Part XXXII: Mind Over Matter
Ash and Misty walked up to the entrance of the Saffron Gym holding hands. It had been 3 days since Misty's Contest win and now it was time for Ash's gym challenge against Sabrina. The day before they had gotten word from her, via the Pokémon Center, that the gym would be open today and that Sabrina was expecting them for their full battle. She had even closed the gym for the day just for Ash's challenge. Apparently she was eager to have a full battle. So too was Ash.
"Has the gym changed?" Misty asked as they approached the gym. "Since you were last here like Cerulean and Vermillion have or is this how it looked back when you were last here?"
Misty had decided to just show up in her cheerleader outfit, the new locket tucked under the vest, rather than change at the gym again as this was easier. All her Pokémon had also been dressed before being returned to their Poke Balls and ready to come out as soon as Misty was in the stands watching the match.
The exceptions were Mamoswine due to his size and Piplup who was already dressed and ready on his perch on Misty's head. Her starter had ruined their moment after Ash had given Misty her locket so he was on thin ice but this was for Ash not Misty so she'd let him dress up for the battle. Still, he wasn't getting any Poffins anytime soon until he began to behave himself again.
"Huh?" Ash asked broken from the zone he was in for the battle as they approached, looking at the familiar building. "No it hasn't actually, it is the same as it was the last time. I guess Sabrina has opted to keep it the same over the years."
Ash was right, the gym was still as it had been almost 7 years ago when he had challenged it 3 times so he knew the building well after all he had gone through here. It was a standard circular structure in the center of a park with a wide concrete path leading to it like most of the other gyms they had been too in Kanto. The top of the building was a series odd canopy things that Ash never understood the purpose of held up by funnel shaped pillars that were imbedded into the ground in several points around it. Unlike the last 2 gyms, the Saffron gym hadn't changed one bit.
"Interesting style." Misty mused. "Can't say I've seen a building like it before."
"I never really got what the builder was going for myself." Ash said as the front door opened and an attractive young woman walked out just before they reached it, instantly Misty gave the woman a once over. "Looks like Sabrina is here to great us."
Sabrina was above average height for a women, maybe a few inches taller than Dawn if Misty had to guess at a glance and carried herself with the calm confidence of a gym leader. Her long green hair was cut in an angular fringe with a small notch style in the middle that went with the downward angles of her eyebrows well while the rest of her hair cascaded down her back in a glossy sheet. Her blue eyes were piercing and full of an intensity that made Misty a little uneasy as they focused on Ash and her and that was just her physical appearance.
Sabrina's outfit wasn't something that Misty had ever seen before. Misty was used to seeing plenty odd fashion senses in the world, still Sabrina was up there for oddest choice. She wore long black boots that went all the way up to her thighs, a style that Misty felt looked good on her but not on most women such as on Jessie.
Then there was the military style red tunic skirt thing she wore that was new to Misty. It was a high collared, double-breasted red tunic that fell into a short skirt that likely only just extended past her ass. It was complete with a double row of gold buttons on it and a black stripe down the sides. The red sleeves went all the way down to her wrists, ending in angular black cuffs.
All in all this woman radiated a type of power that Misty couldn't quite place. It was a similar feeling to what Misty felt around psychic type Pokémon but in some ways it was different and much stronger. Regardless, this was clearly a woman not to be messed with.
"I prefer to keep things as they are rather than waste money updating something that is perfectly functional as is." Sabrina said in a soft, light voice that took Misty off guard as she reached them. "I'm sorry, sometimes I hear minds when I am not too focused on something, a drawback of my abilities."
"Hello Sabrina." Ash said with a smile offering her a hand that had just been holding Misty's. "I see you haven't changed much since I was last here though it is nice to hear you speak."
"Physically I haven't changed much but I am much better mentally, thanks to you." Sabrina said ignoring Ash's hand and pulling him into a brief and friendly hug that startled Ash before letting him go quickly and turning to Misty. "No need to be jealous dear, I have no feelings for your boyfriend beyond gratitude for saving me from myself many years ago. I promise you, anything I feel for Ash is purely platonic, not romantic."
"You read that in my mind?" Misty asked confused as she looked at the Saffron City Gym Leader. "Sorry, force of habit after meeting Dawn. That girl triggered all my own insecurities so it will be sometime before I can truly get a handle on them."
"Your face and cute outfit said it, not your mind which I wasn't listening to." Sabrina said with a chuckle. "You're eying me like I might make a move on Ash and you are wearing a cute cheerleading outfit while holding his hand right before he let it go to shake mine. I don't need my psychic powers to tell that you two are a couple."
"Oh." Misty said blinking. "I forgot that sometimes it is pretty obvious. Still getting used to people actually seeing that we are couple rather than just me dealing with my feelings alone."
"When around a psychic people often forget that we are more that are powers, we can do things without out them." Sabrina said as she held out her hand to Misty who took it shook it feeling a lot more at ease with the older woman. "Sabrina, I'm the leader here if you hadn't guessed."
"Misty, as you guessed I'm Ash's girlfriend." Misty said with a sheepish smile. "Sorry for making assumptions."
"It is fair, back when I first met Ash I was like that." Sabrina said dismissively. "I was obsessed with my powers and well they ended up taking control of me rather than me getting control of them. Ash's stubbornness, and a particularly playful Haunter, broke that spell and made me realize just how bad it was. It started the long road of mental recovery for me."
"So you are better?" Ash asked and Sabrina nodded. "That's good, I'm glad to hear that."
"Much batter thank you." Sabrina said smiling warmly at them. "Few are born with my abilities and even my dad wasn't on my level so it was hard for me to control them. They became a drug that I was addicted to so much that it got to the point that I was ruining my own life and my family's. I realized after Haunter made me laugh that there was more to life and that I needed to break the hold the powers had over me. After you left, I took some time off the gym and traveled while my dad ran it so that I could get control on them. It was what I needed to really recover and find that balance I needed between use and abuse of my powers."
"Traveled?" Ash asked confused at basically everything Sabrina was telling him. "Where?"
"A few places that would help me recover and get control over my abilities." Sabrina said a far off look in her eyes as she spoke. "I spent some time in a place called Anistar City out in the Kalos region under the tutelage of Lady Olympia, a psychic type gym leader out there. She was a mentor to me and helped me find the control I was seeking."
"How long did that take?" Ash asked his curiosity peaked by Sabrina's tale.
"A good 2 years." Sabrina admitted. "After that I was well enough to return to Kanto and spent some time with Salon Maiden Anabel in the Battle Tower as she has similar abilities to mine to find the last bit of balance I needed. Only then was I able return home. That was 3 years ago and I have been fine since. I won't lie and say it's not a struggle, any recovering addict would tell you the same thing, but I am in as good a place as I can be which is good. My power is a part of me, I just need to be the one in control, not the other way around."
"So no more turning people into dolls?" Ash asked and Sabrina laughed.
"No more of that." Sabrina said shaking her head. "I learned my lesson and found that while I have tremendous power, it can control me rather than I control it if I dedicate my life to it. Transmutation is the worst aspect of my powers and of all of them it is the one I have never used since you helped me because of how dangerous it is. I needed a balance in life and thanks to you making me realize that I have found it. Now I mix my time as a gym leader and a psychic type teacher helping young psychics learn to control their abilities safely using my own situation as a cautionary tale. I have you to thank for everything."
"I was just a young kid wanting to win his gym badge." Ash said a little embarrassed at all the praise he was getting. "I was just too stubborn for my own good and didn't give up no matter what. I'm nothing special."
"No Ash, you are more than that and deep down you know it even if you can't admit it to yourself." Sabrina said seriously and Misty agreed with that assessment, Ash was special and part of that was his refusal to acknowledge that fact. "I may have only had a series of brief encounters with you last time but you changed me back to who I was before the powers had me in their grip and that was because of who you are. I also saw how you affected your companions and made them better people as well. I doubt that that is where it ends, there are bound to be countless more people who owe you a debt that they can never truly repay."
"You have no idea how true that is." Misty said. "Other than myself I know of dozens of people who Ash has helped and we keep meeting more almost weekly it seems. We have been through so much since we met that nothing surprises me anymore. Ash is a magnet for trouble but also a beacon of hope for so many."
"I do not doubt it." Sabrina said while Ash continued to try and process everything before looking Misty over and lingering on the Pokémon on her head. "Judging by your Piplup, am I safe in assuming that you met Ash in Sinnoh."
"Yes, I'm from Twinleaf Town and met Ash, well actually Pikachu first, on my first day as a trainer a few years back." Misty said while Piplup nodded in confirmation from her head. "We traveled together for a year while I competed in Contests and Ash challenged my region's gyms. Then, after we both made it to our respective competitions and ultimately lost them, we had to part ways. We met again in Unova several months later which was what made us realize how deeply we liked each other so when Ash came to watch me in the Johto Grand Festival we were able to confess that, after some other things pertaining to my loss. We've been together ever since"
"Contests." Sabrina muttered her brow scrunching in thought. "Not my thing but I knew I recognized you Misty. You won the Contest that was held here the other day."
"Correct." Misty said with a nod. "My second ribbon of the season."
"Congratulations, being a coordinator is a challenge in its own right." Sabrina said with honest praise in her voice. "I would love to hear about all of your adventures later, perhaps over dinner after the battle. It would be an honor to host you for the night before you leave Saffron and get to know both of you better."
"After our Pokémon are dropped off at the Pokémon center we would be honored to accept your offer." Ash said and Misty nodded in agreement at the surprise offer. "But only after our battle that is. I need the practice for the Indigo Conference and I am looking forward to facing a trainer like you Sabrina. We never had a real battle last time so I'm really excited for this."
"As I expected, straight to it though the small talk was nice." Sabrina said with a smile. "I too was excited when I got the challenge offer from you a few months ago. The chance for a full battle with the boy who restored my mind is one that I can't pass up. Come on Ash, Misty, let us go to the battlefield."
Sabrina turned and opened the doors to the gym and led them inside. She then led them downstairs and through a series of earthen tunnels with torches in the walls and into the underground battlefield of the Saffron Gym. Misty had to admit, it was certainly not what she was expecting when they entered.
She had not expected the battlefield to be underground with earth walls, torches, alcoves and pillars. There were no stands and the only thing other than the battlefield was a raised dais behind the far end that Sabrina was calmly walking across the battlefield towards. Misty realized that she couldn't bring out her Pokémon and just walked to a corner and set up there. At least there was enough space for her and Piplup to cheer Ash on.
"I am sorry that there is not that much space, I do not like to remodel much though I did remove the throne I had, too many bad memories of the time before I got control." Sabrina said as a door opened and out walked a man in sweatpants, a track sweatshirt, hat and sporting a short brown beard shot with a little gray and walked to the midway point on the side to serve as ref. "Ash, I assume you remember my father, he volunteered to serve as the referee for our match as soon as he heard that you had challenged me."
"Of course, that is fine with me." Ash said with a smile at the man. "Good to see you again sir."
"Thank you Ash and it is great to see you again as well, you look well." Sabrina's father said with a respectful nod at him. "I am glad you are back in town; my whole family owes you a great debt for saving it and reunifying it and saving Sabrina's mind. I hope that this is just the start of that repayment."
"I did think about bringing out my doll from last time but that was a little much." Sabrina said and Ash shuddered at that, he still had the occasional nightmare about that doll in particular. "She'll have tea with us later in the play room where her dollhouse is."
Ash just blinked unsure if Sabrina was serious and hoping to Arceus that she wasn't. Her father just laughed as he took his place as the ref at the midpoint of the battlefield.
"Now Sabrina that is enough mind games." Her father chided as he pulled a pair of flags out for the battle. "Don't want to cause a panic before the battle has even begun now do we."
"I am a psychic and a psychic type master, it is in my best interest to do so daddy." Sabrina said with a slight pout that was clearly staged. "But I concede, I won't bring up my doll again. Well Ash, are you ready cos I sure am. Time to finally have our gym battle, even if this isn't official."
"Oh I am more than ready." Ash said as he pulled out his first Poke Ball. "Bring it Sabrina, I expect your best. Challenge me the way only a gym leader can."
"Same." Sabrina said as she pulled out her own Poke Ball. "I will make sure this a challenge for you, I have no intentions of losing to you."
"Alright the battle between the challenger Ash of Pallet Town and the Saffron City Gym Leader Sabrina is about to begin." Her father said loudly calling the battle to order as Misty pulled her pom poms to her chest ready to start her routine. "As the challenger already has the Marsh Badge this is not an official gym battle but rather an unofficial challenge issued by Ash to Sabrina which she has accepted. The terms are as follows. This will be a full 6 on 6 battle that will only end when one trainer is out of Pokémon. As this isn't official both trainers will be allowed to substitute at will. Is this acceptable?"
"Yes." Both Ash and Sabrina said in unison.
"Good then on my command." Her father said raising his flags before bringing them down. "Begin!"
"Dratini, I choose you!" Ash said sending out his newest Pokémon for its first ever battle.
"Kadabra, mental fortitude!" Sabrina said sending out a very familiar looking Kadabra.
"Is that the same…?" Ash asked as the Psi Pokémon materialized in front of him.
"Yup he's same as the one you faced three times before, even if he started out as an Abra." Sabrina said with a nod. "Kadabra and I have been through a lot together due to our close bond so I had to start with him. We have traveled and healed together. Part of that healing is that I no longer use my abilities to link with my Pokémon so this will be a proper battle this time. I don't have the control to use that skill again, only Anabel has that level of control and she couldn't teach it to me."
"Alright, finally." Ash said with a grin as he got into his battle zone. "Dratini, start this off with Dragon Rage!"
"Dodge with Teleport." Sabrina said calmly.
Dratini opened his mouth and spewed out his Dragon Rage. After some training they had gotten the attack faster so it didn't need to be built up as much but that had been more a consequence of helping train Misty's Gloom rather than actually focusing on Dratini. That showed as it wasn't fast enough as Kadabra teleported away before it hit. Ash grimaced but he remembered this strategy from last time.
"Dratini, it will reappear behind you." Ash called out. "Use Agility to go forward and build up our speed for a counter attack."
Dratini did just that rushing forward and boosting its speed with the move just as Kadabra appeared behind where it had been moments before. Sabrina smiled; she had wanted to use it to attack from behind but Ash had remembered from before, clearly he learned from his losses.
"Kadabra, Psybeam!" Sabrina ordered.
"Kadabra." Kadabra said as he sent out the psychic type attack right at Dratini.
"Dratini, dodge it and close the distance to Kadabra with agility." Ash ordered and Dratini turned and used Agility again, boosting his speed once more and closing the gap with Kadabra faster than Sabrina was expecting. "Now use Slam!"
Dratini's speed was much faster after two uses of Agility so Kadabra didn't have time to react. Dratini rammed himself into Kadabra's face with his Slam attack sending it back a few passed but not doing much damage to the psychic type. That had only been part of Ash's plan though, he just needed to be close to Kadabra so that it couldn't dodge.
"Now Dratini, bite down on it and use Thunderbolt." Ash ordered.
"Kadabra, Teleport back to me!" Sabrina yelled trying to get Kadabra out of the way.
Dratini did just that, clamping his jaws down on Kadabra's wrist as the Psi Pokémon used Teleport to get away but with Dratini still attached. Dratini used that time to build the charge in his body and as soon as Kadabra materialized in front of Sabrina he let go and unleashed the Thunderbolt at point blank range right into Kadabra's chest.
Kadabra had no way of dodging it and roared in pain as the shockwave hit it cleanly. It wasn't powerful enough to knock him out but it certainly did a fair bit of damage to the Psi Pokémon, enough that it wouldn't be able to take many more clean hits.
"Kadabra through it off with Psychic and then use Recover." Sabrina ordered and Ash swore at that, he hadn't been expecting it.
The problem with being so close was that Dratini was just as unable to dodge as Kadabra was. That was why Kadabra was able to easily pick up Dratini and hurled him backwards with psychic type power. Dratini crashed on the ground and rolled towards Ash for a bit before recovering and getting to its belly shaken but not too badly damaged.
Kadabra had fallen to one knee and begun his Recovery move to regain some health in the moment he had. Ash saw this as his opening and wasn't going to waste it.
"Now Dratini, Dragon Rage!" Ash ordered. "End this!"
"Yes let's end this." Sabrina said with a smile that Ash didn't like as the rage grew in Dratini before it suddenly shot out. "Now, Psychic! Stop the attack."
"Kadabra!" Kadabra yelled as he raised his spoon free hand in preparation.
It was close but at the last-minute Recover ended and he caught the attack with his Psychic. Kadabra then twisted it around him to keep its momentum as Sabrina got ready to finish the counter attack.
"Throw it back!" Sabrina ordered. "Full speed! Make sure that Dratini can't dodge it."
Kadabra had been expecting this and continued his pivot before launching Dratini's attack right back at him. Dratini's eyes went wide in fear as his own move came back at him, now super effective as it was a dragon type move. It wasn't what he had expected to happen when he had attacked his opponent.
"Dratini, dodge!" Ash ordered but it was too late.
Either because of the speed of the counter or Dratini's fear, Ash wasn't sure which, Dratini wasn't able to get out of the way in time. The move hit him full on and bathed him in the Dragon Rage. Between thee supper effective nature of the Dragon Rage and the Psychic attack earlier it was all too much for the Dratini and he fainted. When the blue fire of the attack cleared, Dratini was on his side on the now slightly blackened ground of the battlefield with swirls for eyes.
"Dratini is unable to battle." Sabrina's father declared raising a flag towards Sabrina. "The winner is Kadabra."
"Dratini return." Ash said brining back Dratini to its Poke Ball. "You did great, we will work on this in future as we will face plenty dragon type attacks. This is why facing Psychic types is a challenge because the good ones, those that are as well trained as Sabrina's Kadabra, can do that."
"Pikachu." Pikachu said tugging Ash's pants and Ash looked down at his companion who pointed first to himself and then to Kadabra. "Pika, Pikachu."
"You want to face that Kadabra again?" Ash asked and Pikachu nodded. "Alright get in there. this time we will beat it at last."
"Pikachu." Pikachu said determinedly as he ran out onto the battlefield, at least he would beat this damned Kadabra as it was one of the few opponents who had bested him multiple times. "Pika Pikachu."
"Kadabra." Kadabra said with a challenging gesture at Pikachu as it smirked at him.
"I see that Kadabra wants this as well." Sabrina said with a grin. "Who am I to deny him this battle, it is as if the fates have decided that these two will meet for a fourth time. Alright, let's finish what was started so many years ago Ash."
"Let's, Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash ordered before Sabrina could move and Pikachu instantly sped up and ran full pelt at Kadabra.
"Teleport!" Sabrina said and Kadabra vanished as soon as Pikachu arrived however Ash was expect this classic move by Sabrina and had a counter planned.
"Pikachu, stop and use Thunderbolt on the battlefield." Ash said. "Aim for where you think Kadabra will reappear."
"What?" Sabrina asked confused as Pikachu leapt into the air.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled as he leapt up and sent his Thunderbolt into the battlefield somewhere near where he had started as that was where he expected his old rival to show up.
The timing was a little off as Kadabra had reappeared before Pikachu's attack made contact with the ground but as he was not near the attack he thought he was safe. However he hadn't expected the effects of a Thunderbolt hitting the battlefield with no Pokémon to take the hit. A small crater was formed by the explosion that cracked the ground and sent earth everywhere in the process. One of the cracks caused Kadabra to stumble off balance and Ash saw the opening he needed.
"Iron Tail!" Ash ordered as Pikachu landed on the battlefield. "Quickly before Kadabra recovers!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said running towards Kadabra and leaping in the air as he turned his tail to Iron and bringing it down right onto Kadabra before Kadabra could steady himself or Sabrina get out a command.
The steel type attack struck Kadabra in the center of his forehead and drove him into the ground due to the angle of the attack. Normally the steel type move would have little effect on the psychic type but after taking plenty of damage from Dratini it was just enough to defeat Kadabra.
Pikachu flipped off Kadabra and ran back to Ash but staying in range for an attack on Kadabra if it got up. As the dust settled the results were clear however. Kadabra was on his back, limps splayed and with swirls for eyes. At last Pikachu had beaten it.
"Kadabra is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu." Sabrina's father said raising a flag towards Ash while Pikachu celebrated.
"Kadabra return." Sabrina said with a smile. "You did well, that was an unexpected move for us to face. It seems Ash has really grown since we last fought as I expected. At last his Pikachu beat you."
"Alright Pikachu, you da Pokémon!" Misty said cheering him knowing how important it had been for him to win against Kadabra. "Tie it up for Ash! You guys got this! Time to take the lead!"
"Pikachu." Pikachu said confidently as he looked at Sabrina awaiting a new opponent.
"You want to stay in buddy?" Ash asked and Pikachu nodded seriously, he had failed her before, he had a score to settle against this gym leader and he would do so today. "Alright let's do this."
"We shall see." Sabrina said as she pulled out her second Poke Ball so for the first time Ash would see her use a different Pokémon and he had no idea what to expect. "Mr. Mime, mental fortitude!"
Sabrina sent out her second Pokémon and it was one that Ash was very familiar with. A Mr. Mime appeared in front of Sabrina with a more serious expression on its face that Ash's. This one was a battler, not a helper like his, and was ready for the fight. Ash grinned, he was going to enjoy this.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash called out.
"Pikachu." Pikachu said as he put on a burst of speed and charged at the Mr. Mime.
"Mr. Mime, timing is key, so on my command." Sabrina said and Mr. Mime closed its eyes and trusted its trainer as Pikachu closed in on it. "Now! Barrier!"
"Mime!" Mr. Mime yelled opening his eyes and thrusting his hands wide, right in front of Pikachu.
Pikachu didn't see anything but that was the point of the defensive move. Mr. Mime had created an invisible barrier between it and Pikachu that raised its own defense. It was also a physical barrier that Pikachu proceeded to run headlong into at full speed. It didn't fully stop him but it did slow him down so when he made contact with Mr. Mime the damage was minimal at best. It was also enough to slow him down for Mr. Mime to counter before Pikachu could dodge.
"Double Slap!" Sabrina ordered.
"Mr. Mime!" Mr. Mime said as his hands glowed and he slapped Pikachu in the face before he could react.
The attack hit Pikachu 3 times before Pikachu was able to break away and retreat. Unfortunately his Static ability didn't kick in this time so he hadn't even been able to give Mr. Mime a parting gift. Ash grimaced and decided to try something else.
"Pikachu Electro Ball!" Ash called out.
"Dodge and use Confusion." Sabrina said as Pikachu formed the electric type attack at the tip of his tail.
Mr. Mime didn't say anything, only dove out of the way as Pikachu's attack was launched at it. The ball missed it by inches as Mr. Mime's eyes glowed and the kinetic force shot out of it and slammed into Pikachu. Pikachu was thrown back with a yelp of pain and hit the ground hard rolling a little before he came to a stop. Ash didn't need to see Pikachu stand up to know something was wrong.
As soon as Pikachu stood he was all over the place and his eyes weren't normal but neither were they swirls. Ash swore, he knew what that look meant. It meant that Pikachu was confused and as such he would be unreliable until he snapped out of it. Fortunately a withdraw would allow Pikachu to recover.
"Pikachu return." Ash called out before Sabrina could get a move off.
"Halt Mr. Mime." Sabrina ordered raising her hand to end any potential attack. "Let Ash recall Pikachu first. I assume that you won't use his Poke Ball given how he is always out."
"Pikachu doesn't like it." Ash confirmed as he ran onto the battlefield and picked up his starter just as he had done against Forrest. "So this will do. Thanks for allowing it."
"Of course." Sabrina said with a nod as Ash returned to his side and gently put Pikachu down before pulling out his next Poke Ball. "Rest buddy, I will use you again soon. Alright Swellow, I choose you."
Ash threw out the Poke Ball as he spoke. Seconds later it burst open and his Hoenn flying type materialized with a caw of challenge as it narrowed its eyes at Mr. Mime. So this was its opponent. Very well, it was going to win again and boast to the other birds Ash had that it was the best. Staraptor had tied with a Jolteon while Noctowl had failed completely. Pidgeot hadn't so already the bar was set, Swellow was going to soar over it before Unphezant could and make sure that she knew how high it was when Ash called upon her.
"Interesting choice." Sabrina said looking at Ash's third Pokémon. "More agile but neither of us have a type advantage so this will come down to skill and tactics. Very well, Mr. Mime, Double Slap!"
"Dodge and counter with Aerial Ace!" Ash called out.
"Swellow." Swellow cawed as Mr. Mime ran at it, its hands glowing.
Swellow easily dodged the attack with its superior mobility and then sped up, spinning in the close confines of the gym but using as much of the area as it could before coming in low for the attack. Mr. Mime stood no chance as Swellow made contact with Barrier Pokémon's gut, lifting it off its feet and sending it flying and then crashing down to the battlefield. It didn't do that much damage but it was enough to be noticeable. Still, Sabrina was ready for it.
"Mr. Mime put our training to good use, Psychic!" Sabrina ordered while Mt. Mime was still in the air.
Mr. Mime's eyes and hand turned blue and caught the soaring Swellow in its power even as it hit the ground and skidded to a stop, Swellow was unable to break free of its hold. Ash had to admit, that Mr. Mime was good, all his could do was sweep, cook, clean and dislike Brock.
"Mr. Mime!" Mr. Mime said as it got to its feet, Swellow still in its grip, and then slammed the Swallow Pokémon into the ground hard, dazing Swellow from the impact.
"Swellow get up and use Double Team!" Ash called as Swellow struggled to get up after the attack.
"Finish this Mr. Mime." Sabrina said knowing she had the advantage. "Thunder."
"A Mr. Mime can use Thunder?" Ash asked surprised at the move. "That's not good."
Ash was right, it wasn't good. Mr. Mime yelled and created the powerful electric type attack. Swellow was still dazed and unable to dodge or use Double Team yet so the attack hit it dead in the back and against a flying type it was super effective. When the dust settled Swellow was lying on the ground with swirls for eyes and wings stretched out to either side. It was defeated.
"Swellow is unable to battle." Sabrina's father declared raising a flag towards Sabrina. "The winner is Mr. Mime."
"Mime." Mr. Mime said happily as it mimed a celebration as Ash returned his Pokémon.
"You did great Swellow, take a good long rest." Ash said with a smile and then he felt a tug on his pants again and looked down to see Pikachu there back in fighting shape and ready to end this for him. "You feeling better Pikachu?"
"Pika." Pikachu said with a nod, his resolve to win again for Ash firm in his mind. "Pikachu."
"Alright then get in there and win this." Ash said with a smile as Pikachu once again ran onto the battlefield. "You got this buddy."
"Mr. Mime, you know you can handle Pikachu." Sabrina said confidently. "Stay in and win then you can rest, no point in bringing out someone new when you are still fresh enough to win."
"Mr. Mime." Mr. Mime agreed with a nod.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack." Ash said already thinking of what to do. "Wait for my instructions."
Pikachu trusted Ash and ran right at Mr. Mime. Sabrina just smiled, it was the same as before and she knew what to do. Pikachu wasn't going to beat a another Pokémon of hers.
"Mr. Mime, Barrier." Sabrina said with a smile. "Stop it again."
"That's what I was waiting for." Ash said triumphantly causing Sabrina's smile to falter as Mr. Mime made the barrier again. "Now Pikachu, jump over it and use Iron Tail."
"Pikachu." Pikachu said as he leapt high and cleared the barrier before turning his tail to steel and bringing it down onto Mr. Mime's head just as he had done with Kadabra.
What happened next surprised everyone present. Ash's plan had been to stun Mr. Mime with the steel type move that wasn't going to be that effective against a psychic type Pokémon but would stagger it. Then he was going to beat it with a Thunderbolt at point blank range for the win. Sabrina was more impressed that Ash had used her defense to keep her Mr. Mime in place so she had to take the hit, which she expected would annoy Mr. Mime but not do much more.
What actually happened was as soon as the attack struck Mr. Mime it let out a yell of pain before it was driven into the ground hard with little resistance. That shouldn't have happened unless it was super effective which it wasn't supposed to be but apparently it was given how Mr. Mime had reacted to it.
Even Pikachu was shocked as Mr. Mime crumpled almost immediately and he hit the ground looking over to see what had happened. Mr. Mime was just lying there with swirls for eyes while Sabrina's jaw was on the floor in shock at the sudden success of the attack.
"Mr. Mime is unable to battle." Her father said after a moment to recover but still too shocked to raise a flag. "Pikachu is the winner."
"You go Pikachu, keep it up." Misty cheered not really clear as to what the surprise was as she didn't have steel or psychic type Pokémon or use their moves so it wasn't something that she knew well. "You and Ash will win this. Go Pikachu, go! Win another one for Ash!"
"Mr. Mime return." Sabrina said still a little shocked from what she had witnessed as Pikachu ran back to Ash to await his next opponent, he wasn't backing out of this battle just yet, not after two victories to his name so far. "You did great, none of us know what just happened to you."
"Yeah that shouldn't have worked." Ash said not complaining that it had worked but as perplexed as Sabrina was at the sudden victory. "I didn't think steel type moves did that to a pure psychic type like Mr. Mime."
"They shouldn't do that." Sabrina said shaking her head. "But I guess Mr. Mime was more injured than I thought. That's the only explanation I can come up with as to why you won. It must have been like with Kadabra, your earlier Pokémon inflicted enough damage for Pikachu's Iron Tail to tip the scales."
"Well its out so we are tied again, bring on your next Pokémon." Ash said with a grin getting Sabrina back into the battle. "I can't wait for what you still have for me."
"Oh I will, time to remind you who the gym leader here is Ash." Sabrina said fully recovering from the earlier surprise as she pulled out her third Poke Ball and got back into the battle. "Slowbro, mental fortitude!"
Sabrina tossed out her latest Pokémon. The ball broke open and a pink bipedal Pokémon with a dumb but happy expression on its face and a conical shell with eyes that had once been a Shellder on its tail appeared. Ash had to admit, he wasn't expecting this Pokémon but then he remembered that it was a duel water and psychic type that he thought Sabrina might use, but didn't expect, so it made sense for her to use it.
"Alright Pikachu, we got this." Ash said with a grin. "Thunderbolt!"
"Type advantage won't win against me Ash, I am not a gym leader for nothing." Sabrina said with a grin. "Slowbro, dodge it and then use Surf."
"Slow." Slowbro said lazily as it calmly stepped aside and avoided the bolt of electricity that had been sent at it.
Slowbro wasn't the brightest Pokémon out there, Ash knew that, but somehow its lack of brainpower allowed it to do simple things like move out of the way of a lightning bolt at the last minute with no apparent effort. Then Slowbro raised its arms and a wave of water formed that covered the width of the battlefield with it on top of it. There was no way for Pikachu to dodge it so Ash would have to do the next best thing.
"Pikachu, break it up with Electro Ball." Ash ordered . "That should at least do some damage."
"Get off the wave." Sabrina countered. "You don't need to be on it."
Pikachu obeyed by forming and sending out the ball of electricity from the top of his tail. However Slowbro simply jumped backwards and off the wall of water as ordered before the Electro Ball hit it. The attack charged the water but did nothing to Slowbro as it wasn't in contact with it but it did leave Pikachu at the mercy of the attack. All Pikachu could do was hunker down and let the water type attack hit him knowing that it wouldn't do as much damage against him as it would others due to his type advantage.
The force of the attack still rocked Pikachu a far bit and sent him spinning into the air. That was apparently what Sabrina had been waiting for as Pikachu was temporarily unable to do anything while he was trying to recover and that was when the gym leader gave her next command.
"Slowbro, Psychic." Sabrina ordered using what Ash was starting to assume was her signature move. "Throw Pikachu into the far wall."
"Slowbro." Slowbro said lazily as the Shellder on its tail bit down hard and its eyes went blue.
Before Pikachu could react Slowbro had grabbed him with the psychic type attack, stopped his current movement and thrown Pikachu backwards with kinetic force. Pikachu had already taken plenty of damage from his earlier battle with Mr. Mime, this was just the final straw. He slammed into the wall behind Ash at full speed and stuck there for a second before peeling off it and falling to the ground as a cloud of dust was created. When it cleared, Pikachu was lying at the base of the wall with swirls for eyes.
"Pikachu is unable to battle." Sabrina's father said raising the correct flag to indicate his decision. "The winner is Slowbro."
"Stay Ash, I'll get him and look after him." Misty said before Ash could move, throwing down her pom poms and running to Pikachu so that he didn't have to move. "Stay focused on the battle and win it babe."
"Thanks." Ash said with a smile as he turned back to Sabrina who was smiling warmly at the exchange.
"Ah young love, something I alas missed out on because of my obsession with my power." Sabrina said sadly. "Oh well, there is time now that I am better to find the right person for me. Anyway, I told you Ash, type advantage won't always work against me. That is the beauty of psychic types, you have to have the advantage against that to have the edge not an advantage on the other type."
"I saw that but I want to test that as any good challenger would." Ash said as he pulled out his third Poke Ball. "One win is good, but can you repeat it? Bayleef, I choose you."
Ash threw out his 4th Pokémon. The ball burst and his second stage Johto grass type starter burst out with a delighted cry. She was happy to be there and fighting for her Ash again. Of course the scent of her rival, Ash's human mate, was present as well and in heat but Bayleef was going to ignore it as she had been forced to do while traveling except when she had aided Piplup in keeping her away from Ash. There was a moronic looking Pokémon to battle and show to Ash that she deserved the title of his favorite Pokémon.
"A Bayleef, that is an advantage over Slowbro's water type again but as I said, that will only take you so far." Sabrina said with a smile. "I have a counter for grass types. Slowbro, Ice Beam."
"Bayleef dodge and use Razor Leaf!" Ash called out as Slowbro opened its mouth and formed the ice type attack. "Don't let the ice make contact."
"Bayleef." Bayleef said easily diving out of the way as the ice shot at her.
While Bayleef dodged the Ice Beam it did result in a patch of ice behind her. As she was dodging, she spun the leaf on her head at the same time and sent out a series of small spinning leaves that would be super effective against Slowbro if they hit. Sabrina wasn't going to let that happen.
"Slowbro, stop them with Psychic and throw them back." Sabrina said. "Show Ash why psychic types are the best."
"Slowbro." Slowbro said slowly and held out a hand as the Shellder clamped down on its tail again.
The Hermit Crab Pokémon's eyes went blue and a blue light covered its hand. As the leaves reached it, Slowbro's attack made contact causing them to glow blue and stopped dead in the air. Slowbro then pushed them back right at Bayleef with as much force as it could muster.
"Bayleef, knock them down with Vine Whip." Ash ordered, he wasn't going to fall for this shit again.
"Bayleef." Bayleef said as she sent out her vines from her neck right at the returning leaves just as Ash had ordered her to do.
It wasn't a challenge for Bayleef's abilities. She easily batted the leaves down and away with her vines as if they were nothing. However that had all been part of Sabrina's overall plan, it was just a distraction to open up Bayleef for a different attack.
"Slowbro, Ice Beam again." Sabrina ordered. "Don't expect the same trick twice Ash, I can always change them up to keep you guessing."
"Slow." Slowbro said as it opened its mouth and sent out another Ice Beam at Bayleef.
Bayleef didn't see the attack until it was too late as she had been batting away her own returned Razor Leaf. The powerful and super effective attack followed the leaves and before Bayleef could even process the new threat it hit her cleanly in the chest. She wailed in pain as she was thrown back and hit the ground hard and skidded backwards. She was hurt and pretty badly but she wasn't out of it yet.
"Come on Bayleef, I know you can do it." Ash said encouragingly. "Get up and use Razor Leaf again!"
"Slowbro, Psychic." Sabrina said calmly. "This time use the ground and don't let up."
"Slowbro." Slowbro said as it was bitten again by the Shellder on its tail and its attack happened.
The blue light filled its eyes and hand and then engulfed Bayleef and she was lifted off the ground before she could react or attack. Slowbro then slammed Bayleef down and into the ground hard.
"Bayleef." Bayleef wailed in pain but couldn't break the hold as she was raised up into the air again.
"Bayleef hold in there!" Ash yelled pouring his love and support for his Pokémon into his words. "I know you can do it; I believe in you!"
"Bayleef!" Bayleef yelled back as she felt the connection to her trainer and love for him, holding as best she could against the attack as she was slammed into the ground again.
She could feel the support Ash had for her, the belief he had in her abilities and she knew he loved her just as she loved him. That gave Bayleef the resolve she needed, she wasn't going to fail her trainer today. Bayleef was strong, she was going to win for Ash and for herself because she certainly wasn't going to lose to a Pokémon as stupid as a Slowbro. Her love for her trainer was the final thing she needed as she felt the change begin within her and gave into it for the second time in her life.
"Bayleef!" Bayleef said as the change began and she suddenly glowed white in midair.
"What!" Sabrina said her eyes wide as Slowbro's attack stopped out of shock. "It's evolving!"
"I don't believe it." Misty said her cheer routine stopping for a moment as her jaw fell open. "Ash really does know how to get the best out of his Pokémon when he really needs it."
"Yes!" Ash said triumphantly as Bayleef grew in size, her leaf splitting into two antennae on her head and a flower sprouting at the base of her neck. "Now we are even after your Abra evolved the first time we faced off Sabrina."
"Meganium!" Meganium said happily the while light receding and showing that she was a vibrant green color with a pink flower around her neck as fell to the ground, landing on her feet and ready to continue. "Meganium."
"Alright Meganium you evolved." Ash said jumping in the air. "I knew you had it in you."
"Meganium!" Meganium yelled as she flicked her head and sent out a single, strange leaf at Slowbro.
"What was that?" Ash asked. "That's has to be a new move but I have no idea what it is."
"Magical Leaf." Sabrina answered as she pushed her latest surprise in this battle to the side to focus on what was actually happening. "Dodge it Slowbro."
"Slowbro." Slowbro said slowly as it sidestepped the grass type attack just as it had with Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
The leaf spun past the water and psychic type and then stopped dead in the air before coming back right at Slowbro. Slowbro didn't even see the super effective attack until it was hit by it between its shoulder blades and sent flying forward and face planting on the ground, skidding forward.
"Alright it's one of those attacks that apparently doesn't miss." Ash said with a grin. "Finish this with Body Slam!"
"Meganium." Meganium said as she leapt high in the air and came crashing down onto Slowbro with her entire weight before it could recover.
Bayleef landed hard on the downed Pokémon's back causing its eyes to go wide in shock and its tongue to shoot out of its mouth as it was crushed between Meganium and ground. Meganium then leapt off Slowbro and pulled out her vines just in case Ash ordered a Vine Whip to finish it but it wasn't necessary. Slowbro's eyes were already swirls as it lay on the ground with its tongue out and limbs splayed.
"Slowbro is unable to battle." Sabrina's father declared raising a flag towards Ash. "The winner is Meganium."
"Slowbro return." Sabrina said with a smile at the Poke Ball. "You did well, looks like Ash's Pokémon evolve for him as well in battle. He's right, he got me back for our first battle. I should have expected it but I didn't and it cost us that match."
"Go Meganium…" Misty began before Meganium glared daggers at her.
"Meganium." Meganium said to her trainer's mate and rival for his attention shaking her head at the human female that she didn't like. "Meganium."
"I am trying to praise you." Misty shouted back but Meganium shook her head again and began to extend a vine towards her. "Fine be that way I won't praise you. Why in Arceus's name do I have to deal with this. Humans are bad enough, how does a Pokémon get a crush on her trainer."
"Meganium." Meganium said with a nod of victory over her rival as she trotted back over to Ash and stoop in front of him ready to continue and keep winning for him.
"Um what was that about?" Sabrina asked confused as she pulled out her fourth Poke Ball. "I've never seen a Pokémon act like that."
"I don't know." Ash said with a shrug. "Meganium is my only Pokémon that hasn't warmed up to Misty yet and I have no idea why."
"Yeah because she's jealous that I'm your mate." Misty muttered but Ash didn't hear it. "Thanks Dawn, the best thing you taught me is to be able to spot a jealous bitch when there is one."
"There will be a reason, likely due to Misty being your girlfriend if I had to guess. Just give it time and they will get along." Sabrina said though Misty doubted that she and Meganium would ever see eye to eye. "Shall we continue?"
"Yes, it's 3 to 3 so whole new battle for the second half of it." Ash said with a grin. "Meganium, you good to continue?"
"Meganium." Meganium said confidently. She had just evolved; she was stronger now and was going to continue to show that to Ash. "Meganium."
"Alright send out your 4th Sabrina." Ash said. "Let's see who you have for me to beat next."
"It's your turn to face a type disadvantage Ash, time to show me what kind of trainer you are." Sabrina said with a grin as she threw out the Poke Ball. "Jynx, mental fortitude!"
The Human Shape Pokémon materialized in front of Ash with a sing of her name in greeting. The odd looking, purple humanoid Pokémon stood in front of Ash with her hands wide and ready for battle. Ash grinned, this was part of what he was hoping for with his challenges, a type disadvantage to overcome. Jynx was an ice type as well as a psychic type so she had an edge over a grass type. This would be a good challenge for Meganium.
"Alright Meganium, let's start this off with a guaranteed hit." Ash said. "Magical Leaf!"
"Jynx, you can't dodge that so brace for impact and then counter." Sabrina said as Bayleef whipped her head and sent out the odd leaf that was Magical Leaf.
"Jynx." Jynx said as she braced herself for the impending attack.
The Magical Leaf slammed into Jynx's chest and sent her staggering back a few paces. It did some damage but nowhere near enough to take Jynx out of the battle in one hit.
"Good now Jynx, Blizzard!" Sabrina countered. "Spread it out so that Meganium can't dodge it."
"Jynx." Jynx said as she opened her mouth and sent out a stream of ice right at Meganium.
Blizzard wasn't the most accurate attack but if it hit it would do a lot of damage, enough to almost certainly take out Meganium. However Jynx didn't direct the Blizzard directly at Meganium but rather spread it out across the battlefield as it came out of her mouth. It was now almost impossible to dodge and Meganium just had to deal with it as she shivered and took some damage from the attack but not as much as if she had been hit head on.
"Meganium hold in there and use Headbutt." Ash said as Meganium grimaced in pain. "Plow through the ice. I know that you can do it!"
"Meganium!" Meganium yelled as she lowered her head and charged at Jynx.
"Jynx, on my command." Sabrina said as Meganium charged, waiting for the right moment before giving her order. "Now, Ice Punch!"
"Jynx!" Jynx yelled closing her right fist and encasing it in ice before punching it out right as Meganium reached her with her lowered head.
The super effective attack made contact with Meganium's head right as she reached Jynx. Meganium didn't even have a chance to wail in pain. She was out cold before she was thrown back and crashed into the ground, skidding all the way back to stop just in front of Ash. As she did the Blizzard cleared and revealed Meganium a few feet from Ash with swirls for eyes.
"Meganium is unable to battle." Sabrina's father declared raising a flag towards Sabrina. "Jynx is the winner."
"Meganium return." Ash said as he recalled his newly evolved Pokémon. "You did great by evolving and beating Slowbro, Jynx was a tough matchup and one we will learn from when dealing with ice types. We will get better don't worry."
"Jynx, you still good?" Sabrina asked her Pokémon.
"Jynx." Jynx said with a nod.
"Alright stay in then as you didn't take any damage." Sabrina said. "Ok Ash, who's next for me to beat?"
"My last two have type advantages but my next one has a type disadvantage as well so this will be interesting." Ash said as he pulled out his 5th Pokémon. "Infernape, I choose you!"
Ash threw out the Poke Ball as he spoke. It burst open and the fully evolved Sinnoh fire starter materialized from ball ready to fight. Infernape grinned ready to once again show its trainer just how strong it was in battle. It had a well-earned reputation as one of Ash's top Pokémon, winning here would further its prestige as it chased Charizard for the top spot.
"Interesting choice." Sabrina said looking at the fire and fighting type. "I see you like to keep the regions mixed, a wise strategy as I am not the most familiar with the Sinnoh Pokémon. I have never had the chance to visit the region but I have faced enough Pokémon native to Misty's home region to know how good they are."
"In a battle one must always be ready for anything." Ash said with a grin. "And I have a lot of Pokémon to train for the Indigo Conference so I want to keep the gym leaders on their toes. Infernape is both a fire and fighting type so we both have an advantage and disadvantage in this matchup, effectively they are canceled out in my book."
"I like that, any trainer should be tested no matter what their position is." Sabrina said in complete agreement glad that Ash was challenging here. "Very well let's see which type advantage prevails. Jynx Psychic!"
"Infernape, dodge it with Dig." Ash said as Jynx's eyes turned blue with the only move that Sabrina had kept consistent with all of her Pokémon. "We won't let that attack hit one of us again."
Infernape instantly dove into the ground just before the attack would have hit it, becoming the first of Ash's Pokémon to evade the classic psychic type move. Infernape began to dig under the ground as it made its way towards where Jynx was.
"Jynx be alert and ready with an Ice Punch." Sabrina ordered taking a back foot as she scanned the battlefield for where Infernape might attack from. "Then strike when it bursts out."
"Clever, time for something risky and stupid." Ash said as Jynx readied the Ice Punch and trusting that Infernape was in the right place for Ash to once again use an out of the box strategy. "Infernape, use Flare Blitz from underground, now!"
"What!" Sabrina said her eyes wide as the ground beneath a now shocked Jynx began to melt.
Before either could react, Infernape shot out of the ground encased in fire. Infernape had been right below Jynx, right about to use Dig when Ash had changed the order at the last minute and despite being underground, Infernape hadn't hesitated in attacking. It was something it had done before, though not exactly like this, and would do again for Ash.
The super effective fire type attack slammed into Jynx from beneath here and lifted her off her feet and into the air on the top of Infernape's powerful attack, the Flame Pokémon taking recoil damage in the process. There was no way to stop it as Jynx slammed into the ceiling, pinned there by Infernape and taking more damage in the process. Then she began to fall back to the ground and Ash had one last attack to ensure that Jynx was defeated.
"Finish it with Mach Punch." Ash ordered.
In a flash that was almost too fast to see, Infernape punched Jynx in the chest as she fell fast him too injured to dodge or do much of anything. The force of the blow sent Jynx flying down and right into the still hot hole that Infernape's attack had created as Infernape fell back down and landed by the hole with its usual grace.
The force of Jynx hitting the bottom of the hole sent shockwaves through the ground and dust and steam into the air as her colder body cooled the ground rapidly. When it had settled Infernape was looking down on a spread eagled Jynx, her mouth open and swirls for eyes.
"Jynx is unable to battle." Sabrina's father said raising a flag towards Ash. "The winner is Infernape."
"Alright way to go Infernape!" Misty cheered as the Pokémon returned to Ash's side of the battlefield, feeling the recoil of Flare Blitz but otherwise fine from its latest victory. "You continue to prove Paul wrong with your continued growth."
"Jynx return." Sabrina said recovering from the swift series of events that had defeated her Pokémon before she could even think of a counter. "That was unexpected and unorthodox, we couldn't have predicted that in our training for this battle. Take a good long rest girl, you earned it. Not bad Ash, that was not something I thought could be done."
"Yeah thinking outside the box is something I often do." Ash said smiling widely at the success of the move. "Been doing so since my second battle with Surge shortly before we met. We've done something similar to that before but never in the form of a direct attack like that. I wasn't sure if it would work but it did so I'm not complaining."
"Well I must commend you on taking me by surprise but it won't work again now that I know what to look for." Sabrina said as she threw out her 5th Pokémon. "Alakazam, mental fortitude."
Kadabra's evolved form burst forth and stood calmly in front of Sabrina, both of its spoons at the ready. Infernape looked at the Psi Pokémon and knew at once that it was a strong final stage Pokémon, one worthy of its skills and whose defeat by Infernape's hands would further increase his reputation back at the ranch. Infernape grunted a challenge at the psychic type who just calmly stared back at it not rising to the bait.
"You want to continue?" Ash asked and Infernape looked back at Ash and nodded with a wicked grin on its face. "Alright let's do this."
"You will find that my Alakazam is more of a challenge for your Infernape than Jynx was." Sabrina said confidently. "I rarely use him and only against worth opponents as he is the best Pokémon I have. You are one such a worthy opponent Ash, I'm glad you pushed me to this point. This time I alone have a type advantage."
"I'm honored." Ash said though he wasn't sure why Sabrina was using Alakazam as her 5th and not her 6th Pokémon, both Forrest and Dawn had saved their best for last and Surge's Magnezone was no slouch in the power department so it was confusing that Sabrina would use Alakazam now. "Ready Infernape, this is going to be tough."
Infernape just nodded as it got ready for battle. It was time to win again. Once Ash's other Pokémon heard of its victory over this Alakazam, its standing would grow and it would be one step closer to challenging Charizard for the honor of being Ash's strongest.
"Flamethrower." Ash ordered beginning the latest match as his battle with Sabrina neared its end.
Infernape opened his mouth and sent out a gout of flame right at Alakazam. The intense fire type attack sped across the battlefield, scorching the ground in the process, and right at Alakazam who continued to stand there calmly waiting for orders from Sabrina.
"Alakazam, Teleport." Sabrina said right as the flames reached Alakazam.
Just as Kadabra had before only faster, Alakazam vanished right as the attack reached it, teleporting safely away. Ash swore, he had expected Alakazam to have forgotten that move by this point in its development but it hadn't and that wasn't good. Alas it was too late.
"Now, Night Shade!" Sabrina ordered right as Alakazam appeared behind a confused Infernape and used the ghost type attack almost instantly. "I got you with this time Ash. I failed with Kadabra but I always planned on using Alakazam in a similar fashion."
Infernape had enough time to turn and grunt in pain as the attack hit it in the chest sending it back a few paces and down to one knee but it was nowhere near enough power to take it down. Ash gritted his teeth but Infernape held though it was clearly injured from the attack. Still, Ash knew that his last Pokémon had the edge and wanted Infernape to get some practice against a psychic type like Alakazam. Plus if he could soften Alakazam up as Infernape went down then he'd have done well.
"Infernape, Mach Punch!" Ash ordered hoping that the fast attack would make contact even if it wouldn't do much damage too Alakazam, it was more about the contact than the damage potential.
"Stop it with Psychic." Sabrina said as Infernape charged forward. "Show your abilities Alakazam."
All Ash and Misty could do was gasp in shock as Alakazam's eyes and spoons glowed blue and it stopped the attack and Infernape just before Infernape's fist would have made contact with Alakazam's nose. The speed of the move was something Ash hadn't seen before but given the amount of practice Sabrina clearly did with the move it wasn't a total surprise that it had worked, he just hadn't expected it to stop a Mach Punch. Infernape gritted its teeth as it struggled to break the hold but it was useless and Infernape resigned itself to defeat.
Alakazam didn't need an order or direction from Sabrina to know what to do. He just threw Infernape backwards and towards Sabrina with calm indifference. The psychic type attack was super effective against a fighting type like Infernape and Ash knew it.
A second later Infernape hit the ground and skidded away until he passed by Sabrina and slammed into the base of the dais at the far end of the room. It was all too much for Infernape to handle and when it came to a stop its eyes were swirls.
"Infernape is unable to battle." Sabrina's father declared as Alakazam teleported back to Sabrina, waiting patiently in front of her for his next orders. "Alakazam is the winner."
"Infernape return." Ash said recalling his Pokémon from across the battlefield and looking at the Poke Ball with a small smile. "You did great buddy, that Alakazam is a tough opponent but we will win this in the end. I have one last surprise for Sabrina, one I knew I would save for last."
"One more Pokémon left Ash." Sabrina said grinning at him, she hadn't had this much fun in a battle ever. "Who's your last Pokémon?"
"One you probably haven't seen before but one who I know will win." Ash said with a grin of his own as he threw out his last Pokémon and the one he had been saving for when he needed it. "Krookodile, I choose you!"
The large bipedal red reptilian Pokémon burst forth with a roar of challenge, claws at the ready. Ash's Krookodile wore a pair of red framed shades over its eyes that it was very fond of and gave it confidence in battle as it stared at Alakazam, arms folded and ready for battle and to win for Ash. As with all of Ash's top Pokémon, Krookodile thirsted for battle and victory but he didn't care about prestige as much as others did, he just enjoyed the thrill of battle with a worthy opponent. It was part of why he had followed Ash and Pikachu halfway across Unova after all.
"What is that Pokémon?" Sabrina asked her eyes going wide at the Intimidation Pokémon standing before her. "You're right, I've never seen one of those before."
"I caught Krookodile when I was in Unova where it is a native Pokémon." Ash said glad he had the advantage to start with in this matchup. "Met him as a Sandile and he followed me to fight Pikachu, evolving in one of the battles he had with Pikachu into a Krokorok. He continued to follow me all over the region before facing Pikachu again, losing and getting depressed at it. With nowhere to go I asked him to join me and he happily agreed. Since then he's evolved and is one of my strongest Pokémon and the best I have against psychic types."
"Clearly." Sabrina said with amazement at the story, that was one determined Pokémon to follow Ash around looking for a rematch. "I have never been to Unova and seen few Pokémon from there so this will be a true challenge for me. I am guessing he's a ground type at least but that's not all right? I would guess he's also a dragon type but that doesn't seem right given what you've said."
"Correct, he's also a dark type though I can see why you might think he's part dragon type." Ash said with a grin and for the first time in the entire battle Sabrina looked nervous as this was the first Pokémon Ash had used that had a type advantage over her psychic types rather than one of her Pokémon's other types. "So I saved him for last just in case I needed my best to defeat you."
"A worthy opponent for my Alakazam then." Sabrina said setting herself for battle and trying to plan how to beat a Pokémon that was immune to psychic type attacks. "I like that. Alakazam, some of our moves won't be effective but Night Shade is different. Use it."
"Dig!" Ash ordered as Alakazam used the attack. "Don't let it hit you."
Krookodile instantly dove into the ground before Alakazam's move even got off and began to dig towards his opponent. Sabrina swore loudly which showed how unease she was in this matchup. This was not going to be easy, especially because her psychic type attacks would have no effect on Krookodile but she was a gym leader, this was the kind of challenge she relished whenever she got it.
"Stay alert Alakazam." Sabrina said scanning the battlefield as she did when Infernape had used Dig. "As soon as you feel the earth shake use Tele…"
Sabrina didn't get to finish her command when the earth burst up from under Alakazam sending it flying into the air with Krookodile right underneath it smiling in success at the startled psychic type it had just successfully attacked. Unbeknownst to either Sabrina or Ash, Krookodile had used the convenient premade tunnel he'd found when he had dove underground to close the distance on Alakazam faster than normal and attack before the Psi Pokémon could use Teleport. Ash was not going to pass up on this advantage.
"Now Krookodile, Crunch!" Ash ordered going with the dark type attack he knew would be super effective.
Still in midair, Krookodile opened his jaws wide as his teeth glowed white and elongated with power. Then he clamped them down onto Alakazam's midsection in a vicious move. For the first time Alakazam made a noise as he let out a wail of pain as he was hit by the super effective dark type move. Krookodile wasn't done though. He shook Alakazam in his jaws before he threw Alakazam to the ground as hard as he could right as they reached the apex of their ascent making sure to aim for the floor and not the hole he'd just sprung out of.
Alakazam had no time to process what had just happened to him as he fell in pain to slam into the unyielding floor with enough force to crack it. He lay there winded but not out, yet. This Alakazam was a tough Pokémon but Ash had the upper hand and he pressed his attack
"Krookodile finish this with Dragon Claw." Ash yelled at his falling Krookodile.
Krookodile narrowed his eyes behind his trusty shades and focused on the odd Pokémon he had never met before as he fell. Extending his arms, Krookodile encased his claws in glowing dragon type power as he got ready to bring them to bear on his wounded opponent. It was time to end this battle.
"Alakazam Teleport away!" Sabrina yelled forgetting that she could recall him if she wanted to, not that it would be effective in the long run given her last remaining Pokémon.
Unfortunately Alakazam was too rattled by the impact and injured from the Crunch to do much more than blink up at the 200 pounds of descending Pokémon that was about to attack him. He tried to teleport and started to flicker but he didn't have the strength to complete the move and just feel back and accepted his defeat as the unfamiliar dark type slashed its glowing claws down on him.
As was usually the case in Ash's battles, the impact of Krookodile's Dragon Claw with Alakazam's face caused a small explosion and a lot of dust to fly up in the air and cover the two Pokémon. When it cleared Krookodile was standing to the side with his arms folded and a smirk of triumph on his reptilian face. At his feet, in a newly formed small crater, was a battered Alakazam with swirls for its eyes.
"Alakazam is unable to battle." Sabrina's father said a little stunned at the way Ash had demolished Sabrina's top Pokémon so quickly but raising his flag accordingly. "Krookodile is the winner."
"Alakazam return." Sabrina said as Krookodile nodded and headed back to Ash awaiting his next and final opponent. "You did great old friend, that was a tough match for sure. We know that dark types are our bane and I promise you we will work on defeating them but when it's a dark type that we have never faced before it was an uphill match from the start."
"Wooh go Krookodile, show them who's the boss in shades." Misty cheered from her corner; she at least knew this Unova Pokémon having seen it evolve mid battle with Iris's Dragonite before it beat said Dragonite. "Only one more Pokémon left, it's all or nothing now Ash. Win this matchup and secure victory."
"Your girlfriend's right Ash, this is it." Sabrina said as she pulled out her last Poke Ball, one she had never used in battle before. "One more Pokémon each to decide it and you have the advantage. Still, I will push you until the very end."
"I was hoping it wouldn't come down to the wire but you are as good as I remember if not better." Ash praised as he grinned and waited for the final battle. "I have been looking forward to truly facing you for a while now, I want to properly beat you and this is my chance. Pure skill, no tricks or luck. This is it, time to find out who the last Pokémon standing is."
"Yes well what happened last time did save me from myself so you did earn the Marsh Badge fairly in my book." Sabrina said as her smile grew. "But on that tricky front, I think you'll remember my last Pokémon even if it wasn't mine at the time. Haunter, mental fortitude."
"Haunter?" Ash asked confused as Sabrina threw out her last Poke Ball and the ghost and poison type Pokémon burst forth to reveal a Pokémon that Ash knew well. "It can't be…"
"Oh but it is." Sabrina said grinning as the dark purple ghost floated before her with a wide smile on its face and its tongue hanging out of its mouth. "It's the very same Haunter you tried to use against me but didn't catch so it didn't exactly listen to you. If not for this Haunter, I may have completely lost my mind and let my power consume me whole. After everything I had to use him against you."
Ash gaped in dumfounded surprise at the fun and playful trickster floating in front of him. Haunter was more disciplined than last time but Ash could still see the mischievous sparkle in his eye as he floated in circles before Ash and Krookodile.
Then Haunter focused on Ash and started to get really excited in remembrance of the boy who had played with him and his fellow ghosts in the Pokémon Tower and who he had decided to follow to Saffron City because the boy was fun to play with. Haunter never intended to become the boy's Pokémon, at least back then, but he was good fun and wanted to be around him to the point that he may have let the boy catch him after a while. Haunter was eager to travel with the boy and see the world at his side while playing pranks on him because it was hilarious.
At least that had been his plan until he met the serious girl and her doll who wouldn't laugh. Haunter had seen her sadness and took it as a personal challenge to make her laugh, a challenge he succeeded in. Afterwards he stayed with her because he knew the girl needed him to keep her happy even if he was upset that he had to part ways with the boy who was now looking at him in wonder.
He had never expected to see that boy again so naturally Haunter really wanted to play with him but that would have to wait for now. He had a duty to his human to keep her happy and laughing and today that seemed to be by using him in a battle so he would give it a go for her. It had the added bonus of being against the boy who had introduced him to her. Afterwards they would all play together. Haunter was looking forward to that.
"That really is the same Haunter I came here with." Ash said still amazed that he was looking at such an old, and very irritating, friend. "You caught it?"
"After a few years Haunter allowed md to catch him." Sabrina confirmed. "Before then he was just a wild Pokémon living here with and playing with me. I owe as much, if not more to Haunter then I do to you for getting my mind back on track though seeing as you are the one who introduced us I guess I do owe you the most."
"Haunter helped that much?" Ash asked surprised. "I knew he managed to break the hold your powers had on you but I didn't think he was that good."
"Most Haunters, like Ghastlies and Gengars, love to play tricks and have fun." Sabrina said. "I think this one saw me as his personal challenge given how serious I was, that's why it stayed, to make sure I always smiled. Every time I had a bad moment with my powers and was on the brink of a relapse Haunter was here to keep me on the straight and narrow. He was the key to my continued recovery."
"Haunters do have that kind of nature, at least the few that I have met do." Ash said with a smile. "They love their tricks even if they can be a little off color for most people but I think that has to do with them being ghost type Pokémon. I am glad that Haunter is still here and helping you into this day. It was hard to leave him here even if I never actually caught him but I can tell that it was the right decision."
"Oh Haunter did more than that, he accompanied me and Kadabra when we left to find the balance I needed to ensure that my powers never took hold of me again." Sabrina explained. "Of course Haunter only showed himself to me and was an absolute nightmare to everyone else in the Anistar City Gym while we were learning under Olympia. However, without his constant pranks reminding me to not be so focused on my powers but to also have fun I may have relapsed and I am not sure I could recover a second time."
"That is surprising dedication for Haunter to do all that just to make sure you stayed well." Ash said his eyes wide as he looked at the carefree and fun Pokémon in front of him. "No wonder he joined you in the end."
"I think he was waiting for me to be ready to return to the gym to accept my constant requests to catch him." Sabrina said. "That was when I knew I was back and mentally ready to resume my duties so I was as close to being cured as I can possibly be. After that Haunter let me catch him so that he became my Pokémon official, almost like a reward for all the effort it took to reach that point."
"Wow so he's been your Pokémon for about 3 years then." Ash said still trying to fathom how Haunter had ended up staying with Sabrina this entire time, it showed how much he cared for her. "That's a fair amount of time."
"It is but that was also how long he was with me as a wild Pokémon so it isn't much different." Sabrina said with a shrug. "Despite the time I've had him for, I don't use him in battle, mostly he stays out for fun unless I have to keep him in his ball to prevent him causing a scene. This is Haunter's first proper battle as I felt that out of all people, you deserved the right to be his first opponent if you got past my other 5 Pokémon. Plus I wanted to surprise you."
"Yeah I am definitely surprised but ready for this, I am honored that you decided to use him against me." Ash said with a grin. "It is basically completing the circle between us, I still have the advantage with Krookodile though."
"True but a Haunter is no pushover as you well know." Sabrina said. "Tricky Pokémon are like that, they know how to win through guile which is better than wining through pure strength at times."
"Well then show me what you got with Haunter." Ash said eager for the final matchup. "Krookodile, you ready to end this."
"Krookodile!" Krookodile roared in challenge to the unknown ghost type before him.
"Then let's end this." Ash said with a smirk as he prepared his final plan for this unplanned for Pokémon. "Krookodile, Dragon Claw!"
"Let it get close Haunter." Sabrina ordered. "Then use Lick!"
"Careful Krookodile." Ash warned. "Haunter is tricky so make sure you keep your eyes open."
Krookodile heard Ash and ran at the ghost type expecting a trick from it as his trainer had warned. He didn't have much experience against ghost types but they were weak against him so he had the advantage in this fight. That didn't mean they couldn't be tricky and Krookodile learned that the hard way.
As he reached Haunter, he slashed his claws at the smiling Gas Pokémon. Haunter just loudly blew a raspberry at Krookodile and vanished as Haunters could do before the claws could make contact. He then reappeared behind Krookodile laughing hard and as Krookodile turned at the sound, Haunter licked him from chest all the way to the underside of his snout, smiling the entire time. The damage wasn't much, less because of Krookodile's dark type, but it didn't stop Krookodile from shivering in disgust as the slimy tongue made contact with his rough and scaly skin.
"Krookodile ignore it and use Crunch!" Ash yelled hoping that the paralyzing side effect of Lick didn't kick in this time. "That's a super effective move for against Haunter."
Krookodile heard his trainer and acted at once. He opened his mouth, his teeth glowing white with power and snapped his strong jaws down on the still laughing Pokémon that hadn't moved. It wasn't something that Haunter was expecting and the laugh was wiped off his face as soon as the jaws slammed home, biting his gaseous body in a way he'd never experienced before.
Haunter wailed in pain from the super effective attack. Krookodile held it for a moment before tossing it to the side, the ghost type spinning in the air before coming to a float near Sabrina clearly hurt and floating limply in the air. That wasn't fun for Haunter at all.
"Finish this with Aerial Ace!" Ash yelled.
"Haunter, Hypnosis." Sabrina said as Krookodile launched himself at Haunter. "Put it to sleep! Only then can we turn the tables in this match."
Haunter however had other plans. He realized that he didn't like battling, just having fun with his human. That was why he was with Sabrina, to remind her to have fun ever day lest she return to that sad, unhappy girl he had first met. This may bring her fun it seemed but it didn't bring him fun.
He remembered the boy he was now facing and how much fun they'd had together back in the Pokémon Tower. He'd been upset when they had parted but it had been for a good reason at the time. Back then he had refused to fight for the boy so why should he do so for his human now.
Haunter didn't mind being her Pokémon, she needed him more than anything else, but he didn't want to battle like her other Pokémon. He also lacked the energy to fight or flee after that devastating Crunch attack so he just floated there waiting for the battle to end and ignoring his human's orders. When he was healed, he would play a lot of pranks on her for revenge and to show her that pranks were much more fun than battles.
Krookodile didn't notice any of this as he closed the distance fast, arms wide, and then jumped up into the air. He soared around for a moment before coming down hard, his right arm slamming into Haunter's back and driving it into ground. Haunter bounced off and spun over to lay face up, its tongue out in an over exaggerated fashion and his eyes swirls.
"Haunter is unable to battle, Krookodile wins." Sabrina's father said raising his flag towards Ash one last time. "Because Haunter was Sabrina's last Pokémon she is officially out of Pokémon which means that the winner of this battle is the challenger, Ash of Pallet Town."
"We did it!" Ash said jumping up to run and hug Krookodile who was exhausted but not too badly damaged from his two victories. "I finally beat Sabrina!"
"Haunter return." Sabrina said recalling her Pokémon and therapeutic companion. "I guess you really don't like to battle my friend. I am sorry, I really wanted to use you against Ash because we all have history together but I promise we won't battle again if you don't want too. You already have your own special place in my heart, let's keep it that way. I accept any prank you have planned for me, I deserve it after that."
"Ash you did it!" Misty said throwing down her pom poms and running over to join Ash and Krookodile in their victory hug.
Ash had just enough time to thank and return Krookodile before he caught his girlfriend in his arms and spun her around in celebration. Before Misty's feet had touched the ground she was kissing him passionately as she had done after all his battles so far while Piplup helped Pikachu up and over to them thinking of when it was best to stop this mating ritual. Neither noticed Sabrina's father leave or Sabrina herself approach until she cleared her throat loudly.
"Sorry." Ash said sheepishly and blushing as he and Misty broke apart and separated to be respectful to Sabrina in her gym.
"Yeah I can't control myself when he wins." Misty said blushing deeper than Ash as she caught her breath.
"That is fine, I may not have experienced it yet because of my own mistakes but I do understand love." Sabrina said with a smile as she offered her hand to Ash who shook it, returning her smile. "Well done Ash, that was a great battle, one of the best I have had in a long time, if not the best I've ever had. I can't remember ever having so much fun in a battle as I have had today."
"Thanks me too." Ash said and meaning it, it had been a really fun and tough battle that went down to the wire. "I haven't had much experience with psychic types so it was good practice for me and you are a great gym leader, really challenged and surprised me all the way until the end of that battle. If Lick had paralyzed Krookodile you may have had it."
"Perhaps, perhaps not." Sabrina said with a shrug. "You are strong trainer yourself and with that Krookodile I think I would have lost even if Haunter had paralyzed it. I can certainly see how much you have grown over the years and I know that you will go far when the time comes. Your Krookodile is really good, an unexpected Pokémon to face here in Kanto and a dark type which is strong against me."
"Thanks, we needed the practice." Ash said as he took Misty's hand, the post battle exhaustion starting to hit him. "But I think we need to get our Pokémon to the Pokémon Center to heal up, that was some intense battle we just had."
"I agree and you can get your stuff while we are there before heading back here, the gym will be closed for the day and we can truly catch up when you return." Sabrina said as Ash picked up Pikachu, Misty Piplup and they headed out, Sabrina saying one more thing as they left. "I have heard reports of strange things that have been going on in Lavender Town for a while now. I think it is something that you two and Krookodile should investigate, you may be just the trainer to solve it Ash."
