Gym Challenge Battle vs Roxanne! Part -2

"My Coalossal will be your next opponent," Roxanne declared.

Ash's gaze sharpened as he analyzed the coal-covered Pokémon towering before him. "Coalossal..." he murmured, instinctively pulling up its stats on his internal Pokédex. A familiar smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. 'Of course, it has Steam Engine as its ability,' he thought, clicking his tongue in mild frustration. 'This will be tough, but at least its Special Defense is lacking.'

Taking a calming breath, Ash reached down and detached a Pokéball from his belt. He held it for a moment, then tossed it in the field, releasing Lapras back into the fray. He walked up to her, offering a reassuring stroke along her head. "Hey, girl, up for another round?" he asked gently. Lapras responded with a determined nod, nuzzling him with affection.

With both Ash's Lapras and Roxanne's Coalossal ready for action, the referee raised his hand to signal the start of the third battle.

******

Roxanne wasted no time, her eyes flashing with focus. "Let's finish this quickly," she declared, as a white shimmer enveloped Coalossal as the sandstorm boosted its Special Defense. "Coalossal, Flame Charge!"

Coalossal roared as its body was cloaked in fiery red flames, charging forward with a thundering speed. Though Flame Charge wasn't Coalossal's strongest move, Ash knew exactly why Roxanne had chosen it: each charge boosted Coalossal's speed, one stat that Lapras lacked and had no way to boost, unlike her opponent.

"Lapras, brace yourself!" Ash called out, and just in time. Coalossal's fiery impact sent a shockwave across the field, Lapras staggering under the hit but managing to hold her ground, thanks to her Focus Band which had fortunately activated, allowing her to hold on by a thread.

Ash grinned, seizing the brief opportunity. "Lapras, use Rain Dance!" Lapras lifted her head, releasing a melodic cry that echoed through the stadium. The next moment, the dark clouds gathered overhead, and in seconds, rain began to pour over the battlefield.

Roxanne smirked, narrowing her eyes. "Clever move, Ash. But I won't let you take advantage of it for long," she said as red energy glowed around Coalossal's body, indicating the speed boost from Flame Charge. "Coalossal, Fire Punch!" she commanded, and Coalossal's blazing fist struck Lapras with a powerful blow, sending her tumbling back. When the dust settled, Lapras lay motionless on the ground with spirals in her eyes.

The referee raised his hand. "Lapras is unable to battle! Coalossal is the winner!"

******

Ash recalled Lapras, holding her Pokéball with a warm, appreciative smile. "You did amazing, girl. Rest well," he whispered before placing the Pokéball back in his belt and drawing another. 'I needed a clear switch-in and a weather setup,' he thought with a sigh, feeling guilty for using his Lapras like this. 'At least Jan would be proud of me for this.'

He tossed his Pokéball high, releasing his next Pokémon onto the field. "Wartortle, let's avenge our friend!" In a burst of light, Wartortle landed on the field with a fierce, determined look in his eyes. Around his neck gleamed a Mystic Water pendant, a gift Ash had chosen specifically to enhance his Water-type moves by spending 1,000 system points. The rain continued to pour, adding a glistening effect to Wartortle's shell as he faced off against Roxanne's massive Coalossal.

With both Pokémon ready, the referee raised his hand once more, signaling the beginning of the fourth match.

******

"Coalossal, start off with Tar Shot!" Roxanne was quick on the offensive as she commanded first.

Coalossal growled, its massive arm raised as thick, black tar bubbled and shot forth, splattering Wartortle in a sticky coat that clung to his limbs. Wartortle winced as his movements suddenly started feeling a little sluggish.

Ash narrowed his eyes, recognizing that Tar Shot would not only slow Wartortle but also amplify the effects of any Fire-type attacks used against him. However, he knew that he had the luxury of ignoring the Fire-type attack boost due to rain, which mitigated that risk. On the other hand, he could not allow Wartortle's speed to be compromised, especially with the Steam Engine user in front of him.

"Wartortle, shake it off with Rapid Spin!" Ash called. Wartortle tucked in his limbs and spun rapidly, the sticky tar flinging off with each rotation. His shell gleamed clean in the rain, but he winced as the sandstorm continued to wear him down.

"Coalossal don't give them room to breathe! Use Rock Blast!" she commanded as Coalossal raised its arm, sending jagged stones hurtling toward Wartortle at breakneck speed.

"Counter with Aqua Jet!" Ash shouted, and in an instant, Wartortle cloaked himself in a powerful stream of water and shot forward. He dodged two of the incoming rocks, weaving through them with skill. Just as he closed in, a third rock clipped his side, causing a brief spin. But Wartortle quickly regained his balance, refocusing as he struck Coalossal with a powerful water-infused blow.

The rain-boosted Aqua Jet hit Coalossal with a sizzling hiss, steam rising from the impact. Coalossal staggered, visibly affected by the water attack, but it was far from beaten, evident by the calm look on Roxanne's face and Ash knew exactly why, since a moment later Coalossal's body glowed red as Steam Engine activated.

"Coalossal, Smokescreen! Fill the battlefield!" Roxanne's voice rang through the stadium as Coalossal exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, shrouding the field in an impenetrable fog, completely obscuring Wartortle's vision.

Ash cursed under his breath, knowing that the Smokescreen would leave Wartortle blind to Coalossal's movements. 'If we can't see, we're sitting ducks, which is not good for us, especially in this sandstorm,' he thought, a bead of sweat mixing with the rain on his forehead. "Wartortle, let's clear this up! Use Surf!" he called out. 

Wartortle flailed his arms, summoning a massive wave that towered behind him. The rain-enhanced Surf crashed forward with immense force, sweeping across the battlefield and slamming into Coalossal with a thunderous roar.

The Smokescreen was obliterated, revealing Coalossal caught directly in the force of the Surf. Water surrounded it, and the hiss of steam filled the air as Coalossal's body smoldered under the deluge. When the wave finally receded, Coalossal staggered, visibly weakened, its fiery glow on the coal on its back starting to dim a little.

Roxanne's composure faltered, though only slightly. But then a smile crept on her face as she realized that this was the first time in a while that she was required to put so much effort into the match and she was actually enjoying herself. "It's not over yet! Coalossal, use Stone Edge!"

With a low growl, Coalossal slammed its feet on the ground, summoning jagged, glowing rocks that erupted from the ground, shooting upward in a brutal line toward Wartortle. The stones were faster than Ash anticipated, striking with brutal precision before Wartortle had a chance to react. Each stone hit its mark, driving Wartortle back and drawing a pained grunt from him as he struggled to stay upright.

"Wartortle, are you okay?" Ash called, his voice filled with concern. Wartortle wobbled for a moment, breathing heavily, but he straightened up, his eyes fierce with determination.

Ash knew time was running out. The rain would end soon, and with it, their advantage. "Wartortle! We are going to end this right now!" Ash called, declared with a determined voice. "Use Wave Crash!"

Drawing on every ounce of power, Wartortle surrounded himself in a massive surge of water—massively more in volume and Water Energy than required for Aqua Jet—and launched himself forward, hurtling toward Coalossal at ground-breaking speed due to enhanced power from rain as well as the Mystic Water pendant glinting in his neck.

"Let's meet them head-on, Coalossal! Use Heat Crash!" Roxanne commanded, and Coalossal roared as a sphere of yellow-orange flames formed around him. Then he shot towards Wartortle, and a moment later, both of them clashed, creating a deafening sonic boom that obliterated the ground beneath them and created a large explosion, shaking the stadium.

When the dust settled and the rain stopped, both stood on their feet, backs turned to each other. A moment of silence passed before Coalossal took a shuddering step back and collapsed with a resounding thud, its eyes spiraling.

The referee raised his hand. "Coalossal is unable to battle! Wartortle is the winner!"

******

Ash's face broke into a triumphant grin. "You did it, Wartortle! Amazing job!" Wartortle turned to his trainer, exhausted but still smiling as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Roxanne recalled Coalossal, nodding respectfully. "You've come a long way, Ash," she acknowledged, her voice filled with admiration. But her tone shifted as she reached for her next Pokéball, her expression becoming serious. "But now the real challenge begins."

With a flick of her wrist, Roxanne released a large, armored Pokémon that landed heavily on the field. Its powerful, silver-plated body gleamed menacingly, while the Clear Amulet hung around her neck. "Ash, meet my Aggron. She has been with me for a very long time. In fact, she was on the team when I won the Ever Grande Conference, as well as the dream killer who had ended quite a few advanced challenges for trainers who were in your place, so be careful."

Ash's confidence only grew as he exchanged Wartortle's Pokéball for another. "Thanks for the heads-up, Roxanne, but I won't back down." He tossed the Pokéball into the air, releasing his next Pokémon, Quilava, whose fiery spots ignited as he stepped forward. "Quilava! Let's show them what we're made of!" Responding to Ash's energy, Quilava cried out, flames blazing proudly while Safety Goggles equipped on his eyes.

Just then, a voice rang out from the stands, breaking the tension. "When the hell did Cyndaquil evolve?!" Ash's sister shouted in surprise, making Ash chuckle as he gestured he'd explain later.

With both Pokémon ready, the referee raised his hand, signaling the start of the fifth match.

******

"Now that we're in the last stretch of this battle, let's make this memorable," Roxanne's eyes sparkled as she declared, gesturing toward Aggron, whose body glimmered with a white glow activating Sandstorm Boost, and whose eyes narrowed in response. "Aggron! Metal Sound!"

Aggron opened her mouth, releasing a high-pitched, metallic screech that pierced the stadium. The dreadful sound reverberated off the walls, forcing Quilava to wince and lowering his defenses as he struggled to withstand the assault on his senses.

Ash clicked his tongue realizing that Quilava's defenses had been compromised right at the start, a perfect setup for Aggron's heavy attacks. "Quilava, let's buy some time with Smokescreen!" he called.

Quilava inhaled deeply before exhaling thick, black smoke that billowed out in waves, enveloping the arena in a dense fog. The smoke mixed with the sandstorm, obscuring Aggron's line of sight and creating a temporary shield for Quilava.

Roxanne's eyes narrowed as she watched the smoke swirl around her Pokémon. "Aggron, clear it with Brutal Swing!"

Aggron's tail glowed, as Dark Energy emitted from its tail, and with powerful arcs, it swung through the air, each swing slicing through the thick smoke and creating strong gusts that cleared the smog. In seconds, the battlefield returned to visibility.

"If we can't buy time from you, then we will just outspeed you," Ash declared and commanded. "Quilava, use Agility!"

Quilava cried out as its body glowed with Psychic Energy. The Agility boosted its natural evasiveness as it darted around Aggron, leaving only flashes of its form visible through the remaining wisps of smoke and sand.

"Perfect, Quilava!" Ash called out. "Now, Flame Charge!"

Quilava's body was enveloped in flames as he charged forward. The fiery streak cut through the smoke as he barreled toward Aggron, slamming into its armored body with the full force of his boosted speed. The flames left singe marks across Aggron's armor, visibly irritating the sturdy Pokémon. Quilava's body glowed red as the Flame Charge added yet another boost to his speed.

But Roxanne's expression remained unfazed. "Aggron, grab him, and use Iron Head!"

Aggron shook off the singe marks and grabbed Quilava by the head. Then its head gleamed with a metallic sheen, and with an intense roar, Aggron threw Quilava into the air. Before the Fire-type could even react, the full weight of Aggron's Iron Head struck it, sending it hurtling across the field, tumbling before coming to a stop, breathing heavily from the powerful blow.

"Hang in there, buddy!" Ash encouraged, relief flooding him as Quilava staggered back onto his feet. "Let's see how your Aggron handles this! Quilava use Sunny Day!"

Quilava gathered the fire energy in its mouth, before looking up and firing it into the sky, successfully creating the artificial sun he and Ash had been working on.

"Now, let's turn up the heat! Quilava, use Overheat!" Ash commanded once more.

Quilava cried out as its body turned red and flames erupted from the pores of its body. Then, emitting an intense heat, Quilava released a powerful orange-yellow fire with an orange flame spiraling around it from its mouth, rushing towards Aggron.

"Aggron, counter with Flash Cannon!" Roxanne commanded.

Aggron charged a sphere of silvery energy in her mouth, releasing it as a beam that collided with Quilava's Overheat. The two attacks clashed, pushing back and forth with crackling energy, but the boosted Overheat gradually overwhelmed the Flash Cannon, consuming it entirely and slamming into Aggron with full force. When the flames cleared, Aggron stood, her armor scorched and her body heaving from the impact.

"Aggron, are you good?" Roxanne asked, receiving a nod in return. "Good. In that case, it's time to counterattack. Use Rock Tomb!"

Aggron roared as it became outlined in white energy, and multiple gray rocks outlined in white energy started to form in the sky in the shape of a ring. Then the glow around Aggron faded as the rocks started to fall down on Quilava.

"Quilava, quick, Quick Attack out of there!" Ash shouted desperately as rocks closed in on Quilava.

Quilava dashed, weaving through the rocks with speed. However, one of the stones clipped his side, causing him to stumble, just as. another rock fell, pinning him under it.

Seeking to take advantage of Quilava's immobile state, Roxanne immediately commanded. "Aggron, use Shadow Claw!"

Aggron rushed forward with a translucent, dark purple-colored claw made of Ghost Energy forming over its real claw and struck the immobile Quilava, shattering the rock holding Quilava while sending it rolling across the field.

'Damn it, this Aggron is more resilient than I thought,' Ash thought to himself. 'Maybe I should have gambled and brought Larvitar into this battle, but then it wouldn't have helped with the other trick I have in mind.' Then he clicked his tongue once more as his eyes went towards the sky and noticed that the sun he had set up had already vanished, ending the Fire-type attack boost for him. 'I need to end this right here, right now!'

Meanwhile, Roxanne immediately followed up with her last attack. "Aggron, let's end this with Dragon Claw!"

Aggron roared and rushed towards Quilava once more, with a similar translucent claw forming over its real claw, the only difference being that this one was bright green in color and was made up of Dragon Energy.

As Aggron closed in on Quilava, suddenly Ash gave a command that surprised everyone. "Quilava! Take the attack head-on and survive!" he shouted, earning gasps from the audience.

'What is he thinking?' Roxanne thought as Aggron appeared in front of Quilava, her claw raised high up in the air before striking Quilava, with an impact earning a pained cry from him. However, despite enduring the painful attack, just as Ash had hoped, he held his ground, wobbling but conscious, defiance in his gaze.

"That's it, Quilava! Let's end this," Ash commanded, throwing his fist forward as a wave of orange energy burst out of the ground around Quilava, and his body became covered in an orange aura. "Now! Use Reversal!"

In a burst of speed, he launched himself at Aggron, striking with unmatched force. Aggron flew backward, crashing into the stadium wall. As the dust settled, she lay motionless, eyes spiraled in defeat.

The referee raised his hand. "Aggron is unable to battle! Quilava is the winner!"

******

"You did amazing, Quilava! Now take a rest; I might need you later," Ash said as he returned Quilava to his Pokéball with a proud smile.

"Ash, I'm truly impressed you've come this far," Roxanne said, thanking her Aggron with a gentle touch to its Pokéball before tucking it away. "But now, this is your final test. If you can get past my next Pokémon, the advanced Stone Badge is yours." With a swift toss, she released her last Pokémon. In a burst of light, a towering Garganacl took the field, its massive, salt-crusted frame casting an imposing shadow. A Power Herb was fitted like a headband on the tallest tower of salt on its back, and as the sandstorm continued to roar around them, its body glowed faintly, activating the Sandstorm Boost.

Ash quickly checked Garganacl's stats, wincing as he saw the Purifying Salt ability. 'This isn't good,' he thought, knowing that Purifying Salt would make it resistant to his final Pokémon's main strategy. 'Better get in some chip damage before sending in the real finisher.' He reached for Wartortle's Pokéball, calling his water-type back onto the field, and with that, the sixth match began.

"Wartortle, use Aqua Jet!" Ash commanded.

Wartortle's body cloaked in water as he launched himself toward Garganacl in a high-speed attack. Roxanne stood calm, waiting until the last moment before issuing her command.

"Garganacl, Thunder Punch!"

Garganacl's massive fist crackled with electricity before striking Wartortle head-on, the impact sending him tumbling back across the field and knocking him out in a single, devastating blow.

The referee raised his hand. "Wartortle is unable to battle! Garganacl is the winner!"

"Thank you for all your hard work," Ash murmured, returning Wartortle to his Pokéball. Without hesitation, he released Quilava back onto the field, with a specific purpose in mind. "Sorry to call you back so soon, but can you go for another round?" he asked, seeing the exhaustion in Quilava's eyes. But Quilava gave a determined nod, his flames flaring as he took his place once more. With that, the seventh match began.

"Quilava use Sunny Day!" as soon as the match began Ash commanded.

"As if I will let you!" Roxanne countered, in a sharp voice. "Garganacl, use Salt Cure!"

Garganacl raised both hands, forming a swirling white orb of salt particles, which it hurled at Quilava in the form of a beam. The particles engulfed Quilava as he gathered fire energy, and when the attack dissipated, Quilava was left trembling, struggling to stay on his feet as salt crystals began forming on his skin, cutting into him with each passing moment.

"Your Quilava is done for," Roxanne said, eyeing the Quilava who was struggling with salt crystals. "It will be best if you recalled him before it sustains any unnecessary damage."

Ash absently nodded and reached for his Pokéball, but then, with a loud, defiant cry, Quilava gathered the last of his energy. With a final burst, he fired a ball of Fire Energy skyward, creating a blazing artificial sun just before he collapsed with spirals in his eyes.

The referee raised his hand. "Quilava is unable to battle! Garganacl is the winner!"

Ash knelt, giving Quilava's Pokéball a grateful look. "Thank you, Quilava. You have no idea how much you've helped us." He placed Quilava's Pokéball back on his belt before pulling out his last Pokéball with a smile. "Alright, girl, it's your time to shine," Ash said and tossed the Pokeball into the air. In a burst of light, Bayleef appeared on the field, with determined and fierce eyes and wearing the Miracle Seed necklace gleaming around her neck as she took in the sunlit, sandstorm-filled arena.

The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the eighth and final match of the gym challenge began.

******

The stadium buzzed with anticipation as Ash faced down Roxanne's final Pokémon. He took a steadying breath, calling out his opening move. "Bayleef, set up Reflect and Light Screen!"

Bayleef closed her eyes briefly, a shimmering aura of Psychic Energy surrounding her as two protective barriers materialized before vanishing from sight.

"Clever, but those won't save you for long," Roxanne warned, a confident gleam in her eyes. "Garganacl, Earthquake!"

Garganacl raised its massive fists and slammed them into the ground, sending tremors ripping across the field. The stadium shook violently, forcing Bayleef to brace herself as the Reflect barrier absorbed some of the force. Even with the protection, Bayleef winced as the ground split beneath her, the relentless sandstorm adding to her discomfort.

"You've got this, Bayleef!" Ash encouraged. "Now, let's start chipping away—use Leech Seed!"

Bayleef's leaf collar glowed, and she unleashed a barrage of glowing seeds that flew across the battlefield, embedding themselves in Garganacl's rocky body. Almost immediately, vines sprouted from the seeds, wrapping around Garganacl and draining its energy in gentle pulses, transferring some of that strength to Bayleef.

Roxanne narrowed her eyes. "Garganacl, hit her with Rock Blast!"

Garganacl flexed its massive arms, conjuring large, jagged stones around itself before launching them toward Bayleef one after another with brutal precision. 

"Bayleef, counter with Magical Leaf!" Ash commanded.

Bayleef whipped her head, releasing a flurry of shimmering leaves that intercepted the Rock Blast. The attacks clashed mid-air, neutralizing one another in a burst of energy.

"Garganacl, use Rock Polish, then follow it up with Hammer Arm!" Roxanne ordered sharply.

Garganacl's entire body gleamed, its speed increasing sharply. With one swift movement, it rushed toward Bayleef, raising a massive arm that glowed with intense energy. Before Bayleef could react, Garganacl's arm swung down, landing a heavy blow that sent her skidding back.

"Hang in there, Bayleef!" Ash called. "Let's slow it down with Sweet Scent!"

Bayleef released a fragrant aroma from her leaf collar, the soft scent drifting through the battlefield and causing Garganacl's movements to slow, its eyes growing unfocused as its senses dulled while Ash seized the opening. 

"Now, Solar Beam!" he shouted.

Due to the presence of the sun, Bayleef immediately managed to gather the Grass Energy in her mouth and fired at Garganacl, completely engulfing it in a beam. When the attack subsided, Ash clicked his tongue upon seeing Garganacl still standing, despite looking worse for wear. However, what irked him more was the fact that now, the sun that Quilava had set up had gone, as well as Bayleef's Leech Seed. Now things were once again looking troublesome for him since the finisher he had thought, quite didn't finish the match.

"Ash, why are you making that face?" Roxanne asked with an amused smile. "You really think if one of my best Pokémon were to go down in a single super-effective attack, I would be standing in front of you as a Gym Leader of a type that has five weaknesses?" she asked with a hint of pride as well as arrogance in her voice. "Now, let me show you what a real super-effective move looks like! Garganacl, Rock Polish and Ice Punch!"

Garganacl's body glowed once more, boosting its speed even more. Then it arrived in front of Bayleef, Ice energy crackled around its massive fist as it swung toward her, landing a chilling blow that made her cry out in pain.

"Don't let up! Fire Punch!" Roxanne followed up quickly. However, before Garganacl could hit Bayleef, Ash came up with an idea.

"Bayleef, Razor Leaf on Garganacl's legs!" Ash shouted with a hint of urgency in his voice.

Bayleef swung her head, releasing sharp, spinning leaves that struck Garganacl's legs, making it stumble and lose balance, falling to one knee.

"Great job, Bayleef! Now, use Vine Whip to lift Garganacl up and start charging Solar Beam!" Ash commanded.

Heeding Ash's command, Bayleef immediately summoned two dark green vines from under the leaves around her neck and, despite the weight of Garganacl, managed to lift it up in the air before she began charging Grass Energy for Solar Beam.

"That was some clever and out of box thinking, but don't think that just because we are immobile, we are out of attacks," Roxanne smirked. "It's time to end this once and for all. Garganacl, use Meteor Beam!"

A Power Herb attached to Garganacl's body glowed, allowing it to skip the usual charge time for the attack. With a roar, it unleashed a massive rainbow-colored beam that tore through the air, striking Bayleef and engulfing her in an explosion of light.

However, as the smoke cleared, Roxanne's smirk faltered, seeing that Bayleef was still standing, her vines holding Garganacl aloft, a fierce glint in her eye as a vibrant green aura illuminated her.

Ash's eyes lit up. 'Overgrow…' he thought with a smile. But then, something even more incredible happened. Bayleef's body began to glow, enveloped in brilliant white light as she started to evolve. The light faded, revealing Meganium, her size doubled, with two antennae above her snout and a large, pink flower encircling her neck.

"That's it, Meganium! Let's end this!" Ash shouted, exhilarated. "Slam Garganacl down, then finish it with Solar Beam!"

Meganium's vines swung Garganacl to the ground with tremendous force, shaking the stadium as it hit the dirt. Still holding Garganacl in her vines, Meganium released an Overgrow-powered Solar Beam directly into Garganacl. The beam left a large crater, and when the dust settled, Garganacl lay motionless, swirls in its eyes.

The referee raised his hand. "Garganacl is unable to battle! Meganium wins!" he declared. "With this, Gym Leader Roxanne has exhausted all her Pokémon. The victory goes to Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

For a moment, the stadium was silent, and then it erupted in thunderous cheers. Ash dropped to the ground, the adrenaline fading, exhaustion washing over him. Suddenly, two dark green vines wrapped around his waist, lifting him back onto his feet.

"Haha!" Ash laughed as Meganium pulled him close, nuzzling against him affectionately. "Well done, girl! Thanks to you—and everyone's hard work—we've finally won the Advanced Stone Badge!"

To be continued...

******

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