"Gym battle six here I come." Ash said confidently.
"Ash, look." Cassie said.
"Wait, no no no no no no." Ash said, seeing the gym doors boarded up. "No, my sixth badge was going to be here! In Saffron!"
"Oh calm down kid." A man said.
"Calm down! I only know of eight gyms, I don't even know where to go for a different badge, and then there's the problem of Viridian Gym, how am I going to get that badge, or the Cinnabar Island gym, that place was hit by a volcano!?" Ash panicked.
"Kid, that gym leader had a mental breakdown, the current gym is next door." The man said.
"Wait what?" Ash said, looking over.
"Yeah, Sabrina took the title of gym leader a few years back, but last year she just shut herself in, Pokemon League gave the dojo back the title of being a gym, come on I'll show you." The man said.
The man led Ash and Cassie into a mostly wooden building with four men in white gis training in it.
"Boys, we have a challenger." The man said.
The four other men stood at attention.
"Woah, impressive." Cassie commented.
"In order to get this gyms badge you must defeat all of the trainers in here, only then can you face me." The man said, walking to the back of the dojo. "Take all the time you need, you simply need to beat the four of them."
"Wait so I can go and heal?" Ash asked.
"We believe in fair fighting, so if you want to heal your Pokémon you are welcome to come and go, the only stipulation is until you reach me you can only use one Pokemon per battle." The gym leader said.
"Okay, let's do this. Who's up first?" Ash asked.
"That would be me." The first guy said. "The names Mike."
"Well then Mike, bring it on." Ash said.
"Machoke come out!"
"Ponyta come on out!"
"Machoke use Karate Chop!"
"Ponyta use Stomp!"
Ponyta charged forward, lunging with her hooves straight onto Machoke's chest, pinning the fighting type.
"Machoke use Seismic Toss!"
"Ponyta use Stomp again!"
Ponyta slammed each hoof on one of Machoke's limbs, keeping them locked to the ground.
"Machoke use Low Kick!"
"Ponyta jump up and use Ember!"
Machoke flailed it's legs as Ponyta jumped up, sending a barrage of embers raining down on the fighting type.
"Machoke is unable to battle, the winner is Ponyta." The gym leader said.
"Let's keep it going!" Ash said. "Ponyta come on back."
"I'm up next." A man with a green belt said. "Come on out Mankey!"
"Dratini, you're up!" Ash said.
"Mankey use Fury Swipes!"
"Dratini use Wrap!"
Dratini launched forward, entangling the Mankey's limbs together.
"Mankey use Rage!"
"Dratini use Leer!"
Dratini stuck his tongue out at the trapped Mankey who struggled to break free.
"Dratini use Dragon Rage!"
"Mankey use Rage!"
Mankey began flailing, tossing him and Dratini into the air as the dragon attempted to aim his attack, only for it to go off and launch both Pokemon apart from each other.
"Dratini use Wrap!"
"Mankey use Thrash!"
The two Pokémon launched at each other as Mankey swatted away Dratini as quickly as he could before getting trapped once again.
"Dratini use Dragon Rage one more time!"
Dratini began growing swirling blue flames in his mouth, only for him to hiccup and the flames completely disperse.
"Mankey use Thrash!"
In it's exhausted state, Mankey's limbs flew in all different directions, mostly hitting itself rather than Dratini.
"Mankey is unable to battle, the winner is Dratini." The gym leader said.
"Ni." Dratini said flopping to the floor out of exhaustion.
"You did great Dratini, take a long rest." Ash said, returning the dragon type.
"We're up next, Poliwrath let's go!"
"Pika!" Pikachu said readily.
"Hold on Pikachu, let's give Gloom a shot, then you'll get your turn before we rest up for the leader." Ash said.
"Pi." Pikachu said in understanding.
"Let's go Gloom!"
"Poliwrath use Ice Beam!"
"Gloom use Toxic!"
Gloom shot out a burst of poisonous sludge at the Poliwrath while gracefully dodging the ice beam.
"Poliwrath use another Ice Beam!"
"Gloom use Mega Drain!"
Gloom stopped his movement to begin draining the energy from Poliwrath as the ground around him was frozen solid.
"Poliwrath use Ice Beam!"
"Gloom use Mega Drain!"
Ice began to creep up Gloom's body as energy continued to drain from Poliwrath, and as soon as it started, both attacks just stopped.
"Both Poliwrath and Gloom are unable to battle, the match goes to the challenger." The gym leader said.
"Great work Gloom." Ash said. "We've got it now."
"I am your fourth challenger Kya." The last trainer said. "Me and my Machamp will be the ones to stop you."
"Alright Pikachu, keep moving and you'll be safe." Ash said.
"Machamp use Karate Chop!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack to dodge it!"
Pikachu ran between the fighting types legs, easily avoiding the attack.
"Machamp use Low Kick!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
A bolt of electricity shot from Pikachu, hitting Machamp straight in its chest, knocking the fighting type off of its feet for a moment.
"Machamp use Submission!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu charged forward, not expecting the Machamp to slam into him with a full body tackle, pinning the electric type to the ground.
"Sorry about this." Ash said.
"About what?" The gym leader asked.
"Pikachu use Thunder!"
Electricity rained down onto both Machamp and Pikachu, frying the fighting type and breaking open the roof from the burst of intense energy.
"Machamp is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu." The gym leader said in astonishment. "You are welcome to go and heal before our match commences."
"Thank you." Ash said, bowing slightly before scooping up Pikachu and heading to the Pokemon Center.
At the Pokemon Center
"You're doing great Ash!" Cassie exclaimed.
"Yeah, the team really pulled through so far." Ash said. "I think I'll start with Ponyta for the badge."
"You don't even know what he'll use." Cassie said.
"I know, but I'm just thinking Pikachu and Ponyta's speed were helpful in the previous battles, maybe they'll be useful here." Ash said.
"What about Jigglypuff, you haven't used her yet." Cassie pointed out.
"I don't know, between the disadvantage of her being a normal type, and losing her microphone, I'm not sure she's up for this." Ash admitted, looking down at Jigglypuff's Pokeball.
Back at the gym
"Welcome back challenger." The gym leader said. "Allow me to properly introduce myself, I am known as The Karate King!"
"Most people just call me Ash." Ash admitted, not sure how to properly respond to the introduction.
"Our match will consist of 2-3 one on one rounds. After the first round you will switch to a new Pokémon, if we both win a round then we will send out the Pokémon that won for them to face off. Understood?" The Karate King said.
"Yeah, at least I think so." Ash said.
"Very well then, Hitmonchan, come on out!" The Karate King said.
"Ponyta I choose you!" Ash said, sticking with his plan.
"Hitmonchan use Mega Punch!"
"Ponyta dodge it with Agility!"
Ponyta began picking up speed, narrowly dodging Hitmonchan's attack.
"Hitmonchan use Thunder Punch!"
"Ponyta use Agility!"
Ponyta continued to pick up speed to avoid the attacks, Ash had been expecting a slower Pokemon, but this thing was quick with it's attacks.
"Hitmonchan use Mega Punch!"
"Ponyta use Ember!"
Ponyta unleashed a flurry of embers as the Hitmonchan rocketed through, striking Ponyta in the neck.
"Ponyta use Stomp!"
"Hitmonchan use Counter!"
Ponyta slammed her front hooves down, only for Hitmonchan to launch her backwards and into a knockout.
"Ponyta is unable to battle, the winner is Hitmonchan." The judge declared.
"No, that means Ash has to win the next two rounds." Cassie said.
"Hitmonchan return. Hitmonlee it's time." The Karate King said.
"Alright Pikachu, you're up." Ash said.
"Hitmonlee use Rolling Kick!"
"Pikachu use Thunderwave!"
A spiral of sparks spun in the opposite direction of Hitmonlee's leg, covering the fighting type in static.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Hitmonlee use Mega Kick!"
With Hitmonlee's leg still extended most of the way, he had little mobility as Pikachu zapped him.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Hitmonlee use Jump Kick!"
Pikachu sped forward, only for Hitmonlee to leap into the air and out of the way.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack to dodge!" Ash exclaimed.
Pikachu sped around the arena as Hitmonlee came crashing to the ground, slamming hard into the floor.
"Now Pikachu finish it with Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu sent a burst of electricity out, frying the Hitmonlee.
"Hitmonlee is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu." The judge declared.
"Great work buddy. Now we just have to do that again." Ash said, remembering about the Hitmonchan.
"Hitmonchan use Fire Punch!"
"Pikachu dodge it!"
Pikachu leapt backwards out of the way of Hitmonchan's fist, feeling the heat coming off of it as he did.
"Now Hitmonchan use Ice Punch!"
"Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"
Pikachu waited for an opening before sending a spiral of sparks forward at the Hitmonchan.
"Hitmonchan use Mega Punch!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu ducked beneath Hitmonchan's fist, striking the fighting types leg, and reducing its mobility greatly.
"Now Pikachu use Thunder!"
Lightning rained down from the hole in the ceiling as Hitmonchan spasmed from the energy.
"Hitmonchan is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu!" The judge declared.
"Congratulations Ash, here as recognition of beating me, have the chop badge, and these." The Karate King said.
"What are these?" Ash asked.
"It's a Silph Scope, allows you to see ghost Pokémon that otherwise don't wish to be found." The Karate King said. "Fighting types have a hard time hitting ghosts, but at least while you figure out your next plan, you can get some tough training in."
"Thanks, I'll make sure to put them to good use." Ash said.