First Gym Battle!
Episode 3: Part 1
Recap on the last episode...
"Poor Torchic. Fire Types are weak to Water Types like Azurill."
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"It looks like it just might be a bunch of old buildings."
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"Well actually these are the ruins of Oldale."
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"I'm Professor Alden and I'm here investigating them."
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"I did see something out there, didn't I? Maybe it's nothing."
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"Let go of me!"
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"Yes, alright, I'll go with you then."
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"Why do you think? We brought you so you can help us gain access to the stone chamber."
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"Really? Then I guess you don't care about the fate of those poor people at the Pokemon Center, especially her."
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"There's no time for that! Absol! Use Sucker Punch!"
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"It smells so fresh and clean down here."
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"It was a Relicanth! It was an ancient Pokemon!"
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"Excuse me Nurse Joy. Did you find anything about those crocks?"
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"Guess what? I've been doing a little more research over at the ancient chamber and so far every indication pointed to ancient Pokemon and people interacting peacefully."
"Ash! Can't you slow down! Why are you in such a hurry?" May asked, taking a deep breath as they come to a stop.
"I want to get to the gym so I can have my first gym battle. I'm too hyper!" Ash replied.
"Yeah, but can't you slow down." Aria said, placing her hands on her knees, taking a deep breath. "You've been running the whole time. Just like yesterday."
Ash grins, including with Pikachu. "Come on, let's go!"
He runs down the hill as the two girls try to call out to him but there was no stopping him.
"Boys, I swear." Aria started. "There's never a way you can stop him."
"We should catch up before we get separated with him." May said.
Aria nods and they started to chase after him.
A kid from pallet town with a brand new world to see
I don't know what's ahead but it won't get the best of me
There's so much to learn and battles to be won
I've advanced so far and still there's always more to come
Take a step and I'm on my way gonna start all over again
I want to be hero (hero!)
Pokemon advance
I wanna be a hero (hero!)
Give it just one chance
And the future will decide
If there's a hero buried deep inside
I wanna be a hero!
Pokemon!
"So, Petalburg Gym is a big deal to you huh?" May asked.
The girls were finally able to catch up to Ash so they decided to stop at the playground and sit down on the bench there.
"Are you kidding? If I win in a gym battle there I get a badge." He said. "Once I get eight of those badges I can compete in the Hoenn League."
"Me too." Aria replied.
"That sounds great...I guess." May didn't know what to say, but she was still unsure about something.
"Don't you want to compete in the Hoenn League?" Ash asked May.
"I- of course..." May's voice trails of a bit.
"I wonder what the gym leader is going to be like."
"I'm sure he's a nice guy." May replied.
"Wait, what? May do you know him?" Ash asked.
"What? Me?! Well, I really don't know him that well. The word on the street is that he's very kind, and also very strong―"
"I think we get it." Aria said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"We should head to the gym now, May, why don't you come with us?" Ash asked as he stood up.
"Um, well I really can't..." She said, standing up as well.
"Why not?"
"Well you see, well I just have to go and take care of a few things first." She said, waving at the two. "See ya!"
Before Ash could stop her she was long gone.
"Um, we should head to the gym..." Aria said, changing the subject, picking her bag off of the ground.
Ash nods and picks up his bag as well as Pikachu sat on his shoulder.
"Here it is." Aria said.
"This is the Petalburg Gym? This place looks cool." Ash said.
"Let's go inside."
Once they enter they noticed how quiet the place was when they got inside. When they reached the battlefield they noticed that it was empty.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Ash asked aloud.
"Doesn't seem like anyone's here." Aria said, crossing her arms.
"Can you please keep it down?"
They turned around and noticed someone standing there holding a book in there hands. It was just a kid, probably at the age of 9 or 10 but he was really short too.
"I'm right in the middle of watching a video of the Silver Conference."
"Oh, were sorry." Ash apologized, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry kid."
"Wow! It's really you!" The kid exclaimed, pointing at Ash. He looks over at Aria. "And you're here too! This is amazing!"
"Yes, um how do you know who we are?" Aria asked.
"You both were in the Johto Silver Conference! You both lost in the second round in a tag battle!"
Ash and Aria then fell on the ground, hating to remember that battle.
"Your name, your name is Alf!" He said pointing back at Ash. "And your name is...Aria!"
"It's Ash." He corrected.
"I watched you both compete at the Silver Conference live. I've been watching videos of it every since!"
"Wow..." Ash answered amazed.
"You both lost in the second round. Then you got knocked out by Harrison's Blaziken, and Maria's Skarmory! Your battle was totally awesome! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. That final battle between Charizard and Blaziken was really cool! Both Pokemon just keep taking one attack after another! Especially between Skarmory and Ariados! It was amazing!"
Ash and Aria looked over at each other, thinking about their tag battle with Harrison and Maria once again. It was the first tag battle they ever done in a while. But the two of them just couldn't beat Harrison's and Maria's Pokemon.
"So...where's the gym leader?" Ash asked, changing the subject.
"That would be me." The kid said, pointing at himself.
Ash and Aria were even more confused.
"Yeah, sure..." Ash said sarcastically.
"What?! You think I'm not good enough?" The kid exclaimed.
"Hey, calm down guys." Aria said, getting in between them.
"What going on in there?"
They turned around and noticed a man standing by the door with a woman next to him and a familiar girl.
"May!?"
"Umm, hi." She replied, with a slight wave.
"This is my mother and father." May said.
"Please to meet you, I'm Norman." The man said.
"Hi, I'm Caroline." The woman greeted.
May points the the young boy sitting next to him. "And this is my little brother, Max."
"You see, our dad is the real gym leader." Max said.
"We really appreciate you both bringing May all the way home." Caroline thanked.
"You really don't have to thank us." Aria said. "Just doing something nice for a friend."
"Mom, dad, these are the two that lost on the second round at the Silver Conference!" Max exclaimed.
Aria and Ash sigh at the same time.
"It was the championship." Ash said tiredly.
"Why don't you both join us for lunch?" Caroline suggested. "You must be hungry after all of the traveling."
"Great, thanks." Aria replied.
"May tells us that you've been traveling for a long time." Caroline said, placing the sandwich down on the plate.
"Yeah, lots." Ash replied.
"I wish I could go traveling." Max mumbled.
"Have you two been going alone?"
"Actually, we've been traveling with some of our best friends, and Pikachu of course."
"Pikachu!" It replied.
"Well that's good, traveling with friends is much easier." Norman said.
"Oh yeah, and it's a lot more fun too." Aria added.
"Dad, Ash and Aria would like to have a gym battle with you." May said.
"Yeah, I hope that's okay." Ash asked.
"Of course. So how many badges do you have?" He asked.
"This is going to be our first one." Aria said.
"So you're just getting started."
"Yes. What are rules?" Ash asked.
"Three on three battle elimination."
Ash's eyes widen as Aria looked over at him. "I only have Pikachu with me." He said, placing his hand on his face. "I wanted to start over but I didn't know I would need more than one."
"It's alright, it won't be an official gym battle, what about you Aria?" He asked.
"I have four pokemon." She said. "I have other pokemon I left back at our home. But I got two here and brought two when I arrived here a while ago." She said.
"Alright, Ash, do you mind if I battle with her first?" Norman asked.
"Sure! Go on ahead. This gives me time to come up with a plan for when I battle you!" He said.
Well that happened...for the next chapter when the battle happens it's not going to be a great description since it not often that I write about a Pokemon battle. Oh well, I hope I will get better in the future some day. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!