Greetings everyone Mgunnels3 here, and let's get this two-parter started, shall we?

Chapter 12: The Nacerene Gym battle pt 1. trouble with normal types

'For Pokespeech

" For Human Speech

As they arrive in Nacrene City and Ash's next Gym battle site, we join our heroes, leading them to the local museum as told by Cillian, the Striaton Gym leader.

"Man, this place is huge. I wonder what type of Pokemon this gym leader uses and what type of strategy they use," Ash said out loud as he was very excited for this gym battle.

'I've taken in this gym battle before Ash,' Snivy said to Ash while crossing her arms thinking about that memory. 'All I know is that it was a normal-type user? But I don't want to participate in this gym battle, Ash? As it kinda brings bad memories to me and maybe the next one I can take part in it,' Snivy asked Ash.

"I understand, Snivy, and I don't think that the next gym if I remember correctly, will be good for you as well? But I won't try and force you," Ash said to Snivy, who smiled at this and nodded at this.

"Ah, I see you are interested in a gym Battle here at the gym?" A young man said to Ash and the others while walking with a large lady next to him. Snivy's eyes widened to this upon seeing the lady.

'That's her Ash that's the gym leader of the gym. Be careful she's tough, in more ways than one,' Snivy said to Ash, who nodded at this.

"Yes, I am interested in facing the gym? My name is Ash Ketchem. I'm from Pallet Town in Kanto, and these are my friends Misty and Brock. They are also gym leaders back in Kanto. I take that you are the gym leader Miss?" Ash introduced his friends and asked the lady.

"Lenora, my name is Lenora, young man, and I was told about your arrival from the league, Ash nice to meet you and your friends," Lenora said to said while introducing herself. "This is my husband, judge, and fellow caretaker of this museum Hawes," Lenora introduced her husband.

"A pleasure to meet all of you as my wife said we were expecting you all, but we agree that a gym battle comes first as you are two days early as the league official is a day behind?" Hawes said as the group walked into the museum to where the library was.

"I understand, Hawes, and that's fine. We can figure out what to do next after the gym battle is done," Ash said to Hawes as Lenora was very interested in Ash's enthusiasm. Ash was different from her usual challengers she's faced and knew that he'd give her a good battle.

"Normally, I have the challenger take part in a test to find the battlefield where the gym is? But I like you, young man, so I'll make this exception," Lenora said to Ash while pulling on a particular book on the bookshelf which reveals a hidden stairwell. Ash was surprised by this as he was OK with taking part in this, but if it means getting to the gym battle quickly. He was OK with that.

The group went down the stair to see a battle arena underneath the museum. Ash went into the challenger's side of the trainer's box as Lenora went to the gym leader's side of the trainer's box. Hewes was standing in the middle on the sidelines as the battle referee.

"The Nacrene gym battle between Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town and Gym leader Lenora will now begin. This'll be a 2v2 battle with both sides allowed to switch Pokemon at any point during the battle," Hewes announced as Ash wasn't expecting that. "The battle will be over when both Pokemon on either side are unable to battle. Now send out your first Pokemon for this first battle."

"Lilipup, come on out," Lenora sent out her first Pokemon, a canine-looking Pokemon to which Ash scanned and looked up with his Pokedex. Ash was about to call the Pokemon cute but knew that looks can be deceiving and what Snivy said to Ash earlier. "Oshawott, come on out," Ash sent out his next Pokemon.

"Interesting choice, young man lets see how well you'll handle against me?" Lenora said to Ash, who nodded at this. Ash knew that he had to keep his guard up no matter what Pokemon she threw at him.

" , let the battle begin," Hawes said, raising the flags that gym judges use in battles. The two Pokemon were ready on command for the battle.

"OK, Oshawott, use a water gun," Ash commanded Oshawott, who launched a water gun at Lilipup. "Dodge it with Takedown attack," Lenora commanded her Pokemon, who charged in with the move.

"Fight back with Razor shell Oshawott," Ash commanded Oshawott, who slashed at Lilipup, sending it back. However, Oshawott took the brunt of the attack hard, as shown by him stumbling at this.

"Now I got you. Use roar Lilipup," Lenora commanded as Snivy was surprised by this and remembered this and knew what was coming. As Lilipup used the move returning Oshawott, and before Snivy could say anything, she was instantly out on the field what she didn't want to be.

"Not good. Now I can see why you let both sides choose to switch Pokemon at any time, Lenora," Ash said to Lenora. The latter smirked at this as Ash was smarter than he looked as she returned Lilipup, much to Ash's surprise, and sent out her next Pokemon, a tall rat-looking Pokemon named Watchog. "Snivy, you are going to be OK with battling?" Ash asked Snivy, who sighed at this and nodded at this.

"Not like she's going anywhere anyway. Use Mean look," Lenora commanded Watchog, who managed to lock Snivy in place and is unable to get out of the battlefield unless Watchog is knocked out or Snivy is knocked out. "With that out of the way, use Ice Fang," Lenora commands Watchog.

'I figure she had something for me the last time we've battled,' Snivy said as the Normal-type charged right at her.

"Fight back with Leaf blade, Snivy," Ash commanded as Snivy launched a leaf blade attack hitting the Watchog as its Ice Fang landed a direct blow on Snivy's tail, freezing it. Snivy winced in pain to this as it was too unbearable for her. As she smashed it on the ground, it was going to take more than that to beat her.

"I figure that that wouldn't beat you. Use superpower Watchog," Lenora commanded as it charged right in, slamming right into Snivy before she and Ash could respond to this, knocking Snivy out who was beside Ash's feet. Ash picked her up.

"Snivy is unable to battle Watchog win," Hawes announced this. Ash set Snivy next to Pikachu as Snivy woke up from being knocked out.

'Sorry, Ash. I couldn't inform you of that strategy sooner,' Snivy apologized to Ash, who nodded in understanding at this. "Don't be Snivy. You did your best," Ash said to Snivy, who smiled a bit but looked down. She knew that she messed up big time and wasn't in sync with Ash battling-wise since she found out about her trainer the other day.

"Oshawott, come on out," Ash sent out his last Pokemon, who was still taken aback from his encounter with Lilipup. "You OK to continue Oshawott," Ash asked Oshawott, who shook it off and was ready for anything, but his wounds didn't show it.

"I admire your Oshawott's determination, but this is the end, Ash. Use Thunderbolt Watchog," Lenora commanded Watchog, who launched a current of electricity towards Oshawott.

"Dodge and use Air Slash," Ash commanded Oshawott, who couldn't get out of the way in time as the Thunderbolt hits him hard as he was shaking and covered in static electricity. "OSHAWOTT NO!" Ash said as he ran towards Oshawott, standing and body went limp. Hawes knew that the battle was over and didn't announce it. Ash did as well. Lenora gave Oshawott a Cheri berry to heal the paralysis as it did, but the initial shock was too much.

"Take him to the Pokemon Center, Ash. A Battle club in town can help you train these two, whether it be new moves or help you in sync with them. Once you feel like you are ready, come by, and I'll be happy to let you have a rematch," Lenora said to Ash. "But if you don't get in sync with these two, how do you expect to beat me yet alone Amelia," Lenora said before leaving.

Those last words weren't a parting shot towards Ash's raising of his Pokemon. "Lenora is right. I do need to get stronger with my Pokemon, but my way, not someone else's way. I'm not going to lose Snivy and let Amelia get her way," Ash said to himself though Snivy could see it in his eyes that he wants both her and Oshawott stronger the right way.

With Ash's second gym battle ending in disaster, Ash sets his sights to help train and get his team stronger as the journey continues