Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled shadows on the path leading to the Fuchsia Gym.
Ash, Xiao You, and Brock walked along the winding mountain road, with Pikachu perched energetically on Ash's shoulder.
"I didn't expect the Fuchsia Gym to be in such a remote place," Xiao You said, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"Nurse Joy said the Gym Leader Koga is a ninja, so it seems it's true."
Brock consulted the map in his hand: "According to the map, we'll see the Gym about five hundred meters ahead.
But we need to be careful; it's said this area is full of ninja traps."
No sooner had he spoken than the ground beneath Ash's feet suddenly caved in.
"Watch out!" Brock quickly grabbed Ash's backpack strap, pulling him back.
The seemingly ordinary dirt path had transformed into a deep pit, its bottom lined with sharp wooden stakes.
"Whoa, that was a close call!" Ash patted his chest, still shaken.
"Pikachu, are you alright?"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu twitched its tail, indicating it was fine.
The rest of the journey became much more cautious.
They encountered shurikens flying out of nowhere, smoke bombs, and tripwire traps disguised as branches.
Each time, they narrowly escaped danger thanks to Brock's keen observation and Xiao You's calm judgment.
"Look, that's the Fuchsia Gym!" Ash shouted excitedly, pointing to a traditional Japanese building ahead.
The Gym was surrounded by tall walls, and a plaque with the characters "Fuchsia Gym" hung above the main gate.
As they approached, the gate silently opened automatically.
"Welcome to the Fuchsia Gym." A woman in a purple ninja uniform stood inside the door, with neat short hair and sharp eyes.
"I am Aya, Koga's younger sister. Are you here to challenge the Gym?"
"Yes!" Ash stepped forward.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and I want to challenge Fuchsia Gym Leader Koga!"
Aya's gaze swept over the three of them, finally resting on Ash: "Follow me, my brother is waiting in the training area."
Passing through several corridors, they arrived at a spacious outdoor training ground.
In the center of the field stood a tall man, also wearing a ninja uniform, but dark purple.
He had his back to them, throwing shurikens.
"Brother, challengers have arrived," Aya said.
The man turned around, revealing a chiseled face.
His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and a faint smile played on his lips.
"I am Koga, the Gym Leader of the Fuchsia Gym," his voice was deep and powerful.
"You are… Ash, right? I've heard about your battles at the previous five Gyms."
Ash puffed out his chest: "That's right! Today, I'm definitely getting the Fuchsia Gym Badge!"
Koga nodded: "Very good, I like spirited young people.
Aya, prepare for referee duties."
Aya walked to a high platform on one side of the field: "The Fuchsia Gym Challenge is about to begin!
The rules are 3-on-3, with challenger Ash and Gym Leader Koga each sending out three Pokémon.
One of the four systems can be chosen for use, and only the challenger can switch Pokémon during the battle.
Are both sides ready?"
"Ready!" Ash and Pikachu said in unison.
Koga nodded slightly: "Begin."
"The first battle, start!" Aya waved her flag.
Ash took a Poké Ball from his waist: "Go, Metang!"
A silver flash, and a Metang, entirely silver-white with four gleaming metal arms, appeared on the field.
Unlike the blue of ordinary Metang, this Metang was dazzling silver-white all over.
"This is… a Shiny Metang?" A hint of surprise flashed in Koga's eyes.
Aya also widened her eyes: "I've never seen a Metang of this color!"
Ash smiled proudly: "This is a partner I obtained at the Noble Academy; it's very special, isn't it?"
Koga quickly regained his composure: "Indeed rare.
Then, my choice is — Muk, go!"
A huge purple, sludge-like Pokémon oozed onto the other end of the field, emitting an unpleasant odor.
Xiao You instinctively covered her nose.
"Metang, use Confusion!" Ash launched the first attack.
Metang's four metal arms glowed light blue, and a powerful Psychic force rushed towards Muk.
Muk was hit by this force, its body squeezed and deformed, letting out painful gurgles.
Koga frowned: "Poison-type moves are ineffective against Steel-types… Muk, use Sludge Bomb!"
Muk sprayed a large amount of sludge from its body, but Metang nimbly floated upwards, easily dodging it.
"Now, Metang, use Bullet Punch!" Ash seized the opportunity to command.
Metang's four arms simultaneously glowed silver, rushing towards Muk at astonishing speed, and a barrage of heavy punches rained down.
Muk was pushed back repeatedly, its body showing multiple dents.
"Muk, hold on! Use Pound!" Koga commanded.
Muk barely managed to raise a sludge-formed arm, but its movements were sluggish.
Metang easily dodged, then used Confusion again, this time lifting Muk directly into the air and then slamming it heavily onto the ground.
"Muk is unable to battle, Metang wins! Gym Leader, please switch your Pokémon," Aya announced, seeing the incapacitated Muk.
Just then, Metang's entire body was suddenly enveloped in a dazzling white light.
"This is… evolution!" Brock shouted in surprise.
Within the white light, Metang's form began to change, its body growing larger, and its two metal arms splitting into four.
When the light faded, a majestic Metagross appeared before everyone.
"Awesome, Metagross!" Ash jumped up excitedly.
Koga recalled Muk, a look of appreciation on his face: "Evolving during battle… good timing.
Then for the second one, Crobat, go!"
A purple bat Pokémon with four wings swiftly flew into the air above the field, letting out a sharp cry.
"Metagross versus Crobat begins now," Aya announced after her brother had switched his Pokémon and Ash had no intention of switching his.
"Metagross, you can do it!" Ash encouraged, "Use Psychic!"
Metagross's eyes emitted a strong blue light, and a Psychic wave even more powerful than before rushed towards Crobat.
But Crobat, with astonishing agility, carved complex trajectories in the air, successfully avoiding the attack.
"Crobat, use Air Cutter!" Koga calmly commanded.
Crobat's four wings vibrated simultaneously, and dozens of sharp wind blades assailed Metagross.
Although Metagross tried to withstand them with its metal body, the continuous blows still made it retreat a few steps.
"Metagross, use Meteor Mash!" Ash shouted.
Metagross's right claw began to gather silver-white energy, then swung it towards Crobat with thunderous force.
Although Crobat quickly dodged, it was still grazed by the punch's wind, losing balance and tumbling in the air.
"Good chance, use Confusion to grab it!" Ash seized the battle opportunity.
Metagross activated Confusion again, this time successfully immobilizing Crobat in mid-air.
"Crobat, use Cross Poison!" Koga commanded.
Despite being bound by Confusion, Crobat still struggled to cross its wings, releasing purple energy blades that struck Metagross's face.
Metagross cried out in pain, and its Confusion weakened slightly.
"Now, Crobat, use U-turn!" Koga seized this instant.
Crobat suddenly accelerated, rushing towards Metagross in a Z-shaped trajectory, then rapidly U-turned just before contact, repeating this multiple times.
Metagross was left dizzy by this high-speed attack.
"Metagross, hold on!" Ash anxiously shouted, "Use Heavy Slam!"
Metagross steadied itself, its entire metal body glowing brightly, then it charged towards Crobat like a cannonball.
This attack was both fast and fierce; Crobat had no time to dodge and was hit head-on, falling heavily to the ground.
"Crobat is unable to battle, Metagross wins! Gym Leader, please switch your Pokémon," Aya announced, seeing Crobat incapacitated.
Ash breathed a sigh of relief: "Good job, Metagross! Come back and rest." He recalled the panting Metagross.
Koga also recalled Crobat, a look of appreciation on his face: "Your Metagross is very strong, but now comes the real test.
Venomoth, show your strength!"
A huge moth Pokémon elegantly flew into the air above the field, the red eye-like patterns on its wings seemingly watching its opponent.
Ash took a deep breath and took out another Poké Ball: "Pidgeotto, I choose you!"
With a flash of red light, an unusually large golden Pidgeotto appeared on the field.
Its feathers were a rare golden-yellow, sparkling in the sunlight.
"Metagross versus Crobat begins now," Aya announced after her brother and Ash had finished switching their Pokémon.
"Another Shiny Pokémon!" Aya covered her mouth in surprise, "And this Pidgeotto's size… it's at least half again as big as a normal one!"
Koga's eyes also flashed with shock: "Today is truly an eye-opener… but battles rely on strength, Venomoth, use Silver Wind!"
Venomoth flapped its wings, releasing countless metallic-glowing scales that formed a whirlwind rushing towards Pidgeotto.
"Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack to dodge!" Ash reacted quickly.
Pidgeotto, with surprising speed for its large size, dodged sideways, then rapidly ascended.
"Use Wing Attack!" Ash continued to command.
Pidgeotto swooped down, its giant wings flashing white, striking Venomoth heavily.
Venomoth was knocked off balance by the powerful blow.
"Venomoth, steady yourself! Use Psychic!" Koga commanded.
Venomoth's compound eyes emitted blue light, and a Psychic wave struck Pidgeotto in mid-air.
Pidgeotto cried out in pain, and its flight altitude began to drop.
"Pidgeotto, you can do it! Use Hurricane!" Ash encouraged.
Pidgeotto endured the pain, fiercely flapping its wings to create a powerful Twister that rushed towards Venomoth.
Venomoth was caught in the wind, struggling to maintain balance.
"Venomoth, use Quiver Dance!" Koga responded calmly.
Venomoth began to spin gracefully in the wind, as if dancing.
As it danced, its injuries seemed to lessen, and its speed noticeably increased.
"Oh no, it's boosting its stats!" Brock anxiously warned from the sidelines.
Ash clenched his fist: "Pidgeotto, don't let it succeed! Use Brave Bird!"
Pidgeotto's entire body was engulfed in blue-white flames, and it charged towards Venomoth at astonishing speed.
Venomoth had just finished its Quiver Dance and was hit head-on by this full-power attack before it could react.
The two Pokémon collided in mid-air with a loud crash.
After the smoke cleared, Pidgeotto was wobbling but still flying, while Venomoth fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Venomoth is unable to battle, Pidgeotto wins!" Aya announced loudly, "Therefore, the winner is challenger Ash!"
Just at this moment, Pidgeotto's body also began to emit an evolution light.
Its body grew even larger, the feathers on its head became more magnificent, and its tail feathers grew longer.
When the light faded, a majestic Pidgeot stood proudly on the field.
"Awesome, Pidgeot!" Ash excitedly ran forward, and Pidgeot affectionately rubbed its beak against his face.
Koga recalled Venomoth and walked up to Ash: "An excellent battle, Ash.
The bond between you and your Pokémon is impressive." He took out a pink badge from his pocket, "This is the Fuchsia Gym's Pink Badge; you've earned it."
Ash solemnly accepted the badge: "Thank you, Mr. Koga! This is my sixth Kanto region badge!"
Aya also walked over: "Your Shiny Pokémon are truly special, especially that Pidgeot.
I've never seen such a large member of the Pidgeotto family."
Brock smiled and said: "Ash's Pokémon always manage to create miracles."
Xiao You asked curiously: "Mr. Koga, why didn't you let Muk use Poison-type moves to attack Metagross?"
Koga smiled: "As a Gym Leader, my duty is not only to test challengers but also to teach them common knowledge of Pokémon battles.
Steel-types are immune to Poison-type attacks; this is basic knowledge.
And…" He looked at Ash, "I believe a true Trainer should win by skill, not by exploiting an opponent's ignorance."
Ash nodded seriously: "I understand.
Thank you for your guidance!"
As the sun set, Ash and his companions bid farewell to the Fuchsia Gym.
Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder, Pidgeot soared in the sky, and Metagross's Poké Ball gently swayed at Ash's waist.
Six badges sparkled in the setting sun, one step closer to the Pokémon League.