Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Anthony walked through Dark City together.

There was a chill in the air, despite the many improvements since the last time the younger trainers were in the city, including a Pokemon Center.

Three boys, probably brothers, came out and inspected the trainers, including the older Anthony.

"Who are you?" One of them demanded.

The one on the right was wearing red and put a hand on his brother's shoulder, "Don't you recognize them?"

The third boy's eyes went wide, "It's Tom Ato and Ann Chovie!"

Ash and Misty practically fell over from embarassment.

Anthony raised his eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"Um..." Ash began.

"Don't worry, Tom Ato. This city's really changed for the better since you were last here." The boy in green with blue hair explained.

"Well, my name isn't really Tom Ato..." Ash tried to explain.

"What he's trying to say is... um, we lied last time we were here. We used fake names so that we wouldn't ruin our reputations as trainers dealing with a gang war." Misty explained.

The center boy raised his eyebrow, "So who are you?"

"Ash Ketchum."

"Misty."

"I don't think we remember your names." Ash admitted.

"Johnny, Kenny, and Manny." The one in red explained, pointing to himself, then to the boy in yellow, then in green. "Are you here to challenge the Zas Gym?"

Ash nodded, "I wanted to stop by that new Pokemon Center first to make sure my Pokemon are ready."

Johnny waved for them to follow, "It's over this way."

They followed the young three boys to the Pokemon Center, which was currently occupying the space that used to be the Kaz Gym.

While their Pokemon went through thorough examinations by Dark City's own Nurse Joy, the traveling trio took a trip to the young boys father's restaurant.

"It's good to see you." He said, shaking Ash's hand. "Whatever you want is on the house." He promised, having never forgotten the service Ash and Misty had done for them and their home.

"Great, I'm starving!"

"You're always hungry." Misty teased, shoving him playfully.

Ash sat down at the table and had a quick bite while he filled the kids in on his various travels throughout the other regions.

"We watched you that year on the TV." Kenny told him, "We watched your Charizard give up."

Ash scratched his head, embarrassed. "Let's just say that Charizard and I have been working out our differences."

"I'd love to see it battle." Manny confessed, "Did you bring it with you Ash?"

"I only call Charizard when I really need his help." Ash told them, "He's really strong, so I like to let my other new Pokemon have a chance to battle and get stronger like him."

"What kind of Pokemon do you have now?" Manny asked, "I remember you used to have a Bulbasaur."

"I still have him, he's back at Professor Oak's." Ash explained, "Right now I have Growlithe, Electabuzz, Pikachu, Riolu, Pidgeot, and Dewgong."

"Which ones are you going to use against the new Zas gym?"

Ash thought about it. "It depends, what type do they use?"

"It's a double team battle." Manny explained, "The old Yas and Kaz leaders both battle with their Pokemon at the same time. The trainer has to pick two Pokemon to battle at a time."

"That's unique." Misty pointed out.

"I've run into similar battles before." Ash admitted, "But not in the Kanto region."

"The Zas gym is the only gym in the entire Indigo League that battles that way. That's how the Yas and Kaz leaders compromised to being duel Gym Leaders." Kenny explained.

Nurse Joy walked in with Growlithe, Pikachu, and a tray of Pokeballs.

"Ash, your Pokemon are in perfect health."

"Thanks Joy." Ash said, placing his Pokeballs on his belt and putting his napkin on the plate and stuffing the dinner roll into his jacket pocket for later. "Thanks for the meal, but I have a badge to win."

"Be careful Ash, those trainers are even stronger than they were when you last met them." Joy warned, "I personally kept an eye on their gym ever since I came through here the first time. An easy win isn't something I'd expect."

Ash nodded, "I'll make one stop at the PC then. If this battle's going to get hot, I should bring my heavy artillery."

Misty held onto Riolu while Ash withdrew his Pokemon.

Ash stepped into the gym, a desert-like battlefield with boulders littering the arena. Along with a few seats surrounding the stadium.

"Good luck Ash." Misty said, hugging him.

"Thanks..." Ash said, feeling suddenly very much like Brock.

He shook his head and announced to whoever was listening.

"My name is Ash Ketchum, and I'm here to challenge you for a Dark Badge!"

"Since this gym was officially approved by the Pokemon League, only six trainers have received a Dark Badge. Challenge the gym leaders at your own risk, trainer." A voice called out from a P.A. system.

"Show yourself!" Ash demanded.

Yas and Kaz rose out of the ground, staring coldly down upon the trainer.

"This will be a four on four Pokemon battle." Kaz explained.

"Tag-team style with no time limit and no substitutions." Yas continued.

"The last trainer with a Pokemon standing is the winner." Kaz finished.

"Choose your Pokemon and fight! Go Primeape!"

"Machamp let's go!"

"Pidgeot, Growlithe come on out!" Ash shouted, hurling his Pokeballs onto the field.

"Let the battle begin!" The referee declared.

"Primeape, use Cross Chop on Growlithe!" Yas commanded.

Kaz followed quickly before Primeape even made his move, "Machamp use Dynamic Punch on Growlithe!"

"Pidgeot Steel Wing, Growlithe dodge!" Ash shouted.

By then both attacks had connected with Growlithe and sent him rolling out of the way, struggling to get up.

Pidgeot's Steel Wing missed Machamp, and the great bird flew around for another pass but this time toward Primeape.

"Primeape jump onto Pidgeot's back!"

"Machamp use Submission!"

"Fire blast!" Ash countered, turning to Pidgeot who had been mounted by Primeape. "Fly upside down!"

Primeape seemed to hear the other trainer's commands and grabbed on, unshaken by the clever maneuver.

"Run him into a wall!" Ash suggested.

Primeape grumbled in pain, but did not let go.

"Low kick!" Primeape kicked hard, bringing Pidgeot down.

"Fire blast!"

Primeape was charcoal and rolled away.

"Primeape and Pidgeot are unable to battle!" The referee announced.

"Scizor, come out and finish that Growlithe!"

"Pidgeot return. You did great buddy, you deserve a rest. Dewgong, I choose you!"

"Dewgong?" Manny asked, "Why isn't he using Charizard?"

"Dewgong has a type-advantage over Scizor. As long as Growlithe can take Machamp's attention away, Dewgong will be fine."

"But if not fighting-types have the advantage over Ice-types." Kenny countered.

"If there's any trainer that can overcome a type disadvantage, it's Ash."

"I still think Charizard would be a better option. Because he can do flying type moves and fire moves." Manny admitted.

"Charizard is Ash's ace. He's not going to use him unless he has no other choice. And it's bad strategy to have two fire Pokemon on the field at the same time. It limits them if Kaz brings out a water-type."

"Machamp use Thunder Punch on Dewgong!"

"Flamethrower and Ice Beam!"

The two Pokemon attacked Machamp and Scizor respectively, but both were expertly dodged.

Yas turned to Kaz, "We need to take out that Growlithe."

They turned back to the fight.

Kaz shouted first,"Use Dynamic Punch!"

"Power up with Sword Dance and use Iron Head!"

"Dewgong use Water Gun!" Ash called out.

All attacks met at the same time, the water drenching the Pokemon while the two other Pokemon struck Growlithe without mercy.

"Growlithe and Machamp are unable to battle." The referee declared.

"Grrr." Ash mumbled, returning Growlithe and wishing him a good rest. "You did well buddy."

Two choices... both big enough to handle just about anything Kaz could throw at them.

"Electivire go!" Kaz shouted.

"Great..." Ash mumbled, knowing that Pikachu would not be the best option for this battle. "Looks like you're going to have to wait just a little while longer to come back buddy."

"Pika..." Pikachu complained.

"I choose you... Charizard!"

"CHAR!" Charizard immediately used flamethrower to show how strong he was, making Electivire and Scizor very nervous.

"Electivire use Thunder on Dewgong!"

"Charizard stop him!"

Charizard took off into the air and grabbed Electivire, blasting it point blank with a powerful flamethrower.

"Dewgong hit Scizor with another wave!" Ash commanded, watching the water crash around Scizor.

"Dewgong use Ice Beam on the ground, Charizard fly!"

As Dewgong froze the ground into a skating rink Charizard took to the air, charging up.

"Dragon rage!" Ash shouted.

Charizard roared and unleashed his full power on Electivire.

"Dewgong, AURORA BEAM!" Ash screamed.

Electivire was frozen solid.

"Sci...zor?" Scizor muttered, looking at its frozen partner and then to the other two much bigger Pokemon.

"Fire blast!"

Charizard powered up and that was all she wrote.

"Scizor and Electivire are unable to battle! The match goes to the challenger, Ash from Pallet Town!" The referee declared.

"Not many people can overcome Scizor and Electivire. You have earned this Dark Badge." Kaz and Yas told him, handing him two pieces of a badge that were brought together to resemble the two halves of the gym.

"Thank you." Ash said, looking at the badge and feeling the familiar thrill of success. He tackled Charizard and Dewgong with hugs (to which, yeah, he got burned for) but he didn't mind.

Ash sent Charizard and Pidgeot to Professor Oak and admired his badge collection.

'Seven down, one to go.' He thought to himself, closing it up and putting them in his backpack.

Ash, Misty, and Anthony were about halfway to Anthony's when Ash heard a squeak.

"What was that?" Ash asked, breaking off into a run towards the squeal.

"Ash! Wait up!"

Ash skidded to a stop, seeing several Pokemon surrounding a much smaller one.

"Pikachu, Thunder Bolt!"

"Pikachu!"

Ligthning struck, frightening the trio off.

"Hey... hey it's okay." Ash said, approaching the petrified Eevee. "Those nasty Pokemon are gone..."

Eevee hissed at him and growled.

Ash put his hands up defensively and slowly took the bread roll out of his pocket from earlier.

The small brown Pokemon sniffed the food and licked its lips hungrily.

Ash tore off a small piece of it and put it in front of the Eevee.

"You see, I'm your friend." Ash said, continuing to tear off pieces of the roll while Eevee devoured them. "A Pokemon like you is probably really scared out here... are you wild?"

Eevee cooed its name between bites, letting its guard down enough for Ash to pet it.

"Pika... Pikachu."

"Eevee."

"Pika pi." Pikachu nodded, turning to Ash. "Pika pika, pi pi pika chu. Pikachu."

Ash tried to translate, "It was left here by a bad trainer?"

By then Misty and Anthony had gotten there.

"HSSSS!" Eevee hissed, growling even louder.

"Woah woah, back off guys." Ash said, waving them back. "This Eevee's scared enough as it is."

"Oh, it's okay baby." Misty said softly, taking a knee. "I have an Eevee too." She pulled the Pokeball off her belt and released it.

"Eevee?" Misty's Eevee asked.

"Eevee?" The other Eevee replied.

"Pika!"

The trio had a short conversation that only a talking Meowth could hope to translate.

That's when Ash noticed the speckle of red on the tale of the Eevee.

"Is that blood?" Ash asked, calmly touching Eevee's tale.

"...eevee." Eevee complained, looking at the ground.

Ash scooped it up carefully and took it to a picnic table a dozen meters away. He then sprayed it with Super Potion and wrapped it carefully, hoping that he did as good of a job as Brock used to do when their Pokemon were injured.

"Eevee!" Eevee shouted gleefully, jumping into Ash's arms and purring, licking his face affectionately.

"Well, I'll be." Anthony said, scratching his head. "I never would have thought Ash was a softie."

"Only when a Pokemon is in question." Misty countered.

"Hey, I'm not soft." Ash protested.

"Well, we better keep moving if we're going to get home by dark. We're still a couple hours away." Anthony told them.

Ash and Misty nodded, "Looks like it's time to go, Eevee." Ash said, patting the Pokemon on her head.

"Eevee." Eevee complained.

"I think Eevee wants to come with ya, Ash."

"Is that true Eevee?" Ash asked, taking a knee.

Eevee squealed its name and jumped into his arms again.

"Okay then." Ash said, grabbing a Pokeball and capturing Eevee.

The ball clicked.

"It's a good thing Professor Oak asked to look at Pidgeot earlier." Misty told Ash while they walked.

Eevee and Riolu were chasing each other, making quick friends because of their respective young age.

Pikachu rested on Ash's shoulder.

"So, how much stronger is Primeape now?" Ash asked.

"A lot." Anthony replied, "He's won the Prix several times, and just keeps racking up the wins in regular battle."

"I'm excited to see Primeape again. It really has been too long since I've seen him in person."

"That's why I always brought him onto the screen whenever you video-called." Anthony smiled, "It always put a spring in his step to know that you were going to come back for him."

With seven badges in his collection, and a new/old friend on the way... Ash is excited to see what the Pokemon League has in store for him this time. But will the eighth badge be easy to obtain? Will Primeape obey Ash's commands? Will Ash evolve Eevee to become an even stronger member of his team? Find out the answer to all this and more... as the journey continues.