Chapter 8: Burole Gym Battle
The group finally makes it to Burole Town, just as they arrive there, they are covering their ears as they hear the sounds of the mine drills and the digging sounds. Serena says, "What is this place? This is a little too noisy..."
"This Burole Town's Gym Leader is a miner and he sometimes digs for the expansion of this city to the forests. That is why it is constantly noisy." Aurora says.
"Anyways, I wonder how the people here cope with those sounds every day?" Ash says, "Maybe they are used to it."
As they continue forward, they arrive at the Pokemon Trainer's School. Just like in the other regions, students are challenging Ash for a battle and Ash accepts, using all his Pokemon to sweep through them and earn a Nugget from the teacher in the end.
As they continue walking, they hear a lot of people talking about how Moki Town and Kelvar Town aren't that good. Ash says, "Wow, those people sure have a strange taste for those two towns."
Aurora says, "I know. They also say that those two towns are uncivilized and backward. But I don't see it that way. Over-expansion of the town is not usually good, you know."
"You're right. But I wonder where is the gym." Serena says as she looks through her device, and then she says, "It says that the gym is located on a cliff..."
"Then we should go find the cliff." Ash says as they head forward. They finally find the gym statue and what seems to be a cave. "Well, it makes me remember the Cyllage City Gym, don't you agree, Serena?"
"You're right. So maybe this gym is for Rock Types." Serena says.
"I am not so sure about that." Aurora says, "In Tandor, Gyms aren't specified as one type, but rather multi-type with different styles."
This causes confusion to both Ash and Serena, but Aurora tells them that they should go in and check it out. There, they meet the Gym Guide and he says, "Howdy, sport! If you are here to face the Gym Leader, you'd better be prepared! Davern here uses a variety of Pokemon that are found in caves. Be ready to face Rock, Ground, and Poison types."
"So that is what you mean, sis." Ash says. "He uses a combination of three types."
"If you got a Water type or Fighting Type, it's sure to come in handy for this battle." The guide adds. "Good luck for ya, I'll be rooting for you."
Just as they walk forward, they see a gate in front of them with a lot of mine rocks around the door. "What is going on here?" Ash asks.
Serena notices a note and says, "If you are going to challenge me, you should find a Bright Gem to open this door to me. Davern. What is a Bright Gem?"
Aurora says, "Usually it will be not fair to reveal the rules, but I should tell you, you have to Rock Smash all the rocks to find the Bright Gem that is hidden inside as the Gym mission."
"Just like Grant with wall climbing..." Serena mutters as Ash says, "This will be easy. So I just need to find a gem inside the rocks." Then he sends out Primeape to have him use Rock Smash.
Just as Primeape is destroying the rocks, Serena says, "You know, there are so many rocks, what is the gym leader thinking? It is going to take forever."
"Maybe you are right." Ash says. "But I don't think we have another choice. We just have to never give up until it is over."
"You're right." Serena smiles. In the end, Primeape finally finds the red gem and gives it to Ash. Ash looks at it and says, "Wow, this is so pretty."
Serena says, "You're right. I wonder if this is the Bright Gem..."
Ash puts the gem into the hole, and then the door opens, revealing a battlefield and a person standing on the other side.
"Hey, Trainer! I am sure you know this by now, but I'm Davern, Gym Leader of Burole Town. I raise Pokemon that are found in caves. Most people find caves scary, but ever since I was a kid, they always felt like home. That's why I dug out this abandoned mine and converted it into a Gym."
"That is so cool." Ash says.
"My Pokemon are toughened through hard work and battle! Can you stand up to our strength? Show me that you're not afraid." Davern says.
"Of course I am not afraid. I am Ash Ketchum and I am here to challenge you to a Gym battle." Ash says.
"Ketchum, huh? So you are Delia's son." Davern says.
"You know my mother?" Ash asks in surprise. Davern says, "She is the one that offers me the funds to make it into the gym. I am very indebted of her."
"That's cool to hear." Aurora says. "But have you seen her these days? She has been missing and we have been finding her since?"
"I have no idea, the last time we talk she is heading towards the Nuclear Power Plant to find some energy. And that was a lot of months ago."
"I see." Ash frowns, but he decides to have the Gym battle first.
He sends out his first Pokemon, which is a Grozard. Ash says, "A Grozard...well, this place sure is dark, but I could use this. Brailip, I choose you."
As the Pokemon appears, the match begins. Brailip is looking for the Pokemon, and when he finds it, Ash commands it to use Water Gun, but Brailip misses the attack as Grozard escapes with the help of the ground.
"So it uses Dig...I really can't see anything..." Serena mutters. "Ash..."
Davern says, "Scratch." Just then, claws pop out of the ground and slash the Pokemon. "Now use Bulldoze!"
Ash sees that Brailip is being shaken backward, he takes out the Pokeball and says, "Return!" But Ash can't return the Pokemon. "But why..."
"Arena Trap." Aurora says. "Its ability to prevent the opponent to change Pokemon as well as flee."
Ash grits his teeth and he sees Brailip is still trying to get hold of the ground. Just then, an idea occurs to Ash. "I know! Confusion!"
Davern is surprised as his Pokemon is being sent off the ground, Ash says, "Now it is our chance! Water Gun!"
Brailip uses the help of the ground type floating in the air to keep attacking the Grozard, causing it to faint eventually.
"Well done, you are able to knock my Pokemon out of the ground, but here is my second Pokemon, and this time you won't be getting away easily. Modrille!"
As the Pokemon appears, it uses Pursuit to give Brailip super effective damage.
"Hang in there, Brailip!" Ash yells, but in vain as it is knocked out by the Metal Claw attack.
"Return, Brailip, you did a good job." Ash says as he recalls his Pokemon.
"Ash..." Serena shows her concern as she hugs Pikachu tightly.
"Don't worry." Ash assures her. "Primeape, I choose you!"
As the Pokemon appears, Davern says, "A fighting Type I see, you sure know some type match-ups."
"Well, usually type match-ups don't work on me and my Pokemon." Ash smiles back. "Now use Karate Chop!"
Primeape smashes into Modrille as it gets damaged. "Use your Fury Attack."
Primeape is then attacked on all sides, but it gets back up and shows its spirit. "Good, use Revenge!"
"Metal Claw!" As the two Pokemon keep struggling with the opponents' attacks, the two Pokemon then also send backward to the wall.
"Primeape!" Ash yells. "Modrille, are you okay?" Davern asks, and the two Pokemon gets back up.
"Good, use Metal Claw once more." Davern says. But Ash shows a grin, and he says, "Primeape, use Outrage!"
This causes both Serena and Davern to be confused but then surprised as the Pokemon is able to use the Dragon move and it keeps hurting the Pokemon.
"No way...I never knew Primeape can do that..." Pikachu says, "It sure is a good thing that he is taught to be a P2 Champion."
"Wow..." Serena says with amazement.
But in the end, with both Pokemon crashing into each other, the force sends both of them flying to the wall again, but this time both of them have swirls in their eyes, causing the match a draw.
"I guess it is better than nothing." Davern says as both of them recall their Pokemon. "My third Pokemon is going to be Dearewl."
As the Pokemon appears, Ash says, "So it is the evolution of Barewl, then Dunsparce is going to be the best choice."
Ash sends out his Dunsparce and he says, "Use Dig and then Take Down."
Just as Dunsparce does that, Davern says, "It is not going to work. Harden and then Headbutt." Before Dunsparce is going to use Take Down, Dearewl jumps into the hole and uses its head to make it flinch. Ash tries to use Pursuit, but Harden is not going to let it damage. In the end, Dunsparce is defeated by a Mud Slap.
"Poor Dunsparce...Ash only has one Pokemon left." Serena says.
"This is Ash that we are talking about, I am sure he can do something." Aurora says.
Ash sends out his Eletux as his final Pokemon. Due to the fact that it is not a ground type, so a Thundershock is able to knock the Pokemon out.
Davern says, "Nice one, Ash. But now you get the chance to face my Tofurang."
As the final Pokemon appears, Ash says, "Eletux is the starter Pokemon I got in this region, and I am going to trust it."
"I see. You are similar to your mother when we faced each other. But I will like to see how similar you are to her." Davern says.
"With pleasure." Ash says. Tofurang uses Poison Fang to hit Eletux, causing it to get poisoned, but it manages to struggle back up and uses the Water Gun, smacking it into the wall, and then uses Thunder Shock. But Tofurang is still hanging on after that attack.
"Lick." Davern yells as the attack hits the Eletux, and the Poison is going to affect him deeply.
Ash uses Aura on Eletux, "Pretend you are down and then use Thundershock once it gets closer."
As Eletux falls down to the ground, Tofurang starts to get closer, but then Eletux starts to emit electricity, and then it hits Tofurang, causing it to get paralyzed.
"Oh no...the water from the Water Gun hasn't dried yet...it sure takes a lot of damage." Davern gasps.
"You're right, now let's finish this off with the Water Gun."
Eletux sprays the water at the Pokemon, causing Tofurang to faint in the end. "What..." Davern is surprised at his defeat, but he sighs as he knows that Ash is the victor of this battle.
"That was a well-earned victory. You're more than deserving of the Bright Gem Badge." Davern says. "Consider me impressed! Now, if you could hand over that gem you found earlier?"
Ash is confused as he does it, but then, he takes out some pieces and then the gem fits inside the metal, making it a badge. "And here it is, your badge."
Ash takes a look at the badge, and he is amazed by its beauty. He thanks him and then Davern says, "I hope you'll look at that badge and remember all the hard work it took to earn it. And you really are your mother's son, you sure defeat me the same way as she did."
"Why thanks." Ash says. Serena and Aurora also come and Pikachu nuzzles him for his victory. Serena says, "You did great, Ash."
"Indeed, I am very excited to see more of those battles." Aurora says. After that, they bid farewell to Davern and leave the gym.
Here is a new chapter, and Ash got the second gym badge with ease. The next chapter will be a Contest battle. I hope you like it.
Ash's Pokemon: Pikachu, Eletux, Birbie, Barewl, Dunsparce, Primeape, Brailip
Serena's Pokemon: Sylveon, Orchynx, Chyinmunk, Tonemy, Fortog, Owten, Smore
Aurora's Pokemon: Spiritomb, Raptorch, Cubbfly, Grozard, Magikarp, Feleng, Lotad