I don't own Pokemon or it's characters, but I own Denise and my other OCs

Enjoy!

Pokemon: Friends to the End

Chapter 85: Fighting Fear with Fear!

The heroes finished preparing food for themselves and their Pokémon to enjoy eating together.

"Okay."Dawn said as she placed a pot of soup to the table.

"We're all set."Brock remarked.

"Okay gang, chaw time!"Ash stated.

"Come and get it!"Denise called out.

The pokemon stopped playing and went to eat their lunch.

The group and their pokemon were enjoying lunch.

"That's some of my special pokemon food and I made plenty so eat up."Brock commented.

Swinub tried to eat Piplup's food but the Penguin Pokemon quickly picked up his bowl.

Turtwig quickly went between Piplup and Swinub in order for them to stop fighting.

Dawn, Denise and Ash laughed at the sight.

"That's Turtwig for you."Dawn admitted.

Ash noticed Gligar was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, where did Gligar go?"Ash asked.

"No idea."Denise responded.

"Hey Gligar come here!"Ash called out.

Gligar dropped onto Ash causing them to drop on the ground as Pikachu went up to them.

"Hey, what did you do that for?"Ash asked.

"Pika pikachu?"Pikachu questioned.

Gligar showed off it's developing X-Scissor technique.

"Whoa that's X-Scissors."Ash said. "Does that mean you want to do some battle training?"

"Gli gli!"Gligar remarked with a nod.

"That makes sense to me."Brock stated. "Especially when Gligar had that desperate battle with Paul's Gliscor."

Gligar looked down in sadness.

"Oh boy..."Denise said with a frown.

"Careful."Dawn warned. "Your going to make Gligar feel very depressed."

"Uh...sorry Gligar."Brock apologised.

"Training, huh?"Ash asked with a smirk. "So you want to get stronger?"

Gligar nodded with a confident look.

"Awesome!"Ash commented. "We'll get right to it right after lunch!"

Gligar cheered in excitement.

After the heroes and their pokemon finished lunch, Ash and Denise decided to have a battle with Gligar against Vaporeon.

"We are ready when you are."Denise complemented smugly.

"Gligar, you're in the thick of it."Ash chuckled. "Use your eyes and show that winning glare."

Vaporeon smirked at Gligar, ready to fight.

Gligar started to panick and dropped on it's knees while crying for mercy.

"That's not gonna work."Ash sighed. "Gligar, you can't give up before a battle starts."

"Pika Pika..."Pikachu agreed with a nervous smile.

"If Gligar is scared I guess he can't battle."Denise responded in disapproval.

"Oh he is battling!"Ash assured. "Gligar use X-Scissor and keep it going!"

Gligar charged forward using X-Scissor.

"Vaporeon, dodge it!"Denise ordered.

Vaporeon gracefully dodged Gligar as it tried to hit her with X-Scissor.

"Vaporeon use Water Gun!"Denise ordered.

Vaporeon leapt up and fired Water Gun at Gligar.

Gligar began to cry in fear and jumped onto Ash's face.

"Hey Gligar!"Ash snapped. "What's the matter with you?"

Gligar looked down in sadness.

"I guess that's enough for now, Vaporeon."Denise commented.

"Vaporeon."Vaporeon responded and jumped onto Denise's arms.

"Ash, if you stay mad, you make Gligar more depressed."Dawn reminded.

"Yeah, but still-"Ash started.

Dawn bend down to look at Gligar as Brock and Denise walked forward.

"Cheer up Gligar, no need to worry."Dawn assured. "You just harder the next time and you'll be wonderful."

Gligar smiled and hugged Dawn.

"Man, I don't want Gligar to get spoiled."Ash stated.

"On the other hand, treating Gligar very harshly isn't going to get you anywhere too, right?"Brock reminded.

"That reminds of a certain troublemaker."Denise thought with a small frown.

"Okay Turtwig, come out and give me a hand."Ash said.

His pokeball opened and Turtwig came out.

"Turtwig!"

It was now Turtwig vs Gligar.

"Now Turtwig use Energy Ball!"Ash ordered.

Turtwig began to power up Energy Ball while Gligar was tearing up.

"Gligar, if you don't pay attention, you won't be able to dodge."Ash reminded.

Turtwig fired Energy Ball causing Gligar to fly up.

"Now use Steel Wing right where you are!"Ash ordered.

Gligar dived down to hit Turtwig with Silver Wing, but began to cry and stopped when he saw Turtwig's serious expression.

The Ground Flying type started flying towards Ash causing him and Pikachu to run.

"Look out!"Ash panicked. "Come on, Gligar! Not over here!"

"Of course, now Gligar can fly as straight as it is now."Dawn said.

Brock and Denise sweat dropped at the sight.

"Your opponent is right over there!"Ash reminded.

Gligar crush landed on Ash.

"What are you thinking?!"Ash questioned.

Gligar looked down in sadness.

"Your going to have to stop crying and start toughening up!"Ash retorted and soften his expression. "Let's try one more time."

Gligar burst into tears and flew away.

"What Gligar!?"Ash said in shock.

"Where are you going?"Dawn asked.

The heroes went to look for Gligar.

"Gligar, where are you?"Ash shouted.

Pikachu, Piplup and Vaporeon helped their friends call out Gligar.

"Pika pika!"Pikachu responded.

"Hey Gligar!"Dawn said.

"Say something!"Brock suggested.

"Please come back!"Denise called out.

Ash sighed. "This is just great. Things don't go perfectly, so Gligar throws in the towel."

"Staravia!"

Staravia flew up to the heroes.

"Staravia, did you find Gligar?"Ash asked.

Staravia flew to the way he came from causing the heroes to follow after him.

There they found Gligar with Gary.

"It's the poetry guy's grandson!"Dawn said happily.

This caused Ash, Brock, Denise, Pikachu, Piplup and Vaporeon to slide on the ground.

"It'd be a lot easier if you'd just use my name."Gary reminded with a smile.

"Hey Gary, why are you here?"Ash asked.

"I was just on my way to Lake Valor to check out that legendary pokemon that you guys saw."Gary replied.

"I'll never forget that."Ash commented with a smile.

"So, that means Professor Rowan sent you?"Brock asked.

"Yeah."Gary agreed and looked at Gligar. "And hey, what's up with this Gligar here?"

"It's mine, we were right in the middle of some training."Ash admitted.

"Let me guess in the middle of your special training, Gligar took off."Gary respomded.

"Huh?"Ash asked in surprise. "Gary how did you know that?"

"Just call it a good guess."Gary admitted. "Seems your training method leaves a little bit to be desired Ashy-boy."

"What was that!?"Ash demanded.

Denise chuckled as she covered her mouth.

"Hey, I'm just offering you my help."Gary said.

"Thanks, but no thanks."Ash responded and looked at Gligar. "Come on, Gligar. Let's try it once more."

Gligar became frightened and hid behind Gary.

"Sounds like a no thank you to me."Gary replied with a smirk.

"Oh yeah!?"Ash scowled and started pulling Gligar's claws. "Come on, Gligar!"

Gligar refused to let Ash lead it away and stood where it was.

Denise immediately grabbed Ash by the shoulders.

"Ash, calm down."Denise instructed with a frown. "Your acting so immature."

"I'm not!"Ash snapped.

"Maybe you should take Gary's offer to help."Dawn suggested.

"Yeah just do it for Gligar."Brock agreed. "It might be best for everybody."

"Yeah."Gary remarked. "What have you got to lose?"

Ash gritted his teeth and looked down.

"Pika pika."Pikachu said worriedly.

Not soon after, Gary and Ash began a battle.

Gary threw a pokeball and Umbreon came out.

"Umbreon!"

"Eevee's dark type evolution versus Gligar."Denise thought with a smile. "This should be interesting."

"It's Gligar versus Umbreon, we'll be able to show you a few things."Gary said.

"We both won't go easy on you."Ash stated with a smirk. "Now Gligar, Steel Wing!"

Gligar launched towards Umbreon.

"Umbreon, Shadow Ball!"Gary ordered

Umbreon fired Shadow Ball at Gligar.

When the ghost attack missed its target, Gligar recoiled in fear and it falls back down and lands on Ash.

This caused the Ground and Flying type Pokémon to panic and crush towards Ash.

Denise frowned and sweat dropped at the sight.

"I take back what I just thought."Denise muttered.

"Vaporeon."Vaporeon sighed.

"I get it Gligar easily freaks out when facing an opponent."Gary stated.

"But Gligar, don't you want to get strong?"Ash asked.

Gligar nodded at it's trainer.

"But even if Gligar wants to get strong, as soon as any battling begins, this huge uncontrollable wave of fear takes over."Brock commented.

"Alright then so the first thing we have to do is getting over that fear."Gary commented.

"But how do we do that?"Dawn asked.

"You focus on and concentrate."Ash answered with a confident smile.

"Ash I guess you will never change."Gary answered with a smirk. "The most important thing to do with Steel Wing is to jump up as high as you can. So if we can master that there's no doubt that Gligar will have more confidence in battle."

"That's great."Dawn remarked.

"You sure give better advice than Ash, Gary."Denise teased.

"I heard that, Dennie!"Ash snapped in jealousy.

"But how does Gligar increase his jumping power?"Brock asked.

"By using the end of Gligar's tail when it takes off."Gary stated.

"Awesome."Ash complemented and looked at Gligar. "Gligar use the end of your tail as a spring when you jump."

Gligar nodded in response.

"Okay, Steel Wing, go!"Ash ordered.

Gligar started warming up to the battle by bouncing on it's tail like a spring, before jumping up to fly.

"What a jump!"Ash said proudly.

However, once in the air, Gligar becomes scared by the altitude and falls back down to the ground, landing on Ash again.

"Oh boy."Denise sighed covering her face.

"Now Gligar has to deal with his fear of heights."Brock admitted.

"We have a problem, alright."Gary said. "How much battling experience did Gligar get?"

"Not much Gligar was beaten badly in a battle by a Gliscor."Dawn responded. "Maybe that's why its fear had taken it over."

"Yeah, makes sense a Gliscor..."Gary said as he took a Razor Fang from his small bag. "Hey I know, we'll evolve Gligar."

"What's that?"Dawn asked.

"It's a Razor Fang."Brock answered.

"Right, we'll just evolved Gligar with this."Gary explained and gave the Razor Fang to Ash. "And once we do that, all sorts of Gligar's abilities will improve and we can put the brakes on all that fear."

"Wow, thanks, Gary."Ash said with a smile.

"That is a good idea."Denise agreed kindly.

Gligar tried to grab the Razor Fang, but Ash prevented the Ground Flying type from touching it.

"Calm down, Gligar."Ash reminded firmly. "Evolving isn't a substitute for all the hard work, you can evolve after you conquer your fear."

Suddenly a large noise was heard from nearby and Team Rocket emerged from the trees in a Gliscor-shaped balloon.

"What the-"Gary started.

Then Team Rocket began to recite their motto.

"A clueless twerp is nothing new!"

"You're all pros for not having a clue!"

"Face the fact!"

"For a change!"

"It stinks to be you!"

"We'll bring chaos at a breakneck pace!"

"We'll dash all hopes and put fear in its place!"

"Sounds old hoey for the twerps we see!"

"But without us, you're short by three!"

"Jessie!"

"And James!"

"Meowth makes it triple, you see!"

"Putting you do-gooders in your place!"

"We're Team Rocket..."

"In your face!"

"Wobbuffet, Wobba!"

"Team Rocket!?"Dawn, Denise and Brock growled.

"Don't you guys ever get tired of being lame?"Gary questioned.

"Silence!"Jessie, Meowth and James shouted angrily.

"Check out our Gliscor-Bot!"Meowth retorted as he pressed a button.

Meowth released the tail spike of the Gliscor balloon and it snatched Gligar away.

"Now that's a double tail on a real twerp."James chuckled.

"And you're the dork!"Meowth laughed.

"Gligar!"Ash shouted and grabs ahold of Gligar. "Stop it right now!"

"We don't need an extra ballast."James commented.

"Drat."Jessie scowled. "Always dragging us down."

"Oh, I'll fix you!"Ash snapped and took out a pokeball. "Staravia, stop Team Rocket!"

Staravia appeared out of it's pokeball and flew towards Team Rocket.

"Oh, spare me!"Jessie scoffed. "Seviper use Haze and Yanmega use Silver Wind!"

Seviper used Haze and Yanmega used Silver Wind, which knocked Staravia to the ground and allowing Team Rocket to make their getaway.

"They're gone!"Brock said.

"And with Gligar and Ash..."Dawn added worriedly.

"Darn them!"Denise growled.

"Pika pika..."Pikachu whispered with a glare.

Later that Evening...

Team Rocket kept Ash and Gligar caged up while they celebrate their victory with a mountain of tinned food.

"Gligar, your not hurt are you?"Ash asked.

Gligar nodded at it's trainer.

Meanwhile...

Gary confidently lead Dawn, Denise, Brock, Staravia, Pikachu, Piplup and Vaporeon through the mountainous terrain as the evening wears on.

"We haven't found Ash and Gligar yet."Dawn said sadly. "And the sun is going down."

"I hope they are both okay."Denise admitted.

"I know this terrain like the back of my hand and there aren't many places where Team Rocket landed their balloon."Gary assured. "This way."

Later that Night...

When Team Rocket were sound asleep, Ash and Gligar decided to escape.

"They fell asleep, let's get out of here."Ash commented. "Quick, face the bars and use X-Scissor."

Gligar nodded at it's trainer before using X-Scissor to break open the bars on the cage, but his two attempts weren't strong enough.

"Okay, let me try."Ash suggested.

Ash tried to smash open the cage himself.

Gligar watched the sight in amazement before resolving itself to use X-Scissor again.

Ash noticed a change in the strength of the bar as it appeared wobbly at the top.

"Okay, let's do it together."Ash remarked. "One, two, three!"

Ash and Gligar work together and attack the cage bars at the same time, which broke the cage open.

"Yeah Gligar, way da go."Ash said proudly.

Gligar smiled. "Gligar."

The two then escape from Team Rocket.

On the way they come across an old, rickety bridge.

"A hanging bridge."Ash said and looked at Gligar. "Come on, let's go."

Gligar jumped on Ash's back as they try to get across it.

The bridge's supporting rope snapped, sending Gligar and Ash plummeting.

Luckily Ash managed to grab hold of the rope, saving him and Gligar from falling.

"Gligar, we gotta start climbing."Ash instructed.

Ash started pulling himself and Gligar up to safety.

"We gotta find another way across."Ash commented.

Ash and Gligar notice a long tree.

"Okay Gligar, use Steel Wing and jump on that tree."Ash ordered.

Gligar jumped up high and dived down to cut the tree using Steel Wing.

But instead dropped down on the ground and landed on Ash's lap.

"Are you alright?"Ash asked.

Gligar notice the wounds in his claws and quickly stood up which surprised Ash.

"Don't worry Gligar, I know you can do it."Ash instructed. "Use Steel Wing!"

Gligar leapt up into the sky and headed to the tree.

"Nice jump!"Ash chuckled. "Now break it!"

Gligar leapt down and used Steel Wing causing the tree to break this time.

Ash and Gligar cheered in victory.

"You did it, Gligar!"Ash cheered and then took out the Razor Fang. "You know what that means you can use the Razor Fang to evolve if you want."

Tears of joy appeared on Gligar's eyes and it happily hugged Ash.

Suddenly Team Rocket appeared in their Gliscor balloon, sending the tree down.

"Alright, jail breakers, we'll take it from here!"James assured.

"It's back to the twerp box for you."Jessie said evilly.

"Can't you guys give it a rest?"Ash demanded with a glare.

Meowth laughed. "And what? And miss all the fun of playing with our toys and messing with you?"

"Wobbuffet!"Wobbuffet agreed.

"One Gligar, please."James stated.

"To go."Meowth remarked.

"Look out!"Ash shouted.

The Gliscor tail shoots out again, but Ash jumped in the way of it and is captured instead.

"Quick Gligar, you gotta keep moving."Ash admitted.

Ash let's go of Gligar, sending it to the ground below which shocked Team Rocket.

"The twerp left!"Jessie said.

"Bad twerp!"James snapped.

"Oh no, you don't!"Ash scowled.

Ash falls himself while trying to scale the mecha and passed Gligar as they both fell.

"Gligar, heads up!"Ash called out. "The razor fang, grab it!"

Ash threw Gligar the Razor Fang and it evolved into Gliscor.

"Gliscor!"

"It evolved."Ash remarked and freaked out when he notice he was falling to the ground.

Gliscor flew down quickly and managed to catch Ash, using its tail to cushion their landing.

"Hey thanks, Gliscor."Ash complemented. "What a catch."

"Gliscor."Gliscor replied with a grin.

Team Rocket were impressed to see the newly evolved Gliscor.

"Hey look, Gligar's been Gliscor."Meowth said.

"Good. The similar image with our Gliscor-Bot."Jessie remarked.

"That means our Gliscor will have someone to look up to."James chuckled.

"Gliscor is mine!"Ash snapped with a frown. "Right, Gliscor?"

"Gliscor!"Gliscor agreed with a glare.

"Launching robot tail!"Meowth stated.

The Gliscor balloon went towards Gliscor.

"X-Scissor, go!"Ash ordered.

Gliscor used X-Scissor, which smashed into the Gliscor balloon tail and knocked it back.

"That's how you do it!"Ash commented with a smirk.

Then Gary, Denise, Dawn and Brock showed up in the scene.

"Ash!"Denise and Dawn called out.

"Is that who I think it is?"Brock asked in surprise.

"You bet my Gligar here evolved into Gliscor."Ash responded.

"Whoa, congratulations."Denise complemented.

"Awesome and I can't think of how much Gliscor is strong now."Dawn admitted.

"Pika pika!"Pikachu said.

"Piplup!"Piplup remarked.

Vaporeon smiled. "Vaporeon!"

"Get a load of a real X-Scissor with real scissors!"Meowth growled.

Meowth sends out the claws of the Gliscor balloon mecha.

"Gliscor intercept it with X-Scissor now!"Ash ordered.

Gliscor used X-Scissor to deflect the Gliscor mecha's claws.

"Gliscor, quick, use your tail!"Ash ordered.

Gliscor grabbed a hold of a tree branch and charged up it's power.

"Now fly straight up and use Steel Wing!"Ash ordered.

Gliscor flung itself from the tree and using Steel Wing aimed at Team Rocket.

"I think now is the time to show that our Gliscor-Bot has more than just a pretty face."James commented.

"Heavy metal's never been so cool."Jessie remarked.

"Our Gliscor-Bot's Steel Wing rules!"Meowth stated with a frown.

Meowth activated the balloon's Steel Wing mode.

The Gliscor balloon and Gliscor charged at each other.

Ash's Gliscor wins out and Team Rocket's mecha was split in half.

"Check it out!"Ash laughed.

"No, thank you!"Meowth, Jessie and James panicked.

Gary, Denise, Dawn and Brock looked on in amazement.

"A direct hit."Denise said proudly.

"Wow."Gary chuckled. "Gliscor is sure looking strong."

"Yeah and Gliscor is in total sync with Ash."Dawn added kindly.

Gliscor then flew towards Ash and hugged him.

"Old habits die hard."Dawn complemented while sweat dropping.

Team Rocket tried to repair their balloon.

"Make one wrong move and we'll lose the boss company will be lost!"Meowth said.

"Will you quit addressing!"James retorted.

"Shut your melon mouth!"Jessie snapped.

"Pikachu, wrap this round with Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.

Pikachu used Thunderbolt, which caused the Gliscor bot to explode and sending Team Rocket blasting off in the night sky.

"We're blasting off again!"Team Rocket shouted quietly as they disappeared out of sight.

As the sun rises, Ash and Gliscor exchanged smiles with the rift between them healed and a stronger friendship than before.

Afterwards...

"Thanks Gary, you really helped us a lot."Ash admitted.

Gliscor nodded. "Gliscor."

"What do you mean?"Gary asked. "I didn't do anything."

"Huh?"Ash said in confusion.

"Ash it is you who got over through the rush spots."Gary reminded with a smile.

"If you say so thanks."Ash commented.

"I hope that you get to see that legendary pokemon."Brock said.

"Thanks, I usually catch a break, when I'm at the lake."Gary remarked.

"Oh no!"Dawn gasped.

"Dawn, what's the matter?"Ash asked.

"Gary just said I catch a break when I'm at a lake!"Dawn said. "That's a poem if I ever heard one but what do you expect from the grandson of a poet?"

This caused Ash, Denise and Brock to sweat drop while Gary lightly chuckled.

Denise face palmed. "Oh brother..."

"Okay then here's another one, Dawn."Gary replied. "Stay healthy and strong and you'll never go wrong."

The heroes smiled at Gary's response.

"Good one, Gary."Ash commented.

"Pika Pika."Pikachu said.

"Words to live by."Dawn added.

Denise and Vaporeon looked at each other before they quietly giggled.

Then Gary leaves for Lake Valor while the group continued towards Hearthome City.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter

Denise's Team:

Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Razor Leaf and Bite

Vaporeon (Female): Water Gun, Shadow Ball, Attract and Aurora Beam

Luxio (Male): Spark, Night Slash, Wild Charge and Ice Fang

Kirlia (Female): Psychic, Ice Punch, Magical Leaf and Confusion

Hoothoot (Male): Silver Wind, Reflect, Aerial Ace and Supersonic

Drifloon (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish