Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
- George Bernard Shaw

~

"And off to the gym!" Ash shouts excitedly ready for his first gym battle in the Kalos region. "Ash slow down!" Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena all shout struggling to keep up to him. "You gotta catch up!" Kaelyn yells as she is being carried by Ash. "That is so not fair!" Bonnie shrieks running down the road.

Today is the day that Ash has been waiting for. The day of his first gym battle in the Kalos region. When they approach the gym Ash finally stops running. Serena was right behind him and almost ran right into him from behind. Kaelyn jumps out of Ash's arms and lands with a few giggles. "Jeez you people are so fast!" Bonnie shouts stopping at the door.

"Wanna race one time Bonnie?" Kaelyn asks walking up behind her. "Oh yes!" Bonnie shouts full of excitement. "But first its Ash's gym battle" Clemont tells the two young children. "Fiiiine!" They shout both pouting. Ash opens the door and walks in to see pictures on both walls. "Wow!" Bonnie shouts following Ash. "It's like a museum!" She adds to her statement.

"Welcome to the Santalune City gym!" Someone shouts. Everyone else walks in and they see the woman who took the picture of Ash, Serena, and Pikachu. "Wait are you the gym leader?" Serena asks slightly confused. "That's me! My names Viola. I've been waiting for you Ash." Viola says. "Follow me for your gym battle if you would."

Ash and the group follows Viola and they end up at a battlefield. The ceiling was made of glass to let in sunlight. Ash and Viola take their positions on the battlefield to prepare to battle. Serena, Kaelyn, Bonnie, and Clemont all walk to the sidelines. Ash was determined. He was going to win this first battle in his mind. (I'm sorry I'm bad at making battle scenes 😅)

"This is going to be a Pokémon battle between Viola the gym leader, and Ash Ketchum the Challenger! It will be a two on two battle and only the challenger will be able to make substitutions! Do you both understand these rules?" The referee asks. Both Ash and Viola nod their heads. "Then release your first Pokémon!"

"Surskit cmon out!" Viola shouts and Ash pulls out a pokeball. "Fletchling I choose you!" Ash calls and his newly caught bird bursts out of the pokeball. "Let the battle begin!" The referee calls. "Take the first move Ash!" Viola shouts and Ash quickly responds. "Fletchling use peck!" "Surskit dodge it!" Viola calls and Surskit easily moves out of the way.

"Surskit use ice beam! Cover the ground!" Surskit immediately complies, turning the dirt into an ice covered ground. Ash was confused. Not only because of this Pokémon, but also because of what Viola was planning. "Use double team then razor wind!" Ash calls and fletchling turns into many copies.

Each of the copies attack with razor wind and surskit has no where to run to. The real attack hits it head on and surskit goes sliding across the ice. "Use sticky web!" Viola calls. "Fletchling dodge it!" Ash yells and Fletchling dodges all of the attacks but the sticky webs stick to the ceiling. "What is she planning.."

"I got it!" Clemont shouts on the sidelines. "What is it?" Serena asks. "The sticky webs are sticking to the ceiling. If Viola gets Fletchling into the webs then Fletchling will be completely vulnerable." Clemont explains causing worry to Serena. "I still believe he can win this battle." She says with a shine in her eyes.

"Fletchling look out!" "Surskit quickly knock Fletchling into the webs!" Viola shouts and in just an instant Surskit jumps and send Fletchling flying into one of the sticky webs. "Oh no.. Fletchling get free!" Ash calls and Fletchling struggles. "Surskit use solar beam!" Viola calls and the attack charges. "Fletchling look out!" Ash yells frantically but solar beam gets fired. The attack hits Fletchling directly causing an explosion and makes smoke fly everywhere.

"No Fletchling!" Ash shouts as the smoke clears. When it clears, Fletchling is falling towards the ground. Ash closes his eyes and uses his aura to see if the Fletchling was awake. Fletchling was fainted and before Fletchling hit the ground,Ash returned him. "Fletchling is unable to battle." Ash says.

'Ash I can do this'. Lucario says through telepathy. 'Sorry Lucario not this one. Serena keep him from getting out.' Ash says telepathically. Serena nods and Ash rubs Pikachu's head. "Pikachu I choose you!" Ash shouts and Pikachu jumps from his shoulder onto the battlefield.

"Pikachu use thunderbolt!" Ash yells and Pikachu nods jumping in the air even with the ice and launching a powerful attack so quickly Viola had no chance to call a defensive attack. The bolt of lightning hits surskit instantly knocking Surskit out. "That's powerful!" Clemont exclaims.

"Mommy! Daddy is going to win!" Kaelyn shouts looking at Pikachu. "We don't know that yet but I know he has that chance little one." Serena says patting the top of her head. "Goooo Pikachu!" Kaelyn and Serena shout in sync and start giggling getting surprised looks from both Bonnie and Clemont.

"Alright Ash. That was a good attack. But this is not over yet! Vivillon lets finish this!" Viola shouts causing Ash to smirk. Serena knows that look so she smiles knowing he has a plan. "Pikachu iron tail lets go!" Ash shouts and Pikachu jumps in the air doing summersaults with his iron tail at the ready.

"Vivillion use gust!" Viola shouts catching Ash and Pikachu off guard. The attack sends Pikachu sliding along the ice. "Pikachu use thunderbolt!" Ash yells and Viola smiles. "Vivillon use sleep powder!" Viola exclaims pointing foward. The Thunderbolt flies and hits Vivillon, but the sleep powder still flies.

"Pikachu jump!" Ash yells and Pikachu jumps over the incoming attack. "Vivillon this is our chance! use solar beam!" Viola calls and the attack charges itself. Pikachu at the height of his jumps was above the Vivillon. "Pikachu don't let her! Use iron tail!" Ash exclaims and Pikachu's tail turns to iron.

Pikachu dives at Vivillon and in milliseconds Vivillons attack is fired. Pikachu puts his tail aiming towards the incoming solar beam. The attack hits the tail and Pikachu, and Pikachu still slices down with Iron tail, causing a streak of smoke to form, covering the entire battlefield from an explosion... (but I won't stop with cliffhangers.. Muahahahaha😈)

Next time... Who will have won the battle? Will Ash's Pikachu or Viola's Vivillon come out on top? Sometimes things are tested, friendships, trust, love, but which one will be at risk? Find out as the Journey continues...

~

What's to come, in Chapter 8...
"I Can't believe it!" Serena and Clemont shout seeing the end of the battle.
"Yvonne? As in Giovanni Yvonne? Like the guy who lead Team Rocket in Kanto?" "Yes.. him.."
"She needs to stop being rude to mommy..." Kaelyn growls under her breath.
'Kaelyn keep that hidden! Don't let anyone see it!' Lucario and Absol shout at her telepathically.
"Not everything in life is fair Serena Yvonne.. but everything is fair in the game of love and war.."

Word count - 1110 (not including what's to come in chapter 8)

What do you people think will be the outcome of Ash's first gym battle? And what are your thoughts on what you will be seeing in the next chapter? What could you end up seeing in chapter 8? It's a big one! Tell me your thoughts!