After the group left the mansion that once belonged to Brocks ancestor, they continued to go across Mt. Mortar, and about a day later, they run into the first Pokémon swarm on their journey.
The Pokémon in the swarm were Tyrogue, and there was a lot of them, and I mean really, a lot.
The gang saw this as a chance to get themselves new Pokémon, and to start populating the Pokémon Preservation Area in Pallet Town.
And so, the battles started, in which Misty, Serena, Leaf and Brock caught three Tyrogue, each, while Ash caught the others.
They caught three each because Tyrogue has three forms in which it can evolve, and Leaf, Serena and Brock wanted to have all three forms, while Misty just thought she could use them for the Swap Meet in Palmpona.
During the battle, Misty's Tirtouga evolved into Carracosta, and Leaf's Cyndaquil and Mareep evolved into Quilava and Flaaffy.
Serena's Totodile also evolved into Croconaw, and her Pidgeotto evolved into Pidgeot.
None of Ash's or Brock's Pokémon have evolved.
After that, Ash sent all Tyrogue he caught to the preservation area, Leaf and Serena sent theirs to Oak's Lab, Brock sent his to Pewter Gym, and Misty sent her three Tyrogue to Cerulean Gym, but surprisingly, Leaf, Misty and Brock also decided to send Volcanion, Darkrai and Heatran to the Pokémon preservation area, so they can stay there while they are traveling, as they are never used in battle, and it might be better for them to stay out of their Poke Ball's with other Legendary Pokémon that are there.
After all of that was over, they continued down Mr. Mortar toward Mahogany Town.
Two days later, the group was walking through the forest, and was getting close to Mahogany Town, when suddenly, several Bug Type Pokémon fell from the trees, and Misty jumped back frightened.
"What's up with those Pokémon?" Leaf asked, as she was looking at a bunch of bug Pokémon.
"I don't know," Brock said. "Let's check them out."
They were about to approach the Pokémon, but then suddenly, they heard a roar, and it startled them.
"The hell was that?" Misty shouted, now getting really scared.
"That sounded like Gyarados," Ash said. "Let's go and see what's going on. We can come back later for these Bug Type Pokémon."
The others nodded, and they all ran toward where they heard the roar coming from.
Few minutes later, they all arrived at the Lake of Rage, when suddenly, a Red Gyarados appeared from the Lake, and fired a Hydro Pump at the group, but somehow it missed.
"What the hell is happening with that Gyarados?" Leaf asked, as she watched the Gyarados swim away.
"He's in a lot of pain, and is angry as all hell," Ash said, while looking at the Gyarados with narrowed eyes.
"But why?" Leaf asked.
"I don't know," Ash said. "But I'm guessing that it has something to do with those sick Bug Type Pokémon we saw before."
"What are we going to do?" Serena asked.
"I'm afraid you will not be able to do anything," a voice was heard from behind the group, and when they turned around to see who it was, they saw a guy in Team Rocket uniform along with several other members of Team Rocket. "I cannot let you walk away knowing about the Red Gyarados. It could compromise our mission."
"And what makes you think you can stop us?" Ash asked, while glaring at the guy, who smirked at Ash.
"I think I can because you won't be able to defend yourself," he said, and released two Fearow from their Poke Ball's.
Ash scowled, and let his Alolan Golem from his Poke Ball, but as soon as Golem came out, he fell on the ground, and looked like he was sick.
Ash narrowed his eyes even further after he saw this, and Team Rocket members smirked.
"See, I told you," he said, and then ordered his Fearow to attack. "Fearow, use Drill Peck!"
Both Fearow flew at Ash and the others, and seeing that his Pokémon got sick as soon as he got out of the Poke Ball, means that the others will as well, so Ash prepared to defend himself and the others with his powers, but before Fearow's got to him, and before he had to do anything, a Thunder Wave strikes down both Fearow, and Dragonite appeared with a trainer on his back, which everyone but Serena immediately recognized as Lance.
"Ash, take the others and get out of here," Lance said. "I'll hold them back."
Ash nodded, and returned his Golem, and then he and the others left the area, while Lance held back both Fearow with Whirlwind after they tried to pursue Ash and the others.
Lance then turned around with his Dragonite, and left the area before Team Rocket members and their Pokémon can go after him.
Few minutes later, he caught up with Ash and the gang, and came down on the ground from his Dragonite.
"Ash, everyone, it's been a while, hasn't it," Lance said?
"It sure has," Ash replied, and they shook they hands. "Now, will you tell me what is going on here?"
Lance sighed, and told Ash and the others how he came here as a Pokémon G-man to investigate the latest operation that Team Rocket is conducting on the Lake of Rage, and that it has something to do with that Gyarados.
"That Gyarados is not well," Ash said. "I could fell his pain and anger, and whatever is happening to him, it's somehow affecting all the Pokémon in the area except Team Rocket's Pokémon, and I guess yours. Why wasn't your Dragonite affected?"
"He is a very high level Po0kemon, so whatever Team Rocket is doing, can't affect him," Lance said. "I'm assuming that Golem of yours is recently caught, because your Pokémon as high level as they are, shouldn't be affected as well."
"You are right," Ash said. "I only caught him few weeks ago. Most of the Pokémon I have with me now would probably be affected by whatever Team Rocket is doing."
"So, what are we going to do now?" Misty asked.
"The four of you, nothing," Ash said firmly, and his girls and friends glared at him.
"What do you mean, nothing?" Misty asked, angry that Ash would dismiss them like that.
"Without your Pokémon, you can't do much," Ash said. "Which is why I want you to go to the Pokémon Center, and wait for me there, as I'll go with Lance to find out what Team Rocket is doing."
The others wanted to argue with this, but Lance said. "Ash is right, this is too dangerous for you. There is a Pokémon Center just down the road, and it's better to go there and wait. The two of us can take care of this problem."
Serena, Misty, Leaf and Brock sighed, and accepted to go to the Pokémon Center, but Misty had parting words for Ash. "You better watch what you are doing, Ketchum," Misty said. "Because if you don't, I'll use your balls as a Christmas decoration."
"And I believe you." Ash said with a smile, and Misty huffed, and walked toward the Pokémon Center, with the others following her.
"That girl sure is something." Lance commented with a smile.
"You have no idea." Ash smiled back, and then they headed toward where Lance found out that Team Rocket has a HQ.
Few miles away from where Ash and Lance were, the guy from before is in a meeting with another guy who looks like scientist.
"Congratulations, Professor Sebastian, this has been a successful operation," the guy said.
"I'm not so sure, Tyson," Professor Sebastian said. "Only that Red Gyarados evolved with a radio wave technology, which means it's essential to capture it so I can study it more, and then perfect radio wave technology."
"We might have a little trouble with that," Tyson said, and Sebastian looked at him. "Our radar indicates that Red Gyarados is in the deepest part of the Lake, which means we have to lure it out somehow."
"Send some man, and have them lure it out," Sebastian said, and Tyson nodded and gathered a bunch of grunts, after which they drove away to the lake to capture Red Gyarados, with Professor Sebastian going with them.
Ash and Lance arrived in front of Team Rocket HQ at about the same time that Tyson and Sebastian were leaving with the grunts.
"Where do you think they are going," Lance asked?
"I don't know," Ash said. "It might be better if we split up. You go to follow those men, and I'll infiltrate the HQ."
"Can you do it alone?" Lance asked.
"Oh don't worry about me," Ash said with a smirk. "I would worry about Team Rocket if I were you. They have been getting on my nerve lately as I keep running into them even after I came here in Johto, and I'm tired of them."
"Just don't go overboard," Lance said, and released his Dragonite to go and follow Tyson and the grunts. "We don't want the repeat of Saffron City, don't we?"
Without waiting for Ash's reply, Lance climbed on Dragonite, and they flew away, while Ash stayed back, thinking about what Lance said, and then after a minute he sighed.
XXX
After he left Ash, Lance followed Tyson, Sebastian and the grunts from the air, for a little while, until they arrived on the Lake of Rage.
He then had Dragonite land, and they hid behind some trees, and watched what Team Rocket was doing.
Three grunts drove themselves to the middle of the Lake with a boat, while Tyson, Sebastian and several other grunts stayed on the shore, but had some weapons ready to fire.
The three grunts then dived inside the Lake after which they were gone for a while, until suddenly, ripples started appearing on the Lake, and in the next moment, all the grunts that entered into the Lake, flew out of it, with Red Gyarados behind them appearing through the surface.
As soon as Red Gyarados appeared on the surface, Tyson ordered the attack. "FIRE!"
The Rocket grunts fired a net gun which ensnares the Red Gyarados.
"Shock it good." Sebastian said, and the grunts let power shock through the net that was holding Red Gyarados, and Gyarados couldn't handle it anymore, and passed out.
"Drag it out, and then bring the helicopters, we are taking it to the main base." Professor Sebastian said, and Tyson nodded.
The grunts then dragged Red Gyarados out of the Lake with the help of boat's, just as the two helicopters showed up and then tied up the net to helicopters, and were ready to take off with Sebastian going with them.
"I better stop them from getting away," Lance said to himself, and was about to climb on Dragonite and follow the helicopters to stop them from taking Red Gyarados where ever they were planning, but then suddenly, a huge yellow beam shot from the Lake of Rage, and struck both helicopters, which exploded, and then fell down, while Red Gyarados fell back in the Lake, and woke up from the hit.
"The hell was that," Tyson yelled, while looking between the Lake and the two destroyed helicopters from which no one was coming from, as everyone that was in it, seems to be dead.
Lance also couldn't believe what he was seeing, as just like that, several people ended up dead, and he couldn't do anything.
He looked at the Lake, where Red Gyarados was, and saw it was calmer now then it was before, and then big ripples showed up on the Lake.
"I don't like this," Lance said to himself. "Whatever that thing is, it can't be good."
A moment later, a colossal Pokémon appeared from the Lake of Rage, and everyone almost had a heart attack as they saw it.
XXX
Once Lance went to follow Tyson and Sebastian, Ash entered inside of the Team Rocket HQ, and easily went through all the grunts who were guarding the place.
After he dealt with everyone, Ash started searching through the HQ, and went from room to room, and collected anything of valuable he saw, as well as some papers he found in what looked like an office of Professor Sebastian.
Right now, Ash is in the main room where all the computers were, and he was reading through the papers, about what Team Rocket were trying to do here.
"So, it seems this Project R, short for Project Revolution, is supposed to cause Pokémon to forcefully evolve with radio waves," Ash read. "If this is true that would explain why that Red Gyarados was acting like that. He was definitely not ready to evolve, and is now in pain because of the waves and angry because he evolved."
He then looked around the room, saw the machine, and decided to destroy it, but that's when he caught the sight of the radar that Team Rocket was using to look in the lake, and saw that the radar was showing several big dots in the lake, and one seems to be much bigger than the rest.
Ash looked at the files in his hands, and read it again.
"These guys are either idiots, or they are blind," Ash said to himself. "They thought that only one Magicarp evolved into Gyarados, but it looks like many of them have evolved though for some reason they never came on the surface, so they didn't see them."
Ash then looked again at the radar, specifically at the biggest dot, and frowned. "I better go over there and see what's going on," he thought out loud. "Whatever that thing is, I have a feeling Lance will have trouble dealing with it, as well as all the other Gyarados' who are now coming on the surface."
Ash then destroyed the radio wave machine with several Aura Spheres, and then using his Psychic powers he levitated all Team Rocket grunts, he placed under Hypnosis, out of the HQ. Which exploded as soon as they all came out.
Ash then left them all on a pile of unconscious body's, and released his Dragapult, climbed on it, and then they flew toward the Lake of Rage.
XXX
Ash and Dragapult got to the Lake right on time to see Lance in the middle of the battle against Red Gyarados, and what looks like a Giant Gyarados, as it seems to be like three times bigger than normal Gyarados.
Ash looked around, and saw the two destroyed helicopters, and assumed everyone who was in, was dead now. He also saw rocket grunts scattered around passed out, along with Tyson and his two Fearow, as well as five other Gyarados', who were apparently defeated as they were lying on the round and were not moving.
He again looked at Lance, who had his Dragonite battle against Giant Gyarados, while his Kingdra and Dragonair were all on their own battling against Red Gyarados.
Ash decided to intervene, as he saw that Lance was in trouble, so he got down from Dragapult, and said. "Dragapult, use Dragon Breath!"
Without any warning to Lance or to Giant Gyarados, Dragapult fired a dark green beam from his mouth, which hit Giant Gyarados, and sent him toppling backwards in the Lake.
Lance looked to where the attack came, and saw Ash and Dragapult. He wanted to ask Ash where the hell did he caught Dragapult, but decided to leave it for later.
"Ash, you are here," Lance said. "Good, I really needed your help."
"Go and deal with Red Gyarados, and I'll deal with this one," Ash said, and Lance nodded, and went to help his Kingdra and Dragonair.
Giant Gyarados came out of the Lake seething in rage, and fired Hyper Beam at Dragapult, who didn't react, but there was no need, as the Hyper Beam just passed through him without doing anything, much to the surprised of Giant Gyarados.
"Can we settle this peacefully, and without the battle, Gyarados?" Ash asked, and Giant Gyarados looked at him.
"You pitiful human, how dare you speak to me after what you race has done to the Lake and to the Magicarp," Mega Gyarados roared at Ash, bristling in rage! "You nearly caused Red to go insane, and now you ask me to stop attacking! Well, it's not going to happen!"
"I was afraid of that." Ash sighed, and then went with the battle.
Giant Gyarados fired Dark Pulse at Dragapult, and Dragapult dodged, as this one wouldn't pass through him, and then Ash countered with Lock-On, which means Dragapult's next attack will hit Giant Gyarados for sure.
Giant Gyarados then became outlined in blue energy that took the shape of a Dragon, and rushed at Dragapult, and hit him with Dragon Rush, which dealt a lot of damage to Dragapult.
"Dragapult, use Dragon Pulse," Ash said, and Dragapult fired a blue ball from his mouth, which hit Giant Gyarados, as Lock-On was in effect, and dealt him as much damage as Dragon Rush to Dragapult.
Giant Gyarados got up, and fired Dragon Breath at Dragapult, but he dodged it, and then fired Thunder Wave, which hit Giant Gyarados, and paralyzed him.
That was enough for Dragapult to fire Draco Meteor, which rained down meteors on Giant Gyarados, who, due to his size was a much easier target then normal Gyarados would have been, and once all the meteors hit him, Giant Gyarados fell on the ground defeated.
Ash then threw an empty Poke Ball, and captured the Giant Gyarados, after which he sighed, and then looked at Lance, who has managed to defeat Red Gyarados, and has captured him.
"Are you ok," Ash asked Lance.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Lance said. "I just feel I made a mistake not interfering earlier. If I did, then maybe all those people would be alive."
"Don't worry about it," Ash said, as he approached to Lance. "It's not your fault, it's theirs as they were the ones who were messing with a stuff they shouldn't have. I found out what they were planning to do."
Ash then explained to Lance what he found in Team Rocket HQ, and Lance couldn't believe it.
"If they released that wave in some big City, it would be a catastrophe," Lance said, Ash nodded, and said. "They were actually planning to release it in Goldenrod City."
"What," Lance yelled! "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Ash replied. "I saw it on the files in the HQ. Apparently, they have managed to infiltrate Goldenrod Radio Tower, and have practically been running the place for a while. They planned to release the radio waves from there, but since I destroyed the machine, I don't know if this will set them back, or they have another one, as that wasn't written anywhere on the files I found."
"We must stop them somehow." Lance said.
"I don't want to deal with them anymore," Ash said, and Lance looked at him with a surprise in his eyes. "I've been dealing with Team Rocket for over two years, and I'm tired of them, tired of everything they are doing, and I'm afraid if I go after them now, it will not end well for anyone."
Lance said nothing for a while, and was thinking what to do next.
After a few minutes, he asked. "So, what are we going to do?"
"You have my father's number, right," Ash asked, and Lance nodded. "Call him, tell him what happened here, and then the two of you and Riley as well as anyone else you can find, go to Goldenrod City and deal with Team Rocket. I'm going to sit this one out."
"Are you sure about this," Lance asked? "Like you said, you've been dealing with Team Rocket for over two years, wouldn't you like to be the one to finally bring them down?"
"Honestly, I would much rather kill all of them, and not even bother arresting them," Ash said so calmly, that it made Lance a little scared that Ash can talk so casually about something like killing someone. "But if I do that, then there would be an excuse like last time, and this time I would go to prison, and as much as I want to kill them, I would much rather travel around, and then play with my girlfriends when the time for that comes."
The last thing Ash said, made Lance cough a little and smirked at him, but said nothing about it.
"Ok, Ash, I'll call your dad, and we'll go to Goldenrod City to finally put an end on Team Rocket." Lance said, and Ash nodded.
Ash then went and captured all five Gyarados who were defeated and said to Lance he will release them in the Pokémon Preservation Area in Pallet Town, and Lance agreed with that.
Just then, Officer Jenny arrived on the scene of crime, along with a bunch of policemen, as well as Misty, Serena, Leaf and Brock, who said that they were the ones who called Officer Jenny.
Ash and Lance then went through a long explanation on what happened, and Ash said about the Team Rocket HQ, and about a bunch of grunts he left there under Hypnosis.
After it was all said and done, Officer Jenny thanked Ash and Lance about their help, and before she left, Ash told her to send all the Pokémon that she takes from Team Rocket to the Pokémon Preservation Area in Pallet Town.
Lance then went to do what he and Ash agreed on, while Ash and the gang went to the Pokémon Center.
After the incident with the Team Rocket on the Lake of Rage was over, Ash and the gang rested for the remaining of the day in the Pokémon Center, and made plans on which Pokémon they will use in the Mahogany Gym, as they knew that the gym leader, Pryce, uses Ice Type Pokémon.
The next day, after everyone got rested well, and after they had a breakfast, the gang headed to the Mahogany Gym, so that Ash, Leaf and Serena could have their gym battles.
Once they arrived in front of the gym, which on the outside looked like a relatively normal building, they saw a woman in front of the entrance.
"Hello kids," the woman said. "What can I do for you?"
"Is this the Mahogany Gym," Ash asked, and the woman nodded? "We are here to challenge the gym for the Glacier Badge."
"Oh, well then come inside," the woman said, and led the gang through the gate. "I'm Sheila by the way. The gym leader Pryce is my longtime friend."
"I'm Ash, and these are my friends Misty, Serena, Leaf and Brock," Ash said.
"It's nice to meet you all." Sheila said, and they then entered inside of the gym, and saw that the entire field is covered in ice, except a small hole in the middle of the field which was filed with water. There were also a bunch of ice rocks all over the field.
They then saw an older man coming to the gym from the room on the other side, and Sheila said. "Hey Pryce, these kids are here to challenge you for the Glacier Badge."
The man looked at them, and nodded. "I hope you are good," he said. "It's been a while since the last time I had a good battle."
Ash shrugged. "I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
Pryce smirked, and nodded again, and then he stood on his side of the field. "So, who is challenging me?"
Ash, Serena and Leaf looked at each other, and talked for a few moments, and then Leaf stepped out of the group and stood on her spot ready for the battle.
"My name is Leaf, and I'll be first to battle you." Leaf said.
Pryce and Sheila nodded, and then Sheila stood on the referee's position, and announced the battle. It was going to be a two-on-two battle, and the first trainer to lose both Pokémon, loses the match.
Pryce goes first, and choses his Pokémon. "Come to battle, Dewgong!"
"So, his first Pokémon is Dewgong," Leaf though out loud, and then took one Poke Ball after few moments of thinking, and let out her Pokémon. "You are up first, Houndoom!"
"Leaf's Houndoom came out of his Poke Ball, and stood ready to battle.
"BEGIN!" Sheila said.
"Houndoom, start this off with Flamethrower!" Leaf said, and her Houndoom fired a powerful Flamethrower from his mouth.
"Dive in the pool, Dewgong," Pryce said, and his Pokémon dived in the water, and Flamethrower passed over it. "Now come out, and use Aurora Beam!"
Dewgong then released a multicolored beam from the horn on its head, at Houndoom.
"Counter it with Fire Blast!" Leaf said, and Houndoom fired another of his fire attacks, which collided with Aurora Beam, and after they pushed at each other for a few moments, both attacks exploded, and did no damage to both Pokémon, though there was a mist created from the explosion.
"Use Headbutt, Dewgong!" Pryce said.
Dewgong jumped at Houndoom and tried to slam at him, but Houndoom dodged, as Leaf told him. "Now use Thunder Fang!" Leaf said.
Houndoom's fangs glowed light blue and spark with light blue electricity, and then he quickly bites down on Dewgong, who cried in pain from the super effective attack.
"Dewgong, get out of there!" Pryce said, and Dewgong managed to pull back from Houndoom's bite, and went back to the other side of the field, near Pryce.
"Use Inferno, Houndoom!" Leaf said, as she tried to use this chance while Dewgong is still not recovered, to win.
Houndoom created an orb of purple flames, and then fired it like a beam at Dewgong, who was told by Pryce to dodge it, but wasn't fast enough because of the Thunder Fang attack from before was still affecting it, and it got hit.
Dewgong flew backwards, and clamed into the wall behind Pryce, then fell unconscious.
"Dewgong is unable to battle," said Sheila! "The winner of round 1, is Houndoom!"
"Greet job, Houndoom," said Leaf, and patted her Houndoom after he came in front of her.
"Leaf is doing well, isn't she?' Brock commented.
"She is," Ash agreed. "But let's wait and see which Pokémon Pryce choses next. I fell this is not over yet."
Pryce returned his Dewgong, and chose Piloswine as his next Pokémon. Leaf decided to stay with Houndoom.
"BEGIN!" Sheila started the second round.
"Piloswine, use Blizzard!" Pryce said, and Piloswine blew a very powerful attack from its mouth at Houndoom.
"Counter it with Fire Blast, Houndoom!" Leaf said.
Houndoom quickly fired a powerful fire attack that broke through the Blizzard, and struck Piloswine.
"No, Piloswine," Pryce yelled, as he saw his Pokémon hit by a very powerful and effective attack. "Can you get up?"
Piloswine managed to get up, though it had some burns on its fur. "Good, now use Rest!"
"Quickly Houndoom, use Flamethrower before Piloswine wakes up!" Leaf said.
Houndoom fired his fire attack at Piloswine, but it already woke up, and managed to dodge, as Pryce instructed it. "Now use Blizzard across the entire gym."
Piloswine released Blizzard from its entire body this time, and it managed to cover it from visibility.
"Houndoom, use Heat Wave!" Leaf said.
Houndoom was about to do it, but Piloswine was already in front of him running, then tackled him with a Take Down, and Houndoom flew backwards, passing out once he collided with the wall.
"Houndoom is unable to battle," Sheila said! "The second round goes to Piloswine!"
"Damn, one attack," Misty said, impressed by Piloswine's power."
"That Piloswine is strong, that for sure," Brock said. "It's probably as strong as Serena's, and that's something considering how much Serena's Piloswine trained with our other Pokémon."
Leaf returned her Houndoom, and thanked him for the good battle, and then released her second Pokémon, and its surprised Pryce and Sheila as they have never seen it before.
Leaf explained it's an Ice and Bug Type Pokémon from Galar Region, and that she got it not that long ago, though she didn't say how exactly she caught it, and Pryce didn't want to pry.
"BEGIN!" Sheila said for the last time in today's battle.
"Use Blizzard, Piloswine!" Pryce said, and Piloswine again released Blizzard across the entire gym.
"Frosmoth is an Ice Type, so why did Pryce use Blizzard?" Serena asked.
"He's probably trying to slow Frosmoth down a little bit, so he can use something else, Brock said. "Though I doubt it will work.
"Now use Take Down, and then follow it up with Fury Attack!" Pryce said.
"Frosmoth, fly up, and dodge it," said Leaf, and her Pokémon dodged Take Down from Piloswine, and got out of its range. "Now use Stun Spore!"
Frosmoth then flew right above Piloswine, and released an orange mist from her wings, which fell on Piloswine making it became paralyzed. The fact that Blizzard was still going didn't stop Stun Spore from affecting Piloswine.
"Piloswine, come on, get up!" Pryce tried to encourage his Pokémon to get up and continue to battle, but he couldn't even move.
"Finish it off with Air Slash!" Leaf said.
Frosmoth released multiple light blue glowing saw disc-like energy blades from her wings, which hit unmoving Piloswine, and after several of them hit him, Piloswine passed out.
"Piloswine is unable to battle," Sheila said! "The winner of round 3 is Frosmoth, and the winner of the match is Leaf!"
"Great job, Frosmoth," Leaf said, and then returned her Pokémon.
She was then approached by Pryce and her friends, and Pryce gave her the Glacier Badge as the proof of her victory over him.
The others congratulated her, and she thanked them and Pryce.
Pryce then said that he has to take his Pokémon to the Pokémon center, and that the next battle will be in the afternoon, which was fine to the gang, and everyone left the gym, and went to the Pokémon Center.
XXX
Later that day, everyone was back in the Mahogany Gym, and everything was ready for the second battle of the day.
Pryce had his Pokémon healed, and after they came back to the gym, it was decided that Serena will go next.
Sheila announced that match, said the rules again, and Pryce picked his first Pokémon, which is again Dewgong.
Serena chose Braixen to be her first Pokémon, so Sheila started the battle.
"BEGIN!"
"Dewgong, start with Blizzard!" Pryce said, and his Dewgong glowed light blue, and released Blizzard around the entire gym. "Now use Ice Beam!"
"Counter it with Fire Blast, Braixen!" Serena said.
Dewgong created a white ball in front of the horn on his head, and fired several beams of whitish energy at Braixen, who countered it with Fire Blast, which she fired with the help of her twig.
Two attacks collided, and even though Braixen had a type advantage over Dewgong, the two attacks were equal, and in the end, there was an explosion which created a mist in the gym, and cleared around Blizzard.
"Use Headbutt, Dewgong!" Pryce said, and his Pokémon hit Braixen with its head, and sent her rolling backwards across the gym.
"Are you ok, Braixen," Serena asked worriedly, but Braixen got up, and nodded.
"Good, now use Heat Wave!" Serena said.
Braixen started spinning her twig in circle, and fired a wind of flames at Dewgong, who was hit, and seriously hurt by it.
"Now, finish it with Fire Blast!" Serena said, and Braixen fired another Fire Blast, and because of its wounds, Dewgong couldn't do anything to dodge, and was hit by the blast and was defeated.
"Dewgong is unable to battle," Sheila announced! "The winner of round 1, is Braixen!"
The gang cheered for Serena, and clapped their hands for a nice battle. Serena smiled and thanked them, and thanked her Braixen as well.
Pryce returned his Pokémon, and then released his Piloswine.
Serena knew it was going to be Piloswine, and she knew that Braixen has a type advantage, but she wanted to see her Piloswine battle against Pryce's, so she returned her Braixen, and let out her Piloswine.
"BEGIN!" Sheila said again.
"Piloswine, use Ice Beam!" Pryce said.
"Counter it with your Ice Beam, Piloswine!" Serena said.
Both Pokémon simultaneously fired their attacks at each other, which then collided and after few seconds of pushing at each other, they exploded, and sent ice particles all over the gym.
"Use Take Down!" Pryce said.
"Use Ancient Power!" Serena countered right away.
As Pryce's Piloswine was running at Serena's, Serena's Piloswine created a silver energy ball in front of his tasks, and fired it at the incoming Piloswine.
The ball hit Pryce's Piloswine, and threw it backwards, much to the surprise of Pryce, and everyone in the gym, as none thought that Serena's Piloswine was so strong.
"Piloswine, use Rest!" Pryce said.
"Piloswine, use Giga Impact!" Serena said, and Pryce's eyes widened, as he was not expecting this.
While Pryce's Piloswine was using Rest to recover itself, Serena's started running at the other Piloswine, and was surrounded by an invisible energy, which then turned into an yellow light in front of his head, and an orb of light purple energy with spiraling light yellow streaks around it appeared around Piloswine's body and he slammed into the other Piloswine with great force, which sent Pryce's Piloswine all the way across the gym, where he collided with the wall.
"Oh no, are you ok Piloswine?" Pryce shouted!
Piloswine tried to stand up, but its legs were shaking.
"Try to use, Rest, again!"
"Finish this with Ancient Power, Piloswine!" Serena said.
Piloswine fired another silver ball at Pryce's Piloswine, who was trying to use Rest, and then the ball hit it, and Piloswine fell on the ground, defeated.
"The gym leader's Piloswine is unable to battle," Sheila said! "The winner is the challenger's Piloswine, and the winner of the match is the challenger, Serena!"
"All right, great job Piloswine," Serena shouted, and hugged her Piloswine around his head, which made Piloswine smile a little, as he was happy that he defeated other Piloswine.
Just then, Piloswine started glowing, and Serena let go of him, and looked along with the others as Piloswine was evolving.
"Wow, I wasn't expecting that." Misty said, and the others agreed.
Few moments later, the glowing stopped, and it showed that Piloswine has evolved into a much bigger Pokémon, called Mamoswine.
"Congratulations, Serena and Mamoswine," Ash said, as he and the others approached them. "That was an excellent battle, and it looked defeating another Piloswine is exactly what Piloswine needed to evolve."
"Thanks', Ash," Serena said. "And I guess you are right."
Pryce and Sheila then approached them, and they congratulated them as well, and then Pryce gave Serena, Glacier Badge, which Serena took.
After that, it was agreed by Ash and Pryce to postpone their battle for tomorrow morning, as Pryce's Pokémon need to rest now.
The gang then left the gym, and went back to Pokémon Center.
XXX
The next day, at around 10 o'clock, Ash and the gang arrived back in Mahogany Gym for Ash battle against Pryce.
After they all got to the gym, and stood on their places, Sheila announced the battle, and Pryce and Ash chose their Pokémon. Pryce stayed with Dewgong like always, while Ash decided to use Alolan Golem.
"Wow, that Golem looks strange," Pryce said. "I've never seen one like that."
"This is Alolan Golem, from Alola Region," Ash said. "I caught it some time ago, but this will be his first gym battle, and I'm quite interested in seeing how he will do."
"I will admit, I'm also curious." Pryce said, after which, Sheila started the match.
"BEGIN!"
"Dewgong, use Ice Beam!" Pryce said.
"Golem, counter it with Thunderbolt!" Ash said.
Broth Pokémon fired their attacks at each other, and they collided with one another, and after few seconds, they both exploded.
"Use Iron Tail!" Pryce said, and Dewgong's tail glowed silver, and it swished at Golem, who dodged after Ash told him to.
"Now counter with Thunder Punch!' Ash said.
One of Golem's hands crackled with electricity, and he punched Dewgong right across the face, which damaged Water and Ice Type Pokémon a lot, and Dewgong flew across the field.
"Finish it off with Rock Throw!" Ash said.
Golem quickly fired a rock from the top of his body, which hit Dewgong and defeated it.
"Dewgong is unable to battle," Sheila said! "Golem is the winner of round 1!"
"Nice battle Golem," Ash said, and congratulated his Pokémon for the first gym battle, and Golem cracked a smile.
"Damn, Ash, that was faster than two previous battles," Pryce said, as he returned his Dewgong, and released his Piloswine. "But let's see how you will do against Piloswine."
Ash returned his Golem, and released his Cinderace, and again had to explain to Pryce and Sheila from which Region it was, and what kind of Pokémon Cinderace is.
"You and your friends sure have a lot of Pokémon from different Regions," Pryce said, and Ash shrugged.
"We were lucky to find them, as they are not exactly common anywhere out of their Regions." Ash said, and Pryce nodded, and Sheila started the battle.
"BEGIN!"
"Piloswine, Ice Beam!" Pryce said, and Piloswine fired a silver ball at Cinderace.
"Counter!" Ash said simply, and Cinderace was surrounded by orange energy, and once Piloswine's attack hit it, it bounced back, and went at Piloswine, who was surprised by the move along with Pryce, but he was able to act quickly, and dodged it.
"Fire Blast." Ash said right away, not waiting for a second.
Cinderace blew a very powerful Fire Blast from his mouth, and Piloswine could not escape it, and was hit dead on, and burned badly, but was not defeated yet.
"Use, Rest, Piloswine!" Pryce said, as a last try to do something in this battle, but he knew it was pointless.
He was proven right, when Ash told Cinderace to use Flame Charge.
Cinderace was surrounded by orange and red flames, and run at Piloswine almost with the Extreme Speed, and tackled it before Piloswine was fully recovered.
Piloswine was thrown backwards, and after it rolled for a few meters, it stopped on the other side of the gym, where it lied defeated.
"Piloswine is unable to continue, the winner of the round is Cinderace, and the match goes to the challenger, Ash Ketchum!" Sheila said.
Both Ash and Pryce thanked their Pokémon, and returned them, and then Pryce approached Ash along with Sheila, and the gang, and presented to Ash the Glacier Badge.
"You have certainly earned it, Ash," Pryce said. "That was an excellent battle."
Ash thanked him, and after Pryce and Sheila wished them all good luck in the Silver Conference, the gang left the gym.
"So, where to now?" Misty asked, as the gang was walking away from the Mahogany Gym.
"Now, we are going to Olivine City," Ash said. "But we will go a little differently than normal."
"What do you mean?" Leaf asked, and everyone looked at him curiously.
"Instead of walking to there, we will go by blimp." Ash said, and everyone was surprised.
"But why?' Brock asked.
"There is this thing called Whirl Cup, and is held in about a month," Ash said. "If we go on foot, we will not be able to get there on time, as we will have to go first to Cianwood City and then to the Whirl Islands. But if we go to Olivine with a blimp, we will be in Olivine City some time tonight, we can have our battles tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and then have time to go to Cianwood City to finish the last gym, and then we are free for a few weeks to train for the Whirl Cup."
"What is Whirl Cup anyway," Misty asked? "And where did you find out about it!"
"Whirl Cup is a tournament for Water Pokémon," Ash said, making Misty's eyes instantly lit up, and Ash knew he had her. "I know about it because I heard about it some time ago. Apparently, it is held on the same place every three years for a long time now."
"I'm in." Misty said excitedly.
"Of course, you are in," Leaf said, and everyone laughed. "But you do know that the blimp ride is not chip, right." Leaf said to Ash, but he waved it off.
"Don't worry about it," Ash said. "I'm paying. And is not as expensive as you think."
"Maybe for you and your family," Serena said. "But for the normal family it is. If it's not, then everyone would go everywhere with blimps and wouldn't bother to walk."
After that, they headed directly to the place where blimp takes off from Mahogany Town, and boarded it.
Few minutes later, the blimp was in the air, and was heading to Olivine City.