Ash's 6th Gym Battle

The next day...
It was finally time for Ash to battle Byron. Byron and Ash took their places on the battlefield while Tomo sat with Dawn and Brock on the sidelines. As Roark was going to be the referee the actual referee sat in the stands with the others. 
"This is a three on three Pokemon battle." Roark explained.
"I love fossils and defense." A excited Byron yelled out.
This was his crazy way of starting a gym battle.
"Just wait and see Byron, I will get the Mine Badge for sure." Ash called out.
"That's the kind of spirit ! like!" Byron shouted. "But if you think this is going to be a walk in the park, I've got news for you!"
Byron sent a Bronzor out to battle first. Ash decided to send his Rampardos out to battle first.
"That Rampardos." Roark said. "Ash, is that-?"
"Yes Roark this Rampardos evolves from the Cranidos you resurrected for me." Ash answered.
Roark was amazed by this. Brock did point out that rock type Pokemon were weak to steel type Pokemon, but he did believe that Ash would know what to do with something like this.
"Rampardos, Flamethrower." He said. 
Bronzor had the ability Heatproof. That meant Rampardos' Flamethrower was weakened.
"Okay let's do this then." Ash said. "Rampardos, use Assurance."
Rampardos' head glowed dark purple and then it headbutted Bronzor really hard.
"That move." Dawn said.
"Assurance is a dark type move." Brock said. "An excellent move to use against Bronzor."
Byron had a surprise for Rampardos.
"Bronzor, Rain Dance." He ordered.
It began to rain. Rampardos didn't like that because he was a rock type Pokemon. 
"Rampardos, use Dig to get out of the rain now." Ash said.
Rampardos tunneled underground. Byron was getting more impressed with Ash by the minute. The rain stopped and Bronzor waited for Rampardos to emerge. 
"Rampardos, come on out and use Flamethrower." Ash said.
Rampardos came out of the ground and blew a stream of fire.
"Bronzor, dodge and use Gyro Ball." Byron said.
Bronzor dodged the Flamethrower attack and tackled Rampardos with Gyro Ball.
As Gyro Ball is a steel type move, Rampardos took a lot of damage.
"This ends now." Byron said. "Bronzor, use Gyro Ball again."
"Rampardos, use Assurance." Ash said.
The two Pokemon charged at each other really hard. In the end Bronzor collapsed.
"Success!" Dawn cheered.
"Only two more to go." Brock said.
Ash returned Rampardos because he was tired. Byron returned Bronzor. He was starting to really enjoy the battle and started to shout out in excitement.
"Ash, don't start celebrating yet." Roark warned him.
"Don't worry Roark, I know the battle has only just begun." Ash said.
He knew because he had been there lots of times before. Byron sent out a Steelix next and Ash sent out his Bastiodon next. Byron, Roark and the gym referee were surprised to see Ash had a Bastiodon too.
"So Shieldon evolved too Ash?" Roark asked.
Ash smiled and replied yes.
"What are the odds with Bastiodon going up against Steelix?" Dawn asked.
"Well Bastiodon is a rock/steel type." Brock answered. "And Steelix is a steel/ground type. So Bastiodon is at a disadvantage. But there's no doubt Ash will try and turn that around."
Ash knew he had to be careful because Byron used strong defensive strategies, but he wasn't going to let that get him down.
"Bastiodon, Flash Cannon." Steelix used Screech to stop Bastiodon in it's tracks. "
Hey, Roark did that with his Onix back at the Oreburgh Gym." Tomo said.
"You're right Tomo, it's obvious that Roark picked that up from his dad." Dawn added. 
"Don't let that Screech get you down Bastiodon, use Dig." Ash ordered.
Bastiodon tunneled into the ground.
"That won't stop us. Steelix, Iron Tail." Byron commanded.
Steelix used Iron Tail on the ground. It created a big hole and forced Bastiodon to come out of the ground. Ash gasped.
"Okay let's do this. Bastiodon, Flamethrower." He said.
Bastiodon released a stream of fire from it's mouth.
"That Steelix must be really strong if it can withstand Flamethrower." Dawn said.
"No doubt Byron has worked hard with Steelix." Brock agreed.
"Steelix, use Iron Tail." Byron ordered.
"Dodge it, Bastiodon." Ash commanded.
Bastiodon tried to avoid being hit by Iron Tail, but Steelix struck the ground so hard it was knocked off it's feet.
"Bastiodon, you okay?" Ash called out.
Bastiodon was okay, but it was a bit shaken from being knocked off it's feet. Before Ash could issue Bastiodon a order, Steelix used Iron Tail and Bastiodon was knocked off his feet again.
"If this continues Ash won't be able to fight back." Dawn said.
Ash wasn't going to let this beat him.
"Bastiodon, use Flamethrower." He ordered.
Bastiodon perked himself up and blew a stream of fire at Steelix.
The attack was really strong and Steelix couldn't take any more. It then fainted.
Byron returned Steelix.
"Yes, I can see how you managed to get a badge from my son." He said. "But you still have to beat my Bastiodon."
His Bastiodon was called out.
Ash remembered how strong Byron's Bastiodon was and knew he had to be careful. He returned his Bastiodon and sent Rampardos out again.
"Why did Ash switch out?" Dawn asked.
"Bastiodon is exhausted from the battle with Steelix, so Ash sent Rampardos allowing Bastiodon to rest." Brock explained his decision.
"But Rampardos is a rock type, so it will be at a disadvantage." Dawn noted.
"Ash will turn it around like he always does." Tomo said.
He had faith in his brother.
"Flamethrower." Ash told Rampardos.
Bastiodon used Iron Defense to protect itself.
"Now Bastiodon, Iron Head!" Byron commanded.
"Rampardos, Zen Headbutt!" Ash ordered.
The two Pokemon's heads rammed into each other, but Bastiodon proved to be stronger and Rampardos was thrown back.
"Now use Flash Cannon." Byron ordered.
Bastiodon fired a silver ball of energy from his mouth.
Flash Cannon proceeded to knock Rampardos out.
"I'm not surprised about the battle's result." Dawn said.
"Ash will win though. He has two Pokemon left." Tomo said.
Ash returned Rampardos and sent Bastiodon out. 
"Bastiodon vs Bastiodon, huh?" Dawn remarked.
"This is going to be a good one." Tomo said.
"Bastiodon, Flamethrower." Ash told him.
Byron's Bastiodon used Iron Defense. 
"Bastiodon, let's go with Iron Head." Ash said.
"You use Iron Head as well." Byron replied. 
The two Bastiodon charged towards each other.
"Looking at this is giving me a headache." Dawn said.
"I would hate to get in between those two." Brock grimaced.
"Don't give up Bastiodon." Ash called out to his Bastiodon.
"Don't you go backing down either Bastiodon." Byron said to his Bastiodon.
The two Bastiodon continued butting heads with each other.
Just then Ash's Bastiodon started feeling tired and it was knocked back by Byron's Bastiodon.
"Now Bastiodon, use Flamethrower." Byron said.
A stream of flames hit Ash's Bastiodon before it was able to do anything. His Bastiodon then fainted.
"Wow Byron's Bastiodon is no pushover." Dawn said.
Tomo could see he would need to be careful during his battle with Byron.
"Now Ash only has one Pokemon left." Brock said.
Ash returned Bastiodon and sent Gliscor out.
"Gliscor?" Dawn asked. "Wouldn't it have been better for Ash to use Chimchar or another Pokemon that could beat Bastiodon."
"Ash chose Gliscor based on Bastiodon's move set." Brock said. "This is Gliscor's first battle, so let's see how this will turn out."
"Steel Wing." Ash told Gliscor. 
Bastiodon used Iron Defense, causing Gliscor to bounce off.
"Okay Gliscor, Fire Fang." Ash said.
Gliscor flew towards Bastiodon with it's fangs on fire, but Bastiodon pushed her away with Iron Head. Gliscor was sent into the sky.
"Now Bastiodon, use Flash Cannon." Byron said.
Bastiodon fired a silver ball of energy at Gliscor. 
"Quick, open your wings and dodge that Gliscor." Ash said.
Gliscor stretched out her wings and glided out of the way before the ball of energy hit her.
Because Gliscor's wings acted like a glider, it was easy for her to get out of the way when being attacked.
"Grab onto Bastiodon's back." Ash said.
Gliscor flew over to Bastiodon and grabbed a hold of it's horns.
"Now Fire Fang." Ash said.
Gliscor bit Bastiodon's back with flaming fangs. As Fire Fang was a fire type move, Bastiodon roared in pain. 
Gliscor was about to do it again, but Bastiodon threw her off his back. 
"Time for Flash Cannon." Byron said.
"Quick Gliscor, use Aqua Tail." Ash said.
As Bastiodon was about to release another silver ball of energy, Gliscor knocked it off it's feet with Aqua Tail, causing Bastiodon's attack to hit a boulder and Bastiodon was somewhat soaked by the water type attack. By now both Gliscor and Bastiodon were feeling exhausted.
"Gliscor, use Brick Break." Ash said.
"This is how battling should be." Byron said. He was enjoying the battle. "Bastiodon, Iron Head."
Gliscor managed to hit Bastiodon with her right claw, but she was still headbutted by Iron Head. Next Bastiodon prepared to use Flash Cannon, but Gliscor moved out of the way to avoid the attack.
"Gliscor, use Sand Attack." Ash said.
Gliscor whipped up a sandstorm with Sand Attack and Bastiodon wasn't able to see it.
"Now Gliscor, end this with Fire Fang." Ash ordered.
Blinded by the sand, Bastiodon couldn't see Gliscor coming towards it with flaming fangs. After the sand cleared both Gliscor and Bastiodon were still standing. A few seconds later, Bastiodon fainted. Ash won the gym battle.
Gliscor hugged Ash, happy with her victory. 
"Good job." Brock, Dawn and Tomo congratulated him.
"You did a good job for your first gym battle." Ash praised Gliscor. 
This made Gliscor really happy.
"I think you did a good job as well." Roark also congratulated Ash.
He knew how hard it was sometimes for trainers to beat his father. Byron presented Ash with a Mine Badge. The Mine Badge was gray and light brown, shaped like three pickaxes and three stones combined. Ash happily accepted his badge. Byron then turned to Tomo.
"I will have a gym battle with you tomorrow. My Pokemon are exhausted from facing your brother." He said.
"That's okay with me." Tomo nodded in understanding.
This gave him a chance to figure out his strategy.
Ash finally obtained his sixth gym badge. All Tomo had to do was wait for his battle with Byron.