"Alright guys, and lady." Ash said to his team. "Eat up, we've got a big battle ahead of us today."
"You've never been this stressed before about a battle." Cassie commented.
"I'd never seen them fight before our match either. I saw his Raichu in battle yesterday, it's scary and powerful." Ash said. "We're going to need to fight hard just to get to it."
"Pi!" Pikachu said.
"I know buddy you want to take him on, don't worry, you will get to." Ash assured.
"Well let's hope you can, Raichu is the evolved form of Pikachu, right?" Cassie asked.
"Yeah, but we're no pushovers either." Ash said confidently.
"Well at least you and Pikachu aren't, you still haven't got much training for Jigglypuff or Oddish yet, have you?" Cassie said.
"No, but I think I'm running out of options around here." Ash said thinking about the past few days.
Later at the gym
"Ash, it's good to see you again." Lt. Surge said.
"Thanks again for the save yesterday." Ash replied.
"I should be thanking you, your efforts helped take in one of Team Rocket's admins." Lt. Surge said. "Now for today's battle, you will be allowed to use up to three Pokémon."
"Okay, Pikachu take the backseat for now, let's let the other give it a shot." Ash said.
"I believe you are already familiar with the Pokémon I'm using." Lt. Surge said, sending out his Raichu.
"Okay then. Come on out Oddish!" Ash said, sending out the grass type. "Use Sleep Powder!"
"Raichu use Double Team!"
Raichu began to move at incredible speeds and suddenly there were four of it surrounding Oddish, with the grass type not able to determine the real from the fakes.
"Oddish use Absorb!"
"Raichu use Mega Kick!"
The four Raichu leapt at Oddish, one foot extended further than the other, launching the grass type off to the side.
"Oddish attack the one closer to me with Absorb!"
"Raichu use Hyper Beam!"
Four beams shot out as Oddish ran beneath them thanks to his smaller size, rushing up and draining Raichu of some of Its energy.
"How'd you?" Lt. Surge stuttered before seeing some spores left on the real Raichu. "Clever, but that won't be enough. Raichu use Thunder!"
"Oddish use Sleep Powder!"
Oddish released a cloud of spores into the arena as he was blasted by electricity.
"Oddish is unable to battle, the winner is Raichu." The gym worker said.
"Great work Oddish." Ash said, recalling his Pokemon.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked, ready to get into the fight.
"Not yet, let's use Jigglypuff while we can, you can outspeed that Raichu, she probably can't." Ash said.
"Pi." Pikachu said understanding Ash's plan.
"Jigglypuff come on out and use Pound!"
"Raichu wake up."
Jigglypuff waddled forward, slapping Raichu a few times while it stayed fast asleep.
"Jigglypuff use Pound again!"
As Jigglypuff lowered its hand down at Raichu, it was caught by the now awake Pokemon's paw.
"Raichu use Mega Kick!"
Time seemed to freeze as Raichu gave a full force kick into Jigglypuff, stretching the balloon Pokemon before launching it to the other side of the field.
"Jigglypuff is unable to battle, the winner is Raichu." The judge declared, seeing Jigglypuff's twitching body.
"Jigglypuff return. You're up Pikachu." Ash said. "Use Quick Attack!"
"Raichu use Double Team!"
Two walls of Raichu appeared on either side of Pikachu as he ran around the arena, completely unsure of which one was the real Raichu.
"Raichu use Mega Kick!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack full blast towards my voice!" Ash called out.
Pikachu sped forward as the Raichu began to lunge at him, barely making it out of the horde before they all came crashing down.
"Raichu use Thunder!"
"Pikachu dodge it!"
Pikachu began sprinting once again as the electrical blast turned up stone as dirt alike behind him.
"You can't keep running forever." Lt. Surge commented.
"I think you're doubting my ability to do so." Ash said. He knew Pikachu couldn't match that power, it was unlikely even Kazor's Pikachu could, this Raichu was too strong. "Pikachu! Instead of running from him , run right at Raichu with a Quick Attack!"
"Pika?" Pikachu questioned.
"Just trust me, I have an idea." Ash assured.
"Pi." Pikachu nodded before getting a running start.
"Raichu use Hyper Beam!"
"Now jump!"
Pikachu leapt over the white beam of energy, allowing it to pass by him without a scratch. Once he regained his footing, Pikachu took the opportunity to launch right into Raichu, sending the evolved Pokémon back a few feet.
"Use another Quick Attack, same strategy!" Ash called out.
"With Raichu still recovering from its last attack, Pikachu was able to push it another few feet, causing the larger electric type to double over for a moment.
"Raichu use Thunder!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
While Raichu's electric attack came from above, Pikachu gathered electricity in the air before launching a singular bolt right at Raichu's gut, knocking the Pokemon out.
"Raichu is unable to battle, the winners are Ash and Pikachu." The judge decided.
"We did it Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed.
"Good work today Ash, I'm impressed to see you found a way around Raichu." Lt. Surge said.
"I just figured after a while he couldn't keep up with Pikachu." Ash said.
"Understand this is up to you, but if you're looking to train that Oddish of yours, there's a cave to the east of Cerulean. It's off the beaten path, but plenty of rock and ground types call that area home." Lt. Surge said.
"Thanks for the advice, I think we'll check it out." Ash said.
"Sir, you have an emergency call." A gym employee said.
"Sorry, duty calls." Lt. Surge sighed.
In a back room of the gym
"What do you mean he's escaped?!" Lt. Surge exclaimed. "That should've been impossible!"
In a secret location
"You didn't have to rescue me." Revan said.
"The boss wants you out of prison, not in it." A woman said. "Did you find the information?"
"What, do you take me for an idiot." Revan said.
"You don't want me to answer that." The woman replied.
"Zapdos was at the Power Plant, but they don't roost there." Revan said.
"Find out where it goes and get it, I'm still deciphering Giovanni's plans in the meantime." The woman said.
"All hail Giovanni." Revan replied.
"All hail Giovanni." The woman said in agreeance.