Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 67: A Triple Fighting Chance!
Ash and Maylene were preparing for their gym battle, while Dawn and Denise cheered for them along with their pokemon.
"And so the challenger, Ash from Pallet Town!"Connally said.
"I'm here!"Ash replied.
"And the Veilstone Gym Leader, Maylene!"Connally stated.
"I'm here."Maylene responded.
"And so the gym battle between Ash, the Challenger and Maylene, the Gym Leader is about to begin."Connally admitted. "Each side will use three pokemon and the challenge will be over when one side's three pokemon are unable to battle! Also only the challenger will be allowed to substitute pokemon."
"Here we go, Ash!"Maylene remarked. "Let's give it everything we got!"
Ash nodded. "That's the only way I know."
"Everybody, ready?"Dawn asked.
Piplup, Buneary, Ambipom, Pachirisu, Eevee and Kirlia all chirped in agreement.
"Come on, Ash!"Denise remarked. "Go for it! Fight, fight, fight!"
"Maylene, do it, right, right, right!"Dawn cheered.
"Wow, your both cheering at Maylene and Ash?"Brock asked.
"Well I want to witness the greatest battle of all times."Dawn admitted kindly.
"Me too."Denise agreed with a smile and thought as she turned to looked at Ash. "But I always want Ash to be the winner."
"Alright Maylene, let's do it!"Ash said with a smirk.
"Pika!"Pikachu replied.
"That's just what I want to hear!"Maylene answered. "Alright Machoke, come on out!"
Her pokeball opened and Machoke came out.
"Machoke!"
"Now it's my turn!"Ash said and took out a pokeball. "Staravia, I choose you!"
His pokeball opened causing Staravia to come out.
"Staravia!"
"Ash chosen a good match up to pick Staravia."Brock admitted.
"So battle begin!"Connally stated.
"Okay Staravia, Quick Attack!"Ash ordered.
Staravia charged forward using Quick Attack.
"Now Machoke use Brick Break!"Maylene ordered.
Machoke counters Staravia's Quick Attack with Brick Break.
"What the-"Ash started.
"She's using Brick Break as a defence."Dawn said in surprise.
"Sounds like a warrior, Maylene would do."Brock whispered.
"No way!"Ash replied with a smirk. "Push back!"
Staravia pushes back using Whirlwind at Machoke causing Maylene to grit her teeth.
"Alright use Aerial Ace!"Ash ordered.
Staravia uses Aerial Ace to hit Machoke.
"Dodge it and then Cross Chop!"Maylene ordered with a smile.
Machoke dodges and uses Cross Chop, leading Staravia to take a critical hit.
"Staravia!"Ash called out.
"Pika!"Pikachu shouted.
"Ash wanted Staravia to move closer with that Aerial Ace."Brock said.
"I'm sure Ash would figure something out though Maylene's strategy against flying types is dead on."Denise commented.
"Now keep using Brick Break!"Maylene ordered.
Machoke uses Brick Break which hits Staravia multiple times.
"I don't Staravia will be able to take anymore hits."Brock admitted.
"Alright, now it's time to finish this with Seismic Toss!"Maylene ordered.
Machoke moves forward to attack Staravia.
"Quick Attack, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Staravia uses Quick Attack with intense speed which hits Machoke.
Maylene gasped in shock.
"Alright use Aerial Ace!"Ash ordered.
Staravia activates Aerial Ace to hit Machoke.
"Machoke, oh no!"Maylene shouted.
"Whoa, look at that!"Denise chuckled.
"That was a critical hit."Dawn said with a smile.
"And because of the Quick Attack's speed, all the effects were doubled."Brock remarked.
Machoke collapsed on the floor.
"So Machoke is unable to battle!"Connally stated.
"Way da go, Staravia!"Ash said happily.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu cheered.
Maylene returned Machoke back in its pokeball.
"Thanks Machoke, take a long rest."She admitted and looked at Ash. "And you Ash, the way you switched Quick Attack to Aerial Ace, I'm impressed!"
"Gee thanks."Ash replied.
"Now time to bring out my second pokemon!"Maylene commented. "Alright Meditite, your up next!"
Her pokeball opened and Meditite came out.
"Meditite!"
"Why am I not surprised."Brock said with a smile.
"Ash, watch out for those psychic moves!"Denise warned.
"Right."Ash responded with a nod and looked at Staravia. "Staravia use Quick Attack now!"
Staravia flew towards Meditite.
"Detect!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite easily counters Staravia's Quick Attack with Detect.
"Meditate!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite uses Meditate to raise its Attack.
"What's Meditate?"Dawn asked.
"A move that raises attacks power."Brock replied.
Denise became alarmed hearing that.
"Staravia, Aerial Ace!"Ash ordered.
Staravia uses Aerial Ace again to try and hit Meditite.
"Detect!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite uses Detect again to raise its Attack power once more.
"Again?"Ash asked nervously.
"Meditite use Meditate!"Maylene ordered with a smile.
"Why the same attacks?"Dawn asked.
"Maylene is maxing out an attack power so she can finish off with one hit."Brock explained.
"i won't let you!"Ash stated. "Staravia!"
Staravia uses Whirlwind to ruin their concentration.
"Bounce on the wall and use Drain Punch!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite bounces off the wall and uses Drain Punch, which hits Staravia.
"Oh my gosh!"Denise said in disbelief.
"That was some attack!"Brock admitted.
"Yeah and Maylene's power was way up!"Dawn agreed.
"Go on Staravia, Aerial Ace!"Ash ordered.
Staravia activates Aerial Ace to hit Meditite.
"Use Confusion!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite uses Confusion, which confuses Staravia and ends up hitting the ground.
"Poor Staravia is all turned around."Dawn said.
"Looks like my battle really woke up Maylene, big time."Denise commented.
"Staravia, return!"Ash ordered.
The Pallet Town Trainer returned his Flying Type back in its pokeball.
"As so as Staravia returns its confusion will be erased."Maylene admitted.
"Chimchar, I choose you!"Ash remarked.
His pokeball opened and Chimchar came out.
"Chimchar!"
"Use Scratch!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar uses Scratch to hit Meditite.
"Your Chimchar got great speed, but so does Meditite!"Maylene stated. "Drain Punch!"
Chimchar uses Drain Punch on Chimchar so it can absorb its energy and heal itself.
Ash gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Keep using Drain Punch!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite continued using Drain Punch at Chimchar.
"If this keeps up, Meditite will be healed in no time."Brock admitted.
"Quick dodge it and keep using Scratch!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar moved its paw to scratch Meditite.
"Use Detect!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite to keep using Detect, preventing Chimchar's Scratch from hitting.
"Chimchar can't do a thing."Dawn said.
"This could be a real problem."Denise commented with a small frown.
"True, but using Detect can be too much."Brock replied.
Suddenly Meditite's Detect fails and gets hit by Chimchar's Scratch several times.
"Great, Chimchar!"Ash remarked.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu cheered.
"Your Chimchar has impressive battling skills."Maylene admitted.
"Check out some fire type moves."Ash responded. "Flamethrower, let's go!"
Chimchar uses Flamethrower, which hits Meditite.
"Now use Flame Wheel!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar rushed forward to use Flame Wheel.
"Meditite use Confusion!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite uses Confusion, which leaves Chimchar rolling off in the wrong direction.
"Chimchar, are you okay?"Ash asked.
Chimchar began attacking the nearest wall with Scratch.
"Now Chimchar is confused."Brock stated.
"Okay Chimchar, return!"Ash ordered and returned the fire type back in its pokeball. "Thanks, you need to rest."
He took out another pokeball.
"Now Staravia, I need you again!"Ash stated.
His pokeball opened and Staravia appeared at the top.
"Staravia!"
"Looks like Staravia's confusion is gone."Maylene remarked.
Meditite nodded. "Meditite!"
"Meditite use Drain Punch!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite activates Drain Punch.
"Quick, push back!"Ash ordered.
Meditite uses Drain Punch but Staravia pushes it back.
"Meditite!"Maylene called out.
"Wow, Meditite is worn down on battling than it was against Chimchar."Brock said with a smile.
"Now's your chance, Ash!"Denise remarked. "Go for it!"
"Staravia, quick, let's show them Brave Bird!"Ash suggested.
Staravia activates Brave Bird to attack.
"Use Confusion again!"Maylene ordered.
Meditite uses Confusion, but with no more energy left, the move failed and Staravia knocked out Meditite.
"Meditite."Meditite mumbled weakly.
"So Meditite is unable to battle!"Connally announced.
"Yeah, you did it!"Ash said happily.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu remarked.
"Man, they really mastered Brave Bird."Dawn said with a smile.
"Yeah, but why does Staravia looks tired?"Denise asked.
"Brave Bird is a move that causes damage to the one using it too."Brock stated. "Using Brave Bird too much can be dangerous."
Maylene returns Meditite back in its pokeball.
"Meditite, thank you for your hard work."She said and took out her last pokeball. "Ash, you and Staravia have really mastered Brave Bird, you should be proud."
"Thanks Maylene."Ash answered and looked at Pikachu. "We learned it just in a knick of time, thanks to everybody's awesome help."
Pikachu nodded. "Pika pika."
"So now its time for my third pokemon, Lucario come on out!"Maylene said.
Lucario appeared in the battlefield.
"Finally, Lucario is up."Ash commented with a smirk. "Let's rock and roll, use Brave Bird!"
Staravia uses Brave Bird to attack Lucario.
"Ash, you shouldn't have done that."Denise thought with a worried look.
"Use Metal Claw!"Maylene ordered.
As Staravia closes in Lucario counters it with Metal Claw which knocks the Flying Type out of the battle.
"Staravia!"Ash said in shock.
"Staravia is unable to battle!"Connally announced.
"I told you two Brave Bird was too dangerous."Brock stated.
"And then Metal Claw..."Dawn said.
Ash returned Staravia in its pokeball.
"Thanks Staravia, you really deserve a good rest."He said kindly.
"Lucario, excellent as always."Maylene remarked proudly.
Lucario responded with a nod.
"Man, aw man, Lucario is tough."Ash commented with a small smirk and took out a pokeball. "Okay, Chimchar, come at it!"
His pokeball opened and Chimchar appeared.
"Chimchar!"
"Chimchar against Lucario will be a perfect match."Denise admitted kindly.
"Oh yeah."Brock agreed.
"Go Chimchar, Flamethrower!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar fires Flamethrower at Lucario.
"Dodge it!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario easily dodged the Flamethrower.
"Now keeping using Flamethrower!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar continued firing Flamethower at Lucario.
"And you keep dodging!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario kept dodging Chimchar's Flamethrower, easily done with its excellent speed.
"When it comes to speed Lucario rules."Brock commented.
"You can do it, Chimchar!"Dawn called out.
"Yeah, don't give up!"Denise agreed.
"We need to get closer, Scratch, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar moved forward to scratch Lucario.
"Dodge and use Force Palm!"Maylene ordered.
"Uh oh!"Ash panicked.
Lucario dodges and uses Force Palm, hitting Chimchar.
"Hang in there, Chimchar!"Ash shouted. "Flame Wheel, let's go!"
Chimchar uses Flame Wheel and hits Lucario with its maximum power.
Maylene gasped in shock.
Brock smiled."Bullseye!"
"With maximum power!"Dawn said happily.
Denise smiled in approval.
Chimchar went back to its trainer.
"Alright do it one more time!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar tries to use Flame Wheel again but it was paralyzed by Lucario's Force Palm.
"Hey, what's wrong?"Ash asked.
"What's up with Chimchar?"Dawn said.
"Strange, I think that Force Palm paralysed Chimchar."Brock replied.
"That's bad."Denise admitted nervously.
"Now's our chance, Bone Rush!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario attacks Chimchar with Bone Rush which hits the Fire Type multiple times.
"Use Dig to get away!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar uses Dig to get away.
"Just try and sense Chimchar's Aura!"Maylene commanded.
Lucario closes its eyes to sense Chimchar's Aura underground.
"You found it, use Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario attacked the ground where Chimchar was hiding with Aura Sphere.
"Chimchar!"Ash called out.
"Metal Claw!"Maylene ordered with a smirk.
Lucario uses Metal Claw to knock out Chimchar.
Ash and Pikachu gasped in utter shock.
"Chimchar is unable to battle!"Connally ordered.
"Oh no..."Denise said sadly.
Ash returned Chimchar in its pokeball.
"You did your best."He remarked with a small smile. "Like you always do, Lucario was too tough."
The Pallet Town Trainer took out another pokeball.
"Okay Buizel, I choose you!"Ash stated.
His pokeball opened and Buizel appeared in the battlefield.
"Buizel, it's up to you now!"Ash admitted.
Buizel nodded with a firm look causing Lucario to glare at him.
"Its obvious your Buizel is strong."Maylene commented. "We'll see how strong!"
"Go for it, Ash!"Dawn and Denise cheered. "Fight, fight, fight!"
Piplup, Buneary, Ambipom, Pachirisu, Eevee and Kirlia cheered along with the twin sisters.
"Well, it's down to the last battle."Brock remarked and notice Croagunk was gone. "Where did Croagunk went?"
"Buizel use Water Gun!"Ash ordered.
Buizel fired Water Gun.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario counters Water Gun with Aura Sphere, resulting in an explosion, but the Aura Sphere ended up hitting Buizel.
"Buizel!"Ash called out.
"Lucario, Bone Rush!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario activates Bone Rush.
"Dodge it!"Ash ordered.
Buizel quickly dodged Lucario's Bone Rush.
"That's the spirit, Buizel!"Denise said proudly.
"I wouldn't be so sure!"Maylene stated.
Lucario smirked and hit Buizel's legs with Bone Rush.
"You okay, Buizel?"Ash asked.
Buizel responded with a confident tone.
"Now spin and use Aqua Jet!"Ash ordered.
Buizel spanned to use Aqua Jet.
"That's the combination, Buizel was doing when training with me!"Dawn said happily.
"That's great for a contest, Metal Claw!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario uses Metal Claw, but the Aqua Jet surpasses the Metal Claw attack and hits Lucario.
"Lucario, did you get hurt?"Maylene asked.
Lucario quickly stood up.
"Okay, Sonic Boom, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Buizel leapt up and fired Sonic Boom with its tail.
"Use Bone Rush to defend!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario uses Bone Rush to defend while spinning it to destroy the Sonic Booms.
"Use Aura Spheres!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario releases several Aura Spheres at Buizel.
"Dodge it back with Sonic Boom!"Ash ordered.
Buizel defends by using Sonic Boom.
Lucario gets in close to Buizel, shocking Ash.
"Oh no!"Brock said.
"Force Palm!"Buizel ordered.
Lucario uses Force Palm which hits Buizel.
"Buizel!"Ash called out.
"Let's finish this!"Maylene said with a smile. "Aura Sphere, full power!"
"Buizel, get up!"Ash begged.
Buizel slowly stood up from the ground.
"I think this might be it."Brock commented.
"Buizel, you can do it, come on!"Dawn encouraged.
"Wait, look!"Denise stated.
Buizel, still feeling the effect of Force Palm, manages to learn Water Pulse which surprised Ash and the others.
"Is that Water Pulse?"Maylene said.
"It is, Buizel can use Water Pulse now!"Ash remarked.
"Then let's end this now!"Maylene admitted. "Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
Lucario throws Aura Sphere at Buizel.
"Buizel, Water Pulse!"Ash ordered.
Buizel fired Water Pulse at Lucario.
The two raging energy balls result in an explosion.
"Whoa, what power!"Denise chuckled.
"For sure!"Dawn agreed.
"What a Water Pulse!"Ash responded proudly.
"Pikachu!"Pikachu cheered.
Lucario said something with a smirk.
"Yes Lucario."Maylene replied. "It's great to have an opponent that strong."
"Now Spin and use Aqua Jet!"Ash ordered.
Buizel spinned and used Aqua Jet one more time.
"Force Palm!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario uses Force Palm causing the result to be an explosion again and hurt both pokemon but both recover and the two pokeon battle in the air.
"Aura Sphere!"Maylene ordered.
"Use Water Pulse!"Ash ordered.
Lucario uses Aura Sphere and Buizel using Water Pulse.
The resulting explosion in the air destroys the battle field's roof, exposing the field to the open sky.
"Lucario!"Maylene shouted.
"Buizel!"Ash called out.
The twin sisters and their pokemon looked at the broken roof in surprise.
"Unbelievable power..."Brock said.
"Can you still get up, Buizel?"Maylene asked.
Lucario slowly stood up.
"Come on, Buizel."Ash admitted. "Get up!"
"Pika pika!"Pikachu shouted.
"This should do it, Lucario, Metal Claw!"Maylene ordered.
Lucario uses Metal Claw which hit Buizel causing the water type to hit the ground.
"Buizel!"Ash shouted.
"Buizel is unable to battle-"Connally started.
Suddenly Buizel began to slowly stand up from the ground.
"Come on, Buizel!"Denise stated. "That's it!"
Buizel stood up and turned to face Lucario.
"We'll never give up."Ash admitted.
Lucario smirked at that sentence.
"Now that's what I call courage."Maylene said. "But this is it, Bone Rush!"
Lucario charged forward with Bone Rush.
"Dodge it, Buizel!"Ash ordered.
Buizel winced and wasn't unable to move.
"I guess this is it."Brock said with a frown.
"Buizel, dodge it!"Dawn commanded.
"Don't give up now!"Denise reminded.
Then it started to rain causing Buizel to dodge the Bone Rush at the last second while its Speed dramatically increased.
"Alright!"Ash cheered.
"Wow, Buizel is moving so fast."Dawn remarked.
"That's Buizel's special ability, Swift Swim."Brock replied.
"Cool move."Denise chuckled.
Buizel manages to dodge all the Bone Rush strikes of Lucario.
"Looking good."Ash commented.
"Pika!"Pikachu giggled.
"I'm impressed excellent use of the weather."Maylene admitted.
"Spin and use Aqua Jet!"Ash ordered.
"Force Palm!"Maylene ordered.
Buizel spinned and used Aqua Jet while Lucario blocked it with Force Palm.
"Buizel, get up!"Ash ordered.
Buizel stood up and winced when it felt paralysed by Lucario's Force Palm.
"Buizel is unable to move."Brock said.
The twin sisters and their pokemon cheered for Buizel.
"This is it, it's all or nothing with these next attacks."Ash stated.
"Lucario, it's time to be done with this once and for all."Maylene admitted with a smile.
"Use Water Pulse!"Ash ordered.
Buizel fired Water Pulse.
"Now Lucario, Force Palm, max power!"Maylene ordered.
"Spin and use Aqua Jet!"Ash ordered.
Buizel uses Water Pulse, then to spin and use Aqua Jet against Lucario's Force Palm.
The resulting collision leaves both pokemon unable to battle and therefore the battle between Maylene and Ash ends in a draw.
"Buizel!"Ash said.
"Lucario!"Maylene called out.
"Both pokemon are unable to battle!"Connally announced. "Therefore this match is a draw!"
Ash smiled and picked up Buizel.
"What do you know, Buizel you were great."Ash said with a smile.
"Pika pika."Pikachu whispered gently.
Buizel smiled at his friends.
Maylene picked up Lucario.
"Lucario, you fought hard."She commented proudly.
"Wow, both sides really give it their all."Dawn said.
"Both Ash and Maylene could be proud."Brock remarked.
"Absolutely."Denise answered with a happy smile. "This was an awesome battle..."
Later that Evening...
"Since the battle ended up as a tie what happened to the badge?"Dawn asked.
"That decision is judged by the gym leader."Connally replied.
"So your saying if I say the word, Ash gets the badge?"Maylene said with a smile.
"Right."Connally answered.
"Well, I say Ash challenged me to the best gym battle I ever had."Maylene commented and looked at her pokemon. "Is that a good enough reason for you?"
Meditite, Machoke and Lucario, all nodded in agreement.
"They agree."Maylene said and took out the Cobble Badge. "Ash, please accept the Cobble Badge."
"For me?"Ash asked.
"Of course."Maylene replied.
"Whoa, thanks Maylene."Ash said and took the badge.
"I'm the one that should be thanking you."Maylene admitted. "Thanks to you and your friends, I got my confidence to be a continuous gym leader."
"That's so great."Dawn remarked.
"Well done."Denise said with a smile.
"You make sure you stay strong."Brock reminded.
"Alright!"Ash commented proudly. "Check it out, I just got the Cobble Badge!"
"Pikachu!"Pikachu said happily.
Chimchar, Staravia and Buizel cheered at their victory.
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