Trovita Island

The gang was on a boat that took them to Trovita Island. Ash was thinking about his third Orange Island gym challenge.

"What do you think the gym leader will be like Ash?" Misty asked.

"I have no idea." Ash admitted. "But if they're anything like Danny and Cissy, I'll be in for a tough challenge."

Floatzel was swimming in the water and spotted something. The gang saw it too. A little girl and her Pokemon Seel were struggling in a whirlpool.

"That little girl is drowning!" Misty gasped.

She released her Staryu and jumped into the ocean.

"I'll help get her out." His Floatzel kept the girl above water. With Staryu and Floatzel's help, Ash and Misty got the little girl to safety on the boat.

"Thank you." The little girl said. "I was swimming with my Seel, but the ocean pulled me away from shore and into that whirlpool."

"That's why you must be very careful when swimming in the ocean." Misty said. "It can be very dangerous."

When the gang reached the dock, there was a boy around 18 at the dock. He had seen everything that had happened.

"Mahri." He said, running to the group.

"Big brother." Mahri said, running into the boy's arms.

"Mahri, I was really worried." Her brother said. "Don't go swimming by yourself ever again okay?"

Mahri nodded yes in response. The boy turned to the group.

"I thank you so much for saving my little sister." He said.

"Not at all." Ash said.

"It was a good thing we were here." Tracey said.

The boy turned to Misty.

"I saw what you did to save my little sister." He said, looking into her eyes. "You are amazing. I'm Rudy."

"Oh I'm Misty." Misty said, blushing a little bit.

Ash stared at Rudy and Misty sensing their emotions. Being a psychic, Ash could sense not only Pokemon emotions but human ones too.

"Excuse me Rudy?" Ash said. "But are you the gym leader of Trovita Island?"

"Yes I am." Rudy said. "So I take it you want to challenge me?"

"Yes I do. My name is Ash." Ash introduced himself.

"Well Ash." Rudy said. "I take it that you have already challenged some Orange League gym leaders?"

"Yes I have." Ash nodded, showing Rudy the Coral-Eye Badge and Sea-Ruby Badge. "So what do I have to do to get a badge here?"

Rudy smiled.

"You have to take two challenges." He said. "One is a target test and the other test is a Pokemon battle, but we fight using the same type of Pokemon."

"I got it." Ash replied confidently.

The target test Ash competed in first was to have his Pokemon hit targets that would appear in front of him on tree branches and rocks. The tricky part was that Ash and his Pokemon had to ride in a speedboat, going up river and Ash had to hit every one of them while passing them. Ash used Pikachu, Espeon, Flareon and Dragonair for this challenge and thanks to them Ash beat the challenge; they did not miss a single target. While the challenge was taking place, Misty and Rudy had been staring, smiling and talking with each other the whole time.

*'No doubt about it.'* Ash thought. *'Those two are in love with each other.'*

He made sure not to disturb them while the challenge was underway.

"Well Ash." Rudy said, after the challenge was complete. "Well done passing the first challenge, but you still need to defeat me in the same type Pokemon battle tomorrow. What type do you choose?"

"Electric, psychic and bug." Ash said.

"Very well." Rudy said. "Those are the types you and I will battle with."

That evening, Misty and Togepi had dinner with Rudy and Mahri.

"This food is delicious." Misty said.

"It sure is." Mahri agreed. "My brother is a very good cook."

"I'm glad you like it Misty." Rudy said, with a smile.

"Having you here Misty it's like you're my older sister." Mahri said. "I do wish I had a sister. My brother and the other boys are great, but I'm the only girl here. So I wish to have an older sister like you Misty."

"That's enough Mahri." Rudy said. "Hey Misty, after dinner you want to see all my Pokemon?"

"I would love to." Misty said.

After dinner, Rudy and Mahri led Misty to a room in the gym where all of Rudy's Pokemon were. Rudy had a Ninetales, Electabuzz, Venomoth, Nidoking, Starmie, Exeggutor, Hitmonchan, Golem, Alakazam, Pidgeot and Rhydon. In the room all the Pokemon were dancing to music.

"You taught your Pokemon how to dance?" Misty asked.

"That's right." Rudy said. "You see, my Pokemon learning how to dance helped increase their skills."

Mahri held onto Misty's Togepi and danced with it, while Rudy danced with Misty. While they were dancing, Rudy said something to Misty.

"Misty." He said. "Mahri and I would like it if you stayed here with us."

Misty was surprised and shocked by what Rudy said.

"I don't know what to say." She admitted.

"Think about it tonight." Rudy said. "I'll wait for your answer."

Meanwhile Ash, Tomo and Tracey were eating in the gym's visitor quarters. They were having takeout meals. Tracey was talking to Prof. Oak on the phone and showing him his sketches of Pokemon. Ash was checking to see if his Raichu, Espeon and Venomoth were okay.

"Are you going to battle Rudy with them?" Tomo asked.

"Yes." Ash said. "And I plan to win and get that badge."

"You can do it big brother." Tomo said.

"Thank you little brother." Ash smiled, rubbing Tomo's head.

Pikachu and Growlithe liked looking at the brotherly bond between Ash and Tomo.

Later that night while Tomo and Tracey were asleep, Ash was still awake. He was too excited to sleep because of tomorrow's gym battle. He was outside looking at the stars and moon and was just about to go back inside when he saw Misty outside.

"Hey Misty, what's wrong?" Ash asked. Misty sighed.

"Well, something happened." She said.

"What? Rudy didn't do anything bad, did he?" Ash asked, worried.

Ash didn't like people picking on his friends.

"Oh no, nothing like that." Misty said. "It's just-"

She told him about Rudy asking her to stay with him. Ash was surprised.

"What was your answer?" He asked.

"Well I'm confused." Misty admitted. "The truth is I want to continue traveling with you, but um-"

"You like Rudy." Ash finished.

"Huh?" Misty gasped, blushing.

"I saw the looks on your and Rudy's face." Ash said. "And from the looks of them, you and Rudy really like each other."

Misty had to admit Ash was right.

"The thing is though I don't know how to answer Rudy." She said.

"Let me give you advice Misty." Ash said. "As you probably know as an eleven year old, I wouldn't exactly understand about these things yet. But as your friend the only advice I can give you is this. You alone should decide what to do and whatever it is Tomo, Tracey and I will support your decision. I'm pretty sure Rudy will too."

"Thank you Ash." Misty smiled. "You're a good friend."

After that talk, Ash and Misty went to bed.

The next day, it was time for Ash's gym battle with Rudy.

"Are you ready Ash?" Rudy asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Ash said.

"Okay." The referee said, riding on a flying Pidgeot. "This battle is between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and the gym leader of Trovita Gym, Rudy. It will be a three on three Pokemon battle and whoever knocks out two of the opponent's Pokemon first wins. Let the battle begin."

"For my electric type Pokemon, I choose Electabuzz." Rudy said.

Rudy's Electabuzz pumped it's muscles and released some electricity all ready for battle.

"All right, Raichu I choose you." Ash's Raichu was all ready for battle too.

"Raichu, Electabuzz is a electric type Pokemon so electric type attacks won't be very effective." Ash said. "We need to use non-electric type attacks."

Raichu nodded in response.

"Start off with Iron Tail." Raichu charged up to Electabuzz with his tail turning metallic silver ready to hit it.

"Hit Raichu with Thunderbolt." Rudy told Electabuzz. Electabuzz shot a blast of electricity at Raichu, but it jumped and avoided the attack. Then he hit Electabuzz dead on with Iron Tail.

"Wow it hit head on." Tracey said. "I'm impressed with Ash's battling skills."

"My big brother has trained his Pokemon a lot." Tomo said.

"Great Raichu, now use Quick Attack." Ash said.

Raichu charged into Electabuzz with Quick Attack.

"This kid is good." Rudy said. "Now Electabuzz Thunder Punch."

Electabuzz's right fist glowed yellow with electricity surrounding it's fist and got ready to punch Raichu.

"Counter it with Focus Punch." Ash commanded. Raichu's right paw glowed white and then Raichu's Focus Punch and Electabuzz's Thunder Punch collided with each other.

"Wow that was incredible." Tracey said.

"Now Focus Punch one more time." Ash said.

Raichu's right paw glowed white again and then it punched Electabuzz's face really hard causing Electabuzz to faint.

"Electabuzz is unable to battle, Raichu wins." The referee said. Rudy returned Electabuzz.

"I must say Ash, you're a good battler." Rudy complimented him. "But it's not over yet."

Rudy sent out his second Pokemon Venomoth and Ash released his second Pokemon, Scyther.

"All right Venomoth, Stun Spore." Rudy commanded. Venomoth flapped it's wings and an orange powder came out of them.

"Quick Scyther Double Team and use your wings to blow that Stun Spore away." Ash said.

Scyther made multiple copies of itself and then he and the copies used their wings to blow the stun spore before it could hit them.

"That was a clever attack." Misty said, impressed with Ash's skill.

"All right then." Rudy said. "Use Psybeam."

Venomoth fired two multi-colored beams from it's eyes at Scyther. Scyther was hit by the Psybeam.

"Scyther, are you okay?" Ash asked.

Scyther moved it's scythes around, showing that he was okay.

"All right, use Air Slash." Scyther's wings glowed light blue and then some light blue blades of air flew out of his wings hitting Venomoth head on.

Since Air Slash was a flying type move, Venomoth took a lot of damage.

"Now use X-Scissor." Scyther crossed his scythes, while they were turning purple then flew over to Venomoth and slashed at it. After that attack Venomoth fainted.

"Venomoth is unable to battle." The referee said. "And since Rudy lost two Pokemon first, the winner of this gym battle is Ash."

Ash was happy for his victory and he hugged Scyther.

"Thank you Scyther." He said. Scyther returned the hug.

Rudy returned Venomoth and walked over to Ash.

"I have to say Ash, you are one strong trainer." He said.

"You're a strong trainer as well." Ash smiled.

Mahri presented a box to Rudy, which contained the Trovita Gym badge.

"Well then Ash as proof of your victory, I present you with the Spike-Shell Badge." Rudy said.

The Spike-Shell Badge was a yellow triumphant star turban shell with a small pink gemstone embedded in it. Ash took it from Rudy and thanked him.

"Now with that settled." Ash said, turning to Misty. "Misty has something she would like to tell you."

Misty started to blush; she knew exactly what Ash was talking about. After taking a deep breath, she gathered up the courage to give Rudy her answer.

"Rudy I thought about your offer last night." She said. "And the truth is, I would like to stay with you because I really like you."

Everyone was surprised by Misty's decision.

"But I want to continue traveling with my friends. You see, I wish to take over leadership of the Cerulean Gym. And before that happens I want to keep traveling and capturing water type Pokemon. So I can't stay with you and Mahri right. I do apologize." Rudy smiled after hearing Misty's confession.

"I understand Misty." He said. "I can tell how much you love the Cerulean Gym just like I love my gym and Mahri and I will support you any way we can."

He handed her a small piece of paper.

"This is my phone number. That way we can keep in contact with each other."

"I'll call you too and visit your gym." Mahri said. Misty smiled, thanking Rudy and Mahri.

So the gang left Trovita Island happy. Ash obtained the Spike-Shell Badge and Misty got herself a boyfriend.