Welcome to the Ikimono League

By Neko (Silver Tru-Neko)

Disclaimer: Don't own Pokemon

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Chapter 22 – Oldest Trick in the Book

"We're on to the third arena now!"

A rumble shook the stadium as the Mirror Arena disappeared into the floor; as the next gym locked into place, Ash gulped apprehensively. This did not look good.

The whole section between Ash and Gary caved into a pit at least six feet deep. To make matters worse, the hole was littered with piercingly sharp stalagmites. Soft-skinned Bayleef would be at the mercy of the terrain!

Subconsciously he patted its head. "Good luck, Bayleef."

Raising its head confidently, Bayleef stepped forward. Gary nodded to Nidoqueen, who jumped unhesitatingly into the pit.

Ash sighed; according to league regulations, Bayleef had to move into the field from his trainer's box. He couldn't hold the high ground like this. He nodded for it to do so; Bayleef hopped down, hunching in preparation for attack.

"Okay, Bayleef! Start things with razor leaf!"

Swinging its head, Bayleef sent a storm of leaves hurtling toward its opponent.

"Nidoqueen, knock them away with your tail!"

Roaring assent, Nidoqueen lashed her tail; the leaves fell in a semicircle around her. Ash had to cover a gasp; the leaves hadn't affected even the stalagmites! He had thought he could at least mow some of them down for free movement.

"Nidoqueen, tackle!"

The huge blue Pokémon bounded forward, arms extended; Ash watched in shock as Nidoqueen effortlessly smashed through the spikes toward them.

"Bayleef, use vine whip to jump!" Ash ordered, panicked.

Bayleef squared its shoulders, at the last second before collision pushing off from the ground with its twin vines. Nidoqueen stopped short, growling and staring up at the opponent far above her.

Gary's eyes narrowed. It jumps, huh?

"Now, razor leaf!"

In midair Bayleef struck out with a second flurry of leaves; down below, Nidoqueen had nowhere to hide.

"Nidoqueen, take them down with hyper beam!" Gary hated showing his cards this early in the match, but it was necessary to keep Nidoqueen safe.

The Pokémon opened her mouth, blasting the leaves away in a beam of light. Ash gaped as the leaves disintegrated on contact, spiraling harmlessly to the ground.

Bayleef landed hard on its feet, panting. It, too, judging by its wide-eyed stare, couldn't believe its second assault had been blocked.

"Our turn," Gary said smoothly. "Nidoqueen, body slam!"

Nidoqueen charged again; Ash had no choice but to tell Bayleef to do the same trick.

The Pokémon hopped into the air, head raised in preparation for an attack.

Gary had expected as much. "Now, Nidoqueen! Hyper beam!"

"Razor leaf, quick!" worried Ash.

Nidoqueen's hyper beam struck out, slicing cleanly through Bayleef's shower of leaves. The explosion was much higher than last time; blown back by its force, Bayleef tumbled uncontrollably.

"Hmph." Gary crossed his arms, watching as Bayleef struggled back to her feet. "You should know the same trick won't work twice."

"Well, it never hurts to try!" Ash shot back. "Bayleef, charge!"

Bayleef gave a determined nod, galloping toward Nidoqueen; the larger Pokémon braced herself.

When Bayleef grew close enough, Ash changed tactics. Let's see how you like this! he thought in a surge of confidence, "Bayleef, grab hold with your vines!"

Bayleef slid to a stop, hastily wrapping its vines around Nidoqueen's bulk. Against a roar of protest Ash cheered, "Now slam it into the ground!"

"Nidoqueen," Gary growled, "hyper beam!"

Bayleef struggled to lift the heavy Pokémon into the air; in those few moments, Nidoqueen charged up. She fired a beam of light straight at her captor.

"Baaaaay!" Bayleef flew backward, releasing her hold on Nidoqueen. The ground shook as the Pokémon landed heavily on her feet. Bayleef, however, wasn't so lucky: it slid across the dirt, slumped on its side.

"Bayleef, no!" Ash scrambled to the edge of the pit, looking down at his Pokémon.

The announcer's commentary rang over the field. "Both trainers fought bravely for this one! Ash's Pokémon doesn't seem hardy enough to take Nidoqueen's blows, however… Hold on!" At that moment, Bayleef hefted itself into a crouch, head lowered. Narrowed eyes found Nidoqueen; sides heaving, Bayleef planted itself and raised its head stubbornly.

"Yeah!" Ash cheered; he knew Bayleef would come through. Though badly beaten from its battle, Ash sensed the tides changing. "Okay, Bayleef! Let's show 'em what we can do! Razor leaf, full power!"

Bayleef took a deep breath, tossing its head back.

Gary's eyes searched the terrain; finally, he smirked. "Nidoqueen, use your tail to jump!"

Ash gasped as, with a powerful thump of her tail and thrust of her legs, Nidoqueen leaped high into the air. Bayleef's attack swept by below uselessly.

Bayleef itself stared up in shock, shadowed by its opponent. Ash couldn't think of a counterattack, too surprised to react.

Gary grinned at Ash. "Nice, huh? I learned that from you. Now." He turned his attention back to his Pokémon. "Nidoqueen, body slam!"

Nidoqueen bellowed as she flew down toward Bayleef. The grass Pokémon darted aside at the last moment, ground shuddering as Nidoqueen landed. This tremor caused Bayleef to stumble for an instant, and in that opening Nidoqueen whirled, tail swinging out behind her.

"Bayleeef!" Nidoqueen's tail smashed into its mark, sending Bayleef flying into a nearby stalagmite. The Pokémon cried out again, rock cracking beneath its weight. It fell over the broken spike, knocked out.

"Bayleef is unable to battle; Nidoqueen wins!" cried the judge. The crowd roared, whether for he or Gary Ash was uncertain.

"Bayleef!" moaned Ash, seeing his battered Pokémon lie still in the arena. For all his strategizing, Gary had somehow countered with Nidoqueen's strength. He dutifully returned Bayleef to its Poké ball.

"You did your best," he mumbled to the orb clutched in his slick hand. He turned back to the court to see Nidoqueen clamber out of the pit, crouching beside her trainer. Gary smiled, laying a hand on the Pokémon's shoulder.

"Great job, Nidoqueen. Just what we needed."

Ash glowered. You might have won that bout, Gary, but it's not over yet! He reached for his next ball.

"I need a winner," he murmured to it before tossing the Poké ball, "Charizard!"

The gigantic fire lizard exploded into sight, wings spread, tail lashing. With a roar, Charizard faced down Nidoqueen.

Gary nodded to himself, grip tightening on his Pokémon's shoulder. "Remember the plan, Nidoqueen," he murmured before stepping back.

Nidoqueen answered Charizard's challenge with a snarl of her own; as the Pokémon stared each other down, the announcer egged them on.

"After Bayleef's smashing defeat, Ash rebounds with his Charizard! Will it be enough to counter Gary's Nidoqueen? Let's see in our next arena!"

The ground shifted, the Pit Arena sliding away to be replaced with an uneven rocky field. Ash took a moment to analyze this new terrain, smiling faintly.

"I was right," he said to himself, "the tides have changed!"

"Welcome to our fourth arena today, folks…" the announcer said as abruptly a mound on the field gurgled, top exploding in a shroud of steam. "The Geyser Arena! This battle's sure to be hot!"

Gary's eyes narrowed. "Nidoqueen, be careful." Growling assent, his Pokémon shambled into the arena. Charizard rose to meet it.

Ash made the first move. "Charizard, flamethrower!"

"Dodge it, Nidoqueen!"

Charizard spewed fire, Nidoqueen jumping sideways to avoid it. Steam bubbled menacingly a few meters from her feet.

"Nidoqueen, hyper beam!" countered Gary; Nidoqueen opened her mouth, light collecting on her tongue.

"Charizard, fly!" Charizard shot into the air as the ball of light exploded underneath it; Ash concentrated, determined. I know what I have to do to win this match, he reflected. Just gotta find a way to do this…

"Nidoqueen, keep moving!" ordered Gary as jets of steam shot off at random around her. "Watch your step; I'll watch Charizard!"

Nidoqueen lumbered across the field, searching for safe pathways. There was a hot spot particularly close to Ash; he could feel sweat beading on his brow from the heat.

Okay. Since I can't attack her directly… Ash called to Charizard, "Flamethrower! Aim for the field!"

Charizard circled over the arena, blowing fire over it. Everywhere the ground grew hotter, more geysers erupted; Ash grinned. Now Nidoqueen would have nowhere to go!

"Now move in! Seismic toss!"

"Hyper beam!" yelled Gary.

Nidoqueen raised her head as Charizard loomed downward; the jet of light hit it in the stomach, causing Charizard to falter and roar in fury.

"Quick, before it recharges!" Ash urged Charizard onward.

Charizard growled, swooping in for the final blow. It grasped a struggling Nidoqueen and kicked off, sweeping around the arena in quick circles. Faster, faster… Finally, Charizard dived straight downward for the finisher.

"Nidoqueen!" hollered Gary, horrified, as Charizard slammed her into the ground. The flying Pokémon leaped aside neatly, roaring in triumph.

It wasn't over yet, though: Nidoqueen rose shakily, eyes narrowed in pain. She growled low in her throat, facing Charizard.

"Body slam!"

Nidoqueen thundered forward, turning in midair to smash her shoulder into Charizard. Bellowing, the other Pokémon fell back.

"Flamethrower!" ordered Ash. Charizard unleashed a flaming jet as it stood; Nidoqueen dodged it, barely.

As Nidoqueen stumbled for a foothold, a geyser exploded under her nose. She drew back, squealing, as the hot water hit her in the face.

"Now, tail whip!" Ash encouraged, seeing this opening. Charizard whipped its tail outward, slapping Nidoqueen across the face. She spun with the force, falling over on her side.

Nidoqueen, already weakened from Charizard's seismic toss, was no match for the burns coupled with brute force. She closed her eyes, defeated.

The referee's flag shot up. "Nidoqueen is unable to battle! Charizard wins!"

Charizard bellowed, raising its head to the sky; Gary returned Nidoqueen, nevertheless smiling.

"You did a great job, girl," he murmured. "Thanks."

Ash scorned, "Not so strong now, are you, Gary?"

Gary smirked, irking Ash all the more. Then he turned away, not answering. Charizard's his strongest Pokémon, mused Gary. He won't keep it in for long; he just needed Nidoqueen out of the way. So if I act as if I'm going to outplay Charizard, he'll switch for sure. I needed to wear Charizard down – its match isn't until later.

Gary smiled. So far, he felt in total control of the match. "All right, Ash, try this one. Arcanine, go!"

The doglike Pokémon burst from its ball, howling; Ash, as Gary had suspected, retracted Charizard.

So Arcanine's a fire type, thought Ash, but it's not like it's made of fire or anything, so no need for a water Pokemon. No, my best bet would be to match it in strength and speed…

"Tauros, I choose you!" Ash yelled, flinging his next warrior into the battle.

"Ash returns Charizard in favour of Tauros against Gary's Arcanine! Let's see where they'll be fighting this time, folks." The announcer pressed the remote; rumbling, the Geyser Arena sank out of sight. In its place came a suspiciously normal field, coated thickly with sand. Ash considered it for a second. Great! It looks like Tauros's speed won't be hampered at all!

"The Quicksand Arena!" declared the announcer.

Quicksand? Ash gulped, glancing back over the field. What he had taken for a simple terrain was possibly the most treacherous of all. Unlike the other arenas, the sections of lethal sinkholes were invisible; if Ash used his previous strategy, there was no knowing when Tauros would hit a patch.

"All right, Tauros," Ash said bravely, "get out there and do your thing! Be careful, though!"

Tauros snorted, stepping forward. It pawed at the sand, eager to fight.

"Arcanine," Gary whispered swiftly to his Pokémon, "keep moving. Then you won't get stuck in the sand, and we'll take out Tauros quickly."

Arcanine barked, padding out into the sand.

"Tauros! Earthquake!" ordered Ash. He knew it to be Tauros's only long-range attack; judging by the terrain, he'd need it.

Tauros reared, slamming both front hooves into the sand. The ground began to shake, a fissure extending from where Tauros stood.

"Now!" Gary yelled, and Arcanine was off running like a shot. No, Ash thought, it was flying! Its paws never seemed to touch the ground as Arcanine bolted around the arena, circling ever closer.

Ash blinked, utterly amazed. How could it…? He shook his head roughly. I can't think like that! he reminded himself sharply, I need to focus!

"Tauros! When it gets close enough, use take down!"

Tauros lowered its head, snorting. As Arcanine darted closer, it pushed off, stampeding toward it.

Ash winced; he should have expected his hotheaded Pokémon to jump the gun. Tails lashing, hooves flashing, it descended on Arcanine.

"Flamethrower!" Gary retorted.

Arcanine never stopped running straight at Tauros as it opened its mouth, unleashing a blast of heat. Tauros reeled back, shaking its head; though singed, it was ready to continue.

"Tauros, try again! Take down!"

Tauros charged even as Arcanine advanced, fire in its eyes. They were too close together now; they were going to crash!

"Take down, too!" Gary called across the field. The Pokémon collided head-on, Arcanine catching Tauros with its shoulder as the bull head butted its chest. Both combatants tumbled backward, momentarily stunned.

"Arcanine, get up!" Gary appealed as his Pokémon fell to the ground. In a flash Arcanine was on its paws, circling around Tauros once more.

Ash eyed the other Pokémon as Tauros pushed itself back up. Gary had told it to keep running, he noted now. To avoid the quicksand, maybe? Ash's eyes narrowed. It has to tire out sometime. I have to make Tauros outlast it!

"Tauros, leer!" Ash tried instead. That attack wouldn't use up Tauros's strength, and Arcanine would need to keep moving to avoid it.

Tauros drew itself up, kneading the ground with sparks flying from its eyes. To any small Pokémon its glare would have been intimidating; on Gary's command, though, Arcanine darted away, not even sparing a glance for Tauros.

Ash pretended to look frustrated. "Harder, Tauros!"

Tauros snorted, tails whipping the air. It gave its most terrifying look. Arcanine took its time darting nearer, so light on its feet it barely left tracks in the sand. Minutes passed before Tauros let go of its leer.

Arcanine circled around behind Tauros, finally slowing; from up close, now, Ash could see the rise and fall of its sides.

"Yeah! We tired it out, Tauros!"

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Really? Look closely at Tauros."

Rage sparked in Ash's stomach at his rival's cool words. He glanced now at his Pokémon, knowing it couldn't possibly be tired.

The shock came like a blow; he hadn't, after all, been the one stalling! Finally Ash could see the sand rising up to Tauros's knees. The Pokémon did, too, and thrashed angrily to pull itself from the quicksand, only slipping deeper into its lethal embrace.

Gary smiled. "Arcanine, end this. Fire spin!"

Arcanine barked to show it had heard, leaping into the air; a tunnel of fire shot from its maw, capturing Tauros and greedily licking at it.

"Tauros, no!" Ash gasped as Arcanine landed lightly, leaving Tauros lying burned in its wake.

"Tauros is unable to battle! Arcanine wins!" The referee raised his flag.

Defeated, Ash returned Tauros to its ball. He stared unfocused at the Poké ball in his hand. "I would have thought for sure that'd work… sorry, buddy."

He closed his eyes a moment, gathering himself. Don't lose your cool, Brock had warned him. He had to keep focus.

Ash took a breath, selecting a new ball. "This time I'm ready for you! Totodile, go!"

To be continued...

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The battle continues... please review!