The night after capturing Pikachu, Red found himself staring at the closed doors of Pewter's Pokémon Center. A crude wooden sign hung from the handles:
CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE — VANDALISM REPAIRS IN PROGRESS
The glass panels bore spiderweb cracks, and scorch marks darkened the frame. Red could see Nurse Joy inside, moving boxes and tending to injured Pokémon in portable cots. Whatever had happened, it had been bad enough to put the entire facility out of commission.
He let out a quiet sigh through his nose. His original plan had been simple — swap Mankey for Pikachu and give the little electric mouse some training before challenging Brock. Now? No transfers, no healing services, nothing.
It wasn't ideal. Several of his team members had taken hits in the forest yesterday, and while they were still battle-ready, they weren't at peak condition. That left only one option: field medicine.
Red turned on his heel and headed toward the Poké Mart.
---
The bell over the door chimed softly as he stepped inside. A middle-aged clerk looked up from restocking shelves and gave him a nod.
"Help you find something, trainer?"
"Potions," Red replied curtly, already moving toward the counter. "As many as I can carry without slowing me down."
The clerk raised an eyebrow at his efficiency but didn't comment, instead pulling several slim spray bottles from beneath the counter. Red inspected each one, mentally calculating usage. Potions for general damage, a few extra Antidotes in case of poison, and a couple of Paralyze Heals for good measure. He paid without hesitation and slipped the supplies into his pack, arranging them for easy reach.
He walked out of the store without lingering. Tomorrow morning, he would face Brock — fully prepared, even without a trip to the Pokémon Center.
---
The next day dawned cool and clear. The streets were quiet as Red made his way toward the large stone building on the north edge of the city. The Pewter Gym was built like a fortress — thick rock walls, an arched roof, and carved statues of Onix flanking the heavy doors.
When he stepped inside, the air changed immediately. The scent of dust and stone filled his nose. The battlefield stretched wide before him, its floor covered in jagged rocks and uneven ground, forcing trainers to think about positioning as much as attacks.
Rows of benches lined the sides, but for now, only a handful of early risers had gathered. Red glanced around — no line at the registration desk. He was first.
The gym's attendant looked up from a clipboard. "You here to challenge the Pewter Gym?"
"Yeah."
"Then you'll need to go through the preliminary matches. Three trainers. Win all three, and you'll face the Leader."
Red nodded once. "Fine. Let's start."
---
His first opponent stepped onto the rocky arena — a boy maybe a year older than Red, carrying a single Poké Ball.
"Name's Cole! Don't think I'm just some pushover!" the boy declared.
Red didn't bother responding verbally. He simply unclipped a ball and tossed it.
"Rattata, go."
Cole sent out a Sandshrew, its claws digging into the rocky ground. The match started quickly — Sandshrew lunged forward, claws glowing for Scratch.
"Quick Attack, then Tackle chain," Red said evenly.
Rattata blurred forward in a streak of brown, slamming into Sandshrew's flank before the ground-type could fully turn. Using the momentum, Rattata wheeled around and hit again from the opposite side.
Sandshrew staggered, but Cole ordered, "Defense Curl, then Rollout!"
The Pokémon tucked itself into a tight ball and spun forward. Red waited, eyes locked on the angle of approach.
"Double Team sidestep — into Bite."
Rattata darted to the side at the last second, teeth sinking into the exposed edge of Sandshrew's shell. The bite broke its spin entirely, sending it rolling awkwardly. Another Quick Attack ended the match.
The referee called it. First win.
---
The second trainer — a tall girl with short black hair — took the field next. She carried two Poké Balls.
"Hope you're ready for something tougher," she smirked. "Go, Geodude!"
Red sent out Poliwag. A murmur ran through the small crowd — water against rock was a known nightmare matchup.
"Water Gun," Red said simply.
The spray hit before Geodude could close the gap. It staggered back, trying to shield itself with its arms.
"Defense Curl!" the girl shouted.
"Double Water Gun, follow with Hypnosis."
Poliwag's second burst of water sent Geodude skidding, and before it could recover, the swirling rings of Hypnosis rolled outward, lulling it into unconsciousness.
The girl bit her lip and recalled her Pokémon, sending out a Zubat next.
Red didn't blink. "Switch — Spearow."
The exchange was instantaneous. Zubat tried to gain height, but Spearow intercepted with a sharp Peck to the wing joint, forcing it down. A Quick Attack sealed the victory.
Second win.
---
The third opponent, a stocky man with a miner's helmet, stepped up without a word. He tossed two Poké Balls — Onix and Diglett.
Red's eyes flicked between the two. This would be trickier.
"Bulbasaur," he called, "frontline. Mankey, support."
The battle began in a blur of dust. Diglett burrowed underground immediately, while Onix surged forward like a living landslide.
"Vine Whip — intercept!"
Bulbasaur's vines lashed out, wrapping around Onix's midsection and halting its charge. Mankey leapt onto the vines, springboarding off to deliver a Karate Chop to the rock snake's head.
"Diglett, now!" the man roared. The ground beneath Bulbasaur erupted, striking it from below.
"Leech Seed — center mass!"
Even as Bulbasaur was hit, seeds burst from its bulb, attaching to Onix and sapping its strength. Mankey capitalized, pummeling Diglett with a series of rapid strikes.
The fight stretched longer than the previous ones, but in the end, both opponents fell. Third win — and the path to Brock was clear.
---
By now, the benches had filled. Word of a newcomer sweeping the preliminary rounds spread quickly, and more spectators filed in. Whispers moved through the crowd: "He's not even sweating." … "It's like he's done this a hundred times."
Brock himself had been watching from the raised platform at the far end. His arms were folded, his eyes sharp. As Red walked forward, Brock stepped down to meet him in the center of the arena.
"Not bad," Brock said. "In fact… I've never seen a rookie with that much composure. You battle like someone who's been on the road for years."
Red didn't reply. His expression was as flat as ever.
Brock smiled faintly. "Well, let's see if that composure holds. Official Gym Match — two on two. Ready?"
Red gave a short nod.
---
Before the referee could start the match, the gym doors creaked open again. Blue Oak strode in, hands in his pockets, scanning the room until his eyes found Red. His brows furrowed slightly.
So he's already here. One step ahead again.
Blue leaned against the wall near the benches, arms crossed. He'd seen Red in action before, but this was different. This was a Gym battle. If Red won here, he'd have the first badge before Blue even got his chance.
"Don't lose," Blue muttered under his breath — though whether he meant it as a challenge or an insult, even he wasn't sure.
---
The referee's voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. "Battle between Pewter Gym Leader Brock and Challenger Red! Two-on-two format. Begin!"
---
"Charmeleon — you're up."
Gasps ran through the crowd. A fire-type against a rock-type leader? It was either madness… or confidence bordering on arrogance.
But Red wasn't gambling blindly — Charmeleon was already massively overleveled, its strength bordering on evolution. Against the raw experience gap, the type chart was just paper.
Brock's expression didn't change. "Geodude, go."
The small, floating boulder Pokémon rumbled forward, fists raised.
"Rock Throw!"
"Metal Claw — crush the first projectile."
Charmeleon's claws gleamed silver as the first rock came sailing toward it. One swipe split the stone cleanly in half, both pieces clattering harmlessly to the ground.
The crowd murmured again.
"Close distance — Flame Burst!"
Flame roared from Charmeleon's mouth, washing over Geodude. It resisted, but the sheer force staggered it.
"Seismic Toss!" Brock countered.
Geodude shot forward, grabbing Charmeleon by the arm. In a swift arc, it hurled the fire-type upward before slamming it into the ground. Dust exploded from the impact.
"Get up," Red said calmly.
Charmeleon rose, eyes blazing hotter than its tail flame.
"Dragon Rage — finish it."
A burst of raw draconic energy erupted from Charmeleon's mouth, slamming into Geodude with enough force to send it skidding across the arena. When the dust cleared, Geodude was out cold.
The referee raised a flag. "Geodude is unable to battle!"
---
Brock's eyes narrowed slightly. So the type disadvantage really doesn't matter to him…
He reached for his next Poké Ball. "Then let's see how you handle the big one. Onix!"
The massive rock snake burst from the ball, its body coiling high above Charmeleon. The ground trembled beneath its weight.
Blue leaned forward slightly, his earlier annoyance shifting into curiosity.
Onix's shadow fell across half the battlefield, its head lowering to fix Charmeleon with an unblinking, stone-gray gaze. The crowd's chatter quieted, anticipation tightening the air.
Brock's voice rang out first.
"Onix — Bind!"
The rock serpent lunged forward, its segmented body whipping around to coil and crush. The arena floor cracked under its weight as it closed in.
"Dash left. Stay close to the ground," Red instructed, voice level.
Charmeleon darted sideways, claws scraping against stone for traction. Onix's coils slammed down where it had been standing, the shockwave rattling the benches.
"Now, Metal Claw — joint strike."
Charmeleon leapt forward, claws glowing bright silver again, and drove them into the thinner connective stone between Onix's body segments. The impact echoed like a hammer against chisel. Onix bellowed, recoiling from the pain.
Brock's eyes narrowed.
"Rock Tomb!"
Several massive chunks of stone burst from the arena floor, hovering briefly before crashing toward Charmeleon.
"Break through," Red said simply.
Charmeleon didn't hesitate. Flame burst from its tail tip in a short explosion, propelling it upward to slash one rock in half and kick off it midair to clear the others. It landed lightly, tail lashing behind it.
The crowd erupted in noise — the combination of agility and raw power was unlike anything they'd seen from a new challenger.
---
Brock's tone shifted — no longer testing, but serious.
"Enough playing around. Onix, Dig!"
The giant Pokémon's body sank into the earth with alarming speed, vanishing beneath the arena floor. The ground trembled ominously.
"Stand still. Listen."
Charmeleon's eyes narrowed, scanning for the faintest tremor or shadow. A second later, the floor beneath it exploded upward as Onix erupted from the ground.
"Jump — Dragon Rage!"
Charmeleon used the burst of debris as a launch point, flipping over Onix's head midair. Its maw glowed with raw, unstable energy before releasing a torrent of draconic force point-blank into the rock serpent's face.
The attack landed with a deafening crack, sending Onix crashing down across the arena in a long, earth-shaking slide.
---
Brock's jaw tightened.
"Sandstorm!"
Onix roared, and a swirling vortex of dust and grit filled the battlefield, stinging eyes and obscuring vision.
The crowd shielded their faces. The referee struggled to keep sight of the fighters.
But Red didn't flinch.
"Flame Burst, high arc — now."
Charmeleon sent a fireball arcing upward. When it detonated, the brief flare lit the battlefield like a flare in the night, casting shadows through the dust.
"There."
Charmeleon lunged toward the revealed silhouette.
"Metal Claw, triple strike!"
The first blow hit a body joint. The second raked across Onix's neck plating. The third drove straight into its head, ringing through the gym like a smith's hammer blow.
The massive rock snake let out a groan, then slumped forward, its head hitting the ground with a final thud.
---
The dust began to settle. Onix lay still, fainted. Charmeleon stood over it, breathing hard but steady, tail flame burning bright.
The referee raised a flag.
"Onix is unable to battle! Challenger Red wins!"
The crowd erupted — cheers, whistles, and even some stomping of feet on the benches. Blue's eyes narrowed, but his mouth quirked upward in spite of himself.
He didn't just win. He dominated.
Brock walked forward, recalling his fallen Pokémon. His expression wasn't one of defeat, but of approval.
"You've got the instincts of a veteran and the nerve to back them up," Brock said, reaching into his pocket. "There's no hesitation in your commands — and no wasted movement. That's rare for someone your age."
He held out a small, gray, hexagonal badge.
"This is the Boulder Badge. You've earned it."
Red accepted it silently, tucking it into his jacket.
Brock added, "Your Charmeleon's power is impressive, but your control over the fight — that's what really won you this match. Keep that up, and the rest of the Gym Leaders are in for a rough time."
Red gave a short nod. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit.
---
Blue pushed off the wall as Red passed, falling into step beside him for a few paces.
"Don't think this means you're ahead for long," Blue said, trying to keep his voice even. "Enjoy the head start — I'll be taking that badge too. And when we battle, you won't get off easy."
Red didn't even glance at him. "Then catch up first."
With that, he stepped out into the daylight, leaving the buzz of the crowd and the scent of scorched rock behind him.
Inside the gym, Brock watched the door close, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"That one's going places," he murmured.
And somewhere, in a distant lab, Professor Oak was already reading a fresh update from Red's Pokédex, nodding knowingly.
---