Roy kept quiet as he followed Lola to the Gym. Was this a good idea to challenge Brock already? Aside from those novice bug catchers in Viridian Forest, the only skilled Trainers he’d battled were Brayden, Sakuji, and that poacher–two of whom he’d lost to. He defeated Liren’s Scyther, but that had been an improper battle, with far more on the line. Was Roy truly ready for this? Lola had simply offered to take him here and he’d lacked the heart to say no, especially with beating Gyms being one of his goals. May as well fight it. And with everything he’s got.

    “There it is,” Lola said, snapping Roy’s head up to focus. But all he saw ahead was a humble home with a fenced yard out back–the only real lawn he’d seen in the entire city. (Most others had rock gardens.) Toys and play sets littered the grass in the typical way kids left things lying about, though they might not have been for Lola’s children, because the place looked more like a daycare for Pokémon.

    Groups of small, unevolved Pokémon skipped and pranced about the playground, including Rattata, Nidoran, Pidgey, Meowth, and Roy even saw a Vulpix among them. The fox Pokémon sat on the porch, watching over the others as though it were the one in charge.

    “Welcome to our home,” Lola said. “The Gym is just on the other side.”

    A second building came into view as they rounded the corner. At the end of the road stood a square structure made of giant boulders, the largest of which was as big as Roy’s house, and sat atop the rest, threatening to crush the wooden front doors beneath it. They offered the only way in, for not a single window looked inside. The place would’ve fit right at home in the caveman days. Carved across the top boulder, the words read: Pewter Gym.

    “That looks unsafe,” Roy said.

    “Tell me about it,” Lola said. “Wouldn’t a more graceful Water Gym be more appreciated in a dirty city like this?”

    Roy ignored the nonsensical comment as he stepped along the uneven stone walkway and avoided pointing out that a Water Gym already existed in Cerulean. A pair of white trucks came into view as they approached, the words Pewter Contractors painted across the side doors in green letters above the company phone number.

    Lola clapped her excited hands together. “Oh, wonderful! They’re here early! Let’s go look!”

    She sprinted ahead like a giddy schoolgirl, but her children stood behind with Roy, all wearing blank expressions. Forrest buried his face in his palm. “Oh, boy, here we go.”

    “Bro’s not gonna be happy,” said Yolanda, the eldest daughter.

    “What is it?” Roy asked.

    “Get ready for a shit show,” Forrest said.

    “You used a bad word,” said Billy, the youngest, who Forrest ignored as he proceeded ahead. They pushed at the creaking doors, and a sprinkle of dust fell over Roy as he walked under the wooden archway. Halfway past the threshold, a furious voice from across the foyer assaulted his ears.

    “For the last time, I don’t care what she offered to pay you! The answer is no!”

    A dozen bored contractors loitered about the lobby. The shouting came from a man resembling an older version of Forrest in loose hiking pants, wearing a brown jacket over a green t-shirt. He looked about to blow a gasket as he threw his voice out screaming at one specific contractor who must’ve been the boss.

    “Now don’t be so rude, Brock,” Lola said. “These handsome young men are here to redecorate.”

    “For the billionth time, I am not redesigning!”

    “Oh, be reasonable. It’s always so dark and dirty in here.”

    “It’s a Rock Gym!”

    “And that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Wouldn’t this place be so much nicer if it were more like Cerulean’s beautiful aquarium? Think how lovely it would be with a hedge and lots of flowers outside. Maybe some bright pink streamers along the walls.”

    “Absolutely not, and that’s final!” Brock turned to wave all the contractors out. “All right, that’s it. Your job is canceled. Let’s move it, all of you, out, I have challengers coming.”

    The contractors walked out with awkward shrugs and expressions, leaving Lola behind, pouting in the corner like a child as all her creative fantasies were shooed away.

    “This is my Gym,” Brock said to Lola. “Do not bring in contractors without telling or even asking me!”

    Forrest shook his head with a chuckle. “Another day, another attempt to turn us into a Water Gym.”

    Head hung in shame, Lola sulked off into a nearby room, leaving Brock to take a deep breath and notice Roy and his siblings waiting at the entrance. “Hey,” he said in a more relaxed, friendly tone. “What’re you guys all doing here?”

    “Escorting a challenger,” Forrest said.

    “Gotcha. That must be you. Sorry you had to watch that.” Brock rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile as he offered Roy a handshake.

    “Don’t worry about it. I just hope I’ll be facing your Pokémon today rather than you.”

    Brock laughed. “By the end, you may wish it was me you were dealing with. Is this your first Gym battle?”

    “Yes.”

    “Then allow me to welcome and congratulate you on taking your first step toward the Pokémon League. What say we get this show on the road? As a Trainer, I’m sure you’ve got places to be, and…,” Brock sighed, “afternoon events have put me behind schedule on my other duties.”

    “Don’t tell me you’re the one running that Pokémon Daycare I saw in the backyard.”

    “That’s right. Truthfully, I’d rather work as a full-time breeder.”

    “You want to raise all those Pokémon on top of looking after nine little brothers and sisters? No, that can’t be right. I have one sister and I’m still trying to convince my mother Darkrai has kept me trapped in a nightmare for the last six years. Which is it? Did Arceus bless you with superhuman caretaker skills, or did you do something to incur the wrath of Giratina? Fess up.”

    Brock laughed. “Perhaps a little of both.” His mirth cut off and Brock rubbed the stress from his eyes. “But I don’t dare retire from my position. It terrifies me what my mom might do to the Gym if I were to leave. Fortunately, Forrest has been working hard and shows great promise as a Trainer.”

    “You looking to take over when you come of age?”

    “That’s right,” Forrest said with a confident smile.

    “And there’s no one I’d rather entrust the place to,” Brock said. “With a long history of being run by Rock specialists, Pewter Gym is a proud icon of the city. But until that day comes, Forrest, will you act as our judge for this match?”

    “It would be my pleasure.”

    “Then let’s rock and roll, if you’ll excuse my humor. This way.” Brock waved for them to follow, and Roy mentally ran through a dozen last-minute strategies.

    Rock-types boasted powerful strength and unmatched defense. Taking one down head on was like throwing fists at a brick wall. But that bulkiness came at the cost of speed. Most Rock moves had low accuracy too, and the type tied with Grass for the most bad matchups. But even with five weaknesses, Roy only had one. Squirtle.

    Roy hadn’t gotten Beedrill’s stingers blunted yet, but going up against Rock Pokémon, he shouldn’t have to worry about that for now.

    Brock opened the doors to the stadium and Roy followed into a wide hall with a twelve-meter-high ceiling. Gyms normally offered lots of space for battle, but mother of Mew, you could fit a Wailord in here with room to spare. Dirt and sand covered the arena floor, with boulders and stalagmites scattered about. With each step, dust drifted from above or stirred up from below. He coughed at the gritty particles floating through the dry air. The dim lights overhead served as his only reminder of modern technology in this caveman dwelling.

    Roy entered the Trainer box while Brock took his own place at the opposite end. Forrest stepped up on a judge’s platform to the side. Beyond that, the rest of Brock’s siblings sat with Lola in the spectator bleachers above. “Good luck to both of you!” she cried.

    “I will now explain the rules!” Forrest’s voice echoed through the open room. “This will be a three on three battle. The match will end when all three Pokémon of either side are unable to battle. The Gym Leader will select their Pokémon first, allowing the challenger to pick an appropriate counter if they wish. During the match, the challenger will be allowed to substitute Pokémon, but the Gym Leader will not.”

    A three on three. Roy expected as much. Such was the standard for official battles.

    Brock unclipped the first Poké Ball from his belt. “Each Leader runs their Gym according to their own rules and philosophies. But I’m sure you already know the purpose of this match is for the challenger to prove themselves as a capable Trainer worthy of facing the Elite Four. I rarely go all out. I’m here to test your skills to determine if you’re deserving of the Boulder Badge.” Brock smiled. “That said… Don’t think I won’t try to win! Geodude, go!”

    Brock reeled his arm back and threw the Poké Ball into the arena. It hit the sandy terrain and burst open, releasing a simple boulder the size of a basketball, with angular eyes, a mouth, and two arms coming out the side but no legs.

    So Brock chose to lead with Geodude. A Rock and Ground-type. Beedrill and Ponyta would be weak to Brock’s entire team. Roy knew to never expect a sweep against a Gym Leader, but his best option was to hit fast and hard and save those two for backup. “Squirtle, go!”

    Roy’s loyal starter landed in the arena, dust poofing up beneath his feet as he stood tall and ready for battle. “Squirtle!”

    With both fighters out, Forrest raised his arms.  “Let the match begin!”

    Start with a strong move. “Water Gun!”

    Squirtle sprayed from his mouth like a firehose. Geodude pushed off the ground with its arms, launching itself to the side to avoid it.

    “Counter with Rock Throw!”

    Geodude dug its hand into the ground and flung a rock out from beneath. The stone flew like a bullet, slamming to knock Squirtle off his feet. Squirtle landed on his back, sliding through sand.

    “Rapid Spin!” Roy cried. Squirtle withdrew and continued the momentum, spinning across the ground. “Now combine it with Water Gun!”

    Squirtle sprayed from the openings of his shell as he spun around the stage like a sprinkler.

    “Endure, Geodude!” The Pokémon crossed its arms in a defensive pose, lessening the damage as water whipped at it in repeated lashes. But the super effective attacks pushed the Geodude back as it grunted with each blow.

    “Keep at it, Squirtle! Come out and Tackle it!”

    Squirtle ricocheted off a rock, shooting toward Geodude. He emerged from his shell at the last second, head tucked and aimed at the opponent.

    “Grab it!”

    Geodude seized Squirtle by the shoulders, stopping the attack before it connected. It struggled to hold Squirtle in place as he continued trying to push through.

    Behind Geodude, Brock smiled. “Not bad, Roy. But I get a lot of challengers bringing Water Pokémon to my Gym. Geodude, show him our first surprise.”

    Geodude held Squirtle with one hand, raising the other and balling up its fist. Sparks crackled across its rocky knuckles, and Roy’s stomach dropped as electricity surged up through its arm.

    “Geeeeooooo…”

    Roy opened his mouth to shout a warning, but Brock had already given his command. “Thunder Punch!”

    “Dude!” Geodude smashed a thunderous fist down on Squirtle at point blank range, shocking the Water-type with a super effective move.

    “Follow it with Rollout!”

    Geodude curled up and rolled forward like a bowling ball, spraying sand behind it and running over Squirtle before he could regain balance from the previous blow. The turtle went flying, crashing hard into the rough terrain with a dusty explosion. Geodude took a wide turn on the ground, rolling around for a second attack.

    “Quick! Withdraw!” Squirtle retreated into his shell a split second before Geodude collided, sending Squirtle shooting back. “Rapid Spin!” Squirtle spun like a top. He rebounded off a nearby stone and ricocheted into another. Squirtle bounced between boulders like a puck on an air hockey table. Geodude’s eyes darted left and right, trying to keep track of Squirtle as he zigzagged between the stadium obstacles.

    Squirtle approached Geodude from behind, emerging into a Tackle.

    “Thunder Punch!” Its breathing heavy, Geodude turned back to Squirtle, charging both fists with electricity.

    “Hurry and Tackle it again!”

    Squirtle came at Geodude and ducked as a thunderous fist swung at him. Squirtle Tackled the foe before it could swing its next Thunder Punch, pushing the opponent away. “Water Gun!” Squirtle sucked in air then unleashed a full powered attack, blasting Geodude in the face with a deluge of water, sending it rolling across the dirt and crashing into a boulder.

    “Geodude!” Brock cried.

    “Ge… o…” The Pokémon pushed itself up with shaky arms, but fell down again.

    Forrest raised an arm. “Geodude is unable to battle! Squirtle is the winner!”

    “Yes!” Roy shouted.

    “Squirtle!” His Pokémon jumped into the air in elation.

    Brock fired the red laser from his Poké Ball to call Geodude back. “Well done, Roy. But that’s just round one. I still have two Pokémon.” He grabbed his second Poké Ball with a smile. “And Thunder Punch was only the beginning of my surprises for you.”

    He threw the ball high and out came his next Pokémon.

    Roy grimaced. “Shit.” Surprises indeed. Brock’s new fighter was a pure Rock-type, which meant Roy still held the advantage. But this one had more than a few Grass moves up its sleeve. A Rock-type Roy never expected to see this side of Mt. Silver.

    The Pokémon’s sausage-shaped body danced around on short legs. Where should have been hands, a bushel of foliage grew at the end of its thin arms. Bushels it shook like maracas. Shika shika shika shika shika. As it danced on light feet, shaking its leafy hands, it smiled at Roy with a derpy face as it declared its name in a high voice.

    “Sudowoodo!”

    Roy gritted his teeth. Fuck. He wasn’t prepared for this.

    “I have a fellow Gym Leader friend in Johto,” Brock said. “We meet up now and then to chat and discuss Gym practices and battle tactics. I found this little guy as a Bonsly coming back to Kanto my last visit. He’s quickly become one of my greatest assets. Prepare yourself, Roy. Not many challengers get past this one.”

    “Then I’ll just have to serve up a surprise of my own. Let’s go, Squirtle! Water Gun!”

    Sudowoodo danced aside, avoiding the blast with ease. Roy ordered Water Gun after Water Gun, but the Sudowoodo evaded each attack like it was a game, hopping about on light feet and rustling the plants growing on its branch arms with festivity.

    Roy growled through clenched teeth. “All right, Squirtle. Time to get up close. Rapid Spin!”

    Squirtle spun forward, aiming to knock Sudowoodo off its feet.

    “Wood Hammer!” Brock commanded.

    Sudowoodo stopped dancing and planted itself on the ground, swinging back its arm high as the foliage on it glowed green. “Sudoooooo…”

    Right as Squirtle got within range, Sudowoodo swung its arm down in a golf swing fashion, whapping at Squirtle like a ball with one of the strongest Grass moves out there. The turtle went flying, slamming into the wall behind Roy.

    “Squirtle!” Roy ran to him as he hit the ground, groaning and unable to get up.

    “Squirtle is unable to battle!” Forrest said. “Sudowoodo is the winner!”

    “Sudowoodo! Sudowoodo! Sudowoodo!” The stick bug danced around in glee, shaking its leaves in celebration. Shika shika shika shika!

    “Good job, Squirtle. Take a breather.” Roy called him back to his ball, then returned to the Trainer box.

    “Now the real battle begins,” Brock said.

    Roy was down to two Pokémon, both at a type disadvantage. But he wasn’t giving up here. Especially not after that instant knockout. “Go!” Roy threw his next ball and Beedrill came out, buzzing in the air and readying his needle arms for battle. “Let’s go! Fury Attack!”

    Beedrill dove at Sudowoodo, thrusting repeatedly, but Brock’s Pokémon spun and twirled out of the way, never missing a beat.

    “Poison Sting!”

    Beedrill’s rear stinger glowed a deep purple. He twisted himself upside down to lunge upward, but again, Sudowoodo leaned back to avoid it.

    “Use Low Kick!”

    Sudowoodo swept its leg at Beedrill, knocking him to the floor.

    “Head Smash!”

    “Agility!”

    Sudowoodo swung its long body down to ram its head into Beedrill, but the giant wasp zipped out of the way with blurring motion.

    “Get up high, then dive down for a Poison Jab!”

    Beedrill shot toward the ceiling, rear stinger glowing once more. He took aim and dove for Sudowoodo.

    “Stone Edge, Sudowoodo!”

    Brock’s Pokémon stomped its foot and dozens of small pointed stones rose from the ground. With a breakdancing twirl on its head, Sudowoodo kicked again and the rocks fired up at Beedrill like shots from a Gatling gun. Several struck, breaking Beedrill’s attack and shooting him out of the air.

    “Wood Hammer once more!”

    Beedrill fell toward Sudowoodo, and when he got in range, the Pokémon delivered a hard smack that sent the bug plowing into the dirt, spraying a wave of sand.

    Roy called his Pokémon’s name, but when the dust cleared, Beedrill only twitched on the ground with weak buzzes.

    Forrest raised his arm. “Beedrill is unable to battle! Sudowoodo is the winner!”

    Roy had to endure watching that sausage of petrified wood dance around in victory again. Fuck. Roy didn’t even get in a single attack that round. “I’m sorry, Beedrill.” He barely mustered a whisper as he called the Pokémon back. Their first battle together and Roy had failed him.

    “One Pokémon left, Roy,” Brock said. “And you haven’t yet scratched my Sudowoodo. What will you do?”

    The only thing he could do. With just one Pokémon left, no options remained. And Brock still had two. But if Roy was to go down, he’d go down with a fight. “Come out, Ponyta!”

    Brock’s family awed the blue-flamed Pokémon like a movie star stepping out of a limo onto the red carpet, bedazzled by flashing lights and cameras. Playing up the celebrity image, Ponyta flicked her gorgeous blue mane with elegance, showing a dismissive attitude toward all those petty admirers who were beneath her.

    “Whoa!” Forrest said from his stand, as though an ancient myth had presented itself before him to prove its existence.

    “Would you look at that.” Brock crossed his arms, head held high with pride and admiration. “I’d heard rumors someone finally caught that Shiny Ponyta. Who could’ve guessed it’d be my challenger today?”

    “After praise like that, it’d be a shame if I disappointed you. All right, Ponyta. You’re my last hope. Let’s do this!” Despite Roy’s urgent words, Ponyta stood relaxed in the arena, watching the Sudowoodo dance about as though she thought it a lame joke that her opponent was such a foolish creature.

    “Get ready, Roy,” Brock said. “Ponyta’s an agile one, Sudowoodo. Knock it off its feet with Low Kick!”

    “Sudowoodo!” The Pokémon ran forward.

    “Here it comes, Ponyta! Hit it with a Stomp!”

    But as Sudowoodo rapidly closed the distance between them, Ponyta maintained her unconcerned posture. Roy’s heart rate accelerated, wondering if Ponyta had heard him as she simply stood there and waited for Sudowoodo to come, staring at it with a lazy expression.

    “Ponyta!” Roy shouted in panic.

    Sudowoodo reached Ponyta and prepared its kick. At the last second, Ponyta spun around and double barrel kicked it in the face. The crack of hoof striking petrified wood pierced the air, echoed by the hard thud of Sudowoodo hitting the floor.

    The silence of stunned shock followed. Even Roy lost all words he might’ve had. Brock and Forrest stood with open mouths as everyone waited for Sudowoodo to get up. Certainly it would; it had only been a single hit. But the Pokémon lay motionless on the ground without so much as a whimper.

    Out cold.

    Ponyta gave an unconcerned flick of her mane, counting at the dirt with bored motion as if to say, “Is that all?”

    “Uuuhh,” Forrest said. “Sudowoodo is unable to battle! Ponyta wins!”

    Roy took a moment to recover. Did that just happen? Reality settled in, and a smile split Roy’s face. “Ha! Yeah! Yeah, girl!” Ponyta laughed with pride, prancing around the floor. Roy owed her an apology later. He’d sold her short because of her type. With everything he’d seen from her, he should’ve known better.

    Brock chuckled and returned Sudowoodo. “I’d heard the Shiny Ponyta of the Viridian outskirts was a tough one, but I gotta say, I’m floored. Few can treat my Sudowoodo in such a way.” Brock held out his next ball. “I’m down to my last Pokémon. Time to bring out the big guns.”

    Silence fell over them again, and Roy could almost hear the western whistle foreshadowing the showdown to come as Brock maintained his pose in a drawn-out moment, raising the anticipation.

    Brock reeled his arm back, and, with a full swing, lobbed the ball upward. The red and white sphere drew Roy’s and Ponyta’s eyes as it soared into the air before bursting open with a blinding flash. The silvery light elongated, growing into a gargantuan form as it materialized into Brock’s final ace in the hole.

    Roy at last understood the need for this Gym’s high ceiling and spacious size. A tremendous, guttural roar shook the building, raining dust from the rafters, and Roy and Ponyta stared up at the famed behemoth known only as Onix. A humongous horned serpent over fifteen meters long with a body made of a chain-link of boulders. Holy shit. He’d seen images and videos, but none of them did justice to this creature’s size. Only now, standing beneath it, did Roy truly appreciate the titan of Kantonian Rock Pokémon.

    “Be proud, Roy. Only a handful of Trainers get the honor of facing Onix. Let’s see how that Ponyta of yours handles him.”

    Ponyta readied her stance, eyes narrowing in seriousness. Not from fear, but excitement at a worthy opponent. The tiny one-meter horse smiled up at the giant, eager to take it on in defiance of the size difference that would send most foes scampering.

    “Let’s begin! Onix! Use Iron Tail!”

    With a deep, growling roar like something from the deepest depths of the earth, Onix’s tail sparkled with sheen and swung at Ponyta. The foal sprung off the ground to dodge as the tail swept beneath her.

    “Tackle it!” Onix dove at Ponyta with its massive head.

    “Agility!”

    Ponyta dashed to the side as Onix crashed into the earth. She sprinted across the arena at speeds far outclassing Onix, running in circles around the giant snake to confuse it.

    “Ember!”

    Ponyta shot a series of blue fire bullets at Onix, pelting its face. Onix flinched with each blow, but they did little beyond that.

    “You’ll need more than that to take down Onix,” Brock said. “Rock Slide!”

    Onix slammed its tail against the stone wall, breaking free dozens of boulders that came avalanching down. Ponyta leapt from boulder to boulder, keeping on top of the cascading rocks as they fell and spread to cover the arena. Onix swung its tail at Ponyta again, but she leapt over it, landing on Onix’s back.

    “Stomp, Ponyta!”

    She climbed up Onix’s long body, reaching the head and rearing to stomp hard on its rocky skull. Onix grunted from the blow.

    “Shake it off!”

    Onix swung itself back and forth with lumbering motions until Ponyta lost her balance and fell to the floor. She righted herself in the air and landed on her feet, but not in time to see Onix’s tail coming in for another swing that sent her crashing into a nearby rock.

    “Ponyta!” Hearing Roy’s voice, she rose to her feet, braying as she held her head high, refusing to be struck down so easily. “Hit it with Ember!”

    She spat flaming bullets once more and Onix grunted with each blast peppering its body, too large and too slow to dodge any of them.

    “Onix, Rock Throw!”

    The rock snake slammed its tail on the ground, sending several boulders rising into the air. It smacked them with its tail, launching them Ponyta’s way. She leapt and bounded to avoid them, but a single boulder got through, colliding with Ponyta. Another boulder came at her, but she rolled onto her feet and dashed aside to miss it.

    “Flame Charge!”

    She galloped forward at Roy’s command, blue flames surrounding her body to turn her into a charging fireball.

    “Hit it with Tackle!” Onix lunged at the same time Ponyta kicked off the ground. The moves met head on, sending both Pokémon reeling. Ponyta landed on her feet but skidded through the dirt, dropping on a single knee when she slowed to a stop, panting in heavy breaths. But her own attack must’ve struck the right spot, because Onix craned back, head swinging in a temporary daze.

    “Stay focused, Onix!”

    “Now’s our chance, Ponyta! Trap it in a Fire Spin!”

    She spat a flame that exploded beneath Onix, erupting into a swirling spire of blue fire. Onix roared as the blaze consumed its entire body. Above, Brock’s family leaned away from the immense heat.

    “Sandstorm!” Brock cried out, and Onix replied with another tremendous roar.

    The grains of sand covering the battle stage rolled across the floor as if pushed by a sudden breeze. They picked up speed, then lifted off the ground, rising high and swirling to create a violent storm encompassing the arena, dousing the flames around Onix. The sandstorm filled the room, obscuring Roy’s sight of the action within a dusty cloud.

    “Ponyta! Ponyta, are you there!”

    She whinnied in response, and Roy made out her hazy shape through the gritty fog, the faint blue glow of her flame identifying her. The flying particles of grainy sand beat away at her body, causing steady, but rapidly increasing, damage. “Hang in there, girl!”

    “Onix, Dig!”

    With a headfirst dive, Onix burrowed into the ground, digging deeper until the last tip of its tail disappeared from sight. The field shook and rumbled as the colossal snake moved under the arena.

    “Keep your eyes open, Ponyta!”

    Easier said than done; the Sandstorm made it near impossible to see anything. The tremors grew louder as Onix drew close, rising like a sea serpent preparing to breach.

    “Get it, Onix!”

    “Ponyta, beneath you!”

    She already had her eyes down. Ponyta leapt up seconds before Onix burst forth from below, rubble spraying like a fountain from the breaching point. Ponyta brayed as she flew into the air, caught in Onix’s attack. All the while, the raging storm battered away at her. But Ponyta kept herself together and fired the most powerful Ember Roy had seen from her. The blast struck Onix’s face with a blue flash. Its long form whipped back from the force of the blow.

    “One more, girl! Hit it with a Flame Charge!”

    “Onix, Tackle!”

    Blue flames consumed Ponyta, making her shine through the sandstorm–a lighthouse through fog. She fell like a meteor toward Onix. At the same time, the rock snake threw its head up to smash against her oncoming assault. The attacks collided in a fiery explosion, and both Pokémon went down.

    “Ponyta!”

    “Onix!”

    Everything went quiet, save for the gritty hiss of the Sandstorm. Slowly, the storm subsided, clearing up the room and bringing the fighters into view. Both Onix and Ponyta remained standing, though each heaved with exhaustion. Ponyta’s legs wobbled beneath her like a newborn, and most of Onix’s winding body lay sprawled out on the ground as it struggled to keep its heavy head raised.

    Neither Trainer issued a command as they stared at the two Pokémon, waiting for something to happen.

    Onix released a weakened groan, then fell forward in slow motion, collapsing with a dust spreading crash. Opposite from it, Ponyta smirked, taking pride in the felled foe before giving out and going down herself.

    Forrest raised two arms. “Both Onix and Ponyta are unable to battle. The match is a draw!”

    Roy sprinted onto the field and dropped to his knees, skidding through the dirt. “Ponyta! Hey, you okay?”

    She opened her eyes and grinned up at him with a soft nicker, though he had an idea what she was thinking. Forrest judged the match a draw, but Onix fell first. In Ponyta’s mind, she’d won. Roy smiled back at her. “Way to go, girl. You’re awesome.” He returned her to her ball, but stayed on his knees in the middle of the arena. Footsteps followed the sound of Brock also calling back Onix as he approached, but Roy kept his gaze on the sand-covered floor.

    Applause exploded from the bleachers, and Roy looked up to Brock’s family, cheering and screaming both of their names. Brock gave his own applause. “Brilliant. I haven’t had a match that thrilling in a long time. I see the stories of that Shiny Ponyta are all true.”

    Roy shrugged. “Yeah, but it was a draw, so I guess I won’t get that badge today.”

    “Wrong.” Brock stopped in front of Roy and pulled a Boulder Badge from within his jacket. “I’m giving this to you.”

    “But…”

    “I told you. Gym battles aren’t about who wins or loses. They’re about evaluating your capabilities. The skills you displayed today are more than evident of your potential as a Trainer. Besides. Your Ponyta only went down after she saw my Onix couldn’t battle anymore. Had Onix stayed up, I’ve no doubt your Ponyta would have fought on. I’d heard she was a stubborn one, but that Pokémon is something else. Now stand up. You deserve this.”

    Roy smiled and rose to his feet, accepting the Boulder Badge with dignity. A simple metal pin designed as an octagonal gem, yet it was the first of eight keys that would lead down the path to becoming a Kanto Champion. It sparkled like a polished jewel, proof of his accomplishment today. “Thank you. I’ll take it.”

    Brock clasped Roy’s hand. “Congratulations on your first Gym Badge. And best of luck on the other seven. They won’t be as easy.”

    “Heh. You call that easy?”

    “All right, you got me. I guess you did push me to the edge there.” Brock let out a deep breath. “Now. I think that’s enough for tonight. I’ve had an exhausting afternoon and, for one, can’t wait to get back to my Pokémon waiting at home. Forrest, please tell the front desk there will be absolutely no more challengers accepted today.”

    The doors opened and in stepped a timid young girl with wavy blonde hair and eyes like diamonds. Light freckles dusted her nose, and her smooth, fair skin seemed to glow through the dust of the dim Rock stadium. “Um, excuse me,” she said in a sugary voice, like candy to the ears. “Is this where the Gym battles are?”

    Brock almost shoved past Roy as though he’d forgotten he was even there. His energy appeared to have returned in full force. “Rrright this way, ma’am!” He greeted her with an obsequious bow, raising her hand high above his head. “New challengers are always welcome at the Pewter Gym!”

    “Um… Thank you?”

    “Aaaand there he goes again,” Forrest said with an amused chuckle. “Guess I’ll have to finish up here. You have a Poké Wagerer, right?”

    “Yeah.”

    “Show your Boulder Badge to the front desk as you leave. The prize money for winning is a thousand dollars.”

    “Unovan dollars!?” With this one battle, Roy had won back all the money he lost to Brayden.

    “Gyms don’t go down easily. Gotta have more than the badge attracting challengers. Relax. We earn more from the entrance fees than we ever give out.”

    “Entrance fee? But I didn’t…”

    “My mom likes you.”

    Roy looked up at Lola in the bleachers as she and the rest of the kids waved and yelled their congratulations.

    “Give her my thanks.”

    “Nah, thank you. You gave us a spectacle we won’t forget anytime soon. My brother doesn’t get thrills like that often. I guess you’ll be off to your next Gym challenge?”

    “Right.”

    “Nearest one is Cerulean City. Head east along Route 3, and it’s straight through Mt. Moon.”

    “Thanks. And I suppose you’ll be working hard to take over the Gym from your brother.”

    “Someone has to be here to stop Mom from turning it into an aquarium.”

    Roy laughed. “Good luck to both of us then.” The two shook hands.

    “Take care of that Shiny Ponyta, you lucky bastard. She’s a real fighter, that one.”

    “Ha! After today, she’s never leaving my side.”

 

***

 

When Roy stepped out of the Gym, less than half of the sun remained visible on the horizon, casting an orange glow across the sky. The black silhouette of Mt. Moon stood tall in the distance, its peak spearing through a halo of pink clouds. His next destination. His next adventure. Roy’s second badge waited for him on the other side in Cerulean City. There, he’d face one of three who ran the place. Kanto’s most famous Gym Leaders, known the country over as the Sensational Sisters: Daisy, Violet, and Lily.

    But right now, he needed to crash. What a day. The Pokémon Center would have a bed waiting for him. As well as a good rest for his Pokémon. They’d earned it in full.

    Roy opened his journal. Four faded Gym badges had been pinned to the inside of the cover, representing a half complete Gym Challenge. The badges were all long outdated, and the Elite Four wouldn’t accept them today, but they were perhaps more valuable to Roy than any he’d earn for himself going forward. Roy may be a new Trainer, but he wasn’t starting a new journey; he was continuing an old, unfinished one. And so, Roy pinned his Boulder badge below the four his father had earned forty-one years ago, admiring them as they glistened in the twilight.

    With a spring in his step, Roy walked back to the center, eager to jump on the video call and show his new badge off to his mother and that naysaying brat.

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To be continued...

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