Manectric goes for Discharge, since it is a Knight, it gets the priority move effect, and Incineroar also goes for Fire Punch, defeating the Metagross and Slowking respectively.

Radomus: Well, well, I'm impressed. But can you face off my final two? (Sends out Gallade and Gossip Gardevoir)

Gardevoir: I'm going to win the battle for Master.

Gallade just sighs, but he goes for Close Combat, knocking out Incineroar, and Manectric is also defeated by Gardevoir's Moonblast.

Ash: If you want a King and a Queen, then I'll give you one! Pikachu! Umbreon! I choose you!

Ash sends out the final two Pokemon, and Pikachu is treated as the King while Umbreon is treated as the Queen in this battle. Pikachu goes for Thunderbolt, but Gallade takes the hit and goes for Strength, slamming a piece on Pikachu. Umbreon decides to do the same by slamming a piece to Gossip Gardevoir by using Psychic, but it doesn't seem to do much damage because of Calm Mind. However, with the Queen dominating the field, Umbreon defeats Gallade with a Moonblast, and Pikachu decides to land the Iron Tail on Gardevoir.

Gardevoir: I'm sorry...Master...I failed you...(Fainted)

Radomus: And that's Checkmate. (Recalls Gallade) Ah, the end game is ever-paining. But, that is a battle worthy of its victory, as you are now worthy of the Millennium Badge.

Radomus gives Ash the 8th badge, it is a triangular badge that is black and purple colored.

Radomus: That granted, Pokémon up to level 65 will obey you without question.

Cain: Congrats, Ash~

Luna: Agreed, that was a lovely performance. You did admirably, Gardevoir! And of course, you as well, Ash. I look forward to engaging you.

Ash also remembers that Luna herself is actually a Dark Type Gym Leader, which means he is going to face her next if nothing is in the way.

Gardevoir: Oh, dear Luna~ Will you be facing Ash here or in the valley?

Luna: Oh, I should much prefer the latter if it may be so. If you did not know, Ash, I, too, am a Gym Leader of Reborn. But the stones and shadows of the rabbit hole we call Iolia Valley make such an excellent blackground for a battle. After all, where better than the valley of the shadow of death to stage a challenge upon the most beautiful type- Darkness.

Just as Luna says the word, the lights suddenly turn off. Everyone is confused at the events, and Ash realizes that Elias has been missing since. And he knows that it can't be a good sign.

Cain: Uhhh, was that one planned?

Delia: I don't think so...

Luna: At least, it was certainly nothing I did.

Radomus: Perhaps something has happened to our power. Let us quit this place for now. (Leaves with Delia and Gardevoir)

Luna: Ever-feared, and ever-misunderstood... In darkness did I come, and thus in darkness, so I leave. (Leaves)

Cain: (Turns to Ash) Welp, just you and me now, Ash. Alone... In the dark...Do you feel the moment~?

Ash: I don't think it is time for some jokes, Cain...

Cain: I'mmmm just kiddin' with you~ See ya on the flipside!

Ash decides to leave Cain alone as he tries to navigate out of the castle. When he finally arrives at the foyer, he finds Elias there.

Elias: Well met, young Master. Please, follow me. I have already secured an escape route from our assailants. This way, swiftly.

But just as they get out of the room, two Meteor Grunts have blocked the door, and Ash is surprised.

Ash: What is Team Meteor doing here?!

Elias: As they say, "Checkmate." But surely you are not surprised? Of course, I would not have remained under the swine's spell for long. I'm sure he counted on as much. He hypnotized me and bade me act his butler firstly out of spite, and secondly to illustrate a point.

Ash: If you can wear off the spell so easily, then you are not going to say that Luna is under my father's control, right?

Elias: It is a compelling argument. Clearly, she is of her own mind, and yet still she defies me. His miscalculation was that such a revelation might deter my efforts. On the contrary, it has been made clear that it is now, more than ever, necessary to extricate her. Of course, I'll suffer none to stand in my way. Though it's hardly only my way you've been in now, is it?

Ash: I know you were with Team Meteor this whole time...an Elite Four member like you...

Elias: Solaris has told me all I need to know about your impudent meddling with Team Meteor. I shall not permit you to interfere with their divine purpose. Eradicate the unclean city, restore the ruin below it to greatness... To all who would thwart that design, judgment shall-

Cain: Nidoking!

Just then, Cain knocks out both grunts with his Nidoking, and he rushes by Ash's side.

Cain: Ash, they caught Luna! It was that harlequin again- Ace!

Ash: Ace is here as well? This is awful!

Elias: They should have captured you as well.

Cain: Yeah, well, I don't go down without a fight, or at least some sweet talk first.

Elias: Your lecherous implications only condemn you further. Do you believe that even the two of you together can best me?

Cain: Wanna find out?

Elias: Do not mistake my little experiment of drawing on our Lord Arceus' power as the limit of my own ability.

Cain: Your ability doesn't matter right now. I know what I gotta do. Cuz I know that Ash's team is all messed up from that Gym Battle. That's why you waited to act until now, right? So I'll fight you myself. Ash surpassed me a long time ago, so even if I do lose, it doesn't matter. So you go on, Ash. I'll hold him up while you get out of here. Rescuing Luna's up to you now, 'kay?

Ash: I won't let anyone take Luna away as well! Even if her own Birth father she despises. (Leaves the castle)

Elias: How noble a sacrifice. You know who I am, don't you?

Cain: Yup, I realized it after I heard your real name. You're one of the Elite 4.

Elias: Then you will understand there will be no "sweet talk". You will bow before the Lord. (Sends out his Pokemon to fight Cain)


At the same time, Serena is still on a quest to find candidates for Ash's harem, she knows that in the Hoenn Region, she has been in a duo with her best friend, Lisia, when Ash is at the Alola Region for school, both of them have been best friends and they also talk a lot about Ash. She knows that Lisia has a secret crush on Ash even though she hasn't met him before.

Lisia: Serena! It is so nice to see you again!

Serena: How have you been, Lisia?

Lisia: Perfect! Did you get to meet Ash in Kanto?

Serena: It's a long story. But Ash is not in Kanto but in Reborn.

Then she also tells her about what happened to Ash and she is very shocked and sad for Ash, and when Serena asks if she wants to help Ash, she immediately agrees as she has been dreaming of meeting Ash for a long time.

Lisia: Since it will be taking a lot of time to go to another region, how about riding my Pokemon instead?

She sends out Altaria and a Swanna, and she asks Serena to hop on, Serena agrees as she flies on Lisia's Pokemon and the two of them rush towards Kanto.


And here is a new chapter, and I reveal another member to the Harem: Lisia, and her typing is going to be Flying Type. Now I only have Rock, Dragon, Poison, and Normal Type that I need to pick, with the Dragon Type already thought about, I am not thinking who I should pick for the other three, and they have to be either in Kanto, Sinnoh, or Unova. Regardless, Ash also gets his 8th badge from his father, and Elias, the third member of the Elite Four, is actually working with Team Meteor. I hope you like this chapter and we'll begin to save Luna in the next one.