With the Pokémon exchanged, Ash enthusiastically declared he would challenge Brock to a serious battle immediately.
"Eh, well, shouldn't you get acquainted with Poliwhirl before challenging him?" Paul followed helplessly.
After jogging all the way, the two finally arrived at the Pewter Gym in Pewter City. The overall structure resembled a huge rock with a hollowed out entrance. The dark gray main color and the dilapidated gym signboard made it look somewhat in disrepair.
"Okay, let's go in."
Ash took the lead and pushed open the door of the gymnasium. Paul shook his head and walked in. * The kid looks like he's never taken a real hit. It's useless to persuade him. Let Brock handle his education. *
"It's so dark. Why don't they turn on the lights?" Ash couldn't help complaining as they walked towards the arena in the dimness.
"Well, I think it's just to save on electricity bills," Paul hit the nail on the head. After all, Brock's family burden was heavy, with ten younger siblings waiting to be fed.
Click Finally, a spotlight lit up in the darkness. The light fell from above, illuminating Brock's figure dramatically.
"Who is it?" Brock asked calmly.
"I am Ash from Pallet Town, and we are here to challenge Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City!" Ash announced his purpose boldly.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu chimed in, perched on Ash's shoulder.
"Oh, really? Then as a Gym Leader, I, Brock, accept your challenge," Brock accepted calmly, unfazed by the two challengers.
With a snap of his fingers, the arena lights finally turned on fully. Paul looked at Brock's unwavering, squinted eyes and couldn't help wondering * Can you even open your eyes when you talk? * (Brock: They are open!!)
"Who will go first?" Brock asked.
"Me! Me!" Ash looked at Paul expectantly, an expression clearly lacking the humility of experience.
"Do whatever you want," Paul nodded.
"Then, the match will be two on two. If all the Pokémon on one side lose their ability to battle, that side loses. Is that okay?" Brock explained the rules.
"No problem!" Ash stood at the challenger's position, while Paul silently moved to the spectator area.
Brock took his position, and the rock pillars dividing the field retracted silently. It still looked professional.
"My first Pokémon is him, Onix!" Brock announced, sending out his Gym level powerhouse, clearly his ace.
Seeing the Onix as tall as a two storey building, Ash was taken aback. "It's so big! We won't back down! Go, Poliwag!"
"Poli?~" The Poliwag landed on the ground and looked at Ash suspiciously, then turned to look at the massive Onix.
Its eyes widened in sheer terror. "Poliwag!" The little guy completely lost his composure, tears welling up in his big eyes as he turned back to Ash.
"Don't be afraid, use Water Gun!" Ash commanded with great enthusiasm.
However, Poliwag looked at Onix and finally burst into tears with a loud cry.
Brock frowned, "Boy, how long have you had that Poliwag?"
Ash replied with some embarrassment, "About 15 minutes."
"Really? Then what do you take this Gym battle for! Onix, use Tackle!"
The huge Onix rushed fiercely towards Poliwag. Poliwag was petrified, shivering in place.
"Poliwag!" Ash rushed into the arena regardless of the danger, hugging Poliwag to shield it from Onix's Tackle.
"Ash!" Paul gripped Piplup's Poké Ball, ready to intervene if necessary.
"I'm fine." Ash first waved to Paul, then looked at the Poliwag in his arms. The little guy had stopped shaking now and stared blankly at Ash.
"I'm sorry, I sent you into battle before we even got to know each other. Are you hurt?"
Poliwag looked moved. Its trainer had risked himself to protect it. At this moment, Poliwag felt a surge of energy!
"Poliwhirl!" A bright white light emanated from Poliwag's body.
"Unexpectedly, it evolved," Brock looked at Ash's desperate act to protect his Pokémon and felt a flicker of respect. "So, Poliwag responded to his trainer's heart? Interesting."
"Whirl!" The evolved Poliwhirl, now with two arms, reappeared in front of Ash.
"Poliwhirl! That's great!" Ash danced happily.
"Do you want to continue the battle?" Brock asked from the sidelines.
Ash looked at Poliwhirl, who flexed its muscles confidently for Ash.
"Okay, we can continue the match!" Ash returned to the commander's box.
"Onix, use Bind!" Brock continued the attack.
Ash was ready. "Water Gun!"
Poliwhirl's eyes focused, and a sphere of swirling water energy appeared between its hands.
"What is this move?" Ash hurriedly took out his Pokédex. "Water Pulse!"
Poliwhirl launched the Water Pulse, hitting Onix squarely in the face. The effect was outstanding; Onix recoiled in pain.
"Attack it with Tail Slam!" Brock immediately changed tactics. Onix swept its massive tail, but Poliwhirl dodged it nimbly.
However, Onix quickly recovered and caught Poliwhirl, incapacitating it with Bind.
"This?!" Ash was momentarily stunned, then sent out Pikachu directly.
"Tsk tsk. This isn't going to work," Paul broke out in a cold sweat watching. * Pikachu doesn't know Iron Tail yet, so there's nothing he can do against Onix *.
Sure enough, Pikachu was quickly caught in Onix's Bind after only a couple of moves. Ash reluctantly forfeited the match.
"Okay, now it's your turn," Brock looked at Paul.
"Doesn't your Onix need to recover?" Paul asked.
"It's fine. Ash didn't inflict much damage," Brock stated, the comment unintentionally insulting.
"I am Paul from Veilstone City. Please give me your best," Paul wouldn't waste time with unnecessary courtesies like letting Brock heal. Kindness was a luxury afforded by the winner. He'd consider it after he won.
"Come out, Cottonee, Piplup," Paul released his two Pokémon.
"Cottonee," the Cotton Puff Pokémon looked at Paul curiously.
"Cottonee, I may need your strength later. Can you help me fight in this Gym battle?" Paul squatted down and asked seriously.
"Cottonee!" Cottonee puffed up, surprisingly eager to battle.
Taking out his Pokédex and scanning Cottonee, Paul got a general understanding of its moves.
"Okay, Cottonee leads, Piplup cleans up. Here's the plan..." Paul squatted in front of his two Pokémon and explained seriously.
"Piplup!" "Cottonee!" The two little ones were ready.
"We are ready." After explaining the tactics, Paul came to the challenger's booth. Ash, having just lost, sat weakly in the stands, watching Paul's performance intently.
"Okay, let's begin. My contestant is Geodude!" Brock indeed chose the strategy of letting Onix rest first.
"Go, Cottonee," Paul said calmly, patting Cottonee on the head.
The fluffy Cottonee floated lightly onto the field.
"Geodude, Rock Polish!" Brock wanted to increase attack speed first.
Too bad.
"Cottonee, Leech Seed!" Before Geodude could react, two seeds had already embedded themselves in its rocky body.
"So fast!" Brock was shocked.
"Now use Cotton Spore!" Paul wasn't holding back.
Cottonee spun on the spot, and countless cotton spores enveloped Geodude, slowing it down considerably.
"Damn it! Geodude, attack with Rock Throw!" Geodude, struggling against the Leech Seed vines, managed to pick up a few rocks and hurl them towards Cottonee.
"Cotton Guard!" Paul continued commanding.
Cottonee released a large puff of cotton to shield itself. The rocks bounced off harmlessly, and Cottonee shook its head as if it felt nothing.
"Next, use Growth!" Cottonee exerted itself, visibly swelling slightly, increasing its Attack and Special Attack stats.
Geodude flinched as its energy was visibly drained by the Leech Seed.
"Geodude, use Earthquake!" Brock had no choice but to try a powerful move.
"Cottonee, Protect!"
Brock stared in disbelief. * Are you even human?! *
A green energy shield perfectly guarded Cottonee from the tremor.
"Use Growth again!" Paul remained calm and continued to power up.
Brock felt his breath shortening. If this dragged on, Geodude would be drained completely. "Geodude, use Rollout!"
Geodude curled into a ball and slowly rolled towards Cottonee.
"Cottonee, use Absorb now!"
Green energy flowed from Geodude to Cottonee as Absorb drained even more of Geodude's stamina, replenishing Cottonee.
Geodude shuddered. * I feel my body being hollowed out... *
Thud! Geodude lost consciousness.
Brock felt his blood pressure rising. This Paul was infuriating. Although clearly strong, his tactics felt incredibly frustrating.
* Ugh, tactical players are the worst! * Brock wanted to cry but had no tears.
Ash also watched in a daze. * How did Cottonee just win like that? Swoosh, slap, thud, and it was over? Well, I guess I really am too reckless! *
Paul looked at Brock calmly, "Please send out your second Pokémon."
Brock scowled. "Go, Onix!"
Paul immediately commanded, "Cottonee, Leech Seed!"
Brock nearly flipped the table. * Can't we just have a straightforward Gym battle! *
Paul continued, "Alright, Cottonee, Tailwind, then Cotton Spore. Come back now."
Onix hadn't even made a move before it was afflicted with Leech Seed, slowed by Cotton Spore, and now a Tailwind was blowing across Paul's side of the field, increasing his team's speed.
"Go, Piplup!" Paul said, ready for his penguin Pokémon to gain some experience.
"It's not that easy! Onix, use Dig!"
Brock immediately ordered Onix to burrow underground to avoid Piplup's attack.
"If I were you, I wouldn't do that," Paul calmly eyed the hole left by Onix.
"Piplup, aim at the entrance of the hole, Hydro Pump!" Paul was relentless.
The soaring column of water blasted Onix out of the ground, sending it crashing back onto the field. To make matters worse, the Leech Seed continued to drain its stamina.
"Onix, grab Piplup! Use Bind!"
This was Brock's usual tactic: immobilize the opponent and force a forfeit.
"Not so fast! Piplup, use Whirlpool on yourself!"
"On himself?!" Ash in the stands was stunned, the seemingly nonsensical tactic felt vaguely familiar.
Piplup lowered its head and enveloped itself in turbulent water using Whirlpool. Onix slammed into the watery vortex, was violently repelled, and crashed to the side.
Piplup landed safely.
"That's a fantastic idea, using an offensive technique defensively!" Brock looked at Paul with admiration.
Paul glanced briefly at Ash. * Ash actually gave me the inspiration for that one *.
"Onix, let's go for the last blow! Use Take Down!"
Brock abandoned all other strategies; there was no retreat with this move.
"Piplup, meet it head on!" Paul's own battle spirit ignited slightly.
"Pip-lup!!!" Piplup roared towards the sky, its body becoming bathed in surging water energy!
"This is..." Paul smirked slightly. "Go, Aqua Jet!"
"Prin-plup!!" Bathed in the rushing water, Piplup burst forth with the white light of evolution!
Boom!! The huge explosion kicked up black smoke across the battlefield.
The smoke dissipated. Prinplup, now sporting a golden, double edged crown and wing like flippers, stood tall. Behind it lay Onix, unable to battle.
Brock clenched his fist, then relaxed, recalled Onix, and walked over to Paul. The two shook hands.
"It's my loss. You defeated me completely."
Paul bowed politely, "Thank you for the battle. Prinplup and I learned a lot."
There are no ranks on the battlefield, but there are protocols off it. Anyone familiar with Paul knew this. No matter how fierce the battle, Paul's etiquette towards seniors and elders was always impeccable. It was about quality, but also rules.
Brock sensed Paul's respect, which eased the sting of defeat. "This is proof of your victory over me, the Boulder Badge of the Pewter Gym. Please continue to work hard."
"Thank you very much." Taking the badge, Paul seriously placed it in his prepared badge case.
After saying goodbye to Brock, Paul took Ash and left the gym.
Walking out of the gym, Paul looked at Ash seriously. "So, I think we have to say goodbye for a while."
Ash looked up in surprise, "Paul, are you leaving?"
"Of course," Paul shrugged. "Time waits for no one. I want to become stronger as soon as possible."
"Damn it! Am I going to be left way behind by you?" Ash clenched his fist unwillingly.
"The real test is at the Indigo League Conference, right? Getting strong early doesn't mean you'll win in the end," Paul ruffled Ash's hair with a smirk and put his hands on Ash's shoulders.
"I believe you will catch up. But before that, you have to get past Brock," Paul looked towards the sky.
"Yeah! I will definitely get the Pewter Gym badge!" Ash swore passionately.
"Good luck. Train hard, and learn more about Pokémon when you have time. Let's battle the next time we meet!"
Patting Ash on the back, Paul and Ash shook hands firmly.
"Paul, I will try my best to catch up. Next time we meet, I will beat you," Ash said seriously.
Paul turned back coolly, waving goodbye over his shoulder as he walked away. "You've still got a long way to go."
The next goal: Mt. Moon. Let's go!