Meeting Reggie

Today the gang arrived in Veilstone City and they looked at it from a hill. 
"What a beautiful city." Dawn said, admiring the view.
"And here is where we'll obtain badge number three." Tomo said.
"After the gym I can get my third Frontier plaque because the next battle facility is outside Veilstone City." Ash said.
"Well this is certainly going to be fun isn't it?" Brock chuckled.
Suddenly something blue flew in front of the gang.
"What was that?!" Dawn gasped.
"A Aura Sphere." Ash said. 
Ash's Lucario, who was with the gang, wanted to know where that came from and took off. 
"Let's follow Lucario. Hurry." Ash said. 
Following Lucario led the gang to a big field and there was a girl having a fight with a Lucario. Lucario was firing aura spheres and the girl was deflecting them with her feet. 
"That Lucario must belong to that girl and they're training each other." Brock said. "We've seen trainers fight their own Pokemon especially fighting types for training purposes before." 
Ash watched the Lucario.
"That Lucario feels angry and upset." He said.
"Why would it feel that way?" Tomo asked.
Before Tomo's question could be answered, a thunderbolt nearly hit the gang. It was from an Electabuzz. Piplup was angry with Electabuzz and charged at it. Electabuzz knocked Piplup back and into Pikachu. That made both of them mad, but before they did anything Ash's Lucario grabbed them to make them stop.
"Enough you two!" Ash said angrily to Pikachu and Piplup.
They then proceeded to apologize.
The girl and her Lucario noticed the gang.
"What's going on?" They asked.
"Don't worry miss." Ash said. "This Electabuzz was about to give us trouble, but we took care of it."
Just then a young man came up.
"I thought you were up to something Electabuzz." He said.
Electabuzz did it's best to look innocent.
"Hang on a moment." Ash said. "That's Paul's Electabuzz."
"Oh, do you know Paul?" The man asked.
"Yes, he's one of my rivals but he isn't very friendly." Ash said.
"Sorry, my brother is always like that when it comes to rivals." The man replied.
He introduced himself as Reggie and Paul was his younger brother. Reggie was also a Pokemon breeder and Paul always left his Pokemon with him to look after and train. The gang introduced themselves and Ash and Tomo explained that they were there to battle the gym leader.
"Well how about that." Reggie said. "You've got two challengers today Maylene." 
Reggie explained that the girl was Maylene, the Veilstone City gym leader. As Maylene had a Lucario, it was clear she used fighting type Pokemon. Hearing that made Ash and Tomo declare they wanted to battle her for the gym badge.
"I'm sorry, but can you go to another gym?" Maylene asked.
Her Lucario became angry after hearing that and he was about to fire another Aura Sphere, but Ash's Lucario prevented it from doing so.
"What do you mean go to another gym?" Ash questioned back. "Tomo and I want to battle you."
Maylene was about to answer, but three men with black belts turned up. They were Maylene's gym assistants and her students. 
"I'm not going back to the gym!" Maylene argued.
"Stop." One of them said. "That is unacceptable. A gym leader does not act in this manner in front of other trainers."
Ash was confused.
"What's going on?" He asked Reggie.
Reggie explained that Maylene was a tough battler and she became the gym leader six months ago. Maylene tried to tell them that she didn't want to be a gym leader anymore, but of course her Lucario wasn't willing to accept this. Reggie then stepped forward.
"Is this due to what Paul told you?" He asked.
"Paul was here and he battled Maylene?" Ash asked out loud.
Reggie explained the whole story. Paul did battle Maylene for her gym badge. Her gym specializes in fighting type Pokemon. By this time Paul had evolved his Murkrow into a Honchkrow and he had also captured a Magmar. That was of course to replace Chimchar after he abandoned it. Because Honchkrow was a flying type Pokemon it easily defeated two of Maylene's fighting type Pokemon. Then Magmar easily defeated Lucario because it was a steel/fighting type.
"I was totally out of sync with Lucario and my other Pokemon." Maylene finished. "It wasn't even like a gym battle against a gym leader. I can hardly blame the challenger for what he said to me." 
"What did Paul say?" Ash asked. 
He felt that Paul must have said something very mean to her and he was right. Paul said Maylene was the weakest gym leader he had ever met and the badge was light weight like she was. Those words made Maylene upset and her spirits were crushed. Dawn felt sorry for Maylene and understood how she felt because of her two contest losses. Reggie tried to apologized to Maylene for what Paul said, but she believed she was weak and started to run off. Her Lucario wanted to follow, but Maylene shouted at it to stay away.
"What should we do Ash?" Tomo asked.
It was clear as crystal that Maylene wasn't going to accept his or Ash's challenge.
"We stay here." Ash said. "I want to battle Maylene and I'm not going anywhere until I get a gym badge from her."
"Yeah me neither." Tomo agreed.
Maylene's Lucario was happy to hear that; it wanted Maylene to battle them. Reggie wanted to go and console Maylene, but Dawn stopped him.
"Let me talk to Maylene." She said.
As Dawn understood what Maylene was going through, she felt it was better if she spoke to Maylene. 
"Can you lead the way?" She asked Maylene's Lucario. They headed off. 
Ash's Lucario decided to follow them.
Dawn and the two Lucario came to a stream where Maylene was meditating.
"What do you want?" Maylene asked Dawn after seeing her.
Dawn sat down next to Maylene.
"I understand how you feel because I feel the same way." Dawn said. "You see, I lost the first round of Pokemon contests two times in a row, so I'm taking a break now. Even though I tell everyone I need recharging I feel that I'm not cut out for contests. Ash had won three contest ribbons already and I'm way behind him now."
"Ash is competing in Pokemon contests too?" Maylene asked.
"Yes and he is a very good coordinator too; a lot better than I am." Dawn answered.
Maylene sighed. 
"To tell you the truth when I started to consider that winning or losing in a gym battle can change a challengers life it kinds of scares me. I can't seem to concentrate like I used to."
Maylene's Lucario was about to get angry again, but Ash's Lucario stopped it. 
'Listen to what she has to say.' He said in his own language. 
Ash had taught him to be patient and to listen to what others have to say. Maylene's Lucario backed off.
"I can't continue to be a gym leader like this." Maylene continued. "Not after what Reggie's younger brother said to me."
"Ignore Paul's words." Dawn said. "He's just a rude guy who says rude things to people. He's always rude to Ash, but he doesn't let that get him down and neither should you."
"Gym battles used to be fun whether I won or lost." Maylene said. "But now I don't feel like that anymore."
"I know that feeling." Dawn said. "After losing contests twice I don't know what to do anymore. And I also feel like I'm dragging Ash, Tomo and Brock into my problems."
"I feel like I'm just causing trouble for Lucario and my students." Maylene said.
It was then Ash's Lucario used Metal Claw to slice a rock in half.
"Hey, what are you doing Lucario?" Dawn asked.
Lucario turned to Maylene's Lucario and beckoned it to come at him.
"I think that Lucario wants Maylene's Lucario to battle it." Maylene said.
"You can tell that's Ash's Lucario." Dawn chuckled. "It has a real fighting spirit like Ash."
Maylene's Lucario fired an Aura Sphere, but Ash's Lucario countered it with his own. Then he moved in with Blaze Kick.
"Wow it knows Blaze Kick?" Maylene asked.
It was clear that her Lucario didn't know this move. Maylene's Lucario dodged before Ash's Lucario could kick it. Then the two Lucario pushed each other back with Force Palm. Ash's Lucario was happy to be fighting a tough opponent and Maylene's Lucario was happy to have a battle even if it wasn't a gym battle.
"It's obvious that your Lucario wants to battle." Dawn said. "But it's clear from it's anger that it wants to fight alongside you." 
Maylene was still uneasy about that.
Suddenly Dawn had an idea.
"I know, you and I can have a battle Maylene." She said.
Dawn suggested that since she and Maylene lost their confidence because of they went through; Dawn thought the battle could raise both of their spirits. At first Maylene wasn't sure, but her Lucario was very keen on the idea so Maylene agreed to.
Back with the others...
The boys were speaking to Reggie in his house. Ash had his Chimchar out of his Poke Ball.
Reggie immediately recognized it and remembered it was Paul's before.
"He abandoned Chimchar." Ash explained.
"I take it you've seen Paul's intense training and battles Ash?" Reggie asked.
"We have seen everything." Ash replied.
He couldn't believe Reggie and Paul were brothers; Reggie was a lot nicer than Paul.
"With what Paul said to Maylene it's no wonder she feels down and doesn't want to battle us." Ash said. "Any gym leader would feel that way if someone called them weak. Mind you Misty, Lt. Surge, Janine and Chuck wouldn't become upset; they would beat the rude person up, especially Misty." 
"I agree." Brock added.
"Me too." Tomo nodded.
"I heard from Paul that you battled the gyms and leagues in Kanto, Johto and Hoenn Ash." Reggie said.
"That's right and now I'm doing it in Sinnoh." Ash nodded.
"Hey Ash." Reggie said. "You can have a battle with me. I know I'm no substitute for the gym, but I would like to see how Paul's rival fights."
"I accept." Ash agreed to the battle. "Let's make it three on three."
This was how his first battle with Paul went.
Brock noticed a line of pictures on the mantelpiece, with badges in them. They were Reggie's; he used to be a trainer in the past, battling gym leaders and collecting badges.
Just as Ash and Reggie were about to battle, Dawn, Maylene and the two Lucario showed up. Ash's Lucario went to his side. Brock and Tomo watched from the sidelines with Dawn and Maylene.
Reggie sent out a Bibarel to battle and Ash sent out his Turtwig to battle. Turtwig started the battle with Bullet Seed, but Bibarel dodged it and used Secret Power. Because they were battling on grass, Turtwig fell asleep after being hit by Secret Power. 
"Oh no. Turtwig, wake up." Ash said.
Bibarel rammed into Turtwig while he was asleep and then Turtwig woke up. Reggie was surprised Turtwig woke up that easily.
"Bibarel, Super Fang." He ordered.
Turtwig dodged it and then used Razor Leaf. As Bibarel was also a water type, Razor Leaf was super effective against it. 
"Energy Ball." Ash ordered.
Bibarel tried to counter with Ice Beam, but Turtwig dodged it and proceeded to use Energy Ball.
The attack scored another super effective hit and Bibarel was knocked out. Ash won the battle.
Maylene was impressed with Ash's Turtwig. 
"He has been a trainer for five years and is a strong one." Dawn explained before adding. "His other grass type Pokemon taught Turtwig a few things."
Maylene thought that was nice.
Reggie returned Bibarel and sent out a Swalot. Because he knew Swalot was a poison type Pokemon, Ash returned Turtwig and sent out his Zangoose. Zangoose began the battle by slashing Swalot.
"Swalot use Stockpile." Reggie said.
Swalot took a big gulp of air and made it's body larger.
"We need to be careful with this move Zangoose." Ash said.
"I bet Swalot will use Spit Up next." Tomo guessed.
"You know what that move is?" Maylene asked.
"Yep some of my Pokemon know Stockpile, Spit Up and Swallow." Tomo answered.
"Crush Claw." Ash ordered.
Swalot was hit by Crush Claw, but it was still able to fight and it used Stockpile again. Before Ash could give Zangoose another command, Swalot used Spit Up and Zangoose was hit by a beam of light. It was injured but could still battle. 
"Crush Claw." Ash ordered.
Swalot retaliated with Sludge Bomb, causing it to faint.
Reggie won the second battle and now he and Ash were down to a single Pokemon.
Reggie returned Swalot and then sent out a Staraptor.
Ash looked it up on his Pokedex.
"Staraptor, the Predator Pokemon and the evolved form of Staravia. It has a savage nature. It will courageously challenge foes that are much larger."
Ash sent Pikachu out to battle Staraptor. Pikachu started off with Thunderbolt, but Staraptor dodged it and used Brave Bird. Pikachu tried to dodge, but Staraptor hit him really hard with Brave Bird.
"What a move." Dawn said.
"Brave Bird is the strongest flying type move." Brock explained. "But the user takes recoil damage."
"Staraptor, Steel Wing." Reggie ordered.
"Use your tail Pikachu." Ash said.
Pikachu turned his tail into a spring board to jump high into the air and dodge Staraptor's attack.
"Now Pikachu, Volt Tackle." Ash said.
While still in the air, Pikachu charged forward with Volt Tackle. Staraptor tried to retaliate with Wing Attack, but Pikachu knocked it out. 
Ash won the battle.
Maylene was impressed with Ash's battling style; she didn't take her eyes it at any point. Reggie returned Staraptor.
"I can't remember the last time I had a exciting battle like this. Thank you." He told Ash.
"No. Thank you for this battle Reggie." Ash said.
He was happy that Reggie didn't have a similar battle style like Paul. Reggie then turned to Maylene.
"So Maylene." He said. "Would you like to battle Ash now?"
Before Maylene could answer, Dawn stood up.
"I'll battle Maylene first." She announced.
That left the gang surprised; this was the first time Dawn took on a gym leader.