Chapter 21: Eighth Badge
Ash had returned to Viridian City.
The City of Evergreen.
The last time the raven-haired boy was here, he had trained tirelessly for days.
All to face his would-be first Gym Leader.
Only to find that Viridian City's Gym was not even open.
Ash groaned at his previous mistake.
The boy had changed since he last stepped foot in Viridian City.
He was taller now.
His body a bit leaner from training alongside his Pokémon.
His raven black hair had grown slightly longer and spikier.
The lightning bolts and his cheeks grew slightly smaller as he had aged.
His face sharper but still child-like.
But his eyes changed the most.
The crimson red eyes that once belonged to a rookie Trainer…
Now belonged to a seasoned battler.
Ash grinned to himself.
Pikachu, who was on his shoulder, mimicked his Trainer.
They were now in front of Viridian City's Gym.
For their eighth Badge.
And with a determined smile, he entered.
The Gym's interior was bland to say the least.
But was to be expected since the building was abandoned for so long.
Ash then made his way to the battlefield.
He then saw 4 figures chatting with each other before turning his way.
"Huh?"
Ash blurted out, astonished at who he saw:
A more than happy Blue waved at him vigorously.
Professor Oak surprised to see his pseudo-grandson.
Those two he knew.
He then observed the other two:
A beautiful light-blue haired teenager wearing a black sleeveless dress.
An elderly woman with a cane wearing a purple dress with sleeves, a green woollen cloth draped on her shoulders.
The boy could only stare with a dumb look.
'Huh? What? Am I at the right place?' he thought, mind blank.
He spun to see the label of the battlefield's entrance.
Viridian Gym.
'Nah, I'm definitely at the right place…'
Professor Oak let out a hearty laugh.
"You're at the right place, my boy," he called out.
The elderly man beckoned him to join them.
And the boy complied.
The 5 were now sitting in the Gym's waiting room.
"Professor, who are these people?" he asked bluntly.
The researcher looked towards the two women.
"Well?" he gestured towards the older woman.
"Hello, child. My name is Agatha, an old friend of this fossil," she introduced, pointing to Oak.
Ash nodded, trying his hardest to be polite.
The boy was containing himself from shouting the word 'BATTLE'.
"This here's my pupil, Karen," Agatha introduced again.
This time, the teenager.
"I'm Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town," Ash introduced himself politely.
Blue began to snicker.
"Ohoho, what's this?" she teased.
"Little Red being all polite in front of a pretty girl," she continued, poking at her 'little brother's' face.
Ash got ticked off, annoyed at his friend's antics.
"Because I came here for a Gym battle, not an introduction," he forced out with a twitching smile.
"Haha! You're still as impatient as ever, Ash," Oak remarked.
"So? Who's my opponent?" he asked.
"That would be me," Oak replied, pointing at himself.
"...Saywhatnow?"
Ash found himself at one side of the battlefield against the professor.
The boy was restless.
He knew from Gary that the professor was tough.
He was the first Grand League victor after all.
That means he had to be strong.
And yet, the boy had a crazed grin.
Excitement building in his blood.
"You seem happy, Ash," Oak called out from the other side.
"Well, its not every day you get to battle a Grand League victor, y'know?" Ash quipped.
After the defeat of Giovanni, Kanto's League Association decided to place Oak as a fill-in for Viridian Gym. The reason was simple enough. He was the only person around who was qualified.
On the side, Blue, Agatha and Karen watched in anticipation of the upcoming match.
"Hoh, the boy has some fire in him," Agatha observed, impressed with Ash's spirit.
"Well, he's reckless and stubborn as a result," Blue replied with Espeon beside her.
Blue, after completing her quest for 8 Badges in Viridian City, was asked by Oak to meet him in Viridian City.
When she found him in Viridian Gym, she was shocked to see Agatha accompanying him, along with Karen.
Without wasting a beat, she began to fangirl towards the old woman.
She then recounted her experiences in Espeon's dream.
Her loss.
Her pain.
Her suffering.
Everything.
Hearing this, Agatha scolded her for even attempting such a reckless thing.
But also commended her for going so far for her Pokémon's sake. Despite the old woman's looks, she was a huge softie towards children.
Hearing this, Blue reflected on her actions and personally thanked the woman for her book.
For saving Espeon's life.
Karen who accompanied her teacher was amazed at the young girl's resolve.
That was why the teen now paid close attention to Ash's Gym match.
Wondering if the boy was just as interesting as Blue.
And she was in for a ride.
Blue announced at the top of her lungs for the stands.
"This will be a 1v3 Gym battle between Professor Oak and Challenger Red!"
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"Only the Challenger may switch their Pokémon!"
"1v3?" the boy questioned.
"Yep, 3 for you and 1 for me," Oak confirmed.
"Are you going easy on me?" Ash asked again.
"Well, Gym Leaders were already going easy on you in you think about it," the man explained.
"Their job isn't to win against the Challengers."
"It's to test them."
"To see if they are worthy for the Badge."
Ash nodded, understanding his explanation.
He internally sighed, thinking it was going to be a boring match.
"But you know, Ash…," Oak continued with a serious tone.
An intimidating smile.
"I'm no Gym Leader."
Oak sent out his old ace, Tauros.
The orange beast's body covered with trained muscles.
Its intimidating stance demanded respect.
The Pokémon looked just as strong as its glory days.
A crazed grin plastered on Ash's face.
Blue felt overwhelmed at the Pokémon's mere presence.
"Is that really a Pokémon?" Blue asked, intimidated by the bull.
"Oh dearie, he was a lot stronger back when I fought him you know," Agatha said, not even flinching at Tauros' domineering spirit.
Karen fared better than Blue but was also intimidated.
"What a monster…," the teen remarked, slightly amazed at the beast.
The two girls then turned to Agatha…
Looking impressed at what she saw on the battlefield.
"Well, well…" she observed.
"Seems like Oak picked up quite the thing."
The two girls confused at her words.
They then turned to where she was looking.
To Ash.
Grinning with excitement.
Pikachu on his shoulder, doing the same.
Karen and Blue were baffled at the boy's reaction.
He was not scared in the slightest.
Instead, the boy was relishing this insurmountable obstacle in front of him.
Ash shot Oak a determined smile, as if to say thank you.
"You've got guts, Ash," the man smiled.
"Most people would have given up by now."
Ash chuckled.
"What can I say?" Ash said aloud.
The boy held his silver locket to his heart.
"I don't give up until it's over."
And proceeded to summon his Pokémon.
"Butterfree, I choose you!"
And a purple butterfly appeared. The Pokémon was wearing a blue scarf.
Ash had reunited with Butterfree after visiting Marowak's mother's grave.
Him and his mate were happy to see him.
Realizing he had one last spot left for a full team, Ash asked the female Butterfree if he could have her mate back on his team.
She accepted his request under the condition that she wanted to watch her mate's performances.
Accepting that, female Butterfree was now staying at Oak's ranch.
A note on her scarf that would explain the situation to Oak when he comes back.
"You ready, pal?" Ash asked his returned Pokémon.
The butterfly nodded.
No longer a cowardly Caterpie.
Butterfree was now a stronger and even braver Pokémon than before.
"Free!"
And the battle commenced.
"[Energy Ball]!" Ash called out.
An emerald sphere manifested.
And Butterfree released it towards Tauros.
But Oak said nothing.
Tauros was hit cleanly in the face.
But the bull did not even flinch.
Ash narrowed his eyes.
'He's not moving…,' he pondered.
Something was wrong.
The boy could feel it.
Instincts blared red in his mind.
'Even so…'
'We'll move forwards.'
The boy then turned to his Pokémon and nodded to it.
The butterfly understood his commands.
And so, he loaded [Energy Balls] towards the oppressing beast.
Head.
Neck.
Bicep.
Hip.
Abdomen.
Front leg.
Hind leg.
Rump.
And tail.
Nine in the chamber.
The last trial.
Safety off.
Veteran vs novice.
Two seconds.
Fulfil the promise.
The trigger pulled.
Chapter 21: Eighth Badge
And the verdant bullets found their marks.