“Beep—beep— Ash, is that you?
Which Pokémon have you decided to switch?
I’ll need to keep Silcoon for a few more days to study it.” Professor Oak already knew that Ash would be challenging the Gym tomorrow.
“Professor, please send Primeape, Pidgeot, and Bayleef over.
I’ll exchange Tyranitar, Taillow, and Phanpy for them,” Ash said.
His Hoenn team was already getting on track.
Apart from Pikachu, who would always stay by his side, Eevee, who was close to breaking through, and Treecko, who would be taking part in the Gym battle, Ash planned to make a major change to his lineup.
That’s right.
The favor Ash had asked Professor Oak for was to retrieve Primeape from Anthony.
After all, Primeape had always been Ash’s Pokémon; he had merely lent it to Anthony.
“Oh?
Tyranitar!
No problem!” Professor Oak’s eyes lit up.
“Oh, and the Pokémon in your backyard have improved a lot!
Totodile has evolved into Croconaw, and Noctowl has broken through to the Gym level with Pidgeot’s help!”
“Really?!
That’s great!”
This time, Ash did not intend to use Primeape in the Gym battle.
He wanted to spend some time rebuilding their bond first.
After all, not long after Ash had caught Primeape, Anthony had borrowed it.
Ash found an open area.
“Come on out, Primeape!
Pidgeot!
Bayleef!”
“Chaah~!” “Pidgeot~!” “Bay~!”
Bayleef immediately pounced on Ash and knocked him over.
“Haha, long time no see, Bayleef!” Ash greeted her, then turned to Primeape.
“Long time no see, Primeape!
Welcome back!”
“Chaah~!” Primeape nodded happily.
[Primeape]
[Type: Fighting]
[Ability: Defiant (When its stats are lowered by an opponent, its Attack rises sharply.)]
[Strength: Mid-Gym level]
[Moves: Bulk Up, Close Combat, Taunt, Counter, Seismic Toss, Mega Kick, Mega Punch]
[Tera Type: Ghost]
[Bayleef]
[Strength: Elite peak]
————The next day————
Ash and the others arrived at the Rustboro Gym.
It looked as though the entire building had been constructed from stone.
As expected of a Rock-type Gym.
It wasn’t all that different from the Pewter Gym; both were built of stone.
Ash was extremely excited.
After all, this was the first Gym battle of his new life.
Ash and the others entered the Gym and reached the battlefield, where several staff members were cleaning.
“Amazing!” Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ May exclaimed.
“So this is where the battles are held?” Max added excitedly.
“It really does feel like a battlefield designed specifically for Rock-type Pokémon,” Brock commented, as a fellow Rock-type Gym Leader.
“Good morning.
You’re Ash from Pallet Town, aren’t you?
Leader Roxanne has already told us about you.
Please come this way,” a staff member said.
“Okay!”
“Teacher, the Gym challenger has arrived!” the staff member called.
“Ash, the Rustboro Gym can become the starting point of your challenge in the Hoenn League.
We’re truly honored.” Roxanne smiled as she stepped out.
“The honor is mine, Miss Roxanne.”
“Then, Ash, shall we begin?”
“No problem.
I’ve been ready for this!”
“Teacher, everything is ready,” the staff member reported.
“Are you a teacher here too?” Brock asked curiously.
“They’re students from the Trainers’ School.
While assisting me here, they’re also gaining practical battle experience as Pokémon Trainers,” Roxanne explained.
Then she turned to Ash.
“Would you mind if we filmed the match?
I want to use it for teaching.
A real Gym battle is one of the best learning materials for aspiring Trainers.”
“I don’t mind.”
Ash and Roxanne took their positions, while Brock, May, and Max headed to the stands.
“I wonder how Ash will battle.
This is the first real Gym battle I’ve ever seen!” (≧▽≦) Max said excitedly.
“Max, haven’t you watched your father battle at the Petalburg Gym?” Brock asked.
“Dad says spectators would distract the challengers, so he never lets us watch,” Max explained helplessly.
“From this moment, the Gym battle between Gym Leader Roxanne and the challenger Ash from Pallet Town will begin!
Each side will use two Pokémon.
Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon!”
“Then I’ll make the first move.
Go, Geodude!”
[Geodude]
[Ability: Rock Head (It takes no recoil damage from recoil-causing moves.)]
[Strength: Late Elite level]
“I choose you, Treecko!”
“Treecko!”
“Begin!”
“Geodude, Mega Punch!”
Geodude charged at Treecko with a powerful punch.
“Treecko, use Quick Attack to dodge, then Razor Leaf!”
Treecko easily avoided the attack and launched a barrage of leaves.
“Geodude, Harden, then Rock Slide!” Roxanne clearly intended to take the attack head-on before counterattacking.
“Treecko!” Treecko was struck by the falling rocks.
“Geodude, good!
Use Rollout!”
Geodude rolled toward Treecko.
“Treecko, jump and use Absorb!”
Treecko leaped into the air and drained some of Geodude’s strength.
“Finish it with Quick Attack and Pound!”
“Treecko!”
Geodude immediately lost the ability to battle.
“Geodude is unable to battle!
Treecko wins!”
“Come back, Geodude.
You did very well.
Good work.” Roxanne recalled it.
“Great job, Treecko!”
“Treecko!” Treecko smiled and nodded.
“All right, let’s continue, Treecko!”
“Go, Nosepass!”
[Nosepass]
[Ability: Sturdy (When struck by an otherwise knockout blow, it is left with a sliver of HP.)]
[Strength: Mid-Gym level]
“Begin!”
“Nosepass, Rock Tomb!”
“Use Quick Attack to dodge!”
Nosepass slammed the ground.
Rocks rose around Treecko and closed in, but Treecko dodged through them with Quick Attack.
“Good!
Treecko, counter with Razor Leaf!”
Treecko launched another storm of leaves.
“Nosepass, take it and use Stone Edge!”
“Treecko!” Treecko cried out.
Nosepass endured the attack and formed a mass of stones, launching them at Treecko.
The gap in their strength was simply too great, and Treecko was knocked out.
“Treecko is unable to battle!
Nosepass wins!”
“Come back, Treecko!
You did great.
Pidgeot, I’m counting on you!”
“Go, Pidgeot!”
“Nosepass, Zap Cannon!”
Electricity gathered around Nosepass and concentrated at its red nose before it fired a pale yellow beam.
“Pidgeot, Double Team!
Then Quick Attack and Steel Wing!”
“Pidgeot~!”
Pidgeot split into countless afterimages and rushed Nosepass at incredible speed, forcing its Sturdy Ability to activate.
“Nosepass, quickly!
Use Rest!” Roxanne shouted.
Nosepass fell asleep.
“Do you think I’ll give you the chance to recover?
Pidgeot, use your full-power Hyper Beam!”
Pidgeot fired a brilliant white beam that struck the sleeping Nosepass.
BOOM!!
“Nosepass!” Roxanne looked at her fallen Pokémon.
“Nosepass is unable to battle!
Pidgeot wins!
The winner is Ash from Pallet Town!”
“Fantastic!
We won!
Great work, Pidgeot!” ٩(´▽`)۶
“Pidgeot~!”
“Yeah!
Ash won!” Max shouted, jumping up and down.
“Come back, Nosepass.
You worked hard.
Rest well.” Roxanne recalled it.
Outside the Gym, Roxanne handed Ash a badge.
“Ash, you’re truly amazing!
This is the Stone Badge.
Congratulations.
I believe you’ll achieve excellent results in the Hoenn League.”
“Thank you.” Ash took the badge and held it high.
“All right!
I got the Stone Badge!”
“Pidgeot~!”
“Pika~!”
[Ding~ Achievement completed: Obtained the Stone Badge.
Reward: 1,000 points.]
After that, Max wanted to see the Stone Badge just as much as May had wanted to see Ash’s Contest Ribbon.
Laughing and joking, the group returned to the Pokémon Center to discuss their next destination.
To be continued…