"Rattata, Quick Attack!" Ash ordered.
Rattata ran with a white trail behind him before colliding with a dummy from the Viridian City Battle Club.
After hearing from Samurai about the Battle Club, Ash was excited to be at it again. He remembered how effective these facilities were and now they were built around Kanto. He was currently learning from Rattata as he wanted to see what other moves the mouse had.
[Rattata, the Mouse Pokémon. Will chew on anything with its fangs. If you see one, you can be certain that 40 more live in the area.
Gender: Male
Ability: Guts
Moves: Tail Whip, Bite, Quick Attack, Focus Energy, Take Down]
The purple rodent squeaked as he looked up to his trainer. He was excited for his new trainer. He didn't want to disappoint him in battle and was willing to train his best.
In the pool part of the Battle Club, Ash had brought out a few Water-types for training.
Corphish was able to keep a steady pace in the current. Palpitoad and Buizel were using their tails to propel as the Sea Weasel Pokémon was in front of the Vibration Pokémon. Meanwhile, Oshawott was swimming on his backside, familiar with the training mechanic.
Buizel couldn't help but be annoyed with the Sea Otter Pokémon's antics. He found him lazy, a showboat, and unmotivated. The orange weasel swam over before 'accidently' knocking into the Unova starter. Oshawott gets infuriated with Buizel before ramming him with Aqua Jet, steering the weasel off-course into Corphish. Now the crayfish collides with Palpitoad and they are now getting pushed back in the current.
"Hey, knock it off you too!" Ash ordered as he saw his two mustelid Pokémon fight with one another. He was able to pick up Oshawott as Buizel shook his paw in anger.
"You guys can't be fighting like this," Ash informed the two amphibious mammals who just huffed at each other.
Ash just sighed at the two Water-types while his other two Water-types climbed out the pool, annoyed by their teammates' antics.
"Cor, phish!"
"Pal! Palpa!"
Both mammals turned their attention to the crayfish and amphibian before growling on their own terms.
"Oshawott!"
"Bui, bui!"
The four Water-types began to bicker with each other, making Ash sigh at the conundrum.
"My, my, such an embarrassing display," a snotty voice said.
Ash turned and glared at the insult he received, "What was that?!" He glared at someone he never thought he would see again.
"You heard me," Cadbury, the 'winner' from the Scalchop Cup, smugly said as his Caesar, his Dewott, also had a smug grin on his face. Oshawott glared at his evolved form, remembering how he lost Osharina. "Your little Oshawott is still immature. It could never match Caesar's level."
"Osha!" Oshawott barked at Caesar who just dismissed him.
"In case you forgot, Oshawott won our previous battle!" Ash shot back.
"Yes, it was mere luck," Cadbury said, checking his nails as if he didn't care what Ash had to say.
"What are you even doing here?" Ash growled between his teeth. He never expected to see Caesar again after the Scalchop Festival but he had to know what he was doing in Kanto.
"I was merely challenging the gyms," Cadbury said, "I was hoping to get some training for the new Viridian Gym Leader but imagine my surprise when I see the phony Scalchop King."
"We won fair and square!" Ash retorted.
"You won with luck," Cadbury replied, "I'll tell you what. How about a three-on-three battle? You can choose three of your current Water-types. If you think you are up for it?"
"Of course, I am!" Ash shouted back. His Water-types behind him all growled in agreement, Oshawott still glaring daggers at Caesar, the Discipline Pokémon dismissing him as he and his trainer walked away.
"We will battle 3. Hope you are ready to lose," Cadbury remarked, strolling out of the pool area.
Ash growled before making a pledge that he would show how strong his Water-types are.
"Osha! Oshawott! Wott!" The Sea Otter Pokémon ranted before Snivy appeared out of her Pokéball and slapped her teammate upside his head.
"Sni! Snivy!" the Grass Snake admonished. She was going on with the fact that some female Oshawott shouldn't matter to him, since if he chose her, he wouldn't still be Ash's loyal Pokémon.
Oshawott just frowned before nodding reluctantly. But he promised to show Caesar why he deserved Osharina and give it his all.
Eventually 3PM came, and both trainers were across the main battlefield, one with a confident smirk and the other with an unwavering gaze.
"This is an official three-on-three match between Ash and Cadbury! Trainers, send out your first Pokémon!"
"Marcus, show them our might!" Cadbury said, releasing a male Jellicent. "Jeli!"
"Corphish, I choose you!" Ash released his Hoenn Water-type, the crayfish snapping menacingly. "Cor!"
"Battle begin!"
"Marcus, Water Pulse!" Jellicent conjured an orb of water before hurling it.
"Bubble Beam!" Opening his pincers, Corphish fired a cascade of bubbles that managed to destroy the orb before pelting the Floating Pokémon.
"Lucky shot," Cadbury snarled, "Shadow Ball!" The blue cnidaria conjured another orb, this time full of spectral energy, and threw it at a fast pace.
"Iron Defense!" Corphish shimmered with a metallic coat before the orb landed. The Ruffian Pokémon remained intact, thankful that he managed to work out the kinks to the defense boosting move before the match. "Now, Crabhammer!" The crayfish took off, his pincers covered in a blue light and slammed them into the cnidaria.
"Wring Out!" Cadbury smirked as Corphish was then wrapped in purple tendrils, having his health squeezed out of him.
"Corphish!" Ash called out. Marcus eventually dropped the Ruffian Pokémon, satisfied with the outcome.
"Now, Marcus, Ice Beam!" Jellicent fired a three-arc cryo-energy towards Corphish, encasing the crustacean within an ice prison. "Shadow Ball!" The Floating Pokémon fired another spectral energy orb that shattered the ice and knocked Corphish away.
The Ruffian Pokémon skidded to a halt before getting back up. "Bubble Beam!" The crayfish unleashed another burst of bubbles, subjecting the cnidaria to get pelted.
Cadbury merely scoffed, "Is that the best you have to offer? Marcus, end this with an Energy Ball!"
"Iron Defense again!" Corphish shined a metallic shine, increasing his defense as the green orb made contact. The crayfish appeared to be scuffed up, batterned, and bruised but still managed to stand.
Ash knew that they were in a tough match since Corphish had no good moves at the moment. He still had just upgraded Harden
"Cor!" The Ruffian Pokémon snapped before glowing a light blue color. His structure began to change, growing larger. A star appeared on his forehead and his pincers were bigger themselves. The light died down to reveal a new Pokémon.
"Crawdaunt!" Ash recognized before scanning his new Pokémon. He had always wondered why Corphish didn't evolve during his Hoenn or Battle Frontier journey with him. He had the experience but Ash never wanted to force his Pokémon to evolve.
[Crawdaunt, the Rogue Pokémon. A brutish Pokémon that loves to battle. It will crash itself into any foe that approaches its nest.]
"Evolution won't save you! Marcus, Wring Out!" Jellicent threw out his tendrils again but this time, Crawdaunt Crunched down on them, causing the cnidaria to cry out in pain.
"That was Crunch!" Ash realized before learning the lobster's new moveset. He uttered out a new move, "Dark Pulse!"
While Marcus retracted his tentacles, Crawdaunt fired two dark-purple double-helix spirals from his pincers, striking the Floating Pokémon down. Now Marcus was battered, the Dark-type move doing super-effective damage.
"Now, let us end this! Night Slash!" Ash called. The Rogue Pokémon stormed across the battlefield, his pincers in a dark-indigo coat.
"Marcus, fire another Energy Ball! The blue cnidaria generated a dark green orb and threw it but the lobster sliced it in half before slashing the cnidaria. A white flash occurred and Marcus collapsed with swirls in his eyes.
"Jellicent is unable to battle. Crawdaunt is the winner!"
"Amazing job out there, Crawdaunt!" Ash praised his newly-evolved crustacean. He returned him to his Pokéball, "Get some rest."
Cadbury returned his chosen Pokémon, "That evolution was lucky. You wouldn't have lasted any longer. And Corphish wasn't even that tough."
"Corphish has had a lot of battles when he was traveling with me!" Ash retorted, "If anything, he deserved to evolve!"
"Whatever," Cadbury dismissed and chose his next Pokémon, "Felix, show them your might!" The arrogant trainer sent out an Eelektross, who roared upon being released. "Eel!"
Ash had to think for a moment. He knew Caesar was his last choice and Oshawott wanted to prove himself. So he could either go with Palpitoad or Buizel. But then Ash remembered how Eelektross has the Levitate ability, making it immune to Ground-type moves. This made him frown.
"Okay," Ash said drawing his choice, "Buizel, I choose you!" The Sea Weasel Pokémon appeared with arms crossed. He sized up his opponent and had a smirk. He loved a good challenge.
"Buizel, start with Ice Punch!" The orange weasel dashed in with an icy fist, planning to slam it into the lamprey.
"Too easy. Crush Claw!" The EleFish Pokémon turned his left claw to a glowing blue and matched the Ice Punch. There was a brief explosion before both Pokémon retreated.
"How about I end this quickly," Cadbury remarked, "Discharge!" Felix let loose several blue electrical bolts, homing towards the weasel.
"Use Iron Tail!" Ash ordered. He had decided to teach Buizel some new moves. And Iron Tail was perfect as he remembered how Winona used a technique similar with Steel Wing.
Buizel turned his twin tails to metal and swung it, catching the Discharge from the conductor. The weasel threw the Electric-type move before having a sly smile on his face.
"Rock Slide!" Felix roared in the air, creating silver portals and dropped boulders towards the weasel.
"Countershield!" Ash capitalized. Buizel expelled a stream of water before spinning on his back. His Water Gun Countershield defended himself from the raining rocks. Ash shot the 'Scalchop King' a smirk as he remembered the technique. He worked with his current roster, training to redo their Sinnoh technique but only a select few were able to use this tactic.
"Shock Wave!" Cadbury practically yelled as he was growing infuriated with Ash. Eelektross released a wave of electricity that shocked Buizel.
"Buizel!" Ash cried. The Sea Weasel Pokémon managed to endure the attack but with some scorch marks on his fur.
Ash growled, "Go for Aqua Jet!" Buizel encompassed himself with water and took off towards the lamprey.
"Shock Wave again!" Eelektross released another wave of electricity.
"Ice Punch!" Still rocketing towards the EleFish Pokémon, the weasel turned his fist to a low temperature and punched forward, creating an Ice Aqua Jet. The makeshift move managed to deflect some of the electricity before crashing into the jawless fish.
Buizel jumped back and landed on his feet and growled while Felix managed to stand before roaring.
"Crush Claw once more!" Eelektross turned his clawed appendage crimson red and slashed at the weasel. The mustelid crossed his arms, braced for impact and repelled it.
"Ice Punch!" The Sea Weasel Pokémon let his frosty fist nail the EleFish Pokémon in the stomach area. The Unova Electric Pokémon finally collapsed from the battle.
"Eelektross is unable to battle, Buizel is the winner!"
Cadbury returned Felix before commenting, "Your Buizel shouldn't have defeated Felix like that."
"Goes to show you not to underestimate my Pokémon!" Ash retorted. Buizel barked in agreement.
Cadbury rolled his eyes with an arrogant look on his face, "Whatever. Let's finally settle this. Caesar, show them why we are the true Scalchop King. Not that sad excuse for a Water-type." Caesar walked on the battlefield, brandishing his scalchops.
"Buizel re-" Ash started before the mustelid disagreed to go in his Pokéball. The weasel just walked over to his side, not planning to battle but to watch. Ash nodded before choosing Oshawott, who shot a fierce and determined look to his 'rival.'
"Time to show you our true ability. Caesar, Swords Dance!" Cadbury started the match.
"Oshawott, Tackle!" The Sea Otter Pokémon rushed in as the Discipline Pokémon did a ritual with illusionary swords.
"Slash!" Dewott sliced Oshawott, effectively knocking him away. The evolved starter cracked a cocky smile on his face as the smaller Water-type tumbled back. Oshawott picked himself up and cried out, "Osha!"
"Seems your Oshawott still can't match Caesar. Guess it was luck after all," Cadbury taunted.
"Razor Shell!" Ash didn't want to hear it from this trainer. The single wielding otter rushed in with a glowing scalchop blade and planned to hack at the dual wielding otter.
"Use your own," Cadbury yawned. Caesar drew his own glowing scallops and slashed Oshawott anyway.
"Hydro Pump!" The Discipline Pokémon spewed a strong torrent of water, drenching the Sea Otter Pokémon.
"Oshawott!" Ash exclaimed at seeing the Unova starter get up slowly. The young otter glared at Caesar who was gloating him.
"Dewott. Dew. Wott, wott," the Discipline Pokémon said in a mocking tone, possibly going on about how Osharina chose him.
"Osha!" The Sea Otter Pokémon took off in a watery coat, propelling himself in the air and planning to strike the evolved starter without a command.
"Caesar, Aqua Tail," Cadbury calmly said, seeing the opposing otter lose control. Caesar swung his tail around, covered in a water veil and sent the white-blue otter spirally away.
Oshawott slowly got up, refusing to be defeated by the phony 'Scalchop King.'
"Seems your Oshawott won't last much longer," Cadbury taunted, Caesar mimicking his trainer with a sly smile on his face.
"Oshawott, you can do it!" Ash encouraged his Water-type starter. The Sea Otter Pokémon was halfway up when Snivy appeared out of her Pokéball. Ash questioned the appearance of the Unova Grass starter, "Snivy?"
"Snivy!" The Grass Snake Pokémon yelled at the otter.
"Snivy! Sniv, niv. Ivy, Sni," the serpent ranted to the mustelid, "Snivy! Snivy, Snivy. Snivy! SNIVY!"
"Bui!" Buizel added, "Buizel, zui! Buizel!"
Hearing the encouragement of his teammates, Oshawott managed to get up, looking Caesar in his eyes.
"Osssss…. OSHA!" Oshawott cried as a blue light enveloped him. His body began to morph taller, his skin a darker blue tone, and when the light died down…
Dewott was revealed. "Dewott!"
"Alright!" Ash cheered and quickly scanned his second new evolution. Like Corphish -or Crawdaunt now- he wondered when Oshawott would evolve.
[Dewott, the Discipline Pokémon. Its exquisite double-scalchop technique is likely the result of daily training, and it can even send masters of the blade fleeing in defeat.]
"Another evolution," Cadbury said in a bored tone, "Won't help you this time. Caesar, Slash once more!"
Caesar ran up to Dewott and swiped a scalchop at the newly evolved otter. Dewott took it before a red aura encompassed him and punched Caesar away.
"That was Revenge!" Ash recognized.
Dewott began to glow blue before punching the ground. Water pillars erupted and surrounded Caesar before turning into one large geyser. When the geyser finished, it revealed Caesar to be on his last legs.
"And Water Pledge!" Ash exclaimed. He didn't see Snivy have a faint blush on her face at the newly-evolved Discipline Pokémon with his demeanor. One of confidence and content.
"Alright, Dewott! Let's win this match!" Ash declared.
"As if!" Cadbury snapped, his calm demeanor now replaced with anger. He was not planning to lose this match again. "Caesar, Swords Dance once more then use Hydro Pump!"
Caesar steadily got up and did the attack boosting ritual before giving another expulsion of water.
"Dewott, use your Aqua Jet with your Razor Shell!" The Discipline Pokémon took off in a coat of water and drew his glowing scalchops into blades. Caesar fired his stream towards the incoming Aqua Jet but the Razor Shell managed to deflect the Hydro Pump and the two otters collided with each other, which made dust kick up.
The dust cloud settled and both Dewotts were revealed to be glaring each other…
Before one fainted.
"Cadbury's Dewott is unable to battle, Ash's Dewott is the winner! Therefore, Ash is the victor!"
"Way to go, Dewott!" Ash cheered as Buizel, Pikachu, and Snivy ran to congratulated the Discipline Pokémon.
"Dewott!" the blue otter cried out, feeling satisfied.
Cadbury returned Caesar, "Tch! You got lucky with your win. If we see each other again, I will come out on top!" With that, Cadbury left the Battle Club, fuming about his loss.
Ash just rolled his eyes. He had met dozens of trainers who have reacted the same way but it didn't faze him. He proved them wrong but today's victory had gone to his team.
Buizel and Dewott did a fist-bump, the two mustelids have a more friendly rivalry now the Dewott had slightly matured. Pikachu gave a pat on the back and Snivy gave a nod of satisfaction. The blue otter gave a little wink before thanking his teammates for the encouragement.
Snivy turned away, hiding a blush on her face as she didn't want others to know.
But all in all, today was a victory for Ash's team.