A/N: Okay, admittedly this will probably be the shortest, simplest chapter so far, given how the anime plot for Black and White episodes 22 & 23 are quite... complicated due to a tragedy in Japan at the time. So, for simplicity's sake, this is just going to be a WCS battle and nothing else. In fact, by the time I've posted this chapter, there will be another chapter posted or two immediately after so that Castelia City is at least given a mention.
This... was a big city. A really... big city. To be precise, it's Castelia City, almost in the smack dab middle of the Unova region. Ash, Trace and Elaine were walking out of the Pokemon Center having gotten them healed up.
"We made it! I'm coming after you Burgh!" Ash shouted as they headed straight for the gym. He even took his phone out to register for a battle.
"Pikachu!" His Mouse Pokemon said, matching his excitement.
"Castelia City sure is a big place." Elaine observed, looking at all these stores. "Look at all these stores."
"Cle." Her Clefable agreed.
"I heard that they sell some really good ice cream here." Trace mentioned. "Based off of this ice cream Pokemon native to this region." He snickered as he placed a hand on his face out of amusement. "Seriously, an ice cream Pokemon." Thinking about it, he hummed. "Is it just me, or does Unova have the weirdest looking Pokemon, even by the standards of other regions?"
"Let's get ice cream after my battle. We can have that as a celebratory dessert." Ash suggested.
"Hmmm, that sounds yummy." Elaine slurped her lips, then proceeded to kiss Ash's. "Let's share ours."
"Okay." Ash grinned. The two held hands. However, Trace started to feel... jealous. Don't get him wrong, he fully supports their new relationship. After all, who else can say they saved their would be girlfriend by punching a Carvanna off her leg? But at the same time, that just makes him feel even more... left out? Trace groaned. Why was he being subjugated to be the third wheel? Eevee noticed this as she jumped onto his shoulder and nuzzled him.
"Eevee?" She asked with concern.
"Oh, it's nothing." He replied, though he sounded dejected about it.
"So, are you ready Ash?" Elaine asked her boyfriend.
"I'm ready to give it everything I've got! He even agreed to battle me as soon as we arrive!" And once they did, they were amazed by the looks of the inside, perfect for a bug specialist with all the trees and shrubbery acting as decoration. The main battling room was the coolest looking. The room was shaped like a honeycomb hexagon with trees and bushes surrounding honey colored walls.
"This is so cool. Right Pikachu?"
"Pika!" She nodded.
"It's definitely cool." Elaine agreed as well.
"It's like a greenhouse in here." Trace wiped the sweat off his forehead. On one side of the field was the gym leader, Burgh Thompson.
"Ah, you three made it!" Burgh cheered as he spread his arms out. "Welcome to the Castelia Gym!"
"Thanks for accepting my request! This will be an interesting battle! And I have to admit, I love what you've done with the place."
"I gratefully accept your generous praise. These trees have been transplanted from the Pinwheel Forest, for the bug type's benefit of course. There's nothing better than lots of greenery for a bug type Pokemon lover. And it's this type of natural and beautiful environment that gives me inspiration! I can't wait to see what kind of battle you'll wage." Once they were in place, a Rotom Drone appeared.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome! You have been approved for an official Pokemon World Coronation Series Normal Class battle! The challengers here are Burgh Thompson from the Castelia City gym vs Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town! For today's battle, you can choose two Pokemon! When a Pokemon on either side are unable to battle, that side loses! Both challengers bring out your Pokemon!"
"Whirlipede, let's go!" Burgh sent out a purple rolly-polly kind of Pokemon, as big as a tire and very spiky.
"Staravia, I choose you!" Ash sent out his flying type Pokemon. "Use Wing Attack!"
"Counter with Poison Tail!" Spinning like a car's tire, the two Pokemon were on a collision course with each other, one with glowing white wings and the other with glowing purple spikes. While for a second the two attacks did stop their momentum, the way Whirlipede was shaped and moving allowed for it to roll on over the Starling Pokemon, thanks to its extra long spikes pushing down and catching behind the flying type's wings, thus leaving the bird damaged as he squawked in pain.
"Staravia!" Ash cried out.
"Alright, now use Rollout!" Charging up its rolling, it barreled towards the struggling Starling Pokemon and bashed into it once again, sending the screaming flying type skidding across the field. Suffering from the effects of poison, he fell unconscious. "Aha, our pure hearts are burning with spirit!" Burgh cheered as his Pokemon hissed.
"Staravia, return!" Ash recalled his Pokemon, and looked down at it with a sad smile. "You did your best. Thanks." Turning to his partner, he pointed to the field. "Alright Pikachu, you're up!"
"Pikachu!" She stated confidently as she ran to the field.
"Let's show him the power Elaine helped us reach! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaachuuuuuuu!" The Mouse Pokemon sent out a much more powerful electrical attack which greatly shocked the bug/poison type enemy, and it clearly showed as it went down in one hit by her.
"Whirlipede?!" Burge gasped.
"Even if Staravia didn't hang in there long, that Wing Attack still probably left some damage, allowing Pikachu to finish it off." Ash explained to the bug type gym leader. Returning his Pokemon, he took out a pokeball and held it high.
"For the guardian of the Castelia Gym, come out Leavanny!" What appeared was a thin, green and yellow bipedal insectoid Pokémon.
"Leavanny!"
"Use Leaf Blade!"
"Counter with Iron Tail!"
"Pika!" While the arms of Burgh's ace glowed bright green and Leavanny made for a speedy charge, Pikachu responded just as quick with a white glowing tail and leapt up and forward to deliver a strike which stopped bug/grass type's attack cold.
"Now use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu shocked Leavanny by using the physical contact with each other to shock her opponent, leaving the Nurturing Pokemon vulnerable.
"Counter with Poison Jab!" With its arms turning purple, it attacked Pikachu in the gut, making the electric type flying as she cried out, before falling to the ground. Trying to get up, she staggered due to poison. "Excellently executed my precious guardian! Now, Leaf Blade!" However, a cackle of electricity kept her from moving, which Burgh did not see coming. "What's wrong Leavanny?!"
"Pikachu's Static ability!" Elaine realized with joy.
"He's definitely going to win this now." Trace smirked.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to augment your Iron Tail!" Ash commanded. Moving at breakneck speeds, Pikachu moved with such speed, that once she landed her attack with her strong tail, it was like a vicious throat chop to the pour bug/grass type. "Now use Electroball!" Sending Leavanny flying with her finished Iron Tail, Pikachu jumped to form a yellow sphere resembling a plasma ball at the end of her tail, before launching it to explode against the Nurturing Pokemon. Once the smoke cleared, it showed Leavanny was knocked out.
"As a result of today's battle, there has been a change in the WCS rankings effective immediately!" The Rotom Drone announced.
"We did it!" Ash and Pikachu cheered.
"I'm glad they did it." Elaine nodded, having had total confidence in him.
"Thanks to your training, we came out the stronger and better for it." Trace gave her an affectionate elbow nudge. Which she returned playfully somewhat stronger, though he returned it right back even more so, until the two were playfully having an elbow was to see who would quit first, laughing as they did.
"Ash, you're one of the best challengers I've seen in a long time." Burgh told his victorious challenger. "It's very rare to meet someone to take my Leavanny toe to toe without struggling against it. I hope you reach to lengths beyond greatness in your endeavor."
"Thanks Burgh." Ash smiled.