(Ash POV)

We were now on our way to the Cyllage gym to get my second badge. Bonnie seems exited to see be battle against Grant. Clemont was also eager to see me battle to help him become a better trainer. While Serena..... well.... She seems quite. She didn't say anything on the way there; I thought she would say something encouraging to me or ask if I had anything planned. But no... she is just walking and what looks like she was thinking of something.

"Uh... Serena are you ok?"

"Huh...." She said snapping her out of her thoughts. "Uh.. ya why do you ask?"

"Well you seem very quit and you didn't say anything since we left. Is there something on your mind?"

"Oh... uh... it's nothing. I was just thinking about.... Uh... how... how this gym battle will be different from Viola" she managed to say

"Oh.... Well don't worry about that, like Viola I'll beat Grant and get my second gym badge" I said confidently. "You can count on it."

(Serena POV)

Ash just asked me if something was wrong, that got me worried. I didn't want him to worry about what I was thinking when he was a gym battle to focus on. I said that I was worried about his gym battle against Grant when I was actually thinking about what Brock told me last night. I know I shouldn't think about that much but I can't help myself.

I took a deep breath to help clear my mind. Brock was right I shouldn't think about it too much. I should just enjoy my time I have with Ash and support him on his gym battle. So I put on a smile so Ash won't be worried about me and continued walking towards the gym.

We continued following Ash towards the gym in till we reached the side of a cliff with a tunnel leading into the mountain with a sign over top reading Cyllage Gym

"Well here we are" Ash said.

"This is the gym?" Bonnie asked confussed.

"Ya it took me forever to find the gym in till I stopped and asked for directions." Ash said.

"I guess the gym matches the gym leaders personality" Clemont said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Oh I remember the guy at the gym said that Grant was really in to rock climbing and built his gym based on his hobbie." Ash said. "So I guess that is why the gym is located here."

We then entered the gym and found a climbing wall with someone one it. We also saw another guy at the base of the wall watching the guy climb the wall. The person climbing is who I assume is Grant while the guy at the base it..... wait.... Is that Brock?

(Ash POV)

"Brock!" I yelled surprised to see him here. He turned around and saw that we arrived and greeted us.

"Ash" he yelled motioning us to come over to him. "Took you long enough to get here."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were busy at the Pokémon center"

"And miss your gym battle" Brock said. "You know me better than that. I asked Nurse Joy if she could handle it without me and she said that she would be fine."

"So that's why you're here" Bonnie asked.

"That... and being a former rock type gym leader I wanted to see them in action" Brock said. Just then Grant climbed down from the climbing wall and greeted us.

"Welcome to the Cyllage Gym" he said and then looked at me. "I take it you Ash, Brock told me mush about you."

"Yes I am"

"And I know why you are here you want the Cliff badge. Am I right?"

"That's right so Grant I challenge you to a gym battle for the Cliff badge" I said with a lot of enthusiasm.

"Very well Ash I accepted your challenge" he said as he got back onto the wall. "Meet me on top of the wall. That is where my battle field is."

"What?!?! We have to climb up there?" Serena said worried.

"Not to worry. There is an elevator on the side over there. You can either take that or climb the wall, either way I'll battle you" Grant said. I thought about it for a moment and thought the elevator would be too easy so I made my dissension.

"I'm going to climb" I said heading towards the wall.

"Me too" Bonnie said as she headed towards the wall but Clemont stopped her.

"No Bonnie we're taking the elevator it's do dangerous for you" he said.

"Aww you're no fun" Bonnie pouted.

I started climbing the wall while Serena, Bonnie, Clemont, and Brock went over to the elevator. One after another I grab each ledge of the wall as I got higher and higher. I was looking straight up getting closer and closer to the top. I was totally focused on my destination, I wasn't thinking of Pikachu breathing down my neck while he was on my shoulder. I wasn't thinking of Grant that was watching me climb from the top. No... I was focus on my destination and nothing else.

I finally made it to the top to only see Grant grab my hand to help me up on the last part as he pulled me up. I looked around and Serena and the others were not here yet, I guess I beat them to it.

"You made it I see" Grant said. "Congratulations, not many challengers climb the walls when they challenge me."

"Thanks" I said. Just then the elevator door opened and out came Serena and the others and saw that I made it up ok.

"You made it up already?" Clemont asked.

"I'm not surprised, Ash did his fair share of climbing when I traveled with him" Brock said.

"So you done some climbing before right?" Grant asked.

"Ya but not that much."

"I see. Now tell me Ash what were you thinking when you were on that wall"

I stopped and thought for a moment. "Well.... I guess I was only thinking on getting to the top" I said. "I was not thinking of anything else just getting to where I need to be."

"Well good that's what I want to hear" Grant said.

"What do you mean?" Bonnie asked.

"You see... life is like a wall. Somethings are in your way and you just want to get over it. So if you focus on what is in front of you and attempt the challenge you will find a way to overcome it and move on from there" He said.

"Wow that's really wise" Serena said. "Is that why you like rock climbing?"

"Yes, I always want to challenge myself so I can get stronger and be able to do more than what I can do now" he said as he turned to me. "So with that Ash are you ready for our gym battle?"

"You bet! I can't wait to get my second badge!"

"Well you have to beat me first and I don't plan on going easy on you"

"That's what I was hoping for" I said as we got to our places on the battle field. Serena, Brock and the others went to the side to watch my battle. The referee came to the middle of the field to start the battle.

"The battle between Grant the gym leader and Ash the Challenger is about to begin. Each side will be allowed to use two Pokémon, when two pokemon from one side is unable to battle the battle with be over, furthermore only the challenger is allowed to substitute. Is both trainers ready?"

We nodded our heads to show that were ready to get this battle going.

"Alright battle begin" he said.

"Ok Onix lets battle" Grant said as he released his giant snake rock Pokémon from its pokeball."

"An Onix?" Serena said as she got out her Pokédex.

Onix, the Rock Snake Pokémon. Onix takes an enormous amount of soil to its mouth creating long tunnels.

"Ah... an Onix this reminds me of when Ash challenged me and my Onix the very first time" Brock said. "It's like a déjà vu moment to me"

"Hey Brock how did Ash's first battle against you go?" Bonnie asked. He sweat dropped.

"Uh.... Not the way you would think" he said.

"An Onix huh... well in that case Froakie I chose you" I yelled throwing Froakie's pokeball.

"Frokie" the blue frog Pokémon said as he emerged from his pokeball getting ready to battle.

"You can make the first move" Grant said.

"Thanks.... Froakie use Bubbles"

"Intercepted with Rock Tomb."

The bubbles went straight at Onix but the rocks fell from the sky in from of Onix and protected himself against the attack.

"Ok Froakie get in close with Double Team."

Froakie made multiple copies of himself as he got closer and closer to Onix.

"Rock Tomb on all of them" he said. Onix threw rocks that he made as it made contact to the copies as they started to disappear one by one.

"Use Water Pules on the Rock Tomb."

Froakie formed a ball of water in its hands and shot it at the rock tomb. It broke through the rocks and now the remaining copies were on Onix.

"Climb to its head" I yelled.

"Shake him off Onix" Grant yelled. Onix tried its best to shake Froakie off of it body. But it was not use, Froakie kelp its tight grip on him as he continued to climb its long rock body. He was almost to the head but Grant thought of a way to counter it.

"Onix use Dig." Onix then started to dig into the ground head first while Froakie was still on him. Froakie can't survive underground while on Onix and I knew that perfectly well so I had no choice.

"Jump off Froakie." He reluctantly jumped of Onix before its entire body was fully underground.

"Hey... why did Froakie jump off?" Bonnie asked.

"If he stayed on Froakie would had taken a lot of damage while Onix was using dig. The rocks underground would have been too much for him to handle so he had no choice." Clemont explained.

"Oh no... Onix be anywhere now" Serena said fearfully. Brock just stood there with a smile on face.

"Hey Brock how come your so calm" Serena asked.

"Ash has been in situations like this before. He knows what to do to counter Dig" he said. And he's right, I do.

"Froakie use Water Pulse in the hole" I yelled. Froakie then formed another ball of water in its hand and shot it into the hole.

"Huh... what is he doing?" Bonnie asked.

"Just what I thought he would" Brock smiled. Just then Onix was forced out of the ground by water pules as he yelled in pain and was a little dazed from the attack.

"Quick before he recovers use Bubbles and aim for the head" Froakie then shot a barrage of bubbles from its mouth as it made contact to Onix's face since he was so slow to react.

"Hang in there Onix use Rock Polish then Iron Tail." Onix then made its body shine as if it was just polished and started to move fast towards Froakie. It then started to swing its tail as it glowed and harden as tough as steel.

"Use Cut to counter it." Both attacks made contact midair, however iron tail was too strong as it pushed through cut and made contact on Froakie.

"Froakie!!!" I yell as I see him fall to the ground.

"Use Rock Tomb before he gets up" Grant yelled. Onix being faster now formed giant rocks as it was thrown at Froakie while he was still lying on the ground.

"Froakie you got to get up" I yelled. Froakie was badly hurt but he was able to move out of the way just in time to avoid the rock tomb.

"Onix is faster now, how am I going to match its speed. He will counter everything I try to do to it. It's so confusing to find a way to.... Wait.... Confusing.... That's it."

"Froakie use Double Team but stay were you are"

"huh...what is he doing" Clemont asked. Froakie started making more copies of himself as he stayed in that one spot. More and more copies were being made and Onix couldn't figure out which one is real.

"Use Iron tail on all of them" Grant said. Onix was just about to swing its iron tail at the copies but that is when I put my plan into action.

"Jump into the air and use Bubbles everywhere on the copies."

"Wait... wait!?!?" Serena said shocked. Froakie was confused too but trusted his trainer and shot at the copies. One by one the copies were disappearing as Onix was about to hit one of them. Before he could hit one of them it disappeared and it made him flinch.

"Now I want you to switch between Double Team and Bubbles, Make it go everywhere."

Froakie was making more copies of himself that was all over the battle field and was shot at them with bubbles. Froakie copies were appearing and disappearing everywhere and Onix could not keep track of them all. It was too much for him to handle all the copies appearing and disappearing in front of him and was making him dizzy.

"Now I see what Ash was doing, he is confusing Onix with the copies appearing everywhere and disappearing at the same time he can't focus on his attack" Brock said.

"Now while he's dizzy use Water Pules in his face."

The Froakie copies formed a water sphere in its hand and threw it at Onix'x head. With all the copies around him Onix did not know where to dodge and got hit by the super effective attack to the face. It roared in pain as he fell to the ground with swirly eyes.

"Onix is unable to battle, Froakie is the winner" the referee said.

"Alright way to go Froakie" I said congratulating Froakie.

"He won" Serena yelled in joy.

"What was amazing" Bonnie said.

"It's not over yet" Brock said with a serious look. "Ash is going to have his hands full against his next one." That got me a little worried since Brock already knows the pokemon when he treated it back at the Pokémon center.

"You did great Onix return" Grant said as he returned his Onix. "That was impressive Ash on how you countered Onix's speed. But by next pokemon will not be that easy to beat." He said as he got out his another pokeball.

"Tyrunt time to battle" he said as he threw the pokeball and released a small but intimidating T-Rex like pokemon.

"What's that" I said as I got out my Pokédex.

Tyrunt, the Royal Heir Pokémon. Tyrunt's jaws are so big and powerful, it can crunch up a car. If it doesn't like something, it responds with a wild tantrum.

"Woe...that's a dinosaur Pokémon" Clemont exclaimed.

"That's what I was afraid of" Brock said. "Ash is going to have a tough time with this Pokémon."

"Can you go on Froakie?" He nodded to me showing he can still battle. "Alright I'm staying with Froakie."

"Alright battle resume" the referee said.

"Froakie use Bubbles"

"Tyrunt block it with Rock Tomb." Like last time the Rock Tomb blocked the Bubble as they came close. But that gave me an idea.

"Froakie climb on those rocks and use Water Pules." Froakie started hopping on the rocks that were created and started to form a ball of water in its hands.

"Use Rock Tomb before he attacks" Grant said. Tyrunt quick formed more rocks as he threw them at Froakie while he was still forming its water pules.

"Redirect the Water Pules to the rocks." Froakie fired the water pules at the rocks instead of Tyrunt. The two attacks collided and cause a huge explosion. That is when Tyrunt made his move.

"Use Crunch" Grant said. Tyrunt quickly came at Froakie with its powerful jaws and bit Froakie on its arm.

"Froakie!!!" I yelled

"Pika" Pikachu yelled from my side. Froakie fell to the ground but he was not out yet. He was struggeling to say up but I knew it could not go on like that. After a powerful attack from a pokemon with powerful jaws there was one thing left to do.

"Froakie return" I said returning Froakie. I knew what was going to happen so I returned Froakie before he would get hurt anymore.

"You did great take a break" I said as I put Froakie's pokeball away. "Are you up for it Pikachu?" I asked turning to Pikachu.

"Pika pi" he said with confidence as he ran onto the battle field. Just then Fennekin came out of its pokeball and was sitting next to Serena. She was now looking at Pikachu for some reason but I didn't mind.

"You want to see Pikachu battle huh" Serena said looking down at Fennekin. "Sure you can watch."

"Why did Fennekin only come out when Pikachu is battling?" Clemont asked. I was wondering that too, but I can't think about that I have a gym battle to focus on.

"Alright Pikachu let's do this"

"Tyrunt use Rock Tomb" Grant said.

"Dodge it with Quick attack" I yelled. As the rocks came at Pikachu he successfully and skillfully dodged each and every rock and was continuing towards Tyrunt.

"Tyrunt Crunch" he said. Tyrant sprinted towards Pikachu with its powerful jaws and was ready to bit Pikachu, like he did with Froakie, but I had a plan for that.

"Use Electro Ball aim for its mouth" I yelled.

"What?!?!" Grant said in shock.

"This should be interesting" Brock said. Pikachu formed an energizing electro ball from its tail and threw it straight at Tyrunt. It's jaws were already open from the crunch and the electro ball hit its mark inside Tyrunt's mouth as it caused an explosion. The crunch was canceled as Tyrunt fell to the ground as he fell to the ground in pain and then some static appeared around him.

"Tyrunt just been paralyzed" Clemont said.

"Yay....... Ash has the advantage" Bonnie said.

"Let's hope so" Brock said.

"Tyrunt fight through it, use Dragon Tail" Grant said. Despite the paralyses Tyrunt was able to move through it as his tail glowed a bright green color and was heading at Pikachu.

"Counter with Iron Tail." Pikachu came at his dragon tail with iron tail as the two attacks collided midair. But thanks to the paralyses Pikachu was able to fight through the dragon tail and hit Tyrunt on his head as he fell to the ground.

"Wow to direct hits Ash is doing great" Serena said.

"Fennekin" her Fennekin said agreeing.

"I didn't want to do this but you leave me no choice use Draco Meteor" Grant yelled.

"What?!?!" I said shocked. Tyrunt then shot a bright orange ball into the air as it exploded into meteor pieces as it came towards Pikachu.

"Dodge it" Pikachu did his best to dodge each and every meteor that came his way. Although he did not get hit directly one meteor landed in from of him as it exploded and blasted Pikachu back as he landed on his stomach.

"Pikachu" I yelled.

"Fen..." Fennekin said worried.

"Finish him off with another Drago Meteor" Grant said. Tyrunt shot another orange ball into the air as it exploded into more meteor pieces.

I need to think of something quick. If only I could get an angle I could just.... Wait the meteors... that's it.

"Pikachu climb the meteors with Iron Tail" Pikachu quickly got up and started using iron tail on the meteor pieces. He hit each one as he pushes himself up from each one as he climbed higher and highter.

"What?!?!" Grant said shocked.

"Now use Volt Tackle and go straight down at him" I yelled. Pikachu covered himself with a layer of electricity as he came straight down from his height at Tyrunt. With the paralyses Tyrunt was unable to move as he was hit with great force from a very powerful electric type move and caused an explosion. As the smoke cleared it revealed Tyrunt lying in the ground with swirly eyes.

"Tyrunt is unable to battle the winner it Pikachu, which means the victor is the challenger Ash" the Referee said.

"Alright we did it" I yelled as Pikachu ran to my arms in excitement. "You were amazing Pikachu"

"Pika Pika" he said happily.

"They won!" Serena said.

"They were amazing" Bonnie said.

"That's Ash for ya... always finding a way to win" Brock said. Grant then returned Tyrunt to its pokeball and walked up to me.

"That was a great battle Ash you really surprised me there" Grant said.

"Thanks I really enjoyed it at well"

"So Ash as proof of your victory I award you with the Cliff Badge" he said handing me a Badge.

"Thanks" I said taking the badge. "Alright I just got the Cliff badge"

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We were all now outside the gym as we were saying our good byes to Grant.

"I hope you do well on your journey Ash. Remember always try to challenge yourself, that ways you can overcome it and get stronger" Grant said to me.

"I will thanks"

"So do you know where you are heading next?" he asked.

"Uh... no I haven't thought of that yet"

"Then may I suggest Shalour city. Its close by and it's a very interesting city" he said.

"Whys that" I asked.

"You'll see when you get there" he said. "Anyways I hope we meet again someday" and with that he walked back into the gym.

"Well Ash it was great seeing you again. But I have go back to the Pokémon center now" Brock said.

"I understand, well I was nice seeing you too. Good luck with your studies" I said.

"I will, and who knows? I am traveling around visiting different Pokémon centers we could see each other again someday" Brock said.

"I hope so too"

"Me too" Bonnie said. "The next time we meet you can teach my brother how to pick up girls so he can find a wife."

"BONNIE!!!" Clemont yelled with embarrassment as his aipom arm came out and pick up Bonnie and carried her away. Brock just stood there sweat dropping not knowing what to say.

"So....... Anyways see ya" I said breaking the silence.

Brock headed back to the Pokémon center as we headed back to the main road. We were on our way to my next gym badge which will be in Shalour city and..... wait.....Shalour city? Lucas Told me about that city. It had to do something with Mega evolution, but what?