Chapter 51 Ballonlea Gym Battle Part 1
After the date is over, Ash and the others are now in front of the Gym Stadium. Once they enter the gym, they find Marnie who is still there.
Marnie notices them and she says, "Oh, Challenger Ash! And others as well."
"Hello Marnie, how're you doing?" Ash asks.
Marnie nods and she says, "Hmm? You got ten Gym Badges already? I'm gonna have to watch out for you, huh?"
Morpeko also nods, and Marnie smiles, "Look, even Morpeko is wary of you as well."
She turns to the mouse Pokemon and says, "Wait, Morpeko, don't tell me you actually like Ash? Ugh! We've already had a serious battle with him. He's an opposin' Gym Challenger! Guess there's nothin' to it. Look, just take one of my League Cards, OK?"
Marnie gives them each a League Card, and Ash says, "Thank you, Marnie."
Marnie blushes at how Ash is smiling at her, she says, "What's with that look, huh? This just means I'll think of you as my rival from now on, OK? There aren't too many Gym Challengers left, y'know. So we're meetin' in the Finals. You got that?"
Then she quickly rushes off, but Ash says, "I'll go find her, I am sorry, Gloria, I might not be able to watch your gym challenge."
"No problem." Gloria nods as Ash runs off.
Gloria goes into the gym with others as the staff asks, "Gym Challenger, would you like to challenge our gym?"
"Of course." Gloria says.
"Then please change these clothes in the changing room." Gloria takes the clothes and leaves, then when she comes out, she is wearing pink and light blue shirt and shorts, with the pink and light blue tights as well. "This will not be a mission so much as a test of your quality. It is a very serious examination. The uniform looks good on you. Now relax, clear your mind, and go break a leg."
Gloria nods as she goes into the gym field. But Delia and Adam also go inside as well, much to her surprise.
Opal and Dan are talking as the three enter the room. "Ah, there you are, Adam, Delia. And I see that my dear Gym Challenger is here as well."
Delia says, "I know, auntie, in fact, our children are also here as well."
"So you are challenging me first? Though you are really lacking the color pink..." Opal says.
"Pink?" Gloria asks in confusion.
"See, I am looking for a successor to take on the role of Gym Leader here. So my mission serves as an audition of sorts, too." Opal says. She notices the face Gloria is making, shocked and scared, she says, "Oh, don't worry. It's simple enough. All you need to do is battle my Trainers and answer the questions they ask along the way."
"I see." Gloria says. Adam says, "Also, think carefully before answering, though. If you get the wrong answer, the stats of your Pokemon will get lowered."
Delia says, "But if you answer correctly, your Pokemon will get a stat boost. Just think of it as a little Fairy-type Pokemon magic to make things interesting."
Opal says, "Now I want you to go all out. Show me what you can do!"
After the three people are taking their seats, Dan says, "Um...Now let the Gym Mission begin! Battle with all your skill."
Back at Glimwood Tangle, Ash says, "Marnie, what's wrong? Why did you run off so suddenly?"
Marnie says, "I am sorry...but with the king and queen...I can't help but get nervous in front of them.
"Oh, it was the first time you see my Mom and Dad together, but why are you concerned?"
Marnie sighs as she tells Ash to take a seat, then Marnie says, "So didn't I ever tell you about my past?"
"Come to think of it...I didn't know about it..." Ash says. "But what does it have to do with-"
Marnie cuts him off and she says her past, she was timid and a bit of a crybaby, but she liked to play with her brother's Pokemon. And it reveals her brother, Piers.
"And my brother...he is the 17th Gym Leader that we were going to face...the Spikemuth Gym Leader Piers..." Marnie says as Ash is in shock.
"All right OK. It's time to start your audition to see if you're worthy of becoming the Fairy-Type Gym Leader." Then Gloria is battling a trainer named Annette, she uses Slurpuff while Gloria uses Garbodor.
"Question. Do you know Fairy Type's weakness? Poison or Steel?" The trainer asks.
Gloria flinches as she says, "Both of them are its weakness."
"That's right." The trainer says as her Garbodor has its Attack and Special Attack stats raise.
"The Gym there doesn't have a big stadium like others...which is why I want to challenge the Gym Challenge...I thought...because you are the Prince and you also challenge the Gym...I thought I can have your help to persuade the King and Chairman Rose to help us."
"I'm sorry...I never knew this is very serious..." Ash says.
Marnie says, "I am not going to lie...but..." Ash raises his eyebrows.
"I see... I can't say what Ms. Opal will think, but you've at least piqued my interest." Then the trainer leaves and changes into the second one, this time it uses Aromatisse and she asks, "Question, do you remember the previous trainer's name?"
"Of course, her name is Annette." Gloria says.
"Correct." Then this time the speed is rising.
"But after travelin' and meetin' you...I finally realize...you are my friends...and nobody cares for me as my brother did..." Marnie says.
"But what about Team Yell? Don't they care for you as well?" Ash asks.
Marnie gives a weak laugh and says, "They just treat me as a local celebrity, I may appreciate their support, but...they are only fans...and it makes me under pressure."
Ash now knows what is Marnie's Deal, he nods and says, "Marnie...I can see why you are this nervous. But I know that I and my girlfriends will support you all the way..."
"Girlfriends? You mean...those five girls have confessed to you?" Marnie asks with a frown.
"Yeah...but I can tell you are special to me as well..." Ash says, causing her to be shocked. "Marnie, do you want to be my girlfriend as well? I know that I have a harem of 5 girls, but I am sure that they don't mind if you join in as well."
Marnie thinks for a second, then she sighs, "Sure. You're the first person that makes me feel nervous." Then Ash pulls her into a hug, much to her surprise, but she didn't struggle, as she leans on him. Once it is finished, then Ash takes out the Purple Gem and gives it to Marnie.
"So, are you going to watch our gym battle?" Ash asks.
Marnie sighs and says, "As much as I want to, I still need to continue the Gym Challenge."
After sharing a hug and a kiss, Marnie leaves Ash alone, and Ash returns to the gym only to see that the mission is cleared. Dan says, "Oh, the mission has already ended...Well, congratulations on succeeding on the Gym Mission, now I wonder if you've met the standards of the Gym Leader."
On the Mission Field, Delia asks, "So Auntie, what do you think?"
Opal says, "There is only one more to find out, that is to battle her. I should head to the stadium."
Adam and Delia nod as they go find the children back to the seats. When Gloria and Opal are on the field, Opal says, "I suppose it's a bit late to introduce myself, but...I'm Opal, the Gym Leader. I've gotten a good look at how you handled those quizzes. The last part of the mission is me...Let me have a look at how you and your partner Pokemon behave."
Then they go to the sides and Opal sends out her first Pokemon. "Weezing. You're first." Gloria says, "Swoobat, I need your help."
As the Pokemon appears, the battle begins as Opal asks, "Question. You...do you know my nickname?"
Gloria says, "I know, Ash had told me. The Wizard, right?"
"I see. You really rely on my grandnephew, huh?" Opal says as Swoobat's Speed rose. "But now use Strange Steam."
Gloria is confused at the move, but when the mist from the Weezing hits Gloria's Pokemon, it becomes confused. "Use Toxic."
Gloria is sweating as her Pokemon is both confused and poisoned. "Use Future Sight."
After the move goes into the air, it tries to use Air Slash, but it fails as Weezing is dodging the move, but it is her luck that when the Future Sight is coming that the Pokemon snaps out of confusion and defeats the Weezing.
"Mawile, you're next." As the Pokemon appears, it defeats Swoobat with the Crunch that bites the Pokemon hard. So she sends out Cinderace next.
"Cinderace, use Pyro Ball!" As the Pokemon uses the move to give a lot of damage to Mawile, it faints in the end. Opal sends out Togekiss next, and then she asks, "Question, what is my favorite color?" Opal asks.
Gloria is confused, and then she says, "Since you want to see pink in other people, so it is pink, right?"
Opal says, "Young child, it's not what I like for myself. My favorite color is Purple." Then Cinderace's Defense and Special Defense stats are lowered, and then it uses Aura Sphere and Sky Attack to defeat Cinderace.
"Return...I am sorry that I made that mistake, Cinderace...I'll avenge you. Go! Copperajah!"
As the Pokemon appears, Opal says, "I see, a nice choice."
"Use Heavy Slam." Copperajah charges and slams on the Pokemon, and then Togekiss finally faints. Opal sighs and she says, "My morning tea is finally kicking in, and not a moment too soon! Go! Alcremie."
As the Ruby cream strawberry sweet Alcremie appears, Opal says, "Use Mystical Fire." Then Copperajah is hit by the attack and then is finished by the move Draining Kiss.
"Oh, man...I thought I can use Copperajah for the last...Ferroseed, you're my final hope." As the Pokemon appears and then Gloria makes it Dynamax, Opal says, "Are you prepared? I am going to have some fun with this."
"Here it comes..." Gloria thinks.
Then Alcremie returns to the Pokeball until it becomes bigger. But when it is out, it becomes a giant cake. Alice says, "What? A cake? That's Alcremie's Gigantamax?"
"It looks delicious..." Ash says as he sits down on the empty seat. "Looks like we made it back."
"Where were you, and what happened?" Bea asks.
"Don't worry, I was helping Marnie since she had a lot of stress back then." Ash says.
"I see." Delia says.
"Use Max Steelspike." Gloria yells as the move hits Alcremie, but it doesn't deal much damage, much to her shock. Opal says, "You lack pink! Here, let us give you some. Use G-Max Finale!"
Then it shoots out three scoops of Ice Cream and it hurts Ferroseed with the move and it also recovers some HP.
"Oh no..." Gloria says. "What power..."
"I hope you like it. Max Overgrowth." Opal says as the move hits Ferroseed, making it a grassy terrain, but in the end, Gloria tells Ferroseed to stay calm and then use Max Overgrowth and Max Steelspike, raising the defenses and also defeating the Pokemon.
Opal is surprised as her umbrella flies off, then she says, "Your pink is still lacking, but you're an excellent Trainer with some excellent Pokemon." As Gloria walks to her, she says, "Well, good try. Not bad, not bad at all. Still, not what I am looking for..."
Then she notices the frown on Gloria's face, then she says, "Oh, don't worry yourself about it, child. It's just a matter of my preference. I'll find the next gym leader elsewhere."
"I hope so." Gloria says.
"Too bad for the audition, but here's the Fairy Badge for your efforts." Then they shake hands and then she gets the Fairy badge.
Here is a new chapter, and Marnie finally joins the harem. And don't worry, Ash will eventually have a date with Marnie in the future. I hope you like this chapter.
Ash's New Pokemon: Rillaboom, Cinderace, Greedent, Corvisquire, Orbeetle, Thiveul, Eldegoss, Dubwool, Drednaw, Boltund, Carkol, Flapple, Appletun, Silicobra, Cramorant, Barraskewda, Toxtricity (Amped/Low Key), Centiskorch, Polteageist, Hattrem, Morgrem, Obstagoon, Perserker, Sirfetch'd, Runerigus, Alcremie x63, Indeedee x2, Copperajah, Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, Arctovish, Ponyta (G), Weezing (G), Stunfisk (G)
Mark's Pokemon: Blaziken, Gyarados, Skorupi, Ninjask, Shedinja, Pawniard, Barraskewda, Rotom, Orbeetle, Delibird, Alcremie (Strawberry, Ruby Cream)
Trenor's Pokemon: Greedent, Cramorant, Vileplume, Swampert, Rhyhorn, Gourgeist, Steelix, Torkoal, Basculin, Trevenant, Heliolisk, Noibat
Alice's Pokemon: Wooloo x29, Dubwool, Salazzle, Vibrava, Lunatone, Butterfree (Pink), Litwick, Centiskorch, Inteleon, Eldegoss, Pikachu, Glaceon, Appletun, Morgrem, Aromatisse
Gloria's Pokemon: Cinccino, Conkeldurr, Unfezant, Drednaw, Crustle, Copperajah, Cinderace, Golisopod, Ferroseed, Jolteon, Swoobat, Axew, Liepard, Gardevoir
Dawn's Pokemon: Lopunny, Passimian, Noctowl, Mudsdale, Binacle, Duskull, Piplup, Typhlosion, Pelipper, Bellossom, Pachirisu, Wobbuffet, Mamoswine, Vullaby, Togekiss
Serena's Pokemon: Diggersby, Pangoro, Drifblim, Roserade, Solrock, Vespiquen, Excadrill, Delphox, Tsareena, Lanturn, Ponyta (G), Shiftry, Sylveon
Lillie's Pokemon: Eevee, Hitmonchan, Rufflet, Hippowdon, Shuckle, Ribombee, Gengar, Magearna, Cloyster, Boltund, Cherrim, Meowstic, Vulpix (A)