"FINALLY! JEEZ, WHAT IS WITH THESE GYMS!" Alvin exclaimed, hopping into a silver trash can, his arm reached out as he flicked the switch that was at the bottom.

Vermillion gym was crazy! It was all one reeeeally big room. But what grabbed Alvin's attention first was the wall of electricity at the back! Then it was all the trash cans. What, there were 15 of them? After he had battled everyone, and got some hints from the guide, his search for all those switches began.

What they didn't tell him was that the switches were randomized. They could move about freely somehow, and checking the wrong can caused any progress he had made.

Now that he had finally finished the dumb thing, and had healed his pokemon up, Alvin marched his way up to the gym leader.

Damn was he tall…. Camo pants, combat boots, a green tank top. The man wore a pair of dog tags around his neck, dark shades on his face, and he had spiky yellow hair. And worse, he was smiling down at Alvin, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Heh. I was wondering if you'd give up, ya lil' punk." He grunted.

Alvin huffed, having to lean back a little to see the guy's face. "What's up with all these gyms having a weird puzzle, huh? Matter of fact, how's being random a fair puzzle! It's just chance!"

"And? That's how I run my gym." The man spoke. "Look, tyke. It may not be very smart to challenge me, but it takes guts!" I'm Lt. Surge, kid. When it comes to Electric type Pokémon, I'm number one! I've never lost on the battlefield. I'll zap you just like I do all my enemies in battle!"

"Gimme the whole story why not…" Alvin rolled his eyes, grinning. "You're gonna be a piece of cake, and I'm leavin' with my third badge today!"

That put a smile on Surge's face. "Ya got a spark. I like that. This'll be a 3 on 3, so ya better make your choices count!"

"What can I say? I've got a bright personality." Alvin said, walking to the far end of the field.

'Electric huh… can't rely on Splash. Helma has Mud Shot but that's not gonna fly with her Water type…' Alvin bit his lip, reaching in his pocket and producing a safari ball. Throwing it forward, he released Toto from his ball, the Tauros letting out a loud bellow as he landed on the floor.

"Let's do this real quick Toro! You get that reward if you do!"

"Tauros eh? Well, let's get goin' Voltorb!"

From the pokeball came… another pokeball. Or so Alvin thought before he noticed the pair of angry eyes the ball had. "Alright Toro, go and give it your Horn Attack!"

Quick as he could, Toro ducked his head down, snorting as he stampeded right towards the ball pokemon.

"Voltorb, Double Team!"

Right before Toro could make any contact, the one Voltorb became two. Then four. Then eight. And then more and more, forming a full circle around Toro. The bull came to a skidding stop, snorting as he looked around at all the balls as they began to roll around him.

"Now zap em good! Shock Wave!" At Surge's command one of the Voltorb, the one right behind Toro, sparked up brightly, releasing a jagged beam of electricity from its body, striking Toro directly on the rear. The bull mooed in pain, stomping at the ground as he turned around, snorting as he began to run, trampling over the clones as he tried to attack them all.

"Hey! Toro, relax! Aim for the one that isn't disappearing and use Horn Attack!" Alvin shouted. Across the field, Surge was laughing, shaking his head. "Lookit that. Undisciplined. Ain't ya battled with it before?"

Alvin huffed through his nose, watching as Toro eventually calmed down. "No… but that doesn't matter! We're still gonna kick your butt… somehow! You can't dodge our hits forever! Toro, attack!"

"Tsk tsk. You'd never survive in war, kid. Gotta have command over your partners. Voltorb! Stop it with your Thunder Wave!"

The Voltorb rolled around and, pausing right in the charging bull's path. Electricity sparkled around its body and released a second later, rings surrounding Toro's body and sinking in.

Toro was slowed, but he snorted in defiance, trying to force himself to keep running, tails whipping against his flank. But even those were beginning to slow, offering only little whaps if anything. And yet, Voltorb wasn't able to roll away, taking the strike from Toro's horn directly, flying backwards a few feet.

Alvin bit his lip, groaning. 'I knew I shoulda trained him more… all he's got to work with is Horn Attack!' He furrowed his brow in thought. 'C'mon Seville, you're the battle guy. If you can't make one thing work…'

"Toro use Rest!" The words were out before Alvin could check himself. In an instant, Toro tensed up all over. The bull groaned, swaying a bit before ultimately falling down to his belly. A wave of white energy washed over him, but he stayed asleep, snoring away. "Alright, now wake up!"

...no reaction.

"Rest puts your pokemon to sleep for two whole turns while it recovers. You just made that bull a sitting duck." Surge tainted. "Voltorb, hit it again with Shock Wave! Don't let up!"

Alvin's eyes widened in realization, but it was too late. As he was about to shout to the bull, he had taken another direct shot, and Voltorb was already charging up another.

"Toro c'mon man! I know ya only have one good move, but at least make it count!" No dice. Another Shock Wave hit Toro. His muscles clenched visibly from the strike, and yet he stayed asleep.

Alvin sighed, opting to let the bull sleep as he returned him to his ball. "Toro… just return."

"Switchin' already? Heh. No matter, we're gonna shock all of ya to your core!" Surge taunted. Alvin grit his teeth, taking up another ball and throwing it out. "Chomper! Give us some help!" He called out as the Raticate made herself visible, teeth gnashing as she stared down the Voltorb.

"Hmph. You got this girl! Show em your Crunch attack!" Alvin ordered.

Chomper whipped her tail, hissing as she charged after the Voltorb, her sharp teeth gleaming a little as they gave off a dark energy.

"Voltorb, make it stop movin'! Thunder Wave!" said Surge.

When the waves of energy came, Chomper didn't even try to avoid them. In fact, she leapt right into it, letting out another hiss as she tensed up slightly, but kept running. The energy coming off of her teeth grew stronger and, once she crashed into the ball pokemon, chomped down full force, sending a little dark haze around as sparks leapt off of Voltorb's body.

Needless to say, the Electric type was knocked out. Chomper hissed proudly, leaping away from it and landing at Alvin's side. "Heh. Funny thing about abilities. Always seem to pop up when you need em the most." boasted the munk, crouching down to pat Chomper's head.

Surge grimaced, but quietly returned Voltorb to its ball. "Yea yea, I get ya. Guts, right? Sneaky, but effective. Shame I'm gonna have to put a stop to ya soon." He spoke, cracking his knuckles as he retrieved another ball, tossing it out. "Electabuzz, your move!"

The electric monster rose from the flash, hands clenched to fists and raised up over its head as electricity crackled along its body. "Buuuuzz!"

"Hm. You got this, Chomper. Don't hold back, even if it'll slow you down!" Alvin encouraged, patting the rat on her head as she walked back to the battle field. "Alright, use your Hyper Fang!"

"Electabuzz, Quick Attack!"

Right as Chomper leapt forward, Electabuzz cleared the distance between them, delivering a firm punch to her side that sent her sprawling. Chomper let out a "Cate!" as she met the ground, groaning as she slowly pushed herself back to her feet, glaring down the Electabuzz. "C'mon, try it again!"

The Raticate shook her head, wincing as she fought through the paralysis enough to get herself running again.

"Don't let it touch ya! Quick Attack again!" Surge ordered. This time, however, Chomper got the first hit, managing to dodge the punch and twist herself around, giving a rather powerful bite down right on Electabuzz's hand, holding herself there.

Electabuzz growled, shaking its hand about in an attempt to remove her to no avail. Chomper got in another bite or two before she had to release it, dropping to the ground with electricity running through her fur.

"Finally can't move, eh? Electabuzz, use your Low Kick." Surge commanded.

"Gah! Dodge it!" Alvin called.

Chomper grunted, hefting herself off the ground just long enough to avoid the attack, but she just received a Quick Attack soon after, flopping out on the ground.

Alvin bit his lip as he watched. Chomper could put out a good deal of power, but that paralysis was slowing her too much. Toro was fast asleep, he wasn't going to bother Nivis, and everyone else were weak to Electric moves!

"Hnn...Hang in there Chomper! Use Hyper Fang again!"

With another low hiss, Chomper rose to her feet again, teeth gleaming as she made herself jump at the Electabuzz once more, managing to get a good bite right on its leg. Electabuzz roared in pain, dropping to one knee as Chomper latched on.

"Rrr, Electabuzz, get it off with a Shock Wave!" At the command, Electabuzz reached down, grabbing hold to Chomper's body as electricity danced around its fur, delivering a powerful shock right to the rat that caused her to release it, falling to the ground.

Alvin felt his heart sink as he watched her. "Damn… Chomper! You alright?" He called out. Electabuzz seemed to be staggering now... The Raticate groaned, flicking her tail as she forced herself to her legs, growling as she eyed down the Electabuzz. "Just a little more and we'll be good!"

"Don't you get cocky, kid, we ain't done! Electabuzz, Shock Wave again!" Surge ordered.

As Electabuzz built up its attack, Alvin's mind raced a mile a minute. Chomper couldn't withstand another one, not in her condition. And she was moving too slow to get the first hit. If only they could… Why'd he have her forget Quick Attack for-

"Wait a minute… Chomper! Use Sucker Punch, and fast!" Alvin blurted out. Chomper gripped at the ground, a slight dark aura surrounding her body as she leapt forward. Right before Electabuzz could deliver the blow, she slammed right into its stomach, knocking the Electabuzz backwards, watching it roll and land in front of Surge.

The gym leader had a noticeable scowl, but it also seemed to be a bit of a smile? Alvin couldn't make out the expression completely. "Chomper, you're awesome! C'mon, rest up for now. We got this." He said, holding up her ball and returning her.

"Alright kid. Ya got me there, but here's where we get serious." Surge growled. "It's not over yet! It's just the beginning!" He grabbed a pokeball, reared back, and tossed it forward. "Raichu, let's cook em up!" he said.

The Raichu burst out of the light with a loud "Chuuu!", that lengthy tail sticking up straight as electricity ran all over its body, just to be absorbed a few seconds later, sparking out from its cheeks.

Alvin gulped. Cute as it was, he knew full well that it wasn't anything to play around with. All the gym leaders he faced so far always kept their strongest pokemon for last. 'Oh god damn… who do I use?' he thought, pouting as he reached into his pocket. He should have caught more pokemon. He should have been ready for this. Why couldn't he be like Simon? Simon had so many pokemon to use, it'd be a shock if he ever had this situation… 'What to do…'

Sighing, Alvin's hand tightened around a ball, taking it out as it grew. 'Win or lose… We're going down fighting.' He threw the safari ball out. "Shura, your turn!" He called, watching his Scyther burst from the light, wings beating the air as he hovered in place.

"I know we're at a disadvantage, just do what you can!" Alvin told him. Shura turned around, raising up an arm and nodding. The gleam on that blade seemed determined.

"Get em outta our gym! Raichu, give em a Thunderbolt!"

"Shura, get out the way and use Focus Energy!"

The blast of lightning was faster than the Shock Waves had been, and yet Shura managed to fly around it with ease, his wings beating like mad as an orange aura surrounded his body, diving down towards Raichu.

"Follow up with Wing Attack!" Alvin ordered, his hands clenched to fists as he watched it go down. The glow around Shura's wings got stronger, giving off a strong light as the Scyther ducked down, shouting out as his wings collided with Raichu's body, knocking it back a few feet. Shura stayed up in the air, staring down at his target. "Way to go Shura! Keep up the pressure, use Quick Attack!"

"You do the same Raichu!" said Surge.

Both pokemon let out a growl, white light shining from their bodies as they ran right at each other, zipping around the battlefield and crashing into each other, passing again and again while trading blows.

Shura came out on top, however, swinging the dull side of a blade into Raichu's cheek, sending it reeling backwards. "Scyther!" He growled, dragging his glades together, causing a slight spark as he did.

"That's the stuff! Follow it up with Wing Attack!" Alvin commanded.

Hissing, Shura turned himself around, flying right back towards the Raichu. "That thing's too fast! Raichu, Thunder Wave now!"

"Dodge it!"

Raichu's cheeks sparked up, then it released the attack, the electricity crackling in the air as it aimed down for Shura. The Scyther swooped low, wings just barely missing the edge of the first ring as he stayed low, veering off to the side to strike Raichu right on its leg, making it fall forward.

"Heh. What's wrong? Can't win without slowing down your problems~?" Alvin teased, poking out his tongue. Surge wasn't amused.

"Think yer slick, huh? We've had tougher opponents in the war. Raichu! Thunderbolt again, make em cry!" He shouted, pointing a finger right at Shura.

"Let's take em out. Shura, use Fury Cutter, and don't stop!"

Growling, Shura's blades took on a soft green energy, mingling in with the orange from before as he landed on the ground, running straight at Raichu. The Thunderbolt launched sooner than expected, causing Shura to falter, crying out in pain and getting to a knee.

"Shock em again!" The order was quick, and Shura received another shock. The large mantis groaned, getting up on shaky legs.

"Rrr… You good, Shura? Let's go with Fury Cutter again!"

"Raichu, stop em! Quick Attack now!"

The pokemon clashed once more, with Shura just barely edging it out by knocking Raichu aside. The assault didn't end either, the glow on his blades getting brighter as he swung them again and again, each time taking a step towards Raichu.

Raichu had to keep an eye on Shura's movements, just barely able to dodge the blades as they almost made contact. But with each swing, it came faster. It was harder to avoid.

"Ya don't give up, do ya kid?" Surge asked, his arms crossed over his chest now as he watched the fight go on. Raichu continued to weave around the strikes, though the fatigue was noticeable. "Last one, never give up Raichu! Thunderbolt!"

"Chuuu… Rai!" This time, the electricity burst from all around Raichu's body, aiming in right at Shura. It stared, watching that green blade as it cleaved through the air, bearing down and coming in quick. Even when the electricity made contact, Shura just growled, forcing himself through the pain as that blade finally connected to Raichu's body, slamming it down into the ground.

The Thunderbolt was redirected for a moment, striking the battlefield and causing a blast to surround the two pokemon.

"Gah! Shura!" Alvin called out, taking a step forward. Surge didn't budge, staring into the dark cloud. "Raichu, Thunderbolt again!"

"Fury Attack again!"

This time… no response. A full minute passed, and the dust finally dissipated enough to see the pokemon. And…

"Both of em fainted?" exclaimed Alvin, looking over at the field. Sure enough, both Shura and Raichu were face first on the ground, knocked out cold. "Wait… but if they both are out… Toro's asleep and Chomper never fainted! That means-"

"Arrrgh! You are strong!" Surge shouted as he grabbed hold of his head. "Even my electric tricks lost…" He sighed, standing up straight. "Kid! Whatever your name is! You're excellent! Keep goin' like lightning! You get the Thunder Badge!" He returned Raichu to its pokeball then, hands in his pockets as he made his way over to Alvin.

Alvin returned Shura to his own ball, looking up at the man. He was way too tall still… Surge crouched down, taking his hand from his pocket, holding out the badge as well as a TM. "I was gonna give ya Shock Wave, but I think somethin' better would fit ya more. So… I'm givin' ya Thunderbolt. Use it sometime, will ya?"

The TM was yellow, with a bold 24 on each side. The badge was an orange octagon, surrounded on all sides by a yellow point that gave it a star like look. Alvin took them both, turning away.

"Hey, kid. Word of advice before ya dash off." Surge said. "Train those pokemon more, or find some new ones. Doesn't mean ya gotta ditch em, but ya definitely gotta get some more work in one way or another."

"Er... Thanks? I think my team's fine as is, though." Alvin said with a shrug of his shoulders. But Surge didn't seem convinced. "Two normal types and a bug that's weak to electricity. I wasn't born yesterday. Ya ain't got anyone on your team ready to handle an electric type reliably."

Alvin crossed his arms then. "Oh yeah? And how do you know that?"

"Vermilion is right next to Diglett's Cave. Everyone who challenges the gym always stops there to get a ground type. Either you're plenty bold to try it without one, or ya don't have one in the first place. Just think about it."

Alvin pouted, taking his earnings and, after receiving his prize money, dashed out of the gym.

"We hope to see you again!"

"Hmph. Euuuh, just think about it. Who does he think he is?" Alvin huffed as he took back his pokemon from Nurse Joy, pocketing all six of the balls. He had just healed everyone up, and he was about ready to leave Vermilion without looking back.

As he turned for the exit, though, he spotted the pc at the desk corner. No one was using it. He bit down on his lip, feeling the balls shift as he walked. Toro hadn't really performed well… but that wasn't his fault, right?

'I caught him cuz he was gonna be good at battles, didn't I? Not just cuz that dick's huge…' Alvin thought, taking out the safari ball that held his Tauros.

"Doesn't mean ya gotta ditch em, but ya definitely gotta get some more work in one way or another." Those words were still buzzing around in his head. Alvin bit down on his lip. He never considered benching anyone… Well, there was that Tangela, but it seemed more interested in tying him up than battling anyway. Alvin groaned and sat down by the pc, sighing as he looked over Tauros' ball.

Then, a thought clicked in his head. He pulled out his pokedex and, quickly opening his messages, sent a text to Simon.

"Need help with my team. What do you think I should do?" it read. Once it sent, Alvin stood up, turning on the pc. It shouldn't be too tough… right?