1,791Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter for this story! I've finished updating all of my other stories, so now I can focus my attention on making a new chapter for this one. We'll be picking up where the previous chapter left off, with Ash's group traveling to Azalea Town for his next gym battle! This was decided by a poll on my P atreon (if you'd like to vote in similar polls and help influence my stories, please consider supporting!) I'll have another poll posted after this chapter is released to help pick where we go next!
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"Speech"
"Thoughts"
"Telepathy"
Pokemon Attack
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of its characters.
(Ilex Forest: Five Miles West of Azalea Town)
"Ugh, what time is it?" Hilda asked, suppressing a yawn as she crawled out of her tent. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Hilda groaned when her vision unblurred and she saw the near pitch-black forest surrounding them. "Arceus, it looks like it's the middle of the damn night still."
"It's 8:30." Cilan spoke up as he used a stick to prod their camp's fire, causing the flames to flicker brighter. "Give me twenty minutes and I'll have coffee ready. Then, I'll start on breakfast."
"Did I hear someone say coffee?" Cynthia mumbled, poking her head out of her tent as she gazed around the dimly lit camp. She had a serious case of bedhead, her flowing blonde hair an uncharacteristically unkempt mess. "I could kill for a cup right now."
"I second that." Roxie said as she exited her tent, scratching her stomach and suppressing a yawn. "Traveling through this forest has been miserable. It's throwing my internal clock way off."
"Yeah, I've been tired during the day and wide awake at night." Dawn said, walking into the campsite with a bundle of wood in her arms. "Good news is we should be out of here and in Azalea Town today."
"Thank Arceus, I can't spend another day in this overbearing darkness." Anabel grumbled as she lit a lantern and stretched her arms. Briefly dipping back into her tent, Anabel re-emerged with a towel and a change of clothes. Picking up the lantern, Anabel began to walk out of the camp. "There's a river nearby. I'm gonna go take a bath."
"*Sniff* *Sniff* Woof, I think I'll join her." May said, her nose wrinkling as she smelled herself. Grabbing her own towel, May quickly followed after Anabel. "Ugh, I hate bathing outside. When we get into town, I'm gonna take a proper shower."
"I hope Ash gets back soon..." Cilan muttered as he set a pot of coffee above the campfire. "I asked him to gather some supplies."
"You rang." Ash said with a smirk, suddenly popping up behind Cilan. Yelping in surprise, Cilan leaped away from the raven-haired trainer. "Sorry about that Cilan. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up."
"*Sigh* It's fine..." Cilan said in a mildly perturbed tone as he dusted himself off. "Did you gather the things I asked for?"
"Right here." Ash said, setting down a bucket full of water. "Iris, Flannery, and Nessa have everything else."
"Yep, we've got the nuts and berries you wanted." Iris said as she handed Cilan a basket overflowing with freshly picked berries. "These were actually pretty tough to find."
"Is that coffee I smell?" Flannery asked, sniffing the air several times before she let out a content sigh. Walking over to Cilan's portable kitchen setup, Flannery set down the nuts she had helped gather. "I need a cup so bad."
"It'll be ready soon. So, just sit down and relax." Burgundy said as she prepped a small griddle. "We'll be making pancakes too."
"Arceus, pancakes sound so good." Nessa said, setting down a second bucket of water. Her cheeks flushed slightly when her stomach began to grumble. "Sorry about that...but please make them soon."
"We'll them whipped up in a flash. Those nuts and berries you guys gathered will really help spice them up." Cilan said with a chuckle as he began to prep the pancake batter. "So Ash, you ready for your gym battle?"
"Sure am! And I bet everyone is ready to get out of this forest." Ash said, getting several grumbles of agreement as he sat down next to the campfire. "But, if it's fine with everyone else, I was hoping we could make one quick stop before we reach Azalea Town."
"Oh?" Cilan asked in a curious tone as he began to distribute cups of steaming hot coffee. "Where did you have in mind?"
"There's actually a shrine nearby." Ash replied, reaching into his bag and pulling out a Cherish ball. "I just want to drop someone off there."
"Ah, I think I know what shrine you're talking about." Cynthia said as she paused to take a sip of her coffee, letting out a content sigh. "It's dedicated to Celebi, right?"
"Yeah, Celebi is actually the guardian of Ilex Forest." Ash said, shrinking the Cherish Ball and clipping it onto his belt. "People in Johto say that the shrine is a symbol of good luck and that it wards off evil spirits."
"Sounds interesting." Burgundy said as she began to prep the nuts and berries for the pancakes. "I wouldn't mind visiting this shrine."
"I want to get out of this forest so bad..." Dawn said, pausing to finish off her cup of coffee. Finished, she set her cup down and flashed a smile at Ash. "But I wouldn't mind making a quick detour."
"Is everyone else cool with visiting the shrine?" Ash asked the rest of the group which got him nods of agreement from everyone present. With a large grin, Ash clapped his hands together. "Great! Once everyone's back and we eat, we'll pack up and visit the shrine. Then it's off to Azalea Town!"
(One Hour Later: Deep Within the Ilex Forest)
"Ugh, are we almost there yet?" Roxie grumbled as she let out an exhausted huff, her heavy guitar case seriously weighing her down. She yelped in surprise when she stumbled forward a bit, nearly tripping over an exposed root. "RAHG! I fucking hate hiking through the damn woods! Especially when I can barely see five feet in front of me!"
"I know you're annoyed, Roxie. But, we're almost there." Ash said, brushing a branch out of the way as a light that Pikachu held in his mouth illuminated the path ahead. "It should be just ahead."
"You kids wouldn't survive in my village." Iris said with a laugh as she perched in a tree above the rest of the group. "We explored dense forests like this all the time! This is a breeze! HAHA!"
"Sorry we aren't all wild like you, Iris." Anabel chastised, holding on to the back of Ash's shirt as she walked a few steps behind him. "I love nature as much as the next person. But, with how long we've been in this forest, this place has become absolutely oppressing."
"Well, we won't be here much longer." Ash said as he pushed past the treeline, stepping into a small clearing. In the center of the clearing was a small shrine, constructed of stone and wood. "There it is..." Slowly approaching the shrine, Ash grabbed the Cherish Ball off his belt and enlarged it. Placing the vibrant red ball on the shrine, Ash released the Pokemon inside it. After a flash of bright white light, Celebi was floating in front of the raven-haired trainer. "Hey there, Celebi. It's been a while. Have you enjoyed staying at Professor Juniper's lab?"
"It's been a blast! Professor Juniper is so nice! She gives me lots of snacks and plays with me all the time!"
"That's great, I'm glad you're having fun." Ash said with a smile, gently patting the Time Travel Pokemon's head. "But...Professor Juniper told me you've been looking a little down lately. Is that true?"
"Hmmm, I guess I have been feeling sort of...I don't know...like I've been in a funk."
"Well, Professor Juniper and I discussed things and we both figured you might be a little homesick." Ash said, gesturing toward the shrine and forest around them. "So, I brought you back to Ilex Forest. You can stay here as long as you want."
"Really!?"
"Of course." Ash said as he watched Celebi smile and energetically fly around the clearing. "This is your home after all. And whenever you're ready to leave, just take the Cherish Ball back with you to Professor Juniper's lab."
"Oh, thank you, Ash!"The raven-haired trainer grunted when Celebi flew into his chest and hugged him. After a few moments, the Time Travel Pokemon ended their embrace and continued to speed around the shrine. "I'll only need a few days! I want to check up on some old friends!"
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Ash?" Cynthia asked, walking up next to her lover as she gazed at Celebi. "With Celebi out in the open like this...Arceus knows what could happen."
"It'll be fine, Cynthia. Celebi can take care of itself." Ash said with a grin as he rested his hands on his hips. "These legendary and mythical Pokemon I've captured...I can't just keep them cooped up in Professor Juniper's lab forever. They're still my Pokemon, but they need to be able to explore the world and be free."
"That's a beautiful way to think, Ash." Neesa chimed in, clasping her hands behind her back as Celebi flew around members of their group. "These Pokemon...they're gifts and marvels...and they shouldn't be locked away in a ball forever."
"That's exactly what Professor Juniper and I thought too..." Ash said as he reached up and scratched Pikachu's chin, causing the Mouse Pokemon to purr in appreciation. "When this journey is over, I'll make sure the legendary Pokemon I've captured get a chance to see the rest of the world."
"That is an admirable goal." Dawn said with a smile, placing her hand on Ash's shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "But before that, you need to become Pokemon Master first."
"Heh, that's true. We should get going then." Ash said as he adjusted his bag, the group started to exit the clearing. Pausing at the treeline, Ash turned and waved to Celebi. "Goodbye, Celebi! I'll see you again soon!"
"Bye, Ash! Good luck with the rest of your battles! Hopefully, you'll be a Pokemon Master the next time I see you!"
(Two Hours Later: Azalea Town)
"We're finally here!" Hilda exclaimed, raising her arms in celebration as the group entered Azalea. However, as soon as they walked into the town, Hilda noticed something a bit odd. Right underneath the town's entrance sign, a large group of familiar-looking pink Pokemon lay beneath it. But, it wasn't just underneath the sign, these Pokemon were scattered all along the road and amongst the buildings in town. "Uh...why are there Slowbro everywhere."
"That would be because of the appropriately named Slowpoke Well." Cilan explained as he looked through the Johto guidebook, reading up on Azalea Town. "It's a large underground well where all the Slowpoke in the area live and drink. Slowpokes are placed in high regard and are revered by the community. According to legends in the town, the yawn of a Slowpoke causes rain. According to legend, 400 years ago, a drought in Azalea Town ended right when a Slowpoke yawned."
"I find that kind of hard to believe." Iris said, crouching next to one of the lazing Slowpoke and gently poking it a few times. "It looks like these guys barely move to eat and drink. I doubt they go around ending droughts."
"So, is there anything to do in this town?" Roxie asked as she looked around the relatively quiet town, noticing only a few people walking around. "This place is pretty secluded, so I'm not exactly expecting a lot."
"And you'd be right to expect that." Cilan said, closing his guidebook and tucking it back into his bag. "Azalea Town isn't much of a tourist destination. Outside of the gym, the town's main attractions are the Slowpoke Well, a large kiln that produces charcoal, and the home of a man named Kurt who is a Pokeball expert. Other than that, there's not a heck of a lot to do."
"I don't care about doing anything else right now. Let's just head to the Pokemon Center, so I can take a proper, hot shower." May said as she tugged at her shirt, frowning when she saw it sticking to her sweaty skin. "I feel so gross right now."
"After camping in the woods for so long, we could all use a rest in proper beds." Ash said, jogging to the front of the group and turning to face everyone else. "So, let's go book our rooms in the Pokemon Center. We can all relax for a couple of hours, lie down, get some food. Then, head to my gym battle later tonight."
"Sounds like a plan." Flannery said as she covered her mouth and suppressed a yawn. "A bed sounds like heaven right about now."
After checking into the Pokemon Center, Ash and his group split apart to do their own thing for a while. Most of the group decided to stay at the Pokemon Center to catch up on some rest, but others decided to explore the town and see if it had anything interesting to offer. However, Ash himself had a specific destination in mind. Traveling by himself, the raven-haired trainer soon found himself outside the home of Kurt, a world-famous Pokeball expert. Pulling out a sheet of paper, Ash gazed at it for several moments, before tucking it away into his pockets and knocking at the door.
"Coming! Just give me a minute!" Ash quirked an eyebrow when he heard a slightly irritated female voice yell out from inside the home. After a few moments, muffled footsteps could be heard before the door swung open. Ash was surprised to see a teenage girl staring up at him with a perturbed look on her face. The girl wore a stained work smock and thick gloves. "Yeah? What can I do for you?"
"Uh...my name's Ash Ketchum..." The raven-haired trainer introduced himself, causing the girl's eyes to widen slightly. "I was looking for a man named Kurt. Is he here?"
"Ash?" The teenager repeated as a bright smile spread across her face, lunging forward and hugging the raven-haired trainer. "It's so good to see you again!"
"Uh..." Ash muttered, standing awkwardly with his arms spread out as he tried not to return the girl's embrace. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"
"Well, it has been a long time, so I'm not surprised you don't recognize me." The teenager said with a chuckle as she released Ash and stepped away from him. "It's me, Maizie! Kurt's granddaughter."
"No way, you're right I didn't recognize you!" Ash said, smiling softly as he rubbed the back of his head. "It's good to see you again, Maizie!"
"So, what brings you here?" Maizie asked as she crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. "You were looking for gramps?"
"Yeah, I had a special project for him." Ash replied, rifling through his bag and pulling out a folded sheet of paper. Unfolding the paper, Ash stared at it for a few moments, his cheeks flushing slightly. "There's um...some very special Pokeballs I wanted him to make."
"Well, Gramps is out of town right now, he went on a vacation with Granny." Maizie said which caused the raven-haired trainer to frown and release a light sigh. "But, don't worry, Gramps has been teaching me to make Pokeballs. I've been studying his techniques so that I can take over once he retires."
"Wow, that's amazing, Maizie..." Ash said, staring down at the sheet of paper in his hand for a few moments before he handed it to the teenage girl. "Do uh...do you think you could do this then?"
"Let me take a look..." Maizie said as she took the paper and examined it. After a few moments of scanning, she looked back up at Ash a surprised look on her face. "Is this for real?"
"Yeah...I wanted it to be special...and over the top." Ash said, chuckling nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. "So...can you do it?"
"Over the top is right..." Maizie said as she looked back at the paper and stroked her chin. After a few moments, she clicked her tongue and nodded. "Yeah, I think I can do it."
"Great! That's so great!" Ash said in an excited tone, letting out a sigh of relief. Briefly taking the paper back, the raven-haired trainer quickly jotted down his contact information. "If you have any questions or anything feel free to call me anytime."
"Will do, I'm sure I'll get in touch with you for some of the finer design specifications." Maizie said as she folded Ash's paper and tucked it into her smock pocket. "So, when do you need these by?"
"Preferably by the time the Silver Conference starts." Ash replied, watching as Maizie furrowed her brow. "Will that be a problem?"
"No, I'm pretty sure I can have them ready by then. I'll gather all the supplies I need and get started tomorrow." Maizie answered as she nodded her head. "I'll send you a message when they're ready. I should be able to get them shipped to you pretty quickly."
"Amazing! You're awesome, Maizie!" Ash cheered, before reaching into his pocket and grabbing his wallet. "How much do I owe you?"
"No need for that." Maizie said with a smirk as she held up her hand, causing Ash to look confused. "The only payment I ask for is that you tell people I made these Pokeballs. Coming from a Pokemon Master, that should really help drum up business."
"Sure, I can do that." Ash said with a chuckle, putting his wallet back into his pocket. "Thank you so much, Maizie."
"No problem..." Maizie said as she stepped back into the house and began to close the door. "It's time I get started on these beauties. I'll see you later, Ash."
"I look forward to hearing from you, Maizie!" Ash called out, watching as the teenager disappeared back into the house. Staring at the closed door for a few more moments, Ash smiled and released a content sigh. "Well, I guess I'll head back to the Pokemon Center for a bit and rest up."
(Two Hours Later: Azalea Town Pokemon Gym)
"Wow, this gym looks awesome." Dawn said as she looked at the building before them, marveling at the expansive glass dome. "Is this whole place really a huge greenhouse?"
"Yeah, it's like a forest inside." Ash said with a grin, walking through the gym's sliding doors. "Bugsy lets his Pokemon roam around freely in the trees."
"So, this guy specializes in using bug-type Pokemon...and his name is Bugsy?" Iris asked as she quirked an eyebrow, stepping into the gym's lobby. "Not one for subtly, is he?"
"My parents definitely named me appropriately. You could say I was fated to be a bug-type gym leader." Iris nearly jumped out of her skin when someone spoke up behind her. Whipping around, Iris spotted the smiling face of the gym's leader, Bugsy. "Hello everyone! Welcome to the Azalea Town gym."
"Bugsy, it's good to see you again." Ash said with a smirk, reaching out and shaking Bugsy's hand. "I hope you're doing well."
"I am Ash. The gym's been quite busy lately; lots of trainers are coming through and challenging me." Bugsy said as he firmly shook the raven-haired trainer's hand. "But, ever since I heard you were giving the Johto League another shot, I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
"Well, I'd hate to keep you waiting any longer." Ash said, pulling Bugsy close and patting him on the back. "So, why don't we get this battle started?"
"Let's. Please follow me to the battlefield..." Bugsy said as he smiled and stepped away from the raven-haired trainer. Stepping through a set of automatic double doors across the lobby, Bugsy led Ash's group into the gym's centerpiece. Surrounding the battlefield was a miniature forest, densely packed with trees and shrubbery. A single, cleared path marked the way toward the battlefield itself. "I tried to model this area as closely as possible to Ilex Forest."
"That's pretty obvious. This foliage is so thick I can barely see the glass dome above us." Hilda said, looking up at the dense tree coverage looming over the pathway. Hearing several clicks and chirps, Hilda glanced over at a nearby tree, spotting a Caterpie and Weedle wriggling up the trunk. Looking at other trees, Hilda noticed various bug-type Pokemon watching them closely. "Hey Bugsy, are all the Pokemon in here yours?"
"Yes, for the most part. There are a few strays that I've been taking care of. But, almost every Pokemon in here is mine." Bugsy said as a Spinarak descended from a web and landed on his head. With a bright smile, Bugsy reached up and patted the affectionate Pokemon. "Instead of being cramped in Pokeballs, I'd rather my Pokemon be free to roam around out here."
"I feel the same way." Ash said, nodding his head as he stroked Pikachu's cheek. "Back at Professor Juniper's lab, my Pokemon have plenty of space to run around and play."
"You always have shown your Pokemon a tremendous amount of love and respect, Ash." Bugsy said as he finally stepped out onto the battlefield. "It's one of your most admirable traits and it's what allowed you to become such an amazing Pokemon trainer. And I want to see how much you've improved since you last took on the Johto League."
"Oh, I'll give you one hell of a performance." Ash said with a smirk, walking over to his side of the battlefield as Pikachu hopped off his shoulder and joined the rest of his group. Reaching onto his belt, Ash grabbed a Pokeball and enlarged it. "Ready whenever you are, Bugsy."
"This will be a 3-on-3 battle between the challenger, Ash Ketchum, and the Azalea Town gym leader, Bugsy!" The official proclaimed, raising her flags and pointing at both trainers. "Are you both ready to begin?" Both Ash and Bugsy locked eyes and nodded their heads. "Then, please send out your first Pokemon!"
"Let's have some fun, Ash. Now, come on out, Pinsir!" At Bugsy's call, the Stag Beetle Pokemon burst out of a nearby tree and landed on the battlefield with a booming thud. "Get ready for a tough battle, Pinsir!"
"I'm going all out, Bugsy! Swellow, I choose you!" Throwing out his Pokeball, after a flash of white light, the Swallow Pokemon appeared circling in the air over Ash. "Alright! Let's do this, Swellow!"
"Smart choice, flying-types have a large advantage over bug-types." Bugsy said with a smirk as he stroked his chin, taking a moment to scan Swellow with his Pokedex. After briefly looking through the information, Bugsy nodded and put his Pokedex away. "A normal and flying-type Pokemon, pretty standard for a beginner Pokemon in most regions. Okay Pinsir, let's kick things off with Stone Edge!"
The Stag Beetle Pokemon howled before it slammed its massive pincers into the battlefield, ripping out chunks of rock. Rearing back, Pinsir flung the stones across the battlefield at an incredible speed, with Swellow appearing to be unfazed by the impending attack.
"Dodge it, Swellow! Then, fly in and use Aerial Ace!" Swellow spread its wings wide and raced forward at a blistering speed. Showcasing its impressive reflexes and swiftness, Swellow performed a barrel roll. Spinning over Pinsir's Stone Edge attack, the Swallow Pokemon raced forward. In the blink of an eye, Swellow closed the distance, slamming into Pinsir and sending it skidding backward."Now, follow it up with Air Slash!"
Cawing in acknowledgment, Swellow performed a swift U-turn and turned to face the Stag Beetle Pokemon. Flapping its wings several times, Swellow unleashed a barrage of air blades that sliced through Pinsir. Grunting in pain, Pinsir was sent skidding backward once again, collapsing down onto one knee. Panting heavily, Pinsir glared fiercely at Swellow.
"Are you okay, Pinsir?" With a soft grunt, Pinsir stood back up and stomped its foot in anger, already looking quite beat up but still raring to fight. "Good to see you're still ready to battle. How about Rock Tomb this time!" Slamming its pincers into the ground, the Stag Beetle Pokemon rapidly pulled them out, sending a deluge of rocks and earth raining down on Swellow. However, when the Swallow Pokemon dodged the attack, Bugsy was ready. "Quick, use Vise Grip!"
Claking its pincers together, the Stag Beetle Pokemon charged toward Swellow. Leaping into the air, Pinsir prepared to attack Swellow. But, Swellow was prepared for a follow-up attack. Right before Pinsir could clamp down on Swellow, it suddenly dove at a nearly 90-degree angle, rapidly descending toward the battlefield. Right before it hit the ground, Swellow pulled out of its dive and rapidly re-ascended back into the air.
"Swoop in Swellow and use Brave Bird." Performing a loop, Swellow dove toward Pinsir, its entire body coated in vibrant blue energy. Before the Stag Bettle Pokemon could land back on the battlefield, the Swallow Pokemon slammed into Pinsir, causing a small explosion. "Quick, finish things with-!"
"Pinsir, use Reversal!" Ash's eyes widened when the dust and debris finally began to clear, shocked to see that the Stag Bettle Pokemon had stopped Swellow's attack with its massive pincers. Swellow's body was still coated in energy as it desperately tried to break free and hit Pinsir, but it couldn't seem to break free. Grunting in exertion, Pinsir whipped its whole body around and flung Swellow across the battlefield. With a loud crunch, Swellow slammed into a tree, dazed by the powerful impact. "Try Vise Grip again!"
Quickly charging in, the Stag Bettle Pokemon lunged forward and ensnared Swellow with its powerful pincers. Swellow cawed in pain as the pincers tightened, squeezing harder by the second. Trashing around, Swellow desperately tried to free itself, but Pinsir's grip was ironclad. Ash racked his brain to come up with a way to free Swellow, but most of its movements were impeded. However, he quickly noticed that Swellow's head was still able to move freely.
"Quick Swellow, use Pluck!" With its beak glowing with energy, the Swallow Pokemon lunged forward and unleashed a barrage of powerful pecks. Pinsir roared in pain as it was struck in the face repeatedly by the devastating attack. It didn't take long for Pinsir to release Swellow, raising its arm to shield its face as it stumbled backward. "Swellow, finish this with Wing Attack!"
Now free to soar around the battlefield, the Swallow Pokemon quickly gained some altitude before descending back toward Pinsir. As Swellow rapidly closed the distance, its wings began to glow brightly with energy. Just as the Stag Bettle Pokemon seemed to recover, Swellow landed its attack. With one final, pained yell, Pinsir collapsed to the ground with a thud. Panting slightly, Swellow flew back over and landed in front of Ash.
"Halt the battle!" The official announced as she waved her flags, rushing over to Pinsir's side. After a few moments of examination, the official stood back up. "Pinsir is unable to continue, the winner is Swellow! Bugsy, please send out your next Pokemon."
"You did your best, Pinsir." Bugsy said, grabbing a Pokeball off his belt and returning his unconscious Pokemon. Shrinking the Pokeball, Bugsy clipped it onto his belt. "Alright, Yanmega, let's do this!" The branches of a nearby tree shook for a moment before the Ogre Darner Pokemon flew out onto the battlefield. "I hope you're ready tp battle, Yanmega!"
"Can you still battle, Swellow?" Ash asked as he watched the Swallow Pokemon take a breath and nod its head, apparently not ready to quit just yet. "I like the determination! Keep it up, Swellow! Then, let's kick things off with Aerial Ace!"
"Counter with Ancient Power!" As Swellow raced toward Yanmega, the Ogre Darner Pokemon's eyes began to glow as dozens of rocks levitated around it. When Swellow was halfway across the battlefield, Yanmega unleashed its attack, firing a massive barrage of stones. The rocks shot across the battlefield like bullets. However, Bugsy was shocked to see that Swellow was rolling and dodging all of the rocks, quickly drawing closer to Yanmega. "Quick Yanmega, use Shadow Ball!"
Moments before Swellow's attack could land, the Ogre Darner Pokemon fired a ball of ghostly energy at point blank range. An explosion rang through the battlefield as Swellow as hit by the attack. When Ash and Bugsy could see, they were both surprised to see that Yanmega and Swellow were still in the air, ready to continue the battle. While Yanmega looked slightly beat up, Swellow appeared to be on the verge of passing out. Its body covered in various injuries as it panted heavily, visibly exhausted.
"Swellow can't go on much longer, let's finish this, Yanmega! Use Hyper Beam!" A ball of crackling energy began to slowly expand in front of Yanmega, rapidly increasing in power. "End this, Yanmega!"
"I know you're tired Swellow, so let's go out with a bang! Use Boomburst!" Inhaling deeply, Swellow's chest puffed out. Once it had gathered the right amount of energy, Swellow unleashed a deafening burst of soundwaves. The entire gym seemed to quake as the power behind Swellow's attack caused everything to vibrate violently. However, Yanmega surprisingly took the brunt of the attack, still gathering the energy needed for Hyper Beam. As soon as Swellow's attack ended, Yanmega fired a blinding beam of energy. "Quick Swellow, use Brave Bird! Take that Hyper Beam head-on!"
Knowing there was no time to dodge, Ash decided to push the Swallow Pokemon to its limits and tank the Hyper Beam. With its body coated in roaring blue energy, Swellow dove toward Yanmega's attack with no hesitation. In the blink of an eye, Swellow collided with Hyper Beam. However, everyone, minus Ash, was shocked to see Swellow slowly pushing through the beam of energy. Letting out a defiant caw, Swellow continued to push forward, Hyper Beam splitting around the Swallow Pokemon as it pushed toward Yanmega. Bugsy was absolutely stupified by what he was witnessing as he watched Swellow continue to push forward with just sheer determination and grit. With one final push, using the last embers of its strength, Swellow burst forward and slammed into Yanmega.
A massive explosion rocked the gym as smoke and debris covered the battlefield. The force behind the explosion sent out a large shockwave that rocked the trees and sent the bug-type Pokemon within them scattering. Ash had to grip his hat to keep it from flying off. When the dust finally began to settle, no one was surprised to see that both Swellow and Yanmega were unconscious.
"Both Pokemon are unable to battle! Bugsy, Ash, please send out your next Pokemon!" The official announced as she gestured at both Ash and Bugsy with her flags. "The challenger, Ash, is currently ahead by one!"
"Great did an amazing job, Yanmega. But, that move from Ash was truly daring." Bugsy said with a small smile as he returned Yanmega to its balls. Resting his hands on his hips, Bugsy took a deep breath, pausing for a moment to collect himself. "This is where we'll stop you, Ash! Come on out, Scizor!" After some bushes on the edge of the battlefield rustled briefly, the Pincer Pokemon lept onto the battlefield. "We've got this, Scizor!"
"That was damn stellar, Swellow. Get some rest, you've more than deserved it." Ash complimented, returning Swellow and clipping the shrunken Pokeball onto his belt. Grabbing his next Pokeball, Ash tossed it out onto the battlefield. "Noctowl, I choose you!" With a flash of bright white light, the Owl Pokemon burst into the air above the battlefield, circling around Ash. "Alright, let's win this, Noctowl!"
"Scizor, use Brick Break!" With its arm radiating energy, Scizor shot toward Noctowl.
"Noctowl, dodge and use Heat Wave!" Narrowly avoiding Scizor's attack, Noctowl rushed underneath the Pincer Pokemon. Rapidly flapping its wings, Noctowl began to radiate intense heat which it blasted toward Scizor. Taking the hit, Scizor grunted in pain as it was assaulted by the doubly super-effective attack. In an attempt to avoid taking any further damage, Scizor ducked into the surrounding trees. "Flush Scizor out with Hurricane!"
Noctowl flapped its wings even faster and more intensely, creating a powerful vortex of wind. Within seconds, the intense winds engulfed the entire greenhouse, causing the trees and vegetation to blow around violently. However, after nearly a minute, Ash was surprised when Scizor didn't reappear. Scanning around the battlefield, Ash searched for any sign of the Pincer Pokemon. Eventually, Ash looked up into the air and his eyes widened in surprise when he spotted Scizor above Noctowl.
"Scizor, use Metal Claw!" Immediately, Scizor dove toward Noctowl, both of its claws glowing brightly. Showcasing surprising speed, Scizor rapidly closed the distance and slammed its claw onto Noctowl. Yelping in pain, Noctowl was briefly dazed as it began to fall toward the battlefield below. "Now, follow it up with Bullet Punch!"
"Noctowl, recover and use Hypnosis!" Snapping its eyes open, the Owl Pokemon pulled out of its nosedive, mere feet away from the ground. Whipping around, Noctowl turned to face Scizor, with the Pincer Pokemon being only a few steps away, ready to strike again. However, before Scizor could land Bullet Punch, Noctowl's eyes began to glow with an eerie, purple energy. Scizor met Noctowl's gaze, and the fate of the battle was instantly decided. With a crash, Scizor slammed into the ground, having fallen asleep. "Finish this with Dream Eater!"
Noctowl became engulfed in a ghostly pink aura that quickly spread over to Scizor. The Owl Pokemon sighed in relief as it felt a wave of rejuvenation, absorbing the energy it gained from devouring Scizor's dreams. While Noctowl was recovering, the Pincer Pokemon was wincing and fidgeting as it was continuously attacked. It didn't take long before Scizor gave one last, pained gasp before it fell unconscious.
"Please stop the battle!" The official announced as she waved her flags, jogging over and kneeling down at Scizor's side. It didn't long for the official to conclude her examination and she stood back up. "Scizor is unable to battle, the winner is Noctowl! Since all of Bugsy's Pokemon have been defeated, the winner is the challenger, Ash Ketchum!"
"You did your best, Scizor." Bugsy said, releasing a light sigh as he returned his fallen Pokemon. However, a smile quickly formed on Bugsy's face as he walked over to Ash's side of the battlefield. "As expected, that was truly fantastic, Ash. You really kicked my butt this time. No wonder you're in more than one region."
"Hey, you did great too, Bugsy. That battle between Swellow and Yanmega was so awesome!" Ash said as he returned Noctowl and clipped the Pokeball back onto his belt. Reaching out, he shook Bugsy's hand. "Keep getting stronger Bugsy because I'll be sure to swing by and battle you again."
"I look forward to it. You know, I've read up about this phenomenon called 'mega evolutions' in Kalos. I think I'll travel there and learn more about them. I'm sure they'd give my team a nice power boost. Now, I wish you the best of luck on the rest of your journey, Ash. I'll be cheering for you in the Silver Conference. I eagerly await the day we'll have a true Pokemon Master." Bugsy said, patting Ash's shoulder before walking him back toward the rest of his group. "Alright, everyone, it was a pleasure to meet you all. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your stay in Azalea Town. And I wish you all safe travels!"
"I'll check in with Maizie one last time before we leave town..." Ash thought as he felt his heart beat a little faster, gazing at the girls he loved with every fiber of his being. "They have to come out perfect. Those girls deserve only the best."
(Five Minutes: Outside the Azalea Town Gym)
"You really kicked ass in there, Ash!" Iris exclaimed with a bright smile, running over and glomping her raven-haired lover as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I didn't know your Swellow was so strong! And Noctowl looked so cool and elegant!"
"Yeah, it's been a while since I used them in battle. I figured they deserved a chance to showcase how much they've grown." Ash said with a smirk as he surprised Iris by grabbing onto her thighs and carrying her on his back. "Swellow really surprised me today. I'll have to make sure Professor Juniper gives him some extra love and attention when I send him back to the lab."
"If I can offer a suggestion." May spoke up, getting the rest of the group's attention as she released a light sigh. "After spending so long camping in those damn woods, we should relax in Azalea for a few days. I'm in no rush to start camping again."
"That's fine with me." Ash said with a smile which earned him relieved looks from the rest of the group. "Some R&R sounds great actually."
"Great, we'll extend our stay at the Pokemon Center and relax in town for a bit. That will give us extra time to stock up on supplies as well." Cilan said as he walked to the center of the group and pulled out the map of Johto. "But, once we're ready to leave, where are we heading next?"
And done! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and Ash's battle against Bugsy! We're continuing to inch closer to the end of Ash's Johto journey and the inevitable end of this story. I'll be working on my Fairy Tail story next, so you'll have to wait a bit before this story is updated again. Per usual, If you'd like to help pick where Ash and his group head next, I'll be posting a poll on my P atreon. So, please consider supporting if you'd like to help influence this story. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK), PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY P ATREON (AGAIN, I'LL HAVE A NEW POLL POSTED), check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and PM me any ideas you may have for my stories. So until next time, I'm outta here!