Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 65: Lost Leader Strategy!
Ash and his friends gasp in excitement as they arrived in Veilstone City.
"All right, Veilstone City!"Ash chuckled.
"I can't believe it, we're finally here!"Denise remarked.
Suddenly a blue sphere of energy suddenly flies towards them causing the group to duck down.
"Whoa!"Dawn said. "What in the world was that?!"
The four heroes notice multiple spheres coming from one spot.
"It feels like the air is shaking."Brock commented.
"Those are Aura Spheres!"Ash admitted.
The group head to the source with Pikachu, Piplup and Luxio leading the way.
"This way guys, hurry!"Ash stated.
A blast destroys a portion of a fence, which the group uses as an observation point.
Inside, a bunch of pokemon watch as a pink-haired woman dodges an oncoming Lucario.
"Lucario."Ash stated.
"Whoa, really?"Denise asked in surprise as she took out her pokedex.
"Lucario, the Aura Pokémon and the evolved form of Riolu."Denise's Pokedex said. "By sensing the aura of its opponents, Lucario can read their thoughts and movements."
The woman dodges Lucario's attacks and kicks an Aura Sphere back to Lucario, who stood aside and dodged the attack.
"Check out, how she is deflecting those Aura Spheres!"Ash remarked with a smile.
"Aura spheres?"Dawn asked.
"It's a mysterious power some say everyone has, but I've heard its stronger in some people and in others."Brock replied.
The woman looked at Lucario with a hint of fright.
"Uh oh Lucario, your angry at me aren't you?"She asked worriedly.
Lucario prepares a Bone Rush.
The woman gasped. "Are you using Bone Rush?!"
Lucario leapt up holding the Bone Rush to hit the woman.
"Whoa, cool!"Denise chuckled.
The woman begins somersaulting and dodging multiple strikes from Lucario.
"Come on, Lucario!"the woman begged. "Let's stop!"
Lucario tries to use Bone Rush but eventually fades before striking.
"Something is weird, Lucario is acting awfully intense for his training."Dawn commented.
Suddenly, an electric attack strikes near Ash and his friends, tossing Piplup face-down onto the field as Pikachu defends Piplup.
Electabuzz comes out from behind a tree snickering causing Pikachu to become shocked at who the adversary was, apparently recognizing it.
"Electabuzz!"Ash, Brock, Dawn and Denise said in unison.
Luxio jumped into the field and growls angrily at Electabuzz.
Piplup rushes towards Electabuzz in anger.
The four heroes went into the field.
"Piplup, come back!"Dawn shouted.
Piplup headbutts Electabuzz right in the chest, but it repulses the Penguin Pokémon, making it crash into Pikachu.
Luxio's glare became more deadly causing him, Pikachu and Piplup to get into a hand-to-hand brawl with Electabuzz.
"Pikachu, stop!"Ash protested.
"Piplup, you too!"Dawn stated.
"Luxio, knock it off!"Denise demanded.
"You three shouldn't fight like this!"Brock reminded.
The woman and Lucario stop sparring and notice the situation.
"Lucaio, we need to help."the Woman stated.
Lucario launched an Aura Sphere into the fiasco, stopping the battle and dazing the four pokemon.
Ash, Dawn, Denise and Brock rushed towards, Luxio, Pikachu and Piplup.
"Pikachu."Ash said.
"Luxio, are you okay?"Denise asked worriedly.
The Woman and her Lucario went up to them.
"I'm so sorry."the Woman apologised and looked at Lucario. "Lucario, say your sorry."
Lucario huffed and looked at away.
"What?"the Woman asked. "What do you mean it was nothing?"
"Nothing?"Ash said.
"Maylene, what happened?"
The group turned around and saw a purple-haired man coming up to them.
"Hey, Reggie."Maylene greeted.
Electabuzz tries to sneak away, but Reggie caught sight of the Pokémon.
"And where you you going, Electabuzz?"Reggie asked.
Electabuzz turning around and laughed sheepishly.
"Hey Pikachu, don't you think that looks like Paul's Electabuzz?"Ash asked.
Pikachu nodded. "Pika pika..."
Reggie, Maylene and Lucario were surprised hearing that.
Denise scoffed in annoyance and folded her arms.
"Great."Denise muttered. "Can this day get any better?"
"Luxio."Luxio responded while he shook his head.
"That must mean you know Paul."Reggie said before looking at Pikachu and Luxio. "These must be the Pikachu that can use Volt Tackle and the tough Luxio."
"Pika?"Pikachu said.
"Lux?"Luxio responded.
"That's why Electabuzz was giving you grief."Reggie admitted with a smile.
"Wha?"Ash said.
"Huh?"Denise asked in confusion.
"I'm Reggie, my brother you know."Reggie remarked.
The four heroes all became shocked.
"What?!"They said in unison.
"Your Paul's older brother?"Ash said.
"And that Electabuzz belongs to Paul, alright."Reggie commented. "You see since I'm a breeder, Paul decided to leave all of his pokemon here with me for a little training."
"So has Paul already had a battle over there?"Ash asked.
"Yeah, he won."Reggie answered with a smile and looked at Maylene. "He defeated her."
Ash and Denise looked at Maylene, who looked down in sadness.
"Whoa, she's the gym leader?"Denise asked.
"Right."Reggie replied. "Why do you two say hi to Maylene, the Veilstone Gym Leader."
The two trainers looked at Maylene.
"Awesome."Ash chuckled.
"That's amazing."Denise remarked. "Since you have a Lucario, you must be a fighting type, right?"
"Yeah."Maylene replied quietly.
"Can we have a gym battle soon?"Ash asked hopefully.
"Sorry but can you mind going to another gym instead?"Maylene asked with a sad smile.
This caused Lucario to blast her with an Aura Sphere.
"You see, Lucario has been pushing like this to Maylene all day long."Reggie explained. "Lucario is still not happy with Maylene as a battle partner yet."
"What about all those aura spheres we saw?"Dawn asked.
"That must've been Lucario training the trainer."Reggie admitted.
"Training the trainer?"Ash said.
"Strange..."Denise commented.
Maylene stood up and glared at Lucario.
"I told you to stop!"Maylene said angrily.
"Unacceptable!"
The group turned around and saw three men wearing black belts coming up to Maylene.
"Well, I thought I might find you out here, Maylene."One of the men said.
"I'm not going back to the gym!"Maylene admitted.
"Stop!"the Man replied with a frown. "A gym leader does not act in this matter in front of other trainers."
"Those black belts are students in the Veilstone Gym."Reggie commented. "Actually Maylene is well respected as a battler, but she became a gym leader 6 months ago and they're trying to toughen her up."
Maylene looked at the man with a sad look.
"Please, try to understand I don't wanna be a gym leader anymore."Maylene stated.
Lucario glared at Maylene and launches another Aura Sphere, which she blocks without looking.
Reggie and the heroes walked forward.
"Is is because of Paul?"Reggie asked.
Maylene looked at him quietly.
"Veilstone Gym is a Fighting Type Gym, Paul came here using Flying Type Pokémon, which is a smart strategy, his Murkrow had evolved into a Honchkrow and he polished off Maylene's first and second Pokémon in no time flat."Reggie stated."Then when he battled against Lucario, he cleverly used Magmar, which of course, is a Fire Type."
"I was totally out of sync with Lucario and all my Pokémon."Maylene said sadly. "It didn't even look like a battle with a Gym Leader, I can hardly blame the challenger for what he said to me."
"What did Paul say?"Ash asked.
"You're the weakest."Maylene replied sadly."The weakest Leader I ever fought and this lightweight Badge is just like you."
The group fell silent while Denise just gritted her teeth in anger and clenched her fist tightly.
Paul's behaviour was disgusting her even more.
"I'm sorry."Reggie apologized. "But Paul always had a bit of a cruel streak in him."
"But the thing is, he's completely right."Maylene said sadly. "I do appreciate everything that Lucario was trying to do for me, I'm sorry!"
The woman then ran off away from the field causing Lucario to become surprised.
"Just stay away!"Maylene demanded.
"Master Maylene..."the brown haired man whispered.
"Connolly, I'd like you to let me and Lucario handle this."Reggie admitted.
"Alright."Connolly answered. "If that is what you wish, Master Reggie."
The three men headed back to the Veilstone Gym.
Reggie looked at Ash and Denise.
"I'm sorry, you travelled all this way."Reggie admitted.
"It's okay."Ash responded. "It would've been awesome to battle Lucario though..."
"Yeah."Denise agreed.
Brock placed a hand on Ash's shoulder.
"Come on, let's go find another gym."Brock commented.
Lucario let out a small growl.
"Hold on, you guys."Dawn admitted and looked at Reggie. "I have to say something, Reggie may I have a talk with Maylene?"
"I guess that wouldn't be a problem."Reggie replied.
Dawn looked at Lucario.
"Lucario, do you know where Maylene was headed?"Dawn asked.
Lucario responded with a nod.
"Piplup, I want you to come with me too."Dawn admitted.
Piplup smiled. "Piplup."
Dawn and Piplup then followed after Lucario.
"Wonder what's she up to."Ash said.
"I think I might know."Denise responded with a small smile.
Afterwards...
Reggie gave orange drinks to Ash, Denise and Brock before giving some pokemon food to Pikachu, Chimchar and Luxio.
"Maylene and Lucario were a famous battling team in Veilstone City."Reggie explained with a smile. "It was big news when Maylene became the Veilstone City's Gym Leader."
He sat down as he faced both Ash, Denise and Brock.
"But as you saw, she's gonna have a few doubts to herself."Reggie commented.
"Yeah."Ash agreed.
"Everyone has doubts in the beginning."Brock admitted. "Especially Gym Leaders who have to learn how to win a battle under intense pressure."
"Well Brock, your right about that."Denise said before taking taking a sip of her orange drink.
Reggie petted Chimchar's head.
"I remember this little Chimchar, how are you?"He asked with a smile.
Chimchar smiled. "Char."
Denise smiled at the sight, finding it sort of cute.
"So Ash, I'm sure Paul must've really put you through the mill with al these intense battling strategies he always comes up with."Reggie admitted.
"I don't care about any of that."Ash answered with a frown. "The most important thing to win in a battle is to be now with your pokemon, I'll beat that guy."
"I would like to see a battle between you two."Reggie remarked. "Say how about we have a battle, Ash?"
Ash and Denise looked at him with surprised looks.
"Huh, you want to have a battle with me?"Ash asked.
"I know that it's no substitute for the Veilstone Gym, but I really like to see how Paul's rival stacks up."Reggie remarked.
"Awesome, it's a deal!"Ash answered with a smile.
"Pika Pika!"Pikachu said happily.
"Chim chimchar!"Chimchar chirped.
"Let's do it using the same three on three match rules I used with Paul, which means two wins takes it."Ash commented.
"Okay, sounds great."Reggie commented with a nod.
Ash placed on his cap as he and his two pokemon ran outside.
"Alright, we'll be waiting for you outside."He admitted.
Pikachu and Chimchar followed Ash out of the house.
"Ash, wait up!"Brock stated as he went out as well.
Before Denise followed them, she noticed that on top of the fireplace mantle are a complete collection of framed Badges from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh and six of the seven symbols from the Kanto Battle Frontier.
The only Frontier Symbol frame that was missing was the Brave Symbol.
"Are all of these Paul's?"Denise asked.
"No Denise, they're mine."Reggie responded.
"You beat all these Gyms and challenged the Battle Frontier?"Denise asked in surprise. "That's amazing, but you're missing one."
"Yeah, I never got the Brave Symbol."Reggie admitted.
"Why did you stop?"Denise asked.
Reggie let out a chuckle.
"I'll tell you some other time."Reggie answered. "But I got a battle to do now, remember?"
Denise blushed and smiled shyly.
"Umm...right."Denise agreed.
Outside...
Reggie and Ash were preparing to have their battle while Denise sat down at the stairs to watch with Luxio at her side.
Maylene and Dawn showed up with Lucario and Piplup.
"What's Ash up to?"Dawn asked.
"Hey Dawn."Brock greeted. "Perfect, Reggie is just about ready to have a battle with Ash."
"Gligar, come on out!"Ash remarked.
Gligar comes out and crashes into Ash's head.
Denise sweat dropped and smiled awkwardly. "Oh boy..."
"Luxio."Luxio muttered.
"Now Gligar, I'm gonna have a pokemon battle with Reggie and I want you to watch closely because I want you to team up with me to battle soon."Ash reminded.
"Gligar."Gligar answered.
"Gligar is gonna watch, sounds like fun."Reggie admitted with a smile and looked at Maylene. "Maylene, why don't you watch?"
"Okay."Maylene replied.
Maylene and Dawn sat next to Denise.
"Turtwig, I choose you!"Ash stated.
His pokeball opened and Turtwig came out.
"Twig!"Turtwig said.
"All right, Bibarel, your up!"Reggie stated.
The pokeball opened and Bibarel came out.
"Bibarel!"
"You have the honour, Ash."Reggie admitted.
"Turtwig, Energy Ball, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Turtwig fires a Energy Ball at Bibarel.
"Awesome, great power too!"Ash said proudly.
"Use Super Fang!"Reggie ordered.
Bibarel uses Super Fang to negate Turtwig's attack.
Ash, Turtwig, Pikachu, Gligar and Luxio to gasp in shock of what they just saw.
"Oh my gosh..."Denise whispered in surprise.
"Use Secret Power!"Reggie ordered with a smirk.
Bibarel uses Secret Power to consume Turtwig and due to the grassy field, the effect puts the grass type to sleep.
"Turtwig!"Ash called out.
"Pika!"Pikachu said.
"Turtwig is out cold!"Dawn commented.
"Secret power's effect changes depending on the field."Brock explained. "This is a very grassy area so it can put Turtwig to sleep..."
"Turtwig, you gotta wake up!"Ash protested.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu called out.
"Now use Take Down!"Reggie ordered.
Bibarel sends Turtwig flying with Take Down causing the grass type to wake up.
"Man that was strong!"Denise complemented.
"Yes!"Ash said in victory.
"Turtwig is awake already."Reggie said and frowned. "Super Fang, go!"
Bibarel leapt up and chargeed with Super Fang.
"Dodge it and use Razor Leaf, quick!"Ash ordered.
Turtwig dodged and used Razor Leaf at Bibarel.
"Wow, Ash I like the way your Turtwig moves!"Reggie remarked.
"Thanks a lot, Reggie."Ash said. "That move came from watching Gardenia's Turtwig at the Eterna Gym."Ash explained. "Energy Ball!"
Turtwig prepared to fire Energy Ball.
"Bibarel, Ice Beam!"Reggie ordered.
Bibarel fires Ice Beam at Turtwig.
"Now jump, Turtwig!"Ash ordered.
Turtwig jumped to dodge the ice beam and fires Energy Ball, knocking out Bibarel.
"Bibarel!"Reggie shouted.
"Nice work, Turtwig!"Ash said proudly. "One for us!"
Pikachu, Chimchar and Gligar cheered at their victory.
Reggie returned Bibarel in it's pokeball.
"Great job, Bibarel."He admitted with a smile and looked at Ash. "That Turtwig of yours, it sure is strong!"
"Thanks for the kind words."Ash replied and Turtwig bit on his arm. "Wow that was awesome, Turtwig, you really got the handle of that Energy Ball."
'Reggie is such a great guy, he is nothing like Paul."Denise thought and then smiled as her cheeks turned cherry red. "But I got to admit their both quite good looking..."
Luxio notice his trainer's cheeks were red causing him to look at her in confusion.
Dawn looked at Maylene.
"Isn't that something?"She asked. "Ash and Turtwig have been practising really hard, it took a while for them to practice, but they've been training like crazy and now they got it."
"That's wonderful."Maylene remarked. "Lucario has done a lot of training too, haven't you?"
Lucario notices his trainer was watching Ash's battle skill intently.
"Swalot, your up next!"Reggie stated.
Swalot appeared in the battlefield.
"Turtwig, return."Ash ordered and looked at the grass type's pokeball. "I'm proud of you."
The Pallet Town Trainer checked Swalot in his pokedex.
"Swalot, the Poison Bag Pokémon and the evolved form of Gulpin."Ash's Pokedex said."Swalot sprays a powerful poison onto its opponents from its pores."
"Okay Staravia, I choose you!"Ash admitted.
His pokeball opened and Staravia came out.
"Staravia!"
"Quick Attack, go!"Ash ordered.
Staravia launched forward using Quick Attack.
"Swalot use Stockpile!"Reggie ordered.
Swalot absorbs Staravia's Quick Attack causing it to gain size and power.
"What the-"Ash started.
"Staravia is really quick and well trained."Reggie retorted with a smirk.
"Staravia, Quick Attack!"Ash ordered.
"Use Stockpile, once more!"Reggie ordered.
Staravia repeated Quick Attack and Swalot repeats Stockpile.
"Now Swalot is getting bigger."Denise admitted.
"And exactly the same time, Swalot's flexible body is resisting damage, it is also storing up power using Stockpile."Brock explained. "Now watch when they let that power go..."
"Finish it with one hit, use Aerial Ace!"Ash ordered.
Staravia flies forward to use Aerial Ace.
"Staravia is fast!"Maylene commented.
"Spit Up!"Reggie ordered.
Staravia uses Aerial Ace, but Swalot uses Spit Up to unleash the energy, striking the Flying Type.
"Staravia!"Ash shouted.
Swalot returns to normal size as Staravia recovered from its attack.
"Wow that was what you were talking about."Dawn said.
"Spit Up released all the energy stored by Stockpile and the more times you use Stockpile the more damage Spit Up gives to your opponent."Brock stated.
"Alright now use Aerial Ace!"Ash ordered.
Staravia flies down and uses Aerial Ace.
"Sludge Bomb, let's go!"Reggie ordered.
Swalot shoots the Starling Pokémon down with Sludge Bomb.
"Oh no, Staravia!"Ash shouted.
The Pallet Town Trainer catches Staravia from the fall, giving the win to Reggie.
"Staravia, you were awesome."Ash remarked.
Reggie returned Swalot in its pokeball.
"You were great, thanks Swalot."He admitted with a smile.
"Hmm...all tied up."Denise chuckled.
Luxio smiled. "Luxio."
"Piplup."Piplup answered.
"I'm impressed with your Staravia's amazing athletic skills, but there's a move I would love to show."Reggie remarked.
"Wow that would be great."Ash replied.
Maylene looked at Lucario.
"I bet I know who's coming next."She said with a smile.
"Staraptor, come on out!"Reggie stated.
The pokeball opened and Staraptor appeared in the battlefield which stunned Staravia.
Ash took out his Pokédex.
"The evolved form of Staravia."He whispered.
"Staraptor, the Predator Pokémon and the evolved form of Staravia."Ash's Pokedex said."Staraptor's ferocious nature means that it has no problem challenging much larger opponents."
"Staravia, watch closely okay?"Ash asked.
Staravia nodded. "Staravia."
"Pikachu, get in there."Ash stated.
Pikachu went into the battlefield.
"Luxio, make sure to watch this battle carefully too."Denise admitted.
"Luxio."Luxio replied with a nod.
"All right, bring it on, Ash."Reggie commented with a smirk.
"Okay Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu fires Thunderbolt at Staraptor.
"Brave Bird, quick!"Reggie ordered.
Staraptor dodges the electric attack and charges with Brave Bird.
"Uh oh, Pikachu spin!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu tries to spin-dodge past, but Staraptor extends its wing and strikes the electric type, knocking it down and hitting with the full attack.
"Pikachu!"Ash shouted.
Luxio gasped in shock what he just witnessed.
Staraptor flew away as sparks emit from it taking damage.
"I'm surprised your Pikachu is up so quick."Reggie said with a smirk.
"Did Staraptor take damage too?"Dawn asked.
"Brave Bird is a risk move because it can also cause quite a bit of damage to the one using it in the first place."Brock explained.
"You got to have a lot of confidence in your speed and power."Maylene explained.
"That's definitely true..."Denise agreed.
"Staraptor, Steel Wing, go!"Reggie ordered.
Staraptor charged down with Steel Wing.
"Iron Tail!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu uses Iron Tail to jump and dodge.
"Pikachu is incredible."Maylene said in awe.
"Volt Tackle!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu comes down with Volt Tackle.
"Use Wing Attack to counter!"Reggie ordered.
Staraptor uses Wing Attack to counter Pikachu's Volt Tackle.
Both attacks land and Pikachu lands, shaken but standing.
Staraptor took the full hit and hits the ground, unable to battle.
"That's two out of three so Ash wins!"Brock announced.
Chimchar, Gligar and Staravia cheered for their friend.
"Nice work, Pikachu!"Ash said proudly. "You really showed them how is done."
Pikachu rushed to his trainers arms.
Dawn smiled at Piplup.
"Wow, wasn't that exciting to watch?"She asked.
"Piplup."Piplup answered.
Reggie returned Staraptor in it's pokeball.
"Staraptor, you were great."He said kindly.
Ash and his pokemon walked up to Reggie.
"Thanks for everything, Reggie."Ash admitted.
"I can't remember the last time I had a great battle and now if you still want I would like to show you that move."Reggie suggested.
"I bet Brave Bird is the move."Ash said.
Reggie nodded. "Staravia will pick it up that move in a flash."
"You think so?"Ash asked.
"The amazing way your Staravia uses Aerial Ace, Ash I guarantee it."Reggie remarked.
Ash looked at Staravia.
"What do you say, Staravia?"He asked.
Staravia nodded. "Staravia!"
"Maylene, come on, would you like to have those battles with Ash and Denise?"Reggie asked.
"Yeah that would be great."Denise admitted sweetly and looked at Maylene. "Please Maylene?"
"Well, I don't see why not."Maylene answered with a small smile.
Denise smiled. "Cool, I'll challenge you first and then Ash will."
Next is Denise's Third Gym Battle...
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review of what you think so far:)
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite
Eevee (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Thunder
Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang
Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Double Team, Magical Leaf and Confusion
Hoothoot (Male): Silver Wind, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic
Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish