Mineral Badge

The next day, Ash was in Olivine City's Pokemon Center and was getting ready to battle Jasmine. Ash stuck with his decision to use Cyndaquil and Houndour for the gym battle. But when he called Prof. Oak to get Houndor, he was in for a big surprise; Houndour wasn't Houndour anymore, he was a Houndoom now. Prof. Oak explained that once a couple thieves came to the lab a few days ago and Houndour evolved into Houndoom while fighting them off. Ash was amazed and couldn't wait to use Houndoom in his gym battle against Jasmine.

With Cyndaquil and Houndoom, Ash felt ready to battle Jasmine. Janina met up with the gang at the Pokemon Center and brought them to the Olivine Gym. Jasmine was standing at the gym's door and was now ready to have a gym battle with Ash, now that Sparkle had fully recovered from it's illness.

"I have been waiting for this battle Jasmine." Ash said.

"So have I Ash." Jasmine replied. "And I will not be going easy on you."

Everyone headed inside for the gym battle. Jasmine and Ash took their places at the battle arena, Janina took her place at the sidelines because she was the referee and Misty, Tomo and Brock took their place behind Ash to watch the battle.

"Each trainer will be allowed two Pokemon." Janina said.

Now it was time for the gym battle to begin.

Jasmine sent out her first Pokemon; a Magnemite. Ash sent out Houndoom to battle first.

"Ash's strategy to use fire type Pokemon is a great idea." Brock said.

"Well he did tell us before that he already knew fire type Pokemon were strong against steel type Pokemon." Misty added.

Jasmine commanded her Magnemite to use Thunder Wave on Houndoom, but Houndoom dodged it.

"Houndoom, use Flamethrower." Ash said.

Houndoom released a stream of fire from his mouth that headed towards Magnemite, but Magnemite dodged it.

"Both Magnemite and Houndoom are fast." Misty said.

"Yeah, and they aren't pushovers either." Brock said.

"You can do it Ash!" Tomo called out.

Ash commanded Houndoom to use Flamethrower again and Jasmine told Magnemite to use Thunderbolt to counter it. The Flamethrower and the Thunderbolt made a small explosion.

"Now Houndoom, use Fire Fang." Ash said.

Houndoom jumped towards Magnemite and opened his mouth. When Houndoom opened his mouth, flames surrounded it and then Houndoom bit down on Magnemite. The Flamethrower was a diversion so Houndoom would be able to easily attack Magnemite with Fire Fang. Magnemite felt the attack.

"Okay Houndoom, let's finish this with another Flamethrower." Ash said.

Houndoom blew another stream of fire at Magnemite and this time it hit Magnemite. Magnemite fainted, giving Ash the victory.

Jasmine returned Magnemite.

"You are an impressive Pokemon trainer Ash." She said. "But now it's time for you to face my Steelix."

She sent her Steelix out to battle next.

"Watch out for Steelix Houndoom." Ash warned it.

Houndoom was ready to fight. Ash told Houndoom to use Flamethrower on Steelix, but Steelix avoided it by using Dig.

"Watch out Houndoom." Ash said. "We don't know when or where Steelix is going to surface."

Houndoom stood his ground, waiting for Steelix to strike. Just then Steelix popped up out of the ground and tackled Houndoom.

"You okay Houndoom?" Ash asked.

Houndoom was okay, but a bit shaken from that attack.

"All right Steelix, use Iron Tail." Jasmine said.

Steelix's tail glowed metallic silver and then it struck Houndoom really hard.

"Oh no Houndoom." Ash gasped. "Try and fight back with Flamethrower."

Before Houndoom got the chance to fight back, Steelix whacked it with Iron Tail again. Houndoom instantly fainted.

"Houndoom is unable to battle." Janina said. "This battle goes to Steelix."

Ash returned Houndoom and then released Cyndaquil.

"I'm counting on you now Cyndaquil." Ash said.

Cyndaquil was ready to fight.

"Use Flamethrower." Cyndaquil released a stream of fire from his mouth at Steelix.

"Use Sandstorm Steelix." Jasmine said.

Steelix spun around and created a cyclone of sand and the cyclone of sand protected Steelix from the Flamethrower.

"Wow, look at that." Tomo said.

"Using Sandstorm like that is a great defensive move." Brock said.

Ash was impressed too, but he didn't lose focus. Jasmine commanded Steelix to use Dig. Ash warned Cyndaquil to be careful while Steelix was underground. Steelix came out of the ground and was about to tackle Cyndaquil.

"Use Smokescreen Cyndaquil." Ash said.

Cyndaquil blew a lot of smoke out of his mouth and Steelix couldn't see Cyndaquil at all.

"Steelix use Iron Tail." Jasmine said.

Steelix's tail glowed and Steelix began using Iron Tail attacks.

"Use Flame Wheel to dodge the Iron Tail attacks." Ash said.

Cyndaquil rolled in a ball of flames and rolled across the arena to dodge the Iron Tail attacks.

"You're doing great Cyndaquil." Ash said. "Keep on going."

Cyndaquil stopped his flame wheel to begin attacking Steelix again.

Just then Cyndaquil started to glow.

"Cyndaquil is going to evolve." Misty said.

She was right; Cyndaquil turned into a bigger version of himself with bigger flames and bigger eyes.

"A Quilava." Ash said.

Ash looked it up on the Pokedex,

"Quilava, the Volcano Pokemon and the evolved form of Cyndaquil. Be careful if it turns it's back during battle. It means that it will attack with the fire on it's back."

"Okay Quilava let's use Flamethrower again." Ash said.

Quilava sent a stream of fire at Steelix, but Steelix used Sandstorm to defend itself. But Ash had an idea this time; he commanded Quilava to use Fire Blast on the sand. Quilava shot a fire blast at the sand. Steelix was still using Sandstorm to defend itself, but Quilava was still shooting fire blast at the sand.

"Why is Ash still having Quilava shoot Fire Blast since the sandstorm is protecting Steelix?" Misty asked.

"I know why." Brock said. "Take a look."

The sandy tornado was starting to turn red and flames were appearing around it.

"Instead of using Fire Blast to attack Steelix, Ash decided to attack the sandstorm." Brock said.

Because of the flaming hot sand, Steelix was burned by the heat and fainted.

"Steelix is unable to battle." Janina said. "So the winner of this gym battle is Ash."

Ash went up to Quilava and hugged him.

"You were great Quilava." He said.

Tomo, Misty and Brock went up to Ash to congratulate him.

"That was great big brother!" Tomo exclaimed.

"Yeah your Pokemon were incredible out there." Misty said.

"It was a smart move to use the fire against the sand." Brock said.

"Well I know for a fact sand can get hot or cold." Ash replied.

Jasmine and Janina congratulated Ash too.

"Ash that was a wonderful battle." Jasmine said. "You have totally earned the Mineral Badge."

The Mineral Badge was a silver colored badge in the shape of a octagon. Ash was happy to receive the Mineral Badge and thanked Jasmine for it.

After the gym battle, it was time for them to leave Olivine City. Jasmine told the gang that the next location to obtain a gym badge was Mahogany Town. Jasmine wished Ash luck with his other gym battles and Janina said that she was going to work really hard to become the future leader of the Olivine Gym. So the gang said goodbye to Jasmine and Janina then headed to Mahogany Town.