Et Tu, Unova? Chapter Eight, a pokémon fanfic

Chapter 8

Wind rustles through the grass and the sun shines overhead as two opponents prepare to face off in Castelia City's Bug-themed gym. On the left side of the battlefield, the Gym Leader Burgh waits patiently with an assessing look in his eye. Opposite him, raring to go, is Ash, supported from the sidelines by Jessie, Shauntal, Bianca, and Iris.

"Well, Ash, the time for our battle has finally arrived," Burgh declares before turning his attention to the referee.

"This gym battle between the challenger Ash of Pallet Town and Burgh the Castelia City Gym Leader is about to begin. Each trainer will use up to four Pokémon and the battle is over when all four of either trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle. In addition only the challenger will be allowed to substitute Pokémon."

"I'll start this match by using Dwebble," announces Burgh, releasing the rock-covered bug from its Poké Ball.

"Well I'm gonna start with Tepig!" Ash replies before sending out his Fire-type.

Off to the side, Iris shakes her head at Ash's choice. Shauntal observes the poor type matchup as well, but seems more curious than disappointed. I wonder how Ash will cope with Dwebble's rock-type moves? He must have some sort of plan.

Burgh comments on Ash's choice as well, "Very interesting that you would use a pure Fire-type against a Bug- and Rock-type like Dwebble. A poor decision if you ask me."

"Huh," Ash grunts, "So Dwebble's a Rock-type too. That's okay! We'll show 'em how strong we are, right Tepig?" The fire pig vocalizes an agreement, though the other people present are more dubious.

"Battle begin!" shouts the referee and the gym match is off.

Ash starts off by asking for a Flamethrower. Tepig, however, hasn't fully mastered the new move and the attack comes out as an Ember. Burgh just nods and has Dwebble take the hit. Afterwards it appears nearly entirely undamaged, so Ash orders a quick follow-up with Flame Charge.

Dwebble stays calm and at its trainer's command surrounds itself with the blue-green barrier of Protect, causing Tepig's charging move to bounce right off. Following his defensive coup, Burgh tells Dwebble to continue with an X-Scissor attack. The move strikes the momentarily dazed Fire-type and sends it flying back.

"Ash, if your Tepig cannot even withstand an attack it resists nor can it successfully use its Flamethrower, this battle will be a short one," Burgh relays his assessment of Ash's prowess so far.

Ash is still determined and calls for another Flamethrower. Tepig again tries to shoot a powerful jet of flames, but again winds up with a few embers instead. Ash, while disappointed, notices something different about this Ember. He tells his Pokémon to use another Flame Charge. Tepig, though hesitant to try the same failed technique twice, complies and dashes off towards its foe. Burgh has his Pokémon use Protect once more to the same result.

"I'm quite disappointed, Ash, I expected better," he comments, "in any case, Dwebble use Slash."

This time, Tepig recovers before Dwebble launches its attack fully, and at Ash's order, smacks the hermit crab's claw with its front paws, which temporarily glow with the power it's using. The Rock Smash attack blocks Slash and continues on to damage Dwebble.

"An interesting twist," Burgh muses, "but it's time to finish this battle off - Dwebble, Rock Tomb."

Tepig dodges before using Smokescreen to emit a dense cloud of black smoke that quickly surrounds Ash's side of the battlefield. Before Ash can make his next move, however, Burgh has his Pokémon dispel the smoke with repeated uses of X-Scissor. Tepig is just able to avoid the crosses made of pure force sent its way by the attack, but in the process gets backed against a tree. Both trainers know that this situation is bad for Ash. Burgh decides to finish things quickly with another Rock Tomb.

"Tepig, buddy, I know you can do this: counter the rocks with Flamethrower."

As Dwebble sends off a volley of rocks, Tepig attempts Flamethrower again, only to send out small wisps of fire. Ash looks on and just nods at Tepig encouragingly. As the rocks near Tepig, the small spurts of fire turn into a steady stream that collides with Dwebble's attack at the last moment, releasing another cloud of smoke. As that smoke clears, Ash sees Tepig unconscious, covered in rocks. Just as the referee is about to call the first match, the smoke moves away from Dwebble, revealing the bug-type to be highly charred and also unable to battle.

"Neither Pokémon can continue battling - that means this match is a draw! Both trainers send in your next Pokémon," the referee proclaims.

Truly fascinating, Shauntal thinks, First the trust between Ash and his Pokémon allowed Tepig to make a seemingly unwise decision, but increase its agility as a byproduct. Then Tepig masters the technique that both trainer and Pokémon have been working to perfect at the final second. The Flamethrower, though the first truly successful one, also seems to have been quite powerful. Dwebble just smolders as it is returned to its Poké Ball.

"For my next Pokémon, I'll use Karrablast," Burgh declares. He then proceeds to send out a blue- and yellow-shelled bug with a horn about half the size of its body. Ash scans Karrablast in his Pokédex and sees that it is a basic Bug-type.

"Okay. Roggenrola - I choose you!" Ash decides.

Karrablast starts off with a Swords Dance to sharply raise its attack power, but Roggenrola's Iron Defense nullifies that with a corresponding increase in defensive capability. Burgh is unruffled by his opening move's uselessness and goes for special-based attacks instead. Karrablast launches an Energy Ball at Roggenrola, who responds by blasting it with Flash Cannon. The attacks collide in midair with equal power and are both canceled. Roggenrola recovers first and shoots off another Flash Cannon, but Karrablast braces itself with Endure, keeping it in the battle after being hit. Ash continues launching volleys of attacks, but Burgh has his Pokémon alternate between dodging and renewing the Endure, so none of them can end the battle. After this goes on for a while both Pokémon are clearly exhausted.

After Karrablast's latest dodge Ash tells Roggenrola, "Quick - switch to your other attack!"

"Karrablast, Endure one more time," Burgh tells his Pokémon in response, a smirk on his face. That smirk disappears, however, when he sees Roggenrola use Rock Blast.

"No!" he shouts, "Karrablast, dodge!"

It is too late though, and as the second of the rocks hits Karrablast, its endurance runs out and it is knocked unconscious. The referee makes his call in Ash's favor.

"Hah!" Iris laughs from the sidelines, "Rock Blast uses multiple hits, so Endure doesn't work against it."

Burgh nods and sends out a slimy pink Pokémon encased in a hard shell and comments, "That may be true, but I think you'll have a tougher time getting past my Shelmet's defenses."

Ash decides to rise to that challenge with another Rock Blast, but Shelmet hunkers down in its shell with Curse and absorbs the blows. It is not entirely unaffected, however, and the strong super-effective move deals its fair share of damage. Roggenrola, though yet to take a hit, has clearly used quite a bit of energy and Burgh sees his opportunity. Shelmet shares the exhaustion it feels as it exhales in a Yawn, sending Roggenrola into drowsy slumber. Once Roggenrola is sleeping, Shelmet continues with a Giga Drain to recover from the damage it has taken. The Bug-type sends out a green tendril of energy that latches onto Roggenrola and begins to drain its energy. Shelmet takes all but one of its opponent's hit points before the attack ends.

"Ah, yes," the gym leader notes, "Roggenrola's Sturdy ability. Very useful against powerful special attacks - when Roggenrola is awake of course. Shelmet, finish this with Bug Buzz."

Shelmet unleashes a burst of ear-splitting sound, taking away Roggenrola's last bit of energy and leaving it unable to battle, which the referee notes before Ash calls back his Pokémon.

Hmm… Ash thinks, I can't go with my original plan of using Pidove - it will never get past Shelmet's defense. Who should I use? I know! "I choose you, Pikachu!"

"Ah, I was hoping I'd get to see your Pikachu in battle, Ash," Burgh notes, "you have the first move."

Ash attempts to end the battle quickly with a Thunderbolt, but the powerful attack isn't quite enough to knock Shelmet out. It again tries to Yawn at its opponent, but Pikachu is too fast and uses Quick Attack to avoid the bubble of sheer exhaustion and add to Shelmet's damage. Another Thunderbolt wraps up the matchup.

For his last Pokémon, Burgh calls on his most trusted companion, Leavanny. Pikachu attempts a Thunderbolt, but Leavanny uses its flexible body to simply bend over backwards and dodge.

A truly powerful attack, Burgh muses, I'm not sure we can take even a resisted hit at full power.

"Leavanny, attack with Struggle Bug," he instructs his partner. Leavanny responds by flailing around, sending out a wave of energy that surrounds Pikachu, damaging it ever so slightly.

"Hah! That wasn't a very powerful attack," Ash notices, "Pikachu hit them with another Thunderbolt."

Pikachu fires off another attack, which Leavanny again dodges, but even without hitting, it's quite clear that this time the power is reduced greatly.

"What happened?" Bianca questions from the stands.

"Struggle Bug is a technique that while extremely ineffective as a purely offensive tactic, reduces its target's Special Attack, abating the damage from future attacks," Shauntal answers, "in combination with Leavanny's dual grass-type, it would seem as if Ash and Pikachu's dampened Thunderbolt will do very little damage."

Shauntal's statement rings true as Leavanny shakes off a third attack with little effect. Burgh follows that with a command for a powerful Hyper Beam, but Pikachu moves out of the way with a timely use of Quick Attack and then uses the momentum to add power to the following Iron Tail. The blow knocks Leavanny back, dealing harsh damage. Burgh knows he won't be able to win against Pikachu's sheer speed and comes up with a plan to throw it off balance using Leavanny's signature String Shot, which Pikachu's close proximity leaves him unable to avoid. When the attack ends, Pikachu's tail is bound to its body and Leavanny uses another Hyper Beam.

Pikachu attempts to speed out of the way, but trips over its own feet. Moments later, it is blown across the gym by the force of Hyper Beam. Ash checks on his Pokémon, who is still conscious though has taken quite a lot of damage.

"Pikachu may be rare in Unova, Ash," Burgh notes, "but as a gym leader I've studied at great lengths about all shapes and sizes of Pokémon. Those with large tails like Pikachu tend to rely on them for balance. Tie the tail up, and balance is ruined."

Ash tries to navigate this hurdle with Thunderbolt, but as Pikachu launches the attack, it hits about a foot to the side of Leavanny due to its shaky balance. It tries again with more electricity, and while some does bounce and hit its target, the attack as a whole misses.

"It's no use, Ash, Pikachu won't be able to land an attack without its tail free," Burgh lectures, "but Leavanny can - use Leaf Storm!"

Arrgh! Pikachu can't attack or dodge those sharp leaves while it's tied up, Ash ponders Wait a minute…

"Pikachu - spin and dive into the Leaf Storm and start a Volt Tackle!" Ash instructs.

"WHAT?!" The whole gym is in shock.

Pikachu dives into the leaves as Burgh thinks Ash has given up, but suddenly a yellow light comes from his side of the attack and Pikachu runs through, free of Leavanny's threads and hits the gym leader's Pokémon with a Volt Tackle, nearly knocking it out, though Leavanny does manage to stand up after. Pikachu is clearly wiped out from the powerful attacks he has taken as well as Volt Tackle's recoil. Though he can still battle, another attack would wipe Pikachu out. Ash knows he has another Pokémon he can use that would stop Leavanny in its tracks, so he calls his partner back for a rest, praising his efforts.

Ash, taking note of just how little energy Leavanny has left, sends out his recently acquired Snivy to end the battle, to the general dismay of the people watching. Burgh, too, shakes his head.

"Snivy let's finish Leavanny off - Attract then Twister!"

Snivy cheekily disables its opponent before gleefully sending the powerful maelstrom of draconic energy its way. After the damage from Pikachu, Leavanny cannot withstand the high-intensity attack and is knocked out of battle in one hit.

"Leavanny is unable to battle; Snivy is the winner!" the referee calls, "All of the gym leader's Pokémon are unable to battle. This means the winner is-"

RINGRINGRINGRINGRING! PHONE CALL! PHONE CALL!

"Sorry I'll just answer this outside," Shauntal apologizes. As she leaves she swears she thinks Snivy glows blue for a moment, but thinks better of it when it vanishes a second later.

"Anyway," the referee continues grumpily, "Ash wins the Insect Badge. Hooray."

"Congratulations, Ash. You used some brilliant and unexpected strategies and called forth the best from your Pokémon. I see why Lenora told me to watch out for you."

As he is presented with his Insect Badge Ash poses in victory and cries out, "We got the Insect Badge!" His Pokémon jump and cheer along beside him.

As Iris and Bianca depart in their own directions, Jessie, Ash and his exhausted Pokémon head for the Pokémon Center to rest up. On their way, however, they see Shauntal hang up her Xtransciever while surrounded by a frantic mob.

The air rumbles with noise as Ash and Jessie approach the throng of people surrounding Shauntal. The overlapping voices only allow the duo to distinguish a few cries.

"Shauntal! Why are you in Castelia City?"

"Shauntal, will you battle me?"

"Shauntal, sign my Palpitoad!"

Eventually the varied shouts from the masses grow to be too much for the Elite Four member who sends out her Banette with an unheard command. As Banette cries out with an ear-splitting Screech attack, the crowd silences.

"I apologize profusely for that cacophonous display," Shauntal begins, "but I would like to announce an official question and answer session later today where I can address all the fascinating questions all you enthusiastic fans have asked me. Please return in one hour and I shall commence the session."

After the crowd disperses, Shauntal heads back over to Jessie and Ash.

"I regret to inform you that my fame has led to some undesirable results," she explains, "if you do not want any transference of said results to you - and I assure you, you do not - I will be unable to move forward from Castelia City for what is likely the next few days. May I suggest exploring the city after you heal your Pokémon?"

"Why do you get to say I don't want fame?" Jessie grumbles in return.

"Fame leads to scrutiny and if you do not want 'Jessilina' disqualified from the Grand Festival, you may wish to avoid people realizing she is actually a 'former' member of Team Rocket," retorts Shauntal.

Jessie mopes a little, but she and Ash go to heal Ash's Pokémon before traversing Unova's largest city to see what they could see.

"How come I didn't know there was a Pokémon Contest in Castelia City? There are ads all over the place!" Jessie comments as she and Ash pass their eighteenth advertisement for the Castelia City Invitational Pokémon Contest, "maybe it's because all the signs are down here in this who-knows-where that we've been in for three hours because SOMEONE got us lost. By the way, we're staying in town for the contest."

"Aww man, I wanted to go for my next gym badge," Ash moans, "oh well, we have to stay almost that long for Shauntal to ride out being noticed anyway. See this is why she kept disappearing."

"I never wondered why, I wondered how," Jessie returns, eyes closed and head to the side in defiance.

"Umm, Jessie…" Ash starts. Pikachu also attempts to grab her attention.

"Not now, Twerp," she responds, "I'm ignoring you until you apologize for getting us lo-AAH"

Jessie picks herself up off the ground and looks at the sign she just walked into. Boats to Liberty Garden Island this way. See the legendary Pokémon - Just. The worn down, handmade sign faded out before naming the price.

"Legendary Pokémon?" Jessie wonders out loud.

"Sounds awesome! I wanna see it!" Ash exclaims.

"Umm… speaking as a career criminal, that sign looks sketchy to me," Jessie responds in a rare moment of insight and sanity.

"We'll never find out if we don't try!" Ash comments in his usual positive manner, "Let's go already! Last one there's a rotten Exeggcute!"

After a short run to the harbor, the duo arrive at a run down old pier with an old sea captain sitting next to his rusted boat. A wind blows gently and the ship creaks.

"We wanna go to Liberty Garden Island! How much?" Ash opens.

"Don't count on it, Twerp," Jessie mumbles under her breath.

The old man quotes the cost, which Ash eagerly forks over and jumps on the boat. The vessel sinks a foot into the water momentarily. Jessie looks dubiously at the craft and decides not to board it.

"Ah know she don't look like much," the captain remarks, seeing Jessie's hesitation, "but this here boat's been gettin' folks to Liberty Garden Island for fifty years. Ah know that island better than any other sailor this side o' the Charizard Bridge. Ye can trust me and mah ship. And besides, Miss Jessalina, ye certainly must see the Pokémon of victory before ye enter the Castelia Contest. Nice disguise."

Ameliorated by being recognized and appreciated for her contest talents, Jessie boards the vessel and the three people leave for Liberty Garden Island, Ash chatting with the captain along the way.

As the gang disembarks the ship (somehow in one piece) at their destination, the captain notices an out of place sight in the distance, past the courtyard and looming tower that serves as Liberty Garden Island's main scenery.

"Is that another ship?" he asks Ash, "Ah ain't ever seen a shiny new ship here before, especially one that odd a color. An all black ship, bah!"

Ash and Jessie look over at the ship on the other side of the small island and see Team Plasma grunts moving about.

"Oh no," Ash complains, "what are they doing here?"

"I'm sure they're after the Legendary Pokémon," replies Jessie, "but if anyone's getting their hands on it, it'll be me before my next contest! Let's go teach those losers a lesson!"

Ash follows a stomping Jessie over towards the grunts and hears them mentioning a Bronius. Recalling Bianca's stolen Munna and a "locator team," he realizes that Bronius must be leading the search for the legendary Pokémon. He goes to point this out to Jessie, but it is unfortunately at that moment that the grunts notice the duo and send out swarms of Patrat, Venipede, Trubbish, and Roggenrola.

"Jessie! I think there's someone in charge of these people here. Can you hold them off while I go look?" Ash asks.

"Not all of them by myself! Lend me Pikachu to help!" Jessie demands.

In a show of trust, Ash leaves his Pikachu, Snivy, and Torkoal behind with Jessie and instructs them to hold off the grunts as best as they can. Jessie, meanwhile, sends out her full team to help defend the Legendary Pokémon.

Ash looks around the island to see where a Legendary Pokémon might hide, occasionally tripping over unseen objects. The captain he came with notices his search and beckons him to some bushes. Pushing aside the vegetation the captain tells Ash, "There's a secret basement right through here. Try looking in there."

"Why thank you, kind captain," Bronius's deep voice says from behind the duo, "I was wondering where else on the island Victini might be hiding. Crustle, Alomomola, Mandibuzz: remove these intruders. Minccino, Timburr, and Throh: help me remove this door."

As Bronius's most powerful Pokémon try to shove Ash and the Captain aside, a Braviary swoops down from the top of the tower and engages all three in combat. Ash sends out his Tepig, Roggenrola, and Pidove and follows Bronius.

At the door to the basement, Bronius's Throh, Timburr, and Minccino are pounding on the metal frame and just get it open when Ash arrives.

"Oh no you don't - Tepig- Flamethrower, Roggenrola- Rock Blast, and Pidove- Gust!"

Ash's Pokemon unleash their attacks to varying degrees of success. Tepig's Flamethrower and Roggenrola's Rock Blast damage Timburr and Minccino, but Pidove's Gust fails to move Throh.

"Enough. Minccino use Swift, Timburr use Rock Slide, and Throh use Bulldoze on these fools."

A barrage of stars flies towards Ash's Pokémon as rocks fall from the sky and the ground shakes beneath their feet. After the three powerful attacks, Tepig and Roggenrola are completely unconscious, but Pidove, who only took damage from two moves, is still up. Ash commands another Gust, hoping Jessie finishes dealing with the grunts soon so he can have backup. Just when Pidove's energy is about to give out, it moves about an inch forward and starts to glow.

As Tranquill finishes evolving, it lets loose a Gust attack so powerful it forms a whirling maelstrom of wind that launches Bronius, his Pokémon, and the Pokémon fighting Braviary into the air and sends them flying until they're just stars in the distance. Braviary departs shortly after.

"Hah!" Jessie exclaims to the grunts staring at their departed leader in fear, "Now someone else knows what it's like to be blasted off."

The Team Plasma grunts go running back to their ship and quickly depart the island. After looking around some more, Jessie and Ash can't seem to find Victini, but notice the captain murmuring. He looks over and sees them just as a small Pokémon with ears shaped like a 'V' becomes visible next to him.

"Ah apologize for mah deception, but I ain't just a captain. I also built this here tower for mah good friend Victini so it would have a place to hide out from those who'd trah to abuse its power."

Victini dances around Ash and Jessie, but avoids touching them.

"Victini's touch can imbue the essence of victory inta somebody, just like it did with yer Pidove" the captain explains, "So people trah to nab it for their goals, but really it just likes ta be left alone or play with its friends. Ah owe you a mighty debt fer helping defend mah bud. For the talented Miss Jessilina, the Castelia Invitational Contest is designed as a fundraiser and all the tickets that weren't prizes fer one thing or another were bought up weeks ago. Luckily, ah got one in case ah decided it tickled mah fancy, but yer talent deserves the spotlight loads more'n ah do. The invitation's yers."

Jessie excitedly nabs the proffered invitation.

"Ash, ah know yer tryin' fer the Unova League, and it was yer bravery and yer Pokémon that send those goons packing. Victini and ah would be happy to come cheer for you at the league tournament."

"That'd be great!" cheers Ash, "I always like having friends come watch me at Leagues. But Victini, once we're there, me and my Pokémon have to win on our own, so no touching, okay?"

Victini chirps happily as it gets in the boat with the captain, Ash, and Jessie. The captain drops them off at Castelia Harbor before leaving again to find a new place for Victini, far away from Team Plasma's machinations.

When he and Jessie reach the Pokémon Center once more, Ash sees a familiar face.

"Ah, Ash it's nice to see you again." Looker says, "I'm here looking into a group called Team Plasma."

Author's Note: Updated 5/12/22. I have discovered the "joys" of attempting to transcribe an accent, and for such an unimportant character at that. Still, that's what he sounds like in my head, so it made it in. You can thank this character for minimal use of Clay's Southern drawl later on.