Chapter 48: The Marsh Badge, Obtained
"My first Pokémon is this one—go, Mr. Mime!"
Sabrina's choice of lead was a little unexpected.
"Ba-rii, ba-rii~"
Ash raised a brow at the mime-like Pokémon staring back at him.
That gaze was seriously aggressive… a Pokémon really does grow more and more like its trainer.
Wait—
Ash suddenly froze.
No wonder my team is full of maniacs and little cuties…
Hmm. That must mean I am also a little cutie.
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
Ash swung his arm, and Pikachu leapt onto the field.
"Pika!"
Sparks crackled across his cheeks as he locked eyes with Mr. Mime, refusing to yield an inch.
"Begin!"
The referee's announcement was simple and sharp.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
Ash opened with a fast test strike.
"Pika!"
Pikachu shot forward, white light trailing behind him.
Thunk!
An invisible wall stopped him mid-charge.
"Pika—?!"
Pikachu skidded to a sudden halt, barely avoiding a painful collision.
"When was that set up? I didn't see Sabrina speak!"
Verity gasped, covering her mouth.
Ash pressed down on his cap, expression serious.
"Telepathy, huh?"
Sabrina gave a gentle smile.
"Correct… This is one of the unique battle styles of psychics.
If you want to break the coordination between a psychic and a Psychic-type Pokémon,
that's your challenge."
Ash understood immediately.
This world's gyms weren't just for badge collecting—
each Gym Leader existed to teach challengers how to counter their type specialty.
And against Psychic types…
"To fight Psychic-types, you need a faster assault, something strong enough to disrupt their rhythm!"
Ash's eyes flashed.
"But first—we set up. Pikachu, Agility!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu took off running, creating afterimages all around the battlefield.
As expected, Mr. Mime tensed immediately, eyes darting everywhere trying to track him.
"Psychic."
Sabrina said calmly.
"Ba-rii!"
Blue light flooded Mr. Mime's eyes as it reached out with telekinetic force.
"Pikachu! Break through!"
Ash commanded.
"Pika!!"
Pikachu's speed spiked again, Quick Attack bursting like a white comet.
Zap—!
The psychic grip missed entirely.
Even focused, Mr. Mime couldn't keep up!
"Impressive. Excellent speed.
But running around won't defeat me."
Sabrina rested her chin on one hand with a playful look.
"I know that!"
Ash launched his real attack.
Without anyone noticing, Pikachu had already circled behind Mr. Mime.
"Pika!"
He sprang forward— a full-body tackle straight into Mr. Mime's back.
At the same moment—
"Thunder Wave!"
Zzzzt!
Electricity surged from Pikachu into Mr. Mime.
The mime jerked violently—paralyzed.
"Oh? So that was your plan."
Sabrina nodded, pleased.
Direct attacks were too easily neutralized by psychic control—
so Ash used speed to disrupt positioning, then Thunder Wave to slow the opponent's output.
Clean. Smart. Effective.
Mr. Mime, Psychic!
Sabrina issued her mental command.
"Ba—!"
Pink light erupted from Mr. Mime's eyes—
But Ash wasn't done.
"Pikachu—Electro Ball!"
"Chuu—Pika!!"
Pikachu drifted sideways, tail tip gathering crackling electricity into a shining sphere.
Then with a powerful swing—
he smacked it like a cannonball.
BOOM!
The Electro Ball detonated right over Mr. Mime's head.
The charging psychic light shattered instantly.
"Ba…rii..."
Smoke curled upward as Mr. Mime collapsed face-first.
"Hoo…"
Ash exhaled.
First round—won.
"Not bad."
Sabrina said calmly as she returned Mr. Mime.
Then her next Poké Ball opened—
"Alakazam. Go."
"Huuudi."
Holding its twin spoons, the strongest Psychic Pokémon in Kanto materialized.
"Now then—show me how you'll deal with this."
Sabrina smiled slightly.
"Pikachu…"
Pikachu lowered himself like a coiled spring, electricity flickering around him.
"Pikachu, come back."
Ash called suddenly.
"Pika?"
Confused, Pikachu trotted back to his side.
"Oh? Not pursuing your momentum?"
Sabrina raised a brow.
"I'm stubborn, not stupid."
Ash tapped the brim of his cap.
"Alakazam's intelligence is one of the highest among Psychic Pokémon.
High intelligence means extremely high information processing.
Speed might crush Mr. Mime—
but Alakazam? Not happening."
Sabrina blinked in mild surprise.
"I didn't expect you to know so much. Doesn't match your usual vibe."
"Uh— I was a researcher's assistant in a dream for several years."
Ash replied casually.
"Pfft—"
Verity covered her mouth.
That excuse was so lazy.
But Sabrina actually nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. Then show me more of your ability."
"As you wish!"
Ash grinned and threw his next ball.
"Gengar, I choose you!"
"Gengaaa~!"
The purple blob spread his limbs dramatically mid-air, crimson eyes locked on Alakazam, tongue lolling teasingly.
"He's very confident."
Sabrina chuckled.
Her psychic dampeners glowed faintly.
"Battle start!"
The instant the referee finished speaking, Alakazam attacked.
"Huu!"
Its spoons crossed—
and overwhelming psychic force erupted outward.
It's Psychic!
Bzzzt—!
Invisible blue energy wrapped around Gengar, twisting and squeezing him into all sorts of ridiculous balloon-animal shapes.
"Gengar… stop messing around…"
Ash sighed.
The exaggerated "hurt animation" was clearly fake.
BOOM!
Dark energy burst out.
Gengar broke free, landing on his feet with a mocking laugh.
"Gengagaga—"
He wiggled his tongue at Alakazam.
"Twenty percent power—broken?"
Sabrina blinked.
"Gengar's stronger than he looks."
Ash smirked.
"Then… twenty percent more.
Alakazam—Psyshock."
"Gengar, hightail it!"
Ash shouted.
"Geng!"
Gengar dove into Alakazam's shadow just as—
BOOOOM!
A psychic shockwave blasted the arena, wind so strong it shoved Ash back several steps.
"That technique… that's Elite Four Agatha's…"
Sabrina instantly recognized it.
"Agatha?"
Ash's eye twitched.
So the move Gengar learned from the old Gengar in Lavender Tower—
was an Elite Four technique?
Wait.
Does that mean the one who ambushed him that night was…
No way.
Why would an Elite Four member prank a random kid?
"Never mind. Focus!"
Ash called sharply.
"Shadow Sneak—strike from behind!"
Fwip!
A shadow flickered.
Gengar burst from Alakazam's shadow—
and slapped him. Hard.
SMACK!
Alakazam spun in place two and a half times.
Then looked utterly stunned.
Gengar vanished back into the shadow, stuck out his tongue, and made another rude face.
"…Gengar's fighting style is so dirty."
Verity whispered.
Ash rolled his eyes.
"If you can't praise him, just be quiet."
"I've always wanted to test it—
what's faster: Shadow Sneak, or Teleport?"
Sabrina smiled.
"Bring it on!"
Ash answered without hesitation.
"Gengar—keep using Shadow Sneak!"
"Teleport.
Then Psyblade."
Sabrina commanded.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Slash slash slash!
Shadow fists and pink psychic blades sliced through the battlefield—
the budget for special effects was burning hard.
"Gengar! Shadow Punch!"
Ash switched tactics.
"Gengaaa!"
Gengar pulled back—
and unleashed a volley of rapid punches.
ORA ORA ORA ORA—!!
"Huu—?!?"
Alakazam blocked the first few—
then was drowned under a tsunami of shadow fists.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Blow after blow crashed into him until he flew backward two meters and crashed onto the ground.
Ash and Gengar stared at Alakazam anxiously—
Until—
The referee raised his hand.
"Alakazam is unable to battle!
Winner—Ash from Pallet Town!"
"Gengar, amazing job!"
Ash sprinted over and hugged him tightly.
"Gengaaa~"
Gengar responded by giving Ash a big, sloppy tongue lick.
"Hehehe—tickles!"
Ash laughed and rubbed Gengar's belly.
"Pika!"
Pikachu hopped on Gengar's head as the team celebrated.
Sabrina shook her head, smiling faintly.
"Defeated by his ridiculous tactics…"
Ash received the Marsh Badge from her hand—
and couldn't help the excitement swelling inside him.
This time it wasn't comedy.
It wasn't pity.
This was earned—
by his own strength,
and the strength of his beloved Pokémon.
The Saffron Badge—finally his.
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
Apparently the japanese gym badge names were very dull of pokemon like Boukder Badge was Grey Badge, Cascade was Blue, Marsh was Golden/Gold, the english ver. changed it tho...