Chapter 118 Labradorra Gym Battle
Ash walks towards the final room, and Ash notices that he is facing Saphira in the finals, and she is the only one that he hasn't faced before.
Saphira: Good. I was counting on it being you. (Yells at the ceiling) Terra.
Terra: yeeeEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS?
Saphira: I have a request.
Terra: a r-r3quest? f-f0r me?! i... i mean i can g0 ahead and l1sten if you ins1st but it's n0t like this makes me f33l important 0r anything, b-b4k4!
Saphira: Load the gym.
Terra: e-eh!? s-s0 suddenly... saph1ra-chan... i nev3r knew y0u felt th4t way ab0ut me...
Saphira: Now.
Terra: 4ND NANI THE FUCK'ST M4KES Y0U TH1NK 1'M TAKING 0RDERS FR0M Y0U?! the only dragons i listen to are the bad ones ;)
Saphira: You don't need to do it because it's an order. You need to do it because it'll be more interesting.
Terra: x
Saphira: That's the purpose of this tournament, right? If it's not to reduce our strength, not for the purpose of breaking us, and not to create a certain victor... Then there's only one thing left: Entertainment. You've created this tournament for your, or someone else's amusement. Am I wrong?
Terra: nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmaybeee?
Saphira: We've been through three rounds of this so far. The formula must be getting stale. Let's shake it up. If Ash wins, he gets his last badge. And I get to fight on my field. The stakes are raised, which makes things more interesting, right?
Terra: (Thinks for a second) the c0uncil acc3pts y0ur dec1sion, but d0es not gr4nt y0u the rank of mast3r. IF Y0U D0N'T PUT ON A H3LL OF A SH0W I'LL RAWWRRR YOU T0 P1ECES, kacheek?
Saphira: Capiche.
Terra: ye4h that. bap. (Creates a hallway) 0n ya left. but y0u better n0t d1sappo1nt. 0therw1se t1mmy gets it.
Saphira: That won't be an issue. (Leaves but stops) No time like the present. I'll be waiting, Ash.
Ash: So let me get this right...I'm suddenly doing my last gym in a place like this...weird...
After getting to the gym field, he is surprised to see how big the area is.
Saphira: Welcome to home, sweet home. In a sense.
Terra: N44444444WH B1SH, TH1S MY H0USE NA0. I, THE K1NG OF EV1L, HAVE CLA1MED THIS SACR3D G0LDEN LAND AS MY OWN! AND W1TH IT, ALL Y0UR b00ty ARE B3LONG TO US! RAWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRR!
Saphira: And now, I'll show you the best thing about this place. This gym was built inside the competitive facility for convenience and broadcasting. But it would be annoying if a concurrent tournament's announcements played over a private gym battle. This way, we can make sure challenges stay undisturbed. I can't imagine being more thankful for it than I am right now. (Leaves) I'll be waiting at the top, But there are things you must understand first.
After Saphira is gone, Ash walks towards the Telecom, and this time, Adrienn is the one who answers the call because Delia, Serena, and Lillie are outside the gym.
Adrienn: Ash! And from that gym! Thank goodness! We've had no luck reaching anyone up in Calcenon. Even Victoria never got back to me after leaving. Is everything okay?
Ash: It was just like that Devonyx Building, but this is just a prototype. But where is Mom? She's not with us.
Adrienn: From what I heard, she is heading to Labradorra City with Serena and Lillie. I'd say I can hardly believe it, but unfortunately, I can. The others- are they well?
Ash: Everyone gets a penalty, except for Saphira and me. Since we're the only ones left.
Adrienn: As expected from the highest-ranking Leader and our Champion-to-be. I cannot approve of going along with Meteor's game, but I know that my comments are far too little and far too late. I'll make preparations to head there myself and see if I can do anything to help those affected. But first, you will be needing advice for Saphira, won't you? Of course- One second, please. That would have been Monty's Gym, wouldn't it... Yes, here it is. The most threatening feature of the gym is its boost to Dragon Type attacks. Due to their boost in power, Saphira is free to invest heavily in Speed. Other moves such as Dragon Dance will also double in power. Dragon Types will also get a boost to both of their Defenses as well. These boosts are available to you as well, and if you can make use of them, battles in this gym may become one-sided for either party. Alternatively, a bulky Fairy Type may force her to set up and open a window in which to punish her offensive. Not that I'm trying to advertise or anything... However, none of these will help when it comes to her ace, Dragonite. Its Multiscale ability will negate its Dragon Type weakness regardless of its health, And the heat of this field will soften Ice Type attacks. Therefore, Rock Type is your only viable choice to hit Dragonite effectively. Try to save such an attacker for it to reduce its chances to sweep. If anyone can win this, it's you. This is your final hurdle before properly claiming your championship title! I'll be off now, to see what difference I can make up there. Best of luck, Champion.
Ash nods as he climbs the tower, only to find a treasure chest in front of him.
Saphira: What is most precious to you? Happiness, Money, Friends, Family, Freedom, Legacy, or nothing?
Ash: Everything is important, however, if you want me to pick one, then I'll pick friends.
Saphira: Which is more important, your value to them or theirs to you?
Ash: My value to them.
Saphira: Do you really believe you're that selfless? Having value to others is just a roundabout way of keeping yourself secure. Are you sure you even have value to them?
Ash: I know some of them to have, and that's enough.
Saphira: To be human is to know inferiority. Certainty is never just that- only a point at which we've decided to stop pursuing a deeper truth. No matter. It's time for it to begin again. Your precious thing is inside that chest. The world does not want you to keep it. Threats will approach from all sides. Eliminate them before they reach their goal. Here are the rules: If you want something, fight for it. There are no breaks. There are no second chances. There are no other rules. Good luck.
Then Ash notices a Mandibuzz is flying towards the chest, so he picks Lycanroc and goes for Rock Slide to knock it out, and then two Ambipom appear, and Ash has Hawlucha to block those two with Karate Chop and High Jump Kick. And then a knight appears and Ash has to stop the knight by having a battle with him.
Ash: This is getting harder and harder...not only do I have to battle the knight, but I also have to make sure nobody is getting the treasure...
Then a Charizard and a Blaziken comes, after defeating both of them, the next wave consists of Tyrantrum, Mandibuzz, and a knight, and the chest is floating in the air.
Ash: Hey! Come back here!
Ash finds that the one who does that is a Magneton, and he also defeats the Pokemon to stop the Magnet Rise, but he also has to get back before the enemies reach the chest. After getting back, two Druddigons, a Tyrantrum, a Zoroark, and a knight appear. The next wave is two Aerodactyl that flies from above, and then a Garchomp, a knight, another Aerodactyl, another Druddigon, another Charizard, and a Flygon appeared. And Ash has Primarina, Sylveon, and Dragonite helping him defend them.
Ash: Are there any more?
Just then, the ground is shaking, and Ash turns to see the Giant Steelix.
Ash: That's the Giant Steelix back in Tanzan Depths...I know Saphira has tamed him, but do I have to face it again?
With the help of Primarina and Hawlucha, both of them work hard to stop the giant Steelix, and after the Pokemon is defeated, the path to Saphira appears and Ash knows that he manages to survive all the attacks. After using up the Healing Shard, Ash goes to face Saphira.
Saphira: You did well to clear those theatrics. But that's just a formality. It's time to put an end to this ridiculous 'tournament'. Convincing Terra to let me use my gym was just a way to make sure I had a favorable Field Effect and ensure my victory. But in return, if, by some fluke, you win, you'll have your final badge. I consider this a fair exchange. Of course, that's just a formality too, Since losing is not an option for me. I'll take this tournament for myself!
Her first Pokemon is Noivern, so Ash goes for Primarina for the first battle. Because of the field effect, the Flamethrower deals more damage than usual, but it is still not very effective against Primarina. Primarina goes for Ice Beam, but the field-effect causes the attack to do less damage, and Noivern goes for Boomburst and it is negated by Hyper Voice with the Liquid Voice. And Primarina goes for Moonblast, defeating the Noivern.
The second Pokemon for Saphira is the Mega Charizard X, much to Ash's surprise as she mega evolves so early, but Mega Charizard X is Fire and Dragon-Type, and it goes for Dragon Dance to boost the Attack and Speed, and then it goes for Earthquake to knock out Primarina. Ash decides to go with Dragonite next. Dragonite also goes for Dragon Dance and Charizard tries to use Dragon Claw, but Dragonite dodges the attack and goes for Dragon Rush, slamming into Charizard and knocking it out.
The third Pokemon is Garchomp, and it goes for Dragon Rush, since it has the Choice Scarf, it just binds into that move, so Dragonite is defeated, and Ash goes for Hawlucha next. Hawlucha goes for Dual Chop and Bounce, even though it takes the damage from Rough Skin, it is enough to knock out Garchomp in the end.
The fourth Pokemon is Salamence, it goes for Dragon Dance to boost the Attack and Speed, and then it lands the Dragon Claw to knock out Hawlucha. Its ability Moxie also boosts the attack, much to Ash's frustration. Ash goes for Sylveon for the battle. Sylveon goes for Attract to make Salamence infatuated, but Salamence still hits Sylveon with the Flamethrower, but Sylveon defeats the Pokemon with Moonblast.
Haxorus is the fifth Pokemon, and it uses Poison Jab to make Sylveon poisoned. Sylveon manages to stay on the field and uses Moonblast to deal a lot of damage, but it can't stand the poison and it faints. Ash goes for Pikachu as the fifth Pokemon, and Pikachu slams the Iron Tail on Haxorus. Haxorus tries to go with the Dragon Dance and Dragon Claw combo again, but Pikachu uses Agility to dodge the attack and lands a Thunderbolt, eventually knocking out the Dragon Pokemon.
Saphira: So what? I'm down, but never out! (Sends out Dragonite)
The final Pokemon is Dragonite, and it goes for Extreme Speed to outspeed Pikachu's Quick Attack, and then finishes the Pokemon with the Dragon Dance and Dragon Claw combo. Ash's final Pokemon is Lycanroc, and it manages to take the Dragon Claw, then Ash decides to go with the Z Move Splintered Stormshards and knocks the Dragonite out of the battle.
Saphira: Really. Losing is not an option... I have a family to look after- It's been my responsibility ever since our parents- (Shakes her head) Actually, that's not right. Even an orphan should have had a different guardian. But I didn't. I was forced to learn several things about the world: Everyone is corrupt. No one is on your side. No one is going to listen. And funny, isn't it, that all you do is sit there and listen.
Ash: What do you mean by that?
Saphira: You play God like some kind of doll with the power it has no right to have. And just watch it happen. Do you think you can solve any problem just by being able to defeat whatever team of Pokémon gets thrown at you? If you could, something would be wrong. But maybe that's the case. Everything's wrong. The doctor is dead. So you say. And just what the hell do you think that leaves me to do now?! Protect my sisters? Let's be honest- I've just been using them. They've been the only way I could even convince myself to move forward. In the end, he was always my focus. So should I be happy that the thing I've been chasing this whole time is gone? I didn't want him dead- I wanted to kill him myself! I wanted to finally take back the control I lost so long ago! So that maybe- just maybe, I could possibly begin to convince myself that I have an inkling of power, Even if it's just enough to keep myself safe. Because I know that I don't. I can't. Lin having done that... Just proves it. That we were in this tournament- In this city- That I did lose here- In the end, I know I'm helpless. Just like back then. I couldn't stop him. No one believed me. Not even he remembers it. He was in a stupor, or some kind of trance- He just kept saying it over and over... "Lizzy, Lizzy, Lizzy," Back and forth, back and forth, Crying the entire time. Over and over, For what seemed like forever.
Ash: I know, I saw the whole truth back in the void...
Saphira: But there's nothing left for me to do about it now, even if I do get out of here. Your badge is in the chest below. (Yells at the ceiling) Terra, you're still listening, right? I'm ready. Just put me down already. It's time to sleep.
Ash somehow feels sorry after seeing Saphira being the same as Lumi, Cal, Rini, and the others, and he is the victor of this tournament. He got his final badge: The Treasure Badge, and for some reason he also seems to have won the League as he has the conditions to face the Reborn Elite Four.
But all he feels inside his heart is only one word: Empty.
And here is a new chapter, Ash got his final gym badge, and he is the only one who survived the tournament. How is he going to save others from Terra? Find out in the next chapter.
