"So ready for your gym battle today?" Rosa asked.
"Yeah, I'm all set now." Ash said.
"Can I ask a question? Why was there water in our room when I woke up?" Elliot questioned.
"Yeah, that's a long story to explain." Ash admitted. "But that's not a problem right now. I have a gym badge to earn."
A bit later at the gym
"This is, impressive." Ash said in shock, seeing the large underground arena.
"Good to see you've finally made it here." Clay said. "So you're here for your fifth gym badge correct?"
"That's right." Ash said as Rosa and Elliot took their seats. "So what are the rules for the match?"
"Same as always. You can change your Pokemon at any time, while I cannot." Clay said. "This will be a four on four match, no other rules need to be applied."
"Sounds good to me." Ash said.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Sorry bud, you know I'd love for you to be in this fight, but you're not great against ground types." Ash reminded.
"Pi." Pikachu grumbled, but accepted.
"I'll send out first. Come out Sandslash!" Clay called out.
"Servine I choose you!" Ash called out.
"Smart choice, most of Servine's attacks will be super effective against ground types." Elliot commented.
"Servine use Energy Ball!"
"Sandslash use Bulldoze!"
Sandslash curled up into a ball, racing at Servine, shattering the energy ball before striking the grass type.
"Servine use Leaf Tornado!"
"Sandslash use Crush Claw!"
Sandslash slashed at the leaves as they circled around the ground type, striking them multiple times.
"Servine use Aqua Tail!"
"Sandslash use Crush Claw!"
Sandslash sliced at Servine, striking him once before their attacks collided.
"Servine use Wrap!"
"Sandslash use Hone Claws!"
Sandslash sharpened his claws against each other as Servine tried to wrap around all the needles.
"Servine use Energy Ball!"
"Sandslash use Crush Claw!"
Servine spun and flipped striking Sandslash from above, striking the ground type and knocking them out.
"Sandslash return!" Clay called out. "Very smart, using a grass type, but that alone won't win you the fight! Krokorok come on out!"
"Servine use Aqua Tail!"
"Krokorok use Sandstorm!"
Sand whipped around the arena, obscuring Krokorok from view as Servine's attack died out.
"Servine set up a Leaf Tornado!"
Servine spun into the air, sending leaves around him in an attempt to strike Krokorok to no avail.
"Krokorok use Crunch!"
Krokorok leapt through the swirling sands, biting down on Servine as the two tussled on the ground.
"Servine use Energy Ball!"
"Krokorok use Bulldoze!"
Krokorok rushed forward, crawling quickly across the ground, below the energy ball before slamming into Servine.
"Krokorok use Crunch!"
Krokorok opened his mouth wide, biting down on Servine, and tossing them aside, being fully knocked out.
"Servine return!" Ash called out. "Your sandstorm might be able to keep Servine from seeing Krokorok, but I have one Pokemon that won't be hindered by those sands. Braviary come out!"
"Braviary use Hone Claws!"
"Krokorok use Torment!"
Krokorok let out a load chuckling growl, that angered Braviary and stopped it's Hone Claws.
"What was that?" Rosa asked.
"Torment, it keeps Pokemon from using any moves that don't directly deal damage." Elliot responded.
"No matter, Braviary use Aerial Ace!"
"Krokorok use Crunch!"
Braviary swept close to the ground, striking Krokorok, taking the ground type into the air with them as Krokorok bit down on Braviary's wing.
"Krokorok use Crunch!" Clay called out.
"Braviary use Slash!"
Braviary flipped about, striking his talons across Krokorok trying to shake them off.
"Use Wing Attack!"
Braviary swatted his wings together, slamming Krokorok between them, and knocking the ground type loose and onto the ground.
"Krokorok return!" Clay called out. "Time to go for something bigger! Come out Onix!"
"We can take them. Braviary use Slash!"
Braviary flew, his one wing injured from Krokorok's attacks as he encroached on Onix.
"Onix use Rock Slide!"
Braviary struggled dodging all of the rocks, getting struck multiple times.
"Nevermind. Braviary return!" Ash called out. "Riolu come on out!"
Riolu entered the field, looking at the far larger Pokemon, ready to topple it.
"Riolu use Bullet Punch!"
"Onix use Rock Polish!"
Riolu raced across the arena at a breakneck speed as Onix shimmered and wiggled loosening itself up before being struck.
"Onix use Bulldoze!"
"Riolu use Force Palm!"
Riolu leapt into the air, narrowly dodging Onix's charging body before landing on it's long tail, striking with an open palm.
"Onix use Rock Slide!"
"Counter with your own Rock Slide!"
As rocks fell towards the two Pokemon, Riolu climbed up them, dodging each as they fell down towards him, avoiding serious damage.
"Riolu use Force Palm!"
"Onix use Explosion!"
Onix glowed with energy before releasing it all, knocking himself out and dealing serious damage to Riolu in the process.
"Why would Clay choose a move like that?" Rosa asked.
"It's dangerous but effective, Clay probably believed it was the best way to get Riolu close to a knockout." Elliot said.
"Onix return." Clay called out. "Now time for our final fighter, Excadrill come on out!"
"Figures." Ash said with a smirk. "Riolu how are you feeling?"
"Ri!" Riolu said, clearly hurt but not down.
"Alright then, Riolu use Blaze Kick!"
"Excadrill use Swords Dance!"
Excadrill sliced their claws together, taking the brunt of Riolu's attack with a smirk.
"Excadrill use Drill Run!"
Excadrill clamped onto Riolu's leg, taking him along for the full attack across the gym, when it finally ended, the damage was too much for Riolu to continue.
"Who does Ash have left to pick from?" Rosa asked.
"Braviary could take a bit, but with how defensive Excadrill's steel type is, even he wouldn't break through that." Elliot said.
"So maybe Darumaka, but she's weak to ground." Rosa said.
"And with how fast that Excadrill is, I doubt she could keep up." Elliot reminded.
"Don't worry, I've got a plan!" Ash said. "Dewott come on out!"
"He caught Dewott? When?!" Rosa exclaimed in shock.
"Excadrill use Drill Run!"
Excadrill spun right at Dewott with great force, pushing the water type back as Dewott blocked most of the damage with his scalchop.
"Our turn. Dewott use Razor Shell!"
Dewott leapt into the air, throwing both of his scalchops at Excadrill, hitting the softer parts of it's body both times before they ricocheted back to him.
"Excadrill use Submission!"
"Dewott use Revenge!"
Excadrill opened back up, using it's greater weight to start pushing Dewott down to the ground, as Dewott pushed back, eventually throwing the ground type off of him.
"Dewott use Aqua Jet!"
"Excadrill use Drill Run!"
The two rushed at each other, slamming straight into one another, the resulting mud flying everywhere as neither gave up.
"Come on Dewott!" Ash called out, his eyes glowing a faint yellow before Dewott finally managed to overpower the ground type, sending it crashing into the wall for the win.
"Congratulations on your victory Ash." Clay said, after checking on Excadrill. "As proof of your victory here today, I present you with this, the Quake Badge."
"Thank you Clay." Ash said, accepting the badge.
"Now if I were you, I'd head north towards Chargestone Cave, on the other side is Mistralton City, you should find another gym to take on there." Clay responded.
"Thank you sir, I'll do that." Ash said gratefully.
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Quick Attack - Thunderbolt - Iron Tail - Charge Beam
Riolu- Force Palm - Blaze Kick - Bullet Punch - Rock Slide
Servine: Wrap - Leaf Tornado - Energy Ball - Aqua Tail
Braviary: Wing Attack - Slash - Hone Claws - Aerial Ace
Darumaka: Fire Punch - Flame Wheel - Headbutt - Rollout
Trubbish: Sludge - Double Slap - Toxic Spikes - Sludge Wave
Larvesta: String Shot - Ember
Dewott: Razor Shell - Fury Cutter - Revenge - Aqua Jet