At the Pewter Gym.
Standing atop a raised stone platform was a teenager with narrowed eyes, tanned skin, and a face as stoic as a granite slab. This was a man with the resolve of a mountain: Gym Leader Brock.
"Rookie, you're back for a rematch already?" Brock asked, his voice low through those slit-like eyes. "You only get three tries per Gym. Lose all three, and you're barred for a year. I suggest you go back and actually train."
After all, what kind of progress could a kid make in a single night?
Ash's eyes burned with a fierce light. "I'm in! Pikachu isn't the same Pokémon you saw yesterday. He's evolved—not literally, but you get it!"
"Pika!"
The boy had shown up to "raid the Gym" at the crack of dawn. Brock looked down at Ash's feet. Though his Frisk instinct didn't pick up anything tangible, the electric mouse definitely felt... different. Denser.
"Fine. I accept your challenge!" Brock decided to get a bit more serious this time. "Go, Geodude!"
A Pokémon consisting of nothing but a round boulder for a head and two buff rocky arms materialized on the field.
Pokédex: "Beep... Geodude, the Rock Pokémon. Made of stone. Classified as 'dry waste.' Please sort your trash responsibly."
Brock: "..." (Feeling personally attacked).
Having tasted defeat once, Ash wasn't taking any chances. Since Brock didn't lead with his ace, Ash decided to hold back his big gun as well.
"I choose you, Pidgeotto!"
Brock's expression didn't flicker at the sight of the brown bird. Pewter City sat right next to Viridian Forest, so most challengers he faced brought some combination of Pidgey, Pidgeotto, or Caterpie. It was routine.
The battle began!
"Geodude, Rock Throw!" Boulders materialized out of thin air around Geodude's levitating body. With a swing of its arms, it launched them toward Pidgeotto at breakneck speed.
"Pidgeotto, dodge it!" Ash barked.
Pidgeotto's speed was top-tier for its level. It banked hard, weaving through the gaps in the flying debris with ease.
"Now, use Quick Attack!" Pidgeotto let out a piercing cry, cloaking itself in a white veil of speed as it dived straight for Geodude's face.
"Brace with Defense Curl!" Brock commanded calmly.
Geodude tucked its arms in, curling into a tight ball. A defensive glow shimmered around it as it prepared to tank the hit.
CLANG! After the collision, Geodude remained as immovable as a statue. Pidgeotto, however, was sent spiraling backward several feet, its beak literally bent a few inches out of alignment.
"Moves like that won't work on my Pokémon," Brock chuckled. "Now, use Rollout!"
Geodude tucked itself into a sphere and transformed into a high-speed boulder, spinning across the floor with increasing momentum. The faster it spun, the deadlier the impact.
"Pidgeotto, stop it with Gust!" A whirlwind kicked up, but no matter how hard Pidgeotto flapped, it couldn't halt the juggernaut. Type advantage was a wall that some couldn't climb.
Faced with the incoming stone tank, Ash shouted his ultimate command: "Get out of the way!" (The classic rookie move: when you don't know what else to do, just tell them to dodge).
Relying on sheer instinct, Pidgeotto narrowly avoided the crushing blow, but it was already drenched in sweat. A rookie Pokémon without long-term conditioning clearly couldn't maintain this pace.
"I have to break its momentum!" Ash's brain went into overdrive. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off. "Pidgeotto, use Sand Attack!"
Pidgeotto landed and began kicking up dirt like a dog digging for a bone, splattering a massive amount of grit right into Geodude's eyes.
"Useless," Brock remarked.
But Ash wore a triumphant grin. "Oh, is it? Pidgeotto, follow up with Gust!"
The bird's wings whipped up the sand, mixing it with the wind until it spiraled into a towering vortex. A miniature Sandstorm had taken over the arena!
Brock frowned. "Interesting, but still pointless. Wait... actually, this is helpful." (Sandstorm technically boosted Geodude's special defense).
But Ash was ready for the kill. He let out a Snarl: "Hah! Time to end this! Pidgeotto, Quick Attack!"
Pidgeotto turned into a blur of white light and dived into the heart of the storm. The sheer force of its flight cut through the sand, revealing the blinded Geodude within. Blind the target, then strike from close range—that was the plan!
BAM-BAM! A massive impact slammed into Geodude, sending it tumbling across the floor. Ash pumped his fist, his blood pumping. This was the power of a Pokémon Master!
The referee chimed in immediately: "Pidgeotto is unable to battle! Geodude is the winner!"
"Wait, what?" Ash's victory pose froze.
As the dust settled, he saw the reality: Geodude had merely rolled a few feet and was now casually rubbing its head. The hit had barely scratched it. Pidgeotto, meanwhile, was face-down on the ground, eyes swirling, its beak looking like a piece of twisted scrap metal.
He moved like an Incineroar, but ended up like a cooked chicken.
"As expected of a Gym Leader... he's a pro," Ash wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead as he recalled Pidgeotto. He thought to himself: He used my own momentum against me! I thought he was on Level One while I was on Level Two. Turns out this squinty-eyed guy is already on Level Five!
Brock: "???" (I'm literally just standing here on Level One. Is this kid okay?)
"It's all on you now, Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu dashed onto the field, tiny fists clenched, cheeks sparking with raw power.
"Another type disadvantage? Haven't you learned anything?" Brock didn't pull his punches. "Geodude, Rock Throw!"
More rocks flew. Ash didn't flinch. He roared: "Pikachu, show them our new power! Use Thunderbolt!!"
Pikachu leaped into the air, its cheek pouches erupting with a cataclysmic discharge!
"Pika... CHUUUUU!!"
Electricity flooded the room, the blinding light washing out the arena. The current transformed into a roaring serpent of lightning that pulverized the incoming rocks into dust instantly. The Thunderbolt didn't stop there, slamming directly into Geodude's head.
BOOM!!! The sheer force, combined with a recoil-like explosion, literally vaporized the tension.
The referee was so stunned he could barely get the words out: "Uh... G-Geodude is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!"
Brock: "..." (What the hell? How did he upgrade his power level to 'God Tier' in a single night? Is he cheating?)
Brock's expression darkened as he recalled Geodude and released his ace: Onix!
Pokédex: "Beep... Onix, the Rock Snake Pokémon. Legend says for every Onix born, ten Geodudes lose their lives. No further comments."
Brock: "..." (What is wrong with this machine?!)