"Finally back in Saffron City." Brendan said.
"I said I was sorry I was dying!" Ash said in exasperation.
"It's fine, but now that we're finally here I can take on the fighting dojo." Brendan said.
"Not just that, this place is home of Silph Co, a psychic gym, and it's the center point of the region." Wally said, reading a pamphlet.
"We agreed to go to the dojo a while back, besides we have time before the next contest here, and we've been on a roll with them and frontier battles, couldn't hurt to take it slow for a bit." Ash said.
"See even Ash is on my side." Brendan said.
"Ash also wants to work with Sneasel a bit." Wally pointed out.
"I can have more than one reason for staying in one spot." Ash defended. "But let's check out the dojo."
At the dojo, in the northern area of the city
"Haha! You wish to challenge my dojo!" A man said loudly. "After we were kicked from being an official gym, we were left to be discarded, but no more! We run our own show with our own rules! If you wish to battle me, you must defeat all four of my students!"
"Easy." Brendan said.
"He does remember three of his Pokémon are weak to fighting, right?" Ash asked.
"Of course I do. That's why I got help." Brendan said, holding up several Pokeballs. "So how does this work?"
"You'll keep fighting until you beat us all." The Dojo Master said. "Now let your challenge begin!"
"My name is Hideki, I will be your first opponent. Come out Poliwrath!" Hideki said.
"Let's go Manectric!" Brendan said.
"Poliwrath use Mud Bomb!"
"Manectric use Rain Dance!"
Rain fell over the battlefield as a ball of mud landed on Manectric causing it to stumble back.
"Manectric use Thunder!"
"Poliwrath use Brick Break!"
A blast of electricity shot from Manectric's mane as Poliwrath closed in on the electric type slamming its fist down on him.
"That Poliwrath is faster than we thought." Wally commented.
"Manectric use Crunch!"
"Poliwrath use Hydro Pump!"
Manectric took the close range opportunity to clamp down on Poliwrath as it tried to launch the electric type away with high pressure water.
"Manectric use Thunder!"
"Poliwrath use Mud Bomb!"
At the close range combined with the rain, the electricity decimated Poliwrath, the water type fell to the ground in a sizzling heap.
"One down, four to go." Ash commented.
"I'm next, my name is Aaron, and my partner is Golem." Aaron said, sending out Golem.
"That's not a fighting type." Brendan said. "Manectric return! Come on out Tentacruel!"
"No water, so he's out of using Surf now." Wally said.
"Maybe, but if he called for Tentacruel, he has a plan." Ash said calmly.
"Golem use Stone Edge!"
"Tentacruel use Constrict!"
Tentacruel wrapped his tentacles around Golem, just as the jellyfish was launched into the air by jutting stones.
"Tentacruel use Giga Drain!"
"Golem use Gyro Ball!"
Tentacruel began pulling the large rock in as it drained Golem's energy, only for Golem to spin out of Tentacruel's tentacles and into Tentacruel knocking the water type around.
"Tentacruel use Sludge Bomb!"
"Golem use Stone Edge!"
Tentacruel barely landed before it was under attack again.
"Tentacruel!" Brendan called out.
"Tent." Tentacruel said weakly.
"Tentacruel return." Brendan said. "Come on out Marshtomp!"
"Golem use Superpower!"
"Marshtomp use Muddy Water!"
Golem rushed at Marshtomp, only for the smaller water type to unleash a blast of water from his mouth, knocking Golem backwards with ease.
"Marshtomp may be smaller, but he has a lot more experience in battle." Ash commented.
"Golem use Gyro Ball!"
"Marshtomp use Ice Bomb!"
Golem spun straight for Marshtomp, only to turn into a block of ice, sliding to a stop.
"Golem is unable to battle, the winner is Marshtomp!" The dojo master called out.
"Let's keep this up." Wally cheered.
"I am your third opponent, Hitoshi along with my partner Primeape who I've raised since I was a child." Hitoshi said as Primeape walked up.
"Speed, I can match that. Marshtomp switch out! Let's go Arcanine!" Brendan called out.
"Primeape use Cross Chop!"
"Arcanine use Dig!"
Arcanine dove underground and was gone by the time Primeape even reached where the fire type had been.
"Primeape use Earthquake!"
Arcanine was launched out of the ground, severely hurt already by Primeape's one attack.
"Arcanine use Fire Blast!"
"Primeape use Focus Blast!"
Arcanine fired off its attack while still up in the air, heating up the arena, and snuffing out Primeape's attack in the process.
"Primeape use Rock Slide!"
"Arcanine use Extreme Speed!"
Arcanine landed back on the ground and sped towards Primeape, dodging falling rocks left and right, taking small amount of chip damage along the way before slamming into the fighting type.
"Primeape use Earthquake!"
"Arcanine use Fire Blast!"
It was no use as the ground beneath Arcanine gave away, knocking the fire type out.
"Great work Arcanine, come on back." Brendan said. "Raticate let's go!"
"At least it's better than Manectric or Tentacruel." Wally commented.
"Yeah, but I feel like Marshtomp or Shiftry would be a better choice than Raticate." Ash said with a hint of concern.
"Primeape use Cross Chop!"
"Raticate use Super Fang!"
Raticate zoomed around Primeape's attack, biting down on the fighting type's leg.
"Primeape use Focus Blast!"
"Raticate use Hyper Fang!"
Raticate bit down even harder as Primeape tried to shake the large rat loose to no avail, as the fighting type finally went down.
"You may have beaten the others, but I am second only to the master!" The final student said. "My name is Mike and I have spent years training my Machamp to be undefeatable!"
"Raticate start off with an Iron Tail!"
Raticate launched into the air, it's thin tail straightening and gaining a metallic shine to it before slamming on Machamp's head.
"Machamp use Revenge!"
Machamp swung one of it's arms into the air, launching Raticate across the arena.
"Raticate use Super Fang!"
"Machamp use Vital Throw!"
Machamp moved with a surprising amount of speed for its size, grabbing Raticate before it could strike and slamming it into the ground.
"Raticate return!" Brendan called out. "Manectric come back out and use Flash!"
Manectric entered the field, with a bright light obscuring it from view.
"Now use Thunder!"
"Machamp use Cross Chop!"
Machamp was launched backwards with electricity sparking off of him, quickly followed by Manectric.
"Now Manectric use Crunch!"
Manectric ran and leapt onto Machamp, crunching down on the fighting types arm.
"Machamp use Revenge!"
Machamp used one of its other arms to swat Manectric away.
"Manectric use Thunder!"
Manectric rolled back onto its feet, unleashing a blast of energy that decimated Machamp.
"Machamp is no longer able to battle, the challenger has earned the right to fight the Master." One of the students called out.
"Great work Manectric, take a long rest." Brendan said, knowing the electric type had taken serious damage.
"The final match will consist of fighting both of my Pokemon. Hitmonchan, and Hitmonlee, that is if you think you can handle them with what you have left." The Dojo Master said.
"Easy." Brendan said. "Marshtomp come back out!"
"Hitmonchan lets go!"
"Marshtomp use Ice Beam!"
"Hitmonchan use Mach Punch!"
Hitmonchan launched forward, striking its fist into Marshtomp who had no time to react as he was launched across the arena.
"Marshtomp use Rollout!"
"Hitmonchan use Ice Punch!"
Marshtomp rolled into a ball and launched forward at the fighting type, knocking Hitmonchan onto it's back.
"Hitmonchan use Mach Punch!"
Hitmonchan was prepared for Marshtomp this time, driving his fist forward and sending Marshtomp careening into a wall.
"Hitmonchan use Ice Punch!"
"Marshtomp use Mud Shot!"
Marshtomp dug one of his hands into the ground launching a burst of mud at Hitmonchan before he was frozen solid and knocked out.
"What does he have left?" Wally asked.
"Tentacruel, Raticate, and Manectric are running low on health, his best bet might be Shiftry if he has him here." Ash commented.
"Swellow I choose you!" Brendan called out.
"Or Swellow, Swellow works too." Ash commented.
"Swellow use Air Slash!"
"Hitmonchan use Thunder Punch!"
Swellow gracefully rose into the air, before flapping its wings, sending a slice of razor sharp wind at Hitmonchan, knocking the fighting type back to the ground.
"Hitmonchan use Thunder Punch again!"
"Swellow use Quick Attack!"
Swellow dove right at Hitmonchan, moving so fast that it disappeared for a moment before striking right through the fighting type.
"Hitmonchan is unable to battle, the winner is Swellow!" The student declared.
"You fought with honor Hitmonchan." The master said. "Now its time to fight my final Pokemon, Hitmonlee use High Jump Kick!"
"Swellow dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Swellow quickly moved out of the way of Hitmonlee's attack, the fighting type somehow managing to stick the landing.
"Swellow use Sky Attack!"
"Hitmonlee use Rolling Kick!"
Hitmonlee swung one of it's legs around, striking Swellow while she was up in the air, enveloping in a glow.
"Now Swellow!" Brendan called out.
A burst of energy in the shape of a large bird shot out from Swellow's glowing form, striking Hitmonlee and sending it into the air.
"Now use Steel Wing!"
Swellow's body became as hard as steel as she rushed forward, spinning while hitting Hitmonlee, keeping the fighting type from getting any real idea on which way was up.
"Now Swellow finish it with Air Slash!"
Swellow spun around in place, flapping her wings and sending Hitmonlee crashing to the ground.
"Hitmonlee is unable to battle, the winner is Swellow, and the prize goes to the challenger Brendan." The student called out.
"Alright Brendan!" Wally cheered.
"I wonder what the prize is?" Ash asked. Brendan had only said that the prize was a Pokemon but had never elaborated on what Pokemon it was.
Brendan's Current Team and their moves
Marshtomp: Ice Beam - Rollout - Muddy Water - Mud Shot
Swellow: Air Slash - Sky Attack - Quick Attack - Steel Wing
Manectric: Thunder - Rain Dance - Crunch - Flash
Arcanine: Extremespeed - Fire Blast - Dig - Bite
Raticate: Super Fang - Hyper Fang - Scary Face - Iron Tail
Tentacruel: Surf - Constrict - Sludge Bomb - Giga Drain