Chapter 6: First Badge
"Rise and shine everyone!" Nurse Joy chimed from behind the counter.
Instantly Brock was up and chatting away with Nurse Joy. "Cool it Brock!" Misty yelled while climbing off a bench.
"Uhh can't I sleep another hour?" Ash groaned.
"Ash we're heading to the first town with a gym today don't you think you want to get there quickly."
"Hey that's right. Are you guys gonna go for a badge too?"
"Nope I don't have to."
"Neither do I."
"How come?" Misty interrupted.
"It's because I would be a gym member and gym members get a special card that allows us to enter into the Johto league championships without battling other gym leaders," Brian answered.
"Exactly the same thing here." Scott chimed.
"But you were in Kanto," Brock answered coming back after being rejected by Nurse Joy.
"I know but I got them to change what card I got."
"I see. But how are you guys gonna get any better between now and the league battles," Ash asked.
"Ash that's a no-brainer we battle each other and other trainers we meet along the way," Scott answered.
"That's not fair," Ash complained turning away.
"You can complain about it all the way to the championships but it won't change a thing." Brock said.
"Let's just get going I'm tired of standing here." Scott interrupted as he picked up his bag.
The group agreed silently when they all picked up their bags and walked out the door. About a mile out of town the ground began to give under Ash's foot. "Not again," he groaned.
Then the ground gave way and they hit the floor of a pit with a thud. "Prepare for trouble!" a female voice sang.
"And make it double," a male voice responded.
Leaning over Ash whispered in Brian's ear, "These are two members of Team Rocket."
"Hey twerp we weren't done with the theme song. To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jesse!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now or prepare to fight."
"Meowth that's right!"
"Oh and that's their talking Meowth."
"Ash may I have the pleasure of plastering these cowards?" Brian asked.
"Oh sure go right ahead," Ash replied laughing.
With an evil grin Brian tossed a Pokéball out of the hole and it landed at Team Rockets feet with a clang. James reached down to pick up what he hoped would be a Pokémon they could take to the boss. He could almost touch it when it released. With a scared face James slowly lifted his head and stared straight into Scizor's eyes. "Claw Smash." Brian said from the pit. Scizor lifted his claw and sent it into James' back and sent him to the ground gasping for air. "Hey no one treats Team Rocket like this!" Jesse yelled.
"Hyper Beam!"
James' eyes went wide as Scizor pulled both claws back and charged up. He screamed as a beam of light sent him, Jessie, and Meowth flying.
"Those were members of Team Rocket?" Scott asked as Scizor pulled them from the pit.
"Yeah kinda weak aren't they." Ash answered.
Everyone broke out laughing. Pikachu stopped laughing and perked his ears up listening to the sound he heard. Scizor turned and grabbed whatever was making the noise out of the air. Everyone stopped laughing when the Pokémon Scizor had caught gave out a loud squawk. "Hey let go of my Pidgeot!" A male voice yelled from down the path.
The group looked at the Pidgeot in Scizor's claws. "Hey Scizor let it go." Brian gestured with his hand towards the teen running towards them from the other direction.
"Thanks," the man said out of breath.
"So this is your Pokémon? You should have better control over it! It could hurt someone!" Misty started yelling at him.
"I'm sorry but I was training my Pidgeot for faster speed and I guess he got away really fast," answered the teen scratching the back of his head.
"You'd better be sorry," Misty snarled.
"Ok Misty lets cool you off," Brock said as he pulled Misty away.
"Uh sorry about Misty she can blow a fuse easily," Ash apologized, "my name is Ash what's yours?"
"Falkner," the teen responded.
"You're the Violet City gym leader!" Brock said astounded.
"Well then I challenge you to a battle," Ash announced.
"I accept your challenge, now let's go into town and start this match."
Falkner walked ahead of the group and Scott, Brian, and Brock were all trying to give hints on how to beat Falkner. "Ok," Brock began, "we know he uses flying Pokémon so Ash should use an electric type."
"That, I bet, is what he wants you to use he may have trained hard against electric types," Brian pondered.
"Yeah he had to of to become a gym leader," Scott added.
"Guys let me decide by myself ok!" Ash yelled.
There was silence until the reached the stadium. "Follow me. Ash?"
"Yeah and you wont forget it again cuz I'm gonna trounce you bad."
"Why do we have to fight on the roof?"
"It allows more room for flying Pokémon to battle. Gotta problem with it?"
"No I just wanted to know. And why aren't my friends here to watch?"
"They are watching in a room on a TV."
"Why can't they be up here too?"
"It's not a way for a trainer to learn how to battle with the help of friends."
"Are you saying that I don't know what I'm doing!!" Ash snapped.
In the room
"God Ash better settle down or he may get banned from the gym," Misty said.
"He'll settle down," Brock assured.
Back at the arena
"So what Pokémon will you choose to battle my Pidgeot?"
"My Noctowl." Ash replied.
"Then bring it on." Falkner snarled.
Both Pokémon were thrown onto the field. The judge walked up to the centerline and raised both arms. "Go!"
"Pidgeot Gust."
"Noctowl Tackle."
Noctowl flew at Pidgeot and lowered its head ready for impact but before it made contact it was blown to the ground by Pidgeot's gust. Bouncing off the ground Noctowl took flight again and charged at Pidgeot. "Agility!" Ash yelled.
Noctowl zapped from side to side flying faster and faster. "Tackle!!" Ash screamed.
Looking around Pidgeot couldn't find Noctowl anywhere. Then his head snapped back as Noctowl landed his tackle in the middle of Pidgeot's back. Dust billowed up as Pidgeot caught himself before impact. "Hit it again Noctowl!"
"Whirlwind Pidgeot."
Dust picked up and formed a tornado that swallowed Noctowl and tossed it across the arena. Noctowl hit the ground with a solid thud. "You wanna give up now Ash while you still have a Pokémon left to take to the Pokécenter?" Falkner yelled at Ash.
"We never give up." Ash screamed back, "Noctowl! Do what you have to!"
Picking himself off the ground Noctowl dodged a quick attack and grabbed Pidgeot's tail. Pidgeot noticed a tug and whipped around flinging Noctowl in the air again. Spreading his wings Noctowl flipped and jetted after Pidgeot. Pidgeot looked back and then Noctowl disappeared from his sight. "Above you!" Falkner yelled up. Dodging right Pidgeot tried to lose Noctowl but it was hopeless. Noctowl drove at Pidgeot and swung to Pidgeot's side and slammed it sideways and then with great speed flew back above it and drove it to the ground. Hovering above Pidgeot, Noctowl waited for Pidgeot to get up. "Pidgeot is unable to battle Noctowl is the winner."
"Yeah!!!!!!" Ash jumped with Pikachu in his arms.
Brock and the rest of the group broke out of the room and dashed onto the field. "Way to go Ash!" Brock congratulated.
"Nice work Noctowl!" Brian said giving a thumbs up.
"Well Ash that was a fine match you made out there with your Noctowl." Falkner said extending his hand.
"Thanks." Ash replied shaking Falkner's hand and taking the badge he was handed, "Yes the Zephyr Badge!" he finished lifting it above his head.
Reaching into his pocket Brian pulled out his card and showed it to Falkner. "Ah so you're the one Bugsy is so angry about." Falkner said handing Brian a Zephyr badge.
Scott did the same. "So how did you know Bugsy was mad about me?" Brian inquired.
"We have meetings to keep us up to date about rules and other issues." Falkner answered, "and every meeting Bugsy brings your name up so be careful when you go through there he may challenge you."
"Ha I'll beat him even worse I wouldn't worry about that," Brian laughed.
"Ash good luck on your journeys through Johto but don't worry about anything because you have one of the best trainers in Johto with you," Falkner added nodding his head towards Brian.
Waving back Ash and company left the arena to head to the Pokécenter to heal Ash's Pokémon. "Hello are you here after a battle?"
"Yeah!" Ash replied pumped up.
"How did you do?" Nurse Joy asked.
"I beat Falkner!" Ash was wound up.
"Good job but don't get too wound up, because the other gym leaders never quit and are very tough to beat," Nurse Joy cautioned.
"Hey where's Brock?" Misty asked looking around the lobby.
Everyone turned to each other and dashed towards the men's bathroom. At the door Ash grabbed the handle and leaned back holding the door shut. The rest of the group grabbed Ash and pulled back as well. Then there was a tug at the door and then banging. "LET ME OUT!" Brock yelled from inside banging even harder.
Holding back a laugh Misty yelled, "Hey Nurse Joy there is someone here to marry you!"
"Excuse me?" Nurse Joy asked confused walking over to the door.
When she stood next to the door they all let go and heard Brock fall back into a stall and onto a toilet seat. "Be glad it was closed," Ash laughed.
"Oh Ash your Pokémon are ready to be picked up," Nurse Joy added giggling as she watched Brock pick himself up.
Ash dashed over to the counter, picked up his Pokéballs, grabbed Pikachu, and darted out the door with Misty, Scott, and Brian right behind. Brock scurried to pick himself up and started out the door and stopped by Nurse Joy. "I'm sorry for my friends actions and do hope you'll forgive them," Brock apologized and then took off out the door screaming.
"He's catching up!" Scott yelled looking back.
"Dive into the bushes," Ash replied diving off the path.
The rest of the group dove in and rolled down a little embankment. "Ash get your butt up here so I can straighten you out!" they heard Brock yelling from the path.
"Yeah," Misty giggled.
Brian stood and ran up the embankment with the others starring with confused looks. "We gotta stop this or we'll out all night," Brian said looking at the faces.
"It is getting dark and Brock is mad so if we end it now you may be able to live," Misty added nudging Ash.
Brock spotted the top of Brian's head and thought it was Ash. He ran towards him and tackled him off the embankment and down the hill. "OW!" Brian yelled pushing Brock off his chest.
"This is for embarrassing me in front of Nurse Joy!" Brock screamed swinging his fists wildly.
A few of the swings hit Brian on the chest and face until Scott and Ash tossed Brock off Brian and to the ground. "What is your problem!" Ash yelled at Brock as he picked himself off the ground.
Brian was still on the ground rubbing his head and letting out a quite moan. Behind Brock, Scott took out an ice pack from Brock's backpack and tossed it to Brian. "We'd better set up camp in this open area it's too dark to move on," Misty spoke while unrolling her sleeping bag.
"I don't want to sleep. I'm not tired at all," Ash said jumping up.
"You'd better sleep, the area around Azalea Town is full of tough challenges for a beginning trainer like you." Brian cautioned.
"I am not a beginner! I'll take you on right here, right now!" Ash was furious.
"I wouldn't waste my time or my Pokémon fighting you," Brian yawned slipping into his sleeping bag.
"Ash settle down," Misty whispered from here sleeping bag.
"Pika." (Yeah.)
Ash sat starring up into the sky. Pikachu breathed softly on his chest. 'I'm gonna show this Brian kid how wrong he is after I beat the crap out of Bugsy.' Finishing the thought he scratched Pikachu on the stomach and heard a soft squeal. He smiled, closed his eyes, and dozed off.
To be continued…