In Lavender Town, finally
"So where to go first?" Cassie asked.
"The Pokemon Center, to drop off the gear." Ash said.
In the Pokémon Center
"I'd like to turn in this gear." Ash said to the active Nurse Joy.
"Of course, let's see, oh my we thought we'd lost bag 17." The Nurse Joy admitted.
"Sorry, I kinda got lost a few times on the way here." Ash admitted.
"Oh no worries, I'll have it back in circulation soon enough." Nurse Joy said, taking the remaining items.
"And here I thought I was slow." A voice said.
Ash turned to see the guy from Rock Tunnel still wearing the lower half of his Charmander costume.
"You aren't slow, just bad with directions." Ash joked.
"Coming from you? How lost did you get?" The guy asked.
"Potbelly Valley, and also the Town of Harmony." Ash said. "I'm Ash by the way."
"My name's Cody, so have you gotten any badges at least?" Cody asked.
"Take a look." Ash said, opening his jacket to show the six badges.
"Nice! I only have four." Cody said, pulling the straps holding the Charmander pants up, to show two badges on each.
"So why do you wear the Charmander costume?" Ash asked.
"Why don't you?" Cody asked. "I chose to wear it because it makes me memorable."
"I guess that makes sense." Ash said.
"Hey since we're here, how about a battle?" Cody offered.
"Not in here boys. There's an arena out back you can use." The Nurse Joy said angrily.
Out behind the Pokémon Center
"Alright Cody, since you have less badges, how about a two on two." Ash said.
"Sounds good to me." Cody said, now wearing the upper half of his costume as well. "Charmander come on out!"
"Jigglypuff, I choose you!" Ash exclaimed.
"Charmander use Flamethrower!"
"Jigglypuff dodge it!"
Jigglypuff rolled out of the way of the flames, before running at Charmander.
"Alright Charmander use Slash!"
"Jigglypuff use Disable!"
Charmander swung his claws out only for his arm entire body to freeze as Jigglypuff gave a glare at him.
"Alright, Jigglypuff use Body Slam!"
"Charmander use Flamethrower!"
Jigglypuff slammed into Charmander from the side, sending the fire type flying.
"Charmander use another Flamethrower!"
"Jigglypuff dodge it and use Pound!"
Jigglypuff charged forward, only to be engulfed in the flames, pushing her back slightly.
"Charmander use Skull Bash!"
"Jigglypuff use Body Slam!"
Rocketing through the remaining flames, Charmander knocked into Jigglypuff, taking her out. The flames covering Charmander's body seemed to intensify growing in size before absorbing into the fire type, now having evolved into a Charmeleon.
"Not good, think you can handle that Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu said energetically.
"Alright then Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Charmeleon use Slash!"
Pikachu was a blur as he raced across the arena blasting into Charmeleon, sending the fire type back a few feet.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Charmeleon use Flamethrower!"
Pikachu let loose a bolt of electricity that sliced through Charmeleon's flames.
"Now Pikachu use Thunder!"
As Charmeleon recovered from the previous attack, lightning rained down on it, causing a cloud of smoke and dust to shoot out from where it stood. When it finally settled Charmeleon was knocked out cold.
"Charmeleon return." Cody said. "Impressive, but it'll take more than that to beat me."
"I would hope so for my new rival." Ash said with a laugh.
"Come on out Geodude!"
"We can do this Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Geodude use Rock Throw!"
Geodude launched rocks at Pikachu as he sped across the field.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack again!"
"Geodude use Tackle!"
Pikachu and Geodude slammed into each other, bouncing each other back.
"Pikachu keep using Quick Attack!"
"Geodude use Self Destruct!"
"Wait what?" Cassie said in shock.
When the field had finally cleared of smoke Pikachu was standing a bit wobbly, but otherwise fine, meanwhile Geodude was knocked out.
"Cody, I don't get it, why'd you use that move?" Ash asked.
"I don't know, I guess I got distracted when you said I was your rival." Cody said.
"Well you have four badges, meaning you're on the same path as me, so yeah, we're rivals now." Ash admitted.
"Alright, now I've got work to do, can't let my rival beat me this easily." Cody said with determination.
"You're to nice." Cassie said with a grin.
"He seems fun, and a good trainer, even if he needs some work on rough edges." Ash said.
"Because you don't." Cassie joked.
"I didn't say I didn't need work." Ash countered. "Now come on, I still want to see the Pokemon Tower while we're here."
"Why do much interest in that still?" Cassie asked. "I thought we had to get Seel back home?"
"The Tower is getting remodeled, meaning that it might not be here soon, and it's still home to strong Ghost Pokemon to train against." Ash said. "Now come on let's go."
Character of the day: Cody
A third rival, maybe fourth. The guy with a Drowzee might return. Anyways Cody is a few references, the first one is obviously the Pokemaniac in Rock Tunnel who's first Pokémon is Charmander. The second is from I Choose You the movie, where Ash's Charmander evolved outside of a Pokémon Center, in a battle against a Jigglypuff. And as for the Geodude, Pokemon AI tends to do that, so I thought it would be funny to point out that maybe they don't even know why they choose to use such a dangerous move that will cause them to loose.