Chapter 117 Semi-Finals

Meanwhile, outside the Labradorra City Gym, Delia, Serena, and Lillie have arrived, but they are surprised to see that the gym doesn't have a door.

Serena: Where is the door? How come we can't find it?

Delia: I don't know...I have never heard of a gym without a door...are you sure when you saw Ash and the others go in, they go through the front door?

Lillie: Do you think that maybe Team Meteor has done something?

Delia: That would be horrible...Adam, Ash, Noel are still in there... not to mention, the path to Victory Road is also behind this building, and the only way to go past is from this gym...

Serena: (Holds her hands together and prays) Ash...please be safe...


After getting into the room, Ash finds Hardy already there.

Hardy: Oi, you made it! Ol' Hatman nearly had me beat back there, but he choked. Can't say I blame 'im though. I get the feeling he and I ain't so different. Only time had longer to wear him down. Sometimes I think, what if that happens to me someday? But there's no time like the present. And there's nothin' like bein' with it every step of the way! At least, I'm pretty sure that's how that verse went...

Ash frowns as even his father has become the victim of this so-called "nothing", and he is a little sad because he can't remember his father's name. At the same time, Saphira also walks in, with sadness and anger on her face.

Hardy: You good? (Given a cold shoulder) All right, all right, sorry for asking.

Saphira: Are there exits?

Hardy: Not one.

Saphira: Then time's wasting. Let's start the next round.

Hardy: You know we still gotta wait for my sister, yeah?

Florinia: (Walks in) Incorrect.

Ash is surprised, Titania lost to Florinia in the battle? And much to his horror, he can't remember Titania's name as well.

Hardy: Whoa! Rini, you actually beat her?

Florinia: Correct.

Hardy: Despite all her tough talk and high rank, huh?

Florinia: Correct.

Hardy: I've got a lot of mixed feelings about that.

Saphira: Then everyone's here. Great, let's go.

Hardy: Lost your reason to care, huh?

Saphira: Don't try it. All of you are already erased. Everything from here until I escape this place is just a formality. So there's no point in trying to make nice.

Hardy: Oi, ain' you countin' us out a little early? We all got this far, same as you did! And whether or not any of us goin' anywhere, there's no use in making the atmosphere all grim!

Saphira: I think there's been a misunderstanding. I must've somehow given the impression that I care about your opinion. That was a grave mistake on my part, and for that, I apologize.

Hardy: I think I see where (#4 ! gets it.

Saphira: (Glares) Don't-

Terra: ST0P B3L133333V1NG! HOLD ONTO THAT F333333L1NG!

Hardy: I think that takes the cake for the worst cover I've ever heard.

Florinia: This speaker now better comprehends the phenomenon of loud noises causing the glass to shatter.

Saphira: Speaking of going deaf, did you not hear me earlier or are you choosing to ignore it? Let's get started.

Terra: nnn, so eag3r... but lady seph0ra... can't we at least wa1t until the sec0nd date?

Saphira: Based on last round's brackets, my opponent should be Hardy, correct?

Terra: g-gosh, ask1ng s0mething so p-pers0nal l1ke that... i g-guess if it matters to y0u so00000 much i can put the d-d1splay up... b-but it's n0t because i want y0u to keep go1ng or anything, b-baka! 0KAY THEN, L00K AT THE SCREEN.

Ash finds that on the screen, he's facing Florinia while Saphira is facing Hardy.

Terra: (Setting the cameras) NA0 BACK 2 ME. NA0 B4CK T0 THE SCR33N. N0W B4CK t0 ME. (Fixed the camera) S4DLY, TH4T AWKW4RDLY PANNED C4M3RA ISN'T ME, BUT IF Y0U L00K BACK TO TH3 SCR33N, YOU C0ULD SM3LL L1KE ME. (Move the camera again) L00K D0WN. N0W B4CK UP.

Ash and the others for some reason are teleported away, and Ash finds that he's already in the healing room.

Terra: WH3R3 4R3 Y0U? Y0U'RE IN A R00M W1TH THE G4L Y0UR G4L C0ULD RAWR LYKE. WH4T'S 1N Y0UR HAND? B4CK AT M3- I H4VE IT. 1T'S THE H4LLW4Y T0 THAT P3RS0N YOU HAVE TO F1GHT. L00K AGA1N. THE H4LLW4Y IS N0W DIAM0NDS! 4NYTH1NG IS P0SSIBLE WHEN Y0U'RE N0T AS B0RING AS FL0RINIA. I'M M4DE 0F H0RSE. RAWWWWRRR!

Ash: I really don't like Terra... (Notices the Diamond path) At least she is right about the hallway being diamonds...

Then Ash heals his Pokemon and switches out the team before heading towards the battlefield.


Terra: H-HEWW0?! WEWCOME TO THE THIWD W0UND AND SEMIFINAWS OF THE WABWADOWWA GWAND T0UWNAMENT OF dat ass. WE'd LIKE T0 REMIND TONIGHT's AUD1ENCE THAT THIS TOURNAMENT IS BR0UGHT TO YOU BY DEV0N CORPORATION AND THE LETTER 3. DEV0N CORP- "G3T Y0UR DEV ON".

Hardy: That the best you could think of?

Terra: nooooo... but whaddya w4nt from me, eff0rt? pfffffttt... pffffffFFBFBTTT PSHAWWWFFFFBBFFBTBTBTTTTTTTTTT7TTTTTTTT TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Saphira: Get on with it already.

Terra: o i'll get it 0n all r1ght ;) IN THE F1RST BRACK3T, H1S ACCENT MAY BE FAKE, BUT HIS STUPID1TY IS NOT- THIS P0NY IS SO ONE TR1CK YOU COULD CALL HIM B1G MAC, IT'S THE MAN W1THOUT A PLAN, HARDLY! HE FACES 0FF AGA1NST A L1TERAL RAG1NG BULL!

Saphira: No, he doesn't.

Terra: ya-huh. u a bullshit-ass bull cuz i said s0.

Hardy: And I'll fight. I ain' exactly been a big fan of your attitude, mate. I'm more than willin' to take you down a notch or two!

Saphira: And I can't say I appreciate your nonchalance about your sister's failure, But I'm not here to split hairs. I'm not even here to fight.

Terra: wat an' just wh44444t u think's gonna happen to your s1ster if y0u do that?

Saphira: You said nothing can happen to them anymore and there's no way to bring them back. So there's no reason for me to go on.

Terra: RAWWWWWWWWWRRRRR! N0W HOLD ON JUST SEXOND! m44444y be nothing can happen to them anym0re, but that doesn't mean n0thing can be done about it.

Saphira: You're just trying to backpedal on saying that to egg the match on. Unless you explicitly confirm that there's a way to save the losers, there's no reason for me to fight. Take me out now otherwise.

Terra: (*DFH9o8dsfy9OUFDIH09S*DFh*(H F1NE. Y3S, TH3RE'S A W4Y TO S4VE Y0UR PREC1OUS L1TTLE L0SERS. r u happy na0.

Hardy: You sure you ain't jus' sayin' that?

Saphira: No, that's fine. The fact that she was willing to say that is enough.

Hardy: Huh? What are you talking about?

Saphira: Terra, the field. Now.

Terra: A111111N'T u tellin' me wHAT TO DO QQURL. not 0utta tha bedr00m rawr ;)

Saphira: I'm tired of wasting time. It's already obvious that I'm going to win no matter which field you pick, so let's get it over with.

Terra: dayummm gurl you c0ckier than a r00ster in h3at.

Saphira: And? Do you really think it's not justified? If so, then prove it.

Terra: 0H0H0H0H0H0H0H0~! V3RY WELL, 1F Y0U INS1ST, TH3N 1'LL USE MY SP3C1AL M0VE! KAAAME... HAAAAMEEEE... RAWWWWRRRRRRRRRR!

Then their field for the match is the Rocky Field, which is best for Hardy.

Hardy: Is that the Rocky Field? Sweet!

Saphira: Perfect.

Hardy: "Perfect"? This is my gym's field, yanno? Why would you be happy about that?

Saphira: Because that told me everything I needed to know. We understand our situation, but we don't understand what the enemy gains from it.

Hardy: I'nnit just to thin out our numbers so we can't fight 'em?

Saphira: That's illogical. If they wanted to minimize resistance, she would just freeze us all or trap us here and be done with it. The promise of an exit tells us a lot about their motivation.

Terra: 0nly thr33 things m0tivat3 me: ca5hmoney, that gucci p00n, and Ch1cken Invad3rs 4: cluck 0f the dark s1de.

Hardy: So what does that mean, exactly?

Saphira: I'll get there. In my last round, Charlotte and I both attempted forfeit, but Terra urged us on. I'm sure Charlotte knew what I was trying for. If just thinning numbers out aimlessly was her goal, then there would have been no need to encourage us to battle. This meant she may have been pushing for a specific person to win. Apparently not though. If she wanted anyone else to win, there would be no need to encourage me to not drop out. However, if she were steering this in my favor, she wouldn't have taken my bait and set a field against me. Thus, we can rule that possibility out

Terra: l4dy playin' me like a chess p1ece ;~;

Saphira: Even her saying it's possible to free the others, whether or not it's true, eliminates the possibility of this just being to crush our spirits. As a result, there's only one remaining possibility.

Hardy: An' what's that, huh?

Saphira: Well, there's no point in telling someone who's already erased. I was only curious how much she would argue with me. But it seems she has no points to do so. So, all that's left is to remove you.

Hardy: That's clever and all, but aren't you bein' a little too hasty? I may be ranked below you, but I'm only one rank below you, and this field gives me a pretty huge edge.

Saphira: Oh. You weren't listening? I already said... I can win on any field.

Then the camera switches into the second round, where Ash is facing Florinia.

Terra: MEANWH1LE, IN 0UR SECOND RACKET, who again? F1GHTS, THE F12 COMBO!

Florinia: This speaker laments the circumstances necessitating the upcoming trial. Nevertheless, they have been deemed necessary by the operational subject group. Accordingly, let us begin.

Terra: 0HHHH MY GAWWWWWWWDDDD STAHHHHHP I HAV3 BE3N UP HERE, TRYNA HYPE UP THIS TOURN4MENT ALL DAY AND YOU JUST COME UP HERE LIK o. y. I FELL 4SLEEP 14 TIMES JUST IN TH0SE THREE LINES AL0NE. RAWWWWWWRRRRRRR! ok. new planz guise. pre-field dialogue is cancelled. you get a GL1TCH field becase you're a G0TDAYUMMM ROBUTT.

Ash realizes that he has to fight Florinia in a Glitch Field, which is basically Terra's field.

Terra: 0KAY NOW GIT 2 IT. BUT N0 BORING SH1T. I'M W4TCHIN' YA.

Florinia: ...Very well. Hypothesis: Subject's ability remains abundant enough for conclusive success. Expected outcome: Ash victory.

Florinia sends out Hippowdon as her first Pokemon, and Ash goes for Lapras for this one. Becuase of the Sand Stream Ability, the Sandstorm appears, and Hippowdon goes for Stealth Rock first to set up the field, while Lapras goes for Ice Beam, trying to deal a lot of damage on Hippowdon. Hippowdon manages to use Slack Off to recover its HP and goes for Stone Edge, which also deals a lot of damage. But in the end, Hippowdon is defeated by Lapras' Hydro Pump.

The second Pokemon is Ferrothorn, and it goes for Giga Drain to knock out Lapras, so Ash goes for Blaziken for the next battle. Blaziken goes for Blaze Kick, but the Iron Barbs damage the Pokemon. Ferrothorn goes for Hidden Power, which is super effective because it is Ground Type, but Blaziken goes for Flamethrower to knock it out.

The third Pokemon is Sandslash, and it goes for Earthquake to knock out Blaziken, so Ash goes for Decidueye instead. Decidueye goes for Leaf Blade, but it is being hit by X-Scissor back. Then it tries to use Spirit Shackle, forcing Sandslash to stay on the field, and Sandslash goes for Swords Dance and Stone Edge, but it is defeated by Decidueye's Frenzy Plant.

The fourth Pokemon is Tangrowth, because of the Synthetic Seed, Tangrowth's type becomes a question mark, and Decidueye has been struggling with Tangrowth by using Spirit Shackle, Leaf Blade, and Brave Bird. Tangrowth tries to go with Metronome, but Decidueye manages to dodge all the moves. And Ash decides to use the Z Move Sinister Arrow Raid, knocking out the Tangrowth in the end.

The fifth Pokemon is Cradily, and it is the same as Tangrowth, with the Synthetic Seed. Cradily is giving Ash a hard time because it keeps using Recover and Stockpile to make it hard to beat, Ash has to switch into Lucario and has it use Extreme Speed and Aura Sphere, it takes them a lot of time to knock it out.

The final Pokemon is Torterra, and it defeats Lucario with the Earthquake, so Ash goes for Jynx, using the Psychic attack to deal a lot of damage, and then finishes with Icy Wind.

Florinia: Challenger remains due to proceed.

Terra: AAAAND THAT'S A RAP! YOUUU JUST DO THE S1NGING, I'LL T4KE CARE 0F THE HARD PART. winkwinkwinkwinkwinkwink.

Florinia: Nevertheless, a substantial option may still exist. An application has been interfaced with, effectively creating a pseudo-backup repository for-

Terra: l4dy. l4dy stop. wh4t'd i tell ya, ab0ut that th1ng you're doin' again where y0u say a wh0le lot of syll4bles but not very many words.

Florinia: All phonemes uttered by this individual veritably combine to form coherent English words.

Terra: YEA BUT THEY ST1LL D0N'T SAY SHIT TH0. don't talk back to me b1111tch, i r4ised u better than that. na0 go take a time 0ut.

Ash frowns as even Florinia is flickering as she is about to get deleted.

Terra: And Y0U. :) Y0U 4re my f4vor1te pers0n right now. :) Because n0t only do you n3v3r say anyth1ng :) But y0u won 4nd let me shut h3r up :) AS A PR1ZE FOR Y0UR GREAT S3RVICE IN THE NAME OF THE T3RR4N4T0R, YOU M4Y PROCEED.

Ash sighs, the reason he doesn't speak because he is patient, he wants to quickly get this over with, just like what Saphira is thinking.


And here is a new chapter, this is the Semi-Finals, where you're facing either Cal or Florinia regarding your choice. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the gym battle.