Chapter 158 Trainer from Aevium Part 3
After getting to the Charous Hall, Flora is already waiting for them there.
Flora: Took you long enough. Are you really the Champion? I figured it would be someone at least a little more reliable. Anyway, I already called in and talked to some League manager person or whatever? They said a bunch of airy bullshit about "preserving the sanctity of the challenge" and whatever, but after I mentioned you, their whole tone turned around. And THEN they told me about how that PULSE has just taken over the Champion room entirely? Like it just teleports anyone who gets close to it right back out. Seriously, how does your League even function? APPARENTLY, it's because everyone who's gone to check on it has bypassed the Elite 4 instead of entering legitimately, which sounds, like, ultra bullshit to me. But whatever. So anyway, something about trusting you as the region's Champion to make the right call for its future, some other optimistic crap, blahblahblahblah- basically, as long as we fight together, they'll let me through and I GUESS the stupid PULSE will listen then?
Ash: I guess so.
Flora: (Joy...) That means each of us can only use 3 Pokémon, and we just have to learn to get along. So, I know we didn't get off on the best foot to start, but we're here now! What do you say we put that all behind us and do our best as a team!?
Victoria: Are you sure you're going to do this?
Ash: It's not like I have a choice. Let's just go.
Flora: Yayyyy, teamwork, cooperation, and other vomit-inducing platitudinal buzzwords~! But there's a 0% chance I'm keeping the cheery facade up the whole way through. Just saying. I'm going ahead now. Do try not to test my patience anymore.
Ash, Serena, and Victoria decide to chase after Flora until they are now in Heather's Chamber.
Heather: Hi, Ash! I was wondering who let this weird-looking girl in. Why'd you do that?
Flora: (Not seeing Heather) Excuse me? Is someone talking? I don't see anyone.
Heather: (Growls) I'm right here, and I KNOW you can see me just fine!
Flora: (Notices her on Salamence's back) Oh, sorry about that! You were just so small I couldn't tell! And here I thought that Salamence just had an attitude problem!
Heather: It's about to have an attitude problem all over you if you don't watch it!
Flora: (Turns to Ash) Who let this small, sassy child into the E4? (Turns back to Heather) Isn't it your naptime or something?
Heather: You wish! We're fighting one-on-two, right?! Bring it on! Salamence, it's take-off time!
Flora: S-sorry, hold on... Did I just- "It's take-off time"? Seriously? PLEASE tell me that that's not really your catchphrase.
Heather: And what's wrong with it, huh!? I'm a maiden of the wind! My catchphrase can be whatever I want it to be!
Flora: (Laughs out loud) I can't-! It's TERRIBLE! And "maiden of the wind"? It sounds like something a five-year-old made up- Ohhhhh, right.
Heather: (Angry) Grrrrrr, you're gonna regret that! I'm bringing my full force down on you- you'd better be ready!
Heather sends out a Landorus and a Crobat, much to Flora's surprise since she has a Legendary Pokemon, but Ash is used to it as he just goes with Lycanroc to battle her, while Flora goes for Ferrothorn to battle. Ash and Flora aren't working together at most, but they still manage to beat them with Ferrothorn using Gyro Ball on Crobat while Ash has Lycanroc use Rock Slide. Landorus goes for Earthquake to deal a lot of damage to Lycanroc, but Lycanroc goes for Accelrock to defeat Crobat.
Heather sends out Gyarados next, and with the Z Move Supersonic Skytrike, it defeats Ferrothorn with ease, so Flora has to send out Rotom to battle, and Lycanroc also defeats Landorus with the Crunch, so Heather sends out Gengar next. Gengar goes for Thunder, with the Field effect, it defeats Lycanroc, so Ash goes for Greninja instead, Rotom goes for Thunder and defeats Gyarados, so Heather goes for Nidoking. it goes for Thunder, dealing a lot of damage to Greninja, but Greninja goes for Water Shuriken and knocks the Pokemon out.
Heather: Wow, high-schoolers really are the worst, huh?
The final Pokemon for Heather is Salamence, and after Rotom is defeated by Gengar's Shadow Ball, Flora goes for Tsareena, defeating Gengar with the Power Whip. And Greninja also defeats Salamence with Ice Beam.
Heather: Good rematch! And same to you... other girl, I guess.
Flora: Wow, two type advantages over me and you STILL lost.
Heather: Only because Ash carried you!
Flora: That's pathetic. I'm starting to see why someone like Ash can get away with being the Champion, if you're one of the best Trainers this region has to offer. Did they get all the Elite 4 from a daycare?
Heather: Whatever, I'm out of here! Ash, I hope you still have eardrums after how long you have to spend listening to this girl screech! Bye! (Leaves)
Ash: I will try to, take care.
Flora: Tch. It was a decent battle, I guess. I'm going ahead. Try not to fall off the cliff edge or something. (Leaves)
Serena: Are you okay with her trying to insult your sister?
Ash: I would try to punch her if I'm the same as the past self, and Fern is worst than her.
Victoria: I guess I can agree with you.
Then they continue to move further until they find Laura and Flora.
Laura: Welcome again, Ash. Would you like to introduce our guest?
Flora: I can introduce myself just fine. Flora Grevillea. It's a privilege. Yours, specifically.
Laura: I am always honored to have more visitors here. Bennett won't be joining us this time. It is my hope that you both will still find me to be an acceptable challenge alone.
Flora: "Acceptable"? Aren't you supposed to be one of the best? Or are you as worthless as that last girl?
Laura: Heather has been through a lot in a short period of time. Well, perhaps all of us have. Even so, she earned and defended a place here despite her age. For my part, it isn't that I particularly lack confidence in my abilities. Rather, I would not want to insult you by disrespecting yours. Ash is our champion, and I'm sure you, too, have worked hard in your own way to reach this point. I look forward to seeing the strength that brought you here.
Flora: Tch. That's not a fun answer at all. But fine. Let's see what you've got!
Laura is going for Cherrim and Venusaur as their first Pokemon, and Ash goes for Charizard while Flora goes for Ferrothorn. Venusaur goes for Sleep Powder to make Charizard sleep, and Laura's Pokemon have been trying to make the Garden to level 5, but Ferrothorn goes for Seed Bomb, with Charizard using Heat Wave, both Pokemon are knocked out in the end.
The third Pokemon is Florges and the fourth Pokemon is Whimsicott, at least Flora's Ferrothorn is doing some work with the Gyro Ball, and Charizard also goes for Heat Wave again, having Whimsicott takes a lot of damage. Then Florges is defeated by Charizard using Poison Jab, so Laura sends out Lilligant next. As for Whimsicott, Charizard goes for Heat Wave once more to knock it out. But Lilligant goes for Petal Blizzard, and it defeats Ferrothorn, so Flora goes for her weird Mismagius.
Laura: It's always a pleasure to see how others of my types choose to battle. (Sends out Comfey)
And Ash decides to have Charizard rest as he goes for Sceptile, it goes for X-Scissor and knocks out the Lilligant, while Mismagius goes for Power Whip and defeats Comfey.
Laura: This has been a genuine treat!
Flora: Free. Even with this jacked-up arena.
Laura: I don't know that I would particularly estimate the battle as having been "free", but... If your victory can be a point of pride for you, then that's more than enough for me.
Flora: Whatever. You put up a decent fight, I guess. (Thinks) And it is nice to see someone with Grass Types in a high position... Maybe not EVERYONE here is worthless. (Talks) But you are seriously WAY too nice for your own good.
Laura: I... do hear that from time to time. I don't suppose you've met my younger sister, have you? I believe the two of you might get along very well. Possibly dangerously well...Perhaps it is for the best that you do not meet.
Flora: I'll put it on my bucket list. I'm going ahead. (Leaves)
Laura: She seems to be of a similar type of girl to my own sisters. I think all of them would be much benefitted by setting down their respective objectives, and learning to enjoy a moment of tranquility among the flowers. I don't know her that well, but is it too naive to hope that, perhaps knowing that is why she uses Grass Types herself?
Ash: Maybe.
Then they head to the next chamber, where Elias is waiting for them.
Elias: Dominus vobiscum.
Flora: What. Hello, excuse me? Do you perhaps speak English? Or have you not interacted with humans since the age of Garufans? I'd believe you're that old.
Elias: Ahem. I was briefly informed as to the circumstances of your visit, my Lord, but I must admit I find them peculiar.
Flora: "My Lord"? You mean Ash?
Elias: I do.
Flora: A "Lord"?
Elias: Yes.
Flora laughs again, much to the others' annoyance.
Elias: It is no joke, puella. For as it was told unto me, Ash is the assumed avatar of the Lord Arceus. For all the miracles that He has brought since first He appeared, I believe there can be no reasonable doubt of this. For it was He who did spare this region from the shadow of a prior threat, and He did bring justice upon the killer of my former master. And it was He who disappeared when the long fight was over and the Lord Arceus was at last freed from its prison. I am only thankful that He came back to us.
Flora: Wait, you're really not joking? With people like you around and in charge, there's no wonder this backwards-ass region is such a mess. Ash, tell him you're not secretly an Arceus or whatever. Seriously.
Ash: I tried, but no use. (Turns to Elias) You honored me.
Elias: As your ever-humble servant, it pleases me to know that I am understood and, in the light of your grace, accepted.
Flora: You've got to be fucking kidding me. Are you seriously feeding into this? You must be even more of an egomaniac than I expected.
Elias: Regardless, though I may be in your care and servitude, I am tasked with another role here. It would be remiss of me to not oppose you within these halls merely on the basis of my support for you. After all, if it were not what you wished, you would not have willed me to be here.
Flora: That logic doesn't even make sense. You could just use that to justify whatever bullshit power you wanted to do. In fact, that's not even hypothetical- isn't that exactly what every major religious organization has done for centuries?! People like you are the reason that so many have suffered under systems of oppression! Ash, I've heard enough of this. Let's help grandpa back into his grave!
Elias sends out Kommo-o and Noivern, while Ash goes for Pikachu and Flora goes for Rotom, both Pokemon go for Thunderbolt and Thunder, knocking the Noivern out after it goes for Boomburst, but Kommo-o goes for the Z Move Clangorus Soulblaze, dealing a lot of damage to Pikachu and Rotom together. Elias' third Pokemon is Dragaonite, and it knocks out Rotom with the Wing Attack, so Flora goes for Roserade and uses Sleep Powder on Dragonite, making it fall asleep, then Pikachu also defeats Kommo-o with the Iron Tail.
The fourth Pokemon for Elias is Ditto, and it changes into Pikachu's form, Flora has Roserade use Petal Blizzard on Ditto, but Dragonite wakes up and uses Outrage to knock Pikachu out, so Ash goes for Lycanroc to battle, using the Z Move Continental Crush, Dragonite is defeated. The fifth Pokemon is Kangaskhan, and Elias mega evolved the Pokemon, but Roserade goes for Judgement from the Nature Power, defeating the Ditto.
Elias: Even in a loss, it's a pleasure to be graced with your talent, time and attention.
The final Pokemon is Drampa, and it goes for Dragon Pulse, defeating the Roserade, so Tsareena is the last Pokemon, and Ash switches to Greninja, using Ice Beam to knock out the Drampa, and Kangaskhan tries to go for Return, but Tsareena goes for High Jump Kick and knocks it out.
Elias: I am honored to permit your victory, my Lord. (Recalls both Pokemon) Virtus tentamine gaudet. I am made whole again, and you may proceed onwards with purpose divine.
Flora: Great, I'm getting out of here yesterday. (Leaves)
Elias: It is, and always will be, my pleasure to serve in the cause of the Lord.
Ash, Serena, and Victoria decided not to ask more about Elias as they continue forward.
I'll end the Chapter right here, as you can see, Ash is going to assist Flora to battle the whole Elite Four again, just because they want to reach the PULSE Abra. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the conclusion of this one.
