"Okay training time." Brendan said. "What's the plan Ash?"
"Use Marshtomp or Shiftry, I mean those are the logical choices." Ash commented.
"No, now it's personal, right Rhydon?" Brendan asked.
"RHYDON!" Brendan's Rhydon shouted into the sky.
"Okay, then we need to talk to someone who knows a thing or two about Pokemon like Rhydon." Ash said.
"And who around here knows about rock types like that?" Wally asked.
"No one around here." Ash said. "Well maybe, but we'll try her later." Ash said. "For now we're making a call back to Pewter."
A few minutes later, at the Pokemon Center
"Pewter City gym, this is Forrest speaking, how can I help you?" Forrest asked, picking up the video phone.
"Forrest, hey it's been a while." Ash said, recognizing Brock's oldest sibling.
"Ash right. Brock said you were still alive somewhere." Forrest said.
"Yeah, I took some time to find myself in Hoenn." Ash said. "I was actually hoping you knew how to get into contact with Brock, I need his expertise on rock types."
"I wish I knew where he was, but I don't know either." Forrest said. "He left a few weeks ago, something about a girl with a truck."
"Okay, well thanks anyways." Ash said.
"Wait, maybe I can help." Forrest said. "I may not be Brock, but I'm still knowledgeable on rock types."
"It couldn't hurt." Brendan said, pushing himself on screen. "I'm having some Rhydon troubles, and could use your help."
"What kind of trouble? Training a Rhydon, catching a Rhydon, fighting a Rhydon?" Forrest asked.
"One and three." Brendan said. "I have an opponent with a Rhydon of their own, and I want to train mine to be able to beat him in a battle."
"Well what does your Rhydon know?" Forrest asked. "They have a surprisingly large move pool, so you have a lot of options."
"Right now he knows Rock Blast, MegaHorn, Crush Claw, and Flamethrower." Brendan listed off.
"What about a ground type move?" Forrest asked. "It is a ground type, and those are good against rock types too."
"That'd be great, but we don't have a lot of ground type moves available to teach him." Wally commented from behind Ash.
"I don't know what else to tell you, I figure the three of you have a working knowledge of the type chart, but if ground doesn't work, water type moves are always a great option." Forrest explained.
"We don't have many water types either." Wally said.
"No, but we know someone who does." Brendan said. "Or at least Ash does."
A bit later
"So you came to me to teach a water type move to a non water type Pokemon." Misty said with a smirk.
"Actually Brendan did, I just led him here." Ash said.
"See I'd love to, but I only offer help to people who have earned my gym badge." Misty said with a knowing smirk.
"Didn't Ash earn your gym badge though?" Brendan asked.
"Haha!" Misty laughed out loud. "Ash was given my badge by my sisters out of thanks for saving our gym." Misty said. "I'll make you a deal. If Ash can finally beat me in a proper gym battle, I'll help you learn a new water type attack."
"Come on Ash, you have to do this, for Rhydon." Brendan pled.
"You know I don't back down from a challenge." Ash said.
"Except the gym challenge, and Flannery's love, also chasing after Hartley after the Grand Festival." Wally listed off.
"Wally, shut up." Ash commented.
"I'm just saying, you're on a walking away streak." Wally said in his defense.
"Alright Misty, we'll have an official gym battle rematch between the two of us, and this time I'll win." Ash said. "Same rules as the first time."
"It won't be that easy this time." Misty said. "Let's go."
At the arena
"This will be a two on two battle between Ash of Pallet Town and Misty the Cerulean City Gym Leader, the battle will be over when one side has no Pokemon able to battle. Only Ash the challenger may switch Pokemon at any time." A gym official said.
"Come on out Staryu!" Misty said.
"Grovyle I choose you!" Ash said, sending out the grass type.
"Gro." Grovyle said, standing smugly in the arena.
"Staryu use Ice Beam!"
"Grovyle use Leaf Blade!"
A beam of ice shot out across the arena as Grovyle barely dodged the attack, sending his top leaf crashing into the ground, sending Staryu up into the air.
"Staryu use Hydro Pump!"
"Grovyle dodge it with Dig!"
Staryu began spinning, sending a flurry of hydro pumps in all directions, soaking both Grovyle and the arena.
"Grovyle, are you okay!?" Ash exclaimed.
"Gro!" Grovyle said, still standing strong.
"Great then use Leaf Blade!"
"Staryu use Ice Beam!"
With the arena slippery, Grovyle wasn't able to get his footing enough to leap into the air, causing him to trip up and get frozen to the ground.
"Staryu use Rapid Spin!"
"Grovyle return!" Ash called out, recalling the grass type just as he was about to be hit again. "Ready Pikachu?"
"Who saw that one coming?" Brendan joked.
"Actually, the first time we fought, Pikachu didn't want to battle Misty at all." Ash admitted. "He didn't want to fight his friends. This time will be different though, right Pikachu?"
"Pika!" Pikachu said in agreement.
"Toge Toge." Togepi said, rushing over to Pikachu.
"Togepi, you might want to stay off the battlefield right now." Ash said, kneeling down to the normal type.
"Sorry, I thought Togepi would be better than this." Misty apologized.
"It's alright." Ash said, picking up the normal type. "Now Pikachu use Shock Wave!"
"Staryu use Rapid Spin!"
Pikachu leapt into the air, spinning his tail rapidly before launching a pulse of electricity out at Staryu, sending the water type crashing back to the ground.
"Now use Quick Attack!"
"Staryu get up and use Bubblebeam!"
Pikachu sped across the arena, slamming into the water type, knocking it out.
"Staryu return." Misty said. "Come on out Gyarados!"
"Gyarados!" Ash exclaimed. "When did you get Gyarados?!"
"While you were away." Misty said. "Now Gyarados use Aqua Tail!"
"Pikachu counter with Iron Tail!"
Pikachu leapt into battle, sharpening his tail before barely stopping the giant water snake's attack.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Gyarados use Hyper Beam!"
Pikachu spun on the ground, striking his tail high into the air, sending a bolt of electricity straight into the air, as he was engulfed in the burst stream of light.
"PIkachu!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pikachu is unable to battle, the winner is Gyarados!" The official declared.
"You did great Pikachu, but even you can't match the power of Gyarados." Misty said, picking up the electric type.
"Grovyle, let's do this, for Brendan!" Ash called out.
Grovyle rendered the battle field, still a bit weak from his earlier battle.
"Grovyle use Fury Cutter!"
Grovyle sharpened his arm blades, striking Gyarados while it was recharging.
"Gyarados use Flamethrower!"
"Grovyle use Fury Cutter!"
Grovyle's high speed allowed him to avoid the stream of flames, once again striking Gyarados with his attack.
"Why isn't he using Leaf Blade?" Wally asked.
"Because Gyarados is a flying type." Brendan commented. "In terms of long term damage, Fury Cutter might be his best option."
"But it takes forever to get stronger." Wally said.
"He only needs a few consecutive hits, and it should be more than enough." Brendan said. "I just hope Grovyle won't get hit in the meantime."
"Gyarados use Headbutt!"
"Grovyle run parallel to Gyarados and use Fury Cutter like this!" Ash said, putting his arms behind him.
Gyarados charged forward as Grovyle leapt out of the way, barely avoiding the attack before running along the side of Gyarados, slicing through it's scaly hide.
"Gyarados use Aqua Tail!"
"End this with one final Fury Cutter!"
Grovyle did a quick spin, and leapt over Gyarados, all the while, his blade never left the opponent, finally knocking out the large water type.
"Gyarados is unable to battle, the winner of the match is Ash and Grovyle!" The official declared.
"Alright a deals a deal." Misty sighed, as she walked over to Ash. "I'll teach Brendan's Rhydon a water type attack."
"Great, do you think you could teach me that Aqua Tail?" Brendan asked. "What, it looked strong."
"Okay, but just so you know, learning from Gyarados won't be easy." Misty said.
"I'll take that risk." Brendan said confidently.