Showdown at the Shalour Gym
Alec's POV
Ash stood on the challenger's side of the battlefield in the gym as Korrina skated out to the gym leader's side. "I hope Ash can do this," Clemont said worriedly. The four were standing in the spectator area looking down on the battlefield.
"We'll see. Hopefully, Ash gets his head on straight before it's too late," Alec stated.
[Wish I could be there,] Froakie complained, who was with the rest of the group since Ash wasn't using him in this battle.
"Don't worry Froakie, you'll get your chance to battle soon enough," Alec told him.
[Win this Ash!] Froakie shouted in support.
"Froakie, you worked really hard on the rhythmic battle style, so cheer us on in rhythm!" Ash called out.
[Okay…] Froakie said unsure.
"Not what you had in mind, huh?" Alec asked him.
"Now, let's get that battle rhythm going!" Ash said excitedly.
"'Battle rhythm'. A mystery," Korrina commented.
"Nothing serious about it, you saw it," Ash stated.
"That's why it's a mystery," Korrina explained.
"Then look out! I'm giving it all I got, and soon, I'll win!" Ash said confidently.
"Well then Mr. Confidence, bring it," Korrina goaded.
[Now we'll see,] Ethan said.
"Mienfoo, let's do it!" Korrina shouted.
"Let's have a great battle Mienfoo," Ash told her.
"Ash is having so much fun," Bonnie commented.
"That's true, but I wonder how useful that rhythmic battle style will be," Clemont pointed out.
"You're worried that Ash can't dance?" Serena asked.
"Honestly, I don't know what to call what Ash was doing during his training yesterday," Alec said.
"Yeah. As soon as Ash saw Korrina, he stopped trying to perfect the rhythmic battle style. From that point on, you could say Korrina got Ash completely off his game," Clemont explained.
"Meanwhile, Korrina knows exactly what she's going to do in this battle, and might have a few ways to go after something unexpected," Alec added.
"Stop! Who's side are you two on anyway?" Bonnie asked.
"Bonnie, the real action in a gym battle begins from the very moment a trainer challenges a gym leader," Clemont explained.
"You would know that better than anyone," Alec pointed out.
"Hawlucha, I choose you!" Ash shouted.
"Good luck to both of you!" Serena shouted.
[Win this Hawlucha!] Froakie added.
Alec looked at Korrina to see her response, and she was smiling. "She was expecting that," Alec realized.
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"I know Korrina, her look says it all," Alec told her.
"Gym battle, begin!" Gurkinn declared.
"Alright then Ash, show me what you've got!" Korrina said.
"Don't disappoint us Korrina," Ash replied. He then started clapping. "Let's get our Shalour Gym strategy rolling!" Hawlucha started dancing and it seemed to be going well.
"Hawlucha's doing it!" Serena said excitedly.
"That's great, but doesn't Ash need to dance too?" Bonnie asked. The group looked down and saw that Pikachu was the one dancing.
"Pikachu's the one who's got the rhythm," Alec said.
"That's awesome Hawlucha. Way to go," Ash complimented.
"Yep, there you go with that mysterious rhythm. But what are you going to do with it?" Korrina asked. "High-Jump Kick!"
"Use your rhythm to dodge it!" Ash called out. Hawlucha didn't even move as Mienfoo slammed her knee into Hawlucha.
"Just as I feared. They may be grooving, but they aren't moving in the slightest," Alec pointed out.
"Let's keep up the pressure, use Drain Punch!" Korrina commanded.
"Use your rhythm to block!" Ash called out. Once again, Hawlucha failed to do so as Mienfoo hit a green fist onto Hawlucha's head then his stomach. The energy then went to Mienfoo and she absorbed it.
"Hang in there and use Karate Chop!" Ash commanded.
"Block it with a kick!" Korrina said. Mienfoo threw her foot up and sent Hawlucha back to the other side of the field. Alec then realized something.
"She's using Nora's battling style!" Alec said.
"Who's battling style?" Serena asked.
"Korrina's Mienfoo is moving in such a similar fashion to my own. It's not the same moves but it's she's making it work. Very clever Korrina," Alec commented.
[Yeah, that's Nora's way of doing things alright. Korrina must have trained her own to fit their moveset,] Ethan added.
"If she's your style, I don't know how Ash can do this," Serena said.
"Force Palm!" Korrina shouted. Mienfoo put her hand on Hawlucha's chest and sent Hawlucha flying. "So come on and surprise us some more Ash, we're ready!" Korrina told him.
"Can you still battle?" Ash asked Hawlucha.
[Yeah,] Hawlucha answered.
"Then use Flying Press!" Ash said as she started clapping again.
"Mienfoo, use Swift!" Korrina shouted.
"Use rhythm!" Ash called out but the stars hit Hawlucha before he could complete his attack.
"Come on Ash! Don't disappoint us!" Korrina stated.
"Come on Ash! You can do it!" Bonnie shouted as Ash looked up at them. Ash then smiled and said something to Pikachu.
He then turned to Hawlucha. "That rhythmic battle worked because Tierno was doing it, but we've got our own rhythm," Ash told Hawlucha. "Dancing may be Tierno's battle style but it's not mine. So let's do this, we'll show them our own battle style."
"You honestly think you can change your strategy mid-battle?" Korrina asked.
"Yeah, Hawlucha knows what to do for sure!" Ash answered.
"You just don't get it, you're not going to win! High Jump Kick!" Korrina shouted.
"Dodge it!" Ash called out when Mienfoo got close. Hawlucha jumped out of the way and Mienfoo hit the ground.
"He's finally doing it his own way, and with Mienfoo missing High Jump Kick, that evens thing a bit!" Alec realized.
"Now Karate Chop, let's go!" Ash commanded. The move connects but Mienfoo throws Hawlucha off.
"Nope! Use Force Palm!" Korrina shouts.
"Use Flying Press!" Ash called out. Hawlucha jumped into the air to avoid Mienfoo's attack and slammed down on Mienfoo. When the dust from the attack cleared, Mienfoo was laying on the ground with swirls in her eyes.
"Mienfoo is unable to battle. Hawlucha's the winner," Gurkinn declares.
"Yes!" Ash shouted.
"Alright!" Serena and Bonnie shouted.
"As soon as Ash started using his own style, everything turned around," Clemont pointed out.
"There you go. One nothing," Ash said.
"Alright Ash, you might be ahead now, but the next battle won't be so easy," Korrina countered. "Here we go Machoke, my second Pokémon!"
"Hawlucha, return," Ash said. "Next up is Fletchinder! I choose you!"
"Fletchinder! You'll be great!" Serena cheered.
"Alright Fletchinder, Flame Charge!" Ash shouted.
"Machoke, run and jump!" Korrina ordered. As Fletchinder closed in Machoke jumped right over him. "Brick Break!" Korrina shouted. Machoke's fist hit Fletchinder right to the ground.
"That's some power," Clemont commented.
"Hey! Get up Fletchinder, now!" Ash shouted.
Machoke then landed back on the ground. "Low Sweep go!" Korrina shouted. Machoke kicked Fletchinder and sent him to the end of the stadium but Fletchinder spread his wings to stabilize himself.
"Way to hang in there! Now use Steel Wing!" Ash commanded.
"Here it comes Machoke!" Korrina warned. Machoke responded by grabbing Fletchinder's wings, holding him in place. "Now throw it!"
"Use Razor Wind!" Ash commanded. Machoke threw Fletchinder into the air but he righted himself and launched the attack on Machoke.
"Focus Blast!" Korrina shouted.
"Flame Charge! Let's go!" Ash ordered. Machoke held on to Focus Blast as he waited for Fletchinder to close. Machoke then launched that attack and Fletchinder…
… dodged at the last second and slammed into Machoke, knocking him out. "Machoke is unable to battle. Fletchinder's the winner." Gurkinn declared as Fletchinder landed on Ash's arm.
"Alright!" Serena cheered.
"Ash may have the advantage now, but Mega Lucario can easily change that," Alec noted.
"Your right, this battle's just getting started," Clemont added.
"Now my final Pokémon. The star of my team!" Korrina shouted as Lucario appeared on the field.
"Challenger! Will you switch out your Pokémon?" Gurkinn asked.
"Nope. I'm going to stick with Fletchinder," Ash answered as Fletchinder returned to the field.
"Here we go," Alec said.
"Lucario, go! Unlock the power within! Mega Evolve!" Korrina shouted as she touched her keystone and Lucario Mega Evolved.
"Let's do this. Flame Charge!" Ash ordered.
"Lucario, Metal Sound!" Korrina shouted. Mega Lucario let out the screeching and it stopped Fletchinder in his tracks.
"Fight threw it!" Ash shouted. Encouraged by his trainer, Fletchinder pushed on through to Mega Lucario and pushed the Aura Pokémon back, but he shrugged it off.
"Aura Sphere!" Korrina commanded.
"Fletchinder, use Steel Wing to block!" Ash ordered. Ash's idea worked and the Aura Sphere was stopped. Mega Lucario then appeared right behind him.
"Power Up Punch!" Korrina commanded. Mega Lucario slammed down on Fletchinder sending the Ember Pokémon to the ground and out of the match.
"Fletchinder is unable to battle. Lucario's the winner," Gurkinn declared.
"Hawlucha, I choose you!" Ash shouted. "Karate Chop, lets' go!" Ash commanded immediately.
"Hawlucha! Good luck," Serena shouted.
"You can do it!" Bonnie cheered.
"This battle has reached its peak," a voice said.
"Pikachu and Umbreon are ours," another said.
"Ethan!" Alec shouted. Ethan turned and fired Dark Pulse in the direction that the voices came from. The group looked and saw that it was Team Rocket.
"Oh no, not you guys again," Clemont said.
"Why do you even have to be here?" Bonnie asked with annoyance.
"Spoken like a silly twerp, we're hard at work," Jessie said.
"Right, so stay out of our way," James added.
[You three are interfering in what we're doing!] Froakie shouted.
"Froakie says we're the ones interfering in their work," Meowth told Jessie and James.
"Wait, you two can understand Meowth?" Alec asked Jessie and James.
"We all can," Serena explained.
"I guess I'm so used to understanding Pokémon that it never clicked in," Alec muttered to himself.
"Still, there's no doubt that you're planning to do something shameful," Clemont accused.
"You're not interfering with Ash's battle," Serena declared.
"The shame is wasting our time with twerpy ideal threats. Cool your twerpish jets," Jessie said as she threw out Pumpkaboo.
"Wanna fight? Then let's!" James added as he threw out Inkay.
"Pumpkaboo dear, use Shadow Ball," Jessie commanded.
"Inkay, Psybeam," James called out.
"Ethan, take them," Alec said. Ethan jumped in front of both attacks doing next to no damage. "Night Shade." Ethan fired purple-black electric-like beams from the ring on his head and hit both Pumpkaboo and Inkay, knocking them both out. "Finish this Ethan," Alec said.
[Gladly,] Ethan said. He used Psychic to hold Team Rocket then fired a Dark Pulse that sent Team Rocket right out of the gym.
"Did something just happen?" Ash asked from the battlefield.
"Nothing that we couldn't handle, so keep going," Alec answered.
"Flying Press!" Ash commanded.
"Lucario, Bone Rush!" Korrina shouted. The two Pokémon closed in on each other but Lucario hit Hawlucha back with the bones. "Aura Sphere!" Hawlucha didn't even have time to dodge as the blue sphere hit Hawlucha in the chest sending him to the wall. Hawlucha then slid back to the ground.
"Hawlucha is unable to battle. Lucario's the winner," Gurkinn said. Ash returned Hawlucha and turned back to Korrina.
"Okay Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash shouted. Pikachu ran out onto the field, electricity sparking from his checks.
"We know that Pikachu's never defeated Lucario before. I don't know what Pikachu will do with Mega Lucario," Clemont said.
"Mega Lucario has already taken damage from Fletchinder and Hawlucha while Pikachu is fresh. But that doesn't mean it will be easy," Alec stated.
For a while, no one moved. "Why isn't anyone moving?" Serena asked.
"Because Pikachu and Lucario both know they can't lose this round, they're trying to be extra careful," Clemont explained.
"I don't think I've ever been so nervous," Bonnie said, holding Dedenne closer.
"Alright Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash shouted, starting the final round. As Pikachu ran forward, Mega Lucario's stance shifted, like he was drawing Pikachu in. "Use Electro Ball!" Pikachu jumped into the air and threw the ball of electricity at Mega Lucario.
"Use Bone Rush and hit it back!" Korrina shouted. Mega Lucario used the light blue bone to send Pikachu's move back and it almost hit.
"Use Iron Tail!" Ash commanded.
"Block it!" Korrina shouted. Pikachu slammed his tail down but Lucario shook him off. "Now kick 'em!" Mega Lucario swung his foot up sending Pikachu flying.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered. Pikachu flipped in the air and fired. The move hit Mega Lucario causing a small explosion.
"A Thunderbolt after getting hit?!" Korrina asked in shock.
"That's our unique battle style," Ash answered proudly.
"Aura Sphere!" Korrina shouted. Mega Lucario threw the sphere at a falling and exposed Pikachu. Pikachu fell to the ground looking like he was out, but he started to stand back up.
"Pikachu! Can you still battle?" Ash asked. Pikachu responded by firing a massive Thunderbolt upward.
"Looking good Ash and Pikachu," Korrina commented.
"That's because I'm going to win that badge!" Ash told her.
"Metal Sound!" Korrina shouted. The sound waves ripped loose once again and Pikachu crouched down.
"Use Thunderbolt and destroy that Metal Sound!" Ash shouted. Pikachu fired causing Lucario to stop.
"Aura Sphere!" Korrina shouted.
"If Pikachu gets hit after that Metal Sound…" Clemont started when Lucario fired.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail and knock down that Aura Sphere!" Ash ordered.
[What's he getting at?] Ethan asked in confusion.
Pikachu jumped up and used the Aura Sphere like a springboard and sent himself high into the air. "It's like back at the Cyllage Gym when Pikachu used Draco Meteor Climb!" Clemont stated.
"Make a note of that Ethan. Could be useful," Alec whispered.
[You got it,] Ethan answered.
"Jump Lucario! Use Bone Rush!" Korrina shouted.
"Iron Tail!" Ash called out. The two moves met in the air and gravity forced both Pokémon back to the ground causing a massive dust cloud.
When the dust cleared, both Pikachu and Lucario were still standing, but looking worse for wear. "Incredible, Lucario took Iron Tail before it reached full speed, minimizing the damage," Clemont stated.
"It won't be long now before this match is decided," Alec noted.
"Ash and Pikachu you're amazing! Using our move like a springboard to get up that high," Korrina complimented.
"I thought that would be enough to wrap this up, you're a tough one Korrina," Ash complimented back.
"But it is about time to wrap this up. Use Power Up Punch!" Korrina shouted.
"Iron Tail!" Ash countered. The moves connected forcing both Pokémon apart, but they weren't stopping. "Electro Ball!
"Aura Sphere, go!" The two moves collided as they were fired sending Pikachu further into the air.
"Finish this with Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted. Pikachu let loose electricity once more, tearing up the ground as it traveled toward its target causing a massive explosion.
Everyone waited in uncertainty to see if Mega Lucario was down. When the smoke cleared, Lucario was on the ground in his normal form. "Lucario is unable to battle. Pikachu's the winner. Which means the match goes to Ash, the challenger," Gurkinn declared.
The group ran down to the battlefield and Serena called out, "Congratulations Ash!"
"That was the most exciting battle ever!" Bonnie declared.
"Good work Ash," Alec said. "Now, I do believe you said something about battling me after this?" he asked, knowing the answer.
"You bet. And I plan on winning," Ash answered.
"Tomorrow then, 4v4," Alec told him.
"You're on!" Ash replied.
Korrina then got the group's attention as she skated up. "This proves your victory at the Shalour Gym: The Rumble Badge," she said, handing Ash the badge.
"Thanks, Korrina," Ash said. "I just won the Rumble Badge!" Ash shouted excitedly. Ash put the badge in his case with the other two that he earned so far.
"So, it's on to badge number four," Clemont stated.
"So, where do you plan on going next?" Korrina asked.
"Well, me and Alec are going to have a battle, but I don't know where we'll go from there," Ash explained.
"Courmarine City is the closest from here," Gurkinn explained. Serena pulled out her electronic pad and looked up the city.
"Wow! Courmarine City's got a monorail!" Serena pointed out.
"Hey Alec, kick Ash's butt for me would ya," Korrina said.
"You got it," Alec said and the two high fived.
"Who's side our you on?" Ash asked.
"Against you and Alec? Definitely Alec," Korrina answered mischiefly.
"As entertaining as this is, we'd better cross back to the mainland soon," Alec told the group. They nodded and headed back.
[I just have one thing to say. And that's leave Pikachu to me,] Ethan told Alec.
"He's all yours. Might as well take the time to switch up the team too," Alec replied, ready for whatever Ash might send his way.