"Are you sure you trust me?" Whitney asked nervously.

"Yeah, it's no issue. And I promise I'll take the blame if your gym leader gets angry at you." Ash said, as the two made their way to the underground pass.

"Ash, psst, there's something you should know about her." Cassie said, floating close to Ash.

"Not the time." Ash whispered back. "And I told you to not go snooping."

"Look, I really think you should know this before you go training with her." Cassie begged.

"I promise, I'll take the heat from the gym leader, and if I really need to, I'll call in some reserves to take them on in case they get angry." Ash said, once Whitney was far enough out.

"Hey Ash, are you going to take all day getting here, or should I go on my own?!" Whitney called out.

"Right, coming!" Ash called out. "And don't worry so much." Ash said to Cassie.

"Okay. I think you'll rethink that later." Cassie said as Ash ran off.

"So how do you think this will work with two of us?" Ash asked.

"We'll take on trainers together who send out more than one Pokemon, while we can decide who will take on a singular opponent." Whitney offered.

"Sounds great." Ash said, as the duo entered from the south side.

"So what are you two on a date, or were you sent since I got caught cheating in the game corner?" A man asked angrily. "Grimer let's go!" He said, sending out two of the poison type.

"Getting right into it, I guess. Misdreavus come on out!"

"Nidorina I choose you!" Whitney called out.

"Grimer use Pound!" The trainer called out.

"Nidorina use Scratch!" Whitney exclaimed.

"Misdreavus use Psywave and take their attacks!"

Misdreavus flew forward, allowing both Grimer's attacks to phase through her before she turned around and struck them with her attack while Nidorina knocked them back in rather quick succession.

"Misdreavus use Attract!"

"Nidorina use Scratch!"

"Grimer use Pound!"

Misdreavus caught the attention of both of the Grimer, allowing Nidorina to come in for the KO.

"That was some impressive strategies." Whitney said. "Can't wait to see what else you've got."

"Same here." Ash said.

"Hey two on one, this isn't fair! I'll only take one of you on." Another trainer said.

"I'll take this one." Ash said with a smirk.

"Pi!" Pikachu cheered, hopping off of Ash's shoulder.

"Lickitung, come on out!" The trainer said. "Use Cut!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu sped across the path, dodging Lickitung's attack before slamming into the large pink Pokemon.

"Lickitunge use Lick!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

As Lickitung opened their mouth, Pikachu sent out a bolt of electricity, shuddering the normal types body with sparks.

"Pikachu use Thunder!"

"Lickitung use Stomp!"

Pikachu unleashed his strongest electrical attack, stopping the Lickitung just before the normal type was about to strike him, knocking out the larger Pokemon.

"Wow, that was actually really good." Whitney said in surprise. "Where did you say you were from again?"

"Pallet Town." Ash said. "Pikachu and I have been together since day one."

"Wow, that must make the two of you a formidable duo." Whitney said in glee.

"Right, I see our next opponent, are you ready?" Ash asked, grabbing another Pokeball.

"Ready." Whitney said.

"Ash, I really think you shouldn't how her every Pokemon you have." Cassie said worriedly.

"Egguardo come on out!"

"Let's go Aipom!" Whitney called out.

"Magnemite, and Magnemite come on out!" The next trainer called out.

"Egguardo use Dynamic Punch!"

"Aipom use Dig!"

"Magnemite use Thundershock! Magnemite use Sonicboom!"

Egguardo dodged the Sonicboom, slamming his fist into the first Magnemite as Aipom dug underground to avoid the Thundershock of the next.

"Egguardo use Dynamic Punch!"

"Magnemite use Double Sonicboom!"

Tyrouge spun between the two attacks, breaking apart the opposing Pokemon before Aipom dove out of the ground, striking them both into submission.

"I'm not done yet! Magnemite, Voltorb come on out! Use Thundershock!"

"Aipom use Swift!"

"Egguardo use Dynamic Punch!"

Aipom sent out a flurry of stars at the two electric types, while Egguardo struck the Magnemite giving them a quick and cleanish win.

"Looks like we've got one left." Ash said, seeing one more trainer down there at the time. "Ready to do this, and from what I can tell we'll pop out right by the gym."

"Great!" Whitney said, cringing slightly.

"Slowpokes, come on out!" The trainer called out.

"Not a lot of variety in these teams." Ash said. "Teddiursa come on out!"

"Let's go Aipom!"

"Teddiursa use Lick!"

"Aipom use Swift!"

"Slowpoke use Water Gun!"

Two streams of water shot out at the duo of normal types, both leaping out of the way of their attacks.

"Teddiursa use Lick!"

"Aipom use Swift again!"

Teddiursa struck the second Slowpoke as Aipom shot them with scattered stars.

"Aipom use Fury Swipes!"

"Teddiursa use Fury Swipes!"

"Slowpoke use Confusion!"

The normal types slashed their claws at the two Slowpoke, dealing the damage they could before being launched back in defeat.

"Seems like they're stronger than appeared." Ash said, returning Teddiursa. "You wouldn't happen to have anything stronger than Nidorina against a psychic type?"

"Just don't get angry." Whitney said. "Come on out Miltank!"

"Pikachu let's do this!" Ash called out.

"Miltank use Rollout!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

Miltank rolled up into a ball, speeding forward before striking one of the Slowpoke as Pikachu zapped the other into submission.

"Y-you're her, that maniac girl from the gym!" The trainer said running off.

"What did he mean by that?" Ash asked.

"Look, I wanted to tell you, but you treated me like a normal person and I didn't want that to change." Whitney admitted.

"What do you mean by that?" Ash asked.

"Miss Whitney!" A girl scolded. "You can't keep running off like this!"

"Miss Whitney?" Ash asked in confusion.

"I can go wherever I please as the gym leader, and it's not as if I left town." Whitney argued to the girl. "And I really wanted to tell you this earlier, not like this."

"You're the gym leader!" Ash exclaimed.

Whitney nodded.

"Then I want a battle as an apology, if I win, a gym badge." Ash said. "Ready for a gym battle Pikachu?"

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, sparks flying from his cheeks.