Showdown in Pewter City

"Finally, we made it." Ashlyn said as she, Tesla, and Lucario stood on a large rock overlooking Pewter City, "Pewter City."

After a week of training, battling against a trainer named Samurai, and sending Team Rocket into the sky in the Viridian Forest, the trio had finally arrived in Pewter City where Brock the Pewter City Gym leader is.

Ashlyn frowned, "Nothing but grey color though."

"That's because Pewter City is grey." A male voice responded.

Ashlyn, Tesla, and Lucario looked over the rock at the source of the voice to see a man with a beard wearing shabby clothes and a red beanie, sitting below them. Ashlyn and her Pokémon glanced at each other and looked back at the man. Ashlyn knew that the man is Flint, Brock's father.

"The color of stone, this town has always been famous for stone." Flint continued.

"Who are you sir?" Ashlyn asked, brow arched.

"The name's Flint." Flint replied.

Ashlyn looked around to see a bunch of rocks with price tags on it. She sweat dropped. "You sell rocks?"

"Pewter City souvenirs." He replied. "Wanna buy some?"

Ashlyn and her Pokémon sweat dropped again at the offer. "No thanks, I'm just traveling to be a Pokémon trainer."

Tesla gave out a sigh on her shoulder and Lucario sighed right next to her.

"Looks like your Pokémon could use some rest. Follow me, I'll lead you to the Pokémon center." Flint offered. Ashlyn readjusted Tesla into her arms and was about return Lucario back into his Pokéball when Flint came back again. "By the way, that'll be a two dollar fee for resting on my rocks." Ashlyn and her Pokémon fell over in disbelief.

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"Please, take care of my Pokémon." Ashlyn asked Nurse Joy politely while handing her tray of her Pokéballs and Tesla.

"Sure, right away, Ashlyn." She responded.

Ashlyn gave her a strange look. "Nurse Joy? You really look exactly like the one from Viridian City."

"Yes, I'm the older Joy, the Nurse Joy from Viridian City is my younger sister. I've heard nice things about you. Very nice." She said kindly.

"Why, thank you." Ashlyn said with a blush while Nurse Joy picked up the tray.

"Have you seen that poster?" She asked before going off with Ashlyn's Pokémon.

Ashlyn turned to see the Pokémon League poster advertisement.

"The Pokémon League Regional Championships, huh? I guess it's a good thing I can start collecting badges with the gym in this town." Ashlyn said.

Ashlyn turned when she heard a mocking laugh, coming from the man she met earlier.

"Don't tell me you plan on challenging Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader." Flint mocked.

Ashlyn only crossed her arms and rose her brow at the man. "Of course I do. How else am I going to get a badge? Once my Pokémon are rested up, we'll challenge him. Do you happen to know where it is?" She asked coolly.

Flint only laughed again. "You...beat him?" He walked off, still laughing.

Ashlyn frowned at Flint's mocking before deciding to eat some lunch. She frowned as she chewed. She knew that the man was wrong. She knew that her Pokémon will be able to beat Brock's. She had faith in them.

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"Well, Ashlyn, no more waiting. Your Pokémon are all back to normal." Nurse Joy smiled as she handed Ashlyn Tesla and her pokéballs. Tesla jumped onto her shoulder and Ashlyn petted her on the head.

Ashlyn smiled happily as she picked up her pokéballs. She released Lucario and Boltund. The two nuzzled against her.

"Thank you Nurse Joy." Ashlyn thanked the Pokémon Nurse, "By the way, can I please register for the Pokémon League?"

"Of course, Ashlyn. I will need your Pokédex." Nurse Joy replied.

Ashlyn took out her Rotom Phone and handed it to Nurse Joy. She slot it into the computer and typed a few things on the keyboard.

"Ashlyn Ketchum of Pallet Town." A male mechanical voice said. Then a picture of Ashlyn appeared on the computer screen and her information beside her, "Welcome to Kanto: Indigo League."

"Alright. You're all set for the Pokémon League." Nurse Joy smiled as she handed Ashlyn's Rotom Phone back and gave her a badge case.

"Thank you." Ashlyn thanked her as she put her Rotom Phone and badge case away.

She turned to her Pokémon. "You guys ready for your first Gym Battle?" She asked.

The Pokémon cried out in excitement.

"Alright, let's go!" Ashlyn declared.

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Ashlyn opened the large, imposing doors with less difficulty than she thought, stepping into the large, dark, empty room with no hesitation.

"Hello~?" She called, hearing a slight echo to her voice, "Is anyone here?!"

No one answered.

"Who goes there?" Which startled them. A spot light turned on above a dark skinned teen sitting on a stone slab, one Ashlyn easily recognized as Brock.

She smiled at his theatrical entrance. "You must be Brock. My name is Ashlyn Ketchum from Pallet Town. I challenge you to a battle."

His expression didn't change. "Is this your first gym match?" He asked.

Ashlyn didn't have a chance to respond before he continued. "A gym match is different from other battles. This match is for Pokémon league authorization. There are special rules."

Ashlyn rolled her eyes, knowing each gym could have varying rules. "Yeah, yeah. I already know about these special rules."

"Two Pokémon each, understand?" He said as he stood.

Then he stared at her three Pokémon.

"How long have you been with those three Pokémon?" Brock asked.

"I've had Tesla since I was five, Lucario when I was six, and Boltund when I was almost seven." Ashlyn replied.

"I see. Let's just get this over with." He snapped his fingers and all the lights suddenly turned on.

Ashlyn and her Pokémon were quick to get out of the way when large garage doors opened on either side and slid inward to create a rock terrain battlefield.

Brock jumped from his perch to the white box on his side, taking out a pokéball.

"Let the match begin." Brock declared.

Ashlyn grinned at that. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

"Geodude, go!" Brock called, throwing his pokéball into the field.

Ashlyn took out her Rotom Phone and scanned the Pokémon.

[Geodude, the Rock Pokémon. Geodude has incredibly high defensive power, making it virtually resistant to any physical attacks.]

"Physical attacks, huh? Tesla, let's go!" Ashlyn ordered and Tesla entered the field.

Brock's brow arched, "You do know that Electric attacks have no effect on Ground types, right?"

Ashlyn nodded, "Of course I do."

"Okay then. Geodude, use Rock Throw!" Brock ordered.

Geodude punched the ground and grabbed a massive rock and throws it towards Tesla.

"Tesla, jump and use Iron Tail to cut the rock!" Ashlyn countered.

Tesla jumped and her tail glowed into a metallic colored. She slashed her tail on the rock and it broke into two pieces which shocked Brock and Geodude.

"Jump off the rocks and use Iron Tail full power!" Ashlyn yelled.

Tesla jumped off the rocks as her tail continued to glow a metallic color. Then she spun forward and slammed her tail onto Geodude, creating a dust cloud.

"Geodude!" Brock yelled.

Tesla jumped back to her trainer's side. When the dust cleared up, Geodude was unconscious, swirls in his eyes.

"Great job, Tesla!" Ashlyn cheered as Tesla flashed a peace sign.

"Geodude return." Brock returned Geodude to its pokéball, "Not bad, Ashlyn, but your next Pokémon is no match for Onix, go!" He shouted as he threw his second ball, revealing the large rock snake.

Ashlyn took out her Rotom Phone again and scanned the Pokémon.

[Onix, the Rock Snake Pokémon. It tunnels through the ground, which shakes when it raises its thunderous roar. It can move the ground at fifty miles per hour.]

"Tesla, come back." Tesla ran back to her trainer's side. She jumped onto Ashlyn's shoulder and petted her on the head, "You did great out there." Tesla cooed happily.

Ashlyn turned to Lucario, "Want a battle, Lucario?"

"(I thought you'd never ask.)" Lucario said.

"Okay then, Lucario let's go!" Ashlyn said as Lucario entered the field.

"Onix, used Headbutt!" Brock ordered.

"Lucario, dodge and use Flash Cannon!" Ashlyn countered.

Lucario dodged Onix's attack and summoned a ball of light and hit Onix in the face. Lucario landed gracefully on the spikes on the ground.

"Onix, use Double Edge!"

"Lucario, dodge again and use Rain Dance and then Metal Thunder Punch!" Ashlyn ordered.

Lucario dodged Onix's attack. Then he summoned rain clouds and rain began pouring down onto the field which caused Onix to moan in pain. Lucario ran toward Onix as his left paw glowed into a metallic color and electricity collected around Lucario's right fist. He jumped in the air and slammed both his fists into Onix's face.

"Onix!" Brock yelled in worry.

Then Onix collapsed on the ground with a thud as Lucario landed gracefully. When the rain stopped, Brock was able to see that Onix was unconscious, with swirls in its eyes.

"Yes! We won!" Ashlyn cheered.

Lucario appeared in front of her as she, Boltund, and Tesla gave him a group hug.

"Meanie! How could you hurt Onix like that?!" A young male voice said.

The group looked over their shoulders and saw a group of kids behind them with sad, yet angry faces.

Ashlyn frowned, "Hey, I'm no meanie."

"(Ashlyn is no meanie. If anyone we know is a meanie that would be Gary Oak)." Lucario said.

"This was a gym battle. Ashlyn won this battle fair and square." Brock explained.

"But Brock, you love your Onix. We know that you love your Pokémon so much. Why did you have to battle with it?" A little girl asked, clearly upset.

"(Like Brock said, this was a gym battle)," Lucario replied, "(All gym leaders battle other Pokémon with their Pokémon in order to get stronger.)"

"Lucario's right." Brock agreed, "So it's okay if they got to battle. That just means that they'll get stronger."

Then he turned to Ashlyn, "I have to admit that this was a great battle, Ashlyn. You raised your Pokémon well."

Ashlyn smiled. "Thank you, Brock. Once a Pokémon joins my team, they become family."

Tesla, Lucario, and Boltund nodded.

"I see," Brock said and took out something from his pocket and held out his hand, "As gym leader of Pewter City, I present you the Boulder Badge."

Ashlyn bowed a bit, "Thank you, Brock." She gently took the badge.

"Alright, we got the Boulder badge!" Ashlyn posed with her Pokémon.

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Brock and Ashlyn went to the Pokémon center to heal their Pokémon. While they waited, Ashlyn had sent her Scyther, Rory, and Nidoran Couple to Prof. Oak's lab so they could rest from their training. She kept Pidgeotto onto her team. She decided to send Boltund back to the lab after his check up so that he could greet the new Pokémon.

"Brock, I have to admit this, but I don't really see you as a gym leader." Ashlyn admitted, "You seem to be more of a breeder to me."

"Really?" Brock asked, shocked.

Ashlyn nodded, "The proof is your Geodude and Onix. I can easily tell that they're being well taken care of."

"Thanks, Ashlyn. You know the truth is that I get more pleasure from raising Pokémon than from making them battle. Rather than being a great Pokémon trainer, I want to be the world's best Pokémon breeder," Brock smiled before frowning, "But I can't leave here. I have to look after my brothers and sisters."

"I'm sorry, Brock." Ashlyn apologized.

"It's okay." Brock assured them.

Then Nurse Joy appeared with a cart that had their Pokémon on it.

"Thank you, Nurse Joy." Ashlyn thanked her.

"You're welcome." Nurse Joy smiled.

Tesla jumped into Ashlyn's shoulder as Ashlyn took Lucario's Pokéball and released him.

"So what are you going to do now, Brock?" Ashlyn asked.

"Well I-" Brock began to say.

"He's going to travel with you is what." A masculine voice said.

Brock, Ashlyn, and her Pokémon turned to the voice. It was Flint, the man who was selling rocks. He suddenly ripped away his beard and took off the red beanie to reveal an older looking Brock.

"My father." Brock gasped, shocked.

"Eh/Rai/(Eh)?!" Ashlyn and her Pokémon exclaimed.

The man bowed, "I'm sorry for making you take on the responsibilities as a gym leader, not only that but I didn't have what it takes when I was on my journey and was too afraid to face you," he confessed, "Now I'm making up for it by telling you go follow your dream and leave the gym and your siblings to me."

Brock was still for a while but managed to find his voice again, "There's something I have to say to you." he said.

"Of course." Flint nodded.

Instead of yelling at his father, Brock told him how to take care of his siblings and the gym.

"Slow down, slow down! I can't write that fast!" Flint yelled, panicking, as he wrote it all on a mini notepad while Brock spoke.

"Well it looks like it worked out for Brock." Ashlyn nervously smiled.

"(I suppose you're right.)" Lucario sweat dropped along with Tesla.

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"Hey, Ashlyn, you sure it's okay if I go with you two on your Pokémon journey?" Brock asked as they walked along the road during the night, the full moon above them lighting their path.

"Of course I'm sure. The more the merrier." Ashlyn said, cheerily.

Brock smiled, reassured by this.

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Pokémon on hand:

Ashlyn: Raichu (Tesla)(F), Lucario (M), Rockruff (M), Pidgeotto (F), Butterfree (M)

Oak's Ranch:

Boltund (M), Shiny Gyarados (Rory)(M), Scyther (F), Nidoran (M), Nidoran (F)