Chapter 22: Arrival in Sootopolis
Okay, we are probably getting s close or past the halfway point here. I was thinking of skipping the Hoenn League and just going to an epilogue of our heroes married, but I think it would be better to go through that. I don't think I'll do every single battle that occurred there but a good amount at least. If I skipped it would probably make introducing Morrison a bit pointless. I have the next ten or so chapters planned out, and will to add the others. Hope you guys enjoy, also a heads up, I think Chapter 24 will be coming out on Tuesday rather than Wednesday or Thursday due to me having a vacation planned that week on the 20th.
Celebi appeared in Harley's cell.
"Seems you've gotten in trouble with the modern law," it said.
"Heh, these peasants dare get in my way!" Harley agreed. "I can't seem to get them to listen to reason. But now that you're here I'm sure you can blast me out!"
Celebi nodded. He gathered an energy ball and fired it at the wall, blasting a hole in it.
"Bi!" Celebi said. "Lets go."
Harley grinned, however, something occurred to him.
"I need my dagger and clothes! Can't leave without those treasure! The clothes are my favorite!"
Celebi sighed. It threw an energy ball at the other wall, the sound drawing the attention of guards on duty. But with a simple Pscyhic attack, Celebi pinned them against the walls of the prison.
"A Celebi!" one of the guards exclaimed.
Duke Harley grabbed that guard and bellowed, "Where are my things."
He followed the guards instructions to the evidence room and after some rummaging found his clothes and dagger. Quickly changing, Harley flew with Celebi's aid. They rose up up and away from the prison.
"Which way to my stolen fiancé?" Harley asked.
Celebi was silent for a moment as they flew and then turned in another direction.
…
They made their way to Sootopolis city for the duration of the night. It was morning by the time they got there. The Wailord held the heroes while the former villains stuck in their submarines. Most of them had remained, but the group had seen a few that got away before they could catch them and escaped to live their lives as criminals rather then face justice. But at least they wouldn't try to control Groudon and Kyogre.
Soon they got to the shore, through a gap in an immense rock wall that surrounded the island. They came to the front docks where boats stood. The city was massive, built under an inactive volcano, there were rows of buildings going up the immense hill.
They came in and stepped on the solid ground in relief.
"Ah feels good to be back on dry land!" Ash declared.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu said in agreement. "Sure does."
May nodded, she carried Torchic in her arms since it had been a while since anyone other then Glaceon had been out of their pokeball. They soon saw Officer Jenny and a large number of Policemen and Pokemon in uniforms. Team Magma and Aqua both came forward, with Maxie and Archie being the first to allow themselves to be handcuffed. They didn't say anything, merely allowing the police to escort them to the many cars there. Ash and May watched for a while until the last members were handcuffed and put in a vehicle. The elite police trainers who'd aided them helped in the detainments. Steven and Looker then approached them.
"Well, thank you for all your help, Ash, May," Steven said. "I wish you luck with your final gym badge and hope to see you in the Hoenn League Championships."
"Thanks Steven. I plan on becoming the next champion so you better be ready to hand it over!" Ash said.
Steven smirked. "We'll see."
Looker looked at them now. "Well, Ash, thank you. Good luck to you and the princess. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
May smiled at him thanks. They all shook hands and then parted ways. Ash and May walked up the rocky beach of the inactive volcanic island, while the other two went in a different direction with the cops. Ash and May headed for the Pokemon Center to let their Pokemon rest. It had been a long conflict against Team Magma and Aqua, and it was best for Ash's Pokemon to be fully recharged for their gym battle which could be either today or tomorrow. Thankfully they hadn't taken much damage in all the turmoil. For the moment, the princess and her knight felt it was important to relax. They could at least find the gym and challenge it once their Pokemon recovered. Though they doubted it would be like last time where they got to battle against the gym leader together, but that was okay. May was fine with watching. Then the grand festival would start in a few days, and in just three weeks after that, the Hoenn League Championships. Ash would need to train hard in those weeks with his pokemon to make sure they were ready.
They wandered around the city, enjoying the sites together. They'd find the gym and then challenge it perhaps later today. Though as they walked the city, they noticed there was a significant lack of people.
"Where is everyone?" May asked.
"No idea," Ash said.
Soon they heard a loud nose from above. May yelped and grasped Ash in fear. Looking up Ash saw a brilliant display of fireworks over a large rectangular blue building. Going in that direction they saw a large crowd in line.
"What is that?" May asked.
"Fireworks," Ash told her. "Lights that are sent up into the sky for celebrations or shows. Must be something going on."
They walked over toward the building and got in the back of the line.
"Excuse me, what's going on?" Ash asked the person they came up behind.
"Not from around here?" the local guessed to which Ash and May shook their heads. "This is the new Water Pokemon Theater, where the gym Leader Juan plans to put on shows in his freetime."
Ash was surprised. "A gym leader putting on shows?"
The local man nodded. "It goes on all day till the afternoon when he returns to the gym. The Hoenn League is coming up so quite a few trainers have been in."
Ash could imagine, but was a still a little confused.
"But why is he putting on a show? Isn't that more of a coordinator thing to do?"
"Juan is a gym leader, but he's also a Top Coordinator that battles with art and style."
"Wow," Ash said. "Quite a combination."
He looked at May, "Well why don't we catch the show and I can ask him for a battle later on?"
She smiled. "I think I would enjoy a Water Pokemon show, never seen one before that involved just one type of Pokemon."
They got in line and within an hour were let in. They took a seat as the next show was about to start. From what they'd heard, each show today was a mere half hour, to give everyone who wanted to see a taste of what was to come.
They saw the man who must have been Juan on the center stage. He wore an open blue coat with a handkerchief bearing a gemstone around his neck over a purple set of shorts, long black socks, a black shirt, and white shoes. His hair was a mix of black on top and a pair of large white strands going up on the front.
"Thank you for coming today! I hope you enjoy!" he spoke into a microphone. "Come my friends!"
His pokemon were all water types as they'd heard. Ash saw a Milotic, Luvdisc, Sealeo, Seadra, Whischash, and more. Juan raised his hands and they all began to swim beautifully. Juan's many Pokemon performed incredible artistic feats of water, swimming through it, blow bubbles that flew toward the audience, and water gun attacks to imitate fountains that the swimming Pokemon leapt over or under. A trio of Staryu spun like shurikens as they ascended from out of the water, ice beams created perfect designs, and a Milotic swam beautifully, shining as it rose from the water. The whole performance was amazing with moves like safeguard which made the water shine, and iron tail from Milotic caused a big splash. By the end of it, Milotic surrounded itself with an aqua ring and launched itself into the air with iron tail. Dozens of water guns and bubbles flew into the air, spraying some of the audience who laughed. Ash and May joined hundreds of other spectators in clapping for the end result.
"Thank you all for coming! I hope you enjoyed the performance!" Juan said bowing to the audience.
The crowd began to leave, while Ash and May walked up to the man himself.
"Ah, good day my friends," Juan said. "How may I help you?"
"Hello, I'm Ash, and this is my girlfriend May," Ash said. "I'm looking to challenge you to a gym battle."
Juan smiled. "Well, you're in luck. I have no challengers today. I'm surprised you're here so late, most trainers are getting ready for the League by now."
"Well, this was kind of tight," Ash said with a sweatdrop.
"I suppose these things can happen," Juan agreed. "I would be happy to accept your challenge as soon as the show is over."
"Thanks," Ash said.
At that moment, Ash's stomach rumbled.
He blushed. "I guess I could use a bite to eat in the meantime."
"So could I," May said, as she felt pretty hungry as well, and she had to eat for two now with her pregnancy.
Juan gave them directions to a nearby restaurant and the gym as well. Both helped themselves to burgers and fries before returning to the Pokemon Center to pick up Pikachu and the rest of their Pokemon. They then took the time to think about the upcoming battle.
"This is gonna be a tough one," Ash said.
May could tell he was a bit nervous. "You have three Pokemon that are strong against Water Types right?"
"Yeah," Ash said. "Two electric and one grass. But he'll probably have some tricks to counter that weakness. Many gym leaders have ways to cover their pokemon's vulnerabilities. He has Ice types as well, so I know he'll use those against Grovyle."
He thought of all his Pokemon. Pikachu, Plusle and Grovyle where the obvious first choices. Swellow might be a disadvantage against Ice Types, Castform could change its form depending on the weather, but was there any form that could be good against Water Or Ice Pokemon? Castform had Water, Ice, and Fire forms, but none of those would be super effective against Water and Ice Pokemon. Fire would be…
"Wait a second, if Castform uses Sunny Day it would weaken Water Type Attacks," Ash said. "That could work. If only Castform had electric attack. Ah well."
As for Corphish, it would at least be able to battle other water types evenly.
"I'll just have to do my best," Ash said.
"And I'll do my best to cheer you on!" May vowed. "All my Pokemon will be out!"
She released her Pokemon, Minun, Glaceon, Torchic, and Bulbasaur.
"You guys all ready to cheer Ash on for his final gym battle!"
They all said their names in affirmation.
"Mi!"
"Gla!"
"Tor!"
"Bulba!"
Ash smiled at his fiancé and all her pokemon. With them cheering him and his own Pokemon on, he was sure they could win.