Before Ash could say anything else, or before Misty and Brock could find another way to make Gladion regret coming to work that morning, Gladion raised one hand and stopped them.
Gladion looked directly at Ash and asked, "You are here for a Gym Challenge, right?"
Ash immediately straightened up. His eyes lit up as though Gladion had just offered him the greatest opportunity of his life. "Yes! I came all the way here because I want to challenge you for my second Badge!"
Gladion said, "Then let's get to it. What level of challenge are you looking you? Two star would be recommended for you since it's a challenge for your second badge."
Ash nodded along but then he seemed to have remembered something. "Wait. What challenge did Gary take?"
Gladion blinked before answering. "Gary challenged me at four stars."
Ash immediately pointed at Gladion with determination. "Then I challenge you for the four-star challenge too!"
"Are you sure about that?" Gladion asked. "You have only won one Badge so far. I don't think you are ready for it. Gary took the challenge because he was confident in his Pokémon. A four-star Gym battle is not designed to be an easy battle for a second Badge."
Ash clenched his fists. "I am sure! Gary already beat you at that level, so I know I can do it too!"
Misty covered her face with one hand. "Ash, that might be the worst possible reason to challenge him at four stars."
Ash ignored her completely. "I am going to win and prove that I can beat Gladion too!"
Gladion sighed and looked toward the referee. "Fine. Four-star challenge. Three Pokémon each."
The referee nodded and walked toward the center of the battlefield. "This will be a three-on-three Gym Challenge. The challenger may switch Pokémon, while the Gym Leader will use the Pokémon registered for the four-star challenge. The battle will continue until all three Pokémon on one side are unable to battle."
Ash ran toward his side of the battlefield with Pikachu sitting proudly on his shoulder. Gladion walked toward the opposite side.
As he reached his position, he thought what would Ash's team be right now. 'Pikachu, Pidgey and probably Metapod. That should be the only Pokemon that he might have caught until now.'
Ash stared at him confidently. Gladion rubbed his forehead.
Gary at least had three Pokémon capable of putting up a respectable fight. Ash's team, however, was still extremely inexperienced.
Gladion reached for the first Poké Ball on his belt.
"You wanted a four-star challenge," he said. "So I will treat you like a four-star challenger."
Ash grinned. "That's exactly what I want!"
Gladion threw his Poké Ball. "Spearow, let's begin."
A burst of light appeared over the battlefield, revealing Spearow flapping its wings aggressively. Pidgey appeared from Ash's Pokeball.
The referee raised his flag.
"Begin!"
Ash immediately pointed forward. "Pidgey, use Gust!"
Pidgey flapped its wings rapidly, sending a powerful gust of wind across the battlefield.
"Spearow, fly upward and use Agility."
Spearow shot into the sky before the Gust could reach it. Its body became a blur as it accelerated, easily avoiding the attack.
Ash looked upward to find Spearow instead of ordering a move to his Pokemon
"Now use Quick Attack!" Spearow suddenly dove. Pidgey tried to turn around, but Spearow was already behind it.
"Peck!"
Spearow struck Pidgey from behind.
Pidgey cried out and tumbled across the battlefield.
Ash immediately shouted, "Pidgey, get back up and use Sand Attack!"
Pidgey quickly flapped its wings, kicking sand into the air.
Spearow moved backward, but Gladion immediately gave another command.
"Don't chase it. Use Aerial Ace through the dust."
Spearow disappeared into the cloud. Ash's eyes widened.
"Pidgey, move!"
But it was too late. Spearow burst through the dust and struck Pidgey with Aerial Ace. The attack sent Pidgey skidding across the battlefield.
Pidgey struggled to stand. Ash clenched his fists. "Come on, Pidgey! You can still fight!"
Gladion remained calm. "Spearow, finish it with Drill Peck."
Spearow folded its wings and descended like a spear.
Pidgey attempted to dodge but it moved too slowly. The Drill Peck struck directly. Pidgey was thrown backward and landed heavily on the ground.
The referee raised his flag.
"Pidgey is unable to battle!"
Ash stared at Pidgey in disbelief. His first Pokémon had been defeated without even injuring the other Pokemon.
Ash recalled Pidgey. "Don't worry, Pidgey. You did great."
He reached for another Poké Ball. "Metapod, you're up!"
Metapod appeared on the battlefield. Gladion looked at it. For the first time, he almost felt bad.
Ash pointed forward. "Metapod, use Harden!"
Metapod's body became even harder. Gladion sighed. "Spearow, use Fury Attack."
Spearow rushed forward. Uts beak struck Metapod again and again.
Metapod barely moved.
Ash smiled. "See! Harden is working!"
Gladion looked at Metapod. Then he looked at Ash. "Is that really your strategy?"
Ash nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! Metapod is really strong when it uses Harden!"
Gladion shook his head. "Spearow, use Leer."
Spearow stopped attacking and glared directly at Metapod.
Metapod's body stiffened.
Ash frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Lowering its defenses," Gladion replied.
Ash's eyes widened.bSpearow immediately followed with another Fury Attack. This time the blows landed harder. Metapod was pushed backward.
"Metapod, Harden again!"
Metapod attempted to use Harden but before he could do so, Gladion immediately saw the opening.
"Spearow, use Wing Attack." Spearow slammed into Metapod with its wings. Metapod was thrown through the air and hit the ground.
Ash stared at it. "Get up, Metapod!"
Metapod tried. Its body shook. It managed to rise halfway.
Gladion raised his hand. "Spearow, Aerial Ace."
Spearow crossed the battlefield instantly.
Metapod was struck before Ash could issue another command. The Pokémon collapsed.
The referee raised his flag again. "Metapod is unable to battle!"
Ash's mouth fell open. Two of his Pokémon were gone.
Only Pikachu remained. Ash recalled Metapod and stared at the battlefield.
Pikachu jumped down from his shoulder and walked forward.
"Pikachu, it's now all on you!" Ash pointed forward. "Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!"
Electricity surrounded Pikachu's cheeks before a powerful bolt shot across the battlefield.
"Spearow, dodge!"
Spearow jumped sideways. The Thunder Shock struck the ground.
Ash immediately followed. "Use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu rushed forward. Spearow attempted to intercept it.
"Use Peck!"
Pikachu ducked underneath the attack and continued forward.
Ash grinned. "Now Thunder Shock!"
Pikachu released the attack at point-blank range. Spearow was struck.
For the first time, Gladion's Pokémon was knocked backward. And it was only because Gladion had decided to give Ash an opportunity.
"Spearow, use Agility."
Spearow accelerated. Ash followed its movement with his eyes.
"Keep watching it, Pikachu!"
Spearow began circling the battlefield and become faster and faster as seconds passed.
"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock when it gets close!"
Pikachu waited. Spearow suddenly dived.
"Now!"
Pikachu fired. But Spearow suddenly changed direction.
The Thunder Shock missed. Ash's eyes widened. "That was a feint!"
Spearow appeared behind Pikachu. It was struck from behind and sent rolling across the battlefield.
Ash immediately ran forward a step before stopping himself. "Pikachu!"
Pikachu pushed itself back up. Ash clenched his fists.
"We can still win! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu's tail glowed brightly.
It charged. Gladion simply ordered Spearrow to fly away.
Pikachu's Iron Tail missed completely.
"Spearow, Aerial Ace."
Spearow descended. The attack connected and Pikachu was knocked out.
Ash stood frozen.
The referee slowly raised his flag. "Pikachu is unable to battle!"
The referee paused for only a moment before announcing the final result. "All three of Ash's Pokémon are unable to battle. The winner of this Gym Challenge is Gym Leader Gladion!"
Ash looked completely shocked. His three Pokémon had been defeated by a single Spearow.
And Gladion had not even needed to use his second Pokémon.
Ash stood there silently, staring at the battlefield as the reality of his defeat finally sank in.
-----Author Notes------
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