Alex had woken up early the following day after they finally made it to Pewter City. He had a quick breakfast consent of waffles and some fruit. When he finished that, he headed out to train for his gym battle.

Alex found a good spot to train and sent out his Pokemon. All three of them looked at him, wondering what was going on.

"Alright, guys, today is the day of our first Gym battle. And I'm pretty sure it will be a two-on-two battle," Alex said, catching his Pokemon attention."That means only two of you will get to battle but don't worry. You all get a chance to battle when Mitsuki and I have our battle."

All his Pokemon cheered at the fact they would all get to battle during the rival battle.

"I decided that Hiroka and Sandra would participate in the gym battle later on today," Alex said to them."Now let's get started with training! Hiroka jump and use Water Gun, and Sandra focus power into your claw and use Metal Claw. I want you both to aim at Sora and try to get her. Sora fly and dodge both attacks."

Hiroka jumped and fired a blast of water toward Sora as Sandra focused her power and turned her claw sliver as she charged toward Sora. Sora, the pidgey, flew up smoothly and dodged the incoming attacks.

"Not bad, but you have to move faster than that if we're going to beat Brock. Sandra try using Metal Claw with Rapid spin to increase the speed. And Hiroka, move around to make your Water Gun cover more of the area! Pidgey, prepare to dodge with Quick Attack!" Alex suggested.

The two Pokemon nodded and began retaking their positions. Sandra started to spin around to pick up speed, while Hiroka jumped around rapidly.

"Now attack!" Alex screamed excitedly, as Sandra's claw turned silver as she spun towards Pidgey. Hiroka sent a swirl pattern of water towards Pidgey.

However, Pidgey dodged at the last second with Quick Attack.

"Nice job, you two. Rock types are usually slow, but we can't expect the Gym Leaders Pokemon to be the same as the rest. They're meant to test a trainer's skills and their Pokemon as well. So be prepared for a challenge this afternoon. Remember, the key is to dodge the attack and strike back with everything you got," Alex stated. "Now try working on learning Icy Wind, and Sandra, try learning Iron Tail, but don't overdo it."

The two Pokemon nodded and started working on their assigned moves.

"Pidgey, you work on improving your Quick Attack!" He told Pidgey.

The bird Pokemon nodded and began his training as well.

~•~•

After hours of training and getting his Pokemon healed, Alex was now ready for his first official gym battle right after eating lunch.

"So, did you plan a strategy for your fight against the gym leader Brock?" Mitsuki asked.

"I don't have an exact plan, but I do have a good idea of winning the match," Alex replied.

"By the way, did you call your family?" Mitsuki asked.

"Yeah, before I joined you for lunch," Alex replied.

"Alright, I'm calling mine after your match to tell my family about my gym battle tomorrow," Mitsuki said.

"Well, I'm done eating time to challenge Brock!" Alex shouted, raising his fist in the air.

"Let's go then, Xander," Mitsuki said, finishing his food.

The two boys then headed off for the gym for Alex's gym battle.

~•~•

Alex and Mitsuki had finally arrived at the gym entrance and walked on inside.

"Hello! Is anybody here?" Alex asked.

"The sign says it open, so they must be here somewhere," Mitsuki stated.

"My name is Alexander West from New Bark Town! And I challenge you to a gym battle!" Alex yelled into the air.

Suddenly the lights turned on, focusing on Brock. "So you're my challenger?" He said in a serious tone.

"Yes, I am," Alex replied.

"So you're from Johto?" Brock asked.

"Yes, and this will be my first gym battle on my first journey," Alex replied.

"First gym battle and journey. Well, don't get confident because you won't be able to win as an inexperienced trainer," Brock said sternly.

"We'll see about that after our battle," Alex announced."I might be a beginner still, but one day I will become a fantastic trainer like Ash Ketchum!" He said with determination in his voice.

"Alex, not this again," Mitsuki said, looking at his best friend.

"You know Ash?" Brock asked.

"Well, not physically, but I saw his match on T.V for the Silver Conference, and he got me interested in battling at first; I wanted to be a scientist like my friend over here, father," Alex said. "But seeing how no matter what, he never gave up and never considered type advantage using fire the against another one in his final match."

"Yeah, Ash was always like that when I travel with him," Brock said. "Alex, you intrigue me with your determination as Ash did, but you are different from him, yet both determined. However, that won't be enough to win this battle," Brock said, pressing a button.

The two doors on the wall opened up as two halves of the rock battlefield began closing in over the standard battlefield.

The two boys back away to avoid getting crushed by the rocks. Mitsuki nodded to Alex; good luck before sitting in the spectator's seat.

"I accept your challenge, Alexander," Brock said as a referee that looked like a younger version of Brock walked to the side of the field.

"The Gym battle between Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader, and his challenger Alex from New Bark Town. This will be a two-on-two battle for the Boulder Badge. Only the challenger may substitute Pokemon. The battle is over when either side of two Pokemon is defeated!" The referee explained.

"Alright, allow me to send out my Pokemon first," Brock said. "Go, Geodude!" He said as he threw a Pokeball forward.

"Geodude up first, okay," Alex as he grabbed a Pokeball from his belt and tapped the button, making it bigger, and threw it forward."Go Sandra, your up first!" Alex yelled.

"Sandshrew a ground type against a rock and ground interesting choice," Brock said.

"It might exactly be the best choice in most situations, but I came prepared, Brock," Alex replied."Sandra, use Sand Attack!" He commanded.

"Huh? Geodude, use dig to avoid the incoming Sand Attack!" Brock called out.

"Well, while is getting ready to attack. Use Defense Curl!"

Since the Sand Attack was still in the air, Brock was hesitant to call Geodude back up, but Sandra was freely increasing her Defense.

"Geodude Rock Throw!" Brock called out.

Geodude jumped out of the ground and summoned a furry of rocks aiming at Sandra.

"Dodge and then use Metal Claw as we practiced!" Alex called out.

Sandra began rolling around, dodging all the incoming rocks. She then spun towards Geodude, sending it back with Metal Claw.

"It looks like Xander's training has paid off so far," Mitsuki stated as he watched the match.

"I got to admit, Alexander, you are a decent strategist. However, that doesn't mean you will win my badge.  Geodude, use Rollout!" Brock called out after praising his challenger.

"Sandra, counter with Metal Claw!" Alex commanded.

Sandra charged forward with Metal Claw. The two moves collied, and both pokemon flew back as the attacks collided.

"Sandra, hang in there and finish this off with Iron Tail!" Alex shouted, determined to show to win his first Gym battle.

"Geodude, stop it with Rock throw!" Brock commanded.

Geodude tossed a fury of rocks toward Sandra, trying to block her path, which Alex immediately noticed.

"Sandra, go around the furry of rock with Rapid Spin and then use Iron Tail!" Alex commanded.

"Sandshrew!" Sandra cried out as she spun around quickly, avoiding the furry of rocks coming toward her as Geodude continued trying to block her path.

As she got closed towards Geodude, her tail lit up silver, and as she slammed her tail into Geodude, knocking it out.

"Geodude is unable to battle. Sandshrew is the winner!" The referee announced.

"That wasn't, Alex. I will say you have trained that Sandshrew well, but that won't be enough to win my badge," Brock stated as he took out a Pokeball and returned Geodude. "I hope you are prepared because my next Pokemon will be a challenge!" He declared, pulling out a Pokeball containing his next Pokemon.

"I was born ready," Alex said.

"Still full of determination, well here we go, my next and last Pokemon," He said, enlarging the Pokeball in his hand."Go Onix; I choose you!" He shouted, throwing the Pokeball forward.

"Onix!" Onix let out a mighty roar as it appeared on the battlefield.

Alexander and Sandshrew tensed up as they looked at the giant snake in front of them on the battlefield.

'How to approach this Onix slower than Geodude, but it probably has the better defense.' Alex thought, studying his next challenge.

"You will make a move, or have you lost determination after seeing Onix?" Brock asked, looking at Alex's expression.

Alex looked at Sandra, who was pretty worn out, but he wanted to weaken Onix a bit before sending out his next Pokemon.

"Alright, Sandra, run forward with Metal Claw!" Alex yelled.

"Screech!" Brock command. A loud screech came from Onix, causing Sandra to stop in her tracks in pain from the screech.

"Iron Tail!" Alex shouted as Sandra attacked and slammed her tail into Onix, but it didn't seem to do much.

"Bind!" Brock said.

"Sandra, dodge!" Alex commanded, but it was too late Onix's tail wrapped around Sandra, binding her in place.

"Dang it," Alex muttered, looking at his Pokemon situation.

"Now, Rock Tomb!" Brock shouted.

"Sandra breaks free with Rapid Spin, and Metal Claw combine!" Alex commanded as Sandra broke spun, and smacked Onix's tail away.

Onix closed the distance keeping Sandra from going any farther.

"Now use Hidden Power!" Brock yelled as a glowing white little ball hit Sandra, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Sandra, can you go on?" Alex asked as Sandra slowly got back up but winced in pain.

"Now, Onix Rock Tomb!" Brock said as Onix sent rocks flying towards Sandra.

"Swift!" Alex yelled as Sandra sent golden stars flying under the rocks. The stars slammed into Onix as the rocks slammed onto Sandra's, knocking her out, but Onix was still conscious.

"Sandshrew is unable to battle; the winner is Onix!" The referee announced.

"Sandra, you were terrific. I won't let your defeat be for nothing," He said, returning Sandra to her Pokeball.

Alex reached for his belt and grabbed the Pokeball containing his second Pokemon, and enlarged it."I'm counting on you, Hiroka!" He shouted, throwing Pokeball forward.

"So Totodile up next, I see," Mitsuki said, looking at Alex's next Pokemon.

"Hiroka Leer!" Alex yelled as Totodile leered at Onix, lowering its defense.

"Not a bad move there, Xander," Mitsuki stated.

"Onix, use Screech!" Brock shouted.

"Don't let that stop you, and use Water Gun!" Alex commanded as Totodile sent a swirl of water as he did in training. The water hit Onix but surprising; it was still standing.

"Onix Rock Tomb!" Brock shouted.

"Hiroka, dodge and use another Water Gun!" Alex commanded as Totodile jumped away from the furry of rocks only to send another wave of Water Gun at Onix.

'What is he going to do now? Onix's defense is still strong enough to withstand the Water Gun wave.' Mitsuki thought, looking at Alex wondering what he would do now.

"Onix again, Rock Tomb!"

"Hiroka forge and use Icy Wind!" Alex yelled as Totodile jumped away from the furry of rocks and sent a wind of Ice right at Onix.

"Onix Bind!"

"Water Gun and dodge!" Alex commanded

Onix bound its tail around Totodile before it released its next Water Gun. Alex growled, not expecting it to be still able to move after so many attacks.

"Don't take that break free with Water Gun!" Alex shouted.

"Totodile!" Hiroka let out a loud cry as he began to glow with white light. Onix, let go in surprise as everyone looked at Hiroka in surprise.

Once the light faded away, Totodile's appearance had changed.

"It evolved!" Brock said as Alex pointed his pokedex at his new Croconaw.

"Croconaw, The big Jaw Pokemon. The tip of its fangs is slanted backward. Once those fangs clamp down, the prey has no hope of escape."

"Wow, Hiroka, that is amazing you evolve," Alex said happily.

Hiroka suddenly ran forward and punched Onix back with ice covering his fist. This knocked Onix out, unable to battle, and completely surprised everyone.

"Onix is unable to battle! Croconaw is the winner. With two wins, the match goes to Alexander!" The referee announced, making Alex and Hiroka both cheer.

"Xander, that was great!" Mitsuki called out.

"Onix, good job now return," Brock said, returning Onix. "Alex, that was a great battle Totodile evolution, and the new move caught us off guard there," Brock said.

"I was surprised myself, but my training paid off more than just improving and working on a new attack," Alex said, looking at his new Pokemon.

"It did because you just earned yourself a Boulder badge," Brock said, holding out a badge to Alex.

Alex took the badge and smirked.

"Congrats, Xander, you got your first badge and evolution," Mitsuki said, giving Alex a close eye smile.

"Now it's your Mitsuki turn to battle, and then we have our first rival battle before the journey continues," Alex said with a grin.

"Mitsuki, I will battle you tomorrow, but don't think the strategies I show today are the only ones I have," Brock said.

"I don't expect it to be easy. However, Alex and I will both grow stronger, but with different goals as trainers he wants to be a Pokemon Master like Ash, but I want to be the next Pokemon Champion like Lance!" Mitsuki sated.

Alex fought a hard battle against Brock and had an evolution, and finally got his first gym badge. Now he has to wait for the Mitsuki match so they can have their first rival battle before going separate ways.

To be Continued...

Here you go, chapter nine is completed. Alex battles Brock and gets his first gym badge along with an evolution.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Q: Who is excited about Alex and Mitsuki's first rival battle!

Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2435