"Hello, is anyone here?" Ash asked, entering a building that looked like a school. "Rosa, any idea where everyone is?"
"The battlefield is out back behind the school, a lot of the students there train and battle with each other under the gym leaders supervision." Rosa said, walking in with Lillipup still in her arms.
"Alright, then we head that way!" Ash said, rushing through the school with Pikachu hot on his heels.
"Don't run in the school, that's one of the most basic rules!" Rosa said, trying to avoid knocking into any of the desks.
Out back
"I'm here to challenge the gym leader!" Ash exclaimed, throwing open the doors to see a boy not much older than him with shoulder length black hair and glasses, instructing some other trainers.
"Ahh, hello, welcome to the Aspertia City gym." The boy said walking over. "My name is Cheren, what is your name?"
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town and this is my partner Pikachu." Ash said. "And this is our first gym here in the Unova region!"
"Is that so." Cheren said, taking note of the two. "Then I have a request for you two as one of my other students wishes to battle me today."
"What's the request?" Ash asked.
"The two of you will have a battle against each other, a preliminary match if you would, to show the other students how a real battle between trainers goes, and to determine who will face me first." Cheren said.
"Oh, I don't mind waiting." Ash said. "If he got here first, then the other trainer should have a shot first."
"I think you're just scared of loosing." A boy with spiky blue hair said, walking over. "See around here I'm the best trainer there is."
"Well I never say no to a challenge if it's issued by another trainer." Ash said. "So what's your name?"
"Hugh? What are you doing here?" Rosa asked, having finally made her way through the crowd.
"Rosa, it's been forever, it's good to see you, and Lillipup to, I was just about to show this nobody just how strong me and my partner are." The boy, Hugh said.
"Hugh, I'd be careful, Ash is a powerful trainer." Rosa said.
"Well so am I." Hugh responded. "Now meet my Pokemon! Pidove come on out!"
"Rosa, any advice you can give me?" Ash asked.
"Haha! This guy doesn't even know that Pidove is a flying type!" Hugh exclaimed.
"A flying type huh." Ash said. "Pikachu I choose you!"
Pikachu ran onto the battlefield as all the students and Rosa gathered on the bleachers on either side of the field.
"Alright you two, I want a good clean match." Cheren said, standing atop a judges station. "No substitutions, items, or illegal maneuvers."
"Illegal maneuvers?" Hugh asked confused.
"He means stepping onto the field." Ash said, from his chalk outlined box. "In an official league battle if you step outside of this box, it would be considered a forfeit in most cases."
"It seems our visitor knows a few things about official battles, then I won't need to go into the rules for you." Cheren said. "In most official battles, a Pokemon can hold an item going into battle, however using an item yourself on one of your Pokemon can be considered an interference with the flow of the match."
"Wow, that's a lot of rules." Hugh said. "No matter, we have an advantage, Pidove take to the sky and use Gust!"
"Pikachu dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Pidove rose into the air, flapping it's wings as hard as it could, not stopping Pikachu's movement across the field, skidding to a stop behind the flying type.
"Pidove turn around and use Gust again!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu launched at Pidove as they were still turning around, slamming into the flying type and knocking them out of the air with ease.
"Pidove use Quick Attack!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
Pidove flew close to the ground, getting ever and rapidly closer to Pikachu only to be swatted away by Pikachu's tail with ease.
"Interesting." Cheren mused, watching the battle unfold.
"Pidove use Gust one more time!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu sped across the field once more, leaping at and crashing into Pidove, knocking it to the ground and taking it out.
"Pidove is unable to battle, Pikachu is the winner." Cheren said. "I must say Ash, I'm impressed, most other trainers would have gone for the quick win in that scenario."
"What do you mean! I had him on the ropes!" Hugh argued.
"Tell me Hugh, what are Pidove's weaknesses?" Cheren asked.
"Well as a flying type, hes weak to Rock, Ice, and Electric." Hugh listed off.
"Very good, and Ash would you care to share what type Pikachu is?" Cheren asked.
"Pikachu is an electric type, Cheren's right we did take it a bit easier than we should have, sorry." Ash admitted.
"There is no shame in loosing, here I teach that there are 1,000 lessons in loss, but only one in victory." Cheren said. "Now Hugh, in a traditional league battle is customary even in loss to thank your opponent for the match."
"Hey, you and Pidove were in sync, and I don't doubt that in no time you could even give me and Pikachu a run for our money." Ash said, extending his hand.
"Yeah, okay." Hugh said, shaking his hand. "And I guess thanks for at least giving us a chance in the battle. Rosa was right saying you two were strong."
"Oh you've seen nothing yet, you should stick around for the gym battle." Ash said. "If thats alright with Cheren of course."
"Actually Ash, I believe everyone here might benefit from seeing the two of battle against each other if you're alright with that." Cheren said.
"Sure, battling is more fun if everyone gets to be a part of it after all!" Ash said excitedly.
"Then prepare yourself, your first Unova Gym Battle is about to begin." Cheren said, heading to the opposite side of the arena.