A Ponyta's Tale

by mazinkaiser

It is written in the book of legends that heroes are given guides full of wisdom and knowledge to achieve their respective goals. What is not written is that a certain guide should come from another universe and that he too needs some guidance as well.

9. Chapter 8

Welcome everyone to the eight chapter of A Ponyta's Tale. This is your author- Mazinkaizer. In this chapter, Ash and his team has gotten to Gringy City where they have to clean things up literally and figuratively followed by going through Cycling Road and its bridge. After that, it's time to challenge Koga and the Fuscia Gym, but they had to find the gym first to do it.

Again, please read and enjoy the eight chapter of A Ponyta's Tale entitled...

---

Chapter 8 – Going Against the Odds

Travelling west towards Cycling Road that is the shortest route towards Fuchsia City where the next gym is located. The team had slogged through Route 16 as a lot of wild pokemon had been encountered with only a few trainers seen.

But to get to Cycling Road first, the group found themselves in Gringy City after dark. The said city is a desolate factory town where few people live where even the ocean winds smell like sludge especially, more so since the group was walking in the waterfront.

As it was, everyone was dead tired after dealing with wave after wave of wild pokemon especially Rattas and Raticates especially William, Chu-Chu, and Junior who had fought from the start to buy time for their friends to be released.

"This is a really weird city," Ash Ketchum noted as he and the others looked around, all of them having gotten off their bikes since William was just too tired to keep up with them while riding and thus was walking slowly with them. "Lots of factories and almost no people."

Misty Waterflower then pulled out a small portable desk atlas that she kept for emergencies, but did not use it much once she had gotten the pokedex with its GPS function. "This place is called Gringy City."

"Gringy?" Ash had memorized the map of the Kanto region, but could not remember Gringy in the map. "Never heard of it."

Misty then added. "It used to be a lively and busy place with all of these factories here."

Brock Harrison could only add his own two cents. "Yeah, they kinda went overboard with those factories. Pollution ruined the air and the water here and some of its waste could even be seen in the sea and in the air as far east as Maiden's Peak, as far west as Vermillion, and as far south as Fuschia."

"I guess we can't find any pokemon here," Ash said with a sigh. "Oh well, let's just rest and push on."

William then noticed that both pikachus seemed to be more than tired for some reason. "You two, alright."

"Pikachu-pichu," both answered tiredly as their cheeks sparked intermittently. (I don't feel so good)

Both Junior and Chu-Chu fell from their ridden ponyta with both Ash and Misty catching them. It was then that both trainers got shocked from touching their pikapals.

William quickly turned around despite his fatigue and tried to look something behind them only to find nothing. Brock had quickly noticed and asked. "What's wrong, William?"

"Something was watching us earlier," the fire horse answered. "Keep your eyes peeled."

"You got it."

With rubber gloves on, both Ash and Misty brought their pikapals to the Pokemon Center with Brock not far behind. William was already recalled into his pokeball so he could get a moment's rest.

"Hold on, guys." Ash told both pikachus. "We'll get you to the Pokemon Center as soon as we can."

The said pokemon center was looking like three giant crystals stuck on top of a circular building. Unknown to all of them, they were also being watched. The watcher in this case was using a periscope over a manhole.

-oOo-

Following the periscope down, we find that it was Meowth of Team Rocket who was watching the group enter the Pokemon Center.

Meowth the recalled the periscope with a grin before telling his cohorts, all of whom were in the sewers. "That's them and they're on their way to the Pokemon Center."

Jessie and James tried to recite the motto only to stop as the smell was unbearable. As for Meowth, he was in his personal ride that kept him snug and dry. Said ride looked like a miniature flying saucer floating on the water.

Meowth then added as both of his partners were throwing a tantrum at being in a sewer of all places. "Just chill out and put on those suits that I bought you."

The pair then put on some dry suits while Meowth was explaining. "This thing (an electric air compressor that was running nearby) pumps in air with a bit of air freshener."

"Oh, that smell's good."

It was then that James realized something. "Why didn't you tell us these things, Meowth?"

"We could have choked on the stagnant and putrid air here," Jessie added.

"Quit complainin'," Meowth waved a paw at both of them. "I did come up with this ingenious scheme. Now get into the pipe and swim towards the Pokemon Center. We're wasting time here."

"Your plan is stupid!" Jessie complained as she crossed her arms. "I'm not going in that sewer."

"I'm 100 percent behind Jessie on this one," James added hotly as he too crossed his arms. "I wanted to capture that pikachu and ponyta as much as you. But this is humiliating. It's degrading."

Jessie then added as well while Meowth only listened confidently. "We both won't go through with this, Meowth so you'll have to do this mission alone. I'm sorry if this will shock you."

"So am I," Meowth cooly retorted before pushing a blue button in his craft. Instantly, both Jessie and James were given a hundred volts of electricity for their trouble.

"I knew you'd see things my way," Meowth gloated, himself insulted thanks to his own craft.

"You'll pay for this, Meowth." Jessie threatened as she and James went down the murky water.

"Why do we always get the dirty jobs?" James moaned.

-oOo-

Topside, Ash was angrily ringing the bell to summon the Nurse Joy who was assigned to this town as he held Pika on his left arm with Misty holding Chu-Chu with both arms. "Hey, Nurse! Hey, Nurse!"

Eventually, a Nurse Joy did emerge from further inside the center, yawning. "Do you kids know what time it is? Don't you know that you should be sleeping now?"

"I'm sorry," Ash relented, relieved that a Nurse Joy finally showed up. "But something is really wrong with my pikachu – Junior."

Nurse Joy only yawned a second time before answering. "It's just a cold. By the way, name's Erin Joy."

"This is no cold," Ash then protested, angry again at being given an unsatisfactory answer from someone with no sense of urgency at an emergency with the others doing the same but remaining silent. "Your sisters and cousins are a lot more helpful."

Erin looked worried for a minute as she remembered the times where her own family would scold her for doing her own way. She then switched gears as she added with a yawn and a dismissive wave of her hand. "There's no need to get excited."

She then pointed at both pikachus before adding. "Look, there's sparks coming out of their cheeks, right? That's another symptom of a cold for an electric rodent pokemon."

After a pause, she confidently continued. "If you leave them here overnight, I'm sure they'll be fine by tomorrow morning."

Ash then added to satisfy his curiosity. "Miss Erin, excuse me, but aren't you by any chance the oddball in your family?"

Erin only answered with an amused smile. "Oh no, it's all my other relatives who are odd."

Erin Joy used Counter. It's super effective. Ash and his friends were rendered speechless.

-oOo-

Out in the darks, some blobs had bobbed up and down a good distance from the docks. The said blobs, revealed to be purple slimy amorous sludge like things, had rushed towards the main inlet of a gas turbine combined heat and power plant.

Without flowing water to turn the turbines once they were converted into steam by means of the gas turbines (that also shut down), the turbines had stopped spinning causing the generators attached to them to also stop spinning and thus cease to generate electricity.

In the plant's control room, the pair of electrical engineers had registered that something was wrong when the lights suddenly went out, the hum of machines quieted, and the needles in their dials in all the instruments had deflected back to their default position with digital readouts blanking out completely.

"What's that?" One of the engineers asked his companion while the backup generators kicked in to provide emergency power to parts of the plant that were vital to its operation.

"Our generators completely shut down," the second engineer answered, worry evident in his tone before looking at another dial and its corresponding indicators. "The water intake valve is totally jammed."

"It can't be!" the first engineer said in alarm as he looked at his companion. "We need to contact the management ASAP."

-oOo-

Back to the sewers, the air compressor suddenly stopped pumping air down the tubes that were linked to the two diving suits worn by Jessie and James.

"Hey, what's goin' on?" Meowth noticed the sudden silence of the compressor. "The power supply just went dead."

After a pause, he then noticed. "If the pump stops workin', there won't be any air. They won't like that."

No shit, Sherlock.

Now Meowth was in a panic as he may find himself in the slammer for the demise of his partners, not that he cared for them anyway. "What do I do? What do I do?"

And just like Meowth predicted, no air had reached both Jessie and James and they scrambled to get back to the surface to breath…. never mind if the air they would be breathing smelled like shit... literally.

-oOo-

Again, back topside, in the Pokemon Center, Ash and his friends had gotten their pokemon to be healed with Junior and Chu-Chu being the last since they had to be brought to intensive care.

"Oh," Erin moaned upon seeing that the power was out and thus the healing machines were not working as she held Junior while Brock held Chu-Chu.

Ash then asked as they saw pokemon in a glass box with wires attached. "What happened to these pokemon?"

"They are in intensive care," Erin answered in a worried tone. "If we don't get the power back soon, I just don't want to think of what would happen."

"Don't just stand there," Ash himself was also slowly panicking as the situation became even more grim. "We have to save them."

"Miss Erin…" Misty pleaded, knowing that she herself was powerless in this situation. "Please do something."

For once, Erin Joy was at a loss as she answered. "I don't know what to do."

Seeing that Erin was beginning to cry herself in her helplessness, Brock decided to intervene. "Hey, stop giving Miss Erin a hard time. There's nothing she can do right now."

Ash had enough and thus would be doing something about it. "Let's go."

Brock then gave Chu-Chu to Joy and joined his friends. Both Junior and Chu-Chu were distraught of being left behind and thus they both cried. "Pika-chu." (Please wait)

Joy herself felt pain upon hearing the cry of the poor pikachus. 'I wish I could do something, but what can I do?'

Ash then explained for both him and Misty. "Don'tcha worry, you two. We'll be back once the power's back on."

"Good luck, you three." Erin whispered partly to herself.

"Chuu…" Junior then added weakly. (Daaaamn.)

-oOo-

Outside, the trio had found Officer Sabrina Jenny trying to talking to someone on a phone in her station. She then told the trio. "I'm trying to find out, but there's no answer from the power plant."

"We don't have much time," Ash told her of their urgency. "Pokemon are dying."

"What does the power plant look like?" Misty then asked as they would probably go there anyway.

"You can't miss it," Sabrina answered her. "It's the big building with the smokestacks there."

"Alright," Ash finally got a clue on where to go next. "Let's go."

It was then that the nearby bushes had rustled, before Junior and Chu-Chu had emerged from them. Junior even said. "Pikachu." (Found you)

"Junior," Ash said as he and the others ran towards the pikachus.

"Chu-Chu," Misty added with worry as neither pikachu were well yet.

"Junior, you and Chu-Chu should be back in the Pokemon Center to rest," Ash half-heartedly admonished his starter. "But since they're here, they might as well join us."

"Good call, Ash." Misty then said. "I think they're afraid that we'll leave them."

Of course, both pikachus were overjoyed and jumped into their trainers' arms and still managed to shock them.

-oOo-

In one of alleyways in between buildings, all members of Team Rocket had gotten themselves out of the sewers with both Jessie and James catching their breath after keeping it too long below and Meowth just waiting for them to stop.

"We could have suffocated," Jessie complained.

Meowth then raised a finger to prove a point as he said. "The city was plunged into darkness by a power failure."

"A power failure, eh." James muttered. "I can identify…with failure."

Meowth then saw the group running towards the power plant and thus he said in excitement. "There they go. Now we're in luck."

After a pause, he added. "We get another chance."

Jessie then moaned softly. "For what?"

Meowth then answered her. "For finally getting that pesky pikachu and ponyta. Come on now, Jessie, James; let's move it."

Both Jessie and James were still catching their breath then reacted. "Give us time to rest, Meowth. We almost drowned in the stinking sewer, no thanks to your loponny-brained scheme."

James then added. "Meowth, you nearly killed us. You dumbass."

Meowth ignored the digs and accusations his human partners brought to his plate as he continued. "Guys, don't worry. This time, we got a secret weapon that's meowth-proof."

Yeah, and you're just the meowth to prove it too.

-oOo-

Ash and his friends finally arrived at the gate of the power plant. Ash then said. "There's the power plant."

Misty then said. "Let's check inside."

The group then made one step towards the plant when they were suddenly stopped by a voice. "Who goes there?"

A solitary guard, who was working the night shift, had found them after doing some routine patrols. Ash then said. "We need to talk with whoever is in charge so we can get the power back."

"That's the problem," the guard then said. "We've got grimer infestation and without juice, we can't even call the higher ups back in Celadon and that's if they're awake too. Right now, any trainer would be jus' fine."

"We've got two trainers and a breeder right here," Misty then confidently said. "Let us in."

"Great," the guard said. "C'mon in and get those pesky grimers outta here. I'll jus' log ya'll in."

Once they were logged in, the group made their way inside the plant proper. Ash then opened the main door and yelled. "Hello! Is anybody in here?"

His words echoed through the hallways, but there was no response. Ash then added. "We might as well look around."

Both Junior and Chu-Chu were still not feeling well, but could still walk. Chu-Chu then told her fellow pikachu. "Pikachu" (I'm scared)

Junior then patted her shoulder and spoke. "Pi-chu. Pikachu-pika." (Me too. But that doesn't stop me.)

Brock then put his two cents in. "Something's weird. How come nobody's working at this hour. Supposedly, these guys work in shifts and we've only met one guard so far."

Misty could not provide an answer thus she settled for studying the plant layout that was hung on the wall on her right. "According to this, the central control room is down the hall that way."

With their destination now set, the group continued on through the dimly lighted hallways. Brock then brought up a point. "Grimer infestation, huh. Too bad, we only have both Junior and Chu-Chu with us since the rest are just too tired to help. Then again, both of them need some rest too."

"So do we," Misty interjected. "Once this is over, let's take a nap."

"No complaints here," Ash then added.

In the midst of their conversation, they did not notice a shadow that zipped through the air vents above them until something had gotten Misty's hairs stand on end.

She then told the others. "S-something's following us."

"Hmm, the place is deserted." Ash then retorted despite his own danger sense tingling as they all stopped and turned around. "There's no one here."

"Oh-" Misty was about to blow her top, but the last thing she needed is to be left alone with Chu-Chu in this dark place. "Um, I know I heard something back there."

Ash then said with a bit of irritation. "Look, Misty. We can understand that you may be in over your head here, but Brock, Junior, and I are more than enough."

"I am not over my head here," Misty's temper was now triggered as she spoke. "Nor am I a torchic if that's what you really meant. There really is something watching us."

"Everyone calm down," Brock then said to mediate, wishing that the fire horse would join him. "Let's…."

Something seemed to be hovering behind Ash that the others had seen and in the dim light had scared the bejesus out of them even the pikachus.

"T-there's something…" Misty began.

"B-behind you," Brock then finished.

Ash then steeled himself and turned around…only to find nothing. He then said. "A-alright, if anybody is there, you can come on out. And if you're a ghost or a monster…. you can stay where you are and we won't bother you."

"And you implied that I'm a torchick," Misty's yelled as she got angry again. "You're an even bigger coward than I am."

"Maybe not that big," Ash retorted weakly with his two forefingers touching.

"Not that…" Misty said as she was about to bop Ash once again when Brock came into the rescue.

"C'mon, guys." Brock now yelled at both of them. "Just quit it."

As it were, two dark figures approached both pikachus, scaring them to bits.

"Pikapi!" they yelled. (Help me!)

"N-not now, Junior and Chu-Chu." Ash said in the hopes of calming everyone down. He did turn around as both pikachus were completely panicking.

In their panic though, both Junior and Chu-Chu managed to put the stalkers on hold by means of their new move – Light Screen. They did it by curling their tails around their bodies so the lightning/heart part of it was now in front of them, the aforementioned part then glowed brightly thus spooking the stalkers now revealed to be magnemites.

"Magnemite," Ash said as he and Misty whipped out their pokedexes to scan the stalker electric/steel type pokemon. "Is that a pokemon?"

Both pokedexes then chirped out. "Magnemite, a magnet pokemon. Its means of floating through the air are not understood. This very mysterious pokemon is of the Electric type."

Actually, magnemite floats by being of the opposite polarity to that of the Earth itself as well as by producing electric fields with both electric and contrasting magnetic fields counteracting the force of gravity. And no, I will NOT delve into specific details as this is neither an article of Pokemon Researchers Monthly nor of National Pokegraphic. Thank you very much.

"What's a pokemon like that doing here?" Ash then asked.

"My guess is since it's an electric type, it would be attracted to the electricity produced in this plant." Misty then made her hypothesis. "Not only that they may be the reason why this plant had shut down in the first place."

"These two by themselves," Brock could not believe what Misty said. "I kinda doubt that even happening."

"Well, our pokedexes said it is mysterious." Misty defended weakly.

"That doesn't matter."

"How about we capture 'em and find out," Ash then said to end the argument and get an electric/steel pokemon besides.

"Wait," Misty then added. "Those magnemite don't want to battle."

Indeed, both magnemites were just orbiting around both puzzled and scared pikachus.

"What's with them?" Ash then said after a few minutes. "They seem to be just circling around both Junior and Chu-Chu."

"It seemed that they both liked Junior and Chu-Chu," Brock then said. "Then again, magnemites aren't known to have gender either."

Yeah, tell that to both magnemites who seem to be blushing whenever sparks fly out of both pikachus' cheeks.

"This magnemite is blushing," Misty then observed. "It's as if it's in love or something. Very unusual for something that doesn't have a gender."

"Love?" Ash then asked, confused.

"If it were an animal pokemon, I could understand." Brock then made his own observation. "But how could an inorganic pokemon like magnemite fall in love with an electric rodent?"

"Opposite poles attract?" Ash then opined with a shrug of his shoulders. "I learned that in school. Even then, it's obvious that neither Junior nor Chu-Chu like those magnemites back."

"Yeah, but that means both pikachus must have a magnetic field around them for that to happen."

"Good point."

While the humans were talking, both pikachus were running away from their respective stalkers and being followed in return.

"Hey, cut it out!" Misty nearly yelled as she had enough of the chasing around. Both magnemites had stopped chasing the pikachus and left in a hurry.

"I guess the magnemites gave up," Ash then said with a slight smile full of relief as the pikachus had hugged their trainers' legs.

It was about that time that Brock smelled something awful. "Hmm, do you smell that?"

Misty's nose crinkled as the smell had gotten to her. "I do."

"So do I," Ash then said as his own nose registered the unpleasant smell.

A grating from the air vent then fell from the ceiling, making a clanking sound once it fell to the concrete floor. Two of the sludge like things from earlier had followed the grating. "Grimer, grimer." (More meat!)

"It's those things," Brock told the others while covering his nose and mouth with his left hand.

"They stink," Misty added while the same with her left hand as she reached for her pokedex at about the same time as Ash. "Eww."

"What are these things?" Ash said as he pointed his pokedex at the newcomers. "Are these the grimers that the guard was talking about earlier?"

It turned out that Ash was correct as both Pokedexes had chirped the same answer. "Grimer, a Sludge pokemon. Born from sludge, these pokemon specialize in Sludge attacks."

"Magnemite must have disappeared because of these things," Brock then theorized. "They may not smell them, but they knew that they are a threat."

"This is what sludge smells like," Ash said as he realized what sludge really smells like. "It really stinks."

"Grimer, grimer." (Yeah, yeah)

"Ash," Brock warned his friend. "Don't say anything that might insult their pokemon pride or make them mad."

Ash then said in the hopes that the grimer would go away as he let go of his nose and mouth and even clasped his pokedex. "I'm sorry. You have such a unique scent. I should have known it was the aroma of sludge."

Misty's no-nonsense filter then kicked in as she yelled. "You can call it whatever you want as they still stink."

Ash and Brock quickly closed Misty's mouth as they hissed. "Shut up, Misty."

Too late though as it seems that boss of the grease grime gang had turned up and he was not happy at being called stinky.

"Oh, it's huge." Ash then said as he and Misty pointed their pokedexes at him.

"Grimer's grandpa?" Misty then guessed what it was.

Nope, as both pokedexes would describe him as: "Muk, Grimer's evolved form. Use extreme caution, as its slimy form contains poison."

Ash recoiled at given description. Misty then added. "The smell is getting worse."

Even Junior and Chu-Chu could not help but comment on the acrid smell. "Pika." (Yuck)

Muk then told his posse to grab the five people and pokemon with said five running like hell.

"Why'd you open your mouth and make the grimer mad, Misty?" Ash asked his friend as they all ran for their lives.

"I had to open my mouth," Misty retorted quickly. "I couldn't use my nose."

The group then turned into a corner before bumping the two plant workers. One of them exclaimed as his coworker was on the floor as did Ash. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm Brock Harrrison," Brock then thought to introduce themselves as the flashlight was shined on them. "This is Misty Waterflower and that is Ash Ketchum."

"Skip the introduction and let's get outta here," Misty then pleaded with the breeder in training.

By then grimers had caught up with our heroes and everyone ran away. One of the plant workers exclaimed as the grimers rounded up the corner. "Ahhh! The grimers are here too!"

His companion then stood up and helped Ash as he told his companions, old and new. "Quick, to the control room!"

"Hey, wait for us!" Ash yelled as he and his group ran after the plant workers.

The flashlight that one of the workers dropped was run over by the grimers.

The plant workers reached the control room first, followed by Ash and the others. Brock then locked the door and even put himself behind it to keep the grimer to barge in unannounced.

Ash then told the workers. "Why don't you tell us what's goin' on? This blackout is a disaster for the whole city. Lots of pokemon in the Pokemon Center are gonna die if the power doesn't come back on and soon."

-oOo-

Back in the Pokemon Center, Erin Joy was looking at the glass cage where a sandshrew was lying. Said sandshrew was growing weak as he could not be healed.

"Hang in there," she told the sandshrew with worry in her seldom used soft voice. "Those kids are gonna bring the power back on, I'm sure. At least, I hope so."

-oOo-

Ash then continued. "They need that power."

One of the plant workers then answered who introduced himself as Phillip. "We can't. There are so many grimers that they are clogging the sea water intake."

After a pause, the other worker who introduced himself as Dick then continued. "We've got to bring the water to a boil by means of the gas turbine so it could turn the turbines or the generator would not work at all."

"So do something!" Ash was losing his patience as he was not going to let the pokemon (including their own) to die.

Dick then answered. "I afraid that it's easier said than done. We've been trying to unclog the drains…"

"Ash!"

They all looked at the door where Brock was doing his best to hold it down as the grimer were ramming their way inside. "The grimer are ramming the door. I can't hold it any longer."

Outside, Muk was guiding his posse to continue ramming the door. Both Ash and Misty had helped in keeping the door down as the workers were doing their best to flush out the grimer in the intake by any means necessary.

"I hate to say it," Misty yelled in terror and desperation. "But if we don't act fast, we're gonna be on the muk menu."

Ash then groused. "Makes me wish that Tyson would be here. He'd hold this door until we could find something to kick the grimer and that muk out."

Eventually, the grimer's tackle attacks had succeeded in breaking down the door. All of the humans and two pikachus were trapped.

Dick then said. "You three are pokemon trainers, aren't you? You've gotta use your pokemon to help us out."

Phillip then added. "That's right. If you can get rid of the grimers, we can get the generators to work."

"What do you expect us to do?" Ash then retorted. "Both Junior and Chu-Chu are sick. Neither of them would be able to take on all of those grimer at once."

Despite their sickness, both Junior and Chu-Chu stepped forward to earn their keep. Ash noticed this and added with a sigh. "Junior and Chu-Chu are only hope."

Misty then added. "Oh Chu-Chu, please help us out."

Junior then said for both him and Chu-Chu. "Pikachu." (Let's go)

"You're our last chance," Ash then said. "Junior, use your Thunder Shock."

"You too, Chu-Chu." Misty then coaxed her own pikachu.

Both electric attacks had taken out two off the grimer, but only them as their friends took their place.

"It's no use," Ash said in panic. "There's too many of them."

Not only that, it seemed that Muk wanted to join in the party too. But help was on the way as magnemite and its friends had come out of another air vent and joined the battle.

The magnemites and their evolved form – magneton had formed up in front of the humans and glowed, all of them ready to counterattack. Ash and Misty then brought out their pokedexes again as Ash asked. "What are they?"

Brock then answered. "Magnemite and magneton, their friends of our…stalkers."

Suddenly, the floor glowed since the magnemites released bolts of electricity at the floor electrifying it and giving the grimer and muk a huge dose of pain. They then fired a group Thundershock at the bunched up grimer.

With electric field losing power, the grimer used the time to escape. The same could be said with the grimers that were blocking the inlet as they had a taste of Thunderbolt too.

As the inlet was unclogged, water rushed in and the gas turbine was automatically turned on thus the steam resulting from the heated water had spun the turbines with the generators now humming with newly made electric power. Power was restored at the plant as the backup generators had turned themselves off and all of the lights had come on.

Ash yelled with joy. "The lights are on."

Dick then added with glee as all systems had gone green. "The turbines are moving again."

Phillip then added as he and Dick were now opening up all of the lines towards the step up transformers before it would head to the factories and other buildings. "The grimer had been cleared away from the sea intake valve."

Misty then noticed something was wrong. "Hold on, there's still one left."

"It's the Muk," Ash then said. "We'll take care of him. Junior, give him a taste of your Thunder."

"You too, Chu-Chu."

Both pikachu then unleashed their most powerful electric attack, but it was still not enough.

"This muk is tough," Ash groused. But the magnemite from before had come back and added its own Thunderbolt to the repertoire. The sheer power of four electric attacks were enough to weaken Muk for Ash to capture it. The said pokeball disappeared and off it went to Professor Oak's lab.

Back in the center, the return of electric power had gotten the healing machines and PCs back online and Erin could not help but be overjoyed as the heroes had returned to sleep the remaining night away.

-oOo-

The next morning, both Dick and Phillip had visited our heroes as they all ate breakfast in the cafeteria. Dick then explained what happened to Junior and Chu-Chu the previous night.

"The reason why both Junior and Chu-Chu were feeling that way is that when an electric mouse builds up too much electricity like during back-to-back battles yesterday afternoon, its body becomes magnetized and it seems like it has a cold," Phillip explained. "It's not fatal, but both of them need to let out some juice every once in a while."

"Then I was right all along," Ash then exclaimed as he was already finished with his breakfast. "Since both Junior and Chu-Chu were magnetized, that's probably why magnemite had been attracted to them in the first place."

"You're right, Ash." Dick then said with a big smile. "It does seem that way."

Erin had overheard the conversation and thought to do some research of her own while minding the center. It would not hurt in inviting Phillip for a date once she was off duty too.

After partaking their meal and calling home, the group, this time with William joining them had continued their journey towards Fuschia City and its gym. Or at least, that was what they should have been doing if not for Team Rocket springing one last hurrah - A gyrarydos submarine had surfaced with an electromagnet on top.

"And now, the fun begins." Jessie, eager to capture Junior (and maybe Chu-Chu first) then trade Chu-Chu for William, said with glee. "With our new secret weapon. Tell them, James."

"Now that Junior and Chu-Chu are magnetized, our plan is to use this high-powered electromagnet and finally capture those pikachus then trade Chu-Chu for William."

"Hey, are you talking to the readers?" Meowth then interjected. "Why don't we just catch Junior and Chu-Chu instead?"

"Why don't you keep your snide remarks to yourself?" Jessie then rebuked Meowth.

"That's right," James agreed.

Jessie then pushed the red button with the skull and crossbones on it. Immediately, the electromagnet hummed to life and…. well, it got something alright and that's a lot of magnemites and magnetons.

To keep them from getting captured, Ash and his friends threw some pokeballs as well thus capturing three of the magnetons from certain doom and right into Oak's lab.

"That sounds strange," Jessie then noticed as the sound seemed to be different from what they were expecting.

"It certainly does," James could not help but agree.

"Yeah," and now Meowth agreed too.

Soon, the magnet had attracted more than enough magnemites and magnetons for the sub to be top heavy and if a certain naval vessel is much too top heavy, it lists and sinks. And that's exactly what happened to Team Rocket's sub. It now joined Titanic, Lusitania, Bismark, and countless other ships in Davy Jones's locker.

"Team Rocket is splashing off again."

Have a nice dive, Rocket.

Just before the team could leave the city gates, they had one last chat with both Erin Joy and Sabrina Jenny.

"All those grimer just proved that the bay surrounding this city is polluted," Misty then told them. "You guys have to clean up the sea around here. I know you can do it."

"You're right, Misty." Sabrina said with a simple smile. "We'll do everything we can to make sure that the bay is clean again."

Brock then added, wistfully as his own city was much cleaner in comparison. "If you can clean up the air, the water, and even the streets, you may bring this place back to life."

Erin then spoke up. "Thanks, Brock. You and the others worked so hard to make sure that all the center's pokemon survived that you've inspired me to become a better nurse."

Sabrina then added with a rouge grin. "We salute your fine work. Thank you, Ash."

Ash only smiled as he answered. "Oh please, if we didn't do it, I'm sure someone else would. Anyway, like what Misty and Brock said, try to make your city clean."

"We will," Erin answered with unbridled joy. "Please come and visit us."

"We will," Ash added with a rouge grin of his own. "And that's a promise."

-oOo-

Oh, before I forget, I wonder what happened in Oak's lab. Oak had smelled something awful in the transmission room once he heard news that Ash, Misty, and even Brock had gotten four more pokemon. Suddenly, one of the pokeballs had opened, releasing…you guessed it, Muk.

"What's the big idea of Ash sending me a muk!" Oak complained as he covered his nose with a handkerchief. "Yuck!"

Muk held up his arms and was more than willing to give the good professor a hug. "Mukkkkk." (Huggggg)

He later called for Ryder to help him get Muk (that Ash nicknamed – Slimer) out of the labs and into the ranch. He later joined Dopey the Psyduck and Pika Sr. in their shared adventures and misadventures in the ranch from that point on.

-oOo-

After leaving Gringly City, the team had reached Cycling Bridge after taking a more leisurely route through Route 16. When I said leisurely, I meant that Ash, Misty, and Brock had battled a few ace trainers for big cash then resting for a bit.

The group had gotten good enough to sweep the ace trainers by now and ended up with 20,000 pokedollars each before arriving at Cycling Bridge itself.

They first saw the bridge on one of the lookouts nearest to the bridge itself. The bridge itself is just your run of the mill suspension bridge with some curves just off the shore to follow the sea floor that seemed to be irregular itself due to various forces of the sea like tides.

"Wow," Ash said in awe. "Look at that."

"Pika," Junior added also in awe. (Wow)

"That's an amazing bridge," Misty gushed upon seeing a wonder of engineering.

"So, it's been completed already." Brock then said as he looked at the map he brought.

"Huh?" Misty was confused at Brock's words.

"So, it's only completed recently," William then said as he noted the lack of traffic at the bridge despite being mid-morning already. "I wonder how did people cross this body of water towards the southern peninsula before."

"Yeah," Brock then told the fire horse pokemon. "The map said that it was still under construction, but if it's completed, we can continue on to Fuchsia City through Route 18 without going all the way around. And William, they either used the longer route or just used ferries."

"Great," Ash then said excitedly. "Let's cross the bridge to get to Fuchsia City and challenge Koga. Let's go!"

The trio along with William who had both Junior and Chu-Chu riding on his back headed for the pokemon center to change teams, call home, and take a brief rest.

It was while they were resting that the nurse in charge – Katherine Joy had been looking for help. Brock would have gotten into Nurse Joy/Jenny love mode when Katherine spoke up.

"Y'know, my cousin – Erin had high hopes for you in teaching her to be more serious in her job," Katherine then scolded Brock. "Besides, I know Alyssa too."

"Right, right." Brock said in defeat. "So how can we help?"

"I need someone to deliver medicine over to Sunny town at the end of the bridge," Katherine then said. "It's only six kilometers so you'll get there before dark as you obviously have bikes and even a ponyta besides."

"We'll do it," Ash then said. "It'll be just like what we did in Gringy City, only easier."

Ash had gotten the medicine that he kept in his backpack. He and the others then got back to their bikes with the pikachus going back on William's back after the ponyta had gotten a good rest.

The group then passed Norman the toll collector by and waved at him. He waved back. From there, it was smooth sailing from the group that was happy that the bike lane was smooth enough for them to pedal faster without worrying about gravel or dirt being kicked up.

Unknown to Ash and the others, it seems that Team Rocket had survived their earlier ordeal and were now using a rubber boat to pass the bridge from underneath.

"They're riding on the bike path across the bridge," Meowth then told the others as he looked through his binoculars as did Jessie. It was James who was rowing for all of them.

Jessie was surprisingly confident that they would finally bag Junior and William this time as she said. "Hah. We've got 'em right where we want 'em."

Meowth then put down his binocular in worry. "You think we have a chance, this time."

"Well, it's not like this place is new to us, you know," James then added in between pants.

"You could almost call it our hometown," Jessie was waxing sentimental at this point. "Right, James."

"So, we'll have the home team advantage," James said with a grunt.

"James, prepare to attack." Jessie then ordered her partner as she pointed at the bridge.

"I'm a little busy here," James then reminded that it was he who was rowing the boat by his lonesome in the first place.

A third of the way through the bridge, our heroes had rested in another of the lookouts at the side of the bridge for a little break. They were all gulping down some sodas and for William, a small trough full of water. Junior and Chu-Chu were also gulping down some water in little metal glasses.

"Ok, time to hit the road." Ash said as they had thrown their used cans. "We've still got a long way to go."

It did not take long before they heard raucous laughter from the part of the bridge that they had to cross.

"Uh, who are they?" Misty was beginning to worry about the incoming bikers.

"They're a bicycle gang," Brock answered.

This made Misty giggle a bit. "Aren't they a biker gang?"

"Those guys ride motorcycles," Brock the explained. "These guys ride bikes. I think it's best that we get outta here."

"Too late for that," William said as the gang moved even closer to them.

Indeed, before Ash and the others could make a break for it, they were already surrounded by the bike gang.

The said gang's leader, a red-haired teen with spiky hair then said with zapdos designed bike. "I haven't seen youse guys before."

"We're not from around here," Ash answered with some hesitation. "Be seein' ya."

"Hold it!" the spiky-haired teen yelled just as Ash and the others would have made a break for it before taking off his shades. "You ain't gonna cross this bridge without a proper introduction."

"That's right," the other members of the gang chorused as they prevented the group from leaving.

"Uh, hello." Ash then told him by briefly leaving his bike then quickly returning.

"It's a pleasure," Misty said as she followed Ash's lead.

"Nice to meet you," Brock then added to the point that he even held the biker's hands.

"Pi, pi." Junior and Chu-Chu said in tandem as William had trotted over to the biker then also returning to his previous position. (Hi, Hi)

I have to laugh at the different expressions of the gang leader that went from shocked to welcoming as the group politely greeted him.

"See you again some time!" Ash, Misty, and Brock said together with Junior and Chu-Chu adding. "Ka-ka" (Bye-Bye)

This time, the biker leader was incensed as he did not like being fooled. "That's not what we meant by introduction?!"

"When we say introduction…" a soprano voice then said with authority. "We mean a pokemon battle."

The group looked at who spoke and saw an attractive green-haired female biker.

"A pokemon battle," Ash then said after a moment's hesitation. "We accept."

"I'd do anything for an introduction to a girl like you," Brock then said as he had once again entered love-sick mode.

Ash's determined eyes had shifted to one of disbelief as Brock had gotten back to his usual routine of trying to woo a girl that had gotten Ash, Misty, Junior, Chu-Chu, and William do a faceplant.

As for Brock, the older girl brained him with her bike. Ouch, the things one does for a chance of getting loved back.

In addition, the girl told him off by saying. "Get lost, loser. I only care about my bike and my gang."

Brock then asked with some hope remaining in his heart as he stood up while rubbing his sore head. "Is that a no?"

I would say that's a hell no, Brock. Try again.

A few minutes later, everyone had gotten into position as the battle lines were drawn.

"Well then, let's get started." Ash then said as he thought of who to field in this battle. "We're kind of in a hurry here."

"You think you can play with the big boys," the biker leader answered as he enlarged a pokeball. "We'll send you cryin' home to mama."

"Golem, go!" he then threw a pokeball in Ash's location. A huge green tortoise like boulder pokemon emerged from the thrown pokeball and instantly both Ash and Misty scanned it.

"He's pretty tough," Ash then surmised.

"Not only that," Brock then added once both Pokedexes had finished their scan. "But that's the final form of geodude."

"In that case, I have the perfect pokemon for him." Ash then said as he made his choice. "Leaf Tornado, I choose you!"

Once Leaf Tornado had emerged, Ash then said. "LT, Seed Bomb now!"

Leaf Tornado's flower's center had grown white before firing multiple growing green seeds that explode from the flower. Golem tried to evade the seeds, but six seeds had made contact.

Golem howled from the pain once the seeds had made contact and exploded, more so since vines became wrapped in vines and leaves that restrained it. The vines and leaves glowed red and sucked energy from Golem.

"Golem!" the biker leader yelled as he never knew that Leaf Tornado had stealthily added Leech Seed to his earlier attack. "If you're going down, take that walking bulb with you. Use Flamethrower!"

Golem did use the fire attack, but he used it on the vines first to free himself. Thus, Leaf Tornado had fired a green beam from its flower towards Golem that took him out of the game once it hit.

The biker leader who was said to be Chopper had returned Golem and left his post in defeat. The girl, who Ash and the others learned to be Tyra had challenged Misty to a battle as well.

"Now it's my turn to show you how good we really are," Tyra said as she pulled out a pokeball as well. "I choose you, Cloyster. Crush this wimp."

Again, both Ash and Misty had scanned the new pokemon. But this time, it was Misty who had known the pokemon better especially its weakness and she has the perfect pokemon for this. "Dyna, let's go."

Tyra was confident since she knew that Starmies are weak to Bug and Dark attacks, which Cloyster has a move each with the said elements. "After you."

"Thank you," Misty then said. "Dyna, let's start off with Grass Knot."

"Wait what?!" Tyra was completely floored by the unexpected order.

Dyna's jewels had glowed and pieces of glass that flew in from the ends of the bridge completely surrounded Cloyster, immobilizing it. Misty followed it up by ordering her pokemon. "Follow it up with Rock Gem and Thunder."

Again, Dyna's jewel glowed then it fired a red beam towards Cloyster and glowed one last time as a lightning bolt was fired from Dyna's top appendage tagging Cloyster that was already reeling from the pain caused by Rock Gem. With all the super effective moves fired at it, it was more than enough for Cloyster to faint.

The biker gang were impressed with how both Ash and Misty battled with such skill that they had maximized their attack patterns to fully weaken Chopper's and Tyra's pokemon within minutes.

It was about that time that Team Rocket had made their appearance. And what an appearance it is. All three Rocket agents were riding unicycles with Jessie and James looking like stylish punks and Meowth wearing a circus lion tamer outfit complete with a whip.

Not only that, Jessie and James actually showed off their skills in riding unicycles, which is no easy feat.

"Tyra, it's been a while." Jessie told her former junior as she took off her shades.

"Big Jessie." Tyra responded with stars in her eyes.

"You're looking good, Chopper." James then added to his own protégée as he too took off his shades.

"Little Jim." Chopper added with stars in his own eyes.

Wait, Little Jim. What's so little with him?!

"Big Jess and Little Jim?" Ash had also asked as he was confused as to what brought all of this on.

Jessie kept herself from laughing to keep her cool persona intact as she answered Ash while James gave me the middle finger and not being obvious about it. "Well, you know. We had a pretty bad reputation here back in the old days."

"You're Chainer Jessie," Tyra explained. "Big Jess was really cool, swinging her chain while riding a bicycle."

(Imagines Jessie swinging a chain while riding a bicycle in her school uniform)p Nope, nope, nope.

"And then there's Trainer James." Chopper then picked up. "Little Jim was the only member of the bike gang…that has to use trainer wheels."

Excuse me, while I laugh.

"I suppose we were really crazy back then," Jessie then said softly while holding back tears of joy as she relieved one of the few happy years of her life thus far.

"Well, I guess our secret past isn't a secret anymore." James then added.

None of our heroes could react as they were too busy trying to erase the pathetic story they just heard from their collective memory.

"I kinda wish it was still a secret," Ash then told his friends in a soft voice.

"Pika," Junior then added. (Yeah)

Jessie then turned her attention to our heroes. "But I see that you're still into kid stuff, riding around on bicycles."

"Real gangs ride unicycles," James then added.

Wrong, real gangs ride motorcycles. Clowns ride unicycles, no offense to real life clowns out there.

"I guess your cycle gang would save a lot on handlebars," Tyra then opined.

"Tyra, we're not in a gang." Jessie then reminded her. Both she and James had gotten rid of their biker costumes. "Because we are the members of Team Rocket."

"Team Rocket," both Tyra and Chopper mimicked with tears in their eyes as they wanted to join the prestigious criminal organization.

"And I'd like all of you to help us take care of…" Jessie then said before tilting her head in Ash and his friend's direction. "These little pests that are always ruining their plans."

Chopper then spoke up as he still wanted to show off to his seniors. "I'll do anything for Jess and Jim."

Meowth then excitedly. "Then capture all of their pokemon."

"Let's go," Ash told his friends as they realized that they would easily be overwhelmed. "Forget the bikes."

"C'mon," Brock added as everyone turned around and ran.

The gang then charged at our heroes who ran back as fast as they could, to the point of leaving their bikes. William was prepared to fire off a Fire Spin to keep the gang off their backs albeit temporarily.

It was around that time that the Bridge patrol led by an Officer Jenny had also headed towards them. Jenny even said. "Hey, you stop causing trouble on this bike path!"

Chopper had also seen the coming patrol and thus told his gang. "It's the fuzz. Everyone, let's split!"

Rocket was confused at the sudden turn of events with Jessie voicing out her opinions by saying as the gang rode their bikes and cycled away. "I thought you were going to help us."

"They're all a bunch of scary meowths," Meowth then added ironically being one himself.

By then, the cop cars had now moved to hot pursuit of the gang and thus Meowth then continued. "But I'm getting scared myself."

"Uh-huh," both Jessie and James replied before running away as well with the cops also hot on their heels.

-oOo-

A few minutes later, Officer Natalia Jenny then asked Ash and the others on why they were on the bridge in the first place. "So, you're just trying to bring pokemon medicine to Sunnytown?"

"Right," Brock then answered. "Nurse Katherine Joy sent us. But of course, you're still more beautiful than she is."

Natalia ignored the pick-up line as she told them. "You need to get there so I'll give you a ride in one of our squad cars."

It was then that her radio then rang with Natalia picking it up. "303 here. Roger. Over and out."

She then turned to the heroes and added. "There's been an accident. I'll have to go."

"That's OK," Ash then said. "We'll be fine."

"Be careful," Natalia then said before coming back to her own police chopper.

"Right!"

Natalia then rode off to where the accident had taken place with Ash and his friends getting on their bikes and riding off themselves with William accompanying them.

"We should get moving, Ash." Misty then said while they were still getting on their bikes.

"Let's go," Ash said as they left.

A storm front had swiftly come in with Ash and his friend still about halfway to their destination. William was recalled as he would be too tired to run and keep his flames up at the same time as did both Junior and Chu-Chu so both Ash and Misty could concentrate on their riding.

-oOo-

In a building near the bridge, James had seen Ash and his friends riding out the storm.

"They're riding through the storm," James said in disbelief.

"No kidding," Jessie dismissed the fool's run.

"I knew those kids were all wet," Meowth then added.

"They're insane," James then added. "I'm glad we're inside,"

"With how the winds are blowing," Meowth the continued. "That wind might blow them off the bridge."

"Big Jess!"

"Little James!"

Both Jessie and James were challenged by their juniors. Chopper then said. "We know you wanna be out there. You could ride a storm twice this intense."

"I could," James could not believe what he was hearing. But if he could, I would dare him to go ride a bike in a Category 4 Hurricane/Typhoon/Cyclone.

Tyra then added. "Big Jess, lead us into the eye of the storm and show us how to ride, Big Jess style."

"I-I…"

Together, both Chopper and Tyra added. "Show the gang how to really ride."

The gang members themselves looked at both Jessie and James with hero worship. Then again, if they could do it, then I guess they do deserve being hero worshipped anyway.

Even then, both Rocket agents were shivering in fear before Chopper then said. "You're not afraid of this storm, are you?"

James then gathered his courage and answered. "I just wish I had my training wheels."

"What about you, Big Jess?" Tyra then asked her own senior.

'I-I guess I have no choice…' Jessie thought quickly. "Alright, I'll show you kids what riding is all about."

Meowth who was standing next to the curtain sighed in relief as he said to himself. "I wish I could go with ya."

Chopper then knelt down and said as he held the pot luck pokemon's hands. "Oh, we would never leave you behind, Meowth."

Meowth could only think. 'Oh boy!'

-oOo-

In the Sunnytown Pokemon Center, Nurse Kaitlyn Joy then called her cousin – Katherine since Ash and the others had not arrived yet. "The medicine has not yet arrived."

"But they should be there by this time," Katherine then said.

"Maybe they won't be able to go through the storm," Kaitlyn said with worry on her tone as the shellder behind her was now fighting for dear life.

-oOo-

As Ash and his friends was about to reach the two-third part of the bridge, they had noticed that the drawbridge there was slowly being lifted to permit the container ship to pass through. This had brought a conundrum for our heroes.

"What's that?" Misty yelled at her companions.

"It's a drawbridge," Brock then answered her. "That ship is trying to get shelter in the bay."

The drawbridge had by then been lifted to its maximum height and angle with the heroes fast approaching it.

"What do we do?" Misty was beginning to panic.

"We wait until the ship gets through," Brock then added.

"We can't wait," Ash said as they have to get the medicine as soon as possible. "They need that medicine now!"

-oOo-

On the other side of the drawbridge, Team Rocket was cooling their heels for no reason at all. It was then that they also heard and saw the drawbridge being raised.

"Oh, I wish that we weren't out of this rain." Jessie moaned.

"Hey, look there." James added as the drawbridge was being raised.

"Now how can you get past that?" Meowth then said in desperation.

Behind them, the bridge gang were giving their moral support to their seniors.

"Did we really have to do this?" Jessie then asked James.

"I-I guess so," came the reply.

Back with Ash and the others, Brock was telling Ash. "Ash, don't."

Ash only answered as he switched gears for his bike to be able to climb the bridge and pedaled even harder. "There's a sick pokemon waiting. I can't let it down."

Misty then yelled as she and Brock also shifted gears and pedaled even harder. "Ash, wait!"

Back on the other side, Team Rocket was climbing the raised bridge on their unicycles. That stunt alone earned a slow clap from me as riding a unicyle is hard enough, but climbing a slippery raised drawbridge on a unicycle required mastery of balance and leg control plus a lot of leg strength to be able to do it.

Back with Ash, he too was pedaling as hard as he could to get as high as he could on the bridge and maybe cross it.

"I just have to keep going for that sick pokemon," he said in between pants. "I have to make it. I just have to."

Ash and his friends managed to clear the bridge at about the same time Team Rocket did from the other side.

"Oh no," Tyra told the rest of the gang as they could see the bikers flying in the air at the gap between the bridges. "They not gonna make it."

"We'll drown," both Brock and Misty yelled as they could not remain in the air any longer.

"No," Ash said as he had a crazy idea upon seeing Rocket in front of them. "We'll bounce."

And just like that, Ash, Misty, and Brock used Team Rocket as impromptu floating ramps to remain in the air just long enough to clear the gap.

"Sorry, Rocket." They yelled as they continued through the air and Rocket falling into the drink.

The three heroes managed to land on the other bridge and ride it down.

"We made it," Ash yelled in victory.

"They made it," Chopper was impressed with how our heroes managed to do the impossible – crossing a raised drawbridge in the middle of a thunderstorm.

"Alright," Chopper then told them as he wanted Ash and the others to be initiated to their group…in a battle.

"We're delivering medicine to a sick pokemon," Ash retorted angrily. "Outta of our way."

Tyra was flabbergasted upon realizing why Ash and the others rode out a storm. "You mean that's why you rode out a storm."

"That's right," Misty then added as she and Brock had caught up with Ash.

"Unbelievable," Chopper was even more impressed at the determination of our heroes. "Now that's a real biker for you."

Turning to his gang, he continued. "Listen up, guys. We'll take these heroes to the end in style."

Cheers were heard as the legend of the bike jumpers had just been made.

From there, Ash and his friends were escorted to the end of the bridge. Chopper then added. "Don't worry, Ash. We'll clear the way for you."

And with the bridge biker gang escorting them, they finally arrived to the Pokemon Center where Kaitlyn was waiting for them.

"Here is the medicine, Nurse Joy" Ash said before giving the package.

Kaitlyn then took the medicine and poured it onto the tank where shelder was resting. "Now this little one will be just fine."

Misty had called Katherine on the videophone before seeing the celebration nearby as everyone was happy for having done a good deed for the day.

Chopper then told Ash. "From now on, we'll call you Awesome Ash."

Tyra did the same with Misty. "And you're Mighty Misty."

They certainly are, aren't they?

Then Brock had to sneak in a chance to score. He held Tyra's hands and told her. "And you can call me Honey."

Cue slap that was heard around the Pokemon world.

By the way, I wonder what happened to Team Rocket. Well, they had come out of the shore a good way from Sunny Town with all of them riding one unicycle from underwater.

And what did they say upon coming to dry land – "This is a vicious cycle".

Thanks for the pun, Rocket. It was actually good.

-oOo-

After resting in the Pokemon Center, Ash and the others then pedaled for another day before reaching Fuchsia City. And unlike Sunnytown, this one is pretty much a ghost town.

Even then, there is still a Pokemon Center manned by Nurse Cerise Joy and her staff for the trainers that would later battle Koga in the Fuchsia City gym a good five miles to the north.

The only problem was that there was no bike or road path and thus, one has to go through a dense forest for at least two days or more to find the gym.

Even then, Ash, Brock, and Misty then discussed their game plans and even switched their pokemon to fit the pokemon that Koga mostly uses as well as buying some needed food items including candy and medicine.

"So, what do we know?" Ash then asked his friends about their game plan against Koga. "There's gotta be something we can use against Koga."

"His two pokemon at least what I've learned from my meetings with him and the other gym leaders are Venonat and Golbat, both of them being part poison that is the gym's type," Brock answered. "Of course, that's common knowledge as he did state it in the league website."

"So, bug/poison and flying/poison…" Misty then said. "I'll have to admit; he's smart to use those pokemon with different weakness thus anyone who would challenge him has to switch unless he's Brock."

"'Good point," Brock said as he rubbed his chin. "Both are weak to Rock type attacks so I can sweep his team using both Geo Force and Solid Snake."

"Even then, I have an Electric-type and a Fire-type so there's that," Ash said with a shrug. "I'll just use William for this one so he could have a shot of fighting a gym battle again then I'll have Plus take over since it is resistant to poison in case William is taken out."

"Well, I guess I can use Fyrefox first then Squidward once Golbat comes up." Misty then said. "Using Dyna would just be cheating as it has moves for Ice, Rock, Electric, and Psychic, but there's still its weakness to Bug so it may be taken out early against Venonat. It'll be a cinch against Golbat though."

"Oh wait, I think I'll use Drago here instead of Fyrefox so he could get some experience too." Misty then remembered her Gyarydos. "He'll be great with Squidward in this match."

With that said, both Ash and Misty changed their teams to accommodate their chosen competitors in this match.

Cerise could only watch with amusement at this particular group of trainers as they did the impossible just the day before and from what the Joys told her could do the same in the gym.

-oOo-

The following day, the group had their left their bikes at the Pokemon Center in Fuschia City and headed north on foot. They had been walking through the forest for two days now and they needed a break as it seemed that finding the Fuchsia City gym is much harder than beating it.

Brock had seen a waterfall where they could rest for a few minutes as well as letting them replenish their nearly empty canteens.

"Miss Cerise is right," Misty then told the others while Brock was counting their food and medicine. "That gym is harder to find than beat."

"Yeah," Ash said as it was his turn to fill up his canteen as William and the pikachus had taken a drink of water. "Maybe it would be easier if we have a pokemon that knows Fly."

"It would be much better if that pokemon is big enough to support any of us if not all," Misty groused. "But I'm sure we'll be able to find it since rarely did anyone find the gym in more than two days."

The team had crossed a wooden bridge (actually a single wooden plank) except for William who managed to cross the gully in one leap. Ash had to be a drama queen as he crawled across the wooden board thus holding up the others behind him.

"Hold on, everyone." Ash told the others. "If we fall, our pokemon journey will be over."

"Pikachu-pika," Junior said in response. (Drama queen)

"Are you sure that the Fuchsia gym is somewhere around here?" Ash yelled as he was also afraid of heights. "And I'm not a drama queen, Junior."

"Ash, stand up and just cross the bridge." Misty rebuked as she was getting to be annoyed with Ash's antics. "Then you won't be a drama queen."

"Ok, ok." Ash shakily stood up and ran towards the other side where William was patiently waiting for him. "Done."

"You know," William said with a snicker. "I'm a bit of an acrophobic too, but at least, I can jump this gully. Of course, once I'm back to being human, I'll probably have to cross this bridge really quickly so I won't need to look down."

After everyone had a good laugh, Junior then pointed to a shinden-zukiri architectural complex in the distance that William was glancing every now and then as well.

"Huh?" Ash was confused as to why an old style Kantonian mansion was there in the middle of nowhere. "What's that?"

"That's weird," Misty then said. "A mansion in the middle of nowhere."

"I didn't know that houses this old still existed," Brock then added.

"I'll bet that's where the gym is," William then said to the surprise of everybody.

"Why do you say that, William?" Ash then asked the fire horse as they walked towards the mansion.

"Well, let's think about it," William then replied after a moment as they had gotten nearer to their destination. "Fuchsia City is pretty much a ghost town, that's one. Miss Cerise told us that the gym is in the middle of this forest and she also said that it would take us two days to find it, that's two. And finally, Koga, according to Miss Cerise and the Pokemon league website, is a ninja and this building's location would fit in with what I know about ninjas back in my world in which they tend to stay near nature and well-hidden from plain sight so that's three."

"That does make a lot of sense," Brock then added. "At the very least, if this mansion isn't the gym, we could at least ask someone if they knew where it is."

Even then, Ash's danger senses had been nagging at him and even William seemed to be looking for something in the trees thus a certain purple insect pokemon had to hide itself even more to keep from being detected.

The door was uncharacteristically opened and thus everyone was nervous as from what William told them, the whole mansion might be a trap.

Once the group had gotten to the shinden (main building) with Brock sliding open the front door. Ash then called out inside. "Hello, is anyone here?"

Misty then added. "Is anyone home?"

Brock then opined. "Seems to be deserted?"

"Best to be careful," William then said. "Junior, Chu-Chu, keep your ears peeled as well."

As soon as William said that, Misty had leaned into what was later revealed to be a false wall and fell in with a squeak along with Chu-Chu.

"Huh?" Ash realized as Misty was not on his right anymore. "Misty?"

"Pika-chu," Junior then noted. (She's gone)

"What's wrong?" Brock then asked as he and William had turned around. "Where's Misty and Chu-Chu?"

"They're gone…" Ash answered mystified. "You're right, William. This place is full of traps."

Brock did not waste time as he knocked on the wall, that made a hollow sound. "Ash, Junior, William, this door is not what it seemed to be."

"What do you mean?" Ash then asked.

"It's a secret door that would allow people to move from one room to another," Brock then proceeded to thump the door slightly, opening it up and revealing Misty and Chu-Chu in the floor. "When you touch this door like so, it opens."

"Brock, William," Misty then asked as she rubbed her sore tush. "What kind of place is this?"

"It sure is not your run in the mill mansion," Brock then said. "So, William's right in this place as it certainly fits what William is describing."

"Pikachu-pichu-pika," Chu-Chu then added. (This place gives me the creeps)

It was then that the same purple pokemon that was watching them had emerged from the corner in front of them. '

"Venonat-venat," it said. (Welcome, visitors)

Both Ash and Misty had scanned the new pokemon while Ash then said. "What's that?"

Both Pokedexes then chirped. "Venonat, a Bug pokemon. Its eyes function like radar, allowing to see in the dark."

"Venonat," Venonat then said. (That's right)

"Hey, that's not a run of the mill pokemon." Ash then said. "He might be Koga's."

The purple bug pokemon then ran in between Ash and Misty before entering the engawa where Ash and the others had entered.

"Hey, wait up!" Ash then yelled at the fleeing bug pokemon. "Where's the owner of this place?"

Venonat stopped at the corner of a hallway then answered. "Venonat." (Follow me)

"Say what?" Ash was confused as he could not understand Venonat.

"I think he wants us to follow him," Misty then told him. "Right, William?"

William only nodded in reply.

"Chu," Chu-Chu then added. (Yeah)

"Let's go see," Brock then added.

"Yeah," Ash then said before they all ran towards the hallway and turned right.

They did not run far when they were all electrocuted and fell down. Ash then told both pikachus. "What's the big idea?!"

Junior then said for him and Chu-Chu. "Pikachu-pi." (It wasn't us)

"Well, if you guys didn't do it," Ash then spoke in confusion. "Who did?"

It was Brock who provided the answer as he yelled while pointing at something in front of them. "Ash! Look there!"

A smug looking voltorb was looking up at them from a false floor that he opened, his body cracking with electricity.

"This guy doesn't look friendly," Ash said as he and Misty once again scanned the new pokemon. William kept silent as he knew that Koga would certainly be listening wherever he is.

Again, their pokedexes had chirped. "Voltorb. The identity of this creature is unknown. It has an extreme personality, uses Electric attacks, and at times, self-destructs."

"No kidding," Ash then spoke up. "This place gets weirder and weirder. It is more like a house of horrors than a proper gym."

"Voltorb, voltorb." The sphere pokemon said menacingly. (Go away! Go away!)

"William, use High Horsepower." Ash then commanded his second starter. "Take that voltorb out."

"With pleasure, Ash." William said as he got himself surrounded by an orange aura, forgetting his own warning. "Coming through!"

The voltorb then rolled away before William chased him until they made contact further into the hallway. The voltorb was taken out by the super effective attack and the group made their way past him towards the staircase at the very end.

The group then went up to the second floor. Ash then asked the others. "Where did Venonat go?"

Misty had spotted the bug pokemon at the end of the hallway and told the others. "Look, there he is."

They ran towards the end of the hallway on for Ash to hit an invisible wall (more like a reinforced bulletproof glass wall that was so transparent that it would be invisible).

"Ash!" Misty nearly yelled in shock as she and the others saw Ash slide down on what seemed to be thin air. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Brock, the calmer one of the two, then rapped the same wall as did the pikachus and ponyta. "It's an invisible wall."

"An invisible wall?" Misty added as she too felt the same wall. "This is giving me the creeps. Let's head back."

"I agree," Brock then said. "Let's get outta here while we still have the chance."

The tried for a second time before it was William who had made contact with the wall upon turning around. "Ugh!"

"It's another invisible wall!" Brock said in despair. "We're trapped."

"There's gotta be another way out," Ash then said before leaning on the wall to his left in the hopes of spotting a way out.

Unfortunately, it was another fake wall and Ash nearly fell if not for William suddenly grabbing him by his shirt's collar.

"Thanks, William." Ash said as he stood up. "That was close."

The said fake wall led outside to a cliff and certain death to anyone stupid enough to fall into it, clever.

"Now, I'm convinced that Koga is certainly a ninja." William said with finality. "Those guys' homes would be a lot like this where everything is more than meets the eye."

"Venonat-natno," Venonat said laconically. (Congratulations)

It seems that the last wall (the one opposite to the outside wall) is another fake wall leading to another room.

This time, Ash was angry as he had enough fun and games. "It's you! I'm gonna teach you a lesson."

Ash then ran ahead before the others could react. Venonat quickly entered the secret entrance with Ash following. Suddenly, throwing stars were seen that Ash could not dodge.

So, when the others entered, at first, they found a large empty room that to me seemed to be either a battle arena or a training hall.

"Huh?" Misty was confused as to where her friend had gone through. "Where had he gone to?"

"They must be another way out," Brock answered. "Let's look for it."

"It must be another trick," the girl responded. "In this wacky place, anything's possible."

"Ash!" William then said as he pushed the door again upon hearing a groan. "Let's get you out."

Ash was revealed to be stuck to the door no thanks to the throwing stars earlier.

"Ha ha ha ha." A figure was seen jumping from the ceiling and landing gracefully. "Born in darkness, living in darkness, such is the fate of a ninja. I am Aya, ninja warrior."

Aya, was revealed to be wearing a pink shinobi shozoku composed of a pink uwagi or jacket, red armbands, red tabis, and waraji. Her green hair was tied in a ponytail by means of an orange band.

"But don't you think that color is too bright for a ninja," Misty then pointed out, something that she would certainly blame her sisters for. "It wouldn't be that easy to hide in the background."

"I don't need your fashion report," Aya added with a huff, despite the other ninjas pointing out the same thing before.

"But tell me, didn't you enjoy my star treatment?" She then asked Ash while bringing out even more throwing stars.

"You can't just chuck throwing stars around," Ash yelled in annoyance as he returned William to his pokeball for a brief rest. "They're dangerous."

"That's right," Misty agreed. "Tell her, Brock."

And Brock simply looked at the female ninja with love in his eyes. He then approached Aya and spoke as he held out his hand. "I think that pink suits you perfectly and also you're really lovely."

Annoyed, Aya slapped Brock's hand away and even added as she pushed him into the floor. "This is a training camp. It was your fault that you let your guard down. I'm impressed with your talking ponyta though as he knew what's up."

"Our guard down…" Ash had faltered before realizing something. "So, we were being watched."

"Yes, but we already know who you are, Mister Ketchum." Aya then added. "The same could be said for Miss Waterflower, Mister Harrison, and Mister Zapanta as well."

Gasps were heard as Misty and Brock did not know William's surname. It did give more credence that the ponyta was a former human as he did have a surname.

"How did you know?" Ash demanded angrily. "Only a few people know of William's surname including me."

"We have our sources," Aya airily answered as she kept Brock a leg's length away from her with her left foot. "But enough of that, none of you would be able to leave unless either Ashton or Misty have a pokemon battle with me first."

"Nat-nat," Venonat then said as he appeared behind Aya's right leg. (Hi, guys)

"Oh, it's that thing." Ash said with venom.

"This venonat informed me that two stupid trainers, a lovesick breeder, two pikachus, and one wise former human turned ponyta had entered the premises," Aya then continued. "I'm betting that you're here to challenge the Fuchsia City gym. Prove your strength to me first."

"That's right," Ash then said. "In that case, I'll battle you."

Five minutes later, both Ash and Aya were facing off the in the training hall with Venonat beside his trainer. Aya then told Ash the rules. "One pokemon each for both of us. Choose yours now!"

"You don't have to tell me twice," Ash then said as he had the perfect pokemon for this situation as he turned his hat around. "Inferno, I choose you."

In a flash, a charmeleon had filled in the space in front of Ash who then said. "Charmeleon, char." (I'm ready, Ash.)

Aya kept her fear by saying. "A charmeleon, nice choice. I was expecting your ponyta, but I guess he needs to rest."

"Compliments get you nowhere," Ash said. "Inferno, let's start off with Ember."

Aya then ordered quickly. "Venonat, dodge it and use Disable and follow it up with Psybeam."

Venonat did, but Inferno had added Acrobatics so as to be a moving target while Venonat was still dodging fireballs thus Venonat was unable to use his combination and ended up fainted.

Suddenly, an electrode had rolled into the center of the battlefield and filled the whole room with smoke.

"Aya, it seems that you had underestimated your opponent." A tenor voice was heard in the smoke. "Then again, even Erika and Sabrina did concede that Ashton is as unpredictable as they come."

"Oh shucks," Ash then blushed as he did manage to pull the wool over their eyes during their earlier battles. "That was not even half of what Dad could do."

"Indeed," the figure who was revealed to be an older man with blue hair and more traditional shinobi sozoku. "Ryder had taught me a few tricks as well. I am Koga, the Fuchsia City gym leader that you seek and I challenge you to a pokemon battle."

-oOo-

Now we see what Rocket is up to. We find the trio in the bushes near the plank that served as the bridge towards the gym.

"That's the famous ninja mansion," Meowth was saying as all three were looking at the aforementioned mansion with binoculars.

"Well, I for one am not impressed," James then gave his opinion. "It looks like a Kantonian restaurant."

"There are lot of precious poison pokemon in that mansion," Jessie then blurted knowing full well what it really is.

"Then let's find a way to bust into dis ninja joint, snag all the poison pokemon, and hit the road," Meowth pretty much enumerated Rocket's Modus Operandi.

"Poisonous pokemon are positively perfect for perfidious people like us," Jessie then said while magically producing a rose.

Hey, that's my schtick, Jessica; so, leave the using of words beginning with the same letter to me.

James then stood up and asked. "What does that mean?"

Jessie answered with wink as she threw the rose at her partner. "It means beautiful things can be painful."

James caught the rose at its stem…where its thorns are found. "Ow, that hurts."

Jessie then threw her binoculars at James for lollygagging. "Let's go."

"Oooh," James said as he got hit by the binoculars square in the face and fell in agony.

-oOo-

"I accept," Ash replied, puzzled as to why he was challenged to a battle and not the other way around. "Inferno, thank you for a good battle. But it's William's turn now."

"Char-der," Inferno answered with an OK symbol on his left hand. "Charmander-char." (See you later)

Koga then nodded before adding. "We shall have a two-on-two battle."

"William, I choose you!" Ash then yelled as he threw William's pokeball.

"Then I shall lead with Venonat," Koga then replied as he too threw a pokeball.

"Well, William." Ash then said as he guessed that he had the advantage. "Use Flame Wheel!"

"Like that would work," Koga then said in reply. "This Venonat has a lot more experience."

Suddenly, Koga's Venonat evolved to a lepidopteran insect pokemon whose body is varying shades of purple. As such, it had floated in the air while William who was now covered in flames was still charging towards him.

"A metamorphosis attack?" Brock was confused as the battle had started off differently from what he expected.

"No, it just evolved." Misty answered as she brought out her pokedex.

Ash did the same while ordering his fire horse pokemon. "William, switch to Inferno!"

William then opened his mouth and blue flames sparked and sizzled before he unleashed it as stream of blue fire that flowed towards Venomoth.

"Venomoth, dodge it." Koga yelled, but it was too late as the stream of flames was much too fast for Venomoth to dodge thus it was engulfed by the flames and extremely burned.

"Quick, Mega Drain!" Koga then ordered for Venomoth to both attack and get healed at the same time.

"Oh no, you don't." Ash then said with glee. "Flamethrower on the double."

As such, before Venomoth could even get a bite out of the fire horse pokemon, another stream of red flames this time reached him, burning him more.

Venomoth could not help, but faint as both attacks were super effective. Koga could only shake his head as he never expected that Ash and William even knew Inferno while returning Venomoth.

Suddenly, parts of the ceiling had broken off and a multicolored curtain (black, green, and orange) had fallen on Ash's left.

"What's that?" Ash then yelled as he used his arms to protect himself.

The curtain was then parted to the left with familiar voices saying. "Welcome to the show."

"What's going on here?" Ash nearly yelled in surprise.

"Now let our ancient performance begin," a soprano voice that was eerily familiar. A familiar motto was then heard with both Jessie and James wearing kabuki costumes including makeup.

After it was over, Meowth then confronted Ash and the others saying. "Now step aside as we pick off your pretty poisonous pokemon."

"Forget it, Meowth." Ash then said as William had readied himself for another battle.

Jessie and James tried to join Meowth, but their costumes had kept them from moving effectively.

James even complained. "It's hard to move in these costumes."

Jessie then retorted. "A ninja mansion calls for a kabuki star. We have to wear these outfits."

"Yes, but…" James tried again.

"If we can't move then we'll lose those pokemon," Meowth added with some difficulty considering that Jessie was lying on his back.

"Good point," Jessie then changed her mind. "Let's change."

The whole time everyone else could not move in their cringe.

Jessie and James got rid of their costumes and threw Kaa and Gas Bag to the mix.

Seeing that he and Ash only have one pokemon active at the moment, Koga then told his opponent. "It is best that we join forces to vanquish them."

"Right," Ash answered.

Koga then threw another pokeball into the mix, this time it was revealed to be a Scyther. "This isn't an official pokemon battle so my Scyther could join us."

"Works with me," Ash then said. "William, Takedown on Kaa."

"Scyther, Double Team then Slash on that Koffing." Koga then added.

"Psybeam on that Meowth, Venonat." Aya then ordered.

Both Misty and Brock had also brought out a pokeball, but did not release their pokemon unless they had to. Both Junior and Chu-Chu had also readied their attacks just in case, as their cheeks sparked with electricity.

But before any of Ash's, Aya's, or Koga's pokemon could reach them or fire off its attack, James had thrown a handful of spider web on them, almost immobilizing them if not for William's flames destroying the web.

"William, use Agility then Low Kick on Meowth." Ash then ordered.

"Venonat, Confusion on that Koffing."

"Venomoth, Psycho Cut on that Ekans."

Jessie tried to do the same trick as James only to fail as Dyna and Vulpix came on the scene as well with Rapid Spin and Flamethrower respectively.

As it was, her web was intercepted by Venonat's Confusion who then used the web to stick Meowth to the wall as the latter tried to avoid the ponyta's charging attack.

William then ended up switching to Stomp on Gas Bag and Kaa was hit by the light blue blades of energy and howled in pain.

William then turned and charged at Kaa while surrounded with an orange aura while it was Gas Bag who was hit by consecutive light blue blades of energy. Finally, Meowth was taken out by a hyper beam from Venonat.

Finally, Team Rocket was blasting off again courtesy of a combined Fire Spin, Metronome resulting in Explosion, and Gyro Ball from Vulpix, Tinker Bell, and Geo Force respectively.

-oOo-

Ten minutes later, everyone had moved to the courtyard for the continuation of Ash's and Koga's gym battle. This time, Ash had gotten Plus out so it could have some experience as well.

"The pokemon I choose is…" Ash said as he threw a pokeball. "Plus!"

"And I will choose…" Koga said as he too threw a pokeball. "Golbat!"

"What's that?" Ash and Misty again scanned the new pokemon despite having been told what it was before as there never was a picture added in the website to keep prospective challengers guessing as to what it looked like.

A large chiropeteran pokemon with purple wing membranes had appeared. Thankfully, Ash (and Misty) knew what is its type weakness.

This time, it was Koga who had gotten the bye as Ash had defeated his Venomoth before. "Golbat, use your Screech attack."

"Plus, counter it with Metal Sound!"

"Wait, what?!"

Plus immediately glowed light blue and it emitted silver colored sound waves that spread out at the same time that Golbat had released thin yellow circles from its own mouth.

The sound waves collided in the air with everyone plugging their ears even Koga as both high-pitched sound waves tried to overpower the other. In the end, Metal Sound won in the end as its soundwaves were just too many and too powerful for Screech to surpass.

Golbat almost lost control in its pain that Ash used to his advantage as he added. "Plus, hit him with Thunderbolt."

Koga could only shake his head as Golbat had crashed to the ground once electrocuted. He then gave Ash the soul badge.

He then asked the trainers. "As my pokemon need some rest, I suggest that you stay for the night. Miss Waterflower can challenge me in the morning after breakfast."

"We'd love to," Misty then said for the others. "Thank you, Mister Koga."

"It is my pleasure," Koga replied. "Besides, this would be the first time that someone from the Cerulean gym would challenge me to a battle."

"Yes, and I promise to make it worthwhile." Misty then promised, as she studied the battle earlier.

The group then stayed for the rest of the afternoon and night while talking to Koga and Aya about William and how did they know about him.

As it turned out, Koga had been hearing rumors of two talking pokemon as well as the strange events in the Kantonian sky upon William's and the other ponyta's arrival. His mind made up, Koga had talked with Professor Oak, Lance, and Charles Goodshow about the strange happenings and the rumors they birthed.

He was then told the truth of the matter that he even shared with Blaine who went with him. They also met the female ponyta thus confirming their theories without having to go meet William as well.

Hearing that there was another talking ponyta that was also a former human and it was a female at that had gotten William wondering about something like what would happen if they meet and would she end up with Misty since she and Ash had gotten different pokemon with opposing genders lately.

'I wonder if she was told that I'm also here in this world and like her had turned into a ponyta,' the former human thought with some trepidation as he was resting next to Ash and the others in their shared room. 'If she was told about me; I wonder how she'll react if and when we do meet and if we are reverted back to normal.'

After a minute, he mentally added. 'Oh well, at least I'm sure that no guy above ten would love to ride her.'

-oOo-

The visitors were awakened at seven in the morning and ate breakfast with both Koga and Aya. By eight, everyone was now in the same field as before with Misty taking Ash's place.

"Well then, Miss Waterflower." Koga then said as he released Venomoth. "You already know what pokemon I'll be using so let's see yours."

"Alright," Misty then said as she pulled out a pokeball. "Let's go, Squidward."

A tentacruel had emerged from the pokeball that Misty threw, surprising Koga as Misty was certainly interesting to having a water pokemon that was also part poison type.

"We may have a problem if he uses Ice-type moves as that is what tentacruel deals with each other as well as other poison types," he said to himself. 'I may have to resort to Grass-type attacks then.'

Seeing that he was beaten by Ash before, Koga had gotten the bye once again. "Venomoth, Confusion."

"Squidward, Reflect Type now!" Misty yelled in panic.

As it was, Squidward had changed types to bug/poison but despite having exchanging its water to bug type, it was still affected when Venomoth's eyes glowed blue. Thus, it was easily slammed to the ground by the psychic attack.

Misty knew that one more psychic attack would take Squidward out thus she quickly ordered once her tentacruel was able to stand to use Blizzard before Venomoth uses Confusion again.

As such, Squidward glowed blue and fired a blizzard from its body and thus froze Venomoth nearly instantly. Koga could only shake his head as he could not have Venomoth escape unless she could use Sunny Day.

Just in case, Misty then ordered her tentacruel. "Finish him with Ice Beam."

Squidward then formed a light blue ball in front of its body the fired multiple light blue beams at the still frozen Venomoth.

With Venomoth taken out by two successive critical ice attacks that froze it, Koga had no choice but to recall his venomoth and toss another pokeball, revealing Golbat.

Misty then told Squidward. "You've done enough, Squidward. Thank you."

Facing Koga, she then added. "Like Squidward before, I'd like to introduce you to a new friend of mine. Go, Drago!"

A piscine pokemon with a long serpentine body covered in slightly overlapping scales had emerged in the space between Koga and Misty before roaring his arrival.

'Of course, she would use a pokemon that has attacks of Rock, Electric, Ice, Flying, and Fire types.' Koga noted as he studied the atrocious pokemon. 'If she had used this one at the start, she would easily sweep my team. Let's see what else she has under her sleeves.'

Again, Koga had struck first and hoped that it would be enough. "Golbat, use Venoshock."

Misty then yelled in response. "Drago, dodge it while using Flamethrower."

Golbat fired a stream of purple poisonous liquid from its mouth at its larger opponent only for it to miss and be hit by a stream of fire coming from Drago's mouth.

Aya was amazed at the agility of such a large pokemon and the fact that it could use a Fire Type move. What Misty did next, shocked her (and Golbat) even more.

"Drago, use Thunder now!" Misty added with an enthusiastic roar. Drago complied as a yellow ball formed in front of its crest that fired multiple lightning bolts on Golbat, electrocuting it. "Follow it up with Ice Beam."

Golbat had already fallen to the ground before it was hit by light blue beams fired from a blue ball in front of its crest that froze it immediately.

Koga sighed as he has nothing that would stop the Atrocious pokemon, only delay the inevitable while recalling Golbat. 'Maybe I should find a pokemon that has Rock type attacks for this monster. Once news of Misty's battle with a Gyarydos spreads, I'm sure a lot of trainers would get a magicarp and level it to deal with me.'

Even then, he said as he gave the Soul badge to Misty for beating him thoroughly. "Congratulations, Miss Waterflower as you and Ashton have certainly taught us a lesson on underestimating our opponents."

"It's fine, Mister Koga." Misty said with a bow. "Let us just learn from our mistakes."

"Indeed," Koga then said. "Aya, we need to train harder as we need to be stronger since our future opponents would be even more formidable."

After having lunch, Koga then offered the team a way back to Fuchsia City by means of Pidgeots that they would ride.

---

Hmm, it would seem that there is a second ponyta with the ability to speak like a human and it's a she. You will find out who she is in the next chapter along with Ash and Brock participarting in a grand prix as well helping a dam being consrtructed.

But before we get to that, the Archangel finally arrives in ORB, three (actually, six) mobile suits would make their debut, we learn what happened to both Nicol and Dearka, and even both Yzak and Shiho get some screen time by themselves.

Also, the Alliance fleet invades ORB and it would be up to our heroes to keep ORB free.

I will see you in a month in Flight of the Intruders: Seeds of Freedom and for the graduates out there, I wish you all the best.