p class="MsoNormal"As Ash walked back into the Pewter City Gym, he was determined to walk out with his first gym badge. He was upset that Brock forced him to forfeit and he vowed that he wasn't going to repeat such a shameful defeat./p
p class="MsoNormal"Upon entering the main gym area, Ash could see Brock standing on the same platform as he was last time. As he stood watching the novice Trainer walk back into his gym, Brock gave Ash a disapproving look./p
p class="MsoNormal"He knew that Ash's Pokémon could not have gotten any better in the small amount of time that had passed. He was eager to tell Ash to leave and not come back until he had trained his Pokémon better, but seeing the look of determination on Ash's face made him change his mind./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come back for a rematch already?" Brock said./p
p class="MsoNormal""You better believe I am," Ash said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, you better have a new strategy or else I will crush your Pokémon into submission for a second time…go Geodude!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock summoned his Geodude to the field and as Ash stared at Brock's smug demeanor, he was going to prove that he is not to be underestimated./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's do this Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash said gesturing towards the rocky field./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pika!" Pickachu said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Pickachu ran onto the field, determined in the same way as its Trainer to win the battle./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock stared at Ash's Pikachu, and for the most part, he could tell not much was different about it./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you going to use that Pickachu of yours again? It looks as weak as it did last time." Brock said as he folded his arms./p
p class="MsoNormal""For your information, my Pikachu has gotten a lot stronger since last time," Ash said clenching his fist in anger./p
p class="MsoNormal""How about we see huh? Geodude, use Tackle!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Geodude responded and jumped towards Pikachu./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pikachu, avoid its Tackle!" Ash ordered./p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu responded and jumped around avoiding any contact from the Rock/Ground Pokémon./p
p class="MsoNormal""Your Pikachu is stronger you said? So far you've proven none of what you say. Geodude, jump and use Tackle!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Geodude responded and jumped into the air and slammed its body into the ground with its Tackle. Pikachu narrowly avoided the attack, but with the intense collision, the ground shook causing Pikachu to fall to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sorry to say this Ash, but your Pokémon are completely pathetic. You don't have a single chance of beating me here today. You should give up and not come back until you've improved." Brock said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock's words stung him in his pride, but he refused to give up a second time. Ash saw Pikachu stand up again, and decided that now was the time to make Brock eat his words./p
p class="MsoNormal"Ash knew the training he did with Pikachu with the help of Flint did increase the power of Pikachu's electricity, but Ash realized that wasn't going to help him here. But he did notice something when he ordered Pikachu to avoid Geodude's Tackle./p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu seemed to dodge very efficiently, which meant it was much faster as well as stronger electricity. Ash knew he could use that to his advantage./p
p class="MsoNormal"Wanting to get the upper hand, Ash quickly gave his orders to Pikachu./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Pika!" Pikachu said assertively./p
p class="MsoNormal""Really? That's your strategy? You aren't even going to get as far as you did last time. Geodude, block Pikachu's attack!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Geodude responded, but before it could fully brace itself, Pikachu's near blinding speed slammed into it and knocked it around./p
p class="MsoNormal""Good job Pikachu, keep it up! Use Quick Attack!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu did the same and slammed into Geodude before it could do anything. Seeing how powerless Geodude was, Ash knew this was the end of the round./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pickachu, keep using Quick Attack until Geodude can't fight anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu kept zipping and zig-zagging around the field, slamming into Geodude causing it to take every bit of damage./p
p class="MsoNormal"Even though Brock kept his composure, in his mind he was in complete shock. Not once as a Gym Leader has he seen such a strategy from a Trainer who has just begun their Pokémon journey./p
p class="MsoNormal"He also felt like the many Trainers that came to his gym for a Boulder Badge, just to be utterly helpless against his Pokémon. He stood watching his Geodude get knocked around and have no way of helping it./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a few moments, Pikachu stopped its onslaught, and Geodude fell to the floor completely drained of the will to fight. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBrock silently called back his Geodude. He thought to himself that Ash's strategy was a marvel in its own right, but knew no matter how much Ash's Pikachu improved, it was no match for his Onix./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ash, it seems I was wrong. Your Pikachu wasn't as pathetic as I thought and it was able to defeat my Geodude. But even though you proved me wrong, this battle isn't over and my Onix will prove to be too much for your Pokémon to handle. Go, Onix!" Brock said as he summoned his second Pokémon./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock's Onix appeared on the field in the same manner as it did last time, stretching its long body up into the air almost touching the ceiling of the gym. It peered down at Ash and Pikachu, not at all deterred about its opponent./p
p class="MsoNormal""You did a decent job getting back to facing my Onix, but from here on out the outcome will be the same as last time."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Ash knew if he used Pikachu against Brock's Onix that indeed the same outcome would happen again, so as hard as it was to do so, he called Pikachu back to his side./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pikachu, come back. Your part in this battle is over." Ash said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock and Misty with Brock's siblings who were watching from the sidelines were dumbfounded by Ash's decision. They all were surprised to see him remove Pikachu from the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEven Pikachu itself was shocked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pika?" Pikachu said confused./p
p class="MsoNormal"Despite wanting to continue, Pikachu did as its Trainer asked and returned to his side. Everyone watching was in anticipation to see what Ash was planning on doing next./p
p class="MsoNormal""To say that my Pikachu would be strong enough to take down your Onix would be foolish and to be honest I don't want a repeat of last time. So I will summon one of my Pokémon that I know will take out your Onix, go Butterfree!" Ash said throwing out his next Pokémon./p
p class="MsoNormal"Butterfree appeared on the field, fluttering in midair./p
p class="MsoNormal""Free..freee!" It cried out./p
p class="MsoNormal"Everyone was even more shocked as they all knew that Butterfree was an even worse choice to send out./p
p class="MsoNormal""And here I thought I completely misjudged, and you send out a Pokémon that is even weaker to Onix than Pikachu," Brock said disappointed./p
p class="MsoNormal"Misty and even Brock's siblings sat worried about what was going to happen to Butterfree./p
p class="MsoNormal""Like I said, Brock. I know my Butterfree can win against your Onix. Let's just finish this battle," Ash said undeterred./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock shrugged his shoulders./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't foresee a Pokémon that weak to my Onix winning against it. But, okay Ash if you say so…time to end this, Onix, use Bind!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Onix responded and leaped towards Butterfree. As Butterfree sat hovering in the air, with Onix closing in fast, Ash took his time to strike./p
p class="MsoNormal""Anyone can overcome weakness in a battle, and I've proven that already. Butterfree, use Confusion!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"In response, Butterfree's body began to glow and quickly shot a force of energy towards Onix, stopping it dead in its tracks. Onix sat mid-air, completely unable to move./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock stood in complete awe, with his jaw nearly hitting the ground. The entire Gym stood silent, not believing what they were witnessing. Brock could tell that his Onix was trying its hardest to free itself from the attack but to no avail./p
p class="MsoNormal""Now do you believe me Brock? Now watch as your Onix becomes a rag doll. Butterfree, use Confusion and slam Onix into the ground!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanButterfree began to glow again and in a blink of an eye, Onix's body was sent crashing down into the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal""Good Butterfree, now continue to use Confusion until Onix is defeated!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Free!" Butterfree said in response./p
p class="MsoNormal"Again Butterfree's body began to glow, but this time it sent Onix's body flying to the side and it smashed into an outcropping stone on the field. Without hesitation, it did the same but threw Onix into an outcropping stone on the other side of the field./p
p class="MsoNormal""Butterfree, use one more Confusion!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Butterfree glowed more brightly than it did the last few times and everyone watched as it lifted Onix's body as high as it could. Its body almost touched the top of the ceiling./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock was in disbelief as his Pokémon was as he could tell in a large amount of pain and being suspended from the ceiling. His heart sank as he then watched his Onix plummet to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal"The entire Gym shook from the impact causing most of its occupants to fall to the ground. A large dust cloud encompassed the field and as the dust settled, everyone could see Butterfree still floating in the air, but Onix was on the ground unconscious./p
p class="MsoNormal""Great job Butterfree. Now you can rest for a while," Ash said returning Butterfree to its ball./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock again silently returned his defeated Pokémon to its ball. He stood there staring at Ash, not believing the battle he was just a part of. From that moment, he knew there was something special about Ash./p
p class="MsoNormal"He stepped down from his platform and walked towards Ash. He stopped in front of the young Trainer and smiled./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'll be honest Ash, I will never forget that battle we just had. You've truly earned this…" Brock said as he reached into his pocket./p
p class="MsoNormal"He pulled out a small pin and held it out towards Ash./p
p class="MsoNormal""Take it, you've officially beat the Pewter City Gym."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Ash's eyes lit up as he was presented with the Boulder Badge in recognition of his victory. He took the badge from Brock's hand and looked at it. He realized this was his first victory towards entering the Pokémon League./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah, I did it!" Ash shouted as he held the badge up in the air./p
p class="MsoNormal""Congratulations Ash," Misty said rejoining him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks. Now the next stop is Cerulean City Gym!" Ash said excitedly./p
p class="MsoNormal"As Ash and Misty left the gym, Brock stood thinking about Ash and possibly joining him on his journey to the Pokémon League./p
p class="MsoNormal"Upon entering the main gym area, Ash could see Brock standing on the same platform as he was last time. As he stood watching the novice Trainer walk back into his gym, Brock gave Ash a disapproving look./p
p class="MsoNormal"He knew that Ash's Pokémon could not have gotten any better in the small amount of time that had passed. He was eager to tell Ash to leave and not come back until he had trained his Pokémon better, but seeing the look of determination on Ash's face made him change his mind./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come back for a rematch already?" Brock said./p
p class="MsoNormal""You better believe I am," Ash said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, you better have a new strategy or else I will crush your Pokémon into submission for a second time…go Geodude!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock summoned his Geodude to the field and as Ash stared at Brock's smug demeanor, he was going to prove that he is not to be underestimated./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's do this Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash said gesturing towards the rocky field./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pika!" Pickachu said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Pickachu ran onto the field, determined in the same way as its Trainer to win the battle./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock stared at Ash's Pikachu, and for the most part, he could tell not much was different about it./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you going to use that Pickachu of yours again? It looks as weak as it did last time." Brock said as he folded his arms./p
p class="MsoNormal""For your information, my Pikachu has gotten a lot stronger since last time," Ash said clenching his fist in anger./p
p class="MsoNormal""How about we see huh? Geodude, use Tackle!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Geodude responded and jumped towards Pikachu./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pikachu, avoid its Tackle!" Ash ordered./p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu responded and jumped around avoiding any contact from the Rock/Ground Pokémon./p
p class="MsoNormal""Your Pikachu is stronger you said? So far you've proven none of what you say. Geodude, jump and use Tackle!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Geodude responded and jumped into the air and slammed its body into the ground with its Tackle. Pikachu narrowly avoided the attack, but with the intense collision, the ground shook causing Pikachu to fall to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sorry to say this Ash, but your Pokémon are completely pathetic. You don't have a single chance of beating me here today. You should give up and not come back until you've improved." Brock said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock's words stung him in his pride, but he refused to give up a second time. Ash saw Pikachu stand up again, and decided that now was the time to make Brock eat his words./p
p class="MsoNormal"Ash knew the training he did with Pikachu with the help of Flint did increase the power of Pikachu's electricity, but Ash realized that wasn't going to help him here. But he did notice something when he ordered Pikachu to avoid Geodude's Tackle./p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu seemed to dodge very efficiently, which meant it was much faster as well as stronger electricity. Ash knew he could use that to his advantage./p
p class="MsoNormal"Wanting to get the upper hand, Ash quickly gave his orders to Pikachu./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Pika!" Pikachu said assertively./p
p class="MsoNormal""Really? That's your strategy? You aren't even going to get as far as you did last time. Geodude, block Pikachu's attack!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Geodude responded, but before it could fully brace itself, Pikachu's near blinding speed slammed into it and knocked it around./p
p class="MsoNormal""Good job Pikachu, keep it up! Use Quick Attack!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu did the same and slammed into Geodude before it could do anything. Seeing how powerless Geodude was, Ash knew this was the end of the round./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pickachu, keep using Quick Attack until Geodude can't fight anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Pikachu kept zipping and zig-zagging around the field, slamming into Geodude causing it to take every bit of damage./p
p class="MsoNormal"Even though Brock kept his composure, in his mind he was in complete shock. Not once as a Gym Leader has he seen such a strategy from a Trainer who has just begun their Pokémon journey./p
p class="MsoNormal"He also felt like the many Trainers that came to his gym for a Boulder Badge, just to be utterly helpless against his Pokémon. He stood watching his Geodude get knocked around and have no way of helping it./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a few moments, Pikachu stopped its onslaught, and Geodude fell to the floor completely drained of the will to fight. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBrock silently called back his Geodude. He thought to himself that Ash's strategy was a marvel in its own right, but knew no matter how much Ash's Pikachu improved, it was no match for his Onix./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ash, it seems I was wrong. Your Pikachu wasn't as pathetic as I thought and it was able to defeat my Geodude. But even though you proved me wrong, this battle isn't over and my Onix will prove to be too much for your Pokémon to handle. Go, Onix!" Brock said as he summoned his second Pokémon./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock's Onix appeared on the field in the same manner as it did last time, stretching its long body up into the air almost touching the ceiling of the gym. It peered down at Ash and Pikachu, not at all deterred about its opponent./p
p class="MsoNormal""You did a decent job getting back to facing my Onix, but from here on out the outcome will be the same as last time."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Ash knew if he used Pikachu against Brock's Onix that indeed the same outcome would happen again, so as hard as it was to do so, he called Pikachu back to his side./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pikachu, come back. Your part in this battle is over." Ash said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock and Misty with Brock's siblings who were watching from the sidelines were dumbfounded by Ash's decision. They all were surprised to see him remove Pikachu from the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEven Pikachu itself was shocked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Pika?" Pikachu said confused./p
p class="MsoNormal"Despite wanting to continue, Pikachu did as its Trainer asked and returned to his side. Everyone watching was in anticipation to see what Ash was planning on doing next./p
p class="MsoNormal""To say that my Pikachu would be strong enough to take down your Onix would be foolish and to be honest I don't want a repeat of last time. So I will summon one of my Pokémon that I know will take out your Onix, go Butterfree!" Ash said throwing out his next Pokémon./p
p class="MsoNormal"Butterfree appeared on the field, fluttering in midair./p
p class="MsoNormal""Free..freee!" It cried out./p
p class="MsoNormal"Everyone was even more shocked as they all knew that Butterfree was an even worse choice to send out./p
p class="MsoNormal""And here I thought I completely misjudged, and you send out a Pokémon that is even weaker to Onix than Pikachu," Brock said disappointed./p
p class="MsoNormal"Misty and even Brock's siblings sat worried about what was going to happen to Butterfree./p
p class="MsoNormal""Like I said, Brock. I know my Butterfree can win against your Onix. Let's just finish this battle," Ash said undeterred./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock shrugged his shoulders./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't foresee a Pokémon that weak to my Onix winning against it. But, okay Ash if you say so…time to end this, Onix, use Bind!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Onix responded and leaped towards Butterfree. As Butterfree sat hovering in the air, with Onix closing in fast, Ash took his time to strike./p
p class="MsoNormal""Anyone can overcome weakness in a battle, and I've proven that already. Butterfree, use Confusion!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"In response, Butterfree's body began to glow and quickly shot a force of energy towards Onix, stopping it dead in its tracks. Onix sat mid-air, completely unable to move./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock stood in complete awe, with his jaw nearly hitting the ground. The entire Gym stood silent, not believing what they were witnessing. Brock could tell that his Onix was trying its hardest to free itself from the attack but to no avail./p
p class="MsoNormal""Now do you believe me Brock? Now watch as your Onix becomes a rag doll. Butterfree, use Confusion and slam Onix into the ground!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanButterfree began to glow again and in a blink of an eye, Onix's body was sent crashing down into the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal""Good Butterfree, now continue to use Confusion until Onix is defeated!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Free!" Butterfree said in response./p
p class="MsoNormal"Again Butterfree's body began to glow, but this time it sent Onix's body flying to the side and it smashed into an outcropping stone on the field. Without hesitation, it did the same but threw Onix into an outcropping stone on the other side of the field./p
p class="MsoNormal""Butterfree, use one more Confusion!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Butterfree glowed more brightly than it did the last few times and everyone watched as it lifted Onix's body as high as it could. Its body almost touched the top of the ceiling./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock was in disbelief as his Pokémon was as he could tell in a large amount of pain and being suspended from the ceiling. His heart sank as he then watched his Onix plummet to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal"The entire Gym shook from the impact causing most of its occupants to fall to the ground. A large dust cloud encompassed the field and as the dust settled, everyone could see Butterfree still floating in the air, but Onix was on the ground unconscious./p
p class="MsoNormal""Great job Butterfree. Now you can rest for a while," Ash said returning Butterfree to its ball./p
p class="MsoNormal"Brock again silently returned his defeated Pokémon to its ball. He stood there staring at Ash, not believing the battle he was just a part of. From that moment, he knew there was something special about Ash./p
p class="MsoNormal"He stepped down from his platform and walked towards Ash. He stopped in front of the young Trainer and smiled./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'll be honest Ash, I will never forget that battle we just had. You've truly earned this…" Brock said as he reached into his pocket./p
p class="MsoNormal"He pulled out a small pin and held it out towards Ash./p
p class="MsoNormal""Take it, you've officially beat the Pewter City Gym."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Ash's eyes lit up as he was presented with the Boulder Badge in recognition of his victory. He took the badge from Brock's hand and looked at it. He realized this was his first victory towards entering the Pokémon League./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah, I did it!" Ash shouted as he held the badge up in the air./p
p class="MsoNormal""Congratulations Ash," Misty said rejoining him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks. Now the next stop is Cerulean City Gym!" Ash said excitedly./p
p class="MsoNormal"As Ash and Misty left the gym, Brock stood thinking about Ash and possibly joining him on his journey to the Pokémon League./p