Welcome to the Ikimono League!
By Neko (Silver Tru-Neko)
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.
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Chapter 18 – All for One!!
"I choose Bayleef!" yelled Ash.
Bayleef turned to face Ampharos, tossing her head. Across the field, Tyranitar growled faintly and flexed its armored arms.
Gary glanced at Umbreon; the Pokémon padded back to his side as he chose his next competitor.
"Nidoking, go!"
Growling, the purple Pokémon advanced.
This time Rachel was quick to react. "Ampharos, thundershock!"
The Pokémon began to glow as energy leaped from its fur. "Phaaaros!"
"Defend it, Nidoking!"
Bolts streaked toward Bayleef; Nidoking moved in front of the smaller Pokémon protectively, baring his teeth as the shock bounced off his armoured chest.
"Tyranitar! Charge!" announced Alex.
The ground shook as Tyranitar stepped forward; at Gary's word, Nidoking rose to meet it, and again the Pokémon clashed.
"Hold your ground!" ordered Gary. "Ash, now!"
Ash nodded. "Bayleef, razor leaf now!"
Bayleef bounded out from behind its defender and swung its head, sending a flurry of leaves flying straight for Ampharos. With Tyranitar occupied, the Pokémon was out in the open.
"Ampharos, shoot them down!"
Ash gaped as electricity coursed through the air, frying the leaves as they came. Tiny fragments fell to earth.
"Okay, now try thunder!"
"Bayleef, look out!"
Bayleef dodged to the side but was unable to block as Ampharos sent a powerful blast its way. Squealing, Bayleef crumpled.
Cole's hand shot up. "Bayleef is unable to battle!"
Rachel grinned. "Great comeback, Ampharos!"
"Phaaar!" it agreed brightly.
Ash growled under his breath, retrieving Bayleef. He'd need a stronger Pokémon to take down Ampharos – but he wasn't willing to pull that Pokémon until later. Pikachu and Ampharos would only cancel each other's attacks. Ash took a leap of faith on the determined look in Rachel's eyes; she, too, was looking for a better match than that.
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu headed back out onto the battlefield; just as Ash had hoped, Rachel returned her Ampharos.
"Eevee, your turn!" she called.
Alex also switched Pokémon. "Espeon, back to you!"
Interesting, thought Gary. Espeon versus Nidoking? He suspected Alex's plan would be to…
Both Eevee forms appeared, settling into battle crouches. It was Ash's turn to make a move.
"Pikachu, thunder bolt!"
"Eevee, quick attack!"
Pikachu readied as Eevee charged; at the same time, Gary formed his strategy.
"Nidoking! Get that Espeon!"
Roaring, Nidoking stomped forward. Just as Gary had thought, Espeon turned its piercing glare on the Pokémon. Nidoking drifted upward in a purple haze.
Now it's occupied, Ash! Gary thought. Make your move!
"Pikachu, quick attack back!" Ash panicked as Eevee neared. Pikachu paused, nodding, before darting forward.
Gary's eyes flicked over the battlefield. Espeon was holding Nidoking just above where Pikachu and Eevee would soon collide…checkmate, he thought with a sudden smile.
"Pikachu!" Gary yelled, "attack Espeon!"
Pikachu broke off, confused, but changed direction anyway. Eevee slid to a stop as Pikachu shot toward Espeon instead.
The catlike Pokémon leaped nimbly aside, yet it broke its concentration for a second. Nidoking fell from the air.
"Vee!" Eevee glanced up as a shadow overtook it moments before Nidoking crashed prone on top of it.
"Eevee!" gasped Rachel, horrified.
Nidoking gave a low groan before passing out; Gary knelt beside him.
"Good work," he murmured, stroking his head before returning him in a beam of red light. In the hollow where Nidoking used to be lay Eevee, stunned.
"Nidoking and Eevee are unable to battle!" Cole cried excitedly.
Rachel gently carried Eevee back to her side of the field. "Okay, my turn. Ampharos!" She called back the electric Pokémon.
Alex returned Espeon, calling instead on his Tyranitar.
Ash turned to Gary. "Quick thinking. That was brilliant."
Gary inclined his head. "It's your turn."
Ash nodded. "Then I choose…Charizard!"
"Blastoise! You're up!" countered Gary.
The two powerful Pokémon stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Blastoise growled low in its throat; Charizard snarled, flaring its wings.
Alex ordered, "Tyranitar! Tackle!"
He's going to guard Ampharos, Gary noted. It's Rachel's last Pokémon.
"Blastoise, hydro pump it with all you've got!"
Blastoise hunched over; suddenly water burst from its cannons. Tyranitar slowed, snarling and slashing at the blast. Blastoise held out its attack.
Ash reacted, "Charizard! Seismic toss!"
Charizard lunged at Ampharos, capturing it in its arms. It shot off into the air with the Pokémon struggling against it.
"Thunder, quick, Ampharos!" panicked Rachel. Ampharos geared up for an attack, but Charizard was faster. It swung around in dizzying circles; it was all Ampharos could do to hang on.
Finally Charizard dived straight for the ground, slamming Ampharos into the dirt before arcing aside.
"Ampharos!" yelled Rachel; the Pokémon didn't rise.
"Ampharos is unable to battle!" Cole shouted, hand shooting upward.
Ash swung a fist in the air; he'd taken out half the opposition!
"It's not over yet," Gary remarked cynically. He nodded to Alex, who calmly stated, "I'm staying in. Tyranitar, hyper beam!"
Tyranitar opened its mouth, unleashing a beam of light at Charizard; the Pokémon was blown backward.
"Blastoise, shell attack!"
Blastoise pulled its head and limbs into its shell, flying straight at Tyranitar. The dark Pokémon grasped the shell with both hands and swung, sending Blastoise crashing into Charizard. The two Pokémon tumbled, thrashing to get free.
"Both of you charge!" Gary ordered; Blastoise tucked itself into its shell for another attempt. Charizard thundered along beside it as both loomed toward Tyranitar.
"Hyper beam!"
Tyranitar opened its mouth, another ball of light forming on its tongue.
"Seismic toss!" Ash said speedily; Charizard grasped the occupied Tyranitar around the waist, flapping into the air.
With a roar, Tyranitar released its attack. The beam shot by, missing Charizard by mere inches.
"No!" gasped Alex as Charizard wheeled Tyranitar across the sky before swooping in for the final blow.
WHAM!
Tyranitar shook the ground upon contact, bellowing fiercely. Charizard spread its wings to slip cleanly away; an arm clenched around its neck.
Charizard roared; Tyranitar rose, worse for the wear but still fighting. It pulled back a fist for a knockout punch.
Alex grinned, relieved. "Yeah! Take it out, Tyranitar!"
Gary smiled, revealing his ace. "Blastoise!"
Tyranitar and Alex whirled; they had both forgotten the second Pokémon. Blastoise angled in for a final shell attack, colliding with Tyranitar's side and sending the dark Pokémon crashing to the ground.
Blastoise lumbered to its feet, bellowing in victory; Tyranitar lay still before it and Charizard.
Alex looked shaken as he retrieved his Pokémon. "You're better than I thought," he admitted, "but your Pokémon are almost finished. Ninetales, go!"
The fresh Pokémon bounded into battle eagerly; Ash gulped. After that hyper beam, he wasn't sure how much more Charizard could handle.
"Charizard, return! Pikachu, you're back in!"
Pikachu, rested from its break, stepped forward with sparks flying from its cheeks. Blastoise hunched over.
"Ninetales, fire blast!"
The tips of Ninetales's long tails began to glow as the Pokémon readied for its strongest attack. It unleashed a powerful spiral of fire, sending it spinning toward Pikachu.
"Blastoise, hydro pump it back!"
Blastoise gushed water, repelling Ninetales's attack. Gary's mind whirred. All their Pokémon were tired from the constant fighting; they'd have to take out Ninetales quickly with a strong attack.
"Use thunder!" he shot at Ash, who nodded and repeated the order louder. Pikachu hopped onto Blastoise's back, sending a powerful wave of lightning winding through the simultaneous attacks.
"Ninetales, dodge!"
Ninetales leaped back, but it was too late; the thunder attack had already reached it. Ninetales fell, twitching, to the ground.
Alex lowered his head. "Ninetales, return." He forced a smile. "Looks like I'm down to you, Espeon!"
"Pikachu!" Ash's Pokémon nodded to him, heading back. He selected Charizard instead. Espeon doesn't fight back, he reasoned, it only backs up another Pokemon, so I can take it out quickly.
Gary pulled Blastoise from the fight. "Umbreon, go!"
The three Pokémon faced off; before Ash could even give an order, Charizard roared and charged.
Espeon flicked its tail, and Charizard suddenly froze in midair.
"Let's show them what we can do!" Alex encouraged. Espeon's fur stood on end as the Pokémon glowed; Charizard fell abruptly from the sky, hitting the ground and lying still.
Ash stared.
"It's a psychic type," Gary warned. "It doesn't fight like yours do!"
Ash nodded grimly, calling Charizard back. "Pikachu! Finish this!"
Pikachu raced back to stare Espeon down. Ash ordered, "Thunder! Get ready!"
Pikachu charged up.
"Umbreon, quick attack!" Gary commanded at the same time. Umbreon darted forward; Espeon mirrored its movements, agilely dodging each blow.
"Espeon, tackle and then use psychic!"
The Pokémon swiftly rammed Umbreon aside on its next assault, leaping into the air; Pikachu saw it come down toward it as the air began to glow purple.
"Pi-" it began nervously.
"Umbreon, now's your chance! Feint attack!"
Before Espeon could strike, Umbreon flew at it from behind. Paws raised, Umbreon battered Espeon across the chest. Both Pokémon fell to earth, Umbreon landing lightly on its paws.
Espeon fell on its side, struggling to get up. Finally it collapsed back down, completely exhausted.
"Espeon is unable to battle!" declared Cole. "Ash and Gary win!"
Alex went to his Espeon's side as Ash cheered along with Pikachu. Umbreon padded to Gary's side.
He crouched beside his Pokémon, rewarding it with a pat on the head. "Great work, Umbreon!"
"Reon," purred Umbreon, enjoying the attention.
Alex and Rachel approached.
"Hey," Rachel said with a smile, "thanks for the battle. I haven't had such a difficult fight in a while!"
Alex nodded, "You guys really improved. Here's your reward." He reached into his pocket and held out a glittering Elemental Badge to Ash.
Ash took the badge, admiring it a long moment with Pikachu peering over his shoulder. Gary remained where he was, stroking Umbreon.
"Hey." Rachel held out her hand to him. "You want one, too, don't you?"
He rose, applying his weight on his right leg. "Thanks." He accepted the badge, holding it so Umbreon could look, too. The black-and-white center balanced the wheel of shifting colors surrounding it.
Rachel smiled down at Umbreon. "Your Umbreon's really well trained. It's an impressive fighter… that's why it's my favourite Eevee evolution."
Gary inclined his head. "Thank you."
"Reon!" agreed Umbreon, allowing Rachel to stroke its head.
The twins shook hands with both trainers before Cole descended on them.
"That was brilliant!" he exclaimed, "Are all Pokémon battles this exciting?"
"Usually, yeah," grinned Ash.
Alex allowed Cole a few moments of excited re-telling of the match before calling, "Cole, are you coming to the Pokémon Centre with us?"
"Oh, yeah!" Face still shining, Cole bid the trainers goodbye before rushing after his friends.
Ash smiled down at his newest badge. "Wow, Pikachu! I can't believe we got the Elemental Badge! That's a complete set now!" He glanced up. "Of course, I couldn't have done it without you, Gary," he confessed.
Gary's mouth twitched at what might have been a smile; he turned away. "Come on, Umbreon."
Trainer and Pokémon set off, Ash gaping after them. Just like that… Why does Gary always walk away?!
"Well, I suppose we should get going," sighed Misty. Ash was about to answer.
"Ash."
He turned, surprised, to see Gary glance over his shoulder at them. Umbreon eyed them at his feet.
Gary inclined his head. "See you in the Winner's Stadium."
Ash blinked, having nearly forgotten: after a trainer completed Ikimono's league, he could head to the mainland, Inu, to compete for the Canine Cup. "Oh, yeah!" He grinned broadly. "And this time, I'll beat you!"
Gary snorted, "Yeah, in your dreams." He walked purposefully away, briefly raising a hand in a wave.
Ash clenched his fists. I will win, he told himself confidently. You'll see!
To be continued...
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Out of Ikimono, Alex and Rachel were definitely my favorite gym leaders to write, though Victor is a close second... I love writing unusual challenges for our favorite trainers ^.^ Oh, and don't expect the championship to be any different :P
Please review!