Under cover of the smoke, we followed Mr. Koga into the Fuchsia Gym to take shelter.
Meanwhile, Gary was still outside...
"Looks like I went a little too far. Hopefully, that'll really fire him up."
Gary recalled Porygon Ω and turned to leave.
"Veno... Venomoth."
"Looks like he's gone," Mr. Koga said, listening to the report from the Venomoth he had sent to scout.
"Thank goodness! We can finally breathe easy."
"Ash, did you come back to the Fuchsia Gym for ninja training?" The normally aloof Mr. Koga cracked a rare joke.
"I think you'd make a pretty good ninja, Ash," Serena chimed in.
"I'm not here to become a ninja. I want to challenge you again because I lost my Soul Badge."
"But after that battle, none of your Pokémon look fit to fight."
"That's not true! I still have Pidgeot and Swablu!"
"If you insist, then I'll oblige. We'll battle one-on-one, with two Pokémon each. My first Pokémon will be Venomoth."
"Swablu, I'm counting on you!"
"Venomoth, use Stun Spore!"
"Swablu, block it with Protect! Then use Dragon Pulse!"
Dragon Pulse hit Venomoth, but the difference in their levels meant it did little damage.
"My turn. Venomoth, Sleep Powder!"
Sleep Powder hit Swablu, putting him to sleep.
"Come back for now, Swablu! You're up next, Pidgeot!"
I recalled Swablu to his Poké Ball, intending to take advantage of his Natural Cure Ability.
"Pidgeot, Wing Attack!"
"Venomoth, hold Pidgeot in place with Confusion."
Venomoth's Confusion pinned Pidgeot in place, keeping him from getting close enough to use Wing Attack.
"It's over. Venomoth, Psybeam!"
Pidgeot went down. Things weren't looking good.
"You're all I have left, Swablu. You can do it!" I sent Swablu out again.
"Venomoth's already hurt! Swablu, use Dragon Pulse again!"
"Swa... blu!"
After taking two Dragon