Unofficial Gym

"Ash, right?" Violet asked the raven black-haired boy. If she were to rate his looks, it's 9/10. Not shabby nor godly. Above-average if she were, to be honest.

His looks can rival that person who also came from Pallet town.

If Violet met the Old Ash, She would not hesitate to separate him and Misty, that is if the Old Ash has the guts to confess to Misty, furthermore, Old Ash wouldn't be able to notice his feelings in the first place.

"Yeah, what's the matter?" Ash was slightly surprised but still nods.

"Although, I don't get your circumstances, please take care of Misty for us." Violet was quite a sensible girl of all of her sisters. She was the only one who would always tease Misty but cheered for her. She has this feeling that this boy would be able to make her little sister happy, call it guts feeling.

"That's given." Ash didn't know what they talked about but he has a clue on what it is when he saw Misty's fervent expression.

"Great." Violet smiled and reach out for a handshake. Ash grabs her hand and shakes.

"You people from Pallet town are amazing. We admit that we are not good Gym leaders, however, two people came before you two." Daisy walks forward with a sweet smile hung on her face, she looks at Ash and Leaf, before she added. "One of them left a message to Ash. Saying 'If Ash were to appear here, tell him I will crush him.' That is what he left."

"It's Gary right?" Ash listened to Daisy and asked her calmly.

Daisy nodded. Ash sighed inwardly 'That guy is still really hot-headed. I can't wait to crush that pride of his. I don't know why he suddenly became my rival.'.

Gary was his best friend when they were kids but the two split when they fought for a Pokeball they caught while fishing. Right now, Ash was not naive he used to be and can think logically, that was childish of them.

"That prick when would he change that attitude of his." Leaf grumbled from the side.

Ash turned his head to her, raising his hand, patting her head. "Just leave it be, Leaf, you know how he is. I'll just have to crush him."

Leaf blushed a little and feel a little bit comfortable. Ash is slightly taller than her by inch. Even though it's embarrassing she didn't say anything but glare at Ash with a cute pout.

"Well, we have things to do. The gym is badly destroyed, we need to call for repairs." Lily said as if she's trying to shoo them away. Then she looks at Ash and added "You, don't hurt Misty or you'll get a piece of me."

"Sheesh, Sister I'm not a kid anymore. I can take care of my own. Moreover, Ash would not hurt me." Misty simply said but blushed at the end of her words.

Daisy, Violet, and Lily walk away. Ash's party didn't stay any longer and exited the Gym.

...

Night, Ash's room

"Ash, I forgot to say this but, I love you." Misty was using Ash's shoulder as her pillow and hug him tightly.

"I love you too, Misty." Ash softly replied. But he winced slightly, on his other side someone was angry. "I love you too, Leaf."

...

Next day,

The four of them quickly get down from Pokemon Center and return to the Gym. Ash and Violet face each other on the battlefield.

"Today, We have another Battle between the gym leader and a boy from Pallet Town. Now, on the Blue Corner, we have our beautiful gym leader, Violet. And on the Green Corner, we have a challenger, Ash Ketchum. Prepare your pokemon!"

Violet throw out her Pokeball after the announcer finished.

"Go, Shellder!"

A shell-type pokemon came out from her Pokeball.

"Pikachu let's go!" Ash said.

"Pika pi!" The yellow mouse pokemon hop out from his shoulder as it landed on the platform.

"Now, Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" This time Ash didn't underestimate his opponent as he did with the Team Rocket trio.

"Shellder, Withdraw." Violet was slightly surprised her opponent coming out hot. If Shellder didn't have Withdraw move, she's afraid the battle would have ended quickly.

Seeing the outer shell of her pokemon slightly scorched. Violet winced 'That thunder is strong!'

"Shellder use supersonic and end it with Aurora Beam!" Violet knew that if she doesn't get serious she would lose undoubtedly.

Ash didn't panic. "Pikachu double team and agility. Run around the opponent." However, His eyes flashed cunningly.

"Huh?" Violet's expression changed. How ironic, Her Shellder who supposedly use to confuse its enemy was now confused on who to attack. Shellder used his Supersonic in every Pikachu one by one but didn't hit the real one. It was confused when all of sudden, Pikachu emerges below the water.

Thanks to Ash's spartan training Pikachu can now swim in the water.

"Pikachu finish it with Thunderbolt!" Ash just smiled. All his commands were just a trick. As his bond with Pikachu grew closer, he found out that he could sense Pikachu from his mind. Like telepathy but he can't converse with Pikachu, he can only secretly command his buddy.

Violet who was staring dumbfounded murmured. "What kind of tactics is this! It's unheard of. That was awful. His Pikachu can swim! How!?" Violet rack her mind but couldn't find the answer. She even forgot she's in the middle of the battle.

"Shellder is unable to battle! Ash Ketchum wins!" The referee loudly announced.

Violet snap out from her thoughts when she saw her shellder passed out. She sighed and quickly return her pokemon into the Pokeball.

Violet and Ash shook hands before Violet handed him the Cascade Badge.

"That was a nasty tactic, Ash," Violet grumbled. "But, I'm still amazed. How did you do that?"

"Hahaha, I and Pikachu share a deep bond and I found out that I can command him with my mind." Ash scratches his cheeks and responds to Violet with a wry smile.

"... That is the first time I've heard of that. I came across many trainers that share a deep bond like you and Pikachu but they didn't have that skill." Violet stared at Ash suspiciously.

"Violet, don't look at me like that. Honestly, I don't know why I can do it... Maybe we are unique. Oh yeah, though, I've heard of Psychic Pokemon can communicate telepathically." Ash waves his hand. He's a bit flustered. 'Why do girls is so sharp?' He asked in his mind.

However, Ash wouldn't be able to receive an answer. Women are more complicated than Pokemon.

"Hmmm. I guess I'll have just believed your reasoning." Violet thoughtfully said. She sighs inwardly. "Anyways, Congratulations. Once again, please take care of my little sister."

"Thanks, don't worry, I'll protect her with my life on the line," Ash reassured her.

Ash then walk to his party and exited the Gym. Misty already said goodbye to her sisters. Not long after they set out on their journey to Vermillion City.

Ash came across a trainer that challenges him to a battle. Ash took out Shiny Pidgeotto and his opponent was dumbfounded. His eyes shone brightly admiring Ash and his Shiny Pidgeotto.

The trainer uses his Ratata and the two quickly battled. As expected, his Ratata couldn't hold on for long before he was defeated. But the trainer didn't lose his motivation.

"That was a great battle. I had never seen a shiny pokemon in my whole journey. You are really lucky! You even have two badges." The trainer said to Ash with his eyes sparkling.

"Thanks." Ash just answer him cooly.

"Hey, I think you should challenge that gym over there, the gym leader is strong. Just like your Shiny pidgeotto, he decimated my pokemon too." The trained pointed his finger towards a certain direction.

"Is there a gym here?" Brock was surprised. He never heard of it.

Sensing Brock's suspicions the trainer replied to him. "No, it's the unofficial gym. The gym is unlicensed by the league. But the gym leader has a total of 98 wins and zero losses. Fitting to be a gym leader."

The trainer explains to them. Ash already knew but he didn't say anything. Also, he hates that gym leader. Ash knows the harsher the training, the stronger the pokemon gets. But the gym leader there trains his pokemon more cruelly. Though, later it was revealed that he cares for his pokemon.

Ash's party decided to stop by the unofficial gym. Entering the gym they were greeted by a man with dark green hair.

"Are you the unofficial gym leader here?" Ash asked.

"Yes, I am. Are you here to challenge me?" AJ replied as he eyes Ash's party.

"I'm here to challenge you... Leaf do you want to challenge him?" He replied to AJ then turn his head to Leaf by his side and ask her softly.

Leaf shakes her head. "No, I will leave it to you."

Ash nodded as he proceeds to approach the opposite side of the battlefield. Brock became the referee.

"An unofficial gym leader, AJ, and Ash from pallet town. Prepare your pokemon."

Ash took out his Poliwhirl. "Poliwhirl, I choose you."

AJ took out his Sandshrew.

"Oh, Prepare to be disappointed, Ash. My Sandshrew doesn't have any weakness." AJ cunningly smirked.

Ash ignored him.

"Poliwhirl starts with hypnosis." Ash just smiled. 'Indeed, your Sandshrew may have overcome its weakness against water element but it still cannot defend against psychic moves.' Ash thought.

"Huh!" AJ didn't expect that to happen. "Sandshrew use defense curl!"

However, despite his loud voice, Sandshrew wasn't able to hear him. Sandshrew was staring at Poliwhirl, absentmindedly. After a few seconds, his Sandshrew drop on the ground snoozing.

"Sandshrew is un-" Brock wanted to announce to the battle is over, But he was stopped by AJ's loud voice.

"Not yet! Sandshrew can still fight! I believe in him! Just give us a second."

"..." Brock frowned but he looks to Ash. Ash nodded, not caring if Sandshrew will wake up or not. If it did so, that would be great.

However, Ash didn't wait patiently for Sandshrew to wake up. "Poliwhirl, use Rain Dance and Belly Drum."

AJ creased his brows. It seems his opponent is kinda ruthless. He keeps shouting encouraging words at his Pokemon. Brock counted 10 seconds, but, before it ends, Sandshrew stood up looking pretty tired.

"Now Poliwhirl, finish it with Hydro Pump." Ash's eyes squinted as is if everything was according to his plan.

"Sandshrew dodge!" AJ whose confidence was high earlier is now panicking. He thought He could decimate this Poliwhirl as he did like those others who challenged him. Now that he faced someone terrifying, He now knew someone is out there is stronger than him.

His Sandshrew wasn't able to dodge since it was still moving groggily. A large water jet collides on Sandshrew, knocking it out in the process.

AJ bit his lips in frustration. He was devastated by his loss. His sandshrew is his strongest pokemon.

"Sandshrew is unable to battle. Poliwhirl wins! AJ has 2 pokemon left, and Ash has 3 pokemon." Brock loudly announced.

The battle continues, The result was clear. AJ lost against Ash. AJ trained pokemon harshly to overcome their weaknesses, yes they got stronger. But against tactics, he lost. Ash explained to him why he lost.

The group meets the Team Rocket Trio on the way to Vermillion City. But, just like always, they still attempted to catch his Pikachu. In the end, their target blasted them off again.

As Ash's group continue their journey but lost their way because of the thick fog, Later, they found a few people wearing a school uniform they seemed to be questioning the young boy who was running on the treadmill. Ash's group thought they were bullying the kid and scare them away.

"You think this is over! We'll get our revenge!" They loudly shouted while running with their tail between their legs. Like a scared Houndoom.