@Gol D- Buddha
Why are my chapters this short, and no I'm not taking this as an insult. With my style being primarily daily uploads the short chapters are good for a few reasons, first is that I can keep it to one plot point a chapter without over doing it, and keep up with writing. Also it makes it so that it's not a long read for anyone each time, just a quick snippet each day.
"Alright guys, today's the day!" Ash exclaimed to his team.
"No it isn't." Casey said calmly.
"And who are you to tell me that, I say today is the day!" Ash argued. "I'll beat the gym and earn my first badge!"
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered.
"It's not a matter of winning or not, the Violet City Gym Leader has a mini challenge you have to take on if you want to face them." Molly said calmly.
"A mini challenge?" Ash asked in confusion. "Why didn't anyone tell me about that?"
"We figured you knew." Molly said.
"Alright, so what do I have to do?" Ash asked.
"Make it to the top of Sprout Tower." Casey said.
"That's it, easy peasy." Ash said confidently. "I'll be done before lunch."
"Mind if I tag along?" Molly asked. "I've always wanted to see it."
"Sure, how about you Casey?" Ash asked.
"Meh, have fun. I'll be here working on our cheer if you need me." Casey said with Chikorita excited to get started.
"Alright then I guess it's just us," Ash said, readjusting his Pokeballs. "Let's go!"
A few minutes later, now at the Sprout Tower
"So this is the Sprout Tower huh?" Ash asked, seeing the tall building in front of them. "I wonder why it's called that?"
"Legend says that the Sprout Tower was actually a giant Bellsprout and its stem is now at the center of the tower, which is why it sways back and forth. The monks that keep the tower in good condition practice the faith that one day they too may have a Bellsprout to grow that big." Molly said, reading from a book.
"Can you imagine a Pokemon that big?!" Ash exclaimed, imagining having to try and feed a 100 ft tall Pikachu. "Maybe not, I'm happy with you just how you are buddy."
"Pika!" Pikachu chimed happily.
"I am Sage Nico, and if you wish to advance through this tower, you must show me that you and your Pokemon share one dream." A man said, preventing the duo from moving forward to the next floor.
"I've got this Molly." Ash said confidently. "Pikachu and I always see eye to eye."
"We will see about that, come out my Bellsprout." Nico said, sending out three Bellsprout.
"Now you're talking my language. Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Bellsprout use Vine Whip." Nice called out.
Pikachu easily outsped all the grass types, hitting one as the other two hit each other while trying to hit Pikachu.
"Use another Quick Attack!"
"Use Vine Whip!"
Pikachu slammed into one of the remaining two Bellsprout, striking it into the other, giving a clean victory.
"It is clear you two share in your ambition, you are free to proceed." Nico said, bowing and moving out of the way.
"Did that seem a little easy?" Ash asked.
"Maybe they aren't as good of battlers as you are?" Molly offered.
"I know, but you'd think for a gym challenge there would be, I don't know a challenge." Ash said. "Whoever the gym leader is though, they must be a grass type if this is their challenge."
"Yeah, their challenge." Molly said a bit guiltily.
"Hey look, another Sage, I bet he's blocking the way to the next floor too." Ash said, seeing another robed bald man.
"Yeah, probably." Molly said, following Ash.
"I see you have made it this far but if you wish to proceed, you must show you and your Pokemon share the same energy with one another. I am Sage Chow and I will be the one to test you on that. Come out my Bellsprout."
"Pikachu, up for another round?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Alright then, Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
A bolt of electricity shot out from Pikachu, arching between the three Bellsprout being sent out against them, knocking all three of them down instantaneously.
"It appears that you and your Pokemon do share the same energy with each other, you may proceed." Chow said calmly.
"We've got to be getting close now," Ash said confidently. "And then we can take on that gym leader."
"Right, the gym." Molly said. "Look Ash, I think I should tell you something."
"Don't worry, if you need some time to look at the tower, just say something, no need to rush." Ash explained.
"Yeah, it's not that, not exactly, I kind of lied about why we're here." Molly admitted.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked, stopping suddenly.
"I wanted to see the tower and there's a gift that's supposed to be really helpful with spelunking that the elder gives to anyone who can best him, and I was worried I wouldn't be strong enough, so I made up the lie about the challenge for the gym." Molly admitted.
"So this isn't necessary." Ash said.
"Ash if I had known this was going to be like this, I wouldn't have lied." Molly said sorrowfully.
"But the point is you did." Ash sighed. "Molly, you're a trainer now, and sometimes taking a risk in battle is part of that, if I take care of every little problem that comes your way, you'd never get any stronger."
"I know, and I really am sorry." Molly apologized.
"Just, handle this yourself." Ash sighed, letting her go ahead.
"Okay Ash." Molly sighed.
"I am Sage Edmond, I need to see how you and your Pokemon handle long struggles." Edmond said.
"A long struggle?" Molly asked.
"Rather than fighting all three at once you will fight each one after the other." Edmond said. "Bellsprout come out."
"Cyndaquil, let's go use Ember!"
"Bellsprout use Vine Whip."
Cyndaquil's back ignited as the embers struck Bellsprout, knocking the grass type back.
"Cyndaquil use another Ember attack!" Molly exclaimed.
More embers launched at Bellsprout, singeing it to a crisp, knocking it out.
"Bellsprout, return, come out my Bellsprout." Edmond said. "Use Vine Whip."
"Cyndaquil use Ember!" Molly called out.
Embers struck the Bellsprout, causing serious damage to the grass type as a vine struck Cyndaquil.
"Cyndaquil use Tackle!" Molly exclaimed.
Cyndaquil slammed into Bellsprout, knocking the grass type to the ground in defeat.
"You have strength, but see if you can keep up this effort once more. Bellsprout come out." Edmond said.
"Cyndaquil use Ember!" Molly called out.
Cyndaquil unleashed a flurry of embers, knocking out the grass type in a single hit.
"Alright Cyndaquil!" Molly cheered. "Ash you were right!" Molly exclaimed only to see Ash still in the same mode. "Right, still not happy, fair enough." Molly sighed, before heading to the next floor.
"We are the three Master Sages."
"The highest of all regular sages."
"Only bested by the elder himself.
"You shall not pass." All three said at once, sending out their Bellsprout.
"Cyndaquil use Ember!" Molly called out.
"Bellsprout use Growth."
All three Bellsprout tanked the Ember before bulking up a bit.
"Now use Vine Whip." The three Bellsprout launched their limbs down on Cyndaquil, surrounding the fire type, and causing Molly to freeze up.
"Ash please, I'm sorry, but I don't know what to do here, you were right, I should at least try, but I can't fight three at once yet." Molly begged.
"Charizard!" Ash called out.
Charizard swooped around the Bellsprout, picking up two of the Bellsprout, freeing Cyndaquil.
"Just needed to hear you admit you could have tried and accepted help." Ash said.
"Right, Cyndaquil use Ember!" Molly called out.
With only one Bellsprout against her, Cyndaquil was able to knock it out by concentrating the flames more directly.
"Round 2 Charizard!" Ash called out as Charizard returned another Bellsprout to the arena.
"Cyndaquil use Ember!" Molly called out.
"Bellsprout use Vine Whip."
The flames traveled up Bellsprout's vines, knocking out the grass type, leaving only one left.
"You've got this Molly." Ash said, as Charizard brought the final Bellsprout in.
"Cyndaquil use Ember!" Molly exclaimed.
Flames engulfed the final Bellsprout as another sage approached.
"I'm guessing that's the elder." Ash whispered as Charizard landed behind him.
"A very unique style, relying on help rather than on your own strength alone." The Elder said.
"I, I know, I should have done this myself if I wanted to prove myself." Molly admitted.
"On the contrary, the only way one can improve is if they learn, and sometimes that means learning to accept help, even if they only make it fair." The Elder said. "There will come a time when three opponents will not cause you to freeze up like that, and you will know when that time comes."
"Thank you Elder." Molly said gratefully.
"And here, for your combined efforts, a secret technique of mine, this will allow you to teach your Pokemon the move Flash, allowing light in even the darkest of days." The Elder said.
"Thank you Elder." Molly said, accepting the gift. "Now come on Ash, you have a gym battle waiting.
"Yeah we do!" Ash exclaimed, excited for his fight.