With special training complete, the two entered Pewter City.
On the way to the Pokémon Center, a small stall caught Ash's attention. Various stones of different colors and shapes were laid out. Behind the stall sat a middle-aged man with a wide-brimmed hat, a dusty appearance, and eyes carrying a hint of hardship.
"Come and take a look! Rare stones from all over the regions! Maybe you'll find the key stone needed to evolve your Pokémon!"
Misty took one glance and lost interest.
"Another rock-seller. Pewter City is full of these stalls."
But Ash stopped walking.
He sensed something different about this stall owner. Beneath the shabby appearance was a deep, steady aura—something born from years of living with the earth and stone. Weathered, subdued, but fundamentally powerful.
Given his knowledge of the original story, Ash recognized him—
Flint, Brock and Forrest's father.
In the original timeline, when Ash first challenged the gym, Flint even helped Pikachu train and master Thunderbolt. A good man beneath the rough exterior.
But this time, thanks to Ash's own guidance, Pikachu had already learned both Thunderbolt and Thunder, and was steadily improving Iron Tail and Electro Ball as well.
Ash approached the stall, scanning the various stones. He picked up what looked like an ordinary round stone—yet it faintly pulsed with restrained energy.
An Everstone.
Ash said to Flint,
"Boss, this stone is interesting. It looks plain, but it has the power to prevent inner energy from leaking, keeping its essence unchanged. Sometimes, being too fixated on outward changes makes us overlook the quiet accumulation within. Just like someone who appears to have left home—yet perhaps their heart never truly left, silently protecting what's important from afar."
Flint's lazy expression suddenly sharpened.
He stared at the boy, shocked.
Ash's words had clearly struck something deep inside him.
Ash didn't elaborate. He simply paid and pocketed the Everstone.
"Thanks for the stone. Maybe one day, it'll remind me of something important."
He smiled, then left with Misty.
Flint held the Everstone, watching Ash's back as he left—silent for a long time, emotions churning in his eyes.
---
After resting a night at the Pewter City Pokémon Center and adjusting everyone to peak condition, Ash and Misty arrived at the gym—a building resembling a fortress of gray stone.
They pushed open the heavy doors. Inside, the lighting was dim except for a single beam illuminating the battlefield.
A dark-skinned boy with crossed arms and a stern expression already stood waiting.
Brock, Pewter Gym Leader.
"I am Brock of the Pewter Gym," he said steadily. "Battle rules are two-on-two. Only the challenger may switch Pokémon. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Ash stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town. Please battle me!"
Misty headed to the spectator's stand, nerves tight.
"Then the match begins!"
Forrest, acting as referee, lowered the flag.
"Go, Geodude!"
Brock sent out his first Pokémon.
A round boulder body with two fists—classic Rock-type opener.
Ash was already prepared.
"For the first match, I choose you—Butterfree!"
Light flashed as the elegant Butterfree took the field.
"Butterfree? Bug and Flying. Double weak to Rock."
Brock frowned.
"Ash, are you underestimating me?"
"On the contrary," Ash smiled confidently, "I'm trusting Butterfree's abilities! Butterfree—take off and use Sleep Powder!"
Butterfree rose gracefully, scattering shimmering powder like a drifting mist over Geodude.
"Geodude, Harden—then Rollout to escape!"
Brock commanded calmly.
Geodude's body gleamed, defense increased, then it curled into a ball and rolled rapidly to evade the powder.
But Butterfree, thanks to Ash's rigorous training, controlled the powder with extreme precision. The Sleep Powder's range was perfect—Geodude rolled fast, but still grazed the edge of the cloud.
Its movement slowed. It began wavering drowsily.
"Perfect! Use Confusion—stop it!"
Ash seized the opening.
Butterfree's eyes glowed blue.
A powerful psychic force wrapped around the drowsy Geodude, lifting it off the ground—yanking it out of Rollout mid-spin!
"What?!"
Brock's eyes widened. He hadn't expected such strong Confusion from a Butterfree!
"Now! Throw it at the rocks on the field edge!"
Ash ordered.
Butterfree obeyed, swinging Geodude with psychic force and slamming it into a stone pillar!
_BOOM!
_
Rocks shattered—super effective!
"Geodude!" Brock called out.
The Pokémon hit the ground hard, struggling weakly—clearly heavily injured.
"Finish it—Gust!"
Ash gave no breathing room. That was his style: once the opponent falters, keep pushing.
Butterfree stirred up a powerful wind.
The staggering Geodude was blown off its feet and crashed down again.
Its eyes spun—fainted.
"Geodude is unable to battle! Butterfree wins!" Forrest announced.
On the sidelines, Misty pumped her fist.
"Amazing! You used Sleep Powder and Confusion to overcome the type disadvantage!"
Brock recalled Geodude, expression turning even more serious.
"It seems I really can't take you lightly. You command very well, Ash. But my next Pokémon won't go down that easily! Go—Onix!"
A gigantic shadow descended with a thunderous thud.
The massive Rock Snake Pokémon let out a deep roar. Its sheer size and presence filled the gym with pressure.
Ash tensed slightly.
This was Brock's ace—one day able to Mega Evolve into Steelix.
"Return, Butterfree."
He recalled the tired Butterfree. It couldn't face this brute head-on.
"For the next battle—I choose you, Scyther!"
A green blur flashed onto the field, blades glinting sharply in the dim light.
"Scyther? Bug-type moves are weak to Rock. But its speed and attack are definitely threats."
Brock assessed calmly.
"Onix—use Rock Throw!"
Onix roared, whipping its tail as countless boulders rained down across the battlefield.
"Scyther, use your speed to dodge! Then close the distance and use Fury Cutter!" Ash commanded.
Scyther shot forward like a streak of green lightning, weaving effortlessly through the rain of falling rocks and rushing straight toward Onix!
"Not that easy! Onix, Tackle!"
The massive rock snake lunged forward with crushing force—but Scyther's agility was superb. A sharp sidestep let it slip past the impact, and both blades lit up white as a storm of Fury Cutters slashed rapidly across Onix's body!
Bam! Bam! Bam!
However, Onix's rocky hide was incredibly durable. Even though the Fury Cutter strikes landed cleanly, the damage was limited.
"Raaah!!"
Onix roared in pain, growing even more enraged.
"Onix, bind it!" Brock attempted to lock down Scyther's greatest strength—its speed.
Onix twisted its body, trying to coil around Scyther with its enormous length.
"Jump, Scyther! Aim for its head and use X-Scissor!" Ash saw the opening.
Scyther leapt high into the air, escaping the coil. From above, it crossed its blades into an X, glowing with fierce white light, and brought them down hard toward Onix's head—its strongest Bug-type move!
"No you don't! Onix, Harden!" Brock shouted urgently.
Onix's head glinted with a metallic sheen as its defense skyrocketed!
The X-Scissor slammed into it with a heavy crash—damaging it, but nowhere near enough to finish it.
"Not good!"
Ash sensed the danger.
After landing, Scyther stiffened for a brief moment—an opening.
"Now! Onix, Bind!" Brock seized the chance.
Onix spun around, its long tail whipping forward and wrapping tightly around the momentarily rigid Scyther!
"Scyther!!" Ash gasped. Being crushed by Onix's immense strength was extremely dangerous!
"This ends now! Onix—throw it!" Brock commanded.
"Not yet!"
Ash shouted back, inspiration striking him in that instant.
"Scyther! Use Cut on the ground—hit Onix's body and use the recoil to break free!"
Even while trapped, Scyther's eyes flashed with sharp green light. It swung its blades downward with all its strength—Cutting not only into Onix's body but using the rebound force to gain leverage!
"Now—full power! Break free!"
Onix flinched in pain and loosened its hold. Seizing the moment, Scyther erupted with raw force and ripped itself free—but fell to one knee, panting heavily.
"Incredible adaptability." Brock praised sincerely—but the fight wasn't over. "Onix, finishing blow—Tackle!"
Onix charged again, momentum building like a runaway boulder.
Ash's mind raced.
Scyther was exhausted—another direct hit could end the match.
He needed a strategy. Fast.
His eyes swept across the battlefield—
Then landed on the pile of shattered Geodude fragments scattered earlier by Butterfree's Confusion.
Got it!
"Scyther! Don't block it! Roll left to dodge—then use Cut on the big rock piece to your right!"
Scyther didn't understand why—but obeyed immediately.
It rolled aside, narrowly avoiding Onix's charge, then swung its blade down onto the large fragment.
CRACK!
The rock shattered in an explosion of debris!
"Now! Use those fragments as bullets! With your fastest Fury Cutter—hit the flying stones toward Onix's eyes and joints!"
It was a delicate, complex command—but Scyther understood instantly.
Its blades blurred—
Fury Cutter no longer targeted the enemy directly, but instead struck the flying debris with deadly precision.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Hundreds of stone shards were launched at high speed!
Most bounced harmlessly off Onix's rocky hide—but several hit their marks:
Right into Onix's more vulnerable eyes—
And its joint connections!
"ROOOAAAH!!"
Onix let out a pained roar, its vision disrupted, its movements thrown off. The massive charge halted mid-motion as it thrashed in agony.
"Victory's decided! Scyther—finish it with X-Scissor!" Ash shouted.
Scyther darted forward at lightning speed, gathering the last of its strength.
Its X-Scissor struck precisely at Onix's lowered head!
BOOOOM!
Onix's massive body crashed to the ground—motionless.
The gym fell silent—
Then Forrest's voice rang out:
"O-Onix is unable to battle! The winner is… Challenger Ash!"
"We won! We did it!"
Ash rushed forward and high-fived his exhausted but triumphant Scyther.
Misty ran over, beaming.
"That was amazing! That last move with the stone fragments was genius!"
Brock recalled Onix and stepped toward Ash.
His previously stern expression softened into a smile.
"A brilliant battle, Ash. You not only brought out the strengths of your Pokémon—you displayed incredible tactical insight and a deep bond with them. This Boulder Badge is well-deserved."
He handed Ash the stone-like badge.
"Thank you, Brock!"
Ash held his first-ever badge, heart pounding with joy.
[Ding! Host has obtained the Pewter Gym Boulder Badge, completing a major milestone. Reward: 500 World Points.]
[Ding! Host used exceptional strategy to win the gym battle, earning Gym Leader Brock's high approval. Reward: 200 World Points.]
[Current World Points: 2200.]
The system followed with rewards.
First battle—first victory.
With his badge and newfound strength, Ash's journey took its first solid step forward.
"Thank you, Brock!" Ash repeated, still excited as he held the badge.