Chapter 13: Rival Clash– Ash VS Gary
"Hurry up, Pikachu! We're gonna be late!"
On the streets of Pewter City, a boy in a blue jacket dashed through the crowds, coat flapping behind him.
"Pika-chu!"
The nimble yellow electric mouse leapt from wall to wall with swift, practiced motions before landing safely on the boy's shoulder.
Last night, Ash had fully recharged Pikachu.
Feeling refreshed, he slept soundly at the Pokémon Center—
And unsurprisingly overslept.
He'd promised Gary they'd meet at the city park at 10 a.m.
By the time Ash opened his eyes, it was already 10:05.
He grabbed a milk and a bun from the cafeteria and sprinted toward Pewter City's central park.
By the time he arrived at the fountain—panting heavily—
Gary already looked like a grumpy spider tangled in its own web.
"Ash! You're thirty minutes late!"
Gary shouted angrily, face scrunched.
"Oh, come on… you know me. Sometimes I just… lose my way on the path of life a teeny tiny bit, hahaha…"
Ash scratched his head, laughing with barely concealed guilt.
"Don't give me that! Prepare yourself! Making me wait this long?
I'll beat you so hard you'll be picking your teeth off the floor!"
Gary snapped.
"Bring it on then. Three-on-three sound good?"
Ash puffed his chest proudly.
"Allow me to demonstrate some high-level performance."
"You? High-level? Please."
Gary tossed a Poké Ball into the air—
and flicked a coin upward with his other hand.
As the coin hit the ground, both boys threw their Poké Balls.
"Go, my darling—Scyther!"
Gary's first Pokémon was a razor-bladed Scyther!
"Pidgeotto, I choose you!"
Ash lowered the brim of his cap, sending out his hard-working partner.
"A backyard sparrow, huh? Really suits your simple taste."
Gary drawled sarcastically.
"Hmm?"
Ash locked eyes with him.
"Ahem… what?"
Gary's bravado faltered.
"Don't insult my Pidgeotto!
It's an amazing Pokémon—and it'll evolve into a magnificent Pidgeot one day!
You ever seen a Pidgeot fly?
Its glorious crest will blind you with beauty!"
Ash retorted angrily.
"Alright, alright, fine. Are we battling or not?"
Gary rolled his eyes.
"We are! Pidgeotto—Quick Attack!"
"Pidgeoo!"
Pidgeotto dove sharply, a streak of white light cutting through the air straight toward Scyther.
Bang!
Without time for a command, Scyther could only lift its scythes to block.
It slid backward several steps before regaining balance.
"You sneaky little—Ash, you played dirty!"
Gary cursed.
"Scyther, Fury Cutter!"
"Scytherrr!"
Scyther's twin blades vibrated as its wings beat rapidly.
Its body blurred like lightning as it slashed toward Pidgeotto.
"Climb sharply."
Ash commanded calmly.
"Pidgeooo!"
Pidgeotto beat its wings hard and soared straight upward.
Scyther refused to let up, tailing it closely—
the two Pokémon spiraling skyward in a dizzying chase.
"Ash! If you've got guts, stop running!"
Gary couldn't help but yell as he watched Scyther being toyed with by Pidgeotto.
"Oh~ sure."
Ash smirked.
"Pidgeotto, get behind it—use Hurricane!"
In a flash, Pidgeotto twisted midair, circling at high speed and slipping behind Scyther.
Then its wings flared—
A violent gust burst outward.
Boom!
The raging wind overwhelmed Scyther's delicate wings, sending it plummeting toward the ground.
"Scyther!"
Gary gasped.
Ash seized the chance.
"Quick Attack!"
Whoosh!
Pidgeotto dove like a bullet, slamming into Scyther's back before skimming along the ground and lifting skyward again.
"Return, Scyther…"
Gary recalled his Pokémon, glaring at Ash.
"Don't think you've won!"
"Come, come~"
Ash stuck out his tongue and made a silly face.
"Hmph! Now here's my next darling—Nidoran, go!"
Gary threw out his second Pokémon.
Ash chose to keep Pidgeotto in play.
"Nidoran, Poison Sting!"
Gary charged immediately.
"Nido!"
Nidoran rushed forward.
Its horn glowed, launching a shower of venomous needles toward Pidgeotto.
"Hurricane again!"
Ash countered.
"Pidge!"
Pidgeotto flapped hard—
a powerful gust scattered the poisonous needles mid-air.
"Nidoran, use Thunder!"
Gary suddenly shouted.
"What!?"
Ash froze.
Then his face changed dramatically.
"Pidgeotto, dodge—now!"
CRACK!
Lightning tore down from a clear sky!
Pidgeotto failed to evade and took the strike head-on.
"Pid—!"
It cried out, spiraling downward.
"Pidgeotto!"
Ash sprinted forward and caught his Pokémon in his arms, sliding half a meter across the ground.
Pidgeotto nuzzled his chest weakly, ashamed of its defeat.
"It's okay… you did great."
Ash soothed it before recalling it into the Poké Ball.
Returning to his position, Ash glared at Gary.
"Thunder!? Nidoran can learn that? Is that even legal!?"
Gary smugly held up a disc.
"A Thunder TM.
Don't tell me you don't know what TMs are?"
Ash's eye twitched violently.
"That TM costs nearly ten thousand! You're insane!"
"Pfft—mere pocket change."
Gary flicked his hair arrogantly.
"If you win, I'll give it to you."
"Pikachu—Quick Attack!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu shot forward like a yellow comet, leaving a streak of white behind it.
BANG!
Nidoran, still panting heavily after the Thunder attack, was blindsided—
sent flying straight into a flowerbed.
"Nido—!"
It crashed and lay stunned.
"Wow, Ash—what a dirty move!"
Gary groaned.
"You think Thunder doesn't drain stamina?"
Ash snorted.
"Of course I'd strike while you're weak!"
"You—!"
Gary froze awkwardly.
Ash already knew.
"You've only got Squirtle left, right?"
Ash smirked.
"Surrender now and save half your pride~"
"For real?"
Gary blinked.
"In your dreams."
Ash snickered.
"Just hand over that TM.
Pikachu's storage capacity improved recently—
perfect timing for a big move. Thanks~"
"Pika-chu~"
Pikachu grinned mischievously, golden sparks crackling from its cheeks.
"Hmph…"
Gary clenched his fists.
Then he chose to forfeit.
"Pushing my Pokémon when I know they can't win?
That's something a fool would do.
This time, you win.
But once both our teams are fully trained—
we'll have a real battle!"
"No problem. Anytime."
Ash said cheerfully as he accepted the Thunder TM.
As expected of my rival.
Most people lose a few hundred bucks to me—
Gary loses worth tens of thousands.
Truly generous.
After the match, the two shook hands.
Ash couldn't resist pulling Gary into a sudden hug.
"Brother! In my heart!"
"Y-you—!
Just you wait! I'll be back!"
Gary shoved Ash away, shouted dramatically, and stormed off.
Ash and Pikachu exchanged a glance.
Ash shrugged with a smile.
"Why's he mad again?"
"Pika pika~"
Pikachu nodded sympathetically and hopped onto Ash's shoulder.
"Let's head back to the Pokémon Center.
Pidgeotto and you both need rest…
and I'm still hungry."
Ash rubbed his stomach and happily started walking.
Morning training, bullying a rival,
and scoring a free TM?
Perfect.
To be continued…