Chapter 68: A Ghost of a Chance
After a quick stop at the Pokémon Center to prepare and make a few changes to his team Ash was ready to challenge the Spirit Pass Gym Leader to a battle. Following the directions Nurse Joy had given them they soon found themselves standing in front of the Gym. After taking a moment to psyche himself up Ash entered the Gym, Nikki right behind him. Upon entering they found themslves in almost complete darkness.
"Are you sure the Gym Leader's even here?" Nikki questioned.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Ash called. "I'm here for a Gym battle." At first it didn't appear as though anyone was there. But then the lights came on, revealing the Gym's battlefield.
"So, another soul has come seeking a Gym badge." From the opposite end of the battlefield appeared a girl in a black dress.
"Are you my next challenger?" she asked.
"I am. My name is Ash," Ash answered.
"I am Isis, and I accept your challenge," the girl said. "Are you prepared."
"Yes," Ash told her.
"Then let us begin," Isis announced. Nikki took Pikachu and went off to the sidelines. Moments later a referee appeared.
"The Gym battle between the challenger Ash and the Gym Leader Isis will now begin! Each trainer will use two Pokémon with only the challenger being allowed to substitute Pokémon! Also, only Ghost types will be allowed! The battle will conclude when one side is out of usable Pokémon!" the referee announced. "Are both sides ready?!"
"I hope you are ready to give this battle your all, for it will take that much and more to defeat me," Isis declared.
"I am," Ash stated.
"Then let the battle begin!"
"Shuppet, I choose you!" Ash shouted, sending out his first Pokémon.
"Come from the shadows, Mismagius!" Isis said, sending out her Pokémon. Nikki, unfamiliar with Isis' Pokémon, took out her Pokécomm.
Name: Mismagius
Species: The Magical Pokémon
Pokécomm Entry: Its cries sound like incantations to torment the foe. It appears when you least expect it.
"Okay, Shuppet, let's start off with Astonish!" Ash instructed. The Puppet Pokémon let out a brief but loud shout, startling Mismagius and causing her to recoil back a bit.
"Good job!" Ash praised. "Let's keep the pressure on with Shadow Ball!" With Mismagius still a bit startled Shuppet began to gather Ghost-type energy and form it into a ball.
"Double Team!" Isis called. Before Shuppet could fire his attack Mismagius used her Double Team, surrounding the Puppet Pokémon with multiple copies of herself. Seeing this Shuppet froze up, stopping her attack.
"What's Ash and Shuppet going to do now?" Nikki wondered.
"(We'll have to wait and see,)" Pikachu answered.
"Attack the one on your left with Shadow Ball!" Ash instructed. Shuppet quickly charged up her Shadow Ball again and fired it at the Mismagius to her left. Unfortunately luck was not on her or Ash's side as the attack passed through the Mismagius, indicating it was just a copy.
"Oh no!" Nikki gasped.
"Attack with Magical Leaf!" Isis said. The copies all vanished, revealing the real Mismagius was to Shuppet's right. She then fired off a Magical Leaf, pelting the Puppet Pokémon with a volley of magically created leaves. The attack lasted only a few seconds, but it caused a bit of damage to Ash's Pokémon.
"Now, show them what a real Shadow Ball looks like!" Isis instructed. In the blink of an eye Mismagius had formed a Shadow Ball and fired it at the still recovering Shuppet.
"Quick, counter with your Shadow Ball!" Ash shouted. As fast as she could Shuppet fired off her own Shadow Ball, barely countering Mismagius' Shadow Ball.
"Oh man, that was too close," Ash sighed.
"You may have prolonged the battle but I'm afraid your defeat is inevitable," Isis stated.
"We'll see about that!" Ash countered. "Use Confuse Ray!" Before Isis could call out an attack to her Mismagius Shuppet engulfed the Magical Pokémon in her Confuse Ray.
"Mismagius, are you okay?!" Isis asked. "Can you use your Shadow Ball?!" Mismagius tried to fire off a Shadow Ball, but the minute it was charged up it exploded in her face, damaging her greatly.
"Now's our chance, Shuppet! Hit her with Shadow Ball!" Ash called. Sensing her opportunity Shuppet charged up a Shadow Ball and fired it at the confused Mismagius. The attack hit home, exploding on inmpact and knocking Mismagius to the ground where she did not get back up.
"Mismagius is unable to battle! Shuppet wins!" the referee announced.
"Way to go, you two!" Nikki cheered.
"Rest now, Mismagius. You have earned it," Isis said as she recalled her defeated Pokémon. "You may have defeated my first Pokémon, but this is where your luck runs out! Now, come from the shadows, Dusknoir!" She threw out another Poké Ball, sending out her second Pokémon.
"What's that Pokémon?" Nikki wondered as she took out her Pokécomm.
Name: Dusknoir
Species: The Gripper Pokémon
Pokécomm Entry: This feared Pokémon is said to travel to worlds unknown. Some even believe that it takes lost spirits along with it.
Having dealt with a Dusknoir in the past Ash knew all too well how powerful they could be. He also knew that Shuppet had just went through a tough battle again Mismagius just now and could use the rest.
"Okay, Shuppet, you did well. You take a rest now," he said. He had her Poké Ball in hand and was about to recall her when the Puppet Pokémon shook her head.
"(No! Let me battle him!)" she requested. This took Ash by surprise as he was sure Shuppet was tired from her previous battle.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"(Yes. I can take him,)" Shuppet reassured him. Against his better judgment Ash nodded and put her Poké Ball away.
"Okay. We'll ride this out," he announced.
"That shall be your downfall," Isis warned.
"We won't know until we try," Ash replied. "Now, use Shadow Ball!" Shuppet formed a Shadow Ball and fired it at Dusknoir.
"Counter with Shadow Punch!" Isis instructed. The Gripper Pokémon oulled his fist back and let loose a Shadown Punch that tore through Shuppet's Shadow Ball and struck her hard, causing a great deal of damage.
"No, Shuppet!" Ash called.
"Now use Shadow Sneak!" Dusknoir seemingly melted into the shadows, vanishing from sight. He reappeared moments later right in front of Shuppet, his fist drawn back for an attack.
"Look out!" Ash wared. His warning did no good as Dusknoir's fist once again made contact, knocking Shuppet to the ground and rendering her unconscious.
"Shuppet is unable to battle! Dusknoir wins!" the referee announced.
"Excellent work, Dusknoir," Isis praised.
"That Dusknoir was just too strong," Nikki said as she watched Ash recall Shuppet.
"(Don't worry. Ash still has Gengar,)" Pikachu stated. "(He can still win this.)"
"I hope you're right," Nikki replied.
"Thank you, Shuppet. You rest now," Ash said. "Gengar, I choose you!" He threw out Gengar's Poké Ball, calling on the Gas Pokémon.
"A Gengar. This should be a most interesting battle," Isis commented. "Now, Dusknoir! Use Shadow Sneak!" Once again the Gripper Pokémon melted into the shadows and reappeared in front of Gnegar, his fist drawn back for an attack.
"Dodge and use Dark Pulse!" Ash shouted. As quickly as he could Gengar jumped back to avoid the attack and countered with his Dark Pulse. The wave of Dark energy struck Dusknoir, causing a good bit of damage to the Ghost type.
"Good! Now use Shadow Ball!" Ash continued. With Dusknoir still reeling Gengar formed a Shadow Ball in his hands and hurled it at the Gripper Pokémon.
"Shadow Punch!" Isis countered. Once again Dusknoir countered a Shadow Ball with his Shadow Punch. The two attacks met and canceled each other out.
"Now, Future Sight!" Isis called. Dusknoir's single eye took on a red glow for abrief moment before going back to normal. Strangely nothing seemed to happen.
"(What was that?)" Buneary wondered.
"You got me," Nikki told her.
"(Future Sight is an attack that will strike sometime in the future of this battlc,)" Pikachu explained. "(Ash needs to end this before that happens.)"
"Okay, Gengar, let's end this quick! Dark Pulse!" Ash instructed. Once again Gengar let loose a Dark Pulse, the wave of Dark energy hitting Dusknoir hard.
"Alright! Looks like we've got this in the bag!" Ash bragged. "Now, let's…." Before he could call out another attack Gengar was struck by a powerful wave of Psychic energy, knocking the Gas Pokémon to thte ground.
"What was that?!" Ash wondered.
"That, my friend, was my Future Sight attack from earlier," Isis explained. "And now it seems as through the tides have turned in my favor. Now, Shadow Punch!" Before Gengar could recover fully Dusknoir struck with Shadow Punch, knocking the Gas Pokémon down once again.
"Oh man, it's not looking good for them," Nikki groaned.
"Gengar! Are you alright?!" Ash called. Despite taking two powerful attacks Gengar managed to get back up, but his condition didn't look too good.
"Our victory is at hand, Dusknoir! Finish this with Shadow Sneak!" Isis instructed. As Dusknoir vanished into the shadows again Ash knew he only had one chance to turn things around. He only hoped Gengar had the strength to pull it off.
"You battled well, but I'm afraid this is where your challenge ends," Isis spoke. Moments later Dusknoir reappeared and prepared to deliver the final blow.
"We're not out of this yet!" Ash shouted. "Dodge that, Gengar!" Just as Dusknoir swung his fist Gengar jumped back, barely dodging the attack.
"Hypnosis!" Ash instructed. Gengar's eyes took on a red glow. Moments later Dusknoir started getting sleepy.
"No, Dusknoir! You must stay awake!" Isis pleaded. Despite her pleas the Gripper Pokémon was soon fast asleep.
"Now use Dream Eater!" Ash called. While Dusknoir slept Gengar feasted on his dreams, draining the Gripper Pokémon's strength while replenishing his own. By the time he was done Dusknoir was barely holding on while Gengar looked good as new.
"Alright! Now let's finish this with Shadow Ball!" Ash shouted. With Dusknoir still sleeping Gengar was able to form a Shadow Ball and hurl it at the Gripper Pokémon. The attack struck home, taking Dusknoir from sleeping to unable to battle further.
"Dusknoir is unable to battle! Gengar wins! The victor is the challenger, Ash!" the referee announced.
"Alright! We did it!" Ash cheered. On the sideline Nikki let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"I don't know how many more of these battles I can take," she said. Back on the field Ash and Isis were standing in the middle after having recalled their Pokémon.
"Well done, Ash. You did not let the shadows overcome you and you emerged victorious," Isis commented. "For that you have earned this, the Lingering Spirits Badge."
"Thank you, Isis," Ash said as he accepted the Gym badge. As he looked at the badge Nikki approached with Pikachu and Buneary.
"Check it out. I got the Lingering Spirits Badge," he said.
"That's badge number four. You know what that means," Nikki said.
"Yeah. I'm ready for the second Area Boss," Ash stated.
"I look forward to seeing how far you will go," Isis commented. With that they said farewell to each other before Ash and Nikki left the Gym on their way back to the Pokémon Center.
After a hard fought battle Ash has secured his fourth Gym badge. Now he must prepare for his second Area Boss battle. Will he be ready for the challenge? Find out in the next chapter of Search for Power!
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