"Here we are, gym number five." Ash said, looking at the building in front of him.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean you heard what that fisherman said about this gym leader, and you only recently beat Erika." Cassie said.

"Don't worry, with Gloom now all powered up, there's no way I can lose." Ash said.

"Why do I feel like we've had this conversation before." Cassie groaned, following Ash into the gym.

"I'm here to challenge the gym leader!" Ash shouted to the oddly empty room.

"If you can find us, you are welcome to a battle." A man's voice said.

"But if you can't, let's hope you can find a way out." A girls voice said.

"Pi?" Pikachu said, his ears picking up, before running forward and then suddenly disappearing.

"Pikachu? Where'd you go?" Ash asked, only to bump into… nothing? "What in the?" Ash said, feeling in front of him. "Mirrors, or something like them?"

"Very perceptive, now if you can find your way to us… hey what in the?" The mans voice echoed.

"Stop it that tickles!" The girls voice laughed.

"Ughh, fine, you win I guess." The mans voice said, lowering the walls to reveal himself, along with a girl who was being licked by Pikachu.

"Sorry about that, come here Pikachu." Ash said. "I can do the maze myself if that makes you feel any better."

"No, the illusion's over, the gym battle will consist of two fights, the first against me, and the second against my daughter. I am Koga of Fuschia City, who are you?" Koga said.

"I'm Ash, from Pallet Town." Ash said.

"Well Ash, our battle will be a two on two, are you prepared to face me?" Koga asked.

"Bring it." Ash said.

"Consider it brought." Koga said calmly. "Golbat! You're up first!"

"You've got this Pikachu." Ash said confidently.

"Golbat use Razor Wind!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

Golbat began whipping up a strong wind, being able to even knock back Pikachu's attack, pushing the electric type back.

"Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"

"Golbat use Haze!"

A white mist filled the arena, making Pikachu unable to aim his attack.

"Golbat use Toxic!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu sped through the haze, keeping an ear out for Golbat and its attack, only to take the full force of the blast, drenching him in the poisonous sludge.

"Golbat use Wing Attack!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

With his sight and speed impared, Pikachu was unable to even defend himself before being launched out of the haze in defeat.

"Pikachu is unable to battle, the winner is Golbat." The girl announced.

"Here buddy, drink this." Ash said, giving Pikachu an antidote. "I have to pick carefully, I still don't know what his second Pokemon is, much less either of hers, or if this is even the gym badge battle." Ash said to himself. "Alright then, come on out!"

From his pocket a red beam shot out as Jigglypuff took to the field.

"Jigglypuff!" Ash scolded.

"Golbat use Toxic!"

"Jigglypuff use Disable!"

When nothing came through Ash realized this might work, even if wasn't his original plan.

"Alright Jigglypuff use Sing!"

"Golbat use Razor Wind!"

The hazy mist cleared up, only for Golbat to be rushing straight towards Jigglypuff.

"Jigglypuff look out!"

Golbat swooped downwards, knocking Jigglypuff off of her feet and into the air.

"Now use Wing Attack!"

"Jigglypuff use Pound!"

Jigglypuff spun around to smack Golbat with her microphone, only for the large bag to be too quick and send her crashing to the ground.

"Jigglypuff is unable to battle, the winner is Golbat!" The girl exclaimed.

"Golbat return." Koga said calmly. "Janine, it's your turn. Don't make this match as pitiful as the last one."

"Ash, right?" The girl, apparently named Janine asked.

"Yeah, and he said your name was Janine." Ash replied.

"That would be me." Janine sighed. "Let's have a good clean match, okay." Janine said extending her hand.

"Okay." Ash agreed with a smile.

"Alright then, come on out Nidorina!"

"Gloom, I choose you!"

"Nidorina use Bite!"

"Gloom use Mega Drain!"

Gloom stood its ground absorbing the energy from Nidorina and even tossing the Pokémon into the air with a whiplash.

"Nidorina use Poison Sting!"

"Gloom use Stun Spore!"

A flurry of poisonous stingers shot from Nidorina's body at Gloom as the grass type launched yellowish spores back.

"Nidorina use Double Kick!"

"Gloom use another Mega Drain!"

Nidorina leapt into the air and began getting much closer very fast as the draining drew her in.

"Now Gloom dodge it!"

Gloom jumped up and out of the way as Nidorina came crashing to the ground below.

"Nidorina get up and use Toxic!"

The toxic sludge launched from Nidorina's mouth, only for it to seemingly put Gloom in a better mood.

"What! No That should have worked! Gloom is a grass type!" Janine argued.

"We've been over this, you need to think of both types of some Pokémon, Toxic is useless on a fellow Poison Type." Koga said angrily.

"No matter Nidorina use Bite!"

"Gloom use Acid!"

Gloom shot a burst of acid from the center of his flower, launching the Nidorina into the air once more before she came crashing to the ground defeated.

"Nidorina is unable to battle, the winner is Gloom." Koga said.

"Nidorina return." Janine said. "Now it's time to get serious! Venomoth I choose you!"

"Gloom use Stun Spore!"

"Venomoth use Psybeam!"

Gloom launched a small flurry of yellowish spores before they became a purplish sludge shooting out at Venomoth.

"What was that?!" Ash exclaimed.

"Incredible, it saw the move once, and taught itself to use it." Koga said.

"The same thing happened against Erika with Mega Drain!" Cassie exclaimed.

"Gloom, you're incredible!" Ash exclaimed. "Unfortunately I don't think Toxic is of much use right now."

"Gloom?" Gloom said confused.

"Venomoth use Leech Life!"

A long tongue shot out of Venomoth's tounge and began to slurp up the pollen in Gloom's flower, draining the energy of the grass type quickly.

"I think it's time for a new strategy." Ash said. "Gloom return!"

The grass type returned to its Pokeball as Venomoth's tongue quickly retracted.

"Ponyta I choose you!"

"Venomoth use Toxic!"

"Ponyta use Ember!"

Ponyta shot out a series of flames, burning up the toxic sludge and blasting into Venomoth.

"Venomoth use Psybeam!"

"Ponyta use Stomp!"

Ponyta got a running start before leaping into the air, and slamming down on both of Venomoth's wings.

"Venomoth use Leech Life!"

"Ponyta use Ember!"

With Venomoth pinned beneath her hooves it was easy picking for Ponyta to hit the bug type repeatedly as the tongue tried to grab onto her fiery hot fur.

"Venomoth is unable to battle, the winner is Ponyta!" Koga declared.

"Dad, look I…". Janine said only for Koga to hold out his hand.

"A gym leader's job isn't to win, it's to test a trainer's strength. You didn't give up, and you will get better." Koga said. "As for you, I believe you've earned this." Koga said holding out a badge to Ash.

"But I lost to you, I didn't win." Ash said.

"Well I'd be shocked if you had beaten Golbat, we've been summoned as a member of the elite four." Koga said. "Stay in Fuschia for a bit, enjoy the Safari Zone, train up a little, I'm sure this won't be the last we see of each other." Koga said calmly.

Authors notes

If it isn't obvious already Gloom is quickly becoming a powerhouse among Ash's team, having evolved and learned several new moves, this will undoubtedly create a bit of a power struggle for Pikachu and Gloom. We will be seeing other new members and power boosts coming soon.

If you're worried that Ash already has five badges, don't be. I'm using the original series as a map for this story, so even with most of the badges, there are still plenty of chapters and story to go over.

Ash's team and their moves

Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Thunder Wave - Tail Whip

Gloom: Mega Drain - Sleep Powder - Toxic - Acid

Jigglypuff: Sing - Pound - Disable

Ponyta: Ember - Stomp