The afterglow of the setting sun cast its light on the streets of Pewter City, and Ash and Xiao You, with slightly weary steps, entered the Pokémon Center.
Pikachu lay on Ash's shoulder, its ears drooped, clearly exhausted.
"Let's rest here for today," Xiao You rubbed her sore shoulders, "Tomorrow we'll challenge the Pewter Gym."
Ash nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement: "I can't wait to battle the Gym Leader! I heard Brock, the Pewter Gym Leader, is very strong."
"First, let your Pokémon rest well," Xiao You pointed to the Poké Balls on Ash's waist, "Especially Pikachu, it helped us chase away many wild Pokémon today."
Pikachu heard its name, reluctantly perked up its ears and let out a "Pika Pika," then slumped back down softly.
Early the next morning, as the sun just illuminated the stone paths of Pewter City, Ash was already standing in front of the Pewter Gym's entrance.
The building, constructed of gray rocks, appeared solemn and ancient, with various Rock-type Pokémon patterns carved on the stone pillars on either side of the entrance.
"Wow, how grand!" Ash looked up at the tall lintel, unable to help but exclaim.
Xiao You yawned: "You're too early... The Gym Leader might not even be awake yet."
"A Trainer has to get up early!" Ash confidently pushed open the heavy stone door.
The inside of the Gym was more spacious than imagined, with a standard battle arena in the center, and glowing ore embedded in the surrounding walls, providing soft illumination for the entire space.
On a high platform at the other end of the arena, a young man with a bandana was sitting on a stone chair, holding a book.
Hearing the door open, the young man looked up, revealing a pair of bright, piercing eyes.
"Are you Trainers here to challenge the Gym?" His voice was steady and strong.
Ash stepped forward: "Yes! I'm Ash from Pallet Town, please have a Gym battle with me!"
The young man—Brock—his gaze fell on the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder, and he frowned slightly: "An Electric-type Pikachu? I suggest you challenge a different Gym.
Pewter Gym primarily uses Rock and Ground-type Pokémon, and Electric-type moves are almost ineffective against them."
Ash, however, shrugged indifferently: "Pikachu is indeed my partner, but I don't only have it."
Saying that, he took two Poké Balls from his waist, "Come out, Kirlia! Riolu!"
Two flashes of white light passed, and a Kirlia, pale pink all over with a skirt glowing light blue, and a Riolu with sharp eyes appeared on the field.
Brock's eyes instantly widened, especially when he saw the Shinny Kirlia, a hint of surprise flashed across his face.
"A Shinny Pokémon? And the energy fluctuations of these two Pokémon..." Brock's expression became serious, "It seems I underestimated you."
Just then, a young boy, half a head shorter than Brock, ran in from a side door.
He bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Brock but appeared more youthful.
"Brother, is the battle starting? I'll be the referee!"
Brock nodded: "Jiro, announce the rules of the match."
Jiro stood at the edge of the arena, cleared his throat: "The rules for the Pewter Gym challenge are as follows: The battle is a 2v2 match, and the challenger can choose to use one special rule from the four major systems.
Only the challenger can switch Pokémon during the match.
Now, please take your positions!"
Brock walked down from the high platform and stood at the other end of the arena: "As a Gym Leader, I will adjust my Pokémon according to the challenger's strength.
Since you've shown such strength, I won't hold back either." He took out a Poké Ball, "Go, Golem!"
A massive Golem, its surface covered in sharp edges, appeared on the field.
It landed heavily on the ground, and the entire Gym seemed to shake.
Ash clenched his fist: "Kirlia, I choose you!"
The white Kirlia floated gracefully to the center of the arena, resonating with Ash's Aura, a faint blue light emanating around it.
"Let the battle begin!" Jiro announced loudly.
"Kirlia, use Rain Dance!" Ash ordered first.
Kirlia put its hands together, and a blue energy shot towards the Gym's ceiling.
Surprisingly, the Gym's ceiling began to gather dark clouds, and soon, light rain started to fall.
"What?" Brock looked up in surprise, "It can even change the indoor weather..."
Ash grinned: "Rock and Ground-type Pokémon don't like water, so Kirlia will have an easier time!"
Brock quickly composed himself: "A clever strategy, but not enough.
Golem, use Rollout attack!"
Golem retracted its limbs into its shell and began to spin rapidly across the arena, charging towards Kirlia like a giant rock cannonball.
"Teleport to dodge!" Ash shouted.
Just as Golem was about to collide, Kirlia's figure suddenly vanished, reappearing on the other side of the arena.
Golem couldn't stop in time and crashed heavily into the Gym wall.
"Good opportunity! Magical Leaf!" Ash seized the moment.
Kirlia waved its hands, and countless leaves shimmering with magical light shot towards Golem like arrows.
The leaves cut elegant arcs through the rain, precisely hitting Golem's weaker joints.
Golem let out a pained Roar, its Rollout speed visibly slowing down.
"Don't give it a chance to breathe!" Brock shouted, "Use Earthquake!"
Golem stopped rolling and stomped heavily on the ground.
The entire arena began to shake violently, and cracks spread from beneath its feet.
Kirlia lost its footing, almost falling.
"Jump up! Then use Confusion to control yourself to float!" Ash thought quickly.
Kirlia leaped up at the last moment, at the same time, blue light emanated from its eyes, using Psychic power to suspend itself in the air, avoiding the strongest shockwave of Earthquake.
"Now! One last Magical Leaf!" Ash clenched his fist.
Kirlia, suspended in the air, once again summoned Magical Leaves.
This time, the leaves converged into a green whirlwind, striking Golem's head.
With the added power of the rain, Magical Leaf's power was even stronger.
Golem swayed a few times and finally fell to the ground with a crash.
"Golem is unable to battle!" Jiro announced.
Brock recalled Golem, a look of admiration on his face: "Excellent tactical use.
It seems I have to bring out my true strength." He took out another Poké Ball, "Go, Steelix!"
A gigantic Steelix, its entire body covered in steel-like scales, appeared on the field.
It raised its head and let out a deafening Roar, shaking away some of the rain clouds in the sky.
Ash recalled the already panting Kirlia: "You worked hard, get some good rest." He turned to his other Pokémon, "Riolu, it's your turn!"
Riolu leaped gracefully into the arena, showing no fear in the face of Steelix, which was several times its size.
"The battle continues!" Jiro announced again.
Ash did not immediately order an attack, but instead pulled out a stone glowing with mysterious light from his pocket—the Fist Plate.
He held the plate in his hand, closed his eyes, and felt the Aura flowing within him.
"Riolu, let our hearts be one!" Ash opened his eyes, and the Fist Plate shone with dazzling light.
Riolu also struck the same pose, and the Aura between them began to resonate.
Under the enhancement of the plate's power, the Aura connection between Ash and Riolu became stronger than ever before, and Riolu's body began to glow with white light of evolution.
"This is... evolution?" Brock watched the scene in surprise.
The white light dissipated, and a taller, stronger Lucario stood on the field.
Its eyes were sharper, and the Aura fluctuations around it were more intense.
"That's great, Lucario!" Ash shouted excitedly, while taking out a glove embedded with an ite from his backpack, "Catch this!"
He tossed the glove to Lucario, who deftly caught it and put it on its right hand.
The Mega Evolution ite on the glove began to resonate with Lucario.
"Mr. Brock, let us show you our full power!" The azure flute pendant on Ash's chest began to glow, "Lucario, Mega Evolution!"
Under the guidance of the azure flute's power, Lucario began its second evolution.
Its body became more slender, and the fur on its head and chest extended, like a warrior clad in battle robes.
Mega Lucario let out a long howl, and powerful Aura energy formed visible blue energy waves that spread outwards.
Brock's expression became more serious than ever: "So that's it, you've mastered Mega Evolution... Then I won't hold back either.
"He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the Key Stone necklace hanging around his neck, "Steelix, Mega Evolution!"
The Key Stone and Mega Lucario's ite shone simultaneously, and Steelix's body also began to change.
Its steel body became even heavier, sharp metal horns extended from its head, and its tail evolved into a trident shape.
Two Mega Evolved Pokémon faced each other on the field, their imposing Aura astonishing.
"Mega Lucario versus Mega Steelix, the battle continues!" Jiro's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Steelix, use Hyper Beam!" Brock launched the first attack.
Mega Steelix opened its huge mouth, and a thick orange energy beam shot out, directly targeting Mega Lucario.
"Dodge and then use Aura Sphere!" Ash commanded.
Mega Lucario displayed astonishing speed, dodging sideways while a huge blue Energy Ball condensed between its hands.
Under the double enhancement of the Fist Plate and Ash's Aura, this Aura Sphere's size and energy fluctuations far exceeded the norm.
"Fire!"
The Aura Sphere cut through the air, colliding head-on with Steelix, which was still in a stiff state after just releasing Hyper Beam.
A violent explosion kicked up dust and smoke, and the entire Gym shook.
When the dust settled, Steelix had returned to its normal form, lying on the ground unconscious.
"Steelix is unable to battle, the winner is the challenger Ash!" Jiro announced loudly.
Brock recalled Steelix, walked up to Ash, and solemnly handed him a gray Rock Badge: "An excellent battle, you fully deserve this Pewter Badge."
Ash took the badge, his face beaming with the joy of victory: "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Brock.
This battle taught me a lot."
Brock looked at Ash and the now normal Lucario, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Ash, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"What is it?" Ash asked curiously.
Brock took a deep breath: "Actually, my dream is to become a Pokémon Breeder, traveling the world to study the ecology and habits of various Pokémon.
But..." His voice lowered, "I have ten younger siblings to take care of and cannot leave Pewter City."
Ash and Xiao You exchanged surprised glances.
Brock continued: "Seeing the bond between you and your Pokémon reminded me of my own dream.
I was thinking, maybe you could fulfill this dream for me..." And he handed the Pewter Gym's gray badge to Ash.
Ash directly took the gray badge and put it into his badge case.
Just then, the Gym's main door was pushed open again, and a middle-aged man with a full beard walked in.
Ash and Xiao You recognized him—it was the uncle who sold stones at the market yesterday.
"Dad?" Brock exclaimed in surprise.
The uncle laughed heartily: "I heard everything, son.
Go pursue your dream, I'll take care of your younger siblings."
"But..." Brock still wanted to say something.
"No 'buts'," the uncle patted his son's shoulder, "You've worked hard taking care of the whole family by yourself all these years.
Now that Dad's back, it's my turn to fulfill my responsibility."
Brock's eyes were a little moist.
He turned to Ash: "Then, would you be willing to let me join your journey?
I can help you as a Pokémon Breeder."
Ash grinned and extended his hand: "Of course, you're welcome! Let's move forward towards our respective dreams together!"
Brock shook Ash's hand, a long-lost relaxed smile on his face.
Xiao You also stepped forward: "Then, our three-person team is officially formed!"
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder, chirping "Pika Pika" in agreement.
Lucario and Kirlia also came closer, and the newly formed team was full of vitality and hope.
Jiro ran over and hugged Brock: "Brother, go with peace of mind, I'll help Dad take care of the younger siblings!"
Brock touched his brother's hair with emotion: "Thank you, Jiro."
As the sun set, the three figures cast long shadows.
Ash looked back at the outline of Pewter City, then turned towards the unknown road ahead: "Where is our next destination?"
"According to the route, we should head to Cerulean City," Brock said, looking at the map.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Xiao You waved excitedly.
And so, with his newly acquired badge and newly befriended companions, Ash's journey continued onward.
More challenges, friendships, and growth awaited them, and it all began with this splendid showdown in Pewter City.