Celadon City

The group had taken off bright and early for Celadon City and used the convenient Cycling Road to get from Fuchsia to here in no time flat. Ash had considered training some more, but Brock told him he should be fine with his current strength.

While the Pallet native was uneasy, he had made Brock his couch and decided to give this a shot. Ash's current team is: Pikachu, Nidorino, Pidgeotto, Scyther, Ivysaur, and Dratini. Out of those six, he settled on Pikachu, Ivysaur, and Pidgeotto for his gym battle.

He'd have loved to use Scyther, but he's made no further headway with his new bug type. Still, Ash was confident in the three he picked to carry him to his fifth gym badge. As they were making their way to the gym, Pikachu's nose started twitching.

"What's up Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"What is that heavenly aroma?" Serena asked with a dreamy expression on her face.

"What?" Ash questioned. "I can't smell anything."

"Oh, it's wonderful?" James commented as he copied Serena and Pikachu.

"What's gotten into you guys?" Ash asked concerned.

"How can you not smell the divine Ash?" Brock asked as he copied the others.

Before Ash could reply, Pikachu shot off after the source of the smell along with Serena, James, and Brock.

"Where are you guys going?" Ash immediately took after them. "What in the world is going on here?"

Celadon Mall

After chasing the group for a while, Ash was finally able to catch up to them outside of a perfume shop.

Serena was currently looking at the shop with one main thought. "Oh, maybe I could find a scent Ash loves."

"Come on guys, perfume is a huge waste of time." Ash stated. "I thought we were on our way to the Celadon Gym."

That certainly did draw Serena's attention and reminded her that her boyfriend had no fondness for perfume. Still, she most certainly did. Not that it bothered her, but now she personally wouldn't mind spending a bit finding a good smell for herself.

"Ash perfume is something a lot of people love." James stated. "It can let someone know you care about them enough to wear their favorite scent."

"Ah, come on Ash." Serena stated sweetly. "Can we please go and check out the perfume?"

"I'm sorry Serena, but I stand firm on how much of a waste perfume is." Ash sighed. "Look, if you three like perfume, that's fine. Go on in. I'll just find the gym and get my match scheduled before we meet up at the pokemon center."

Serena would have loved to spend this time with Ash, but she remembered Jessebelle. That girl was insufferable to James, and she refused to be forceful with Ash over something like this. Plus, a little alone time never hurt them before, so it shouldn't hurt them now.

"Alright, Ash." Serena smiled. "I'll respect your feelings on this, and we'll meet up later."

"Thank you, Serena." Ash nodded. "Have fun."

With that, Ash left with left with Pikachu.

Celadon Gym

Ash and Pikachu stood outside the gym which was a white building with Vileplume petals above.

"Well Pikachu, it's time to set up our fifth gym battle." Ash stated excitedly. "You ready?"

Pikachu nodded. "Pika!"

The pair walked into the gym where they found a group of five females, around 20 years old, in kimonos.

"Hello." Ash stated. "I'm Ash Ketchum from..."

"Go away!" One girl yelled.

"What?" Ash asked confused. "I came here for a gym battle."

"Why would our leader want to fight the likes of you?" Another girl spat.

"Well, gym leaders aren't allowed..." Ash tried to respond.

"You've already lost." The middle girl retorted. "An idiot who doesn't appreciate the greatness of perfume doesn't stand a chance against Erika."

"What does perfume have to do with this gym?" Ash asked at a loss.

"The gym leader is also the owner of the perfume shop you insulted." One of the girl's explained arrogantly.

"Anyone who dares insult perfume is a terrible trainer." Another girl finished.

"What gives you the right to..." Ash tried to fight back.

"Go away!" All five girl's shouted in unison.

The middle one used a giant stamper, with a red X on it, to mark Ash's face. With that, the automatic doors closed.

"What do I do now?" Ash thought feeling down. "Gym's shouldn't turn away trainers just because they don't like something."

Pikachu noticed his trainer's current state, so he patted the shoulder he sat on. "Pika. Pikachu."

"I appreciate the thought buddy, but I think zapping those five would only get us in trouble." Ash smiled at his partner. "Still, thanks for being here for me."

Pikachu smiled. "Pika!"

"This isn't over." Ash declared. "We're heading back to the center and seeing what can be done about this. There's no way I'm letting this go. I will win a badge from here no matter what."

Pokemon Center

People had given Ash strange looks on his walk back to the pokemon center because of the red x on his face. Ash and Pikachu walked into the main lobby where they saw their group sat in a booth. He approached them.

"Hey guys." Ash stated while sounding unenthusiastic.

"Hey…" Serena turned to him only to freeze as she noticed the red x on his face. "Ash, what happened!? Why are you marked with a red x!?"

James and Brock had noticed and were quite keen to hear the reason as well.

"Pikachu and I went to the gym and tried to schedule a match like I said, but it turns out Erika owns that stupid perfume shop." Ash stated grumpily. "Apparently, some of her people overheard me, so they bared me from challenging the gym. Now, I hate perfume more."

"How dare they mark you with anything!" Serena shouted in anger.

Ash started to get a little angry himself as he remembered what they said. "They said this is me automatically losing, and that anyone who hates perfume is a terrible trainer. I don't know how they meant it, but to me it felt like they were comparing me to Damien."

"While that's probably not the terrible they meant, no one could blame you for taking it that way." James stated.

"Ash, go clean your face up." Brock crossed his arms. "As a former gym leader, I will not stand for something like this happening." He looked at Ash. "We're getting you your match."

"I was at a loss as to what I'd do." Ash breathed a sigh of relief as he stood up with a smile. "Glad there is something we can do now."

Celadon Gym

After Ash cleaned his face, the group made their way to the gym with Brock in the lead. Brock, James, and Serena were let in, but Ash was immediately stopped by the same five kimono girls.

"Looks like the loser returns." One of the girls spat.

"Do we need to re mark you boy?" A different girl asked.

"We told you before that your type isn't allowed in here." The middle girl stated.

Serena was fuming.

Brock stepped forward putting all his authoritativeness into what he was about to say. "My name is Brock Harrison, and I am the former gym leader of Pewter City. If you do not take me and all my friends to Erika this instant, I will call in the Pokemon Inspection Agency.

We will then give them our full cooperation in saying that that Pokemon League rules have been broken. I quote, 'No gym leader shall refute a challenger unless they are a criminal.' Not liking perfume does not a criminal make."

The kimono girls would have argued against that, even if it was the official ruling; however, Brock was rather intimidating. As a result, they begrudgingly stepped aside allowing Ash in. They then kept walking until spotting Erika.

She was a woman in her early twenties with medium length black hair and amber eyes. She wore a ruby red hair band, bright yellow flower Kimono, with hints of red near the bottom, a ruby red waist band, and brown flat shoes.

"Hello…" The woman began until she noticed Ash. "Hey, you're that boy who insulted my perfume shop. What are you doing here?"

"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and I came here for my fifth gym badge." Ash declared.

"Why would I battle a perfume hater?" Erika glared at him. "You've already shown you have no taste with your opinions." She crossed her arms. "You clearly couldn't best me in battle."

"How dare you speak to my Ash like that!" Serena erupted with pure anger.

"He clearly wouldn't win the battle." Erika returned. "Especially when he needs his girlfriend to fight in his corner."

"I have heard enough." Brock spoke up just as angry. "It's hypocritical to talk about others fighting your battles when you have five people turning away a perfectly acceptable challenger for you. The difference between us and them is that you and your people are being unjust.

No matter a challenger's views on what you like, gym leaders can't turn them away. It is your job to battle all eligible trainers, so give Ash the battle he deserves. If you refuse, I will have the Pokemon Investigators down here by tomorrow, and we will see what they have to say."

"Very well. If you want a real defeat that badly, follow me to the battlefield." Erika then turned to one of the girls. "You can ref for this battle."

"Fine with me." The girl replied.

Everyone followed Erika to the battlefield.

"Thank you, Brock." Ash stated gratefully.

"It's no trouble." Brock stated. "Honestly, I can't stand gym leaders who don't take their tittle seriously. We are gate keepers to be overcome, not an insurmountable wall. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and we don't enforce ours upon anyone."

Battlefield

Like with the Fuchsia gym, this battlefield was over a grassy field. Ash and Erika each took their places in their trainer boxes while the ref stood on the box. Everyone else sat on the two benches to watch the battle.

"This is a gym battle between Erika the gym leader and Ash Ketchum the loser." The ref declared. "Both trainers can use three pokemon although only the loser can make substitutions. There is no time limit and if the loser somehow wins, he will get the Rainbow Badge." The ref continued. "As an added bonus, the gym leader will select her pokemon first."

"Tangela, grace us with your beauty." Erika called as she threw her pokeball.

"I choose you, Pikachu." Ash declared.

The electric mouse jumped off Ash's shoulder and onto the battlefield. Pikachu was ready to give this his all for his partner especially after the way these ladies had treated him. Sure, Pikachu liked the perfume, but he was firmly on his trainer's side.

All the kimono girls laughed.

"The loser choses an electric type in a grass type gym."

Serena stood up clearly in rage. "All it will show is that your gym leader can't win even with type advantage."

That shut the laughter up as they glared at Ash and Serena.

"We'll see."

"Let the battle begin." The ref declared.

Ash VS Erika (P. I)

"Stun spore, Tangela." Erika instructed.

"Avoid it with dig." Ash retorted.

As a cloud of yellow powder moved towards Pikachu, the electric type borrowed underground avoiding it. He then immediately came up under Tangela throwing the grass type into the air.

"Follow it up with an iron tail!" Ash shouted.

Pikachu jumped up after the grass type and hammered home the powerful strike sending the grass type into the ground.

"That's the way Ash!" Serena cheered. "Show them how great of a trainer you really are!"

"Use ingrain to garner some health Tangela." Erika ordered.

"While their busy planting roots, let's hit them with a tail whip." Ash ordered.

Tangela closed its eyes as roots grew out of its bottom from all sides. Pikachu ran over and whipped the plant with his tail lowering their defense by a stage.

"Now, hammer in another iron tail." Ash ordered.

"Stop him with wrap." Erika ordered.

Pikachu was stopped in his tracks by Tangela's vines as the pokemon restored a little health.

"Get loose by unleashing a full power thunderbolt." Ash ordered. "Then, press on with iron tail."

"Pikachuuuu!" Pikachu declared.

Electricity surged into Tangela until she let go only to be met by one powerful iron tail knocking her away. The grass type managed to land on her feet as a little more health returned.

"Energy Ball!" Erika shouted.

"Dodge it and use thunderbolt Pikachu." Ash ordered.

A green ball of energy formed in front of Tangela before she fired it. Pikachu jumped to the right before sending more lighting into grass type. Tangela landed on the floor with swirls in her eyes.

"Tangela… is unable to battle… The first round goes… to the challenger." The ref reluctantly declared.

Celadon Gym

"Great job as always buddy." Ash declared. "Why don't you come back and rest up."

Pikachu ran back to Ash's side.

"Just like that, Ash is in the lead." Serena declared.

"Not for long." One of the girls retorted.

"Please select your next pokemon." The ref declared. "Erika, you must go first."

"Ivysaur, grace us with your beauty." Erika called as he threw her pokeball.

"Heh, my pokemon and I also have an Ivysaur we can train with, so there's no better chose for this than Pidgeotto!" Ash declared.

"Trust a perfume hater to use a pokemon like that." One of the Kimono girls commented.

"Hey, you were the ones talking about how he used a pokemon at a disadvantage before." Serena called out.

"Yeah." James joined in. "You can't do that one minute and call him out for using a good choice the next. All it proves is your dislike for Ash over offering any real criticism."

"Let the battle begin." The ref declared.

Ash VS Erika (P. II)

"Razor Leaf, Ivysaur!" Erika shouted.

Ivysaur fired off loads of leaves towards the flying type.

"Blow them away with your gust Pidgeotto!" Ash declared.

Pidgeotto moved his wings generating a wind that blew the leave away effortlessly.

"Energy ball!" Erika shouted.

Ivysaur generated a ball of grass energy before firing it at Pidgeotto.

"Just like we practiced Pidgeotto." Ash declared. "Use twister and send that attack right back at our opponent."

Pidgeotto beat her wing forming a twister of dragon energy which sucked up the grass ball and shot it back at Ivysaur with far greater speed. The resulting attack managed to push the mid stage back quite a few inches.

"We need to turn up the power and elegance Ivysaur." Erika declared. "Use petal dance." Pink petals came from Ivysaur moving with grace before smashing into Pidgeotto and sending her crashing into the ground. "Follow it up with take down."

"Ascend to dodge before hammering in a steel wing." Ash declared.

"Cancel take down and use giga drain!" Erika shouted.

Large, green spheres came out of Pidgeotto and flew into Ivysaur. The grass/poison type became refreshed while the flying type was losing steam. She even ended up crashing into the ground from a combination of this and all the prior damage."

"Pidgeotto, stay strong." Ash declared. "You and I will finish this battle together!"

Pidgeotto heard her trainers voice and slowly rose to her feet until she stood tall once more. The mighty bird gave a fearsome battle cry as she started to glow.

"Pidgeotto, you've evolving." Ash pumped his fist into the air happily. "Yeah, reach your final form and become the strong bird I know you are!"

"This isn't good." Erika muttered to herself.

The bird pokemon grew to double its size and gained a new quaff. "Pidgeot!"

Ash immediately got out his pokedex to happily check out his new pokemon:

Pidgeot, the Bird Pokémon. The evolved form of Pidgeotto. It can fly at twice the speed of sound at an altitude of nearly one mile.

Type: Normal/Flying

Ability: Big Pecks

Sex: Female

Current Moves: Swift, Sand Attack, Air Slash, Mirror Move, Quick Attack, Wing Attack, U-Turn, Hidden Power, Agility, Twister, Steel Wing

"Ivysaur, don't let yourself be overcome." Erika stated. "Energy Ball!"

"Let's put your greater speed and a new move to use Pidgeot." Ash declared. "Dodge and strike with air slash!"

Pidgeot zoomed into the air, avoiding the ball of grass energy, before slashing out her right wing sending a powerful blade of air to strike the mid stage evolution and pushing her back. Not even a moment later, she collapsed to the ground with swirls in her eyes.

"Ivysaur… is unable to battle… The second round goes… to the challenger." The ref reluctantly declared.

Celadon Gym

Pidgeot landed before her trainer while Erika walked out to her pokemon.

"You were better than ever Pidgeot." Ash rubbed his hands along her body. "Just look at how strong and majestic you look now."

She, in turn, rubbed her head against her trainer affectionately.

Ash then looked to Erika and noticed she was already back in her trainer box.

"The gym leader is down to her final pokemon." The ref declared. "Will she please bring her out?"

"Well Ash, I must admit that you've done quite well so far." Erika praised as she grabbed the third pokeball. "Though, now you will face one of my oldest friends. Vileplume, grace us with your beauty.

"Well, you're about to face one of the hardest working pokemon in Kanto." Ash declared as he returned Pidgeot to let her rest. "Ivysaur, I choose you."

The two pokemon glared at each other and moved into their battle stance.

"Ash, I have a story to tell you." Erika stated. "I met Vileplume when she was still a little Gloom in the city. I was attack by a gang of poison pokemon, and Gloom defended me from them. We've been together ever since.".

"Erika, Vileplume isn't the only one with a story." Ash responded. "I found Ivysaur in a sanctuary for pokemon back when he was just a Bulbasaur. His trainer abandoned him, so he dedicated himself to protecting pokemon like him as well as injured wild ones.

The owner of the sanctuary thought I'd be the perfect trainer for him because he couldn't reach for higher potential in that environment. After I battled and caught him, we've been together. He's always worked arguably the hardest of any of my pokemon to get where he is.

"Your point is?" One of the girls snidely questioned.

"The point is that we're leaving with that badge, and since I'm on a roll, it'll be without losing any of my pokemon this battle." Ash replied firmly.

"Yeah, you tell her Ash!" Serena cheered.

"Let the battle begin." The ref declared.

Ash VS Erika (P. III)

"Sleep Powder." Erika shouted.

Vileplume launched a cloud of green powered at Ivysaur.

"Surround yourself with sweet scent to the point that you'll never inhale Vileplume's powder." Ash ordered.

Ivysaur let loose massive amounts of sweet smelling, pink powder to the point that it neutralized the offending sleep powder.

"I wouldn't get too confident." Erika smirked. "Infestation!"

Vileplume closed her eyes and focused causing the ground around Ivysaur to turn a sickly yellow. The mid stage felt hundreds of little bites.

"Ivysaur, fight it!" Ash shouted.

"Solar Beam." Erika stated.

"Now we got you." Ash smirked. "Ivysaur, use your sleep powder."

"Vileplume, cancel solar beam and get out of there." Erika instructed.

Vileplume tried to avoid the powder, but she was too late as the powder took effect sending the grass/poison type to sleep.

"Let's now use sunny day!" Ash ordered.

Ivysaur caused the daylight to intensify activating his chlorophyl ability and doubling his speed.

"Vileplume, you need to wake up!" Erika shouted.

"Let's put your speed to good use with a take down.' Ash declared.

Ivysaur blitzed forward slamming into the sleeping plant. Even though Ivysaur took recoil damage, the momentum his opponent took saw her being sent flying into a tree which she crashed into hard. Vileplume then fell, still asleep, while infestation attacked Ivysaur again.

"Now, use take down again." Ash declared.

"Vileplume, please wake up and use moonblast." Erika pleaded.

Vileplume managed to come to and set up the moon before being slammed into the tree by take down. Still, the fairy energy did rain down on the mid stage hurting him further. Then, Ivysaur was hurt again by infestation.

"Sludge Bomb!" Erika called out.

"We still have speed on our side." Ash declared. "Dodge and end this with one final take down!"

Blobs of sludge were launched at the mid stage, but he blitzed to the right before charging in delivering a final take down that sent Vileplume flying. The grass/poison type hit the ground with swirls in her eyes.

"Vileplume is… unable to battle." The ref hesitantly declared only to sigh sadly. "That means victory goes to Ash from Pallet Town."

As the result was called, Erika sadly and slowly walked up to her first pokemon. She said her thanks and returned her fallen partner. The gym leader then smiled proudly at the pokeball before putting it away. She glanced up to see Ash giving his pokemon the attention they deserved.

"Great job Ivysaur!" Ashe declared as he hugged his pokemon. "You were truly amazing."

"He wasn't the only one." Erika stated as she stopped before him. "All of your pokemon and you were just as amazing. As victor of our battle, I proudly reward you with an official Indigo League Rainbow Badge."

Ash accepted the multicolored badge with genuine excitement. "Alright, we just won the Rainbow Badge." Ash and all his pokemon who fought so hard struck a pose. "Alright, return Ivysaur and Pidgeot." Ash then looked to his friends. "So, you ready to go?"

"Ash wait." Erika stated stopping him. "I wanted to apologize for what happened. We may disagree on our views of perfume, but that doesn't affect your battle capability. I realize that now and promise I won't turn away any more challengers."

"Thanks Erika." Ash replied with a cheerful smile.

He then noticed Erika giving the kimono girl's a hardened glare, so they stepped forward. "We too, are sorry."

With the apologies done, the group walked back to the Pokemon Centre. With Ash's fifth badge under his belt, it was time to set their sights on Serena's next chateau battle.


Guest: I'll see what I can do on giving Ash OG Mewtwo.