So this is it, the Lucario thought to himself as he looked up at the imposing stone wall in front of him. He absentmindedly rubbed the pitch black Dusk Stone that sat in the crevice where his chest spike used to be. He opened the door in the center of the wall, gripping the Pokéball in his hand tightly.

I wonder if the gyms here in Kanto are any good.

As he walked into the room, automatic lights flickered to life, casting a fluorescent glow over the space. At the far end of the gym stood a dark skinned man with a rough-hewn face.

"Welcome to Pewter City Gym…" he began powerfully, his voice trailing off as he realized that it was not a trainer, but a Pokémon, who stood before him.

"A Pokémon?" he muttered under his breath, before walking up to the Lucario. He knelt down in front of it. "Are you lost?"

This is the Pewter City Gym, isn't it? the Lucario projected. The man stumbled back in shock.

"You… you can talk?" he stammered in surprise.

I can communicate telepathically. The Lucario held his hand out. My name is Auron. I am challenging this Gym in my trainer's stead.

"My name is Flint, and I'm the current leader of this gym," the man said, shaking Auron's hand. "Where is your trainer?"

He is feeling unwell.

"Well," the man began slowly. "I'm not sure if you can take his place."

There are no Indigo League rules that prohibit a Pokémon to challenge a gym in the place of its trainer. I've checked.

"Well then, if you've checked then I guess it's all right," the man said. "Wait here for a moment. We haven't had a challenger in quite a while."

I'll be right here.

Flint nodded and exited the gym through a side door. A few minutes later, he returned with a young man who bore a striking similarity to himself, albeit with slightly softer features.

"This is my son, Brock," Flint said proudly. "He's a professional Pokémon breeder and a Pokémon Doctor, and a former leader of this gym."

Hello, Brock.

"Hello," he said, shaking Lucario's hand.

You don't seem quite as shocked to hear me as your father did.

"I've met a Lucario before who communicated telepathically," Brock said. "I'm not too surprised that there's another one."

"Anyway," Flint cut in, "Brock's going to be refereeing this match."

Then let's get started, Auron said.

Flint and Brock nodded; Flint walked back to the opposite side of the gym, and Brock stood against the wall between them. Flint pulled a lever on the wall behind him, and a rocky bed of jagged stones and boulders emerged from the floor beneath them.

"This will be a three-on-three match. Only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon." Brock gestured with his arms. "You may begin the match!"

"All right, let's see how good you are!" Flint bellowed, as he threw a Pokéball onto the field. "Let's go Golem!"

A Golem appeared as the Pokéball whizzed back to Flint's hand.

Auron wordlessly threw the Pokéball in his hand onto the field. The Pokéball released a red light, which took the form of a Breloom as the ball flew back into Auron's hand.

"Well, you may have the type advantage," Flint said, "but let's see if you have the power to win! Golem, use Earthquake!"

Golem roared and stomped, the ground beginning to shake underfoot. Breloom leapt deftly into the air toward Golem, avoiding the attack. When it reached the peak of its jump, it shot with blinding speed toward the Golem, delivering a solid Mach Punch. Auron watched wordlessly.

"What? But…" Flint began in shock.

Breloom wasn't even issued any commands! Brock thought to himself. How did he know to attack, and with such an effective move at that?

Breloom landed in front of Golem, who shook off the powerful Mach Punch and glared down at its foe. Breloom glared back up defiantly.

"Golem! Stone Edge!"

Several large, jagged stones rose from the ground, surrounding Golem. It roared, sending all of the stones directly at Breloom. Breloom effortlessly dodged every single one of them before delivering a solid Sky Uppercut to Golem's jaw. Golem flew a good fifteen feet into the air before crashing back down onto the field, unconscious.

"…and the winner is Breloom!" Brock announced.

He doesn't even need any commands to fight! He glanced at Auron, who bore a slight smile.

"That's a good Breloom, I'll admit," Flint said as he called back his Golem. "I've never seen a trained Pokémon fight without commands before. But that's not going to be enough to defeat me!" He threw another Pokéball onto the field. "Let's go, Gigalith!"

Breloom stared down the Gigalith, waiting for it to move.

"Gigalith, let's slow him down with Bulldoze!"

Gigalith stomped at the ground, and earth shot up from beneath Breloom to trap his feet. Breloom proved too quick, however, again dodging by leaping into the air.

"That's not going to work on me again!" Flint yelled. "Gigalith, Smack Down!"

Gigalith fired a single jagged stone from its body, which hit Breloom in midair. Breloom fell to the ground, rolling nimbly with the impact.

That was a good move, even though it didn't do a lot of damage, Brock thought to himself. Breloom launched itself at Gigalith using its tail like a spring, pulling back its fist.

"Gigalith! Iron Defense!"

Gigalith's body hardened just as Breloom's fist connected with it, lessening the damage from the Mach Punch. Breloom, without missing a beat, fell to the ground and struck Gigalith's legs with its tail, toppling the enormous opposing Pokémon with a Low Sweep. It bounced back up and fired an Energy Ball from its mouth, before Gigalith could recover from the fall, KOing it.

Nice job, Auron said.

Flint called back Gigalith.

"You may have beaten my first two Pokémon, but it's time for you to face my best." Flint threw his last Pokéball into the arena. "Rhyperior, come on out!"

Rhyperior towered over Breloom, roaring into the air.

No challenger has ever beaten dad's Rhyperior, Brock thought to himself. But if anybody can do it…

"Let's show him what you've got! Megahorn!"

Rhyperior's horn began to glow, and it lowered its head, charging at Breloom.

"Let's see you dodge this one!" Flint bellowed, laughing.

Breloom, however, stood its ground, taking a deep breath before releasing a cloud of yellow powder from its mouth. Rhyperior collapsed to the ground mid-step, sliding the rest of the length of the field before coming to rest at Breloom's feet, asleep.

Breloom leapt into the air and released a jet of glowing seeds from its mouth, all of which exploded on contact with the sleeping Rhyperior.

One, two, three, four… Brock counted frantically in his head. That's six moves! Pokémon aren't supposed to be able to learn more than four!

Once the dust raised by the Seed Bomb cleared, it was obvious that Rhyperior wasn't getting back up. Breloom danced with happiness at the victory; Auron grinned. Flint stood in disbelief.

"How… what…"

"And… the winner is Auron!" Brock said, still in shock.

Who are these guys? More importantly, who's their trainer?

Auron and Breloom walked up to Flint, and Auron held out his hand.

So, we get the Boulder Badge now, right?

Flint's mouth was still agape.

"You didn't give Breloom any commands," Brock said, walking up to the group.

No.

"And he used six different moves."

Auron counted on his fingers. Yes, I guess he did.

"How is that even possible? Pokémon aren't supposed to know more than four!"

That's a silly restriction, Auron said. With the right training it can be overcome.

Flint finally came to his senses, and reached into his pocket.

"Umm… I present you with this badge to acknowledge your victory against the Pewter City Gym," he said shakily.

Thanks, Auron said, taking the badge before turning to leave with Breloom.

"Wait!" Brock called out after him as Auron stepped through the door. Auron turned his head to face him.

"Who is your trainer?"

Auron was silent for a moment.

Would you like to meet him?

Brock nodded and hurried after Auron and Breloom. "I'll be back in time to make dinner, dad!" he called back to his father.