Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to Ash's Unova Journey My Version. A little to say. Let's get this gym battle going, shall we?
Chapter 57: Ash vs. Clay
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We joined our heroes as they were standing outside the Driftville City gym.
Ash was ready to face Clay after being asked to go and help with the Cold Storage issue. Servine was ready to battle in this gym, and Zorua wasn't in human disguise as the device's side effects make it, so she was out of it for a week. As the group heads inside, and see's one of the gym workers waiting for the group inside the gym.
"Hello, my name is Ash Ketchem. I'm here to challenge Clay to a gym battle," Ash introduced himself to the gym worker, who looked down at Ash and noticed Pikachu and Zorua.
"Ah, you must be the challenger that Clay mentioned. If you're planning on battling with those two and winning with cuteness points, you are sorely mistaken," The worker said to Ash.
"No, Pikachu isn't taking part in the gym battles, and Zorua is more interested in watching than battling," Ash explained as the group headed down the elevator toward the central part of the gym.
Everyone was amazed by the looks of the battlefield. It is massive and fitting for a ground-type gym. The elevator arrived at the bottom floor, and the group saw Clay mining some ore at the bottom of the mine.
"Howdy, you'll welcome to the Driftville City gym. The workers at Cold Storage told me about what you've done for them as promised. I will accept your challenge as a gym leader," Clay said to Ash, who nodded and tilted his hat in respect toward Clay, who smirked as the two head to the trainer's boxes.
"The Driftville Gym battle between Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town and gym leader Clay will begin," The ref announced. "Both trainers will be allowed to use three Pokemon each, and during the battle, the challenger can make substitutions. So let out your first Pokemon."
Ash and Claw pulled out their Pokeballs. "Seismitaod comes on out," Clay sent out his first Pokemon.
"Cottonee, come on out," Ash sends out his first Pokemon.
"Cottonee vs. Seismitoad, let the battle begin," the ref announced.
"Cottonee, use Energy Ball," Ash commanded him, who fired a ball of grass-type energy at Seismitoad.
"Use Mud Bomb," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who fired a mud right at the Energy Ball. "Now, Bulldoze," Clay commanded his Seismitoad, who stomped on the ground.
"Cotten Guard now and then, Giga Drain," Ash commanded him, who protected himself and then used the move to hit the Seismitoad, dealing damage.
"Ugh, Ice Beam now," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who fired a beam of ice at Cottonee, hitting him, but the damage of the Giga Drain was too much for Seismitoad as both of them were knocked out.
"Cottonee, Seismitoad, both unable to battle," the ref announced as Ash and Clay returned their Pokemon to their balls. Servine and Zorua were smiling at the fact that Cottonee did his best.
"Well, young man, you've shown me a good battle, but this is just the beginning. Excadrill comes on out," Clay sent out his next Pokemon. Ash was surprised as he heard that Excadrill was the leading ace on his team, which meant he had something else up his sleeve.
"Samurott, come on out," Ash sent out his next Pokemon.
"Humph, you think a type advantage will win against me, Ash? You got another thing coming," Clay said to Ash, who remained calm, which Clay noticed. "Use Drill run," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who spun at Samurott.
"Aqua Jet now," Ash commanded Samurott, who charged at the Drill Run as the moves clashed.
"X-scissors now, Excadrill," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who sliced out of his Drill run, hitting Samurott and sending him back. "Rock Slide Excadrill," Clay commanded his Excadrill, who launched the rocks right at Samurott.
"Hydro Pump now," Ash commanded him and fired a stream of water at the massive rocks heading towards him, only to see Excadrill gone.
"Drill, Run now," Clay commanded his Excadrill coming from underground, hitting Samurott.
"It's not over yet. Use Revenge," Ash commanded Samurott, who slammed his shell lance at Excadrill. Clay was surprised by this sending him down to the ground, knocked out cold.
"Excadrill is unable to battle Samurott wins," the ref announced as Ash celebrated this Clay returned Excadrill and then looked at Ash and Samurott.
"Heh, not bad, kid. You've shown me why you made it that far in the battle club, but I don't think this battle was over. Krookodile comes on out," Clay sent out his last Pokemon. Ash was surprised by this as he looked it up as it was the evolved form of Krokorok and knew that this battle would be rough.
"Samurott, use Air Slash, "Ash commanded Samurott.
"Dragon Claw now," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who slashed through the Air Slash like it was nothing. "Payback now," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who charged at Samurott.
"Mega Horn now," Ash commanded Samurott, who charged right in at the Payback as the move as two moves clashed with each other.
"Aerial Ace," Clay commanded Krookodile. Ash was surprised by this as it slammed right into Samurott hard. "Brick Break," Clay commanded his Pokemon, which slammed his claws at Samurott's head, sending him to the ground hard and knocking him out.
"Samurott!" Ash yelled.
"Samurott is unable to battle Krookodile wins. Both sides are now down to one Pokemon each," the ref announced. Ash returned Samurott to his ball.
"Krookodile is faster and stronger than I thought he would be," Ash said to Clay as Krookodile puffed his chest out at the compliment. Clay chuckled at this.
"That's why I changed my final two Pokemon Ash rotations. Not only to throw off trainers but to show off my newly evolved Pokemon. This is his first official battle since he evolved," Clay said. Ash sighed at this and smiled, which Clay was confused about as Ash looked at Servine, who smirked and ran to the battlefield.
"Ah, I see it's more a battle against power," Brock said as Misty caught this Krookodile fast. Yes, but his Power outweighs it.
"Humph, clever kid, he's trying to outspeed my Krookodile," Clay thought. "Even as a Servine, she can moreover Krookidle, but he overlooked one thing," Clay said. "Use Aerial Ace Krookodile," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who charged to get close to Servine.
"Use Aqua Tail Servine to counter it," Ash commanded her, who slammed her tail right at Krookodile, sending him back but not enough to knock it out. "Now use Attract," Ash commanded her, who tried to use the attack.
"Get rid of it with Dragon Claw," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who slashed right through the Attract and slammed his Claw right at Servine. Ash figured that he had something planned against that. "I'm hoping that is not your strategy against me," Clay said, and Ash shook his head. "Heh, I see it was a bluff, but oh well, use Bulldoze," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who slammed his legs down to slow down Servine, but Ash smirked, as did Servine, as it just helped Servine go faster.
"Charge in and use Leaf Blade," Ash commanded her, who slashed right at Krookodile, which Clay realized why the Bulldoze didn't work.
"Contrary, huh? Clever now; we both had something up our sleeves. Payback now," Clay commanded his Pokemon, who slammed his Claw right at Servine, sending her back hard.
"Servine, you okay?" Ash asked Servine, who stood up, smiled, and glared right at Krookodile.
"Stubborn she is that I will give her. Use Aerial Ace and Dragon Claw," Clay commanded his Pokemon, whose claws glowed and charged at Servine.
"Use, Leaf Storm," Ash commanded her, who launched the attack right at Krookodile, hitting and sending him back. "Aqua Tail, Leaf Blade," Ash commanded Servine, who charged at Krookodile.
"Payback now," Clay commanded his Pokemon as the two Pokemon clashed their attacks at each other, sending them to the ground hard.
Both Pokemon stared down as it seemed like one was about to fall. As one of them did, Krookodile caught Ash and Clay off guard. Servine won the battle.
"Krookodile is unable to battle Servine wins, and the winner is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town," the ref announced as Ash celebrated as Servine sighed and cheered. This was her first big gym win, but it was not part of why Ash won the gym battle. Zorua smiled at this as she saw her best friend winning her gym battle and seeing Servine in action.
"You did great, Servine, won't lie, that was close," Ash said to Sevine as she didn't have the snarky, I guess, expression on her as she admitted that it was also challenging.
"Thanks, Ash, and yeah, it was hard, but we won in the end," Servine said to Ash as he and Servine made a laugh. Clay saw this and smiled before walking toward Ash.
"Well, Ash, I must admit you did a darn good job in this gym battle, and I can see why the league asked you to help out as much as you can," Clay said before pulling out the gym badge. "Here, the Quake badge is yours; you earned it."
"Thanks, Clay. I appreciated this." Ash happily accepted the gym badge before placing it in the badge case as the group was outside the gym.
"The next gym is in Mistralliton City. You'll have to go through Chargestone Cave to get to the city," Clay explained. "There is a new gym leader over there. I believe her name is Skyla," Clay said as Ash was taken aback upon hearing her name.
"I thought her grandfather was the gym leader, not her," Ash said to Clay, surprised by this.
"You know her, Ash?" Clay asked Ash as Ash nodded.
"Yeah, I used to fly in the airplane her family owned when we visited Unova. I met her when we were kids. She's only a year older than I am," Ash said to Clay, who understood this.
"Well, see you younglings around, and best of luck in the league and the next gym battle," Clay said, waving goodbye as Ash and the others waved goodbye before leaving the city.
With a new gym badge, Ash is off to the next gym and an old friend. What else is in store for our heroes as they have to brave Chargestone Cave? As the Journey continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. Man, this chapter was fun to write. Is it a stretch to make Ash and Skyla know each other but remember that Ash had been in Unova before his Journey began in this story? So it would make sense that he would meet her before. That's it for this week, and we'll return to Johto for the next set of chapters. As for next time, it's off to the Chargestone Cave for a two-parter and a few new captures. See you next time.