Chapter 40 Stow-on-Side Date?
Arriving at Stow-on-Side, they can see the place has a lot of houses and also stores. Hop is at the battlefield as they greet him.
"Hey, Hop. What are you doing here?" Gloria asks.
"Guys." Hop says. "I'm still not too sure what I should do about all that stuff I told you before...About me being weak and dragging down Lee's good name and all, yeah?"
He shows his courage and says, "But the only thing I can do is get stronger, right? So I'm gonna try out all of the different things against you and see what works!"
"How about we have a battle, maybe I can help you with it." They turn around and see Marnie and her Morpeko. Alice says, "Marnie, you are here as well?"
"I just finished my Gym Battle and I am heading towards the Lateral Gym next. And then I heard about you guys talking." She turns to Hop, "You are the one that is in a dilemma, right? Then I'll help you."
"Thank you. Marnie, then let's do this! I bet an all-out battle with my true rival will help me get my head on straight."
Then the battle starts as Hop sends out Cramorant, a Pokemon they have never seen before. "All I'm after is victory, and I'm counting on you to help me grab it."
As Marnie sends out Liepard as her first Pokemon, it uses Sucker Punch first to deal some damage. But Cramorant uses Surf, causing the Pokemon to get wet, and then they see an Arrokuda in the mouth.
"Arrokuda? Is he eating it right now?" Alice asks as the others aren't sure.
But when Liepard uses Night Slash, Cramorant falls fainted, but the Arrokuda is blasted on the Liepard, causing it to faint as well. The second Pokemon is Silicobra, and Marnie uses Scrafty next. Scrafty uses a High Jump Kick on the Pokemon, but it misses as the Pokemon digs underground. But Scrafty uses the pants to block the attack, and then it lands a Dark Pulse on it. In the end, it manages to defeat Silicobra with the Focus Blast. Toxel is the next one and it defeats Scrafty with a Nuzzle.
Toxicroak is next as it uses Brick Break, but Toxel uses Tearful Look, causing Toxicroak not to know what to do, and when it lands a Flail, dealing a lot of damage. But in the end, Toxicroak defeats the Pokemon with a Sucker Punch.
"I don't know what I can do to try to win now...but all I can do is try! There's nothing else for it!" Hop sends out Thwackey as his final Pokemon. And the Pokemon uses Round to defeat it.
Marnie's last Pokemon is Morpeko, with the Aura Wheel, it manages to deal a lot of damage. But in the end, the Razor Leaf and Thunderbolt cause a giant explosion and both Pokemon have fainted.
"A draw..." Marnie mutters.
Hop says, "My strategy goes right to pot when I've got all these bad thoughts running through my head..."
Ash asks, "So are you two okay?"
Marnie asks, "I am not sure about him, though I kinda expected it..."
"I tried switching my team members in and out to max out their potential in every matchup, but...we just couldn't get it together somehow...Maybe that's why I'm still so weak..."
"Are you still saying that?" Gloria asks in shock.
"But Lee is the greatest trainer. And I don't want people to be laughing at him all because his little brother is rubbish!"
Ash is starting to get angry and he asks, "Can you stop saying yourself like that?"
This is the first time that Gloria, Marnie, and Hop see Ash so mad, Ash says, "What are you doing? You were dreamed of being the new champion and now you are saying that you are rubbish? Where was the Hop that once has the enthusiasm?"
"I-"
"Just because you lost to Bede and what he said, you shouldn't let that affect you." Ash says. "If you think that it is not enough, then try harder and harder, you can't give up until it is over."
Hop flinches a little at Ash's outburst, but then he nods and smiles a little. "You're right. I'm off, mate! Off to find the kind of Pokemon that I can really draw the strength out of!"
Once Hop leaves the group, Serena says, "Wow, Ash...you really are...something..."
Ash sighs, "Sorry to let you see it, I was just furious about his behavior..."
Marnie says, "This is interesting, well, I'll see you later. Let's go, Morpeko."
"Urara." Morpeko rushes towards his trainer as they also leave.
"That child..." They turn around and see Opal and Delia standing there. Ash says, "Woah, Mother, Grandaunt, where did you come from?"
Delia says, "We were just watching the battle. Sorry to freak you out."
Opal says, "Gym Challengers should battle for the sake of their own Pokemon. Why worry about saving the Champion's name? We all know he's unbeatable."
"That is true." Lillie says. "Just like me, I won't worry about Gladion when I know how strong he is as well."
Opal says, "By the way, here is something that will help you out." She gives them two kinds of League Cards, much to their surprise. One is about the Ghost Type Gym Leader Allister, and the other one is for the Fighting Type Gym Leader Bea.
"Allister and Bea? Where did you get them?" Gloria asks.
Mark says, "Come on, they are also our siblings."
Ash nods and then Delia continues, "As you can see, Ash. Allister has suffered bullying at school, so he always wears his mask so that nobody will hurt him. And for Bea, let's say Adam trained her really hard in combat and Pokemon training. It will be tough if you want to defeat her."
"I see..." Ash says. "Not only Nora, but even Allister has also been bullied as well..."
Delia asks, "So you guys are going to challenge him now?"
Ash says, "Well, we want to challenge it tomorrow as we want to explore this town first."
Opal says, "Gym Challenge is about having fun, so just take your time."
Alice asks, "So who are you going to pick with you this time?"
Ash says, "I am sorry, but this time I want to look around myself." This confuses the group as he says, "I am sorry about that."
"No, it is fine." Dawn says as they bid farewell.
Ash looks around this place and then he is surprised to see that this desert town with harsh sunlight has a lot of Ghost Type Pokemon. He notices a Froslass is helping the ice cream vendor with the ice creams melting, and then a Golurk is at the market helping to guard the place.
"It is such a surprise to see you alone." Ash, Pikachu, Rotom and Perrserker turn around and see Marnie and Morpeko. "I thought you were going to the next town, Marnie?"
Marnie says, "I decide to look around for a while before going there, the distance is no big deal. And since you are alone, how about we go together?"
"Um...sure." Ash says. As they walk around the town, she asks, "So is it true that the gym leader of this town is your brother?"
"Well, yeah. Even though we never met." Ash says. "But from what I heard, he wears a mask when he battles, right?"
"Yeah, he tries to use some spooky sounds to the environment. But I am a Dark Trainer, so it is not going to affect me." Marnie says. "Though his Shedinja is a problem."
"Oh? He uses Shedinja on you?" Ash asks.
"Yeah, stupid Wonder Guard, I couldn't land an attack on him unless I switch into Morpeko and use Aura Wheel in Hangry Mode." Marnie says as Ash giggles a little.
Then they see how Gengar and Dusknoir wander around the cemetery, and that Gourgeist is resting by the bay, Ash says, "It is kinda weird to see them all friendly. After all, Dusknoir and Gengar are Pokemon who can send people to the spirit world."
"Oh, you have been there?" Marnie asks. "The Spirit World?"
"Are you serious? If I have been there then what am I? A Ghost?" Ash asks as Marnie laughs a little. "I was joking."
"But seriously, I had been in this kind of scene because of Litwick and Lampent." Ash says.
"Is that so..." Marnie says.
They also notice Team Yell challenging trainers using Corsola, Sableye, and even Frillish. Marnie sighs and says, "Did Team Yell give you a lot of trouble while coming here? If that's the case, I'll apologize. Sometimes they can be a handful."
"I can tell." Ash says. "They sometimes really give me good training with the Pokemon they have. But there is something I want to know, are you actually the leader of Team Yell?"
Marnie sighs, "Actually, Team Yell has no leader. They are just people from my hometown and that's all. I lived in a place called Spikemuth."
"Spikemuth. Maybe I will be going to your hometown after all." Ash says.
"I know you will." Marnie says. "After all, there is a gym there and you'll have to challenge it eventually."
And then they talk about some Pokemon and then they see how some children are playing with Mimikyu. Ash sighs, "You know, some Mimikyu hate Pikachu."
"Really?" Marnie asks.
"Yeah. Because Pikachu is a favorite among the kids." Ash says. "But in this town, they treat Mimikyu as friends and I am glad."
"Seems like you have a bad time with Mimikyu." Marnie says.
"Yeah..." Ash sighs as he also notices some Honedge helping the farmers by cutting some ropes. And then they notice the Trevenant and he also tells her about how he was kidnapped by a Trevenant before, much to her amusement. And then he also shows him his recent Pokemon, and she is interested in his Greninja, as it is also a Dark Type.
After bidding farewell to Marnie once the sun is setting, Ash goes back to the others as he hugs his mother. "How is your day going, Ash?"
"Fine, I wanted to look around by myself, but then I met Marnie and now it is two people hanging out." Ash says.
"Oh? She is still here?" Gloria asks as he nods. "By the way, look what I found. It is a Chipped Pot."
Alice says, "Actually, it is actually a gift that we want to give you. Though it isn't cheap."
Ash takes the pot and says, "Thank you, guys. How about we rest up, for now, today surely is a long day and you guys don't feel like being around with ghosts, right?"
They shiver as they nod, Opal laughs and she says, "My, Ash. You are scaring those ladies, the Ghost Type in this town is friendly with the help of Allister, so you don't need to worry about it."
"I see." Ash says as they go to rest.
Here is the new chapter, and turns out that Marnie is going to be in the harem, are you surprised? The next chapter will be the Gym Battle against Allister.
Ash's New Pokemon: Thwackey, Greedent, Corvisquire, Orbeetle, Thiveul, Eldegoss, Dubwool, Drednaw, Boltund, Carkol, Flapple, Appletun, Silicobra, Barraskewda, Toxtricity (Amped/Low Key), Centiskorch, Hattrem, Morgrem, Linoone (G), Perserker, Sirfetch'd, Yamask (G), Alcremie x63, Cufant, Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, Arctovish, Koffing, Stunfisk (G)
Mark's Pokemon: Blaziken, Gyarados, Skorupi, Ninjask, Shedinja, Pawniard, Barraskewda, Orbeetle, Delibird, Alcremie (Strawberry, Ruby Cream)
Trenor's Pokemon: Greedent, Vileplume, Swampert, Rhyhorn, Gourgeist, Steelix, Torkoal, Basculin, Heliolisk, Noibat
Alice's Pokemon: Wooloo x29, Dubwool, Salandit, Trapinch, Lunatone, Butterfree (Pink), Litwick, Centiskorch, Drizzile, Eldegoss, Pikachu, Glaceon, Appletun, Morgrem, Aromatisse
Gloria's Pokemon: Cinccino, Conkeldurr, Unfezant, Drednaw, Dwebble, Cufant, Raboot, Golisopod, Ferroseed, Jolteon, Swoobat, Axew, Liepard, Gardevoir
Dawn's Pokemon: Lopunny, Noctowl, Mudsdale, Binacle, Duskull, Piplup, Quilava, Pelipper, Bellossom, Pachirisu, Wobbuffet, Mamoswine, Vullaby, Togekiss
Serena's Pokemon: Diggersby, Pangoro, Drifblim, Roserade, Solrock, Vespiquen, Excadrill, Braixen, Tsareena, Lanturn, Shiftry, Sylveon
Lillie's Pokemon: Eevee, Hitmonchan, Rufflet, Hippopotas, Shuckle, Ribombee, Gengar, Magearna, Cloyster, Boltund, Cherrim, Meowstic, Vulpix (A)