Chapter 3: Rock Hard Battle
Pikachu vs Geodude.
Minutes passed. Neither side moving.
In one action, Ash was already in a bind, as electric attacks will not work on his foe but he already prepared a countermeasure.
"You can switch if you want to," Brock broke the silence.
"Thanks but no thanks. I'm starting my first Gym battle with Pikachu," Ash replied in confidence.
"Alright then. [Tackle]!" Brock commanded.
The animated boulder closed the distance and prepared its attack.
"Pikachu, parry it with [Iron Tail]!"
In an instant, Pikachu's tail turned metallic and aimed for the arm approaching it.
[Iron Tail] caught Brock by surprise but acted swiftly.
"[Tackle] with your other arm!" Brock commanded.
The next one connected as the electric mouse cried out in pain.
"Pikachu! Get some distance!" Ash commanded in a panic.
With that, both battlers were in another standstill.
"I'm guessing [Iron Tail] was your counter to my Rock-types?" Brock said with a smirk.
"You make light of me, Ash. Type advantages don't mean everything."
Hearing this, Ash had an idea.
He glanced at his partner. Pikachu understood his Trainer's thoughts.
"Pika, pika!"
"Thanks for tip, Brock! Pikachu, [Thundershock]!" Ash shouted confidently.
"What? Electric attacks don't work against Geodude," Brock questioned, unable to comprehend the challenger's thinking.
"I know! I'm not aiming at Geodude… I'm aiming for the field!" Ash grinned.
As if on cue, Pikachu's attack hit the field around his opponent, bursting into thick clouds of dust.
Brock finally understood Ash's plan
But it was too late.
"Geodude, mov-"
"[Iron Tail]!" Ash commended.
With a deafening clang, the dust clouds disappeared.
Leaving a victorious Pikachu in its wake.
Geodude was fainted.
"Ge-Geodude has fainted! Gym Leader, please send out your next Pokémon," the referee announced, baffled at the sight.
"I see, you used [Thundershock] to kick up a smokescreen to obscure Geodude's vision" brock said in an understanding manner as he recalled his Pokémon.
"Yep. I call it [Smokescreen (Fake)]," Ash replied, scratching his nose.
"Very good, Ash. I clearly underestimated you," Brock sighed, acknowledging his mistake.
"Then, I'll go all out! Go, Onix!" Brock roared.
From the Ball, a serpentine creature made up of boulders appeared.
Twisting a smile, Ash looked in awe of his final opponent.
The flames desiring victory burn more.
"Alright, Pikachu, you good for one more?" Ash asked his partner.
"Pikachu!" the mouse replied with excitement, ignoring his previous wounds.
With that, the second battle commenced.
"[Rock Tomb]!" Brock called out.
Rocks began falling from the air, honed to little Pikachu.
"Run around the field, don't let it hit!" Ash called out.
Pikachu sprinted around the field, only to find itself face to face with Onix.
Realizing that [Rock Tomb] was simply a means to direct Pikachu close to the rocky serpent, Ash started to pale.
"Oh no! Pikachu, get ou-"
"[Bind]," Brock calmly said.
Onix's body wrapped itself around the poor mouse's body, crushing him while his Trainer could do nothing.
"[Iron Tail]!" Ash panicked.
But it was no use.
Within a few moments, Pikachu was fainted.
Carrying his partner back to side, Ash wore a proud expression towards Pikachu.
"You did well, Pikachu. Get some rest."
The electric mouse nodded into slumber.
'This. This is it. The rush.'
The boy grew excited.
'This is so much fun!'
Adrenaline pumped into his veins.
"Butterfree, I choose you!"
Crimson red eyes flare, burning with unbridled passion.
Brock could only respond to those flaming red orbs with a grin.
"Onix, [Rock Tomb] one more time!" Brock commanded.
"Dodge them all! [String Shot] Onix at every chance you get!" Ash called out, matching his opponent's confidence.
The battlefield was littered with rocks with a purple butterfly zipping past each of them with grace.
The rock serpent was also covered in strings, limiting its mobility but it did not need to as [Rock Tomb] finished, Butterfree found itself in the same position as Pikachu last time.
"[Bind]," Brock simply commanded.
'Well, this has been fun, Ash…' the man thought.
But before the twisting body of the serpent could clamp onto the butterfly, Ash called out his final move.
"Now, Butterfree! Point blank [Energy Ball] to its head!"
An emerald orb formed and blasted the Onix with a destructive force.
"Onix!" Brock cried out.
The rock serpent had felled.
Onix was fainted.
"The winner is the Challenger Red!" the referee announced.
"We did it! Good job, Butterfree, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed happily.
"Free!" "Pika-pika!"
The sight of the boy happily cradling his Pokémon warmed the Gym Leader's heart. With a sigh, he congratulated the boy.
"Well done, Ash. Slowing down Onix while tricking me into thinking you were helpless with only Bug-type moves was a surprise to say the least."
"Huh? I wasn't really trying to trick you though?" Ash answered, confused at the Gym Leader's words.
"I just wing it most of the time, that's all." He concluded with a toothy grin.
Brock was baffled at Ash's remarks and concluded that the boy had an innate genius towards battling and he was only 10 years old.
'Imagine what a monster this kid could be in the future…'
Brock shuddered at the thought.
"Anyways, those are some strong Pokémon you have there. Probably enough to match my Level 2 team even."
"Haha… Funny thing is, we got so caught up in training back at Viridian City that we spent a whole week doing just that. Imagine our disappointment when the Viridian Gym wasn't even open…" Ash depressingly recounted.
"Fwahaha! Well, I understand. I've never met the Viridian Gym Leader during my years as a Gym Leader. The guy's a shy one," Brock answered, sympathizing with the youngster.
"In any case, Challenger As- I mean Red, as proof of your victory, here's the Boulder Badge." Brock declared, handing Ash his first badge.
Ash held the badge in his hand.
It was light, barely weighing as much as a feather.
But heavy
As this was his first ever Badge.
The first of many.
"Thanks, Brock. I hope we can have another battle someday."
"Fwahaha! As you wish. Be careful during your other Gym battles. There are some strong Leaders among them so stay sharp!" Brock advised.
"I will. Gotta heal up at the Center. See ya, Brock!"
With that, the boy ran out of the battlefield.
"Stronger than Brock, huh? You heard that, Pikachu?" Ash mused.
"Pika-pika," Pikachu cooed.
"Looks like we're gonna have to get stronger. Can't make a fool out of myself in the Grand League in front of Serena, right?"
"Pikachu!"
"Alright, let's head to our next stepping stone!"
The boy ran.
Break through.
As far as his legs could take him.
The first of many.
But in that moment, with the victory of his first Gym…
Chapter 3: Rock Hard Battle
He felt like he was soaring.