Chapter 20: A Promised Gym Battle: Ash vs. Burgh
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We joined our heroes as the day finally arrived for Ash's gym against Burgh, the Castellia city gym leader, as the group was outside the gym.
"Man, this is going to be great. I've been looking forward to this since we made our promise," Ash said to Misty and Brock.
"I figured you were excited about this, but we still don't know what he has on his team except for Leavanny?" Brock said to Ash.
"I know that he has a Whirlipede, which is Venepede's evolution, but I think his gym battle is a three versus three battle if I remember correctly," Ash said.
"I wonder what is inside; maybe many Bug Pokemon there," Misty said with a shiver.
"If I remember correctly, it has a few trees but not many bug Pokemon in it, so don't worry Misty," Ash suggested to Misty, who nodded at this.
"Ash, do you plan on using Tepig and Tranquil in this battle?" Brock asked Ash, who looked down at this and thought about it.
"Tepig, yes, but I am not sure about Tranquil as I don't know what Burgh's third Pokemon will be," Ash said as the group entered the gym. The gym had more trees than the last time that Ash had seen it and was looking for Burgh, who was feeding a young Sewaddle up in a nearby tree.
"Hey, Burgh? It's Ash. We are here now for the gym battle," Ash said to Burgh, who noticed Ash and hopped down to where Ash and the others were.
"Hello, Ash, Misty, and Brock. Welcome to the Castellia City gym. I'm glad you came here as promised for our gym battle," Burgh said to Ash, who was happy about this.
"Thanks, Burgh and the league had come to collect the Venepede earlier this morning just to let you know, and they went without a hassle," Ash explained to Burgh, who smiled at this.
"Glad to hear also. Did you visit my art gallery by chance before our gym battle?" Burgh asked Ash, who nodded at this.
"Yes, we did before the fishing competition started. It was just as good as I remembered. I also saw my Butterfree is one of those paintings, no mistaking it, and you did them right. Thank you, Burgh, for doing that," Ash said to Burgh, who smiled at this and took a bow to this.
"Your welcome, Ash. Now let's have a good and fun gym battle," Burgh snapped his fingers as a battlefield was coming out from where the trees were. Ash lets Scraggy and Axew watch this gym battle to see how they work.
"Alright, you two. Watch this gym battle and learn from this as soon you two will be battling," Ash said to the twins standing next to Pikachu and Snivy.
"Man, I'm looking forward to this, and that we'll get to battle one day is exciting," Scraggy said to his sister, who was even more excited.
"Okay, you two may have dragon-type blood in you two but save it for when the battle starts, please," Pikachu said as the two calmed down and nodded at this. The gym's referee was ready to judge this battle.
"The Castellia city gym battle will now begin. Each trainer will use three Pokemon, and the match will be over when all three of either side cannot battle. During the battle, only the challenger is allowed to make any substitutions. Now, if you two are ready, let out your first Pokemon to begin."
"Dwebble, come on out," Burgh sent out his first Pokemon, a Bug/Rock Pokemon that Ash figured might be his first Pokemon.
"Dewott, come on out," Ash sent out his water starter, who was ready for this battle. "Let's get this going, Burgh. We are ready for you," Ash said to Burgh, who smiled at this.
"Dwebble vs. Dewott, let the battle begin," the ref announced, raising his flags to start the battle.
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"Alright, Dewott uses Water Gun," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who launched a stream of water at the Dwebble.
"Dodge it and use Rock Throw Dwebble," Burgh commanded his Pokemon, who launched a massive rock at Dewott, who was hit by this. "Now use X-scissors, Dwebble," Burgh commanded his Pokemon, whose claws glowed and charged at Dewott.
"Use Aqua jet and revenge, Dewott," Ash commands his Pokemon, who launches an Aqua jet and slams his two Scalchops into the Dwebble, knocking it out.
"Dwebble is unable to battle Dewott wins," the ref announced as Burgh returned Dwebble, praising it for the battle.
"Not bad, Ash, but this next one will take much work to beat. Whirlipede comes on out," Burgh said and sent out his second Pokemon, which is indeed the evolved form of Venepede. Ash returned Dewott saving him for later.
"Blitzle, come on out," Ash sent out his second Pokemon, the young Blitzle, who was ready to battle.
"Interesting choice, Ash? But let's see what you have planned. Use Steamroller Whirlipede," Burgh commands his Pokemon, who launches its move at Blitzle.
"Use Shock wave, Blitzle," Ash commanded her, who launched an electric attack towards the Whirlipede, who was absorbing the attack as its spinning was speeding it up even though it wasn't its ability hitting Blitzle hard. Something was wrong with Blitzle as she had a purplish tint on her face. "No way she is poisoned. Let me guess Poison point, Burgh?" Ash asked Burgh, who nodded at this.
"Yes, but the way I trained my Whirlipede, I ensured that electric attacks were near impossible to hit, especially since its signature move is low to the ground. Now use Steamroller and Venoshock," Burgh commanded his Pokemon.
"Ash, do something fast Venoshock doubles damage when the opponent is poisoned," Brock told Ash, who was shocked and remembered that Blitzle had another move for this gym.
"Blitzle, use Flame charge and Thrash," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who charged in as the two moves hit each other, knocking Whirlipede out.
"Whirlipede is unable to battle," The ref announced as Ash celebrated and congratulated Blitzle, only to see both the poison and the double damage from Venoshock as she fainted. "Blitzle is also unable to battle. The challenger is in the lead for this gym battle," the ref announced as both trainers returned their Pokemon. Axew and Scraggy were now in the spirit of battle, seeing and wanting in this.
"Maybe the next gym battle, you two, so calm down," Snivy told the two, who pouted at this as Pikachu chuckled at this, but they quieted down.
"Leavanny, come on out," Burgh sent out the leading ace of his team. "Now, Ash, if you want to win this battle, you have to go through the Pokemon you know well," Burgh told Ash, who nodded at this.
"Dewott, come on out," Ash sent out Dewott for the second time, who was still raring to battle even after being hit by the Rock throw. "Now use Ice beam, Dewott," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who launched an Ice beam.
"X-scissors, Leavanny, and then use Sunny Day," Burgh commanded his Pokemon. The Sunny day weakened the Ice beam as X-scissors sliced through the attack and hit Dewott. "Now use Solar beam, Leavanny," Burgh commanded his Pokemon, who charged up and launched the attack at Dewott, knocking him out.
"Dewott is unable to battle Leavanny wins. The match is tied with both sides having one Pokemon each," The ref announced as Ash returned Dewott, but he walked to Ash's side, knowing that Ash's Pokemon was Tepig.
"Okay, I understand, Dewott," Ash said to Dewott, who smiled at this before Ash turned to Burgh. "Tepig, let's go," Ash sent out his last Pokemon, who was ready to battle for Ash.
"Ash, no matter what happens today, you already earned my respect and gave me this great battle, but that doesn't mean I will give you a badge if I win this," Burgh told Ash. "Now use Energy Ball Leavanny," Burgh commanded his Pokemon, who launched its move to Tepig.
"Use Heavy slam, Tepig," Ash commanded Tepig, who went in the air and went straight towards Leavanny, who used X-scissors to block the attack, barely sending him to the ground hard.
"Use Solar beam," Burgh commands his Pokemon but is interrupted by seeing Tepig glowing. He was evolving. Tepig was now a Pignite as Dewott and Snivy were smiling at this. This is a sign that Pignite was now better with Ash as it dodged with a Flame charge hitting Leavanny hard.
"Not bad, Ash. I can see that you raise him well, but this battle is over. Use Solar beam," Burgh commanded his Pokemon, who launched its move.
"Flamethrower Pignite, let's go," Ash commanded his Starter, who launched its fire-type move, which clashed. "Now use Flame charge and Heavy slam," Ash commanded Pignite, who charged in before Leavanny could make another move and hit it, knocking it out.
"Leavanny is unable to battle Pignite wins. The winner is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town," the ref announced as Burgh returned his Pokemon.
"Alright, you did it, Pignite," Ash ran over to hug Pignite, who hugged Ash back in happiness.
"That was fun and a win for me," Pignite said to Ash as Dewott and Snivy hugged him happily. Axew and Scraggy were now ready for their battle when that came, and Ash noticed his starters, who also laughed at this.
The group head healed their Pokemon as Burgh gave Ash the Insect Badge, his third badge.
"Nicely played, Ash. Your next gym is Nimbasa City Gym. I'm sure you know that Elisa is still the gym leader there while doing her modeling gig," Burgh told Ash, who nodded at this.
"I thought that she would be next like you. I also met her as a kid. I'm surprised that she can handle both careers. Then again, you also do painting," Ash said to Burgh, who laughed.
"Sadly, I hate to inform you, Ash, but she won't be taking any battles at the moment as she is remodeling her gym, and given how long it will take for you to get there, it will still be not in operation," Burgh told Ash who sighed at this. "But I think you three need a vacation for your Journey as thanks for the gym battle and the wait for doing so. I want you three to go to the nearby resort that I'm sure you remember as a kid, Ash?" Burgh pulled out the tickets for the resort reservation, which Ash took as thanks.
"Thank you, Burgh. We do appreciate it. I am surprised that this place is still open even all these years?" Ash asked Burgh, who nodded at this.
"It had a few remodeling as well, but what you remember is still there, and many Gym leaders go there when they are either on vacation or league business as that's where most of their meetings are done. But right now, I think you should be more relaxed since you are going there, and I wasn't planning on going this year as I will be going to Nimbasa town for a good reason, but you'll see when that day comes," Burgh told Ash who nodded at this.
"Hot springs and a massive pool. Who can say no to that," Ash said, which made everyone that traveled with Ash smile as they wanted to go to this as well.
The group leaves for the mountains outside Castellia city, saying goodbye to Burgh.
With the gym battle now over and Tepig's evolution. Ash and the gang head to the resort as the Journey continues.
Stay tuned.