Et Tu, Unova? Chapter Twenty, a pokémon fanfic

Chapter 20

Skyla's air battles are a disgrace to trainers everywhere, Ash thinks as he prepares for the day ahead. There's no way to take one look at a Pokémon and know how it will do in a battle. Tiny Pokémon can beat big ones and disadvantaged Pokémon can turn things around with clever strategies. Battles are all about a trainer and their Pokémon working together, both stronger that way than individually. What Skyla's doing shouldn't be allowed and I'm going to prove just how wrong she is to think she can know everything with her air battles.

When he and Stephan first saw Skyla's air "battles", Ash tried to figure out what Skyla was using to decide if she could win. Sometimes there did seem to be a clear difference in power between Skyla's team and the challenger's - though as much as Skyla claimed otherwise, it was impossible to be sure without seeing the teams in action - but other times were even fuzzier than that. It was only when Skyla told Stephan that the battle would be close that Ash realized she was mostly going by simple type advantage.

That drives Ash nuts. Yes, type is important in battles, but it's not the only factor in play. And so after Unfezant rang the bell at Celestial Tower, Ash thanked her but explained why he couldn't use her against Skyla. He called Professor Oak to put together a team that would show Skyla just how wrong she's been.

So before he goes to the gym, Ash sits with his Pokémon and talks about how important it is that they beat Skyla to prove that a Pokémon's strength is more than just its typing. Ash's Pokémon are all revved up and ready to battle their hardest.

"Well, Ash," Skyla says, "A deal's a deal and we can have a non-air battle. What kind were you thinking?"

"I want a full team battle. Six of my Pokémon against six of yours. And here are the Pokémon I'll use," Ash retorts.

Bulbasaur, Heracross, Torterra, Servine, Scraggy, and Krokorok are sent out. There's a reason Pikachu is standing off to the side with Stephan and Jessie, after all.

"Are you nuts? All six of those Pokémon are at some kind of disadvantage against Flying-types. There's no way you'll win!" Skyla exclaims.

"No. I know my Pokémon and we will win. And when we do, you're going to promise never to do another air battle again."

"If that's what you think, Ash, then bring it on. Since I have the advantage of having already seen your team, I'll even it up by not making any changes to my team beforehand. But to be clear, you're asking for a full-powered six on six single battle," Skyla replies, "And as the gym leader of Mistralton City I accept your challenge."

Skyla starts the battle using her Sigilyph, after checking his Pokédex, Ash chooses Scraggy to face it. Scraggy uses a super effective Feint Attack, but Sigilyph's Cosmic Power minimizes the damage. Scraggy charges up an Ice Punch as Skyla orders a Miracle Eye from her Pokémon. Ice Punch hits, but does very little damage and Sigilyph retaliates with a Psybeam. After the use of Miracle Eye, the Psychic-type attack blasts Scraggy for super effective damage and knocks it out in one go.

"Really, Ash?" Skyla asks, "If secondary type matchups are all you've got, this battle will be over even quicker than I thought."

"We're just getting started!" Ash responds and calls for Servine. Sigilyph attempts another Psybeam, but Servine evades with a speedy Double Team. The false copies dance around any attempts Sigilyph makes to strike with Psybeam, so Skyla switches tactics and goes for a Gust, expecting the widespread wind to knock out the copies and damage the real Servine. What she gets instead is a Twister duplicated from all sides to overpower and merge with her Gust, battering Sigilyph around inside the swirling winds. By the time the winds die down and Sigilyph goes to make its next move, Servine has collected moisture on its tail and then starts spinning her entire body for a corkscrew-like combination of Aerial Ace and Aqua Tail. Wind and water whip around the whirling serpentine form of Servine as she crashes into Sigilyph, sending it crashing to the ground. Another Aqua Tail knocks out Skyla's first Pokémon.

Mandibuzz enters the arena next and Servine immediately attacks with Aerial Ace. Mandibuzz doesn't seem to even have time to consider dodging and the attack strikes true. But that was Skyla's plan and now that Servine is in close range Mandibuzz puffs up her chest in a Swagger before flying high into the air. Servine attempts a long-ranged Twister, but damages herself in her confusion. Mandibuzz swoops down and rams into Servine with U-Turn, knocking Ash's Pokémon out before returning to Skyla.

Bulbasaur is Ash's next choice and is met in the arena with Skyla's Rufflet. Rufflet moves as fast as Servine did and hits Bulbasaur with an Aerial Ace before it can respond. As Ash calls for a move, Rufflet uses another Aerial Ace to send Bulbasaur flying before it can act. Bulbasaur uses Vine Whip to catch itself and lower itself gently to the ground.

"If you think you're going to be able to avoid damage from hitting the ground, you're dead wrong," Skyla claims, "It's time for my signature attack: Sky Drop!"

Rufflet grabs Bulbasaur by the bulb and lifts it into the air. Bulbasaur has no way of using Vine Whip, but Ash realizes that as Kanto Pokémon are rare in Unova, Skyla has no idea how dangerous the opening of Bulbasaur's bulb can be, so he instructs his longtime partner to use the advantage. Bulbasaur waits until Rufflet has reached its maximum altitude before spewing a soporific Sleep Powder directly into Rufflet's face. As both Pokémon start to fall, Bulbasaur binds Rufflet with a Leech Seed. Back on the battlefield, Skyla looks up with a smirk, ready to see Bulbasaur falling to its defeat and is shocked when her Rufflet lands hard instead while Bulbasaur gently catches itself with another Vine Whip, much of the damage it took from Aerial Ace erased by Leech Seed. Bulbasaur tucks its head close to its body and knocks Rufflet out of the match using Skull Bash.

Skyla rotates Mandibuzz back in, but she can't get close enough for Swagger without Bulbasaur shooting Sleep Powder into the air. Without the advantage of confusing her foe, Mandibuzz attempts to switch back out with U-Turn, but there's not a chance Ash will let that trick work again. Bulbasaur catches its opponent with Vine Whip and ensnares her with Leech Seed while she can't move. Mandibuzz is then slammed into the floor, where she wriggles out of Vine Whip's grasp. Mandibuzz shoots off a Dark Pulse, but Bulbasaur uses the motion of Skull Bash to avoid the attack and deal further damage. After being hit by the onrushing Pokémon, Mandibuzz makes use of its long neck to attack with Pluck while Bulbasaur is too close to avoid it. Bulbasaur cringes from the damage, but catches Mandibuzz with another Vine Whip and slams her against the back wall of the gym. Still holding Mandibuzz in place, Bulbasaur goes for one more Skull Bash and defeats its second opponent in a row.

Now Skyla goes outside her standard Unova set and uses a Pokémon she found while flying over the Johto region. Skarmory bursts out of its Poké Ball and immediately coats the floor with Spikes. Bulbasaur uses Sleep Powder, but an Air Cutter is enough to blow the powder away and knock Bulbasaur out. Heracross is next and winces when it steps on the Spikes, but starts charging up a Focus Punch. Skarmory spins its entire body to attack with Drill Peck and the ensuing clash of attacks send both Pokémon reeling, but Heracross has clearly taken more damage. Ash commands a Smack Down from Heracross and then immediately returns it to its Poké Ball and sends in Krokorok.

Before Skarmory can get back in the air after Heracross's parting move, Krokorok shakes the gym with a now-super effective Earthquake. But Skarmory's excellent defenses allow it to handle the attack and fly back into the air. Ash tells Krokorok to use Stone Edge, but Skarmory uses Flash just as Krokorok attacks, causing the erupting stones to miss their mark even through Krokorok's signature sunglasses. Before Krokorok can recover, an Air Cutter hits into it. Ash orders another Stone Edge, but rather than trying to hit Skarmory directly, Krokorok hops on the stones to chomp on Skarmory's wing with Crunch. Skarmory spins in a Drill Peck to get Krokorok off, but the imbalanced weight sends both Pokémon crashing to the ground. Skarmory lifts off again to attempt another Drill Peck just as Krokorok attacks with Rock Smash. After the collision, neither Pokémon gets back up.

"I'll admit you've done better than I thought you would," Skyla calls out as she returns Skarmory, "But I have two Pokémon still at full health, while Heracross is one hit away from fainting and Torterra doesn't have the speed to keep up with my Pokémon."

"Don't count us out just yet," Ash yells back. Skyla sends out her Tropius and Ash lets Heracross have another go, though it takes even more damage from the Spikes. Tropius attempts to end the matchup immediately with Air Slash, but Heracross flies up to avoid it and strikes back with Horn Attack, sending Tropius crashing into the back wall. Skyla tells Tropius to hinder Heracross's movements with Sweet Scent, but Ash just smirks and tells her that was a mistake. Heracross charges at Tropius with its full speed and Ash asks it to throw in a Megahorn while it does. The Bug-type smashes into the source of the delicious smell with all the power of the strongest move it has behind it. Tropius makes an indent in the wall and Heracross munches on the fruit growing from its neck after Tropius blacks out. Skyla stares at Ash's cheerfully snacking Pokémon in disbelief and confusion.

For Skyla's final Pokémon, she's glad she can rely on her trusty Swanna. Making sure to use an attack that hits the entire field, Swanna finishes Heracross off with Hurricane. Ash's Torterra enters the field and is immediately subjected to an Icy Wind that both deals extremely effective damage and lowers Torterra's already subpar speed. Ash isn't concerned though and has Torterra form an Energy Ball but chomp down before it sends it out. As Skyla reels back from the unique use of the move, Torterra glows green with supercharged energy and Ash tells it to use Rock Climb. Torterra's claws elongate and it goes charging forward, but as Swanna prepares to dodge, Torterra veers off to the side and runs up the wall of the gym. When it reaches the top of the open-air gym, Torterra uses Synthesis to take care of all the damage it's taken. Swanna flies up to meet Torterra and attacks with the more powerful Ice Beam, but Torterra Rock Climbs out of the path of the ice. Still glowing green, Torterra launches another Energy Ball that impacts Swanna and sends it crashing to the ground, leaving an imprint in the dirt where it lands.

But as Torterra returns to the ground, Swanna is not out yet. Skyla calls for a Hurricane that blasts into Torterra. Through the fierce winds coming towards it, Torterra sends a different kind of storm at its opponent. Leaf Storm's sheer power cuts through Hurricane and strikes Swanna, leaving it frozen in surprise for a moment. That moment is all Ash needs though, and Torterra charges straight at Swanna with Rock Climb, knocking Skyla's strongest Pokémon out.

Skyla drops to her knees. She lost. Her full team, against six Pokémon weak to or unable to hit Flying-types lost. She's always prided herself on knowing just how strong her Pokémon are - it's the entire foundation behind air battles - and she knew her team had this one in the bag. Sure, Rufflet is still in training, but her other five Pokémon are from her eighth badge challenge or professional challenge teams. And she lost. To a team with four Pokémon that aren't even fully evolved. This kid charged into her gym and demanded a battle he was destined to lose. He went so far as to race to the top of Celestial Tower for the opportunity and he won. He beat her. What did he know that she didn't? She hands the kid a Jet Badge in a daze and he reminds her of the promise she made. No more air battles - ever. Skyla thinks that might be a good thing, because she doesn't know if she can trust her judgment anymore.

As Ash departs the gym, Skyla's grandfather assures him that Skyla will be alright and will be better for having this experience. He sincerely thanks Ash and tells Stephan that he can come back for a rematch any time starting tomorrow. Stephan says he'll train up and come back to win. He promises to see Ash at the Clubsplosion.

The next day, Ash starts training for the upcoming tournament. He offers to help Jessie train too, but she claims to have an unbeatable strategy against the physical attacks demanded by the tournament format. Since she's so confident, Ash lets her be and pulls Scraggy aside.

"I know you did your best yesterday, buddy," Ash says, "so don't feel bad about what happened with Sigilyph. We're gonna do some special training for the Clubsplosion and you'll be way stronger in no time. But before we do that, I think this might be a good start."

Ash holds out the Muscle Wing to Scraggy, who takes it. After the feather fades away, Scraggy Headbutts Ash again and Ash can already feel a difference in its strength. The Clubsplosion won't know what hit it.

Author's Note: So I tried a thing with the guessing game and it didn't work, lesson learned. In any event, here's the Et Tu Unova version of Ash's battle with Skyla. I had this battle planned in extensive detail years ago (almost from the very start of the story in 2013). Gible and Swadloon were too tired from the night before, so some other Pokémon got a chance to shine, but half Ash's team is still from Unova. I was always disappointed by the specific Pokémon Skyla used given the cool choices available in Unova, so I changed up her team for this battle. I got another chapter written between posting Chapter 19 and this chapter. Going forward, I plan to stick to a "write a chapter, post a chapter" format, but we'll see how that works out. I still want to finish this before Legends: Z-A comes out, and since it's more than half done, that's actually possible (if not hugely likely given past patterns).