I don't own Pokemon or it's characters, but I own Denise and my other OCs
Enjoy!
Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 102: Shield with a Twist!
Ash stands with Pikachu in the Hearthome Gym ready for his fifth Gym battle.
Brock, Denise, Barry and Dawn were sitting down to watch the battle.
The referee introduces the battlers.
"Now brace yourselves for unparalleled grace and charm as we call our fabulous Gym Leader and elegant dancer, Fantina!"the referee announced.
The doors opposing Ash open and reveal Fantina surrounded by white light as she spins on one foot, announcing her excitement for her match with Ash.
"Bienvenue, mes amie à la Hearthome Gym!"Fantina laughed as she did a spin.
"And rejoice, mes amie, as the exciting day, has finally come for my battle with Ash!"
"I am going to beat you, Fantina!"Ash stated. "Soon I will be holding my fifth badge!"
Fantina let out a chuckle.
"I'm not the one who gives the Relic Badge away that easily."Fantina remarked as she posed.
"Hey, Barry!"Ash called out. "Watch and learn!"
"Come on, Ash!"Barry insulted and stood up. "I don't need to know what a loser you are!"
Denise grabbed Barry's ear and started pulling it.
"Ow!"Barry cried out in pain.
"Sit down and be quiet, Barry."Denise retorted. "The battle hasn't even started."
"The Hearthome Gym battle between Ash and Fantina will now begin! Each trainer will use three pokemon and when all three of one trainer's pokemon are unable to continue, the battle is over!"the referee announced. "Only the challenger may substitute their pokemon at anytime!"
"Allons-y, Gengar!"Fantina said. "Battle position, vit!"
The pokeball opened and Gengar appeared in the battlefield.
"Gengar!"
"A Gengar, huh?"Ash said.
Dawn took out her pokedex to scan Gengar.
"Gengar the Shadow Pokemon and the evolved form of Haunter."Dawn's Pokedex said. "Gengar hides in the shadows. If a Gengar is nearby, it is said to feel ten degrees colder than normal."
"I wonder if it's gonna use Hypnosis soon!"Ash commented and took out a pokeball. "Alright Buizel, I choose you!"
Buizel appeared in the battlefield.
"Buizel, you can do it!"Dawn remarked.
"Piplup!"Piplup cheered.
"Let's show them what special training can do!"Ash stated.
Buizel nodded at his trainer.
"Oh, I love the sound of special training."Fantina complemented. "Let's not waste a minute and get going, tout suite!"
"Gengar."Gengar responded smugly.
Buizel glared at Gengar.
"The challenger gets the first move!"the Announcer stated. "Battle begin!"
"Okay Aqua Jet, go!"Ash ordered.
Buizel starts with Aqua Jet and Gengar simply dodged the attack.
This caused Ash and Pikachu to become surprised.
"I've seen that!"Barry stated. "The way Fantina's pokemon keeps floating all over the place like that and makes it nearly impossible for a challenger to land an attack!"
"That special ability Levitate sure works."Brock replied. "Ash's strategy needs to deal with Fantina's pokémon's unpredictable movements if he wants to defeat her."
"You see this our ghost type pokemon moves."Fantina responded. "The question is how do you handle it, Ash?"
"Guess you have to wait and see!"Ash answered and looked at Buizel. "Buizel, Sonic Boom, go!"
Buizel uses Sonic Boom, but Gengar dodged causing the attack to hit a wall.
"But there won't be a battle to see, if this keeps up."Fantina stated with a smirk. "It's show time! Starring the one and only Gengar the Great!"
Gengar moves fast to confuse Buizel.
"Buizel, look up!"Ash warned.
Buizel notice Gengar was above him.
"Now Shadow Punch!"Fantina ordered.
Gengar uses Shadow Punch to hit Buizel.
"Buizel are you alright?!"Ash asked.
"Whoa, Gengar just threw a punch at Buizel without fail."Denise said.
"It's a scary move that's for sure."Barry commented.
"Shadow Punch is not just fantastique, it is a unique ghost type move that never misses!"Fantina remarked. "What a way to begin! Next stop, Hypnosis!"
"I knew it was coming."Ash mumbled. "Now spin and use Water Gun!"
Gengar goes to use Hypnosis, but with Ash's training, Buizel spun and uses Water Gun, negating the move and hitting Gengar.
"So much for their Hypnosis!"Ash chuckled.
"Pika!"Pikachu agreed.
"Perfect!"Dawn replied.
Piplup nodded. "Plup."
"Wow, they really stopped it."Barry said in surprise.
"Don't move Gengar or you'll take damage and don't let your body touch the water!"Fantina warned.
"Seems that the special training has really stopped Hypnosis."Denise stated in approval.
"Also the water barrier of Buizel has hit Gengar and stopped it from moving the way ot wants to."Brock added.
"Hey! Listen up, Ash!"Barry called out. "If that's your strategy stick with it!"
Gengar landed on the ground and quickly went back up.
"I guess that all our special training proves that the strongest defence can come form of an attack too."Ash said proudly.
Buizel spoke in agreement.
"Oh la la, Ash!"Fantina giggled. "Laying down and attacking all at once? I think we should call the technique, the Counter Shield, oui?"
"Counter Shield, huh?"Ash answered. "That's gotta nice ring to it."
"Now we'll see how you like Night Shade!"Fantina stated.
Gengar's eyes began glowing red and went up in the air.
"Water Pulse, go!"Ash ordered.
Gengar uses Nightshade and Buizel uses Water Pulse.
Both the pokemon got hit by the attacks and landed on the ground.
Ash gasped in shock.
"Zut alor!"Fantina said.
Though both pokemon got hit, Gengar got a thicker end and got defeated.
"Gengar is unable to battle!"the referee announced. "Buizel is the winner!"
"Noooo!"Fantina shouted in shock.
"You did it, Buizel!"Ash remarked.
"Awesome!"Dawn answered and looked at Piplup. "Isn't Buizel, strong?"
"Piplup."Piplup agreed.
"Thanks to Ash, of course."Denise commented.
"Wow, this is the best effort of counter shield."Brock said. "What a strategy."
"Man! I can't believe that Ash didn't even break a sweat when I didn't even end up beating one of Fantina's pokemon!"Barry complained.
Ash returned Buizel back in it's pokeball.
"Buizel, return."Ash instructed and looked at the pokeball. "I'm going to need you later, so take a good rest."
Fantina returned Gengar into her pokeball.
"Alor, merci Gengar, return."Fantina ordered and looked at Ash. "Your quite the challenger formidable, Ash."
"Hey!"Barry complained. "What did she just say to him!? She didn't say anything nice to me at all!"
Brock, Denise, Dawn and Piplup sweat dropped and laughed lightly.
"As long as we stay sharp, this one's in the bag."Ash answered confidently. "What do you say we make a quick work of her other two pokemon?"
"Pika!"Pikachu agreed.
"Bon! I've never 'ad so much fun!"Fantina chuckled. "So you can guess who's next! Mismagius, battle position!"
The pokeball opened and Mismagius appeared in the battlefield.
"Now Ash, let me tell you something upfront."Fantina said. "Please, keep in mind that Mismagius cannot learn Hypnosis and now it's time for me to ask you something. Exactly how are you planning to deal with this?"
This caused the group to be confused.
"She sure is not keeping any secrets."Brock commented.
"But all she's doing is putting herself in a disadvantage, right?"Barry asked.
"No, it's common for Gym Leaders to share their techniques in battles to see how challengers can handle it."Barry answered. "After all, the goal of a Gym Leader is to present a broad range of challenges to each and one of their opponents."
"Okay, let's figure this out."Ash said quietly. "When Zoey and Denise battled Mismagius, they used psychic moves and magical leaf."
Ash took out a pokeball.
"Then we have to deal with magical leaf as well!"Ash stated. "Chimchar, I choose you!"
The pokeball opened and Chimchar appeared in the battlefield.
"Chimchar!"
"Let's see what you got Chimchar."Fantina challenged.
"Flame Wheel now!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar starts with Flame Wheel and Mismagius floated up, only for the fire type to spin after her.
"I had no idea that Chimchar could jump."Fantina complemented.
"Aw man."Barry commented. "That most contain a lot of power."
"Actually that kind of agility is easy for Chimchar."Brock admitted. "Piece of cake."
"Go!"Ash encouraged.
Chimchar spun towards Mismagius.
"Alor Mismagius, Psywave!"Fantina ordered.
Mismagius stopped Chimchar with Psywave and the Chimp Pokemon hit the floor.
Ash gasped in shock.
"Uh oh."Barry said.
"Oh no."Dawn replied.
"Piplup."Piplup chirped.
"That looked like some really damage."Brock complemented. "Psychic moves are something to behold."
"Come on, Chimchar."Denise thought. "You can do this."
"Hey Chimchar!"Ash called out. "Are you okay?"
"Char."Chimchar assured weakly.
"Does this surprise you, Ash?"Fantina questioned with a smirk. "Well, hang on because I have so much left to show you!"
"That Psywave can sure be a pain."Ash muttered and spoke up. "Alright Chimchar, spin and then use Flamethrower!"
Chimchar jumps and spins, using Flamethrower as 'Counter Shield'.
"So now this time, it's going to be a fire counter shield? Très bien!"Fantina complemented. "Use Psywave!"
Mismagius uses Psywave, but fails to, as it gets still hit by Flamethrower.
"No!"Fantina said in shock. "Not again!"
"We held that off too!"Ash stated.
Denise smiled. "That's the way to do it."
"Awesome!"Barry chuckled. "Ash is kicking!"
"He can counter other moves other than Hypnosis."Dawn agreed.
"Well that's because Ash has gotten really good using attacks for defence."Brock replied. "Attacks like that are a lot effective other than Hypnosis."
"Let's see how you deal with this!"Fantina responded. "Mismagius, Magical Leaf!"
Mismagius uses Magical Leaf and stopped Chimchar from spinning.
Chimchar landed on the floor with a stunned expression.
"It can't be..."Ash started.
"I don't understand how Fantina already broke through."Barry said.
"Chimchar's moves are supposed to be powerful against grass type attacks."Dawn added.
"Well, if I had to guess I'd say she's hammering Chimchar with Magical Leaf to break the counter shield."Brock answered.
"That's not good."Denise said quietly.
"Quel dommage Ash, the truth is I learned everything about the counter shield when you used it before on Gengar, oui?"Fantina asked.
"Aw man, after all our work...just like a Gym Leader."Ash scowled. "Okay Chimchar use Flame Wheel again!"
"Dark Pulse, tout suite!"Fantina ordered.
Chimchar uses Flame Wheel and Mismagius tries to stop it with Dark Pulse.
"Chimchar, Flamethrower!"Ash ordered. "Keep it up!"
Chimchar uses Flamethrower as well, stopping the Dark Pulse.
"Now he's using Flame Wheel as a counter shield this time."Brock said.
"Awesome."Dawn commented. "Ash's battling seems to be getting more amazing than ever!"
"Piplup."Piplup agreed.
"Mismagius Psywave, s'il vous plait!"Fantina ordered.
"Yeah!"Ash chuckled. "I thought so!"
"Huh?"Fantina said in confusiom.
Mismagius uses Psywave to stop Chimchar's Flamethrower.
"Wait!"Barry protested. "Was only the Flamethrower hit?!"
"Just watch."Denise instructed with a smirk.
Chimchar hits Mismagius with Flame Wheel.
"Mismagius is unable to battle!"the referee announced. "Chimchar is the winner!"
"Noooo!"Fantina shouted in shock.
"Yeah!"Ash laughed. "We did it, Chimchar!"
"Pikachu!"Pikachu agreed.
Chimchar rushed up to Ash and Pikachu in joy.
"Two down, one to go."Denise commented in approval.
"I figured that if I've blocked your Dark Pulse, you'd follow it up with Psywave and I was right."Ash stated.
"No point in pulling a wool over your eyes, oui?"Fantina asked. "I am très impressionne."
"First of you knock away Psywave with a Flamethrower and then you hit your opponent where it really hurts with a powerful Flame Wheel."Brock instructed. "That's got Ash written all over it."
"Ugh!"Barry groaned in annoyance. "Ash is too much! I can't take it!"
Brock, Denise, Dawn and Piplup sweat dropped.
"You did exactly what I needed you to do."Ash commented and took out a pokeball. "Thanks, Chimchar. Take a good rest."
Chimchar returned back in it's pokeball.
"Chimchar seems a lot more different back when Paul had it."Barry admitted. "I saw the two of them competing a while ago and even though they won the thing, Chimchar didn't seem happier as it is now."
Brock, Denise and Dawn looked at Barry quietly.
Fantina took out her third pokeball.
"Now for my third pokemon!"Fantina stated. "Voila, it's Drifblim!"
The pokeball opened and a Drifblim appeared in the battlefield.
"Drifblim!"
"Whoa, a Drifblim."Ash said in surprise.
Denise took out her pokedex to scan Drifblim.
"Drifblim the Blimp Pokemon and the evolved form of Drifloon."Denise's Pokedex said. "At dusk, swarms of them are carried aloft on winds. When noticed, they suddenly vanish."
"I was really expecting Fantina to take out Duskull, Dennie."Dawn said.
"Same with me, sis."Denise agreed. "But let's see how Drifblim battles against Ash's pokemon."
"Ash, let me tell you about something Drifblim."Fantina commented. "After some training, it has become more stronger and beautiful than before."
"Drifblim."Drifblim cooed.
Ash looked at Pikachu.
"It's up to you, buddy."Ash remarked.
Pikachu nodded. "Pika pikachu."
Pikachu rushed into the battlefield.
"Alright use Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, spreading the electricity and he hits Drifblim indirectly.
"Wow! What a hit!"Dawn complemented. "Drifblim can't move!"
"Piplup."Piplup chirped.
"Fantina, you may have removed our flame counter shield with your Magical Leaf, but now what are you going to do with our electric shield?"Ash asked.
"You certainly didn't waste time paralysing Drifblim, did you?"Fantina asked with a smirk. "But, perhaps you forget, Ash, but Drifblim can use psychic moves as well! Like Psychic!"
Though paralyzed, Drifblim uses Psychic to dispel it.
"Yes, your counter shield is an excellent strategy, but Ash, please remember that all good things must come to an end, n'est ce pas?"Fantina reminded.
Ash gritted his teeth.
"I do think that your strategy is magnifique."Fantina admitted. "So perhaps the time has come for you to do some re-strategising, while I do some myself! Voila! Will-o-Wisp!"
Drifblim used Will O' Wisp.
"Use Psychic to control the Will O' Wisp."Fantina ordered.
The Blimp Pokemon used Psychic to control the blue flames.
"Pikachu, knock it away with Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
Pikachu used Thunderbolt, but Drifblim's combination deflects the attack.
"It's sealed up?!"Ash said in shock.
"As you can plainly see, my Drifblim is sealed into the counter shield."Fantina commented. "It's like a counter counter shield."
Pikachu landed back on the battlefield.
"Drifblim's Psychic maintains a powerful range such as Will-o-Wisp and will last much longer than any move of yours!"Fantina stated. "Alor! Here we go!"
Drifblim launches the attack and grabs Pikachu by the cheeks.
"Whoa..."Denise whispered with a stunned expression.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt go!"Ash ordered.
Since Drifblim held Pikachu, the ghost flying type prevented the Mouse Pokemon from attacking.
"Hypnosis!"Fantina ordered.
"Pikachu, deflect it with Thunderbolt!"Ash ordered.
uses Hypnosis to put Pikachu to sleep.
"Pikachu! No!"Ash shouted.
"Now Ominous Wind!"Fantina ordered.
Drifblim uses Ominous Wind, sending Pikachu in Ash's arms and was defeated quickly.
"Pikachu is unable to battle!"the referee announced. "Drifblim is the winner!"
"Oh no."Dawn said quietly.
Piplup sighed. "Piplup."
"Pikachu that was an awesome job."Ash assured.
"Pika."Pikachu said sadly.
"Thank you."Ash admitted and placed Pikachu down. "Listen, your hard work is going to pay off, I'm sure of it."
"Pika pika."Pikachu whispered.
Barry looked at Ash and Pikachu silently.
Ash took out a pokeball.
"I've got to do something about that Will-o-Wisp!"Ash stated. "Now Buizel, you're up again!"
The pokeball opened and Buizel appeared back into the battlefield.
"So Ash, how are you planning to attack this time?"Fantina asked.
"Like this!"Ash answered. "Spin and use Aqua Jet!"
Buizel spins and uses Aqua Jet, negating Drifblim's combination.
"They wiped out the Will-o-Wisp!"Barry remarked.
Buizel hit Drifblim with Aqua Jet.
"Ah, so you brought out a Water Type Pokémon to extinguish the flames, did you?"Fantina questioned. "Alor! Ominous Wind!"
Drifblim stopped Buizel with Ominous Wind.
"Come on, Buizel!"Ash encouraged. "Water Pulse go!"
Buizel counter attacked with Water Pulse.
"Will-o-Wisp!"Fantina ordered.
Drifblim uses Will-o-Wisp to negate Buizel's Water Pulse.
With all the explosion, the Blimp Pokemon managed to get close to Buizel.
"Not again!"Ash retorted.
"Use Hypnosis!"Fantina ordered.
Drifblim sent Buizel to sleep with Hypnosis.
"Now use Psychic!"Fantina ordered.
Buizel gets defeated by Drifblim's Psychic.
"Buizel is unable to battle!"the referee announced. "Drifblim is the winner!"
Ash gritted his teeth.
"Fantina's Drifblim is really something."Denise commented.
"It sure is strong."Barry agreed. "Putting away two pokemon in a blink of an eye."
"I wouldn't dismiss the power of Hypnosis, if I were you, n'est ce pas?"Fantina suggested.
Ash returned Buizel back in it's pokeball.
"You were great, Buizel."Ash assured kindly. "Thank you."
The Pallet Town Trainer takes out his last pokeball.
"Okay Chimchar, it looks like you're the last up!"Ash stated. "I'm counting on you!"
Ash sends his last pokemon, Chimchar, in the battlefield.
"So come and get it!"Fantina challenged.
Drifblim prepared to use Will O' Wisp.
"Flame Wheel now!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar uses Flame Wheel.
"Sorry, but that move is just as the same."Fantina admitted.
Chimchar got stopped by Drifblim's Will-O-Wisp.
"Flame on flame, huh?"Ash said and smirked.
"That is strange."Fantina commented. "Is something wrong?"
"What's up?"Dawn asked.
"Ash figured something out."Brock answered.
"Is gonna take more than that to break their Will-o-Wisp."Barry stated.
"They want to see flames, we'll show them flames!"Ash admitted. "Flamethrower, go!"
Chimchar fired Flamethrower.
"My counter shield works against any moves!"Fantina complemented.
Drifblim uses it's combination to attack.
However Chimchar fuses with the attack and Drifblim gets hit by it.
Fantina gasped in shock.
"That's it!"Ash remarked.
"Pika!"Pikachu cheered.
"It worked!"Barry stated. "They broke their shield!"
"I knew they would."Denise chuckled.
"It didn't just break the shield."Ash responded. "That Flamethrower absorbed the Will-o-Wisp, making it even more powerful. Guess you don't know everything about counter shields after all."
"I guess I spoke a bit too soon."Fantina commented. "Your Chimchar may be trés magnifique, but I'm afraid your rematch road ends here! Ominous Wind, Drifblim!"
Drifblim sent Ominous Wind towards Chimchar.
"Chimchar dig, let's go!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar digs to escape the attack and jumped up in front of Drifblim.
"Chimchar grab a hold of Drifblim quick!"Ash ordered.
Chimchar grabbed Drifblim and throws it on the ground.
"I've never seen Dig used like that!"Barry admitted. "Go figure!"
"Bien supreme."Fantina replied. "But now it is time for Hypnosis!"
"Chimchar, Flamethrower!"Ash ordered.
Just as Fantina has Drifblim to use Hypnosis, Chimchar uses Flamethrower to take out Drifblim.
Drifblim fainted on the ground.
"Drifblim is unable to battle and Chimchar wins!"the referee announced. "Which means the victor goes to Ash, the challenger!"
"We did it, guys!"Ash chuckled.
Chimchar and Pikachu cheered at their victory.
"Wow, they really beat Fantina!"Dawn remarked.
"Piplup."Piplup giggled.
"Ash will never stop to amaze me."Denise stated proudly.
"He actually pulled it off..."Barry said quietly.
"Things were shaky for a while, but Ash pulled it off."Brock commented. "What a great battle."
Fantina picked up Drifblim.
"Merci beaucoup, Drifblim."Fantina responded. "You're a true hardworker."
"Drifblim blim."Drifblim said.
Later that Evening...
Fantina handed Ash the Relic Badge.
"Congratulations, Ash."Fantina admitted. "You and your pokemon are truly magnifique. Here's the Relic Badge."
"Wow, thanks so much."Ash said and picked up the Relic Badge. "Alright! We got the Relic Badge!"
Pikachu, Buizel and Chimchar cheered at their victory.
Afterwards...
Ash, Brock, Dawn, Denise and Barry went to the Pokemon Center when night time arrived.
Denise prepared almond cookies for her companions and orange juice to drink.
"Barry, what are you going to do now?"Ash asked.
"It's a no brainer."Barry answered. "I'm going to Iron Island."
"Iron Island?"Ash said.
"I trained there and won at the the Canalave Gym."Barry answered. "I figured that it would be a good idea to train there again and that's my strategy."
"You mean after our match?"Denise suggested.
"Right, Denise."Barry agreed with a nod.
"Iron Island is over there."Dawn stated while checking the map book. "It's a boat ride from Canalave City."
"So maybe mine and Denise's next Gym challenge should be at the Canalave Gym."Ash commented and looked at Barry. "Hey, why don't we go there together?"
"Pika."Pikachu remarked.
"Okay, maybe if the two of you win there then maybe I'll start thinking the two of you as real rivals."Barry bragged.
"Says the guy who has only three badges."Denise responded with a smirk.
"Hey!"Barry complained.
Ash, Pikachu, Dawn and Brock laughed a little.
"Anyway the Canalave Gym specialises iron types, so both of you give it a shot if you dare."Barry challenged.
"I'm so sure that Badge Number 6 will be mine, they might as well give it to me upfront."Ash stated confidently.
"With hard work, we will be just fine."Denise remarked with her arms folded.
Barry, Ash and Denise stared at each other.
"Well, you can't accuse them of getting into it."Dawn replied with a sheepish smile.
Piplup nodded. "Piplup."
"And no doubt our trip to Canalave City will be interesting too."Brock commented.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)
Denise's Team:
Grotle (Male): Solar Beam, Heavy Slam, Seed Bomb 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