A/N: Okay, just to be clear, I'm not going to be able to do or accept every single request. We're about 3/4ths or 4/5ths through the story and we're already approaching the 150k+ word mark. And you guys know I'm going to do the "Ash starting in a different region" thing from B/W to S&S with a spin off continuation in between. Not to mention I already accepted a couple of requests as of now. While I'm not saying stop giving me ideas because some of them are good and interesting, let's just say I want to get through my stuff first because I'm already dividing my time with three unfinished stories plus several future ideas and I don't want to spread my attention too thinly with everything. Don't worry, I'm keeping notes on what requests to do and what not depending if I believe I'll have fun writing them, but I got to prioritize as well. I may write request ideas in between each Ash story I write. I think that's probably a fair trade.
Ash and Dawn have finally made it. Half a week ago, they started on their journey again, and reached Snowpoint City at around 11:35 am on March 21st. Zappy and Phoenix were kept in there special Pokeballs so that the chilly late winter/early spring wind didn't bother them too much. And along the way, Dawn caught a sneasel, a meditite, two snowrunts, and a delibird. With no further delay, they went to the Pokémon gym where the fabled Candice worked. They entered and found that the interior looked like the inside of an igloo, but on a larger scale, though the floor wasn't ice except for the battle area where the ice type gym specialist Candice stood on the far side.
"Hello Ash and Dawn. It's lucky you called ahead, or else you'd have to wait till 2 o'clock to fight me after my teaching class."
"And you're sure you want the highest difficulty level for your 7th badge?" She asked for the final time, still uncertain.
"Believe me, with how much training I've done with and without Dawn the past several months, anything less would make this match boring."
"Alright, if you insist." Being handed her pokeballs by her assistant, an older referee stood on the side dressed as a skier.
"The Snowpoint gym battle with Ash the challenger vs Gym Leader Candice is about to begin. It's a four on four battle, and this challenge will be completed when all four on one side are unable to battle. Furthermore, only the challenger may substitute their Pokémon. With that out of the way, let the battle begin!"
"Froslass, chill him out!"
"Floatzel, I choose you!" First on the field were the Snow Land and Sea Weasel Pokémon. "Floatzel, start things off with Rain Dance!" Forming a ball of water in between his hands, he threw it up into the air before dark clouds started to form and shortly started to rain after.
"Froslass, use Shadow Ball!" Forming an orb of dark energy, the ice/ghost type threw it at the water type, but he grinned.
"Dodge." Ash said, which Floatzel obeyed with such speed he disappeared with an afterimage, which the shadow ball passed through and exploded against the ground.
"Quick, use Spikes!" Candice told her Pokémon, but Ash countered with,
"Waterfall." Before Froslass could hinder Ash's side, the Sea Weasel appeared behind the enemy and bashed right into its back with a surge of water surrounding him. Sent flying into a wall, Frosslass was knocked out in one blow.
"Froslass is unable to battle! The winner is Floatzel!" The referee announced.
"Way to go Floatzel! You're awesome!" Dawn cheered. The water type smiled at her and gave a thumbs up.
"Whoa, I see what you mean now." Candice marveled from such speed and power before grinning in anticipation. Returning her Pokémon and thanking it, she then said, "I'm getting excited. Abomasnow, chill him out!" On the icy field was a large bipedal Pokémon covered in shaggy white fur. Her hands, feet and tail were green and spiky like evergreen and green spikes on her back like pinecones. She roared as the temperature dropped significantly, turning the rain into hail.
"Floatzel, return." Ash recalled his water type. "You did good. Dusknoir, I choose you!" Replacing Floatzel was his loyal ghost type.
"Use Blizzard!" Candice commanded. From her mouth, the Frost Tree Pokémon shot forth a blast of fierce snow and wind.
"Endure it!" Ash requested. Crossing his arms, Dusknoir felt the full force of the ice type attack, groaning from the coldness. "Counter with Trick Room!" Dusknoir created a checkered box around the field that disappeared for a second.
"I don't know what that was but we won't let that stop us! Abomasnow, beat him down with Wood Hammer!"
"Counter with Fire Punch!" With one arm glowing turquoise and the other hot with fire, the two Pokémon clashed with enough force to cause an explosion, shattering the icy floor and a few protrusions made of said ice. Everyone had to brace themselves from the shockwave of said action. When all of smoke cleared, Dusknoir floated a defeated abomasnow lying on her back.
"Abomasnow is unable to battle! The winner is Dusknoir!"
"Abomasnow, return. Wow, beating two of my Pokémon in one hit. You sure are strong. But let's see you handle something much faster! Weavile, chill him out!" Onto the field was now the Sharp Claw Pokémon. "Now skate around him!" Using her feet, Weavile expertly skated around the ghost type, whom looked considerably unconcerned. "Now use Night Slash!"
"Dodge and use Fire Punch." Ash countered. Despite the incredible speed of the dark/ice type, she was completely unprepared for Dusknoir to suddenly disappear just as her purple claw was going to land, and felt a searing hot fist jut right into her back, sending her flying into an upward ice chunk.
"Whoa, I thought Dusknoir were slow! Retaliate with Night Slash!" Candice pleaded. Her claws glowing purple again, she was able to leap back and slash across Dusknoir's body. He groaned strongly before falling to the ground.
"Dusknoir was unable to battle. The winner is Weavile!"
"Allllriiiiight!" Candice cheered. "Excellent rebound Weavile!"
"Dusknoir, return." Withdrawing his Pokémon, he spoke, "You did well Dusknoir. You earned your rest. Staraptor, I choose you!"
"Use Ice Punch!" Her hand glowing bright blue, she pounced at the Predator Pokémon.
"Dodge and use Close Combat!" Flapping above the incoming claw, the flying type battered the dark/ice type with a lot of wing, claw and beak strikes. A fire type move was one thing, but fighting was too much as she was beaten into the ground.
"Weavile is unable to battle! The winner is Staraptor!"
"Weavile, return." Candice withdrawn her ice type. "You had good spunk out. Great work." Turning to her challenger, she started hopping from foot to foot in giddiness. "This is the first time I've been pushed this much. It's time to break the ice with my ace! Mamoswine, chill him out!" Seeing a Pokémon he kept on him excited his blood.
"Well, this makes things more fun. Staraptor, return." To the confusion of Dawn, whom remained quiet as to not disturb his clear winning streak outside of Floatzel, she witnessed Ash bring out an Ultra Ball. "Mamoswine, I choose you!" With two of the same Twin Tusk Pokémon on the field, it could go either way.
"Oh wow! You have one too?! Then I can't hold back with how strong you are! Use Superpower!" With a roar, Candice's ice type glowed light blue and charged forward.
"Counter with Giga Impact!" His mamoswine rushed forward as well, but was surrounded by a purple sphere and spiraling orange streaks. When the two mammoth Pokémon collided, it was such an extreme clash of force that the explosion literally pushed back Ash, Candice, the referee, and even Dawn further back into her bleacher seat, away from the field, rocking most of the building. Candice was the first to get up and asked frantically,
"Is everyone okay?!"
"My back is hurting, but I'm okay!" Dawn assured.
"I'm fine! I've taken worse." Ash answered.
"I'm quite alright, Miss Candice." The referee told her. Amongst the epicenter of the powerful explosion, there stood the two Twin Tusk Pokémon with their foreheads pushed against each other in a crater deep enough that rock was visible a few feet below the ice field. Even the hail cloud was gone. For a few seconds nobody moved until Ash's mamoswine collapsed, having been dealt more damage.
"Ah, Ash's mamoswine is unable to battle! The winner is Candice's mamoswine!" The referee announced once he got to his feet.
"Mamoswine, return." Ash recalled his fallen ice/ground type.
"Note to self, ban Giga Impact against Mamoswine." The gym leader talked to herself. "Do you need medical assistance? We can take a break while the field is being repaired."
"Sure. Let's not take any unnecessary risks." The trainer admitted.
After getting everyone patched up for minor injuries, the match was back on, especially now that the field was freshly recreated in ice.
"Alright Ash, how do you want to do this next?" Candice asked her challenger. Ash grinned as he took out his Net Ball.
"Floatzel, I choose you!" Returning was his water type." Candice chuckled.
"You sure aren't holding any punches, are you?"
"Would you?" He asked slyly.
"Of course not! Mamoswine, use Ice Fang!" Her tusks glowing bright blue, she shot forth zigzags of chilling energy.
"Use Waterfall right at them!"
"What is he planning?" Dawn wondered. Floatzel was also confused, but still obeyed as he surrounded himself with water and lunged forward with the power of a geyser. Once the attacks connected, Floatzel was incased with ice, but still rocketed towards the ice/ground type shocking Mamoswine and Candice. Floatzel bashed against Mamoswine's forehead hard enough to crack himself out of the icy cocoon he was in. This caused the Twin Tusk Pokémon to groan strongly.
"Now finish it with Ice Punch!" His hand glowing, the Sea Weasel punched the exact spot he rammed into, dealing even more pain. With that punch, along with the frozen waterfall and giga impact, it was too much as she collapsed too, unable to take anymore.
"Mamoswine is unable to battle! The winner is Floatzel, and the victory goes to Ash!" The referee declared.
"Way to go Floatzel! I knew you could do it!" The water type grunted with approval with a grin.
"Alright Ash, that was an amazing battle you did!" Dawn cheered.
"Thanks Mamoswine. What a wonderful display of power you made." Looking up at Ash, she laughed as the girl walked around the field, along with Ash. "I must say Ash, top notch to your skill and power!"
"It's thanks to your best friend, Maylene."
"You be sure to thank her again. So, how fun was that?"
"Battling a gym leader was fun. I needed a little diversity outside of my friends, that's for sure." He chuckled, thinking back to Barry.
"Talking about Barry? I'll never be able to forget that guy." Candice laughed in response. "He completely trounced me with his Infernape, but that's what you should expect from a fire/fighting type. Anyway, here's your proof of the beating the gym; the Icicle Badge." Once they were close enough, he grabbed and took a look at it. It looked like it was imaged from a glacier.
"Thank you Candice. Now have yourself an 'ice' day." Ash jested making the gym leader laugh even harder. Once the trainer left the battle area, Dawn ran up to him.
"Way to go Ash!"
"Thanks Dawn." He replied as they high fived before giving themselves a brief kiss. "Now for Sunnyshore City."
Dawn and Ash could not believe what they were seeing. After managing to catch a glameow, a chatot, and a remoraid, they came to discover that Sunnyshore City was the most technological city they saw with the roads and bridges over pathways of water made of solar panels. This time around Zappy was sitting on Ash's head while Phoenix was observing his surroundings in Dawn's bag. Walking through the place, they were amazed and marveled on how much of it ran on electricity, and especially the lighthouse on the highest cliff in the city.
"This place is beautiful." Dawn remarked.
"Yeah. I think after my gym battle, we could go up there and enjoy the view." Ash suggested. His girlfriend sighed happily as she hugged his arm.
"How romantic of you." Upon getting to and entering the gym, Ash on the battle floor spotted the electric type gym leader, Volkner, sitting in his chair, his eyes closed and fingers intertwined until he entered. When he opened his eyes, he smiled.
"Finally." Standing up and kicking back his chair with no regard how it would fall, he stared at the young trainer. "I got to fight Barry, and now I get to fight you."
"You sound real passionate about this."
"Oh I am. For the past while, I've had no decent challenges with Barry as the exception. And with the blackout I accidently caused, I was extremely bored. I even considered quitting until Barry came around. He invigorated my passion for battling, and when he told me of you, along with Candice saying you just recently won her badge, I knew it was only a matter of time."
"Well then, I won't disappoint you. I'll give it all I got, and that's a promise." Ash told the gym leader with a thumbs up. It was then that Dawn entered on the bleachers wearing her cheerleading outfit along with Lopunny, Gallade and Pheonix.
"Alright Ash, just one more badge! I know you'll make it through this match!" Dawn nearly rhymed along with her Pokémon saying their names right after in positive tones.
"Pichu Pichu!" Zappy added on making Ash softly laugh.
"And to think I actually didn't believe you had your own cheerleader." Volkner whispered to himself. Shaking his head, he got ready. This time, the referee was a machine with a red flag on Volkner's side and green on Ash's.
"The Sunnyshore gym battle between Volkner and Ash will now begin. It will be a four on four battle. The battle is over when all four Pokémon on one side is unable to continue. Furthermore, only the challenger may switch their Pokémon. Battle begin!"
"Jolteon, go!" Onto the field was the electric eevelution.
"Torterra, I choose you!" Ash brought out his grass/ground starter.
"Torterra!" He roared his name.
"Torterra, huh? Well, my electric type isn't all about shocking. Use Shadow Ball!" Forming a ball of black energy, Jolteon fired the ghost type attack at the Continent Pokémon, which exploded against his head. However, it didn't seem to phase him that much.
"Seed bomb!" Opening his mouth, the grass starter fired off many bright green projectiles.
"Dodge with Quick Attack!" Jolteon disappeared from sight just before the seeds flying at the electric type could connect. Torerra looked around trying to find the Lightning Pokémon when Ash warned,
"He's on your back!" He tried to crane his head as far as it could to see the evolved eevee on his shell.
"Shadow Ball". Volker smugly said. Forming another orb, Jolteon fired it at the back of the grass type's head, making another explosion.
"Counter with Giga Drain and follow with Seed Bomb!" The spikes on his shell glowed bright green before wrapping themselves around the startled Jolteon, screaming from having its strength sapped away as the tendrils brought it in front of Torterra.
"Jolteon!" Volkner cried out as his Pokémon became bomarded by point blank explosions while its health was being sapped. After that, Jolteon was thrown across the field, fainted.
"Jolteon is unable to battle. The winner is Torterra." The machine stated.
"Way to go Torterra! You can beat anything he's got!" Dawn cheered for the starter with her supporters also giving him encouragement.
"Jolteon return. You deserve a rest. That was a good move on your part, but I'm nowhere close to done. Luxray, go!" Onto the field was a familiar Gleam Eyes Pokémon.
"Torterra, return." Ash recalled his starter, confusing Dawn like before.
"Oh, what's with the sudden change of plans?" Volkner asked intrigued.
"Just in case your Luxray has Ice Fang on hand. That way I can do this! Mamoswine, I choose you!" Onto the field was his other ground type.
"Smart move. You were correct in that guess, but I bet you weren't expecting this. Luxray, Fire Fang!" With fire bursting from his mouth, Luxray charged towards the Twin Tusk Pokémon.
"Counter with Stone Edge!" Forming white orbs around herself, they turned into sharp rocks that Mamoswine launched, but Luxray was able to weave past through them all thanks to its special eyes and got close enough to sink its fangs into one of her tusks. She roared with agony from those being bit into. "Use Ice Fang!" Her tusks glowing bright blue, she pushed the electric type back with the ice type move.
"Fire Fang, once more!"
"Giga Impact!" Ash ordered. Surrounded by a purple orb and spiraling orange streaks, she plowed right into Luxray before it could properly attack, sending it flying to Volkner's feet, knocked out.
"Luxray is unable to battle! The winner is Mamoswine!"
"Luxray, return." The gym leader withdrew his electric type. "Good job landing that hit. "Raichu, go!" Zappy was amazed to see its final evolution.
"Pichu!" He called out and waved to it in greeting. It smiled and nodded.
"Too bad your Mamoswine can't do anything after that attack, because it can't defend against this! Focus Blast!" Forming a yellow ball of energy, Raichu fired it at the ice type that created a powerful explosion upon contact. Mamoswine cried out from the hit before falling to her side.
"Mamoswine is unable to battle! The winner is Raichu!"
"Mamoswine, return." Ash said. "You did a great job rest up. Torterra, I choose you!" Returning to the field was his grass starter.
"Pi." Zappy whispered, observing how his evolution made that powerful attack.
"Alright Torterra! Get at them again with everything you got!" Dawn encouraged him, along with her Pokémon.
"Bad move, kid. Raichu, use Signal Beam!" Raichu charged up some rainbow light before firing the sinister beam, connecting right at Torterra's head. Even against the bug type move, Torterra held firm.
"Keep at it! There's no way we can lose now!
"I'll have to disagree, kid. Signal Beam, again!" Once again, Raichu successfully fired the rainbow colored beam at the Continent Pokémon. However, what the electric mouse didn't count on was Torterra to glow green and roar in power.
"Alright! Rain Seed Bomb over the battlefield!"
"Dodge them with Quick Attack!" Torterra aimed his mouth high so that he sent the attack upward so that the started falling all over the battle arena. Even with its superb speed and agility, even it couldn't escape the extra large explosions each seed created. When all the explosions stopped and the smoke and dust settled, the field was covered in holes and small rocks with Raichu unconscious in the middle of it.
"Raichu is unable to battle! The winner is Torterra!"
"Hooray! You're the best Torterra!" Dawn spoke up again.
"Such power." Volkner said to himself before laughing. "This is it! My trump card! Electivire, go!" Last onto the field from his side was the Thunderbolt Pokémon, a large bipedal creature covered in yellow fur and black stripes. It appeared to be strong and bulky and size, and the most distinguishing thing about it were its two tails with enough electricity to power a city if it could.
"Torterra, Seed Bomb!" Opening his mouth again, he aimed the explosive seeds right at Electivire.
"Flamethrower!" From its mouth, Electivire shot a plume of fire that managed to keep the bombs at bay by exploding them.
"Impressive. If grass moves won't do it then we'll use rock. Use Stone Edge!" Forming white orbs that turned into sharps rocks, Torterra fired them at the electric type.
"Jump and use Cross Chop!" Leaping over the stones despite its girth, Torterra looked up to see the Thunderbolt Pokémon coming in with its arms crossed and glowing white. With one move, it landed a powerful blow on Torterra's shell with enough force and weight to cause the ground below the Continent Pokémon to crack. The grass starter couldn't even make a sound as he was instantly defeated.
"Torterra is unable to battle! The winner is Electivire!"
"That's how you do it." The gym leader boasted.
"Oh no." Dawn uttered.
"Torterra, return. You did a wonderful job. Rest up. Dusknoir, I choose you!" Playing things safe, Ash sent out his defensive ghost.
"No ghost is going to beat us! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Electivire!" The electric type obeyed by sending out a blast of electricity right at the Gripper Pokémon.
"Use Trick Room!" Ash ordered. Even when being hit by electricity, Dusknoir had enough concentration to form a checkered room around them.
"Thunderbolt, again!"
"Dodge and use Ice Punch!" To the shock of the gym leader and electric Pokémon, Dusknoir swiftly evaded the electricity and appeared right behind Electivire and punched it right where the furry electric socket pattern was. Electivire only had a few seconds to cry out before he was frozen.
"Electivire!" Volkner shouted.
"Now use a Shadow Punch 1-2 combo!" Floating to the front, he cracked his knuckles as they glowed grey before delivering a right punch to the stomach and a left punch to the face, cracking the ice as ghostly energy went through both the ice and Electivire. The crack ice continued to spider-web until the ice around the electric type shattered, allowing the Thunderbolt Pokémon to fall on his front, defeated.
"Electivire is unable to battle! The winner is Dusknoir, and the victor is Ash the challenger!" The machine decreed.
"Yeah! You're awesome Ash! Amazing!" Dawn screamed in cheer along with her Pokémon.
"Well done, Dusknoir!" Ash commended.
"Pichu!" Zappy added, happy for his owner.
"Shocking. I didn't see that coming." Volkner said to himself before smiling and then laughing. "Yes, that's how you do a Pokémon battle! Just like Barry, you lit the passion in my heart that was previously forgotten! Even though I lost, my blood is still boiling from such a thrilling rush!"
"Something tells me you had more fun in this battle than I did." Ash commented. Returning his Electivire, the gym leader nodded.
"It's hard to have fun when you're not pushed. But because of you and Barry, I feel alive again! Thank you. For winning the match and reinvigorating me, let me present you your eighth badge." Walking up to the young trainer, he gave Ash what appeared to be a tiny beacon.
"Thanks so much. Now I have all eight. I'll be sure we battle again."
"I look forward to it."
Leaving the battle area, Ash was hugged by his girlfriend as she ran up to him full of joy.
"Congratulations, Ash! You got all eight! I'm so proud of you!" Ash gladly hugged her back.
"Hehe, it's not all me though. Barry, and especially you, helped me along the way. Thank you." Dawn giggled.
"I love you."
"I love you too." The happy couple then kissed, feeling their love full force.
A/N: So, how were the last two gym battles? With the end nearly upon us, I decided to accelerate the story so that we get to the Pokémon League sooner. I especially like the Superpower and Giga Impact clash. Sometimes in the anime seeing two attacks clash creating an explosion is the coolest part of any Pokémon battle. Tell me what you think of the chapter below.