Pokemon X & Y Reimagined

Chapter 16: Cyllage Gym Battle! Aura vs Rock!

Ash emerged from the Cyllage City Pokemon center and stretched with Pikachu. They took in the rising sun as it rose over the Kalos coastline, glittering off the waves and lighting up the seaside city which rose up in different levels along the cliffs. Locals and their pokemon were already getting up and going about their daily routines, while Ash and Pikachu searched for the gym hidden in the cliffside. Smiling together, Ash let Riolu out of his pokeball to join them.

"This is, Riolu, your first gym battle. Remember what we've been practicing. I believe in you."

"Pika, Pikachu."

"Grou!" Riolu pumped his paw up. Ash shared the little pokemon's enthusiasm via their bond. This would be their second battle in Kalos, and Ash knew they could win it. Still, even if Pikachu and Charizard were far more seasoned, that did not mean he could let his guard down. Grant's reputation proceeded him from what they saw at the Battle Chateau.

"Morning." Serena came up behind Ash and likewise stretched with Fennekin and beamed a warm smile at Ash. "You look good in your new outfit."

"Ahh, thanks." Ash gave a sheepish smile while turning a little red. When they arrived the previous night, Serena insisted on doing some clothes shopping not only for herself, but Ash. He now wore a zipped shirt combo white with a black fedora cap and matching pants. Ash had also donned his Battle Chateau epaulet jacket cape.

"How do I look?" She asked, gesturing to her new tie-neck gray blouse, black skirt, and white felt hat.

"Ahh, good." Ash never considered himself a good judge of clothes, if anything he thought Serena looked lovely no matter what she wore. Yet the realization of what he had just thought turned his face redder. Serena likewise giggled with pink cheeks.

Bonnie's morning grogginess vanished the moment she saw this interaction. A wide grin emerged across her face as she petted Dedenne who gave the same expression. Their plan was working, but both knew little moments like this would take too long. Bonnie had to find a way to speed things up, but how? Clemont came up from behind and guided Bonnie outside while smiling.

"This is exciting. We'll finally get to see Pikachu and Charizard in a gym battle."

"Oui." Serena added.

"Ash, why aren't you using Tyrunt? I wanna see him battle."

"Sorry Bonnie, but I only just caught him. Besides, I already promised my current lineup they would get to battle."

"Awww."

Ash led the party up a road leading to the cliffside entrance. Once inside, their eyes lit upon the gym's size and wonder. It looked like a colossal hollowed out cavern with waterfalls coming down around a massive stone tower that thinned out the higher up it moved. A dozen or so young trainers moved about from level to level via rock climbing walls and battled each other with rock type pokemon.

"Awesome, I've never seen a gym like this." Ash said as he took it all in.

"Hey, look!"

Serena pointed to a level near the top where a familiar Surskit knocked out a Nosepass. The young trainer raced over to help his Nosepass up when none other than Viola offered her hand. "That was a good battle."

"Thanks. Next time we'll get that badge!"

"Excellent, we'll wait for you in Santalune City."

"Well, look whose here." Alexa waved at them from the same level. She had left for Cyllage city a day before the party. They waved back and shouted to them. Viola joined her sister, and as she waved, even from a distance, when Grant revealed himself.