Rain Badge

ometime after the Dusk Contest...

The gang had left Izabe Island and went to Sootopolis City. This city was where Ash could obtain his final gym badge for the Hoenn League.

"Finally I can get my last gym badge." Ash said. "Then I can register for the Hoenn League."

"I wonder what the gym leader is like." Tomo said.

Brock took a look in the guidebook.

"Well it says here that the gym leader is a man named Juan and he uses water type Pokemon just like Misty." Brock said. "Oh and it says here that Juan was a coordinator in the past and he became top coordinator."

"Well this is going to make the gym battle more interesting." Ash said.

"There is something else about the Sootopolis Gym." Brock said. "It says that the gym used to be run by a man named Wallace."

"Oh yeah, I've heard of Wallace." Max said. "He was also a coordinator before he became the gym leader and he too became top coordinator. But now he's aiming to be the new champion of Hoenn."

"That means he's going to try to beat Steven, which of course won't be easy."

Ash and the others knew Steven wouldn't be a easy trainer to beat.

The gang soon arrived at the Sootopolis Gym and to their surprise the gym looked like a big concert hall and it had a big garden.

"Wow." May said. "This is the fanciest gym that I have ever seen."

"I wonder what it's like inside?" Max asked.

Just then a butler came up to the gang.

"Greetings I am Sebastian, the butler of the Sootopolis Gym." He said. "What business do you kids have here?"

"We are here so I can battle the leader of this gym." Ash said.

"I see." Sebastian said. "Then please follow me and I will take you to meet the gym leader."

Sebastian led the gang inside the gym; the battle room was huge and it had a huge swimming pool as a battlefield. It was nearly the same as the Cerulean Gym. A man, who was dressed like a conductor, stood near the pool; this man was the gym leader Juan.

"Master Juan, this young man wishes to challenge you to a gym battle." Sebastian said.

Ash introduced himself to Juan and Juan accepted his challenge.

"I look forward to seeing how you battle Ash." Juan said.

Ash and Juan took their places on the trainer boxes, which were in fact diving boards for the pool. Sebastian, who was the referee, explained the gym rules. These rules were different compared to the rules that Ash normally heard. This time it was a five on five Pokemon battle, but the gym battle was in two rounds. The first round was to be a double battle and once the challenger defeated the gym leader's two Pokemon, it will be a normal three on three battle with the last three Pokemon. Ash was surprised with the rules, but he still couldn't wait to battle especially since he intended to win the gym badge.

Juan called out his two Pokemon first; a Sealeo and a Seaking.

"Since Juan uses water types, it's clear that Ash will be using his electric and grass type Pokemon." Max said.

The others agreed.

Ash sent out Manectric first and for his second Pokemon, he called out Corphish.

"Why use Corphish?" May asked.

"He's using Corphish to save his other Pokemon for last." Brock explained. "We don't know what attacks Juan's Pokemon will use, so Ash is using Corphish first for backup."

Ash ordered Manectric to use Thunderbolt on Seaking, but Seaking used Horn Drill. When that happened, the attack bounced off Seaking and headed back towards Manectric.

"Use Protect Corphish." Ash said.

Corphish stood in front of Manectric and used Protect; neither of them were hit by the Thunderbolt.

"That was good defense Ash." Juan said. "But you will have to do more than that to defeat me."

Ash decided to use something else.

"Manectric use Swift." He said. "And Corphish you use Swords Dance."

Corphish's pincers glowed blue and Corphish stretched them into the air, making him feel stronger while Manectric used Swift which hit Sealeo and Seaking.

"A good move Ash." Juan said. "But let's see how you handle this. Sealeo use Blizzard."

Sealeo blew a strong blizzard at Manectric and Corphish. Manectric wasn't a fan of it and neither was Corphish, although being a water type Pokemon Corphish wasn't as affected by the blizzard as much as Manectric.

"Manectric, Thunder Fang. Corphish, Metal Claw." Ash said.

Manectric's fangs were coated in electricity and Corphish's pincers changed to metallic silver. Then they charged at Sealeo and Seaking.

"A straightforward move huh?" Juan asked. "A very brave move. Okay Seaking you use Hyper Beam and Sealeo you use Aurora Beam."

Sealeo and Seaking fired Aurora Beam and Hyper Beam at Manectric and Corphish.

"Dive Corphish." Ash said.

Corphish dived into the water while Manectric jumped behind Sealeo and Seaking and the two attacks missed them. Then Corphish came out of the water and used Metal Claw while Manectric bit down on Seaking with Thunder Fang.

Juan, Brock, Tomo, May and Max were impressed with the tactic that Ash and his Pokemon used.

"Wow diving like that to avoid the attacks was great." Max said. "And Manectric leaping behind Sealeo and Seaking was awesome too."

"That's the best way to utilize a water battlefield, especially when you go under the water to defend yourself."

"Ash and I practiced that move together." Tomo said. "Ash practiced that with Corphish and I practiced it with my Croconaw and Poliwhirl."

"I have to say Ash, you have a interesting battle spirit." Juan said. "Seaking let's use Horn Drill and Sealeo use Aurora Beam again."

"Manectric Shock Wave." Manectric created two blue orbs of electricity above it's head and tail. Two blue lightning bolts were fired from each orb at the opponents.

Seaking and Sealeo were hit by the lightning bolts and fainted. Ash was the winner of the first round. Juan returned his Seaking and Sealeo.

"Ash, this is a better battle than I thought you would give me." He said. "I just hope you won't disappoint me in the second round."

"Don't worry Juan." Ash replied. "I'm not the type of trainer who goes soft in battles."

At that moment the pool was drained of the water; this was to change the battlefield for the second round. The new battlefield was some land with a pond. Ash and Juan also switched sides with the trainer boxes. As the new battlefield had land, Ash decided this was a good time to use his grass type Pokemon. He sent out his Breloom to battle next. Juan sent out his Luvdisc to battle next.

May looked up Luvdisc on the Pokedex.

"Luvdisc, the Rendezvous Pokemon. Luvdisc live in shallow seas in the tropics. This heart-shaped Pokemon earned it's name by swimming after loving couples it spotted in the ocean's waves."

Ash started off by telling his Breloom to use Seed Bomb. As the green seeds headed towards Luvdisc, Juan ordered it to use Agility to avoid getting hit. Luvdisc was a fast Pokemon and it dodged all of Breloom's seeds.

"Now use Sweet Kiss Luvdisc." Juan said.

Sweet Kiss was a move that caused the opponent to become confused.

"Use Protect Breloom." Ash said.

Breloom quickly created a shield that prevented him from becoming confused by Sweet Kiss.

"It's a good thing Protect keeps a Pokemon safe from attacks." Brock said. "If Breloom was confused by Sweet Kiss, Ash would have been in trouble."

"Okay Breloom use Mind Reader." Ash said.

Breloom closed his eyes to sense Luvdisc's next move.

"Use Water Pulse Luvdisc." Juan said.

Luvdisc fired a ball of water towards Breloom.

"Dodge it and use Bullet Seed Breloom." Ash said.

Breloom jumped and dodged the Water Pulse then fired Bullet Seed at Luvdisc. Luvdisc tried to dodge Bullet Seed but thanks to Mind Reader, it was hit by the attack. Poor Luvdisc couldn't take any more and fainted.

"Wow, I thought Luvdisc was going to dodge Breloom's attacks again." May said.

"Mind Reader makes it so a Pokemon's attack do not miss sort of like Lock-On." Brock explained. "And that's how Breloom managed to strike Luvdisc this time."

"I can't wait until my Shroomish evolves into Breloom." Max said.

Juan returned his Luvdisc and sent out a Whiscash next.

"You okay?" Ash asked Breloom if it was still all right to battle and he was.

"Use Seed Bomb on Whiscash Breloom." Ash said.

"Use Surf Whiscash." Juan said. "Then Rock Smash."

Whiscash's Surf shielded it from Breloom's Seed Bomb and then Whiscash jumped off the wave and landed right on Breloom. As Whiscash was a heavy Pokemon, Breloom fainted after being hit by Rock Smash. Ash was amazed how strong a Whiscash could be and he returned Breloom. Now Ash had only four Pokemon left to use. Being a water/ground type, Manectric wouldn't do any good, but grass types were 4x super-effective against Whiscash.

Ash called out Nuzleaf next.

"Use Energy Ball." He said.

Nuzleaf fired Energy Ball at Whiscash,

"Dive underwater Whiscash." Juan said.

Whiscash dived into the water and Energy Ball missed it.

"Jump into the water and Nature Power Nuzleaf." Ash said.

Nuzleaf, who was able to swim, jumped into the water and fired Hydro Pump which hit Whiscash.

"How can Nuzleaf use Hydro Pump? It's not a water type Pokemon." A confused May asked.

"Nature Power changes into a different move depending on the environment the battle is taking place in." Brock explained. "While in the water Nature Power let's the user fire Hydro Pump. My Ludicolo knows Nature Power too."

Nuzleaf jumped out of the water.

"Use Solar Beam Nuzleaf." Ash said.

Nuzleaf gathered energy to fire Solar Beam.

"Whiscash use Hyper Beam." Juan said.

Whiscash fired Hyper Beam at Nuzleaf, while Nuzleaf fired Solar Beam at Whiscash. Whiscash was hit by Solar Beam while Nuzleaf was hit by Hyper Beam and both fainted afterward. So this battle was a draw and Ash had three Pokemon left while Juan only had one.

Juan returned Whiscash and sent out his final Pokemon, Milotic.

"I had a feeling he would use his best Pokemon for last." Ash said to himself.

He released Manectric to battle.

"Milotic use Hydro Pump." Juan said.

Milotic released a strong torrent of water at Manectric, who dodged it.

"Use Thunderbolt Manectric." Ash said.

Manectric shocked Milotic with Thunderbolt.

"That was a bullseye." Brock said.

But then Juan told Milotic to use Recover and Milotic healed itself. Ash knew this would be trouble because he had seen Recover before.

"Okay then let's do this." Ash said. "Manectric use Charge."

Manectric charged up it's electricity.

"I know this move." Max said. "Charge charges up a Pokemon's electric type moves."

"You're right." Brock replied. "And it's clear that Ash is going to show no mercy with this next move."

Juan ordered Milotic to use Twister; this was a issue because Twister was a move a Pokemon couldn't easily dodge.

"We will have to attack this." Ash said. "Manectric use Thunder."

Manectric released a powerful Thunder; thanks to Charge it was stronger. As Milotic was hit by Thunder and Manectric was hit by Twister, everyone was nervous about what was going on. When the attacks subsided everyone could see that Milotic and Manectric were still standing, but Milotic was panting heavily from Thunder. Juan was about to tell Milotic to use Recover, but it fainted shortly after that. So Ash was the winner of the gym battle.

Juan congratulated Ash for his victory.

"Ash you showed me your battling spirit." He said. "And I hope that you will keep that battling spirit in the Hoenn League."

"I challenged the Pokemon Leagues in Kanto and Johto in the past Juan." Ash said. "I know exactly how tough Pokemon Leagues are."

Juan handed Ash the gym badge, known as the Rain Badge. The Rain Badge was lavender-blue and it was in the shape of three raindrops stuck together.

"Finally I have all eight badges to enter the Hoenn League." Ash said.

When Juan and Sebastian heard that, they congratulated Ash for obtaining all eight badges. Sebastian explained that the Hoenn League would take place in Ever Grande City in three months time.

"Three months is enough time for me and my Pokemon to train." Ash said. "As well as enter the Hoenn Grand Festival."

"Oh so you are a coordinator too Ash?" Juan asked.

"Yep." Ash showed Juan his five ribbons.

"Well Ash I wish you luck in both the Hoenn League and the Hoenn Grand Festival." Juan said.

Ash was happy after obtaining all eight gym badges and even though he had to wait three months he couldn't wait to enter the Hoenn League.