Recap: After defeating Morty and seeing a show at the dance theater in Ecruteak City, Ash headed towards Olivine.  Upon arriving, he found out that the Gym Leader was tending to a sick Pokemon.  Wanting to help in any way he could, he offered his help to Jasmine.  He then headed to Cianwood City to get a Secret Potion.  After having a quick battle, he got the medicine and headed back to Olivine.  He gave Jasmine the medicine, which she in turn gave to Amphy.  Amphy's condition significantly improved, and Jasmine headed back to the gym.  Soon afterwards, Ash battled her and won his 5th badge.  Then he headed back to Ecruteak City to rest.
( ) following Pokemon talk is the translation
Italic words is psychic speech
/ is Ash mental conversation with Lugia and/or Charizard
/Italic words/ is Lugia and/or Charizard mental conversation with Ash
(' is Pokemon thoughts
' is human thoughts






                                                Chapter 9: Mahogany Crisis

Ash was in Ecruteak City.  He intended to spend the rest of the day and night there.  He thought back to all he did today.  First, he headed to the Olivine City Gym only to find out that the Gym Leader was in the lighthouse tending to a sick Pokemon.  Being greatly concerned, he went to see if he could do anything to help.  The trainers at the lighthouse only delayed him a little.  He was able to quickly get to the troubled area.  He found the sick Pokemon with Jasmine, Olivine City's Gym Leader, tending to it.  The sick Pokemon was an Ampharos.  Quickly volunteering to help, Ash learned of the medicine man in Cianwood City.

Wanting to get to Cianwood as quickly as possible, Ash rode Lugia.  They had arrived in Cianwood so quickly that Lugia suggested that Ash have a quick battle with the Gym Leader.  Ash agreed and ended up storming his way through battle, earning the Storm Badge and the Dynamic Punch TM.  Then he got the Secret Potion from the medicine man.  Just before he left for Olivine, he saw Suicune for a few brief moments.  Then he headed back for the Olivine City Lighthouse.  He gave the Secret Potion to Jasmine, who in turn, gave it to Amphy.  Amphy felt much better very quickly.  Minutes later, Ash and Jasmine went head to head in battle, Ash coming out victorious.

Now here he was in Ecruteak City.  He was staying in a guest room at the Pokemon Center.  He let all except Lugia, Lapras, Charizard and Pidgeot out of their balls.  Bellossom, the two Eevee and Meganium quickly curled up the best they could before taking a nap.  Ash slowly picked up Bellossom before putting her on the sofa that was in the room.  He found a couple extra blankets nearby.  He took one and put it over the sleeping Bellossom.  Then he carried his Eevee to the other end of the sofa, putting the second blanket over them.

"Bell/Eevee (Thank you)," Bellossom and the two Eevee said in their sleep.

"You're welcome," Ash said quietly.  'They have the right idea,' he thought before getting into the bed.  He was soon asleep himself.

The remaining Pokemon decided to also take a nap.  Celebi used Psychic to lift the opposite end of the blanket so she could get settled on the sofa.  When she was settled, she lowered the blanket end and was soon asleep herself.  Feraligatr, Sudowoodo, Sandslash and Typhlosion simply curled up on the floor before falling asleep.  "A" and "N" settled down on Typhlosion's back before also falling asleep.  An hour later, Ash and his Pokemon awakened from their slumber.

"That nap was a great idea.  I feel refreshed now," Ash said.

"Gator gat (So do we)," Feraligatr said, the others nodding.

"So what do you guys want to do?" Ash asked.

"Bell bellossom bell (Can we see the dancers again)?" Bellossom asked in response.

"Sure, if that's what you all want to do," Ash responded.

"Mega meg?  Mega meg mega (Why not?  They're very good)," Meganium said, the others nodding.

"Then the Dance Theater it is," Ash said, returning all his Pokemon.  He then left the Pokemon Center and headed to the dance theater.  He arrived several minutes later and entered.  He got there just in time because the Kimono Girls were just getting on stage.  'Just in time,' he thought before releasing his Pokemon.

"Oh joy!  We get to see them again," Charizard said happily.

Soon, the Kimono Girls started their routines.  Halfway into the show, Bellossom felt the urge to go up on stage and dance with them.  The urge was so strong that she ended up doing just that.  She was soon dancing the way she knew how.  Then to everyone's surprise, the Kimono Girls and their Pokemon changed their routine to better accustom with Bellossom's movements.

Ash then felt the urge to join Bellossom.  He gave into his urge and also went on stage.  He then began to move in perfect harmony with Bellossom.  Everyone in the audience was awestruck upon seeing the flawless movements of Ash and Bellossom.  Even the Kimono Girls were in awe, but continued to dance.  Half an hour later, the Kimono Girls were finished with their routine.  But Ash and Bellossom were so in tuned to each other, they didn't realize that the routine was over and continued to dance.  Now they were the ones with an audience.  The Kimono Girls sat in the audience as Ash and Bellossom continued their dance.

"They're really good," the girl in the purple kimono said.

"Yes.  It's amazing how harmonized they are.  It's as if they know each others' movements," the girl in the blue kimono said.

An hour later, Ash and Bellossom concluded their routine.  Loud clapping met their ears.  They looked up and saw the Kimono Girls along with everyone else.  They looked at each other sheepishly before turning towards the audience and bowing.  Then they left the stage.

"That was awesome," the girl in the yellow kimono said.

"You and your Bellossom performed beautifully.  The way you two danced was really a sight to behold," the girl in the blue kimono added.

"Thanks.  Bellossom gets a lot of the credit though.  She helped me to be able to dance like I can now," Ash said.

"That was outstanding!" a male voice said.

Ash turned to see the elderly man in charge of the theater.

"If you consider going into dancing, you are more than welcome to perform here," the elderly man said, the Kimono Girls nodding.

"Thanks," Ash said before he and Bellossom headed to where his other Pokemon were.  He then returned Charizard, Lugia and Lapras before he and his remaining Pokemon left the theater.

"Sudowoodo sudo (That was great)," Sudowoodo said.

"Eevee.  Eevee, eev eevee (Yeah.  We really loved it)," the two Eevee said.

"Thanks guys," Ash said, Bellossom nodding.  Then Ash returned his Pokemon.  Then he made his way to Mahogany Town.  Only a few minutes into Route 42, he saw Suicune a third time, Suicune locking eyes with him before speeding away.  'I can't wait until we battle,' he thought.  He breezed through the trainer battles and was in Mahogany Town half an hour later.

He first went to the Pokemon Center to have his Pokemon healed.  Ten minutes later, he headed for the gym.  There was a man standing in front of the door.

"Excuse me.  Why are you in front of the door?" Ash said.

"The leader Pryce told me to keep trainers from coming into the gym until he got back from meditating in the Ice Path," the man said.

Then Ash heard a weird sound.  'I wonder what's making that strange sound.  Something tells me I should check it out,' he thought.  Decision made, he headed off in the sound's direction.  He went through the gatehouse to Route 43.  He saw another gatehouse and was about to go through there.

/Wait!  I'm getting some bad vibes from in there.  You should take the long way around/ Lugia said.

/All right/ He took the longer way around.  He made quick work of the trainers that challenged him, finding items along the way.  He had managed to avoid other trainers until about ten minutes later.  But he won that battle pretty quickly.  Then he entered the Lake of Rage.  He heard something roaring.  He looked up and gasped in awe.

In the middle of the lake was a large Gyrados.  But something was off.  This Gyrados was red.  Ash pointed his Pokedex at the Gyrados and was confused upon seeing the picture of a blue Gyrados on the Pokedex.

"I don't get it.  Why is this Gyrados red with the picture on my Pokedex shows that it's blue?" Ash said.  He got to about the edge of the lake.

The red Gyrados turned and saw him.  It then fired a Hydro Pump at him.  He quickly ducked, the attack sailing over his head.  Ash had gotten the hint.

"You want to battle me huh?" Ash asked.

Gyrados roard in confirmation.

"All right then.  A battle you shall have.  Let's do this Feraligatr!" he said, releasing Feraligatr into the lake.

"Gator (Let's)," Feraligatr said.

Gyrados started off with Hyper Beam.

"Underwater now!  Then retaliate with Thunderbolt!" Ash said.

Feraligatr dove underwater, easily avoiding the Hyper Beam.  He resurfaced, firing a Thunderbolt in Gyrados' direction.  Gyrados dove underwater but the Thunderbolt clipped his tail.  Gyrados was still able to swim though and resurfaced with a Hydro Pump attack.  Feraligatr was knocked under the water but soon resurfaced.

Gyrados had sunk under the surface of the lake.  It bit down on Feraligatr's leg and pulled down.  Feraligatr struggled to get his leg out of Gyrados' jaws, but Gyrados hung tight.  Then Feraligatr used Zap Cannon in an attempt to free himself.  The attempt worked, as Gyrados was forced to let go.  Then Feraligatr surfaced above the water, Gyrados surfacing soon afterwards.

"Nice job Feraligatr," Ash said.  'What Gyrados just did gives me an idea,' he thought.  Feraligatr, dive underwater!" he said.

Feraligatr sunk beneath the surface again.

"Now pull Gyrados down with you!" Ash said.

Feraligatr gripped Gyrados' tail before pulling it underwater as well.

'Hopefully, all of Feraligatr's battles against Electric Pokemon paid off,' Ash thought.  "Feraligatr, use Thunder!" he said.

Feraligatr charged up and unleashed a powerful Thunder attack.  The surface of the lake it up in the attack.  Gyrados roared in pain as the powerful electric attack tore through his body.  Because the attack was done underwater, its power was greatly magnified.  Gyrados fainted several minutes later, floating to the surface.  Feraligatr then surfaced.  The electricity hadn't affected him at all.

"I'm glad to see that all of the battles we had with Electric Pokemon paid off.  You've developed immunity to electricity even though you are a water-type Pokemon," Ash said.  He took an empty Poke Ball before facing the fainted Gyrados.  "Poke Ball go!" he said, throwing the ball.

The fainted Gyrados was easily caught.  The now occupied ball floated on the lake's surface.  Feraligatr grabbed the ball and was soon on the lakeshore.  He then handed the ball to Ash as well as something else.  One of Gyrados' scales also floated in the water.  Ash took the ball before releasing Gyrados again.  The he released Lugia.  Lugia was awestruck upon seeing a red Gyrados.

"Use Recover on Gyrados," Ash said.

Lugia nodded before helping Gyrados recover.  Ash then returned Lugia and Gyrados regained consciousness.  Gyrados saw Ash and Feraligatr looking at him.  He bowed his head in submission.

(You have defeated me fair and square.  I submit to you) Gyrados said.

"To start things off, would you like a nickname?" Ash asked.

(Okay) Gyrados said.

"Well because you're probably the only Gyrados that is different in color, I think I should call you Red," Ash said.

(I'm fine with that) Gyrados said.

"Then Red it is," Ash said.  He then took the scale from Feraligatr before putting it in his backpack.  Then he returned Red and Feraligatr before putting it in his backpack.  Then he returned Red and Feraligatr.

"That was a very impressive battle," a male voice suddenly said.

Ash turned around to see a man with spiky red hair standing five feet away.  The man wore a long black and read cape.

"What's your name child?" the man asked.

"My name is Ash.  Who are you?" Ash responded.

"I am Lance.  I've been sent here by the Elite Four to investigate the situation here," the man said.

"What situation?" Ash asked.  'This guy is an elite trainer?' he thought in awe.

"The red Gyrados that you just caught was the result of a forced evolution," Lance responded.

"What do you mean forced?" Ash asked.

"My suspicion is that it has something to do with the weird frequency.  The red Gyrados was probably just an ordinary Magikarp before hearing the frequency.  Although Magikarp do evolve into Gyrados, I have never seen a Magikarp naturally become a red Gyrados.  There's only one group that is capable of doing something like forced evolution, and that's Team Rocket.  I've heard that they've been using the frequency in an attempt to control Pokemon," Lance responded.

"Well it thankfully doesn't work," Ash said.

"Thankfully indeed," Lance said.  "I suspect that Team Rocket has a secret base somewhere in Mahogany Town.  They need to be stopped.  Even though I am a member of the Elite, I can't do this alone," he added.

"I'll help you put a stop to them," Ash said.

"Thank you.  Meet me in the Poke Mart.  I have a feeling that Team Rocket's secret base is located there somewhere," Lance said.  Then he released Dragonite before climbing onto its back.

Then Dragonite took off.

"So that's wat a Dragonite looks like," Ash said.  'I've always wondered what one looked like ever since Charizard first told me that she had Dragonite DNA in her,' he secretly added.  Then he released Pidgeot.  "Let's head back to Mahogany Town," he said.

"Pidgeot (All Aboard)," Pidgeot said.

Ash climbed onto Pidgeot.  Then Pidgeot took off, heading back to Mahogany Town, touching down minutes later.  Ash dismounted Pidgeot before returning her.  Then he made a quick stop at the Pokemon Center before heading into the Poke Mart.  He found Lance waiting for him.

"Good, you made it," Lance said.

"So where do you suspect the hidden entrance is?" Ash asked.

Lance then noticed a very nervous guy standing in front of a statue near the west wall.  "This guy looks pretty nervous.  Either that's just an ordinary statue..." he started.

"Or there's something hidden under there," Ash finished.

Not being able to take the scrutinizing stares any longer, the guy quickly fled from the mart.  Lance went over to the statue.  He moved to push the statue.  Confirming his and Ash's suspicion, he was able to see a little of an underground path.

"I was able to see something under here.  This statue is quite heavy though," Lance said.

"Here, let me help.  Celebi, used Psychic to move the statue!" Ash said, releasing Celebi.

"Bi (Right)," Celebi said.  She then moved the statue to reveal the hidden stairwell underneath.

"Great work Celebi," Ash said before returning her.  Then he and Lance went down the stairs and soon found themselves in a large room.

"I think we should split up," Lance said.

"Good idea.  That way, one of us is assured to get some information about how to shut off the strange frequency," Ash said before he and Lance went off in different directions.  He didn't get far before he heard an alarm suddenly go off.

A Rocket grunt soon confronted him.  "I see you failed to notice the statue next to you.  Its eyes are really cameras that trigger an alarm whenever something walks by.  You're only way past me is to battle me," he said before releasing Drowzee.

"Fine with me," Ash said before releasing Feraligatr.

"Use Psywave Drowzee!" the grunt said.

"On your stomach Feraligatr.  Then use Thunderbolt," Ash said.

Feraligatr dove to the ground seconds after Drowzee launched the Psywave.  Then he quickly retaliated with Thunderbolt.  Drowzee had now time to react and was soon down for the count.  The grunt's Zubat didn't fare any better.

"You'll get yours in the end kid," the grunt said before making a hasty retreat.

Then another grunt came in.  "You must defeat me as well in order to continue," he said.

"That probably won't take long," Ash said.  He proved to be right.

The battle with the second grunt was over pretty quickly as well.

"You might've defeated me now.  But we have a nearly endless supply of Pokemon at our disposal and will return every time you cross one of the surveillance cameras scattered across this room unless you find the way to disarm them," the grunt said before retreating as well.

/So now you know what you have to do/ Lugia said.

/Yes.  I have to find out where the cameras' controls are/ He then walked on.  He stopped upon seeing another statue.  But then he noticed an opening in a wall.  He went through the opening.  He soon saw another statue as well as another opening in the wall before reaching the statue.  He went through the second opening and saw a computer.  Upon getting closer, he saw a scientist using the computer.

The scientist turned and saw him.  "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"To put a stop to your devious plot to control Pokemon," Ash responded.

"We'll see just how tough you are," the scientist said before releasing a Magnemite.  "Use Tackle on this kid!"

Magnemite charged toward Ash.

Ash released Sudowoodo.  "End this match with Dynamic Punch," he said.

Before Magnemite could tackle Ash, Sudowoodo gave it a wallop of a punch.  Magnemite went flying across the room.  The scientist suddenly got a serious case of cold feet and made a hasty retreat.

"That takes care of that.  Nice work Sudowoodo," Ash said.

"Sudo (Thanks)," Sudowoodo said.

Then Ash went up ot the computer.  'This must be the way to turn the cameras on and off.  Now how do I turn them off?' he thought.  He then noticed an icon that looked like a smaller version of the statues in the room.  Using the mouse, he clicked on the icon.

A text box appeared on the screen, asking, "Turn the cameras off?  Yes/No".

Ash clicked the yes option, seeing another text box saying that hte cameras have been turned off.  Then he made his way to the next room without incident.  After battling two more grunts, he made his way into the next room.  He saw Lance standing next to a Rocket grunt.  He saw the dejected look on the grunt's face and mentally smirked, knowing that Lance must've creamed the guy.  Lance turned and saw Ash.

"Glad to see you've made it this far.  This guy next to me told me that we have to learn two passwords to open the locked door on this floor.  He also said that there is a third password that will unlock the door on the third basement floor.  But we'll have to get the first two passwords before we can find out what the third password is," Lance said.

"Let's do this," Ash said before moving on, Lance going a different way.  He saw an opening in a wall nearby and went through.  After quicklky dealing with the scientist, he had a quick battle with a female grunt.

"The first password is Slowpoke Tail," the grunt said.

Then Ash backtracked through the opening.  He went further down and had two more battles.  After the second battle, he acquired the second password: Raticate Tail.  He backtracked again, going up this time and entering a different stairway.  He went down the passageway and soon confronted another grunt.  He made quick work of that battle and went up another stairway.  He just about reached the locked door when...

"Why are you here?" an obnoxious voice asked.

'Here we go again,' Ash thought dryly, looking back towards the stairs and seeing Alex.  He noticed that Alex had a dejected look on his face.  "Did something happen?" he asked.

"It's just that I confronted some guy named Lance a little earlier.  He totally creamed my Pokemon.  He said that I should be more open to them," Alex responded.

"What will it take for you to get that lesson through that thick skull of yours?" Ash asked.

"I'll get you for that comment later," Alex said before making his way out of the building.

"Now to get back to the task at hand," Ash said.  He went over to the locked door and entered the two passwords.  The door opened, and he went through.  This time, he battled a Rocket executive.  But he made quick work of the battle.

Then a Murkrow told him the password to the second locked door.  Then he backtracked until he was once again in the room on the third basement floor.  He walked towards the locked door.

"Hold it!" a female voice shouted.

Ash turned back and saw a male and a second female executive coming towards him.

"You've caused us enough trouble," the male executive said.

"But now the odds are in our favor.  Even a trainer like yourself won't be able to take on both of us," the female executive said.  "Arrrgh!" she said seconds afterwards upon being knocked to the ground.

Ash looked up and saw Dragonite.  He saw Lance seconds later.  "Nice of you to join us," he said smiling.

"Good work on making it this far," Lance said towards Ash.  Then he turned towards the female executive who had just gotten back up.  "Now the odds are even: the two of you vs. the two of us," he added.  Then he faced off against the female executive.

"Go Arbok!" the male executive said, releasing the snake Pokemon.

Ash pointed his Pokedex at Arbok and got some information on it.  "So a poison-type Pokemon huh?  Well I choose Celebi!" he said, releasing the said Pokemon.

"Bi (Ready)," Celebi said.

The executive nearly fainted from shock upon seeing Celebi.  But he soon regained his composure.  "The boss would absolutely love to have Celebi," he said.

"Well that isn't going to happen," Ash said.

"Arbok, use your Poison Sting!" the executive said.

"Send it right back with Psychic!" Ash said.

Celebi used Psychic to reflect Arbok's attack. 

"Now use Psybeam!" Ash said.

Celebi fired the said attack before either Arbok or its trainer could react.  Arbok was pretty disoriented afterdwards.

"Now finish it off with Psychic!" Ash said.

Celebi complied.  Arbok fainted soon afterwards.

"Let's see how your psychic Pokemon handles this.  Murkrow go!" the executive said after returning the fainted Arbok.

/You should switch Pokemon Ash/ Lugia said.

/Why's that?/

Celebi is at a serious disadvantage against Murkrow.  Murkrow is a dark-type Pokemon.  Nearly all psychic attacks have absolutely no affect on a dark-type Pokemon while dark-type attacks are highly effective against psychic-type Pokemon.  Because Murkrow is also a flying-type Pokemon, Celebi wouldn't be much help do you here/ Lugia said.

/Okay/ "Return Celebi," he said.  "Now I choose Lapras!" he siad, releasing the said Pokemon.

"Lapras lap (Ready to do battle)," Lapras said.

"Murkrow use Faint Attack!" the executive said.

"Ice Beam Fast!" Ash counterd.

Lapras gave off her attack seconds before Murkrow disappeared.  Murkrow fell to the ground, frozen in a block of ice.

"Now, use Hydro Pump!" Ash said.

Lapras complied, sending the frozen Murkrow flying into a wall.  The ice broke upon impact, revealing the fainted Murkrow.  The executive looked around and saw that the female executive had already high tailed it out of there.  He returned his fallen Pokemon.

"You may have defeated us.  But you'll have a difficult time shutting the frequency off," the male executive said before making a retreat as well.

"Well done Ash," Lance said.

"Thanks.  Now to get into the locked area," Ash said.  He went up to the door and entered the password.

The door opened, and they went through.  Lance looked all around the machine, but there was no simple way of shutting the machine down.  A group of six Electrodes powered the machine.

"I hoped that there would be an easy way to turn off the machine.  Unfortunately, it looks like the only way to shut down the machine is to defeat the Electrode powering it.  You take one side.  I'll take the other," Lance said.

"Will do," Ash said.  He and Lance made quick work of the Electrodes

After the last Electrode was defeated, the machine shut off.  Then Ash had "A" teleport the Electrode out of the building.  Then he had "A" used Psychic to destroy the machine.  That way, no one could ever use it to try to control Pokemon.

"That takes care of that machine.  Now no one can use it," Ash said.

"Thank you for helping me deal with Team Rocket," Lance said.

"It was no problem," Ash said.

"As a token of my thanks," I would like you to take this HM.  This HM will teach your Pokemon Waterfall," Lance said, holding out the HM.

"Thanks," Ash said, taking the HM. "'A', can you teleport us out of here?" he added.

"Unown (Sure)," "A" responded before teleporting Ash and Lance outside the Poke Mart.

"I hope we meet again," Lance said before releasing Dragonite.  He got onto Dragonite's back before Dragonite took off.

Ash then made a Pokemon Center pit stop.  Twenty minutes later, he headed back to the gym to find no one standing at the door.   'Pryce must've returned,' he thought before heading inside.  Upon entering, he saw that the floor was mostly ice.

"Ah, welcome trainer," a serious voice said.

Ash looked up to see an elderly man about ten yards ahead of him.  'That must be Pryce,' he thought.

"As you can see, most of the floor is ice.  Choose your moves carefully because you'll otherwise end up sliding all over the gym.  When you get to me, then our battle will begin," Pryce said.

Ash first took a good look at the floor.  He noticed that there were areas of solid floor.  He scanned the entire floor with his eyes, paying close attention to where the ice became solid floor.  Several minutes later, he knew what moves to make.  He headed over to the right wall and stepped onto the ice.  He soon came to a smooth stop on a patch of solid floor.  He turned to his left and stepped on the ice, coming to a smooth stop seconds later.  Then he stepped on the ice ahead of him, coming to a smooth stop in front of Pryce.

Pryce was clearly amazed upon seeing how quickly Ash made it to him.l  "That was quite impressive young man.  You figured out this puzzle a lot quicker than all the trainers before you.  Many trainers before you took so long that I actually fell asleep waiting for them to get to me," he said.

"I hope to impress you further," Ash said.

"We will use two Pokemon each for this battle," Pryce said.

"Okay," Ash said.

"I choose Dewgong!" Pryce said, releasing the said Pokemon.

"Gong (Ready)," Dewgong said.

Ash pointed his Pokedex at Dewgong, getting information on it.  "Well I'll make this water-type vs. water-type.  Let's go Feraligatr!" he said, releasing the said Pokemon soon afterwards.

"Gator (I'm ready)," Feraligatr said.

"Dewgong use Ice Beam!" Pryce said.

"Dew (Right)!" Dewgong said, firing off the attack.

"On your stomach Feraligatr!" Ash said.

Feraligatr lay flat on his stomach.  The icy attack sailed over his head.  Feraligatr then got back up.

"Use Zap Cannon!" Ash said.

Feraligatr soon flung a ball of electricity Dewgong's way.

"Use Icy Wind to send it right back!" Pryce said.

Dewgong sent a wind of ice through its horn at the approaching attack.  The now iced over Zap Cannon was blown back towards Feraligatr.  Neither Ash nor Feraligatr panicked though.

"Hit it right back to Dewgong!" Ash said.

Feraligatr used his tail to send the iced over Zap Cannon right back towards Dewgong.  That caught both Dewgong and Pryce off guard.  The iced over Zap Cannon soon made impact.  Upon impact, the ice broke, giving Dewgong quite a shock.  Dewgong screamed in pain as the now free electricity tore through its body.

"Don't despair Dewgong.  Use Rest," Pryce said.

Dewgong closed its eyes and went to sleep.

/You've got to act quickly Ash.  Dewgong will be fully recovered when it opens its eyes/ Charizard said.

"Feraligatr, use Thunderbolt.  We can't let Dewgong recover," Ash said.

"Gator (Roger)," Feraligatr said before unleashing the attack.

Dewgong screamed in pain.  The electricity forced it out of its rest.  Soon, Dewgon had fainted from the attack.

"Dewgong is unable to battle.  Victory to Feraligatr," the referee said.

"Nice one Feraligatr," Ash said.

"Gat (Thanks)," Feraligatr said.

"Very impressive young man," Pryce said, returning Dewgong.

"Thank you sir," Ash said.

"Now let's see how you handle my next Pokemon.  Let's rumble Piloswine!" Pryce said, releaing the said Pokemon.

/Be on your guard Ash.  Piloswine is a ground-type Pokemon as well as an ice Pokemon/ Lugia said.

'So that means electric attacks won't work here, but water attacks might,' Ash thought.  "Feraligatr, use Hydro Pump!" he said.

Feraligatr complied, firirng a large stream of water towards Piloswine.

"Freeze the water with Ice Beam!" Pryce said.

Piloswine did so.

"Now use Blizzard!" Pryce said.

Piloswine fired a fierce wind of ice and snow towards Feraligatr.  Feraligatr couldn't react in time and was soon frozen over.  Feraligatr slowly started breaking out of the thick ice.  He managed to completely break out, but fainted from exhaustion soon afterwards.

"Feraligatr is unable to battle.  Victory to Piloswine," the referee said.

"Return Feraligatr," Ash said, returning his fallen Pokemon.  "You did the best you could," he said quietly.  "Now it's time to turn up the heat.  Let's do this Typhlosion!" he said, releasing the said Pokemon.

"Typh (Let's)," Typhlosion said.

"Use Fury Attack Piloswine!" Pryce said.

Piloswine complied.

"Counter with Ember!" Ash said.

Typhlosion fired dozens of tiny fire seeds at the oncoming Fury Attack.  The two attacks cancelled each other out.

"Now follow up with Flamethrower!" Ash said.

Typhlosion unleashed a stream of fire towards Piloswine.

"Counter it with Ice Beam!" Pryce said.

Piloswine fired off the said attack towards the oncoming fire attack.  The attacks met in the center.  At first, it looked like a stalemate.  Then, the Flamethrower slowly began overtaking the Ice Beam.

"Dodge it quick!" Pryce said.

Piloswine stopped its Ice Beam and was able to dodge the oncoming Flamethrower.

"Now use Blizzard!" Pryce said.

Piloswine fired the said attack towards Typhlosion.

"Dive through that with Flame Wheel!" Ash said.

"Typh (Okay)," Typhlosion said.  She ignited the fire around her neck.  Then she charged toward Piloswine, curling in on herself when she gathered enough momentum.

The icy attack soon collided with Typhlosion.  But the fire around her neck had expanded around her, shielding her from the attack.  She continued towards Piloswine.  Piloswine gave a cry of surprise to see that its attack failed to stop Typhlosion.  Soon, Typhlosion made direct impact.  Piloswine was knocked off its feet, crying in pain upon being burned.

"Now Typhlosion, finish this with Flamethrower!" Ash said.

"Typhlosion (You got it)!" Typhlosion said before unleashing the said attack.

Piloswine cried in pain as the Flamethrower burned its body.  It fainted seconds later.

"Piloswine is unable to battle.  Typhlosion wins," the referee said.

"That was a hot battle Typhlosion," Ash said.

"Typhlosion typh (You know it)," Typhlosion said, giving Ash a thumb's up.

Pryce had returned the fallen Piloswine.  Then he walked up to Ash.  "That was a great battle young man," he said.

"Thanks," Ash said.

"As proof of your victory, take this Glacier Badge.  Also, take this TM.  It teaches Icy Wind," Pryce said, holding out the badge and the TM.

Ash proudly took the items from Pryce.  'I'm sure Lapras wouldn't mind learning Icy Wind,' he thought.

"You haven't told me your name yet," Pryce said.

"My name's Ash," Ash said.

"Well Ash, your final gym battle is in Blackthorn City.  It is just on the other side of the Ice Path.  The Ice Path is at the end of Route 44 that is several miles east of here.  Ice and dragon-type attacks will help you a great deal at the Blackthorn Gym Because the Gym Leader trains dragon-type Pokemon," Pryce said.

"Thanks for the tidbit," Ash said before leaving the gym.  He headed straight for the Pokemon Center.  After getting his Pokemon back, he headed for Route 44.  He stopped upon hearing his Pokegear ring.  He soon answered.

"Hello Ash.  This is Professor Elm," the Professor said.

"Hi Professor.  What's up?" Ash said.

"I'm afraid that something terrible has happened at Goldenrod City.  Professor Oak called me not too long ago.  He told me that Team Rocket has taken over the city.  All of the inhabitants have been forced into the buildings.  No one is allowed outside.  Maybe you can find a way to help them," Professor Elm said.

"I'll do the best I can," Ash said before hanging up.  "I need your help Charizard," he added, releasing the said Pokemon.

There were multiple gasps of awe.  But neither Ash nor Charizard paid the people any heed.

"What's the problem?" Charizard asked.

"It's a big problem.  Professor Elm just called.  He told me that Team Rocket has taken over Goldenrod.  They forced all the inhabitants inside the buildings.  No one is allowed out.  We have to find a way to help those people," Ash said.

"Well climb on," Charizard said.

Ash got on Charizard's back.  Then Charizard took off, heading towards Goldenrod City.  She, Ash and the rest of Ash's Pokemon were all more than ready to help rid the city of Team Rocket and free the imprisoned people.






Well that's another chapter down.  Preview for Chapter 10: Battle for Freedom: Team Rocket is still up to no good as usual.  Now they've taken all of Goldenrod City hostage in an attempt to try to control Pokemon using the Radio Tower's antenna.  Can Ash put a stop to their plot once and for all and save an entire city?  Stay tuned to find out.