Chapter 9 "I am so tired..." moaned Misty, grounding to a halt. Due to their unscheduled stop in the Forest, night had already fallen and they had not reached Pewter City yet. "Let's just camp here." she plonked herself down on a stone. "Come on Misty! I know it's just over the top of the hill!" pleaded Ash. Smiling she replied, "That's what you said last time!" "No, I'm sure it is! Come on, Misty!" He picked up her bag and took her hand to pull her to her feet, trying to motivate her forwards. Plodding slowly after him she was amazed when the twinkling lights of Pewter City came into view over the brow of the hill. Speechless, she looked at Ash, who just smiled before descending the hill carrying both his and Misty's bag. It didn't take them long to locate Brock's house and knocked on the door, wondering if they would even be heard over the din inside. "I'm comming, I'm comming!" could be heard from inside before the door opened and Brock appeared, his jacket removed and his super Brock apron on. "Ash, Misty, what are you doing here??" "Looking for a proper bed and some food!" said Misty, moving into the house amid a flurry of small children. "That and a gym battle tomorrow" commented Ash, following Misty into the kitchen. "I'm going to enter the Indigo League again." "Well, ok, but if you two want some food and a bed, you'll have to help me put this lot to bed! Mum and Dad went out for the night, leaving me in charge. You lot might be work to look after, but I've forgotton what these guys are like!" So together, Brock, Forrest, Ash and Misty went about the house, putting children to bed, bathing and feeding others before they themselves could relax. "Thanks Brock," said Ash as he took the bowl of noodles from his friend. "So who am I battling tomorrow?" he said, looking between Brock and Forrest. "Well, I've been thinking about it...and I think you should battle Forrest. He's been the Gym leader for the last two years and just cos I'm back doesn't mean he still isn't the Gym leader. Is that ok with you?" he looked at his younger brother. "Sure, three on three battle, right Ash?" Forrest looked over the top of his mug of hot chocolate at his next opponent. "Can't wait!" He grinned back before Brock decided it was time for bed, showing Ash and Misty to their rooms where they gratefully fell asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Right, this will be a three on three battle between Ash and Forrest for the Boulder Badge with no time limit." called Brock who was acting as referee. All his little brothers and sisters occupied the overhead walkway with Misty, Pikachu perched on her sholder to cheer on the match. "Geodude, go!" Forrest revealed his first pokemon. Reaching to his belt, Ash pulled out and enlarged his pokeball, releasing Cawphish into battle. "Cawphish, bubblebeam!" "Dodge it and reply with Sandstorm!" Geodude levitated around the stream of bubbles before shooting a strong twister of sand straight at Cawphish who had no means of escape, taking a full hit and sliding along the ground for a few feet before comming to a rest. "Mega Punch!" "Crabhammer!" the pokemon flew at each other, readying their attacks, both hitting their marks and sending clouds of dust and smoke to cover the arena. When the smoke cleared, both pokemon were down and out. "This round is a draw!" announced Brock to his cheering silbings and Misty. "Well done Geodude, now, Steelix you're up!" The pokemon roared once released, gazing down at his opposing trainer, waiting to see who he would be up against. "Go, Grovyle!" Ash threw the pokeball into play to release Grovyle and instructing a Leaf Blade. "Dragon Breath!" "Protect with your Leaf Blade attack!" the dragonbreath flew harmless either side of him as he continued forwards at Steelix, able to score a direct hit over Steelix's face. "Smash it with Iron Tail!" "Dodge behind a rock!" The rock wasn't strong enough and shattered as Steelix hit it, rock shards pelting Grovyle to the ground. He struggled to his feet, taking a moment to glare at his opponent as it dissappeared underground, to use it's dig attack. Ignoring his trainer, Grovyle crouched down, eyes closed before using his Quick Attack to jump in the air, avoiding Steelix as it reappeared exactly where Grovyle had been only moments before. "Well done Grovyle, Bullet Seed!" The seeds gained added force from Grovyle's position above Steelix, a few seeds becoming lodged in the gaps in Steelix's body, causing it to roar in pain, restricting it's ability to move freely. Taking advantage of his opponent's pain, Grovyle did a neat Leaf Blade and Pound attack combo, knocking out the much larger pokemon. "Alright Grovyle! Great job!" praised Ash. "Well done Steelix, that was a great battle. Crobat, I choose you!" "Woow, Go Forrest!!" "Yay, it's Crobat!" "Show him what we Slates are made of!" came from above as the little Slates bagan getting hyped up in a frenzy. Deciding Ash needed a little cheering of his own, Misty called down, "Good Luck Ash! I know you can beat him!" Looking up, he caught Misty's eyes while his brain froze. All he could think was, 'She's got confidence in me...' He was so absorbed that it wasn't until Grovyle Grovyled in pain from recieving a direct hit of a wing attack. Furious with himself, Ash asked for a Quick Attack. Crobat was faster however and dodged the attack, using it's bite attack on Grovyle's leaf on his head before firing a supersonic attack, confusing Grovyle. "Gro-o-o-o-vyle...." the pokemon wandered around, purple under his eyes, hearing the instruction for a Bullet Seed attack and firing straight in front of him. Unfortunately, straight in front was the arena wall that sent the attack straight back at Grovyle, knocking him out. "I'm sorry buddy, that was my fault..." said Ash, returning his pokemon and feeling terrible for not paying attention to his battle enough. Looking up at the stands, he called up for Pikachu to help him out. Very suprised, as he had decided to stay with Misty for the battle, after being told he wasn't going to be used, it took a while for Pikachu to jump down, into his trainer's arms and then onto the battle field. "Pikachu, thunderbolt!" "Pikachuuuuuuuuuuuu!" he sent his strong electrical attack at Crobat who used his double team to avoid. "Be careful Pikachu!" yelled Ash, neither could see the real pokemon as copies began moving round the arena. "Crobat, Supersonic!" called Forrest, a glint in his eye. "Dodge in a hole!" by hiding underground in one of the holes dug by Steelix, Pikachu was able to remain unconfused, and continued to play hide and seek with Crobat as he ran from one hole to another. Fustrated by his opponent's tactics, Forrest called for a Wing Attack on the ground that brought Pikachu, his ears ringing, back to the surface, but destroyed the clones in the process. "Now's your chance Pikachu, THUNDER!!" Pikachu's strongest electric attack surged through the air, hitting Crobat square in the chest. As it began to fall, Pikachu and Ash wasted no time in delivering an Iron Tail attack and rounding off with a thunderbolt, resulting in Crobat being well and truly beaten. "Heh heh, well done buddy, that was awsome!" said Ash, taking Pikachu in his arms for a hug and a thank you before he hopped onto his sholder. "Thank you Crobat, return. Well Ash, congratulations in your victory and I present to you, the Boulder Badge!" said Forrest, holding out the badge in the shape of a boulder (duh!) "Alright, I won a Boulder Badge!" said Ash, performing his usual victory pose. "He's never going to grow out of that, is he?" whispered Misty to Brock. "What do you think? Of course not! If he did, he wouldn't be Ash now, would he." Brock replied, giving her a small wink that said, "I saw what happened" resulting in a faint blush on Misty's visage. "Well Ash," he began, advancing on his younger friend, "I guess you and Misty will be off quite soon. Heading for Cerulean City?" "Yeah, hey, where did she go?" he replied, looking around. "Probably just went to the bathroom. Now, I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't send you off with some easy to cook and prepare foods, would I." Brock said with a smile, deciding to cover for his embarrassed friend. "He he, thanks Brock" Ash rubbed the back of his head. "I guess neither of us have learnt how to cook yet!" "I thought so, come on guys." he guestured to his siblings as they all followed him back to the house. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Thanks for the supplies Brock!" said Misty as she, Ash, Pikachu and Azurill walked away from the large, but happy family of Slates. "We'd probably die without it!" "See you guys soon! Good luck Ash!" yelled back Brock as the group dissappeared from view on their way to Cerulean City. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~