Hello! Sorry for the long delay. Word had a melt down. I was going to make this longer but decided to divide it into two parts so I could get this out sooner. Again sorry for the long delay. had to pretty much retype it up.

The three had finally made it to Oreburgh city. It had been a pretty quick trip, save the storm keeping them in for a while. Now that they stood before the gates they had a second wind.

"Alright!" Ash yelled. "We made it! Thank goodness!"

"I can't wait to get a bath." Marnie said.

"I'm going to go to the gym right now!" Hop said.

Ash stopped him fast. He reminded him of back in his rookie days.

"Hold up there. First we stop at the Pokemon center. After that we talk to Roark about a time to battle."

"Oh... I guess that makes sense." He chuckled.

They made it to the Pokemon center. Marnie went back with the Joy to help out a bit and Pikachu went after them. The two sat down in the lobby to chat a bit. They talked about things such as the gym, the leader, and at one point he was reminded he needed a new sleeping bag. It was about an hour when Marnie and the Joy in charge came out.

"They are all healed! You have been doing a good job keeping them healthy." Joy said as Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder.

"We have Marnie to thank for that!" Ash said.

"Oh... Thanks!"

"Glad they are all right." Hop said taking the Pokeballs.

Ash took him and Marnie out. They first stopped at the trainers store to get a hold of things they needed. The trip took a while but they got everything they needed. After they were done they headed to the gym. Hop leading the way.

"Hello?" Ash said as he walked in.

"Oh! Ash! Good to see you again!" Roark walked up. "How have you been?"

"Not to bad I guess. Just wanted to schedule a battle."

"Ah! Your entering again? I can't wait to see how you do."

"Oh and me also!" Hop said.

"Oh? Who are you?"

"I'm Hop. I am entering also!"

"Hey Roark, why don't you let him go first? I would like to watch."

Roark nodded. "Sure! I will book you for tomorrow. Bring your A game! Ash you get the day after."

"Sounds good for me."

They caught up for a while then said their good byes. The three headed back and got their rooms. Ash stayed up a little later than he expected. He never saw Hop battle before. This would be fun to watch. It took a bit but soon he drifted off.

The next day Hop was already up and ready to go. Ash and Marnie needed a bit of time and lucky his match was not for a few more hours. After eating Marnie got to shower first. As he was waiting Ash decided to chat with Hop.

"So Hop, what's your strategy?"

"Oh that's easy! Go all out!"

"Ummm go all out?"

"Yeah that's what my brother does. His Charizard leading on!"

"Heh, well you know your Pokemon are not really strong agents the Pokemon he uses. Going all out might not do well. I tried to do that on my first one."

Pikachu shuddered a bit remembering the fight.

"Oh how did you win?"

"Oh I powered up Pikachu and... went... all out..."

Pikachu now shook his head. Sadly it was true. Pikachu was just powered to wear even with the ground element he did harm to them.

"Well mine are very strong as is so I do not see a problem here!"

"Well Hop-"

"Oh look Marnie's done! You go shower! I am going to warm up!"

With that he ran outside. Marnie walked up in a Pink and white robe and noticed Ash had a somber look on his face. She walked up to see what was going on. Though with Hop running out she had a decent idea oh what.

"What happened?"

"Let's just say I do not have a lot of confidence in his victory." He shook it off. "But hey, he might still win! Worked for us right buddy?"

Pikachu tried to give a reassuring smile. But even the little yellow mouse was not sure. Ash sighed and decided to be positive.

Later all three went to the gym. When they walked in they saw a few other trainings in the waiting area. One was an older boy with sand colored said and a trench coat. Next to him was a girl with red hair tied in two ponytails. The other two Ash and Pikachu recognized.

"Hey! AJ! Samurai! It's been a long time!"

Both their heads shot up. They were amazed to see their old Rival standing there. AJ was a bit quicker on the draw.

"Ash? Well I'll be. Good to see you!"

"Indeed! We have heard a lot about you. Your not that foolish new person we knew."

He chuckled. "I admit I was not a great trainer. I like to think I have improved."

AJ laughed. "Your humble now also? This is impressive!"

He turned to his friends. "This is Marnie and Hop, Hop is here for his battle."

Hop grinned. "Yeah! I cant wait to win this! I am so ready for this!" he ran up to the reception desk.

Samurai grimaced. "Wow, its like looking at a before and after."

"I am afraid so." Ash said.

"Well who knows, Maybe he will do fine?" Marnie wanted to be positive.

Roark walked out. "Alright! Samurai, your battle will be in two days, AJ I can get you in the next day, Wes you will be in after him. Sound good?"

AJ and Samurai both nodded. The older boy, Wes, nodded and stood up. He walked out with the girl following him. Ash wondered who he was. He had the look of an experienced trainer on him.

Roark turned to Hop. "Alright! Time for your battle! Lets go!"

He nodded and the two walked out. Everyone else decided to watch and went out to the spectating area. They sat down and waited for the fight to start.

"So you still got Pikachu I see?" AJ said.

"Of Corse! Me and him are inseparable! You still got Sandshrew?" He responded as he pet Pikachu.

AJ Nodded. "You could say that. Yes."

Both he and Pikachu looked confused. But before they could get an answer the two walked into the arena. Hope stretched and pulled out his first Pokemon.

He sent out his Scorbunny.

"Huh? A fire type? He knows this is a rock gym right?" Samurai said.

Ash was a tad confused till he remembered his move set. "It knows double kick. I am guessing it is the only Pokemon he has that can do really anything. His other two are flying and normal."

AJ shook his head. "Still sending out your best right away."

Roark sent out a Graveler. As expected Scrobunny ran up and used double kick. However it would seem Roark expected this to happen and had block the attack and knock him back. Scorbunny quickly recovered and after being told to use double kick again was guarded by its rather impressive defenses.

Marnie was the first to speak up. "I remember he said his brother love to go in strong. I think it is what he is trying to do."

AJ shook his head. "That might work for his brother, who ever he is, but it clearly is not going to work here. You said this is the only Pokemon with anything effective right?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, Now that I think of it he kind of rushed into this fight." He had flashbacks of when he was just starting and took on Brock with nothing to handle any of his Pokemon.

AJ sighed continuing to watch the wreck of a fight continue. Scorbunny managed to start getting kicks in and the rock Pokemon was weakening. But it was getting hits in also and Scorbunny was starting to look a bit roughed up. At last Scorbunny managed to knock out Graveler. But it was at the cost of leaving Scorbunny very winded.

Roark sent out his Onix next. Scorbunny was told to use double kick. But right before it could land the Onix used rockslide. The little rabbit was knocked out. Hop recalled his Pokemon and now looked very worried. As they all expected he was thinking Scorbunny would carry.

Samurai shook his head. "I think this fight is over."

Ash sighed. "I want to think he can pull this off but..."

AJ spoke up. "I don't think he really made a plan."

"Yeah, it is clear he expected to be carried by Scorbunny."

"Has he ever had another gym battle?"

"No he said he was too late to get into the league."

"It shows."

They watched as he tried to use his other two Pokemon. The fight went badly as they were not ready for this fight. It did not take long For Roark to win the gym fight. Hop looked on with shock before dropping his head in shame.

Marnie was the first to break the Silence. "He lost."

Samurai fallowed up. "Badly."

Ash said nothing. He was just thinking, how could he help Hop get over this?