Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter for this story! I've finished updating all of my other stories, so now I can focus my attention on making a new chapter for this one. We'll be picking up where the previous chapter left off, with Ash's group traveling to Ecruteak City for his next gym battle! This was decided by a poll on my P atreon (if you'd like to vote in similar polls and help influence my stories, please consider supporting!) I'll have another poll posted after this chapter is released to help pick where we go next!

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Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!

"Speech"

"Thoughts"

Pokemon Attack

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of its characters.

(One Week Later: Just Outside Ecruteak City)

"Come on, keep up guys!" Ash exclaimed with a grin, jogging up a steep incline as he panted lightly. Whipping around and continuing to jog backward, Ash saw the rest of his group lagging behind him, further down the slope. "Heh heh, man, you guys need to work on your stamina!"

"We just don't have unlimited energy...like you..." Dawn said in between breaths as she paused for a moment to catch her breath, taking off her beanie and wiping some sweat from her brow. "We've been jogging for over an hour...and it looks like...you've barely broken a sweat!"

"Dawn's right...you just have...way too much stamina..." May said, stopping next to Dawn and taking a long swig from her water bottle before she handed it to the bluenette. Muttering a quick 'thank you,' Dawn gratefully took the water bottle and took several gulps. As she rested, May watched as a few members of their group jogged past them. "Not even...Hilda and Nessa...can keep up with you!"

"I...don't...want to...hear it..." Hilda growled as she tried to pick up her pace, doing her best to catch up with Ash. The brunette was panting heavily, sweat dripping off her brow as she practically ran up the incline, the muscles in her legs burning. "I'm already...ashamed of myself! I can't believe he's beating me this badly! Looks like I did...need this training!"

"This is nuts! I've been training with him for weeks now and I can barely keep up!" Nessa exclaimed, catching up with Hilda and nearly tripping over a small rock on the path. "Damn it, Ash! Where the hell are we going!?"

"It's just up ahead!" Cilan called out from further down the slope as he stared down at a map. Beside Cilan were Anabel, Burgundy, and Cynthia, the four of them walking at a steady pace. "It's at the top of this incline."

"Why the hell aren't you guys running too?" Roxie asked, panting slightly as she jogged past Cilan's little group. "We're leaving you guys in the dust."

"No one said we had to run there." Anabel replied with a smirk as she shrugged her shoulders. "I see no reason to overexert myself."

"I'm with Anabel on this one." Cynthia said, crossing her arms underneath her chest. "It's too early in the morning and I don't feel like working up a sweat."

"Bah! You guys are no fun!" Iris exclaimed in a playful tone as she teasingly slapped Cynthia's back, running past the blonde-haired former champion. "Cut loose every now and then!"

"A little exercise won't kill you guys." Flannery added, linking up with Iris as they neared the top of the slope. "Get your hearts pumping!"

"Hurry up everyone!" Ash called out from the top of the hill, waving his arms above his head with Pikachu sitting atop his head. "You gotta check this out!"

"Ugh, we better hurry up before he drags us all up there." Burgundy grumbled as she adjusted her backpack and picked up her pace slightly. A few minutes later, the rest of the group made up the incline. What they saw made the entire trip worth the lengthy trek. "Wow...okay...yeah, that is beautiful."

Spread out before Ash's group was a sprawling forest of trees with vibrant orange leaves. Various Pokemon could be seen mingling amongst the treetops or soaring the sky overhead. Off in the distance, both Ecruteak City and Mt. Mortar could be seen. The group stood at the edge of a small cliff and admired the gorgeous view. All of them were in awe of the stunning display of natural beauty.

"This view really is amazing." Hilda said, walking up to the raven-haired trainer and resting her head on his shoulder. "How did you find this spot, Ash?"

"I stumbled across this during my last trip through Johto." Ash said as he exhaled through his nose and drank in the view before him. Turning around, Ash stared at the rest of his traveling companions and smiled brightly. "I knew I had to share this with my best friends."

"You saying that, Ash...and bringing us here...that means so much to me...and I'm sure the rest of us feels the same." Cilan said, wrapping an arm around the raven-haired trainer's shoulders and pulling him close. "You're my best friend too, Ash. I'm so glad you brought me on this journey with you."

"We may not always see eye-to-eye...and you royally piss me off sometimes..." Burgundy said with a frown before a small smile spread across her face. "But, I am happy I came along as well. This trip has been a hell of a lot of fun."

"Haaaaa...I could drink in this view all day..." Dawn said, taking a deep breath before releasing a content sigh. "It feels like I'm staring at a painting."

"Gotta agree with that..." Roxie said as she rested her hands on her hips, cocking her head slightly. "Kinda sucks none of know how to paint. This would make for one hell of a portrait."

"Well, we may not be able to paint..." May said with a smirk as she pulled out her Rotom phone, playfully waving it back and forth. "But we've got the next best thing!"

"Great idea, May!" Iris exclaimed, clapping her hands together as she began to push the group together. "Let's take a group photo!"

"I'm not usually one to take photos..." Cynthia said as she brushed aside her flowing, blonde hair, revealing a small smile on her face. "But it does feel appropriate right now."

"Okay, everyone! Gather around!" Flannery called out, standing near the back of the group since she was one of the tallest. "Really scrunch together! We've got a big group!"

"Ugh, could you guys give me at least a little space..." Anabel grumbled as she was squashed between Dawn and Iris near the front of the group. "I can barely breathe here."

"Okay, guys! Get ready!" May announced, her Rotom phone floating in front of the group as it prepared to take their picture. However, just as the picture was about to be taken, May noticed that someone was missing from their group shot. "Nessa? What are you doing? Come get in the picture with us!"

"Uh...it's fine...you guys go ahead." Nessa said in an uncharacteristically quiet tone as she nervously rubbed her arm, turning her to avoid everyone's gaze. "I've only been traveling with you guys for a little while...I don't feel like I should be in the-"

"Nonsense!" Ash exclaimed, rushing over and grabbing Nessa's arm before he began to tug her toward the rest of the group. He quickly positioned her toward the middle of the group. "You're our friend, Nessa! Of course, you should be in the picture too! It doesn't matter how long you've been traveling with us!"

"O-Okay..." Nessa said as she allowed Ash to get her in position before turning her attention toward the floating Rotom phone. Despite being squashed and crowded, Nessa felt a comforting warmth wash over her as she stood in the center of Ash's group. After a few moments, May restarted the countdown. Just as the photo was taken, a large, bright smile spread across Nessa's face. "Thank you, Ash...everyone...for being the best friends I could ever ask for."

(Two Hours Later: Ecruteak City)

"Alright guys, we're all set up at the Pokemon Center." Cilan said, walking up to the rest of the group. "We've got some time before Ash's gym battle, is there anything you want to do?"

"Oh! I wanted to check out the dance theater!" May exclaimed excitedly as she buried her face in one of Cilan's travel brochures. "I've heard the performances there are amazing!"

"Sounds like a nice change of pace." Hilda said, looking over May's shoulder at the brochure. "I mean, it's not like we have a ton of options. There's not a hell of a lot to do in this town."

"Well, Ecruteak is one of the oldest cities in Jhoto." Cynthia chimed in as she gestured toward the beautifully crafted buildings around them, most of them still retaining their original architecture. "This town holds major historical, and some would even say mythical, significance to the region."

"Thanks for the lesson, Ms. Walking Travel Guide..." Iris teased, earning her an annoyed huff from the blonde former champion. "Well, checking out this dance theater does sound cool. What about you, Ash? Is there anything you want to do?"

"Not really, that sounds great..." Ash said before he gazed at a massive tower on the edge of town. "But, when we're done at the theater, there is one place I want to go before my gym battle."

"What is that tower?" Dawn asked, quirking an eyebrow as she followed Ash's gaze. "It seems important."

"It is." Flannery replied as she crossed her arms underneath her chest, standing next to the bluenette. "It's called the Bell Tower and legends say that it's where Ho-Oh used to roost." After getting a few surprised stares from the other members of the group, Flannery rolled her eyes. "Cynthia isn't the only one who reads books."

"Ho-oh?" Roxie repeated, glancing over at her raven-haired lover. "Now I understand why you want to go there, Ash."

"Yeah, you all know about the connection I have with Ho-oh." Ash said as he turned to face the rest of his friends. "Even though that prick Tobias has Ho-oh...I should still go pay my respects."

"I'm sure Ho-oh will appreciate it." Anabel said, reaching out and gently gripping Ash's hand. When Ash tightly gripped her hand, Anabel smiled and pressed herself close to him. "Don't worry, Ash. You'll free Ho-oh and the other legends from Tobias' control."

"Thanks guys." Ash said with a small smile before he smacked his cheeks to sike himself up. "Alright! Let's head to the dance theater and check out a show!"

With a collective cheer of excitement, the entire group made their way to the dance theater. When the group finally arrived at the theater, they were just in time for the final show of the day. The ticket seller was surprised by the size of their group. But after buying enough tickets to fill up an entire row, Ash's group took their seats. The show was truly an elegant performance, with the dances performed by five women in kimonos with the help of their Eeveelutions. Soothing and engaging music accompanied every number, truly bringing the dances to another level. Dawn and May were particularly enraptured by the dancers, seemingly taking notes to possibly use in their contests. After nearly two hours the performance finally came to an end, earning a round of thunderous applause from the audience. With bows and blown kisses, the kimono dancers their Eeveelutions gracefully walked off the stage.

"WAH! That performance was amazing!" May gushed with a massive smile, rushing out of the theater and doing a quick spin. "I got so many great ideas for contest routines!"

"Me too!" Dawn exclaimed as she quickly joined May, looking just as elated. "And those kimonos! They were absolutely gorgeous! I may have to wear one for my next contest! AH!" Suddenly gasping, Dawn whipped around and rushed over to Ash, grabbing his hands. "Ash! You have to let me use Sylveon during my next contest! I got a great idea after watching the ribbon dance they performed!"

"Okay, okay, I'm sure Sylveon would love to help you." Ash said with a smile, causing Dawn to jump a few times in excitement. "I thought it was a good show too. What about everyone else?"

"It was truly an elegant show." Cilan said as his eyes lit up, his instincts as a Pokemon connoisseur kicking in. "I could see the amazing relationship those dancers had with their Pokemon, forged through years of practice and hard work."

"I must concur." Burgundy said, wiping away an imaginary tear as she pretended to sniffle. "Their bond was a beautiful sight to see."

"I'm usually not into shows like that, but it was a nice change of pace." Hilda chimed in as she crossed her arms underneath her chest. "I'd go see another one."

"We have similar performances back in the Village of Dragons. I was even in a couple growing up." Iris said with a smile, clasping her hands behind her back. "I'd love for you guys to see one of those rituals one day."

"I'd definitely be interested." Cynthia said as she nodded her head. "I've heard many fascinating things about the Village of Dragons."

"Meh, the dancing was good..." Roxie said, clasping her hands behind her head and slowly tapping her foot. "But the music wasn't really my style."

"I thought it was really interesting." Nessa added as she stared at a program of the performance she had picked up in the theater's lobby. "I've never seen anything like that in Galar."

"I thought the dances were fantastic and the way those kimono girls incorporated their Pokemon into the performance was beautiful see." Anabel said with a small smile, closing her eyes as she reminisced the elegant dances. "I'll have to come back and see another show."

"Heh, I'll tag along too, this was a nice change of pace." Flannery said as she turned her attention toward her raven-haired lover. "Didn't you want to go to the Bell Tower after the show, Ash?"

"Yeah, we don't have to stay long." Ash replied, gazing at the tower near the edge of town. "We can head to my battle after."

After a short walk, Ash's group found themselves on the eastern side of Ecruteak City. This side of the city was much quieter and was filled with older buildings that seemed to hold great historical significance. The most stunning part of the area was the trees, all of them seeming to glow in the sunlight with their orange leaves. After briefly stopping to take some group photos amongst the gorgeous scenery, Ash and his group entered a small, red-roofed gatehouse that would lead them to the Bell Tower. Several monks and shrine maidens happily greeted them within the gatehouse. One of the monks, who seemed to recognize Ash, agreed to lead them into the tower.

Several minutes later, Ash's group stood outside the tower, staring up at the beautifully crafted structure. However, the monk who had guided them said that only one person at a time could enter the tower. The rest of the group agreed to stay outside while Ash ascended the tower. After climbing ten flights of stairs, Ash finally reached the tower's top floor. Johto legends say that Ho-oh used to roost within the Bell Tower. But from the room's barren and dust-covered appearance, it was clear that no one had been on this floor for years. As Ash walked through the top floor, Pikachu hopped off his shoulder and began to search around.

"Man, this place could do with a little cleaning, right bud?" Ash muttered as he dragged his finger across a pillar, brushing away a thick layer of dust. Pikachu nodded in agreement as his nose wrinkled because of the specks of dirt and debris in the air before he sneezed. Nearing a large window near the back of the room, Ash spotted the only thing that seemed to remain in the room. Laying in the sunlight beaming in from the window was a large, ornately decorated pillow. One that was large enough to fit a specific legendary bird. "Huh...maybe those legends were true."

Kneeling down, Ash ran his hand along the pillow, it was the only surface in the room not caked in a layer of dust. Despite likely sitting in the room for years, possibly even decades, Ash was surprised at how warm the pillow felt, almost as if something had recently laid upon it. The warmth was quite comforting and made Ash feel at ease. Smiling softly, Ash sat down on the pillow and gazed out the window, getting a spectacular view of the forest that surrounded the tower. Soon, Pikachu joined Ash, curling up on the pillow next to him.

"It's been a long journey, hasn't it..." Ash muttered, reaching over and gently rubbing Pikachu's head. "There were some missteps and plenty of hardships...but it's been so much fun too...and I honestly wouldn't change a thing." Pausing for a moment, Ash gazed down at Pikachu and smiled. "That first day we set out on our journey, Ho-oh was there to guide us." Suddenly, Ash's expression soured and he gripped the fabric of the pillow. "And now that bastard Tobias has Ho-oh...Arceus knows how he's treating it. But, I'm sure you can hear me Arceus...I'll complete the mission you entrusted me with...I promise that I'll defeat Tobias and I'll free those legends he's captured so that he can't abuse their power any longer."

Just then, the sunlight shining through the window brightened, casting golden rays upon the raven-haired trainer. Ash smiled as he was bathed in a comforting warmth that seemed to envelop him. After a few moments, the light died back down and the warmth began to fade. However, Ash's eyes widened in surprise when he spotted a rainbow-colored feather seemingly materialized out of thin air and slowly drifted down toward him. Reaching out, Ash grabbed the feather, amazed when it began to seemingly shimmer dazzling colors in the sunlight.

"Heh, I guess you were listening." Ash said with a smile as he gazed out the window at the clear, blue sky overhead. Getting up off the pillow, Pikachu hopped back up onto Ash's shoulder. "Thanks for the gift, Arceus...just keep watching, I won't let you down." Giving the feather one last glance, Ash safely tucked it away onto his hat. Leaving the top floor, Ash eventually made his way back down the tower, rejoining his group. "Hey guys, sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's fine, Ash, we don't mind. We actually walked around more of the grounds, this place really is beautiful." May said, swiping through the various pictures she had taken. "So, how'd it go in the tower?"

"I did what I needed to do...and I ended up receiving a gift." Ash said as he reached up and gently touched the rainbow-colored feather that was in his hat. Turning to face the monk that had guided them, Ash gestured toward the top of the Bell Tower. "You guys really should clean up there. The whole top floor is coated in dust."

"Young man..." The monk muttered, his eyes widening in shock as he gazed at the rainbow feather in awe. "Is...is that what I think it is?"

"Oh, this?" Ash asked as he pulled out the feather and held it in front of the monk. "Yeah, it is. Let's just say that Ho-oh and I have a special connection. And if things go well, Ho-oh will make this tower it's home once again."

"It's...it's simply stunning. I've never seen one in person before." The monk said, staring at the glimmering feather for a few more moments before he smiled and bowed politely. "Don't worry, I will see to it that the top floor of the Bell Tower is cleaned up personally. If Ho-oh is to return, its room must be in immaculate condition." Bowing once again, the monk began to walk toward the tower. "I bid you farewell, young trainers. Please, see yourselves out when you're ready to leave."

"..." Ash said nothing for several moment as he watched the monk disappear into the Bell Tower. Tucking the rainbow feather into his cap, Ash smiled and turned to face the rest of his group. "Well, if the rest of you guys are ready to head out, let's head to my gym battle!"

(Ten Minutes Later: Ecruteak City Gym)

"It's been a while since Morty has had a challenger. I'm sure he'll be overjoyed to have one...especially someone so famous!" The gym's official laughed as he led Ash and his group through the gym. After a short walk, they found themselves in the gym's battlefield. But, most of the group was surprised to see another gathering of people was already in the gym. "I hope you don't mind waiting a bit, Morty is in the middle of teaching a class of trainers about ghost-type Pokemon."

"Of course we don't mind waiting." Ash said, crossing his arms underneath his chest and listening in on the lecture. "Morty can take as long as he needs."

"So, you see, the key to training ghost-types is..." Morty trailed off when he noticed Ash standing at the back of the room, giving the gym leader a quick wave. "I'm sorry class, but it seems like we have an unexpected guest." Everyone in the class, largely consisting of younger trainers, turned around. Most of them went wide-eyed and gasped when they saw the raven-haired trainer. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Ash Ketchum. I've been keeping and eye on you ever since you won the Hoenn League. When I heard that you were re-challenging the Johto gyms again, I was wondering when you'd grace my gym. Looks like the time has finally come."

"Well, I also had a stop I had to make at the Bell Tower..." Ash said, causing Morty to quirk an eyebrow in intrigue. "But yeah, you're my next stop on the way to Johto League."

"It's been a few weeks since my last challenger, so I've been itching for a good battle." Morty said with a smirk as he locked eyes with Ash. "And you know what, I just had a great idea! Class, how would you all like a live demonstration? If Mr. Ketchum here would be okay with it."

"I'd love for them to watch our battle." Ash said, earning him a few cheers from the crowd of students. "I'm used to battling with a crowd watching."

"Excellent!" Morty exclaimed as he clapped his hands together. "Students! Please make your way to the stands and pay close attention!" After a few minutes, the battlefield was emptied, with Morty and Ash standing at opposite ends. The spectator stands were absolutely packed, filled with students, Ash's group, and even a few townsfolk who had heard about the battle. "Looks like we're ready to begin."

"This will be a 3-on-3 battle between the challenger, Ash Ketchum, and the gym's leader, Morty!" The official proclaimed, raising his officiating flags and pointing at both trainers. "Are you both ready to begin?" Both Ash and Morty grinned and nodded their heads. "Then, please send out your first Pokemon!"

"Mismagius, come on out!" Throwing out his Pokeball, after a flash of white light, the Magical Pokemon appeared levitating in front of Morty. "Let's do this, Mismagius!"

"Decidueye, I choose you!" Tossing out his own Pokeball, the Arrow Quill Pokemon landed on the battlefield and let out a mighty howl. "Alright, show them how strong you are, Decidueye!"

"Wow, I've never seen that Pokemon before." Morty said as he pulled out his Pokedex and scanned Decidueye. After briefly looking through the information, Morty smiled and put his Pokedex away. "A dual grass and ghost-type Pokemon, this should be interesting. Okay Mismagius, start with Phantom Force!"

The Magical Pokemon's body glowed briefly before it morphed into a shadow on the battlefield. At incredible speed, the shadow darted around the battlefield, with Decidueye carefully tracking its every movement.

"We've been practicing this counter, Decidueye. So, let's see if it works. Use Spirit Shackle!" Decidueye pulled out an arrow from underneath its wing and readied a drawstring made from a vine. Glowing with purple, ghostly energy, the Arrow Quill Pokemon fired the arrow and struck the moving shadow. Instantly, Mismagius re-emerged from the shadows, howling in pain. The arrow seemed to stitch Mismagius' shadow to the ground to prevent the Magical Pokemon from moving."Now, while it's immobilized, use Shadow Claw!"

Cawing, Decidueye launched toward Mismagius, its talons radiating ghastly energy. With a swipe of its powerful legs, Decidueye hit Mismagius, sending the Magical Pokemon flying across the battlefield. With a dull thud, Mismagius crashed onto the battlefield and came to a skidding stop in front of Morty.

"Are you okay, Mismagius?" With a soft grunt, Mismagius shook its head and floated back up, looking a bit battered but still raring to fight. "Good to see you're still ready to battle. Now we know that Phantom Force is out of the question. Let's try Mystical Fire this time!"

Mismagius inhaled deeply before breathing out a special, scorching white-hot fire. Leaping into the air, Decidueye avoided the stream of fire. Opening its expansive wings, the Arrow Quill Pokemon glided above the battlefield, narrowly avoiding the Mystical Fire. Swerving and diving, Decidueye barely managed to avoid the intense flames, nearly singing its feathers.

"Swoop in Decidueye and use Leaf Blade." After ducking underneath the roaring flames, Decidueye beelined toward Mismagius. Before the Magical Pokemon could reorient the flames and hit Decidueye, the Arrow Quill Pokemon slashed Mismagius with its wings which were glowing with green energy. "Now, pin Mismagius down and use Night Shade!"

Quickly swooping back around, Decidueye extended its clawed foot and grabbed the still-stunned Mismagius' neck, slamming the Magical Pokemon onto the battlefield. Digging its talons in, the Arrow Quill Pokemon towered over Mismagius. After struggling for a few moments, Mismagius realized that there was no way it could break free from Decidueye's grasp.

"Quick Mismagius, use Psychic Noise!" Opening its mouth, the Magical Pokemon unleashed a barrage of psychic waves. Decidueye seemed to be momentarily affected by the attack, but quickly recovered and seemed largely unfazed. Pressing Mismagius harder against the ground, Decidueye forced the Magical Pokemon to look into its eyes. Suddenly, Decidueye's eyes began to faintly glow purple, staring unblinkingly into Mismagius' eyes. Almost immediately, Mismagius began to scream and thrash around in terror as it was bombarded with frightening mirages. This went on for nearly a full minute before Mismagius went silent, lying on the ground unmoving. "Mismagius? Are you okay?"

"Pause the battle!" The official announced as he waved his flags, rushing over to Mismagius' side. After a few moments of examination, the official stood back up. "Mismagius is unable to battle, the winner is Decidueye! Gym leader, please send out your next Pokemon."

"You did your best, Mismagius." Morty said, returning his Pokemon before he grabbed another Pokeball off his belt. After enlarging the Pokeball, Morty tossed it out onto the field. "Gengar, let's do this!" In a flash of white, the Shadow Pokemon landed on the battlefield and let out a hearty laugh. "Alright, we've got this, Gengar!"

"Are you still good to go, Decidueye?" Ash asked as he watched the Arrow Quill Pokemon rapidly shaking its head, seemingly rattled by taking a direct hit from Psychic Noise. After a few moments, Decidueye regained its composure and faced Ash, nodding its head. "That's what I like to see! Then, hit Gengar with Shadow Ball!"

"Counter with your own Shadow Ball!" Both Pokemon simultaneously fired large spheres of ghastly energy which collided in the center of the battlefield. A small explosion rang out and the battlefield was covered in a cloud of smoke and debris. "Now use Sludge Bomb!"

Opening its massive mouth, the Shadow Pokemon unleashed a volley of toxic balls of gunk, blindly firing through the smoke. The inability to see went both ways. While Gengar couldn't see Decidueye, the Arrow Quill Pokemon couldn't see the numerous Sludge Bombs coming toward it. Taking to the air, Decidueye managed to dodge most of Gengar's attack, but a few stray balls of sludge managed to hit.

"Since you're already in the air, use Aerial Ace!" With its body glimmering with energy, Decidueye flew toward Gengar at an incredible speed. "Go for it, Decidueye!"

"Quick Gengar, use Sucker Punch!" Just as Decidueye was about to land its attack, Gengar unleashed a ghostly fist. Gengar's attack came out so quickly that Decidueye barely had time to react. Performing a quick barrel roll, the Arrow Quill Pokemon managed to avoid taking the Sucker Punch head-on but still took a glancing blow. Continuing unimpeded, Decidueye hit Gengar with Aerial Ace, sending the Shadow Pokemon skidding back several feet. "Gengar, recover and use Dark Pulse!"

"Dodge and use Hurricane!" Still in the air, Decidueye darted to the side and avoided the stream of dark energy. Then, the Arrow Quill Pokemon began to rapidly flap its wings, causing an incredible amount of wind to begin sweeping across the battlefield. The fierce winds swirled around Gengar and completely caged in the Shadow Pokemon. Gengar was bombarded by the intense winds and was rapidly spun around. Once the roaring winds eventually died down, Gengar appeared to be quite confused. "Finish this with Spirit Shackle!"

"..." Morty grits his teeth in frustration, knowing that since Gengar was confused this battle was likely over. However, as he watched Decidueye prep its ghostly arrow an idea suddenly popped into his head. "Quick Gengar, use Destiny Bond!"

Ash's eyes widened in surprise when he heard Morty's move choice, but it was too late to stop Decidueye's attack, its arrow had already been fired. The raven-haired trainer hoped that Gengar would hurt itself in its confusion. But his hopes were dashed when he saw Gengar's eyes begin to glow and its body became engulfed in an ominous energy. As Decidueye's arrow struck Gengar's shadow, the Shadow Pokemon laughed maniacally before it collapsed to the ground, knocked out cold. A split second later, Decidueye grunted and its body went rigid. With a dull thud, Decidueye fell to the ground, joining Gengar.

"Both Pokemon are unable to battle! Will the gym leader and challenger please send out their next Pokemon!" The official announced as he gestured at both Ash and Morty with his flags.

"Great work, Gengar. You did an amazing job." Morty said with a small smile as he returned Gengar to its balls. Grabbing the final Pokeball off his belt, Morty tossed it out. "Let's get a comeback going, Dusknoir!" With a flash of white light, the Gripper Pokemon appeared levitating in front of Morty, radiating a menacing aura. "We've got this, Dusknoir!"

"You were amazing, Decidueye." Ash complimented, clipping the shrunken Pokeball onto his belt. Grabbing his next Pokeball, Ash tossed it out onto the battlefield. "Krookodile, I choose you!" With a crash, the Intimidation Pokemon landed on the battlefield, straightening his sunglasses before letting out a ferocious roar. "Alright, let's win this, Krookodile!"

"Dusknoir, use Brick Break!" With its arm radiating energy, Dusknoir shot toward Krookodile.

"Use Crunch!" Without any hesitation, the Intimidation rushed in to meet Dusknoir head-on. Opening its massive maw, Krookodile flashed its menacing teeth which were now glowing brightly. Then, to Morty's shock, Krookodile dove in and directly bit the arm that Dusknoir was using to unleash Brick Break. The Gripper Pokemon roared in pain as Krookodile's powerful fangs dug into its arm. "Now use Lash Out!"

Showcasing his impressive jaw strength, Krookodile lifted Dusknoir higher into the air before roughly slamming it onto the battlefield. Then, Krookodile pounced onto Dusknoir and began to viciously swipe at the Gripper Pokemon with his claws. After several more fierce swipes, Krookodile grabbed ahold of Dusknoir and threw it across the battlefield. Seeming to be dazed by the violent attack, Dusknoir slowly got back up, rubbing its head.

"Dusknoir, use Icy Wind!" Recovering from the beating it had taken, Dusknoir raised its palms which were glowing with pale blue energy. A chill ran through the battlefield as Dusknoir unleashed a flurry of freezing winds. Krookodile raised its arms in a vain attempt to shield itself from the frigid attack. "Keep it up, Dusknoir! Freeze Krookodile solid!"

"Krookodile, counter with Scorching Sands!" Krookodile let out a ferocious roar before slamming its foot onto the battlefield, creating a mound of sand and debris. Scooping up a handful, Krookodile, hurled that scalding hot sand at Dusknoir. The sand hit Dusknoir directly in its eye, causing it to roar in pain and stop its attack. "Now, finish this with Fire Fang!"

With its mouth ablaze with red-hot flames, Krookodile charged toward Dusknoir. With its vision completely blurred, Dusknoir was unable to dodge or fight back, giving Krookodile a golden opportunity to attack. Lunging forward, Krookodile's flaming maw clamped around Dusknoir's head. The Gripper Pokemon was assaulted by Krookodile's powerful fangs and scorching flames. It didn't take long for Dusknoir's pained howls to stop. Then, like a predator finished with its prey, Krookodile tossed Dusknoir to the ground.

"Please pause the battle!" The official announced as he waved his flags, jogging over and kneeling down at Dusknoir's side. It didn't long for the official to conclude his examination and he stood back up. "Dusknoir is unable to battle, the winner is Krookodile! Since all of the gym leader's Pokemon have been defeated, the winner is the challenger, Ash Ketchum!"

"You put up a good fight, Dusknoir." Morty said, releasing a light sigh as he returned his fallen Pokemon. However, Morty quickly perked up when he heard his students begin cheering and applauding, clearly enjoying the battle. With a smile, Morty walked over to Ash's side of the battlefield. "That was simply spectacular, Ash. I didn't stand a chance. You aren't a champion for nothing."

"Don't sell yourself short, Morty. You're an excellent gym leader." Ash said as he returned Krookodile and clipped the Pokeball back onto his belt. Reaching out, he shook Morty's hand. "In the future, if you ever want to give your students a demonstration battle, feel free to call me any time."

"I think I'll take you up on that. I wish you luck on the rest of your journey, Ash. I'll be rooting for you to go all the way and become a Pokemon Master." Morty said, patting Ash's shoulder before walking toward his students. "Alright, everyone! I'm sure you all enjoyed that battle! So, let's review what happened and learn more about ghost-types!"

"Looks like Morty is enjoying himself..." Ash thought as he watched Morty begin lecturing his students, all of them giving him their full attention. "Being a gym leader and teaching trainers must be fulfilling work." Ash's brow furrowed a bit as a thought stuck in his mind. "What do I want to do after I finish this journey? What will I do if I do become a Pokemon Master? Huh...I never really gave it much thought." Looking over at his group, focusing on his lovers, another thought occurred to Ash. "I can't continue my journey forever. The girls will eventually want to settle down. What will I do when that happens? I really should start thinking about that."

(Five Minutes: Outside the Ecruteak City Gym)

"You did an amazing job, Ash!" Nessa exclaimed with a bright smile, running over and playfully smacking the raven-haired trainer's arm. "Those trainers couldn't get enough! I bet they could have watched you battle longer!"

"Yeah, those kids were on the edge of their seats." Roxie said with a smirk as she crossed her arms underneath her chest. "You would think they were at one of my concerts."

"Well, I hope those trainers learn something from watching our battle." Ash said, reaching up and fiddling with the rainbow feather in his cap. "Morty is a great teacher, they'll learn a lot from him."

"I'm sure they learned plenty just from watching you, Ash." Cilan said as he walked to the center of the group and pulled out the map of Johto. "So, where are we heading next?"

And done! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and Ash's battle against Morty! We're getting closer and closer to the end of Ash's Johto journey and the inevitable end of this story. I'll be working on my Fairy Tail story next, so you'll have to wait a bit before this story is updated again. Per usual, If you'd like to help pick where Ash and his group head next, I'll be posting a poll on my P atreon. So, please consider supporting if you'd like to help influence this story. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK), PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY P ATREON (AGAIN, I'LL HAVE A NEW POLL POSTED), check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and PM me any ideas you may have for my stories. So until next time, I'm outta here!