"So do you think you're ready for your battle against the gym leader Ash?" Rosa asked.
"Sorry, did I hear you were going for your gym battle here? Against Skyla?!" A boy exclaimed.
"Yeah, why?" Ash asked.
"She's ruthless." A girl commented. "Refuses to battle on the ground or even close to it."
"Well she uses flying types right?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, but it's not that simple, no one can even get close to her Pokemon without a flying type of their own and even then it's nearly impossible with how she fights." The boy commented.
"Well that can't be right." Elliot commented.
"She doesn't listen to reason it's impossible to get through to her." The girl added.
"We'll see about that." Ash said adjusting his Pokeballs. "Come on guys, I have a badge to win and a lesson to teach."
At the gym
"Better luck next time." A woman with red hair said as a trainer left holding their Pokemon tightly.
"Are you the gym leader?" Ash asked.
"Yes, my name is Skyla the high flying gym leader, just like my battles are." The woman said.
"That's what I heard, that you refuse to battle on even ground as your opponents." Ash said. "That's not the job of a gym leader. A gym leader's job is to test the strength of a trainer and help them grow to be better trainers with their lessons and skills."
"It's my gym and my rules." Skyla countered. "But I'll make you a deal."
"I'm listening." Ash responded.
"If you can beat me in a battle with my rules, not only will I give you the gym badge, I'll go back to standard style matches." Skyla offered.
"Deal, this will be my sixth badge, what are your conditions?" Ash asked.
"Four on four, standard rules outside of that." Skyla said confidently.
"Sounds good to me. Let's go to your arena." Ash replied, following Skyla into the gym.
"Hey Elliot, what do you think are the chances of Ash actually winning this?" Rosa asked.
"Hard to say, Braviary is strong but even he will struggle to win against four opponents." Elliot answered. "Meaning Ash will need to make smart decisions for his other three."
"Pikachu's a good choice being an electric type." Rosa pointed out.
"Let's hope that those will be enough." Elliot said as they took their seats for the battle.
"The gym battle between the challenger Ash and the gym leader Skyla will now begin. The match will be a four on four battle where only the challenger may switch their Pokemon at any time." A judge announced.
"Alright, take to the skies Swoobat!" Skyla called out.
"If I want to prove to her she needs to change her ways, I can't rely only on Braviary for this fight. Dewott I choose you!"
"Swoobat use Energy Ball!"
"Dewott use Fury Cutter to counter the attack!" Ash called out.
Swoobat from high in the arena sent out a ball of green energy at Dewott as the water type grabbed one of his Scalchops, launching it straight through the ball, striking Swoobat before landing on a high up ledge.
"Swoobat use Attract!"
"Dewott dodge it with Aqua Jet!"
Dewott launched forward in a stream of water towards Swoobat, falling short as the attack ended, leaving him open to getting infatuated by the psychic type.
"Dewott take five!" Ash called out, recalling the water type. "Darmanitan I choose you!"
"Why Darmanitan?" Rosa asked.
"If Dewott is affected by attract that means that Swoobat is a girl, and as such Darmanitan is immune to the effects of the attack." Elliot informed.
"But Darmanitan is also big and a close range fighter, I don't know how she'll even reach Swoobat." Rosa said concerned.
"Swoobat use Acrobatics!"
"Darmanitan climb up towards those nets and use Belly Drum!" Ash called out.
Darmanitan climbed up the beams of the gym, reaching a grouping of nets to protect her as Swoobat struggled trying to get into them.
"Swoobat separate the nets with Psychic!" Skyla called out.
"Darmanitan use Flare Blitz!" Ash exclaimed.
Darmanitan waited until Swoobat was right in line, thrusting herself forward with her legs and engulfing in flames once out of the net before slamming into Swoobat, grabbing onto the psychic type as they began falling.
"Swoobat get out of there with Acrobatics!"
"Don't let them out! Use Rollout!"
Darmanitan fully curled up, crashing into several walls and beams on their way down to the ground, Dewott's lost scalchop falling off of the ledge, landing on a beam in the scuffle as the two finally came in for a crash landing, the two separating in a double knockout.
"Both Darmanitan and Swoobat are unable to continue." The judge declared.
"Thank you for a great effort Darmanitan." Ash said, recalling her to her Pokeball. "And thank you for trusting me with those moves."
"Darmanitan got lucky making it all the way up there, but that luck will run out before this match ends. Skarmory I choose you!" Skyla called out.
"Pikachu you're up!" Ash said confidently. "Use Thunderbolt!"
"Skarmory use Agility!"
Skarmory flew above the arena, easily out maneuvering Pikachu's Thunderbolt as they sped up.
"Pikachu use Charge Beam!"
"Skarmory use Steel Wing!"
Skarmory dove at Pikachu, easily spinning out of the way of the Charge Beam before clipping Pikachu with their wing and going back up into the air.
"Wait, where's Pikachu?" Rosa asked, looking on the ground.
"Up there." Elliot said, noticing Pikachu on one of the rafter beams.
"Pikachu got a ride on the way up, Skarmory was nice enough to give him a ride." Ash said. "Now Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Skarmory use Aerial Ace!"
Pikachu leapt off the beam towards Skarmory as the two collided in mid air, sending Pikachu even higher up.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail to swing!" Ash called out.
"Skarmory strike them before they can recover with another Steel Wing!"
Pikachu hardened his tail, spinning around one of the poles in the air before launching right back at Skarmory.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu charged up a Thunderbolt before being struck by Skarmory's wings, landing him on the same beam where Dewott's scalchop was residing.
"Pikachu are you doing okay?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu replied.
"Skarmory use X Scissor!"
"Pikachu use Charge Beam!"
Skarmory flew at Pikachu, the attack never going off as sparks traveled across their body before being struck by Pikachu's Charge Beam.
"Pikachu now use Thunderbolt!" Ash called out.
"Skarmory dodge it with Agility!"
Skarmory managed to overcome their paralysis long enough for them to dodge out of the way of PIkachu's Thunderbolt.
"Skarmory use Steel Wing!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu leapt off the beam, spinning around and aiming his tail straight at Skarmory, sending it crashing down on impact.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Skarmory get up and use X Scissor!"
Skarmory pushed itself up with it's wings, only to be struck by Pikachu's bolt of electricity at both full force and close range.
"Skarmory is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu!" The judge declared.
"Skarmory return!" Skyla called out. "Now this fight is getting fun. Sigilyph come on out!"
"Pikachu use Charge Beam!"
"Sigilyph use Flash Cannon!"
A bright burst of light shot out from Sigilyph, blinding Pikachu and sending him rolling backwards from the blast, dazing the electric type.
"Pikachu come back!" Ash called out.
Sigilyph did not attack as Pikachu made his way back across the arena to Ash's side.
"You were great buddy, but Skarmory did a number on you, we'll handle it from here." Ash said reassuringly. "Now Dewott come back out!"
"Dew!" Dewott declared, wielding his remaining Scalchop, pointing it at Sigilyph.
"Sigilyph use Air Cutter!"
"Dewott use Razor Shell!"
Dewott threw his remaining scalchop at an arch as he was struck by sharp winds, only stopping when Sigilyph was struck by the scalchop from behind.
"Dewott use Aqua Jet!"
Dewott launched forward, engulfed in water, heading up into the air towards Sigilyph.
"Sigilyph use Psychic!"
Sigilyph focused on Dewott, redirecting him to another direction entirely.
Dewott land then use another Aqua Jet!"
Dewott landed on one of the nets in the air, his legs getting tangled in it as he tried to break free.
"Sigilyph use Air Cutter!"
Sigilyph whipped up some wind, shooting it at Dewott, breaking him free of the net as he began to free fall.
"Dewott use Aqua Jet now!" Ash called out.
Dewott engulfed himself in water, pushing off a pillar to save himself from the fall as he rocketed across the arena's aerial platforms and equipment.
"Sigilyph use Hypnosis!"
Sigilyph flew around, using their command over the skies in order to get in front of Dewott with ease, putting them to sleep.
"Dewott return!" Ash said, the beam just barely hitting where Dewott was now resting. "Alright, I'm counting on you for this, Braviary let's go!"
Braviary took to the air, flying right at Sigilyph, taking the psychic type by surprise.
"Braviary use Slash!"
Braviary swooped at Sigilyph, stretching out his talons, but rather than slicing, he gabbed onto the psychic type, dragging them across the wall of the arena.
"Sigilyph break free with Psychic!"
Sigilyph tried to break free to no avail as Braviary finally dropped them to the ground, collapsing on impact.
"Sigilyph is unable to battle, the winner is Braviary." The judge announced.
"Swanna let's wrap this up and start with use Feather Dance!"
Ash and Braviary barely paid attention, looking around the arena for Dewott's two scalchops.
"Why isn't Ash countering?" Rosa asked.
"Because Feather Dance is undone by Braviary's ability. One greatly lowers his attack, the other in turn greatly raises it." Elliot whispered.
"Up there! Braviary use Hone Claws!"
"Swanna after them and use Air Slash!"
Braviary easily outsped Swanna's attack as he reached the first of Dewott's scalchops, launching it straight towards Ash's feet, which just happened to have Swanna right between them as the water type was struck by the shell, clipping it's wind slightly.
"Braviary now the other one, use Hone Claws again!" Ash called out.
"Swanna use Bubblebeam!"
Braviary shot off towards the other beam, spinning out of the way of Swanna's bubbles picking up the other scalchop in his talons along the way before sending it back the same way as the other, Swanna dodging it this time.
"Now Braviary use Aerial Ace!"
Braviary spun around heading straight towards Swanna, striking through them with great power.
"No it shouldn't have been that strong! Braviary should have just broken even!" Skyla exclaimed.
"Not my Braviary, when you harshly lowered his attack, his ability Defiant kicked in, sharply raising it right back up in response." Ash said. "And with double Hone Claws."
"Braviary has a boosted attack and accuracy." Skyla said in surprise.
"Now Braviary use Crush Claw!"
"Swanna counter with Bubblebeam!"
Braviary rushed forward, talons outstretched as he was hit by a stream of bubbles before digging his talons into Swanna.
"Swanna move and use Roost!"
Swanna took off towards the ceiling, finding a spot to roost and recover.
"Just what we needed." Ash said. "Braviary use Super Power!"
"Why is Ash using a move like that?" Rosa asked.
"Normally Super Power would be not very effective against a flying type like Swanna being a fighting type move, but with Roost, Swanna looses it's flying type for a turn." Elliot commented, as Braviary shot forward, striking into Swanna. "It does have the drawback of a lowered attack and defense, and Defiant won't undo that."
"Braviary use Crush Claw!"
"Swanna use Air Slash!"
Braviary spun around, digging his talons into Swanna before dropping the flying type to the ground.
"Swanna is unable to battle, the winner is Braviary and Ash." The judge declared.
"I'll be honest Ash, I'm impressed by your skills, you managed to do a lot of damage even with mostly land based Pokemon. So here as recognition of your victory, I present you with this, the Jet Badge." Skyla said, holding out the badge.
"And?" The judge asked.
"And I will start battling on fair ground again, I forgot how much fun a battle like this could be, maybe I'll even install more ways to get into the air so some more land based Pokemon can be a part of the battle." Skyla said.
"That sounds good to me, thanks for a great battle Skyla." Ash said, shaking her hand.
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Quick Attack - Thunderbolt - Iron Tail - Charge Beam
Riolu: Aura Sphere - Blaze Kick
Servine: Wrap - Leaf Tornado - Energy Ball - Aqua Tail
Braviary: Super Power - Crush Claw - Hone Claws - Aerial Ace
Darmanitan: Hammer Arm - Flare Blitz - Belly Drum - Rollout
Trubbish: Sludge Bomb - Double Slap - Toxic Spikes - Sludge Wave
Larvesta: String Shot - Ember - Leech Life
Dewott: Razor Shell - Fury Cutter - Revenge - Aqua Jet
Authors note
Real quick as to why Braviary is only now getting new moves, after their capture in White 2, the moves Braviary learns are Slash at 28, Defog at 32, Tailwind at 37, and then Air Slash at 41. So why no Air Slash? Braviary has less special attack than PIPLUP, meanwhile his base physical attack is the same as Emboar and Electivire. So yeah I skipped all of those for the moves at 46 for Crush Claw, and 51 for Super Power.