This Time???

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

_{Ash was sure that the gym was running again, because it has been some time since Dan has wrecked the place, and he had to wait for the repairs to be completed. Now that all the machines has been moved out, a couple of days after, to tell the whole of everything, Ash walked into the Gym, surefooted as to he would get his badge today.}

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[Professor Gravon]

Lillian was leaning up against the wall near the entry way, looking down, her hair falling over her face. Her eyes were closed as she suddenly spoke.

"Hey trainer. Tell me what the limits are and we can have a pokemon battle."

Her marrill splashed playfully in the water with her quagsire.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Ash turned to look at the point where Lillian's voice came from. Ash stood still, just looking at her form. Luc, at Ash's side, moved slightly in anticipation for the upcoming fight.

Dispense with the formalities, Lillian. This will be a simple, one on one battle, no items. Our pokemon will make their own choices without our help. All he do is sit back and watch, Choose whomever you want. Go for It Luc.

It stung when Lillian acted like Ash was nothing more than a common trainer. Did she choose to ignore everything that has happen to everyone of late? That was how it seemed to the boy as Luc made his way to the main arena.</sub>

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[Professor Gravon]

"Sure." She muttered. Her new way of handling the gym seemed to intimidate trainers. Good.

She elegantly dived into the pool and... emerged on the other side! Her lapras rose from beneath the surface of the pool water and placed her onto the tiles.

"This is easy!" Said Lillian. "Manny I choose YOU!"

Her lapras submerged into the water and returned to it's underwater dwelling. Lillian released her mantine into the pool. "GO!"

Manny opened up it's mouth and released a jet of a bubblebeam attack.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Luc ducked and went to jump to the left, but he was too slow, and was struck in the shoulder, sending him walking backwards, but the damage was low, even if it stung. Now that the fight has started, Lucario used aura, watching the Mantine ans all around. He decided to strike now, and feinted around the pool, never staying in the same spot for more than a moment, and his moves were hard to read.

After ten seconds, Luc charged at the mantine and used Force palm, and, even if it wasn't a pokemon that he was strong against, the mantine would still take good damage if struck.

"Don't underestimate me, Lillian. We are stronger than we appear."
<And I'm just warming up. This should go quickly.></sub>

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[Professor Gravon]

"Children always say big things." Lillian jostled.

Mantine observed how evasive the lucario was headed for the rafters with fly, get ready for an opportunity to swoop and strike. He wasn't aware that lucario lunged at him with a force palm, which was a dead miss as Manny was already high-up in the air.

He looked down at the lucario, to see what the pokemon was going to do.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Luc changed his form when the mantine drifted to the rafters, using fly. After a moment he landed on the other side of the pool, and stood silently. He focused solely on aura. He was going to make his next attack count, and he was expecting the large pokemon to fly right at him. Once it did, the mantine would be hurt worse than Lucario.

"Who's calling who a child. Lillian, there is something wrong with you."</sub>

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[Professor Gravon]

Manny sensed something was up with this fighting pokemon but nevertheless swooped to complete his fly attack at the lucario.
While he was at it, he released his bubble beam.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Luc waited for the last possible moments before he used Bone Rush to pop all the bubbles getting thrown at him. He was happy that his running and training personally with Ash sped up his reaction time and speed. If all went as plan, it would seem as if he was getting pounded by the attack.

The moment the attack was over, Lucario jumped, and perform a counter on the fly. He first hit he Mantine, then grabbed a fin, spun, and flung the pokemon into the ground, missing the pool. Luc landed hard after the attack, but he half smiled and rose from his landed squatting position, panting.</sub>

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[Professor Gravon]

The bubbles were popped and the mantine found himself pummeled into the ground. It slapped it's wings and managed to flop itself into the water, trying to overcome himself being stunned by the Lucario's counter attack.

Lillian bit her bottom lip. Her mantine looked rattle.

Manny, from under the water, was watching the lucario. Waiting. What was the lucario going to do?

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Luc started pacing around the pool. He knew that he should have threw manny away from the pool, but it cant be helped now. He was no match for the pokemon in the water, so he would bide his time. Like before, he started to focus his aura energy into his attacks. Perhaps another force palm would do the trick in taking this thing down. He couldn't wait long before he started moving around the pool at an extreme speed, and occasionally jumped over it. That was dangerous, but he was sure that his speed would bring him away from any attack.

--------------------

Ash let out Transer and Pyro out to watch the match. He didn't bring out Lillian, for fear that the gym leader Lillian would Get mad at him for some odd reason.</sub>

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[Professor Gravon]

From underneath the water came a bubble beam blast that fired at lucario with great speed.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

_{The bubblebeam hit Luc In the side, causing him to fly up. It was more than a glancing blow, but not enough to cause serious damage. He spun away from the bubbles, and dropped strait through where the water was broken: right into the mantine with a force palm.}

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[Professor Gravon]

Copping such intense pain, the mantine became enveloped in a rage and used take-down on Luc, driving him into the very depths of the cold pool. He used a bubble beam as well, hoping to exhaust the lucario of air as the land-fighting-pokemon copped the take-down attack.

Manny was hit with re-coil damage. Up above, Lilian recollected her cool and smirked at Ash. "Manny will pwn your lucario from under the water! This victory is mine!"

She threw back her head and laughed. "It's about time I beat one of you losers!" She mocked. She poked her tongue out at Ash.

They were so far under the water, Lillian couldn't see any shadow or figure from under the blue.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>It was hard for Lucario to breath under the water, but he calmed himself and waited to sink to the bottom of the pool. Once he was there, he bid his time. He used aura to contain the air around him, and in a burst of strength and energy that exhausted him, pushed the water away, and jumped through the opening before it closed. Finally, he landed on the walkway high above everything to catch his breath.

<Don't mock saying your pokemon can PWN me.>
"You just have to wait for the true victor, my old friend.

Luc would wait on the catwalk for the Mantine to come for him, then he would deliver the final blow, hopefully.</sub>

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[Professor Gravon]

"Strike now! Strike now! His guard is d-"
SPLASH!

Manny came flying out of the water vertically and then descended fast upon Luc with a take-down attack, hoping to bury him for good.

<YES!!!> Lillian squealed.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>"Lucario, use counter now!!"
<You got it!>

Luc jumped at Manny, his fist aglowing with aura. The moment he was right at the mantine, he attacked with everything he had. The take-down delivered some good damage, but was it enough to bring them both down, because counter delivered more damage.</sub>

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[Professor Gravon]

Mantine sailed across the room. There was know sign of hi- BLAM!
He hit the ground. Hard.

He didn't move.

"AARRGGGHH!" Lilian screamed. "I had you! I SO had you! Ho-how DARE YOU!" And with that she stormed out of the room, not giving him his badge.

* * * * *

Throughout the entire fight, someone was watching the grand show. They were so wooed by Ash's performance that they were angry with there trainers response.

Misty came out from the shadows from behind Ash.
<MARILL!> In her hands was a bag full of prizes!

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Ash was dumbstruck when Lillian stormed from the huge room. He didn't even move when Luc landed next to him. He was only brought back when unexpected movement came from behind him. He turned, knowing, thanks to aura, that is was a Marill.

Um..... you know what got her going? Oh, and Luc, feel and stronger?</sub>

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[Nishrocks]

"It's you. She can't stand to be around you. You've turned her a little mad. She used to be so cool and collected. Now she's confused. And lost. And heartbroken. That's why she gave you such an easy match. She just wants you out of her life."

Misty gave Ash his badge, and then stormed out.

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[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

_{Ash shook his head, a frown forming on his face. He never wanted anything to be like this, and he had done nothing exept had a mental breakdown. Now it was harder for him to contol his anger. With a sigh, Ash lay his badge in a molded box, collected his winnings, and left.}

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