Chapter 23: The Final Badge
Ash and Juan have a five-on-five battle, a double battle followed by around 3 single battles for Ash's final badge. Ash has an advantage with three of his Pokemon able to be super effective, but Juan has Pokemon that can cancel out advantages of grass and electric. It's a tough battle but Ash's Pikachu eventually defeats his Milotic and Ash earns the final badge.
Okay so first off, I'd like to apologize for the short chapter last time. I usually try and have my chapters be a minimum of 2100 words here. But I had a situation last week where my new cat who I only had for around a month went missing. We think she got eaten by a coyote, she still hasn't returned. Sad. She was sweet.
On another note, I heard some people couldn't review due to a glitch that happened. I hope you enjoyed the chapter last week even if it was short. Now, onto the final gym battle.
Ash, Pikachu, and May and all her pokemon made their way to the Sootopolis Gym for Ash's final badge. They hoped Ash won this battle, since they only had few weeks left till the Hoenn League. If he lost he'd have to train and get stronger then come back, and who knew how long that would take? Regardless, he would have to spend as much time as he could training for the Hoenn League in order to be ready for when the time came.
They entered the gym, which consisted of a battle field that was made of a large swimming pool with stone surfaces for landbound Pokemon. It reminded Ash of the Cerulean Gym which had a similar setup, no surprise since this was also a Water Type Gym.
"Ah, Ash, you've arrived," Juan said as he saw his challenger from his place on the battlefield. "Just in time."
Ash nodded and turned to May. "Wish me luck."
She smiled. "Good luck," then she leaned in close and whispered. "Sir Ash."
Ash smiled back at her and both of them leaned forward, their lips touching and their arms wrapping around each other. Pikachu jumped down to give the trainers some space as they took a moment to be intimate. He looked at Glaceon, his face turning red as his cheeks.
"Gla," she said, knowing what he was hoping for. She approached and licked him on the cheek.
That was a mistake. Her tongue received a shock as it brushed the red electric sac, she fell over, gray from the shock.
"Glaceon!" May exclaimed as she looked. "What happened?"
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu pointed to his cheeks.
"Glaceon must have directly touched his cheeks, that's something to avoid," Ash said. "You touch those you get a nasty shock. Here."
He got out a super potion and sprayed the Powder Snow Pokemon who quickly regained her health from the medicine.
"Okay, try to avoid directly touching Pikachu's cheeks okay?" May told her Pokemon.
"Gla," Glaceon nodded. "Right."
She and Pikachu nuzzled the sides of their heads instead. Minun watched with a bit of jealousy as she was the only one that had a boyfriend among them that wasn't. She looked at Ash.
"Mi! Minun!" she exclaimed.
"What is it, Minun?" May asked her first partner.
Pikachu understood and jumped up, pressing on the button of Plusle's pokeball. The cream and red Pokemon emerged and looked around. He saw Minun and smiled.
"Plusle!" he greeted. "Hi Minun!"
Minun smiled. "Minun! Mi!"
"Everyone was kissing and cuddling so I felt a little left out!" she said.
"Plusle?" he asked. "Oh really?"
She nodded. "Minun. Minun."
"I wanted to wish you good luck, I'm sure you'll do great against water types!" she said.
Plusle nodded. His confidence might still need some work but if he had an advantage he'd probably do good. Minun nuzzled his cheek and he returned the affection, both were careful not to brush each others cheeks as they like Pikachu had electric sacs there.
"Ahem," Juan cleared his throat. "Are you all here to show your love for each other or have a gym battle?"
They all chuckled cheepishly, except for May's Torchic and Bulbasaur who were the only Pokemon of hers to not be in relationships. They all got to their positions, Ash on the field across from Juan, Pikachu and Plusle behind him, and May and her Pokemon on the bleachers ready to cheer them on.
Then the referee, Juan's butler, Sebastian raised a pair of flags. "The gym battle between the Leader Juan and Challenger Ash Ketchum will now begin! Each side will use five Pokemon. We will start with a double battle that will continue until both the Gym Leaders Pokemon are defeated. During that phase the challenge will permitted to use another Pokemon in the event that one of his defeated. Additionally only the challenger will be allowed to make substitutions." Sebastian said.
"Okay, Pikachu, Plusle!" Ash called. "Since you're both out, go!"
Both electric types leapt onto the battlefield.
"Seaking, Sealeo, go!" Juan said throwing a pair of pokeballs.
His Pokemon emerged the fish like Seaking donned a large horn on top of its head and a white body with red and black patterns. Sealeo resembled a blue seal. Ash had seen it in the show a little while ago. Juan would be ready for any grass types, and he probably had a trick or two up his sleeve for electric types as well. He better not let his guard down.
"Begin!" Sebastian said.
"Plusle, use Spark on Sealeo!" Ash commanded, "Pikachu Thunderbolt on Seaking!"
Plusle charged and surrounded himself with electricity, while Pikachu
"Blizzard Sealeo!" Juan ordered with his eyes closed. "And Seaking, use Horn Drill!"
The seal like Pokemon sent out a show of ice at Plusle, knocking him back and canceling out his attack before he could reach his target. Pikachu's Thunderbolt was caught on Seaking's horn which reflected it back at the electric type and hit him.
"Pikachu! Plusle!" Ash exclaimed.
May gasped in the bleachers. Minun and Glaceon both looked with concern at their boyfriends. Pikachu didn't take much damage from the electric attack, Plusle however, had taken immense damage from the powerful blizzard.
Ash gritted his teeth. Sealeo would take down Plusle with another Blizzard if it got the chance. It had used a long range attack to its advantage before Plusle could get close. Ash needed to do something about that.
"Pikachu! Try a Thunderbolt on Sealeo!" Ash ordered. "Plusle use Thunder Wave on Seaking!"
"Ice Shard and Horn Drill!" Juan said to his Pokemon.
Both electric types unleashed their attacks, as did the opposing Pokemon. Seaking again repelled the attack aimed at him and Sealeo shot a large chunk of ice that broke into pieces upon being hit with the Thunderbolt but managed to cancel it out as well.
"Seaking Hyper Beam, and Sealeo Hydro Pump!" Juan ordered.
"Dodge both of you!" Ash tried to order.
Pikachu managed to doge the Hyper Beam but Sealeo's Hydro Pump hit Plusle head on. It through the small Pokemon back and he fell to the ground with swirls in his eyes.
"Plusle is unable to battle, Ash may bring out a second Pokemon!"
May and her Pokemon looked on with worry.
"Mi!" Minun exclaimed.
Ash ran over to Plusle and picked up the cheering Pokemon.
"Sorry Plusle," he said.
"Plusle," the little guy said weakly. "Not your fault Ash."
His trainer sighed. "Well, don't beat yourself up too much. You did your best."
He then took Plusle over to May and she set him next to Minun who hugged him.
"You did the best you could," she told him kindly.
Plusle reluctantly nodded. But the truth was he'd hardly done anything. He could only hope that he'd improve in time, with training.
Ash drew his next pokeball once he returned to his side. "Corphish go!"
The crustacean Pokemon emerged. It was time for a little water to water.
"Begin!" Sebestian called raising his flags.
"Corphish! Bubblebeam!" Ash ordered.
Corphish shot in a wide arc to hit both opponents who merely dove underwater to get away.
"Hydro Pump on Pikachu Sealeo, and Seaking Horn Attack on Corphish!" Juan said.
Sealeo prepared its attack from underwater and Seaking charged.
"Pikachu jumped out of the way!" Ash ordered in response. "Corphish Vicegrip the horn!"
Pikachu jumped and avoided the attack which sent the surface he'd been on moments ago into the air on a geyser of water. Corphish likewise caught the horn, trapping Seaking there for an instant.
"Horn Drill!"
Seaking spun its horn, causing Corphish to spin and go flying. Ash however saw an opening.
"Pikachu Iron Tail on Seaking!"
Pikachu leapt at the other opponent and struck him with a glowing tail. Somehow, that was enough to bring the fish Pokemon down in a single attack.
"Yay Ash!" May cheered.
"Gla!"
"Mi!" Minun let off a shower of sparks.
"Plu," Plusle said weakly.
"Bulba!"
"Tor!"
All of May's pokemon cheered them on at first victory. Now if Ash could just defeat Sealeo he'd be in the lead.
"Well done Ash, but this battle's not over yet!" Juan said.
"I know," Ash replied.
"Resume!" Sebastian said.
"Pikachu get on Corhish and charge Sealeo!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu jumped on Corphish's back and they charged the blue seal pokemon.
"Ice Shard!"
"Harden!"
Juan had Sealeo send a barrage of Ice Shards out while Corphish used harden to lessen the damage as they kept going for a while, but were soon forced back. But they got back up again as Sealeo prepared to fire a huge Ice Shard. But Pikachu sent a thunderbolt at it and destroyed, some of the pieces of the shard hit Sealeo on the head, which gave Ash the opportunity to order Corphish to-
"Crabhammer!"
The attack rammed into Sealeo and sent it flying against the wall. It went down and was unable to battle.
"Sealeo is unable to battle!" Sebastian said. "Ash has moved onto the next round!
May and her Pokemon as well as Plusle breathed a sight of relief. Ash still had four Pokemon while Juan only had three. That didn't gurantee a victory by any means but it did increase Ash's chances.
Both the challenger and Gym Leader stepped out of the field for a moment. It then rotated with a built in system as a new landscape emerged from underneath. Now there was a more land filled battlefield which still had a decent amount of water for Juan's Pokemon. Ash and Juan then got back on the field.
"Grovyle! Go!" Ash threw his next pokeball.
"Luvdisc!" Juan did the same.
Grovyle emerged, with a small pink heart shaped fish Pokemon doing the same on the other side in the water. May gasped at it, thinking it was very cute. She pulled out the Pokedex Professor Birch had given her when she got Torchic.
Luvdisc, the Rendezvous Pokemon. Luvdisc gather during mating season and make part of the ocean shine pink, it is said that a couple who swim through a school of Luvdisc are destined for everlasting love.
May smiled at that. It was what she had for her Sir Ash, she was sure of it.
The battle continued.
"Grovyle! Leaf Blade!" Ash ordered.
Grovyle leapt, preparing to use the leaf blades on its arm.
"Agility!" Juan ordered.
Luvdisc moved with incredible speed and dodged the attack that came at it. Ash was shocked at it.
"Sweet Kiss!" Juan followed up.
Luvdisc blew out, sending a shining heart made of energy that hit Grovyle. It didn't appear to do damage but then Grovyle went and began banging its head against a nearby pillar on the new landscape. This was bad, Grovyle was confused from the sweet kiss and hurting itself. That made it easy prey for Luvdisc's attack.
"Hydro Pump!"
The most powerful water attack flew at Grovyle. Even though it had the type advantage that lessened the damage it still hurt a great deal. With the conk it had given itself on the head, it was enough to bring it down. Grovyle fell on its back, swirls in its eyes.
"Grovyle is unable to battle! Luvdisc is the winner!"
Ash gritted his teeth. Luvdisc might be small but it packed a punch. Now it was three against three. Ash grabbed a pokeball with a new plan.
"Alright, Castform, I choose you!"
The little gray weather pokemon emerged.
"A Castform huh, interesting," Juan said. "They are unique Pokemon being able to change their type with the weather."
"That's right," Ash said. "Castform, Sunny Day!"
Castform glowed golden and the sun above shined brighter. As its rays touched Castform, the weather Pokemon assumed its fire type form that also resembled a sun. May wondered what Ash was doing since fire was weak against water.
"This will be interesting," Juan said. "Trying to make it too dry in here?"
"Something like that," Ash acknowledged.
With the sun burning brighter, Fire-type moves would be stronger while water would be weaker.
"Weather Ball!" Ash said.
Castform sent a gray ball up into the sky, and it turned into a fireball that fell back down.
"Hydro Pump!" Juan ordered again.
Luvdisc sent out a hydro pump that was unmistakably much weaker then the previous one had been. Castform's fireball overpowered it and went onto hit Luvdisc, doing much more damage then it would have under normal circumstances. Incredibly it was enough to take down Luvdisc who fell back and fainted.
"Luvdisc is unable to battle!" Sebastian stated. "Castform is the winner!"
Ash smirked. Now he had the advantage once again. Three against two.
Juan got out his fourth Pokeball. "Whiscach! Go!"
A round dark blue Pokemon with long whiskers like a cat and a yellow mark on its head and a yellow belly appeared now.
"Whiscach," Ash noted. They were part ground type, so they would be super effective against a fire type. In that case…
"Begin!" Sebastian called.
"Whiscach, Mud Shot!" Juan ordered.
Whiscash prepared to fire a jet of mud at Castform.
"Dodge and use Rain Dance!" Ash said.
Castform managed to do so and then glowed blue, the sunlight lessened from above and clouds formed instead, everyone wished they had an umbrella as rain poured. It reminded Ash and May of Kyogre's ability, but thankfully this would only last a few minutes. Castform then transformed again, this time into its raindrop shaped water form.
"Making my Pokemon stronger though aren't ya!" Juan reminded him.
"Yes, but your Whiscach will be affected more since its part ground type!" Ash said. "Weather Ball!"
"Hyper Beam!" Juan said.
Castform shout another gray ball up into the sky, it descended upon Whiscash and hit the catfish Pokemon as it fired off its own attack. The Hyper Beam hit Castform and caused it to fall, though it had done some decent damage.
"Castform is unable to battle!" Sebastian said. "Whiscash is the victor!"
Ash called Castform back and smiled at the ball. "You did Castform."
He then reached for one last pokeball. He was down to just Pikachu and Corphish now. Both him and Juan had two Pokemon left.
"Corphish, its up to you! Go!"
The Crustacean Pokemon returned landed on the area just before the water. Rain continued to pommel them. Once again it would be water to water.
Sebastian gave the clearance to fight again.
"Corphish! Bubblebeam!" Ash ordered.
Corphish unleashed a Bubblebeam that was more powerful then usual.
"Surf!" Juan said.
Whiscash rose up on a wave and surfed toward Corphish.
"No!" Ash said. "Crabhammer!"
Corphish leapt, its pincer lighting up as it met the attack head on, the rain still giving both water type a boost. They collided and a large amount of water exploded in midair. For a moment it was unclear who won, then both were, Corphish struggling to stand while Whiscash had fallen.
"Whiscash is unable to battle! Corphish is the winner," Sebastian announced.
May and her Pokemon cheered once again. Ash just needed to win one more time and it was a full victory.
"You have come far, but we shall see if you can defeat my last Pokemon who has been by my side since we were both young," Juan said. "Milotic! Go!"
The beautiful dragon seaserpent-like Pokemon emerged. It was time for the final set of rounds. The rain wouldn't last much longer.
"Bubblebeam!" Ash ordered.
Countless rapid fire bubbles flew at Milotic and hit it. It did some damage but not enough.
"Twister!" Juan said calmly.
Milotic opened its mouth and a tornado emerged from it, Corphish was swept up and spun around before flying. He dropped in the water and was defeated.
"Corphish is unable to battle! The final round is here!" Sebastian said.
May, Plusle and the others watched in anticipation. The final moment was here. Pikachu got out on the battlefield. They could only hope Pikachu was strong enough to take on Milotic. At that moment, the rain stopped and the sky cleared. Good, now Ash wouldn't have to worry about Milotic's water attacks being too powerful.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu leapt into the air and sent its signature move down on Milotic, who cried out in pain. Ash grinned.
"Got it!"
"Recover," Juan said.
Milotic glowed and the injuries it had suffered healed. Ash gritted his teeth.
"You may have a super effective strategy but it won't do well if I can heal the damage you do!" Juan said.
"Then I guess Ill just have to give it all I got!" Ash said.
"Come on Ash!" May shouted out in cheer. "You can do it!"
All her Pokemon joined in.
"Bulba!"
"Tor!"
"Minun!"
"Glaceon!"
Their words were all the duo needed.
"Pikachu! Lets do this! Thunderbolt!"
"Milotic! Iron Tail!"
Milotic's tail lit up as Pikachu sent off another Thunderbolt. The Iron Tail repelled the electric attack and went on to hit Pikachu.
"Hydro Pump!" Juan continued.
A powerful blast of water hit Pikachu and knocked him further back. He struggled to get back up. Ash could tell it would take only one or two more attacks before Pikachu was brought down. He had to think of something quickly. Milotic's defenses were strong, it could block the electrics with Iron Tail, and even if it got hit it could recover. Ash needed to take it down in one blow, but how? Then he remembered something he'd learned early in his days as a trainer, back when he'd traveled with Brock and Misty. How water conducted electricity.
This might be his only chance.
Pikachu managed to pull himself back up as May and the others watched with dread, thinking this was the end for sure.
"Pikachu! Use Quick Attack and knock Milotic into the water!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu didn't hesitate. He charged at Milotic. May gasped, what was he thinking with such a reckless move?
"Iron Tail!" Juan ordered.
The steel type moved just missed as Pikachu ran forward and rammed into Milotic and forced it underwater, with him on top.
"Now, Thunder!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu heard him even underwater, and unleashed the most powerful electric attack which appeared a bright bolt going up into the sky, conducted and made even powerful by the water both Pokemon were in. Another shower soaked the gym. When it cleared, Pikachu stood on the land while Milotic lay in the water, defeated.
"Milotic is unable to battle, Pikachu wins! The victory goes to Ash of Pallet Town!" Sebastian announced.
"Yeah!" Ash leapt for joy. "We did it Pikachu!"
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu leapt as well.
"Yay!" May screamed ecstatically as she got up and ran to him along with Glaceon and most of the others.
Minun stayed with Plusle and hugged him, he smiled, happy that his trainer had won. May wrapped her arms around Ash and Glaceon nuzzled Pikachu. Bulbasaur and Torchic hung back, proud of their trainers love for winning.
They gathered outside the gym where Juan faced Ash.
"Well Ash, it was a great battle," the Gym Leader said as Sebastian opened a case for him.
He took out a badge in the shape of a trio of raindrops.
"You have earned the Rain Badge, and with it, entry into the Hoenn League," Juan stated.
Ash accepted the badge and held it high in his usual pose. "Alright, I got a Rain Badge!"
He held it triumphant for a moment and then looked at his team who were still out of their pokeballs.
"You guys better get some rest," he told them. "Cause we got a lot of training to do."
They all nodded. Plusle in particular felt he needed training for what lay ahead. Ash called them all back to their pokeballs as Pikachu climbed on his shoulder. He and May said their goodbyes to Juan and began to walk back to the Pokemon Center.
Little did they know they were being watched from above.
"The time has come to get my bride back at last!" Harley grinned as he and Celebi watched from above.