The next morning, Noah woke up early. After a quick shower and breakfast, he packed his things and checked out of the Pokémon Center, heading straight toward the Rustboro Gym.
The Gym was a large, gray stone building that looked almost like a museum. Its impressive structure reminded Noah of the descriptions he had read about Roxanne—a Gym Leader who was also a teacher at the Pokémon Trainers' School.
As he reached the entrance, he saw a sign posted outside:
"Gym Leader Roxanne is currently unavailable. She is teaching an open lesson at the Trainers' School next door. Feel free to observe the class before challenging the Gym."
Noah frowned slightly but nodded to himself. "I guess I'll go check it out."
He turned and walked toward the Trainers' School, a large red-brick building with wide glass windows. Outside, in an open courtyard, a group of trainers—both kids and older beginners—sat on benches, attentively listening to a young woman standing in front of a chalkboard on wheels.
Noah immediately recognized her from the pictures in the Rustboro City Guide—Roxanne.
She had dark hair tied into two neat loops, wore a professional yet stylish school uniform, and carried an air of confidence as she spoke.Noah quietly approached and found an empty spot near the back to observe.
As Roxanne spoke about the importance of Pokémon typing, battle strategies, and using the environment to an advantage, Noah noticed a few people sitting nearby who seemed different from the rest of the students.
A boy with black hair wearing a red cap and a blue jacket sat in the front row, listening intently. Beside him, a brown-haired girl in an orange bandana and blue outfit looked engaged in the discussion. A slightly younger boy with glasses and a green outfit sat next to her, nodding eagerly at Roxanne's words.
Behind them, a tall young man with tan skin, spiky black hair, and a brown vest crossed his arms, listening quietly.
Noah didn't recognize them, but something about the group made them stand out from the rest of the audience.
His attention returned to Roxanne as she continued.
"Now, let's talk about adapting to unexpected situations." She turned to the chalkboard, drawing a diagram of a battle scenario
Roxanne smiled as she addressed the class.
"When you enter a battle, it's never just about type advantage. Let's say you're using a Water-type against a Fire-type. Does that guarantee victory?"
The boy in the red cap raised his hand. "No. The Fire-type could have a move like Thunder Punch, or it could use the environment to its advantage."
Roxanne nodded. "Exactly. That's why knowing your Pokémon's full capabilities is just as important as knowing the opponent's weaknesses."
Noah listened carefully. This was exactly the kind of advice he needed before challenging Roxanne.
She continued, "Another thing to consider is terrain. If you're battling in a forest, Flying-types have an easier time maneuvering. If you're in a rocky environment, Ground-types may have an edge. You have to think beyond just moves."
The brown-haired girl in the bandana spoke up. "So even if someone has a disadvantage, they can still win if they think ahead?"
Roxanne nodded. "Absolutely. That's why experience is key. The more battles you fight, the more you learn."
Noah absorbed the information. He had done well in his battles yesterday, but this was a reminder that strategy mattered just as much as power.
After the lesson ended, the trainers around him started chatting amongst themselves. Noah stood up, planning to leave, when the boy in the red cap turned to him.
"Hey, I saw you listening pretty closely. You new to the Gym challenge?"
Noah blinked. "Uh, yeah. I just got here."
The boy grinned. "That's cool! I'm Ash, from Pallet Town. This is May, Max, and Brock."
Noah gave a nod, glancing at each of them. "Noah. I'm from Oldale Town."
May tilted her head. "Oldale? That's pretty close! Are you traveling alone?
"Yeah," Noah said simply.
Max adjusted his glasses. "Wow, you must be confident. Most new trainers travel in groups."
Noah shrugged. "I don't mind being on my own."
Brock crossed his arms. "That's good, but it also means you'll have to be extra prepared. Gym Leaders are tough."
Ash grinned. "Yeah, I've faced some strong ones before. But that just makes it more exciting!"
Noah felt an odd sense of familiarity with this group. They seemed experienced, but they were also friendly , very oddly friendly.
May smiled. "So, are you challenging Roxanne today?"
Noah nodded. "That's the plan."
Ash looked interested. "You wanna battle first? It'll be good practice!"
Noah looked at Ash, considering the offer for a moment. A battle against someone like him could be valuable—Ash seemed experienced, and it would be a good way to test his skills before taking on Roxanne.
But Noah knew pacing was important.
"I appreciate the offer," he said, adjusting his bag strap. "But I'd rather battle tomorrow if you're still around. I want to watch some Gym battles first and see what I'm up against."
Ash blinked, then grinned. "That's a smart move. Yeah, if I'm still in town, I'll battle you tomorrow."
May smiled. "You're really taking this seriously, huh?"
Noah nodded. "Of course. First Gym battle is important. I want to be prepared."
Brock gave an approving nod. "That's a good attitude. You'll learn a lot just by observing."
Max, however, looked a little disappointed. "Aw, I was hoping to see a battle right away."
Noah shrugged. "You'll see one soon enough."
With that, he gave them a short nod before turning toward the Gym.
The Rustboro Gym was as grand inside as it was outside. The interior was designed to resemble a rocky battlefield, with large boulders scattered around the arena. The battlefield itself was made of compacted dirt and stone, giving it a rugged, uneven surface.
Noah walked past the entrance and toward the watcher's stands, a raised seating area where trainers and spectators could observe battles before taking on the challenge themselves.
There were already several trainers seated, all watching the current battle unfold.
Noah took a seat near the front, where he had a clear view of the battlefield. His gaze shifted to Roxanne, who stood confidently on one side, her arms crossed as she observed her opponent
A young trainer in a green vest commanded a Taillow, which was darting through the air, trying to land an attack on Roxanne's Nosepass.
Noah watched closely.
The Taillow was fast, swooping down with Wing Attack, but Nosepass barely flinched upon impact. The Rock-type Pokémon had a natural defense that made it incredibly tough to damage.
Roxanne remained calm. "Use Rock Throw."
Nosepass lifted several stones with its magnetic force and hurled them toward Taillow. The Flying-type dodged the first, but the second struck its wing hard, sending it spiraling toward the ground.
The trainer gritted his teeth. "Taillow, Quick Attack!"
Taillow pushed itself back into the air and darted toward Nosepass, striking it directly.
But again, it did little damage.
"Thunder Wave," Roxanne commanded.
A small pulse of yellow electricity surged from Nosepass, striking Taillow. The Flying-type froze mid-air, paralyzed.
Noah clenched his fists. That was bad.
"Now, finish with Rock Tomb."
The moment Taillow struggled to move, Nosepass summoned large boulders from the ground, trapping the small bird beneath them.
The trainer sighed. "Taillow is unable to battle…"
Roxanne smiled politely. "You did well. Your Taillow is fast, but you need to focus on powerful moves that can actually hurt Rock-types.
The trainer nodded and returned his Pokémon before leaving the battlefield
Noah exhaled slowly.
This was not going to be easy.As Noah sat in the stands, he replayed the battle in his head. Speed alone wouldn't win this fight. Aeris could move fast, but if she couldn't deal damage to Nosepass, it wouldn't matter.
He pulled out his Pokédex and quickly searched for information on Rock-types.
Rock-type Pokémon have extremely high defense, making them resistant to Physical Attacks. They are weak to Water, Grass, Fighting, Steel, and Ground-type moves. Flying, Normal, and Fire-type moves do reduced damage. Noah sighed. That meant Aeris's moves wouldn't be very effective.
He had to find another way.
He looked back at the field as another battle began. This time, a trainer sent out a Lotad—a Water/Grass-type.
That battle was completely different. The moment Lotad used Absorb, Nosepass visibly struggled. The battle ended quickly, with Lotad barely taking any damage.
Noah narrowed his eyes. So, type advantage really did make a huge difference.
But he didn't have a Water or Grass-type. He had to figure out another way to win.
After watching three more battles, Noah leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. He was starting to form a plan.
Aeris might not have type advantage, but she had speed and adaptability. Roxanne's Pokémon were slow but strong. If he could use the environment to his advantage, maybe he could find a way around the type disadvantage.It wouldn't be easy, but he liked a challenge.
Noah glanced at the Gym's registration board, where trainers wrote their names down to battle next. His name was already there—his battle was scheduled for tomorrow morning.
He took one last look at the battlefield before standing up.
"Let's do this," he muttered to himself before heading back to prepare.