Chapter 108 Agate City Gym Battle

After running around, Ash manages to learn from the citizens that Lin has gone underwater, after chasing her, they finally find her in a room with some giant gears.

Lin: I see. So the gaggle above has already broken apart. And the power source we sought was never there, to begin with. All this time, they were looking for something that could never have been found. And they destroyed themselves over it.

She suddenly gives a big laugh, much to Ash's confusion, but Lin also notices Ash and turns to him.

Lin: Hey. Don't you think it's funny? Don't you think it's funny ...How easily people break? Everyone in the world wears a stone face. Underneath, they swear they're solid gold. Hearts of crystal, souls of steel... But no matter their face, everyone has nothing. You take something away. Their home. Their love. Their breath. And they just fall to pieces. We are made of nothing. And surely it would take an act of God to create something from nothing. Life is unfair like that.

Lin then takes the gears and leaves the place, much to Ash's confusion, but he still has to chase after her as they get back to the surface, Serena, Lillie, Shelly, Samson, and Ciel are already confronting Lin.

Ciel: Now, now! You can't possibly leave until the show is rightfully over!

Samson: While you're at it, how about you hand over whatever that big stone business is.

Lin: Who makes demands with their cheek on the ground? All the souls in this world insist on mercy. But there is none. The world stage does not belong to you alone.

Ciel: I do hope you don't intend to take the moral high ground after everything you've done.

Lin: Morals are only lies we choose to believe in for our own comfort. Such fictions have no bearing on this world. All that matters is control. Who can make the other man bow? Who can make the other one kneel? Who can make the other disappear? And who can bring them back?

Just then, much to their surprise, Lin has sent out a Gardevoir.

Lin: What is lost can yet be found. What is found can be extorted. What's extorted is forgotten. What's forgotten is your place.

Ash widens his eyes as the Gardevoir is going to create the black hole just like what his father's Gardevoir did, and when it tries to absorb Ciel, Samson pushes her out of the way, causing him to get sucked into the black hole, much to their horror.

Ciel: No, what are you- (Black Hole disappears) What... happened? Where did he go? (Angrily yells at Lin) What did you do with Samson?!

Lin: Why should the sun care if the stars go out? It is still the center of its own world, unable to see past its own sheen. Shield your eyes, or burn them out. It makes no difference. (Leaves)

Shelly: (Frowns) Huh...? Again...?

Ciel: (Cries) Of course I care...

Shelly: Another black hole? That Gardevoir... It's just like with Cain...

Ciel: Even if it wasn't how he wanted- Even if I couldn't say it- And just what does she know?!

Shelly: Why did it listen to her? Why couldn't we do anything, again? Did I do something wrong asking for help stopping her?

Ciel: No... There was nothing we could do, but you weren't wrong to ask us... As always, I just wasn't enough... I've never been- This is... disgraceful. I should go. (Leaves)

Lillie: Why does this keep happening...?

Shelly: First Cain, and now this... I- I froze up... Why couldn't I do anything? It's my fault- I saw Lin trying to leave and asked Samson and Ciel for help to stop her... Should I have done it alone? Should I have just let her go? I don't-

Hardy: (Comes) No way. Then she'd just have gotten you instead. I'm not sayin' anyone's more valuable than anyone else, but at the least, it'll do more harm than good if you don't let up on yourself. Ain't no one can blame you for not taking on somethin' you can't handle. So chin up, Shell Bell. The best way to honor those that ain' with us is to not let that loss stop us from doin' what we gotta. The others have rounded up a bunch of Meteor's goons and they're takin' 'em into the city to lock 'em down. They've got their Pokémon helpin', but I can't imagine they couldn't use another set of hands. Why don't you roll out with them?

Shelly: O-okay... (Leaves)

Hardy: My sis is with them. She may not be good for much more than sharp words most of the time, but the two of them seemed to be hittin' it off earlier, her helping Shell Bell with the whole backbone thing. I think she'll be good for her.

Serena: I think so...

Hardy: Welp, one way or another, that just about takes care of Meteor for here. It's good to be home. I'mma go hit up the townsfolk and tell 'em that it's safe now. After that... Heh, you already know what I'm gonna ask, right? I've been lookin' forward to a battle with you ever since I saw you fight Aya. It's gonna feel GREAT to use my Gym again! Then we can roll back up to Calcenon and find a way to save Aya. Sound good to you? I'll be waitin', mate!

Ash nods as they see Hardy leave.

Lillie: So this is your seventeenth Gym battle, right? I can't believe you have already come this far...

Ash: Yeah...for some reason, the adventure of this region is too different from the others...I mean, after everything that I've been through...

Serena: We understand. But right now, let's not think too much about that and get your second-last gym badge.

Before heading to the gym, Ash decides to help a woman with the passcode, which is actually back in the Devon Corp, as he has to play the Double Magic Square Puzzle that's very complicated. Thanks to Lillie's smart brains, they manage to complete the task and give her the passcode: 139749, and then they find a secret room. For the reward, they get the Department Store Sticker for the 11th floor. And when they get back to Calcenon, they find a friend of Charlotte's mother, and by proving to be friends with them, the woman gives them a Torchic egg as a reward.

After everything is completed, Ash, Serena, and Lillie are now at Agate Gym as it is finally time for Ash to fight Hardy. As they get to the Telecom, Delia is already back and she is ready for him.

Delia: Ash! So you've reached Hardy, yes? You're nearly there! Okay, so the first thing you need to know is that like me, Hardy fights in Doubles. His main strategy is something like a brute force attempt- outspeed and punish both opponents at once. His signature move Rock Slide is great at that, on top of a notable Flinch chance. When fighting in a Rocky Field, flinches can be especially nasty, as being knocked into rock will add additional chip damage. For that reason, contrary to what you might expect from a Rock-type Leader, Speed will be critical in this battle. If you don't move fast, you might not move at all, so Pokémon with strong priority moves may be at a particular advantage here. Further, Hardy's Pokémon may use the stones as defensive cover from some attacks, so be careful how you approach them. The field provides him little resistances otherwise though, so if you can find an opening, take it! Whatever the case, I'm sure you'll figure out something. Good luck! We're all counting on you!

Ash nods as they start to do the gym puzzle, which looks like a Guitar After hearing the notes and plays the string, they manage to get to Hardy's Battlefield.

Hardy: What's up, mate? I've been pumped for this for a while. You ready to roll?

Ash: You bet.

Hardy: Hell yeah! Don't you dare think I'm some kinda pushover like my sister, aite? There's a reason I'm ranked higher than her. Lemme show it to ya in double time! This is gonna rock!

Hardy sends out Aerodactyl and Gigalith first, while Ash goes for Empoleon and Aegislash. Aerodactyl already goes for Mega Evolution, much to their surprise, and Gigalith has the Choice band, and it locks into Rock Slide, trying to flinch both of them. Empoleon gets hit by Aerodactyl's Rock Smash, but Ash has Empoleon goes for Surf, with Aegislash uses King Shield to block the damage. And Aerodactyl is the first to get knocked out because of Aegislash's Iron Head.

The third Pokemon for Hardy is a Midday Form Lycanroc, and it goes for Drill Run, knocking out Aegislash, so Ash goes for Lucario next. As for Gigalith, it is defeated by Lucario and Empoleon's Flash Cannon at the same time, so Hardy's fourth Pokemon is Archeops. Lycanroc goes for Drill Run, also defeating Empoleon, so Ash goes with Pikachu for the battle. With Lucario goes for Flash Cannon and Pikachu's Thunderbolt, Lycanroc is defeated, but it deals a lot of damage to Pikachu with the Accelrock before that happens.

The fifth Pokemon is Rampardos, and it goes for Head Smash on both Pokemon, Archeops also goes for Acrobatics to defeat Lucario, forcing Ash to send out Greninja. Pikachu goes for Thunderbolt on Archeops, also knocking it out.

Hardy: What happens here is one thing...But don't think our spirit can be ever broken! (Sends out Dusk Form Lycanroc)

Lillie: He also has a Dusk Form Lycanroc?

Serena: Is that really special?

Lillie: Considering that Ash is the first one to discover it...

Then Dusk Form Lycanroc goes for Rock Slide, causing Pikachu to faint, so Ash goes for Sceptile. And he decides to do Mega Evolution and Bond Phenomenon at the same time. Sceptile goes for Leaf Storm, with Greninja's Water Shuriken, they knock out the Rampardos first. Hardy has Lycanroc does the Z Move Splintered Stormshards on Greninja, causing Ash to be a lot of pain with Greninja. But in the end, both Greninja and Sceptile work together by using Hydro Pump and Bullet Seed at the same time, knocking out the Lycanroc.

Hardy: Looks like I choked after all. Welp, Geode Badge is yours, mate. (Opens the box for Ash to take the badge) You've earned it.

Ash takes the seventeenth badge which is brown colored and puts it into the pocket.

Hardy: With that bit, your Pokémon are good for up to level 95. Almost to the top, huh? The final showdown with Meteor pro'lly ain't far off now. An' no matter what, I'mma get Aya back. If I gotta beat all of Meteor for it, fine. If I gotta beat you for it, I'll do it. You get what I'm sayin'? You gotta stay on track to finish the job.

Ash: Of course.

Hardy: Tch, yeah, I can't wait any longer. I'm headin' back to Calcenon right now. I'll bust through that barrier one way or another. And when I do, Team Meteor is through for good! Catch you there, Ash!

Ash nods as he turns to Serena and Lillie.

Ash: Serena, Lillie. I'm glad to have you by our side, we're going to Labradorra City and getting back from Team Meteor, are you with us?

Lillie: You bet.

Serena: We'll be with you.

Ash smiles as they all head to Calcenon City.


And here is a new chapter, as you can see, Ash gets his 17th gym badge, Saphira's Gym badge is the only one left. And this also marks the end of Episode 18, so after this chapter, the content will be new, and spoilers alert from those who haven't played E19 yet.