Chapter 5: Pewter Clash, Ash vs Forrest

"I'm back!" Brock called out upon stepping foot into the Pewter Gym. The sound of a dozen footsteps could be heard as all of Brock's siblings came racing out to greet him.

"Brock!"

"You're back!"

"Did you bring us any souvenirs?!"

"Not this time," Brock laughed. "I do have great news for mom and dad though, where are they?"

"They're out on the town, it's their anniversary." Forrest explained with a wave of his hand while focusing his attention towards Ash and his new companions, his eyes lit up upon seeing Chloe causing him to rush up to her just like Brock used to do with older woman. "Well hello there, Forrest is the name! Pewter City Gym Leader, one of Kanto's strongest and you are...?"

"Not interested." Chloe firmly stated causing Forrest to faceplant against the floor while Brock chuckled.

"It's nice not being on the end of that anymore."

Forrest shook his head as he collected himself from the ground. "Well it was worth a shot I suppose." He focused his attention on Ash now as he held up his Rotom Phone. "You're here about my challenge then I take it? I've been looking forward to having a battle with you!"

"You know it, I've been looking forward to this moment since you challenged me! I can't wait to see how you've grown as the Pewter Gym Leader!" He was curious about other Kanto Gym Leaders as well but that would have to wait as they were surely busy with other World Championship challengers and Gym challengers at the current moment.

"Oh I'm sure you'll be in for a shock," Forrest smirked while tapping a button on his Rotom Phone. Buzzing could be heard as a Rotom Drone flew through an open window at the upper level of the Gym.

"I still think it's creepy how those things are everywhere." Zach commented.

"Rio..." Riolu nodded.

"Greetings Ash Ketchum and Forrest. This is both of your first match in the World Championship so I'll go over the rules once more to serve as a refresher." The Rotom Drone spoke. "As the two are you are currently unranked, this will be a three on three Pokémon battle to help determine what ranking you'll receive after this match is complete. You may substitute your Pokémon once and the winner will be decided as soon as either side is unable to continue battling. Ash, Forrest are you two ready to begin your battle?"

"You know it!"

"Pika pi!"

"Heck yeah!" Forrest grinned.

"Then send out your first Pokémon on my mark, get set, GO!"

"Probopass!"

"Squirtle, I choose you!"

"Squirtle, Squirtle!" Squirtle adjusted his sunglasses as he burst from the Pokeball.

"Probo!" Probopass leered at his opponent.

"Rain Dance!"

"Squirtle, Squirtle!" Squirtle twirled about as a fierce rainstorm began raining down upon the battlefield.

"Zap Cannon!" Forrest shouted out.

"Counter with Iron Defense!"

"Squirt!" Squirtle retreated to his shell as a silver glow formed around it, the electric attack made contact with him but his shell minimized the damage.

"Now use Hydro Pump!"

"Squirt!" A large blast of water erupted from Squirtle's mouth and shot across the field, splashing across Probopass' body.

"Probo..." Probopass' eyes turned to swirls as he fell towards the ground below.

"Bzzzt, Probopass is unable to continue battling. Forrest please send out your next Pokémon."

"Way to go, Squirtle!" Ash cheered.

"Squirtle, squirt squirt!" Squirtle grinned while giving a thumbs up.

"Return," Forrest returned Probopass to it's ball. "Alright Golem, you're up!"

"Golem!" Ash was taken aback by the presence of an Alolan Golem, not expecting Forrest of all people to have one as he didn't seem like the type to leave town.

"It was a birthday gift from Brock, I raised him from a Geodude!" Forrest explained while Zach reached for his Rotom Phone, Chloe looking over his shoulder as she was curious about the strange Golem as well.

"Golem the Megaton Pokémon, Alolan form. It's grumpy and stubborn. If you upset it, it discharges electricity from the surface of its body and growls with a voice like thunder."

"Thunder Punch!" Electricity crackled around Golem's fist as he lashed out, striking Squirtle's stomach.

"S-Squirtle!" Squirtle cried out as electricity surged through him.

"Squirtle come back," Ash recalled Squirtle to his ball. "Alright Donphan, I choose you!"

"Donphan!" The armored elephant cried out as he emerged onto the battlefield.

"Earthquake!" Ash shouted while pointing towards Golem.

"Donphan!" Donphan raised his hooves up before bringing them down against the floor, causing the entire gym to shake beneath them.

"G-Golem..." Golem grunted out, the rain began fading away as he got back to his feet.

"Focus Punch!" Forrest shouted out.

"Golem!" Golem's fist shined bright blue as he pulled back before bringing it crashing down upon Donphan.

"Donphan..." Donphan gritted his teeth.

"Let's use Earthquake one more time!" Ash eagerly shouted out.

"Donphan phan!" Donphan raised up his hooves once more before slamming them against the ground. The gym violently shook while Golem began to lose his footing.

Forrest gritted his teeth. "This leaves us with little option, Explosion!"

"Golem!" A bright white glow surrounded Golem shortly before a large explosion rocked the battlefield and everything on it, kicking up dust and dirt as the battlefield vanished from view. The dirt soon vanished, revealing Donphan and Golem laying in defeat.

"Bzzt, both Golem and Donphan are unable to continue battling. Challengers please send out your next Pokémon."

"Donphan return, you did a great job and deserve a rest." Ash returned Donphan to his ball while Forrest returned Golem.

"Garganacl!" Forrest shouted out.

"Oshawott, I choose you!"

"Osha!" Oshawott enthusiastically cried as he burst from the ball.

"Gargana!" A large Pokémon that appeared to be made of rocky blocks from a popular videogame burst onto the field, towering over Oshawott and the trainers.

"No way, a Garganacl!" Zach exclaimed.

"A what?" Ash and Chloe asked while Ash retrieved his Rotom Phone from his pocket.

"Garganacl the Rock Salt Pokémon, Garganacl will rub its fingertips together and sprinkle injured Pokémon with salt. Even severe wounds will promptly heal afterward."

"You helped him find this one too then," Ash looked towards Brock who swiftly nodded.

"Yep, I got one of my own!" He boasted while thumbing towards a ball. Initially his was going to be a gift to Olivia before he found out about the healing properties.

"Okay Oshawott, use Aqua Jet!"

"Oshawott!" An aquatic veil surrounded Oshawott as he shot across the field at great speed before slamming into Garganacl's chest.

"Heavy Slam!" Garganacl leaped into the air and began rapidly spinning before making his descent, bringing his body crashing down upon Oshawott and flattening the poor otter!

"O-Oshawott!" Oshawott cried out, appearing significantly weak.

"No way, a critical hit!" Ash gritted his teeth. "Alright Oshawott, counter with Hydro Pump!"

"Oshawott!" Oshawott cried out as a large geyser of water erupted from his mouth, the blast shot towards Garganacl before exploding as it coated the giant Rock type with water.

"G-Garga." Garganacl shook himself off.

"Finish him with Heavy Slam!"

Garganacl leaped up and began rapidly spinning once more before bringing himself down upon Oshawott, flattening him once more.

"Osha!" Oshawott groaned out, his eyes reduced to swirls as he laid in a collapsed heap.

"Bzzzt, Oshawott is unable to continue battling. Challenger Ash please send out your final Pokémon!"

"Oshawott return, you did great out there and deserve a long rest. Squirtle and I will take it from here." Ash returned Oshawott to his ball. "Alright Squirtle, I choose you!"

"Squirtle, squirt!" Squirtle cried out as he burst onto the battlefield once more.

"Rain Dance!"

"Squirtle, squirt!" Squirtle twirled about as a heavy rainstorm poured down onto the battlefield.

"Hammer Arm!" Garganacl aimed back his fist as he focused the attack.

"Dodge with Rapid Spin then counter with Water Gun!"

"Squirtle!" Squirtle retreated into his shell and began rapidly spinning, taking off across the field as Garganacl lashed out at him. Garganacl appeared confused and glanced back as Squirtle prepared his attack. However rather than Water Gun it was an entire different attack, his body became coated with water as he leaped headfirst towards his opponent and crashed into his backside.

"What was that?!" Ash shouted out, never having seen that move before.

"Wave Crash!" Zach exclaimed.

"Garga!" Garganacl groaned out as he collapsed headfirst against the battlefield, a loud thud echoed through the gym as the floor shook a bit. The Rotom Drone flew over and did a light scan before beeping.

"Bzzt, Garganacl is unable to continue battling. Challenger Ash Ketchum is the winner of the match. Congratulations Ash, you're now in Green ranking with an overall rank of 100,089! Forrest, you're in Red rank with an overall rank of 200,626! Challengers Ash and Forrest, neither of you have Challengers waiting so you may issue out your next challenge whenever you please. Have a good day." The Rotom Drone flew off just as quickly as it came.

"Way to go Squirtle, we won!" Ash cheered while hugging the turtle Pokémon. Squirtle laughed and affectionately nuzzled against Ash before blinding him as a white light consumed his body.

"Pika!" Pikachu gasped out.

"I don't believe it!" Ash similarly gasped. "I thought Squirtle didn't want to evolve."

"Well he never explicitly stated that he didn't want to." Brock explained with a light smile as Squirtle started changing form. His skin shed away with the new layer being a dark shade of blue while a wool of fluff covered his tail, similar fluff formed around his ears which expanded outward from his body while fangs formed within his mouth.

"Tortle, Wartortle!" Wartortle cried out.

"Wartortle the Turtle Pokémon, it often hides in water to stalk unwary prey. While swimming quickly, it moves its ears to maintain balance."

"Way to go Wartortle, I bet you can take on even stronger opponents now!" Ash excitedly exclaimed while looking down at his beloved Water type with pride and adoration.

"Wartortle!" Wartortle gazed upwards with a fond expression.

"You're engaged?! That's great!" Flint excitedly shouted out, full of pride for his son.

"Oooh I can't believe my little Brock's all grown up!" Lola gushed. "Hopefully the rest of our kids will find husbands and wives when they get older, I want a lot of grandkids!"

"Well you might get your wish," Brock smirked lightly while Flint silently gave a thumbs up.

"So Ash, when are you going to settle down with a girl?" Lola asked.

"I-I actually haven't thought about it, I guess I never met the right girl." Ash shrugged.

"Blimey!" A dark haired girl breathed out. She bore a black jacket atop a pink blouse and had her long black hair tied into pig tails. Her frosty blue eyes matched that of her brother who forced a smile while quickly hiding the papers behind his back.

"Of course Marnie, don't ya worry one bit about me. I'll be just fine taking over the Gym again." Her brother spoke. While Marnie appeared to be around the same age range as Ash, Zach and Chloe, her brother was noticeably older and around the same age as Brock or Cilan. His skin was pale, indicating either a severe lack of sunlight or he wore face paint but based on his sleep deprived eyes it was probably due to being a shut in. His hair was long black and had white dyed streaks in it, his hairstyle fashioned after his partner Pokémon that laid beside him. A large muscular black and white mongoose Pokémon that was fast asleep.

"You get out there and work towards completing your dream, don't worry about it." He forced another smile.

Marnie looked uncertain but shrugged as she turned to make her leave. "If you say so, feel free to call if ya change your mind. I'll always be here for you, Piers."

Piers waved her off before frowning as he retrieved the paper from behind his back, uttering out an audible sigh as he read 'Bills past due'. He cast a glance around their worn down home and uttered out another sigh as he locked the door behind Marnie, appearing to be quite depressed.