Ash the Iron Trainer

by Mar 'Darry' Darren

It was a freak storm. One that separated Ash from Misty and Brock but not with Pikachu. And yet Ash was able to find an entire new region and be reunited with a friend that he never thought he will see again. With four young Pokémon found in a crate as eggs, Ash will take this new region and in the future, Kanto with skill and Mega Evolution!

16. The Doll House and the Factory Take-Over

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

"Pokémon" – Normal Speech

'Pokémon' – Thoughts

Pokémon – Flashback

Pokémon – Move Names and Pokémon Abilities

{Pokémon} – Pokédex

Ash, the Iron Trainer

The Doll House and the Factory Take-Over

Previously on Ash, the Iron Trainer;

Then came the day, "Well, this is going to be an interesting Gym Battle. Going against a Fairy type expert and Fairy types are rare as it is." Ash said, looking at the Laverre City Gym, a house built into a tree. Serena squeezed Ash's hand harm, with her other hand holding the Poliwag orphans.

"Poli~!"

"Wag~!"

Ash smiled to hear the sound of children cheering their dad on in those tiny voices. "Thanks everyone. I will do my best."

Once Ash entered the Laverre Gym, he found himself in a room that happened to be a dead end. The doors and windows were just wallpaper and the only one that worked was the one he used to enter the gym in the first place. That was when he noticed some strange yellow, large discs in both opposite corner of the door. They were big enough for Ash to step on so he tried it and he suddenly appeared in another room!

"Greeting trainer! Our Gym is like a doll house! See that you will find the portal that takes you to the Gym Leader, Valerie!?" Ash smirked to hear the sound of female trainers talking in unison.

"I will certainty try!"

The trainer in the room above the one connected to the front entrance had a Dedenne and this one,

{Azumarill, the Aqua Rabbit Pokémon and the final evolution of Azurill. Azumarill lives in rivers and lakes, and while in water its body color and pattern confuses its enemies.}

When Ash found himself in the room just right of the first one, he faced one of these Pokémon;

{Aromatisse, the Fragrance Pokémon and the evolved form of Spritzee. Aromatisse can create many scents, some unpleasant enough to opponents to gain the advantage in battle.}

Further in the doll house of a gym, in the second floor room on the left this time, Ash encountered a trainer with a Klefki and these two;

{Kirlia, the Emotion Pokémon, and the evolved form of Ralts. Kirlia uses the horns on its head to amplify its Psychic powers, and when this occurs reality becomes warped, and future events can be seen.}

{Granbull, the Fairy Pokémon. The evolved form of Snubbull. Granbull has extreme fighting power due to its heavily muscled jaw and its strong teeth and tusks.}

The last room with a trainer was back on the right side of the gym and on the top floor this time.

{Slurpuff, the Meringue Pokémon and the evolved form of Swirlix. Slurpuff's keen sense of smell is especially sensitive, much more than people's.}

All these fairy types were thought ones for sure but Ash did bring his four Steel types that he hatched from eggs. That and those three mid-evolution Kanto starters from Lumiose City were also on his team. It was about time they prove their worth in the best way possible, fighting in a Gym Battle.

Ash had to back track a few times after challenging and beating every trainer in the Gym other than the Gym Leader. But he was finally able to find a path by trusting his instincts and made his way to a room at the top and in the middle; the only room he didn't try yet. And it looked like a decorated room from some kind of temple and there was barely any future to be seen.

"Greeting trainer. Welcome to my Pokémon Gym, my doll house." Ash didn't know what to make of this trainer but he definitely can make her out to be the Gym Leader,

"Valerie?" Ash asked and the trainer nodded. Valerie was a brunette that had a clean hair style; most of it was daggling down in a neat fashion while a couple of stands were in the shape of ribbons, hanging in front and each on both sides of her head. Her attire looked like a fancy dress with a corset and a skirt, with small shoulder blades. Her lower attire seemed to be all black expect for some pink at the tips and soles of her boots. There were some kind of purple, large ear-like appendages sprouting from both sides of her head. But what was the most distinguishing characteristic about Valerie were the extremely large sleeves that seemed to be fairy-like. "Then you know why I am here."

"If you wish to battle, then I accept. We both will fight to win. Good luck." Valerie spoke and bowed. And Ash did the same before reaching for his first Pokéball.

XXXXX

"Please come out, my little Mawile!" Out of Valerie's Pokéball came the Deceiver Pokémon that Ash had recognized as one of his own. But Ash won't use his Mawile just yet, but a Pokémon with a single advantage to Mawile's typing.

"Go, Wartortle!" Valerie raised an eyebrow to see Ash send out a Water type for his first Pokémon used. "Start off with Water Pulse!" Wartortle created a spiraling sphere of water and sent it at Mawile.

"Use Iron Defense, please." Valerie asked of her Pokémon and Mawile focused its defenses to rival that of actual steel. And this helped Mawile better absorb the blow from the Water Pulse. "Now then, Fairy Wind." Valerie commanded and Mawile sent out an enchanted gust of wind at Wartortle, sending him into the air. "Now use Crunch."

Wartortle was scared in the air, wondering what to do. "Withdraw. Hurry!" Wartortle then heard Ash's voice, without a doubt. And he increased his defenses by sinking into his shell and adding on to his defenses. That was why the large jaw of Mawile didn't hurt as much. "Now shake off with Rapid Spin."

Wartortle smirked from within his shell and dove down to the ground while spinning Mawile around on his shell, with that large jaw still attached to it. And Wartortle was able to land a bad hit on Mawile once they reached the ground. "Now use Water Pledge."

Wartortle slammed one of his fists on the ground and shot out a row of water columns towards the shaken Mawile. But then came the Deceiving Pokémon from the smoke, using Iron Head! "Protect!" Wartortle tried to put up a protective barrier but failed and instead flinched at the sheer might of the otherwise ineffective move.

"Now use Crunch." Valerie commanded and Wartortle screamed with pain at that strong and painful move. But then Wartortle was sent back into his Pokéball all of a sudden.

"Thanks Valerie. This might help us with training once this is all over. Now, come forth, Charmeleon!" Ash said and sent out the mid-evolution Flame Pokémon. "Use Fire Spin!" And Mawile found itself surrounded by a barrier of fire. It was bad enough for a Steel type to go against a Water type, the one that resist Steel type moves. Now, he has to go against a Fire type that also resists Steel type moves; and what isn't commonly know is that Fire types also resist Fairy type moves. "Use Scary Face and then Fire Fang!"

It was a technique that this Charmeleon perfected personally. When using Scary Face after initiating a Fire Spin, creates the image of a fierily demon gazing on the target Pokémon. And this one had allowed Charmeleon to move on Mawile, to land a Fire Fang attack. Mawile was unable to battle anymore after that.

But when Valerie returned her Pokémon, Ash also did the same. "Charmeleon wanted to finish what Wartortle started. I will send him out later in this battle."

"Very well Ash. Mr. Mime, it is your turn." Out came the Barrier Pokémon that Ash had once or twice encountered in the Reflections Caverns.

"A Mr. Mime huh? I have just the Pokémon for this one and needs all the experience he can get. Pawniard!" Ash said and released one of his initial four Steel Pokémon out on the field. And Valerie slightly widen her eyes.

"I thought that you can only encounter Pawniard out on…never mind." Valerie decided not to reveal too much to Ash and every other open ears. "A nice Pokémon to use but I am still the Laverre Gym Leader. Mr. Mime, kindly used Fire Punch."

Ash and Pawniard were shocked to see Mr. Mime charge with fist aflame. That will do some serious damage. "Iron Defense!" Ash shouted and Pawniard did what Valerie's Mawile just did moments ago. But while the damage was cut in half, the burning effect of Fire Punch was still lingering. "Now use Metal Claw to get him off!" Pawniard then scratched Mr. Mime with the ferociously of a wild animal and with a silvery glowing single claw, while also increasing his attack power slightly. "Try for a Guillotine!"

"Brick Break please." Valerie finally commanded and her Mr. Mime rushed at the charging Pawniard with its single finger claws glowing and extending to twice each their length. Once both Pokémon passed each other and landed their hits, Pawniard lost its elongated fangs and fell to the super effective Brick Break attack. "Now Fire Punch."

"Metal Sound!" Ash called out for his Pawniard, still lying on the ground. But the Sharp Blade Pokémon managed to get up and rub its fangs to shaken Mr. Mime up. But that still didn't save him from the merciful Fire Punch. "Pawniard, return. Ivysaur, come on out!"

"An Ivysaur? Use Psychic." Valerie wanted to know why Ash sent out a Poison type. After all, Mr. Mime is one of the few Fairy types to have an advantage over Poison Pokémon that can cover its weakness to Poison moves.

"Sludge Bomb!" Ash called out and Ivysaur coughed up some gunk that landed on Mr. Mime before its Psychic can do any real damage. "Now use Toxic." Ivysaur then sent out streams of poison from the large, open flower on her back. "Now use Growth."

"Try to ignore the pain Mr. Mime and use Fire Punch."

"Double Edge!" Ash called out as soon and Valerie was done with her commands. And Ivysaur charged at Mr. Mime harshly, preventing the Barrier Pokémon from using its Fire Punch."Now use Giga Drain!" Ivysaur then released vines that tied up Mr. Mime, sucking the health energy and adding onto her own; effectively healing after the Psychic attack and doing a ton of damage to Mr. Mime, helped by the Metal Sound from moments ago.

"Thank you Mr. Mime for everything." Valerie said as she returned her Pokémon while Ash returned his for the same reason as his Wartortle.

"It is your turn, Sylveon." Ash never seen such a Pokémon before, it was like seeing the embodiment of beauty and cuteness in a physical form.

{Sylveon, the Intertwining Pokémon and an evolved form of Eevee. Sylveon affectionately wraps its ribbon-like feelers around its Trainer's arms as they walk together.}

Sylveon is a quadruped, mammalian Pokémon covered primarily in pale cream-colored fur with pinkish feet, ears, and tail. There are two bows on its body, one on its left ear and one around its neck, from which two feelers adorn it. The bows are pale cream with pinkish centers, while the feelers are pale cream with pinkish and blue tips. It sends a soothing aura from these feelers to calm fights, and will also use them to "hold hands" with its Trainer. It has short, slender legs and small paws with three visible toes on each foot. Its eyes are blue with white pupils and no visible sclera. When its mouth is open, two pointed teeth can be seen on its upper jaw. Its furry pinkish tail is slightly curved in a crescent shape.

"Okay then, a pure Fairy type. Go, Charmeleon." Valerie was getting harder to amuse with Ash's choice of Pokémon against her own. "Smokescreen." Ash called out and Charmeleon released a literal smokescreen that threatened to lower Sylveon's accuracy.

"Swift." Valeria commanded and Sylveon released some stars that always hit their target, the one thing about them that covers their very low power.

"Take them with Metal Claw." Ash knew that and instead of trying to dodge the never-missing stars, Charmeleon just tore them apart before they could do some damage. "Now keep the Smokescreen up." Charmeleon also had this special combo technique that Ash had been practicing with.

"Try using Quick Attack." Valerie spoke and Sylveon begun to move at blurring speeds in order to avoid Charmeleon's Smokescreens. But Charmeleon instead made his move in a wide-spread area and thus, Sylveon happened to miss its target.

"Now ignite with Fire Fang." Ash spoke with a slight malicious smirk on his face and Charmeleon then acted a lot the flamethrower weapon, igniting special gas to create flames that spread through the entire battle area. And even though the field is officially torched and so was Sylveon, Charmeleon was impervious to heat as a Fire type Pokémon.

"Use Fairy Wind!" Valerie had finally lost her calm composition. And that move barely did anything but then, "Giga Impact!" That was short, clean and painless when Sylveon charged with greater power than a Take Down and a Double Edge move. And Charmeleon never knew what hit him.

"Thanks Charmeleon. Now come out, Doublade!" Ash had made a wise choice in Pokémon. Now Sylveon can't use Giga Impact again, not against a Ghost type Pokémon like Doublade. "First, use your new Power Trick." Doublade then glowed multicolored and to any experienced trainer, that meant the attack power and defense power of the user are being swapped.

And since Sylveon still is feeling the energy-dry side effect of Giga Impact, so it couldn't move just yet. "Now use Iron Defense and then Iron Head." Now, any boost or reduction to Doublade's power will not be affected by Power Trick after it is used. Iron Defense will help increase the defensive power not swapped with the low attack power. Doublade then charged with its center turning shiny and harden,

"Use Double Team!" Doublade hesitated in mid-direction to see Sylveon finally move, with speeds to make illusions of itself.

"Recover as much energy as possible to use Shadow Sneak!" Ash called out and Doublade nodded and stopped himself, then he dove into his shadow, to strike every single one of the illusions until the Sword Pokémon landed a hit on the real Sylveon.

"Use Reflect!" Sylveon had placed up a strong barrier between it and Doublade's attack. And it managed to take in most of the power behind the Shadow Sneak. "Now use Psych Up!" Sylveon then glowed bright white, receiving the same boosts or reductions made on Doublade.

"Iron Head!" Ash called out, not taking any more chances with this Sylveon.

"Double Team!" Valerie called out, hoping that this time, Sylveon won't fall for the same trick twice. But she had no idea that she and her Pokémon just did. When Doublade's Iron Head landed a hit anyways!

"You just never bothered to look up that Doublade's and its pre-evolution's only Ability is No Guard." Ash remarked. "With it, the user always hits and the user is always hit. A fine trade off don't you think?" Valerie actually surprised herself by growling, at Ash for this turnabout of events.

"You are such a darling trainer. Now meet a Pokémon that I send out for an occasion like this one." Valerie finally settled down, returned her Sylveon and released her final Pokémon; an Audino!

"But I thought that Audino were pure Normal types Valerie. My girlfriend even has one on her team so we should know." Ash commented and Valerie nodded.

"Yes, that is why we usually do this first." Valerie then jiggled one of her sleeves to show an accessory, an attachment to the edge of her wing-like sleeves. And it was a prefect sphere-shaped jewel that had the pattern of a Mega Stone. Turning back on the Audino, Ash saw a similar glimmer in the fur. "Audino, reveal your true self. Your true power, through Evolution. Mega Evolve!"

Ash couldn't even look away from the light that surrounded and morphed Valerie's Audino. He just took out his Pokédex again to scan this new and improved Audino.

{This Pokémon has now activated its Mega Evolution. Now it is a Normal and Fairy Type. Its ability is now Healer, which has a good chance of healing an ally after a certain period of time.}

When Audino Mega Evolved into Mega Audino, it becomes both heavier and taller. The patterning on its stomach, now completely cream, is covered by what resembles a flared lab coat. Most of its body becomes white with pink tips in four places, one on each ear and near the edges of its "coat". Its eyes turn pink and its ears stand upright with longer, curlier feelers. Its tail becomes larger and a smaller tuft of fur is centered on its chest. Two additional, curled feelers extend from under this extra tuft of fur. White fur covers its feet with two small tufts on the heels. Mega Audino can release pulses that reduce hostility, and the secondary feelers can put those who come in contact with them into a deep sleep.

"Now I see. Anyways, Doublade, return." Ash spoke up and returned his Sword Pokémon. Against a Normal type, Ghost type moves won't work and those are Doublade's best moves. "Durant, come on out!" It was time for Ash's Iron Ant Pokémon.

"I see that you have a team filled with nothing but Steel types and starter Pokémon." Valerie remarked. "I trained my Pokémon to never let type advantages determine anything about a match-up. Flamethrower." Mega Audino took in a huge breath and released a steady stream of flames at Durant.

"Dodge with Agility!" Ash called out and Durant was able to avoid that move. "Flash Cannon!" Durant then released a cannon-shaped blast of silver energy that landed a super effective hit on Mega Audino. But it couldn't be any stronger since a Pokémon like Durant is not adept for Special moves like Flash Cannon.

"Fire Blast." Valerie spoke up again and Audino took a good aim before sending out a burst of flames that took the shape of the Kanji for 'Fire'. But Durant dodged it at the last minute with the help from the Agility. "Thunder Wave." Valerie called for another move. This one managed to land on Durant, cutting down the Iron Ant's speed.

"Iron Head!" Durant struggled through the paralysis to go at his target, but with the loss of speed, Mega Audino actually has enough time to dodge. And it did. "Try another!" Ash called out and Valerie chuckled at the futile attempt to use the same move but to except different results each time; that is a good reference to Einstein's definition of insanity.

"How amusing Ash, now please use Fire Blast." Valerie commanded her Mega Audino, who doesn't look that much amused either. It then proceeded to initiate another Fire Blast and sent it in Durant's way.

"Iron Head!" Both trainer and Pokémon were shocked to see Durant run from the smoke pile and landed a hard Iron Head on Mega Audino. "Now try for a Guillotine!"

"Hyper Beam!" Valerie, once again, lost her cool and shouted out that command this time. But when Mega Audino landed that hot, it barely did anything to the Steel-type Durant and since it can't move as a result, that Guillotine landed on Mega Audino.

"Audino!" Valerie shouted out, as her Mega Evolved Pokémon had fallen. Returning it, she got up and then showed her arms to be bare unlike the rest of her body. In her hands were a tray that had a single cloth on. And in the center of the cloth and tray was the Laverre City Gym Badge.

The badge, it was shaped like the wing-shaped sleeves that Valerie wore as part of his outfit. "Thank you Valerie, now I will be able to bond better with my Pokémon. They all had their first Gym Battle and I bet that they want to fight better for the next one." Then he left the doll house via the shortcut portal, to show this badge to his girl and to the pair of Poliwag that were like their children.

XXXXX

"Come on. We need to go to one last place before Route 15." Serena said, pulling Ash out of the Pokémon Center. "We need to see the Pokéball Factory!"

"Okay, Okay! We're coming!" Ash tried to be patient but being tugged at the arm by your girl doesn't make anyone's day. And when they came up the stairs to the factory, Ash noticed something. "It's so dead around here. I thought you said that they give tours at this hour, especially this month. There isn't another soul to be seen or heard."

"Whatever, we have the whole place to ourselves." Ash groaned at how Serena is willing to overlook something that is clear as day suspicious. "We are going on a tour before we go, and that is final!"

"Fine." Ash could only say. 'Not that we were arguing in the first place.' Ash wisely kept that to himself, rather than risk having that heard by Serena. But when they got to the Factory,

"Halt! All tours are canceled today!" A guard appeared and in uniform of Team Flare appeared! "The boss is doing some important business inside and we can't have any visitors."

"Well I am not going anywhere unless you let us in!" Serena retorted and pretty soon, they started arguing until the guard went for a Pokéball.

"Fine! If you want in, brats, then you will need to get through me!" And that guard had a new Pokémon for the Pokédex to scan once it was sent out,

{Toxicroak. The Toxic Mouth Pokémon, and the evolved form of Croagunk. Toxicroak's throat has a poison sac, and its poison stirs and becomes even more potent when it croaks.}

Toxicroak is a dark blue and teal, bipedal Pokémon resembling a poison dart frog. Its head bears a gently-upward curling spike which seems to be a part of the skull. Its eyes are bright yellow, sinister and intimidating, with a small snake-like pupil. Its mouth gives an appearance of a mouth-guard, with its red upper lip curling upward at the ends in a very intimidating manner. Underneath its chin is a bulbous red vocal sac, which is smaller on a female Toxicroak. It has three fingers and one large red claw on the back of each hand. These claws on the backs of their hands can channel poison. Its forearms have two black rings encircling them. Its legs are muscular and seem to be adapted for speedy attacks. It has three toes on its feet, with a red middle toe on each foot, and a sharp spike which juts out of its heels. Underneath the pelvic area are two white horizontal lines. Thick black lines run down the sides of its body and surrounding its limbs, making them seem as if the limbs are detachable. The black lines go up into its face and surround the eyes before meeting in the middle of its snout, just above the upper lip.

By croaking, Toxicroak churns the poison stored in the poison sac on their throat for more potency. Toxicroak gives off poison with stings, though it can poison when touched. It can be cruel and fearsome, or it can be quite laid-back, relaxing on rocks and in marshes, studying the views around it. Toxicroak lives in moist areas around bodies of water.

"Use Mud Bomb!" The guard shouted and Toxicroak exhaled a lump of mud from its mouth at Pikachu who dodged it. Ground type moves are such a bother for an electric type like him.

"Thunderbolt!" Ash called out and Pikachu sent a huge surge of lighting at Toxicroak, sending the Toxic Mouth Pokémon to its knees. "Another one!"

"Dammit! Use Revenge!" The guard commanded and while Toxicroak had to bite down on its tongue to ignore the pain and weariness. It was necessary to carry out Revenge, which is doubled when the user is hit. And the hit Toxicroak sent was a quite the dozy. "Now use Poison Jab!"

"Discharge!" Ash thought quickly and Pikachu was able to stop Toxicroak with a wide-spread Discharge attack. What's more, once Toxicroak was hit, so was the Team Flare guard! "Send them flying." Pikachu smirked at that certain command and honed his electricity to hold both Pokémon and trainer in midair; it was like Pikachu was holding them in a hand and arm made of lighting, before sending them out of sight.

"Great job there boys!" Serena said in awe while Ash treated Pikachu's tiredness and bruise from that Revenge attack. "Now let's get going!"

XXXXX

After that guard was done in and taken care of, Ash and Serena plowed through the rest of the Team Flare agents and had to work their way through the maze of the factory, with the help of the conveyor belt and the catwalk. In order to reach the ones in charge of the Team Flare take-over, the conveyor belt had to set in reverse, allowing the two trainers to reach the President's office.

And once they got there, "Will all due respect, Mr. President…" Ash and Serena recognized the outfit as Team Flare Scientists. But they were definitely not at the Kalos Power Plant. "You should consider our offer. Your employees will not be harmed as long as you agree to ship everything single Pokéball to Team Flare and including your latest project."

"He won't, Team Flare." Ash spoke up before the trouble, uniformed man at his desk could respond. "We made that you will not do any more harm as long as we are here!"

"Go Manectric!"

"Go Liepard!"

Ash quickly scanned the new Pokémon sent out. He only had a few moments, these trainers don't wait for nobody.

{Manectric, the Discharge Pokémon. Manectric collects electricity from the air, creating a thundercloud above its head. Its mane gives off a strong electric current.}

Manectric is a canine, quadruped Pokémon. Its body is mainly blue with a spiky, yellow mane on its head and yellow tufts of fur on its haunches and around its front feet. Its mane sticks straight up and has three points. It has a jagged upper jaw, red eyes, and holes on either side of its head that seem to be its ears. Each of its paws has three claws. Its blue, spike-like tail is bent at a sharp angle.

Manectric gathers electricity its mane and then discharges it. This process creates thunderclouds, which it uses in battle. Since lightning falls in its vicinity, it is said to have been born from lightning and make its nest where lightning has struck. It lives in grassy areas, and often appears in front of people.

And there was the other Pokémon,

{Liepard, the Cruel Pokémon. Well-known for its beauty, Liepard uses the element of surprise when battling opponents, attacking before they can react.}

Liepard is a slender, purple feline Pokémon speckled with yellow rosettes. Its fur patterning is considered attractive to many Trainers. It has a pink "mask" marking over its eyes, a pink nose, and small yellow markings over its green eyes. It has two pairs of long yellow whiskers, and a tufted yellow underside. Its lower legs are yellow, and each small paw has a pale pink pad. It has a long, curving tail with a sickle-like shape toward the tip. Liepard has well-developed muscles that allows it to run silently and strike opponents from behind. It has also been known to vanish and reappear without warning.

"Go! Lucario!"

"Come, Braixen!"

Ash and Serena had chosen their Pokémon and both of them readied for a battle with those who don't fight fair. Those scientists just gave off dishonor and dishonesty as well as cheap perfume.

"Bite on that big fox, Manectric!" One of them, named Celosia, shouted and the Discharge Pokémon charged for Serena's Braixen. But,

"Block with Bone Rush!" Being an Electric type, Manectric acted like he tried to bite on fortified steel when he tried to do that with Lucario's ground type move. "Attack and get it off you!" Ash called out and Lucario landed a very powerful hit and Manectric growled at Lucario once it stopped bouncing like a rubber ball.

"You sure are slow Celosia. Liepard, use Hone Claws and Slash on Braixen." The other scientist, named Bryony, spoke with discontent for that humiliation. Liepard moved, even faster than Manectric and moved around Lucario for Braixen,

"Power-Up Punch!" Ash called out and Lucario hurried to stop Liepard. But,

"Spark, Manectric!" Celosia called out and her Pokémon stopped Lucario by sending a small surge of electric energy at the former's attacking arm. This caused a slight hesitation and Liepard was able to land that Slash attack on Braixen.

"Flamethrower, get that cat off!" Serena decided that this was her cue and Braixen was able to use her large, wooden want to fend off Liepard. "Use Psychic on Manectric!"

With the Discharge Pokémon held in place with Psychic, Ash smiled at the opportunity granted to him and his Lucario. To use, "Power-Up Punch!" This time, Liepard had to suffer that super-effective hit. And this time, Manectric couldn't stop Lucario. "Now, Close Combat!"

"Dodge and hit Braixen with Slash!" Liepard was as quick and nimble as any feline so it moved out of the way of Lucario and landed that Slash attack once again on Braixen.

"Aura Sphere!" Ash called out and Lucario sent a ball of blue energy at Liepard.

"Take it with Thunder Fang!" Ash and Serena scowled at that command. What kind of trainer tells their Pokémon to be mire reckless than the common rookie? And Manectric tried anyways to block that Aura Sphere with its fangs.

"Attack both of them with Flamethrower!" Serena called out and this time, Braixen's attack was able to cover both Pokémon before any of the Team Flare Scientists can make a counter-command.

"Now both of them with Close Combat!" Ash followed Serena's example and with both of the Team Flare Pokémon weakened by that wide-range Flamethrower to dodge the Close Combat. Both Manectric and Liepard fell unconscious to that powerful, Fighting type move.

"Bah!" Both scientists huffed at this humiliating defeat and returned their Pokémon. "There will always be a next time!" With that, Team Flare practically fled house.

"Thank you both!" The President said to Ash and Serena. "Here, I can give you both these gifts. They are what those thieves were after." The president then took out both of his hands, each with a large gold nugget and some kind of new Pokéball. "You can tell that this is a Big Nugget, use it in any way you wish. But these are also Master Balls."

"Master Balls?" Ash asked, not sure if he should take it.

"With a Master Ball, you have the best chance to catch Pokémon. The chances of failure are almost zero percent. You can even catch Legendries with it if you encounter one." The President explained and urged for the trainers to take them. After a little while, they did.

"Thank Mr. President but with an item this valuable, we should only use it as a last resort. When we don't have any other Pokéball to catch a Pokémon." Ash spoke and the President could only smile at the former's humbleness.

"Use it in any way you wish, like I said. Thank you, once again." Ash and Serena nodded, before leaving the President to take care of the Factory now that Team Flare has abandoned it.

But once they were outside, something buzzed in Ash's pocket. It was the same pocket that one of the Team Flare members stuffed his hand into. When Ash did the same, he took out some kind of gadget that then roared to life. It seemed to be some kind of advanced, holographic projector as it showed an image.

"We're bringing you this special bulletin. The Poké Ball Factory in the area around Laverre City has been attacked. The identities of those involved are unknown. However, this is not expected to have any effect on the sales of Poké Balls..." Ash didn't care for anymore word of this outrage of an announcement;

"Just how did this woman know about Team Flare taking over the Pokéball Factory? I didn't think that word got around that fast?" Serena said and Ash nodded.

"That is what I will like to know." Then the two trainers got a good look at this figure, clearly a woman. Not much can be seen because of the desk she was sitting in, but she was showing off her lower half in a seductive pose; not that Ash had incurred Serena's frustration by falling for it. Her pink hair had a couple of braids on the front side of her face with the rest in a more tamed and contained hairstyle. The glasses she wore had a lava red hue. She was wearing a sleeveless black shirt that exposed some of her belly. And she was wearing some kind of punk-style red pants that had diamond shaped holes, two on each foreleg; and the belt was small and black. Finally, she wore simple black heeled shoes.

"But whatever she was, that woman could have gotten the info from the fleeing Team Flare." Ash theorized and Serena agreed, but they couldn't figure out how this fits together. An agent for the terrorist Team Flare couldn't have made a causal announcement to the public about what her organization did.

XXXXX

Now with the adventure in the Pokémon Factory over and with a couple of prizes for stopping Team Flare, Ash and Serena were ready to keep going and head towards the next Gym. And Route 15 was nowhere near as disgusting as the swamp-invested Route 14. In fact, it was like a romantic trip through a nature park during the fall.

And the Pokémon they encountered were as follows;

{Mightyena, the Bite Pokémon. They move primarily in packs, working together to capture their prey.}

{Watchog, the Lookout Pokémon. Watchog's body contains luminescent compounds, which allow its eyes and stripes to glow.}

And,

{Foongus, the Mushroom Pokémon. Foongus release poisonous spores to repel anyone who tries to catch them. For unknown reasons, they resemble Poké Balls.}

And these were just the wild encounters. Ash and Serena had some horde encounters as well and they found this Pokémon;

{Murkrow, the Darkness Pokémon. Many people believe that if you see a Murkrow at night it will bring bad luck.}

Then there was the new Pokémon encounter in the river of Route 15,

{Lombre, the Jolly Pokémon. Lombre is a playful trickster. If it spots an angler, it will tug on the fishing line to interfere.}

And,

{Basculin, the Hostile Pokémon. Basculin can be very violent and red and blue Basculin do not get along well, frequently resulting in battles.}

They had a lot of fun in the leaf piles, avoiding those with Rangers hiding, and the cool autumn breeze can relax anyone after a long night and a morning filed with fun and excitement. Ash and Serena even shared another kiss while the fall leaves fell; this time, they felt like a real couple, no body to make them feel awkward. It was like the day couldn't get any better.

But then there was the Lost Hotel, with a dash of ruffians and a secret inhabitant that haunts any and all who dare to linger on a certain day. And unfortunately for Ash and Serena, that day was the day. Let's just say that once the trainers met this strange new Pokémon, it will one hell of an encounter with this supernatural prankster.

End of Chapter 16.

*I was glad to get this done before my classes started! I have just one last update to make before the mouth ends and that will be one way to end August and start a new month of class and writing! Wish me luck!*

Pokémon on Hand;

Ash – Pikachu (Male), Doublade (Male), Pawniard (Male), Mawile (Female), Durant (Female), Lucario (Male), Ferrothorn (Female), Ivysaur (Female), Charmeleon (Male) and Wartortle (Male)

Serena – Braixen (Female), Plusle & Minun (Female), Mr. Mime (Female), Cubone (Male) and Kangaskhan (Female).

Off Hand;

Ash – Ledian (Female), Kadabra (Female), Snorlax (Male), and Smeargle (Male), Sableye (Male), Quilladin (Male), Greninja (Female), Luvdisc (Male), Talonflame (Male), Gogoat (Male), Lapras (Female) and Poliwag (Male)

Serena – Furfrou (Male), Spritize (Male), Swirlix (Female), Audino (Female), Luvdisc (Female) and Poliwag (Female).