After a restless night's sleep. Ash is ready to take on Sud. With Seel and Growlithe the only usable Pokemon in his party, Ash may be worried... but when has he ever been one to shy away from a challenge?

Ash was standing outside the Viridian City gym feeling nervous. He'd gotten lucky with Neesha for the Element badge. What if it wasn't enough to beat this Sud? Growlithe and Seelor were getting stronger every day, but would they be enough? He was starting to regret his decision to release that Pidgeotto...

"You worried Ash?" Gary asked, standing behind him.

"I'm never worried." Ash lied, putting on a cocky smile and walking into the gym that no longer looked like a stronghold.

"Greetings young Pokemon trainers." A booming voice declared from the other side of the gym.

" Uh... hi. My name is Ash Ketchum and I'm here to challenge the gym leader for an earth badge."

"Is that so?" The same voice wondered, leaping out of his hidey hole.

"You were hiding... in the ground?" Gary asked, not sure he'd just seen that right.

"What else do you expect from a ground type gym leader?" He inquired, stepping towards the pair of trainers. "So you're my next challenger." He said, approaching Ash.

Ash nodded.

An explosion shook the gym...

"Who is that?" Gary yelled, smoke blocking their vision.

"If you have to ask by now, you'll surely never know." A man's voice asked.

"Indeed, perhaps they should have been better prepared for trouble." A woman's voice offered.

"And made it double."

"Oh great." Ash complained.

"Don't interrupt us!" Jesse yelled at the young trainer.

"Let's get this over with." Ash said, throwing Tauros out of his Pokeball.

Tauros roared, ready for battle.

"So inconsiderate." Jesse noticed.

"Perhaps we should teach them a lesson." James smirked, throwing a pokeball towards the group. "Gooooo Hitmonchan!"

"What? Where did James get a Hitmonchan?" Ash wondered aloud. "Tauros use tackle!"

"Use fire punch!" James demanded.

"My turn." Jesse decided, hurling a pokeball into the battle field.

"Hitmonlee!" The kicking Pokemon called, ready to battle alongside its punching double.

"Umbreon let's go!" Gary chucked his Pokeball, confident that Psychic could overcome fighting with ease. But he was worried about Ash. Tauros was weak against fighting types.

"Revenge Hitmonchan!"

"Charge!" Tauros's favorite thing to do.

Hitmonchan and Tauros fell on impact, neither getting up.

"Tauros return." Ash called. "Seel let's go!"

"Hitmonchan return!" James yelled.

"Hitmonlee use double kick."

"Pyschic." Gary called to Umbreon, who threw Hitmonlee back at Team Rocket.

"Meowth we're running out of tricks here." Jesse pointed out.

"Don't worry ya guys. We got what we came here for."Meowth stated, showing a small collection of Pokeballs in a net.

"Those are my gym's Pokemon!" Sud yelled, reaching behind his Pback for the one Pokeball he kept on him at all times...

"Use Ice Shard!"

"SEEEEEEEL." Chunks of ice flew at Team Rocket, cutting a hole small enough for only a single Pokeball to escape Team Rocket's grasp.

"No!" Sud screamed, chucking his Pokeball to reveal a Cubone.

"Cu-bo-bone."

"Bonemerang! Pop that ballon!"

Team Rocket took off, but Cubone seemed more interested in the size of its bone.

"Seel use Ice Beam..." But Team Rocket was already gone.

"We've got to follow them." Ash told them.

"You're right." Sud stated, returning Cubone to his Pokeball. "I have a helicopter in the back, if we hurry..." The other two trainers returned their Pokemon and were moving.

Sud got into the pilots seat and took off with no hesitation, having faith that he could catch a balloon.

"Gliscor, go get Team Rocket!" Ash yelled, throwing his Pokeball to release the ground and flying Pokemon.

The helicopter followed Gliscor, who managed to narrow his search towards the balloon just over the horizon past Pallet Town.

"We need to bring that balloon down." Sud muttered, trying to think of a strategy.

"Pidgeot!" Ash heard echo from the woods just beyond... Could that be...?

A wild Pidgeot appeared and struck the ballon with steel wing, sending it down not far from Professor Oak's lab.

"It's a Pidgeot!" Ash exclaimed, wondering if it could be the same Pokemon he had released all those years ago.

Sud landed the helicopter with precision while Gliscor circled the crash site.

"We're not intimidated by the likes of you!" Jesse yelled, throwing a Pokeball at the Pidgeot.

"Chu!" Pikachu deflected the throw with a lightning bolt.

"Pidgeot!" Pidgeot screamed, a flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto appeared with everyone using gust at the same time.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

Sud grabbed the net of Pokeballs and counted them quickly.

"They're all here." Sud sighed. "Thank you Pidgeot." He patted the wild Pokemon on the beak.

"Are those all yours?" Gary asked, pointing to the Pokeballs.

"They belong to various members of my gym. I recruit Ground-type trainers to battle alongside me and get strong as I do. We keep all of our Pokemon in a special section of the gym that I thought was secret..."

"Well that gym used to be Team Rocket's." Ash pointed out, walking closer to get a better look at Pidgeot. He could feel it in his gut.

"Which explains how they found the stash." Sud agreed, looking curiously between Pidgeot and Ash.

"Is that you buddy?" Ash asked the Pokemon.

"Pigeot!" Pidgeot exclaimed, raising its wings like a show off.

Ash ran and hugged Pidgeot.

"Ash you know this Pokemon?" Gary asked.

"You don't remember Pidgeotto?"

Gary thought about it... he could vaguely recall Ash catching a Pidgeotto at some point or another. But he couldn't remember him using it during the Johto League.

Ash pet him on the beak. "I'm sorry we haven't been able to meet up much since you evolved." Ash stroked the back of its head like he knew it liked. "You've always been on a migration cycle whenever we swing by Pallet. How's the flock?"

"Pidgeot!"

"That's great. I missed you buddy." Ash hugged his old friend again, tears falling off his face. Pidgeot used its wings to wipe them away.

"Pidgeot, Pidgeot, Pidgeot!" Pidgeot explained.

"I think Pidgeot missed you too." Gary translated.

"Pika Pi."

"Pidgeot." Pidgeot greeted his old friend.

The group ate lunch, including Pidgeot and its flock of Pidgey/Pidgeotto.

"I'm glad we had enough PokeFood in the chopper for so many mouths." Sud smiled, glad to have the Pokemon back.

"So Ash, if you were to say, recapture, Pidgeot... would that count against using him for future battles?"

Ash thought about it. "I'm not sure."

"Ah, so you're a returning trainer."

"Yep. I battled Team Rocket last time I was in Viridian City. Then I guess they lost their gym."

"Yeah. The Indigo League didn't have an Earth badge for a over a year. Then my good friend Bruno..."

"You mean like Bruno of the Elite Four?" Gary interrupted.

"That very one." Sud confirmed. "He recommended that I take over as I specialize in ground type Pokemon. So Ash..." HE said, turning to the young trainer. "You're looking to obtain your second Earth badge right?"

"Yes. The problem was that I only have two eligible Pokemon. I wasn't sure if you required three or not."

"Some gyms do, but I'm not picky. The rules of the Pokemon League tell me to accept all challengers. Even if it means less Pokemon involved in the battle. But on the subject of your Pidgeot..."

"I don't want to speak for Pidgeot." Ash said quickly. "I mean, I'd love to have it back on my team. But I let him stay here so he could protect these Pidgey and Pidgeotto from Fearow... I can't just take it away now."

"Well, I think it should be left for Pidgeot to decide." Sud turned to the wild flying Pokemon.

"Pidgeot!"

"I don't want to take you away from your friends Pidgeot." Ash admitted.

"Pidgeot." It shook its head. "Pidgeot!" It called out, revealing a second Pidgeot that had since been hiding in the trees.

"I'm getting the feeling that this Pidgeot just recently evolved. Meaning it's more than strong enough to protect the flock." Gary stated, inspecting the Pokemon.

"Pidgeot." Pidgeot nudged Ash's shoulder, revealing inside the jacket his empty Pokeballs.

"And I'd say that Pidgeot would be okay to use since he was a new catch in this region. I don't recall any rule specific to recapturing a released Pokemon, although I'm sure this a unique contingency." Sud decided. "I'd be happy to battle it."

"Okay." Ash agreed, digging in his backpack for the Pokeball he'd saved. "Go Pokeball!" Ash threw it and watched it tap Pidgeot, who came in without protest and belonged to Ash once again. "We got Pidgeot back!"

While on the way to Viridian City, Ash returned Gliscor and Tauros's Pokeballs to Professor Oak.

He didn't mention Pidgeot, slightly afraid that the Professor would call foul on using Pidgeot in gym battles. Plus, he was too hyped to try!

While Gary and Sud rode in the chopper, Ash and Pikachu rode on Pidgeot's back. It took little time as the wind seemed to catch Pidgeot's wings and send him and his companion going even faster.

They reached the Viridian City gym as the sun yielded to the moon, leaving just enough light on the street for a safe landing.

Inside the Pokemon Gym the battle was about to begin.

"The Pokemon Battle between the Gym Leader Sud, and the challenger Ash from Pallet Town is about to be underway. This will be a three on three battle with no time limit, and unlimited substitutions by the challenger only. Let the battle begin!" The referee declared, throwing his hands up to signal the start.

"I want that Earth badge... so I'll have to start strong!" Ash decided, throwing a Pokeball. "Go Seel!"

"Seel. Seel. Seel."

"I expected you to start with Pidgeot. But no matter... Cubone let's go!"

"Cu-bo-bo-bone."

"The challenger has the first move." Sud told Ash.

"Use your water gun!"

"Cubone dodge!"

Cubone heard the command too late and was instantly knocked out by the powerful water attack.

"Cubone is unable to battle, the victory goes to Seel."

"Seel?" Seel asked, trying to figure out what just happened.

"Good job Seel." Ash stated, wondering why Cubone hadn't listened to its trainer. Cubone was a gym leader's Pokemon... not some trainer. The fact that it didn't listen at all was... strange. And even stranger that Sud chose to use it.

"Well done Cubone, but we still have work to be done." Sud recallled Cubone. "I hope you don't expect all victories that easy."

"I certainly hope not."

"Let's go Phanpy!" Phanpy emerged from its Pokeball.

"I'm sticking with Seel!"

"Phanpy use roll out!"

"Seel ice shard!"

The shards did nothing to hasten Phanpy's approach, causing an inevitable collision with Ash's Seel.

Phanpy rolled back around and stood in front of its trainer... maybe this wouldn't be so easy after all.

"Seel use water gun!"

"Seel!" Seel sprayed water towards Phanpy but couldn't land a hit caused by Phanpy's incredible speed.

"We need to slow Phanpy down, Seel." Ash thought about it, remembering when, in the Pokemon League on the Ice Field, a trainer used Arcanine to melt the entire field into one huge lake. "Seel use ice beam on the floor! Cover the ground!"

As Phanpy rolled, it soon began to slip as rock turned to ice... Phanpy rolled outside of the arena, crashing into the wall painfully.

"Phanpy..." Phanpy whined.

"Phanpy... Use charm!"

"Charm?"

All of a sudden, Seel found Phanpy attractive.

"Snap out of it Seel! Use Ice Beam and freeze Phanpy!."

"Seel... Seel." Seel shook its head, sliding towards the small Pokemon.

"Seel don't leave the ice!"

"Roll out!"

Seel went skidding backwards on the ice, crashing into the wall as Phanpy had... but not fairing as well.

"Seel is unable to battle. Phanpy wins!"

"You did your best, return for a good rest." Ash stated, trying to map out his next plan... that's when Phanpy started to glow...

"Phanpy!" Sud yelled.

That's when it evolved into Donphan.

"Well that works out in my favor." Sud called to the other trainer.

"Maybe... but maybe not! Pidgeot let's go!"

"Pidgeot!" Pidgeot landed on the ice, crunching it with his claws.

"Donphan use Earthquake and break up the ice field."

"Pidgeot get in the air! Use steel wing!"

Pidgeot whipped past Donphan, colliding in one powerful move with a shaking Pokemon.

"Pidgeot!" Pidgeot celebrated, landing in the middle of the field, showing off its giant wings.

"Pidgeot it's not over!"

"Rollout!"

Donphan was too heavy to be hastened by the ice cracks, and collided with Pidgeot with speeds double that of Phanpy.

"Pidgeot..." Pidgeot groaned, flapping its wings to get back up.

"Use gust!"

Pidgeot managed to flap its wings to get Donphan off its feet, sending it backwards onto the crumbling ice.

"Don..phan." Donphan complained.

"Hyper beam!"

"Use protect!" Ash called.

Pidgeot managed to put up its shield in time to stop the Hyper beam cold, but both Pokemon were clearly exhausted from such battle.

"Use fly!" Ash yelled, pointing at Donphan.

Pidgeot flew up high.

"Donphan dodge, hurry!" But Donphan needed to rest, Hyper Beam had drained it greatly...

Pidgeot struck with force, sending Donphan back to its trainer and its Pokeball soon after.

"You did well, Donphan. Take a break. So... One to two is it? Who will it be?" Sud asked, nodding to Pidgeot.

"Pidgeot return." Ash called, returning Pidgeot to its Pokeball. "Growlithe, show time!"

"Growlithe." Growlithe barked.

"I thought you might save Pidgeot for later use. Especially after such a tough battle with Donphan. But this is just getting started... come on out Rhydon!

"Rhydon!" Rhydon roared.

"All right Growlithe. This is gonna be tough. But you're the only fresh pair of legs I've got."

Growlithe protested with a bark.

"Okay my bad, the only fresh pair of paws." Ash corrected.

"Growlithe." Growlithe began to growl at the large Pokemon in front of him.

"All right Rhydon use dig!"

"Flamethrower on the ground!"

Not knowing his trainers reasoning, but trusting Ash nonetheless, Growlithe burned the ground as Charizard once had against Gary's Blastoise.

"Yep, Ash still knows how to impress me." Gary noted from the sideline, shaking his head, remembering the time.

"Come on up Rhydon!" Rhydon dug out, tackling Growlithe straight out of the ground. But the terrain was not as it remembered. It was hot... boiling water was everywhere from what used to be ice. It usually was strong against fire... but this was something different.

"Use Flamethrower!" Ash called, watching Growlithe ignite its opponent.

"Rhydon dig!"

But Rhydon could not... the burn was too bad.

"Take down!"

Growlithe, indeed, took Rhydon down.

"Rhydon is unable to battle. The victory goes to Growlithe, with the match and the Earth badge going to the challenger, Ash of Pallet Town!"

Sud walked over, returning Rhydon and comforting it while it was in its ball.

"Well Ash, you seem to have earned this." Sud handed Ash the Earth badge. "It was a tough call picking between weaknesses, fire and flying."

"Yeah. But I figured Growlithe would have a better chance since Pidgeot was so tired. It earned a rest." Ash took the badge thankfully, putting his fist in the air.

"You did well Ash. Many challenges await you still." Sud warned. "I am by no means the best leader the Pokemon League has to offer. And if you choose to follow the steps of your past experiences, you will find that the leaders you faced will have changed as well. Sharpening their own gifts, and becoming stronger as you have. It is the duty of gym leaders to determine which trainers are ready for the Pokemon League. Not everyone will be an easy victory. Especially, if they know your tactics as I did not."

"Thanks Sud. I'm gonna head to Pewter City to see an old friend. I hope you watch when I make it to the Pokemon League."

"I will be watching with great interest." Sud assured him.

Ash and Gary set out the next morning through Viridian Forest and to Ash's next gym battle!

With an unexpected returned friend in Pidgeot, Ash is as set as ever on becoming the world's greatest Pokemon master. With the power of experience and evolution, how can his old friend ever hope to lose?