And finally, here we are at the Gym battle.

Yeah, I know, it's been a few months. School happened, shit happened, and procrastination happened. Sorry to anyone who likes reading this for making you wait so long. I'll try to come up with quicker updates.

I wrote a whole chunk of this chapter about 2 months ago, but only finished it up an hour ago so yeah... I'm sorry if the pacing is a bit weird. Enjoy.

Ritsu's Party
Pika, Pikachu - Level 27: ThunderShock, Thunder Wave, Quick Attack, Double Team, Slam, Thunderbolt
Toto, Charmander - Level 10: Scratch, Growl, Ember
Mushi, Butterfree - Level 10: Tackle, String Shot, Confusion, Stun Spore
Rokko, Onix - Level 25: Tackle, Screech, Bind, Rock Throw, Dig, Harden, Rage

Ritsu bit into her sandwich, admiring the great weather.

"What a good morning to earn my first badge," she smiled, turning to look right at her best friend and companion, Pika the Pikachu.

A cute young girl with a smile on her face was always a nice sight to behold, for their smiles were always as cute as they were. Unfortunately, this particular girl was smiling with her mouth full and wide open.

Pika coughed violently as he caught a glimpse of the chewed-up bread in his Trainer's mouth.

Polishing off her small breakfast, Ritsu marched towards the Gym eagerly. Pika couldn't help but share her enthusiasm.

After getting treatment for his injury last night, Brock had reluctantly promised her a Gym battle today.

The Pewter Gym looked rather dull in color, with the only decoration standing out being the gigantic words at the top of the building declaring it's name. Ritsu walked forward, and the automated door slid open.

She took in the scene. In front of her was a wide, rock-littered battlefield with rough terrain. With a cry of excitement, Ritsu was about to charge forward, but a boy quickly blocked her way.

Holding up his palm, he nodded at her. "You're the one who wanted to challenge the Pewter Gym the other day, were you not? Our leader is back, but still, allow me to check-"

"I'll take it from here, Liam."

"Ah, Brock! Understood," Liam said quickly, an immense amount of respect evident in his tone, as he stepped aside.

Brock, with a bandage around his wrist, walked up to Ritsu. "Hey, Ritsu. I've been expecting you." He gestured to the battlefield behind him. "Welcome to the Pewter City Gym!"

Ritsu cracked her knuckles, looking extremely boyish. "Thanks! But I wanna get down to business!" Hurriedly, she pulled Brock along, dragging the poor Gym Leader behind her comically as she invited herself onto the battlefield. "Let's go!"

"A-Ah, right. Anyway," Brock walked through the battlefield, until he was on the other end of it. "I'll explain the rules of this Gym to you now."

"Go on!"

"Each side is free to use three Pokemon for this battle. You can switch out your Pokemon as you please. When all three of either side's Pokemon are unable to battle, it's over," he took out an Ultra Ball, his lips curling up into a grin. "Are you ready, Ritsu?"

"Ever ready," she replied. "For my first Pokemon, I'll be using Pika!"

On cue, Pika hopped off her shoulder and ran onto the terrain, ready to fight.

"An Electric-type?" Brock raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Alright. I'm not going to hold back. Onix!"

The worst possible match-up for Pika, Ritsu thought. But we'll pull through! We can do this, Pika!

"Let's start with Double Team!"

Pika started speeding around Brock's Onix, creating multiple images of himself.

This way, Brock and his Onix won't know where I'm going to attack from. And now while it's distracted...

"Pika, Slam!"

From behind Onix, the real Pika jumped towards it, his tail now glowing and poised to strike.

To Ritsu's surprise, Onix's reaction was instant, beating off Pika's tail with it's own. With Pika hovering in mid-air, Brock yelled, "Onix, Dragonbreath!"

Turning on Pika, Onix fired a green energy beam from it's mouth, sending it's opponent crashing to the ground with it's powerful attack.

"What... what in the-!" Ritsu almost finished her sentence, but was cut off.

"Finish that Pikachu off with your own Slam attack!" Onix's tail rose into the air, and descended on Pika. However, the yellow mouse put his nimble body to use, picking himself up and speeding away. Onix's Slam instead left a massive dent on the ground.

Wow... I was so sure I could get a hit in if I started with Double Team! Ritsu looked at Pika, who was now panting. He'd been affected heavily by Onix's powerful Dragonbreath. The reaction time of that Onix... it was way too fast! Is this the true power of a Gym Leader?

"Return for now, Pika!"

Recalling Pika, she swapped out his Pokeball for another and prepared to introduce her switched Pokemon into the battle.

"A wise choice," Brock noted, folding his arms. "Pikachu's forte is Electric-type attacks. Continuing to pit Pikachu against an opponent unaffected by electricity would be disastrous." He pointed to the Pokeball in Ritsu's hand. "Now, challenger, show me your next Pokemon!"

"Okay, okay," Ritsu chanted quietly to herself. "We can do this! Rokko, you're up!"

"Graaaaaaa!"

Rokko announced his presence proudly. Brock smirked. "Onix versus Onix, huh? A bold decision. Onix, let's show them what it means to be better, with another Dragonbreath!"

"Ah! Get out of the way, Rokko!" Rokko moved swiftly, and Dragonbreath narrowly missed it's intended target. "Awesome! Now let's hit back! Screech!"

From his lungs came the noisiest screeching Ritsu had ever heard. She winced and covered her ears, and saw that Brock was doing the same thing. His Onix reeled back, growling at the unbearable noise.

"Onix! Bind!"

Desperate to stop the Screech, Onix attacked.

"Rokko, Harden!" With a smirk now present on his face, Rokko hardened his entire body. Brock's Onix, upon trying to wrap itself around it's fellow Rock Snake, cried in pain and withdrew immediately. "Now while it's close, Tackle him, right in the face!"

Brock clapped once as his Onix's snake-like form fell onto the rocks, effectively destroying them all. "Well done. That Onix of yours isn't half bad."

Ignoring him, Ritsu focused on the kill. "End it, Rokko! Rock Throw!"

Brock frowned. "Not today! Iron Tail, Onix!"

On the ground, Onix's closed eyes shot open. It's tail hardened, and before Rokko could attack, Onix had struck first.

Rokko let out an agonizing cry as it was brought down by the powerful move. As he got back up, so did Brock's Onix. The two serpentine Pokemon glared at each other.

"Dig!" Rokko burrowed into the ground. "If we can't get you from a frontal attack, then we'll attack unseen from below!"

"Good thinking..." Brock offered a compliment. "... but not good enough! Onix, Earthquake!"

Ritsu gasped. "Crap. Get out of there, Rokko!"

Onix thumped it's tail on the ground violently, creating powerful shock waves. Both Trainers struggled to balance themselves as the entire Gym started to shake.

Ritsu was thrown off her feet, falling to the ground with a thump. Rubbing her butt, she got back up. "Rokko!"

"That should have done it," Brock said with satisfaction, as he looked at the hole in the Gym floor that Rokko had burrowed through. "Onix's Earthquake deals double the damage against an underground enemy!" He smiled triumphantly. "Now you're left with just two Pokemon-"

He was interrupted as a figure burst out from beneath to slam into his Onix, sending it falling to the ground and knocking it out.

Rokko towered over his foe, a victorious air around him. Then, his eyes closed, and he fell with a heavy smash.

"W-What?" Brock was in disbelief. "How can that Onix still move, let alone attack, after having been hit by Earthquake underground?"

Now it was Ritsu's turn to smile in triumph, as she recalled Rokko, her opponent doing the same with his Onix. "Don't underestimate Rokko! He's a really strong Pokemon!" She looked down at Rokko's Pokeball. "Thank you, Rokko. Take a rest!"

"Your Onix was quite an interesting Pokemon to battle against," Brock acknowledged, as he withdrew another Ultra Ball. "Let's see if you have anymore interesting Pokemon up your sleeve. Kabutops, go!"

"Kabutops?" Ritsu looked on, as the next Pokemon she had to defeat appeared out of it's Ultra Ball. Wielding a pair of sharp gray scythes, the Pokemon was nothing short of intimidating. She checked her PokeDex.

"Kabutops, the Shellfish Pokemon. An ancient, prehistoric Pokemon, Kabutops can move freely both in water and on land. With it's scythe-like arms, it can catch it's prey and drain their energy."

Hm... it's a Rock-type, as expected... but also a Water-type! Aha! Keeping her PokeDex, Ritsu released Pika and whispered softly to the yellow mouse. With a nod, Pika ran up to face Kabutops.

"I don't know what you're planning, but it won't work! Kabutops, Slash!"

"Double Team!"

As Kabutops closed in, Pika split into several images. The Pikas ran around Kabutops in circles, surrounding the Shellfish Pokemon.

"That trick again, huh?"

Adjusting her hat, Ritsu said, "You know what they say. If it doesn't work, try until it does!"

"Ah, but will it ever work?"

"We can try! Pika, now! Quick Attack!"

The real Pika dashed out at Kabutops from it's side. The ancient Pokemon spared Pika a side-glance, and defended itself easily with one of it's scythe arms.

However, Pika immediately struck with Thunderbolt, frying Kabutops into oblivion.

Although taken by surprise, Brock quickly regained his composure. "Nice. So you ordered Pikachu to charge up a Thunderbolt before attacking. If Kabutops attempted to block your Quick Attack instead of dodging, Pikachu could have released Thunderbolt immediately, and that's what it did."

"Yep! Good job, Pika!" Ritsu said with glee, as Pika ran back to her side.

Kabutops frowned, staggering forward. "Kabutops, can you still fight?"

"Kabuu!"

"Good. Mud Shot!"

From it's mouth, Kabutops hurled multiple blobs of mud at Pika. The agile Electric-type managed to dodge one of them, but was subsequently hit and pummeled to the ground by the rest.

"P-Pika!"

Brock smiled. "Mud Shot is a Ground-type move, so it's super effective against Pikachu. Furthermore, Pikachu has already been weakened by Onix's Dragonbreath. It's in no more condition to fight."

As if in defiance, Pika got back up, growling angrily at Kabutops and Brock.

"You're wrong!" Ritsu said firmly. "We don't give up that easily! Thunder Wave!" Kabutops tried to dodge the attack, but the electricity passed through it swiftly, and the Rock-type felt it's limbs beginning to numb and freeze. "Finish it off! Thunderbolt!"

"Endure!"

Thanks to Thunder Wave, Kabutops was rendered helpless, acting simply as a sitting duck for Pika's devastating move. Thunderbolt struck cleanly, and Ritsu punched the air in delight.

"Yes! There's no way a Water-type will be able to-"

"Kabutops, Mega Drain!"

"Tooops!"

A green beam was fired at Pika, knocking the rodent-like Pokemon back. Kabutops closed it's eyes as the drained energy flowed into itself, regaining a portion of it's depleted hit points.

Pika stumbled back, trying his best to remain on his feet.

Ritsu was in disbelief. "How did that-"

"Endure, a move that allows it's user to 'endure' an attack, keeping it from fainting," Brock explained. "You are a strong Trainer, but you're just not strong enough! Kabutops, Ancientpower!"

Making a roaring sound, Kabutops prepared to fire it's attack.

Ritsu bit her lip as the Ancientpower came blasting straight on. "Quick Attack, Pika!" She closed an eye and cringed as Kabutops' attack edged closer, but at the last second, her dazed Pikachu moved out of the way, and charged straight for Kabutops.

"Hold your ground, Kabutops!" Brock said calmly. "And when Pikachu gets closer... Slash!"

"Now jump!"

Brock was taken by surprise. "Jump?"

As Kabutops' blade came swinging down on the attacking Pika, he jumped, clinging onto his opponent's arm. "Now! Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaachuuuuu!"

Brock's brows furrowed as Kabutops went crashing down onto the Gym surface. Pika went down too, succumbing to exhaustion.

"I see. So you lead your opponents into believing you want to strike them physically with a false call of Quick Attack, but in actuality, you want Pikachu to get up close and personal with the opponent for a close-range Thunderbolt to deal more damage."

Recalling her second Pokemon, Ritsu didn't reply, the tension getting to her. What would be Brock's third Pokemon? Her hand moved over to the two Pokeballs she had left.

"We're both down to our last Pokemon," Brock brought out his last Ultra Ball for the day. "I'm very interested to see what you'll lead with, Ritsu." He threw the Ultra Ball in his hand into the air. "Meet my ace, Aerodactyl!"

He's showing me his Pokemon first... Ritsu's eyes darted toward her Pokeballs. I have to make use of this advantage... come on girl, think. Who do you have left? Mushi and Toto. One can take Aerodactyl on in the air, the other one can scorch his wings. Who do I go for?

Her hand slowly moved towards one of the Pokeballs. With resolve, she released her chosen fighter.

"Let's go, Mushi!"

I don't think I mentioned this in the opening author's note, but thank you for the reviews. I really appreciate them and will appreciate you as well if you review this chapter.

Reviews are always a big part of wanting to continue a story. Without any reviews I think this story would have stopped at Chapter 2. Sucks to admit it, but yeah. Thanks again for all the awesome feedback.

I also want to clarify that Ritsu's father isn't missing - he was missing, but he's been found, and he's dead. A hundred percent dead, if you read Chapter 1 correctly. That doesn't mean the story about him stops there though, oh no, it doesn't. But you won't be hearing about him for a loooong time. Just gonna spoil that one for you, if it can be considered as a spoiler.

Next time, Ritsu vs Brock wraps up.

Thanks for reading!