Authors Note
Okay, this is going to sound hypocritical as at this point almost every Ash owns , has owned or wields the power of a legendary or legendary like Pokemon. With Trap Ash having Melmetal, Naganadle, Urshifu, and Regieleki. Seer Ash having caught Mewtwo at one point, Coordinator Ash being the vessel for Primal Groudon, and Alolan Ash having had Naganadle at one point, however most of those were within a reason for the story. I still don't like giving them legendary Pokemon. It makes any conflict that isn't legendary kind of pointless, it's fun for them to use those forces when they're against something powerful, but to give them legendary Pokemon left and right, especially if I were to give Ash ownership of Suicune or Ho oh, it would be weird. And besides, he technically has a legendary Pokemon right now, he just hasn't used it in it's current capacity yet.
"So Ash, gym badge number 8, what's your plan?" Molly asked, as she came out of the rooms of the Pokemon Center.
"I'm bringing my best fitted Pokemon for this I have on hand." Ash said. "Pikachu's speed, Feraligatr's strength, Espeon's special, Sudowoodo's durability, Houndoom's ferocity, and Scizor's defenses."
"Isn't that all his Pokemon on hand?" Molly whispered.
"Seems like you have a full plan lined up here now." Casey said.
"Well I know this gym is for dragon types, and the only types good against them are dragon types, and other ice types." Ash said.
"And you don't have any of those." Molly realized.
"Feraligatr has Ice Punch, so he'll be my heavy hitter." Ash assured. "I have a good feeling about this."
"Well, we're rooting for you." Casey cheered.
At the gym
"Hello, I'm here for a gym battle!" Ash said confidently.
"Is that so." A woman said. "Might I ask how many badges you have?"
"My name is Ash Ketchum, and this will be my eighth gym badge here in Johto." Ash said, trying to find where the woman was in relation to him.
"Then here are the rules for this match, a four on four." The woman said as the gym lit up, showing a large open stadium with a pool in the center, many platforms and bridges scattered throughout it.
"Sounds good to me, same rules as every other gym?" Ash asked.
"Yes, my name is Clair and I am the gym leader here in Blackthorn City. Our match will be a four on four battle, however you may switch your Pokemon out at any given time." Clair said, taking her position. "Now meet my first Pokemon. Gyarados come out!"
"Gyarados isn't a dragon Pokemon." Casey commented.
"Technically there are only 4 known dragon Pokemon I can think of. The Dragonite family and Kingdra." Molly pointed out. "So it's reasonable to say she'd be using more than just those two."
"Gyarados huh, we know how to handle that. Pikachu let's start off strong!" Ash exclaimed.
"Gyarados use Twister!"
Gyarados sent out a roar, swishing their tail as a group of small twisters skirted across the surface of the water.
"Pikachu dodge them with Quick Attack!" Ash called out.
Pikachu ran across one of the bridges, dodging several of the twisters as he closed in on Gyarados.
"Gyarados use Hyper Beam!"
"Pikachu use Zap Cannon!"
Gyarados fired a beam at Pikachu destroying the bridge he was on and sending him up into the air before Zap Cannon could fully charge, causing it to miss completely.
"Pikachu spin and use Thunder Punch!"
Pikachu dove down at Gyarados, striking the Atrocious Pokemon on it's head while it recharged from it's previous attack.
"Gyarados use Bite!"
"Pikachu dodge it with Agility!" Pikachu ran down Gyarados, hopping from platform to platform, deftly dodging the jaws of the water type.
"Gyarados use Hydro Pump!"
"Pikachu use Zap Cannon!"
Pikachu spun around, leaping into the air before being blasted by an immense amount of water, slamming him into a wall.
"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed.
"That Gyarados, it's speed is incredible." Casey said.
"It doesn't help with Zap Cannon either, Pikachu can't get a clean shot on him quick enough.". Molly pointed out.
"Pikachu take 5!" Ash said, grabbing a Pokeball. "Espeon let's go!"
Espeon came out of their Pokeball with a glimmering sparkle, looking directly at Gyarados.
"Gyarados use Hyper Beam!"
"Espeon use Psychic!" Ash called out.
Espeon rolled out of the way of Gyarados's attack before sending a blast from their gem, slamming Gyarados into the side of the pool.
"Now Espeon use Shadow Ball!"
Espeon leapt into the air, firing off a shadowy blob, striking Gyarados as it sunk into the water.
"Gyarados is unable to battle, the winner is Espeon!" The automated gym system said.
"Is this what a normal final badge fight is like?" Casey wondered aloud.
"I think this is just a normal fight against dragons." Molly said, curious as to who would come out next.
"Gyarados you were great, now come out Dragonair!" Clair called out, a snake like dragon flying around the arena.
"Espeon you up for some more?" Ash asked, the psychic type nodding.
"Alright then use Double Edge!"
"Dragonair use Slam!"
Dragonair whipped their tail around, striking Espeon as she got close, knocking the psychic type back.
"Espeon use Shadow Ball!"
"Dragonair use Dragon Breath!"
"Dragonair sent out a stream of blue flames, pushing back against Espeon's attack, engulfing the ball and extinguishing the attack.
"Espeon keep it up use Bite!"
"Dragonair use Slam!"
Espeon leapt at Dragonair, biting down on the lower portion of their tail as Dragonair flailed about, slamming Espeon onto the surface of the water.
"Espeon keep holding them and use Psychic!"
"Dragonair use Surf!"
Dragonair swished their tail around, sending Espeon skidding across the surface and crashing into the wall of the gym.
"Espeon is unable to battle, the winner is Dragonair." The gym system declared.
"Espeon return! Come on out Scizor!" Ash called out. "Use Slash!"
"Dragonair use Thunderbolt!"
Scizor flew out towards Dragonair, slashing at the dragon as it deftly dodged before blasting the bug type with massive amounts of electricity.
"Scizor use Fury Cutter!"
"Dragonair use Dragon Breath!"
Scizor flew around Dragonair, striking it a few times as it was hit by the blue flames, slowly slowing down.
"What's going on, Scizor should be still going strong." Casey said in confusion.
"It's that move, Dragon Breath, it has a chance to paralyze when it hits, meaning not only is Scizor slower to react, she also has a chance to not attack at all." Molly pointed out.
"Meaning there is a chance that Fury Cutter won't even build up." Casey realized.
"Exactly." Molly said.
"Scizor you heard them! Switch to Steel Wing!"
"Dragonair use Surf!"
Scizor did her best, flying around Dragonair to strike the dragon type before being washed away by a tidal wave.
"Scizor take a break!" Ash said, recalling the bug type. "Pikachu, are you ready to get back in there?"
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Alright then, Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Dragonair use Slam!"
Pikachu moved with incredible speed, swiping right by Dragonair before they could react, slamming their tail into the pool of water.
"Now Pikachu use Zap Cannon!" Ash called out.
Pikachu fired a blast of electricity right at Dragonair, engulfing the dragon type in sparks as it fell into the pool.
"Dragonair is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu!" The gym system declared.
"He might have won that match, but this is far from over." Casey realized, knowing that while Ash had the upper hand in numbers, both Pikachu and Scizor were weakened from the fight.
"Kingdra I choose you!" Clair called out.
"Kingdra, who's that Pokemon?" Ash asked, pulling out his Pokedex.
'Kingdra, the Dragon Pokemon, a Water and Dragon Type. It is said that is usually hides in underwater caves. It can create whirlpools by yawning.' Ash's Pokedex explained.
"Great, just what I needed." Ash said. "Pikachu let's do this the only way we know how! Use Thunder Punch!"
"Kingdra use Surf!"
Kingdra dove under the water as Pikachu flew past, landing on a small platform before being struck by the wave of water.
"Now Kingdra use Hyper Beam!"
"Pikachu dodge it with Agility!"
Pikachu slowly pushed himself back up, ready to leap off the platform only to be engulfed in a beam of light coming from Kingdra's snout.
"Pikachu is unable to battle, the winner is Kingdra!" The gym system declared.
"Thanks for everything buddy, you were great." Ash said, picking Pikachu up. "We're still not done yet though. Scizor come on out!"
Scizor returned to the battlefield after a very short rest, still not having recovered from her previous match.
"Alright Scizor use Steel Wing!"
With Kingdra recharging, Scizor was able to fly right over the water's surface, striking the dragon before landing on the other side.
"Kingdra use Twister!"
Small twisters formed around Kingdra, making it impossible for Scizor to get in close.
"Now use Hydro Pump!"
The twisters grew in size, combining with more water before launching at Scizor.
"Scizor dodge them!" Ash called out.
Scizor flew around, dodging twister after twister, but the paralysis and previous damage were slowing her down as they caught up, striking her left and right.
"Scizor use Slash!"
"Kingdra use Dragon Breath!"
Scizor flew at Kingdra, engulfing in the blue flames as her body fell into the water.
"Scizor is unable to battle, the winner is Kingdra." The gym system declared.
"Not good." Casey said worried.
"Ash needs to pick the right choice to even stand a chance of seeing Clair's fourth Pokemon.
"Scizor return!" Ash called out. "Houndoom and Sudowoodo would be sitting ducks with all of Kingdra's range, I only have one choice. Feraligatr I choose you!"
"Ali! Ali! Ali! Ali! GATR!" Feraligatr cheered, dancing atop the water, before grinning.
"He's still exactly how he was as a Totodile." Molly sighed, seeing Feraligatr's antics.
"Feraligatr I'm counting on you! Use Crunch!"
Feraligatr dove into the water, swimming towards Kingdra with impressive speed and versatility.
"Kingdra stop it with Twister!"
Kingdra sent out multiple twisters, churning the water and confusing Feraligatr momentarily before he refocused, biting down on the dragon type.
"Kingdra use Agility to shake it off!"
"Feraligatr hold on tight and use Thrash!"
Kingdra sped around the pool, the two Pokemon knocking into every wall and platform several times before finally separating.
"Feraligatr use Hydro Pump!"
"Kingdra you use Hydro Pump!"
Feraligatr unleashed a mighty blast of water towards Kingdra, as the dragons attack pierced through, knocking Feraligatr back.
"Feraligatr use Ice Punch!"
"Kingdra use Dragon Breath!"
Feraligatr hopped from platform to platform, dodging the flames before striking Kingdra, sending them spinning backwards.
"Kingdra use Hyper Beam!"
"Feraligatr use Crunch!"
Feraligatr rushed forward, biting down on Kingdra's snout, keeping it from attacking as it flailed in the water crocs mouth.
"Kingdra, full power!" Clair commanded.
Kingdra's snout expanded more and more forcing Feraligatr's jaw open as an explosion of light engulfed both Pokemon.
"Both Kingdra and Feraligatr are unable to battle, the match goes to the gym leader Clair." The gym system declared.
"Ash." Casey said tentatively.
"Feraligatr you were amazing." Ash said, returning the water type.
"This is not an easy ranked gym Ash." Clair said. "Most trainers don't even see Kingdra on their first attempt. I can recommend some other gyms if you would like"
"I'll be back." Ash said confidently. "With a new strategy and I won't stop trying until I find a winning strategy."
"Well then I will be waiting for your next attempt." Clair said.
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Zap Cannon - Quick Attack - Thunder Punch - Agility
Houndoom: Flamethrower - Crunch - Solar Beam - Headbutt
Feraligatr: Hydro Pump - Crunch - Ice Punch - Thrash
Scizor: Fury Cutter - Wing Attack - Steel Wing - Slash
Sudowoodo: Slam - Mimic - Rock Throw - Low Kick
Espeon: Double Edge - Bite - Shadow Ball - Psychic