With the Fog Badge in hand, Ash and Brock move towards Olivine City, the location of the next Gym. On the way there, they run across a problem in the form of three pesky Pokemon called Murkrow. The trio of Darkness Pokemon had stolen Ash's badges (freshly shined and everything) and were just about to make their escape when Ash sent out Crobat to knock them out of the air and used Pikachu to knock them out. Ash and Brock share looks before they both chuck Pokeballs at the Pokemon. Ash and Brock manage to capture one while the third escapes.
They continue on their way to Olivine City, passing a place called Remoraid Mountain, where after unique events Ash tries to capture a Remoraid but fails. They run into a Teddiursa that tries to steal from them but one look from Brock's Ursaring sends it running (Ursaring had warmed up to Brock and was now listening to orders). They also run into an old friend Todd, with who they end up meeting the Ice Type legendary Pokemon Articuno.
Ash was not stupid enough to try and capture the majestic Pokemon.
They then run into two trainers and their Arcanines, who Ash and Brock help in delivering fire stones to a town hosting a fire Pokemon competition. Ash later took part in the competition and won it with Cyndaquil, being awarded a Fire Stone for the victory, like he'd been awarded the Leaf Stone for winning the grass Pokemon competition. The duo then pass through a town where they help a boy named Bucky catch a Dunsparse. Ash also manages to catch one of his own.
The duo (now closer to Olivine than before) decide to rest by a lake where an odd thing happens.
They come across a Rhydon that was swimming.
"Can Rhydon swim?" Ash asks the Rock specialist.
"Not that I heard of" Brock answered.
"That one can."
They both turn to see a woman walk over to them.
"That Rhydon there has taught itself how to swim, and I want to catch it" the woman declared, "I run a construction company and a rock Pokemon that swims will do wonders for any project that I have where digging near water is involved."
"Not if I catch it first" Ash grinned, "I am a Pokemon Trainer and I want to be the very best. Pokemon like Rhydon will help me get there."
The woman stared narrow-eyed at Ash.
"That Rhydon is mine" she insisted.
"It's a wild Pokemon" Ash scoffed.
A vein jumped on the girl's forehead before she was smiling again.
"How about we battle for it? You are a trainer, yes? Surely you can battle me for a three-on-three for the Rhydon."
Ash did not hesitate to accept.
Brock stood to referee the match.
Pietra (the construction girl) sent out her first Pokemon, a Marill and Ash sent out his Chikorita. The battle began with Marill using Bubblebeam and Chikorita using Razor Leaf. The leaves cut right through the bubbles and hit Marill. Marill recovered quickly, but Chikorita used Vine Whip to slam the Marill around while she charged a Solarbeam before finishing it with said Solarbeam.
Pietra quickly called Marill back and sent her Graveller. Chikorita got into it quickly, using Vine Whip to sweep the Pokemon off its feet before charging a Solarbeam. When Graveller managed to stand on its feet again, the Solarbeam hit it in the face and knocked it out.
Pietra sent out her final Pokemon, a Sandslash. Sandslash came in with Fury Swipes and Chikorita fought the Fury Swipes with Vine Whip, before firing a Razor Leaf to push it back. Chikorita charged for a Tackle but Sandslash sent her back with a Slash. Chikorita recovered quickly but Sandslash was in her face. Against Vine Whip met Fury Swipes but this time some of the swipes broke through Chikorita's guard and hit her. Chikorita loses that battle after a while and is sent skidding back from the Fure Swipes. She launches Razor Leaves at Sandslash, who easily slashes it up with Fury Swipes. Again it charges and Chikorita is forced to defend with Vine Whip. Sandslash pushes and pushes until suddenly Chikorita begins to glow. She grew in size, her vines bigger and stronger now and was able to push Sandslash back.
Chikorita, now a Bayleaf, used Razor Leaf. Sandshalsh was unable to cut through them all this time and took some damage. It also opened up Bayleaf to use Vine Whip to sweep it off fits legs. But Sandslash got up faster than Graveller had and charged with Slash. Bayleaf charged as well, charging a Solarbeam on her leaf. At the last second, she used Vine Whip to push herself in the air and fire a Solarbeam right at Sandslash.
Sandslash took the brunt of the hit but was still standing until Bayleaf slammed into it with Body Slam and defeated it.
"I shouldn't have battled. I'm a bad battler!" Pietra cried as she called Sandslash back while Ash hugged Bayleaf for evolving and winning the battle alone. "Ash! Please let me capture the Rydon! It's my dream to have the best construction business in all of Johto! I need that Rhydon for fulfilling my dream."
Ash stared at the woman before sighing and consenting.
Brock watched Ash with a small smile.
The duo finally reach Olivine City, and after a quick visit to the Pokemon Center, they head to the Gym.
Ash steps into the challenger's box, but unlike most of the Gym Leaders he's met, this one is not waiting for him in the Leader's box. The Gym Leader came out later, a young girl.
"My name is Jasmine and I am the Gym Leader of Olivine City" the girl declared. Both Ash and Brock noted the nervous wobble of her voice. "We will have a three-on-three battle."
Jasmine sent out her Pokemon even before the start of battle was called, an Onix with a weird shine to it.
Thinking it to be a special Onix, different like the Butterfree from the Orang Archipelago, Ash sent out his Wartortle to counter.
Jasmine called for a Tackle and Ash had Wartortle Withdraw before firing a Hydro Pump from close range. The Hydro Pump forced Onix back but it seemed to do no damage.
"That will be enough" a stern feminine voice had them all turn in unison, neither of the duo noticing how Jasmine flinched. A woman stood at the door and soon was making her way to the battlefield.
"Who are you?" Ash asked, a little ticked off that she was stopping the Gym Battle.
"My name is Jasmine, and I am the Olivine City Gym Leader."
Ash stared dumbfoundedly, before turning to the girl he'd been battling. She was cringing, shrunk into herself.
"Janina, my office now" Jasmine demanded before walking deeper into the Gym.
The girl descended the steps, calling her Onix back, before bowing to Ash. "I'm sorry for lying," she said politely before walking away.
Jasmine walked out after a while.
"I offer you my sincerest apologies" Jasmine bowed her head. "I would gladly battle you, but I am exhausted from taking care of Sparkle. Maybe we can—"
The phone rang and Jasmine cut her offer short. Then she rushed out talking about an urgent matter.
Ash and Brock sat at the park, both frowning about the events at the Olivine City Gym.
"Who's Sparkle?" Ash asked for the umpteenth time.
"I don't know" Brock answered for the umpteenth time with a sigh. "Maybe a boyfriend or a friend? Who knows!"
He'd dealt with children asking questions a lot thanks to his siblings, so he had yet to snap at Ash.
Ash groaned and sat back on the seat. Was Jasmine ever going to fight him? If not, he would need to move to another Gym and find an eighth one before the time for the Silver Conference arrives.
That was when he caught sight of the girl Janina, who had pretended she was Jasmine. She was in the sandbox, scrubbing her Onix.
"What are you doing?" Brock asked the girl.
Janina looked up and smiled awkwardly at Brock.
"Oh hi! I was uh— scrubbing the water-repellent wax from my Onix."
That would explain why Onix was not harmed by the Hydro Pump.
Brock was not pleased.
"That is a cheater's way to victory" Brock scolds the girl, "you have to focus on building up your Pokemon's natural strength."
"Jasmine said the same thing," the girl said with a smile.
"Do you know who Sparkle is?" Ash asked.
The girl shook her head.
"Jasmine says that name a lot. She's been spending a lot of time at the Shining Lighthouse. Maybe you'll find her there."
Ash and Brock met Jasmine at the Lighthouse, as well as her grandfather Myron and Sparkle, which turned out to be Ampharos. Jasmine explained why she had to rush out here and why all her time was being spent away from the Gym, her Ampharos was sick. Myron added that they ordered Medicine from Cianwood City but neither of them could make the time to go over there and take the order.
Ash offered to do it for them. He was heading to Cianwood anyway for the Gym Battle, he'd pick up the medicine on his way back.