(Note: this occurs during episode 17 of the Anime)

Third Person's POV

After witnessing Paul's impressive victory at the Oreburgh Gym, Ash waged his premiere Gym Battle in the Sinnoh Region against Roark, the Oreburgh Gym leader, battling with fierce tenacity as he teamed up with his Aipom, Turtwig, and finally Pikachu. However, the end result of our Hero's efforts was not to be the same as Paul's, when Ash's hard-fought battle against Roark ended in a mind-boggling defeat.

As Ash went outside to train with Turtwig Pikachu and Aipom as Brock and Dawn decided to go with Ash to give him company Gary stays behind outside of the Pokémon Center waiting for Volo who's inside planning on how can overcome Roark's team.

Togekiss, Meloetta, Petilil and Mawile were looking up at their trainer waiting for him to make a decision.

"Okay, I think I got the chosen team, Meloetta, Mawile and Petilil, you will be battling this Gym" He says Before looking at Togekiss with a apologetic look "Togekiss, I need you to sit this one out since it's a Rock-type Gym, I don't want to risk in using you for who know what tricks Roark has planned, besides I want to give Mawile and Petilil some battling experience" he explains.

Togekiss seems a little upset but nods in understanding.

Volo hugs the Jubilee Pokémon "I'll make it up to you, I promise!" he assures his day one Pokémon before turning to the others "now come on, Roark's waiting for us" he then said before returning his Pokémon back to their Pokéballs.

Volo walks out of the Pokémon Center and looks surprised to see Gary.

"Gary? I thought you were with Ash training" he said looking confused with why he isn't with Ash and the others.

"Well, I realized that if I go with Ash, you wouldn't have no one to battle so I stayed with you and yes they know that I'll be staying behind.

Volo nods "I see..." he responds "Although you didn't have to, but thanks anyway"

"But I want to, Volo you're our friend" Gary replies.

Volo feels move by the gesture gave by the others "that means a lot, thank you" he thanked him.

-scene change-

Now at the Oreburgh Gym Volo and Roark are set and ready for their Gym Battle as Gary's sitting on the sidelines with Umbreon sitting next to him. 

"The Gym Battle between, Roark the Gym Leader and Volo the challenger is about to begin! Each trainer are allowed to use only three Pokémon the battle will be over when all three Pokémon of Either side are unable to continue! In addition, only the challenger can substitute their Pokémon; let the battle begin!" Ian announces.

"Geodude, Come on out!" Roark calls out his Geodude who appears looking pumped up.

"He's starting off with Geodude, I have to be careful with it then" Volo thinks out loud before pulling out a Pokéball in hand "All right, then! Petilil! Steal the show!" Volo calls out.

"Petilil!" Petilil cries out.

"He's starting off with Petilil" Gary states ad Umbreon looks psyche.

"Petilil?" A voice is heard from Gary's left.

Gary's eyes widen with shock seeing Paul standing there "Paul, what are you doing here?" he questions.

"Well, I was originally planning on leaving, but I have to wait for another half a hour for my Elekid to be fully recovered, and I heard Volo's challenging Roark, so I thought why not" the purple hair male explains "besides he's...seemed more interesting than Ash" he adds making Gary frown a bit.

"Petilil let's show them what you got, use Razor Leaf!" Volo commands

The leaves on Petilil's head become outlined in light green and it fires multiple leaves from them at the Rock Type Pokémon.

"Dodge it and use Roll Out!" Roark commands.

 Geodude curls into a ball and rolls towards the opponent with incredible speed and power.

'Just as I expected ' he thinks "Petilil, wait for Geodude to get closer!" Roark looks surprised by this command.

Petilil looks guarded as Paul watches closely "I wonder what's he up to" Gary wonders.

"Umbreon" Umbreon also wonders.

Geodude rolls closer enough "Now, Petilil! Use Protection Razor Leaf!" Volo yells.

Petilil uses Razor leaf again but this time the Razor Leaf surrounds Petilil's body, protecting it from Geodude's Rollout attack as Geodude get pushed back much to Roark's shocked.

"You were expecting that, did you?" Roark questions.

Volo smirks "that's only the one percent of what Petilil can do" he responds "Petilil use Razor Leaf!" Volo commands.

Petilil uses Razor Leaf for a short-range attack hitting Geodude head on much to Roark's shock.

Paul looks somehow impressed "Not only he outsmarted Roark but he's also quick on his feet..." He admits to himself.

"All right, go Petilil!" Gary cheered.

"Umbre!" The Moonlight Pokémon also cheered.

"Petilil, use Leech Seed!" Volo then commands

Petilil lowers its head, and its leaves releases a brown seed at the opposing. The seed digs into the Geodude and sprouts vines which wrap around the opponent and drain its energy.

"Oh no Geodude!"

"Now time to light up this stage, Petilil! Sunny Day!" Volo yells

Petilil's body becomes surrounded in golden energy and it then fires multiple golden rings of energy into the sky, causing the sky to become sunny and clear much to everyone's amazement.

Volo takes the change as he sees that Roark's distracted "Solar Beam, go!"

"Solar Beam!?" Roark, Gary, and Paul question with surprised.

Petilil sunlight in its leaves and then fires a massive white beam of energy from the front of the leaves at Geodude who then gets hit before it could get a change to dodge as Roark gasped with shock seeing a smokey explosion before him.

"Direct hit!" Gary said.

Paul finds this battle amazing in a way as if he finds his battling style quite familiar, but he can't put a finger on what it is.

The smoke clears up revealing Geodude with swirls on it eyes fainted "Geodude is unable to battle, Petilil wins!" Ian announces.

"Yes! Way to go Petilil!" Volo cheers.

Petilil turns to Volo "Lil!" Petilil cries happily.

Roark returns Geodude back to its Pokéball "you did great Geodude, thank you" he thanked before switching Pokéballs "thanks for the Sunny Day, Volo! Cranidos let's go!" Roark calls as Cranidos appear looking prideful at Petilil and Volo.

'I was expecting Roark to use Cranidos since Sunny Day is active it might take this chance to use it to make its flamethrower stronger' Volo thought before pulling out a Pokéball "Petilil, return!" He returns the Bud Pokémon back to its Pokéball he then switches with another Pokéball.

"I wonder which Pokémon he'll be using next?" Roak whispers to himself.

"Alright I was gonna save you for last, but Cranidos is out...I'm counting on you" Volo speaks to the Pokéball before turning to Roark "It's time, Meloetta Steal the Show!" Volo yells.

"Loetta!" Meloetta appears ready to fight.

"It's Meloetta!" Gary states.

"Umbreon!" The Moonlight Pokémon cheer.

Paul continues to watch closely.

"Cranidos use Headbutt!" Roark tells Cranidos

Cranidos attempt to slams its head into Meloetta "Stop him with Psychic!" He commands.

Meloetta's body and eyes glow light blue. Then, it releases a wave of psychic energy, which surrounds Cranidos stopping it from getting closer.

"Now push it away!" Meloetta does as it told.

Cranidos gets sent flying through a lot of rocks. Roark gasps at this 'I've underestimated him...he's stronger than I thought' the Gym Leader thought "Use Flamethrower!" Roark then yells

Cranidos releases a red-orange stream of fire from its mouth at Meloetta.

"Stop it with Psychic!" Volo yells back

Meloetta uses Psychic stopping the Flamethrower as Meloetta gets pushes back a bit due to the Sunny Day power-up.

"Use Head Smash!" Volo gasps hearing this

Cranidos's body becomes surrounded in a whitish-blue aura, then the aura surrounds its body, making Cranidos look black and white. Cranidos shoots itself at its opponent with its head pointed at it and smashes into Meloetta. Cranidos then suffers from recoil damage.

Meloetta falls harshly to the ground "Meloetta!" Volo calls the Melody Pokémon who struggle to get up.

"Loetta!" Meloetta gets back on its feet

"Headbutt!" Roark commands as Cranidos attempts to use Headbutt on Meloetta.

"Now Meloetta, Hyper Voice!" Volo commands

Meloetta releases multiple transparent rings from its mouth Sending Cranidos flying and it crashes into a few more Rock.

"Smart, move! waiting for your opponent to get close to you to make a close-ranged attack like how Petilil did with Geodude, Way to go Volo!" Gary states.

Paul hums "You're...not bad" he mutters.

Volo then notices that the Sunny Day wears off "Meloetta come here!" he calls as Meloetta flies towards Volo as he pulls out Mawile's Pokéball "Now time for the anticipated debut of my new friend, Mawile steal the show!" Volo states throwing a Pokéball in the air.

"Mawile!" The Deceiver Pokémon appears standing ready to fight.

"When did he get a Mawile!?" Gary questions out of disbelief.

"Umbreon" Umbreon is as shocked as it's trainer.

Paul tilts his head a bit as he hums in thought.

"Cranidos can you still go?" Roark questions his Pokémon who slowly gets up and looks at Mawile who glares at Cranidos who flinched but nods "Then let's use Head Smash again!" Cranidos charges at Mawile while it uses Head Smash.

"Double Team!" Volo yells.

Mawile's body glows white and it creates multiple copies of itself. making Cranidos hit a fake and crashes itself to a rock that was behind the fake Mawile.

"Cranidos!" Roark calls out with concern.

Cranidos gets up looking angry that it got fooled and charges at Mawile again with headbutt

"Mawile?" the Deceiver Pokémon tilts its head confusedly

"Woah, Cranidos calm down!" Roark calls.

This scene takes Volo by surprise "Okay, I wasn't expecting this" Volo said as he sees Cranidos hitting another clone as more Mawile clones surrounds the Head Butt Pokémon "could this be a sign that Craindos will evolve soon?" he whispers to himself in question in which only Meloetta heard.

"Me..." Meloetta looks at the new comrade with concern.

Cranidos then stands with Roark "Cranidos use Flamethrower!" Cranidos uses Flamethrower to take out the rest of the Clones, but the real Mawile is nowhere to be seen much for Roark, Paul, Gary, Cranidos and even Ian who's acting as the referee's surprise.

"Where's Mawile" Gary questions.

"Breon..." Umbreon looks amaze.

Then a shadow appears from behind Cranidos revealing to be Mawile standing behind the Rock Type Pokémon.

"Mawile grab Cranidos with Crunch!" Volo commands as Mawile bites Cranidos using the huge steel jaws on its head "Now throw it!" Mawile throws Cranidos away from it "Now wrap it up with Iron Head!" he adds.

Mawile's body becomes surrounded by a white aura, making it seem black and white, and it slams its head into the Head Butt Pokémon with high-speed sending Cranidos flying.

"Cranidos!" Roark gasps as Cranidos flew pass him and hit its back on the wall and slides down with swirls on its eyes.

"Cranidos is unable to battle, Mawile wins!" Ian announces.

"Yeah! you did it Mawile your first Gym Battle win!" Volo praises the Deceiver Pokémon who jumps around happily that it won it's first official battle.

Roark then returns Cranidos back to its Pokéball "You were awesome, Cranidos, thank you" he thanked the Pokémon before switching the Pokéball "Now it's up to you know, Onix let's go!" Roark calls as the Rock Snake Pokémon appears roaring with pride.

Volo takes out Mawile's Pokéball "Okay, Mawile, return for now!" Volo calls as he returns Mawile back to its Pokéball before turning to Meloetta "ready to steal the show"

The Melody Pokémon nods at Volo "Oetta!" Meloetta responds before flying back to the battlefield.

Gary looks psyched "I'm very surprised that despite the first two Gym Battles, Volo made this battle so easy for him" Gary comments.

"Umbreon" Umbreon looks shocked.

Paul hums as he watches Volo's face 'Hate to admit, but he's right; Volo make this look easy despite the struggles Both Ash and I faced, Volo didn't even break a sweat, and neither are his Pokémon' he thought.

"Your three Pokémon are Petilil, Meloetta, and Mawile, seems like a interesting yet balanced team, but let's see how can Meloetta can handle Onix, Use double Edge!" Roark commands.

Onix's body glows gold or silver and it attempts to tackle the Melody Pokéon with great power.

"What Meloetta can do is only the fifty percent of what it can do" Volo says making Roark look confused "Let me show you, Meloetta Use, Relic Song!" he yells back.

"Here it comes!" Gary states,

"Umbre!" Umbreon look excited.

Meloetta sings a beautiful melody releasing a wave of energy that sends Onix flying. engulfing itself in a sphere of light, inside which it changes to it's Pirouette Forme.

Roark looks surprised seeing this "What just happened?" he questions.

"What happened was Relic Song; a move that only Meloetta can use this is not just a damaging move, but it allows Meloetta to changes it's form, You're facing Meloetta's Pirouette Forme a though Meloetta is mainly a Normal Type but not only that it changes it's secondary typing" Volo explains surprising the other four men "which in its Previous form, Aria Forme is a Normal Psychic Type, but in its Pirouette Form, it's Normal Fighting" he explains.

"Woah, I didn't know that" Gary states

Paul remains silent.

"Aright, let's give them all we got! Onix use Screech!" Roark yells

Onix opens its mouth and the inside of it glows white. It then releases a light blue cylinder beam from its mouth at their opponent.

"Meloetta Fight back with Hyper Voice!" Volo yells back. Pirouette Forme Meloetta releases multiple transparent rings from its mouth as both moves clashes creating an explosion blinding Onix's sight on Meloetta "Now, Meloetta! Close Combat!" Volo commands.

Pirouette Forme Meloetta flies straight towards Onix and repeatedly punches and kicks the Rock Snake Pokémon's face at a fast speed.

Onix stumbles back "Onix!" Roark calls Onix shakes its head and roars 'Meloetta's stronger than it looks' he thought.

"Now Meloetta let's wrap this up, Hyper Voice!" Volo command as Meloetta hits Onix square in the face using Hyper Voice.

Onix gets send back and falls down knocked out unconscious "Onix is unable to battle, Meloetta wins to the match goes to the Challenger, Volo!" Ian announces.

Volo smiles "All right!" Volo cheers as Meloetta flies to Volo to hugs him in which Volo hugs back "you were amazing Meloetta! All of you were!" he cheers.

"Oetta!" Meloetta cries happily.

"Volo won!" Gary cheered.

"Umbreon!" Umbreon also cheered.

Paul smirks "Good for you, Volo" he mutters before walking away "maybe there is some true competition after all" he said to himself walking out of the Gym.

Roark walks up to Volo after he returned Onix back to its Pokéball "Congratulations, Volo! You truly brought one hell of a battle with your Pokémon, just keep that up and I'm sure you'll be able to win the Sinnoh League in no time" he tells Volo as Ian walks up to both of them carrying the Coal Badge to hand to Roark. Roark then takes the badge "as a sign of proof that you beat the Oreburgh Gym, I'm presenting you the Coal Badge, it's yours now" he said handing the badge to Volo.

Volo smiles at Roark "Thank you so much, Roark" he thanked the redhead before taking the badge not noticing the redness on Roark's cheeks "Oh Yeah! I just won the Coal Badge!" Volo said as he poses with the badge in hand.

"Oe!" Meloetta cries in cheer.

"Wile!/Lil!" Mawile and Petilil joins on the cheering.

Gary runs up to Volo and hugs him "That was amazing! Congratulations!" He congratulates the blonde.

Volo smiles "Thanks, Gary! That long thinking really worth it!" He states showing him the badge.

"Umbreon!" Umbreon congratulates the three Pokémon who cried back thanking the Moonlight Pokémon.

-scene change-

Volo is in the Pokémon Center, and he waits for his Pokémon to be fully recovered as Togekiss eats some Pokémon food as they wait.

"Excuse me, Volo!" Volo hears Nurse Joy calling to him. Volo walks up to her as he see three Pokéballs on the counter "I'm happy to inform you that your Pokémon are now one hundred percent healthy" she tells him.

Volo nods before taking the Pokéballs "thank you, Nurse Joy" he thanked the nurse before hearing a sound of People screaming.

Togekiss and Volo looked at each other and run/fly out of the Pokémon Center they look up and they see a rampaging Aerodactyl flying around the city while firing Hyper Beam.

"Aerodactyl!" Volo states as he pulls out his Pokédex.

"Aerodactyl, the Fossil Pokémon. An ancient Flying type, it is equipped with sharp saw-like teeth"

Volo then pulls out Meloetta's Pokéball "Good thing you're healthy in time to help us out" he said to the Pokéball before turning to Togekiss "Let's go, Togekiss!" he said before getting on the Jubilee Pokémon's back.

"Kiss!" Togekiss cries determinedly before flying after the Fossil Pokémon. 

But Aerodactyl was too fast for them that they lost sight at one go, but lucky for Volo he know exactly where it flew off to. as they headed to the Mime where Ash and Brock were which he was right along with Officer Jenny, Dawn, Gary, Roark and a trapped Cranidos and unsurprisingly team Rocket.

"Everyone I'm coming!" Volo yells gaining everyone's attention.

Roark and the rest of our heroes looks happy and relieved "Volo!" they called

Volo and Togekiss flew behind Team Rocket "Mawile, Meloetta! I need you two!" he calls.

"Mawile!/Loetta!" Both Meloetta and Mawile cried.

"When did he get a Mawile!?" Ash, Brock, and Dawn questioned before looking at Gary.

"Pika!?/Sudowoodo!?/Piplup!?/Buneary!?" the Pokémon present looked as shocked as their trainers while doing the same gesture but towards Umbreon.

"We'll explain later" the brunette Kantonian tells them. 

"Umbreon" Umbreon sweat drops.

"Mawile, Use Iron head!" Volo command as Mawile uses Iron head trying to stop Team Rocket from moving in backwards which the evil trio startled.

"Meloetta back Mawile up with Psychic!" Volo adds as Meloetta Use Psychic to immobilize Team Rocket.

Cranidos let out a roar of triumph as he started to glow bright.

Everyone had gasped to see it glowing. "Cranidos!" Roark shouts. Cranidos had grown bigger and changing forms, cutting the net that Team Rocket trapped it in before appearing as a new Pokémon, letting out a triumph roar once more.

"It evolved!" Volo yells out, happily seeing the newly evolved Pokémon. 

"Alright! Let's go, Rampardos!" Roark shouts as Rampardos had charged at Team Rocket, who panicked. 

"S-Stop! Down boy!" James screams.

"You've messed with the wrong Pokémon" Volo said

Rampardos leap in the air, landing in front of the robot, grabbing the Fossil Restorer, Mawile cheers for Rampardos as it used its full strength to pull it out, bringing the machine back to the others.

"Great, Rampardos! Now finish it with Zen Headbutt!" Roark shouts as Volo lands and stands next to the Gym Leader.

"Mawile back Rampardos up with Iron Head!" Volo adds 

Rampardos let out a roar before its head glowed blue, charging at Team Rocket, Mawile's body becomes surrounded by a white aura, making it seem black and white, both Pokémon smash the robot as it exploded, sending Team Rocket to the sky

"Ancient's overrated anyway!" Meowth exclaims. 

"No, it's not, and you will make for that machine!" Jessie demands, pointing at James. 

"Sorry but I never liked antiquing." James said, solemnly. 

"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet cried out as it came out of its Pokeball, again.

"WE'RE BLASTING OFF, AGAIN~!!!" Team Rocket shouts before disappearing into the sky, having to leave a shining star behind.

"Rampar!" Rampardos lets out a victory roar.

"Mawile!" Mawile cried in victory with.

Rampardos and Mawile look at each other and share a high five. Mawile then smile making Rampardos look away with a embarrassed blush and smiles and its tail wagging.

"Amazing!" Ash gasped. "And so powerful!" Dawn said as she pulls out her Pokedex to get a look.

"Rampardos, the Head Butt Pokémon and the evolved form of Cranidos. Its Headbutt attack is so powerful that it can pulverize even the sturdiest of objects with one hit."

"Thank you, Rampardos! Thanks to you, we have our machine back!" Kenzo one of the scientists thanked Rampardos to which it gave a nod and grunt. 

"And to you, for your brave assistance, I salute you!" Jenny said, saluting Rampardos as a meaning of respect.

Brock came over to Jenny in a loving tone. "Jenny, my darling, I salute you for your awesome beauty and charm!" He said that is until Croagunk decided to ruin it by stabbing Brock in the gut with Poison Jab "All I can..." Brock said before fainting, having Croagunk to drag him away.

Ash laughs nervously before looking at Roark, with a serious determination on his face. "Hey, Roark? Can we please have another battle, tomorrow?" He asked. "I love to go up against Rampardos!"

"Oh? Have you thought what strategies to use?" Roark asked.

"Yeah!" Ash responds as he nods. 

"Okay, then you can have the honor of Rampardos' premiere opponent!" Roark said, smiling having Rampardos grunt as an agreement.

"Really? Whoa, thanks!" Ash exclaims. 

"Pika, pika!" Pikachu thanked them before Ash turns to Dawn.

 "Dawn, do you think you can help me train a bit?" Ash ask the female.

"Sure, it'll be good training for me as well!" Dawn agrees smiling. 

"Thanks, that's great!" Ash said. "You know what, after all that! I know, I'm gonna get that badge!" Ash declares. 

"Pikachu!" Pikachu agrees.

"Alright, you just give it all you got!" Roark assured, smiling at Ash.

"We'll be there cheering you on, Ash!" Volo states.

"Also, Volo when did you caught that Mawile?" Ash then asks.

"Long story short I was training with Petilil and Mawile appear to challenge us to a battle which we accept, and the rest is history, in addition I won the Coal Badge" Volo explains before showing his badge case with the Coal Badge inside.

And so, with Volo's first Gym battle victory, and a fierce battle with an Aerodactyl provides our Hero with a clue! A clue which undoubtedly helped formulate the battle strategy Ash so confidently alluded to, while Roark and Rampardos await. Promising to be a challenge that Ash, or none of us for that matter, will soon forget, you've got to stay tuned for the action.

To Be Continued...