"Alright, attempt number two at meeting the gym leader to challenge them." Ash said, adjusting his Pokeballs.

"I apologize for not being here yesterday, but I normally don't get many

challengers on these days." A boy with purple hair said. "But when my gym guide said there were two challengers nearly back to back I made sure to be here to greet you."

"You're the gym leader?" Ash asked.

"Yes, my name is Bugsy, the Azalea Town Gym Leader and a professional bug type trainer." The boy said. "And what is your name?"

"My name is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and this will be my second Johto Gym Badge." Ash said proudly.

"Sounds good, we'll head to the gym and we will discuss the rules of our match then and there." Bugsy said, walking towards the gym. "Don't keep me waiting Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town."

A short bit later

"Glad you could finally make it." Bugsy said with a laugh.

"No problem." Ash said. "So how will our battle be going down?"

"We will have a three on three Pokemon battle. You'll be able to switch out your Pokemon at any time while I will have to keep with my decisions. The match will be over when one of us is out of usable Pokemon." Bugsy said. "My specialty is the bug type, and I will send my Pokemon out first. "Come on out Pineco!"

'Pineco, the Bagworm Pokemon, a Bug Type. It likes to make its shell thicker by adding layers of tree bark. The additional weight doesn't bother it.' The Pokedex explained.

"Come on out Misdreavus!" Ash called out.

"Pineco use Protect!"

"Misdreavus use Attract!"

Misdreavus winked and blew a kiss as Pineco sturdied himself against damage.

"I'm curious if Misdreavus will be enough, she hasn't had great luck so far." Cassie said as she watched from above.

"Pineco use Pin Missile!"

"Misdreavus use Psywave!"

Attacks fired from both Pokemon, sending Pineco spinning backwards and Misdreavus tossing about.

"Misdreavus use Growl!"

"Pineco use Pin Missile!"

Misdreavus let out a cry as she was struck by more of Pinceo's spines.

"Misdreavus switch out, let's go Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu raced onto the battlefield as Misdreavus was returned, sending out a bolt of electricity striking Pineco for massive damage.

"Pineco time for your ultimate move, use Explosion!" Bugsy exclaimed.

A massive explosion went off, sending a blast of energy at Pikachu, knocking the electric type out in the process.

"Pikachu." Cassie said in shock.

"Pikachu, I'm so sorry I thought you would have been safe." Ash apologized. "Don't worry, we'll do out best from here."

"Pineco return!" Bugsy called out. "Let's go Yanma!"

'Yanma, the Clear Wing Pokemon, a Bug and Flying Type. If it flaps its wings really fast, it can generate shock waves that will shatter windows in the area.' The Pokedex explained.

"Misdreavus come back out!" Ash called.

Misdreavus was surprised to have come back out so quickly, only to see that Pikachu had already been knocked out.

"Yanma use Wing Attack!"

"Misdreavus use Psywave!"

Misdreavus sent out her psychic attack before being struck by Yanma's wings.

"Misdreavus use Psywave!"

"Yanma use Wing Attack!"

The two Pokemon traded attacks once more, keeping things at a slow pace.

"Misdreavus use Psywave again!"

Misdreavus shook herself angrily, before a burst of electricity shot out of her pearls, zapping Yanma with massive amounts of electricity as the bug fell to the ground in defeat.

"Yanma is unable to battle, the winner is Misdreavus." The gym worker said.

"What even was that and how did Misdreavus use it?" Ash exclaimed in excitement, pulling out his Pokedex.

'Misdreavus, known moves, Growl, Psywave, Attract.' The Pokedex explained.

"Wait, whatever Misdreavus used wasn't one of those." Ash said in confusion.

"It's possible she siphoned Piakchu's energy to send out an electrical attack in his place." Bugsy admitted. "But that won't work a second time. Heracross come on out!"

'Heracross, the Singlehorn Pokemon, a Bug and Fighting type. The powerful Pokemon thrusts its prized horn under its enemies' bellies then lifts and throws them.' The Pokedex said.

"Misdreavus use Psywave!"

"Heracross use Fury Cutter!"

Heracross rushed at Misdreavus, their horn slicing through the ghost types form.

"Misdreavus use Attract!"

"Heracross use Fury Cutter!"

Misdreavus wasn't able to keep up with Heracross due to the combined damages from fighting Pineco and Yanma, as the bug struck her again, knocking the ghost type out.

"Misdreavus is unable to battle, the winner is Heracross." The gym worker said.

"Okay, his remaining options are Egguardo, who probably can't match the strength of Heracross, and Teddiursa who probably can't survive too many hits from him." Cassie said watching carefully.

"Egguardo let's go! Use Dizzy Punch!"

"Heracross use Take Down!"

Egguardo slammed his fist into Heracross's gut before being slammed down by the bug type.

"Heracross use Mega Horn!"

"Egguardo use Dizzy Punch!"

Heracross flew across the arena, flipping Egguardo into the air before he was able to land a punch.

"Heracross use Rock Smash!"

"Egguardo use Dizzy Punch!"

Heracross flew at Egguardo, readying a punch as Egguardo grabbed the fist of Heracross, flipping the larger Pokemon around, and slamming them to the ground, with him landing on top of the blue stag beetle.

"Egguardo use Dizzy Punch!"

"Heracross use Rock Smash!"

Ash checked Tyrouge on his Pokedex, curious what had come over the fighting type.

'Tyrouge, fighting type, known moves; Tackle, Dizzy Punch, and Counter.'

"Heracross use Mega Horn!"

"Counter, that's good." Ash said. "Use Counter again!"

Egguardo grabbed Heracross's horn, striking the bug type multiple times onto the ground, defeating the larger fighting type.

"Heracross is unable to battle, the winner is Tyrouge." The gym worker declared. "The battle goes to Ash the challenger!"

"As recognition of your victory, I present you with this, the Hive Badge." Bugsy said, holding out a badge. "Your next stop should be the gym in Goldenrod City to the north."

"Thank you, and this was a really strange battle/". Ash admitted.

Authors notes

Okay, so when I gave Ash a Misdreavus, I had no realization that nearly EVERY SINGLE GEN 2 BUG CAN'T HIT A GHOST TYPE! Yanma only learns Wing Attack in Crystal, and Pineco can only learn Pin Missile through breeding. Every other move that can hit ghost types that they know are a bit more powerful than I'd like to have given them.

Ash's Current Team and their moves

Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Thunder - Mimic

Tyrouge: Tackle - Dizzy Punch - Counter

Teddiursa: Fury Swipes - Lick - Mud Slap

Misdreavus: Growl - Psywave - Attract