"So are you getting anyone back from Professor Oak, maybe Vileplume or Rapidash?" Cassie asked.

"I know you looked at what kind of type the gym leader uses but I'm fine without knowing that information." Ash commented.

"I didn't look at who they were using, all I did was see the type on the sign, and that much is information even you could get." Cassie remarked.

"I'm not accusing you of that, just knowing you can see and listen in on other peoples conversations is a bit uneasy for me." Ash admitted.

"Okay, no more snooping." Cassie promised. "And what I heard Megan saying way back, it wasn't so much snooping as it was the wild Bulbasaur putting you into a deep sleep and she was panicking."

"I know you wouldn't ever intentionally snoop around, that's not like you." Ash said with a sigh. "I mean I'm just getting used to this whole thing still, and I'm trying to be helpful."

"Ash, not much you can help me with, I'm already dead." Cassie joked.

"Not my point and you know it." Ash remarked.

"Just relax, nothing has changed since our time in Kanto. Sure you've realized I'm not some grief-fueled hallucination and you can touch me to an extent now, but I haven't changed, and you haven't either." Cassie assured. "Now go and take the new kids and earn yourself another gym badge."

"Right, two badges, I'm making great progress." Ash said, wanting to earn his second badge today, before walking to the gym doors only for them to not move. "What in the?"

"Sorry about this kid, Bugsy the gym leader took the day off to participate in a Bug Catching Contest north of Goldenrod, come back tomorrow." The gym worker said.

"Wait, they're not here?" Ash asked.

"I do apologize, but as a bug expert in his own right he tries to attend one bug catching contest a month if nothing else than to learn more about them." The gym worker apologized. "They will be back by the time the gym opens tomorrow however."

"So, you're stuck here too?" A familiar voice said as a large Slowpoke walked up on it's hind legs.

"Cody?" Ash asked worriedly.

"Who else has a fashion sense as elite as this one?" Cody asked.

"Fair enough." Ash admitted. "Didn't think I'd see you here, but seeing as we're both stuck here, why not have a battle for some training?"

"Now we're talking, how many Pokemon?" Cody asked.

"How many Pokemon have you caught here in Johto?" Ash asked curiously.

"Three so far." Cody admitted.

"So then how about a three on three then?" Ash offered.

"Sounds good to me. Spinarak come on out!"

"Egguardo I choose you!"

"Spinarak use Poison Sting!"

"Egguardo use Dizzy Punch!"

Egguardo rushed forward, slamming his fist into the Spinarak as the bug type sunk their fangs into his arm.

"Egguardo use Tackle!"

"Spinarak use Scary Face!"

Egguardo flipped Spinarak onto the ground, pinning the spider as it struggled under their grasp.

"Spinarak use Constrict!"

"Egguardo use Tackle!"

The two Pokemon became a mess of limbs and bodies, both of them wrestling on the ground with one another, trying to take out each other.

"Egguardo use Dizzy Punch!"

"Spinarak use Scary Face!"

Egguardo slammed his fist into Spinarak, sending the bug type tumbling backwards in defeat.

"Spinarak return!" Cody recalled. "You've been training your new recruits."

"So have you, but I guess we have to try new tactics if we want to win this league." Ash reminded.

"You've got that right. Come on out Dunsparce!" Cody called out. "Use Rage!"

"Egguardo use Dizzy Punch!"

Egguardo was moving fairly slowly before he was slammed to the ground by the Dunsparce's attack.

"Egguardo use Dizzy Punch!"

"Dunsparce use Rage!"

Dunsparce flailed about as Egguardo struck him a few times before being knocked out.

"Egguardo return! Come on out Misdreavus!" Ash called out.

"Smart, a ghost type against a normal type, but we're not backing down yet. Dunsparce use Rollout!"

"Misdreavus use Attract!"

Misdreavus winked at Dunsparce, blowing a kiss as the normal type stopped moving forward,

"Now use Psywave!"

"Dunsparce use Defense Curl!"

Misdreavus sent out a wave of psychic energy, striking Dunsparce as he rolled himself up.

"Misdreavus use Psywave!"

"Dunsparce use Rollout!"

Misdreavus's attack struck Dunsparce, barely knocking the normal type off course before they rammed into Misdreavus, knocking the ghost type around.

"Misdreavus use Psywave!"

"Dunsparce use Rollout!"

Misdreavus's attack did even less as Dunsparce's grew in power.

"Misdreavus use Psywave!"

"Dunsparce use Rollout!"

Misdreavus fired off her attack, dealing more damage than ever, knocking Dunsparce away before it could strike her.

"Dunsparce return! Now let's finish this, come on out Totodile!"

"Misdreavus use Attract!"

"Totodile use Bite!"

The blue croc leapt at Misdreavus, chomping down on the ghost type and completely avoiding her move.

"Totodile use Water Gun!"

"Misdreavus use Growl!"

Misdreavus let out a cry before being taken down by the water attack.

"You did great Misdreavus, now if only I knew how that attack of yours worked." Ash admitted.

"Psywave deals a range of damage every time it hits, sometimes it hits hard, others it doesn't." Cody pointed out.

"Good to know, now come on out Teddiursa! Use Fury Swipes!"

"Totodile use Scratch!"

The two Pokemon clashed their claws against one another in a fit of rage.

"Teddiursa use Mud Slap!"

"Totodile use Water Gun!"

Dirt and water shot at each other, knocking both Pokemon back a few feet from the impact.

"Teddiursa use Lick!"

"Totodile use Bite!"

The two Pokemon ran at each other before knocking one another out.

"Well that was a good fight, glad to see you haven't been wasting your time here." Cody commented.

"Yeah, I've been busier than you might think." Ash admitted. "It was good to catch up with you though."

"Same, next time we meet we'll have to have a rematch." Cody said.