Chapter 5

Three days have passed, since Ash caught Squirtle, and in those three days, he has introduced him to his other Pokémon that were with Ash at the time, and has started his training with other of Ash's Pokémon.

But Squirtle wasn't the only new Pokémon that someone has caught in the last few days. Yesterday, while the group was coming to Vermilion City they decided to have a little training on the beach outside of Vermilion City, and it was during that training, that the group saw, Krabby, and so, Misty decided to catch it, seeing as it is a Water type Pokemon, and she LOVES, water type Pokemon.

Misty used her Wartortle and after she managed to defeat Krabby, she captured it.

The group spent the rest of the day training all of their Pokémon, and Ash was doing final preparations with Amaterasu for her gym battle.

Misty did ask Ash at some point why he was only preparing Amaterasu for his gym battle, and he said that he has heard that few months ago the gym leader of Vermilion gym has started to do only one-on-one battles, after he evolved his Pikachu into Raichu.

At the end of the day, after all of the training for the day was over, Ash switched his Pokemon and sent his two Butterfree's back at Oak's Lab, and Oak sent him Pidgeotto and Goblet.

XXX

Ash and his friends have finally arrived a Vermilion City, where Ash is to have his fourth gym battle. It took a few weeks to get here, but he is here now and is ready to get his fourth gym badge.

Before they go to the gym, Ash and company stopped at Pokémon center to check all their Pokémon, because they were pretty exhausted from all the training they did.

When they got to the Pokémon center, Ash went in front of Nurse Joy's desk. "Hello, Nurse Joy, can you check our Pokémon to make sure they are fine from our trip here and training?" Asked Ash.

"Of course, it's no trouble at all," replied Nurse Joy and took all of their Poke balls, but then some kid run in the Pokémon center, while carrying his, seemingly very injured, Rattata.

"Nurse Joy, can you help my Rattata, please, it's been injured in our gym match," yelled the boy!

"Oh my, this is terrible," yelled Nurse Joy! "Chansey bring the stretcher to put Rattata on, I'll come immediately to heal him."

"I'm sorry about this, but can you wait until I finish with Rattata and then I'll check your Pokémon," Nurse Joy asked Ash.

"Sure Nurse Joy, it's no problem," replied Ash and then Nurse Joy run to heal Rattata.

After Nurse Joy left, Ash looked at the boy that brought Rattata and asked. "Hey, what happened to your Rattata?"

"We had a battle against Lt. Surge, the Vermilion City Gym Leader, and his Raichu beat my Rattata very badly," replied the boy with his head down, looking at the floor.

"I see," mumbled Ash. "I'm sorry about that."

An hour later Nurse Joy came out and said to Rattata's trainer that his Pokémon will be fine and that he doesn't need to worry anymore. She then took Ash's Pokémon, as well as Misty's and Brock's, and went to check them, and since checking all of them will take some time, they decided to take two room's in the Pokémon center and spend the night there. Ash can have his gym battle in the morning.

XXX

The next morning after the three young trainers woke up, they all went to Pokemon Center Cafeteria to get some breakfast, before Ash goes to have his gym battle.

"Hey Ash, can I ask you something?" Asked Brock.

"You just did." Replied Ash, with a smirk on his face, and Misty just laughed at Brock expression, which was hilarious.

After a few more moments of waiting for Misty to stop laughing, Ash said. "I'm sorry Brock, but I just couldn't resist it. Go ahead and ask what you wanted."

"Wouldn't it be better if you use one of your strongest Pokemon for this battle? What are you going to do if you lose," asked Brock, with a serious look on his face?

"I mean, I know you have trained Amaterasu very hard since you started your journey, but she is still very young and inexperienced, and you saw what Lt. Surge's Raichu did to that trainers Rattata yesterday."

"We will not lose, Brock," was Ash's answer. "But even if Amaterasu does lose, I'll just train her more and then we will challenge that Raichu, again. You should know by now that I don't give up that easily. And I already told you before, I'm not going to use Lucario, Pikachu and Alakazam in gym battles since it's not fair to the gym Leaders to use Pokemon who are Elite Four Level, and my other Pokemon can't gain battle experience if I only train them, but then use my strongest Pokemon in battles. If I only use the three of them, then there is no reason to catch new Pokemon and train them since it's a waste of time."

"I see," said Brock, but then he realized what Ash said about Pikachu, Lucario and Alakazam being Elite Four Level Pokemon, and asked. "Wait, are you serious about Pikachu, Lucario and Alakazam being Elite Four Level?"

"Yeah, I'm serious," said Ash, and both Brock and Misty looked at him with mouth dropped on the floor. "Didn't I already told you that before?"

Brock and Misty pulled their jaws back from the floor, and Misty said. "No, you didn't say that before."

"But how is that possible, I mean you are only ten years old, and even with all the training that you put your Pokemon through, it takes years of training and battling for a Pokemon to reach that level?" Asked Brock a little more than surprised by this.

"You do know that Lucario and Alakazam have been with me since they have hatched, and that was over five years ago, and Pikachu has been with me for almost four years." Said Ash.

"I know that, but it's still not enough time for them to become that powerful," said Brock. "I guess I could understand for a Pokemon to reach that level in four or five years, but only with a trainer who has a lot of experience, and you were just five or six years old when you all started training."

"Well, as I have already said before, I have done a lot of training myself to become Grand Master of the Aura Guardians, and Lucario, Alakazam and Pikachu have gone through that training with me. Lucario even did special training with another Lucario, which was Sir Aaron's partner, over a thousand year ago, and since I have both Aura and Psychic powers, it was much easier for us to become more powerful than it would be for most other trainers who can't use Aura of Psychic powers." Ash explained to Brock and Misty, who were listening very carefully what he was saying.

"OK, I guess I understand now," said Brock.

After that, they didn't talk much anymore, and just decided to finish their breakfast. When they were done, Ash picked his Pokemon from Nurse Joy, and went to the Vermilion City gym, to have his fourth gym battle. Brock and Misty were following him, so they can watch his battle.

About fifteen minutes later, Ash opened the door of the Vermilion City gym and walked in, his Lucario next to him and Pikachu on his shoulder. They were followed by Misty and Brock. "My name is Ash Ketchum, and I challenge Lt. Surge to a gym battle," announced Ash.

"So, you are here for a gym battle," stated a women that came in front of them.

"Yes, I am," confirmed Ash.

"Ok then, follow me," said the woman, and went further inside the gym.

"Your friends can sit on the bleachers, while you have your battle," said the woman and pointed to the side where there were several rows of bleachers.

"Good luck in your battle Ash," said Misty and went to sit on the bleachers with Brock, while Ash just nodded his head. "Oh, Misty wait," called Ash and released Ra.

"Ra, I want you to go with Misty and Brock and sit on the bleachers to watch this match," said Ash. "Is that Ok with you?"

"Yes, that's ok, Ash," said Ra, but only Ash understood him.

The woman that was leading him, cast a glance at Ash, curious about the reason he sent his Charmander to watch this battle, but then shrugged it off and said. "Sir, you have a new challenger," said the woman, while looking at a massive man, seating on the chair, on the other side of the field, his Raichu standing next to him.

"Is that so? Well I hope you are better than those before you, because if you are not, I'll be disappointed, because you have the look of a good trainer," said Lt. Surge while looking at Ash.

Ash said nothing and just stood on his side of the field, while the woman went on the side to be the judge of the match.

"This will be a one-on-one battle! The first trainer to lose his Pokémon, losses," announced the judge!

"Raichu, you are up," called Lt. Surge!

"Amaterasu, I chose you," shouted Ash and out came his Charmander pumped up and ready for battle.

"You have two Charmander's," stated Lt. Surge a little surprised.

"Yes I do. But I caught the one on the bleachers not that long ago, and I want him to watch this battle, and try to learn as much as he can," replied Ash, after which Surge nodded his head and motioned to the referee to start the match.

"Begin!"

"Amaterasu, use Flamethrower," Ash called his first move!

"Raichu, counter it with Thunderbolt," said Surge!

Amaterasu took a deep breath and fired a huge Flamethrower, which surprised Raichu and everyone else by how powerful it was, but Raichu quickly surrounded himself in electricity and fired a Thunderbolt straight at Amaterasu's Flamethrower.

Two attacks battled for dominance for a few seconds, before Flamethrower started to overpower Thunderbolt, and headed slowly at Raichu. But when it was close to hit Raichu both attacks exploded, which raised dust from the ground and sent Raichu lying back a little.

"Raichu, get up and use Discharge," shouted Lt. Surge getting angry because his Raichu's Thunderbolt was overpowered by Charmander's Flamethrower!

Raichu got up with a scowl on his face and, lighted up his body with electricity and then released it all around him.

Seeing an attack coming at Amaterasu, and with no way to dodge, Ash said. "Amaterasu use Protect, and then Iron Tail."

Amaterasu created a greenish barrier around herself, then prepared Iron Tail, and waited for the Discharge to end.

Right when Discharge ended, Amaterasu quickly jumped in front of Raichu, and hit him with Iron Tail, sending him flying back all the way to the other side of the field where he collided with the wall.

"No, Raichu, get up," yelled Surge not believing what is happening!

Raichu somehow managed to stand up, but everyone could tell he was close to passing out. "Amaterasu finish him off with Flamethrower," said Ash, and then his Charmander fired another Flamethrower at Raichu, but this time he couldn't counter it, or dodge it, so he was hit and blasted away.

When the smoke cleared out, everyone saw Raichu lying on the ground, covered in burns and completely passed out.

"Raichu is unable to battle, the winner of the match are Ash Ketchum and his Charmander," called the referee!

"Congratulations on another gym battle win Amaterasu, you were great," congratulated Ash, making his Charmander smile and thank him. After that, Ash's friends came down from the bleachers and all of them congratulated both him and Charmander, with Ra now even more pumped up for training, after seeing how far behind he is.

"Well, Ash, that was a great battle, congratulation's. Here is your badge, you deserve it," said Lt. Surge and handed Ash a Thunder Badge.

"Thank you, Lt. Surge," thanked Ash, and then he and everyone else turned around and walked out of the gym and went back to Pokémon center.

XXX

After Ash got back to his room in the Pokémon center, he decided to call his mother and see how she is doing.

"Hello mom, how are you doing?" Ash asked his mom after she answered on her phone.

"Oh Ashy, it's you!" She said. "I'm doing ok, but how are you doing, how are your battle's going?"

"I'm fine mom, you don't need to worry about me," answered Ash. "As for my battles, its going great, I just got my fourth badge in Vermilion city gym."

"Oh honey that's great, I'm so proud of you," smiled Delia.

"Anyway, how are things back home," asked Ash?

"Everything is going great honey, in fact, your father came back few days ago, and we are planning to go somewhere on vacation," the fact his father is back home, surprised Ash.

"Dad's back, I wasn't expecting him to be back for a while," said Ash surprised. "And where are you going?"

"Well, he said that he got some time free, and he wanted us to go to Porta Vista," replied Delia.

"I see, well then I hope you have great time," said Ash. "Anyway, I have to go now, I'll call again after my next gym battle."

"Wait, Ash, your father want's to tell you something," Delia said quickly before Ash could hang of the phone, and let Red talk with Ash.

"Hey son, how are you doing," asked Red after he got the phone from Delia?

"I'm doing fine dad, I just finished battle in Vermilion City and got my fourth badge. I'll start going toward Saffron City, tomorrow morning," said Ash.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, why don't you take a few days rest from your journey," Asked Red?

"What do you mean?" Asked Ash, a little surprised.

"St. Anne is currently in Vermilion City, and will be going to Porta Vista tomorrow at noon. I'd like you and your friends to go and get on board, there will be some interesting things happening there, and I'm sure you'll like it," said Red. "We'll also be able to see each other in Porta Vista."

"St. Anne, hah," Ash got a thoughtful expression on his face. "Ok, why not? My Pokémon and I could use a few days' rest, and I'm sure Misty and Brock will love it," replied Ash after a few moments of thinking.

"Great, I'll notify the Captain, so that he can have tickets ready," said Red smiling.

"Why do we need ticket's, isn't St. Anne our ship?" Ash asked confused.

"Yes, it is, but you three will need tickets because there is something special going to happen there," replied Red.

"I'm assuming you won't tell me what it is," said Ash.

"Nope, it's a surprise," Red replied with a smirk.

"Ok then, I'll see you at Porta Vista," said Ash, and waved goodbye to his father.