"Ash from Pallet Town versus the Gym Leader of Goldenrod Gym, Whitney!"
"The Pokémon battle for the Gym Badge will now begin!"
"The match will be a three-on-three. Are both sides ready?" The referee announced the start, glancing at both trainers to ensure there were no objections.
"Go for it, Big Brother Ash!" Molly cheered from the sidelines, clutching her Clefairy doll.
"Even though we've become friends, I won't be holding back, Ash!" After spending the previous day together, Ash and Whitney had developed a good friendship—mainly because Whitney adored Molly like a little sister.
The previous night, Ash had brought back fresh milk and cheese for Brock and Misty, earning high praise from both. Brock was even planning to stock up on more cheese as a high-quality cooking ingredient before they left the city.
In response to Whitney's challenge, Ash replied confidently, "I wouldn't have it any other way!"
And so, the battle began.
As per tradition, the Gym Leader took the first move. "Nidorina, go!"
Although Goldenrod is a Normal-type Gym, Whitney led with the Poison-type Nidorina. However, this didn't faze Ash in the slightest. "Quilava, I choose you!"
Currently, the Pokémon Ash had on hand—aside from Pikachu and Snorlax—were Quilava, Bayleef, and Heracross, who had finally been retrieved from Professor Oak's lab. Then there was Houndoom, who was currently acting as Molly's guardian and mount.
Professor Oak's research subjects had grown quite diverse lately, ranging from a particularly intelligent Noctowl with a unique color to the 28 Unown Ash had recently captured.
"Nidorina, use Poison Sting!"
"Quilava, Flamethrower!"
The pillar of fire didn't just incinerate the incoming poison needles; it swallowed Nidorina whole. With a single move, Nidorina was rendered unable to battle.
Despite the instant knockout, Whitney's expression didn't change. After recalling Nidorina, she turned to the Clefairy standing by her side.
"Clefairy, use Metronome!"
Clefairy stepped in front of Quilava and began wagging its tiny fingers back and forth. Metronome was a romantic yet unpredictable move—a phantom technique that could manifest as anything. If a high-pressure water move appeared, Quilava would be in serious trouble.
Ash didn't order an immediate attack, choosing instead to wait and see what Clefairy would manifest.
The result was clear: if it came down to luck, Ash's fortune completely crushed Whitney's. After a long buildup, the Metronome finally triggered... a useless Splash. Clefairy simply hopped up and down aimlessly.
Whitney looked a bit disappointed, while Ash gave a knowing smile. "Quilava, use Flamethrower once more!"
The flames engulfed Clefairy, ending the second round just as quickly.
Things seemed to be going almost too smoothly, but Ash knew the truth. After yesterday's visit to the farm, he realized that Whitney poured almost all of her competitive focus into her ace Pokémon. The real battle only started once her first two were out of the picture.
"Come back, Quilava!"
Ash recalled Quilava, making room for a fresh partner. Just as expected, Whitney's final Pokémon was the powerhouse of the ranch: Miltank.
"Ash, do you have a way to beat her?" Whitney asked, her confidence radiating from her stance.
"Heracross, I choose you!"
Heracross Sync: 160 / 252
This heroic Heracross still had a gap to close in its synchronization, but its natural compatibility with Ash was remarkably high. He believed that through regular battle, they would reach Bond Evolution soon.
"A Heracross, huh?" Whitney remained undaunted. She had total faith in Miltank's secret technique, regardless of the opponent.
"Miltank, use Rollout!"
The pink Pokémon curled into a tight ball and began to spin. Ash had seen this at the ranch; Whitney had trained Miltank's Rollout on the steep hills to build incredible momentum. This move grew more powerful the longer it was maintained.
"Dodge it!"
Instead of meeting the attack head-on, Ash commanded Heracross to step aside. As a result, the Rollout continued to pick up speed and power.
"Ash?" Whitney was puzzled. Seeing him avoid the attack so easily, she suddenly realized his intent. "Are you... purposely letting the power of Rollout build up?"
"Hera-cross!"
Sensing Heracross's rising fighting spirit, Ash smiled but didn't answer.
"Then try this again!" Whitney gritted her teeth, ordering Miltank to steer back toward the opponent. This Miltank was exceptionally well-trained, able to control its trajectory even while spinning at high speeds. It barreled toward Heracross with the force of a runaway truck.
Finally, Heracross took a defensive stance. Ash's eyes flashed. "Heracross, catch it!"
Boom!
Miltank slammed squarely into Heracross. Any ordinary Pokémon would have been sent flying or knocked out instantly. But Heracross was a true powerhouse of the insect world. Moreover, as a Fighting-type, it held a natural advantage over the Normal-type Miltank.
"How is this possible?" Whitney gasped. Her Miltank, which had been invincible for so long, had been brought to a dead stop by Heracross's bare hands.
"Lift it up!"
Using its massive horn, Heracross heaved the spinning Miltank into the air. Miltank was tossed high into the sky before crashing back down, dazed and disoriented.
"Miltank, are you okay?" Whitney shouted, but it was too late to recover.
"Focus Punch!"
The devastating Fighting-type move landed cleanly, instantly draining Miltank's remaining energy.
"Miltank is unable to battle! Heracross wins! The victory goes to Ash from Pallet Town!"
The battle had been surprisingly smooth. Heracross was the perfect counter to Whitney's strategy.
"Yay! Big Brother Ash won!" Molly was the first to cheer from the stands.
Whitney recalled her Miltank and walked over to present the official badge. "You beat me, Ash. Please, take this."
"By the way, Ash," Whitney suggested as she handed over the Plain Badge. "Tomorrow, there's a Bug-Catching Contest being held at the National Park on the outskirts of the city. You should definitely check it out. I assume you're heading toward Ecruteak City next?"
"A Bug-Catching Contest?" Hearing the name, Misty's skin began to crawl. Bug-types were her greatest weakness.
But Ash was intrigued. "I'll definitely be there. It just so happens there's a certain Pokémon I've been wanting to catch!"