Ch 37: The Sootopolis gym leader

Ash and May stood in front of Sootopolis city gym. "This place hasn't changed much since we were last here" Ash said. The area outside the gym was still well landscaped with small trees and grass patches.

The gym looked more like a wealthy person's estate rather than a pokemon gym. The symbol of the rain badge still stood on the center of the building. "Well all I need to do now is beat Juan and then I can compete in the Hoenn league" Ash said. Ash and May walked up to the front door where a young trainer was putting up a closed sign.

"Closed? Hey what's going on?" Ash said. The trained turned to Ash and May "You a challenger, sorry but Juan's not here" The trainer said. "He's not?" May said. "Yeah the thing is Juan's mother is vacationing in Sinnoh and she's very old. She needs his help in order to travel safely" The trainer said.

"Oh great that means I'm going to find another gym" Ash said. "There you are" A familiar voice said. Ash and May turned around to see Wallace standing behind them. "Wallace!" May almost shouted. "Wwwwallace" The young trainer said.

"May from Petalburg city correct?" Wallace said. "Yes" May said. "Good, I've been hoping to find you after I saw your performance yesterday. I've never seen a coordinator so brave and determined as you. Your charmander stood his ground against a milotic and won, a win like that is truly exceptional" Wallace said.

"Thank you Wallace that means allot coming from you, but I didn't do it on my own. I couldn't have won that contest without my boyfriend's training" May said. Wallace turned to Ash, "Wait have we met before?" Wallace said. "Yeah back in Sinnoh you saw me and Dawn practice together and told us to enter your cup" Ash said.

"That's right , I remember you now. You aren't a coordinator though you're a trainer so I guess your also here to challenge Juan" Wallace said. "Yeah but Juan isn't here" Ash said. "What?" Wallace said. He turned to the young trainer who was still dumbfounded Wallace was there. "Oh yeah, Juan's in Sinnoh with his mother" He said.

"Well I'd hate for you to have come all the way here and not get your badge. I've got it, you can face me" Wallace said. "What!?" Ash and May said. "Why not, I was once the gym leader here and I wouldn't mind one more gym battle" Wallace said.

Ash stood at one end of the battlefield with Wallace at the other. The battlefield was once again mostly water with a few patches where pokemon could stand. May and all of Juan's students came to watch the match. "I can't believe we get to see the great Wallace in a battle" One of them said.

The ref walked up to the center of the side of the battlefield. "The match will be a three on three and only the the challenger can substitute pokemon" The ref said. "Ash I hope you're ready because I won't be holding back" Wallace said as he took out a pokeball. "Go Sealeo" Wallace said.

His Sealeo came out and swam around in the water. Before Ash and May came to the gym Ash had swapped out some of his pokemon with professor Oak. "Bayleef I choose you" May said. "Bay Bay" She said as she landed on one of the patches.

"Let's begin , Sealeo use ice beam" Wallace said. "Bayleef move!" Ash said. Bayleef quickly jumped to another patch narrowly avoiding the icebeam. "That's one fast Bayleef Ash, but speed won't be enough" Wallace said. "Bayleef use razor leaf" Ash said. Bayleaf whipped the leaf on her head, launching several razor leaves at Sealeo.

"Sealeo use dive" Wallace said. Sealeo swam under the water avoiding the razor leaves. "On this battlefield Sealeo has a distinct advantage, that's not good for Ash" May said. "But it is good for Wallace" One of Juan's students who was sitting next to her said. May glared at him "Wait you're not rooting for Wallace" He said.

"Bayleef keep your eyes pealed Sealeo could come up anywhere" Ash said. Pikachu noticed something in the water moving toward Bayleef's side. "Pika!" Pikachu shouted to Bayleef. Bayleaf turned as Sealeo jumped out of the water. "Sealeo icebeam" Wallace said.

Sealeo unleashed icebeam on Bayleef knocking her back into the water. "Bayleef quick get out of the water!" Ash said. Bayleef desperately tried to get out of the water but Sealeo was far too fast. "Sealeo use blizzard" Wallace said.

Sealeo unleashed the powerful ice move around Bayleef. "Oh no, ice moves are super effective against Bayleef" Ash said. "Ash quick withdraw Bayleef" May shouted. "She's right Bayleef can't keep fighting like this" Ash said.

"Bayleef return" Ash said. Bayleef was relieved to be out of water and into her pokeball. "Alright Wallace if you're going to take advantage of the water so will I. Go swampert!" Ash said. Swampert went from his pokeball to the water. "Swampert!" He said confidently.

"A water type well that should work better for you" Wallace said. "Sealeo use hail" Wallace said. Sealeo opened his mouth and launched ice into the air. The ice eventually shattered into falling pieces of hail.

"Swampert dive" Ash said. Swampert quickly went under the water to avoid the incoming hail. "Two can play at that game Ash, Sealeo dive" Wallace said. The two were now swimming right at each other. "Sealeo body slam" Wallace said. "Swampert use hammer arm" Ash said.

Swampert and Sealeo collided but swampert's hammer arm overpowered sealeo's bodyslam and sent Sealeo out of the water and onto a patch. "Sealeo use blizzard on the water" Wallace said. Sealeo unleashed his attack on the water dropping the temperature to just below freezing.

The water was too cold for swampert to stay under the water. Swampert jumped out of the water and onto a patch where non water pokemon could stand. "Sealeo use dive" Wallace said. Sealeo jumped into the water and wasn't bothered by the icy cold temperature. "Swampert get ready he could come out anywhere" Ash said.

Sealeo swam under and around swampert for a minute. "Sealeo use icebeam" Wallace said. Sealeo jumped up and launched icebeam hitting swampert. "Swampert quick ice mud shot!" Ash said. Swampert opened his mouth and used mud shot but Sealeo was already back in the water.

"Ash don't give up you can beat him!" May shouted. "I don't think so" Another one of Juan's students said. May smacked the boy on the back of his head. "I can't send Swampert back into the water while it's this cold and to make things worse Sealeo is at an advantage when the water is this cold" Ash said.

"Wait a minute, that's it" Ash said. "Swampert use mud bomb" Ash said. Swampert opened his mouth and unleashed mud bomb. "Sealeo stay under the water" Wallace said. Sealeo avoided the mud bomb by staying under water.

"Use mud bomb again" Ash said. "Sealeo stay under the water" Wallace said. Sealeo just kept swimming underwater as the second mud bomb hit the water. "Keep using mud bomb!" Ash said. "Pika!" Pikachu shouted. Wallace raised his eyesbrow. "Sealeo , stay underwater" Wallace said. "What is he up to, he knows the attacks are ineffective" Wallace said to himself.

May and Juan's students were also confused by what Ash was doing. "Does he realize that the mud bombs aren't working?" One of the students said. "What are you doing Ash?" May said to herself. May looked back at the water and finally understood what Ash was doing. "Ash you're a genius" May said.

"Sealeo use icebeam" Wallace said. "Swampert use one last mud bomb" Ash said. Sealeo jumped up and unleashed icebeam. Swampert used mud bomb but missed sealeo. When the iceabeam hit swampert he was knocked back into the water.

Sealeo landed back in the water and began to swim around looking for swampert. Sealeo noticed it was getting harder to see because of mud now sinking from the top of the water toward the bottom. Wallace saw this "The water it's muddy" He said. "Swampert use focus blast!" Ash said.

Swampert easily swam through the now muddy water and found sealeo. "Sealeo move!" Wallace shouted. Sealeo tried to avoid the attack but he couldn't see in the muddy water. Swampert used focus blast on sealeo and knocked him out of the water and into the air. "Now use hyperbeam" Ash said.

Swampert jumped out of the water and unleashed hyperbeam on sealeo who was now in free fall. The hyperbeam impacted sealeo and exploded on contact. When sealeo landed back in the water he was unconscious.

"Sealeo is unable to battle" The ref said. "Yes, way to go Ash!" May said. "Wow this guy knocked out one of Wallace's pokemon" One of Juan's students said. "Sealeo return" Wallace said returning his pokeball. "Well Ash you are quite an improviser, I'm impressed. But i'm far from beaten , go Whiscash"Wallace said.

Whiscash came out and landed in the muddy water. "A Whiscash, but that's a water and ground type" Ash said. "Whiscash use Zen headbutt" Wallace said. "Swampert use take down" Ash said. Both pokemon swam through the water easily. Whiscash was slightly faster and hit swampert on his stomach.

"Oh no" May said. "Swampert!" Ash said. "My Whiscash can move in the mud just as easily as your swampert" Wallace said. Swampert and Whiscash swam around in the muddy water trying to find the other one. "Whiscash use giga impact" Wallace said. "Swampert use giga impact" Ash said.

The two pokemon swamp as fast as they could and impacted eachother. Both were send flying back but Whiscash recovered first. "Whiscash use zen headbutt" Wallace said. Whiscash quickly swam toward swampert and hit him in the stomach again. "Swampert!" Ash said. Swampert was knocked out of the water and was now unconscious.

"Swampert is unable to battle" The ref said. "Swampert return, you did great" Ash said. "Alright you can do it, Bayleef!" Ash said. Bayfeel came back out and landed on the patch for non water type pokemon .

"Whiscash use ice beam" Wallace said. "Bayleef use protect" Ash said. Bayleef threw a barrier herself keeping the ice beam from impacting her. "Knock Bayleef into the water, use hydropump" Wallace said. Whiscash jumped up and unleashed a massive jet of water that hit Bayleef.

Bayleef struggled to stay on the platform. "Bayleef use vine whip" Ash said. "Bay leef!" Bayleef launched two vines trough the water and grabbed Whiscash. "Great now use giga drain" Ash said. Bayleef used her vines to drag Whiscash directly in front of her. Bayleef then drained Whiscash's energy and replensihed her own.

"Whiscash use icebeam!" Wallace said. Bayleef quickly dropped Whiscash back into the water and backed up narrowly avoiding the icebeam. "Bayleef use sunney day" Ash said. Bayleef opened her mouth and unleashed a ball of shining energy that made the room shine.

"Whiscash use icebeam!" Wallace said. "Bayleef use solarbeam!" Ash said. "Bay leef!" She shouted as she opened her mouth and unleashed the powerful solar attack. "How did he do that so quick?" One of Juan's students said.

"Because he used sunny day" May said. "Oh right" the solarbeam burned through the icebeam and impacted Whiscash, knocking him out. "Whiscash is unable to battle" The ref said. "Yeah Bayleef!" Ash said. "Pika pika!" Pikachu said excitedly.

"Whiscash return, you did very good my friend" Wallace said. He took out his last pokeball and threw it. "Go Milotic" Wallace said. His Milotic landed in the water and raised her head up at Bayleef.

"Milotic use twister" Wallace said. "Bayleef quick use razor leaf" Ash said. Bayleef launched a few razor leaves at Milotic but they were swept up by the twister. The twister knocked Bayleef into the water. "Milotic blizzard" Wallace said.

Before Bayleef could get out of the water she was hit with blizzard and knocked out. "Bayleef is unable to battle" The ref said. "Bayleef return, you did great" Ash said. "He's down to one pokemon" One of Juan's students said. "You can do it Ash!" May said.

"It's all up to you, go Lucario!" Ash said. Lucario came out of his pokeball and landed on the same patch Bayleef stood on. He looked up at Milotic and shouted, "Lucario!". "A lucario, well this should be very interesting. Milotic use twister" Wallace said.

"Lucario use extreme speed" Ash said. Lucario jumped up high and did two front flips as he leapt to another patch. "Lucario use aura sphere!" Ash said. Lucario closed his eyes and gathered up aura energy. "Lucario!" Lucario shouted as he unleashed aura sphere. "Milotic dive" Wallace said.

Milotic dove under the water avoiding the aura sphere. Ash closed his eyes and sent an aura message to lucario. "Lucario use her aura to find her" Ash said. Lucario closed his eyes and searched for Milotic's aura. "Milotic use aqua tail!" Wallace said. "Lucario use aura sphere!" Ash shouted.

As soon as Milotic rose her head out of the water she was hit with an aura sphere. "Impressive" Wallace said. "Milotic use rain dance" Wallace said. Milotic raised her head and unleashed a spouting burst of water that turned into rain. "Now use hydro pump!" Wallace said.

Miloetic unleashed hydro pump which was powered up by the rain and hit Lucario. "Lucario hold your ground I know you can do it" Ash said through and aura message. Lucario struggled but was able to stay on the platform.

"Milotic dive" Wallace said. Milotic dove back under the now clean of mud water. Lucario closed his eyes and found Milotic through her aura. "Milotic use icebeam" Wallace said. "Lucario use aura sphere" Ash said. As soon as Milotic lifted her head up she was hit with aura sphere.

"Milotic use surf" Wallace said. Milotic unleashed a title wave which swept up lucario. "Lucario!" Ash shouted. "Quick get out of the water!" May said. Lucario desperately swam toward the platform. "Milotic use twister" Wallace said.

Milotic unleashed a small tornado into the water that swept up Lucario. "Pika chu" Pikachu said in a concerned tone. Lucario was flung from the twister back onto a platform. "Lucario please hold on, you can beat her. You just have to believe in yourself" Ash said through an aura message.

Lucario grit his teeth and then got onto his feet. He used the power of his aura to give him strength causing to glow blue. "We can do this Lucario" Ash said. "Milotic use hydro pump" Wallace said. "Lucario use extreme speed" Ash sad.

Lucario jumped from the platform over the hydro pump and onto herback. "Lucario use focus blast!" Ash said. "Milotic quick dive under water" Wallace said. Milotic was too late Lucario unleashed his attack on Milotic and knocked her out.

"Milotic use unable to battle. The winner is the challanger , Ash Ketchum" The ref said. "Lucario!" Lucario said in victory. "Pikachu!" Pikachu said excitedly. "We did it!" Ash said. "That's it Ash!" May said.

Many of Juan's students were disappointed at the outcome. "Milotic return , you did wonderful my dear" He said. Lucario came over to Ash and gave him a tight squeeze. Wallace walked over to Ash and his pokemon. "Well done Ash, you are certainly a wonderful trainer. You have earned this rain badge" Wallace said.

He handed Ash an older version of the rain badge. Unlike the newer ones , this older version was a slightly lighter shade of blue and a wider "It is an older version but It will get you into the pokemon league" Wallace said.

May had come down to Ash and Wallace. "You won, I'm so proud of you" May said before kissing him. "Well Ash I wish you the best of luck in the upcoming Hoenn league" Wallace said. "Wait Wallace, I still need to know where the grand festival is going to be held" May said.

Wallace smiled, "Your in luck May,this years grand festival is going to take place here in Sootopolis city" Wallace said. Later that night back in the pokemon center Ash and May were both in bed with pikachu asleep at the foot of the bed. "I finally got my last badge and you got your last ribbon" Ash said.

"And since we're already here in Sootopolis city , I can spend all my time training" May said. "I'll be sure your ready to win the Hoenn league May" Ash said. May kissed Ash and then rested her head on his chest. Before Ash fell asleep he thought about what he was going to do after the Hoenn league.

He looked down at May and sighed. He was very happy with being her boyfriend but he was afraid of what would happen after the Hoenn league. "I have to tell her, I have to tell May" Ash said. He knew before the Hoenn league ended he had to tell May that he was in love with her.