Today we find our hero's on a hilly path just outside of Celadon City.
"I'm sure of it now, my next badge is down this way." Ash said with confidence, putting a pocket telescope back in his bag.
"What gave you that idea?" Cassie said, looking at the large sign saying that way would take them to Fuschia City.
"But first things first. Oddish. Erika said he's getting ready to evolve and if that's true, I want him ready for our next gym battle." Ash said, looking at Oddish's Pokeball.
"Well, that might be harder than you wanted, it looks like we're the only ones here." Cassie pointed out.
"Maybe not the only ones." Ash said, seeing a river flowing nearby. "Look, there's gear over there."
"And where there's gear, there's a person." Cassie realized.
"And maybe they're a trainer!" Ash exclaimed. "Let's go!"
Ash and Cassie made it to the gear by the riverbank only to see it appearing to be long forgotten.
"I'm sorry Ash, I know you were hoping for a trainer." Cassie said. "But it looks like it's been a while since anyone has been to this spot."
"Hey, look at this!" Ash said, finding an envelope stuck underneath a cooler. "It's unaddressed."
"Maybe we can find out what happened to the person who's fishing gear this was." Cassie said.
'Hi there, if you're reading this just know I'm doing great. I wanted to leave behind my fishing rod as a gift to a trainer who would need it in the future, I'm off to the Pokemon League so cheer me on from wherever the water flows!'
-Misty of Cerulean City
"Wait Misty, as in the runner up from the last tournament? Wasn't that a few months ago?" Cassie asked.
"Yeah, I guess a lot of people don't take this road, if we're the first to find this stuff." Ash said.
"Or maybe we're just the first ones nosy enough." Cassie pointed out.
"Well she did say we could keep the fishing rod." Ash said, holding it up. "I'll be honest, I have no idea how to judge if this is a generous gift, or if she just didn't want to carry around an older rod after the league." Ash said, before collapsing the rod.
"Maybe we'll run into her one day, and then you can thank her in person." Cassie said.
"Man, that would be amazing!" Ash said. "But we should keep going, I don't see much of a shelter safe spot if we don't get to Fuschia before nightfall."
A bit further down the road, Ash and Cassie found a bridge leading them across the river.
"Hello there!" A man said with a smile.
"Hi." Ash said warily.
"No need to be afraid, as long as you're a good battler." The man chuckled.
"Oh, I'm better than good." Ash said. "What are your terms?"
"Two on two, does that sound fair?" The man asked.
"Works for me." Ash said.
"Well then, Staryu come on out!"
"Water type, works for me." Ash said. "Oddish I choose you!"
"Staryu use Swift!"
"Oddish use Mega Drain!"
Oddish began siphoning energy only for the attack to falter, and weaken suddenly.
"Guess we still haven't figured that out all the way." Ash said, before Oddish was knocked back from Staryu's attack. "Oddish use Stun Spore!"
"Staryu use Water Gun!"
Oddish released yellowish spores into the air as a stream of water pushed against him.
"Oddish use Absorb!"
"Staryu use Ice Beam!"
Staryu's Ice Beam traveled quickly up the water, creating a layer of ice on the bridge, and freezing Oddish in an ice cube.
"Staryu use Tackle!"
"Oddish brace yourself!"
Oddish stayed perfectly frozen as he was knocked into the water below the bridge.
"Oddish!" Ash exclaimed.
"I'll wait for you to find and rescue Oddish, I didn't mean for that to happen." The man said.
"Odd!" Oddish leapt from the river, having broken free from the ice, landing on the bridge with an anger in his eyes. "Ish!" A siphoning energy shot from the blades of grass atop Oddish's head growing stronger and stronger pulling even Staryu towards him.
"Staryu use Swift!"
"Oddish use Acid!"
A burst of acid shot out of Oddish's broken blade, flowing through the Staryu's attack and splashing Staryu away.
Oddish began to glow brightly, his body engulfed in it.
"What's happening to Oddish?" Cassie asked.
"I think he's evolving!" Ash said in shock.
"That's definitely an evolution." The man agreed.
"Gloom!" Oddish now Gloom exclaimed, standing victorious.
"Staryu come on back!" The man said. "I think I'll need to kick things up a notch for you." He said, grabbing an Ultra Ball. "Come on out Gyarados!"
"Gloom, are you good to keep going?" Ash asked.
"Gloom gloom." Gloom said enthusiastically.
"Alright then, Gloom use Mega Drain!"
"Gyarados use Hydro Pump!"
Even after the jet of water blasting away dirt and some stone, Gloom stood there, seeming more refreshed than anything from the water.
"Now use Acid!"
"Gyarados use Hyper Beam!"
Sending out a different attack, Gyarados blasted the area around Gloom in a burst of light.
"Don't worry Gloom, you're still a winner in my eyes." Ash said, recalling his newly evolved Pokemon. "Alright Pikachu you're up!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Gyarados use Hyper Beam!"
Pikachu easily outsped the beam, slamming into Gyarados.
"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
With Gyarados recharging after the constant powerful attacks, it was completely stuck as Pikachu sent a large bolt of electricity surging through the sea snake.
"Gyarados use Dragon Rage!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
A series of sparks crossed over Gyarados's body, causing it to momentarily be stunned, giving Pikachu the opening to hit it a second time with another bolt of lightning, and with that the water type came crashing to the ground, defeated.
"Well kid, I have to say I'm impressed, not many average trainers can manage to take out Gyarados." The man said.
"Well, I'm not your average trainer." Ash said, showing his badges in his jacket.
"Impressive, but if you want a real challenge, take on the gym in town, the gym leader is so tough I hear they're considering them for the elite four." The man said.
"Good, I can't wait for that fight." Ash said with a smirk.
Ash's team and their moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Thunder Wave - Tail Whip
Gloom: Mega Drain - Sleep Powder - Stun Spore - Acid
Jigglypuff: Sing - Pound - Disable
Ponyta: Ember - Stomp