Chapter 85 Day Care Elite Four Battle

After returning to Sario Town, Ash and Alice meet up with Nora, the second Elite Four member of the Rikoto Region. Nora, with her keen eyes and calm demeanor, greets them warmly.

Ash wastes no time and asks, "Nora, can we have our Elite Four battle now?"

Nora shakes her head gently. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait for a bit," she replies. "As a detective for environmental accidents, there's something I need to investigate first." She gestures toward a nearby pillar. "I need you two to place the five stones there. It's part of what I'm looking into."

Ash and Alice exchange confused glances but decide to follow Nora's instructions. They carefully place the five stones at the pillar, just as she asked. As soon as they do, a gate begins to creak open in front of them.

Alice, startled, asks, "Is that supposed to happen?"

Nora nods but adds, "Without the Chaos Crystal and the Order Crystal, Solaran and Lunaro won't appear. But this is unexpected..." She steps forward, her curiosity piqued. "Let's head inside and see what's going on."

As Ash, Alice, and Nora step through the gate, they find themselves in a world that seems entirely blank—vast, empty, and devoid of anything recognizable. The void stretches endlessly, leaving them in stunned silence.

Ash, glancing around, frowns. "Where... are we? There's nothing here."

Alice hugs her arms, feeling uneasy. "It's like we're standing in... nowhere."

Nora narrows her eyes, scanning the blank expanse. "This can't be right. There has to be something we're missing."

Before they can speculate further, a figure materializes before them, cutting through the emptiness. It is no other than Cellance, the Balance Pokémon—the very being they once worked with to stop the battle between Solaran and Lunaro.

"Cellance? Are we in Cellance's Dimension?" Nora asks, her voice filled with curiosity. "This is interesting."

Ash, looking thoughtful, reaches into his bag and pulls out the Balance Crystal. "Maybe it's because we still have this?"

Just then, a calm yet powerful voice resonates around them. "I see you still have the Crystal. I have been waiting for you, Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon."

Alice smiles warmly at the familiar presence. "It's so nice to see you again, Cellance. Thank you for your help during the battle with Team Solar and Team Lunar."

Cellance's form hovers gracefully before them, its serene energy filling the blank space. "It is I who must thank you, Ash and Alice," Cellance replies. "It was your strength that empowered me to stop the conflict between Solaran and Lunaro."

The Balance Pokémon pauses for a moment before continuing, "Now, I wish to lend you my power, to aid you further on your journey. Will you accept me as part of your team?"

Ash smiles, holding out a Pokéball. "We'd be honored, Cellance."

With a nod of understanding, Cellance enters the Pokéball, and with that, the bond between them is sealed.

Cellance: The Balance Pokemon: Normal and Psychic Type. Folklore speaks of a figure born from the clash of Solaran and Lunaro, one who controls the duo's power to bring balance to society. Such being is Cellance.

Just as Cellance is captured, the dimension around them begins to fade, and a powerful force starts pulling Ash, Alice, and Nora out of the hole. They barely have time to react before they're swept up, hurtling back into reality.

Meanwhile, May and Kiawe arrive at Sario Town, both of them looking tense. "Damn it... we haven't heard from Mallow since... don't tell me they've captured her," Kiawe mutters, clenching his fists.

May sighs, worry clouding her expression. "I just hope they're okay..."

To their shock, they suddenly see Ash, Alice, and Nora blasted out of the hole, crashing onto the ground. Ash quickly helps Alice to her feet. "That was something..." he says, shaking off the impact.

Alice rubs her head, still dazed. "Yeah, what a force... But now that we have Cellance, what's next?"

Nora straightens her clothes and replies, "We'll head to Brushus Town first. We have a movie to film, after all."

As the three of them start to leave, May spots them and gasps. "It's them! I bet they did something to Mallow."

"They're not going to get away!" Kiawe growls, and without hesitation, they begin to chase after Ash, Alice, and Nora.

When Ash and Alice arrive in Brushus Town, they begin filming, helping out the elderly couple at the Day Care. Meanwhile, their Normal-type Pokémon enjoy some downtime at the nearby ranch.

Snuffuzz relaxes under the warm sun, rolling lazily in the grass. Its soft fur catches the breeze, and little tufts float off, much to the delight of the Bird Pokémon that eagerly gather the shed fluff for their nests. Yakkle plods through a slow-moving stream, its sturdy hooves sinking into the riverbed. The gentle giant pauses occasionally, letting smaller Pokémon climb onto its back for a leisurely ride as it continues its steady march through the water. Rubbunny, full of energy, bounces around the ranch with playful vigor, ricocheting off rocks and tree trunks with effortless speed. Every jump is higher than the last, as it gleefully leaps and bounds, enjoying the wide open space.

Formling sits quietly among the others, its eyes glinting with curiosity as it shifts forms at will, playfully mimicking the Pokémon around it. It enjoys confusing the others by suddenly taking on their appearance before shifting back with a smirk. Parabow soars overhead, its graceful flight accompanied by occasional swoops and dives, its natural navigation skills letting it circle the ranch effortlessly. Bullson, full of energy, thunders across the ranch, kicking up dust as it gallops around. Its powerful form makes it a challenge for smaller Pokémon trying to ride its back, but they tumble off quickly as it bucks playfully.

Baabush trots around the ranch, its bushy, soft wool emitting a pleasant aroma that fills the air. Under the warm sunlight, its wool regenerates quickly, even after being nibbled on by curious Pokémon. Nearby, Baablaze rests calmly, its fiery wool giving off a gentle heat that attracts the other Pokémon to gather around for warmth. Baabble, on the other hand, splashes happily in a small pond, its wool absorbing a vast amount of water yet remaining completely dry, much to the fascination of the others. Baabreeze floats lightly, its wool so soft and airy that it seems to drift along with the wind, while Baablock, with its rock-hard coat, remains stationary, its wool too tough for any Pokémon to shear or penetrate. Baablizz, lounging in the shade, cools down the surrounding area with its snow-like wool, offering relief from the midday sun.

Laziloth lounges lazily in the shade of a large tree, barely moving from its comfortable spot. Its long arms stretch out occasionally to pluck a piece of fruit from a nearby bush, showing little effort as it munches contentedly. Budsoar, on the other hand, glides gracefully in the sky above, keeping a watchful eye over the ranch, its glowing feathers offering a sense of calm and protection to the Pokémon below. Moostrike stomps around with powerful strides, its antlers gleaming as it paces. Despite its calm appearance, there's a sense of raw power behind its movements, its aggressive nature evident in the way it marks its territory.

Spirix floats silently around the ranch, its black glasses giving it a mysterious aura as it observes the others. Every now and then, it flickers out of sight, seemingly discerning the motives of those around it, vanishing completely if it senses any ill intent. Cellance hovers with an air of calm, its presence radiating a sense of balance and peace across the ranch. The other Pokémon instinctively feel drawn to its stabilizing energy. Flapinko, always the showoff, flutters nearby, its pink feathers shimmering in the light as it performs graceful loops and spins, enjoying the attention from the other Pokémon.

Deerferno sprints around the outskirts of the ranch, its fiery speed leaving a trail of singed grass in its wake. Though the others keep a respectful distance from the blazing Pokémon, it slows down to a calm trot, careful not to disturb the ranch too much. Sascrush, in its tropical form, stays near the shaded areas, its keen senses constantly alert. Its massive form moves with surprising stealth, its large footprints marking the ground as it explores, almost like the legends of old. Avaldeer remains near the cooler spots, its bright red nose glowing faintly. It offers a guiding presence to the smaller Pokémon, much like how it leads travelers through blizzards, its calm demeanor providing comfort.

After finishing with the rock and wrapping up the movie filming, Ash and Nora prepare for their Elite Four battle. Nora smiles, confidence shining in her eyes. "Normal-type Pokémon may not be super effective against others, but with a wide range of attacks, they can adapt to any situation. My experience as a detective has taught me to prepare for any challenge. Get ready, Ash—this will be a rough ride!"

Ash grips his Pokéball, nodding. "I'm ready. Let's make this count!"

Nora starts by sending out Lazloth, her bulky, patient Pokémon, known for its endurance. Ash leads with Dinopion, determined to keep up the pressure early. The match begins with Lazloth using Toxic, poisoning Dinopion to steadily sap its energy. Dinopion pushes through, striking back with Dragon Claw. Lazloth tries to retaliate with Body Slam, paralyzing Dinopion, but Dinopion presses on with Close Combat, landing a solid hit. Lazloth's defensive strategy helps it endure, but Dinopion manages to finish it off with another Dragon Claw, though it's heavily weakened from the poison.

Nora quickly sends in Moostrike, whose powerful Head Smash knocks Dinopion out before it can react, leveling the score. Ash responds by sending out Golossus, his Rock/Fighting-type. The battle between Moostrike and Golossus is intense. Moostrike lands a crushing Double Edge, but Golossus counters with Stone Edge, dealing massive damage. Despite this, Moostrike withstands the hit and retaliates with Iron Head, leaving Golossus staggering. But Golossus manages to pull off a Close Combat just in time, knocking Moostrike out before it can land the final blow.

Now down two Pokémon, Nora sends out Sascrush. Sascrush uses Knock Off, hitting hard and taking out Golossus, whose defenses were lowered from the previous exchange. Ash sends out Tidude, hoping to turn the tide. Sascrush opens with Earthquake, rattling Tidude, but Tidude retaliates with a strong Waterfall, dealing heavy damage. Sascrush isn't finished, though—it uses Rock Climb to wear Tidude down further, leaving both Pokémon on the edge. Tidude lands one more Close Combat, managing to defeat Sascrush, but it collapses from exhaustion immediately after, resulting in a double knockout.

With the score even, Nora sends out Spirix, and Ash brings in Fevesta. Spirix's Illusion ability initially throws Ash off, and it hits Fevesta with Shadow Ball, leaving it struggling. Fevesta counters with Sludge Bomb, managing to land a hit, but Spirix uses Dazzling Gleam to finish Fevesta off, putting Ash on the back foot.

Ash then calls on Pikachu. Spirix tries another Shadow Ball, but Pikachu dodges and counters with a direct Thunderbolt, weakening Spirix significantly. Spirix uses U-Turn to deal some damage and attempt to switch out, but Pikachu finishes it off with a Quick Attack, taking Spirix out of the fight.

Nora now turns to Formling. Formling's Protean ability gives it versatility, and it leads with Metronome, which turns into Ice Beam, striking Pikachu. Pikachu fights back with Iron Tail, but Formling shifts types again, using Knock Off to take down Pikachu.

Ash is down to his final Pokémon: Lucario. Without hesitation, he Mega Evolves Lucario, ready for the final stretch. Formling uses Metronome again, this time turning into Flamethrower, but Mega Lucario withstands the attack and counters with Aura Sphere, knocking Formling out in one swift move.

Finally, Nora sends out her strongest Pokémon, Bullson. The two heavy hitters square off, with Bullson using Flail and Counter, dealing significant damage to Mega Lucario. However, Lucario is fast and strikes back with Bone Rush, wearing Bullson down. Bullson retaliates with a desperate Reversal, but Mega Lucario dodges and delivers the final blow—Aura Sphere—bringing Bullson down and securing Ash's victory.

Nora recalls her defeated Bullson, smiling as she holds up a Pokéball. "Case solved! I was no match for you, Ash. You've won this battle fair and square, and you can now move on to the second-last member of the Elite Four!"

With that, Nora steps forward and hands Ash the Normal Medal. It glints in the light, his second victory symbol from the Rikoto Elite Four.

Alice beams, rushing over to Ash. "You did it, Ash! Another medal!" she cheers, throwing her arms around him in excitement.

Ash smiles, holding the Normal Medal in his hand. "Thanks, Alice. It wasn't easy, but we pulled through." He turns back to Nora. "That was a great battle. Your team is tough."

Nora nods. "You've earned your victory. But don't get too comfortable, the next challenge will be even tougher!"

As Ash and Alice finish their conversation, they prepare to head out of town and onto their next destination. But just as they are leaving the outskirts of the town, May and Kiawe finally arrive, panting from chasing them down. The frustration on their faces is unmistakable.

"They're leaving again! They're completely ignoring us!" May fumes, watching Ash and Alice walk away in the distance.

Kiawe clenches his fists, equally furious. "We can't let them keep getting away with this... We'll get them next time."

Here is a new chapter, I was going to do the Dark Type, but then I realize that I need to do the Elite Four first so I change into Normal Type for this one. The next will be Electric.