Chapter 38 Battle Bridge
On the bridge, Ash finds himself in a series of intense battles, facing off against ten trainers determined to stop him. The first challenger is a School Kid named Bob, who confidently sends out his Snuffuzz. Ash responds by sending out his Cheepip.
"Use Roost," Ash commands calmly, and Cheepip's body glows with a soft light as it recovers its HP.
Bob, frustrated, quickly calls out, "Damn it... Snuffuzz, use Bite!"
Ash remains composed. "Block it with Giga Drain," he instructs. Cheepip counters the attack by absorbing Snuffuzz's energy, causing the opposing Pokémon to weaken and eventually faint.
"No way... I lost," Bob mutters, disbelief clear in his voice. Despite his disappointment, he shakes Ash's hand, acknowledging the defeat with good sportsmanship. "Good luck," he says as he steps aside, allowing Ash to continue across the bridge.
Ash kneels down to pet his Cheepip. "You're doing great, Cheepip," he says warmly. As if in response to Ash's praise, Cheepip begins to glow. Ash watches in awe as his Pokémon evolves right before his eyes, growing into a larger, green parrot-like creature.
Aeroma: The Aroma Pokémon. Grass and Flying Type. Evolved from Cheepip at Level 24. Although big, Aeroma are known to be gentle and caring companions. Their voices have therapeutic power, and their songs brighten even the dullest gardens.
Ash smiles, pleased with the new form. "Looks like Swellow's going to have some competition when it comes to singing," he teases.
Aeroma blushes slightly at Ash's comment, pleased with the compliment. In the next battle, Ash faces another School Kid, this time a girl named Kelly. She confidently sends out her Rubbunny, a small but determined Pokémon. Ash, in turn, calls upon his Tadart, who was once his loyal Bulbasaur.
"Hang in there, Tadart," Ash encourages, his voice steady. "Use Muddy Water!"
With a powerful surge, Tadart summons a torrent of dirty water, crashing it down on Rubbunny. The move is effective, and Rubbunny is quickly overwhelmed, fainting from the attack. Kelly looks disappointed for a moment, but she quickly recovers, offering Ash a smile.
"Thank you for a great battle," she says sincerely, even as she returns her defeated Pokémon to its ball.
Just as Ash is about to respond, Tadart begins to glow, signaling an evolution. Ash watches in awe as Tadart's form shifts and grows, transforming into a larger, frog-like Pokémon.
Dartoad: The Frog Pokémon. Poison and Grass Type. Evolved from Tadart at Level 24. Dartoad uses its leaf-like tail both as a shield to prevent drying out on sunny days and as a water dish on rainy days.
Tadart, now Dartoad, looks down at its new form, blinking in surprise. "So this is what evolution feels like?" Dartoad asks, its voice tinged with curiosity. "It's so weird."
Ash chuckles and pats Dartoad's head reassuringly. "It might feel strange now, but I'm sure you'll get used to it in no time."
Dartoad nods, still adjusting to its new body, but trusting Ash's words. Ash's third opponent on the bridge is a Lass named Andrea. She steps forward confidently, sending out her first Pokémon, Weashock. Ash responds by calling out Monstune, his Ground-type Pokémon.
"Monstune, use Quicksand!" Ash commands.
Monstune stomps the ground, creating a swirling vortex of sand that quickly engulfs Weashock. Despite its attempts to escape, Weashock is unable to withstand the attack and is soon defeated.
Andrea isn't deterred, however, and sends out her second Pokémon, Pixilily. Ash decides it's time for Stotox to take the field.
"Stotox, let's finish this with Rock Blast!" Ash shouts.
Stotox unleashes a barrage of rocks, each one hitting Pixilily with precision. The impact of the Rock Blast proves too much for Pixilily, and it is knocked out, securing Ash another victory. Ash cheers for his Pokémon, but the excitement doesn't end there. Stotox begins to glow, evolving into a new, more formidable form.
Bouldox: The Toxic Stone Pokémon. Rock and Poison Type. Evolved from Stotox at Level 26. Bouldox's spikes are coated in a powerful poison that affects the nervous system. A single touch of these spikes can paralyze a person for hours.
Ash looks at Bouldox, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. "It's a good thing my gloves are protective," he says with a smile, knowing how dangerous Bouldox's spikes can be.
Ash's fourth opponent on the bridge is a Youngster named Nick, who steps up with a determined look. Nick's first Pokémon, Stickut, faces off against Ash's Rubball.
"Rubball, use Bounce!" Ash commands.
With a springy leap, Rubball launches itself into the air before coming down hard on Stickut, delivering a decisive blow. Stickut is knocked out, leaving Nick to send out his second Pokémon, Budcherp.
Ash calls out his trusty Pikachu. "Pikachu, use Electro Web!"
Pikachu swiftly weaves a net of electricity that ensnares Budcherp, paralyzing it with the shocking energy. The attack is too much for Budcherp, and it faints, securing Ash yet another victory.
"Nice work, you two!" Ash says, beaming as he hugs both Pikachu and Rubball. Just then, Rubball begins to glow, evolving into a Rubbunny right before Ash's eyes.
Rubbunny: The Rubber Pokémon. Normal Type. Evolved from Rubball at Level 25. Rubbunny are capable of extreme feats of agility, ricocheting between foes with incredible force. Myths say they can jump to the moon and bounce back.
As if to prove its newfound agility, Rubbunny suddenly leaps high into the air, taking Ash with it. "Not again..." Ash exclaims, clinging tightly as they ascend.
Watching from below, Alice giggles. "I wonder what's going on with Casspring and Rubbunny..."
Delia shrugs with a smile. "Maybe they just like Ash so much?"
The group waits patiently, chuckling as they watch Ash and Rubbunny eventually descend back to the ground, ready to continue their journey across the bridge.
Ash's fifth opponent on the bridge is a Rich Boy named Willi, who steps forward with a confident smirk. He sends out his first Pokémon, Geckone, eager to show off his team's strength.
Ash responds by sending out Werehide. "Werehide, use Dark Matter!" he commands.
Werehide's eyes glow ominously as it unleashes a wave of dark energy, overwhelming Geckone and knocking it out in one swift move. Willi, looking slightly less confident, recalls his fallen Pokémon and sends out his next one, Paraful.
However, midway through the battle, Paraful begins to act stubbornly, refusing to follow Willi's commands. Sensing an opportunity, Ash sends out Weashock, who swiftly capitalizes on Paraful's disobedience, defeating it with ease.
Frustrated, Willi sends out his final Pokémon, Wormhole, the evolved form of Gworm. The ground rumbles as Wormhole burrows beneath the surface, preparing to strike from below.
Ash, however, remains calm. "Wait until it comes out of the ground, Darcula," he instructs, his spider Pokémon nodding in understanding. Darcula carefully senses the ground's vibrations, waiting for the right moment.
"Now, use Sticky Web!" Ash orders.
Darcula spreads a sticky, web-like substance over the hole where Wormhole is about to emerge. As soon as Wormhole surfaces, its head gets stuck in the web. "Now, X-Scissor!"
Darcula moves quickly, slashing with precise, scissor-like strikes, and Wormhole is defeated.
"Well done, Darcula," Ash praises, and just then, Darcula begins to glow. It grows larger and more imposing, evolving into a formidable new form.
Taraterror: The Tarantula Pokémon. Bug and Dark Type. Evolved from Darcula at Level 26. The gentle giants of Bug-types, Taraterror is often misunderstood due to its fearsome appearance. Yet, despite their pleasant nature, they are merciless in battle.
Mark, who has been watching from the sidelines, nods in approval. "I see, it sure is nice as well," he remarks, impressed by Taraterror's evolution.
Ash's sixth opponent on the bridge is a Lady named Carol, who steps forward with an air of elegance. She sends out her first Pokémon, Lophug, a fluffy and deceptively strong creature. Ash calls upon Widox to take on the challenge.
"Widox, use Cross Poison!" Ash commands.
Widox's claws glow with a toxic energy as it strikes Lophug, delivering a powerful hit. The move proves to be too much for Lophug, which faints, but not before Widox sets up Sticky Webs around the battlefield. With Lophug defeated, Carol sends out her second Pokémon, Dinomite.
Ash decides to switch Pokémon and calls out Toron. The battle is intense, and Carol shouts, "Use Aura Sphere!" The move hits Toron squarely, causing Ash to worry.
"Toron, are you okay?" Ash asks, concern evident in his voice.
Toron nods, determination shining in its eyes. Suddenly, it begins to glow, evolving into a more powerful form.
"That's Oriture," Alice notes with interest.
Oriture: The Tectonic Pokémon. Ground Type. Evolved from Toron at Level 26. Oriture can detect vibrations in the ground with ease. When two Oriture are hunting the same prey, they stomp on the ground to disrupt the other's tracking.
With its newfound strength, Oriture is ready to continue the battle. "Oriture, use Magnitude!" Ash calls out.
Oriture slams the ground, generating a powerful Magnitude 8 that sends shockwaves through the battlefield. The force is enough to knock out Dinomite, leaving Carol with one last Pokémon.
Carol sends out her final Pokémon, Bushup, confident in its abilities. Ash, however, is undeterred. He calls out Snazap to face the challenge.
As the battle progresses, Snazap begins to glow, evolving into a larger, more intimidating form. With its evolution complete, Snazap—now Cobolta—unleashes a Scary Face to intimidate Bushup, then finishes the battle with a powerful Sulfuric Spray.
"Nice job," Ash says, proud of Cobolta's performance. The snake Pokémon gives Ash a smirk, clearly pleased with its new form.
Cobolta: The Rattlesnake Pokémon. Poison and Electric Type. Evolved from Snazap at Level 27. Cobolta can change the patterns on its body by directing the electrical current within. This ability is mostly used for intimidation, but it also sees use during mating seasons.
Ash chuckles at Cobolta's confident demeanor. "Well, I guess you really like your new body, huh?" he says as he recalls his Pokémon, ready to move on to the next challenge.
Ash's seventh opponent on the bridge is a Pokémon Ranger named Austin. With a determined look, Austin sends out his first Pokémon, Wraphro, a ghostly figure wrapped in ancient cloths. Ash responds by calling out Platyplat.
The battle is fierce, and Platyplat charges forward with an Aqua Tail, but the move results in Platyplat becoming temporarily wrapped like a mummy due to Wraphro's cursed aura. Despite this, Platyplat summons all its strength and launches a powerful Hydro Pump, which ultimately defeats Wraphro.
"Good work, Platyplat," Ash praises, and to his surprise, Platyplat begins to glow. The Pokémon evolves into a larger, stockier form, much to Ash's delight. He quickly scans his newly evolved companion.
Platyplash: The Platypus Pokémon. Ground and Water Type. Evolved from Platyplat at Level 27. With its strange appearance and behavior, most people don't believe Platyplash exists until they encounter one face to face.
"Now they should know it exists," Alice remarks with a smile, amused by Platyplash's unique appearance.
Austin, undeterred, sends out his second Pokémon, Nimblow. Ash decides to use Lycanroc for this battle. Austin, unfamiliar with Lycanroc, is caught off guard when the Rock-type Pokémon uses Accelrock, but quickly recovers and commands Nimblow to use Water Pulse. Lycanroc takes some damage but ultimately wins the battle with a decisive Stone Edge.
Austin's third Pokémon is Dartoad, and Ash counters by sending out Vambat. Vambat skillfully dodges Dartoad's Leaf Darts with its nimble dance moves. Then, using Leech Life, it drains Dartoad's energy and secures the win. After the battle, Vambat begins to glow, signaling an evolution.
Dracubat: The Vampire Pokémon. Dark and Flying Type. Evolved from Vambat at Level 26. Dracubat's night vision is second to none, making it a formidable opponent in the dark. It leeches blood from other Pokémon to recover its own health.
Dracubat, thrilled with its new form, begins to dance around in celebration. However, the playful display annoys Platyplash, who retaliates with a Water Gun, splashing Dracubat and nearly sparking a conflict. Ash quickly recalls both Pokémon to their Poké Balls before things escalate.
Finally, Austin sends out his last Pokémon, Lunape. Ash chooses to battle with his own Wraphro. The battle is intense, with Lunape managing to confuse Wraphro using a Confuse Ray. Despite the confusion, Wraphro accidentally performs a powerful Hex, which surprisingly ends up defeating Lunape, securing Ash another victory.
Ash's eighth opponent on the bridge is another Pokémon Ranger, this time a woman named Carla. She confidently sends out her first Pokémon, Roobeo, a sturdy and agile fighter. Ash responds by calling out Golkid, eager to test its strength.
The battle intensifies, and as Roobeo presses the attack, Golkid begins to glow. To Ash's delight, Golkid evolves mid-battle into a larger, more formidable form. With newfound power, Golkid—now Golemo—finishes off Roobeo with a powerful Brick Break.
Golemo: The Golem Pokémon. Rock Type. Evolved from Golkid at Level 26. A Golemo in deep sleep cannot be easily moved. Some cities employ Bulker specifically to clear out blockades of sleeping Golemo.
Carla recalls her fallen Roobeo and sends out her second Pokémon, Lavenbelle. Ash counters by sending out Budcherp. With a combination of Singing to lull Lavenbelle into a daze and a well-timed Air Cutter, Budcherp secures a quick victory, causing Lavenbelle to faint.
Carla's third Pokémon is Casspring, a springy and agile creature. Ash decides to call upon Gworm for this challenge. As the battle begins, Casspring bounces around the battlefield, landing hits on Gworm. Despite the pressure, Ash remains calm.
"Gworm, use Recover," Ash commands.
Gworm heals itself, regaining strength, and begins to glow as it evolves into a larger form. Now a Wormune, Gworm is ready for a stronger attack. "Wormune, use Rock Tomb!" Ash orders.
Wormune traps Casspring with falling rocks, finally defeating the Flying and Bug-type Pokémon.
Wormune: The Earthworm Pokémon. Bug and Ground Type. Evolved from Gworm at Level 25. Wormune spend most of their lives underground, and on the rare occasions when they are above ground, they coat themselves in dirt as armor.
With only one Pokémon left, Carla sends out her final choice: Phoxiven, the evolution of Phoxy. The fiery Pokémon stands ready for battle, but Ash has a surprise in store. He sends out Melmetal, a Pokémon Carla clearly has never seen before.
Confused but determined, Carla orders Phoxiven to attack. However, before it can land a hit, Ash commands, "Melmetal, use Double Iron Bash!"
Melmetal's heavy, metallic fists slam into Phoxiven with incredible force, delivering a one-hit knockout and securing Ash another victory.
Ash's ninth opponent on the bridge is a Socialite named Petra, who confidently sends out her first Pokémon, Doveheart. Ash, feeling the fatigue from the previous battles, decides to aim for quick victories. He sends out Naganadel and commands, "Naganadel, use Venoshock!"
The powerful Venoshock hits Doveheart hard, knocking it out in one hit. Petra, unfazed, sends out her second Pokémon, Oriture. Ash, determined to conserve his energy, calls out Lapras.
"Sheer Cold, Lapras!" Ash commands.
Lapras unleashes the freezing attack, instantly knocking out Oriture. Alice, watching from the sidelines, can't help but comment, "Isn't Ash being a little harsh? He's going for one-hit KOs."
Delia nods in understanding. "He's tired. All these battles are draining his energy."
Petra sends out her third Pokémon, Dynaball. Ash decides to show a bit more respect for this one and sends out Sandugg. Sandugg manages to lay down Spikes on the battlefield and, during the fight, evolves into a new form. Ash is thrilled to see Sandugg evolve into Cassand, and with its newfound strength, it uses Quicksand to defeat Dynaball.
Cassand: The Sand Slug Pokémon. Ground and Bug Type. Evolved from Sandugg at Level 27. Cassand are a symbol of patience and wisdom across Rikoto. Known as "Nature's Time Capsules," they can lie immobile under desert sand for decades at a time.
For her fourth Pokémon, Petra sends out Aeroma. Ash groans, knowing the Spikes won't be effective here. He sends out Deerbie to battle instead.
Deerbie charges forward with repeated Flame Charges, gaining speed with each attack. As the battle continues, Deerbie evolves into Deerash, its body now ignited with fiery power. Ash grins as Deerash finishes Aeroma off with a powerful Blaze Kick.
Deerash: The Deer Pokémon. Fire and Normal Type. Evolved from Deerbie at Level 26. Deerash creates blazing trails through woodlands and forests when escaping predators. Once the fire is extinguished, these paths often become new hiking trails.
Alice giggles at the name. "There's a Pokémon named after you, Ash."
Ash raises an eyebrow, slightly annoyed. "Yeah, I wonder why you did that, Mom?" he asks, turning to Delia.
Delia just smiles mysteriously, offering no explanation.
For her final Pokémon, Petra sends out Werehide. Ash decides to end the battle swiftly and sends out Lucario. With incredible speed, Lucario dodges all of Werehide's attacks and finishes the battle with a perfectly aimed Aura Sphere, knocking out the wolf Pokémon.
"Finally, there's only one more trainer to face," Ash says with a mix of relief and determination after bidding farewell to the Socialite.
Alice, noticing Ash's exhaustion, suggests, "How about we take a rest for now? There seems to be some Water Stones at the beach over there."
Ash's eyes light up at the mention of Water Stones, and he eagerly rushes toward the beach. He quickly spots the shimmering stones among the rocks and picks up two of them. With a smile, he gives them to Shrubsea and Weedsea, who immediately begin to evolve.
Kahula: The Hula Pokémon. Water and Grass Type. Evolved from Shrubsea with a Water Stone. Kahula continues dancing on the reefs they washed up onto as Shrubsea. Competitions exist where people attempt to imitate their hula dances.
Kelpula: The Kelp Pokémon. Water and Grass Type. Evolved from Weedsea with a Water Stone. Kelpula colonies are everywhere on the seabed. Some fish Pokémon often attempt to eat their kelp-like appendages, which Kelpula will protect at any cost.
After some well-deserved rest, Ash feels recharged and ready for the final challenge. He soon encounters the last trainer on the bridge, a gentleman named Brooke. Brooke greets Ash with a nod and sends out his first Pokémon, Dodont.
Ash, now confident with his newly evolved Kahula, sends it out to battle. "Kahula, use Teeter Dance!" Ash commands.
Kahula begins to dance gracefully, and the mesmerizing moves leave Dodont confused. Seizing the opportunity, Kahula follows up with a powerful Whirlpool, trapping and defeating Dodont.
Brooke quickly sends out his second Pokémon, Ecobuzz. Ash, knowing the advantage of type, calls upon Charizard. "Charizard, use Blast Burn!"
Charizard unleashes a devastating Blast Burn, knocking out Ecobuzz in one hit. Brooke doesn't falter and sends out his third Pokémon, Eclipo.
Ash counters with Kelpula, now ready for action. Kelpula uses Grass Knot to trip Eclipo, and before it can recover, Kelpula finishes it off with Aqua Jet.
Brooke's next Pokémon, Widox, and his final Pokémon, Rushot, prove to be tough opponents. But Ash is ready. He sends out Gardevoir and Gliscor, and with Gardevoir's powerful Psychic attack and Gliscor's Earthquake, the two Pokémon are swiftly defeated.
"Congratulations! You've beaten all ten trainers on the Battle Bridge," Gentleman Brooke says, clearly impressed. He takes out a small, glowing egg and hands it to Ash. "This is your reward, a Lucky Egg."
Ash gratefully accepts the Lucky Egg, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Mark, who has been watching the battles, says with a sigh of relief, "Finally, it's over."
"Yeah," Ash agrees, wiping some sweat from his brow. "I think I've battled a total of 30 Pokémon... though some of them were one-hit KOs."
Delia, understanding the challenge her son just faced, sighs softly. "That's because your Pokémon are at a different level from those trainers'. But for now, we should head to the Docking Port and rest."
The others nod in agreement, and they quickly make their way toward their next destination, ready for some well-deserved rest after their hard-earned victory.
It is finally done, in this chapter, Ash and his friends are battling in the Battle Bridge, and like in the games, there are Pokemon that evolve during the battle. I hope you like it.
New Pokemon/Evolution: Aeroma, Dartoad, Bouldox, Rubbunny, Taraterror, Oriture, Colbolta, Platyplash, Dracubat, Golemo, Wormune, Cassand, Deerash, Kahula, Kelpula
Battle Bridge:
Land: Weedsea:35% (LV:21~23), Shrubsea:35% (LV:21~23), Palmo:20% (LV:21~23), Tortarock:10% (LV:21~23)
Old Rod: Weedsea:30% (LV:5~10), Shrubsea:70% (LV:5~10)