The gang stared at a sign. It read; Vermilion City.
"Finally, after two weeks we made it here at last." Misty said.
"And we managed to capture new Pokemon as well." Ash added.
"We should get ourselves and our clothes washed." Misty said.
"That's a smart idea, Misty." Brock said.
"Yeah. I could use a nap and some food." Ash agreed.
"And let's not forget our Pokemon need to rest at the Pokemon Center." Brock added as they headed straight to the Pokemon Center.
While Nurse Joy looked after their Pokemon, the gang had taken their baths and had their clothes washed in the laundry room. After their bath, Ash and Brock got their clothes and headed to their room.
"That was refreshing." Ash said.
"You said it." Brock agreed. "I'm gonna go out for a bit and do a few errands."
"Okay I'll see you in a bit." Ash said as he laid down to take a nap.
After refreshing themselves and their Pokemon, the gang was still in the Pokemon Center discussing Ash's third gym battle.
"So have you made a decision yet?" Misty asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to use Bulbasaur, Sandshrew and Weepinbell for this battle." Ash said.
"That's smart." Brock added. "Electric type moves don't do much damage against grass types and ground types are immune to them."
Just then, they saw a trainer run into the Pokemon Center with a seriously injured Rattata in their arms.
"Nurse Joy!" The trainer shouted. "My Rattata needs help."
"Not again." Nurse Joy said. "Chansey, bring a stretcher immediately."
A Chansey brought out a stretcher at once and had the Rattata placed on it, then rushed it to the operating room at once.
"This is the fifteen Pokemon this month." Nurse Joy sighed. "And they're all coming from the Vermilion Gym."
The gang decided to check it out. In the operating room, there were 4 trainers with a severely injured Oddish, Sandshrew, Caterpie and Pidgey.
"Hey." Ash whispered to Brock and Misty. "Why use a flying-type Pokemon against a electric type gym?"
"That's certainly a mistake." Brock admitted.
"Yeah." Misty agreed.
To learn more about the Vermilion gym, Ash asked the trainers all about their battles.
"Well Lt. Surge, the Vermilion gym leader is very strong." Rattata's trainer said.
"And his Pokemon are no pushovers." Pidgey's trainer added.
"What Pokemon does he use?" Ash asked.
"A Voltorb, Magnemite and Raichu." Oddish's trainer explained.
"What attacks do I need to watch out for?" He asked.
"His Voltorb is very fast on it's Rollout, his Magnemite has a troubling Supersonic and his Raichu's Thunderbolt is very powerful." Sandshrew's trainer said.
Ash thanked the trainers for the info and picked up his Pokemon.
"Are you going to be alright during this gym battle Ash?" Misty asked as the gang headed to the gym.
"I'll be alright." Ash said. "After everything I learned from those trainers, I'll know exactly what to do."
They soon reached the Vermilion Gym which resembled a warehouse with yellow lightning bolts all over it.
"Here goes nothing." Ash said as he opened the gym doors. "Hello, I'm here for my gym battle."
"Ah more victims for the Pokemon Center." A female voice said.
Two figures revealed themselves; it was a man and woman resembling army soldiers.
"Sure kid, we'll set you up a battle with Lt. Surge." The man said.
The man and woman led the gang to Lt. Surge.
"Lt Surge sir!" The man shouted. "A trainer wishes to battle you, sir."
"Another one, huh?" A male voice asked. "Well, that was quick."
It was a big muscular man with spiky hair and he looked like a real army soldier. He had a Raichu beside him.
Ash checked the Pokedex.
"Raichu, the Mouse Pokemon and the evolved form of Pikachu. It's tail serves as a ground to protect itself from it's own high voltage power."
"Who's my opponent?" Lt. Surge asked.
"That would be me, sir." Ash said as Lt. Surge took a good look at Ash and smirked.
"So I'm battling a baby." He said.
"Baby?" Ash repeated.
"Well, that's you, kid." Lt. Surge replied, pointing at Ash. "Unless you can beat me."
"Well, we'll find out who the real baby is after this gym battle." Ash said.
"Alright, I like that determination, baby." Lt. Surge said.
Lt. Surge and Ash got ready for their battle on the battlefield.
"This gym battle is between Lt. Surge the gym leader and Ash Ketchum the challenger." The man said. "This is a three on three battle and whoever defeats all of their opponent's Pokemon first wins. Let the match begin."
"Bulbasaur, I choose you!" Ash shouted.
"Bulba." Bulbasaur said.
"Voltorb, front and center." Lt. Surge commanded. Lt. Surge's Voltorb sparked, ready for battle.
"Let's end this battle quickly." Lt. Surge said.
"Bulbasaur, use Tackle." Ash ordered. Bulbasaur charged towards Voltorb.
"Voltorb, use Screech." Lt. Surge said.
"Voltooooorb!" Voltorb screeched as it released white sound waves from his mouth which stopped Bulbasaur in his tracks
"Now, Sonic Boom." Lt. Surge said.
"Voltoooooorb!" Voltorb fired a large white shock wave and hit Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip." Ash said. Two dark green vines came out of the sides of Bulbasaur's bulb and headed towards Voltorb.
"Dodge it with Rollout." Lt. Surge said. Voltorb dodged and rolled into Bulbasaur repeatedly.
"Bulbasaur, use Sweet Scent." Ash said. Bulbasaur released a pink powder that made Voltorb relax and put him in a trance.
"Now Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf." Ash ordered. Bulbasaur fired green glowing leaves from his bulb and hit Voltorb.
"Voltorb, use Electro Ball." Lt. Surge said. Voltorb fired a ball of yellow electricity at Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, dodge and use Take Down." Ash said. Bulbasaur avoided the attack and charged at Voltorb which caused it to faint.
"Voltorb is unable to battle. Bulbasaur wins." The referee declared.
"Voltorb, return." Lt. Surge said. "Not bad. go, Magnemite."
"Bulbasaur, return." Ash ordered. "Sandshrew, I choose you!"
"Sandshrew, use Sand Attack!" Ash ordered. Sandshrew's claw dug into the ground and it threw sand at Magnemite.
"Now use Sand Tomb!" Ash said. Sandshrew stomped his foot on the ground and a huge hole opened in the ground that sucked Magnemite in.
"Gyro Ball!" Lt. Surge said. Magnemite's magnet's glow white, then it broke out of the Sand Tomb and hit Sandshrew.
"Now Supersonic." Lt. Surge said.
"Magneiiiiiimite!" Magnemite said as it produced supersonic waves.
"Sandshrew, Dig!" Ash ordered. Sandshrew dug underground and avoided Supersonic, then it came out of the ground and hit Magnemite.
"Magnemite, Magnet Bomb." Lt. Surge said. Magnemite's magnets then flash light blue, firing multiple light blue orbs of energy and hit Sandshrew.
"Sandshrew, Mud Slap!" Ash ordered. Sandshrew slammed it's claw into the ground and pulled it up, throwing multiple balls of brown mud at Magnemite.
"Magnemite, Light Screen." Lt. Surge said. Magnemite summoned a pink curved force field and protected itself.
"Sandshrew, Brick Break!" Ash said. Sandshrew jumped into the air with it's claw glowing bluish and smashed through the Light Screen and hit Magnemite which caused it to faint.
"Magnemite is unable to battle, Sandshrew wins." The referee declared.
"Magnemite, return." Lt. Surge said. "Looks like you're the only one left, Raichu."
"Sandshrew, use Rollout." Ash ordered. Sandshrew curled into a ball and rolled towards Raichu at incredible speed.
"Knock it back with Iron Tail." Lt. Surge said. Raichu's tail glowed white and struck Sandshrew which caused him to stumble back.
"Now Body Slam." Lt. Surge said. Raichu jumped into the air and landed on Sandshrew, which caused it to faint.
"Sandshrew, return." Ash said. "Bulbasaur, I choose you."
"Bulbasaur, use Energy Ball." Ash said. Bulbasaur fired a light green orb of energy from his mouth at Raichu.
"Dodge and use Thunderbolt." Lt. Surge said as Raichu dodged the attack.
"Rai chuuuuuu!" Raichu said as it fired a bolt of yellow electricity and hit Bulbasaur which caused him to become paralyzed.
"Oh no, Bulbasaur." Ash said worriedly.
"End it with Iron Tail." Lt. Surge said. Raichu's tail glowed white again and struck Bulbasaur, which caused it to faint.
"Bulbasaur is unable to battle, Raichu wins." The referee said.
"Bulbasaur, return." Ash said. "Weepinbell, I choose you."
"Bell." Weepinbell said.
"Weepinbell, use Razor Leaf." Ash ordered. Weepinbell fired multiple green glowing leaves from his leaves at Raichu.
"Raichu Double Team." Lt. Surge said. Raichu glowed white, created multiple copies of itself and avoided the attack.
"Weepinbell, use Magical Leaf." Ash ordered. Weepinbell spun around and fired green glowing leaves and hit Raichu and the copies.
"Raichu, use Mega Kick." Lt. Surge commanded. Raichu's foot glowed metallic blue and kicked Weepinbell.
"Weepinbell, use Energy Ball." Ash said. Weepinbell fired a light green orb of energy and hit Raichu.
"Weepinbell, use Acid." Ash said. Weepinbell spit purple acid from it's mouth at Raichu.
"Dodge with Agility and use Thunderbolt." Lt. Surge said. Raichu dodged and ran at fast speeds, then it fired a bolt of yellow electricity.
"Now finish it off using Volt Tackle." Lt. Surge said. Raichu ran towards Weepinbell with it's body covered in golden electricity and slammed into Weepinbell.
"Oh no, Weepinbell!" Ash exclaimed.
"Bell..." Weepinbell said as it became weaker.
"Don't give up Weepinbell." Ash called out. "You can do it, I believe in you."
"Bell!" Weepinbell said as it's leaves glowed faint yellow.
"Huh? What's this?" Lt. Surge asked, confused.
"Could that be?" Misty asked.
"It is, Weepinbell has learned Solar Beam." Brock said.
"Awesome." Ash said with excitement. "Ready to show them what you're made of?"
"Bell." Weepinbell nodded in determination.
"Raichu, hurry up and finish this. Use Volt Tackle again." Lt. Surge said as Raichu charged at Weepinbell with Volt Tackle.
"Alright Weepinbell, let them have it." Ash said. "Use Solar Beam."
"BELL!" Weepinbell said as he fired a yellow beam of energy and hit Raichu which caused an explosion. When the smoke cleared, Raichu had fainted.
"Raichu is unable to battle, Weepinbell wins." The referee declared. "So the victory goes to Ash, the challenger."
"Unbelievable." Lt. Surge said shockingly.
"You did it Weepinbell." Ash said happily as he hugged Weepinbell.
"Bell." Weepinbell said happily.
"Congratulations kid, you have proven that you're not a baby and as proof of your victory I give you the Thunder Badge." Lt. Surge said, giving Ash a yellow and orange eight pointed star shaped badge.
"I just got the Thunder Badge!" Ash cheered.
"Pika! Bell! Bulb! Shrew!" The Pokemon cheered.
"Nice job Ash." Misty said.
"Yeah, those were some great strategies." Brock complimented.
"Thanks guys." Ash said.
After obtaining the Thunder Badge, the gang continued their travels.