Stone Badge

The gang finally arrived in Rustboro City and Ash couldn't wait to obtain his first gym badge from the Hoenn Region. The gang met the gym leader Roxanne the other day and she was a teacher at the Pokemon academy in Rustboro City. The Pokemon academy was a school where children and young adults went to learn about Pokemon. There was a beginner's class for children younger than ten, a class where you could learn about being a Pokemon coordinator, a class where you could learn about becoming a Pokemon doctor and a class where you could learn about Pokemon battles. And today Ash was going to battle her for a badge.

The Rustboro Gym resembled the Pewter Gym because the building was modeled to look like a big chunk of pointy rocks and even the battlefield was a rocky one. There were cameras set up because Roxanne liked to film her challenges so that she would show them to her pupils to give them examples on gym battles. Some of Roxanne's students were dealing with the camera and they loved to watch Roxanne's gym battles.

"I must say Ash." Roxanne said. "I hear that you are going to be entering contests as well as gym battles, am I right?"

"That's right." Ash nodded.

He took his ribbon case out and showed Roxanne the Rustboro Ribbon.

"When I entered the Rustboro Contest I found it rather fun, so I decided to participate in contests and gym battles during my Hoenn journey."

"I know what that's like because I enjoy being both the gym leader and a teacher at the Pokemon Academy." Roxanne said. "So I wish you luck in the gym battles and contests."

"Thank you." Ash said.

May told her about the decision to become a Pokemon Coordinator and Roxanne wished her luck too.

"So Ash, are you ready for our gym battle?" Roxanne asked.

"You bet I am." Ash replied.

Ash and Roxanne took their places on the battlefield and Tomo, Brock, May and Max sat on a bench to the side.

"This is exciting; seeing a gym battle for the first time." Max said.

May explained that she and Max were never allowed to watch their dad whenever he had challengers because he thought that May and Max may disturb the challenges.

"I understand that because when I was small I wasn't allowed to watch my dad's gym challenges either." Brock said. "Besides gym leaders need to be strict when they have a challenge."

The referee explained the rules about the gym challenge being a two on two Pokemon battle, and the trainer who defeats both Pokemon wins. The cameras started filming and then the gym battle began.

Roxanne sent a Geodude out to battle first, and sent Treecko out.

"Why is Ash not using Mudkip, as water type Pokemon are strong against rock type Pokemon?" Max asked.

"It's to save his secret weapon for last." Brock answered. "You see, it's usually best to save your strongest Pokemon for last because you can never tell what you'll be up against in a Pokemon battle."

"Oh I see." Max said.

Ash ordered to use Quick Attack to begin the battle. Roxanne ordered her Geodude to use Mega Punch on Treecko.

"Block it with Iron Tail Treecko." Ash said.

Treecko and Geodude hit each other with Iron Tail and Mega Punch.

"Okay Geodude, use Rollout." Roxanne said.

As Geodude rolled it's way towards Treecko, Ash commanded Treecko to use Dragon Breath. Treecko's Dragon Breath attack hit Geodude, but Geodude still managed to tackle Treecko with Rollout. But then Geodude started to feel all numb and paralyzed. Dragon Breath had the added effect of occasionally paralyzing the opponent.

"Try to use Rock Throw Geodude." Roxanne said.

"Use Bullet Seed Treecko." Ash said.

Treecko and Geodude struck each other with Bullet Seed and Rock Throw, and then both Geodude and Treecko fell down in defeat. So the first match ended in a draw.

"Wow both Geodude and Treecko lost in this round." May said. "Will Ash be okay?"

"There's no need to worry May." Tomo replied. "My brother has taken on twenty gyms before and knows exactly what to do in this situation."

"Tomo is right." Brock nodded. "Besides Ash isn't the type of trainer that gives up easily."

Roxanne returned Geodude and sent out a Nosepass.

Ash looked Nosepass up on the Pokedex.

"Nosepass, the Compass Pokemon. Nosepass's magnetic nose is always pointed to the north. If two of these Pokemon meet, they cannot turn their faces to each other when they are close because their magnetic noses repel one another."

"Nosepass sounds like an interesting Pokemon to me." Brock said. "I think I'll catch one for myself."

Ash released Mudkip to battle next.

"Nosepass will definitely lose to Mudkip." Max said.

"That depends though on how well Roxanne fights with her Nosepass." Brock added. "You see, you should never underestimate what type of Pokemon you face, because trainers work hard to help their Pokemon beat the opponents that their Pokemon can't normally defeat."

"Yeah and they can learn moves that can help beat their opponents." Tomo continued. "Like some water type Pokemon can learn ice type moves that can beat grass type Pokemon, or some electric type Pokemon can learn fighting type moves that beat rock type Pokemon."

May and Max realized they had a lot to learn about being Pokemon trainers.

Roxanne commanded Nosepass to use Sandstorm and Mudkip was surrounded by a sandstorm. Nosepass had no trouble finding out where Mudkip was because it's nose was essentially a compass making it easier to determine Mudkip's location.

"Escape this sandstorm with Dig Mudkip." Ash said.

Mudkip tunneled underground to escape the sandstorm.

"That's a clever way to escape I must say." Roxanne admitted. "But Nosepass will tell where your Mudkip is hiding."

She was right; Nosepass's compass nose helped it located where Mudkip was hiding.

"Okay Mudkip come out and use Water Gun." Ash said.

Mudkip emerged from the ground and struck Nosepass with Water Gun.

"That's a bulls-eye." Max said.

"Yes, but Nosepass isn't beaten yet." Brock pointed out.

"Okay Nosepass let's use Zap Cannon." Roxanne said.

Ash was surprised that Roxanne's Nosepass knew an electric type move.

"Mudkip dodge that Zap Cannon quickly." He said.

Mudkip jumped out of the way just before Nosepass's Zap Cannon could hit him.

"Now use Water Gun Mudkip." Mudkip struck Nosepass hard with Water Gun, and this time Nosepass fainted from the direct hit. So Ash was the winner of the gym battle.

May and Max were impressed by this.

"So this is what a gym battle is like." Max said excited.

Roxanne and the students walked up to Ash.

"Ash, I must say you really know how to handle gym battles." Roxanne said.

"Well, that's because I've experienced many gym battles before." Ash informed her.

"The video of today's battle will definitely give my students a good example." Roxanne said. "And now Ash I present you with the Stone Badge."

The Stone Badge was a yellow-brownish colored badge shaped like a rectangle with two of it's corners more emphasized than the others. Ash was happy to have won his first Hoenn gym badge and now he needed seven more badges to enter the Hoenn League.