"Okay quick heal and rest at the Pokemon Center, and then it's time for my gym battle!" Ash said, walking into the doors of the Mahogany Town Pokemon Center.
"Ash, I think they're a pull." Casey said, pulling on the doors Ash had walked into.
"Aren't most Pokemon Center doors automatic?" Molly said, waving her hand.
"If you three are looking for a Nurse Joy, they're all out at the lake, some rampaging Pokemon is going crazy." A bystander said.
"Rampaging Pokemon?" Ash said in surprise.
"Yep, no idea what got into it, but this Magikarp suddenly evolved and went crazy." The bystander said.
"Magikarp, that evolves into Gyarados right?" Casey asked, pulling out her Pokedex to look it up.
"Yeah, and if it's a Gyarados issue, I bet Pikachu and I could help out, come on let's go!" Ash said, rushing to the north.
"Wait up, we can help too!" Molly said, trying to keep up with Ash, as Casey quickly followed behind.
'
Near the Lake of Rage
"Dragonite use Hyper Beam!" A man with stark red hair called out.
"Piloswine use Ice Beam!" An older man called out.
Ash rushed forward to see a large group of Gyarados as well as a very large red one.
"Pikachu get in there with a Zap Cannon!" Ash called out.
Pikachu leapt next to the brown Pokemon that had fired the ice attack, sending a massive bolt of electricity straight at the Gyarados.
"Kid this is dangerous, stay back!" The man with red hair said.
"Don't worry, danger is my middle name!" Ash said. "Pikachu use Zap Cannon again!"
"No it's not, your middle name is RIchard!" Molly called out to Ash's bluff.
The man with red hair turned to get another look at Ash, between the voice, the looks, and the middle name, a look of familiarity spread over his face for a moment. "Pryce keep the main one's distracted, I'll go for the one causing all this trouble!"
"We'll do what we can Lance." The older man said. "Anything less dangerous you've got kid?"
"Yeah, come on out Scizor! Use Wing Attack!" Ash commanded.
"Delibird come out and use Icy Wind!" Pryce called out.
Scizor and the new Pokemon flew over the water of the lake, distracting the large amounts of blue Gyarados as Lance and his Dragonite raced towards the singular red Gyarados, striking it with another Hyper Beam.'
"Lance, it's now or never." Pryce commented, with the one Pokemon singled out.
"Right, Ultra Ball go!" Lance said, tossing an Ultra Ball at the Red Gyarados.
The yellow and black Pokeball struck the red Gyarados, enclosing it in the Ultra Ball, and with the main one gone, the others calmed down, going their separate ways.
"I have to say, the way you rushed in there, you either know what you're doing, or have no sense of self preservation." Lance commented as he came in for a landing.
"Does all of the above count?" Casey joked, as she and Molly came over.
"Y-you're Lance! The the Pokemon champion and master of dragons!" Ash said excitedly.
"I see you're a fan, though I don't believe anyone knew I was here. What did you say your name was again?" Lance asked.
"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and I want to battle you!" Ash blurted out.
"Ash!" Molly scolded.
"Not to worry. I think I can spare some time for a quick match, a true Pokemon Master never turns down a challenge." Lance said.
"Exactly!" Ash commented, fully excited.
"Let's give these two some room ladies, Lance's battles tend to get a bit heavy." Pryce said, wheeling out of the way.
"Dragonite you're up!" Lance called out.
"Pikachu I choose you!" Ash exclaimed.
"Anyone want to take bets on how long Pikachu will last?" Casey asked.
"Your friend, how good of a battler is he?" Pryce asked.
"He's actually earned six Johto Gym badges, plus eight from Kanto, and I think all four from the Orange Islands." Molly counted.
"So then he must have come here for the gym in town as well, interesting." Pryce commented.
"Pikachu use Agility!" Ash called out.
"Dragonite use Blizzard!"
Dragonite unleashed a powerful snowstorm from his mouth, shooting it at Pikachu as the electric type picked up speed to narrowly avoid the attack.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Dragonite use Thunder!"
Several bolts of electricity struck Pikachu before he slammed into the large dragon, seemingly doing nothing to the dragon type.
"Pikachu switch it up to full power! Use Zap Cannon!" Ash called out.
"Dragonite use Fire Blast!"
Pikachu sent out a massive blast of electricity, shooting right into Dragonite causing the dragon to flinch before sending out a powerful fire attack to finish Pikachu off.
"Pikachu!" Ash called out, running over to his partner. "Are you okay?"
"Pika." Pikachu assured, but definitely too weak to continue.
"Glad to see you're okay." Lance said, walking over. "You did great."
"Really? But he barely landed a hit, you used two hits to knock him cleanly out." Casey commented.
"Yeah, but we landed two hits too!" Ash exclaimed. "And next time we'll win!"
"I like the enthusiasm Ash." Lance said with a chuckle. "So you never did say, what brings you out here to greater Mahogany Town?"
"Right, I'm here to challenge the gym leader on my quest to take part in the silver conference." Ash said. "This will be my seventh badge!"
"Well then you're in luck young man." Pryce said, wheeling over. "My name is Pryce, and I'm the local gym leader here."
"You're the gym leader? But you're soâ" Ash stopped himself before saying any more.
"Yes I'm old, and in a wheelchair, but when you get to be my age, some things don't work like they used to." Pryce commented. "Not to worry though, I can still battle like I'm in my 20s."
"Pryce is actually one of the toughest gym leaders here in Johto." Lance commended. "I was glad to have his help in the Gyarados issue."
"What happened anyways? Why were those Gyarados rampaging?" Molly asked.
"That's what I'm looking into." Lance said. "Thank you again for all of your help Pryce."
"Of course Lance, I'm always happy to help." Pryce said. "Feel free to ask for my assistance while you're in town."
"I'll keep you in mind." Lance said. "Ash good luck in your battle against him, and on your journey to the silver conference, I look forward to our next match."
"Thanks again Lance, and hey if you need help we're also around!" Ash said eagerly.
"I'll keep that in mind." Lance chuckled, before flying back on his Dragonite.
"Now, normally I would accept a battle, but I am exhausted and have a few things to attend to before the day is over, is it alright if we have your match tomorrow?" Pryce asked.
"Yeah, it'll give me some time to rest Pikachu and the others." Ash said.
"Thank you, and as a show of good faith, I would prepare yourself to fight ice type Pokemon, my battles tend to get quite cold." Pryce chuckled as he wheeled his way back to town.