Chapter 66 Return to Agate Circus

After getting back to the Agate Circus, Ash heads inside the Big Top Arena, only to see the Ringmaster waiting for them.

Ringmaster: A-ha! I knew it! I could feel it -In fact, I could practically smell it- One of those Battle Passes making its way back here! I'm glad you were able to find one, Ash!

Ash: Um...thanks? (Thinks) Did she just smell the Battle Pass instead of seeing it with her own eyes?

Ringmaster: And I know that can only mean one thing! But first- Allow me to test your mettle! It's all for the show, you see? I gotta know what my crew is up against so I know how to hype it! Even a weak challenger can still be good for an underdog story or just for the trio's rep', but we have to frame it that way! On the other hand, if this is gonna be a nail-biter, I wanna know ahead of time. So, Ash, show me what kind of story we can expect from you!

Ash is surprised that he has to battle the Ringmaster, and he already sends out a Pyroar. Ash goes for Machamp for this battle, and Pyroar goes for Hyper Voice, with the crowd cheering on, it deals more damage. But Machamp decides to go for Brick Break.

Machine: WHAM-O! Powerful!

Ash is surprised by the voice and the Brick Break defeats the Pyroar with just one hit, much to his surprise. Ash then realizes what the field means, and he decides to continue the battle. After a while, Ash has used Poliwrath to defeat her Donphan, and also her Blaziken. As for Luxray and Primarina, they are both defeated by Ash's Nidoqueen.

Ringmaster: A nail-biter it is, then! (Recalls Primarina) Maybe even a sweep with some luck... Oooh, I do just kind of love it when Samson in particular loses. No real reason! And definitely no under-the-table bets with him and Ciel about how many times they lose on the challenger's first attempt!

Ash: Should I pretend that I haven't heard of what you've said?

Ringmaster: Nosiree, none of that here! Anyway, I'll go make preparations at once- tell Samson to get his butt into gear!

Ash sighs as he walks into the room, only to see two groups of three seemingly in a heated conversation.

Terra: (Notices Ash) hey bb u lyk wat u c?

Ciel: (Sighs) Terra, please refrain from flirting with our guests.

Terra: Ciel iz jelly

Ciel: I am not! Of what would I possibly be jealous?

Terra: Ciel wantz the D.

Ciel: Terra, darling, you don't even have a D.

Samson: Well, hold on, Ciel. How do you know for sure?

Ciel: What are you implying?

Terra: (Walks upside down to Ciel) he aint imply nothin. cuz we all know what do happen when you done implied... you make an imp out of li and ed LOLOLOLOL

Ciel: Don't you have work to do?

Terra: (Gets back on her feet) HELLZ YEA I GOT WORK TO DO! SO BEND OVER SO I CAN DO YA!

Ciel: (Disgusted) That's abhorrent.

Terra: YO MOMMA IS ABWHORENT! OOOOOO

Ciel: Do you even know what that word means?

Terra: 4sho. it meanz... RAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRR!

Ciel: It does not mean rawr.

Terra: Sh000000re it don't. Ciel juzt saltyyy. s00000 saltyyyy. make a pretzel outta her, d'as how salty she izzz. awh bitchtits now i want a pretzel. DEFEAT. (Walks back to the computer)

Ciel: I- what?

Samson: Apparently pretzels are Terra's secret weakness. I'll be sure to keep a stock on me at all times.

Ciel: (Sighs) Terra, dear, have you been able to find the source of the signal over Agate yet? I am quite anxious to stop whatever it is putting people to sleep. They should be watching us, not sleeping!

Terra: naWWWh, but calm yo tits. T3RR4 iz SUP3R 1337 hackar. nothin ezzcape my b00ty.

Ciel: Your "b00ty" has taken so long already though...

Terra: Y0 DID I OR DID I NaWT TELL U 2 CALM YO TITS BITCH UNDO THE KALAMITY THAT IS YO MAMMARIES! HAKUNA\nYO TATAS!exclamationpoint!

Samson: Just stop. I can feel my brain cells dying off one by one.

Ash: (Thinks) Me too...just what is Terra talking about?

Ciel: Indeed, you are cruel to rob Samson of his few remaining ones.

Samson: Whoa, no need to put your cat fight on me. I'm innocent here.

Terra: you werent so innocent last night

Samson: How would you know?

Terra: u wuz all up on me like oooo n i was all up on u like RAWRRRRRR!

Samson: How could I forget? Position number 52: The Angry Dinosaur. Yeah, right.

Terra: aawwwwh yih. mah secon' favorite position.

Ciel: Dare I ask what the first is?

Terra: if u wanna know, git y0 butt nekkid

Ciel: We don't need a demonstration.

Samson: Oh, no, you ladies go right ahead. I think it will be highly informative.

Ciel: I'm NOT going to (Notices their expressions) I'm sorry I asked!

Terra: fiiiiiine, but if i tell u, dat girl over dere on the couch, she gon run outta the room rawrin' cuz she ain't gon wanna be near dat couch no m0re.

Ciel: Note to self: Order new couch.

Samson: Again?

Ash doesn't even want to join in the conversation, so he just walks to the other group with Cain, Aya, and Hardy, but it isn't getting him better as well since they are also having a strange conversation, even though it is better than the gym leaders over there.

Cain: So, Hardy, what do you do besides running your Gym?

Hardy: Music, mostly. I spend a lotta time practicing guitar.

Aya: He plays really well.

Cain: Oh, you've impressed even Aya. You've done what I failed to do for her entire life~

Aya: (Glares) What do you mean, my entire life? Don't you mean YOUR life?

Cain: I'm sure you were never impressed before I was born either. Isn't disappointment your sole existence?

Hardy: Easy there, mate. What about you? Play anything?

Cain: I play my voice~

Aya: (Mutters) Only to terrorize me, I'm sure.

Cain: Pshawww~

Hardy: That's cool. Hey, if we had a drummer and a bassist, we could have our own band.

Aya: That could be kind of cool...

Cain: Know anyone who suits the bill?

Hardy: 'Fraid not. My sister used to play bass, but... I don't hate myself enough to go there.

Aya: (Changes the topic) Since Agate City is closed, what should we do now?

Hardy: There's some crazy stuff going on in Calcenon. Imma go check it out. Once my entire body stops aching, anyway... I feel like I got run over by a pack of Bouffalant.

Cain: Terra treated you like a croquet ball. So, close enough. I mean, I'm surprised you guys even survived.

Aya: Disappointed?

Cain: Nah~

Hardy: Haha, gonna take more than that to break us down. You were hurt too, huh, Aya?

Aya: I think I took an Earthquake to the face.

Cain: You know she almost flattened me, too. And not in the good way.

Hardy: Pfft, I'd hope not in the good way, mate. Isn't she a bit old for you?

Aya: How old is she?

Cain: Based on her attitude, I'd say about six.

Terra: I AINT SIX, YOU HOOLIGANS!

Cain: She can hear us? Awkward...

Terra: GET RAWR'D ON!

Hardy: (Notices Ash) Hey, mate. Thanks for fetching me before.

Ash: No problem. But I should've thought that you and Titania are siblings.

Hardy: Sorry you had to deal with my sister. She's always been kinda intense, yanno? Personally, I was ready to take any excuse I could to roll on outta there.

Cain: Oh, is your sister a brat too?

Aya: (Glares at Cain) I'm sitting right here, you know.

Hardy: Nah, not a brat. More like a violent murder waiting to happen.

Cain: Yeah, that sounds like Aya.

Aya: (Yells) It does not!

Hardy: Haha, nah. Aya's a pretty cool girl. Be nice to her, mate.

Cain: I'll think about it.

Aya: Jerk. Cain: Bitch. Aya: Dick. Cain: Hag. Aya: Asshole. Cain: Spinster. Aya: Bitch.

Cain: I already said that one.

Aya: I don't care!

Cain: Love ya.

Aya: ...Love you too. Sometimes.

Ash: Okay, you guys keep your quarrel. I think I'll just leave...

Ash is really not in the mood to see a sibling fight, so he excuses himself as he decides to stop by the telecom, and he decides to call Ame for some advice.

Ame: Ash? You made it to the Agate Circus? Sounds like it's a mess up there. As you might know, Agate Circus services three separate Leaders.

Ash: I know, and I'm fighting Samson.

Ame: So Samson is first? All right. He's fresh into the ring as far as Leaders go, so I can't say too much, but I'll tell you what I know about the Big Top Arena. There's actually two main parts to it. The first is Samson's ploy, the High Striker. The entire ground is made of panels that trigger it. They were originally set up for Terra, as any attack that hits the floor hard will activate it. But since Fighting moves take strong power stances, they end up triggering the panels too. See if you can get a bonus from it as well! Alternatively, you might use Ciel's type advantage part of the field against him. Some Flying-type attacks like Acrobatics and Bounce can make an extra splash around the Big Top with Ciel's aerial scaffolding. A few of those, and Samson should go down in no time! Good luck!

Ash sighs as he manages to have some normal conversation with someone he knows, and he decides to walk back to Samson's group.

Ash: Samson, I think it is time that I challenge you to a gym battle. (Holds the Battle Pass in his hand)

Samson: Hm? You want to challenge me? Sorry, dude, but no-can-do. The Ringmaster's a real stickler about her policies. Anyone who wants to battle has to have a Battle Pass. (Notices the pass that Ash is holding) Much like the one you're holding. Well then. I assume the Ringmaster already gave you her "surprise" challenge, so... Does that mean you're ready now?

Ash: Yeah.

Then both of them enter the battlefield while standing at the sides, and the Ringmaster is there as a referee.

Ringmaster: Ladies aaaaand gentlemen! Your attention please to an exciting exclusive challenge to the esteemed Agate Ace Triumvirate of Leaders! Today, in the left corner, we have a first-time challenger to Agate... Ash! And in the right corner- You've seen him at the Striker, busting bells into the sky...You've seen him in the Big Top, juggling people as if they could fly... And now you're gonna see him on the center stage as he shows us what POWER really means! He's the Agate Circus... Strongmaaaaaan...SAAAAAAMSOOOOON!

Both of the spotlights are on Ash and Samson, as they wave to the crowd.

Samson: How we all doin'?

Ringmaster: This will be a six-on-six Single Battle!

Samson: All right. Let's see an all-in and knock-out fight! Go on and get wrecked!

Ash nods in agreement as Ash sends out Reuniclus while Samson goes for Hariyama, and the battle begins.


Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Ash and Samson are going to have a gym battle. I just put the random conversation in this chapter because it is funny and weird. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the real gym battle.