BATTLE FOR THE LOVE OF BUG-TYPE!
"Pikachu is the main ingredient in Ash's strategy recipe!"
Score: 5/10
The heroes reach the Castelia Gym, and Burgh is happy to take Ash's challenge. Huh. I guess Trip was just kind of wrong.
Burgh sends out his first pokemon: Dwebble. Ash counters with Tepig, a move which Iris compliments even though it's his worst possible choice. And indeed, Tepig loses easily. Good work, everyone. Fortunately, Sewaddle picks up the slack and defeats Dwebble for Ash.
Next up: Whirlipede. Whirlipede exists because GameFreak thought Kakuna and Metapod were too damn dignified. Cilan muses that a flying pokemon would be best here, but Ash already sent Tranquill to Professor Juniper because he knew he was going to a bug gym and having an advantage would be too smart. He probably plans to use Oshawott against Elesa, too.
Well, whatever. Sewaddle is hit by a solar beam, causing it to evolve into Swadloon. With its new power, it defeats Whirlipede. Finally, Burgh sends out Leavanny, and Iris mutters that she was afraid of this, as if Burgh using his own signature pokemon was ever in question. In fairness, this next part of the battle is kind of interesting, where Swadloon is strung up by string shot and has to hit itself with razor leaf to escape, but Leavanny wins without taking damage anyway, making Swadloon’s bravery and cleverness completely pointless.
Oshawott escapes its pokeball again and asks to fight, but Ash chooses Pikachu instead, promising to use Oshawott next time. Holy crap, he does plan to use Oshawott against Elesa, I can’t even make jokes about Ash anymore.
But don’t worry.
Burgh comments about the rarity of Pikachu.
Pikachu is hit by string shot, which gets all over its tail and ruins its balance, preventing it from using its moves properly. Fortunately, Ash tricks Leavanny into using leaf storm on the string shot, freeing Pikachu and allowing it to win using electro ball, because we have to justify replacing volt tackle with it somehow.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket calls up Giovanni's secretary, who tells that their next mission is up to them. Left unsure of what to do, Team Rocket gets into an argument about what the boss expects of them, and for the first time since Sinnoh, they actually act like Jessie, James, and Meowth, and… oh, they switch back into their white uniforms and pledge themselves to catch Pikachu again. Oh. Okay. I kind of liked the competent, dangerous Team Rocket, and I was hoping they’d remain competent while still having their old personalities, but I… guess not. That’s kind of disappointing, I’ve gotta say.
A wild Yamask wanders by, and Jessie decides to catch it. James, however, simply offers it some food, and then offers to let it join the team. Wow, that was literally the easiest capture ever.
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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005