"What I said earlier wasn't a joke," Aya explained calmly. "If you've been traveling for two months and have at least four Gym Badges, I can take you inside. It's actually one of my brother's special rules, you'll even find it written at the entrance of Fuchsia Gym."
Ash froze, his expression turning oddly complicated.
Two months of travel and four Badges?
Besides himself, there was probably only one other person who fit that description, Gary.
No matter how he looked at it, this rule felt like it had been designed specifically for the two of them.
"But… why set a rule like that?" Ash asked, puzzled.
Aya smiled faintly. "Because my brother guessed that you'd eventually come to challenge him. But as you've seen, the Gym's packed to the brim. If you queued normally, you'd have to wait three days at least. So he came up with this rule, anyone who meets those conditions can skip the line."
Ash blinked. "So this rule basically exists just for me, huh?"
Aya didn't deny it. "Word of you has spread among all the Gym Leaders. My brother wanted to see for himself the young Trainer who managed to collect five Badges in two months, and even defeat the Saffron Gym Leader."
Her eyes scanned him curiously.
From appearance alone, he didn't seem like anything special, aside from being somewhat handsome. His Pikachu looked friendly and harmless, hardly giving off the presence of a powerhouse. Could this really be the kid who defeated Sabrina?
Ash rubbed the tip of his nose with a sheepish grin. "Heh, didn't think I'd become this famous so soon. Even Mr. Koga's heard of me, huh?"
He couldn't help feeling a bit pleased. Making a name for himself early in his journey had always been one of his goals, and now, barely two months in, he was already well-known across Kanto.
"Come on," Aya said, waving her hand. "I'll take you to my brother."
She led Ash and his friends through a quiet side entrance of the Fuchsia Gym.
"Venonat, dodge left, then use Tackle!"
On the outdoor battlefield, Koga stood poised in his ninja garb, his sharp voice cutting through the air. His Venonat swiftly dodged an incoming Sandshrew attack before countering with a clean hit, ending the match decisively.
Another challenger defeated.
But instead of turning them away, Koga still handed the Trainer a Gym Badge.
After all, battling him wasn't about victory. Against someone of Koga's caliber, few challengers had the power to actually win. What mattered was performance, showing skill, creativity, and perseverance.
For that, Koga rewarded them with a Badge, and, more importantly, his post-battle guidance.
This was why Trainers lined up for days: not for the Badge, but for the chance to hear words of advice from an Elite-level master.
After giving his evaluation and some constructive feedback, Koga gestured to a staff member to escort the challenger out.
He then placed Venonat's Poké Ball onto a portable healing machine beside the field. Between that and the dozen or so Pokémon he used for everyday challengers, Koga could rotate his team efficiently enough to battle for over twelve hours straight.
Originally, he only handled a few hours of challenges daily, often letting Aya take over to build her own experience, after all, once he officially took his Elite position in Johto, the Gym would pass to her.
But lately, Koga had been fighting nearly all challengers himself. It wasn't just diligence, it was preparation.
Becoming an Elite wasn't about strength alone. Fame mattered, too.
If an unknown Trainer suddenly appeared as an Elite, the public would question the League's credibility. Every Elite had followers, fans, even critics. Replacing one without reason would spark backlash.
That's why "Champion-level candidates" existed, to let the public gradually accept new names before the official appointment.
And Koga, ever the perfectionist, was using these daily challenges to build both reputation and momentum.
After finishing his feedback for the latest challenger, Koga gestured for the next one to step forward.
But before the new battle could begin, a clear voice called out from behind:
"Brother, wait a moment!"
Aya's figure appeared at the edge of the field.
"Aya? Where have you been?" Koga asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just out for a walk," she replied breezily. "But that's not important, look who I brought."
Koga turned his gaze toward the three figures following her. The moment his eyes landed on the boy leading the group, his expression froze.
"You're… Ash?"
Ash stepped forward and bowed slightly, his tone respectful but his movements stiff.
"Yes, Mr. Koga. I've long admired your reputation as one of Kanto's Four Great Gym Leaders. I, Ash from Pallet Town, am here to challenge you!"
His words were formal, but his expression looked like someone forcing himself to smile through gritted teeth.
Aya had insisted on this. Since he was being let in through the back door, she said, he had to show proper courtesy. She'd even spent several minutes teaching him the correct greeting stance, tone, and wording before they entered.
Ash had wanted to resist, he wasn't the type to follow stiff formalities, but as the saying went, when under another's roof, you had to play along.
So, with his face locked into an awkwardly polite smile, he did exactly as Aya instructed.
"Haha, your name's been on everyone's lips lately," Koga said with a faint but meaningful smile. "A new Trainer who's already earned five consecutive Gym Badges in just two months, and one of them from Saffron Gym. That's the Gold Badge issued while Sabrina herself was still the Leader. I must say… I'm very curious about your true strength."
"Just luck," Ash replied modestly, waving a hand. "The Pokémon that defeated Sabrina wasn't one I trained personally, it was captured through some… special circumstances. But as for my strength, Mr. Koga, wouldn't it be clearer after a battle?"
He wasn't lying. That Gengar hadn't been captured the ordinary way, it was earned through an actual fight for dominance. Without using Gengar, Ash's strength couldn't compare to that of an Elite.
Aya stepped forward, adding context quickly. "Brother, you remember the rule you set at the Gym entrance? That any Trainer who's been active for around two months and has earned four or more Gym Badges can skip the queue? Well, that's why I brought him."
Since the Gym's battlefield was outdoors, their matches were often surrounded by spectators from nearby rooftops and buildings, and these days, the battles were even being broadcast live through mounted cameras.
Naturally, Aya had to explain why she was escorting someone through the back entrance. If she didn't, people would assume they were cutting in line unfairly. That kind of rumor could spark outrage, not just from those waiting in person, but also across the League's online forums.
The moment she explained, however, realization spread among the onlookers.
So that's why Koga had set that strange rule.
Trainers who'd earned four badges in two months weren't unheard of, but they were rare enough that this condition seemed tailor-made for one particular person.
Clearly, Koga had anticipated Ash's arrival and created the rule in advance, both to allow him entry and to test him personally.
And sure enough, here he was.
"That's right," Koga confirmed with a calm nod. "I set the rule, and Ash meets it. Therefore, he's qualified to challenge directly."
He straightened his back, his eyes sharpening with interest.
"So then, Ash, what level of Gym challenge would you like to attempt? Elite, Professional, Gym, or…"
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Champion?"
Ash paused thoughtfully, his expression serious. After a long moment, he lifted his gaze and said slowly;
"Let's go with Champion Level."
"Hm, Champion Level, that's a good choi...wait… what did you just say?!"
Koga's expression froze mid-nod. For a second, he looked as if he'd misheard. His eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face.
Aya quickly stepped in, forcing a laugh. "Ash, this isn't the time for jokes. My brother's asking seriously. Don't tease him like that."
Even she didn't believe Ash could be serious. Defeating Sabrina didn't mean he had Champion-level combat power. Everyone knew the Fuchsia Gym operated on a three-on-three format. Choosing Champion difficulty meant Ash would have to defeat three Champion-level Pokémon in a row.
Koga blinked several times, then rubbed his chin, considering. "So… you're planning a one-on-one, then?"
That was a reasonable assumption. A single match at Champion difficulty might be doable for someone who'd already beaten Sabrina. Regardless of how Ash obtained his Gengar, commanding a Pokémon of that level was no small feat.
And Gym rules weren't fixed, so long as both sides agreed, the match format could be adjusted.
Yes, Koga reasoned, a one-on-one Champion battle made sense. In that case, Ash stood a fair chance.
But Ash simply shook his head. "No. I want a three-on-three Champion Level battle."
For a few seconds, silence fell. Then Koga's composure shattered.
He stared at Ash as if looking at some sort of exotic creature. His jaw tightened, his expression twisting between disbelief and amusement. Beside him, Aya and the Gym staff wore matching looks of shock.
Up on the rooftops, the Trainers who couldn't hear the conversation leaned forward in confusion.
But those watching the live broadcast heard everything perfectly, and the chat exploded.
"Is this kid crazy? A rookie actually challenging Champion difficulty?"
"He must think Champion-level Pokémon are the same as the Gym ones he's beaten before. What an idiot!"
"This is hilarious. He's got talent, sure, but who among the Elites isn't a genius? Bragging in front of a Champion candidate like that… I can't wait to see him get crushed!"
Reactions to Ash's bold declaration spread rapidly across Kanto, and even as far as Johto.
Koga's live broadcast had been announced days in advance, so countless people were watching on televisions and computers. The largest audiences were in Kanto and Johto, though there were viewers tuning in from other regions as well.
Thus, Ash's "arrogant" statement, challenging Koga to a three-on-three Champion-level battle, was heard throughout the entire Pokémon world, instantly making his name explode across social networks and discussion boards.
In a sense, he'd just gone viral.
Gary Oak, who was walking down a busy street when a flicker on a nearby TV caught his attention. He glanced over casually, then froze mid-step.
Wait a second… that's Ash!
He quickly doubled back, planting himself in front of the store window to get a better look at the screen.
The live broadcast clearly showed the battlefield of Fuchsia Gym, and there was no mistaking that spiky-haired boy standing opposite Koga.
Gary's jaw tightened. 'Since when do Gym battles get live-streamed?!'
If he'd known, he would've gone to challenge Fuchsia Gym too!Win or lose, he would've gotten exposure across Kanto.
Right now, the entire region was buzzing about "Ash from Pallet Town," the so-called rookie prodigy who'd collected five Badges in two months.
No one even mentioned him, Gary Oak, the other Pallet Town prodigy who already had seven Badges under his belt!
But when Gary heard Ash calmly announce a "three-on-three Champion-level battle," his confident grin froze. His lips twitched, and he exhaled through his nose with a half-laugh.
"Yeah, never mind. I'll pass."
Even if he did appear on TV, could he really say something like that?Could he walk up to an Elite-tier Gym Leader like Koga and declare he wanted a full Champion-level match?
What a joke! Forget three Pokémon, even one of Koga's Elite-level Pokémon could probably toss him around like a ragdoll.
Gary wasn't blind to the difference.
Ash had that newly advanced Gengar, even if he couldn't win the whole match, he could at least hold his own and avoid total humiliation.
But Gary? He didn't have anything close to that kind of firepower.
"Ugh, that guy… always stealing the spotlight," Gary muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, Ash, enjoy your little moment. When the Indigo Plateau Conference comes around, I'll take back everything you've gained."
He smirked, already planning ahead.
"But I'll have to make sure he can't use that Gengar. Otherwise, what's the point of a rematch?"
Gary clenched his fist, determination flashing in his eyes.