Chapter 6
The hours passed by like years for Ash. He was finally back on the road to Blackthorn City, where he would challenge the Gym of said town.
Latios was not enjoying the cruise. He wasn't a fan of crowds and was currently watching Latias, Ash, and Misty in the ship's pool, while Brock sat at a table over by the edge of the pool with Pikachu. Latias seemed to be enjoying herself, as she was splashing Ash and Misty so much that it was a wonder they weren't drowned.
Latios was invisibly watching his sister, mainly because people kept staring at her with a mix of jealousy and awe. He guessed it was because Ash had 'managed' to catch a legendary, and he wanted to make sure that no one tried anything funny.
Meanwhile, Ash noticed that Latios wasn't paying attention to him or Misty. He swam over to Misty slowly, trying not to let the eon see him. He got Misty's attention and pointed at the spot where Latios was. They looked at each other and smirked, each thinking the same thing.
Latios was still watching Latias, but he felt that something was off. He looked around the pool. 'Where are Misty and Ash?' He thought to himself. Suddenly, something shoved him, causing him to fall into the pool and lose his invisibility.
As more people gathered at the sight of another legendary, Latios looked over to the edge of the pool and saw the two 'missing' trainers laughing themselves silly.
Latios realized turning invisible would be pointless, so he just played along. "Oh, you asked for it!" An evil grin crossed his face as he psychically picked up Ash and Misty and pulled them into the pool.
"They sure got you good!" Latias giggled.
"And I assume you have nothing to do with it, right?"
"Only innocent feathers here!" Latias gave an unconvincing smile.
Later…
Ash, Brock, Misty, and the eon twins had been walking (or flying) for about an hour and were finally on the outskirts of Blackthorn City.
"YES! IT'S FINALLY TIME FOR A GYM BATTLE!" Ash yelled to the sky. He turned into Latius without even blowing into the flute and flew off toward the city, leaving a sonic boom behind him.
"Well, we should probably make sure he doesn't forget to go to the Pokémon Center before he gets there," Brock continued walking.
"But are we going to catch up to him?" Latias asked.
"We don't have to, he'll come back as soon as he realizes he doesn't know where the gym is," said Misty.
As if on cue, Ash flew back up to them. "Uh, which way is the gym, again?"
"Not yet, Ash! We need to go to the Pokémon Center first!" Brock reminded his friend.
Ash sighed, knowing that his team needed to be healed. "Okay, let's go,"
~~~
"According to my guidebook, the gym leader of this city uses dragon-type Pokémon," Brock sat down in one of the chairs in the Pokémon Center.
"I think I have a team in mind," Ash tapped the table impatiently as he waited for his team to be checked.
"Ash Ketchum, your Pokémon are fully healed. Please report to the main desk." Nurse Joy's voice rang through the room.
After Ash got his Pokémon, the group headed towards the Blackthorn Gym.
Ash knocked on the gym doors. "Hello?" he called, "I'm here for a gym battle!"
After a few seconds, a man in his 30s opened the door. "Ah, a challenger. Please, follow me."
The man led them to a large room with a battlefield. A girl stood on the opposite side of the field. She had light blue hair that seemed to float behind her, defying the laws of gravity, and wore a black cape.
"I am Clair, the Gym Leader of the Blackthorn City Gym. I will be your opponent." Clair motioned to the man who had led them to the field, and he took his spot at the referee stand.
"This will be a 4-on-4 Gym Battle between Clair, the Gym Leader, and Ash Ketchum, the challenger!" The referee said. "The winner will be the first person to knock out all of the opposing trainer's Pokémon. The challenger may substitute Pokémon anytime, while the Gym Leader cannot. The challenger gets the first move. Begin!" He waved his flags, signaling that the battle had begun.
"Go, Dratini!" Clair tossed out a Pokeball, and a blue snake-like Pokémon materialized on Clair's side of the field.
"Get in there, Pikachu!" Ash told his partner.
"Right!" Pikachu jumped onto the field, electricity crackling on his cheeks.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Dratini, dodge it."
Pikachu fired a bolt of electricity at Dratini, but the dragon Pokémon twisted out of the way.
"Use Dragonbreath!"
Dratini fired off a beam of green flames from its mouth. The attack collided with Pikachu, knocking him back a little.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Use Agility to boost a Quick Attack!"
Pikachu shot off, making Dratini look around frantically, trying to figure out where Pikachu was. Dratini was suddenly hit in the chest by Pikachu, causing it to fly through the air and crash into the wall behind Clair, its eyes turning to swirls.
"Dratini is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!" The referee announced.
Clair recalled her downed Pokémon. "You did well. Have a good rest." She pulled out another Pokeball and threw it onto the field. "Go, Bagon!"
A small blue Pokémon appeared on the field. "Ash!" Brock called from the sidelines. "That's a Pokémon from Hoenn! Be careful!"
"Thanks, Brock!" Ash turned to his partner. "Can you keep going, Pikachu?"
"You bet!"
"Bagon, use headbutt!"
Bagon charged at Pikachu, hitting him in the chest with its hard helmet-like head.
"Use Quick Attack!"
"Counter with Dragon Rage!"
As Pikachu got close to Bagon, it shot a ball of draconic energy at the electric mouse, throwing Pikachu across the field.
"Pikachu!" Ash rushed over to his Pokémon to find Pikachu knocked out.
"Pikachu is unable to battle! Bagon wins!" The referee said.
Ash handed Pikachu to Brock. "Take care of him, okay?"
"Of course," Brock took out a potion to heal the mouse.
Ash walked back to his box and pulled out another Pokeball. "Go, Snorlax!"
The colossal Pokémon materialized on the battlefield. Luckily for Ash, he was awake.
"Snorlax, use Ice Punch!"
Sorlax coated his fist in ice and punched the startled Bagon, sending it flying backward.
"Get up and use Zen Headbutt!"
"Bulk up!"
Snorlax puffed out its chest, raising its attack and defense. Bagon charged at him, head lowered, only to bounce off the Snorlax's large chest, crash into the ceiling, and fall to the ground, swirls in its eyes.
"Bagon is unable to battle! Snorlax wins!" the referee said, as Clair recalled Bagon.
"Great job, Bagon, return!" Clair recalled her downed Pokémon. "Gyarados, you're up next! "Use Dragonbreath!"
Gyarados launched a beam of green fire at Snorlax.
"Snorlax, counter with Ice Punch!"
Snorlax punched the Dragonbreath with an Ice Punch, but the flames quickly overpowered the punch, causing Snorlax to fall.
"Now use Twister!"
"Snorlax, roll to the side!"
Ash's Pokémon rolled around, trying to avoid Gyarados' attack. Unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough as the Twister slowly got closer.
"End this now, Gyarados, use Hyper Beam!"
"Use Rollout!"
Snorlax curled itself into a ball and used its momentum to speed toward Gyarados. The water and flying type shot a powerful beam of light just before being hit, causing a massive explosion and causing Ash and Clair to shield their eyes from the light.
When the explosion had died out, Ash noticed his Pokémon was out of commission, while Gyarados, though damaged, was still standing.
"Snorlax is unable to battle! Gyarados wins!"
"Good work, Snorlax," Ash recalled his Pokémon. "You ready?" He had found that he could still use telepathy in his human form, making it perfect for battling.
"They don't stand a chance," The blue and white dragon by his side prepared to fight.
"Latios, I choose you!"
Latios dropped his invisibility on Ash's side of the battlefield.
Clair gasped in shock. A legendary dragon-type Pokémon! She had always dreamed of seeing one in person. "Ash, how in Arceus' name did you catch a Latios?"
"It's a long story, but I befriended him and he decided to come with me," Ash grinned mareepishly.
"A very honorable way to catch a legendary." Clair smiled. "This calls for my full power! Gyarados, Dragon Rage!"
Gyarados fired a ball of draconic energy at Latios. He ducked down, causing the attack to crash into the wall behind him.
"Latios, use Ice Beam!"
"Use Hyrdo Pump!"
The two attacks passed each other in mid-air and hit both Pokémon. Gyarados's head was frozen in a block of ice, and Latios was knocked into the ceiling by the impact.
"Latios, use Dragonbreath!"
Latios fired off the attack, pushing Gyarados back a few feet and breaking the ice on its head.
"Gyarados, use Ice Fang!"
"Latios, counter with Psychic!"
Latios' eyes shone a bright blue as he psychically grabbed Gyarados and flung him into the battlefield so hard that it formed a crater from the momentum of the throw. Gyarados roared, unable to get up, and fell, unconscious.
"Gyarados is unable to battle! Latios wins!"
Clair gritted her teeth. How was she supposed to beat a Latios of all things? "You are a great opponent, Ash. Let's see how you do against Dragonair!"
Clair threw her final Pokeball, and a blue serpent-like Pokémon that looked a lot like Dratini appeared on Clair's side of the battlefield.
"Latios, use Dragonbreath!"
Draginair twisted itself around, dodging the attack.
"Dragonair, use Ice Beam!"
Dragonair's mouth opened as it gathered energy and fired it as an ice-cold beam of light.
"Latios! Turn invisible and dodge!"
Latios smirked, getting Ash's plan. "Shall I?"
Ash nodded. "Use tackle!"
"Dragonair, use Dragon Pulse where Latios was!" Clair commanded. Maybe Latios hadn't moved.
This wasn't the case, as Dragonair's Dragon Pulse passed harmlessly through the air. Before the dragon-type knew what was happening, it was blown backward as Latios tackled it from behind. Dragonair slowly got up, but looked significantly weakened.
"Latios, finish with Luster Purge!"
Latios charged up his signature move and fired a beam of psychic energy at Dragonair.
"Dodge it!"
Dragonair tried to move but was still recovering from the previous attack. It could do nothing but brace itself as the energy enveloped it. Crying with pain, Clair's Pokémon fell to the floor unconscious.
"Dragonair is unable to battle! Latios is the winner! And with two Pokémon remaining, Ash Ketchum is the winner of this battle!" The referee announced.
Clair recalled her fallen partner and walked over to Ash, who was hugging Latios.
"Great job, Latios! We won!" Ash praised.
"Thanks, Ash," Latios smiled, pleased with himself for winning the battle.
"You did it, brother!" Latias couldn't keep herself hidden and rushed over to hug her brother.
Clair smiled. "I presume she was going to be your last Pokémon?" Clair motioned to the female eon.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, I guess it was a bit overkill,"
Clair shook her head and laughed. "Here's your Rising Badge. It is proof of your victory at the Blackthorn Gym," She handed Ash a metal badge shaped like a dragon's head.
Ash happily accepted it and did his signature pose. "Alright! I got the Rising Badge!"
~~~
Thank you for reading!
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