Today we find our heroes making their way through the Nimbasa City Amusement Park, heading towards the location for Ash's gym battle, and hopefully fourth badge in the Unova Region.
"So how are you feeling about the rematch today?" Elliot asked.
"Good, the Club Battle tournament gave me a lot of ideas for how I'm going to fight Elesa and I have a whole new strategy." Ash said. "Hey, look over by the Ferris wheel, is that N?"
"I swear he's more easily distracted than a MIncinno some days." Rosa groaned, following Ash quickly.
"N, hey it's good to see you again, what are you doing out here?" Ash asked.
"Ahh, Ash hello." N said. "I took your advice and began taking on some gyms and just finished up here."
"Hey don't feel too bad, Elesa is pretty tough." Ash said with a smile. "I'm about to go for my second attempt here."
"Oh I actually won." N said calmly.
"Well how about a post gym fight to see how I match up?" Ash asked.
"Of course, I'd be happy to have a battle with a trainer such as yourself. First how about a ride on the Ferris Wheel, just us." N said, walking into a cart.
"Ash, you don't have to go." Rosa reminded.
"Rosa it's just a ride, besides N is a friend." Ash reassured.
Inside the Ferris Wheel
"I always enjoy views like this, from up here everything is so peaceful and serene." N said.
"Yeah I guess it is." Ash said, looking out the window, seeing Rosa and Elliot ambushed by Team Plasma. "Rosa, Elliot! We need to get down there and help them!"
"Do not worry Ash, no harm will come to them as long as you remain calm." N replied.
"As long as I, thats Team Plasma down there! They take peoples Pokemon calling it for a greater cause!" Ash said.
"And it is a greater cause, our goal is to break the chains that people have over Pokemon, no longer being forced to fight or act as common house pets." N said.
"You, you're with them, Rosa was right about something being odd about you this whole time!" Ash exclaimed.
"No, I am not with them, I am their appointed king and ruler." N said. "You could join us Ash, you and your Pokemon live in harmony with one another, nothing would change except they would no longer be bound by balls or commands. We could create a better world with our plan."
"And in the meantime of your grand plan, chaos will erupt, Pokemon used to living with humans now forced to fend for themselves, bad people getting away with crimes because they won't listen to your demands, and the police don't have the force to stop them." Ash said.
"You told me the way to spread my message was by conquering the Unova League, and now you're standing against me, what changed." N asked, towering over Ash.
"What changed is your message went from peace and harmony to forcing families and friends apart." Ash said angrily. "Now let my friends go."
"My goal is the same as always, and so is Team Plasmas, you jut need to take off your rose colored glasses and look at it for a moment. But for now as long as you do as I say, no harm will come to your friends, now try to remain calm and seated, we are quite high." N said, sitting back down.
"What do you want, I'm not letting my Pokemon go." Ash said.
"I know you're not, as it currently stands you never will willingly." N responded. "However you also never back down from a challenge."
"So you want a fight." Ash said coldly.
"Yes, battle me and your friends will not be harmed, however if I win, you have to be willing to come and hear us out some more rather than just claiming us to be in the wrong." N said.
"Fine once we're on the ground you'll get your fight, once my friends are free." Ash said sitting down.
Back on the ground
"Alright N, I came quietly now let them go!" Ash said.
"Let Rosa go." N said.
"Both of them." Ash argued.
"Once you follow through with the other half Elliot will be released free of harm." N said calmly.
"Fine, what are the conditions?" Ash asked.
"Four on four, single eliminations." N said. "And if that results in a tie, sudden death between a chosen of the two left on either side."
"Fine. I'll start. Darumaka I choose you!" Ash called out.
"How quaint. Darumaka come out as well." N said.
"Darumaka use Rollout!" Ash exclaimed.
"Darumaka use Headbutt please."
N's Darumaka launched forward head first as Ash's curled up and reared in a circle before speeding forward, the two colliding with both bouncing back.
"Darumaka use Rage."
"Keep it up Darumaka!" Ash called out.
Ash's Darumaka built up speed even against the larger Darumaka of N's she held her own bouncing back with a stronger attack than before.
"Darumaka use that fire in your belly with burning rage, and teach them a lesson." N compelled.
"Darumaka hit em hard and send them home!" Ash called out.
The two Darumaka collided once more with N's larger Darumaka being launched a ways off, leaving Ash's Darumaka standing.
"You did your best Darumaka, I am sorry that I failed you." N said. "Now come out Gothita."
"Darumaka return! Come on out Trubbish!"
"Trubbish use Sludge!"
"Gothita use Psybeam."
Trubbish was launched back by a strange force, sending him rolling back as the sludge launched into the air before landing on Gothita.
"Gothita use Feint Attack."
"Trubbish use Double Slap!"
Trubbish trotted forward, slapping his arms against Gothita before the black Pokemon struck back with their own attack.
"Now Gothita use Psybeam!"
"Trubbish use Toxic Spikes!" Ash called out.
Trubbish belched up strange projectiles, scattering them across half the field before being knocked out.
"Ingenious." Elliot remarked as Trubbish was returned, his mark left on the battlefield.
"You did your best Trubbish, it was my mistake of type matchups." Ash admitted. "Now lets go Servine!"
"Come out Maractus." N said, tossing out a Pokeball.
"Hit 'em hard with Leaf Tornado!"
"Use Fury Swipes."
Maractus rushed forward with a flurry of swats with their arms aimed at Servine before being spun around and lifted into the air by Leaf Tornado.
"Maractus is a grass type, that shouldn't have done that much." Elliot muttered.
"Snick snick." A black and red fox like Pokemon snickered as it landed.
"A Zorua?!" Ash exclaimed.
"So you've heard of them, no point in hiding it then." N said. "Zorua use Faint Attack."
"Servine dodge and counter with Aqua Tail!"
Servine spun around, smacking Zorua with their tail before being hit by the dark types shadowy aura.
"Zorua use Fury Swipes."
"Servine use Energy Ball!"
Servine flipped in the air, unleashing an energy ball from the tip of his tail as Zorua dove under it, then bounced up, slashing at the grass type multiple times.
"Servine use Wrap!"
"Zorua use Faint Attack."
Zorua launched right at Servine, the two rolling to the ground in a mess of limbs and bodies.
"Servine hold him!" Ash called out.
Servine squeezed tighter on Zorua as the dark type struggled.
"Zorua use Faint Attack."
Zorua swiped at Servine with their tail, striking the grass type hard and freeing them.
"Zorua finish with a final Faint Attack."
Zorua leapt at Servine, going over and behind the grass type before striking a finishing blow.
"N, just defeated a second of Ash's Pokemon." Rosa said in surprise.
"Don't worry I don't plan on making it three." Ash said. "Braviary let's go!"
"Zorua you did wonderful, return. Now come out Maractus."
"Had a feeling that was next. Braviary use Aerial Ace!" Ash called out.
Braviary flew close to the ground heading right at Maractus, striking the grass type before it even had a chance to get a command.
"Maractus use Cotton Spore."
Maractus unleashed a cloud of white fluffy cotton that coated Braviary, slowing their movements.
"Wrong move N, Aerial Ace is plenty fast enough on its own and Braviary does not like being told no." Ash said. "Braviary use another Aerial Ace!"
Braviary rushed forward with more force than before, striking into Maractus and sending it up into the air.
"Maractus use Pin Missile."
Maractus spun in the air, unleashing a flurry of its needles, raining down on the group.
"Braviary hit them with a Wing Attack!"
Braviary raced at the falling Maractus, striking them once more for the knockout.
"So that's two for Ash, and two for N, who wins?" Rosa asked.
"Final round, we each pick the others Pokemon, right?" Ash reminded.
"It would seem so, and I choose to fight your Darumaka." N said.
"Send Zorua back out." Ash said calmly.
Zorua came back out, wincing a bit from the pain as Darumaka also returned to the field close to exhaustion.
"Darumaka use Flame Wheel!"
"Zorua use Faint Attack."
Darumaka rolled into a ball of flames, launching at Zorua as the dark type tried to strike, but its movements seemed pained.
"What is going on with Zorua?" Rosa asked.
"It's the Toxic Spikes Trubbish laid down earlier, poisons almost any opponent Pokemon who lands on them." Elliot said in realization.
"I planned on using it on Elesa, but this works just as well." Ash said. "Now Darumaka use Fire Fang!"
Darumaka gathered the flames from around her, into her mouth once again launching at Zorua, biting down on the dark type for the final knockout.
"Now, let Elliot go and leave." Ash said coldly.
"Very well, I am a man of my word." N said.
"My king, we could take them." One of the grunts said.
"No, not this one, he agreed to the terms of battle and he won, and you will honor that." N said. "I may not see eye to eye with him on everything, but he cares deeply for his Pokemon and for now I will accept that as enough. Now let us depart."
"So I'm guessing no gym battle today?" Rosa asked, walking over to Ash.
"No, not after that, but I should have listened to you from the start, N is trouble, and now because of me, he has his sights on the Unova League." Ash said, as N and the Team Plasma Grunts left.
Ash's Current Team and their Moves
Pikachu: Quick Attack - Thunderbolt - Iron Tail - Charge Beam
Riolu- Force Palm - Blaze Kick - Zen Headbutt - Rock Slide
Servine: Wrap - Leaf Tornado - Energy Ball - Aqua Tail
Braviary: Wing Attack - Slash - Hone Claws - Aerial Ace
Darumaka: Fire Fang - Flame Wheel - Headbutt - Rollout
Trubbish: Sludge - Double Slap - Toxic Spikes
Egg