Welcome to the Ikimono League
By Neko (Silver Tru-Neko)
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. Seriously.
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Chapter 9 – Hard Pill to Swallow
Ash walked down the dark passage for what felt like a very long time, sheltered in his pool of light. Pikachu and Cyndaquil shadowed him. Ash's foot suddenly hit something, and he threw out his arms to stop himself. His hands hit a wooden surface; he had reached the door.
Ash felt along the edge for a handle; his fingers closing on one, he pushed. Abruptly the panel swung open, pulling Ash out into midair.
He gave a squawk of terror as he dangled a moment in darkness, not knowing where he was or how far below the ground was. Pikachu, panicked, raced to the edge of the cliff.
"Pika!!"
Ash's fingers slipped. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the fall. Then he let go.
Thump! Ash hit the ground, knees buckling at the shock. Falling back on his butt, he sat a moment, bewildered. He had only fallen a foot or so; he could see Pikachu and Cyndaquil watching him wide-eyed from just above eye level, had he been standing. Seeing the coast was safe, Pikachu and Cyndaquil bounded down to him.
Ash squinted up at the doorway – and saw, to his surprise, that the door was actually a picture frame. He snapped it back into place before taking in the painting, an elaborate representation of a Murkrow flock.
More Murkrow, he mused. The marker for the passage, maybe?
Now Ash scouted out this new room. There were two couches in the centre, on opposing sides. He wandered around the room before stopping in front of an ancient wooden desk.
Ash stooped by the drawers, pulling them open one-by-one and checking the insides. Nothing presented itself; disappointed, Ash was about to rise.
"Pikachu!"
Ash glanced up, Pikachu gesturing to him. Perched on the desktop, both it and Cyndaquil were observing the mirror. Ash smiled at his reflection, seeing himself as a Pokémon master.
"Pika pika." Pikachu interrupted his vision, tugging on his sleeve. It pointed.
Ash finally took note of the slip of paper tucked into the mirror's frame. He snatched it up, unfolding it to see…
"Even more Murkrow!" he exclaimed, staring at the four pictograms. He shook his head, bewildered. "It must be another clue."
Ash and the others investigated the rest of the room – uncovering nothing – before advancing through the doorway. Ash paused on the threshold, considering the next chamber. It looked oddly familiar…
"We're back to where we started," he observed, recognizing the grand main staircase. Carefully avoiding the space in front of it, he manoeuvred around the perimeter of the room. There was no other door, save the entrance, and that, Ash discovered after testing it, was locked.
"We have to get upstairs somehow," mused Ash. "It's the only place we haven't checked yet. There has to be another door." He knew, however, that he couldn't simply waltz up those stairs without triggering the trap door again.
He swung a Poké ball into the air. "Noctowl, I choose you!"
The owl Pokémon appeared in a burst of light; Ash ordered, "Noctowl, go upstairs and look for an exit for us."
With a soft hoot, Noctowl rose from the ground, soaring across the entrance hall and up the steps. Ash watched with bated breath.
Noctowl landed on the banister at the top of the stairs. It glanced around, giving a puzzled hoot.
"What is it?" asked its trainer. Noctowl flew back down, shaking its head.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, surprised.
"There's no upstairs?" Ash repeated, eyes widening. "But there has to be! We need a way out!"
In desperation, he started banging on the front door. Noctowl hooted reproachfully.
"Pika!"
Ash turned; Noctowl had hopped toward the painting on this room's wall that he had disregarded. Pikachu waved before hurrying after Noctowl.
Ash decided it was worth a try. He crouched down beside them. "What do you see?"
Noctowl tapped a brick with its talon; Ash peered closer and saw a Murkrow stencilled into the brick. He gasped, checking the paper crumpled in his hand.
"It's the same one!" he cheered. "Maybe we can find the other three."
Together, Ash and his Pokémon found the four Murkrow insignias. Now they just needed to figure out what to do with them.
Ash leaned against the wall, trying to pry open the frame to reveal a hidden door. As he did, his elbow knocked the leftmost brick and it slid inward.
"What the–" Ash jumped back and saw what he'd done. Slowly, it registered with him; he brightened. "We've got to push the bricks in!" He nudged the second Murkrow, then the third and fourth. As the last brick ground into place a low rumble filled the hall; then the entire house began to shake.
Ash stumbled; as he righted himself, the tremor suddenly stopped. He glanced up, seeing a doorway had appeared below the main staircase.
"They're fake stairs!" he gasped. "Those are the real ones!"
He rushed toward the hidden stairs, Pokémon in pursuit. Ash climbed quickly into blackness, slipping several times so he had to crawl back up. Pikachu ran at his side, Cyndaquil a step behind. Noctowl had returned to the safety of its Poké ball.
The stairs wound around in dizzying circles until suddenly they finished at the wooden door. Ash accidentally ran into it in the darkness.
Seeing stars, he took a step back and banged on the door. His hands searched blindly for the handle; finding it, he pushed.
The door held.
Ash couldn't believe it: after all this work, he was stymied by a door. Stepping further back, Ash took the desperate approach.
"Cyndaquil! Burn a way out of here!"
With a cry the Pokémon opened its mouth. The flame on its back grew brighter as a sudden blaze escaped its maw. Flames licked hungrily at the wood for a moment before the door fell outward.
"Yeah!" grinned Ash. Next, he selected Lapras.
"Lapras! Water gun! Put out the fire!" Though Lapras was so large its finned body filled the stairway and its spiked shell tore into the ceiling, it complied happily. A gush of water promptly doused the flames; Ash returned it with thanks.
Now Ash stepped into the next room and was almost blinded by sunlight angling through the window. It was nearly sunset; from his position, the glare from the west hit him straight in the face. Blinking, Ash moved further into the room. Soon he recognized it as the circular tower he had seen from outside; windows filled one wall of the room, while the other side remained blank. Between them, at the other end of the tower, was another door.
"Almost out!" cheered Ash, taking a step. The door creaked open and he froze.
A man came into view, short and black haired. A Murkrow swayed on his shoulder.
"Y-you're–" stuttered Ash.
The man inclined his head. "I am Victor, Violet Town's gym leader."
Ash's eyes widened. So this was indeed a gym – and now he would battle.
"Finally!" he grinned, slipping back into battle mode. He now noticed the lines of a gym painted in white on the ground; he moved into position. "I, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, challenge you to a match!"
Victor selected a Poké ball. "In this gym, you must fight a one-on-one battle against me for the Mind badge."
One-on-one? That means only one chance, Ash thought. He had never had such a gym fight before.
"All right," he agreed. "Ready when you are!"
Victor narrowed his eyes. "Houndoom! I choose you!"
He flicked the ball into the air, and a demonic dog Pokémon took shape before Ash. Houndoom tossed back its horned head, howling; shivers ran down Ash's spine.
"In that case…" He thought quickly. None of his Pokémon was especially advantageous against dark Pokémon, but Houndoom was also part fire type. Lapras was his choice for water type Pokémon, but it would be disadvantaged in this layout. His strongest choice was…
"Pikachu, you're up!" he selected.
"Pika!" Full of confidence, Pikachu bounded forward.
Victor nodded to himself. "Houndoom! Flamethrower!"
Houndoom crouched, flames billowing from its mouth.
"Pikachu, get out of the way!" panicked Ash.
Pikachu darted aside in time, and Ash ordered, "Okay, now use quick attack!"
His Pokémon moved in on Houndoom, quickly leaping onto its back and digging in its feet.
"Now, thundershock!"
Sparks flew from Pikachu's cheeks; instants later, the whole room lit up as electricity coursed through Houndoom's body. The doglike Pokémon jerked wildly, twisting to remove Pikachu from its back. Suddenly it swung out with its pointed tail; Pikachu, not expecting the attack, flew into the air.
"Pikaa!"
"Pikachu!" gasped Ash, watching as Pikachu fell to the ground. Houndoom stalked closer, tail lashing; it was out for revenge.
"Let's try again," said Victor softly. "Tail whip!"
Houndoom sliced its tail forward, striking Pikachu across the face as it struggled to its paws. Again Pikachu was sent flying, this time a cut glittering across its nose.
Pikachu slammed into the wall and slid to its base, winded.
"Pikachu, no!" Ash was completely flabbergasted. His star Pokémon had never fallen so easily in battle!
"Pi-ka," Pikachu panted, standing. Determination shone in its brown eyes; swiping at its bloodied muzzle, it glared at Houndoom.
"Finish it! Flamethrower!" barked Victor; Houndoom howled and opened its jaws.
"Pikachu, thunder!"
Jolts flew from Pikachu's cheeks as Houndoom unleashed a ball of fire. The two attacks collided in midair in a great explosion.
Ash covered his head as the tower rocked with the force of the blows; smoke engulfed the room. Ash coughed, squinting to see who had withstood that blast.
Agonisingly slowly, the smog cleared: Ash's heart leaped as he saw Pikachu, standing fiercely in the centre of the arena. But by the window Houndoom was rising to its paws, snarling.
Victor regarded Ash silently as the other trainer straightened. He turned to Houndoom. "We won't miss this time, Houndoom. Take down!"
Houndoom charged; Pikachu braced itself.
"Counter with all you've got!" encouraged Ash, an idea coming to him. "Thundershock!"
Houndoom lowered its horns, smashing into Pikachu and easily tossing the small mouse into the air. As Pikachu tumbled away, however, sparks burst to life from its cheeks.
"Pika-chuuuuu!" Lightning coursed through Houndoom's body, causing the Pokémon to howl and convulse.
Pikachu hit the ground suddenly, cutting off its assault. It rolled once, landing facedown and not getting back up. Ash took a step forward, fists clenched; his heart was in his throat.
"Pikachu!"
"Houndoom!" The call was much softer, but Ash looked up to see Victor's concerned eyes on his Pokémon. He whirled.
Houndoom lay on its side where it had taken its last stand, twitching; static flickered in its dark fur. Houndoom gave a low bark at its name but gave no effort to rise.
It's a stalemate, thought Ash, and ran to Pikachu's side.
"Pikachu, you have to be okay! Pikachu!" he pleaded, wrapping the Pokémon in the safety of his arms.
"Piii," whispered Pikachu, eyelids cracking open. Tired eyes observed him a moment before Pikachu succumbed to unconsciousness.
While Ash was distracted, Victor knelt beside his Houndoom, running a comforting hand along its hide. "You fought well," he murmured, retrieving its Poké ball.
Houndoom returned, Victor stood and padded to Ash's side. The other trainer did not notice the gym leader's presence until he spoke, concerned about Pikachu.
"It has only overexerted itself. Pikachu will be fine." Ash's head jerked up. Victor turned. "I will show you the way to the Pokémon Centre, if you wish."
Ash stood. "Okay, thanks." He hadn't realized Violet Town had a Pokémon Centre; he certainly hadn't seen it on the way in.
Victor walked toward the other door; Ash followed in his shadow. "You formed a good strategy, once you learned your opponent's weak spot," Victor observed quietly.
Ash, startled, was about to say 'Thank you'. But Victor wasn't finished.
"However, you went into battle overconfident; you let Pikachu get knocked around, weakening it sufficiently for my final blow."
Ash gaped at Victor. "What do you mean?!"
Victor regarded him calmly. "When we began the battle, you were assured your Pikachu would win. You did not prepare for any counterattacks; you expected Pikachu to overpower Houndoom easily. Thus, you were thrown off-guard by my retaliation. You took into account only Pikachu's strength and Houndoom's weakness. So you see, though you can strategize, you miss a large chunk of what should go into your equation. Your Pokémon won't always be stronger than the other; sometimes, you need to rely on strategy alone to win." Victor shook his head. "You think of yourself too highly, I'm afraid."
Ash continued to stare at him in shock, trying to formulate a comeback. "Wh-what?"
Victor smiled gently. "Do not take this too harshly; I only tell what I see. You need to learn to analyse all aspects of a battle in a strategy, and to take the losses with the wins."
"Oh. Okay." Ash nodded, trying to calm the anger boiling within him. How dare he overanalyze the battle! So what if he lost? Houndoom had been knocked out, too!
"Nonetheless," Victor spoke over his train of thought, "you successfully took out my Pokémon. Thus…" He held a hand to his Murkrow; it dropped a small item from its talons into his palm.
"This is yours." Victor held out the square black-and-white Mind Badge.
Ash was once again lost for words. "Uh…thanks!" He took the badge, in his shock not quite feeling he deserved it.
Victor smiled, shaking his hand. "Train hard, young Ash. One day you may be a master."
Ash returned the look unsteadily. "Thanks. I hope so."
To be continued...
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