Chapter 71 Calcenon Gym Battle

Ash rushes towards the gate and finds Charlotte there.

Charlotte: 'Sup? That was a pretty fun show, huh? That was sweet of you and all, to say you'd save me, but a little naive. In any situation where someone is making an ultimatum, you never acquiesce to it. Case in point, Team Meteor could kill every person in Labradorra City, but that doesn't get them anything they need. So as long as we don't bargain with them, they won't reach their goals. But if we give in as you said, that would just validate their little power game. They get what they want, and there's no guarantee they release any hostages either. Completely stupid. Here is the ring, Ash. (Gives the Ruby Ring back to Ash) It'll be best to keep them on their toes and guessing about who's holding it. Knowledge is power, and that's the power they won't have.

Ash: I guess that makes sense.

Charlotte: So, Anna told me about the issue with Ametrine. You need to use Dive, right? Don't ask me whose bright idea it was to make the Fire Leader enable a Water Machine. That'll be my first proper battle in Mom's Gym, so I gladly accept your challenge. We'd better do it now while Team Meteor's still distracted. I'll meet you over there. (Before leaving, she frowns) I never found Laura. Oh well, I'm sure she'll be fine.

When Ash walks back to the gym, he finds that Saphira is glaring at Sigmund, who is on the other side of the barrier.

Saphira: So you're here too.

Sigmund: You seem to be doing well.

Saphira: This barrier is your life right now, Sigmund. When it goes out, I swear on my own life, I will seek you out and strike you down.

Sigmund: Yes, yes, I'm well aware. I see you still derive personal comfort from threats to authority.

Saphira: You aren't the authority anymore. This isn't your jailhouse.

Sigmund: And yet by the law's discretion, as you well know, I am still the legal guardian of your youngest sister.

Saphira: No. I'm the guardian. You're the threat. Get out of my sight.

Sigmund: You are not in a position to give me orders, Saphira.

Saphira: Right. You get those from Team Meteor now? Just how low can a man sink?

Sigmund: I care nothing for their goals. But there is something I must confirm.

Saphira: Enough. Your excuses sicken me. I'm done with this conversation.

Ash sighs as he walks into the Gym, and when he does, he goes to the telecom and calls Ame.

Ame: Ash? So you're about to fight Charlotte at the old Gym, huh? All right, listen up. This is her first time using that arena, but she's about to make damn good use of it. She will probably use Doubles as she did in her qualifying battles. If she takes after her mother, that's going to be a lot of Eruptions and Heat Wave attacks. Those sorts of area-hitting Fire attacks will set that arena on fire, which will send her power through the roof. There are lots of ways to put out a flame, but consider stopping it from lighting at all by setting up rain. Or, if that's not your style, then take up the cliche and fight fire with fire. Her Super-heated and Burning Fields can be just as strong against her. Given her past, is that mean? Maybe I shouldn't have said that... In any case, good luck!

Ash sighs as he does the gym puzzle, as he has to go through the puzzle of not stepping the stepped block or else getting burned. After getting through three puzzles, Ash finally gets to Charlotte.

Charlotte: Not too shabby, huh? Turns out Mom had pretty good taste. She was a Fire Trainer too, you know. I didn't go out of my way to take after her or anything. The stars just kind of lined up. When the fire first started spreading, I was confused and scared. Same as any kid, I guess. But when I realized what was happening, and that there was nothing I could do... I was able to accept it. It was then that I saw how really pretty the flames were... Little spirits of immolation, dancing back and forth in the night air... It was art, really. The aftermath was unfortunate, but I want to share that experience with others. Destruction is beauty. You should just give in to it already!

Then Charlotte goes for Typhlosion and Darmanitan at the same time. Ash decides to go for Politoed and Kabutops. Typhlosion goes for Eruption, which deals much more damage because of the superheat, and the attacks from Surf don't seem to do that much damage on them. In the end, Typhlosion is defeated by Ancient Power from Omastar, so Charlotte goes for Rotom: Heat form.

Omastar is defeated by Darmanitan's Hammer Arm, so Ash switches into Mudsdale to battle. Rotom goes for Volt Switch, defeating Politoed, and also switches into Delphox. Ash sends out Gigalith instead. Mudsdale manages to land the High Horsepower on Darmanitan, knocking it out. So Charlotte sends back Rotom to battle. Gigalith goes for Rock Slide, causing both Pokemon to flinch, but Delphox lands the Heat Wave attack to get them burnt. In the end, when Rotom is defeated by Stone Edge, Charlotte decides to go with Volcarona.

Volcarona goes for Giga Drain, knocking out Mudsdale, so Ash goes for Seismitoad. Thanks to Gigalith knocking out Rotom and flinching Volcarona with the Rock Slide, Seismitoad can finally land a hit on Volcarona with a Hydro Pump.

Charlotte: Ever seen a wildfire start from just a spark? ...D'you wanna?

Her final Pokemon is Ninetales, and its ability is Drought, that's why it goes for Solar Beam and knock out Seismitoad, Ash goes for Pikachu as his last Pokemon, and Gigalith goes for Stone Edge, dealing much more damage before Pikachu finishes with Thunderbolt.

Charlotte: So I'm still powerless. Just like back then. Figures. Here.

Charlotte gives Ash the Cinder Badge, his eleventh badge, it looks like a red cinder.

Charlotte: That takes you up to level 75. Plus the whole Dive thing. Don't ask me whose idea it was to make the Fire Leader enable a Water Machine. I owe you this too. Burn, baby. Make Team Meteor pretty for me.

Ash: I will.

But just as Ash leaves the gym, he goes to the house to inform the kids about the news. Hardy is also there as he is relieved to know that Charlotte was lying about giving the ring to Team Meteor.

Hardy: So Charlotte was lying after all. I guess that's good for us. Still, man, all these crazy girls... They're too much.

Anna: Hey! I'm not crazy!

Hardy: Uh, sorry, I didn't mean you guys.

Noel: Anna, you might be the craziest of anyone.

Anna: Noel, don't be mean!

Noel: You're mean to me frequently.

Anna: That doesn't count. Nomos said I could be.

Noel: ...Sigh.

Ash: Anyway, now that I have Dive and the badge, surely I can get to Ametrine City to do something about it...

Shelly: Wait, Ash. I want to talk to Heather. Can I also come with you as well?

Ash: (Smiles) You can come with us, let's go.

Then before they leave, Ash notices how the stairway from Route 3 to Calcenon is destroyed, and he decides to donate 400000 dollars for the guards to fix the stairway, it might take a while, but Ash is satisfied that he did the right choice and leaves.


Back in the other regions, the traitors are now having a meeting in Professor Oak's Lab, and they still have no idea where Ash has been. Not only that, even Serena seem to disappear as well.

Misty: Just where did they go? Surely they haven't been too far away, right?

Max: But they have been missing for half a year...

Professor Oak: The only region that we haven't searched for is the Reborn Region. However, with the current threat of Team Meteor and what happened at their international train station, there is no way they're going to let us in.

Clemont: And why would he go to a broken place like Reborn? Is he trying to play the hero again?

Iris: Or maybe he is trying to challenge the Reborn League. I heard that it is the strongest league with all those Field effects and 18 gyms. That's what I heard from other Champions.

The truth is that everyone in the group starts to regret betraying Ash. But the whole world didn't know they'd done it, and the world has been searching for Ash as well. They just hope that Ash is somewhere safe and maybe if there's a chance...he would be able to forgive them.


Back at the Reborn City, Serena and Aria are now walking around the Lapis Ward, until they notice the orphanage, which is locked.

Serena: According to Ms. Ketchum...this Orphanage was owned by a crazy doctor who has been using electricity to shock the children.

Aria: That is so cruel...what could he do to gain this?

Serena: I don't know, but from what we heard from Ms. Ketchum, Ash and the Gym Leader are actually the ones who saved the children of this orphanage. And that is the gym, it is actually a Bug Type Gym.

Aria: That sounds interesting. Although the Bug Type leader isn't in her gym, I guess?

Serena: Because she played a part in saving the children, so she was with them until they were safe.


And in the Jasper Ward, Lillie and Mars are now walking around the place.

Lillie: According to Ms. Ketchum, this place was destroyed by the vines of a PULSE...Pokemon attached to the machine so that it would boost their powers, but killed once it is defeated.

Mars: That sounds so mean...I mean, not even Cyrus would do such a thing...

Lillie: Don't worry, Ash is going to stop them once and for all. All we need is to clean the roads from the vines.

Mars: By the way, do you think Ash will be able to accept me? You know...as a former Team Galactic member...I have been his enemy for so long...

Lillie: Don't worry, I'm sure he won't mind. After all, Ash is really kind and forgiving, but I just hope that the betrayal from Professor Oak and the others isn't going to affect him...


Delia: So my son has the eleventh gym badge. That's good to hear.

Ame: Yeah. But still, things have been pretty weird these days. I mean, the whole Agate City business, and how Labradorra City was taken over...I start to worry about the future of Reborn...

Delia: But I think it is getting better, after all, everyone is helping with the wards, and I'm sure Reborn will be back to its former glory.

Ame sighs as she nods, she looks at the paper as she has to deal with the Elite Four mess as Laura was resigning and Elias giving her a new recommodation.


And here is a new chapter, as you can see, Ash wins against Charlotte and gets his eleventh badge. As for the traitors, they might be starting to regret betraying Ash. But they have no idea where Ash went and how is he doing. As for Ash, he is going to Ametrine City with Shelly to find Heather. Will the mission get successful or not? I hope you like this chapter.