Finding their way out of Viridian Forest proved to be a challenge. The forest was a lot larger than Ash and Misty had expected and the two had gotten lost quite a few times. Eventually the two arrived in Pewter City.
"I don't know about you, but I'd like to know what this dark blue bird Pokemon is." Ash told Misty.
"That's a good idea." Misty confessed.
Ash and Misty then headed towards the Pokemon Center. He wanted to make sure both of his Pokemon were ready for the gym battle.
"Thank you Nurse Joy." He said.
"You're more than welcome Ash." She replied with a smile.
"What? How do you know my name." Ash asked, confused. "This isn't the Viridian City Pokemon Center."
"My sister let me know about you." Nurse Joy explained. "She mentioned the confrontation with Team Rocket. Oh and there's a poster on the wall you might want to take a look at."
Ash turned to the side and saw a poster that revealed the Indigo League was going to take place later this year.
"I'll definitely be entering the Indigo League." Ash said to himself.
Ash then headed towards a telephone and called Prof. Oak.
"Professor, it's me Ash." He stated.
"Ah Ash, what do you need?" Prof. Oak asked.
Ash released the dark blue bird Pokemon.
"Could you tell me what kind of Pokemon this is?"
Prof. Oak took a good look at the Pokemon.
"Hmm." Prof. Oak put a hand on his chin. "This looks like a Pokemon from the Galar Region. Let me contact Prof. Magnolia. I'll get back to you shortly."
Prof. Oak hung up.
While Nurse Joy was taking care of his Pokemon, Ash and Misty decided to get some food.
"So you intend to enter the Pokemon League?" Misty asked.
"Yeah." Ash answered. "That's a life goal of mine and now's the best chance."
"Are you going to be okay?" Misty asked, concerned. "You have to obtain eight gym badges and the gym leaders are very strong."
"You worry too much." Ash brushed her concern off. "I'm more than capable of holding my own against this region's gym leaders."
Misty was impressed with his confidence.
"So what do you intend to do about the gym?" She asked.
"Uh-uh, I have no intention of disclosing my strategy until the gym battle."
After they finished eating, Ash and Misty headed towards the gym.
The Pewter Gym was a building made entirely out of stone.
"Wish me luck." Ash said. He pushed the doors open and walked inside.
"Who goes there?" A voice demanded.
"My name's Ash Ketchum." Ash said. "And I came here to battle you for a gym badge."
"Very well." The voice nodded. "I'm the Pewter Gym Leader Brock. Consider your challenge accepted."
Brock led Ash to the battlefield; it was a sandy floor with jagged rocks sticking out of the floor. Misty walked to the bleachers on the side to watch the battle.
"This battle is between Brock the Pewter Gym leader and Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town." The referee announced. Brock introduced his younger brother Forrest. "Both challengers will use two Pokemon each. And the first trainer to have two Pokemon defeated first wins. Let the battle begin!"
"I choose you!" Ash released the dark blue bird-like Pokemon.
'That looks like a flying type Pokemon? What region is it from though?' Brock thought.
"Okay, go Geodude!" He shouted.
Ash checked Geodude out on the Pokedex.
"Geodude, the Rock Pokemon. Found in fields and mountains. Mistaking them for boulders, people often step or trip on them."
"Geodude, Rock Throw!" Brock ordered. Geodude jumped up and threw itself at his opponent.
"Avoid it and use Rock Smash." The flying type Pokemon flew up and struck his glowing tail into Geodude. It struck Geodude several more times and eventually Geodude was knocked out.
"Geodude is unable to battle." Forrest said. "This battle goes to the challenger."
Brock was amazed with Ash.
'This kid's tougher than I expected.' He thought.
"Okay Geodude return." Brock said. "Go Onix!"
Ash took out the Pokedex.
"Onix, the Rock Snake Pokemon. As it grows, the stone portions of it's body harden to become similar to a diamond, but colored black."
Ash returned his first Pokemon.
"Pikachu, I choose you!" Brock knew that Pikachu couldn't do much against Onix due to it being part Ground type, but was aware he shouldn't take Ash lightly.
"Onix, Tackle." Brock ordered.
"Dodge it." Pikachu ran out of the way, avoiding the attack.
"Use Bind." Onix tried to squeeze Pikachu with it's body. Pikachu maneuvered out of the way.
"Grass Knot." Pikachu glowed green. Two green vines grew out of the ground near Onix and tied themselves into a knot, tripping Onix and causing it to crash down onto the ground.
"Iron Tail!" Pikachu's tail glowed metallic silver. He then hit Onix with it.
After being struck by Iron Tail, Onix had swirls in his eyes.
"Onix is unable to battle." Forrest said. "Pikachu is the winner. Therefore the winner of this gym battle is Ash."
"We got the Boulder Badge." Ash cheered.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered.
When the gym battle ended Brock shook hands with Ash.
"That was a great battle." Brock said. "I'm surprised you brought out a Flying and Electric type."
"What can I say." Ash shrugged. "I like to be unpredictable."
"You did well." Brock said. "Therefore I present you with the Boulder Badge."
The Boulder Badge was a grey badge shaped like a octagon.
"Thanks Brock." Ash said, accepting the badge.
"I just got the Boulder Badge!"
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered.
Ash and Misty then head to the Pokemon Center.
"Ah hello Ash. I managed to learn more about the Pokemon you showed me earlier. It turns out that you caught a Rookidee, a Pokemon from the Galar Region." Prof. Oak explained.
"Galar?" Ash was confused.
"Galar is another region located far away from Kanto."
"Oh I see." Ash understood what he meant.
He and Misty then decided to leave Pewter City and head to the next destination for Ash's second gym battle.
"You did a lot better than I expected." Misty admitted.
"I did say I was more than capable of holding my own against the gym leaders."
"That you did." Misty said with a smile. Ash wasn't as clueless as Misty assumed.
They were about to leave when the two heard a voice.
"Hey guys, wait up!" It was Brock.
"Brock, what are you doing here?" Ash asked.
"I'm joining you two on your travels." Brock answered.
"Don't you have to run the gym though?" Misty asked.
"No." Brock replied. "My dad is the real Pewter Gym leader and he was just discharged from the hospital. He's going to run the gym and my mom and younger siblings will assist him. Do you have a problem with me going with you guys?"
Ash and Misty looked at each other and then smiled.
"We'd be more than happy to have you join us." Ash said.
"Welcome aboard." Misty added.
Ash, Brock and Misty were going to travel across Kanto together.