Pokemon: Friends to the End

Chapter 66: Crossing the Battle Line!

In the field, Denise was training with Luxio, Kirlia and Drifloon for their gym battle against Maylene while Ash, Brock and Dawn watched.

"Luxio use Spark, Kirlia use Magical Leaf and Drifloon use Astonish!"Denise ordered.

Luxio, Kirlia and Drifloon fire their attacks, knock down all of the targets.

"Good job, keep it up!"Denise remarked proudly.

"Looks like all three of them are in ship shape."Dawn remarked.

"Well they are going to fight Maylene's fighting type pokemon so it's important that they practice the way they fire their attacks."Denise commented.

"Sounds good to me."Brock admitted.

"Yeah."Ash agreed.

"Hey Ash!"Reggie called out. "Don't you think we should get started too?"

"Yeah, right there."Ash replied and looked at Denise. "Good luck with your battle, Dennie."

"Thanks, Ash."Denise answered kindly. "Good luck to you too."

Ash nodded and walked away to practice with Staravia.

"Now watch closely."Reggie instructed and looked at Staraptor.

"You got it."Ash replied.

"Staraptor use Brave Bird!"Reggie ordered.

Staraptor demonstrates Brave Bird and smashes a rock top to pieces.

"Man what power."Ash said in surprise.

"Right, but you have to be careful cause using power that strong takes it total on Staraptor."Reggie reminded. "Brave Bird tests both pokemon and trainer."

"Well that means me."Ash said in realization.

"Are you scared, Ash?"Reggie asked.

"No way!"Ash chuckled.

"Good then let's give it a try."Reggie remarked.

"Right, Staravia use Brave Bird now!"Ash ordered.

While Electabuzz munches on a Berry, Staravia makes its first Brave Bird attempt, but it comes apart mid-flight and Staravia crashes to the ground.

"Staravia are you okay?"Ash asked.

"Staravia."Staravia replied.

"Looks like Staravia lost its balance when activating that amount of power."Reggie said. "Maybe if we used a moving target instead of a rock that could improve Staravia's concentration."

"Hey, I will be the target."Ash suggested with a firm look.

"That could be dangerous, Ash."Reggie stated.

"Anything to make Staravia stronger."Ash said with a smile and looked at Staravia. "Staravia, your ready?"

Staravia nodded. "Star."

The Flying Type flew up in the sky.

"Alright, let's do it!"Ash remarked and started running.

Staravia began to power up while chasing Ash and flew up into the air, deactivating Brave Bird.

"Way da go!"Ash said proudly. "One more time!"

Denise smiled lovingly at the Pallet Town Trainer before looking at her Luxio, Kirlia and Drifloon.

"Ash, sure is something."She remarked. "Let's keep up with our training."

Luxio, Kirlia and Drifloon chirped in agreement.

Staravia makes another attempt as Ash runs, eventually dodging the attack and giving the Flying Type its first successful attempt.

"That power is sure building up."Ash chuckled. "One more time, come on!"

Brock walked up to Reggie.

"Pretty typical training for Ash."He admitted.

"I kind of feel like I should stop him."Reggie replied. "His just the opposite of my brother, so how's Denise doing?"

"Oh, she's already to go alright."Brock replied with a smile.

The two watched as Luxio used Night Slash on his target, while Kirlia used Confusion and Drifloon used Will-O-Wisp on theirs.

"Awesome, you three!"Denise remarked. "Let's try it again, but with the targets a little further away, okay?"

In the Gym...

Maylene tries to meditate, but her stomach rumbles causing Lucario to get angry.

"Come on, Lucario, don't be angry."Maylene reminded with a weak smile as she stood up. "I know just how you feel, I'm going to take this challenge very seriously."

This caused the three men to a have tears of joy.

"Yes!"Connally cried proudly. "Exactly what we want to hear, master!"

"Well, you be my referee, Connally?"Maylene asked.

"Yes, yes!"Connally replied.

Later that Night...

In the Pokemon Center, Ash and Denise were talking with each other.

"Ash, how is Staravia doing?"Denise asked.

"Awesome."Ash replied. "Even Reggie is amazed how Staravia is getting it, how about you?"

"Luxio, Kirlia and Drifloon are all ready for our gym battle tomorrow."Denise responded warmly. "But I am a little nervous..."

"Hey, when I have a gym battle, my heart starts pounding and feels like a train going through my head."Ash remarked.

"Pika pika."Pikachu giggled.

"I hope my battle gets Maylene's full confidence back."Denise admitted.

"Don't worry it will."Ash nodded.

The two watched the view below them.

Denise then rests her head on Ash's shoulder causing him to look at her.

"You okay, Dennie?"Ash asked in confusion.

"Yeah, I'm fine."Denise answered while blushing a little. "Just a little sleepy..."

Ash smiled and embraced Denise as the two of them looked at the beautiful night sky together.

The Next Morning...

It was time for Denise and Maylene's gym battle.

Denise had Grotle, Eevee and Hoothoot out so they can watch the battle.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."Maylene stated. "Welcome."

"Thank you."Denise responded.

"I don't really know what it means to be strong or how I got to be the Gym Leader, but I will do the best I can as the Gym Leader."Maylene stated. "I take battling very seriously, whenever you're ready."

Denise smiled bravely in response.

Maylene and Denise take positions as Reggie, Ash, Dawn and Brock watched.

"Well this is it."Reggie admitted.

"Yep."Dawn agreed with a nod.

"The gym battle between Denise the Challenger and Maylene the Gym Leader is about to begin!"Connally announced. "Each side will have three pokemon, the challenge will be over when all three pokemon from one side are unable to battle, also throughout this battle the challenger will allowed to substitute pokemon."

"Now let's begin, go Meditite!"Maylene said.

Her pokeball opened and Meditite came out.

"Meditite!"

Dawn checked Meditite in her pokedex.

"Wow, Meditite is her first choice."She remarked.

"Meditite the Meditate Pokémon."Dawn's Pokedex said. "Meditite uses meditation to increase its power, never skipping a single day of yoga training."

"Okay, Drifloon, let's go!"Denise stated.

Her pokeball opened and Drifloon appeared.

"Drifloon!"

"Alright, Denise chose a ghost type which will have an advantage against Meditite since it is a psychic type."Ash commented.

"Well, it looks like it."Brock replied.

"Meditite, let's make this an early day."Maylene admitted.

"Med."Meditite responded.

"So the first attack goes to the challenger!"Connally stated. "Now let the battle begin!"

"Drifloon use Will-O-Wisp!"Denise ordered.

Drifloon sent sinister bluish white flames at Meditite.

"Detect!"Maylene ordered.

Meditite uses Detect, dodging the flames.

Denise gasped in disbelief causing Grotle, Eevee and Hoothoot to do the same.

"It dodged?!"Dawn asked in surprise.

"Detect is a move that avoids your opponent's moves."Brock explained.

"I guess Maylene must have practised it, so she can be ready to battle flying types."Ash said.

"Alright now, it's my turn!"Maylene stated. "Use Rock Tomb!"

Meditite sent boulders hurling at Drifloon causing the Ghost Flying Type to take the hit and fell to the ground.

"No, Drifloon!"Denise shouted worriedly. "Are you okay?"

Drifloon weakly flew up.

"Whoa, Meditite has a rock type move..."Dawn said sadly.

"That is one of Meditite's special ability when fighting flying types."Reggie explained.

"Drifloon use Thunderbolt!"Denise ordered.

Drifloon sent an electrical attack at Meditite causing the psychic time to get hit.

"Alright!"Ash cheered.

"Now it's our chance, use Will-O-Wisp!"Denise ordered.

Drifloon once again sent bluish white flames at Meditite.

"Okay, Meditite use Confusion!"Maylene ordered.

Meditite uses Confusion to send the flames right back.

"Drifloon, dodge them and use Astonish!"Denise ordered.

Drifloon dodges the flames and went to towards Meditite to shock it into flinching.

"Alright, Meditite use Drain Punch, let's go!"Maylene ordered.

Meditite counters with Drain Punch, both attacks connecting and causing an explosion.

When the explosion cleared it showed both Meditite and Drifloon were okay, but then both pokemon got knocked out cold shocking Maylene and Denise.

"Neither Meditite or Drifloon are unable to battle!"Connally announced.

Maylene returned Meditite back in its pokeball.

"Well done, Meditite."She said with a sad smile. "Take a long rest."

Lucario looked at his trainer silently.

"Aw man, they both lost."Ash said sadly.

"Pika."Pikachu sighed.

"I got to admit Drifloon had worked well against Meditite despite the risks."Reggie remarked with a small smile.

"Okay, Machoke, come on out!"Maylene stated.

Her pokeball opened and Machoke came out.

"Machoke!"

"Cool, a Machoke."Ash commented as he took out his Pokedex.

"Machoke, the Superpower Pokémon."Ash's Pokedex said. "With enough strength to lift a giant truck with one hand, Machoke are often used for extremely heavy work."

Denise returned Drifloon back in her pokeball.

"Drifloon, you tried your best, I'm proud of you."She assured and took out another pokeball. "Now Kirlia, come on out!"

The pokeball opened and Kirlia came out.

"Kirlia!"Kirlia replied kindly with a curtsy.

"Denise chose a good match up using Kirlia."Brock admitted.

"Go get'em Kirlia!"Dawn called out.

"Kirlia."Kirlia giggled.

"Kirlia use Magical Leaf!"Denise ordered.

Kirlia send colourful leaves at Machoke.

"Block it, Machoke!"Maylene ordered.

Machoke used his fists to protect himself from the leaves.

"No way."Denise whispered.

"Use Cross Chop!"Maylene ordered.

Kirlia gets hit by Machoke's double chops causing her to get pushed back but remained on her feet.

"Machoke use Brick Break!"Maylene ordered.

Machoke charged forward to hit Kirlia.

"Quick, Kirlia leap up!"Denise ordered.

Kirlia did a gracefully leap and easily dodged Machoke's punch.

"Huh?!"Maylene gasped in shock.

Reggie smirked. "Wow!"

"Now Kirlia use Double Team!"Denise ordered with a smile.

Kirlia twirled around to make copies of herself to surround Machoke.

"Quick Machoke use Brick Break!"Maylene ordered.

Machoke uses Brick Break to destroy the copies of Kirlia, revealing the real one was behind him.

"Kirlia, Psychic!"Denise ordered.

Kirlia uses Psychic to lift up Machoke into the air, sending him crushing into the ground.

"Machoke no!"Maylene called out.

"Machoke is unable to battle!"Connally announced.

"We did it, Kirlia!"Denise remarked.

Kirlia smiled. "Kirlia."

Maylene returned Machoke back in its pokeball.

"Machoke, thanks for your effort."She admitted and then smirked at Denise. "Interesting, it seems your approaching this battle like it is a contest."

"Yep, I also do pokemon contests besides gym battles."Denise replied.

"Well, this isn't the end, my friend."Maylene reminded and looked at Lucario. "Lucario, are you ready to go?"

Lucario nodded and went into the battlefield.

"There is something about Lucario that is different."Ash admitted.

"The bond between those two are strong."Reggie replied. "Lucario must be sensing the confidence inside Maylene.

"Kirlia, return."Denise stated. "Take a good rest."

Kirlia returned back in her pokeball.

"Hey, why did Denise return, Kirlia?"Dawn asked in confusion.

"I guess she knows Kirlia's agility won't able to hold off Lucario."Brock replied.

"Now Luxio, come on out!"Denise remarked confidently.

Her pokeball opened and Luxio came out.

"Luxio!"

"Alright, give me everything that you've got!"Maylene stated.

"I wouldn't think of doing anything else."Denise replied. "Ice Fang!"

Luxio rushed towards Lucario with his fangs glowing blue.

"Dodge it then use Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.

Lucario jumped up and fired an Aura Sphere at Luxio.

Luxio winced as he was sent back to Denise.

Ash, Dawn and Reggie gasped at the sight.

"That was a direct hit!"Brock retorted.

"Luxio!"Denise said worriedly.

Luxio bravely stood up and glared at Lucario.

"Huh?!"Maylene said in disbelief. "It did nothing!?"

Lucario grinned a little while Ash and Dawn cheered at Luxio.

"Luxio, way da go!"Ash commented.

"Alright!"Dawn said happily.

"Luxio use Spark!"Denise ordered.

Luxio leapt up and to do an electrically charged tackle at Lucario.

"Lucario, quick Metal Claw!"Maylene ordered.

Lucario used Metal Claw to block Luxio's Spark attack.

Denise smirked. "Awesome move."

"Thanks you too."Maylene answered.

"They're both doing great!"Ash remarked.

"Now Luxio use Wild Charge!"Denise ordered.

Luxio shrouded himself in electricity before rushing forward to smash into Lucario.

"Lucario, let's go!"Maylene stated.

Lucario charges forward and grabs Luxio with one palm, blocking the electric type's attack.

"What?!"Denise said in disbelief.

"Force Palm!"Maylene ordered with a smile.

Lucario then uses Force Palm to toss Luxio back, paralyzed.

"Whoa, what kind of move is that?"Dawn asked in surprise.

"Force Palm."Reggie responded. "It's a fighting type move, first you get past your opponent with defense then with massive energy focused on your palm."

"Maylene sure is strong..."Denise thought with a nervous tone. "But I'm going to win this match!"

She then look at Luxio.

"Luxio, can you still fight?"Denise asked.

Luxio nodded. "Luxio."

Lucario grumbled something to Maylene.

"Your right, Lucario."Maylene agreed. "How much fun is this battle? It's been a while since I felt so good."

"Wonder if this Maylene would've defeated Paul."Reggie chuckled.

Ash, Dawn and Brock looked at him in confusion.

"Now Lucario use Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.

Lucario fired an Aura Sphere at Luxio.

"Luxio, dodge it and use Spark!"Denise ordered.

Luxio dodged the Aura Sphere and leaped up to send an electrified tackle at Lucario, hitting the Fighting Steel Type.

Lucario was send back to Maylene.

"Your okay?"Maylene asked.

Lucario responded with a smile.

"Unbelievable."Denise admitted. "Lucario is sure becoming a tough opponent, but I'm going win this!"

"Don't be so sure about!"Maylene reminded. "Aura Sphere!"

Lucario fires an Aura Sphere at Luxio.

"Luxio, Night Slash!"Denise ordered.

Luxio uses Night Slash to destroy the Aura Sphere causing smoke to rise.

But when the smoke cleared, it revealed Lucario was above alarming Denise and Luxio.

"Force Palm!"Maylene ordered.

Lucario comes down from above with Force Palm.

"Wild Charge!"Denise ordered.

Luxio powers himself with electricity before he and Lucario, slammed into each other, creating an massive explosion.

Maylene and Denise glare at the dust while Reggie, Brock, Ash, Pikachu and Dawn were watching in silence.

Grotle, Eevee and Hoothoot watched in worry.

When the dust clears, it showed both Lucario and Luxio still standing.

But then Lucario collapsed on the floor, shocking Maylene.

"Lucario!"Maylene shouted.

"Lucario is unable to battle!"Connally announced. "Which means the victory goes to Denise the Challenger!"

Grotle, Eevee and Hoothoot, all chirped happily.

Denise let out a happy gasp.

"Oh my gosh!"She said happily. "We won, Luxio!"

Luxio bounced on his trainer and started licking her face causing her to chuckle.

Ash, Pikachu and Dawn cheered at Denise's victory while Reggie and Brock smiled in approval.

Maylene walked up to Lucario with a small smile.

"Thanks Lucario, you were great."She admitted and walked towards Denise. "Thanks for the match Denise, I have forgot all my fears of losing and I began to think about how much fun it was, it sure felt like old times."

"Your welcome that means so much to me."Denise responded kindly.

She stroked Luxio's mane causing the electric type to smile and purr.

"I learned a lot from today's match."Maylene stated and took out the Cobble Badge. "Please, accept this Gym Badge."

Denise smiled and took the Cobble Badge.

"Thank you so much."She remarked.

Reggie, Ash, Dawn and Brock then walked forward while Grotle, Eevee and Hoothoot went up to Denise from behind to congratulate Luxio, who smiled at his friends.

"Looks like it's now your turn, Ash."Denise commented.

"Yeah and I'm already excited about it."Ash remarked.

"Pikachu!"Pikachu agreed.

"Your strategy really paid off."Brock admitted.

"Yeah and now we'll be both cheering for Ash."Dawn said.

Denise nodded. "Your right, sis."

"I can guarantee you will have a great time up against Ash's battling style."Reggie stated with a smile.

"Looks I got another fun battle on board tomorrow."Maylene chuckled.

"Great, when my Staravia perfects that new move, you can be sure I'll be back here to challenge you."Ash assured with a smile.

Pikachu giggled. "Pikachu."

"Good."Maylene said with a nod.

Lucario smiled in approval.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)

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