"Okay, I don't get it, why aren't you taking on Burgh today, you were all but ready to take him on just yesterday?" Rosa asked.
"It's simple, Ash doesn't have an answer." Elliot remarked.
"He has an answer, he just refuses to tell me why." Rosa said angrily.
"No Elliot is right, I do not have an answer for fighting Burgh." Ash said. "He uses bug types, and I don't have anyone with me that can fight that."
"What do you mean?" Rosa asked.
"Bug type Pokemon are good against Grass, Dark, and Psychic types, meaning Snivy is out before he could even begin." Elliot pointed out.
"But Snivy was what won your fight against Roxie." Rosa remembered.
"Yes, but both Riolu and Pikachu were good in that fight." Ash said. "Bug types also resist fighting attacks."
"Interestingly enough, bug and fighting are unique in being the only two separate types that resist one another." Elliot said.
"So what is good against bug?" Rosa asked.
"Flying, Fire, and Rock types." Elliot said.
"I've got it!" Ash exclaimed.
"Got what?" Rosa asked.
"An answer! Remember that Mandibuzz that kidnapped Lillipup?" Ash asked.
"Oh, I don't like where this is going." Rosa said.
"Well it's a flying type and I bet it's still around it's nest, and we saw Darumaka on our way there, those are fire types!" Ash said.
"It's unconventional but those would turn the outcome of you chances of winning greatly in your favor." Elliot said.
"Then it's settled, we're heading back to the desert!" Ash exclaimed, standing up to head out the door of the Pokemon Center.
"Here I thought Castelia City would be a break." Rosa sighed, grabbing Lillipup as she chased after Ash and Elliot.
Back north in route 4
"Alright Riolu use Dig!" Ash called out, having found one Darumaka on it's own.
Riolu dove under the sand, avoiding a Fire Fang attack from the Darumaka.
"Darumaka!" Darumaka yelled, causing an uproar among other nearby Darumaka.
"Ash, think of something quick this is getting loud!" Rosa said angrily, covering Lillipup's ears.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, covering his ears as well.
"Riolu now!" Ash called out, the fighting type launching out of the sand, striking Darumaka into the air, ending its ceaseless crying.
"Riolu use Headbutt!"
Riolu raced forward slamming his head in unison with Darumaka, causing them both to flinch on impact.
"Riolu use Force Palm!"
Riolu brought his open palm forward, striking Darumaka into a roll into the desert.
"After that Darumaka!" Ash exclaimed as he Pikachu, and Riolu chased after the rollaway fire type.
"How is he running so fast? This sand is deep." Elliot said, trying to avoid falling in the sand.
"Let's just try to keep up with him." Rosa said, pushing through the sand.
A few minutes later
"Ash there you are, where's the Darumaka?" Rosa asked.
"Duck!" Ash exclaimed pushing her to the ground as a large bird swooped overhead.
"Seriously!" Rosa exclaimed.
"That's not a Mandibuzz, that's a Braviary." Elliot said, as the large bird turned around, heading right for them."
"Thanks for the update Elliot." Ash said. "Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika! Chuuuu!" Pikachu exclaimed, sending out a bolt of electricity as the Braviary swooped at the again.
"What is that things problem?!" Rosa demanded.
"It's Aerial Ace, scary accurate." Ash said.
"So what happened to Darumaka?" Elliot asked, ducking in time.
"No clue, they rolled off and I ran into this guy." Ash said as the blue and brown bird swooped at the trio again. "Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu leapt into the air, striking the Braviary with great force, knocking it off course.
"Pikachu use Volt Tackle!" Ash called out.
"Daru!" The wild Darumaka exclaimed, rolling at Pikachu before being launched at Braviary from the impact.
"There it is." Rosa said, noticing the fire types return.
"Alright, Snivy is way out of the question for either, and Riolu is out cold already." Ash said, noticing the fight was two on one.
"Wait Riolu got knocked out, when?" Rosa asked.
"How do you think I found out about that Braviary?" Ash asked as Braviary dove down with a Wing Attack and Darumaka launched forward with a Headbutt, both at Pikachu.
"Pikachu use a Thunderbolt counter shield!" Ash called out.
Pikachu spun around, letting out electricity that deterred both wild Pokemon.
"A counter shield?" Elliot asked.
"Learned the idea back in Sinnoh." Ash said. "Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu sent a bolt of electricity at the duo of wild Pokemon, zapping them both.
"Now." Ash said, pulling out two Pokeballs. "Pokeballs go!"
Ash threw the two Pokeballs at Darumaka and Braviary, both engulfed in seperate red beams of light.
'Ding Ding'
'Ding Ding'
'Ding Ding'
"Alright we just caught a Darumaka and Braviary!" Ash cheered.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered as well.
Back at the Pokemon Center
"So now that Ash has a fire and a flying type, we're heading to the gym?" Elliot asked, as Ash left Braviary, Darumaka, and Riolu to get checked up on by Nurse Joy.
"Actually we have a bit of a side trip planned right now." Rosa reminded.
"Is Ash aware of this?" Elliot asked.
"Am I aware of what?" Ash asked, walking back over.
"This supposed side trip Rosa was speaking of taking instead of your gym battle." Elliot said.
"Oh yeah, we were going to the Kingdom of Vale, I actually forgot that the ship going there would be here tomorrow." Ash admitted.
"Do I ever get a pick on where we go or what we do?" Elliot asked.
"Yeah. No ones in full charge here." Rosa said.
"Is there something you wanted to do in Castelia, I mean we'll also be coming back." Ash reminded.
"No, I was just curious." Elliot admitted. "Besides I don't think there's much of anything left for us to find or do here in the city outside of your gym battle against Burgh."
"Well then make sure to get some rest because our boat leaves early tomorrow." Ash said, knowing this trip would lead to a lot of answers and maybe some questions.
Near the docks of Castelia City
"We're finally here Tranquil." Hugh said. "Two badges and we're going strong!"
"Tran!" Tranquil chirped seeing something shine in the water.
"What in the, a Pokeball, what's it doing out here? I wonder what's inside of it?" Hugh asked, picking it out of the water.
Authors note
Braviary and Mandibuzz
So in the story on initial upload the chapter where Ash encountered the wild Mandibuzz was on a Thursday while he caught Braviary on a Monday, referencing the wild boss fights with Mandibuzz in Black 2 and Braviary in White 2 that were both on route 4.
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Quick Attack - Thunderbolt - Iron Tail - Volt Tackle
Riolu- Force Palm - Ice Punch - Headbutt - Dig
Snivy: Tackle - Vine Whip - Energy Ball
Braviary: Wing Attack - Scary Face - Hone Claws - Aerial Ace
Darumaka: Fire Fang - Uproar - Headbutt - Rollout