Chapter 32: Motostoke Gym Battle
The next day, Ash and the five girls arrive at the lobby as they see Marnie there. Marnie says, "Mornin' Ash, and to all of you."
"Hey Marnie, I thought that you beat Kabu and are going to leave the Motostoke." Gloria says.
"I wanted to see how Prince Ash battles. That friend of yours already went off to challenge the next gym." Marnie says.
"You mean Hop?" Alice asks, "He seems kind of rash if you ask me."
Marnie nods a little and then she takes out some cards. "Kabu's League Card is supposed to help against him, but I ended up with a few copies, so I give you one."
"Wow, you are so nice to have those cards." Dawn says as they each get one, then they all thank her as she turns her head a little.
"Don't look so chuffed. It's no big deal." Marnie says. "With the card, I bet you'll have no trouble beatin' that "man of fire" Kabu chap, right? Why don'cha get over to Motostoke Stadium and get that Gym Badge already?"
"Urara." Morpeko nods in agreement.
"Well, we will go there." Ash says as they all leave the stadium. While walking, they all look at the League Card and Dawn says, "So Kabu is from the Hoenn Region..."
"Yeah. And it says that there are a lot of times when he is so close to becoming the Champion but failed." Gloria says.
"Keep learning and training as long as we're alive. That sure is a good motto." Trenor adds.
They all find Hop at the stadium as Hop says, "Slow-moving, aren't you, guys? I've already gone and earned my Fire Badge." He shows the badge to them and they are in awe.
Lillie asks, "So I guess you won against him?"
Hop says, "Yeah, that man of fire Kabu is just what you'd expect. Nearly got burnt in my battle with him! Even with my strongest team, it was definitely touch-and-go...but I still won in the end!" Hop says. "Now get a shift on, Ash, Alice, and Gloria. I bet you could beat the man of fire, too!"
"No problem." Gloria says as they go into the stadium.
Ash decides to go first as he goes to the counter, then the staff man says, "Hey, a Gym Challenger! That's a welcome sight! We don't have too many challengers, since our Leader Kabu has made his Gym mission so hard..."
"How hard is it?" Ash asks.
"That will be you to find out. But I'll be happy to get you registered at once! If you are here to challenge Our gym, we'll ask you to change into your uniform first..."
He gives Ash the uniform as he goes to change. And as he comes out, he is wearing a red shirt with black stripes, and the Fire Logo on the shirt. "How do I look?" Ash asks.
"Wow, this feels much burnin' if you wear like that." Marnie says.
"I know. Now I'll go face the challenge." Ash says as he walks into the Mission field.
Dan is there waiting for him in the middle of the grass field with three gym challengers. He says, "The Gym mission for the Fire Type Gym is this! Catching Pokemon to earn the most points! You can earn 5 points to clear the Gym Mission. In case you are wondering, you'll earn one point for defeating a Pokemon in the tall grass or two points for catching a Pokemon. But you won't be alone in this competition. Other Trainers will be joining you in your battles! Think about what your opponents might do, and try to take the best action to rack up points!"
Ash says, "It seems tough, but I will try."
As the gym mission starts, Ash sees a Vulpix as he sends out his Barraskewda. But another trainer with a Rolycoly is trying to take that Vulpix. Ash decides to go for the battle to interfere with the rival and then defeat the Vulpix with a nice match. And then he does it five times with Litwick and captures a Sizzlipede. Eventually earning 5 points.
"Congratulations on another mission cleared!" Dan says as the trainers and Dan walk towards him. "Clearing Leader Kabu's Gym mission like that...You're positively on fire! Next, you will be facing Kabu, the leader of the Fire Gym. On you go, Challenger."
"Thanks." Ash says as he goes to the battlefield.
In the seats, Alice says, "Wow, not only does Ash clear the mission, but he also gets a new partner."
"I know." Serena says. "Good for him."
As Ash and Kabu are facing each other, Kabu says, "Prince Ash. If you are here, that means you have beaten your sister and her tough Normal-type Pokemon."
"I know." Ash says. "And I will beat you and your tough Fire-type Pokemon so that I can continue forward."
"Show me the same passion that makes you forward. Go, Magmar!" As the Magma Pokemon appears, Ash says, "Basculin, I choose you."
Ash's red stripe Basculin appears on the field as the match begins. Kabu says, "Magmar, start with Fire Punch!"
"Dodge it and use Water Gun." Ash says, and Basculin barely dodges the upcoming attack and then shoots out water on the Pokemon, causing it to get wet.
"Not bad, Magmar, use Fire Spin." Basculin is surrounded by the fire, but Ash calls him to use Aqua Ring to make the fire melt. And in the end, Basculin defeats Magmar with Aqua Tail.
"Brilliant. I can see why you are this talented. But can you fight against my Litwick?" As the second Pokemon appears, it uses Confuse Ray to make Basculin confused and then finishes with a Hex.
"Return, Basculin." Ash recalls his Pokemon and then sends out Thievul. Litwick uses Will-O-Wisp to make the fox burn, and then it uses Inferno, dealing a lot of damage.
"Thievul, use Night Slash." Ash says, and Litwick is slashed by the Pokemon as it is sent back, but Litwick uses Hex and deals much more damage. In the end, a Beat Up can defeat Litwick, but Thievul is defeated by the Burn.
"Light that fire and get your mind moving, Kabu! There still must be a path to victory!" Kabu yells as he sends out the Pokemon that Ash has never seen before.
"Wow, is that an evolution of Sizzlipede?" Alice asks.
"That is a Centiskorch." Hop says. "And his only Gigantamax Pokemon..."
"Only? But something tells me that he has more than one." Gloria says.
"Gigalith! I choose you!" Ash sends out his Rock Type Pokemon as they are staring.
"Burn, bright! Centiskorch! Let Gigantamax change your size and your form!" Kabu recalls his Pokemon and then it becomes bigger, and this time it looks like a fire dragon.
"Wow...that is Gigantamax Centiskorch?" Dawn asks.
"I can feel overwhelming power from it..." Marnie says.
Ash also Dynamax his Gigalith. And then Kabu yells, "Flame always burns upwards! So we will always aim to go higher. You understand, don't you? G-Max Centiferno!"
As the Pokemon shoots out a giant Flamethrower, Gigalith is inside of the Fire Spin.
"This is bad. Gigalith! Max Rockfall!" Ash says.
As the Rock Type Pokemon shoots out rocks, it lands on Centiskorch, causing damage as well as making a Sandstorm.
"Not bad. But Max Flutterby!" Then Centiskorch sends out a lot of butterflies as they explode by the Gigalith. Dealing some damage. But with the ability Sturdy, it holds on and Ash yells, "We have to end this now! Max Rockfall again!"
Centiskorch tries to dodge the rocks, but in the end, it is still hit and then it becomes smaller as it faints.
Kabu recalls his Pokemon and then kneels on the floor. "Great Pokemon and great Trainer! It's no surprise that you won!"
Ash is worried as he walks toward him, but he stands back up and says, "I'm often regarded as the first real roadblock of the Gym Challenge, and yet you defeat me! I guess that you are still better than me when it comes to experiences. I still have a lot to learn."
"The same here, every battle is like my teacher." Ash says.
"I know now that you and your Pokemon will become a fantastic team. I am glad that I could battle you today! Let me give you a Fire Badge as proof that you've defeated me." And then he gives Ash the fifth badge.
Alice is the one next as she is wearing the same kind of uniform. "How do I look, Ash?" Alice asks with a shy tone.
"You look as great as usual. I am looking forward to your battle." Ash smiles as she goes to the field. And Alice also captures a Litwick while defeating the others. In the end, she also gets 5 points as she goes to the field.
"You are also the one who is endorsed by our Queen, right?" Kabu says. "I am going to be serious about battling such a formidable opponent."
"Why thank you." Alice says as they start. Alice sends out Drizzile while Kabu sends out Ninetales.
"A Ninetales, it is not going to be easy...use Liquidation." Alice yells as the lizard Pokemon shoots out the water beam. "Use Fire Spin to dodge and then use Confuse Ray." Once Ninetales uses the fire to block the damage, it glows and then it hits the Drizzile.
"Now Drizzile is confused...it is not good for Alice." Hop says.
"But you have to admit that is a good strategy." Trenor says.
Then, in the end, Drizzile uses Water Pulse and the combination of Sucker Punch to defeat the Ninetales, as Kabu sends out his next Pokemon, an Arcanine. Arcanine uses the move, Thunder Fang, to defeat the Drizzile, so Alice uses Dubwool next. Dubwool uses Headbutt and Double Kick to defeat Arcanine in the end.
"Brilliant, to corner me like this. But this Pokemon is a friendship between the Champion of this region." Alice says.
Then much to everyone's surprise, Charizard is his last Pokemon and Alice is sweating. "A Charizard...This is not going to be well..."
The stands are also shocked and Ash says, "Kabu has a Gigantamax Charizard as well?"
"I think that Pokemon might be the main reason why no one can beat him..." Marnie says.
"Now raise your flames and show me the victory, Charizard, show the Gigantamax that fires the mood." Then Kabu changes Charizard's form as it becomes just like Leon's. It uses the Max Airstream to defeat Dubwool and also raises the speed.
"This is really bad..." Serena says with a worried tone.
"We are not going to give up, I trust you to do this. My friend Pikachu, I choose you." Alice says as Pikachu jumps from her shoulder to the field. "Pikachu, let's show our Gigantamax as well."
Then Pikachu becomes bigger and then it uses G-Max Volt Crash on Charizard, but Charizard is still standing but paralyzed. "Show the flames to burn down the enemy. G-Max Wildfire."
Then Charizard fires the move on Pikachu, causing it to be trapped in a vortex of fire.
"You can do it, Pikachu." Alices says as Pikachu is struggling, and Ash's Pikachu also cheers much harder that Meowth itself can't always hold him back. Then in the end, with the Max Strike on the Charizard, it is defeated.
"I won." Alice hugs Pikachu as Pikachu nuzzles her. Kabu steps forward and says, "Indeed this is a formidable battle. You're determination and strength sure are a good combination. Here is your badge." Then they shake hands as Alice takes the badge.
Gloria also wears the same uniform as Alice and she also passes the gym challenge, but she doesn't capture any new Pokemon to win the points.
Once she and Kabu are facing each other, Kabu says, "Welcome! I am Kabu, the Fire-type Gym Leader. The fact that you are here means you've bested Milo's Grass-type Pokemon, Luna's Psychic-type Pokemon, Nessa's Water-type Pokemon, and even Princess Namie's Normal-type Pokemon. That's quite an accomplishment."
He looks at her and says, "Every trainer and Pokemon trains hard in pursuit of victory. But that means your opponent is also working hard to win. In the end, the match is decided by which side can unleash their true potential."
Unlike Ash and Alice, Kabut only has two Pokemon to battle Gloria. Kabu sends out Salazzle first, while Gloria goes with Woobat, Salazzle goes for Toxic Spikes first, but Woobat dodges the attack. It uses Hypnosis to hypnotize the Salazzle and then finishes it with a Psychic.
"Brilliant, but here is my last Pokemon that will send me up high. Volcarona." As the Pokemon appears, Kabu then Dynamax the Pokemon. It uses Max Flare to defeat the Woobat and also make the sun shine brightly.
"Drednaw, you're my hope." Gloria sends the Pokemon out and then Gigantamax it. Kabu says, "That is a brilliant Gigantamax."
"I know. G-Max Stonesurge!" Gloria yells as the Pokemon shoots out Rocks and water, making the Volcarona roar in pain. Volcarona aims for the Max Strike, but a Max Rockfall can defeat the Bug Pokemon.
"Clearly, your talent surpassed my many years of experience." Kabu says as he recalls his Pokemon. "I can see what Leon sees in you. You deserve this Badge." Gloria takes the badge and thanks the gym leader.
"Thanks to the Dynamax phenomenon, our Pokemon battles have become part of the Galar Region's culture. And it's the young Trainers who are responsible for keeping our culture alive. Of course, I hope that instead of just keeping it alive, you also help it become something better. We adults will be the pillars for you to build on."
The fifth Gym battle is done. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the new Wild Area.
Ash's New Pokemon: Thwackey, Greedent, Corvisquire, Dottler, Thiveul, Eldegoss, Dubwool, Drednaw, Boltund, Carkol, Applin x2, Barraskewda, Toxel x2, Sizzlipede, Hattena, Impidimp, Linoone (G), Meowth (G), Farfetch'd (G), Alcremie x63, Koffing, Stunfisk (G)
Mark's Pokemon: Blaziken, Gyarados, Ninjask, Shedinja, Pawniard, Arrokuda, Dottler, Delibird, Alcremie (Strawberry, Ruby Cream)
Trenor's Pokemon: Greedent, Gloom, Swampert, Pumpkaboo, Onix, Basculin, Noibat
Alice's Pokemon: Wooloo x29, Dubwool, Salandit, Butterfree (Pink), Litwick, Sizzlipede, Drizzile, Eldegoss, Pikachu, Eevee, Applin, Impidimp, Spritzee
Gloria's Pokemon: Minccino, Tranquill, Drednaw, Raboot, Wimpod, Ferroseed, Eevee, Woobat, Liepard, Kirlia
Dawn's Pokemon: Buneary, Noctowl, Mudbray, Duskull, Piplup, Quilava, Pelipper, Gloom, Pachirisu, Wobbuffet, Mamoswine, Togekiss
Serena's Pokemon: Diggersby, Pancham, Drifloon, Budew, Vespiquen, Drilbur, Braixen, Steenee, Chinchou, Nuzleaf, Sylveon
Lillie's Pokemon: Eevee, Hitmonchan, Shuckle, Ribombee, Haunter, Magearna, Shellder, Boltund, Cherrim, Meowstic, Vulpix (A)