Zephyr Badge

The next day, it was finally time for Ash to challenger Falkner the Violet City gym leader.

"I've been waiting for this." Ash said. Violet Gym was one of those tall cylinder buildings with a big, flat circular roof.

"I wonder what the gym leader is like." Misty said.

Just then they heard a flap of wings above them. When they looked up, they saw a Pidgeot flying in the sky and someone was riding it.

"Who's that on that Pidgeot?" Tomo asked.

Before Tomo's question could be answered, the Pidgeot flew down to where the gang was standing and landed on the roof. The one riding on Pidgeot was a young man with blue hair.

"Hi there." The man said. "I'm Falkner."

"Are you the gym leader Falkner?" Ash asked.

"Yes I am." Falkner replied. "What can I do for you?"

"I wish to challenge you to a gym battle and earn a badge." Ash said.

"I accept your challenge Ash." Falkner smiled.

Falkner led the gang to the roof of the Violet Gym.

"I have my gym battles on the roof." Falkner explained. "That way, my flying type Pokemon can easily fly around when they battle other Pokemon. I really love flying type Pokemon. When I was a kid, I always dreamed of flying in the sky and now I can thanks to my flying type Pokemon."

"I love flying in the sky alongside my Corviknight." He said. Falkner smiled.

"I think I'll enjoy this gym battle with you Ash." He said.

Soon it was time for the gym battle. Ash and Falkner got ready at the battle arena, while Tomo, Misty and Brock stood at the side to watch.

"This is a gym battle between trainer Ash Ketchum and the Violet Gym leader Falkner." The referee said. "This is a three on three Pokemon battle. The first to defeat three of the opponent's Pokemon wins."

"Okay let's go Hoothoot." Falkner said.

Ash remembered seeing a Hoothoot sometime ago.

"Okay let's go Mareep." He said. Ash's sheep Pokemon got ready to fight.

"This is Mareep's first battle." Misty said.

"Go big brother!" Tomo cheered.

"I figured you would use electric type Pokemon Ash." Falkner said. "But that won't discourage me. Hoothoot Tackle."

Hoothoot swooped down to tackle Mareep.

"Mareep, Thunder Shock." Ash said.

Mareep fired a blue blast of electricity at Hoothoot.

"Quick Hoothoot dodge it." Falkner said.

Hoothoot flew around the battle arena to dodge Mareep's attack. Mareep tried to hit Hoothoot with her Thunder Shock again, but Hoothoot kept dodging it.

*'Hoothoot is fast while in flight.'* Ash thought. *'In that case I will need to confuse it while it's flying.'*

"Mareep, Cotton Spore." Mareep fired a lot of white cotton balls from her body at Hoothoot. Hoothoot started to have trouble trying to dodge the cotton balls without getting hit.

"That's a clever move." Brock said. "Cotton Spore slows your opponent down whether it's flying, running or even swimming."

"So Mareep may be able to attack Hoothoot now." Misty commented.

"All right Mareep." Ash said. "Use Thunder Shock."

Mareep fired Thunder Shock at Hoothoot again and this time Hoothoot was struck by it. Hoothoot started to fall towards the ground.

"Oh no Hoothoot!" Falkner gasped.

"Okay Mareep finish it off with Take Down." Ash said.

As Hoothoot was failing towards the ground, Mareep charged forward at high speed and then slammed into Hoothoot. Hoothoot then fainted.

"Hoothoot is unable to battle." The referee said. "The first match goes to Ash."

"Great job Mareep!" Ash cheered.

Falkner returned Hoothoot.

"Great strategy Ash." Falkner said. "But this battle is not over yet."

Falkner's second Pokemon was a Dodrio.

"Are you still okay to battle Mareep?" Ash asked. Mareep nodded yes.

"Let me warn you Ash." Falkner said. "Dodrio here is my second best flying type Pokemon."

"I have a Dodrio too." Ash said. "And I know for a fact Dodrio is unable to fly."

"Don't be so sure about my Dodrio." Falkner smirked.

Ash had a feeling he would be surprised during this battle.

"Mareep, Thunder Shock." Ash said.

Mareep sent Thunder Shock at Dodrio, but...

"Dodrio, Agility." Falkner said.

Dodrio ran very fast to avoid Mareep's Thunder Shock.

"Oh no." Ash said. "Dodrio was well known for running very fast."

Falkner told his Dodrio to jump. When Dodrio jumped it looked like it was flying.

"That's a good battle strategy to use." Brock noted.

"Use Drill Peck." Falkner ordered.

Dodrio's three heads spun like drills and then it stabbed Mareep three times.

"Are you okay Mareep?" Ash asked, concerned.

Mareep was injured, but could still battle.

"Use Tri Attack Dodrio." Falkner commanded.

Each of Dodrio's heads formed a colored orb of energy in it's beak; one a red orb, another yellow and the third blue. Then Dodrio fired all three colored orbs in the shape of a triangle at Mareep.

"Oh wow!" Tomo gasped.

"Tri Attack is an incredible move." Brock said.

Mareep was seriously injured by Tri Attack and then fainted.

"Mareep is unable to battle." The referee said. "This match goes to Falkner."

"That Dodrio is incredible." Misty said.

Ash returned Mareep and sent out his second Pokemon, Sentret.

"Do you think Sentret will be fine against Dodrio?" Misty asked.

"It will be fine." Tomo reassured her. "Big brother trained with her a lot yesterday."

"Okay Dodrio." Falkner said. "Use Drill Peck again."

Dodrio got ready to strike Sentret with Drill Peck.

"Use your tail to dodge Sentret." Ash ordered.

Sentret stood up with it's tail and then with the help of her tail, she jumped into the air to dodge Dodrio's attack.

"That's a clever way to use Sentret's tail." Brock gasped.

"Sentret, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.

Sentret sent a bolt of electricity in Dodrio's direction. Dodrio was in a lot of pain after the thunderbolt attack.

"When did Sentret learn Thunderbolt?" Misty asked.

"Yesterday." Tomo answered. "Big brother's Mareep and my Pikachu were training their electric type attacks together when Sentret wanted to join in. She was interested by Mareep's Thunderbolt and wanted to learn it."

Misty and Brock were amazed.

"Can you still fight Dodrio?" Falkner asked.

Dodrio was struggling to stand because of Thunderbolt, but it could still fight.

"Use Agility." Dodrio started to run.

"Use Swift Sentret." Ash said.

Sentret opened her mouth and fired a lot of stars. The stars kept on hitting Dodrio, preventing it from running.

"Now Thunderbolt one more time." Sentret fired a thunderbolt at Dodrio again and this time Dodrio fainted.

"That Sentret of Ash is amazing." Misty said.

"Well don't forget Misty." Brock reminded her. "That Sentret is feisty."

"Now Falkner only has one Pokemon left." Misty said.

"Yes and I bet I know who that is." Brock said.

Falkner returned Dodrio.

"Ash, Dodrio was my second best Pokemon." He said. "Now you have to battle my ace."

Out of the Poke Ball came a Pidgeot.

"Pidgeot here is my pride and joy."

Ash told Sentret to get ready to fight.

"Sentret, Thunderbolt." He ordered.

Sentret sent a bolt of electricity at Pidgeot.

"Dodge with Agility Pidgeot." Falkner said.

Pidgeot proved to be very fast when it flew away to avoid Sentret's attack.

"Wow." Ash said. "Falkner's Pidgeot is fast when it's flying. It's just as fast as my Corviknight."

He told Sentret to use Swift, but Falkner wasn't going to give Sentret a chance to attack.

"Quick Attack Pidgeot." He said.

Pidgeot dived towards Sentret and tackled her.

"Now use Wing Attack." Pidgeot hit Sentret with his wings.

Sentret took a lot of damage and then fainted.

"Sentret is unable to battle." The referee said. "Pidgeot wins this match."

"Now Ash only has one Pokemon left to battle." Brock said.

"He'll likely use Raichu." Misty said.

Ash returned Sentret and released his Raichu.

"Be careful Raichu." Ash said. "This Pidgeot is strong and fast."

Raichu nodded in understanding.

"Now Pidgeot use Gust." Falkner said.

Pidgeot flapped it's wings quickly and created large gusts of wind to blow Raichu away.

"Stand your ground Raichu!" Ash shouted.

Raichu planted it's tail into the ground and avoided being blown away by Pidgeot's gust.

"Very clever way of utilizing Raichu's tail." Misty said, impressed with what Raichu just did.

"Ash must have practiced that move a lot with Raichu." Brock said, equally impressed.

"Yes, go big brother!" Tomo cheered.

"Raichu, Thunderbolt." Ash said.

Raichu got ready to shoot a bolt of electricity at Pidgeot.

"Pidgeot, Quick Attack." Falkner commanded.

Ash had to think fast or he would be in trouble.

"Dodge with your tail Raichu." Ash said.

Raichu used his tail as a springboard to jump before Pidgeot hit him with Quick Attack.

"Jump on Pidgeot's back." Ash ordered.

Raichu jumped on Pidgeot's back and held on tight. Falkner was surprised by this.

"Quick Pidgeot." He said. "Shake Raichu off."

"I don't think so." Ash countered. "Raichu, Thunder!"

Raichu shocked Pidgeot with a massive electrical bolt. Pidgeot was completely fried by that attack and fell to the ground in defeat.

"Pidgeot is unable to battle." The referee said. "The winner is Raichu. So this means Ash Ketchum wins the gym battle."

"Yes we did it!" Ash cheered.

Ash and Raichu gave each other a big hug after their victory. Tomo, Misty and Brock congratulated them.

"You were awesome!" Tomo exclaimed.

"I agree with Tomo." Misty added.

"You've done a great job training Sentret and Mareep." Brock complimented him.

Falkner walked over to Ash.

"Ash, that was a great gym battle." He said. "And I liked your strategies. So I now present to you the Zephyr Badge."

The Zephyr Badge was a silver badge in the shape of a pair of wings. Ash thanked Falkner and placed the badge on the inside of his jacket.

*'My first Johto badge.'* He thought. *'And only seven more.'*

He couldn't wait to obtain the remaining seven badges.

The gang said goodbye to Falkner and headed to the Pokemon Center to rest so they could leave Violet City tomorrow.