I decided to just release this one, because I couldn't bring myself to wait any longer. Hope you enjoy Ash's first Gym Battle!

"Ash, are you sure about this?" Clay asked as they walked towards the Pewter City Gym. "You heard what Flint said."

"Yeah, and I'm gonna prove him wrong!" said Ash. "He said it'll be a two-on-two battle, and I've got a Bug-type and a Fighting-type. I can beat a Dark-type Gym Leader no problem!"

"Kubfu's barely trained!" Clay protested.

"It's only the first Gym," said Ash confidently. "I've got this! I'm confident my team can pull me through!"

Clay glanced backwards reflexively; Flint had already gone, offering a few more warnings that Ash was in over his head before departing. He readied another protest, then stopped. This is a lesson Ash will have to learn himself.

"All right, Ash," said Clay. "If you're sure you know what you're doing."

"Positive!" said Ash. "Time for the first real step on my journey to become a Pokemon Master!" He threw open the door to the Gym and stepped inside.

And then stopped, because it was pitch black.

"Um…hello?" Ash called into the darkness.

A light flicked on some distance away, revealing a tall man looking impassively at Ash. The man had blue-gray spiked hair and was wearing a dark gray vest with a black long-sleeved undershirt and long black pants. Clay recognized him instantly - this was none other than the Gym Leader of Pewter City, Cyrus.

"Welcome to my Gym," said Cyrus, his voice holding no emotion, though his eyes glittered slightly as his gaze flicked to Clay for a moment. Then he looked down at Hisuian Growlithe, who was standing by Ash's side, and then to the row of three Pokeballs on Ash's belt. "Interesting. You have three Pokemon already before your first badge."

"Yeah!" said Ash. "And I challenge you to a Gym Battle for that first badge!"

"Very well," said Cyrus. He snapped his fingers, and the room lit up, revealing a very dimly lit dirt-formed battle arena. It was flat, without any extraneous features, but rugged enough that a Pokemon might trip over some protrusion or another, a threat even greater in the dim light.

"In that case," said Cyrus, "we shall have a three-on-three battle. No substitutions."

"I thought this would be a two-on-two!" Ash protested.

"And so you figured you'd hide behind your two strongest Pokemon while keeping your weak one out of the fight?" Cyrus asked.

"Hey!" Ash cried. "None of my Pokemon are weak!"

"Then you shouldn't have any problem defeating me," Cyrus retorted. "I shall release first. Sneasel, it is time for a battle."

Clay quickly stepped over to a nearby viewing area as Ash scanned the hissing bipedal Pokemon that appeared on the other side of the barely-lit battlefield with his Pokedex. "Hmm…Dark/Ice-type. Well, then, I know who I'm starting with! Kubfu, time for your first battle!"

Ash noticed Cyrus's eyes glitter at the name, but the Dark-type Gym Leader then sighed, shaking his head. "Sending an untrained Pokemon into a Gym Battle is quite unwise. I'll show you that type advantage alone will not be enough to defeat me."

Ash watched as Sneasel narrowed his eyes, grinning at Kubfu. This clearly enraged the Fighting-type, who promptly rushed Sneasel, fist drawn back. "Focus Energy!" Ash cried. "Then get in there and hit that Sneasel with a Rock Smash!"

"Evade with Quick Attack and retaliate with Scratch," Cyrus retorted.

Sneasel hissed mockingly as he easily ducked Kubfu's swinging fist and countered with a swipe of his claws. His superior speed enabled him to dodge away from Kubfu's retaliatory strike; once again he darted in, slicing his claws across Kubfu's side, and then lunged out again, effortlessly avoiding yet another punch from Kubfu.

Ash frowned; it was just like Kubfu's battle with Scizor. No amount of type advantage mattered if the Fighting-type couldn't even land a hit on his adversary. Cyrus watched impassively, his face betraying no emotion as his Sneasel practically toyed with the by now furious-looking Kubfu.

Ash glanced reflexively at Clay; his face wasn't betraying anything either, and as Ash looked over the older man made eye contact with him and frowned. The message was clear. I warned you. You got yourself into this - you get yourself out.

Ash turned back towards the battle just in time to see Kubfu stumble into a wall. He twisted, trying to throw a roundhouse punch, but Sneasel ducked back and Kubfu only managed to hit the wall. It did nothing beyond send up a small spray of dust, but that caused a glimmer of an idea to form in Ash's head. "Kubfu!" he cried as Sneasel came in for another swipe. "Attack the ground!"

Kubfu did as ordered; hauling back, he slammed a Rock Smash into the earth beneath him. As Ash had predicted, the earthen battlefield was far more easily destructible, and a large spray of dust burst into the air all around Kubfu. Sneasel stumbled, momentarily blinded.

"Quick Attack backwards," Cyrus ordered calmly. Despite his inability to see, his Trainer's order galvanized Sneasel into action. The Dark/Ice-type leaped backwards, barely evading Kubfu's follow-up attack. He landed, rubbing the grit out of his eyes; Kubfu, his vision of the rest of the battlefield obscured by his own dust cloud, couldn't properly pursue. "Petty tricks won't save you, child," Cyrus stated. "Sneasel, finish that Kubfu off with Bite."

Sneasel lunged forwards again as the dust cloud dissipated, leaving Kubfu open. Quick Attack was still surging around his body, propelling his movement. How is Kubfu supposed to even land a hit on a Pokemon as fast as that? Suddenly, Ash remembered how Hisuian Growlithe had beaten the similarly quick Scizor, and shouted out an order. "Endure!" Ash cried as the Dark/Ice-type closed. "Then hit him with a Rock Smash while he's off-balance!"

For the first time, Cyrus's eyes widened momentarily as Sneasel came in. "Break off, Sneasel!" he ordered sharply, but just like Scizor had days ago, now Sneasel simply couldn't break off his own momentum. Black energy flared around Sneasel as the Dark/Ice-type bit down on Kubfu's shoulder, but Kubfu Endured the hit, and was already readying a Rock Smash to take full advantage of the off-balance Sneasel's mistake.

And then the Fighting-type's entire body seized up, his attack faltering midway through. "Hey, what the-?" Ash demanded.

"Scratch," Cyrus ordered; before Kubfu or Ash could recover, Sneasel slashed Kubfu across the face with its razor-sharp claws. Without Endure, Kubfu could not stand against the attack; the Fighting-type toppled to the ground, unconscious.

"I'm afraid Bite has a chance to cause a Pokemon it strikes to flinch," Cyrus explained. "It's a shame…I'll admit that was not a completely worthless technique. But you are now down one Pokemon without having inflicted any damage on my Sneasel. I suggest you forfeit and spare your other two Pokemon needless pain."

Ash clenched his fist tightly as he recalled the unconscious Kubfu. "I'm not done yet!" he cried. "Go, Scizor!"

That drew a raised eyebrow from Cyrus. "First a Legendary, now a Scizor? You certainly have an odd team for a badgeless Trainer. Very well. Sneasel, use Quick Attack."

"Counter with Bullet Punch!" Ash ordered.

Scizor and Sneasel lunged for each other, claws upraised. It wasn't much of a contest; Scizor was larger, stronger, and had advantageous typing. His superior reach was the icing on the proverbial cake; Sneasel was struck full in the face by Scizor's Bullet Punch and sent reeling backwards, the Quick Attack dissipating. Scizor came on again, his other fist drawn back.

"Dodge with Quick Attack," Cyrus ordered. "And use Bite."

"Counter with your own!" Ash retorted. Scizor skidded to a halt, his own body flaring with energy, and leaped to intercept the backpedaling Sneasel. Again Sneasel attempted to strike Scizor, and again Scizor's superior reach told; Sneasel toppled to the ground, its attack once again dissipating.

"I forfeit Sneasel," Cyrus said calmly.

"Yes!" Ash pumped a fist into the air. "Looks like we're back on track, Scizor!"

Scizor grinned and mirrored his Trainer's motion as Cyrus recalled Sneasel. "Unlike you," said Cyrus, "I see no reason to push my Pokemon harder than is necessary. Now, child, you speak as if you have taken control of this battle. No, I'm afraid, far from it. Houndour, it is your turn to battle."

Houndour? Clay glanced over at Drilbur, who looked similarly shocked. That's not a Pokemon he normally uses…then again, he does normally do two-on-two battles.

Drilbur murmured something nervously. Clay sighed. "Don't worry, Drilbur," he said. "This is just a Gym Battle. Cyrus may be condescending in many ways, but he's never been known to injure a Pokemon too badly. This is a learning experience for Ash, not a life-or-death battle. No matter what, he will be fine."

"Fire-type?" Ash now understood why Clay had looked worried. "That's bad, Scizor…maybe we should let-"

Cyrus raised a hand before he could finish. "Might I remind you that neither of us are allowed substitutions?" he pointed out. "If you recall your Scizor, I will consider it a forfeit."

Ash glared at Cyrus, who stared back levelly. "You agreed to the terms of this battle," Cyrus reminded Ash. "It is your own fault for committing your strongest so early in the match."

Ash sighed. "All right, Scizor, let's make the best of it!" he cried. "Remember, type advantage doesn't matter if he can't hit you! Quick Attack, and hit him with a Fury Cutter!"

Scizor sprang into action, lunging forwards. "Ember," Cyrus ordered his Houndour simply. Scizor easily dodged the blast of flames that Houndour unleashed, skittering to the side and coming in swiftly with a Fury Cutter primed.

"Smog," Cyrus called.

Houndour swiftly exhaled a cloud of poisonous gas. Ash frowned - wasn't Poison ineffective against Steel? Then he realized that while that was true, it was still a cloud, one which momentarily obscured Scizor's view of Houndour. Scizor's Fury Cutter flew wide of Houndour as the Dark/Fire-type leaped clear. "Now Ember," Cyrus added; Houndour spun as he landed and fired a near point-blank Ember into Scizor's side.

Just like he had against Hisuian Growlithe, Scizor was near-instantly overcome by the quad-super-effective attack. But he was still up, thankfully. "Quick Attack!" Ash instantly called; at that range, Houndour had no way to dodge, and Scizor practically flung himself right into Houndour's chin, sending the Dark/Fire-type flying backwards.

"Now Fury Cutter, before he recovers!" Ash cried.

"Ember, point-blank," Cyrus ordered.

Too late, Ash realized he'd just made the same exact mistake he'd taken advantage of when catching Scizor in the first place. "Back!" he cried, but Scizor's momentum was too much for him, and even as he tried to backpedal Houndour opened his mouth and exhaled another Ember right into Scizor's face. That did it; the Bug/Steel-type flew into the opposite well and crumpled, down and out.

At least he'd dealt some damage to Houndour before going down. Cyrus spoke up again. "Now do you see the folly of continuing this battle? It is now that odd-looking Growlithe of yours against two of my Pokemon, and I highly doubt that Growlithe is another anti-Dark-type, considering how nervous you seemed when I announced you would have to use all three of your Pokemon."

"I trust Hisuian Growlithe to carry me through!" Ash cried defiantly. "Get in there!"

Cyrus sighed again. "Very well. If you are so eager to punish your Pokemon for your own failure, then I shall oblige. Houndour, Smog. Poison it."

"I don't think so!" Ash cried. "Ember, Hisuian Growlithe! Take out that Smog and then use Howl!"

As Houndour unleashed another cloud of poisonous gas, Hisuian Growlithe obeyed Ash's orders, blasting away the Smog with an Ember before letting out a loud howl. Cyrus frowned as energy began to blaze across Hisuian Growlithe's body. "Setting up? I think not. Houndour, Ember."

"Take it and Tackle!" Ash cried.

Hisuian Growlithe let out a loud bark and lunged, tanking the Ember without even flinching. Houndour, far too committed to the attack, took the hit head-on and reeled with a loud howl of pain.

"Finish with another Tackle!" Ash yelled.

"Smog!" Cyrus ordered near-instantly.

"Back!" Ash cried, but again, his Pokemon had too much momentum going to obey his orders. Hisuian Growlithe dove right into the poison cloud, and though an ugly crack heralded the fall of Houndour, Hisuian Growlithe emerged coughing and choking.
"Crap!" Ash cried. "Hisuian Growlithe, you all right?"

"He's been poisoned," Cyrus informed Ash. "Houndour is down. In the interest of fairness, I shall send out my last Pokemon without any further preamble. Murkrow, finish the fight."

Ash quickly scanned the new arrival. "Dark/Flying? Is your entire team seriously weak to Rock?"

"Not many bring Rock-types into a Dark-type Gym," Cyrus pointed out.

"Well, I guess I'm the exception, then!" said Ash. "All right, Hisuian Growlithe, stay strong! Tackle!"

"Up into the sky, Murkrow," Cyrus ordered. "Use the rafters for cover and wait until that Growlithe faints."

Ash's eyes narrowed as he watched Hisuian Growlithe's Tackle completely miss the high-flying Murkrow. "Ember!" he ordered, but the mote of fire missed completely, slamming into one of the rafters as Murkrow perched atop it.

"Oh, come on!" Ash cried. "That's not fair! There's no way Hisuian Growlithe can reach that high!"

"Then maybe you should have taught your Growlithe some better moves," Cyrus retorted. "Your team is decently strong, but you lack experience, and it is clear you rushed into this Gym without a clear plan or even proper training. Come back when you can put up a worthy fight."

Ash glared up at the Murkrow. "If you think we're finished, you're wrong!" he cried. "Hisuian Growlithe, I have a plan! You know that blast of flames you use whenever someone hugs you? Do you think you can do that on demand?"

Hisuian Growlithe crouched and let out a furious bark. His back flared with fire, but no massive gouts came out. The Fire/Rock-type coughed harshly as the poison ate into him.

"Know when you have lost," Cyrus told Ash. "Recall your Growlithe. This battle is already over."

"Not yet it isn't!" Ash retorted. "Come on, Hisuian Growlithe! You can do this! Don't let this stupid Murkrow just sit up there and taunt you!"

Hisuian Growlithe matched his Trainer's glare towards Murkrow, who chuckled and cawed something that, judging by the fury that passed over Hisuian Growlithe's face, wasn't all that nice. The Fire/Rock-type bared his teeth.

"Grow…LITHE!" With one massive bark, Hisuian Growlithe unleashed a full-blown corona of flames straight up towards Murkrow, who suddenly looked a lot less smug. The Dark/Flying-type lunged off the rafter it was on, though not fast enough to avoid several singed feathers from Hisuian Growlithe's newly-learned technique.

"Flamethrower…" Cyrus's growl was much unlike his previous calm demeanor. "He's on his last legs, Murkrow! Finish him off with Peck!"

Murkrow cawed again and swooped downwards, beak glowing white as it drew near. Hisuian Growlithe was gasping from the effort of using such a powerful move; one glance was all Ash needed to realize an Ember would be difficult for Hisuian Growlithe to summon in this situation, let alone another Flamethrower.

"Meet that Murkrow with Tackle!" Ash shouted.

Hisuian Growlithe lunged, meeting Murkrow's charge with his own. The two came together in an explosion of mingling energy that (of course) temporarily hid both from view.

Cyrus, Clay, and Ash all watched the cloud of energy closely as it slowly dissipated, revealing Murkrow and Hisuian Growlithe both still standing, beak-to-nose, their eyes glaring furiously into one another. There were a few seconds of total silence, and then slowly, Murkrow toppled backwards. The Dark/Flying-type landed on its back, dead to the world.

Hisuian Growlithe let out a quiet, triumphant bark, before immediately falling into another coughing fit. It took a few moments for Ash's victory to sink in, but as Cyrus recalled his defeated Murkrow, a broad grin split the boy's face. Ash swiftly ran into the arena, practically throwing himself onto Hisuian Growlithe. "Great job, Hisuian Growlithe!" he cried. "Great job!"

Hisuian Growlithe barked tiredly again, then coughed. Ash giggled. "Come on, we'd better get you to the Pokemon Center before that poison gets any worse."

Clay called out from the sidelines. "Cyrus? Where the hell are you going?"

Ash looked up just in time to see Cyrus fix Clay with a glare before hastily stalking through the doors of his Gym. "Hey, wait!" Clay cried. "He beat you fair and square!"

The Ground-type Trainer, realizing he might as well have been shouting at empty air, sighed disgustedly. "All right, Ash, go get your Pokemon healed up," he said. "It looks like I'm gonna have to find a wayward Gym Leader."

"Your Pokemon will be fine," said Nurse Tabitha, taking Ash's Pokeballs with a too-big smile on his face. Apparently this was the cousin of the Nurse Tabitha from Viridian or something - Ash hadn't deigned to ask for elaboration, more concerned with ensuring his Pokemon were taken care of.

"Huh, that guy's surprisingly intimidating for a nurse," a nearby Trainer pointed out as Tabitha wheeled Ash's Pokeballs into a back room.

Ash sat down heavily, thinking over what Cyrus had said. He'd managed to pull out a win, sure, but it had been by the skin of his teeth. Cyrus and Clay had both been right. He should have at least trained Kubfu a little, and helped both him and Scizor learn some better moves and strategies. If Hisuian Growlithe hadn't managed to pull off Flamethrower…

Ash shook his head. I need to do better, he told himself. Once my Pokemon get out of the Pokemon Center, I'm going to apologize to them. And next time, I'm going to make sure they're properly prepared before I take them into a Gym Battle.

"Hey, kid."

Ash looked up to see Flint standing next to him. The bearded man looked down at him sadly and understandingly. "You look dejected. Well, I'm sorry, but don't say I didn't warn you."

"About the Gym?" Ash asked. "Oh, I beat it."

"WHAT?" Flint shouted loudly enough to cause everyone else in the Pokemon Center to turn their heads. "I mean…uh…congratulations." He plucked a notecard out of his beard, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the nearest trash can.

"You had a whole speech prepared for when I lost?" Ash asked.

Flint paused, then nodded. "And I rehearsed it, like, three times…okay, so what has you so down?"

"Well," said Ash, "my team got hurt…and I didn't even get the Gym Badge…"

"WHAT?" This time the head-turnings were accompanied by annoyed glares. "But…that's against Pokemon League rules!"

"It is?" Ash asked.

"Yes," said Flint. He sighed, shaking his head. "I'd hoped to avoid this…but this has gone too far. I can't just hide any longer. Kid, come with me. We're going to see Cyrus…and I've got some things to say to him."

Cyrus wasn't exactly covering his tracks, and from months of searching for rare ores, Drilbur knew exactly how to track something or someone down. So it was that Clay easily followed the Dark-type Gym Leader to a house that lay behind a tall hedge.

Looking over the hedge, Clay spotted Cyrus instantly, sitting in the yard with several much younger children playing around him. The Gym Leader looked as emotionally subdued as he had been throughout most of his battle with Ash; his facial expression seemed frozen in a scowl, and it didn't change even when one of the smaller children hit him in the face with an accidental thrown ball; Cyrus grabbed it and tossed it back without even looking or reacting in any real way.

Clay looked at Cyrus pointedly.

Cyrus's eyes met Clay's and he rose, muttering something to the nearest child. The children quickly ran back inside the house, leaving Cyrus to stride purposefully up to the other side of the hedge. "You followed me," the Dark-type Gym Leader said.

"Yeah," said Clay. "And you know why. You owe that kid a Gym Badge."

"He's an inexperienced brat who only won by luck," Cyrus said dismissively. "That will not get him much farther. Someone like him does not deserve my Gym Badge."

Clay glared at Cyrus. "That ain't your decision," he growled. "Rules are rules. And the rules set in place by the Pokemon League say that if a Trainer beats you, barring specific extreme cases such as clear Pokemon abuse or cheating, you are required to give them your badge. Now, did Ash abuse his Pokemon?"

"No," Cyrus admitted.

"Did Ash cheat in any way?"

"No," Cyrus admitted.

"So what in tarnation," Clay practically spat, "gives you the right to withhold a Gym Badge from him?"

"I am trying to protect him."

"From what?" Clay demanded.

"This forsaken world."

Clay blinked. "Huh?"

Cyrus gestured towards the gaggle of young children. "Let me tell you a story," he said. "A story about a man who chose Pokemon training over taking care of his own children. A man whose heartbroken wife simply couldn't take the strain of raising all those children on her own. A man whose departure left his eldest son from his first marriage to manage his whole family."

Cyrus glared into Clay's eyes. "Being a Trainer isn't just about strength. It is about responsibility. That boy may not have abused his Pokemon, but there is no question he valued the possibility of a victory over their well-being, just like my father valued Pokemon training over his own children. Better that boy stays here, badgeless, and learns that he needs proper training, experience, and true responsibility before actually challenging the Gyms."

"That ain't for you to decide!" Clay protested.

"Says who?" Cyrus retorted. "You? You're one to talk. At least I actually attend my Gym."

Clay's glare redoubled. "Take that back."

"I don't think I will," said Cyrus.

"Take that back," Clay growled, leaning closer, "or I swear I'll-"

"Please, stop this!"

Clay and Cyrus both glanced over to see Ash and Flint hurrying up to them. Cyrus glared at Flint, who had been the one to speak. "This is none of your business."

"It is," said Flint, raising a hand to his beard and tugging on it. To Clay's surprise, it came off; with his other hand, Flint removed his hat, and Cyrus's eyes widened. "I was too afraid to approach you after what I did," said Flint. "But please, don't take your frustrations out on this young Trainer."

"What right," Cyrus growled, "do you have to just come back into my life as if nothing happened?"

"None," said Flint. "I have no right. I know that. And I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm just asking that you don't punish others…that you don't punish yourself…for what I did to you."

Cyrus looked down. Flint stepped forwards. "I abandoned my responsibilities long ago," the older man said. "Left you to take care of this town, left you to take care of your brothers and sisters…your much younger brothers and sisters…and I won't ask you to forgive me for any of that. But I was wrong to abandon you, Cyrus. And I'm ready to try and make things right. I'll take over the Gym again. Watch over the family again. And maybe, eventually, I can feel better about myself."

Cyrus sighed. "Very well, father." He sighed again - he was doing that a lot. "And…I suppose I have something to give Ash."

He stepped forwards, digging out a Gym Badge from his pocket. "I grant you," he began, then remembered there was a large hedge sitting between him and the rest of the group. "Hang on," said Cyrus. "I will need to go around back."

Thirty seconds later, Cyrus made it to the group. "I grant you the Galactic Badge," he said with a good deal less flair, handing Ash a shiny golden badge that looked like a G with spikes on the top left and bottom right. Clay wasn't sure what that had to do with Dark-types, but Ash didn't seem to care.

"All right! I got a Gym Badge!"

"So…you're gonna be traveling with us?"

Cyrus shrugged. "It isn't like I have much else to do now that my father has returned. And besides, I have my own dream to follow."

"Cool!" said Ash. "Of course you can travel with us - the more the merrier!"

Clay frowned.

"So," said Ash, "what is your dream?"

Cyrus looked up to the sky. "To harness the power of the gods and create a perfect world in my own image."

There were a few seconds of silence before Ash and Clay both burst into laughter. "Whatever you say," said Clay. "All right, Ash, let's head out while we've still got daylight."

And so Ash, Clay, and Cyrus left Pewter City, all three looking forward to the adventures ahead.

And then there were three. To be quite honest, Cyrus as a Flying-type Gym Leader would have been a more 'fair' challenge. Zubat + Murkrow would make for a good first Gym Leader team, and it still would have corresponded to his canonical team. But I decided to make him Dark-type instead, both so all of Ash's Pokemon could get some screen time, and for a couple other reasons that will be explored later. Let me know what you think about Ash's first Gym Battle - I tried to keep it feeling anime-esque, and I hope I succeeded!