Chapter 4 Pewter Gym

The next day, Ash and Alice bid farewell to Goh and Chole, who are going to capture some new Pokemon. Ash and Alice are now in the Viridian Forest, Ash and Alice are talking about the place.

"So you said you capture your Butterfree and Pidgeot in this place?" Alice asks.

"Yeah." Ash says. "It is a great memory."

Just then, they see a Raticate gnawing on the tree, Ash says, "Alice, do you want to capture that Raticate?"

"You mean...I capture it?" Alice asks. "But it looks very high leveled, I don't think my Eevee can do it..." Eevee also shivers at the thought of capturing the big Pokemon.

"Did you forget that we share Pokemon? You can use one of my Pokemon." Ash says with a smile.

Alice says sheepishly, "I totally forgot. Thanks, Ash." Then she calls out the normal-colored Butterfree, who agrees to battle with her.

"Use String Shot to bind it." Butterfree binds the Raticate, but it uses Hyper Fang to break free, then it charges at Butterfree with a Take Down.

"Butterfree, stop him using Psychic." Butterfree glows and then Raticate is stuck in the air and then it strikes back down. "Finish it with Air Cutter."

Butterfree creates winds and then it slashes at Raticate, causing it to struggle the pain. Alice uses the chance to throw a Pokeball, three shakes, and then it is captured.

"I caught a Raticate." Alice cheers as Ash smiles at her. "You did a good job, Alice."

"Thanks, Ash." Alice says as she takes the Pokeball, sending the Raticate out, and gives him an Oran Berry to recover its health. Once it is done, they recall the Pokemon and move forward.


As they continue forward, they notice a lot of Kakuna on the tree, Ash pales and Alice asks, "What's wrong? Ash?"

"Alice, you have no idea how many times I have been chased by a Swarm of Beedrill. And right now I think we are at its nest." Ash says, Alice also pales and she asks, "What are we going to do?"

Just then, they see the Kakuna start to glow and they are evolving, once they all become Beedrill, they are charging Twineedle at both Ash and Alice. Ash says, "Beedrill, please stop, we don't mean any harm. We are sorry that we trespass your nest, but we need to go to the next city."

Just then, the Beedrill flies backward as one, who seems to be the leader, moves forward, he says, "You are just a human, yet you know our language. Very well, if you manage to defeat me, we will treat it like it has never happened before."

Ash and Alice nod as Ash sends out his Charizard to battle the Beedrill. Of course, Charizard has to give Ash the usual Flamethrower. Ash gets back up and says, "Charizard, our opponent is a Beedrill. Use your Fire Punch."

Charizard charges at the Beedrill, but it uses Agility to dodge it. Beedrill goes for the Twineedle, and Charizard gets hit and is poisoned.

"Charizard, hang in there. Use Fire Spin on yourself." Charizard does it, causing the Beedrill who tries to use Rage to get hurt by the flames. "Now use your Dragon Claw."

Charizard winces with the poison and slashes the Beedrill, causing it to get knocked out on the floor. The other Beedrill see how their leader is defeated, and they try to avenge it, but the Beedrill stops them. "I lost, and we have a deal. Now leave this group alone."

The other Beedrill can only nod as they fly off. But the Beedrill stays and he says, "You are a formidable trainer, maybe if I join your group, I can be stronger as well."

"Sure, we are glad to have you on our team." Ash says as he captures the Pokemon. Alice says, "That goes pretty well..."

"Yeah, I thought that we are going to get injured again." Ash laughs as they quickly get out of the forest.


Now they are at Pewter City, Alice asks, "Ash, can we go visit the Science museum?"

"Why not? We have a lot of time before going there." Ash says as they go to the museum. There is a new exhibit going on as it is about the fossil Pokemon. They go inside and see a lot of fossils on display.

"Those fossils are very cool." Alice says.

"I know, some of them can be revived with the power of science. In the Galar Region, there are even fossils that can be combined together." Ash says.

"You seem to know a lot about it." Alice says with a smile.

"Trust me, I have been traveling for 8 years." Ash says.

After they have the memories of the fossils, they decide to go to the Pewter Gym. But just as he opens the door, they see the gym leader is no other than Brock's brother Forest.

"Hey, Forest." Ash greets Forest, who notices him and says, "Ash, long time no see. How are you doing?"

"Great. Is Brock home?" Ash asks.

"He just come back for a vacation after the medical university stuff. He is in the kitchen preparing food since our parents are out again." Forest says.

"Please tell him that I come to visit." Ash says as he nods. Then he goes to the back and calls Brock. Not long after, Brock and Forest come as Brock greets Ash.

"Ash, long time no see." They fist bump and Ash says, "Likewise. Oh, I will like to introduce you to my girlfriend Alice."

"It is an honor to meet you." Alice says with a bow, but Brock just falls down in anime tears. "Even you got a girlfriend..."

This causes Alice to be confused. "Did I do something?"

Ash sighs and he says, "You did nothing, he is just a lover boy who tries to chase any girls he saw."

Brock gets back up and says, "It is finally to see Ash having a girlfriend. By the way, what brings the two of you here?"

"You know my dream is to become a Pokemon Master, right? Mr. Goodshow is giving me a challenge to become one with five tasks. Right now I only finished one and one of the tasks requires taking on the gyms again."

"I see, so you are here for the Boulder Badge." Brock says. "As much as I want to fight you, I am not a Gym Leader. Forest here is the Gym Leader and you should battle him instead."

Forest says, "Big brother Brock has given me to train some of his Rock Type Pokemon, so it will be no difference from battling my brother."

"Is that so. Then Brock, can you watch my battle?" Ash asks.

"Sure." Brock says as he and Alice go to the stands. Brock notices the Eevee in Alice's hands and he asks, "Is that Eevee yours? I see it likes Pikachu."

The two of them blush and Alice says, "Yes, she is. So you were the former Gym Leader? Does that mean you battled Ash before?"

"Yeah, but at that time he is still immature and reckless. I wonder how much he will grow." Brock says with a smile.

"The rules are two versus two, is that fine with you?" Forest asks Ash.

"Sure." Ash says as Forest sends out his first Pokemon, a Golem. Ash knows that this Pokemon is not a pushover, he says, "I choose this Pokemon, go, Pidgeot."

As the Pokemon appears, Brock says, "Oh? Ash got his Pidgeot back?"

"Yeah, he also captured the Fearow along." Alice says.

"I see you are using a Flying Type Pokemon, but my brother has told me that you can still win battles even if you have a disadvantage. Which is why I am not going to hold back. Use Sandstorm."

Golem then creates a giant Sandstorm that causes Pidgeot to be blinded. Ash says, "Pidgeot, we can't let it hurt you, use your Agility,"

Pidgeot starts to fly fast, Forest says, "You can run, but you can't hide. Use Stone Edge." The pointy stones start to fly towards Pidgeot, Ash says, "Twister, now! Break the stones."

Pidgeot then creates the twisters to break the stones, Brock says, "That sure is a nice strategy."

"Flying in the air gives you some advantage, but not for long. Heavy Slam." Forest says as Golem suddenly jumps high and lands on Pidgeot, slamming him to the ground.

"Pidgeot, hang in there. Use your Steel Wing." Ash says as Pidgeot's wings glow and it then hits Golem, causing it to get in pain as it rolls away from Pidgeot.

"Finish it with Hurricane!" Ash yells. "No, you won't. Self-Destruct."

Ash widens his eyes as both attacks collides, causing Pidgeot to get involved. But much to Forest's surprise, Pidgeot still stands. Ash says, "The water of the Hurricane has helped my Pokemon reduce the damage of the explosion."

Alice says, "That is a nice idea." Brock says, "Indeed, Ash never ceases to amaze me."

"I get too reckless about the Explosion. But here is my next Pokemon, Onix." As the rock snake Pokemon appears. Ash says, "Onix, huh? Then I am going to use Blastoise."

As the giant turtle Pokemon appears, Brock says, "And Squirtle evolves I see."

"Well, all of Ash's Pokemon are already evolved. Except for Pikachu." Alice says.

"I see." Brock says. "With that, he seems to be very strong." Brock says.

"Onix. Let's raise our speed with Rock Polish." Forest says as Onix glows, causing it to be quicker. "Blastoise, use Bite."

Blastoise bites the snake's tail, causing it to roar in pain. Alice says, "With the Black Glasses, it sure gets stronger."

"Black Glasses raises the Dark Type moves, Ash sure is thinking correctly." Brock says.

"Use your Bind Attack." Blastoise is blinded by the Pokemon, causing it to get hard to breathe. "Use Iron Tail." Forest says.

"Blastoise, use Aqua Tail to break yourself free." The Pokemon hits the body of the Rock Snake and it jumps back out. Onix quickly gets back up and both tails are clashing each other.

"Use Earthquake." Blastoise takes the hit and it has one knee on the floor. Ash says, "Use Rain Dance."

Blastoise uses the rain on the Onix, Brock says, "You know, back then Ash uses Pikachu against my Onix, who is now a Steelix, and he manages to make the field rain as well."

"Really?" Alice is amazed at how Ash does it.

"Now finish with Hydro Pump." With the Rain going on, Onix is defeated by the water attack.

"Onix is unable to battle, the winner is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town." Ash smiles as he hugs his Blastoise.

Forest says, "Well, I know why my brother thinks you are interesting. Ash, do you have your Boulder Badge?"

Ash is confused as he says, "Mr. Goodshow did tell me to bring my old badges, why is that?"

As he hands over the badge, he says, "Because you used your Boulder Badge to enter a league, so with the rules, the Gym Leader can exchange your old one for a new one." Then he takes out another Boulder Badge and gives it to Ash. "That way if you want to take part in the league again, you won't be confused."

"That is a good thing to know." Ash says. "Now I have two badges."

Brock comes and asks, "So Ash, where are you going next?"

"I am going to Rota since there is a new gym that specializes in Fighting Type there, and after that, I am going to Cerulean City to participate in the Contest and the gym there."

"Oh? So you are into contests as well?" Brock asks. "Never thought I see the day that you did it."

"Well, believe it or not, he got his first ribbon." Alice says.

"I am just kidding. I already know what Ash is capable of. As much as I want to travel with you just like old times, I can't because of my studies. Besides, I am sure that you two will want to have some alone time, right?"

Ash and Alice blush and Ash says, "I guess so."

Brock says, "Since you have come here, why don't you stay at my house for a while? I can cook some dinner for you."

"Thanks, Brock." Ash says as they hear Ash's stomach rumbles. They laugh and Ash also laughs out of embarrassment.


Here is a new chapter. I know some of you want to see Ash battle against Brock. But I want to do something different and I want to let Ash battle Forest instead. I hope you like this chapter and the next one will be the way to Rota.