An alarm went off next to Dawn, waking her up and yawned as she stretched in her bed. She hit the off button on her Poketch, seeing that it was 8 AM, and looked around to see Ash's Turtwig and Luxio sleeping beside her with Turtwig on her right and Luxio to her left. They were waking up as well and yawned. She smiled.
"Good morning you two. How did you sleep?"
"Turtwig." The Tiny Leaf Pokémon replied with good feeling. Luxio just happlily purred.
"How about we go see how Ash is doing?" She suggested, gaining agreement from the two Pokémon. When she put on her boots and jacket, Dawn followed by Ash's Pokémon walked through the Pokémon Center to see Nurse Joy. Once she found the nurse healing a young trainer's Pokémon, she requested,
"Excuse me? where is my friend, Ash?"
"Oh yes, you'll find Mr. Ketchum in room 124." Nurse Joy answered.
"Thank you." Dawn said while bowing and turned to find the room. When she found the room, she looked inside to see Ash reading one of the magazines. She entered, attracting the boy's attention.
"Hey Dawn. Good to see you." He greeted. Even though she knew he was perfectly fine, she wiped away growing tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, it's good to see you too Ash." His Pokémon moved past her to greet their master in joy.
"Hey guys. Sorry for leaving you like that. That Geodude sure gave it to me, didn't it?" He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. His two Pokémon just smiled to the fact their master was okay. "Dawn, can you bring me my bag?" He asked.
"Sure." She obliged as she brought over his stuff. He dug out two Pokeballs and called return to give he and Dawn some alone time.
"So Dawn, Nurse Joy said that you and Barry helped me here, yes?" He asked.
"Yeah. I carried you out of the cave. Barry's the one who got you to this building. I'm his second best friend now."
"Heh, that sounds wonderful." Ash commented grinning. Speak of the orange devil, he burst into the room, nearly knocking Dawn away with the swinging door causing her to jump out of the way in fright.
"Ash! I came here as soon as I could! I'm so happy you're okay buddy!" He cried out in glee.
"Dang it Barry. I'm happy to see you too but could you apologize to Dawn for nearly bashing the door into her backside." Ash complained. Barry looked to Dawn and realized how spooked she looked to his presence.
"Oh, sorry Dawn. I didn't realize you were so close to the door." Barry apologized while scratching his head.
"It's okay Barry, just knock first, okay?"
"Not sure I can keep that promise but I'll try." Barry replied honestly but with a chuckle. Nurse Joy entered the room.
"How are you doing Ash?"
"I feel just about perfect. Slightly sore but nothing feels bad per say." Ash answered.
"That's great. We just need to go over the bill."
"I'll pay for it. I'm sure me and Prof. Rowan can cover it." Dawn assured as she and the nurse exited the room.
"So, how has your journey been going while I'm not around?" Barry inquired.
"It's been going pretty good. I evolved my Starly, Bidoof and Shinx. Dawn's also caught a Zubat, Psyduck and Geodude." Ash explained.
"Oh cool. I only caught a Geodude. I just basically nicknamed him 'Dude'." Barry chuckled.
"How do you expect to create an effective team if you run past every Pokémon except one?" Ash questioned with some teasing.
"Haha, well to answer your question, even if I run past Pokémon, I'll make sure to catch at least one of every type so I can cover everything." Barry defended.
"And what, catch a few fish, birds and whatever you literally run into so you're covering all the types? I don't believe you." Ash toyed playfully.
"Oh, real nice coming from a person who chose a grass type, one of the weakest in the type table." Barry shot back.
"One of the Elite Four is a bug specialist. Sure, he's weak against fire and flying types, but he's the first bug specialist to get into the Elite Four. That says something of his skill." Ash pointed out. Barry grumbled as he couldn't think of another counter. But after a bit of thinking, he couldn't help but chuckle. "What's so funny, Barry?"
"I'm just glad we can even have fun arguments like this. I was worried for you as well. I mean, before I was told you were defiantly okay that is. You blacked out in a cavern. I didn't want to think about if you were alone and nobody got to you in time." Barry admitted.
"Huh, is my rival showing me vulnerability? I'm touched." Ash said, half sarcastic but had detectable tones of sincerity.
"Yeah well, don't expect it too often. I may not help next time if you get knocked out in a cavern." Barry playfully scoffed.
"I likely won't need it. Dawn will be there with me." Ash concluded. The two boys had a stare off, piercing eyes yet genuine grins as it seemed like electricity sparked between them before they looked away with happy grunts. It was then Dawn came into the room with a grin on her face.
"Good news Ash, your bill's been payed. You're released now."
"Good. Barry's been giving me nothing but trouble." Ash mocked.
"Right back at you, Ketchum." Barry sneered as he stuck his tongue out and pulled down one of his eyelids. Dawn smiled more than she already was from their typical behavior. As the three stepped out of the Pokémon Center, Dawn got an idea.
"Hey, how about we take a selfie, that way no matter what happens we have something to remind us of our friendship?"
"That sounds excellent!" Barry shouted, back to normal.
"Yeah, sounds good." Ash agreed. In a few minutes, Ash set up his laptop which somehow survived being an uncomfortable cushion for his back against a rock wall, and set a timer for when the camera goes off. He went over to the two others in front of the Pokémon Center and they posed. Ash looking relaxed and chill, Barry deliberately looking like a goofball with a leg raised up and his arms in silly contortions, and Dawn in the middle with her eyes closed, the biggest smile she could muster and both her hands doing the peace sign. They saw a flash as the camera went off. They hurried over to the laptop to look at the picture. It was perfect.
"Now we just need a printer somewhere." Ash said.
"I know! It's at a museum nearby!" Barry suggested.
"You? In a museum? Yeah right." Ash joked. This set him off.
"What?! Just because I'm hyperactive doesn't mean I don't like to learn! I know, if I get a printer ready for us before you get there, I'm fining you $10 million dollars!" He then took off, leaving his friends in the dust.
"Running off. As usual." Ash sighed contently before closing his laptop.
"I'm just amazed how well you guys fit together despite your opposite personalities." Dawn commented.
"Yeah, it's an enigma to me too. But if you ask me, it's something I'd rather not question." Ash conceited before they started walking.
"I never thanked you for saving me, have I?" Ash asked.
"Oh, no need to thank me. What are friends for?" Dawn politely declined, but Ash shook his head.
"I mean it. Thank you for saving my life. That puts you right up there with Barry and my mom." Ash said, making Dawn blush.
"You're very welcome." She returned. It didn't take long before they found the library and entered. Dawn was very interested with all the coal samples and historical artifacts relating to the subject. Ash just nodded and headed forward, though making sure they never were outside of each other's visual or auditory range. When Ash finally spotted Barry, he headed over and got quietly scolded by Barry.
"Too slow Ash. Sheesh, do you have rocks in your feet?"
"They at least keep me grounded while you're flying off everywhere." Ash cracked.
"Okay, I'll admit. That was a pretty good burn actually." Barry surrendered, chuckling quite a bit. When Dawn finally caught up, the printer already made three copies of the group photograph. Barry handed her one.
"These look great guys." Dawn stated, smiling.
"Yeah, any photograph will look good when it's got me in it." Barry proclaimed while sticking out his chest before Ash elbowed him, both chuckling. As they left the museum, Barry said,
"Well, sorry to leave you all in the dust, but I've already gotten my coal badge earlier yesterday before you strolled in an injured Ash. So, smell you later!" He dashed off, literally leaving a dust trail behind him.
"Well, let's head over to the gym." Dawn giggled.
"Yeah." Ash agreed. It took some time but they eventually found the Pokémon Gym, but they noticed a closed sign. "Aw man." Ash complained.
"What are we supposed to do?"
"You could go into the mine." A young voice suggested. They turned to a young boy and girl playing kickball.
"Yeah, Gym Leader Roark often goes down into the mine to dig up either coal or fossils." The girl explained.
"Thank you, kind children." Dawn thanked as the kids ran off.
"Shall we go then?" Ash asked with hidden excitement.
"Certainly." Dawn agreed as they went off to the mine. When they found the place, they were awestruck by all the conveyer belts moving coal around and Machoke's hauling stuff around. A man approached them.
"Hey, you wanting to get in the mine?"
"Yeah, to find this Roark person." Ash answered.
"Ah, a trainer then. In that case, here's a couple of hard hats. Don't want any concussions." He passed two helmets made of durable plastic. Ash and Dawn took off their hat and beanie respectively to put on the protective gear. From the mine they heard both cheerful and professional shouting.
"We got a fossil people! Bring it out!"
"Oh, excuse me teenagers, I've got something to oversee." The man excused as he went to all the hub bub. The two teens followed suite as they saw the entrance of the mine with a huge load of coal being brought out. One of the men being a red headed young man wearing glasses being Roark. As he closely inspected the fossil, he cheered,
"It's a cranidos!" All of the miners celebrated. "Welcome from your millennium to mine." As he looked up, he saw two teens in hard hats. He smiled as he approached them.
"So, what are you two doing here? Looking to challenge the gym leader?"
"Yeah, are you Roark?" Ash asked.
"Indeed I am. If you're looking for a battle, give me a little time. I need to take this cranidos fossil to the museum first.
"Alright. Care if we watch? It looks interesting." Dawn requested.
"Sure. Just keep a safe distance away. Mining is serious business even above ground." Roark advised before walking off.
Roark and Ash were in the gym on opposite ends of a 100 feet by 50 feet wide field court filled with rocks. Dawn, along with all her Pokémon were watching in the stands. A referee was in the middle.
"The battle between Ash the challenger and Roark the gym leader is about to begin. Each side will use three Pokémon. Only the challenger is allowed to make substitutions. Let the battle begin!"
"Geodude, let's go! Roark called out as he threw a Pokeball releasing a ball of rock with arms.
"Turtwig, I choose you!" Ash yelled as he showed his grass starter.
"Geodude, use rock polish!" Roark commanded. Just then, Geodude became more shinier.
"Turtwig, use razor leaf!" From the top of its head, the two leaves on it's head grew and it shot many leaves at the rock Pokémon, but it easily dodged.
"Use rock throw!" Geodude grabbed onto a rock as large as itself near it, and lobbed it at the grass type. Because of the speed it threw the rock, it smacked particularly hard against its head.
"Turtiwig!" Ash cried out.
"Nice, now keep lobbing rocks at Turtwig before it can recover!" Roark commanded as Geodude picked up every rock of its size and threw them at the grass starter as fast as it could.
"Absorb through them!" Ash retaliated. Turtwig's leaves turned red as he shot red energy lines at the attacks, burning right through them and eventually reaching Geodude, who suffered greatly from the grass move. Turtwig felt much better. "Razer leaf!" Turtwig once again shot many leaves at the rock Pokémon, this time landing a big blow. It collapsed with sharp leaves stuck in its body.
"Geodude is unable to battle! Turtwig is the winner!"
"Nice job, Turtwig!" Ash complimented. It growled with confidence.
"Geodude, return." Roark said as he returned his Pokémon into its Pokeball. "Thanks a lot, good friend." He took out another Pokeball. "Onix, you're up next!" He threw the Pokeball to unleash a 30 foot long rock snake made of boulders.
"Whoa, that's huge!" Dawn cried out, unexpecting to witness such a large beast in person.
"Onix, use screech!" Roark ordered. The Onix screamed a sound like a dozen boulders scraping against each other, causing everybody around to cover their ears except for Turtwig since it only had stumps and no outer ears to cover, so it cried out in pain from the terrible, ear splitting noise. "Now use rock throw!" Since Onix didn't have any hands, it simply used its tail to swat at the earthen terrain, assaulting the literally tiny Pokémon with rocks.
"Turtwig, get up!" Ash pleaded as it struggled.
"Tackle!" Roark instructed as the rock snake charged forward and rammed its head into Turtwig.
"Counter with absorb!" Regaining its bearings, Turtwig's two leaves glowed red and sapped energy away from the rock snake, making it grow weaker.
"Onix, retreat!" Roark cried out as it tried getting back to its side of the field.
"Quick, use razor leaf!" Ash commanded. Turtwig's leaves glowed again as he unleased a flurry of leaves.
"Use stealth rock! Roark pleaded. Before the attack landed, it created shards of rock and sprayed them throughout Ash's battle field before the leaves slashed into it, defeating it with a mighty crash.
"Yeah Ash, way to go!" Dawn cheered. All of her Pokémon cried out the same way. Ash smiled and tipped his hat.
"Onix is unable to battle! Turtwig is the winner!" The referee said a second time. Roark returned his onix.
"You were great. Take a nice, long rest." He then got out his last Pokeball. "I must say, even though your Pokémon is a grass type, you know how to coordinate with him quite sufficiently." Roark commended.
"Thanks, and I haven't even been a trainer for a whole week yet." Ash admitted.
"Well, let's see how you handle this! Cranidos, let's go!" He called out, letting loose his final Pokémon. It looked like a small, grey colored dinosaur. It has a hooked beak, red irises, and a hard blue dome shaped with four spikes on the back of its head. It has small arms and a small tail with three forward claws and one back. The Head Butt Pokémon, Cranidos.
"I'm assuming that's your ace. Well then, razor leaf Turtwig!" Ash commanded as his starter released more leaves.
"Dodge, then use focus energy!" Roark ordered as Cranidos jumped into the air, focusing its power. "Now use head butt!" Once it touched down on the ground, Cranidos charged and smashed its head into Turtwig's own head. He flew past Ash and collided into the wall with enough force to stay stuck in it. It was promptly knocked out.
"Turtwig, return!" Ash cried out with a lot of worry. The Tiny Leaf Pokémon retreated into the Pokeball. "You fought valiantly, Turtwig. You've earned your rest." He told his starter as he brought out his second Pokémon. "Wow. That Cranidos is strong. But I know we can endure. "Bibarel, I choose you!" He called as the ball released the evolved form of Bidoof. Not only was it larger, it now had a full blown beaver tail and it had cream colored fur on it's chest and face. However, the stones surrounding Bibarel glowed and raced to the beaver, dealing it damage on contact.
"Dawn, what was that just now?" He asked her surprised.
"Stealth rock is a move where if a Pokémon is substituted, the Pokémon coming out is dealt damage." She explained.
"Well now, ain't that just peachy." Ash muttered to himself. "Bibarel, use rollout!" Ash commanded. Bibarel rolled itself into a ball and began its attack.
"Head butt again!" Cranidos charged and both Pokémon landed solid blows, but the dinosaur was more successful as the Beaver Pokémon landed on it's front haphazardly, struggling to get up. "Headbutt again!" The dinosaur Pokémon leapt to finish the job, but it was not prepared for Bibarel to suddenly spray it with water out of it's mouth, pushing it back.
"Alright, it learned water gun!" Dawn cheered.
"Nice Bibarel!" Ash congratulated, with his pokemon laughing through the pain before grunting.
"No way! There's no way we're giving up now!" Roark denied with passion. "Head butt!" Roark instructed. Cranidos made its move and slammed into Bibarel, making her skid across the ground, knocked out. "Bibarel, return. Good job. Rest now." Ash said as he brought out one last Pokémon. "Luxio, I choose you!" He sent out his electric lynx, Luxio. Stealth rock activated again, damaging the Spark Pokémon. "Luxio, use charge!" Ash instructed. Luxio began cackling with electricity. Noticing his Pokémon wasn't going to last too much longer, Roark requested,
"Hey, you're Bibarel sure did a number to my Cranidos. How about we see who can defeat whom with just one move?"
"I'm okay with that. Luxio, use spark!" Luxio charged itself up and sprinted forward.
"Head Butt!" The two Pokémon made one final dash at each other before colliding, creating an explosion. Ash, Dawn and Roark had to shield themselves from the wind caused by said explosion. As the seconds gone by, the two Pokémon stared at each other panting, neither willing to give up. Luxio grunted and nearly dropped down entirely, but still managed to stay on all four feet. As for Cranidos, it fell forward onto it's front, defeated.
"Cranidos is unable to battle! Luxio wins, the winner is Ash." The referee concluded.
"You were amazing Ash!" Dawn celebrated from the stand with all her Pokémon providing back up.
"Thanks Dawn!" Ash replied back.
"Thanks Cranidos, enjoy a nice long rest." Roark said as he returned his Pokémon. "That was impressive, Ash." Roark complimented as he started walking to the young trainer.
"You're not so bad yourself. Your cranidos was super strong with the focus energy and head butt combo. Nearly wiped out my whole team." Ash admitted.
"Well, according to Pokémon League rules, I'm required to give you my badge, so here it is; the coal badge." He handed the badge to Ash. It looked like a combination of a rock and a Pokeball colored copper and aluminum.
"Thank you very much, Roark. I'll see you around." Ash thanked before leaving the field. When Ash and Dawn finally met up, Dawn squeezed him with a massive hug.
"You were just wow, Ash! A total smash! I knew you could do it!"
"Hehe, I also have you to thank, Dawn." Ash replied. Dawn looked at him in confusion.
"I never would've gotten my badge if you haven't saved me. I know I already said thanks, but I just feel so grateful to have you as a friend." He explained sincerely. Dawn's eyes started to sparkle from tears and she hugged him even tighter.
"I'm grateful to have you for a friend too, Ash. She let go, and the two gave each other a high five. "Oh yeah, I wonder if I can try catching an Onix in the mine? I'm sure we'll fill the Pokedex with quite a valuable Pokémon in there.
"I don't see why not. Let's go." Ash complied as the two teens ran forward.
A/N: Man, along with adventure and romance in the genre I might as well have friendship in there just with how Ash, Dawn and Barry interact. So, for anybody that's confused about what gender each Pokémon is right now with the two, Ash has a male Turtwig, Staravia and Luxio with a female Bibarel. Dawn has a female Piplup, Staravia, Bibarel and Luxio, with a male Krickitue and Geodude currently. On standby she has a male zubat and a female psyduck. And later on that I won't be writing about, she gets a male Onix and a male Machop to trade it for an Abra in Oreburgh City. Anyway, what did you think of the gym battle? I know Onix doesn't know tackle in the game but seriously, it's a huge rock snake weighing over 460 lbs. That's 6.5 10 year olds. That thing tackling you should hurt anything below 400 lbs. Leave reviews please. Sayonara.