Floating rocks gathered from their resting positions, spiraling around the newly spawned Riolu before converging in a merciless press. The fighting type yipped in pain, emerging from the Stealth Rock as soon as it relented. She landed on her feet, shaking off the pain. "Rio!"

"Rosa! What're you doing here!?" Ash exclaimed, looking down at his belt. "I thought Dawn had your Poké Ball." He looked up to the stands, giving his friend a questioning look.

"I do…!?" Dawn furrowed her brows, reaching for her belt, pulling off a Poké Ball. "You handed her over to me in case she wanted to watch the battle or go back inside. It's been with me, the entire time!"

"But that doesn't make any sense…" Ash frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Did I screw up and hand over the wrong ball?"

~No!~ Rosa's high-pitched, telepathic voice rang in the audience's ears. ~I did it. I switched my ball with one of the others after dinner, when you guys weren't looking.~

"Then, that must be Bulbasaur's." Ash looked up to Dawn, who shrugged, and back to his own Pokémon. "What's the big idea, girl?"

~I wanted to battle!~ The Riolu decisively crossed her arms. ~This time, I won't lose!~

Ash blinked. "...I get it, now. That stuff that happened the other day, in Viridian Forest."

"That's a real twist," Forrest cracked a smirk, but he was clearly doing his best to remain professional. He coughed into his hand, forcing a straight face. "But you should know, Ash, that Riolu has been chosen as your fourth Pokémon. You're required to use her, now, unless you want to forfeit her place in the match."

"You're kidding." Ash's shoulders slumped. It wasn't that he didn't have confidence in his youngest, most recent catch. But, to take up a full slot in a battle of this caliber… He was left in a pretty compromising situation.

"Now, Rosa," Brock gently chided. "You've got a lot of spunk, but I should remind you that this is a high-stakes match, meant for seasoned Pokémon. Acting as the Gym Leader, I won't hold back."

~I'm not gonna back down, just because you're strong!~ The Pokémon barked back.

"They're going to be a lot more experienced than you," Ash reminded, crouching by his Riolu. "Are you super-duper sure you want to run head-first into that? You're only a couple months old."

Rosa turned back towards Ash with a gaze he recognized quite well. In those red hues, furrowed somewhere between determination and annoyance, there was straight forward certainty. A desire to improve, and win. Her feelings back in the forest and at Samurai's cabin were clear to Ash. "Okay, I get it." He smiled, ruffling her head before standing upright. "We'll fight this battle, together! Not that I have much of a choice in the matter…"

"Then, the battle will resume as normal!" Forrest declared, raising a hand. "Begin!"

"So be it. Rhyperior, Earthquake!" Brock declared. Rhyperior brought a monstrous foot down to stomp into the earth, sending a rippling quake through the rocky surface. Rubble and chunks of ground were ripped out to be a hazard to the tiny foe.

"Double Team!" Ash ordered. Instantaneously, Rosa multiplied into a troop of copies, several of them taking to the air, while the few that remained grounded were eradicated by Earthquake.

Brock hummed as he observed the evasive move and tightened a fist. "Use Megahorn!"

"Raarh!" Rhyperior roared. A stampeding charge forward shook the recovering ground, altogether fairly slow, but no less terrifying for it. Rhyperior's horn stabbed into one of the floating Riolu, breaking through what turned out to be thin air.

"Iron Tail!" Ash waved a hand.

"Rio!" The few remaining copies tumbled forward, each coming down in a forward somersault, smashing iron-clad tails into Rhyperior. Two vanished upon contact, while the third smashed her weight into the rock type's shoulder.

"Grhy…" Rhyperior grumbled, rolling his shoulder. The upstart Riolu was frustrated to find that she'd left no mark at all - he was taunting her!

"She's close, now. Use Rock Wrecker!" Brock ordered.

The rocky behemoth complied. Both of his hands were pointed at the rebounding Riolu, chunks of rock gathering between them into a giant, daunting slab of rock that dwarfed Rosa in size. The small fighter was left entirely within the attack's shadow.

"Double Team!" Ash quickly shouted.

Rock Wrecker fired at point-blank range, plowing through stony terrain with impunity. Deafening crashes followed one after another in the attack's wake. A sure one-hit KO.

That might have been the case, were it not for a small army of Double Team copies hanging in front of Rhyperior.

"At point-blank range!?" Brock exclaimed. Brock's surprise left Ash feeling confident, but the thoughtful expression on his face that followed was suspicious. Had his knowledgeable friend already figured Prankster out!?

This wasn't the time to dwell on that, though. Rhyperior was panting in exhaustion from Rock Wrecker. "There's our opening, Rosa!" Ash gestured forward. "Iron Tail, back-to-back!"

"Rio! The handful of copies charged Rhyperior, swinging with an iron-clad tail at the behemoth's chest. Even after the illusions dissipated, the real Rosa bounced off of the stony hide. Rhyperior hadn't even budged! Gritting her teeth, she charged back in, slashing away at her foe with Iron Tail. "Ria! Ro! Lu!" She barked, cutting away at Rhyperior again and again.

The giant still didn't budge.

"What the heck is Ash doing?" Suzie frowned. "Those moves aren't hurting Rhyperior at all!"

"Yeah, is he trying to lose?"

"He better be taking Brock seriously!"

"Ash would never." Dawn smiled, shaking her head at the peanut gallery. Were the tykes any closer to her age, she probably would've told them off, but there was no need. "He definitely has some kind of strategy here, if he's sticking to his guns. Just wait!"

"Riaaah!" Rosa jumped up high, somersaulting down to bring the full weight of her Iron Tail into Rhyperior's skull. This time around, the weight of her steel made Rhyperior wince. She'd done it; she'd done some damage!

"Those are some fierce attacks. But it looks like Rhyperior is back with us," Brock pointed out. The large rock-type was no longer breathing heavily, which meant only one thing; their free reign to attack was over. "Now, use Megahorn!"

The drill on Rhyperior's head took on a brilliant shine, growing to be several times larger, and significantly sharper. The very end of it came just short of poking the Riolu's belly. She gulped.

"Double Team!"

Megahorn stabbed through the Riolu hovering in front of them, while the rest of them scattered at the behemoth's feet.

"That's a pretty tricky strategy, Ash. But you can't get us with the same trick that many times!"

"Shit. He's caught on." Ash grimaced.

"Earthquake!"

"Oh, no!" If another attack came that quickly...

Just as the small army of Riolu had spawned, Rhyperior stomped the rocky floor. Harsh tremors ran through the ground, tearing the copies asunder in a merciless, ranged attack. When the floor settled, there wasn't a single Rosa to be seen.

"Well, that's that." Ash half-smiled, adjusting the brim of his cap. "You put up a hell of a fight. Return for now, Rosa… Rosa?" He held out her Poké Ball, aiming for the tyke. But there was no unconscious body to be seen, from his point of view. "Where the heck did she go?"

"Rhy… Rhyperior! Per!" Rhyperior suddenly exclaimed, shifting around, and adjusting himself in an irritated manner. His arms reached back in a vain attempt, but whatever he was going for, he just couldn't quite get.

"I think you're jumping the gun, Ash." Brock folded his arms, nodding towards his own Pokémon.

"Huh?" Ash retracted the Poké Ball. "Are you saying she's-"

~OVER HERE!~ The high-pitched, scratchy voice Ash knew so well rang through his head. ~I got his tail, Pa! Give me a move to use, come on!~

"...You're kidding." Smirking to himself, Ash set his cap right. "Rosa, you're something else. As long as you're back there, give him as many Force Palms as you got!"

~Roger!~ With both of her legs securely hooked around Rhyperior's tail to hold steady, Rosa smashed an open palm into the giant's stony hide. An explosion of brute force energy detonated. With the opposite paw, she dealt another. And another after that.

Soon, Rhyperior was stumbling forward, roaring in irritation at the series of bright explosions that hammered away at his blind spot! "Rhy…!" As much as he flailed and shifted about, he was finding no relief from the ongoing blitz against him.

"There it is!" Dawn cheered, pumping a fist in the air. "You've got 'em now, Rosa! Way to bring the hurt!"

Piplup hopped atop the railing, waving a wing in the air. "Piplup! Piplup!"

"Those attacks are actually registering!" Brock raised a brow at the scene before him. "...So, that's what those Iron Tails were for! I had a feeling." He flashed a smile at Ash that the trainer took as one of fraternal pride. "You were hammering away at Rhyperior's defense!"

"Guess the Meowth's out of the bag, now." Ash smirked, brushing his index finger over his nose. "Rosa's nowhere near as strong as a rock-type like Rhyperior, yet. That just means we have to take every advantage we can find!"

"That's definitely a 'you' strategy," Brock chuckled. "But, you're not going to get away with that sort of tactic, forever. Rhyperior, Rock Wrecker!"

"Rhyy!" Under the duress of constant detonations, Rhyperior reached back, attempting to aim his cannons behind his back. As a sturdily built creature made of rock, though, his aim was quite off from Rosa's point of view. The gathering rocks alerted her, and she let go of Rhyperior's tail.

The giant rock mass fired erroneously, smashing into the stony earth in front of Brock.

"Now's our change!" Ash declared. "Climb up high, and give Rhyperior the Force Palm of his life!"

The small fighting-type was already charging up her foe's back, climbing one rocky slab of armor after the next. Once she'd reached the top of the other's head, she jumped high off it… only to come plummeting back down, gritting her teeth in concentration. Her paw pad smashed down into Rhyperior's forehead and ignited with a bright blue aura.

The blast detonated, kicking up a burst of wind and black fleeting black smoke.

"That was a direct hit!" Ash closed a fist in satisfaction. Now, he could only wait to see the results, with the debris clearing from both competing Pokémon.

Rosa could be seen first, with her paw pressed against Rhyperior's head. The latter stood… idly scratching at his rocky cranium with a groan, as if he felt something akin to a headache, more than a finishing blow.

"Megahorn!"

A solid, pointed extremity stabbed, far faster than the little fighting-type could think to disengage. A harsh squeak echoed through the Gym, making most present wince in sympathy. The fighter's eyes turned to tiny red pin-points; a violent scene that lasted but a blink, before she was flung right towards Ash.

"Rosa!" Ash stepped back a few paces, catching the flying Riolu in his arms. The velocity she'd come at him knocked the trainer back, leaving him teetering on falling off the arena. Ash stumbled, catching his balance. Rosa laid in his arms, swirls in her eyes and all.

A sound, one-hit knockout.

"Riolu is unable to battle!" Forrest raised his hand.

"So, that's that, huh." Ash smiled softly, lightly tapping Rosa with her Poké Ball. "That was a hell of a fight you put up, there. Even if you were in over your head."

"Chukapi." Pikachu frowned, affectionately patting the unconscious Pokémon before she was returned to digital form.

"She made it a real challenge!" Brock added from across the arena. "Her ability is Prankster, I take it."

Ash nodded. "How'd you know?"

"Well, I know it's a rare ability, sometimes held by Riolu. Her Double Teams were coming way too quickly for a Pokémon of her level. Even a bulky rock type should outpace her, given the difference in experience. It was only a matter of time before I figured it out."

"That figures," Ash laughed. "I had a feeling you'd catch me on it."

"There was only so much of a chance I'd get a lucky hit, if we kept going back-and-forth. I know you, Ash; you always battle with your Pokémon's hearts and interests in mind. It's respectable, and it's gotten you far, but it made that outcome predictable."

"That's the way I battle," Ash defended. "But you used it against us."

"You know as well as anyone that it's easy to fall off-guard when you think you've just exploited an opening for a decisive move. That was the quickest way to take Rosa out."

"Then, that missing Rock Wrecker was on purpose…!" Ash's eyes grew wide. "Hah. You're something else, Brocko." With one Pokémon down for the count, Ash was reduced to his three against Brock's two. But, with all of them piling up damage, he was fighting an uphill battle.

"Wartortle! You're up, next!"

Wartortle appeared again, only to be battered in Stealth Rock's clutches. "War…!" Wartortle dropped onto all fours, shaking his head out. "War! Wartortle!" He was clearly tired of that damned entry hazard.

"Sorry, Wartortle," Ash immediately apologized. "Let's try to stay in the game for a while, this time. Use Hydro Pump!"

Wartortle retreated to his shell, propelling himself to blast away at Rhyperior with a super-effective dousing. Contrasted to his last opponent, Rhyperior roared in pain under the duress.

"If we keep that up, we got him," Ash mused to himself.

"Use Earthquake, Rhyperior!"

"Iron Defense!" Ash countered.

Seismic Waves rippled through the field, but not before Wartortle tucked into his shell. An iron-clad defense insulated the turtle from the roaring and rumbling on the outside.

"Use Roar!"

"Oh, no!" Ash exclaimed. His voice was quickly drowned out by a ferocious roar, forcing Wartortle's shell back towards Ash and into his Poké Ball. There was little he could do about the following sequence of events. Another light left his belt, taking the shape of Charizard.

Stealth Rock mercilessly smashed and pummeled him, bashing into his belly, his bruised wings, and the back of his head. Charizard cried out in pain, pushing the slabs aside with defiance.

"Charizard…! Are you alright?"

"Roarh…!" Charizard grunted, stumbling forward, one step at a time. He raised his head to spit a mighty blaze, but all that came out was a puff of smoke. The Flame Pokémon collapsed.

"Charizard is unable to battle!" Forrest declared.

"Right away!?" Dawn frowned, folding her arms. "Stealth Rock is something else."

"The pride and joy of the Pewter Gym!" Flint boasted. "If Ash doesn't get with the program, he's never gonna win this battle."

"Sorry about that, Charizard. Return!" Ash frowned, recalling the proud fire-type. "I know you're gonna be sore about this, later… And so will everyone else, if this keeps up." The situation left Ash in quite a bind. No matter who he picked, they'd still be subject to Stealth Rock. It wasn't as if there was anyone optimal for Brock to force in, anymore… 'But, what's to stop him from just using Roar over and over, until Stealth Rock does all the work for him? We can't let that move go unchecked.'

"Is the challenger ready to continue?" Forrest cut in, snapping Ash back to reality. The obvious implication that he was expected to call his next Pokémon carried in the boy's tone.

"Uh, yeah!" Ash snapped back. Truthfully, though, he was still puzzled. If there were just a way to knock that Stealth Rock out before it could do anymore harm. "...Hey, that's it! Knock it out!"

"Pikapi?" Pikachu tilted his head as a trainer. He'd just figured something out, hadn't he?

Ash smiled at his partner and nodded. "Just watch, buddy." Picking and snatching a Poké Ball, Ash threw it into the fray, once more. "Wartortle, it's all on you!"

"Wartortle!" Wartortle appeared again, in mid-air. Predictably, Stealth Rock converged.

"Let's put that Stealth Rock down for good! Use Rapid Spin on 'em, back-to-back!"

"War!" The turtle hastily retreated to his shell just as he was about to be flattened. Twisting into a rapid spin, true to the attack's name, he put up a stubborn defense against the stones.

"Hm…?" Brock raised a brow at the move. "What's he doing, now?"

Stealth Rock's horde stubbornly pressed into the spinning shell. The sound of a hard surface grinding into solid rock was rather harsh on the ears, but it didn't last long, as the hazards were forcefully pried apart. Unsuccessful, they moved to retreat as was standard after their ambush.

"Not so fast!" Ash called out. "Let's ricochet 'em, Wartortle!"

A muffled cry of affirmation sounded from within the shell. Still spinning, he shot into each of the rocks consecutively not unlike a ping-pong ball, hammering away at the rocky prison. With each tackle, Stealth Rock started to crack.

"Wartortle!" The water-type landed on his feet, proudly donning his sunglasses with a grin.

Around him, Stealth Rock split and crumbled into rubble.

"Hah! Well, that's new." Brock snorted, cracking a smirk that spoke volumes. "Only you would come up with a counter like that, Ash."

"In all my time as the current Gym Leader, I've never seen that sort of counter move, either," Forrest agreed, putting aside his professional demeanor for just a moment. "Using Rapid Spin to beat down a field hazard… I've seen challengers try to attack them, but they're called 'Stealth Rock' for a reason. They usually hide themselves away."

"I really just took that sort of thing for granted," Ash admitted. "The one other time I've seen 'em in action, the trainer didn't even bother. But then again, I've learned in my own battles that even field hazards have a way to be stopped!"

"Like Infernape, with Toxic Spikes," Brock finished Ash's thought. "I guess I should've expected this. If there's one thing you're good at, it's manipulating the battle field to your advantage."

"I just wish I'd thought of it sooner," Ash replied. 'I'm down to two Pokémon, and Wartortle's taken a lot of damage.' Looking to his water-type, he could see the myriad of bruises and marks he bore, despite his trademark bravado. He'd already put his trademark sunglasses away. 'Gabite's had a few hits, too…' The trainer took a deep breath, adjusting his cap with a firm gaze. "Even with these odds, though, I'm not giving up, yet!"

"Knowing you, I'd certainly hope not!" Brock replied. Though said in jest, his wishes were sincere. "Rhyperior, Earthquake!"

"Dodge it, with Hydro Pump!"

A spinning torrent kept Wartortle afloat and soaring, high above Earthquake's range. Propelled by his own pressure, the water-type brought his wrath to Rhyperior personally.

"Raaagh!" Rhyperior writhed and cowered from the super-effective move, stumbling onto one knee.

"Even with Solid Rock, Rhyperior looks like it's at its limit!" Dawn observed. "Wartortle's water-type moves are just too powerful."

"Well, that's what's so great about water types~!" Lola cooed. "Even sturdy rocks crumble under a good wave!"

"Mom! Whose side are you on!?" One of the kids barked back, though they didn't get an answer.

"Looks like this round is nearing its end…" Brock frowned. "But we won't surrender that easily! Use Megahorn!"

Rhyperior stubbornly complied just as Wartortle popped out of his shell, stabbing upward.

"Iron Defense!" Ash countered.

Just as Megahorn smashed into the underside of Wartortle's shell, even its most vulnerable spot was reinforced with solid steel. The attack served to knock the wind out of Wartortle and sent him flying, but no more.

"Let's finish this!" Brock gripped a fist closed, shouting with vigor. "Rock Wrecker!"

"Grryaah!" Rhyperior held up his hands, arms and body recoiling with the might that was poured into the gigantic mass of rock. He tossed the ultimate rock move with all his might.

"Counter it with Water Gun!" Ash ordered.

A precise, pressurized shot came down from above to crash against Rock Wrecker. The latter had been closing in on Wartortle quickly, but a steady downpour was slowing the move's momentum to a standstill.

"Just a Water Gun…!?" Brock looked on at the clash in awe.

Ash, meanwhile, grinned. Rock Wrecker was making no progress. Better yet, cracks were spreading in a web across its surface. "Now's our chance, Wartortle! Combine Rapid Spin with Iron Defense!"

Wartortle ceased his shot and tucked back into his shell to become a solid-steel, spinning, wrecking machine. His shell bashed into Rock Wrecker, smashing it to smithereens. Powering on through, he smashed into a helpless, exhausted Rhyperior with all of his momentum.

"Peerior!" The rock-type cried, flying back towards Brock to land on its back. Swirls showed in the Pokémon's eyes.

"Rhyperior is unable to battle!" Forrest declared.

"Thanks, Rhyperior. Return!" Brock recalled his third Pokémon, running a hand through his spiky hair. A match this intense was almost as tiring for a trainer as it was the Pokémon! "You've really become something else, Wartortle. I think if it weren't for Solid Rock, we would've gone down, a while ago!"

"War! Wartortle!" The turtle grinned, thumping a fist proudly against his chest. Subsequently, he winced. Maybe he wasn't in prime condition right now, after all.

"All that time in Vermilion went a long way, but Mt. Silver sure didn't hurt," Ash boasted. "I gotta give credit where it's due. Rosa really set us up for that last blow by lowering Rhyperior's defense so much! We'll call that one a team effort."

Brock smiled and nodded. "Be that as it may… You still have yet to face my oldest and most reliable Pokémon! The picture of rock-hard defense!"

"He's really getting into the Gym Leader role." Dawn pointed out, wearing a half-smile that laid somewhere between amused and baffled.

"Pip-lup…" Piplup nodded twice.

With his Gym Leader's speech given, Brock winded up, throwing his last Poké Ball with gusto. "Steelix, goooo!"

The Poké Ball popped open, and the light inside climbed, and climbed… and climbed. Towering far above Wartortle, Ash, and even Brock, the Iron Snake Pokémon let out a rumbling roar.

"Steelix… I knew I'd see you, sooner or later!" Ash smirked. "Let's go, Wartortle! Hydro Pump!"

Wartortle's shell shot across the stage, attacking Steelix with a wheel of torrents.

"Dig underground, Steelix!" Brock ordered. The Iron Snake did as told, quickly burrowing out of Hydro Pump's range.

"You won't get away, that easy!" Ash argued. "Water Gun, in the hole!" The airborne Wartortle popped out of his shell, aiming, and shooting roaring waters into the tunnel. The ground began to rumble, showing cracks until Steelix surfaced with a roar, Water Gun's remains blasting him above ground.

"Hmph. Well that one's out," Brock grumbled. "Use Stone Edge!" Steelix retaliated with an uproarious command of the earth. Sharp stone spires stabbed through the rocky field on a direct course for Wartortle.

"Use Rapid Spin to speed up, and spin on through!" Ash shouted.

In a second use since he'd returned to the battle, Wartortle gained a tremendous amount of speed, spinning like a top between the approaching stone pillars as they ripped from the ground. Moving on a steadily increasing spin, he shot up at an angle towards Steelix.

"Now!" Ash shouted. "Hydro Pump!"

"Use Bind, Steelix!"

Steelix's long, segmented tail whipped around to latch around Wartortle's shell, squeezing it in an impenetrable grip. Wartortle indeed retaliated by spouting his greatest attack from his shell, but it came with one great caveat.

"It's missing!?" Ash exclaimed. Wartortle's Hydro Pump was spraying, but the way Steelix gripped his shell resulted in a vertical spout, held far away from the serpent's body. The result was little more than a refreshing water fountain for Steelix.

"Don't think I haven't seen you pull that kind of stunt before," Brock cut in, flashing a knowing smirk at Ash. "Bind has a downside of leaving Steelix's body open to attacks, but we've worked our way around that. And there's something else you should know."

Ash raised a questioning brow at his friend. "What's that?"

"Your Wartortle's speed has done you a lot of good. But it's about to work against him. Steelix, Gyro Ball!"

Steelix whirred to life on command. Many steel segments started to twist and groan independently, picking up speed until the giant Pokémon was nothing but a silver, flashy tornado. In conjunction, the same could be said for Steelix's tail. Wartortle was whipped around in a brutal, dizzying frenzy, before Steelix's grip of him snapped loose.

There wasn't even time to blink, before a loud crash could be heard behind Ash and Pikachu. The two looked back, where Wartortle was embedded in a crater in the Gym's wall.

"Wartortle is unable to battle!" Forrest called.

Ash and Pikachu winced in sympathy, while the former recalled their friend. "Get some rest, Wartortle. You've earned it." Ash smiled down at the Poké Ball and exchanged it for another. "Not gonna lie, Brock. You've done a hell of a job, making me earn this win. But that's exactly what I'm gonna do!" With that declaration, Ash winded up, vigorously tossing the last Poké Ball in an underhand curveball. The spinning capsule opened, once more calling on Gabite.

"Gabite, I choose you!"

The stage for the final round was set. On one end, a seasoned challenger, eager and ready to prove he was leaps and bounds greater than he'd been in this same spot, a long time ago. On the other, that trainer's long-time mentor and friend. He simply wanted to push his comrade as far as he possibly could, from his position.

The smiles spanning both of their faces told a tale. There would be no hard feelings, and no regrets. Ash seized the moment and gestured a hand forward. "Let's go, Gabite! Flamethrower!"

"Steelix, Stone Edge!" Brock ordered.

Gabite spewed flames as told, but they didn't make it to their elementally vulnerable target - stone spires jutted out of the earth again to quite literally take the heat and split flames down the middle. Moreover, they bashed into the dragon's torso before he could think to avoid them, knocking the oblivious dragon back.

"Use Dig!" Ash ordered.

"You use Dig too, Steelix!" Brock countered.

Cave and Iron Snake Pokémon alike burrowed underground, swiftly tunneling beneath the surface. Only faint rumbles could be felt under Ash and Brock's feet, until a subterranean roar hit its crescendo. The already fractured and well-shaken field collapsed in a crater, with Gabite and Steelix bursting out of the rubble.

"With Steelix's defenses, it looks like they were an even match," Ash recounted. "We've gotta limit Steelix's mobility." With this very thought in mind, he scanned over the battlefield. Ruined stone and broken ground littered the landscape, with running water pooling at the bottom. Without a doubt, this was a result of Wartortle's recent Water Gun.

"...That's it!" Ash grinned. "Gabite, use Flamethrower on the water, down below!"

"Gabite!" Gabite nodded, using his altitude to aim a straight stream down. Flamethrower hissed away at the remaining waters.

"What's he up to…?" Brock frowned.

Steelix then roared in agony, feeling the effects of the scalding water accumulating near the base of his body. He pulled back towards back, distancing himself as quickly as possible.

"Steelix!" Brock called out. "Of course… he made the middle of the field uninhabitable by heating it up. Now, using Dig will likely hurt us more than it'll help us." The young man smiled to himself. "In that case, Stone Edge!"

Stone Edge cut through the hazardous crater in a straight path for Gabite.

"Charge in and cut through them with Dual Chop!" Ash chopped a hand through the air. At which point, Gabite adopted Sceptile's cool persona and his aerodynamic posture, with it. A straightforward sprint had Gabite speeding towards the oncoming hazards. Sharp claws and fins lit with emerald, and he passed the coming Stone Edge with a consecutive, clean slice. Tops of pillars popped off, allowing Gabite to quickly scale and jump between them. Quickly gaining altitude, he lunged at Steelix.

"Now, bite onto him!" Ash cheered.

Fighting with Charizard's fiery ferocity and Sceptile's deadly precision were habits Gabite had picked up and put to good use. But there was only one thing that came completely naturally to him.

Biting? That was a piece of cake. And like a piece of cake, he gleefully chomped down on one of Steelix's spikes. There was no chance of biting through Steelix's diamond exterior, but the spacey dragon didn't quite care. He was chewing, so he was content.

"Oh, no!" Brock exclaimed in horror. He had to know just what was coming.

Ash grinned, pumping a hand in the air. "Now, Draco Meteor!"

A bright glow built in Gabite's core, showing even through his scaly hide.

"Quick, Steelix!" Brock urged. "Gyro Ball!"

Silver rings twisted around the gargantuan spinning top of a snake, whipping an unexpecting Gabite around for a very unpleasant ride. Putting Gabite under enough G-force to likely tear a vehicle to scraps, Steelix shook the living garbage disposal free.

"Now, Bind him!" Brock ordered, as he tightened a fist.

Steelix's tail snapped out with deadly accuracy, grabbing the dizzy, spinning dragon in a merciless grip.

"Gabite!" Ash grit his teeth. "He's got him… As long as you're there, let's try a Flamethrower!"

"Gab!" Gabite responded, gathering flames in his mouth.

"Bind him harder, Steelix!" Brock ordered. Subsequently, Steelix's grip tightened, squeezing the oxygen out of the Cave Pokémon. Tried as he may, he could only cough up embers.

"Oh, no… He can't even use Flamethrower in that spot." Ash frowned. "This is looking bad… in that case, give 'em everything you've got!" He pointed a finger in the air. "Draco Meteor!"

"Gabh…! Kh!" Gabite coughed, wiggling his body to no avail. This would be his chance to break free, though. He grit his teeth, and focused. Even with Steelix' hold, a bright orange glow radiated out upon the battlefield. Dragon-type energy welled up into a compact orb. Budding with latent power, it rose.

"Oh, no…!" Brock grimaced. "Steelix, keep using Bind!"

"Groaaar!" Steelix leered down on his struggling foe, and grimaced, concerned by Brock's urgency. It was time to put on the pressure - quite literally. He tightened the grip of his tail, crushing Gabite.

The land shark coughed, squirming in the increasingly unforgiving grip. His arms were pinned to his sides… He could hardly breathe…! He just had to push Draco Meteor up, and…

"Gkh..!?"

Sweat trickled down Ash's brow, below. "What the hell's going on up there…?" He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey, Gabite! Are you okay!?"

A pained 'Gab' answered Ash.

"Dumb question… where's that Draco Meteor…? Don't tell me it's stuck, too!?"

"It just might be. We've all seen how that move works, Ash," Brock lectured. "A dragon type's true power rises from their core, and ascends once it's expelled. But in Steelix's Bind, it can't make it."

Which led to the natural conclusion that…

"Gabite's stuck…" Ash grimaced, hissing through his teeth. There had to be something he could do… but, he didn't have any other Pokémon remaining. And he knew Gabite wouldn't want to surrender.

Such was the thought process of the struggling Pokémon. Or not so much a thought process. More a furious, single-minded want. No losing. Fight on. Win. Explode.

These impulses wrapped Draco Meteor's power into his core, forcing its power upward, before it was violently forced down by his compressed chest. The power attempted to rise. It wanted to be expelled and explode. It wasn't allowed.

Rather, the orange orb began to unravel, its energies languidly wrapping their way into every end of Gabite's being. It wanted to burst. It wanted to rise. It wanted to grow.

"...Tch." Ash frowned, adjusting the brim of his cap uncomfortably. He didn't want to hurt his Pokémon. Enough was enough. "Gabite, re-"

A piercing, screeching cry silenced Ash.

Bright, white light twisted in ribbons with Draco Meteor's warm orange, escaping the crevices of Steelix's Bind. They blossomed, eclipsing the Gym's spotlights by orders of magnitudes.

Gabite's body shone like fiery magma, forcing itself to expand and buck its constriction. Fins expanded and sharpened. A larger, aerodynamic tail escaped Bind's hold. A longer, sturdier neck sprouted, boasting a larger head with a proud skull and jaw. Extra fins exploded from the silhouette's back. Sharp claws pried at the steel.

A blinding, draconic shape forced itself free.

All of this unfolded before Ash's speechless gaze. Reflected in his dark brown eyes, a new partner burst with life.

"GAHHH!"

Fiery meteors blasted away at the field, several of them blasting and pummeling Steelix.

Blazing a trail from its hold was the largest and brightest of all, landing explosively before Ash.

Draco Meteor's glow settled. Before him was a large, navy blue creature. They turned, flashing a jovial, extremely toothy grin at their trainer.

"You're… Garchomp!" Ash stammered, escalating into joyful laughter. "You evolved!"

"Awesome!" Dawn clapped her hands together, eyes glimmering with wonder. "And what timing! Garchomp really wants to win!"

"Pip… Piplup!" Piplup cheered hesitantly, waving a wing. He wasn't really fond of Draco Meteor, as everyone knew. Even so, he swallowed his pride, and spat a small fountain of water in celebration.

Meanwhile, the rest of Brock's family in the stands was going wild with cheer. Even Flint stood up, cheering and hollering.

"Woo! Now, that's a special occasion!" The man belted with laughter. "You never see an evolution like this, in a Gym battle. Not unless it's like, a Butterfree or something!"

"That's totally awesome!" Ash laughed, clapping his hands down on the Mach Pokémon's shoulders. "You look so powerful! Talk about coming through in a pinch!"

"Gahr!" The large Pokémon sported a grin full of razor-sharp fangs.

"You must've really wanted to win," Ash figured.

Brock shook his head with a smile. "That may be true, but this certainly explains Garchomp's odd behavior, earlier. He must've been just on the precipice of evolving, and he was overflowing with energy. Then, that Draco Meteor…"

"The energy from that Draco Meteor was the last push he needed," Ash finished. "Really cool… but we've still got a battle to win! Let's go, Garchomp!"

"Gar!" The Pokémon turned towards Steelix, raising his fins like blades.

Brock could only smile at the scene. "Now, this is what a Gym Battle's all about. A Gym Leader's job isn't just to win," he explained, turning his gaze towards Forrest. Ash figured this speech was as much for Brock's brother as it was for him. "...but, to test a challenger's mettle, and even help them grow when the chance presents itself." Brock beamed, his attention back on Ash. "I feel like this time, I've had a much better opportunity to offer that to you than last time, Ash. Am I right?"

"I agree," Ash nodded with a grin. "This is the kind of Gym Battle I was looking for. Alright, Garchomp, let's use-"

A blazing, blinding blue aura burst to life around Garchomp, interrupting Ash. The Mach Pokémon roared before lunging high above the battlefield. The light streamlining around Garchomp's horns burst into the shape of a dragon's head. Two gaps in the aura glowered upon Steelix.

Competitors and spectators alike watched the dragon dive, smashing into Steelix's skull.

Chunks of earth and clouds of dust were torn from the field, with Steelix's dragging across the terrain. Even its stellar defenses buckled to the brute force, before Steelix curled around, regaining his composure.

"That was a Dragon Rush," Brock announced aloud. "One of a Dragon type Pokémon's most fierce attacks. Garchomp must be real determined to win on your behalf, Ash."

Hearing his Pokédex go off, Ash drew the small gadget, which displayed Garchomp's unusually long list of moves. Dig had been forgotten in favor of the new move. Not a limit worth worrying about, really. "Garchomp… You're really amazing. Alright, let's put that new move to work! Dragon Rush!"

Garchomp repeated his course, blazing the trail for a devastating impact.

"We can't afford to take another," Brock muttered. "Steelix, Gyro Ball!"

Steelix geared himself upright, spinning his spiked segments into a searing spin, whipping up several rings of centripetal force.

Dragon Rush bashed into the grinding spin, bucking Garchomp's weight against its momentum.

Steelix's body pushed and gave, forcing Garchomp to disengage.

"Gyro Ball gets stronger, the faster your opponent is, right? At least, that's what Brock said." Ash adjusted the brim of his cap. "So, now it's even better to use against Garchomp…"

"Looks like this'll be coming to a close, soon," Brock muttered. "Use Bind!"

Steelix roared, swinging its mighty tail around to snatch its adversary.

"Dodge it!" Ash shouted.

With remarkable speed and aerial prowess, the dragon swooped under the trap of Steelix's tail, and again, proving itself a great deal faster than its giant opponent.

"Alright, now use Draco Meteor!"

Two clawed fins raised above the Pokémon's head, focusing the draconian energy within Garchomp's core. Mastery of the move achieved long ago pushed it past its throat, firing the orb high into the air. Though dimmer after a consecutive use, the move teeming with life was bound to burst.

"Steelix, use Dig to get underground!"

The large Iron Snake did just that, tunneling just in time to avoid the fallout. Brutal meteoric shots pummeled the battle field, creating even more rubble than its design had originally intended.

"Now, attack it!" Brock ordered.

Steelix shot out of the ground, ready to deal a finishing blow.

"You fell for it," Ash smiled to himself. "Use Dual Chop, right now! Hit it right back!"

The Mach Pokémon cried, slamming both of his fins into Steelix's forehead in a downward motion. Functioning much like an X-Scissor, he pressed down upon his foe with all of his might.

The clash resulted in a stalemate, allowing Garchomp to bound back, and Steelix to emerge.

Both Pokémon were panting, clearly exhausted. Even the adrenaline rush of evolution had to run low for Garchomp sometime, and Steelix, hardy as he was, was facing an opponent twice evolved from his performance at the Lily of the Valley Conference.

Both retained their resolve to win.

Their trainers, likewise, were equally invested. Ash's fists had balled up painfully tight, a wide smirk spanning across his features. This was the kind of battle he'd been looking for; one that pushed him and his opponent to their limits, after unraveling a binding strategy. On top of that, a friendly score that was long overdue for a conclusion. Truthfully, he almost felt like he was ten years old again, trying to win his first badge.

Brock, meanwhile, had abandoned his more characteristic, tender demeanor for the moment. The nostalgia flooded him, too; for days long gone, where they were all young and naive, to one extent or another. He'd been watching his life change rapidly over recent months, and he was watching one of his best friends grow up right before his eyes. This must have been a sort of initiation, in some weird way.

"Let's finish this, Garchomp! Use Dragon Rush!" Ash shouted, punching towards the ceiling.

The same angry veil surrounded the Mach Pokémon once more, his powerful legs launching him towards Steelix.

"Gyro Ball, Steelix!" Brock ordered; fully aware this was his only hope.

Dragon Rush bashed into the grinding, orbiting wrath of Gyro Ball once more. Solid-steel rotation faced off against the raw power of a fully evolved dragon. Perhaps it was Steelix growing tired, or perhaps it was just Garchomp's determination to win. But the monumental power granted by evolution was the one to triumph, allowing Garchomp to smash into Steelix's jaw.

"There's our chance!" Ash grinned, seizing the moment with a hand stretched out. "Flamethrower!"

Even twice reduced from exhaustion, the evolution-boosted inferno washed away at a falling Steelix. Moments passed, and he found mercy from the flame, laying out across the length of the field.

With swirls in his eyes, Steelix laid unconscious.

Forrest gazed upon the fallen giant and raised a hand. "Stee-"

At once, the stadium exploded into noise and cheerful clamor.

"Don't run down, kids!" Lola shouted, wholly ignored.

"Come on, son! Call the match!" Flint shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"Please," Salvadore scoffed, plugging a finger in his ear. "Like he's gonna hear you over this noise-"

"WHOOO!"

"Pip-Piplup!"

"...or, over that noise," the boy continued, wincing. Dawn and Piplup had been right by his ears!

"...Ahem." Forrest narrowed his eyes, coughing into his hand. "Steelix is unable to battle! Garchomp wins. The victor is the challenger, Ash, from Pallet Town!" Grinning, he continued out of the corner of his mouth. "And Brock got his butt kicked."

"That was a close match, thank you very much," Brock retorted.

"Yeah, with the romper room rebel giving you a leg up."

Ash snorted, walking towards the center of the field. "You got a real rebel on your hands, huh, Brock?" Grinning, he extended a hand. "It's not like I've just been sitting around, though! You put us through the wringer with that Stealth Rock, man!"

Brock cut a dirty look at his brother but relented. Kids will be kids. "You can say that, again. You've improved a lot, Ash. Congratulations!" He smiled, reaching to clasp his best friend's hand. "I hate to admit it, but you might just be outpacing ol' Brock. But I hope you've learned a few things from our battle."

"Well, sure I did! I learned what a little rascal my Riolu is," he laughed. "...Y'know, it's kinda funny. Her fighting spirit backfired on us, but the same energy from Garchomp gave us the win Go figure, huh?"

"It's all a matter of timing," Brock explained. "Guts can be your greatest asset, or your worst folly. Finding that balance is just a matter of prudence."

"Huh? What does prune juice have to do with all of that?" Ash squinted at his friend… to which Brock nearly stumbled over, and his siblings groaned with him.

"Agh…! Forget it. You get the picture," Brock sighed. Some things hadn't changed about Ash, certainly. "What's important is that working with your Pokémon's strengths lead you to victory. I think you owe Garchomp a big 'thank you!'"

"Well, of course I do!" Ash turned to Garchomp, who'd tiredly waddled his way into the crowd. He ran a hand affectionately along the shark's head. "This guy brought out all the stops! He was awesome!"

"Garh!" The Pokémon let out a happy cry… before latching his mouth onto Ash's arm.

The trainer yelped, managing a smile through gritted teeth. Ignore the lone tear of pain in his eye. He'd grown used to this from Gible… Though, Garchomp's stronger jaws didn't help. It really stung. "...Yup! Totally awesome!"

"Some things never change." Joining the group after abandoning the stands, Dawn chuckled. Cindy held one of her hands while she used the other to keep a hold of Piplup. Stumbling her way into the main group, Dawn greeted Ash with a friendly brush of their shoulders.

A low, earth-rattling rumble told the group that Steelix had come to. Weary still, he hovered at the group's eye level, bearing a grin.

"It looks like Steelix had a great time, too!" Brock beamed, petting the iron-clad side of his Pokémon's face. "Even if you do look exhausted," he teased.

"I think we're all tired, after a day like today!" Dawn chimed in.

"You?" Ash raised a brow at his companion. "We were the ones doing all the battling."

"Well, yeah! But did you see that whole battle? Well… of course you did, but it was a nail biter just to watch! You know how intense battles are!"

"Well, you got me there," Ash admitted as he gently pried his arm from Garchomp's mouth.

"Be that as it may," Brock cut in, shaking his head, "there's no point in setting out for the next city, past nightfall. How about you two stay the night? Just for old time's sake?"

"Will I get to see Dawn's Pokémon, again!?" Suzie interrupted.

"I don't see why not! But, let me get settled in first… All the attacks flying around have my hair getting frizzy!"

"And you know we can't have that!" Ash teased with a roll of his eyes, to which Dawn gave him a nudge of her elbow. Grinning impishly at his companion, Ash sighed with contentment. He'd come to Pewter with new tactics, and a new grip on battles. But all-in-all, nostalgia won the day.

Ash was fine with that.

The colorful sunset that draped the skies after battle's soon took its leave, replaced by starry skies overlooking the city of stone. Ash and Dawn had settled in at Brock's home, with sleeping bags set up in their friend's room. It wasn't quite camping out, but it would do.

In the meantime, Ash and Brock were brushing their teeth in front of the bathroom mirror. The former finished first, spitting and rinsing before turning to assist Rosa, who stood on the edge of the sink. "Alright, girl. You're up next!" Ash said, picking up the smaller brush he'd packed for her. "Show me those chompers!"

The Riolu did as told, baring her teeth under her muzzle. Ash brushed her teeth methodically. Meanwhile, Brock finished his own routine, shortly after.

"Nice pearly whites!" Brock praised the Pokémon. "Looks like you've been keeping healthy."

"Of course!" Ash boasted. "Only the best for my little girl."

"You sound like a proud parent," Brock replied, looking somewhat amused. "One with a real rebel on his hands. If I hadn't figured out your ability was Prankster through the battle, I think your stunt still would've tipped me off."

Still having her teeth brushed, Rosa pointedly looked away, only muttering shamefully in response with the toothbrush in her mouth. "Rhu…" Shortly after, she finished, and picked up a glass of water that was left for her and gargled.

"I think she just had something to prove," Ash replied, giving a sympathetic smile. "The thing is, we ran into Team Rocket the other day, and she got beat by 'em."

To that admission, Rosa swiftly turned around, and spat her backwash right in Ash's face. ~Don't bring that up!~

Ash balked and spat in disgust. "Ptew! Ack! H-hey!"

"Heh!" Brock couldn't suppress a belly laugh, as he handed over a washcloth to Ash to clean himself off. "Well, you're definitely your father's daughter. Aside from being a rascal," he joked. "You've got a lot of guts, trying to take on an opponent no matter how strong they are. But you know what you did wasn't smart, right?"

~...Yeah.~ The small Pokémon lowered her head in shame. ~Sorry, Papa. I know I almost made you lose.~

Wiping his face clean, Ash smiled, patting her head. "Hey, don't sweat it. We'll keep training more and more, and when you're ready, I'll tag you in! How's that sound?"

The pup smiled, looking up to her trainer with glimmering red eyes. ~Deal!~

Brock was quiet for a moment. "...Why don't you two come back to the room? I've got something in mind."

Ash and Rosa exchanged a look, wondering just what Brock was scheming.

Back in Brock's bedroom, Ash was sliding his way into his own sleeping bag, with Pikachu and Rosa quick to join him. Beside them, Dawn and Piplup were already in their night gear, the former leaning on her elbows, watching Brock work at his desk under a lamp light in the otherwise dark room. Truly, the picture of a university student.

"Quick question," Brock started, as he seemed to be scribbling notes. "How does Rosa battle? Or, actually, I guess a better question is, how do you train her to battle, Ash?"

Ash hummed in thought. "Well, she's definitely a speedy fighter; you saw that, today. But Rosa prefers fighting hand-to-hand over special moves; Riley said she's… Adamant nature!" He recalled successfully. "But he also insisted that we work on powering up her Vacuum Wave, because it'll eventually become Aura Sphere. Guy was real strict about that."

"Uh-huh. Mhm." Brock muttered, with rapid flicks of his pen. Afterwards, he handed a paper slip over to Ash. "Here."

Ash accepted it, peering down at the scribbled notes. "What's this?"

"I'm prescribing these to Rosa. You can pick them up at any Poké Mart!"

Dawn slinked over in her sleeping bag, peering over with an equally curious Piplup. "Protein, Calcium, Carbos…" She balked at the list. "Brock, these are super-expensive!"

"Not if you have a discount," Brock slyly replied. "Consider it a suggestion from a professional for a Pokémon's well-being. Actually, that brings me to my point. Seeing the kind of reckless behavior Rosa gets into, it might be best for her to pump up as much as possible."

~Hey!~ The Riolu pouted. ~I told you I'd be good.~

Brock laughed. "And I'll hold you to that. Still, better safe than sorry!"

"I dunno…" Ash frowned, looking over the list. He'd heard of these nutrients and more, in trainer's magazines over the years. "This kind of feels like a shortcut over hard work, doesn't it?"

"A lot of inexperienced or wealthy trainers do make that mistake," Brock nodded. "But I think I can trust you to know better than that, can't I?" He smiled, though he quickly took on a more thoughtful expression. "You should remember, Ash. Different trainers take all sorts of different avenues to improvement, and there's nothing wrong with broadening your horizons."

"Like Paul," Ash replied.

"Exactly. If you want my nugget of wisdom, an open-minded approach to training just might be your best approach towards being a Pokémon Master."

Ash nodded wordlessly. Brock's words reminded him of Gary's words, a couple of months ago. Everyone had a nugget of wisdom to offer. Whether it was a Gym Leader, or anyone he happened to meet on his journey. How he decided to use that wisdom… that set him on his own unique path. "Then, that's what I'll do - no, what we'll do!" Ash grinned, holding a fist out to Pikachu and Rosa. "We'll learn everything we can, to be our best selves. And aim to be Pokémon Masters!"

"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered, pumping his paw into Ash's fist.

~Yeah! Me, too!~ Rosa mirrored the other two.

"Oh, yeah. Speaking of that," Ash looked to Brock. "What about Pikachu? Could he use those?"

"I may have missed your latest training trip, but I've seen you work with Pikachu. He's already trained his body towards his strengths to the max. Vitamins wouldn't really do him much good; he's better off just maintaining a healthy diet and battling."

"On the other hand," Dawn interjected, "Rosa's starting almost fresh out of the egg. And, how far off is the league…?"

"...Around four months, give or take," Ash estimated. "We're on a crash course to improve as much as possible, during that time!"

"Dawn makes a good point," Brock agreed. "In that case, I should brief you on her feeding regimen. It's written on the slip, but just to be safe! Vitamins should be distributed during breakfast accompanied with a meal, every other day. Carbos is a constant for its entire twenty-six dosages. Alternate on Protein and Calcium on those same days, until Calcium runs out. A point may come where she actually refuses them, in that case, just distribute it to any other Pokémon who will benefit, if necessary-"

"How on, slow down, slow down!" Ash exclaimed. "This is going to be tough to remember…!"

~C'mon, Papa!~ Rosa whined, tugging on his nightshirt. ~You gotta remember it, so I can get super strong!~

"Ugh…" Ash hung his head. "Y'know, I've got the feeling you're gonna become a real handful."

Dawn grinned, nudging Ash's shoulder. "Y'know, you sound just like your Mom!"

"Pip-Piplup." Piplup agreed, cutting a dastardly smirk at his second favorite trainer.

"That's because I'm a great parent!" Ash defended, thumping a fist against his chest. To which, the whole room came together in jovial laughter. "Hey, what's so funny? I mean it!"

With that laugh at poor Ash's expense, the group showed their same old synergy, in the brief time Brock was reunited with them. For this experience, Ash and his Pokémon were just a bit stronger, and just a bit smarter. In his and Dawn's bid for their dreams, their adventure was only just beginning.