Chapter 65: Little Mind Readers
It had only been a short while after Ash's victory over Grant, the Mineva Town Gym Leader. Currently he and Nikki were in the Pokémon Center waiting for Ash's Pokémon to be finished with their check-ups. To pass the time they were talking about the Gym battle.
"Man, that got stressful watching once Grant got his Golem going," Nikki said.
"Imagine how I felt," Ash told her. "It was just luck that I noticed what happened with Aron."
"Yeah, but it turned out to be just what you needed in the end," Nikki replied. Before Ash could respond a chime went off inside the Pokémon Center, letting Ash know his Pokémon were ready. They approached the front desk, where Nurse Joy handed Ash his Poké Balls.
"Everyone is back to full strength," she reported.
"Thank you," Ash said.
"By the way, congratulations on your Gym victory. I heard it was quite the battle," Nurse Joy commented.
"It was. Grant sure was tough," Ash said.
"Well you were one of the toughest challenger I've had so far." Everyone looked towards the entrance of the Pokémon Center in time to see Grant enter.
"Grant. What are you doing here?" Ash wondered.
"Getting the team checked up on, same as you," Grant replied. "I've got to say, you gave my group quite the beating. I may have said this before but it needs saying agin, your Pokémon are strong."
"Thanks. Your Pokémon were strong too," Ash responded.
"So, where are you going from here?" Grant inquired.
"Wherever the next Gym is," Ash responded.
"Then might I suggest Spirit Pass. It's only a few days west of here," Grant suggested. Nikki took out her Pokécomm and looked at the map.
"He's right. Spirit Pass isn't too far away. If we keep a good pace we should reach it in no time at all," she said.
"Then Spirit Pass is where we're heading," Ash declared.
"Before you leave there's something I want to give you," Grant said. Ash and Nikki looked on as he produced what looked like a jar of metal.
"What is it?" Ash questioned.
"It's a Metal Coat. I figured you could use it to evolve you Onix one day," Grant explained. He handed it to Ash, who put it in his backpack.
"Thank you," Ash said.
"Don't mention it," Grant replied. Then, to their surprise, he produced another Metal Coat and handed it to Nikki.
"I thought you could use one too, miss," he said.
"Thank you, but are you sure this is okay?" Nikki wondered.
"We dig these up all the time, so we have plenty to spare," Grant explained. Nikki happily accepted her Metal Coat and, after bidding farewell to Grant, headed over to the videophone so Ash could swap some of his Pokémon out.
"So, who are we swapping out this time?" Professor Oak asked once they had called him.
"I want to give Onix, Tyranitar and Aron a rest," Ash told him. "Could you send over Riolu, Absol and Arcanine?"
"Of course." Ash made the Pokémon swap, said goodbye to Professor Oak and got up from the videophone.
"Okay, Spirit Pass, here we come." With their business concluded he and Nikki left the Pokémon Center and headed out of town.
Pretty soon after leaving Mineva Town the rocky terrain gave way to more pleasant surroundings as they soon found themselves entering lush green fields.
"Now this is some scenery I can get used to," Nikki commented.
"You're telling me," Ash agreed. As they continued on they noticed more and more greenery dotting the landscape. Suddenly, they heard a rustling sound coming from nearby. Curious they approached the sound and hid behind a bush close by. Peeking over they saw a pair of small Pokémon that appeared to be training.
"Those are Ralts," Ash whispered. He took out his Pokécomm and scanned one.
Name: Ralts
Species: The Feeling Pokémon
Pokécomm Entry: The horns on its head provide a strong power that enables it to sense people's emotions.
"They're cute," Nikki commented.
"Yeah, but did you get a good look at them," Ash inquired. "They're a different color than what it shows in the Pokécomm." Nikki took at look at the Pokécomm and then at the two Ralts.
"You're right. They are," she agreed. Rather than green the top of their heads were blue. As they continued to watch the two of them they both realized these two Ralts were quite powerful. The two trainerts then glaced at each other, the same thought going through their minds.
"You catch one, I'll catch the other?" Ash said.
"You read my mind," Nikki confirmed. The two of them were about to stand up when the two Ralts looked in their direction.
"Did they see us?" Nikki wondered.
"I don't think so," Ash replied.
"(We know you are there,)" one of them said.
"(We could sense you when you approached,)" the other said. With their cover blown Ash and Nikki stood up and came from behind the bush.
"(We know you wish to capture us, but do not think we will make that easy,)" the first Ralts declared.
"We don't expect it to be," Ash responded.
"(Then make you move, trainers. Let us see if you are worthy,)" the second said. With the two Ralts ready all that was left was for Ash and Nikki to choose their Pokémon.
"Let's do his, Pikachu!" Ash shouted.
"Buneary, I choose you !" Nikki said. Their two Pokémon jumped off their shoulders and stood opposite the Ralts.
"Let's start off with Thunderbolt!" Ash called.
"Buneary, use your Jump Kick!" Nikki instructed. Pikachu unleashed his signature attack on one Ralts while Buneary launched herself with a flying kick towards the other. The two Ralts were prepared, however, as one used a Psychic attack to deflect Pikachu's Thunderbolt while the other countered Buneary's Jump Kick with a Thunderpunch. The Rabbit Pokémon was sent rolling backwards from the impact.
"You alright, Buneary?" Nikki wondered, knowing full well that she took damage not only from Ralts' Thunderpunch but also from missing her Jump Kick.
"(A little sore, but other than that I'm fine,)" Buneary replied. Nikki let out a sigh of relief before calling out her next attack.
"Okay, let's try a Hidden Power!" she shouted. Meanwhile, Ash was getting ready to call out his next move for Pikachu.
"Iron Tail!" he called. Pikachu charged up his tail with Steel type energy and swung it at one of the Ralts. At the same time Buneary summoned a group of orbs and hurled them at the other. Just as it looked as though the attacks would make contact the two Ralts vanished.
"What the?! What happened?!" Ash gasped.
"I think that was Teleport," Nikki told him. The two trainers and their Pokémon looked around, wondering when the Ralts would reappear. They got their answer when they both popped back up, one striking Pikachu with a Shadow Ball while the other hit Buneary with a Zen Headbutt. Both Pokémon were knocked to the ground.
"(Your desire to capture us is strong, but perhaps facing us together is not ideal for you,)" one Ralts said.
"(Therefore we shall split up. Find us if you can,)" the second said. "(We shall be waiting.)" With those final words the two of them vanished, leaving both Ash and Nikki to ponder their next move.
"Man, they were tougher than we expected," Nikki said as she checked on Buneary.
"I know," Ash agreed as he did the same with Pikachu. "Still, I want one of those Ralts. You feel the same way, right?"
"Oh, absolutely," Nikki responded.
"Then it's settled. We'll split up and look for them," Ash declared. "We'll meet up back here later on." Nikki nodded in agreement before the two of them split up to search for their respective Ralts.
"Okay, I doubt if they could have gone that far away if they wanted us to find them." Nikki had been searching for quite a while, even employing the assistance of Chatot in her search. So far, though, she had come up empty.
"I hope Chatot had better luck than me," she said. Then, as if on cue, Chatot flew down to her.
"I think I found him," he reported.
"Can you show me where," Nikki requested. Chatot took of flying in the direction he saw the Ralts with Nikki close behind him. Within minutes Chatot had lead her to a clearing where the Ralts was standing there, seemingly waiting for her to show up.
"(I see you've finally arrived,)" he said. "(I look forward to our rematch.)"
"I am too," Nikki replied. She recalled her Chatot and looked at Buneary on her shoulder.
"You want to give it another try?" she asked.
"(As much as I would love to give it another try I think it'll end up the same way it did last time,)" Buneary replied. "(Besides, I think you have someone else who would be a better match-up again him.)" The Ralts waited as Nikki and Buneary talked strategy. After a minute or two Nikki grabbed a Poké Ball.
"Okay, Persian, let's go!" she shouted as her Classy Cat Pokémon appeared.
"(Your Persian looks strong, but I wonder if he'll be up to the task,)" Ralts said.
"Only one way to find out," Nikki replied.
"(Indeed,)" Ralts agreed. The two Pokémon got into battle stances, each one waiting for the other to make the first move. Then, Ralts charged forward, looking to get in the first hit. Nikki, though, was quick to react.
"Fake Out!" she called. Persian pulled his left paw back, getting the attention of the incoming Ralts. He then struck him with his right paw, causing the Ralts to flinch and cancel his attack.
"Now use Iron Tail!" Nikki instructed. Persian swung his Steel-charged tail at Ralts, but the clever Psychic type used Teleport to avoid contact. He then reappeared and struck Persian with a Zen Headbutt. The attack left the Classy Cat Pokémon temporarily stunned.
"(That's how he got me,)" Buneary commented.
"Yeah, but I think I have a plan for the next time he tries it," Nikki told her. She waited for Ralts to make amove. She didn't have to wait long for the Feeling Pokémon launched himself into a Thunderpunch, charging towards Persian with an Electric-charged fist.
"Dodge that!" Nikki called. The Classy Cat Pokémon easily dodged to the side of the incoming attack.
"Now, Power Gem!" Upon Nikki's command Persian fired a sphere of Rock-type energy toards the Ralts. Just when it looked like the attack would hit Ralts used Teleport to avoid damage. He then reappeared and used Zen Headbutt.
"Okay, Persian, use Iron Tail!" Nikki shouted. As Ralts closed in Persian swung an Iron Tail at him. The two attacks met, but Persian's seemed to do more damage. Ralts recoiled back, holding his head in pain.
"Now, hit him with Night Slash before he can recover!" Nikki instructed. With Ralts still holding his head in pain Persian swiped at him with Night Slash, the super-effective attack striking him for critical damage. Ralts was left reeling and prime for capture.
"Let's go, Poké Ball!" Nikki hurled a Poké Ball towards the downed Ralts, the ball striking him and drawing him inside. After a bit of shaking the ball stopped moving, indicating a successful capture.
"Yes, we got him!" Nikki cheered. Moments later the Poké Ball vanished as it was sent back to Professor Redwood's lab.
"I'll have to call on him at the next Pokémon Center," Nikki commented. She then turned her attention to Persian.
"You were great out there, Persian," she praised.
"(Thank you, Nikki,)" Persian said. She recalled him and began heading back towards the meetup spot, eager to tell Ash about her successful capture.
While Nikki was dealing with her Ralts Ash was still looking for his. He had been looking for a few minutes without any luck.
"Man, I wish I hadn't send Noctowl back to Professor Oak," Ash groaned, regretting the fact that he sent his Flying type back. He was about to continue searching on foot when the very Pokémon he was looking for suddenly appeared in front of him.
"(I sensed you were close by, so I used Teleport to come to you,)" she said.
"Well I appreciate it," Ash told her.
"(But make no mistake. Just because I made it easy for you to find me doesn't mean I will make it easy for you to capture me,)" she warned.
"I figured as much," Ash responded. From his shoulder Pikachu could sense that Ash was ready to get this battle underway.
"(So, am I battling again?)" he asked.
"Not this time," Ash replied. "I have someone else in mind this time around." He grabbed a Poké Ball and threw it out.
"Absol, I choose you!" he shouted as his Disaster Pokémon appeared.
"(Good choice,)" Pikachu commented.
"(Going with Absol is a wise choice,)" Ralts praised. "(However, having a type advantage doesn't guarantee victory.)"
"I'm aware of that, but Absol and I will claim victory here," Ash assured her. "Won't we, Absol."
"(We will,)" Absol agreed as he took a battle stance. Seeing this Ralts did the same. Both sides were waiting for the other to make a move. After a while Ralts went on the attack, hurling a Shadow Ball at Absol.
"Dodge and use X-Scissor!" Ash shouted. Absol moved to the side, easily dodging the incoming attack and swiped at Ralts in an x-shaped pattern. Just when it looked like the attack would hit Ralts used Teleport, avoiding Absol's attack entirely. When she reappeared she hurled a Hidden Power, striking Absol with multiple orbs.
"Shake it off, Absol!" Ash urged. The Disaster Pokémon did just that, shaking off the attack and readying himself for the next attack.
"Good! Now use Shadow Ball!" Ash instructed. Absol charged up a Shadow Ball and hurled it at Ralts. The Feeling Pokémon was ready, though, and countered with her own Shadow Ball. The two attacks collided and exploded on impact, blanketing the area in a cloud of smoke.
"This might be my opportunity," Ash thought. "Use Night Slash!" Figuring that the smoke would obscure Ralts' line of sight he had Absol launch into an attack. Absol dove through the smoke and, just as he had hoped, caught Ralts by surprise. The attack doubled her over, but didn't knock her down.
"Now, X-Scissor!" Ash called. Absol once again slashed at Ralts, this time making contact. The attack knocked her down this time, leaving her ready for a capture attempt.
"Poké Ball, go!" he yelled, hurling the sphere at the downed Ralts. The ball made contact and drew her inside. All that was left was to see if he would succeed in the capture. After a few shakes the ball stopped, signaling that the Ralts had been successfully captured.
"Yes! I caught a Ralts!" Ash cheered.
"(Congratulations,)" Pikachu said. Moments later the Poké Ball vanished as it was sent on its way to Professor Oak's lab. He then turned to his Disaster Pokémon.
"You did great Absol," Ash praised.
"(Thank you,)" Absol replied. He recalled Absol to his Poké Ball and started back towards the meeting spot, all the while wondering how Nikki had done on her attempt.
Minutes later Ash and Nikki met up at their agreed upon meeting place, each one with a huge smile on their face.
"I take it you were successful?" Nikki assumed.
"Sure was," Ash confirmed. "How about you?"
"Same," Nikki replied. The two trainers shared a hi-five with each other.
"So, I guess there's nothing left to do but continue on our way," Nikki said.
"That sounds good to me," Ash told her. With each of them adding a new Pokémon to their team Ash and Nikki got back on the road to Spirit Pass.
Ash and Nikki were both successful in their attempts to catch a pair of Ralts. What will these new additions lead to for them? Find out in the next chapter of Search for Power!
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