Ash and Misty safely made it to the exit of the Viridian Forest. They were soon stopped by a random hole in the ground. "Who would've dug this hole?" Ash asked as he looked down.

"I'd be careful Ash, I sense trouble around here," Misty said worriedly.

A voice called from the hole. "Prepare for trouble since there is nothing to be found."

It was soon followed by another. "Make it double because this is Operation Ground and Pound." James's Koffing flew up with the Team Rocket Cohorts hanging on and flying out of the hole before saying the rest of their self-introduction.

"To protect Equus from devastation. To unite all Ponies within our nation. To denounce the evils of Truth and Love, to extend our reach for the stars above. I am Jessie and I am James. Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

Ash face-hoofed himself. "Why must we run into you twice in one day?"

"Why do we have to fall into our own trap?" Jessie added.

"Why did we add two lines into our motto?" James asked himself.

"What's with all the questions?" Misty finally asked.

"Look Team Rocket, let's just cut to the chase," Ash said to the Cohorts. "I really need to get to the Pewter City gym so I can get my first badge, so I'm not really in the mood to battle you ponies right now."

"Oh yeah, we forgot about that," James replied. "Well good luck!"

Jessie gave a nasty glare at James. "You do realize you're just letting him go to the gym and he'll be ahead of us?"

"Well yes, but you need eight badges to comp--"

"I already know all this stuff James. Just attack while they're confused!"

"I heard the entire thing," Ash suddenly broke in. "Pikachu, Thundershock!" Pikachu suddenly jumped in front of Ash and let out a bolt of electricity that shocked Team Rocket.

"Let's run," James said running off. Jessie and Koffing quickly followed.

"Looks like Team Rocket's dashing away again!" the Cohorts said before disappearing.

"That was weird..." Misty said after a short silence. Ash nodded in agreement. They walked on until they came to a cliff showing all of Pewter City.

"This is the place," Ash said as he looked at the city.

"Pewter City's gym uses Rock Type Ponymon. Defeating this gym will give you the Boulder Badge. I hope you do well over there Ash," Misty explained.

"Wait, you're not gonna cheer me on?"

"I just have to head to the Pony Market so I can pick up a package from a friend in Cerulean City."

"Oh..."

"I'll see you later Ash!" she flew away.

Ash got out Pikachu and Pidgeotto's Ponyballs. "Pikachu, Pidgeotto, return!" The two Ponymon turned into red light and went into the Ponyballs. Ash then flew over to the Pewter Gym. "This is it," he said to himself before walking in.

The lights suddenly turned on as the gym leader started walking to his spot in the gym. Ash saw the pony had a horn lit up and a shirt that is green. The horn's light dimmed. "Welcome to the Pewter Gym," he said to Ash. "I'm Brock, the gym's leader."

Ash smiled at him. "I'm Ash, a Ponymon Trainer from Pallet Town."

Brock's horn lit up again as the scoreboard turned on. "We'll use two Ponymon, no time limit, and you're the only one to make substitutions."

"Okay, I agree by those terms," Ash replied.

Brock got out his first Ponyball. "Go, Geodude!" Geodude came out in a flash of white light and materialized.

"Cool, a Geodude!" Ash got out Pidgeotto's Ponyball. "Pidgeotto, I choose you!" Brock stifled his laugh as Pidgeotto appeared. "What's so funny?"

"Pidgeotto's a Flying Type and Geodude is a Rock Type. Flying Types have a disadvantage."

Ash sighed hearing this. "I might as well give it my best shot. Pidgeotto, gust attack!" Ash commanded. Pidgeotto suddenly let the wind move in crazy directions while kicking up dust on the stadium. Geodude moved around to try and stay away from the gust.

"Geodude, use Rock Toss!" Geodude picked up a part of the ground and suddenly threw it at Pidgeotto. It suddenly flew off the stadium.

Ash turned around. "Pidgeotto, are you okay?" Pidgeotto struggled to get up but fell onto the ground swirly eyed. "Pidgeotto, return." Ash got out Pidgeotto's Ponyball and it turned into red light as it went into the Ponyball. "That was a bad move... Alright, I choose you Pikachu!" He got out Pikachu's Ponyball and it suddenly appeared from its Ponyball. "Okay, let's go!"

"Geodude, Rock Toss again!" Geodude picked up another part of the ground.

"Pikachu, use Thundershock now!" Pikachu sent out a lightning bolt at the Geodude shocking it. The Geodude lost its grip on the rock and it dropped on the Ponymon.

"Geodude return!" Geodude returned to its Ponyball as red light. "It's the final round. Onix, go!" Brock then threw his second Ponyball. It opened and Onix appeared in a huge flash of white light. It suddenly materialized. The Ponyball, however, mysteriously rolled to one side of the gym. Ash and Pikachu gasped in surprise.

Ash quickly got out his Ponydex. It suddenly scanned the Ponymon.

"095 - Onix is a Rock and Ground Type Ponymon. It burrows at high speed in search of food. The trail it leaves behind becomes homes for Digletts."

"A Ponymon like that must be extremely powerful."

"That's right," Brock replied. "Onix, use wrap!" Onix wrapped its tail around Pikachu. Pikachu's static ability caused Onix to become paralyzed. "What!?"

"A physical attack that lands on Pikachu Paralyzes the Ponymon on contact!" Brock gasped. "I thank Team Rocket for battling me and letting me see it before I finally battled you. Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Pikachu got out of Onix's grip and knocked its head on the Rock Type making it struggle to stay up. "Alright, use Thundershock!" Pikachu used Thundershock but it barely had any effect on the Onix, but it also reflected onto the gym's ceiling causing a fire.

"Hang in there Onix, try to use Dig!" Onix started digging its way underground. The fire started getting detected by the sprinkler system and it started to rain down onto the stadium. Onix stopped digging and felt extreme pain from the water and got knocked out. "Onix, no!"

Ash gasped. "Onix, hang in there!" He quickly grabbed Onix's Ponyball. "Return!" Onix returned to the Ponyball in a flash of red light. The sprinkler system then stopped. Brock managed a weak smile as Ash handed the Ponyball back to him.

"Ash," he said, "that was really brave saving Onix like that."

"Thanks Brock. You really had me during the first battle."

"I believe you should have this as appreciation for your win." He got out the Boulder Badge and gave it to Ash.

"Thanks again." He smiled at him before turning away to exit the gym.

"Ash wait!" Ash stopped walking and turned to him. "I know you're on a journey to become a Ponymon Master, but..." Ash walked over to him. "I always wanted to be more than a Gym Leader. I actually wanna be a Ponymon Breeder. Do you think that you can allow me to follow you on your journey in case you get into trouble?"

Ash smiled and nodded. "It'll be an honor Brock." Brock ran over to him. "I better rest up my Ponymon before we head out for our next gym badge."

"Let me take you to the Pewter City Ponymon Center." Brock lead the way as Ash followed.

Ash, his Pikachu, and Brock entered the Ponymon Center but were shocked to see Misty standing near the doorway. "I was expecting you to head over here Ash," Misty said in a way that made Ash shiver a bit in fear. "Tell me, did you win or lose?"

"I won Misty," Ash said showing the new badge he got from the gym. Misty gasped.

"I'm even going to join him in his travels around Kanto," Brock added.

"Really Brock? I am too!" Misty replied.

"Whoa!" Ash said shocked. "You two know each other!?"

"Even though we're separated by a huge mountain doesn't mean we can still see each other."

"Wow."

"Well we need to head to the next city soon so go and rest up your Ponymon Ash."

Ash nodded and he walked up to the Ponymon Center desk.

Meanwhile with Team Rocket, they were tiredly walking over to Pewter City. "I can't believe that kid and his Pikachu beat us again..." James said. A device rang in Jessie's shirt pocket.

She got it out and turned it on. "We've got a mission for you," a voice came from it. "Steal the Moon Stone at Mount Moon. You won't be doing this one alone, you'll have backup as well... a talking Meowth. Do not fail me like you did with the Ponymon Center in Viridian City."

Author's Note

References: Dragonforce