"Welcome, Ash Ketchum," Lorelei said. "In case you are not aware of the full rules, allow me to explain."
She held up one finger. "By winning the Silver Conference, you have earned the right to challenge the Elite Four of Kanto and Johto. There is currently no separate Champion, so it's just the four of us, who must be battled in order."
A second finger. "You can challenge up to three times, so long as your challenges take place before the next Silver Conference."
And a third. "If you defeat the Champion, Lance, then you have earned the right to become the new Champion. That is not, however, mandatory… none of us want to see a trainer doing less than their best because they don't want a new responsibility."
"I did kind of wonder about that," Ash admitted. "Since there's not currently an Elite Four and Lance, I mean… I'm not nearly done with my Pokémon journey just yet!"
"Confident of you," Lorelei chuckled. "As it happens, this may well be my last battle as a member of the Elite Four… I'm thinking of stepping down soon. Let's see what happens."
She held up her first Pokéball, and Ash picked one off his belt as well.
Lorelei's Froslass appeared with a flash, and Ash sent out Bayleef.
"Sunny Day!" he ordered, immediately, and Bayleef tossed her head. A swirl of sunlight and leaves built up around her, and her skin took on a pale yellow-green glow.
Lorelei was already pointing. "Blizzard!"
Froslass swept her arms out, and the Blizzard lashed out at Bayleef… but it didn't quite work out like either Lorelei or her Pokémon were expecting, as what actually hit the Grass-type was a stream of water.
"Weather Ball!" Ash retaliated, and Froslass brought her arms up to fire a second Blizzard. This one hit the ball of flame Bayleef had just launched, deflecting most of the strength, and Froslass wiped away the splatter before seeing Bayleef approaching at speed for a Sunsteel Strike.
"She's still a Grass-type," Lorelei said curtly, as Froslass used Protect to deflect Bayleef's next attack. "She's ignoring Ice moves but she can't ignore everything – Signal Beam!"
That got through, hitting Bayleef hard enough to make her cry out, but she set herself and fired back another Weather Ball.
"Keep it up," Ash called, then spotted something. "Dodge right!"
Bayleef got out of the way just before Froslass could use Weather Ball, then the Ghost-type followed up with a Shadow Ball which Bayleef deflected away using Vine Whip.
"Keep on the move," Ash instructed. "And make sure the Sunny Day keeps up – Sunsteel Strike!"
"Ash has a good style for battling the Elite Four," Brock observed. "Any Rock type trainer worth their rock salt is going to have a plan for dealing with Fighting types and Ground types, but what Rock type trainer would bother making special preparations to deal with a Fire type?"
He pointed. "The same thing is going on here. Whatever Bayleef's doing, it means that one of the things Lorelei knew she had handled is somewhere she's suddenly vulnerable."
"That's a good point," Morty mused. "I wonder how it's going to turn out to apply to Agatha, if he gets to her?"
"I've got a few ideas, but mentioning them would be telling!" Vulpix said, as Lorelei finally conceded defeat with her Froslass and switched the Pokémon out for an Abomasnow. "Ooh, okay, that's an interesting choice."
"Yes, Snow Warning means it starts snowing, and that's cutting out the sunlight," Brock said. "I wonder how they're both going to react to that?"
"Blizzard!" Lorelei ordered, as soon as the snowclouds began to actually snow.
"Ready – now!" Ash called. "Flare Blitz!"
Bayleef's gathered sunlight couldn't have kept her Ice-immunity up for long, not while it wasn't being replenished. But she could use it all up in one go, and she hit Abomasnow hard enough that the mixed-type Ice-type went skidding backwards across the arena and caught fire.
"Now, before they recover!" Ash went on, as Bayleef shook off the recoil. "Wrap them up and do a long ranged hug!"
His Grass-type's vines wrapped around Lorelei's Pokémon, and Bayleef hauled with all her strength to yank Abomasnow into the air. He used a second Blizzard, which got through and knocked her out, but by that point Abomasnow was already in the air and the Frost Tree Pokémon hit with a crash that made the ground tremble slightly.
"He's still up," Ash said to himself, recalling Bayleef. "Cyndaquil, your turn!"
Cyndaquil dealt with Abomasnow, though not without difficulty, and then Lorelei sent out her Dewgong and managed to have the sort of battle she'd actually been training in for many years. That continued as Ash sent in Charizard, and Lorelei went from Dewgong to Mega Glalie – a Pokémon which proved capable of firing stupendous Hyper Beams converted to Ice type and which eventually outlasted Charizard's phenomenal endurance.
In response, Ash switched Pokémon again, and Lokoko appeared on the field.
"Hmm," Lorelei mused. "Well, the one thing I can't be certain of is that that's actually your Ninetales…"
Lokoko bowed.
"Blizzard," Lorelei decided.
Lokoko's tails fanned out, and they all lit on fire. The Blizzard melted away with a hiss, going straight to evaporated, and she smirked slightly.
"I am not a young Pokémon," she announced. "And you are correct, in that I am an illusionist with great skill in the art – and it is an art. However, there are two things you should consider."
She began to pace.
"The first is that, illusionist or not, I am still a Fire-type. And the second is… do you not think the air is damp, all of a sudden?"
Lorelei blinked.
Then Lokoko's illusion dissolved, and she revealed just how much Mystical Fire she'd been using. It surged in the air, surrounding Mega Glalie and Lokoko herself and forming a sheet overhead that melted the ongoing hail, and formed clumps and clots scattered across half the battlefield.
"Hyper Beam," Lorelei ordered, immediately, and an icy laser blasted out from Mega Glalie's face to hit the battlefield with a crash and throw up a massive ice sculpture where Lokoko had been standing… or apparently had been standing, because she certainly wasn't there any more.
"Fire Blast!" Ash called, and a five-pointed star blazed into the sky from directly underneath Mega Glalie. Then the firing Pokémon skipped aside in five different directions, obscuring which one was the real her, and Lorelei adjusted her glasses.
"I can see I'll need something special," she said. "Glalie – revert, then return when you have a moment. Jynx!"
Jynx flashed out onto the field as Glalie returned, and Lokoko turned to watch.
"Miracle Eye," Lorelei added.
Jynx' eyes flashed, and the illusion shattered – revealing Lokoko's actual position, sneaking up behind Jynx for a blast of Mystical Fire.
"Retreat!" Ash called. "She can see you!"
"Water Pulse," Lorelei added.
Fire surged around Lokoko's tails, and she threw a cascade of dancing embers over Jynx as she dodged away from the first attack. The second hit her in the side, staggering her, then she used Extrasensory and a wave of Mystical Fire to block the third Water Pulse.
"You appear to be on fire," she informed Jynx courteously, then smirked. "Hex!"
"So here's something I'd never thought about before," Misty said, as Bruno went down to take his place opposite Ash. "How often do people get past Lorelei?"
"She's a talented trainer with a powerful team," Lance replied. "Not often."
"Right," Misty said. "But what I mean is, doesn't that mean that it's fairly common for Lorelei to have battles against challengers but much rarer for the three of you?"
"You're correct that Lorelei battles more challengers," Lance said. "At least, formal challengers. But the rest of the Elite Four will go out and battle other powerful trainers on occasion, to keep their skills up – and to judge how good they are. It's better for everyone for there to be more good trainers out there, really."
"And I guess it would be part of how you trained up your new Pokémon, too," Togetic said. "They don't all start out being able to beat really strong enemy Pokémon just because you're Lance, right?"
"That's right," Lance agreed, with a nod, then looked up. "It looks like Bruno's starting with Machamp – and there's Ash's Latias again."
"Block!" Latias said, blocking with her arms crossed, and a Reflect formed. It caught Machoke's Mach Punch, and she dodged left before using Zen Headbutt. "Side special!"
"Block!" Machamp replied, crossing two arms and using the other two to lash out. "Bulk Up!"
Latias skidded back a bit, and used Extrasensory. "Ranged Attack!"
"Cross Chop!" Machamp announced, charging in, and Latias used Reflect. The attacks hit her shields and made a crack sound, though they didn't break through, and Machamp gave her a look.
"What?" Latias asked.
"You're supposed to say Block!" Machamp complained.
Latias blushed slightly. "Oh, sorry! Um… charged special!"
She used Dragon Energy, sending out a torrent of supernatural flame, and Machamp swept it aside with all four limbs. "Double block! Grab attack!"
He grabbed onto one of Latias' wings, and threw her towards the edge of the arena.
Halfway there, Latias remembered that her way of flying didn't strictly have much to do with physics, and halted in midair.
"Mist Ball!" Ash called.
"Right!" Latias replied.
She slid sideways away from Machamp's Vacuum Wave attacks, punched out at several attacks a second, then – as she began gathering together her Mist Ball – Bruno raised his voice.
"Machamp!" he called. "Role Play!"
"Latias, look out!" Ash called.
Latias squeaked, flipped end-over-end, and zipped away – and Machamp followed, one arm out ahead of him as he flew through the air towards her.
The other three were using Ice Punch.
"Left," Ash told Latias. "Now right – straight up, and back – towards me! Keep that Mist Ball coming!"
"It's ready!" Latias replied, and reached up to take it out of her mouth. It was a kind of semisolid ball of swirling mist, one that glittered with the light of the stars behind the mist, and she glanced behind her and threw it straight at Machamp.
The flying Fighting-type got knocked backwards, and Latias reached out her arm. The Mist Ball flew straight back into it, and she juggled it for a moment before throwing it again.
"Hah!" Machamp announced, dodging out of the way.
"Behind you!" Bruno called, giving Machamp just enough warning as Latias called the Mist Ball back to her. He escaped a direct hit, but Latias just detonated the Mist Ball right next to him anyway and smashed him out of the sky.
"Don't let up!" Ash called. "Finishing move!"
"Luster Purge!" Latias chimed, and fired out a pink beam which hit Machamp just after he'd hit the ground.
Dad says you did very well, sis, Latios supplied, several minutes later.
I'm glad to hear that, Latias replied, testing the range of motion in her right arm. By the way? I do not recommend being subjected to a Seismic Toss from an angry Hitmonlee…
She shook her head. Any idea what I missed?
How would I? Latios replied. I'm in Altomare and this one isn't on the TV yet. What can you see?
Latias looked up.
She'd heard Ash calling out Articuno, but he was now apparently on to Heracross. The Fighting-type was engaged in a furious exchange of blows with a Hitmonchan, with the Bug-type slowly gaining the upper hand, but to her admittedly inexperienced eye it looked like he was tiring anyway.
"Hitmonchan!" Bruno called. "Natural Gift!"
Hitmonchan bounded backwards, chewing on something, then a swirl of wind surrounded his fist and he lashed out.
The impact knocked Heracross flying, doing two complete flips before crashing back to the ground, and Ash recalled him as no longer ready to battle.
"Raikou!" Ash called, then. "Your turn!"
Raikou went bounding out onto the field, contemplated Hitmonchan, and stuck her tongue out slightly.
"Blep," she announced.
"...what?" Hitmonchan replied, distinctly confused.
"Oh, sorry, I misspoke," Raikou said. "I meant Extrasensory."
Her eyes flashed, and a jet of psychic energy pulsed out. It hit Hitmonchan, sending the Fighting-type skidding backwards, and he scowled before charging forwards.
Raikou retaliated by darting away in a blur of motion.
"Swift!" Ash called, and Raikou used Swift. A shower of sparkling stars burst out from her fur, flying upwards and outwards before curving to come in towards Hitmonchan instead, and the Punching Pokémon began using Bullet Punch to knock some of the stars away and soak up the impact of others.
"Agility!" Bruno told him.
"Thunder Curtain!" Ash replied.
Raikou skidded around in a turn, and lightning flashed up from her before crashing down in a solid wall across Hitmonchan's path. He ran into and through it, energy crackling around his body, and stopped for a moment as paralysis set in.
That was enough, as Raikou then hit him with another blast of Extrasensory.
"Impressive!" Bruno said. "Onix, your turn!"
Raikou planted all four paws, and electricity fizzed out from her mane to crawl all over the floor before coming back into her with a sound like a motor spinning up.
"Thunder That Breaks The Earth!" she roared, and hit Onix with a massive lightning bolt.
When the sparks cleared, Onix looked both (1) upright and (2) distinctly relieved.
"Ah," Raikou said, as residual charge earthed itself in the floor. "Not quite got it, then. Oh well."
"Head Smash!" Bruno ordered.
"Steel Wing!" Ash replied.
Raikou jumped, and translucent steel-silver wings flapped down for a moment to boost her over the impact range of Onix' Head Smash attack. Then she turned, remanifesting her virtual wings, and ran right back up Onix's flank hitting each individual segment with a crash of steel on rock.
"...um," Morty began. "Huh?"
"You should see how they beat my Onix," Brock told him. "It's pretty similar, only it was a Butterfree."
"Butterfree have wings," Whitney pointed out.
"They don't have a tail," Brock replied.
"All right, young'un," Agatha said, resting one hand on her cane. "I've fought challengers for decades. Sammy Oak seems to think you're a bright new thing, so let's see what you've got."
She held up her first Pokéball. "Gengar!"
"Moltres!" Ash replied, throwing his Pokéball, and the orange-red-and-yellow Flying-type exploded into the arena with a flash of sparkling light. "Extrasensory!"
A pulse of energy flicked out, catching Gengar a glancing blow, and Agatha considered. "Hm. Hypnosis."
Gengar sent out a wave of hypnotic energy, and Moltres pulled up and away – avoiding the attack and aborting his attack run.
"Night Shade," Agatha added.
"Dodge left!" Ash called.
"...something isn't right, here," Morty said, leaning forwards, as Gengar phased into the ground to avoid the latest attack. "There's a trick going on."
"Knowing Ash, of course there's a trick going on," Misty sighed. "The only thing is, he might just think it's perfectly normal."
She huffed. "You'd think he'd have told us about catching another Legendary Pokémon since yesterday."
"To be fair, sometimes even he doesn't notice," Brock pointed out.
Morty looked at them, then back at the arena.
"Hypnosis!" Agatha snapped, and Gengar's eyes rose out of the ground and flashed.
The Hypnosis reached out and hit Moltres, and the Flying-type immediately stopped attacking – going into a bit of a slump, drifting downwards.
"Dream Eater!" the Ghost specialist continued.
Gengar raised his arms, reaching out to draw energy from his opponent and regain health… and nothing happened.
"Fiery Wrath!" Ash called.
Moltres' eyes snapped open, and he spread his wings in an enormous explosion of pitch-black flames. The attack roiled outwards and cannoned into Gengar, blasting him backwards, and Agatha smirked slightly.
"That's not a Moltres from around here at all, is it, boy?" she asked. "He's shiny, then."
"Yeah, you weren't going to put him to sleep like that!" Ash replied, as Galarian Moltres swept overhead and blasted out another gout of black flames – hitting Gengar for a second time and sending the Ghost-type staggering.
"Gengar, Hex," Agatha ordered.
The attack flashed out, and Moltres pulled up to avoid it, then sent out a third blast of Fiery Wrath which finally knocked Gengar out.
"Mismagius," Agatha decided, switching to her second Pokémon. "Psywave."
The blast of psychic energy reached out, and hit Moltres – and Agatha chuckled.
"Smart boy," she declared. "Mismagius – Skill Swap! Then Hypnosis!"
"Look out!" Ash ordered, and Moltres snap-rolled before sending out a blast of Dark-type flames. They hit Mismagius but the Ghost-type swept them aside with a burst of shadow manipulation, then swapped out her Levitate for the ability of her opponent… and, as she sank to the floor, she used Hypnosis.
This time it worked, and Noctowl's illusion dissolved as he fell asleep – stripped of his protective Ability.
"Nasty Plot," Agatha instructed. "Skill Swap. Power Gem."
"That was kind of painful, by the looks of it," Brock said, wincing, as Suicune went down some minutes later. "How does Curse work, anyway?"
"That's an excellent question," Morty replied. "The answer is, it seems to have something to do with life force… which is mostly because it works different for Ghost types and living Pokémon. We don't know much more than that though."
"I wonder if anyone's asked a Ghost type," Brock mused. "Ash doesn't have any, but Marshadow usually hangs around, he might know."
"Let's see who Ash sends out next," Misty prompted.
Ash sent out Clefairy, and Agatha chuckled.
"I was paying attention, youngster," she said. "That was the wrong Pokéball. Spiritomb – Pain Split!"
Spiritomb wailed in a hundred and eight voices, drawing energy back into itself to balance out the earlier Curse, and Clefairy burst in a puff of smoke to be replaced by Zorua.
"Ow!" the Dark-type yelped, then shook his head. "Then I'll just have to defeat you with the Power of Friendship!"
He darted forwards. "Beat Up!"
Zorua turned into Pikachu for a moment, and backflipped to hit Spiritomb with a tail uppercut. Then he switched to Charizard for long enough to throw a punch, then flicked into Zapdos for a wing buffet – then switched to Entei, then Raikou, each time for just long enough to launch an attack as that Pokémon before blurring into a different form.
He did end up doing Dratini eight different times, though, which was about the point he started running out of steam.
"And that's… the power… of friendship," Zorua said, panting a bit before waving a paw vaguely at Spiritomb – who was, currently, two-dimensional. "Having lots of friends… to help you beat someone up."
"I'm not really sure that's in the spirit of it?" Ash asked.
"I'm a Dark type, what do you want?" Zorua said.
Agatha recalled her Spiritomb. "Impressive, child. But you've not won yet. Gengar!"
Gengar emerged, and then began to glow.
"Huh?" Ash said, baffled, as Gengar grew to enormous size – opening his mouth, eyes gleaming, and tongue lolling out. "I thought you could only do that in Galar!"
"I've got this!" Zorua insisted, and shapeshifted with an enormous puff of smoke into Dynamax Liepard before lashing out with his tail.
"...since when the hell could she do that?" Bruno asked.
Two seconds later, both Pokémon reverted back to normal size.
"I don't wanna cause a paradox, meema," Zorua mumbled, before collapsing in exhaustion.
For her part, Agatha was examining the bracelet on her wrist. "Shows what I get for trusting shoddy workmanship… Gengar broke the Galar Particle generator."
She took the Dynamax Band off, then adjusted her walking stick. "Good thing he's wearing a Gengarite! Send out your final Pokémon!"
AN:
The Elite Four are extremely capable trainers, though they do have something of a problem dealing with Ash's nonsense.
They're coping better than most though.