A/N: Sorry for such a long wait, I was very busy with school and all and have had no time to update. Now here's chapter 10.

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"YES! We're finally here!" Ash jumped in the air and slapped a high five with Charmeleon.

Charmeleon smiled with his trainer and couldn't resist tackling him. Misty and Brock looked at each other and both smiled. It has been a while since Ash and the gang has visited a city, at least, one with a gym.

"I'm going straight to the gym!" Ash exclaimed, getting up off from the ground and started towards the direction of where the gym was.

"Hold on a minute." Brock grabbed the back of Ash's collar and tugged on it, which caused Ash to fall backwards onto the ground. "We still have to visit the Pokemon Center and get your Pokemon healed. Plus do you even have a set strategy?"

Ash cocked an eyebrow. "Strategy? Come to think of it; I guess I was so excited visiting the gym and earning my third badge, I forgot about even having a strategy."

"I think Ash is starting to use his head more." Misty replied with a giggle.

"Well, yes, of course. It's all being part of a trainer." Ash put his hands behind his head and chuckled.

"Of which you are not" Misty giggled again. Before any fighting could start, Brock stepped in.

"Let's just head to the Pokemon Center so we can discuss Ash's strategy and to get our Pokemon healed." Brock said, in one breath, leaving a confused Ash and Misty. Even Charmeleon sweatdropped at that one.

"You're right Brock, let's go!" Ash smiled.

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Ash introducing title: Strategy and Tactics!

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Ash and friends continue along Vermillion City, trying to locate a Pokemon Center. Ash and Brock are having a horrible time, but Misty is having a blast; she loved the scenery.

"Wow! This place is beautiful. I just love the parks here. Most of them have pools of water in them." Misty continued watch the scenery; turning her head side from side.

Ash yawned. "Figures."

Brock attempted to cough, but did so unsuccessfully and Misty rolled her eyes, ignoring the comment Ash made.

"I understand if you don't like the scenery here, Ash." Misty emphasized his name in her sentence.

"Oh, I enjoy this place...that is...until I get my gym badge!" Ash exclaimed. Charmeleon looked at his trainer in embarrassment as he continued to follow him.

"Hey we're finally here." Brock said, ash he pushed open the clear smooth glass doors of the small Pokemon Center.

Ash and the rest approached the front desk and rang the bell, which happened to be on the desk. Ash rang it twice, and in a second or two, Nurse Joy came rushing to the front desk as soon as possible.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I was checking up on a Pokemon in the back, and lost track of time." Nurse Joy explained, panting for breath.

"It's okay." Ash smiled. "We're in no big rush. However, do you min healing out Pokemon?"

"Sure. Of course I will." Everyone handed over their Pokemon (including Charmeleon) and took a seat on the couch, in the lobby.

Ash and Brock relaxed on the couch, but Misty was getting all wrecked up. She stood in front of the two boys and tapped her foot. Brock heard her tapping and sat up straight. He nudged Ash in the ribs, who instantly stood up.

"Who!? What!? Where?!" Ash said, confused. It took a while for Ash to figure out what was going on. "Oh..."

"Well, I'm bored! Let's go sightseeing!" Misty shouted at them. Ash and Brock tried to clean their ears with their fingers.

"We can't! We have to discuss my battle plan!" Ash cried, afraid of his friends ditching him.

"Well, you can discuss your battle plan!" Misty stomped out of the Pokemon Center with an angry look.

"I think she likes you." Brock whispered in Ash's ear.

"Brock, that's lame. I think she is way too old for me." Ash whispered back.

"Whatever."

It wasn't long until Misty came running back to Ash and Brock. They both grinned at each other and started to act innocent when Misty came over. They started to whistle and Misty had no idea what was going on. The truth was, they were going to try to embarrass Misty.

"Guys! Guess what!" Misty exclaimed, jumping in the air.

"What's up?" Brock asked, coolly.

"I found the gym leader's weakness!" Misty squealed.

"What!?" Ash was shocked. He didn't know she tried to find out the gym leader's weakness. Ash looked at Brock and by his expression, he was also shocked.

"It's true! The gym leader uses electric types, so it's best to use a ground type or at least a rock." Misty explained to them. Ash sighed; he had none of those types.

"Well, I wonder if any of my Pokemon knows any ground attacks." Ash said to himself.

"You can always teach them." Brock suggested, hearing Ash.

"Or you can just try your luck battling without a type advantage. You know, you can win with a disadvantage too." Misty also added.

"You know, you guys are right. I'll just try my best with whatever I already have. Now I just have to figure out a plan" Ash tried to think again.

"Well, the gym leader likes to use his Raichu most of the time. I've heard he hardly uses his other Pokemon" Misty told Ash.

"Yeah, and you do have a Pikachu, and we know how fast he is, so maybe you can try to use speed against this battle" Brock suggested once again.

Ash thought. How was he going to beat the gym leader? With strength? Pure power always comes in handy when your enemy had a high stamina. But you have many disadvantages at the same time. With speed? You need a very agile body to attack and move very fast. However, if the enemy has an attack that could take out the whole field, such as Explosion, it might now work so well. With brains? Being smart is also a very good way of fighting an opponent. But sometimes the opponent can outsmart you, and if you've used up all the moves you were going to do, then the foe will know what is coming next. All this was hurting Ash's head.

"I don't know guys, I can't decide between strength, speed, or brains" Ash turned to his friends for help.

Brock and Misty paused on that remarked. Ash could tell they were thinking hard too; probably the same thing Ash was thinking. They all know all of them have advantages and disadvantages, just, they didn't know which one were best for this certain situation.

"Ash, I don't know what to decide on. Times like this, I have a sure answer, but this, I'm not so sure." Brock sighed.

"Me too, Ash. However, I would usually rely on Brock if I can't decide on anything." Misty also sighed.

"Ash! You and your friends Pokemon are done recovering! Come pick them up!" Nurse Joy called from the front desk.

Ash went to go retrieve his Pokeball and his friends and brought them back over to where they were at. Ash took a seat at the lobby's couch and released Charmeleon. Charmeleon was glad to see his trainer and Ash patted his head. Ash then came up with an idea.

"I know! Let's ask Charmeleon!" Ash suggested.

Brock and Misty sweatdropped. "Charmeleon?" They both said simultaneously.

"Yeah. He would know what the best idea of this situation is. After all, I am going to use him for the gym battle." Ash explained to them and Brock and Misty both nodded.

Misty smiled. "Great thinking, Ash. I would have never thought of that."

"Yes. That was a clever idea" Brock agreed to Misty's comment.

"Charmeleon. What would you do for your upcoming gym battle? Strength, speed, or brains?" Ash asked Charmeleon.

Charmeleon thought; similar to Ash, Brock and Misty. However, he didn't take a long time to respond. Ash listened to his Pokemon and his eyes widened in joy.

"Charmeleon is a genius!" Ash shouted, happily.

"What is it?" Brock asked.

"Charmeleon suggests that I should use all three tactics to overcome the gym battle." Ash said, proud.

"Wow! That was a smart idea!" Misty stated, patting Charmeleon's head. "Good job, Charmeleon."

"I'd have to agree on that too, Ash" Brock smiled, and put a hand on Ash's shoulder.

"That settles it then! I'm using all three tactics!" Ash smiled at Charmeleon, and Charmeleon did the same.

Now that Ash has a set strategy for his upcoming gym battle, will he overcome the gym leader or will the gym leader overcome him? Stay tuned for chapter 11.

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A/N: That's chapter 10. I won't update in probably a while considering I have a lot of work I still have to do. Until then, see ya.