Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Before we begin, I will say that while I understand why you all want me to add Hisuin Pokemon to this story, I'm sorry to say. At the same time, I played Legends Arceus. I need to get that far enough for the evolutions to use, so I have no experience with it to put in here. That doesn't mean that Pokemon from outside Johto won't be in Johto, but only to Shinnoh for one gym leader, and by this point, Hoenn is shown for most trainers. You'll see what I mean soon. That said, let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 37: Ghost of a Chance
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We joined our heroes as they were at the Pokemon center, thinking about a plan for the Ecruteak gym battle. Ash had already considered using Girafarig in this battle, but he didn't know the other two, given that Nurse Joy told him it would be three vs. three matches.
"Gengar will be the real problem of this gym battle, that is for sure, I can say," Ash said to Misty and Brock, who nodded. "The only problem is that we don't know what Pokemon he will use, and I still remember what Tyson said about trainers with Hoenn Pokemon here in Johto."
"Luckily, Professor Oak upgraded your Pokedex to read Hoenn Pokemon, not just Johto and Kanto, but we shouldn't overthink it, Ash," Brock said to Ash, who noticed that it was about noon when Morty asked the group to come by the gym for the gym battle.
Ash and the others head to the Ecruteak gym; no time to take in the rest of the sites, even walking past a few people. One, in particular, noticed Ash and the others but let them be for now as they arrived at the gym, this time the actual gym, and entered it. Ash noticed that Morty was with a group of students and knew why he wanted Ash to arrive at this time.
"Ah, Ash, welcome to the Ecruteak City gym. Sorry, my class was a bit longer than usual, but I think they can stay to watch this gym battle if you are okay with this?" Morty said to Ash, who nodded. "
"Sure, I have no problems with your students watching the gym battle," Ash said to Morty. The students looked interested in this as they saw Ash in the grass-type tournament.
"Now, before we begin, Ash, I must tell you that I won't be using my normal team against my challengers," Morty told Ash, who realized that this was a thing in his gym battles as of late. "Given that you own a few Pokemon related to Ho-oh's guardians, I figured that you would give me a good challenge," Morty said to Ash as the kids whispered upon hearing this.
"I will use only one of them, Morty, in today's battle. Aside from that, you bet I will give you a good battle," Ash said to Morty, who nodded in understanding. Ash and Morty were in the trainer's boxes as the ref stood on the sidelines, ready to spectate and ref the battle.
"The Ecruteak gym battle will begin now. Both sides will be allowed to use three Pokemon each during the battle. The challenger is allowed to make any substitutions," The ref announced. "Will both trainers send out their first Pokemon?"
"Misdreavus, come out," Morty sends out his first Pokemon, who was a Pokemon Ash had seen earlier, and pulled out his Pokeball.
"Venomoth, come on out," Ash sent out his first Pokemon, who was ready to battle.
"Venomoth vs. Misdreavus, let the match begin," the ref announced.
"Misdreavus, use Shadow Ball," Morty commanded her, who fired a ball of Ghost energy at Venomoth.
"Use Sludge Bomb," Ash commanded him, who fired the attack at the Shadow ball, which caused an explosion in which Misdreavus vanished.
"Now use Thunder," Morty commanded Misdreavus, who launched a Thunder attack at Venomoth.
"Use Psybeam," Ash commanded Venomoth, who fired at the Thunder, only for Venomoth to struggle to keep the attack going, but it was enough to get Misdreavus out of hiding from the explosion caused by the attack.
"Now use Giga Drain," Ash commanded Venomoth, whose wings fluttered and absorbed Misdreavus's energy.
"Pain Split now," Morty commanded Misdreavus, whose eyes glowed as it hit Venomoth, as the energy that Venomoth took was for nothing. "Nice try, Ash, but we had a feeling that you would try to gain ahead of me with something like that, but that won't be the case here," Morty said to Ash, who grunted at this. "Now use Swift," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who fired a bunch of stars at Venomoth, hitting him.
"Venomoth, use Psybeam," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who fired the attack at Misdreavus.
"Destiny Bond," Morty commanded Misdreavus, who was hit by the Psybeam, knocking it out.
"You did it, Venomoth," Ash said to Venomoth, who was hit by energy that knocked him out.
"Venomoth and Misdreavus are unable to battle," the ref announced. Ash was still shocked by what happened, and Ash's reaction amused Morty.
"You see, Ash, the move Destiny Bond is a move that makes sure that even if the Pokemon who used the move is knocked out, the Pokemon that knocked it out will fall with it," Morty explained to Ash, who was taken aback by this. Ash and Morty returned their Pokemon. "Don't worry about it, Ash. Misdreavus is the only one who knows that move on my team that I will tell you," Morty said to Ash, who nodded at this. "Shall we continue? Gengar, come on out," Morty sent out his Gengar, which made Ash shocked upon hearing that Morty would send out the Pokemon he is known for using.
"Murkrow, come on out," Ash sent out his next Pokemon flying.
"One descendant vs. another, it seems, Ash," Morty said to Ash, who smirked at this, as did Murkrow.
"Humph, he has no idea what I am made of," Murkrow said confidently.
"Use Shadow Ball," Ash and Morty commanded their Pokemon, who fired their attack at each other, causing a shockwave throughout the battlefield. Gengar vanished amid the shockwave. "Use Thunder Punch, Gengar," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who slammed its fist at Murkrow.
"Steel wing now, Murkrow," Ash commanded Murkrow, who slammed its wing at where the Thunder Punch collided as both were hit, sending them back to their respective trainers. "You okay, Murkrow?" Ash asked Murkrow, who nodded.
"Ash, I took a Thunderbolt from Flaafy and damage from Pidgeot. I can handle that. It'll take more than a cheap shot to take me out," Murkrow flattered her wing of the shock away as Ash nodded in understanding.
"Use Drill Peck," Ash commanded her, whose beak spun and charged at Gengar.
"Ice Punch now, Gengar," Morty commanded his Pokemon, whose arm glowed blue and vanished and went behind Murkrow.
"Now, Psychic," Ash commanded her, who caught Gengar Morty was surprised by hearing this.
"Nightshade now, Gengar," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who fired the attack at Murkrow, hitting her.
"Use Faint Attack," Ash commanded her, who disappeared and slammed right into Gengar, hard sending him to the ground. "Now end this with Shadow Ball," Ash commanded Murkrow, who fired her Shadow Ball at Gengar, knocking it out.
"Gengar!" Morty yelled.
"Gengar is unable to battle. Murkrow wins," the ref announced as Morty returned Gengar.
"You did it, Murkrow," Ash said to Murkrow, who puffed her chest.
"Yeah, I'm amazing," Murkrow said, puffing her chest.
"Careful, Murkrow, you better hope that Pidgeot doesn't see this," Ash said to Murkrow, who pouted.
"Ah, come on, Ash, that's my pride talking, not my bragging," Murkrow said to Ash, unhappy that he called her out.
"Well, Ash, I must say I'm impressed by Murkrow," Morty said to Ash, and Murkrow smirked at this and turned to Ash.
"At least one of us is impressed by my skills," Murkrow told Ash, who sighed and nodded.
"But I have saved this Pokemon for a special battle like this. Dusclops, come on out," Morty sends out his last Pokemon, which Ash looks up to as this was his first time seeing this Pokemon.
"Murkrow, you going to be okay continuing?" Ash asked Murkrow, who nodded at this. "Okay then, use Drill Peck," Ash commanded her and charged in with her speed at Dusclops.
"Ice beam now," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who fired its attack at Murkrow, dodging the beams of ice only to be clipped on her wing by the attack. "Shadow Punch now," Morty commanded Dusclops, who fired a dark-like punch at Murkrow, striking her and sending her to the ground, struggling to get up. "End this with a hyper beam," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who fired a beam right, knocking her out.
"Murkrow is unable to battle Dusclops wins," the ref announced as Ash returned her to her ball.
"You did great, girl. Now take a good rest," Ash said to Murkrow in her ball before putting it back on his belt.
"You're doing great, Ash, and I must admit you have done better than most challengers who faced me, even with Dusclops's first official gym battle. But can you keep it up?" Morty said to Ash, who nodded at this.
"Girafarig comes on out," Ash sent out his last Pokemon, who was ready to battle, but upon seeing Dusclops, nerves already started to show, but not in a first battle way but her Phobia of Ghost Pokemon. "Girafarig, you going to be okay?" Ash asked her, who shook her head from the fright.
"I will try, Ash. I have to if I want to be strong," Girafarig said to Ash.
Morty noticed this and wondered why Ash would send out a Pokemon who looked scared just by seeing Dusclops.
"You're pretty mean to let a Pokemon who are afraid of Ghost-types battle like this, Ash?" Morty said to Ash. Girafarig snorted at Morty upon hearing this.
"I'll be fine, don't worry about it. I'm not just doing this for myself but for Ash. I'm not going to let this Phobia get to me," Girafarig said, angry that her trainer was told. Ash was surprised that she said that but knew that she was trying to keep her provide of being brave.
"Okay, let's do this using Psybeam," Ash commanded her, who fired the attack at Dusclops.
"Use Faint Attack," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who disappeared and was behind Girafarig and hit her before vanishing, snickering.
"Use Foresight," Ash commanded her.
"Use Ice beam," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who fired multiple Ice Beams at Girafarig, dodging the attack; however, this was getting to her Phobia badly to the point that she lost her footing. "Come, now, Ash, and you don't think I have a plan for that move. You are the tenth trainer who used that move against me in my gym battles," Morty said to Ash, who grunted. " Use Hyper beam," Morty commanded his Pokemon, who fired an attack at her, who was hit and sent to the ground.
"Girafarig," Ash said, worried about her, who was getting up, refusing to let this get to her. "Girafarig, remember what you said earlier. You're not just fighting for yourself but for our team and to fight your Phobia," Ash consoled her, who snapped out of it. She couldn't let this Phobia get to her.
She remembers that she had already made peace with the Pokemon who started this and was the reason why she wanted to join Ash's team in the first place. She got up and glared at Dusclops, standing before Morty, and then disappeared again.
"Keep calm, girl and focus," Ash said to Girafarig, who closed her eyes and remained calm.
"Use Faint attack," Morty commanded his Pokemon behind her.
"Crunch now," Ash commanded her, whose mouth on her tail clamped on Dusclops's arm. Morty was surprised by this. "Foresight and then Psybeam," Ash commanded her, who fired the two attacks at Dusclops, sending him back hard.
"Hyper beam now," Morty commanded Dusclops, who fired the beam at Girafarig.
"Use Takedown now," Ash commanded her, who charged at Dusclops, dodging the attack quickly and hitting it. "Now end this with Psybeam," Ash commanded her, who fired the attack at Dusclops, knocking it out.
"Dusclops is unable to battle, Girafarig wins, and the winner of the gym battle is Ash from Pallet Town," the ref announced as Ash ran to Girafarig and hugged her, who nayed and nuzzled him. As Morty returned Dusclops to his ball.
"Well, done, Ash. You won today's battle, and I can be safe to say. I can see why Murkrow and everyone on your team chose you as your trainer," Morty said to Ash, who smiled at this, as did Girafarig. "The Fog badge is yours, Ash. You earned it," Morty said before handing the badge to Ash, who happily accepted it and pulled out the wing from yesterday. "Here, have this as well. Today's battle proves that you are the new owner of this. Maybe you can use it one day," Morty told Ash, who took it.
Everyone is outside the gym.
"Now, for your next gym battle, you have two choices, Olivine City or Mahagony Town, given that they are at a fork in the road outside the city," Morty said to Ash and the gang. Who thought about it only to be interrupted by a Purple cat-like Pokemon that ran towards the group with a young girl with Pigtails and a reddish-orange shirt, which Misty somehow recognized.
"Oh man, don't tell me that you already had a gym battle," The young girl said to Morty, who nodded.
"Yes, sadly, but you can stop by tomorrow for one," Morty said as the young girl nodded and bowed before leaving.
"Wait, hold on," Misty said to the young girl, already gone when Misty said Ash noticed.
"Misty, you know her?" Ash asked, and Misty nodded.
"I think so? I think I met her as a kid with my sisters," Misty said to Ash, wondering who she was.
"She's one of the girls who works at the theater in town," Morty said to the group who looked at him. "I don't know what it is, but I heard that she registered as a trainer for the league, but she hasn't been in many gym battles, according to the gym leaders," Morty said, making them more curious.
Ash and the others left for the Pokemon Center. The next few days are about exploring the city and seeing the sites. Only the person who had seen them earlier watched this battle and was very interested in Venomoth, a girl with short green hair and a Kadabra beside her.
"Well now, this is interesting to see you again, you three. But one of your Pokemon needs more than battles to help it with its psychic-type moves," The girl said before smiling as she walked off. With a Purplish figure following them, but it wasn't a Gengar.
With a new Gym badge in Ash's hands. Ash and the gang plan on exploring the city and learning more about that young girl they saw at the gym. What else is in store for Ash and the gang? You'll see as the Journey continues.
Stay tuned.
Done and done, man. This chapter was fun to write, but Morty's team needed help to get it order-wise, and what to choose was the problem. But remember, folks, about what I said at the beginning. Keep an eye on the two people I mentioned at the end. They will both be in the following two chapters. I'm taking tomorrow off from writing and returning on Friday. The next chapter revolves around part two of the request capture involving Venomoth. See you all next time.