I don't own Pokemon or it's characters, but I own Denise and my other OCs
Enjoy!
Pokemon: Friends to the End
Chapter 106: Ancient Family Matters!
The heroes head to the Canalave Gym in order for Ash and Denise to have their Gym Battles with Byron.
"Our battle with Bryon is finally here!"Ash said excitedly.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu remarked.
"Finally."Denise chuckled with a smile. "Surely this time we will have our Sixth Gym battles without any ghost frights or other distractions."
The doors opened and the Gym's referee that the heroes met during the Darkrai incident showed up.
Ash and Denise rushed up to the referee.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town and I came here for a Gym battle."Ash admitted.
"And I am Denise from Twinleaf Town."Denise added. "I, too, came here for a Gym battle."
"Oh yes, you two came here the other day."the referee said with a smile.
"Right."Ash agreed. "We got the word from Nurse Joy that Byron the Gym Leader is back in town."
"Well Byron is back, you're right."the referee admitted. "But now is not such a good time."
"What are you talking about, how come?"Ash questioned with a frustrated look.
"Well the thing is…his son's visiting today."the referee answered.
"But what does that have to do with not having Gym battles?"Denise demanded with a small frown.
"How should I put this..."the referee started.
The referee lead the heroes inside the Gym.
"To be honest, the two of them are quite a pair of you know what I mean."the referee explained. "If something goes wrong with the two, it can take a while to fix."
"I love Fossils!"A voice shouted.
"I love them more!"A second voice snapped.
"Who's voices are those?"Dawn asked.
"Piplup."Piplup chirped.
"I work as the chief of Ancient Pokemon Excavation Operations in the Oreburgh Mines!"the second voice stated.
"Give me a break!"the first voice argues. "You're still just a kid! You wouldn't know a fossil if it hit you on the head!"
"You'll be sorry you said that, dad!"the second voice warned.
Upon entering the Gym, Ash and his friends find Byron's son was none other than Roark, the Gym Leader of Oreburgh City.
"Ash is that-"Denise started.
"Yeah!"Ash answered in awe. "It's Roark from the Oreburgh Gym!"
Roark glanced behind him, seeing the four heroes.
"Excuse me, Bryon!"the referee called out. "The challengers have arrived!"
"Hey Roark."Ash greeted. "Good to see you."
"Yeah."Denise agreed kindly. "It's been a while."
"Hey, Ash and Denise."Roark responded. "Your both looking well."
"Thanks."Ash responded.
Denise smiled in reply.
"The challengers are your friends?"Bryon asked.
"My name is Ash and I am from Pallet Town."Ash said.
"And my name is Denise."Denise added. "I'm from Twinleaf Town."
"Both of them already challenged me back in the Oreburgh Gym and won their first Gym battles."Roark explained.
Bryon looked at Ash and Denise quietly.
"Ash, Denise, I'm sorry to do this, but both of you gonna have to wait."Roark stated. "I am not about to let this one just go."
Ash became surprised while a curious expression grew on Denise's face.
"Because when it comes to fossils, Dad, you won't outdo me!"Roark snapped.
Bryon glared at Roark with a angry look.
"I'm telling you how much I love fossils the most and that is that!"Bryon shouted.
"No way!"Roark argued. "I do!"
An electric zap grew between Bryon and Roark's eyes as they continued glaring at each other.
"Tell me I'm crazy, but somehow Roark seems different from last time."Dawn commented.
"It's called daddy issues, sis."Denise responded while face palming.
"You're soft!"Bryon laughed smugly. "So soft that going up against you will be a piece of cake! Off with the lights!"
In an attempt to prove his love of Fossils, Byron shows Roark, Ash, Denise, Brock and Dawn his collection of Fossils including his special Anorith Fossil.
"Feast your eyes on my collection!"Bryon requested proudly.
"Wow!"Ash said in amazement. "Check them all out!"
"He sure has a lot of stones."Dawn responded.
"Pip piplup."Piplup chirped.
"Actually these are all fossils."Brock corrected.
"Those are fossils?"Dawn asked.
"Wow! Could it be?"Roark said as he crushed up a glass case that contained the Anorith Fossil. "What a colossal Anorith!"
"Hey, his impressed."Ash complemented.
"Why is that fossil important?"Denise asked.
"Just look."Brock instructed.
Ash, Denise and Dawn gasped when they saw the picture that the Anorith Fossil was three times the size of a normal Anorith.
"If I restore this fossil completely, it would be three times bigger than a normal Anorith!"Bryon laughed. "So give up!"
"I'll say this, I don't think I've ever seen an Anorith Fossil as big as this one."Roark admitted. "But when it comes to Pokemon restored from fossils, there's nothing that tops my Rampardos for sure!"
"Sorry to have to correct you, but when it comes to Pokemon restored from fossils, my Bastiodon tops everything!"Bryon stated.
Byron and Roark began to fight over who has the better revived Fossil Pokemon, Byron's Bastiodon or Roark's Rampardos.
"Come on!"Roark argued. "There's no Pokemon stronger than my Rampardos!"
"You're wrong again!"Byron shouted. "Nothing could beat my Bastiodon!"
"Except Rampardos!"Roark retorted.
"Bastiodon's the best!"Byron snapped.
"Rampardos is the best!"Roark yelled.
Ash, Denise, Brock and Dawn sweat dropped seeing Byron and Roark fighting again.
"Here we go again."Dawn said.
"This is going to take a while."Denise mumbled.
"Bastiodon!"
"Rampardos!"
"Bastiodon!"
Then Brock walked up to Byron and Roark.
"Excuse me."Brock spoke up. "But I think your going around in circle."
"I have an idea."Dawn admitted. "Why don't you pick your pokemon against each other in battle?"
"That way you both will know if Bastiodon or Rampardos is the strongest."Denise remarked.
"Good idea!"Ash agreed. "Then once you've decided which pokemon is the best, Byron can battle with the two of us!"
Byron looked at Roark.
"Your up for it, son?"Byron asked.
"You bet!"Roark answered firmly. "Thought you wouldn't never ask!"
"Alright! The battle will be in 10 minutes!"Byron warned. "Be there!"
Roark nodded. "Right."
A While Later...
Dawn, Ash, Denise and Brock sat down to talk to Roark about his dad.
"Wow Roark, I had no idea that Byron was your dad."Ash commented.
"He sure is."Roark replied. "Obviously we get a bit carried away with fossils in a way. The real reason I came all the way here was to ask him to make it back home to Oreburgh City for his and my mum's anniversary."
"So your father is from Oreburgh City then?"Brock asked. "That's great."
"He is."Roark replied. "Originally my dad worked there at the Oreburgh Gym, as the leader there."
"Cool, when was that?"Denise asked.
"That was right around the time when I was assigned to lead the Ancient Pokemon Excavation Operations at the Oreburgh Mine."Roark answered.
Roark tells the heroes when Byron was offered the position in Canalave City's Gym, he accepted and left Roark in charge of Oreburgh Gym.
"He didn't even consider what my mum and I would think of him leaving."Roark said with a frown. "The only person he ever consulted when he was making important decisions was himself! He always took the two of us for granted!"
"I hear you."Brock stated. "He sounds like another dad, namely mine."
"He would say that his whole reason in coming here to Canalave City was to find lots of fossils."Roark complained. "There are a lot of fossils in Iron Island nearby."
This caused Dawn, Ash, Denise and Brock to become stunned.
"Is that what the special training on Iron Island was all about?"Dawn questioned. "Digging up fossils?"
"I honestly was expecting Byron to do training with his pokemon."Denise complemented.
"I'm sorry I had to make you both wait like this, Ash and Denise."Roark apologised. "I just don't want my Dad out-fossiling me!"
"Don't worry about it, it's fine."Ash assured with a smile. "Good luck in the battle."
Roark smiled and nodded.
"I appreciate it."Roark answered.
Afterwards...
It was time for Byron and Roark to have their battle.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The Gym Leader special exhibition battle will now get underway!"the referee announced. "Both Gym Leaders will be using one Pokemon each and the battle will be over when a Pokemon on either side is unable to battle!"
"Hey, Dad!"Roark called out. "Keep in mind that it's also been over ten years since I've dug up my first fossil!"
Byron placed his shovel hard on the ground.
"Oh? So it's been that long, has it?"Byron questioned.
"And also keep in mind that since then I've devoted all my energy to studying fossils of every kind!"Roark snapped. "Just because you're my Dad doesn't mean I'll go easy!"
"Just because you're my son doesn't mean I won't whup ya!"Byron commented with a smirk.
"Rampardos, let's go!"Roark stated.
The pokeball opened and Rampardos appeared in the battlefield.
"I love Bastiodon!"Byron shouted.
The pokeball opened and Bastiodon landed in the battlefield.
"So that's a Bastiodon."Dawn replied.
Dawn took out her pokedex to scan Bastiodon.
"Bastiodon the Shield Pokemon and the evolved form of Shieldon."Dawn's Pokedex said. "It's massively powerful shield-like face can deflect even the strongest of attacks."
"I wonder which one is strong?"Dawn asked.
"Well Dawn, Rampardos is a Rock type while Bastiodon is a Rock and Steel type."Denise explained. "Rock types are usually weak against Steel types. But either way, let's see how this battle turns out."
"Amazing."Brock complemented. "This will be like a battle between a spear that can pierce through everything and a shield that can't be pierced."
"Let the battle begin!"the referee stated.
"I'll start!"Roark stated. "Alright Rampardos use Zen Headbutt, let's go!"
Rampardos charged forward with Zen Headbutt.
"Bastiodon, Iron Defence!"Byron ordered.
Bastiodon used Iron Defense for protection against Rampardos.
"Wow, Rampardos is looking fast as ever."Ash chuckled.
"But Bastiodon is no slouch either."Brock admitted.
"Zen Headbutt again!"Roark ordered.
Rampardos charged forward again to use Zen Headbutt.
"Iron Defence!"Byron ordered. "Iron Defence! Iron Defence!"
"Look at that power!"Ash chuckled.
"That Roark sure knows how on how to keeping on."Dawn remarked.
"Maybe."Brock responded. "But look a little closer and you'll see that Byron and Bastiodon are more of holding their own."
Ash, Denise and Dawn looked closer and saw Bastiodon was easily defending itself from Rampardos attacks.
"Bastiodon is using a Iron Defence to stop every attack cold."Brock stated. "I think it's safe to say that Byron's got the upper hand."
"There's no good defense without a good offence!"Roark stated. "Rampardos use Zen Headbutt again!"
"Now Iron Defence!"Byron ordered.
Rampardos and Bastiodon repeat the same moves.
Repeating itself again, but this time, Bastiodon pushed Rampardos away.
Brock, Ash, Denise and Dawn watch the sight in astonishment.
"The shield beat the spear!"Ash said.
"Looks like Byron got a trick up his sleeve."Denise complemented.
"Rampardos!"Roark called out.
Rampardos struggled to get up.
"Bastiodon use Flamethrower!"Byron ordered.
Bastiodon fired Flamethrower towards Rampardos.
"Rampardos, move out the way!"Roark ordered.
Rampardos stood up and avoided Bastiodon's Flamethrower.
"Dad's something, nicely done."Roark mumbled.
"Roark, my boy."Byron replied with a smirk. "I want you to give me everything you've got, so I can prove that I can take whatever you to shout and then some."
Rampardos slowly breathed while staring at it's opponent.
"I wonder what's wrong with Rampardos?"Dawn asked.
"After all that attacking, maybe it's tired."Brock suggested.
"Or it must be because of Bastiodon's Iron Defence."Denise replied.
"You should be ashamed!"Byron snapped. "You think you're going to take us down with those embarrassing excuses for attacks! You're a pitiful excuse to be a Gym Leader!"
"Rampardos, jump first and then use Head Smash!"Roark ordered.
Rampardos charged forward to hit Bastiodon with Head Smash.
"Bastiodon, Iron Head!"Byron ordered.
Rampardos and Bastiodon hit each other with their attacks causing an explosion.
"Those moves are their strongest!"Ash stated in surprise.
"There's no telling which one's stronger."Brock complemented. "But when Rampardos uses Head Smash it causes damage to itself as well."
When the smoke cleared, it showed Rampardos ended up taking damage from Head Smash.
"Snap out of it, Rampardos!"Roark ordered. "Use Flamethrower!"
Rampardos unleashes Flamethrower to hit Bastiodon.
"Alright Bastiodon, use Flash Cannon!"Byron ordered.
Bastiodon's Flash Cannon stops Rampardos Flamethrower.
Their battle stopped as the alarm got turned on.
"What is going on?!"Dawn demanded.
"Piplup!"Piplup said.
"Dad!"Roark shouted. "What's up?!"
"That's the exhibition room alarm!"Byron answered. "This battle is now over! Bastiodon, return!"
Byron returned Bastiodon in it's pokeball and headed out of the room while holding his shovel.
"But dad!"Roark protested and took out a pokeball. "Quick Rampardos, return!"
Roark followed after Byron.
"This doesn't look good."Ash commented.
"Pikachu."Pikachu replied.
"Come on, let's go too!"Denise suggested.
Brock, Ash and Dawn nodded at Denise before they headed out of the room to go after Roark and his dad.
The group headed back to the Fossil Room and notice a entry hole in the place.
"Look!"Byron stated.
"Somebody dug this hole!"Roark shouted angrily.
Byron bend down to check the hole.
"I don't believe it!"Byron said and became happy. "And still...I love this hole!"
This caused Roark, Brock, Ash, Denise and Dawn to hit the floor along with Pikachu and Piplup.
"You do?"Ash asked.
"Give it a good look!"Byron insisted. "Look how perfectly shaped it is! How it slopes gently downward! Whoever dug this has the skill and craftsmanship of a fearsome hole digger!"
This caused the heroes and Roark to hit the floor again.
"I've just got to track down the artisan who did this!"Byron said in excitement. "Imagine what this could do for my excavations!"
"Hey, dad!"Roark reminded. "You better have a good look over there!"
Byron and the group notice another hole where the Fossils used be.
"What?! It can't be!"Byron shouted. "Closer examination reveals this hole was dug by a machine!"
For the third time, the heroes and Roark slammed into the floor.
"NOT THAT!"Roark, Brock, Ash, Denise and Dawn shouted in disproval.
"Can't you see all of your fossils have been stolen?!"Roark argued.
"Stolen?! No!"Byron panicked as he looked around. "My precious fossil collection is gone!"
"What kind of criminal would do something like this!?"Roark questioned.
Roark headed down the hole followed by Byron.
"Wait!"Byron protested. "I'm coming too!"
Ash looked at his companions.
"We can't stay here."Ash reminded.
"Right!"Denise, Dawn and Brock answered in unison.
Ash, Denise, Dawn and Brock jumped down Team Rocket's escape hole in an attempt to retrieve the stolen Fossils.
The Gym Leaders and the heroes followed the drill mecha that was escaping in the tunnel.
"Man!"Ash retorted. "This tunnel seems to go on forever!"
"There is a light ahead!"Dawn stated.
"I smell familiar rats in this tunnel."Denise scoffed.
Byron, Roark, Ash, Denise, Dawn and Brock peek their heads out from inside the hole, only for them to see Team Rocket next to the drill mecha.
"Team Rocket!"Ash growled.
"Pika!"Pikachu shouted.
Team Rocket began a modified version of their motto.
"Is that a twerp surfacing I hear?"
"Trespassing through our hole, I fear!"
"On the wind!"
"Past the stars!"
"Diggers without peer!"
"Forming holes at a breakneck pace!"
"Shoveling earth, leaving air in its place!"
"Our skill knows no boundaries when it comes to a pick!"
"When it comes to pit traps, we don't miss a trick!"
"Jessie!"
"And it's James!"
"Meowth that's a name!"
"Putting all you ground hogging do gooders in your place"
"You've gotta think Team Rocket!"
"Cause we're in your face!"
"Wobba!"
"Mime mime mime!"
"Listen up!"Byron yelled. "I've got something that I want to say to you three!"
Team Rocket stared at Byron in confusion.
"Clearly you're all incredibly skilled diggers, but from now on, why not lose the machines and dig your happy holes by hand!"Byron insisted as he began digging the ground.
Team Rocket slammed on the ground at Byron's request.
"What's up with him and holes?"Jessie asked.
"Weird."Meowth mumbled.
"Listen!"Roark demanded. "Those crooks are called Team Rocket and they're bad!"
"No one could dig holes that beautifully and still be called bad!"Byron argued.
"But Dad, don't you realize that they've stolen your fossil collection!?"Roark protested.
"No fair!"Byron yelled. "I love my fossils!"
Roark and Byron glared at Team Rocket.
"Look here!"Roark snapped. "Those fossils are our link to the past! Not things for you to steal!"
"My son's right!"Byron agreed. "Give them back right now!"
"Dream on, digger-deric!"Jessie mocked.
"Now never comes!"James added.
"So you want it that way!?"Roark scowled. "Rampardos, let's go!"
"I love Bastiodon!"Byron shouted.
Byron sends Bastiodon and Roark takes out his Rampardos.
"Keep them!"Meowth commented and took out a controller. "I love Mecha-Man!"
Meowth made the drill mecha drop the bag of fossils down.
"Alright Rampardos, Zen Headbutt!"Roark ordered.
"Now Bastiodon use Iron Head!"Byron ordered.
Bastiodon and Rampardos attack the drill mecha with Iron Head and Zen Headbutt.
Jessie glared at Meowth.
"You sure you like Mecha Man!?"Jessie questioned.
"As long as we get the win! Dig it!"Meowth replied and began controlling the mecha. "Dirt balls for dirt bags!"
The drill mecha started throwing chunks of earth at Rampardos and Bastiodon.
"Rampardos, be careful!"Roark warned.
The machine tosses rocks around, which Rampardos dodged.
"Now Zen Headbutt, go!"Roark ordered.
Rampardos charged towards the drill mecha.
"It's time to flatten that pointy head!"Meowth laughed. "And the pit!"
The mecha started throwing sand towards Rampardos.
However Rampardos doesn't dodge the sand being tossed at it's head and gets hit by the rocks.
"Rampardos!"Roark shouted. "Move out of the way!"
"Iron Defense, Bastiodon!"Byron ordered. "Protect Rampardos, quick!"
Bastiodon uses Iron Defense to shield Rampardos from the rocks.
"So, see why I talk about a good value of defence!?"Byron questioned.
"Dad."Roark said in surprise.
"Listen, son!"Byron stated. "It's time to show off that attack you say is so great!"
"You got it, Dad!"Roark agreed with a smile. "Alright, Rampardos use Head Smash!"
The machine gets knocked out by Head Smash, but this causes Rampardos to fall down.
"Rampardos!"Roark yelled. "No!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt, go!"Ash ordered.
"Drifblim, come out and use Will-O-Wisp!"Denise ordered.
The pokeball opened and Drifblim appeared in the battlefield.
"Drifblim!"
Pikachu uses Thunderbolt and Drifblim uses Will-O-Wisp, but the drill mecha proved to be electric and fire proof.
This shocked Ash and Denise.
"What the-"Ash started.
"No way!"Denise denied.
"Those electricity and fire attacks barely tickled Mecha Man!"Meowth remarked and frowned. "Though those Headbutts could cause me to lose a little sleep."
"Oh, sleep later!"Jessie reminded. "Grab the fossil back!"
"Oh yeah!"Meowth chuckled evilly. "Ready or ready!"
Meowth made the mecha grab the fossil bag.
This caused Byron to gasp while Roark became angry.
"No they don't!"Roark snapped. "Rampardos use Zen Headbutt!"
"Bastiodon use Iron Head!"Byron ordered.
Rampardos and Bastiodon make two holes in the machine via Head Smash and Iron Head.
Jessie glared at Meowth.
"Come on!"Jessie argued. "Don't you take that guff from them!"
"I love tag backs!"Meowth replied.
Meowth made the mecha throw chunks at Rampardos and Bastiodon.
Denise notice the two small small holes in the back of the mecha.
"Ash look! There are weak spots to destroy the machine!"Denise admitted with a smirk. "How about we make a powerful Thunderbolt to send these creeps packing?"
"Awesome idea, Dennie!"Ash agreed and looked at Pikachu. "Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Drifblim use Thunderbolt too!"Denise ordered.
Pikachu and Drifblim both used Thunderbolt on the holes causing an explosion that made Team Rocket blast off.
"Mecha Man proves that our machine could be a flash from a can!"James complained.
"I've got a bit behind it like quality control rope!"Meowth mumbled sadly.
"You're a quality control jerk."Jessie retorted.
"AND WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"Team Rocket screamed as they disappeared in the sky.
"Pikachu and Drifblim, we did it!"Ash remarked.
"Good job as always."Denise chuckled.
Pikachu and Drifblim cheered at their victory.
Suddenly the bag of stolen fossils slammed down which shocked everyone.
"All those precious fossils!"Byron and Roark shouted in unison.
Roark and Byron rush towards the fossils and saw they weren't harmed.
"What a relief."Roark sighed in relief. "They are safe and sound."
Roark notice Byron busy holding a small chest causing him to walk forward.
"Dad, what's wrong?"Roark asked.
"Look."Byron insisted.
Byron shows Roark his most prized Fossil, a Fossil of a Sunkern leaf that was inside the small chest.
"Is that a Sunkern leaf fossil?"Roark asked.
A flashback reveals that the Sunkern Fossil was found by Roark as a child, being the first Fossil he ever found and that he gave it to his father.
"You mean that's the same Sunkern?"Roark asked.
"By far the most important fossil in my collection."Byron admitted.
"That means you really do care about the family."Roark remarked with a smile.
"I realised that as long as I was running the Oreburgh Gym, then you'd be my apprentice and that's how you stayed."Byron explained. "So I thought it was a fine opportunity for you to take the reins by passing the Oreburgh torch to you as Gym Leader."
"Wow, I've been wrong all this time."Roark commented. "Now I know. Thanks so much, Dad."
"Hey, it was nothing."Byron chuckled.
Dawn looked at her twin sister and friends.
"You know, hearing all about Roark's family has started to make me miss mum as well, you know?"Dawn said.
"Yeah."Denise agreed with a small smile. "Same goes with me, sis."
"Funny, you should say that because I've been thinking I need to give my family a call and see how everyone is doing."Brock complemented.
"Awesome."Ash responded. "Me too."
Byron looked at Ash and Denise.
"Ash, Denise, I know it's been a long wait, but you two are next."Byron stated.
"Wow."Ash replied with a smile.
"That's great."Denise responded kindly.
"But the wait is not over."Byron commented. "Since I have to let Bastiodon rest up, how about we battle tomorrow?"
Ash nodded. "Right."
"Sounds good to me."Denise stated.
Roark walked up to the heroes.
"If you two don't mind, then I'd love to referee your battles."Roark requested.
"Whoa!"Dawn giggled. "How cool is that?"
"Piplup."Pipup tweeted.
"It'll be a battle to remember!"Brock added with a smile.
"But Ash and Denise, you two are going to have win my Gym Badge in a worst way."Byron warned. "Prepare yourselves for the battles of your life, kids!"
"Right and you better prepare yourself because that badge is mine!"Ash announced with a confident look.
"Pika pika!"Pikachu agreed.
Pikachu jumped into Ash's arms while Drifblim went next to Denise.
"And we better prepare ourselves for our next battle too."Denise remarked.
Drifblim smiled. "Drifblim."
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, Hydro Pump 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
Drifblim (Female): Ominous Wind, Thunderbolt, Will-O-Wisp and Astonish