The entrance of the Pewter Gym stood tall before Mark. Today, he was about to face his very first gym battle. The current gym leader, Brock, had only recently taken over from his father and hadn't yet reached full strength. With the progress Mark and his Pokémon had made from their training in Viridian Forest, they were confident they could handle this challenge—though exhaustion clung to them like a heavy cloak.
Pushing open the gym's grand doors with all his strength, Mark shouted out, "Is anyone here? I'm Mark from Pallet Town! I'm here to challenge the Pewter Gym and earn a badge. Please guide me!"
After a short pause, the gym's lights flicked on. A young man with spiky hair and narrowed eyes walked out—it was none other than gym trainer Brock.
"Hello! I'm Brock, the gym leader of Pewter Gym. You said you're from Pallet Town, right? So far, three excellent trainers from there have already earned my recognition and badge. I wonder how you measure up to them," Brock said, his tone curious but challenging.
"Rest assured," Mark replied confidently, "my strength won't be any less than theirs."
Brock's eyes twinkled. "Good expression. I accept your challenge! The battle will be in a two-on-two format. During the battle, you, as the challenger, can freely switch Pokémon, but I cannot. The match ends when one side loses both Pokémon. Do you understand?"
"I do!" Mark nodded firmly.
Brock smiled and led Mark into the rocky battle arena. Both stood on opposite ends as the referee signaled for the match to begin.
"Go, Geodude!" Brock's lead Pokémon was a Geodude.
"In that case, you'll go first!" Mark encouraged his own Pokémon. "Scyther, this is your first battle as my partner—give it your all!"
Mark chose not to send out his new Beldum. Though its strength was undeniable, it had just been born and wasn't ready for combat.
"Using Scyther? Are you a beginner?" Brock's face twisted in disbelief. "Scyther may be powerful, but its Bug/Flying typing makes it a perfect target for my Rock-type Pokémon's advantage!"
Mark grinned. "Don't worry—I have a strategy."
"Good," Brock scoffed. "I hope you're not just bluffing. As the challenger, you'll go first."
"I won't hold back. Scyther, use Swords Dance!"
Scyther's twin blades danced in the air, creating sharp swords all around its body. The boost in its attack was immediate—its already razor-sharp scythes gleamed even more fiercely.
"Trying to boost your offense, huh? That won't do much to my Geodude!" Brock barked. "Geodude, use Defense Curl!"
Geodude pulled its limbs close, hardening its rocky exterior.
Both sides chose to fortify themselves rather than attack recklessly.
Just as I thought, Mark thought silently. You'll bolster your defenses against Scyther's Swords Dance. But I never intended to win through brute force. You've fallen for it, Brock!
"Scyther, use Wing Attack!" Mark commanded.
Scyther's wings flapped sharply, striking toward Geodude. The Rock-type's defenses, though improved, were sluggish and couldn't dodge the attack—but Brock didn't panic. Wing Attack wasn't particularly effective against Geodude's rocky shell. After taking the hit, Geodude used Defense Curl again to reinforce its defenses.
"Geodude, use Tackle!" Brock ordered.
"Scyther, use Slash!" Mark responded.
The two attacks collided mid-air. Geodude's defenses held for a moment, but it couldn't withstand the sharp assault for long. Still, its rock-hard body barely felt the impact.
"Since that didn't work, let's try Rock Throw!" Brock's eyes narrowed as he signaled Geodude.
Rocks from the ceiling rained toward Scyther.
"Scyther, use Fury Cutter and charge!" Mark ordered, and Scyther unleashed a flurry of slicing blows, its sharp blades intensifying with every strike. Though some rocks grazed its body, Scyther's boosted offense soon shredded the boulders to pieces as it lunged toward Geodude.
Even with its defense, the force of Fury Cutter's final hit rocked Geodude. Realizing the danger, Brock's strategy shifted.
"This isn't working! Geodude, brace and then use Rock Throw!" Brock shouted again, desperately trying to mount another attack.
But Scyther continued its relentless charge.
"Geodude, use Rock Slide!" Brock barked.
Rocks tumbled from the sky once more, but Mark grinned slyly.
"Scyther, use Vacuum Wave!" Mark commanded.
In a flash, Scyther's special Fighting-type move hit Geodude square in the chest at close range. Though Scyther's special attack wasn't its strongest point, and Geodude's defenses had been reinforced, the impact was devastating. Geodude collapsed immediately, rendered unable to fight.
Brock's face contorted in disbelief. "What?! I knew it! Your Swords Dance wasn't meant to boost offense—it was to absorb Geodude's tackle and strengthen Fury Cutter for Rock Throw! Using Swords Dance defensively... I never imagined this could work!"
Brock recalled his defeated Geodude. "Apologies for underestimating you earlier. You're strong—but it won't be this easy next time. Go, Onix!"
With determination, Brock sent out his Onix—an Elite Trainer ranked in the mid-tier.
Seeing this, Mark withdrew Scyther and sent out Treecko. This was the perfect opportunity for the little lizard to gain battle experience.
"Treecko, huh? You've chosen a Pokémon with a type advantage. Let's see how strong you are," Brock sneered.
"Treecko's already beaten tough battles against disadvantageous matchups. Today's advantage is rare—I won't let us lose!" Mark encouraged his Pokémon.
"Treecko's quick, huh? Then let's see my prized move!" Brock sneered. "Onix, use Rock Tomb!"
A barrage of rocks rained down at high speed, threatening to reduce Treecko's speed and crush it.
This will be hard to dodge, Mark thought grimly. But I've got a trick.
"Treecko, use Pound to hit the rocks and leverage them to dodge!" Mark ordered.
With a flash of insight, Treecko leapt and struck the incoming rocks with its tail, bouncing between them and narrowly avoiding a direct hit. Brock's eyes widened in astonishment.
"So clever!" he thought. This trainer's unpredictability could cost me the badge today—but I won't give up so easily!
"Now it's our turn! Treecko, use Mega Drain!" Mark commanded.
Treecko's glowing attack struck Onix squarely, inflicting massive damage. But Onix's formidable body barely flinched—its defenses absorbed most of the impact. Suddenly, Treecko's guard dropped.
"Onix! Now's the time—use Bind!" Brock shouted.
Onix quickly coiled around the exhausted Treecko, trapping it. Treecko struggled with all its might, but it couldn't escape the rock-solid grip.
"Perfect! Onix, finish it with Rock Blast!" Brock ordered.
Onix slammed its rocky tail into Treecko with brute force.
"Get up, Treecko!" Mark cried. "Don't let all your effort go to waste!"
Though his trainer's words gave him courage, Treecko's fate lay entirely in its own hands.
"Rock Tomb, again!" Brock barked as Onix launched another onslaught, crushing Treecko under its weight.
"Treecko's done for!" Brock declared with a smirk. "Switch back to Scyther! Even though Treecko lost, Onix's health is dwindling—you'll probably still win the badge."
But Mark only smiled.
"No, not yet," he said calmly. "My Treecko hasn't lost. I feel it—its burning fighting spirit is so intense, it's scorching me!"
"What?!" Brock's eyes bulged.
Suddenly, beams of white light shot out from beneath the rocks, shattering them to pieces. Treecko, now glowing with energy, rose from the rubble. Its body began to transform—it was evolving!
When the light faded, a sleek new Pokémon stood in its place.
Grovyle—Treecko's evolved form, an Elite Trainer mid-tier, with skills Pound, Leer, Quick Attack, Mega Drain, Leaf Blade, and Fury Cutter.
Mark grinned from ear to ear. "Now the real battle begins! Grovyle, use Leaf Blade!"
With evolution, Grovyle's attack and speed skyrocketed. Onix, already exhausted, stood no chance. The sharp Leaf Blade struck it head-on, felling the rock giant in one blow.
"So that's defeat!" Brock laughed, admitting his loss.
"Great job, Grovyle!" Mark cheered.
"That was a spectacular battle!" Brock admitted. "I lost—that's proof you outsmarted me. Take the Pewter Badge—I'm proud to hand it to you!"
Mark accepted the gray badge without hesitation. "Thank you! I earned this!"
--------------------
T/N:
Check out my Patreon
[email protected]/FictionalRealms784 - (Replace '@' with 'a')
for 5 Advanced Chapters absolutely FREE—or unlock 35 Advanced Chapters
--------------------