Elesa, the Electrifying Gym Leader!

Nimbasa City was a fairly large city, it was nowhere near the size and scale of Castelia City but it was still fairly notable. Large apartments could be seen scattered across the western half of the city while in the north, several large stadiums could be seen. Ash's heart raced upon noticing the stadiums before calming down upon realizing that several of them were obviously sport stadiums. Though he did recognize what appeared to be a Battle Club stadium close to the rest, only a few trainers could be seen entering the building but the general audience walked on past without a care so there wasn't any competition happening.

A bright and colorful dome could be seen beside the Battle Club with a colorful music note atop the rooftop, Ash narrowed his eyes as he gazed upon the building. "Is that... a nightclub?" He asked.

"Nope!" Brock firmly shook his head. He'd been to several while he was studying to become a doctor, it was a good way to flirt with women that weren't named Joy but his attempts were futile.

"That's the Musical Theatre, Pokémon Musicals are hosted there or rather they were. It was Unova's attempt at copying the Pokémon Contest formula but it didn't quite take off like Contests or Kalos' Showcases did so they shut the place down and plan to refit it into a Contest Hall." Cilan explained.

"Aw, I'd have loved to try." Hilda pouted.

"Same, it sounds like fun!" Ash kept looking around the sights and noticed a fairly large subway station which quickly drew his focus upon noticing the words 'Battle Subway'. "Does Unova have a Battle Frontier?"

"What's a Battle Frontier?" Cilan questioned though it was enough to answer Ash's response. Cilan appeared to be an expert on the region so if there was a Battle Frontier, he'd know. "We do have a Battle Subway though, it's a place where trainers can team up with another trainer to battle Ingo and Emmet. They're a powerful duo that specializes in Tag Team battles, I've always wanted to go but Chili and Cress were never interested in teaming up for it."

"I'll team up with you, it sounds awesome!" Ash excitedly exclaimed. Unfortunately there was a bit of a line for the Battle Subway so Ash decided to deal with the Nimbasa Gym first. The group passed the Pokémon Center and arrived at what appeared to be a fashion show, several men and women could be seen entering and leaving with quite the bizarre fashionable outfits. Most of them wore large wooly scarfs or large coats that appeared to be fashioned from Pokémon fur which immediately disgusted Ash.

"Don't worry, that's all artificial." Cilan assured him. "Well there is some Wooloo wool involved but no Pokémon are harmed in Elesa originals!"

"Maybe she could make you something!" Hilda suggested to her brother who simply shook his head.

"No thanks, I was dressed like a clown for years. I don't want to be dressed like one again." Skyla giggled out as he uttered out a joke.

Ash and his friends ventured on inside where a large fashion stage could be seen at the building's center. Large enough for a battlefield from the look of things, which made sense as the sides where the crowd stood appeared too closed in for a proper battle. "Alright that's a wrap on todays show." An attractive woman with long black hair stood upon the stage, wearing what appeared to be a large woolen jacket of Mareep wool while the rest of her outfit could easily be mistaken for a two piece swimsuit as it covered up the important bits of her body but showed off her belly and legs. Brock's eyes turned to hears as he eyed the woman but he stood his ground for now as even he had standards, he wasn't about to leap up and ask her out in front of all those people. The fashion crowd began to disassemble, eventually leaving Ash and his friends alone with Elesa. Elesa's eyes instantly picked them out as she gave off a friendly wave.

"Hello there, you must be here to challenge my Gym am I right?" Elesa smiled as she looked them over. Her gaze rested briefly upon Zach and Skyla. "So you found each other again? I'm happy for you!"

"That we did!" Skyla beamed while tightening her grasp around Zach's arm. "I'm so happy to have him back!"

"Good for you," Elesa was happy to see Skyla back to herself. She'd heard rumors that Skyla had started outright skipping battles and resorted to handing her opponents a badge or outright telling them they lost. "Okay so who am I facing off against today?"

"That-" Ash was pushed aside as Brock raced forward before leaping up onto the fashion stage to confront Elesa.

"Hello there, I'm Brock and I couldn't help but sense a spark between us as soon as our eyes met!" He exclaimed while dropping to a knee. "It was fate that the two of us met today, I'm not one to deny destiny so how about the two of us go out on the town after my friend has his Gym Battle?"

"Croagunk!" Croagunk burst out and prepared to jab his trainer in the back.

"Eh, sure! You're cute!" Elesa giggled out.

"Huh?!" Brock face faulted from shock while Ash, Pikachu, Croagunk, Cilan and Hilda stared off with shocked expressions.

"But not tonight, I've got to deal with some orders." Elesa spoke with a wave of her hand. "How about tomorrow night at six?"

"Tomorrow works!" Brock excitedly exclaimed while shooting back up to his feet. "I'll meet you here!"

Brock quickly leaped back down towards the others while Ash stared off in shock for a moment before speaking back up. "I-I'm here for my battle!" He shouted out, stuttering lightly as he was still processing what had occurred.

Elesa looked Ash over before gesturing with her hand. "Come on up then," Her gaze fixated upon Pikachu for a moment. "He's quite the cutie you know, that Pikachu of yours. I can tell you take good care of him, you can tell by the quality of his fur. May I pet him?"

"I don't think that's-" Ash spoke upon climbing onto the stage but Elesa was too quick, her hand gently stroking Pikachu's cheek as he uttered out a delightful cry.

"Chaaaa!" Ash was surprised Pikachu didn't give him and Elesa a shock. Typically Pikachu didn't like it when strangers touched him.

"He's so friendly too," Elesa gushed while taking a step back. "Alright how many badges do you got, kid?"

"I've got four badges!" Ash exclaimed while withdrawing his badge case to show off the four he'd earned so far. Elesa stroked her chin as she looked the badges over before giving a nod of confirmation.

"Yep, they're real. Alright so since you've got four badges, let's make things interesting and use four Pokémon each!"

"Sounds good to me!" Ash eagerly exclaimed.

Elesa smirked and took position on the opposite end of the stage while Ash stood closer to the end as both withdrew a Pokeball from their belts. "Alright Ash, on my mark we'll send out our first Pokémon. Ready, get set and... GO!"

"Emolga!" Elesa shouted while hurling a ball forward.

"Pignite, I choose you!"

"Emol!" The flying squirrel cried out as she burst from the ball.

"Pignite!" Pignite oinked out while embers flared out of his nostril.

"Who's that Pokémon?" Ash asked while withdrawing his Pokedex to scan the flying squirrel.

"Emolga the Flying Squirrel Pokémon, this Pokémon absolutely loves sweet berries. Sometimes it stuffs its cheeks full of so much food that it can't fly properly."

"Flame Charge!" Ash shouted out.

"Pignite!" Flames engulfed Pignite's body as he shot across the field before leaping up to tackle Emolga to the ground.

"Emol!" Emolga cried out as Pignite slammed her down against the ground.

"Acrobatics!" Elesa shouted out.

"Emol!" Emolga leaped into the air and began performing backflips before crashing down against Pignite's forehead, pushing him down to the floor.

"Ember!"

"Pignite!" Embers flew from his nostril and shot across the field before striking Emolga, knocking her out of the air.

"Emol!"

"Volt Switch!" Elesa shouted out.

"Emol!" Emolga quickly corrected herself before she could hit the ground, electricity began flowing around her as she swept across the battlefield before crashing into Pignite. A bright red light then whisked her away as a Flaaffy burst out to take her place.

"Flaafy!" The pink sheep cried out.

"What just happened?" Ash questioned with a look of confusion, not having seen Volt Switch before now.

"Volt Switch switches out the Pokémon that used it with a random member of the other trainer's team." Cilan explained. "A good strategy that can catch trainers off guard and make them work hard for their victory."

"I see, okay Pignite use Flame Charge again!" Ash shouted out.

"Pignite!" Pignite oinked out while racing towards Flaafy as flames covered his body once more, the fiery pig crashed into Flaafy and knocked her onto her backside.

"F-Flaaffy!" Flaaffy screeched out before rapidly rolling around the floor as her wool lit ablaze.

"Thunder!"

"Flaaff!" Electricity crackled around Flaaffy before expelling outward, giving Pignite an electrical shock.

"Pignite!" Pignite cried out as electricity began surging through his body. Charring his body while a pleasant smell filled the air as he dropped to his side, swirls formed within his eyes as he laid in defeat. "Pignite..."

"Pignite return," Ash swiftly recalled Pignite to his ball and took a minute to weigh his options before sending out his next Pokémon. "Okay Gengar, I choose you!"

"Gengar!" Gengar cackled out before pulling at his eye lid while simultaneously sticking out his tongue as he burst onto the field.

Elesa rolled her eyes while Flaaffy uttered out a frightened shriek causing Gengar to cackle louder. "Gen gen gen!"

"Shadow Punch!" Black energy formed around Gengar's fist as he flew across the field, delivering a powerful punch against Flaaffy's stomach.

"Flaaff!"

"Confuse Ray!" Elesa shouted out.

"Flaaff!" A blinding light shot out of her tail causing Gengar to flinch in place and shield his eyes before gazing around with a look of confusion.

"Gen...?"

"Psychic!" Ash shouted out.

"Gengar!" A blue glow surrounded Gengar's body as a similar glow formed around Flaaffy as he successfully hoisted her into the air.

"Gengar!" The ghost cackled as he sent Flaaffy flying throughout the air before waving his arms towards the ground as he sent her crashing into it.

"Flaaf!" Flaaffy grunted out while slowly rising back to her feet.

"Thunder!" Electricity crackled around Flaaffy's body before expelling towards Gengar, giving him an electrical shock.

"Gengar!" Gengar screeched out as electricity surged through his body.

"Psychic!" Ash shouted out.

"Gengar!" Gengar's eyes glowed bright blue as a similar glow surrounded his own body, hoisting himself into the air and hurling himself about before forcing him to crash into the ground. "Gen..." Gengar grunted out.

"Confusion..." Ash clenched his fists from frustration.

"Thunder!" Electricity crackled around Flaaffy before a powerful bolt expelled from her body, the bolt shot through the air as it made its way towards Gengar.

"Counter with Psychic!"

"Gengar!" A blue glow formed around the electricity, forcing it to revert back towards Flaaffy and shock her with her own electricity.

"Flaaff!" Flaaffy cried out as the electricity surged through her, she began teetering back and forth before collapsing against the ground with a soft thud. "Flaaff..."

"Flaaffy return," Elesa swiftly recalled Flaaffy to her Pokeball. "Galvantula!" She shouted while hurling another ball into the air, revealing a large primarily yellow arachnid Pokémon.

"Galvantula!" The Electric tarantula cried out.

"Whoa, who's that Pokémon?!" Ash excitedly asked causing jealousy to flare across Pikachu's face.

"Pika..." Pikachu flattened his ears while scowling towards Galvantula.

"Galvantula the EleSpider Pokémon, they employ an electrically charged web to trap their prey. While it is immobilized by shock, they leisurely consume it."

"I've got to find me one!" Pikachu shot Ash a faint glare which Ash failed to notice as his mind was focused on the battlefield. "Shadow Punch!"

"Sucker Punch!" Elesa quickly shouted out.

"Gengar!" Gengar flew towards Galvantula, his fist pulled back as he prepared to punch but Galvantula swiftly maneuvered behind before striking Gengar's backside. "Gar..." Gengar dropped to the floor as swirls formed within his eyes.

"Gengar return, you did a great job and deserve a long rest. We'll handle it from here," Ash swiftly recalled Gengar and weighed his options once more before tossing up another ball. "Palpitoad, I choose you!"

"Palpitoad!" Palpitoad gurgled out as he burst onto the battlefield.

"Muddy Water!" Ash shouted out.

"Palpitoad!" A wave of muddy water formed around Palpitoad and crashed down upon Galvantula, pushing the tarantula back.

"Galvantula..." Galvantula grunted out.

"Energy Ball!"

"Galvantula!" Galvantula cried out as a bright green colorful orb shot from his mouth, blasting Palpitoad off his feet. Palpitoad flailed his legs about before hopping back to his feet.

"Palpitoad!" Palpitoad gurgled out.

"Mud Shot!"

"Palpi!" Palpitoad cried out, firing a mud geyser at his opponent.

"Galvan..." Galvantula grunted out while shaking his head to fling off mud remnants.

"Energy Ball!"

"Galvan!" Galvantula cried out, firing another green energy orb towards Palpitoad which blasted him off his feet.

"Palpi..."

"Hydro Pump!" Ash shouted out.

"Palpitoad!" Palpitoad gurgled out while firing out a large geyser that knocked Galvantula back before flinging the tarantula across the field, tumbling him about before his movements came to a stop as the water evaporated.

"Volt Switch!" Elesa shouted out. Galvantula sprang back to his feet upon collecting himself before charging towards his opponent as an electric glow enveloped his body, although it didn't harm Palpitoad it did allow him to switch out.

"Zebstrika!" A large zebra Pokémon that bore resemblance to Blitzle burst out onto the field. He had a lot more stripes than his previous form, though the stripes now resembled lightning bolts. The lightning bolt mane had grown out along his backside while his tail had grown out, forming a lightning bolt shape much like the rest of his body.

"Zebstrika the Thunderbolt Pokémon, they have lightning-like movements. When Zebstrika run at full speed, the sound of thunder reverberates."

"Thrash!" Elesa shouted out.

"Zebstrika!" Zebstrika charged across the field and rapidly thrashed his legs against Palpitoad, knocking him onto his back.

"Palpi!" Palpitoad's legs flailed about before springing back to his feet.

"Mud Shot!"

"Palpi!" Palpitoad cried out, blasting Zebstrika's face with a powerful mud geyser.

"Stomp!"

"Zeb!" Zebstrika leaped across the field before crashing his hooves against Palpitoad's face, sending him flying across the field before landing in a collapsed heap in front of his trainer as swirls formed within his eyes.

"Palpitoad..."

"Palpitoad return!" Ash clenched the ball lightly while gritting his teeth. "Alright Krokorok, I choose you!"

"Kroko!" Krokorok exclaimed as he burst from the ball.

"Use Dig!"

"Kroko!" Krokorok burrowed beneath the ground, vanishing from view as Zebstrika frantically began looking back and forth before uttering out a cry as Krokorok struck from beneath.

"Volt Switch!" Elesa shouted out.

"Zeb!" Electricity flickered around Zebstrika as he raced forward before charging into Krokorok, Krokorok stood unaffected by the attack while Zebstrika returned to the ball before Emolga burst out.

"Attract!" Elesa shouted out.

"Shield your eyes!" Ash shouted out.

"Kroko!" Krokorok closed his eyes and began resisting as Emolga uttered out a seductive cry.

"Chaaaaa!" Hearts filled Pikachu's eyes while Krokorok covered up his ears with his claws.

"Use Crunch!" Ash shouted out.

"Kroko!" Krokorok lunged forward while extending his jaw before snapping it shut once Emolga was within his grasp.

"Emol!" Emolga screeched out before falling limp within his jaw as swirls formed within her eyes.

"Return," Elesa swiftly returned Emolga with a calm expression. "Galvantula, let's end this!"

"Galvantula!" The tarantula cried out as it burst back onto the battlefield.

"Energy Ball!" The green energy ball formed within Galvantula's mouth and shot out towards Krokorok, blasting the crocodile and knocking him back.

"Kroko..." Krokorok grunted out as he shook his head.

"Stone Edge!" Krokorok slammed his feet against the floor, causing multiple rock pillars to burst from the ground and rush Galvantula before closing in on the tarantula.

"Galvantula!" The tarantula screeched out as the rocks crushed him, his limbs twitched as the rocks broke apart to reveal his unconscious body atop the rubble. Swirls formed within his eyes as he uttered out a groan of defeat. "Galvan..."

Elesa's eyes widened slightly as she recalled Galvantula to his ball. "Return, okay Zebstrika it's time to get serious!"

"Zebstrika!" The zebra neighed out as he burst back out onto the battlefield.

"Flame Charge!" Flames covered Zebstrika's body as he rushed across the field, charging towards his opponent.

"Dig!" Ash countered.

"Krokoko!" Krokorok burrowed back beneath the battlefield while Zebstrika came to a sliding stop.

"Thrash!" Elesa shouted out.

Zebstrika became focused on the area around him before reacting quickly as Krokorok burst from the ground, he quickly lashed out upon being struck and rapidly kicked Krokorok in the face causing the alligator to fly across the field before collapsing onto his back.

"Krokorok..." Krokorok grunted out, feeling as if a bus had just hit him.

"Stone Edge!" Ash shouted out.

"Kroko!" Krokorok slammed his foot against the ground, forcing sharp jagged rocks to burst out and swiftly close in on Zebstrika upon surrounding him. Zebstrika grunted out as the rocks crushed against him but he remained standing as he gave off an intimidating leer.

"Stomp!"

"Crunch!" Ash shouted out.

"Kroko!" Krokorok extended his jaw and lunged forward as Zebstrika turned his back to him, preparing to strike with his rear hooves. Zebstrika smacked Krokorok in the face while Krokorok sank his teeth into Zebstrika's rear. Both Pokémon uttered out cries of pain before dropping to the floor from exhaustion, everyone stared off in silence for a moment before the two slowly rose back to their feet.

"Zeb."

"Kroko." The two gave each other a leer before a smirk flashed across Krokorok's face as Zebstrika uttered out a grunt. The zebra fell to his side as swirls formed within his eyes.

"Zebstrika..."

"Alright Krokorok!" Ash shouted out in celebration.

"Pi Pikachu!"

"Kroko!" Krokorok cheered out while a bright blue light enveloped his body, the sand colored scales began turning a dark red as his tail grew wider and thicker. The stripes on his stomach vanished as a solid grey coloring filled it in while his face became much more frightening and fiercer despite the fact his eyes were partially covered behind sunglasses. "Krookodile!" The newly evolved Pokémon roared out.

"Krookodile the Intimidation Pokémon, they never allow prey to escape. Their jaws are so powerful, they can crush the body of an automobile."

"Alright Krookodile, you evolved!" Ash excitedly exclaimed while giving the crocodile a hug.

"Krooko!" Krookodile eagerly exclaimed.

Elesa began clapping her hands as she stepped forward. "My my, that was quite the pleasant show. I was pretty sure I had you for a minute there but you managed to turn it around, you're definitely worthy of the Bolt Badge." She spoke while offering a lightning bolt shaped badge to Ash.

"It was a great battle," Ash smiled while nodding in response to her before thanking her as he picked up the badge. "Alright we got the Bolt Badge!"

"Pi Pikachu!"

"Krookodile!" Pikachu and Krookodile posed alongside their trainer while Elesa cast Brock a sly look.

"And I'll see you tomorrow." She said, trailing her finger beneath his chin in a flirtatious fashion while Brock shot dark red.

"Y-Yes ma'am! I'll be here at six on the dot!" Brock saluted her causing Elesa to giggle out before giving him a flirtatious wave as she headed towards the backroom.

"Well sounds like tomorrow will be an eventful day, Zach and Skyla are going to the fair, Ash and I are going to take on the Battle Subway and Brock's got a date with Elesa." Cilan mused. "Do you got any plans, Hilda?"

Hilda blinked before sweating lightly upon realizing that everyone else had plans for the day. "I'm sure I'll think of something."

"You're welcome to watch us!" Ash offered, not wanting her to feel excluded.

"Nah, it's cool. I'll find something to do." Hilda waved it off with a smile. She honestly expected to do something with Brock since she figured Elesa would turn him down like every other woman he flirted with. She was happy her friend finally found somebody though and hoped that things worked out between them.