Chapter three opens back with Dango's newly evolved Staravia facing off against Brock's towering Onix. The battlefield rumbles as Onix unleashes Rock Slide, massive boulders crashing down like a landslide. Staravia manoeuvres between the falling rocks, wings slicing through the dust-filled air as he dashes toward Onix, striking with a sharp, precision Aerial Ace.
But Onix counters fast, lunging forward with a sudden Headbutt, the force of the blow sending Staravia reeling through the air, feathers scattering from the impact. Staravia recovers mid-flight, wings flaring wide as he creates a circle of copies with Double Team, illusions darting around the battlefield.
Onix pauses for a split second—then its tail gleams silver. With a powerful sweep, Onix uses Iron Tail, the strike shattering the illusions and smacking the real Staravia, knocking him across the arena. Axew stands outside his Poké Ball, eyes wide, watching the aftermath of Iron Tail with fascination. On the sidelines, Maylin and Johnny argue, voices rising over who's going to win the battle.
Staravia struggles, breathing hard, battered from the last hit. He turns to look at Dango, and with a tired yet proud glance from his trainer, he collapses, no longer able to battle.
Dango: (returning him into the Poké Ball) "You did great. Alright, it's all up to you now, Axew."
Axew steps forward, small but determined, staring up at the towering Onix, a stone serpent casting a massive shadow over him. His eyes narrow, and his claws tighten. He's ready. Onix roars, and Stone Edge erupts—pillars spike up from beneath Axew, forcing him to react fast. He charges forward, using the rising stones like platforms, leaping from one to the next, gaining speed and height with each jump.
At the peak, Axew lunges, both tusks glowing—Dual Chop lands hard against Onix's neck, sparks flying off the rock surface. But Onix barely flinches. With a swift twist, its massive tail glows silver and Iron Tail slams into Axew, sending him flying backwards, crashing through the same pillars he had just leapt from, stone shattering around him.
Axew rises quickly, determination in his eyes. As Onix prepares another Iron Tail, Axew leaps, barely avoiding the attack that crashes into the ground with a resounding thud, breaking the earth beneath. Axew doesn't hesitate—quick bursts of Dragon Rage hit Onix with heavy damage, rocks and sparks flying off the serpent's body.
Brock: "Onix, Bind then Dig!"
Onix lunges forward, wrapping Axew tightly in its massive coils, the pressure almost too much for Axew to endure. With a growl, Onix burrows underground, dragging Axew with it into the earth. The tension is thick, the gym quiet as both trainers stand, waiting for their Pokémon to resurface.
Suddenly, Onix bursts out from the ground, still holding Axew in its grip. With a fierce throw, it sends Axew crashing hard to the ground before rearing back, its tail gleaming with a deadly Iron Tail. The attack is inevitable, aimed straight for Axew's downed body.
Axew struggles to rise, battered and bruised, his small body shaking under the weight of his injuries. But instead of dodging, as Dango commands, Axew looks up at the approaching Iron Tail, then glances toward Dango—a spark of something in his eyes.
Johnny: "This is it, Brock's going to destroy that Axew. Not going to lie, he did good, but I knew nothing could beat the great Brock."
Maylin: "Oh my God, is glazing all you can do?"
Brock yells, his voice commanding the final blow:
Brock: "Finish this, Onix!"
But Dango, feeling a strange sensation—a connection, like the one he had felt when Axew first hatched—watches as his Pokémon's tail begins to glow. The memory of Professor Daisy's words floods Dango's mind. Axew is a specially bred egg Pokémon, meaning it has a unique move. Dango's heart races. He understands. The time has come for Axew to show his true strength.
Dango: "AXEW, HIT HIM HARD... IRON TAIL!"
Brock: "Iron what?"
Axew: "Axew!"
With a roar, Axew leaps into the air, tail glowing brightly as he clashes with Onix mid-air. Axew's tail now as massive and glowing as Onix's, the force of the two Pokémon colliding sends shockwaves through the arena.
Emotions run high as both Pokémon give it everything they've got, pushing through the pain, determined to win. But in the end, both Axew and Onix land, tired and beaten, struggling to stay on their feet, breathing heavily.
Axew stumbles, his tiny legs wobbling. He's ready to fall—but when he looks at Dango's determined expression, he knows he can't let him down. With one last burst of strength, Axew stands, lifting his head high, ready for anything. Onix, too, eyes Brock with a weary gaze, but with a nod and a smile from Brock, the rock serpent falls, unable to battle.
Dango is victorious. With a victorious yell, Dango grabs his Axew, spinning him in the air in celebration. Johnny, still stunned, stands frozen, his mouth agape in disbelief. Then, with a frustrated grunt, Maylin hits Johnny with his own words from earlier:
Maylin: "Nothing can beat the Great Brock..."
Johnny, unable to take the defeat, runs out of the gym, tears streaming down his face, humiliated. Dango watches him go, raising an eyebrow, then turns to Axew.
Dango: "Is he alright in the head?"
Axew: "Axew?"
Brock hands Dango the gleaming Boulder Badge along with the TM for Rock Slide. With a firm tone, he explains that to unlock the full potential of this or any TM, Dango will need a TM Player—something that syncs with a PokéTV. The catch? It costs a steep 30,000 Poké Dollars. Dango thanks him with a confident nod, waves goodbye, and heads to the Pokémon Centre with Maylin trailing behind, still buzzing with excitement. After receiving his fully restored Pokémon from Nurse Joy, Dango steps outside, the sun gleaming off his badge.
With a quick flick, he sends out both Poké Balls. Staravia bursts into the air with a proud cry, and Dango logs its evolution in his Pokédex. Then he turns to Axew with a grin, asking for a little show. Axew obliges—his tail glows silver before he spins and slices a nearby metal pole clean in half, the top clattering dramatically to the ground.
Dango returns his Staravia, and Axew climbs onto his shoulder, clinging tightly as they prepare to leave. Just then, Maylin calls out, reminding Dango of the promise he'd completely forgotten—he still had to catch a Pokémon for her. They head toward Route 3, where Dango faces off against a few trainers along the way before reaching a sprawling patch of tall grass teeming with wild Pokémon. After scouting around and listing off several options, Maylin chooses her ideal starter: a fiery little Elekid.
In a surprising move, Dango hands Maylin three Poké Balls—and command over his Axew—to help her catch it. Maylin is buzzing with excitement, though clearly nervous. She throws her arm forward, shouting for Axew to use Dragon Rage. But to her frustration, Axew turns to glance back at Dango instead, unmoved.
Maylin: "What's the matter, attack!"
Axew: (Growls at her) "Rhhh, Axew!"
Dango: "Looks like he doesn't like you. Use Staravia instead."
Axew hops back onto Dango's shoulder, clearly not interested. Dango sends out Staravia, who takes to the air with a sharp cry. Maylin, now in control, calls for an attack—Peck. Staravia dives in, but Elekid dodges with ease, sliding to the side and retaliating with a jolt of ThunderShock that zaps Staravia mid-flight, leaving feathers scorched. Staravia recovers shakily, circling back, but Maylin's commands are clumsy and uncertain. The battle drags on, and eventually, Staravia faints, crashing into the grass while Elekid smugly gestures, daring him to get up again.
Dango watches in disbelief. Either Maylin is unbelievably bad at battles… or this Elekid is stronger than expected. Despite the type disadvantage, Dango is confident—he can handle this.
He kneels down, sprays a Potion over Staravia's bruised body, and watches as the bird Pokémon stirs, then launches back into the sky before landing gracefully on the field. Dango steps forward, eyes narrowing.
Dango: "Sorry about that, Staravia. Let's show Elekid what we're made of."
To Be Continued!