Sometimes strength isn't proven in one battle—but in dozens.
"Come back, Gyarados."
Misty recalled her Pokémon, still staring in disbelief at Ash, who was happily high-fiving Mimikyu.
"I can't believe you've become this strong."
"Huh? Have I?" Ash blinked. "I still feel like I'm nowhere close to Red."
"…Maybe you're just weak."
"..."
For a moment, Misty didn't want to say another word.
What was wrong with people from Pallet Town?
Why did none of them know how to talk like normal humans?
She glared at the utterly confused Ash before sighing in resignation.
"Forget it. My bad luck for running into a monster like you."
She reached behind her and pulled out a badge and a TM disc.
"Here. The Cascade Badge, and the TM for Scald."
"A TM?"
"You don't know?" Misty looked surprised. "Didn't the Pewter Gym give you one?"
"…No."
"That's strange."
She turned toward Brock in the distance.
"Brock! Why didn't you give Ash a TM?"
"Oh."
Brock slapped his forehead.
"Sorry, I forgot."
Misty stared at him in disbelief.
"You forgot? What kind of Gym Leader forgets something like that?"
She shoved both the badge and TM into Ash's hands and explained how TMs worked.
"If your Pokemoncan learn Scald, this disc will teach it the move."
"I'm not sure if Froakie can learn it, but you can try later."
"I see."
Ash turned toward Froakie.
"Froakie, can you learn Scald?"
"Froa."
Froakie glanced at the TM.
Then responded casually.
Any move was fine.
If it was a move—
It could learn it.
That was the confidence of a genius frog.
"Well then, my work here is done," Misty said with relief.
But before she could relax—
The front door burst open.
"Hello! I want to challenge the Cerulean Gym!"
Misty's face instantly fell.
"Another challenger?!"
It wasn't that she didn't want to battle.
The problem was—
She had no Pokemonleft able to fight.
"Guess I'll have to borrow my sisters' Pokémon."
She hurried backstage.
Ash's hearing was unusually sharp, and without meaning to listen, he still caught fragments of the conversation.
"Sis, lend me your Pokémon!"
"Huh? What about your own?"
"They're all exhausted!"
"Um… ours can't battle either."
"…What?"
"Let me think. The day before yesterday a girl defeated Daisy's Goldeen. The day before that a cool guy beat Violet's Shellder. And three days ago another guy with a hat defeated my Luvdisc… and also our Seaking and Seel…"
"They defeated all of them?!"
Misty sounded close to losing her mind.
"Who was that jerk? Tell me their name!"
"I'm going to beat them up if I see them!"
"He said his name was Red."
"…Oh."
"…Never mind then."
Misty had seen Red battle before.
Goh had even challenged him once.
And the result?
Red felt less like a beginner Trainer…
And more like an Elite Four member disguised as a rookie.
If it was Red, sweeping the Cerulean Gym wasn't strange at all.
She had never seen such a ridiculous beginner.
"So what do we do now?" one sister asked. "Another challenger is waiting."
"We can't just give them the badge without a battle."
"Why not? We've done that before."
"And that's why the Cerulean Gym is ranked last place every year!"
Misty's scream echoed through the entire building.
Ash quietly rubbed his chin.
"So Red defeated the entire Gym…"
"…Maybe I should try that too."
But before he could do anything—
Misty suddenly rushed back out.
She saw Ash.
More specifically—
She saw Froakie sitting beside him with its eyes closed.
Her eyes lit up.
She sprinted over.
"Ash! Could you temporarily battle Gym challengers on my behalf?"
"…Huh?"
Ash nearly jumped.
"That doesn't seem right. I'm just a beginner too."
This time he didn't claim to be a "veteran Trainer."
But Misty shook her head.
"It's fine!"
"You defeated my Pokemoneasily. Beating beginner Trainers will be even easier."
Ash looked awkward.
"My Froakie prefers fighting strong opponents."
Before he could refuse—
He felt something tug on his clothes.
He looked down.
Froakie was staring up at him.
"Froa."
Using beginners to stabilize its current suppressed sword state might actually be useful.
Ash thought about it.
"…That makes sense."
Froakie was currently suppressing its power to refine its control.
In this state, its overall strength dropped significantly.
Fighting beginner Pokemonwould be perfect practice.
"…Alright."
Ash nodded.
"Then I'll—"
"WAIT!"
Goh suddenly ran down from the spectator stands.
"You're letting someone else fight Gym battles for you? Then pick me!"
"I have Water-type Pokemontoo!"
"Be quiet," Misty said immediately.
"You catch Pokemonand send them straight to the lab without training them."
"Their levels are lower than beginner Pokémon."
"How are you supposed to run a Gym battle like that?"
Goh protested loudly.
"Then why can his Pokemondo it?"
"That's just a basic Water-type!"
He pointed at Froakie.
Misty rolled her eyes.
"That's Ash's starter Pokémon."
"It's his ace."
"It's several times stronger than Mimikyu."
She glanced toward Ash for confirmation.
Ash nodded honestly.
"Froakie is my strongest Pokémon."
"I don't believe it!" Goh said.
"Prove it!"
Ash scratched his head.
"Uh… Froakie, could you show them something?"
Froakie slowly opened its eyes.
A true swordsman should not display swordsmanship for pride.
But if it helped refine its technique…
Then perhaps it was acceptable.
Since it was currently in suppression mode, many techniques couldn't be used.
But a simple demonstration would suffice.
Froakie raised its right hand.
Then flicked it gently forward.
Swish.
A faint breeze passed through the arena.
Then—
The water in the pool split.
A long, clean line opened across the surface—
Like tofu sliced with a blade.
Only after several seconds did the water close again.
"…What the heck?!"
Misty stared with her jaw hanging open.
"How did you do that?"
"Froa."
Froakie crossed its arms calmly.
Basic swordsman stuff.
Don't be surprised.
After the shock faded, Misty became even more excited.
"With strength like that, Gym battles will be easy!"
"Ash, please!"
"Whether the Cerulean Gym stops being the weakest Gym depends on today!"
Ash scratched his head nervously.
"…I'll try."
Nearby, Goh continued muttering.
"That's nothing special…"
"My Pikachu can do that too."
"Stop being salty," Misty said while shoving him aside.
"Pikachu is Electric-type. It can't be used in a Cerulean Gym battle."
Soon everything was ready.
Ash stood where Misty had stood earlier.
He still felt slightly dazed.
He was just a normal Trainer.
How had he suddenly become a substitute Gym Leader?
The next challenger walked in.
Ash straightened up immediately.
"Hello. My name is Ash."
"I'll be conducting the Gym battle today."
"My name is Sandshrew!"
The boy shouted confidently.
"I'll defeat you and earn the Cascade Badge!"
He threw his Poké Ball.
"Go, my partner!"
"Graw!"
A round, yellow Pokemonappeared.
Sandshrew.
Ash stared at it.
"…Sandshrew?"
In a Water-type Gym?
That seemed questionable.
Maybe the opponent had a clever strategy.
But before Ash could think further—
The boy shouted,
"Strike first! Sandshrew—Dig!"
Ash: "?"
Ash and Froakie watched in stunned silence.
Sandshrew dug straight through the platform—
And fell into the pool.
It flailed helplessly in the water.
Ash waited.
Maybe it was a trick?
But then the Trainer panicked.
"Sandshrew! What's wrong?!"
"Why is there water down there?!"
Ash: "..."
Because this is a Water Gym.
You didn't know that before challenging it?!
Ash and Froakie looked at each other.
Finally Ash sighed.
"…Froakie, help it out."
"Use Pound."
"Froa."
Froakie jumped into the water.
It grabbed Sandshrew by the back—
Then lifted it effortlessly.
With a smooth motion—
It tossed Sandshrew back onto the platform.
THUD.
Sandshrew fainted instantly.
"Sandshrew is unable to battle! The winner is Ash of the Cerulean Gym!"
"…Why did this happen?" the boy groaned.
Ash added gently,
"Ground-types struggle in Water battlefields."
"If you want to beat Water Pokémon, try catching Grass- or Electric-types."
"They have an advantage."
"Oh!"
The boy suddenly understood.
"Thank you for the advice!"
Then he left the Gym.
Ash blinked.
"…Did I actually teach him something?"
Froakie ignored the question entirely.
Before Ash could think further—
The door opened again.
"Hello! I'm here to challenge the Cerulean Gym!"
Ash straightened again.
"My name is Ash."
"I'll be your opponent."
"My Pokemonwill be Froakie."
For some reason, an unusual number of Trainers showed up that day.
Ash battled dozens of challengers.
From morning…
Until evening.
Only then did the final challenger leave.
"Man… I'm exhausted."
Ash collapsed onto the ground.
"It's finally over."
Misty ran over, full of gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Ash."
"You helped us a lot."
"With today's battles, people probably won't call us the weakest Gym anymore."
She smiled.
"So how did it feel running a Gym all day?"
Ash thought for a moment.
"…Honestly?"
"It was kind of boring."
"The challengers were all so weak."
Misty shrugged.
"That's normal for beginner Trainers."
"Most of them don't understand type matchups."
"They don't know battle tactics."
"Some don't even fully understand their Pokémon's moves."
"Trainers like you or Red are extremely rare."
She looked at him seriously.
"So it's not that you're weak."
"You've simply become strong."
"…I see."
Ash nodded slowly.
"Though that Sandshrew guy was a special case."
Even Misty had never seen someone bring a Ground-type to a Water Gym.
"Anyway," Ash said.
"This job isn't really for me."
"I prefer intense battles."
Since Ash had helped them so much, Misty's sisters treated the group to dinner.
They also gave Ash another TM as thanks.
Bubble Beam.
Brock finally remembered his forgotten gift and gave Ash the TM for Rock Slide.
Now Ash possessed three TMs.
He planned to let his Pokemontry learning them soon.
That would likely bring another big power boost.
Finally—
It was time to part ways.
Brock and Misty continued traveling with Goh.
But to Ash's surprise—
Serena decided to stay with him.
"Why, Serena?" Ash asked curiously.
"Weren't you looking for Goh?"
"And… you barely even talked to him."
Serena thought about the moment earlier.
When Goh had looked at her without any recognition.
She also remembered her childhood memories.
Then she shook her head gently.
"…There's something I want to confirm."
She smiled at Ash.
"From now on, please take care of me, Ash."
"Sure."
Ash was happy to have another companion.
Serena's Pokemonwere strong too.
They could even serve as good training partners.
Then Ash suddenly asked something.
"Oh, right."
"Serena… can you eat berries every day?"
"…Huh?"
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