After participating in the Kalos League, Ash decides to go to the Nessada region with his friends. Along the way, they face some unexpected events which will change the life of some of them.
Ch.43: Ash vs Flora
The next day, after breakfast, Ash and his friends and family, along with Selena who decided to watch Ash's Gym Battle, made their way to the gym and after 15 minutes they managed to find it.
"So I guess this is it," said Ash as he looked at the building which was bright green and had two Venusaur–shaped balloons on each of its sides.
"Something tells me you're right," said Clemont as the gang went in.
When they entered, they saw that everything was green and there were trees everywhere.
"The Gym Leader must really like grass–types," said Bonnie.
"Of course I do," said a voice as a tall girl with green hair and eyes appeared. She wore a purple T–shirt and dark green trousers.
"Who are you," asked Ash.
"My name is Flora and I'm the Corriola Town Gym Leader," said Flora.
"Flora, I'm Ash from Pallet Town and I challenge you to a battle," said Ash.
"Very well," said Flora. "I accept your challenge. Follow me to the battle field."
"My dear Flora," said Brock as he took Flora's hand in his. "I suggest we forget about the battle field and together go the field of – Croagunk's pain," he said as Croagunk came out and used Poison Jab on Brock and dragged him away.
"Does this happen often," Flora asked Ash.
"You have no idea," answered Ash.
After a couple of minutes, Ash's friends and family, and Selena were the audience while Ash and Flora stood on the opposite sites of the battle field.
"This Pokémon Gym Battle between Ash, the challenger, and Flora, the Gym Leader, will now begin," announced the referee. "This will be a four–on–four battle and it will be over when all four Pokémon on one side are unable to battle. Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. Send out your first Pokémon."
"Ludicolo, let's go," said Flora as she brought out her grass/water–type.
"Noivern, I choose you," said Ash as he chose his dragon/flying–type.
"Ash chose a pretty good Pokémon against Ludicolo," said Clemont.
"Noivern is a dragon/flying–type so Ludicolo is in a huge disadvantage," said Selena.
"I wouldn't count only on type match–ups," said Red. "Most water–type Pokémon know at least one ice–type move and if Ludicolo knows a move, like Blizzard it will a big problem for Noivern since it's weak to ice attacks."
"You know," said Kaylin. "I wasn't worried about that at all twenty seconds ago, but now I'm really worried."
"It doesn't matter," said Serena. "I know Ash and Noivern can win."
"Ludicolo, start with Rain Dance," said Flora.
"Noivern, fly up and use Dragon Pulse," said Ash. Ludicolo summoned a Rain Dance and Noivern fired his Dragon Pulse which struck Ludicolo. "Now use Boomburst."
"Ludicolo, dodge it and use Ice Beam," said Flora. Noivern fired his Boomburst which Ludicolo managed to dodge and fired its Ice Beam.
"Noivern, counter it with Flamethrower," said Ash. Noivern fired its Flamethrower and managed to counter Ludicolo's Ice Beam. "Use Dragon Pulse until you hit it."
"Dodge all of them, Ludicolo," said Flora. Noivern fired multiple Dragon Pulse, but Ludicolo managed to dodge all of them.
"How is Ludicolo so fast," asked May.
"It's because of its ability, Swift Swim," answered Brock. "It becomes faster when it's raining and using Rain Dance from the beginning makes Ludicolo a one tough opponent."
"Ludicolo, use Scald," said Flora.
"Noivern, counter with Boomburst and then use Flamethrower," said Ash. Ludicolo fired its Scald, but Noivern managed to counter with Boomburst and landed its Flamethrower with a direct hit. "Now use Dragon Pulse."
"Ludicolo, counter it with Ice Beam and then use Energy Ball," said Flora. Noivern fired its Dragon Pulse which Ludicolo managed to counter with Ice Beam and landed its Energy Ball on Noivern, lowering his special defense. "Now use Scald."
"Noivern, dodge it and use Flamethrower," said Ash. Ludicolo fired its Scald which Noivern managed to dodge and fired a Flamethrower which struck Ludicolo.
"I thought Ludicolo was faster when it's raining," said Delia.
"It seems that Ludicolo's dodging those Dragon Pulse attacks earlier made it a little tired," said Clemont.
"And only that," said Brock. "I have the feeling that the rain will stop pretty soon." Just as he said that, the Rain Dance stopped and this was what Ash and Noivern have been waiting for.
"Noivern use another Flamethrower," said Ash.
"Ludicolo, counter with Scald," said Flora. Noivern fired his Flamethrower, but Ludicolo managed to counter it with Scald, creating an explosion.
"This is our chance," said Ash. "Noivern, locate Ludicolo and use Hurricane."
"Ludicolo, get out of the way," said Flora. Noivern managed to find Ludicolo and fired his Hurricane which Ludicolo failed to dodge and got hit by the powerful flying–type move, knocking it out.
"Ludicolo is unable to battle," announced the referee. "Noivern is the winner."
"Way to go, Noivern," cheered Ash.
"I knew they would win," said Serena.
"Using Noivern's echolocation to find Ludicolo was a pretty good idea," said Clemont.
"Ludicolo, return," said Flora. "You did your best. Gourgeist, let's go."
"Noivern, return and take a rest," said Ash. "I'm proud of you. Drapion, I choose you."
"Now that's an interesting choice," said Selena. "Gourgeist is a grass/ghost–type and Drapion is a poison/dark–type."
"That means the advantage belongs to Drapion, right," asked Kaylin.
"That's right," said Clemont.
"Gourgeist, use Seed Bomb," said Flora.
"Drapion, counter it with Night Slash," said Ash. Gourgeist fired its Seed Bomb, but Drapion managed to counter it with Night Slash. "Now use Hone Claws."
"Gourgeist, use Leech Seed," said Flora.
"Drapion, dodge it and use Poison Fang," said Ash. Gourgeist fired a Leech Seed, but Drapion dodged it and landed its Poison Fang, badly poisoning Gourgeist. "Now use Night Slash."
"Dodge with Shadow Sneak and then Leech Seed," said Flora. Drapion went for Night Slash, but Gourgeist avoided it with Shadow Sneak and landed its Leech Seed. "Use Flamethrower."
"Drapion, counter it with Aqua Tail and then use Poison Fang," said Ash. Gourgeist fired its Flamethrower, but Drapion managed to counter it with Aqua Tail and landed its Poison Fang. "Now use another Hone Claws."
"Gourgeist, use Seed Bomb," said Flora.
"Counter it with Poison Fang and then Night Slash," said Ash. Gourgeist fired its Seed Bomb, but Drapion managed to counter it with Poison Fang and landed its Night Slash, knocking Gourgeist out.
"Gourgeist is unable to battle," announced the referee. "Drapion is the winner."
"Gourgeist, return," said Flora. "You did your best. Take a nice rest. Ferrothorn, let's go."
"Drapion, return and take a rest," said Ash. "Quilava, I choose you."
"Now that's a good choice by Ash," said Brock. "Quilava's fire–type attacks will deal a lot of damage to Ferrothorn."
"Ash sure made a good choice," said May.
"Ferrothorn, start with Leech Seed," said Flora.
"Quilava, dodge it and use Swift," said Ash. Ferrothorn fired its Leech Seed, but Quilava dodged it and landed its Swift. "Now use Eruption."
"Ferrothorn, counter it with Thunderbolt," said Flora. Quilava fired its Eruption, but Ferrothorn managed to counter it with Thunderbolt. "Now use Power Whip." Ferrothorn charged towards Quilava and landed its Power Whip which barely did any damage. "Use Thunderbolt."
"Quilava, counter it with Flamethrower," said Ash. Ferrothorn fired its Thunderbolt, but Quilava managed to counter it with Flamethrower. "Now use Swift."
"Ferrothorn, counter with Metal Claw," said Flora. Quilava fired its Swift, but Ferrothorn managed to counter it with Metal Claw.
"Quilava, use full power Flamethrower," said Ash. Quilava fired its Flamethrower which struck Ferrothorn, knocking the grass/steel–type out.
"Ferrothorn is unable to battle," announced the referee. "Quilava is the winner."
"Good job, Quilava," said Ash. "Return and take a rest."
"Ferrothorn, return," said Flora. "You did your best. Time for my next Pokémon. Venusaur, let's go."
"If she's using Venusaur, then I'll use this," said Ash as he brought out his fourth Pokémon. "Garchomp, I choose you."
"I didn't see that coming," said Red a little disappointed in his son's choice. "Charizard would be a much better choice for Venusaur."
"I think Ash has a strategy," said Brock. "He always finds a way to surprise us."
"I think I figured out why my brother chose Garchomp," said Kaylin and everyone turned their attention to her. "Garchomp resists poison–type attacks and grass–type attacks won't do that much damage. And it looks like Venusaur has a Mega–Stone and Mega–Venusaur has Think Fat as its ability."
"And Think Fat makes fire–type attacks less effective," said Brock.
"How did you figure that out," Red asked his daughter.
"I learnt a lot from Ash," said Kaylin.
"Venusaur, let's start with Energy Ball," said Flora.
"Garchomp, counter it with Shadow Ball," said Ash. Venusaur fired its Energy Ball, but Garchomp countered it with Shadow Claw. "Use Dragon Rush."
"Venusaur, use Double–Edge," said Flora. Garchomp and Venusaur charged with Dragon Rush and Double–Edge and which collided, creating an explosion which send both Pokémon fly backwards.
"Garchomp, let's take it to a new level," said Ash as he touched his Mega–Ring and Mega–Evolved Garchomp.
"We'll even the power," said Flora as she Mega–Evolved her Venusaur.
"So it'll be a battle between Mega–Evolutions," said Selena.
"Go get them, Ash and Garchomp," cheered Serena.
"Venusaur, use Sludge Bomb," said Flora.
"Garchomp, counter it with Iron Tail and then use Shadow Claw," said Ash. Mega–Venusaur fired its Sludge Bomb, but Mega–Garchomp managed to counter it with Iron Tail and landed a direct hit with Shadow Claw. "Garchomp, use Iron Tail."
"Venusaur, counter it with Double–Edge and then use Energy Ball," said Flora. Garchomp charged with Iron Tail, but Venusaur managed to counter it with Double–Edge and landed its Energy Ball. "Use another Energy Ball."
"Garchomp, counter it with Shadow Claw," said Ash. Venusaur fired another Energy Ball, but Garchomp countered it with Shadow Claw.
"Use Double–Edge," said Flora.
"Garchomp, counter it with Dragon Rush and then use Iron Tail," said Ash. Venusaur charged with Double–Edge, but Garchomp managed to counter it with Dragon Rush and landed its Iron Tail, lowering Mega–Venusaur's defense. "Now use Dragon Rush."
"Venusaur, dodge it," said Flora. Garchomp charged with Dragon Rush and landed its dragon–type move which Venusaur failed to dodge. "Venusaur, use Energy Ball."
"Garchomp, dodge it and use Shadow Claw," said Ash. Venusaur fired its Energy Ball, but Garchomp managed to dodge it and landed its Shadow Claw.
"Venusaur, let's finish this with Frenzy Plant," said Flora.
"Garchomp, let's show what you're made of and use full power Draco Meteor," said Ash. Venusaur slammed its front legs on the ground and huge vines came out and headed towards Garchomp who fired an orange orb in the air which exploded and several meteors came falling down. Some of the meteors fell on Frenzy Plant, stopping it while the other meteors struck Venusaur with a lot of power, knocking the grass/poison–type out.
"Venusaur is unable to battle," announced the referee. "Garchomp is the winner. The victory goes to Ash from Pallet Town."
"Yes," cheered Ash as he went to Garchomp and hugged his dragon/ground–type. "We did it, Garchomp. We won."
"Venusaur, return," said Flora. "You did your best. I'm proud of you."
"That's my big brother," said Kaylin happily.
"I knew he could win," said Serena.
"Come on, let's go greet him," said Clemont as he and the gang went to the battlefield to congratulate Ash.
"That was a great battle," said Delia as she hugged her son.
"Thanks, mom," said Ash. "But my Pokémon deserve the credit."
"Nice job, Ash," said Flora as she went up to Ash. "I didn't expect that kind of a battle. Your Pokémon are more powerful than I thought."
"Thanks, Flora," said Ash when Garchomp suddenly bit him on the head. "Knock it off, Garchomp." The scene caused everyone to laugh.
"Old habits die hard," said Brock as Ash managed to get himself free from Garchomp.
"Anyway," said Flora as she brought out a badge. "Here's the proof of your victory at the Corriola Town Gym, the Plant Badge."
"Thanks, Flora," said Ash as he took the badge and celebrated with his Pokémon . "I've got the Plant Badge."
"Pi pika," cheered Pikachu.
"So what's next," asked Bonnie.
"That's easy," said Ash. "We'll stay in town for the next couple of days for May's contest and then we'll head to the next town."
"In that case, I would suggest Eversprout Town," said Flora. "It's pretty far, but it's also the nearest town from here. There's also a Gym."
"Then it's settled," said Ash. "After May wins the contest, we're heading off to Eversprout Town for my third Nessada Gym Badge."
"Please tell we won't be running to Eversprout Town," said Clemont hopefully which caused everyone to laugh.
To be continued…
There you have it. Ash sweeps Flora. There will a little celebration in the next chapter. By the way, sorry for the long wait. Also, next time, Selena, Red and Delia will leave. And one of Ash's friends will get a new Pokémon, maybe even two. Stay tuned to find out for who the celebration will be. I'll see you all next time. Until then, have a good day. See ya.