Meeting Barry

Today the gang finally returned to Hearthome City.
"I hope we will battle Fantina this time." Tomo said. "I'm tired of waiting."
"Me too Tomo, Fantina did make us wait a long time." Ash agreed with his brother.
"Well you two can't blame her for that." Dawn said. "Remember she was training with her Pokemon."
"Yeah, but still-" Ash said. 
He was patient, but even he found it hard to wait for a gym battle; he even found it hard back when he had to wait to battle Jasmine.
When the gang finally got to the gym, Ash and Tomo ran to the door. But then the gym door opened and somebody crashed into Ash.
"Ouch what was that?" Ash asked.
"Ow my head." A voice said.
The voice belonged to a boy with yellow hair.
"Are you okay Ash?" Dawn asked.
"Hey what about me!" The boy shouted. "Don't mind asking me if I'm okay!"
"Oh dear sorry, are you okay too?" Dawn asked the boy. 
But then when Dawn looked at the boy, he appeared to be familiar to her. 
"For crashing into me like that I should fine you." The boy complained.
"That was a accident pal." Ash growled. "No way I'm paying you for that." 
"Under my watch you are!" The boy argued. "Ah I don't have time for this. I'm going to be the greatest Pokemon trainer ever!"
Then he ran off. 
"What the heck was that about?" Ash asked. 
Just then Tomo noticed something on the ground. It was an orange badge case. 
"Hey do you think this badge case belongs to that kid?" Tomo asked, picking it up off the ground.
Before Tomo's question could be answered, Fantina came out of the gym.
"Why bonjour Ash, Tomo, Dawn, Brock." She said. 
"Hi Fantina." Dawn greeted her. 
Suddenly Fantina noticed the orange badge case Tomo was holding.
"Oh, that belongs to my challenger." She said.
"Challenger?" Ash asked. "Oh, you mean the boy that just came out of the gym?"
"Correct." Fantina said.
She explained that the boy was from Twinleaf Town and had just challenged her to a gym battle, but lost. 
"Speaking of gym battles." Ash said. "Can Tomo and I challenge you to a gym battle?"
"Oh sorry Ash." Fantina apologized. "But I have a few challengers battling me today and my Pokemon need to rest. Please wait till tomorrow for our battle."
Ash was disappointed he couldn't battle, but he was aware that Fantina's Pokemon needed to rest following her gym battles.
"What should we do now?" Tomo asked.
"Well first of all we'll take this badge case back to the kid we saw earlier, then we get ready for the gym battle tomorrow." Ash answered.
Suddenly there was a shout and somebody ran into Ash; it was the boy from earlier.
"Ow not again." The boy complained. "Oh it's you again."
Ash wasn't happy either. 
Just then the boy noticed his badge case on the ground; Ash dropped it when the boy ran into him.
"You're not just a klutz, you're also a thief stealing my badges." The boy said.
"Hey you have it all wrong." Brock said.
"Hey, I remember you now." The boy interrupted, pointing at Ash. "I saw you on TV when the Hearthome Tag Tournament was taking place and you teamed up with Paul. Man, you were terrible compared to Paul; I was laughing through the whole thing." 
"Oh yeah!" Ash shouted, angrily.
Just then, Dawn interrupted them.
"I remember you, you're Barry right?" She asked the boy.
"You know him, Dawn?" Ash asked.
"Yes I remember him because I'm from Twinleaf Town too. I remember that you did a duet with Exploud at the festival last year. That was you, right Barry?" 
"Yeah that was me, but I don't remember you." Barry said. "Oh wait, now I do. You're the geeky trainer that Paul defeated in the tournament."
"Geeky?" Dawn responded, angrily.
She wasn't fond of Barry's statement. 
Brock and Tomo told Barry they were in the tournament too, but he couldn't remember them. So Brock and Tomo introduced themselves, disliking Barry's attitude.
"Hey, let's have a battle." Barry stated. "You have ten seconds to call out your Pokemon."
He had an orange Poketch.
"Wow, that's the latest model of the Poketch." Dawn said, grabbing Barry's wrist to get a better look at it.
"Hey you girly geek!" Barry shouted, rudely. "You're interrupting my timing."
"My name is Dawn." Dawn said, angrily.
Barry ignored her and told Ash to hurry up and release his Pokemon.
Ash had enough of Barry's attitude and sent Chimchar out to battle first.
"Hey I recognize that Chimchar." Barry said. "It was Paul's Pokemon. Did you trade with him or something?"
"No Paul abandoned Chimchar so I'm his trainer now." Ash answered.
Barry didn't believe him; the truth is, he thought Paul was a great trainer and had no idea what he was really like.
"I take it you want to be strong like Paul?" Barry asked.
"I beg your pardon?" Ash asked.
Being like Paul was something Ash would never, ever like to be. Barry explained he wanted to be strong too which is why he worked and battled hard with his Pokemon training. He also said he had three gym badges.
"Really? I have four badges." Ash said.
Barry was shocked by that, but quickly shrugged it off. He went to reach for a Poke Ball, but he suddenly stopped.
"Ah I forgot I left my Poke Balls in storage." Barry said. "I'll quickly go back and get them. Don't go anywhere!"
He quickly ran off and the gang decided to follow Barry.
In the city Team Rocket was pulling a sneaky stunt. This time they set up a fake storage system for Pokemon. The trick was the Pokemon trainers would give their Poke Balls to Jessie, James and Meowth to look after them for a bit, like a real Poke Ball storage system.
"This was a nice idea." Meowth said. "We're getting plenty of Poke Balls filled with Pokemon here."
"The boss will be so happy with this." James said. 
"We better start packing up and leave at once before anyone becomes suspicious." Jessie said.
At that moment Barry and the gang appeared.
"Can I have my Poke Balls back?" He asked.
Team Rocket couldn't believe Barry had appeared.
"Uh sure." Meowth quickly said. "We'll get your Poke Balls at once."
He, Jessie and James quickly went around the back.
"Something's not right about this." Ash said.
Before he said anything else, Fantina appeared. She was shopping for Pokemon food.
"What is this?" Fantina asked, looking at the shop.
"This is a storage service for Poke Balls." Barry answered.
"This is very strange." Fantina whispered. "There was never a place like this here before."
This was confusing and Barry really wanted his Poke Balls back now.
Suddenly the fake storage shop broke apart and Team Rocket revealed themselves in their balloon.
"I knew something wasn't right here." Ash said. 
"Who are those people?" Fantina asked.
"They're members of Team Rocket. A criminal organization that steals other people's Pokemon." Dawn answered.
Team Rocket started to fly their balloon.
"Give my Pokemon back." Barry demanded.
Ash released Gliscor to burst Team Rocket's balloon, but Jessie and James released Seviper and Carnivine to stop it.
Fantina then stepped in.
"Mismagius, Psybeam." She said.
Psybeam caused the two to become confused.
Ash then used this to his advantage.
"Gliscor, burst it with your claws." He ordered.
Gliscor did just that. The balloon fell to the ground and a bag containing all the trainers Poke Balls fell onto the ground. Barry quickly opened the bag and got his Poke Balls back. 
This made Team Rocket angry.
"Attack." They ordered.
Pikachu, Growlithe and Piplup ran forward to attack Seviper and Carnivine, but Carnivine stopped the three in their tracks with Bullet Seed. Seviper then charged in with Bite. Barry released a Empoleon from a Poke Ball.
"Empoleon, Hydro Cannon." Barry said.
Empoleon's Hydro Cannon attack pushed Seviper back.
"Wow Barry, your Empoleon looks really strong." Dawn said.
"Of course. I trained it after all." Barry boasted.
"Seviper, Carnvine attack again." Jessie and James ordered.
A combined Bubble Beam, Thunderbolt and Flamethrower stopped them in their tracks. 
"End this with Hyper Beam." Barry told Empoleon.
This sent Team Rocket flying.
After Team Rocket left, Fantina offered to give the trainers their Poke Balls back.
"I have to say Ash, you and your Pokemon have gotten a lot stronger." Fantina said. "I look forward to battling you again."
"Me too and this time I won't lose." Ash responded.
Not long after talking to Fantina, Barry walked with the gang.
"So Ash, are you going to battle Fantina?" He asked.
"Yes and I take it you'll have a rematch with her, right Barry?" Ash questioned back.
"Yes I am." Barry said. "And if Empoleon is no good I will get an even stronger Pokemon and if that one is no good I'll get an even better one."
"Hold it right there you." Ash interrupted. "Just because you have a lot of strong Pokemon doesn't mean you will always win every battle you participate in. I've been a Pokemon trainer for five years now and I've come across loads of Pokemon trainers who are stronger than me and my Pokemon, but that doesn't stop me and my Pokemon from becoming much stronger together. Bonding with my Pokemon is what made me a better Pokemon than how I was when I first started out as a Pokemon trainer."
"Bonding?" Barry asked.
He didn't quite understand that concept yet.
"No matter how weak a Pokemon is when you first catch it; you can still turn it into a very strong Pokemon." Ash said. "I know that because all my Pokemon started off weak when I first got them. Even my Pikachu wasn't very strong when I first got him. If you work hard with your Pokemon through thick or thin you can accomplish anything."
"But I want to get stronger now." Barry said.
It seems Barry didn't have the patience to become stronger over time.
"I want to become strong like Paul." Barry said. "He is the coolest trainer ever."
Ash was left speechless; he couldn't believe that Barry liked Paul and thought he was a great trainer. He certainly didn't.
"Ash and Paul once had a battle and he quickly forfeited." Dawn explained.
"Ha Paul must have thought you were unworthy to continue battling." Barry laughed.
Ash had reached his boiling point. 
"Hey it's battle time, so let's go already." Barry said.
"As you wish!" Ash shouted. "And I will show you what me and my Pokemon have accomplished during our time together."
Barry and the gang went to the Pokemon Center for him and Ash to have their battle. Brock acted as the referee. Ash sent Chimchar out to battle first while Barry sent out a Staraptor. 
"Tackle." Barry told Staraptor.
Chimchar dodged the attack.
"Flamethrower." Ash told Chimchar.
Staraptor dodged it.
"Great." Barry said. "Now Staraptor, Close Combat."
Staraptor started to hit, kick and peck Chimchar with it's claws, wings and beak. Chimchar managed to avoid getting hit for a while, but in the end he was kicked.
"Staraptor, Wing Attack." Barry said.
Staraptor charged Chimchar, but it tunneled underground with Dig.
"Now Chimchar, Flamethrower." Ash said.
Chimchar resurfaced and a stream of fire came out of his mouth. This time it was a direct hit and Staraptor fainted.
Barry returned Staraptor and sent a Roserade. 
"Poison Jab." He told Roserade.
Chimchar was jabbed repeatedly and was unable to escape. Finally Roserade struck Chimchar really hard with Poison Jab and he fainted.
Ash returned Chimchar and sent Gliscor out.
"Gliscor, X-Scissor." Ash said.
"Roserade, Poison Jab." Barry said.
Gliscor and Roserade began hitting each other with X-Scissor and Poison Jab like they were in a boxing match. In the end both Pokemon hit each other really hard and knocked each other, ending that in a draw.
Ash returned Gliscor and sent Pikachu out. Barry returned Roserade and sent Empoleon out. Dawn was surprised that Barry used a water type Pokemon against Pikachu. 
"I want to show how strong Empoleon is." Barry insisted.
Pikachu started off with Thunderbolt, but Empoleon countered with Hydro Cannon.
"Move in with Steel Wing, Empoleon." Barry said.
"Use Iron Tail Pikachu." Ash said. 
Pikachu and Empoleon began clashing like they were in a sword fight. Finally Empoleon managed to send Pikachu back, but Pikachu wasn't defeated yet.
Then Empoleon used Hyper Beam and Pikachu was hit before he could dodge. 
"Don't give up yet Pikachu!" Ash called out.
Pikachu wasn't defeated and wasn't about to give up. Empoleon couldn't move because of Hyper Beam's drawback so Pikachu had a opportunity to use Thunderbolt. 
"Time to use Volt Tackle Pikachu." Ash said.
Pikachu charged at Empoleon and it fainted. Ash won the battle.
Ash was happy about his victory. Barry on the other hand wasn't.
"What are you so happy about?" He asked. "You were just lucky that's all. I'm still a much stronger trainer than you."
Barry wasn't willing to admit Ash was a strong Pokemon trainer.
"Alright then how about this." Ash said. He was fed up with Barry's attitude. "Why don't you watch my battle with Fantina tomorrow. Maybe then you'll see what I'm capable after I beat the gym leader you lost to."
"And I will show you what me and my Pokemon are capable of too." Tomo said.
Barry agreed to watch Ash and Tomo battle Fantina tomorrow, but he doubted Ash and Tomo could beat her.
So now they had another rival in Sinnoh to contend with.