"This is so embarrasing!" Ash whined as they entered the Pastoria City Gym, as his best friend laughed at him. "Do not laugh!" Ash's whined sounded more like something a five yeard-old-boy would say rather than a Dragon Master, but Ash did not care. He was just too embarrassed. "I can't believe we completely skipped Pastoria City! How do I forget about a whole fucking gym?!"
"Language!" Celeste scolded, but was laughing too hard for words to come out of her mouth clearly. "What would Auntie Delia say?"
"Well, it's good to see youngsters having such a good time!" Crasher Wake laughed, making the duo turn towards him startled. "Here for a battle?" Ash could only nod to Wake's question. "Perfect! Unfortunately, it will only be able to be a three vs three battle, I have a wrestling match to get to and can't waste a second!"
"Even if ti was just a single battle I am all for it!" Ash replied, his fire and enthusiasm for battles winning over his embarrassment.
Wake laughed harder at Ash's repsonse. "That's what I like to hear! Come on! Let's get to our positions! I will even give you both tickets for the wrestling match later!"
Celeste smiled at that. "Sweet!"
In the vibrant arena of Pastoria City's Gym, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation as both trainers prepared for battle. With an unwavering resolve, Ash sent forth Nephertite, while Wake's Gyarados emerged with an imposing presence. The aquatic battlefield provided the ideal environment for Nephertite's talents, her Hydration ability thriving in the watery arena. However, Gyarados wasted no time, his jaw snapping shut around Nephertite in a powerful Bite, a testament to his incredible speed and strength. The force of the attack was palpable, but Ash's response was swift and calculated.
"Nephertite, Bide!" Ash's voice rang out with determination, his eyes locked onto the unfolding battle. Nephertite heeded her trainer's command, summoning her inner strength to endure Gyarados' relentless grip. The tension in the air was palpable as the battle raged on. Then, Ash seized a strategic opening, his voice unwavering. "Counter, Nephertite!" he commanded, a glint of strategy in his eyes.
With the precision of a seasoned warrior, Nephertite executed the Counter maneuver. The collision between the two forces sent shockwaves through the battlefield, leaving Gyarados staggered and teetering on the brink of defeat. It was a calculated risk, a testament to Ash's tactical acumen. However, Ash wasn't about to let up. The moment was ripe, and his actions were decisive.
"Life Dew, Nephertite!" Ash's words echoed with authority. Nephertite's eyes glimmered with renewed energy as she summoned the healing properties of Life Dew. The restorative mist enveloped her, rejuvenating her strength and vitality in the blink of an eye. "Llet's end it with Dragon Breath!" Ash's voice carried across the arena, a command of confidence.
With a resounding roar, Nephertite unleashed her move, a torrent of draconic energy enveloping her target. The Dragon Breath connected with unerring accuracy, and the battlefield was bathed in a vivid, breathtaking display of power. Gyarados faltered, his form wavering as the battle reached its climax. The reverberations of the Dragon Breath slowly subsided, leaving an almost eerie silence in its wake. Gyarados, weakened and exhausted, finally succumbed to the combined might of Ash's calculated strategy and Nephertite's unyielding determination.
The referee's voice resonated through the arena, declaring Ash the victor of this intense encounter, making Celeste erupt in applause.
"Now that's a way to end a battle!" Wake laughed, returning his fainted pokemon. "Not bad at all boy! But we are not over yet! Quagsire you are next! Quick, Ice Beam!" Quagsire's Ice Beam pierced the air, a crystalline lance of frigid energy hurtling towards Nephertite. The super-effective move struck with unerring accuracy, causing her to cry out in pain. The icy blast sent shivers down the spines of all who watched. "Don't let up! Keep on firing Ice Beams until the dragon drops!"
Despite the unfavorable situation, Ash's composure didn't waver. His bond with Nephertite was unbreakable, a foundation built on trust and unwavering support. "Hang in there, Nephertite! We've got this!"
His encouraging words echoed through the arena, as the battle raged on. Ice Beam after Ice Beam crashing against Nephertite's resilient form. Each blow seemed to sap her strength, but Ash's steadfast belief in her abilities never wavered. It was in the face of this mounting pressure that something within Nephertite stirred, a determination that ran deeper than any physical pain. As Quagsire readied another Ice Beam, a transformation began to unfold before everyone's astonished eyes. Nephertite's form shimmered and grew, her body evolving, shedding the confines of her former self. And in her place emerged the majestic creature known as Goodra, a powerful pseudo-lengendary Dragon-type pokemon whose very presence radiated strength and resilience.
The newfound energy coursing through Nephertite's veins was palpable. Quagsire's Ice Beam surged towards her, but this time, she was ready. With an agility that belied her size, Nephertite evaded the attack with Substitute, leaving the chilling energy to dissipate harmlessly into the arena.
Ash's grin widened as he seized the moment. "Nephertite, let's show them what you're made of! Body Slam, now!" In a display of sheer power, Nephertite launched herself at Quagsire, her immense form propelling her through the air. The collision reverberated through the battlefield as she slammed into her opponent, the impact echoing the force of her determination. Quagsire staggered under the blow, his defenses strained. But Ash wasn't finished. "Dragon Pulse!"
With a fierce roar, Nephertite summoned her power for her Dragon Pulse. The pulsating energy surged from her, a vortex of draconic might that engulfed Quagsire. The impact was cataclysmic, the very ground quivering beneath the torrent of power. When the energy finally subsided, Quagsire's form laid still, defeated. The referee's voice declared Ash the victor once again, Celeste's cheers reaching a crescendo of applause.
"Sweet girl, well done," Ash praised her pokemon as he caressed her evolved form. "But you know the rules, once you evolve that's it. You need to rest now, leave the rest to us."
Ash beamed at Nephertite as he returned her and paused thinking what to do next. Wake returned his pokemon and sent out his Floatzel for his final pokemon. Meanwhile, Ash was thinking what pokemon to send out next. Nephertite will have a bad time if her cotton-like wings get soaked so she was out, Ladon was part Ground type which also puts him out of the count, and Agni was out of the question being a Fire-type. At the end he decided upon Bruce. As Floatzel bounded onto the battlefield, his eyes gleaming with a competitive fire, took out his next Poke Ball.
"Alright, Bruce, it's your turn!" Ash called out Bruce, who took his position with a determined expression. The bat-like pokemon exuded confidence, wings flexing in anticipation.
Floatzel and Bruce faced each other down, the air almost palpable with tension. The battle commenced with a flurry of movement as Floatzel lunged into action with his ferocious Ice Fang. Bruce met the attack head-on with his own rapid maneuverability, avoiding the icy jaws of his opponent and countering with a punishing Acrobatics attack. The sky seemed to crackle with their kinetic energy as each pokemon gave their all.
Wake's Floatzel was a master of the water, and he unleashed a formidable Whirlpool, drawing water around himself in a torrential maelstrom. The powerful vortex bore down on Bruce, but the Noivern was no rookie. Utilizing his speed and agility, Bruce deftly maneuvered through the swirling currents, his flight almost dance-like in his grace. Then, seizing his moment, Bruce retaliated with a precisely aimed Air Slash, slicing through the air with a blade of cutting wind. The attack struck true, dealing a significant blow to Floatzel's defenses.
However, Wake's Floatzel was not to be underestimated. With a swift Bulk Up, his muscles surged with newfound strength. He charged forward, unleashing a Razor Wind that swept toward Bruce with a deadly edge. The gust ruffled Bruce's fur, but he wasn't fazed. With an impressive Roost, he restored his energy while remaining vigilant, his crimson eyes locked on his opponent.
The battle raged on, each pokemon pushing their limits in a contest of sheer willpower. Bruce's aerial assaults were met with Floatzel's nimble dodges, and Floatzel's powerful attacks were deftly countered by Bruce's strategic maneuvering. It was a dance of skill and strategy, the arena their stage. But as the battle reached its climax, Bruce's energy began to wane. A final clash of Ice Fang and Acrobatics left both pokemon panting, but it was Floatzel who found the last reserves of strength. His Ice Fang gleamed with icy brilliance as he descended upon Bruce, and this time, Bruce's evasive tactics fell short. The super-effective attack struck home, and the mighty Noivern was overcome.
As the referee's voice declared Floatzel the victor, Ash sighed and returned Bruce to his Poke Ball. It had been an incredible first battle for the recently evolved pokemon, but Floatzel had been to much for his dragon. But this was not over yet! He had one last pokemon and they will give it their all!
As Wake's Floatzel bounded forward, Ash's choice became clear. "Aeolus, you're up!" he declared, sending out his majestic Dragonite, Aeolus, to the battlefield. The Dragonite's wings unfurled with a powerful grace, his formidable presence asserting himself.
The two pokemon faced off, the tension palpable. Wake's Floatzel surged into action, propelled by a Water Jet that propelled him towards Aeolus with ferocious speed. However, Aeolus was no ordinary Dragonite. With a burst of energy, he executed an Extreme Speed, vanishing from Floatzel's path in a blur of motion. The water-type pokemon was left bewildered, his assault falling short. Quick on his feet, Floatzel snapped into an Ice Fang attack, jaws agleam with frozen power. But Aeolus was a master of aerial agility, evading the icy jaws with a graceful aerial spin. With the finesse of a true veteran, Aeolus avoided the attack unscathed, his focus unbroken.
Ash seized the advantage his pokemon's speed granted. "Now, Aeolus, Thunder Wave!" he commanded, and Aeolus responded with a crackling burst of electricity that cascaded toward Floatzel. The electric attack found its mark, leaving Floatzel paralyzed and his movements sluggish.
Aeolus pressed his advantage, the gleam in his eyes reflecting his determination. Channeling the charged energy coursing through his fists, he delivered a series of overcharged Thunder Punches that struck with precision, exploiting Floatzel's vulnerability. Each punch surged with power, the electric energy pulsing through the water-type pokemon's body. But Ash was not one to rely solely on one strategy. Aeolus's wings shone with a radiant glow as he gathered energy for a final move. With a triumphant roar, he unleashed a devastating Hyper Beam, a torrent of energy that blazed across the battlefield with unstoppable force. The onslaught was overwhelming, and Floatzel's defenses crumbled beneath the onslaught.
As the Hyper Beam's brilliance faded, Floatzel was left staggering, his strength drained and his resolve faltering. The referee's voice rang out, declaring Aeolus and Ash the victors of this climactic battle. Ash's heart swelled with pride as he watched his Dragonite soar above the battlefield, the embodiment of power and grace.
"Now this has me all pumped up!" Wake laughed, returning his pokemon and heading towards Ash, who was petting Aeolus. "To give you the Fen Badge is my honour," Wake told him as he handed Ash the badge, who received it with pride. Seven down, one to go. "Now, let's get going kids! We've got a wrestling match to get to!"