"Okay do you remember what I said?" Ash asked as he and Cassie approached the gym.
"Stay to the sides, and no matter what, don't enter the ring. If I see an attack coming for me, get out of the way." Cassie said with a hint of sass.
"I just don't want to see you getting hurt, just promise me you'll watch out and dodge." Ash said.
"Just don't aim for me and I should be good, okay Pikachu." Cassie said smiling to the electric type.
Once inside the gym, Cassie took a seat on some bleachers off to the side.
"Welcome challenger." Brock said, greeting Ash.
"It's Ash, actually it's Ashton, but I go by Ash, I never introduced myself yesterday." Ash said.
"Relax, a gym is to see how you're improving as a trainer." Brock said with a smile. "I'm guessing that this is your first gym badge?"
"Yeah, this will be my first." Ash said.
"Very well, in that case I ask you to battle one of the gym's trainers before facing me, a warm up of sorts." Brock said.
"So who's it going to be?" Megan asked. "Me or Forest?"
"I'll battle you and that Sandshrew of yours." Ash said confidently.
"Very well then, let us get off the battlefield." Brock said.
"Trainers at your ready!" Jim Guy said, a raised flag in each hand. "Battle begin!" He exclaimed waving both at once.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Sandshrew use Dig!"
Pikachu raced across the battlefield, but was too slow as Sandshrew dove below ground, avoiding the attack.
"Pikachu be ready." Ash said.
"It's different, fighting something you can't see, isn't it?" Megan pointed out. "Sandshrew can be anywhere at this point."
Ash searched the battlefield, looking for any sign of the burrowing Pokemon, but there was nothing he could see.
"Pikachu, make it harder to hit yourself, use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu began sprinting around the arena, as Megan watched with a smile on her face.
"Ash she wants Pikachu to get exhausted!" Cassie exclaimed.
"Pikaccu stop!" Ash said.
Pikachu stopped in his tracks, as Sandshrew leapt up right in front of him, had Pikachu kept running he'd have been hit.
"Pikachu use Tail Whip!"
"Sandshrew use Fury Swipes!"
Pikachu danced backwards, brushing each claw with his tail.
"Now use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu leapt backwards over Sandshrew before slamming into it, sending the ground type flying into the distance.
"Sandshrew use Fury Swipes!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu charged forward at Sandshrew, as the ground type began furiously swinging its outstretched claws as the electric type.
"I've seen enough." Brock said, stopping the battle. "Personally if that's all you can do to a Sandshrew, I am worried how you will go against me."
"It's your responsibility to accept my battle!" Ash argued.
"And as a trainer and a gym leader I have to worry about both my Pokémon and yours." Brock said.
"You think I don't worry about Pikachu!" Ash said. "You have no idea how worried I am when he gets hurt."
"Then stand down, get more Pokémon, don't be so bull headed!" Brock argued.
"No." Ash said. "I waited an entire year to begin my journey, and I'm not waiting for the right opportunity to fight for a gym badge." Ash said, opening his bag, and pulling out a Potion. "Brock, of the Pewter City gym, I challenge you to a battle."
"Very well." Brock relented. "You will have your match, Jim be ready to call it."
"Of course Brock." Jim said. "Trainers at your ready."
"Ready." Brock said.
"Ready." Ash replied, a determined look on his face.
"Then battle begin." Jim said.
"Geodude come out!"
"Pikachu use Tail Whip!"
"Geodude use Tackle!"
Geodude threw himself at Pikachu as the electric type barely dodged the attack.
"Pikachu use Tail Whip!"
"Geodude use Tackle!"
Pikachu leapt to the side, barely evading Geodude, as the rock type crashed into the ground.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Geodude use Tackle!"
For the first time, the two Pokémon collided, but rather than Pikachu recoiling from hitting stone, it seemed to launch Geodude away like a bouncy ball.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Geodude use Defense Curl!"
Geodude braced itself as Pikachu launched into it, sending the rock type rolling backwards.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack again!"
"Geodude use Defense Curl!"
Pikachu charged forward shooting Geodude into a wall, the rock type still curled up in a ball in the indent.
"Geodude is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu." Jim said, surprised.
"You may just prove me wrong." Brock said. "But this one won't be so easy. Onix! Let's go!"
The large rock type appeared on the field kicking up a fair bit of dirt and dust as it landed.
"Pikachu use Tail Whip!"
"Ónix use Screech!"
Pikachu covered It's ears as Brock's Onix let out a ferocious roar, shaking the lights of the stadium.
"Come on Pikachu!" Ash shouted to no avail.
"Onix use Tackle!"
"Pikachu dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Pikachu raced forward narrowly dodging Onix's tail as it slammed onto the ground behind Pikachu.
"Pikachu use Tail Whip!"
"Onix use Bind!"
Onix began spiraling itself, closing in on Pikachu quickly, snagging the electric type with the end of its tail. Pikachu's struggling body was lifted high into the air.
"Why doesn't he just switch to someone else?" Megan asked.
"Because he can't." Brock said. "You don't have another Pokémon, do you?"
"Pikachu can do this, I believe in him." Ash said confidently, looking up at his partner.
"Pikachu use Thundershock on the sprinklers!" Ash shouted.
The sprinkler system started, raining water down onto the battlefield.
"Was that really your best plan, what kind of silly idea do you think it is that you could beat an Onix by giving it a bath?" Megan scoffed.
"Wasn't trying to get him wet." Ash said. "Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"He can't go anywhere, Onix has him held tight." Forrest said, only to find nothing wrapped in Onix's tail. "Where'd he go?"
On the ground racing towards Onix was a wet yellow blur.
"Onix use Bide!"
Onix took the blow head on, storing the energy for later.
"Pikachu use Tail Whip!"
Pikachu ran along the length of Onix, lightly brushing his tail against the rock snake the entire way.
"Use Tail Whip again!"
Pikachu ran back toward the head, brushing his tail against the rocks.
"Now Onix!" Brock commanded, the rock snake throwing its head to the side launching Pikachu into a wall.
"Pikachu!" Ash and Cassie shouted.
Pikachu struggled as he stood back up, ready to fight back now.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Onix use Tackle!"
Pikachu sped towards Onix, colliding with the rock types head, the large snake shuddering as it fell to the ground. As the dust settled, Pikachu was breathing heavily, standing victorious over an unconcious Onix.
"Onix is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu and Ash!" Jim exclaimed, raising a flag to Ash's side.
"We did it Pikachu!" Ash said running onto the field and happily picking up his Pokémon.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu said excitedly.
"Great work there Ash, you and Pikachu clearly are something else." Brock said. "It's my duty and honor to present you with this, The Boulder Badge, a sign that you beat me in battle."
"We just got our first badge!" Ash said grinning like an idiot.
"If I may make a recommendation, the next closest gym is in Cerulean City." Brock said. "You and Pikachu would do well there."
"Thanks Brock." Ash said, shaking the gym leaders hand.
"Hey Ash." Megan said.
"What's up?" Ash asked.
"Next time, I plan on winning." Megan said.
"But aren't you a gym trainer?" Ash asked.
"Gym trainers come and go, they aren't required to stay here." Brock said. "Forest is family, but Megan just wanted to train."
"Well then, I look forward to it!" Ash said holding out his hand.
"Yeah." Megan said with a smile, shaking Ash's hand in return.
Character of the day: Brock
Having stayed in Pewter another year, Brock found peace and happiness as the gym leader. He watches a trainer battle beforehand to make sure they care for their Pokémon enough before battling them himself.
Authors note
Anyone questioning the legitimacy of that fight, i did it with that exact tactic in Yellow Version once before, so it is possible to do it with no extra grinding.