Kurt's task was complete, and the drought in Azalea Town had finally come to an end.
The Azalea Gym was open once again, and now it was finally time to take on the Gym challenge.
"Is this really the Azalea Gym? It looks more like a botanical garden to me," Misty muttered as she walked slowly through the entrance, completely unaware of what she was about to face.
Ash couldn't help but nudge her with a reminder. "Hey, Misty, do you remember what type of Gym this is?"
"Huh? What type?"
Before Ash or Brock could answer, realization dawned on Misty's face.
This was a Bug-type Gym!
Before she could react, several Caterpie and Metapod suddenly dropped from the trees, dangling right in front of her eyes.
"B-BUGS!!!"
With a scream, Misty leapt onto Ash's back, hiding behind his head and refusing to look at the swarms of Bug-type Pokémon around them.
Ash gave a helpless chuckle. Misty's fear of Bug Pokémon was no secret to either him or Brock.
Still, seeing all these Caterpie reminded him of someone. He couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic thinking about Butterfree—the one who had flown off into the sky with his beloved. He wondered how the two were doing now.
"My friend's just a little freaked out—she is a girl, after all," Ash said apologetically, patting Misty's arm gently.
"No worries," came a calm voice from behind a tree. A boy stepped out, smiling faintly. "But don't you think Bug-type Pokémon are the greatest?"
"I think all Pokémon are amazing," Ash replied with a firm nod. "I like Bug-types, I like Flying-types—every Pokémon has its own charm."
"No one has the right to force their preferences onto others, right?"
The boy paused, giving Ash a long look. Then, he smiled. "You're right. I should apologize for that."
He took a step forward and introduced himself. "Nice to meet you. I'm Bugsy, the Gym Leader of Azalea Gym. People call me the living encyclopedia of Bug-type Pokémon. Let's have a good battle!"
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town! I'm here to challenge the Azalea Gym!"
Just like that, the battle began.
The Azalea Gym really did resemble a garden—lush and vibrant, with the battlefield set deep in a forest surrounded by towering trees. It was the perfect terrain for Bug-type Pokémon.
"This official Gym match between Gym Leader Bugsy and challenger Ash from Pallet Town will now begin! Each trainer may use up to three Pokémon. The match will be for the Hive Badge!"
Before the first move was made, Bugsy looked at Ash and asked, "Have you ever heard this saying? 'To master Bug Pokémon is to conquer the world.'"
Ash blinked. So far, the Johto region had introduced him to some truly unique Gym Leaders—Falkner, with his obsession with Flying-types, and now Bugsy, who revered Bug-types like royalty.
But there wasn't time to dwell on that—Bugsy had already thrown out his first Poké Ball.
As per Gym rules, the Gym Leader sends out their Pokémon first, giving the challenger the chance to respond strategically.
"The silent warrior of Bug-types—go, Spinarak!"
Ash knew this Pokémon well. Back in Spinarak Town, they'd even teamed up with the little spider to capture Team Rocket. That had been one of the most peaceful times in his journey.
Speaking of Team Rocket… they were actually sneaking into the Gym right at that moment—only to be instantly caught in a web trap set up by the resident Bug-types.
"It's your turn—go, Slowpoke!"
Misty and Brock both did a double take. Ash was using the Slowpoke he had just caught?
But Bugsy's eyes widened in surprise. "You... you've been acknowledged by the God of Slowpoke? Ash, if that's the case, I have no choice but to go all out!"
The problem was—Slowpoke was a Water/Psychic-type, and Bug-type moves were super effective against Psychic-types!
"Spinarak, String Shot!"
The sticky web shot forward, wrapping around Slowpoke with ease. No matter how unique this Slowpoke was, speed was never its strong suit.
"It's stuck now! Use Poison Sting!"
"Slowpoke, use Water Pulse!"
But Slowpoke didn't aim at Spinarak. Instead, it launched the Water Pulse straight at the ground. With a splash, a wave over two meters high surged upward, forming a shield of water that blocked all the incoming poison stings.
"My turn. Use Confusion!"
Slowpoke's eyes glowed a vibrant blue. A psychic aura surrounded Spinarak, holding it in place mid-air.
"Spinarak!"
Completely immobilized, Spinarak had no way of breaking free. Bugsy could only watch helplessly as Slowpoke smashed Spinarak to the ground, knocking it out cold.
"That Slowpoke is insanely strong!" Misty was stunned. Compared to her own Psyduck, which also knew Confusion and looked equally vacant, the difference was night and day.
"Return, Slowpoke!"
Ash called his partner back. The silk was still clinging to it, and the next match might involve targeted attacks.
Bugsy looked at Ash with a serious expression. "My second Pokémon—the proudest warrior among Bug-types, Shuckle!"
Ash frowned the moment Shuckle appeared—and for good reason. Shuckle's stat distribution was obnoxious. It had terrible Attack and Special Attack, but its Defense and Special Defense were sky-high. And if Bugsy used that move...
"So it's Shuckle, huh? Then let's go—Bayleef, I choose you!"
Bayleef pranced out with a cheerful whinny and immediately rubbed her head against Ash's arm affectionately.
"I'm counting on you, girl," Ash said warmly.
Bugsy narrowed his eyes. "Ash, are you underestimating me? You're sending a Grass-type to fight a Bug-type?"
But Ash just shook his head. "I have my reasons for choosing Bayleef. Let's do this!"
Sure enough, Bugsy immediately called out the strategy Ash had anticipated. "Shuckle, use Power Split!"
This move forcibly averaged out both Pokémon's Attack and Special Attack.
Shuckle, whose offensive stats were abysmal, now shared the same attack power as Bayleef.
However, its enormous Defense and Special Defense remained unchanged!
Yet Ash didn't flinch. Instead, he gave his command. "Bayleef, Poison Powder!"
A flurry of purple spores enveloped Shuckle. No matter how high its defenses were, it was now poisoned and would lose health steadily!
"I get it now!" Brock's eyes widened. "Ash chose Bayleef just to poison Shuckle! That was his plan all along!"
Ash wasn't the hotheaded rookie who only charged forward anymore. He'd grown—and now, even type disadvantages weren't stopping him.
Bugsy's final Pokémon was the razor-armed Scyther. And to counter it, Ash chose—Heracross, a fellow Bug-type.
Oddly, Ash didn't use Cyndaquil, his Fire-type, who would've had a clear advantage.
But Scyther was a Bug/Flying-type, while Heracross was Bug/Fighting. If Scyther did know a Flying-type move, Heracross could be in serious danger.
"Strike first, Scyther! Use Quick Attack!"
The mantis Pokémon dashed forward like a bolt of lightning, its blades gleaming.
But instead of panicking, Ash smiled.
So Scyther only used Quick Attack? That meant it didn't know any Flying-type moves!
"Heracross, catch it!"
Scyther's bladed arms came slashing down—but Heracross coolly intercepted them, grabbing both with its powerful arms and bringing the attack to a dead stop.
"No way!" Bugsy was stunned.
But Heracross hadn't even begun to fight.
"Heracross—Megahorn!"
Its massive horn lit up with a dazzling insectoid glow, and with one thunderous charge, Heracross sent Scyther flying.
"Scyther is unable to battle! Heracross wins! The victory goes to Ash from Pallet Town!"
"You did great, Scyther. But the challenger was just too strong," Bugsy said as he recalled his partner.
Then he turned to Ash and held out a badge. "Ash, you were incredible. Here's you rHive Badge—you've earned it!"
"I got the Hive Badge!" Ash grinned.
"Pika pika~!"
Battle Summary:
Slowpoke: 135 / 180
Bayleef: 195 / 210
Heracross: 145 / 252