Kinnow Island Pokemon Center

In the eastern region of the Orange Archipelago lied Kinnow Island. Knows for its bustling city and large beach, as well as a nearby deserted landmass said to be a nesting ground for various Golduck, it had plenty to offer for travelers and trainers alike. Two boys in the local Pokemon Center ignored all of that though, typing away on computers side by side. The older of the two, Brock Slate, perused various medical journals recommended by a certain adventurous Nurse Joy. He was currently enjoying an article contrasting the positive and negative side effects of bitter herbs compared to traditional restoratives like potions. Very interesting.

As of the other boy, Ash Red Ketchum was on a mission to find anything he could about the Navel Island Gym. He had asked the third member of their trio, Tracey Sketchit, but alas the Orange Island native's knowledge did not extend beyond the first member of the Orange Crew. Said boy was currently pulling Brock's normal duty of supply restocking, but he didn't mind, believing he still had to pull his own weight as the newest member of the group.

"Finally! Looks like I found something," Ash said in relief. A trainer profile popped up, revealing the Navel Island Gym was run by an adult man named Danny. There wasn't much detail on his physical appearance, but he was said to be very athletic. Scrolling down the web page, Ash eventually came across a section detailing some of the Pokemon Danny was known to have.

Nidoqueen, Machoke, Geodude, Electrode, and Scyther. No clear typing pattern, but I have more than enough Pokemon to counter those. Looks like there isn't anything else. There are some comments left by trainers. Maybe they have some advice?

Ash read through vigilantly, ignoring the vast majority of them which featured complaints from trainers who had gotten creamed. Others were simply troll-like in nature, while a few were left by fan girls. Eventually, Ash's tenacity paid off.

Jackpot! This guy gives some descriptions of the challenges. Scaling a mountain, ice making and carving, and a sledding competition. He also says that the match with the Gym Leader is a 3 on 3 fight.

"Maybe I should try researching more often? It seems to really be paying off," Ash mused aloud.

"Ash Ketchum?" asked the distinct feminine voice of Nurse Joy behind him

"Uh, yeah?" answered Ash, turning to the older woman.

"You have a phone call for you back in the lobby," smiled the Nurse. Ash turned back to the screen, jotted down a few notes, and promptly shut everything down.

"Sorry about that. Lead the way." Following Nurse Joy, Ash came to a video phone showing the kind old face of Professor Oak.

"Ash, wonderful to see you my boy!" exclaimed the good professor.

"Nice to see you too Professor Oak. How's your research going?" Oak's eyes lit up as he was happy to share the latest news.

"Things at the lab are progressing smoothly. A colleague of mine from Sinnoh sent me a fascinating article on Pokemon Evolution with some interesting theories that I've been perusing. On the downside, Professor Ivy's latest news is no news on the GS Ball. I am beginning to lose hope that any progress will be made. But enough about my own ramblings, how are the Orange Islands treating you?

"Pretty good Professor Oak! We've met some neat Pokemon along the way. Heck, I'm getting ready for my second Gym Battle, and was just doing some research on the Gym Leader," Ash proudly explained.

"Wise of you Ash, and thanks for bringing that up. It gets back to why I called you in the first place."

"Really?" Ash said, his interest thoroughly piqued. Oak smiled and gestured with his had to something offscreen.

"Pika!" cried the cheery voice of Pikachu, jumping into view and waving at his trainer.

"Pikachu! Great to see you buddy! Are you getting stronger?" the now jubilant boy fired off.

"Pika. Pikachu!" smirked the Pokemon, electricity crackling along his cheeks.

"Pikachu here has been getting a bit restless. I don't think he's cut out for the life of staying in one place, much like a certain boy I know," winked Professor Oak.

"Does that mean—"

"Yes! Pikachu would like to continue traveling with you immediately," confirmed Professor Oak.

"You mean it Pikachu?" Ash asked with hope.

"Pikachu!" affirmed the Pokemon with a nod.

"That's awesome! Um… any news of Charizard?" tentatively asked the boy. Pikachu visibly deflated a bit, while Professor Oak sighed.

"I'm sorry Ash, but Pikachu isn't the only one to have inherited a trait from you. Charizard seems to have your stubbornness. From what I've seen, he has been battling your father's Charizard on a daily basis. Predictably, he has gotten crushed each time, though he has improved. I think Charizard wants to keep getting stronger and to prove himself worthy. I asked my boy, but he refuses to leave."

"I… I get it. That's been his dream from the start. Getting stronger. Well say hi for me Professor Oak," Ash responded, swallowing hard to push down any sadness.

"Of course, Ash. Now, how about we get this transfer underway for Pikachu hmm?"

"Sure. I'm going to go ahead and send you Venusaur. He just evolved and could probably use some help in getting used to his new form from dad's Venusaur," explained Ash, placing a Pokeball into the device.

"Sensible," agreed Professor Oak, calling Pikachu back to a Pokeball and doing the same. In a flash, the Pokeballs were replaced, and Ash held the Pokeball of one of his oldest friends.

"Don't be a stranger Ash, and remember to stay in touch with your mother," warned the stern man.

"I call her on almost every island we stop on," the exasperated boy retorted.

"Good. Best of luck!" finished Professor Oak, ending the call. Before Ash could do a thing, Pikachu's Pokeball opened on its own accord.

Some things never changed, Ash thought with a grin. The newly present Pikachu wasted no time, reclaiming has spot on Ash's shoulder and nuzzling his trainer.

"Welcome home buddy. Let's go introduce you back to princess and the rest of the gang. They're resting in the room," the now content boy said, petting his good friend. All was as it should be.

Navel Island

Lapras slowly come to a stop on the shore allowing Ash and Pikachu, Tracey, Brock, and Lucario to safely disembark. Ash released Princess from her Pokeball, calling Lapras back at the same time, before turning to his friends. Each of them was staring upward and the boy couldn't help but do the same. A huge mountain loomed in the distance. The top of it completely obscured by clouds. Staring at the marvel in front of him, Ash couldn't help but reflect on his strategy and time in the Orange Islands.

It had been roughly six weeks since the boy arrived in the Orange Islands. The Pokemon League was still ten weeks away, so time wasn't an issue. Recently, Ash spent the past few days going over his strategy for this Gym Battle. He needed three Pokemon and he had chosen carefully. Espeon was the obvious first choice. She had a natural advantage over Nidoqueen and Machoke. The fact that she was one of Ash's powerhouses added to the fun. Still, Ash would try not to overuse her too much. He wanted to let his other Pokemon get some experience as well. This philosophy led Ash to the conclusion that it was time for Ryhorn to participate in a Gym Battle. His ground type moves and resistance would serve well against Electrode or Geodude. A win here would go a long way in helping him to take the next step. Lastly, Ash wanted Shellder to get a shot in for one final challenge. Hopefully she would get that chance against Scyther. If Shellder succeeded, and Ash was confident she would, Ash would proceed with his long-awaited desire to bring Shellder to the next level.

Beyond strategizing and working with those three Pokemon in particular, Ash continued his aura training with Lucario. Energy redirection was practiced at least one hour a day. Despite his continued efforts, Ash still made no progress with it, and Lucario refused to test the boy's capabilities with an attack yet. On the bright side, he hadn't had a vision or dream in quite some time. Maybe the stress of his journey had brought those initial things up in the first place? Perhaps he could put the unpleasantness behind him?

Loud footsteps against the sand broke Ash out of his reflection. A man with wavy brown hair, a red shirt with island themed Rock Pokemon patterns, and blue shorts approached the group from the direction of the mountain.

"Hey folks. I'm Danny. What brings you all to a sparsely populated island like Navel?" asked the man in a cheery manner. Ash adopted a wry smile before responding.

"I think you know exactly why we're here Mr. Gym Leader."

"W-What?"

"I'm Ash Red Ketchum from Pallet Town and I challenge you to an Orange Island League battle!" declared the boy with conviction, staring down the man hard. Danny's stupor was overcome in an instant and he bellowed in delight.

"I admit, challengers normally don't do their homework before coming for a Gym Battle. Should make things interesting. Follow me folks and let's get this thing underway." Danny took the group from the beach, past houses that seemed to be vacant for the most part, to a large stone door with a Pokeball emblem at the center. Atop it was carved Naval Island Gym. Pushing the doors open, Danny allowed the gang to pass. Through the doors Ash spotted a small lodge with a cable car, a sign, and a mountain path.

"You two and any Pokemon can take the Cable Car up the mountain," Danny said to Brock and Tracey, eying Espeon, Pikachu, and Lucario as well.

"Sounds good to me. I bet their will be loads of scenic spots filled with Pokemon to sketch along the way," Tracey eagerly exclaimed, walking to the car.

"I don't fancy a mountain climb myself. Best of luck Ash," chortled Brock, joining Tracey. That comment drew a raised eyebrow from Danny in Ash's direction.

"Uh… I may have researched the potential challenges I would face at the Gym," Ash weakly answered.

"Well, I guess you still have to complete them at the very least. What do you know about this first one?" sighed the man.

"I know it involves scaling the mountain, but that's about it." A glint flashed through Danny's eyes.

"But did you know you had to do it on your own and without your Pokemon?"

"No," admitted Ash, now more serious and studying the mountain intensely."

"Well, you do. I suggest you leave your Pokemon behind. The path is treacherous, and they won't be of any use anyway," continued Danny.

"My apprentice needs no aid. Nonetheless, this will be a good test, and one that I wish to supervise. I shall join you," spoke Lucario, leaving no room for disagreement.

"Pika!" cried Pikachu, fired up and agreeing with Lucario.

"I wanna come too!" chirped Espeon.

"Princess, it looks like there's going to be a lot of vertical climbing involved. Lucario can climb on his own and Pikachu is small enough to stay on my shoulder. I don't think you fit the bill for either of those options," gently rebuked Ash.

"But… I guess your right. I'll see you at the top daddy," grumbled Espeon, walking off to join Brock and Tracey.

"We're ready to go Danny!" Ash said, looking at the Gym Leader.

"Then let's be on our way," nodded the man, heading to the mountain path. The first part of the trek was a hike up a winding road at a steep up cline. Ash's prior endurance training and Lucario's additional training made that a cake walk. Soon enough, they came to the base of the mountain at which point Danny began to climb. It took Ash a bit of time to adjust, but he did have some prior experience with the short climb back on Fossil Island. A glance at Lucario gave Ash the idea to tap into a serene state of meditative peace, allowing him greater focus on the task at hand. An hour passed in the blink of an eye and still Ash climbed, never slowing, or falling behind.

"Not bad Ash. Most challengers have to at least take a break, or they inevitably give up. I haven't heard a word from you the entire time," Danny called down to the boy climbing below him.

"My dream is to be a Pokemon Master. A climb will not stop me," adamantly answered the boy, steel in his voice as he kept focus. Higher and higher the crew climbed and with the attitude, the temperature took a noticeable dive.

"Breath deeply Apprentice. Let your Aura flow through your body. Use it to fight the cold," advised Lucario. Ash obeyed, letting the mystical energy fill his core, and the boy continued his trek undaunted. Pikachu clung to his shoulder tightly, offering encouraging cries throughout the way. They were getting close.

Ash pulled himself up back to a steep incline, leaving behind the vertical portion of the trip. This incline however was covered in snow and Pikachu was visibly shivering from the constant exposure. Without hesitation, Ash stripped his jacket off and bundled his little Pokemon into the garb, giving no regards to his own warmth. Nodding at Danny, he gestured for the man to continue, and so they did. Another hour of hiking up the snowy mountain allowed Ash to finally catch sight of the finish line. There in the distance he saw another small lodge, the cable car, his friends, and Princess. They made it!

"You must be freezing Ash. Here I have a spare blanket," Brock offered, handing it to the grateful boy.

"Thanks Brock," sighed Ash in contentment at the renewed warmth.

"Good job Ash. You passed the first challenge. In order to earn the right to a Gym Battle, you will need to complete two of the next three," instructed Danny.

"I'm ready," affirmed Ash.

"The first challenge, which I'm sure you have some idea about already, can be seen over there. Observe." Ash looked to where the man was pointing, seeing two geysers periodically spouting water into the air.

"I'm guessing I have to freeze the water somehow," theorized Ash.

"Correct, but you'll have to do it faster than me. Nidoqueen, I choose you!" yelled the man, tossing a Pokeball into the air. The regal light-blue ground Pokemon emerged, giving a yell to announce her presence.

"Choose a Pokemon that knows Ice Beam, or any other Ice move to freeze water, and we will proceed. If you need to transfer Pokemon from elsewhere, I have a transporter inside the lodge," offered Danny.

"No need. I have just the Pokemon for the job. Let's go Shellder!" called Ash, sending out the small purple-shelled Pokemon.

"Shellder, our objective is to freeze that geyser of water as fast as possible. As soon as I give the order, I'm going to need you to use Ice Beam," explained Ash.

"Shellder!" cried the Pokemon in acknowledgement, facing the geyser.

"All right Ash looks like the water is about to recede. Whoever freezes the next spout first into a pillar of ice wins. Understand?"

"Got it Danny!" The water pressure ended, ceasing the flow of water from the ground. There was silence for a time as everyone watched with anticipation. The silence gave Ash time to think.

I'm sure he's done this countless times already, giving him and his Pokemon an advantage. We're going to have to take an opening and strike first to win this thing. Before the last waterspout, I noticed the ground trembling slightly. I think that might just be what we need to win this.

Ash breathed in deeply, adopting a calm mood, waiting for the moment. His patience paid off as he soon felt a slight tremble in the ground beneath him.

"SHELLDER, USE ICE BEAM!" abruptly called Ash, yelling out the attack before the water even showed and catching his opponent off guard. A beam of ice flew from the shell in which Ash's Pokemon hid, heading for the air above where the water would come from. Just before it arrived, the water erupted, and the beam met the water as it emerged.

"ICE BEAM NIDOQUEEN!" quickly followed Danny. Nidoqueen roared, unleashing a far more powerful beam of ice. Had she started first, she likely would have won the competition with ease. Ash's head start made the difference though and by the slimmest of margins, a completed pillar of ice stood strong on Ash's side before Danny's.

"Looks like you took the first round Ash. How did you know when to launch your attack?" enquired the Orange Crew member.

"The ground shakes slightly right before the waters comes out. All I had to do was wait for the cue and Shellder did her part brilliantly," returned the boy, petting his Pokemon.

"That she did. Now, for the next challenge. Nidoqueen, if you wouldn't mind carrying our pillars and taking them to the next position?" asked Danny, as he started to walk off. His Pokemon easily carried out the order, carrying a pillar of ice with one arm each and following her trainer. Ash and his friends followed closely, seeing Nidoqueen place the ice pillars down in front of Danny and a signpost.

"Here you can see a rough design of a sled," Danny gestured to the sign.

"Your job is to utilize three Pokemon to work in tandem to construct a sled from your pillar of ice. Like last time, we will be racing. Whoever completes their sled in line with the design on this sign first wins the challenge. For this, I will be sticking with Nidoqueen and calling out Machoke and Scyther!" finished Danny, sending out the latter two Pokemon.

"Send out your Pokemon and then I'll give you a few minutes to prepare," said the man, huddling up with his own trio.

I don't think Shellder will be of much use in carving, so she will have to be replaced. Pikachu's Iron Tail is pretty good at crushing rock, so why not ice? I think Tyrogue will be another natural choice with his fists carving through. He can probably do some of the more delicate work with controlled punches. That leaves one more spot. I can't believe I'm thinking it, but I'm strongly considering Scyther. His scythes would cut through the ice like butter. He's also come pretty far. I'm just not sure if he's ready to be a team player. No time like the present to find out. Worst comes to worst we'll just win that third challenge.

"Ok, I've made up my mind. You did good work out there Shellder, but take a rest for now," started Ash, calling back his Pokemon.

"Tyrogue and Scyther, come on out!" called the boy, sending the duo onto the snowy mountain.

"Listen up you two, and you as well Pikachu. Our job is to work as a team to carve this giant ice pillar into a canoe like the pictures on this signpost. Pikachu and Scyther, you guys can do the more heavy-duty work, chipping away ice with Iron Tail and Slash. Tyrogue, I need you to make use of precise punches to carve the shape of the canoe around their work. Everyone understand?"

"Pika!" nodded the mouse

"Rogue!" Tyrogue answered with a thumbs up.

"Scy. Scyther," scoffed the final Pokemon, looking at the fellow Scyther aggressively.

"Look, just try to work as a team and focus ok," Ash tried, eying Scyther hard.

"Ready Ash?" Danny approached the boy.

"As much as we'll ever be," muttered the boy.

"Pokemon, to your positions around the canoe," ordered Danny. His trio surrounded their ice pillar strategically from one side each. Ash directed Pikachu and Scyther to the ends of their ice pillar, placing Tyrogue near the center to craft the finer details. Two of Ash's Pokemon were focused, ready to get going, while the latter continued to stare down his fellow Pokemon.

"BEGIN!" Danny yelled. The Orange Crew's trio got to work in a methodical manner that spoke of constant practice and repetition, chipping away at the ice and rapidly approaching a canoe shape. Ash's team, well they weren't exactly performing like a team. Pikachu did well, chipping way ice on his end with Iron Tail, though at a pace slower than Danny's Pokemon. Tyrogue delivered swift punches, shaping the center to be more like a canoe. Scyther though, he slashed and hacked at his portion of ice with reckless abandon, seeming to try and hack off larger pieces than the other Scyther.

"Cool it Scyther and be more precise in your cuts!" Ash yelled, trying to catch his attention. It was no good though, Scyther continued to hack and slash, glaring at his counterpart.

"SCYTHER!" screamed the Pokemon delivering a powerful downward slash to the end of his ice pillar, smirking at the other Scyther that was content to ignore him. Unfortunately for Ash, that slash split the entire ice pillar in half, ending any chance Ash had of winning this challenge. Meanwhile, Danny's team wrapped things up on their end, producing a beautifully crafted Canoe.

Pikachu and Tyrogue were irate, berating Scyther in a scathing manner, while Scyther shrugged it off.

"Scyther," Ash said coldly, catching his attention.

"I'm disappointed in you. Return." His eyes and voice held no emotion, calling a somewhat chilled Scyther back to his Pokeball.

"Seems like you had some trouble Ash," gently said Danny, having witnessed his challenger's collapse.

"Scyther is a work in progress, but that's for another time. Looks like it will come down to the third challenge. It's a canoe race, right?" shot back Ash, shifting the conversation away from what had transpired.

"That's right. You're going to need an actual canoe for that, but we'll get you sorted quickly," smiled the man. Danny gave a whistle, and his team of experts crafted another Canoe in no time flat after Nidoqueen froze another pillar. The canoes were then carried to the edge of the mountain in front of a downward slope.

"Thanks Danny and thank you as well guys," Ash smiled to his opponent's Pokemon, who returned the gesture with nods.

"The final challenge will be a race to the beach. There is a finish line waiting for us. The first person and their team of three chosen Pokemon to cross will win the race. For this final challenge, I will use Scyther, Geodude, and Electrode," concluded Danny, making the appropriate substitutions.

Geodude and Electrode are pretty heavy, which will probably increase Danny's speed as he goes down the mountain. Scyther can assist with steering, giving him a well-rounded team. Ours will have to be just as versatile. I think I'll stick with Pikachu, having him stay near the back and using his Iron Tail to serve as a rudder of sorts to steer. Kingleris the next choice. Cissy's use of Blastoise during the challenge at the Mikan Gym is something I think we can use just as well for additional speed. Finally, we'll end with Shellder, and employ a similar strategy to what we used with Lapras back on Mikan Island.

"Tyrogue, thanks for giving us a good effort. Return," Ash called back the Pokemon.

"Shellder and Kingler, go!" Ash's Water Pokemon emerged, giving their trainer all of their attention.

"Pikachu, join the others, and let's get to the plan. We have to race the Gym Leader to the bottom of the mountain for a chance to have a Gym Battle. I need you three to come together for us to have a shot at this. Pikachu, you'll man the back of the boat, using Iron Tail to help steer us through the snow. Kingler, you're going to be focusing near the back as well, shooting off a constant Bubble Beam at our backs to boost our speed. Finally, Shellder will be pulling double duty. I need you to join me in the front where you will be utilizing Ice Beam to form an icy path, further increasing our speed. You'll also need to use your attacks to knock away any obstacles that Pikachu can't get us to dodge. All right guys, let's win this thing!" Ash summed up with a fist pump. Both trainers and their Pokemon manned the sleds, while Brock Tracey, Lucario, and Espeon headed back down the mountain in a cable car.

"We start on go Ash. 3… 2… 1… GO!"

"Bubble Beam, Iron Tail, and Ice Beam!" Ash immediately yelled out. Bubbles flew from Kingler, sending the sled into the air for a moment until it hit the ground and continued at a fast speed. Shellder increase the speed with Ice Beam, creating an icy path ahead of them, while Pikachu carefully steered the sled around obstacles through a judicious use of Iron Tail. On the other end, Electrode and Geodude rolled to the front of their sled, propelling Danny's team forward, while Scyther manned the back. Danny's team had the clear weight advantage, but Ash's use of his Pokemon more than made up for it, giving them an early overall advantage. Down the slopes they raced, passing snow, trees, bushes, and rocks.

"Keep it up guys! Looks like the slope is going to change to a rockier outlook!" Ash yelled, staring ahead to see the snow disappear.

"ROCK BLAST!" yelled a voice from the other sled. Ash quickly turned, glad he did, as he saw Geodude opening fire on his own sled with rocks. Ash acted with instinct.

"Send those rocks back with Iron Tail Pikachu! Kingler, adjust your focus to steering with Metal Claw! Shellder, keep it up in the front!" Ash's Pokemon acted just as fast as their trainer. Pikachu deflected all the rocks with ease, forcing Danny's Pokemon to go on defense to protect their sled. Kingler took up the back like a pro, digging his claw into the ground and making sure to keep the group from crashing into anything. Shellder's Ice Beam never ceased, allowing them all to maintain a semblance of good speed, even on the rocky outlook. Once Ash was satisfied, he shot a quick glare over at Danny who innocently smiled back.

Now there were getting close. The finish line on the beach was rapidly approaching. Pikachu and Geodude traded attacks. Ash saw a clear path ahead and called one final command.

"KINGLER, RELEASE YOUR METAL CLAW AND USE A FULL POWERED BUBBLE BEAM!" roared the boy. Kingler complied, drawing his claw up from the ground and shooting a powerful beam of bubbles behind the sled, propelling the group forward.

FINISH! Ash and Co. just crossed the finish line ahead of Danny's team, earning the boy and his Pokemon a narrow victory. Ash wasn't exactly focused on that though. The boy immediately got out of his sled and walked up to Danny with fury written all over his face.

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT? The irate boy yelled in the Orange Crew Member's face.

"What was what?" he asked back with a faux innocent expression.

"Don't play dumb. Your attack could have seriously injured my Pokemon and I!" accused Ash.

"You mean like how your attack against Cissy on Mikan Island might have seriously injured her?" smirked back Danny, taking the wind out of Ash's sails.

"But… How did you… What?"

"I have a bit of a confession to make Ash. You're not the only one who did their research," the man smiled sheepishly.

"You're in contact with the Mikan Island Gym Leader," Ash realized.

"Yes, but not just her. The members of the Orange Crew are a pretty tight nit group. Most of our challengers fail to win, so when somebody does, we typically let the others know. Hearing of a boy who employed unusual strategies, prepared far in advance, and worked close with his Pokemon, really pumped me up. Yup, I knew who you were the moment you said your name Ash," laughed Danny.

"I suppose the others know too then…"

"And they'll hear more from me if you continue to impress," nodded Danny. Ash adapted a look of resignation, but he supposed it was fair. He was researching the Gym Leaders himself ahead of time anyway.

"Fine. I believe you owe me a battle now."

"You're right. We'll hold it here and now."

"On the beach?"

"I'm not one for showing off with a flashy stadium. Oh look, here come your friends," Danny pointed out.

Ash turned and saw Brock, Tracey, Lucario, and Espeon walking towards him. The boy gave them a quick smile and a thumbs up, before turning back to Danny.

"Then let's get started on the battle." Danny walked a good twenty feet away from Ash and turned back, adopting a more serious expression.

"This will be an official Orange Islands League Gym Battle for the Sea Ruby Badge. The battle will be 3 on 3. Only the challenger may make substitutions. The winner will be determined when all of a participant's Pokemon are unable to battle. Nidoqueen, come out!" Danny's Electrode, Scyther, and Geodude walked off to the side, while Nidoqueen emerged from her Pokeball.

"Princess, run on over because I'm starting with you!" Ash yelled to Espeon. Said Pokemon dashed forward, making it to Ash's side in no time flat.

"Let's rock and roll!" Espeon said, grinning for the upcoming fight.

"The first move is yours Ash," offered Danny.

"Calm Mind," responded the boy, having Espeon power up early. The gem on Espeon's emerald, green forehead glowed a soothing light, increasing her already formidable special attack and special defense.

"Then we'll do some setting up to. Use Toxic Spikes," countered Danny. Nidoqueen roared, opening her mouth, and releasing a barrage of spikes into the air. Ash's eyes narrowed as he had no intention of lighting that move connect.

"Seize the spikes with Confusion," snapped back the boy.

"Take advantage of their distraction and go in for a Fury Swipes Attack!" called Danny. Espeon's gem glowed once more, seizing control of the spikes in midair, but Nidoqueen began a charge, drawing dangerously close.

Using the spikes against Nidoqueen would do no good, so we'll take the hit instead and punish his remaining Pokemon," Ash quickly rationalized.

"Send the spikes down to the ground in front of Danny and brace yourself!" Espeon complied, forcing the spikes to sink into the ground in front of Danny and in the next moment Nidoqueen arrived with a Fury Swipes barraged. The attacks tore into Espeon, dealing quickly stockpiling amounts of damage. Espeon was one of Ash's powerhouses though, so she stayed tough.

"Bite Attack!" followed up Danny. Well, that could be a problem.

"They're way too close! Fire off a full powered Psybeam!" retorted Ash. Nidoqueen's mouth opened, and she revealed dark fangs, bearing down onto Espeon. Ash's months of intense training showed though and Espeon moved first. Psybeam at point blank range blasted Nidoqueen away, sending the poor Pokemon flying into the air. The added power from Calm Mind, the super-effective nature of the attack, and Espeon's already impressive power could mean only one thing. Nidoqueen landed with a dull thud in the sand, and she did not get up.

"Great start Princess!" praised Ash, pumped up from the early victory. Danny whistled appreciatively at the display he had just seen, calling back Nidoqueen to her Pokeball.

"That's one powerful Pokemon you have there Ash. Using my own Toxic Spikes against me for my next Pokemon was pretty clever too. Just means I'll have to take the rest of your team out quick. Electrode roll on up to battle!" yelled Danny. Electrode did just that, rolling to the spot in front of his trainer, and activating Toxic Spikes, poisoning the Pokemon.

"Take a breather Princess. Time to give a friend their first chance at a Gym Battle," instructed Ash.

"On it!" happily agreed Espeon, trotting off the battlefield to Ash's side.

"Ryhorn, time for your Gym Battle debut!" yelled Ash, tossing the Pokeball into the air. Ryhorn drew his paw back several times, huffing with excitement for the upcoming match.

"Another type advantage? Cissy did mention you played it smart. Let's start fast. Use Rollout!" snapped off Danny. The already weakened Electrode spun into a ball, heading for Ryhorn.

Another direct attack. Seems pretty simple.

"Meet it head on with Bulldoze Ryhorn!" Now Ryhorn charged, aggressively stomping the ground, ready to ram right into—

"Change to Gyro Ball! Danny yelled at the last second. Ash's eyes widened as Electrode's rolling body took on a silver sheen and then the two collided. Both Pokemon were flung backward, but Ryhorn fell harder, likely due to years of experience from the other Pokemon.

"Again!" called Danny. Electrode shook off his injuries, pushing himself into a silver ball that travelled slightly slower than before.

Crap! Bulldoze backfired by lowering Electrode's speed, which powers up Gyro Ball. A head on attack won't do us any favors. Time to try something different.

"Rock Blast!" Ryhorn stood up, stomping against the ground to summon rocks from the earth and then he batted them ahead, right at the oncoming Electrode.

"Swerve around and keep going," Danny calmly ordered. Like a pro, Electrode did just that, weaving through them with ease.

"DIG!" Ash yelled, calling upon one of his signature moves. Ryhorn dug fast, vanishing just before Electrode rolled over head. The Pokemon visibly stumbled as it passed through the hole, giving Ash an idea.

"Start popping out of the ground at random spots on the battlefield," called Ash with a neutral expression. Ryhorn obeyed, creating even more holes as an increasingly frustrated Danny tried to play whack a mole, er Ryhorn. Then it happened. Electrode fell into a hole and got stuck, completely lodged within.

"ELECTRODE!" cried Danny in concern.

"USE BULLDOZE FROM BENEATH ELECTRODE!" roared Ash. Both trainers heard a rumbling beneath the ground, but Danny wasn't about to give up.

"EXPLOSION!" Electrode lit up like a Christmas tree and BOOM! An explosive blast rocked the battlefield, removing chunks of sand from near everywhere. Ash coughed and rubbed sand out of his eyes fast, quickly assessing the damage. He could see Electrode knocked out in the middle of the battlefield, but there was no sign of Ryhorn.

"Return Electrode," softly said Danny, calling his Pokemon back and thanking it. There it was. Ryhorn lied in a hole beneath where Electrode had fainted, taking the full brunt of Explosion head on.

"Man… good work Ryhorn. Not bad at all for your first Gym Battle. Return," smiled Ash.

"I learned that from you Ash. I listened for the rumbling and then I struck," Danny explained. Ash grit his teeth, opting to wait for Danny to continue.

"Not feeling chatty huh. Well, I am. That Espeon of yours is powerful and I don't want to face it again without a Pokemon that will give me a leg up. Therefore, my last Pokemon will be Scyther," finished Danny, nodding to the Bug Pokemon.

Looks like Shellder will get her shot after all, but there's a learning opportunity here as well.

"Shellder and Scyther, come on out!" Both Pokemon materialized in front of Ash, looking to their trainer.

"Shellder, step onto the battlefield. Scyther, I want you to observe," Ash coolly advised. Scyther was about to give his trainer lip but seeing that stern look and the other Scyther on the battlefield made him think better of it. Instead, he walked off to the side with the rest of Ash's friends. Lucario eyes the Bug Pokemon closely to keep him in line.

"Hey, your Scyther's not experiencing any poison damage," commented Ash.

"I guess Explosion took out more than two Pokemon the," jibed Danny.

"Double T—"

"Ice Shard!" interjected Ash, allowing Shellder to quickly shoot off a shard of ice, striking Scyther before Danny could finish his command, and dealing some early super-effective damage.

"Double Team!" rapidly yelled out Danny, now annoyed. The damaged Scyther split into a line of fifteen copies, staring down Shellder like a predator.

"Agility!" Scyther and his copies vanished, gaining speed and circling Shellder.

"Steady Shellder," ordered Ash, watching Scyther carefully.

"Wing Attack!" All of the copies dove forward, a claw extended to slash out, just as Ash wanted.

"Whirlpool!" Water flew from Shellder in all directions, catching each copy in a spiraling pool of water. Fourteen copies vanished and Scyther was thrown like a rag doll off to the side.

"Scy!" growled the Pokemon, getting back up with plenty of fight left, but livid all the same.

"Agility again and then Slash barrage!" shouted Danny. Scyther's speed increased yet another stage as it disappeared, reappearing in front of Shellder.

"IRON DEFENSE!" Shellder's body glowed with a sheen and then the blows started. Scyther slashed, slashed, and he slashed some more.

"Ice Beam!"

"Dodge it!" Shellder fired a beam of ice, stopping the attacks, but Scyther easily dodged, before resuming his onslaught.

He's way too fast! We're going to have to match that speed, but first we need to get Scyther out of the way.

"Whirlpool one more time!" Ash called out. Once more, water exploded from Shellder, this time catching Scyther and sending him tumbling once more, but only dealing miniscule damage. Then, Ash took a gamble.

"SHELL SMASH!" Shellder's shell exploded, revealing a vulnerable black body with a face that oozed power.

"FULL POWERED SLASH!" yelled Danny, seizing the opening.

"BLIZZARD!" Ash yelled, praying the new attack would work.

"Shellder!" cried the Pokemon, opening her mouth and firing a powerful icy blast, unleashed with her full potential of upped Special Attack. Blizzard covered the entirety of the beach and the oncoming Scyther stood no chance.

"SCY!" screamed the Pokemon in agony, seizing up a few feet from Shellder. In the next instant, he was frozen solid.

"WAY TO GO SHELLDER!" Ash punched the air in triumph, scooping up his little Pokemon and hugging her.

"Shellder! Shellder!" chirped the very happy girl, licking her trainer's face as he laughed.

"Take a chill pill Scyther. Return," Danny sighed, cracking a small smile at his own poor joke. It seemed that he had a badge to award.

"Well done Ash. That was a risky strategy, but it paid off," admitted Danny as he approached the boy.

"That I learned from Cissy," Ash cheekily retorted, causing Danny to chuckle.

"I'm sure she would be glad to hear it. Now, I believe I owe you a badge. I'm proud to present the Sea Ruby Badge." Ash accepted a badge in the shape of a white shell with a red emblem in the center.

"Thanks Danny. These first two Gym Battles have been great! I can't wait for the next two."

"I'll be sure to let the others know," smiled the man. Ash didn't turn to leave or go back to his friends yet. There was still one more thing to do. Placing Shellder down, he got on a knee and looked her in the eyes.

"Shellder, you've come a long way from when we first met back in Sunny Town. To think you were a poor sick little thing and now look at you. That power you unleashed is impressive and you've worked hard to obtain it," praised Ash, causing a red blush to permeate Shellder's cheeks. Ash reached into his back pocket, pulling out a clear blue stone.

"You know what this is Shellder. The choice is yours. You've earned it!" Ash said, holding it out. Shellder watched carefully, studying the stone with scrutiny. Very slowly, the Pokemon moved forward, inevitably touching the Water Stone. Shellder glowed a bright white as the stone was consumed, disappearing from existence. Shellder's height jumped to nearly five times her original height. A fresh shell sprouted and expanded. Shellder's core body grew. Spikes protruded from the shell. Then, the light ceased.

"Cloyster!" grinned the Pokemon. Now Ash had two powerful water Pokemon. He was happy for Cloyster, but he also couldn't help but think that a certain redhead would be quite jealous.

Cerulean City Gym Misty's Room

Within the Cerulean City Gym were certain living quarters. The sensational sisters and Misty had to sleep somewhere, and what place was better than the Gym with a pool! One room belonging to a young girl was filled to the brim with memorabilia. A poster of Lorelei and her Lapras was featured on one wall. A picture of Misty and her sisters hung on another. Water Pokemon posters were spattered about. A rare Pokemon Doll collection adorned some shelves. A recently framed picture of a girl and her two best friends sat on a nigh stand next to a bed. Finally, Misty herself stood over a newly set up crib.

"Hey there! Hey there!" Misty cooed at her newest Pokemon.

"Chooki! Chooki prii!" babbled the happy baby Togepi. She maintained an eggshell for most of her body with the same blue and red patterns scattered about it, but Togepi now also sported two feet, tiny arms, and a round head with white spikes. She was the most adorable thing Misty had ever seen in her life. Togepi had also been treating Misty like her mother, and Misty wouldn't have it any other way. The joy Misty got from taking care of Togepi was insurmountable. She couldn't replace Ash and Brock by any means, but a hole in Misty's heart was slowly being filled. Maybe, everything would work out for the best.

Even if I do say goodbye to Ash and Brock, it doesn't mean it has to be forever. How did that old poet put it? Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. However, that parting need not last forever. Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short time… that is up to you.

Misty smiled, tears falling from her face. Everything would be ok. She was sure of it. She had hope.

END CHAPTER

I was debating including the next part with the munchy Pokemon, but this chapter was already over 7K words, so I ended it here. I think this is now the longest chapter of the story. Today, Pikachu rejoined the squad, Ash won his second Gym Battle, Shellder evolved, and Misty has appeared to have decided her future. The writer also blatantly ripped off a quote from his favorite video game to end the chapter.

Next Time – Ash and Co. encounter the munchy Pokemon, a nefarious figure makes his first appearance in this story, Ash progress with his aura training, and Tracey will catch his first Pokemon in the Orange Islands invoking further Scyther drama. If we have time, perhaps we may encounter a certain member of the Elite Four.

Reader2 – Thanks for the review! It is an Ash thing to do isn't it? That boy thinks he should shoulder the burdens of the world. Hopefully he comes to his senses.

Reader – Thanks for the review! Misty may not even be in Johto, for the most part, based on this chapter. As for Elekid, I already have a companion character slated to catch that in Johto. I think it's obvious who it is at this point, but I will say nothing else.

Tyuo – Thanks for the review! I think I remember Togepi making "prii" sounds, which is why I included it. Sorry for the confusion. Ash Red Ketchum never misses a chance to train. As for Brock, I'll slip in some hopeless romantic failures again when I get a chance. He was acting mature because he really wanted to figure out how Nurse Joy reconciled doing two separate things, overriding his desire to flirt.

CaptainSammyAngel – Looks like the conflict in Misty is dead. Felt like it was getting stale, and becoming a parent is supposed to change your life, so I figured that would give her a push. As for the second movie, we still have some time before we get there.

Espeon860 – Thanks for the review! I might have brought the most epic and evil villain into the story. Just maybe. Find out if you know who appears next time!

Remember to review with your thoughts and critique : )

Smell ya later!