Everyone remember when I named King's giant claw hammer and smaller one sword?
I don't own Pokemon. Please support the official release.
One day I will learn to post without deleting previous things. Until then, you guys are reading for free so… Your move.
Episode 28: Viridian Gym
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"Ah, it's you, so you've returned," Ash said narrowing his eyes. "I thought I told you not to show your face to me again."
"Um... son?" his mother stared at him wide-eyed.
"Kidding," the trainer grinned.
"It's been nearly two years since you've seen your mother and this is how you greet her?" Delia asked, sighing and giving him an exasperated look. "Why can't you just say "hey mom" like your brother and sister?"
"My way is more fun," Ash told her with a shrug. "Well, later!" Willow butted his belly making him grunt. "What? She knows I was joking!"
"Gore's always been something else, I'm a bit relieved to see your Bulbasaur has a strong presence too," Delia confessed smiling.
"Yeah, sure." Ash would have preferred another Pokemon more like Hellfire himself. The Bulbasaur likely guessed his thoughts, judging by her admonishing look. "How've you been? You went to that famous Wailmer's Pail restaurant or whatever right?"
"Oh, it was fantastic!" Delia gushed her amber eyes coming alive with light, "The food was some of the best in the world, I'm sure! The finest blends of spice I've ever had on fish. The service was patient and warm, a smile and a bow for a greeting, my drink never ran out!" Ash smiled warmly as she listed the restaurant's qualities. He didn't understand half of what she was saying or what her enthusiastic gestures meant. The trainer found he didn't care.
Five years ago his Aunt Mary died, and his Uncle Garrett changed. Ash's smile faded slightly. "Or maybe we never really knew him," his grandfather had muttered, his face set in a deep scowl. He'd never been a great father, or an uncle at all really, still him simply leaving one day had stunned them all. Oak still took on lengthy missions for the league occasionally, and was the leading researcher on the bond between Pokemon and their partners. It fell to his mother to take care of Daisy and Gary.
She ran the Pallet House; made sure each Pokemon in the family was tended to properly, kept his grandfather from working himself until he collapsed, and taken care of Ash and his siblings. This trip had taken the three of them two years of odd jobs, and a portion of Daisy's winnings from the Indigo League to fund. Seeing his mother happy made it worth it. "So what about you? Your sister says you've earned four badges from the Eight!"
"I did and I've been good," Ash responded shrugging. "We've-" a yawn interrupted him. "Sorry 'bout this," he said, lifting Willow onto his shoulder, "She's been really tired lately."
"It's fine," his mother told him her smile fading slightly. "You'll be coming home for a bit after your next challenge right?" her cautiously hopeful tone made him pause. Does she think I wouldn't?
"Yeah, I promise," Ash uttered with a nod.
"Have a good night! And don't forget to change your-" Ash shut off the videophone. Willow cocked her head to the side.
"You don't need to know," the trainer told her as he led them to their room. The dinosaur poked his cheek insistently. She huffed when she realized Ash wasn't budging on the matter. Willow hopped from his arms once they reached their room. "Are you pouting? You've gotten quite spoiled," Ash stated with a snort. He opened the door. "She's becoming spoiled right, Gore?" the trainer called. The only response the swine gave was a twitch of a floppy brown ear.
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You want to train now? Really?" Ash inquired his tone exasperated. Willow ignored him as she trotted out into the training ground. She sat on her haunches beneath a large oak tree and stared at the moon. "You woke me up at midnight for moon gazing," Ash growled glaring at the tiny dinosaur's back. Again she didn't respond. The trainer scowled and strode in front of her, "Are you even listening?"
Willow peered up at him with vacant eyes. Ash swallowed and knelt. "C'mon, say something! Want some berries?" After several seconds without a response he rose. The trainer strode to the white steps of the center. Ash glanced back at her, some small part of him hopeful Willow was playing a cruel joke. It was a foolish thing to hope for.
The trainer had only just reached the stairs when the scent of Oran berries greeted his nose. Ash sniffed the air a few times to confirm it. A pie? He turned around slowly. "Willow?" Ash breathed. The Bulbasaur cooed, then the grass seemed to sway as if in a dance. She took a deep breath and began to sing.
The song was the eerie rustling of leaves on a moonless night as Willow's bulb shifted to a shade so dark he couldn't see it. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Impossibly, her bulb looked to have become even darker and the trainer felt a deep despair engulf him. Then the song fell until it was as quiet as a whisper carried on the wind.
The leaves on the old oak began to rustle and whistle. Slowly, the song grew stronger, more confident somehow, and the light of a rising sun emerged at Willow's bulb. The hue slithered down the length of her bulb in tiny rivers until the countless streams became a lake of warmth and light. The dinosaur's pink eyes shut as she approached the crescendo. Leaves and pink petals manifested from her flanks, whirling around the saurian as though she was the eye of a hurricane until Ash could no longer see her. The song's volume fell and, one by one, the petals and leaves floated to the earth.
Ash licked his lips and took a step forward. The saurian stood at about a foot tall. Her previously impressive canines were now exposed in an under bite. Her bulb had become a light pink flower that was closed in a manner reminiscent of a flower waiting for the morning's sun greeting. Her light green skin had several dark green spots that reminded him of the Viridian Forest's sea of leaves. At her sides were what appeared to be leaves from a tree in the tropics, which were almost as long as she was tall. Her legs still appeared stubby and her belly a bit chubby, but he knew the thick limbs were far more powerful than they appeared. "Ivysaur, huh," Ash murmured kneeling. Willow sat on her haunches and cocked her head to the side. She crooned.
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The Viridian Gym was a giant beige building that had ten square shaped bushes on each side of the white path that led to the Gym's entrance. There was a five-foot statue of Champion Yellow, and a much taller statue of her legendary Golem, built on the impressive yard in front of the Gym. She was one of their greatest Champions, easily deserving of this and the many other honors bestowed upon her. Champion Flora, or as she was better known, Yellow was the one who created the Pokemon Center as they knew it today and brokered the first peace treaty among the major regions.
It was a bit odd to see the Champion who was rather sensitive about her height immortalized in such a way. Willow poked his cheek, then gestured to the bushes and the sidewalk. "Yes, they're very pretty," Ash said, his eyes focused on the Gym as he walked. He'd noticed that there wasn't a leaf out of place. Giovanni had taken pride in maintaining a pristine gym in all aspects. Ash heard that the replacement had scrambled to return the gym to its former glory, but had failed until recently. Even with the last twelve years of work, it was vastly inferior to the other members of the Eight.
The trainer sighed. One man's ambition led to the death of over five thousand league personnel and the end of the beloved Champion Agatha, who led their region through a horrible depression and two wars. And it cost us the most promising leader we've had since Dreyfus. Ash regarded the statue in front of the Gym. I wonder if I'll ever be remembered like that? Ash shook his head. There was nothing to wonder. Future generations would read about him with a greater wonder than even the founder of the first league. Lyra, Dreyfus, Brandon, Karen, I'll crush Team Rocket. My team will surpass all of yours if it kills me. Ash glared at Flora's statue. And you too, Yellow. He smirked. Well, I'm already taller than you.
His Ivysaur quavered urgently and patted his cheek with a paw. Ash hummed distractedly. She pushed his chin lightly. "Wha-?" Ash froze. Black eyes gazed back at him from within one of the trees at the entrances' sides.
A Tangrowth! An average specimen of the tropical species soundly defeated Gore in their Celadon Gym challenge. A few dark, green vines wiggled toward him. Willow growled quietly and bared her canines. Tangrowth squeaked and retracted its vines. He didn't blame it. Those canines had evolved to crack open stubborn berries and nuts. "Easy there girl," Ash murmured raising a hand to pat her head gently. "It's not from a violent species."
Willow glanced at him uncertainly before slowly sliding from his shoulder onto his shoulder. Her vines wrapped around his chest as she climbed to situate herself behind his head, then into his new backpack. Ash nearly sighed. The dinosaur didn't seem to understand that being carried would be harder on him now. Or she simply didn't care. It's a good thing I'm using mostly capsules these days.
The trainer pushed the double doors open lightly. The Tangrowth would doubtlessly be trained to be even more docile than the majority of its species, but he wasn't taking any chances. Willow flattened herself against his head and watched the vine Pokemon carefully. Is Gore's paranoia rubbing off on her? In the wild the Bulbasaur line were prey, so paranoia wasn't a bad trait to possess. It always made a trainer's job more difficult though. Ash blinked. It's possible those instincts are what makes her so shy. Can't believe it took this long for me to think about this.
The saurian patted his cheek. "Right." Ash strode to the front desk. He frowned when he saw a single woman seated there. "Is the Gym Leader accepting challenges yet?" he asked, his tone uncertain. He always woke early on the day of his challenges. Some gyms didn't receive challenges until midday. His grandfather told him that many leaders would become complacent, and were more vulnerable in the morning. If there was even a tiny chance the Gym Leader would be disadvantaged further, Ash would pounce on it.
The mousy secretary squeaked and jumped. Ash's eyes widened as the woman's rolling chair sent her flailing and falling onto her back. "Huh. Do ya think we should help her?" Ash asked, blinking. Willow cocked her head to the side, then snorted uncertainly. "You okay?"
"I- yes, yes, I'm fine," the secretary uttered as she pulled herself to her feet. Then she flushed, "How can I help you, sir?"
"Ash of Pallet. I'm here to challenge your boss," the trainer stated, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You're here to challenge Mr. Blake? Why would you want to fight the manager?" she asked with a blink.
Ash stared at her for a moment, "His boss."
"Oh right," the secretary laughed, "You can just go through that door then! Just go all the way down the hall."
"Thanks," Ash told her before turning around. "She was kinda out there," he said once they were through the door. Willow warbled. The trainer came to a stop in front of the double doors. "Do you remember the weird rule here?" he murmured. Willow cooed nervously and pressed herself into the back of his head. Ash shut his eyes. He couldn't afford to have her holding herself back. Pep talks weren't something he was great at though. "Do you think I'm a bad trainer, Willow?"
She stiffened. "Have faith in my strength if you can't believe in your own. I know you can win this for us." Willow remained still for several moments. Ash shut his eyes. Was it not enough? He reached for his Gore's Pokeball. Then she licked his cheek. Relief flooded him like a dam breaking. "Ready?" he smirked. Willow warbled in a tone that was nearly confident. Ash entered the Viridian Gym's field.
The field was similar to Pewter's. Large stones as tall as Ash himself littered the fifty-yard long field with several smaller stones scattered between them. Twenty yards across, eh? Unlike the Pewter Gym the field's floor wasn't made of rock. To the right of the field was a large pool that Giovanni built for his mighty Cloyster. The Rocket Boss was a traitor, but his mastery over all aspects of battle was undeniable.
Ash swallowed. I think I'd like a Cloyster more. In the pool was a serpentine Pokemon with incredibly thick blue scales and teeth nearly two-inches long. The sea serpent was almost twenty feet long and was broader than five men. It also had five-inch long white whiskers on the side of its face and a three spiked white crown above its head. "Gyarados," Ash whispered. Willow tensed. Then she bolted.
The trainer moved faster than he had ever in his life to grab her sides. "It's okay! Look at the whiskers, it's a boy!" The Ivysaur continued running like her life depended on it. "Um, you're not on the ground," Ash told her his brows raising. Willow's pace slowed as she looked down. The dinosaur cocked her head to the side. Then she swallowed and glanced at the Gyarados nervously. "Male Gyarados won't hurt you," Ash assured her quietly.
Willow looked at him like he was the most ridiculous creature she had ever seen. Ash had to admit that saying a five thousand pound super predator wouldn't harm her was a bit odd. "What I mean is, the ones that can fall into a rampage cause you look at 'em wrong are the girls," the trainer explained. Willow fidgeted. "It's fine, trust me, it's trained," Ash said while placing her onto his head. "Why else would it be out?" The Ivysaur cooed uncertainly, but relaxed slightly.
Gore's Pokeball wiggled. He placed a hand over it. How much did he hear? Clearly he hadn't heard the beast's species or he'd be out of his capsule already. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be much of an overreaction. Males were as aggressive, quick-tempered, and territorial as ground Pokemon. The Females could only be described as savages.
Wave had fathered many children, but he'd only raised the Pokemon he'd adopted. Magikarp grew ten times their birth size within a month, as such, they required a massive amount of meat in the first month of their lives. To the point that they could die if they weren't fed properly every few hours. It wasn't unheard of for a young mother's entire clutch to starve before she returned from a hunt. Or for a clutch to turn on one another in a desperate bid for survival. Over thousands of generations the mothers learned how to ensure their Magikarp would survive.
They killed the fathers near the offspring's hatching. This betrayal provided their children with six-thousand pounds of meat. A desperate mother was treacherous regardless of the species. A desperate mother from one of the strongest species in the world could come close to killing a future Champion's partner.
"You come here to fight us?" an abrasive masculine voice demanded in what was likely intended to be an authoritative tone. It reminded him of Samurai. Ash scowled and turned to the Gym Leader. Us? There can be more than one leader? "Well, did you?" the leader demanded. The man stood on a gray platform that towered above Ash and Willow. He was a short and stout man that appeared to be in his early twenties. The leader wore a sleeveless gray shirt designed to display his muscular arms.
"Yeah!" Ash responded striding up to the field. His eyes narrowed. To the man's right was a brunette with shoulder length hair in a yellow sleeveless shirt. To his left was a scowling dark-haired man whose hair was combed to his right. The man wore a red shirt under a red vest. Both of the trainers looked to be of the same age as the Gym Leader. A silver sash adorned each of their waists. Silver-level Aces? "I like the sashes better than Gym Trainer's armband," the trainer said. Willow cooed.
"Then I, Fergus, accept your challenge-"
"You had the last one," the irritated man cut in, "I start."
"Corey's right," the woman pointed out.
"But Neesha," Fergus whined, "that guy sucked! I can't get my blood boiling at all like that!"
"Rules are rules," she responded, shaking her head. Corey gave her an appreciative look and stepped in front of Fergus. His face fell into a neutral expression.
"This will be a three on three set match!" the referee shouted, making Ash and Willow jump. When did he get there? His eyes narrowed. Wait set? No substituting for me then. "The challenger must first reveal one of the Pokemon he will be using!" the balding man continued. He gestured toward Ash.
"It'll be my Ivysaur!" the challenger declared. Willow curled into herself when all eyes turned to her. Including Gyarados and the members Slowpoke that were crawling from the pool. Ash patted her side lightly. The only reason Staryu and Starmie could make a barrier as strong as the one in the Cerulean Gym was because they had Macy's Starmie anchoring it. Slowbro and Slowpoke had far stronger barriers, but they were built for physical combat unlike Mr. Mime.
The referee released two Mr. Mime. That answers that. The mime Pokemon had two pink spots on their cheeks and one on its midsection that covered the majority of its chest and belly. The white gloves they wore had a red patch on the tip of each finger served as their foci. Ash had known his mother's Mr. Mime, Mimi, his entire life. Which meant the five inch blue ears on the side of the psychic and fairy-type Pokemon weren't odd to him. Willow stared at them in wonder. This is your first time getting a good luck at them, isn't it?
"Challenger! Which Pokemon is your partner?" the referee demanded.
"My Piloswine?" Ash answered his brow furrowing.
"Excellent! You are forbidden from using it!" Ash gaped while Willow snapped from the trance the mime's ears put her under.
"Some trainers only train a couple Pokemon and completely forget the rest-"
"As a partner is usually the strongest Pokemon a trainer has, we restrict them to ensure only true trainers, those who train and care for all of their Pokemon, earn this badge," Corey interjected his eyes twitching. Fergus pouted.
"Well, shit," the trainer muttered. The Ivysaur quavered an agreement. Their strategy had just been crushed. Gore was a powerful counter to three of Willow's weaknesses.
"Challenger! Please release your Pokemon!" the referee said once the Slowbro had sauntered into place. Ash flinched. I release first too? No matter how you look at it, this is on a completely different level compared to Celadon and Saffron. The trainer reached for King's capsule. His arm shook when he unhooked the Pokeball. Could he defeat such an opponent without some form of advantage? Brock would have surely defeated him had Magcargo's lava not multiplied the strength of Willow's Seed Bomb. His research of the Kabutops line allowed King to defeat the shellfish. Without that...
Ash took a deep breath. The rules might be rougher but my opponent isn't a titan. Brock had been a master by the time Ash had challenged him, and Erika had recently been acknowledged as one as well. He glared at Corey and primed King's Pokeball. What was a Silver-level in comparison? King raised his claw in greeting, which Ash returned by lifting his right arm.
Corey frowned at the Kingler thoughtfully. His decision made, he released a fully grown Machoke. Machoke was a gray fighting-type Pokemon that stood five-feet tall yet was broader than the gigantic Master Bruno. The fighting-type had a reptilian face and a wide mouth that held small yet sharp teeth. Its trunk like arms had three raised red lines running along their length. The golden Power Belt around its waist gave him pause. It's fighting us handicapped? Heat flared in his chest. King narrowed his eyes, likely having come to the same conclusion.
Machoke took a long look at King, then removed its Power Belt. The belt hit the ground with a thud. "King this is a fighting-type called the Superpower Pokemon-"
"Round one, Kingler versus Machoke, begin!" the referee cried. Machoke charged and swung its arm in a wide arc launching a boulder at the Kingler. King spewed a stream of bubbles into the boulder forcing it to land on his right. Machoke swiped at the crab's legs only to be blocked by his dominant claw.
King's arm took on a white hue as he swung his hammer into the fighting-type's broad chest. Machoke grunted as it was launched through the air. The fighting-type wheezed while clutching its sternum. "Roll!" Corey ordered after the Kingler began to charge a Water Pulse. King's eyes narrowed, then the attack flew. Machoke gritted its teeth and swung its arms to the side. The Water Pulse slammed into the rock behind the fighting-type, sending pebbles and dust into the air. Machoke flipped onto its feet with a grunt. Willow's eyes widened. She'd never seen a Pokemon react like that to a direct Slam.
The reptilian Pokemon eyed the Kingler carefully as it inched toward a particularly tall stone. Machoke's arms lowered slowly, its fingers twitching. Ash's eyes widened. "Guns!" King chirped before firing small streams of water at the reptilian warrior. Machoke squawked and dove behind the stone. "Don't let it recover!" Ash commanded. The Kingler surged forward with his hammer shielding him.
"Make a smokescreen! Focus Blast!" Corey commanded. The challenger's eyes widened when Machoke leaped twenty feet into the air while charging a white ball between its massive hands. King shoved his hammer into the earth and shot a large Water Gun into Machoke's chest. The reptile grunted, gasping as it was sent crashing into another stone.
"What the hell, still?" Ash growled. Machoke's Focus Blast had actually grown larger. "Whatever, Slam it!" The Kingler shrieked furiously before rushing the downed fighting-type. Willow squeaked. The trainer flinched. Then Machoke's dark eyes shot open. It snarled before launching the Focus Blast at a stone that was ahead of King.
The crab Pokemon shielded itself as the stone exploded in a shower of pebbles and a cloud dust engulfed him. "King, don't stop! It hasn't moved out at all!" Ash barked. The Kingler burst from the cloud, his hammer cocked back. Ash grinned ferally, then Machoke kicked the crab's hammer up. Its next kick sent King tumbling back end over end. The trainer gaped when Machoke flipped onto its feet. "Anchor yourself!" The Kingler's sword was consumed by Metal Claw before he jabbed it into the earth. It's that strong without an enhancement move? But a Machoke shouldn't be much stronger than a healthy Kingler, if it's stronger at all.
He turned to Machoke. There were several veins bulging on the fighting-type's legs. Insane strength without an enhancement? "King, Guns!" Ash shouted. Machoke eyes widened in alarm and moved it to take cover, only to flinch and stumble when the crab's streams of water tore into its rough hide. King cocked his hammer back, a swirling orb forming over it.
The fighting-type swerved around the Water Pulse and continued its charge. "It's using Superpower!" Ash snapped when King's arm took on the hue of Slam. "Go with Sword and Shield!" King chirped a battle cry before surging the reptile with the side of his hammer held in front of him. As they neared one another his sword took on the sheen of Metal Claw. Then Machoke leaped with a trunk like leg extended.
King swerved, parrying the kick and raked a claw along his foe's back, resulting in a long red line. Machoke flinched as it landed before grunting, spinning and swinging a leg at the crab Pokemon. King had only time to brace his hammer, then the kick sent him flying off his feet. Ash grimaced after the loud crack of the crab crashing into a boulder. King hissed and fired Water Gun after Water Gun at Machoke.
The reptilian warrior crouched, then dove behind a stone. It rolled upon landing, waving its arm as it swung around the rock. A boulder flew at King, who swiped it away with his sword. Machoke cocked its arm back and King activated Slam. The Kingler slid away from the fighting-type's punch, making its eyes widen in alarm before King brought his hammer down.
Machoke flinched when the great blow came down onto its forearm. King hissed before swiping at the reptilian Pokemon with Slam. Machoke only just managed to bring its thick forearm up when the Slam crashed into it, sending it tumbling and shrieking several feet back. The Kingler cocked its dominant claw back. Ash sucked in a breath quickly. "No, use Slam!" he shouted.
"Rock Tomb!" Corey snapped. Ash's eyes narrowed as the Machoke's hands met in front of its chest. Stones flew in front of the reptilian warrior and formed a small wall. Machoke pressed its hands against the wall with a grunt. King's eyes widened in alarm his pace slowed to a near halt.
Like I thought, Brock's move! "Don't slow down!" King hesitated for only a moment before reactivating Slam. Machoke reached out to its side with a clenched fist. Then it roared, launching a boulder larger than King was tall. The crab narrowed his eyes and smacked the ground with his hammer, sending him over the stone shield, making its eyes widen. King landed next to Machoke and skidded once he hit the ground until he grabbed a stone.
Machoke shot to its feet and flipped around only to be greeted by a Metal Claw swiping across its broad chest. The fighting-type shrieked, backpedaling into its own shield. King shot a Water Gun just above the Machoke's knee, drawing a grunt and forcing it to its other knee. The crab Pokemon shrieked and leaped, cocking his hammer back.
There was a sickening crunch when King brought his hammer down onto its forearm. Machoke screamed, clutching its limp limb to its chest. King's claw shot out and enveloped its neck. Machoke froze, then it was surrounded by a scarlet light. "King," Ash said. The crab gurgled his understanding.
"Round one victor, Kingler!" the referee cried while pointing at King.
The Superpower Pokemon for sure. You were as impressive as I thought. The Machop line possessed the second most brute force among fighting-types, losing only to the slower Timburr line in the far away Unova region. However, their speed was pitiful compared to the other fighting-types in Kanto and Johto.
Ancient people couldn't fathom how the family line was so successful. Ash could understand their confusion. After all, Machoke hunted equally powerful, yet far larger, and better armored ground Pokemon. Without better speed than the ground Pokemon, what could they do? The confusion was cleared when one of those ancient trainer's fighting-type mastered Superpower.
The prized fighting-type move that allowed a Pokemon to more than double their strength for a brief time. It was immensely difficult to master and incredibly strenuous on a Pokemon even after years of training. Somehow the Machop line knew it the moment they were born. Much like King's Vice Grip or Willow's Vine Whip, Machop had evolved to give their offspring a head start in the world. That amazing advantage and their honorable nature made them the most commonly used fighting Pokemon in the world.
Willow warbled once King was in front of them. The Kingler gurgled quietly. The trainer frowned. King's armor had been smashed in by the Machoke's kick. His dominant arm was slumping considerably and his right eye was half shut. "Up for another round?" King rumbled, straightening his posture. Ash looked up at Corey.
He blinked. "What the hell are they doing?" Willow tilted her head to the side while King glared. Are they playing rock, paper, scissors? Finally, Neesha stepped forward with a victorious smile. Fergus pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. The woman tossed a blue Great Ball onto the field.
The Vileplume yawned and stretched its little limbs upon release. Ash gaped. Vileplume was a dark blue-skinned Pokemon with a body like the trunk of a small tree. Its most impressive feature was the gigantic pink flower on its head that held the largest petals in the world. It was said the amount of poison a Vileplume contained could be determined by the size of its petals. The Pokemon stood at about four feet tall, and its petals looked longer than it was tall. Shit.
Vileplume was a species specialized in poison and petal manipulation. Their petal manipulation was among the best in the world, but it wasn't quite as powerful as a male Venusaur's or a Meganium's. Their poison was similarly impressive, but it wasn't quite as deadly as an Arbok's or a Muk's. It seemed to be balanced, even in its weaknesses, not being particularly vulnerable to ice like Willow, and not being as vulnerable to fire as a Parasect. It was a popular Pokemon in three regions for a very good reason. Would've been nice to know Parasect was resistant to ice before fighting it in Celadon. Especially since experienced members of the species were known to resist the cold to ridiculous degrees.
Ash took a calming breath. It being in its third stage didn't mean it was beyond their capacity. Each species reacted to their evolutionary stone differently after all. No water-types use powder techniques, so we'll have to make sure to dodge. His smell is sensitive too. Ash tugged on his hat. I didn't realize how many advantages grass-types had over water-types. Willow crooned quietly, watching the fully evolved grass-type carefully. "Round two! Vileplume versus Kingler begin!"
The Flower Pokemon flapped its massive petals, creating a loud sound like a violent gust of wind and releasing a yellow cloud of dust. Pollen? Why not poison? "Freeze the dust!" Ash ordered. Vileplume's orange eyes curved up while Neesha clicked her tongue when King intercepted the pollen with a gust of chilly wind. Ash's eyes widened in alarm as petals shot from the flower. "Shield!" the trainer barked.
King snapped his gaze down to Vileplume, but couldn't raise his arm in time to block the torrent of petals. The crab Pokemon flinched as the petals dug into his side, then King rumbled irritably and swatted the flower's weapons away. He charged, at Vileplume making it squeak fearfully. "Sludge Wave!" Neesha ordered her smile returning.
Vileplume's belly bulged before it fired a spray of acid too wide for King to dodge. The crab's pace slowed for a moment, then it was consumed by the sheen of Harden and continued its surge. Ash and Willow grimaced when the poisonous liquid fell upon the crab, forcing bits of his shell to slide off King.
King hissed and flung his arms out, sending much of the poison flying off him. He blasted an Icy Wind into the flower's face, making it backpedal with a squeal. Then the crab Pokemon smashed their stunned foe into a stone with Slam, drawing another pained squeal. King brought his hammer overhead, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to finish Vileplume. The flower's heavy head snapped up shooting a small spray of poison at King.
The water-type shrieked and backpedaled when the spray landed in his eye. Vileplume pushed off the boulder and landed on all fours. "Ice!" Ash snapped as the flower Pokemon began to flap its petals. Green dust enveloped the crab Pokemon, making King stiffen. The Pokemon sprayed water from his dominant claw in an attempt to wash the Sleep Powder away. Shit! "Slam!" the trainer barked.
King snapped to the grass-type who was trying to put distance between them. Vileplume squeaked and released a wave of petals. King was undeterred, knowing the sharp petals were of little threat. Then the petals flew to Vileplume's side and shoved it out King's path. The crab hissed irritably before turning to give chase, only for the flower Pokemon's petals to push it out of his Slam's path again. Ash gritted his teeth when the Kingler swayed after his third swiped missed.
"Seed Bomb!" Neesha ordered. Vileplume's eyes lit up as it shot several seeds into the air.
"Harden!" Ash shouted as the seeds started their descent. King blinked rapidly, the Sleep Powder's power taking hold. The seeds fell upon him and detonated consuming the shrieking crab in a yellow flash. Ash sighed once the crab's Pokeball twitched slightly in his hand, signifying King's recall.
"Round two victor Vileplume!" the referee shouted while clapping. Vileplume bowed to the referee before turning to bow to the clapping Gym Leaders.
"From now on, I'll be keeping the Pokeball out," Ash said with a shaky exhale. Willow wrapped her legs around his neck in a hug. "Thanks," he murmured patting her side lightly. He gave the referee a distinctly unimpressed look. Can't you at least pretend not to be biased? Ash regarded the hopping Vileplume with narrowed eyes. Enjoy that dance, you'll not be getting another chance anytime soon. Hellfire materialized in a scarlet flash and Vileplume stopped dancing immediately. Ash smiled when an instinctual horror graced its face.
"Don't worry," Neesha said, her tone confident, "Just stick to the strategy, right?" The grass-type squeaked, gulping slightly as Hellfire's fangs were exposed in a yawn.
"Ready, pal?" Hellfire panted happily his long tongue hanging out of his mouth. The dog lowered his head displaying his new ram like horns and pawed at the ground. His long white nails, kicked up a tiny amount of dust. "Finish it in one shot." The dog inhaled deeply. "But don't use your Fire Fang on in it."
"Round three, Vileplume versus Houndoom begin!" Hellfire blasted a stream of flames at the grass-types, only for the flower Pokemon to push itself out of the path of the fire with its petals.
That move again! "Fire Spin!" Ash barked. The Houndoom growled, his brown eyes coming alive with blood thirst before he spat a ball of fire at the Vileplume. The flower Pokemon squeaked horrified and moving to push itself out of the attack's path again.
"Face it head on!" Neesha snapped. Vileplume gulped before shooting petals at the Fire Spin, forcing it to explode prematurely.
Ash clicked his tongue, "Armor!" Hellfire howled as his body was consumed by flame. Then he charged with his head lowered.
"Attack on a wide scale!" Neesha barked when the flower Pokemon took a step back. Vileplume only twitched its orange eyes locked on the Houndoom. Hellfire rammed the flower sending it squealing and tumbling several feet away. The Houndoom howled his triumph before circling back around.
Hellfire head-butted the flower Pokemon again, this time sending it into a nearby stone. "Finish it!" he cheered receiving an enthusiastic bark. Then Vileplume's eyes snapped open and petals shoved it from the dog's path, making him ram the stone. Ash and Willow grimaced, mercifully Hellfire only blinked appearing slightly stunned. Vileplume steadied itself before charging a silver orb above its petals center. "Cover now!" the trainer shouted his eyes widening in horror.
The Houndoom darted away, only for the silver beam to smash into his side. Hellfire was launched off his feet and thrown through the air howling until he collided with a boulder. The Houndoom sank to the ground with his bone armor sporting countless cracks and hacked. Vileplume fell to its knees wheezing.
"Petal Blizzard!" Neesha's order was nearly a cheer.
"Fire Spin Shield!" Ash countered in a snap. Vileplume forced itself to its feet with a groan. It glared defiantly. Hellfire pushed himself up, only to collapse once halfway up. The trainer winced when the dog hacked sparks.
The flower exhaled heavily before shooting multiple petals at the downed Houndoom. Hellfire hacked again, then he barked a ball of flame that exploded and formed a half circle around the dog. Most of the petals crumpled upon meeting the shield, but a few managed to lodge themselves in the dog's side. Ash clenched his jaw as Hellfire grimaced. He returned Hellfire a moment later. I'm sorry, I let you down. I never would've guessed it could use Moonblast.
"Round three victor, Vileplume!" the referee announced gesturing to the flower Pokemon. Neesha and Fergus clapped, making Vileplume warble. Ash narrowed his eyes. Their cheers seemed to have reenergized it.
Willow leaped off his head. The trainer snapped to her with a disbelieving look. She trotted into the field. She stared up at the flower Pokemon that was nearly four times her height.
"Round four! Ivysaur versus Vileplume begin!"
"Petal Blizzard!" Neesha ordered. Vileplume squeaked and blasted many pink petals. Willow narrowed her eyes before being consumed by a strong white sheen. She darted around the petals without effort before surging at the flower who squeaked and summoned petals to its side. The petals shoved Vileplume from the saurian's path, only for Willow to swerve after it by pushing against the ground with her vines.
Ash cheered when the Ivysaur's Take Down collided with the flower Pokemon's midsection. Vileplume was silent as it was sent skidding away from Willow. The referee stared blankly as the dinosaur trotted back to Ash's side and sat on her haunches. "Great job! One more!" the trainer grinned at such a width it hurt.
Willow warbled. Vileplume was consumed by a scarlet light when Fergus stepped forward. Their next opponent was one of the heaviest in the world. Averaging a weight greater than about ninety-five percent of domesticated Rhyperior, but standing shorter than a Machoke, the final stage of the Geodude line was an odd specimen to behold.
This is going to be the level we compete at from now on. Golem was a red-eyed spherical Pokemon whose body appeared to be made of several gray boulders, each as long and broad as Willow herself was tall. Its short, thick legs were a dull gray and ended in feet that had four long nails in front and another nail on its heel. Its similarly colored arms were long and ended in three fingered claws. Golem's head was that of a snake's with a very short neck. Its light red eyes regarded Willow with the cool calculation of an experienced predator.
The dinosaur peered up at it, looking unsure of what to make of the comparative giant. "It's the evolved form of Graveler. The first chance you get use that," Ash said, watching the ground-type carefully. Golem were known to throw boulders the size of men down mountain sides in games with Onix to amuse their young. This thing would make Jessie and James's Nidoking sweat a bit. Still, her advantages are almost unfair. We can win this. "By the way, it's at least a notch above our Gore. No pressure." Willow's eyes bulged. Maybe I should have saved that for after the fight?
"Round five Golem versus Ivysaur begin!" the referee called.
"Bomb!" Ash yelled. The Ivysaur spat two seeds at the ground Pokemon, then darted for a string of stones. Golem swung its arm with a look of boredom, throwing a couple small stones at the Seed Bombs making them explode. Willow hooked around the reptile's shooting another couple seeds at its head. The ground Pokemon leaned forward, forcing the bombs to detonate on its back.
Golem grimaced slightly before turning to face the saurian, only to find that Willow had run to cover. "He's to your left!" Fergus cried, pointing in the Ivysaur's direction. Willow and Ash glared at him. Golem stared at the stones in the direction, then it began to sniff the air. The challenger's eyes lit up.
"Bomb now!" Ash barked. The Ivysaur hefted herself to the top of the stone she was behind in a single smooth tug of her vines. The saurian's seeds exploded at the top of the ground Pokemon's body, making it snarl and take a step back. His eyes narrowed. Its armor is weaker on the top? No, that doesn't make any sense.
"Enough! Rollout!" Fergus shouted, waving an arm. Golem roared, making Willow flinch and the challenger grit his teeth. Its signature attack? The stone Pokemon swung both arms forward and shoved off with its legs. Golem sent small shock waves through the earth as it began its charge.
If she gets hit directly it's over. "It gets faster and stronger the longer it goes!" Ash told his Pokemon eyeing the ground-type carefully. The Ivysaur spewed a green dust from her flower that Golem rolled through without hesitation. Willow squeaked before diving away from the Rollout. Ash grimaced when a small stone was crushed by the ground-type's charge. Golem collided with a far larger stone making to bounce back at Willow. The dinosaur shrieked her eyes becoming saucers before dashing away. Fergus cheered as the Golem rammed another boulder, sending pebbles flying through the air. Ash began to sweat. What can we do against that kind of power? A glimmer to the far right caught his eyes. That's a reflection? He grinned. "Willow go right in front of the ref!"
The grass-type swerved, only to be cut off by Golem rolling in front of her. The boulder like Pokemon bounced off another stone to intercept her again. Willow squeaked, latching onto a small stone with her vines and launched herself through the air. "She's in the air!" Fergus barked as Golem slowed. Ash flinched when she fell onto a boulder and bounced.
Wait, it got slower when she jumped? "Get up, it's coming again!" Ash barked. The Ivysaur huffed before turning to face her opponent. Golem squeezed barreled its way through two close stones, sending rocks flying through the air. Willow crouched as it neared. "Bullets!" the trainer commanded.
The Ivysaur sprinted to the ground Pokemon's side before shooting several glowing seeds into Golem's flank. The ground Pokemon slammed into a large stone in front of the referee, drawing horrified shrieks from the Mr. Mime and drawing the attention of Gyarados.
"That move is useless! Why do we even have it?" Ash facepalmed.
"What are you doing?" Fergus cried as Golem came to a stop. "Get back into Rollout!" Neesha leaned up to his ear while Gyarados gave Fergus an irritated look. This terrain isn't open enough for a Golem. It may have been before King, Hellfire, and Machoke created so many smaller stones in their fights. It wasn't slowing it enough to make the attack ineffectual, but it was still too great a handicap when fighting one of the worst opponents for it.
Ash nodded approvingly when he saw the Ivysaur's hiding place. She's got it in her sight and even the Gym Leaders won't be able to see her there. It'll take a few seconds to find her. "Willow!" he cried. When she turned to him, he made a hurrying gesture and she snorted back. A small yellow light grew atop her flower. Golem turned toward her sniffing the air insistently.
"Go for a wide attack!" Fergus ordered his brow furrowing as he scoured the field. Golem stomped sending shockwaves through the earth that made small rocks shooting off the earth. Willow squeaked as her legs were sent splaying to each side. Golem snapped to her.
It ripped a chunk of stone from the earth and Ash paled. I can't recall her from here! Golem launched the boulder at Willow. He sighed quietly when it landed a few feet away from her. Golem scrunched up its face in confusion. "Willow, now do it!" Ash commanded.
"Shield yourself!" Fergus cried. Golem pulled both of its arms to its chest, making several boulders levitate toward it. Then Willow angled her lower body up and blasted a yellow beam from her flower. The Solarbeam detonated as it hit the side of the ground-type's head blasting pebbles of armor into the air and knocking Golem onto its side with a shriek. "Cover yourself!"
"Get it!" Ash roared, receiving a bark as she surged to the downed beast. Golem raised a shaky arm and yanked the stones it had called previously to it. The Ivysaur's eyes widened, then she spat Seed Bombs at the ground Pokemon. Golem waved its arm in the saurian's direction, forcing her to dive for cover and making the bombs explode. It thrust an arm into the air before a large stone taller than King's more than four feet pushed its side, helping it to its feet. Damn, we won't get that shot back. Ash popped his knuckles. That Solarbeam wasn't quite full power, but it didn't see it, so it was probably worse for Golem than a full power one on a sunny day.
The reptilian ground-type's left eye was shut, a small stream of liquid life falling down that side at a steady rate as well. The armor beneath its head had been chipped as well. We may have to smash it till its faults show. The challenger glanced at Willow, who was beginning to pant. But a powerful ground-type's armor is as solid as any powerful steel Pokemon. We just don't have time. A glimmer behind Golem caught his eye again. Just behind the puddle was a small crack in the earth. We'll use those.
"He's over there! To your right!" Fergus shouted, making the challengers flinch. Golem roared, stomped and the earth beneath it cracked. The vibrations it sent into the earth possessed such ferocity pebbles fell from Willow's shield. The Ivysaur wrapped her vines around the stone in front of her. Golem's eyes lit up when it saw the vines. Silver lights developed in front ground Pokemon's chest before they became small, sharp stones. That's the second form of Stone Edge?
"Charge!" the challenger commanded once the Earthquake ended. The grass Pokemon blinked rapidly and forced herself to her feet. Golem's eyes narrowed. "Get your vines out!" Willow raced from her cover and Golem fired the shards. She squeaked before her vines threw her into the air. Ash grimaced when Willow squealed flailing her legs wildly as her vines slipped. Golem snapped to her, then it winced and tried to shield its good eye. "Willow attack!"
The dinosaur spat a seed at the ground Pokemon. Golem hissed sounding confused when the seed landed on the top of its armor. Then glowing vines sprung from the seed and wrapped around a segment of the ground Pokemon's stone armor. The Ivysaur shook herself as her foe clawed at its armor in an attempt to remove the Leech Seed. It was blinded by the light? Like Gore, its vision is really sensitive after all. It won't lose much if we blind it. Golem was mere inches ahead of the water that could very well be their only hope for victory. "Get a grip!" Fergus shouted clenching his jaw.
Golem grunted quietly as it removed the seed. The dinosaur's vines slapped at one of its thick legs, making Golem grimace and creating small red lines. Its leg shot out with surprising speed and stomped on a vine. Willow squealed and tugged frantically. "Bomb on red!" Ash commanded when the ground Pokemon cocked an arm back.
It swung its arm wildly, sending a boulder at the dinosaur who darted around it, only to be yanked back when the rock hit her trapped vine. It snarled when Willow rolled from another stone, resulting in a small cut on her side. "Charge at red!" She shot forward with a hiss and the strong glow of Take Down wreathing her. Golem cocked a glowing fist back. It tried to bend down, but winced immediately. Willow rammed Golem's wounded leg, forcing it to a knee.
Then its eyes snapped open and it smashed its glowing fist into the dinosaur's cheek launching her into a near stone. Ash gaped his eyes wide. He gave a relieved sigh when she stood back up. Golem glared at her before launching a blade of stone at the dinosaur. Willow squeaked and pushed herself over the attack with her vines.
Ash flinched when the vines were severed and the shrieking dinosaur landed on the blade. "Bomb!" Ash commanded when Golem cocked its arm back. It punched, shooting a rock the size of his head at the saurian who spat a seed that managed to intercept the boulder. Willow winced as the attack landed on her. She pushed it off and rose, an eye swelling shut and a large bruise already developing on her cheek.
"Earthquake!"
"Sleep!" Golem brought its leg up only to be engulfed by the green dust of Sleep Powder, making it blink rapidly. Ash grinned, "Poison above it! And climb!" The purple Poison Powder surrounding it would hardly hurt the ground Pokemon, but they didn't need it to. Golem snapped to Willow when she leaped onto a stone. It snarled, then launched a boulder thrice her size at the saurian. Willow squeaked before jumping and throwing herself into the air with her vines.
Golem's head snapped up as the cloud of Poison Powder began to sink around it. It squinted at Willow appearing confused. It jabbed launching a small stone when the Ivysaur landed on a large stone. Willow propelled herself into the air and blasted two seeds at their foe. The ground-type snarled, inching backward when the seeds exploded on the side of its head. Golem grimaced and snapped its foot back up after stepping into King's puddle. Its massive foot came down on the ground behind it with a thud and the earth gave.
Golem shrieked as its foot sank into the earth. Willow landed in a crouch and shot Seed Bomb after Seed Bomb at the ground-type, making it hiss and recoil as the barrage of exploding seeds assaulted it. "Rock Tomb!" Fergus roared struggling to be heard over the Seed Bombs. Golem brought a thick arm in front of its face, then it blasted a shard of stone that lodged itself in one of Willow's front legs.
Ash grimaced when the dinosaur shrieked. She hobbled behind a boulder and eased the small blade out with a twitch. Golem yanked its leg out with a snarl. Several of the boulders that made up the ground Pokemon's armor had been blasted off. Its left forearm was covered in blood and a finger was bent at an odd angle. Golem glared at Willow panting heavily. We'll have to try blinding it again. "Poison!" he ordered. Golem was consumed by a red light before the Ivysaur could even fire her attack. Willow puffed out her cheeks. "Just come back," Ash said, rolling his eyes. "You did good." The dinosaur cooed before being recalled.
The trainer sighed when he saw the holes Golem's Stone Edge shards had created. A Gym challenge was a risk. Every battle was a risk. There was always a possibility his Pokemon could die even in a regulated match. Golem's final Stone Edge couldn't have killed her no matter where it hit, he knew. That knowledge was a meager comfort. A flash of gold and green startled him. He grabbed it. "Congratulations!" Fergus shouted at such a volume his fellow Gym Leaders flinched, "It is my duty to educate you on the responsibilities you will now undertake-"
"He's not becoming an Ace," the referee interrupted, raising his own silver sash, "He won a damn badge," he finished his tone becoming hard. Refs are usually retired Gym Trainers. He'd never thought of them as capable fighters for some reason.
"But we need more Aces and he beat my Golem-" Gyarados gave Fergus an annoyed look, making the man pout. "Fine, fine. Congratulations on earning this badge," he mumbled so quietly Ash could barely hear him.
"Tell Daisy I said hello!"
"I will," Ash said nodding at Neesha. The Viridian Gym badge was green around its edges. In its middle was a carving of a young girl with a ponytail and a small Golem that he knew to be Yellow and her partner Gorro. History's longest reigning Champion was seen as something of a saint in the Indigo League. That reverence was especially strong in her home town.
"Wait!" the referee called. "You made her step in a hole Machoke made didn't you?" he asked, striding up to him. The trainer stopped. He knew they'd only been able to trick Golem into stepping on the crack because of the hits it had taken, and Willow's speed. Trapping Pokemon in holes Gore made in follow up matches was a strategy he'd used before, but he'd never seen a person pick up on the fact it was deliberate on his part. He wasn't sure if even Corey and Neesha had figured it out. Ash examined the man more carefully. The man was far taller than average with a square jaw a short well-trimmed beard and laughing blue eyes.
"Yeah," he answered after a moment. The trainer stiffened his eyes widening, "You're Jim Dempsey aren't you?"
"I do have that honor," the old man winked and grinned.
"Why do you work for them?" Ash demanded, glancing between the young Gym Leaders and the retired Ace. If he remembered correctly the man was a level two Silver, the second highest rank among Ace Trainers.
"Work for them," Patrick snorted, "Only on paper." The double doors behind him were pushed open. "Keep up the good work Ash!" he clapped his shoulder hard enough to make him wince before walking the new challenger to the field.
"R-right! Um, yes sir!" Ash responded blinking at the man's back. Gore's gonna be mad I met someone so strong without him. The thought was enough to make him grin.
Xxxxxxxxx
Ash scowled. Willow peered up at him from his bag. "Look you're too big to be carried around everywhere now!" She squeaked defiantly and burrowed into the bag. Ash huffed. Gore chuffed, amused. "I'll shave you," Ash promised his tone dark. The swine whined and hid his eyes behind his hooves. That, that doesn't do anything, you woolly idiot. "Hellfire, do me a solid here!"
The dog yipped and flailed from beneath the large quilt his paws were trapped in. Grace licked her paws while she watched him struggle. "King?" Ash called his tone bordering on desperate. King glanced at him disinterestedly. He threw a blanket over himself. "You're all terrible."
Xxxxxxxx
I always thought it was messed up that a Growlithe can become an incredibly strong Arcanine at level 5, while notably ambitious species like Charmander and Larvitar have to fight a thousand times to reach their potential.
What do you think about the idea of requirements to evolve with a stone?
In other news…
Female Gyarados might agree with Grace on a few things.
Hellfire's loss is a prime example of the power information has. It's not a guarantee he would have won anyway though.
Now that the others have evolved Gore will probably get his ass kicked less. They can be used for hype too now.