Brock was stunned, to say the least. He was no elite four member or champion, but he was still a force to be reckoned with in battle. That said, this challenger had wiped the floor with his best team, at least so far. All he had left was Golem and Steelix,and the Challenger still had five pokemon left. There were very few trainers that could obliterate a gym leader in a battle, and most if not all of them were elite four members or champions themselves. And Brock was a very experienced gym lead. Hell, he had traveled through four different regions throughout his journeys with Ash, and had plenty of battle experience. Ash. That's right; this challenger reminds me so much of Ash. His outfit, his battling style, his enthusiasm. Hut he couldn't possibly be- could he. Brock looked up, studying the Challenger more closely. He was a little shorter than Brock, which checked out. His eyes were brown, just like Ash's. He didn't have a cap on, but his hair was a similar shade of black, just longer than Ash's was. But then it had been five years since he had last seen his friend, so some differences were to be expected. No way, there's just no way. If that's Ash, then why wouldn't he say something? Why would he challenge a gym whose badge he already had? And where is Pikachu? Brock shook his head to clear it. He could deal with this later.
"Golem, prepare for battle." out came a round, rock covered pokemon with stubby arms, stubby legs, and a stubby head. So his next pokemon is Golem? Not sure what he's going for, but that rock typing is definitely a threat to Leavanny.
"Leavanny, return. You did well" Ash said, recalling his pokemon. "Now come on out, Krookodile!" The reddish brown pokemon appeared in front of him, snapping it's jaws and crying out "Krookodile!" "Alright Krookodile, let's start this off with foul play!" Krookodile rushed forward faster than it's opponents could react, slamming into Golem. "Golem, use rollout. Build some momentum." Brock instructed. Golem ducked it's head and tucked in it's arms and legs, rolling sideways and then forward. It rolled in circles, constantly circling Krookodile. "Krookodile, hit it with scale shot!" Krookodile fired off several glowing scale like apparitions after it's opponent, but all were deflected. "When Golem builds up enough momentum, not a single ranged attack can dent it's defenses. How will you deal with this, Challenger?" Brock told Ash. Ash frowned. We need to find a way to stop it in it's tracks. Ash grinned as an idea came to mind. Perfect. "Krookodile, use earthquake!" Ash commanded. Krookodile bent it's barely existent knees, closing it's eyes in concentration. Soon the entire room was shaking violently. Dust fell from the ceiling and pebbles flew through the air. When the shaking stopped, Golem was out cold. Brock, Ash, and even Krookodile stared in shock. None of Brock's previous team members had gone down quite so easily. Brock recalled his pokemon, saying "Well done Golem. When this is over we're going to get back to our training again."
"Steelix, you're up!" Brock exclaimed, throwing the pokeball in the air. Out sprang a giant, steel colored serpentine pokemon. Steelix reared back and roared, shaking even more dust from the ceiling. "Okay then! Greninja, at the ready!" Ash cried, summoning the ninja pokemon.
A water type, huh? That certainly puts steelix at a disadvantage. If I resort to that, then his defenses would increase, but so would his size. It would give the challenger's pokemon a bigger target. "Let's start this off right! Steelix, use dig." Brock shouted. Steelix cried out, leaping into the air and burrowing face first into the earth. "Greninja, be on guard! He'll come out right in front of you!" Greninja jumped backward just in time. The iron snake pokemon erupted from the ground right where Greninja had been standing. "Greninja, water shuriken!" Ash cried. Greninja let loose a number of small pointed stars made from water. They struck the steel type straight in the face. Steelix recoiled, bellowing in pain and anger. "Let's paralyze it Steelix! Use dragon breath!" Steelix reared it's head back, releasing a rush of purple energy from it's maw. "Stop it with scald, Greninja! Ash called. Greninja let loose a steaming beam of water, which slammed into the purple energy, stopping it in it's tracks. "Scald, one more time!" Greninja repeated the move, this time striking it's opponent. "Alright, Steelix! It's time. Mega evolve!" Shouted Brock. Steelix reared back and roared before being enveloped by bright, swirling light. The light lingered for a moment before dissipating, revealing the mega evolved form of Steelix.
Ash grinned. Two can play that game, Brock. He thought. "Greninja! Let's aim higher! Stronger, stronger, stronger!" Ash shouted, clenching his fist. Greninja did the same, pantomiming his trainer's movements. Soon Greninja was enveloped in a whirlpool of water. Then, the whirlpool wnet flying, leaving Greninja looking different than before. "What is that?!" Brock shouted, surprised. "Alright Greninja, double team!" Ash commanded. Greninja nodded, before blurring. Soon dozens, if not hundreds, of carbon copies of Greninja flooded the battlefield. Steelix looked at all the clones, stunned. It couldn't figure out which was which. "Steelix, use iron tail! Hit them all!" Brock cried. "Oh no you don't! Greninja, get in close and finish this with ice punch!" Steelix roared, swinging it's tail- like body around, destroying a few of the apparitions. It wasn't enough, however. Many of the clones survived, weaving under or leaping above the steel type's massive tail. They all converged on a point a meter bellow Steelix's head, slamming their glowing white fists into the pokemon. "Steelix, dragon breath! Find the real one quickly!" Steelix complied, breathing once more a purple rush of energy onto the assembled mass of greninjas until only one was left. Gotcha! Thought Brock. "Now, use constrict! Steelix coiled it's long, bulky body around it's opponent, squeezing. "Ninja!" Greninja called out, trapped. We need to finish this! Ash thought frantically. "Greninja, use scald one more time!" Ash shouted. Greninja stopped struggling, looking up into Steelix's eyes. Steelix grinned down at it, confident in it's victory now that it had the elusive bastard trapped. Then Greninja let loose a scald right in it's face. BOOM! Steelix collapsed, falling to the earth unconscious.
"Steelix is unable to battle! The winner of this match is Greninja, which means that the Challenger is the victor!" cried the judge, secretly moved at the battle he had witnessed.
"All right! Way to go Greninja! I knew you could do it!" Ash cheered, ignoring the backlash from using the bond. Greninja tiredly cried out in celebration alongside him. Meanwhile, Brock returned Steelix to it's pokeball. "Good job buddy. You did wonderful."
He looked over at the challenger, now firmly convinced that this was his best friend, Ash. He had briefly heard about the bond phenomenon from Professor Oak, who had heard about it from Professor Sycamore. And as far as he knew, there was only one trainer who could bring that side of a pokemon out, and that was Ash. Yes, he was completely convinced. "I knew it! It's you, isn't it!" He shouted, marching over to the other side of the court. Ash avoided his gaze, scratching his head. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Brock." Ash replied, desperately trying to steer the conversation to another topic. "Don't give me that tauros shit, Ash!" Brock practically yelled, getting in Ash's face. "You may be taller. You may have grown some facial hair. And you may not have Pikachu with you. But I'd know that battle style anywhere!" Brock shouted, tackling Ash in a bear hug, tears running down his face. Surprised, Ash merely hugged him back.