The stone doors of the Pewter Gym groaned as they opened, revealing a battlefield carved from rock itself. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, torches flickered on the walls, and in the center stood Brock—calm, serious, and already waiting.
"You came," he said, folding his arms. His gaze swept over Alex and his team, lingering a second on Rena before returning to Alex . "Three-on-three. Standard rules. Are you ready?"
Alex stepped forward, his voice steady. "Always."
........
"Go, Geodude!" Brock called, releasing the floating boulder Pokémon. Its fists slammed together, sending sparks echoing through the chamber.
Seeing Geodude level is only 28
Alex crouched to Charmander. "This is your stage. Show them what you've become."
Charmander bounded forward, tail flame blazing.
"Geodude, Rock Throw!" Brock commanded. The rocky fists hurled chunks of stone.
"Dodge and Ember!" Alex countered.
Charmander leapt gracefully, spitting bursts of fire that peppered Geodude's surface. The flames left glowing scorch marks.
"Dragon Rage!"
Charmander's roar sent a wave of fiery energy exploding across the field. Geodude was blasted backward, its body crashing against the rocks. When the dust cleared, its eyes were swirls.
"Geodude is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
Alex's side smiled proudly—but this was only the beginning.
..
Brock's next Poké Ball cracked open. "Sudowoodo, let's go!" The rock-like tree struck a pose, its green orbs glimmering.( Level 32 )
Charmander growled. Despite the size difference, he stepped forward without hesitation.
"Sudowoodo, Rock Tomb!" Massive boulders dropped from above.
"Break through with Metal Claw!" Alex called.
Charmander's claws shimmered silver as he slashed through the falling rocks, shattering them one by one. He darted forward, landing blow after blow against Sudowoodo's trunk-like body.
The battle raged—flames against stone, claws against wood. Charmander unleashed another Dragon Rage, striking Sudowoodo squarely. The false tree staggered, cracks spreading across its rocky surface.
But the effort had cost Charmander dearly. His breaths came ragged, his legs trembling. He gave one last cry, tail blazing defiantly… before collapsing to the ground.
"Charmander is unable to battle!"
Delia's hands clenched. Misty gasped.
But Brock smiled faintly. "That Charmander… he fought with more will than most seasoned Pokémon. You should be proud."
Alex knelt, lifting his fainted partner gently. "I always am."
The battlefield trembled as Brock threw his final Poké Ball. A colossal Onix burst forth, its rocky coils towering into the rafters. Level 52.
"This is my first partner," Brock said firmly. "The symbol of Pewter Gym."
Alex's response was calm, confident. He released his next Poké Ball—
—and the chamber filled with a blazing cry.
The Shiny Pidgeot spread his immense wings, crimson and gold feathers gleaming like fire under the torches. At over four meters tall, his very presence radiated dominance. Gasps echoed from the spectators—Delia, Misty, even the referee stood frozen in awe.
Brock's eyes widened. "…That's… no ordinary Pidgeot."
Recognition flashed in his mind—Professor Alex, the youngest Pokémon Professor, the one who appeared on TV weeks ago. But Brock pushed it aside, his focus returning to the battle.
"Onix, Rock Slide!"
"Pidgeot—Fire Tornado!"
The serpent hurled boulders from above, but Pidgeot's wings spun with blistering speed, igniting the air. A tornado of fire and wind surged forward, engulfing the rocks mid-air and hurling molten fragments back at Onix.
The titan roared, shaking the earth.
"Onix, Dig!" It burrowed deep, vanishing underground.
"Wind Blade, now!"
Pidgeot's wings sliced downward, releasing crescent blades of compressed wind into the ground. The stone floor cracked—then erupted as Onix was forced out, battered and bleeding from unseen cuts.
"Finish it! Fire Rush!"
Pidgeot dove, cloaked in fire, ramming into Onix's head with unstoppable force. The giant collapsed with a thunderous crash, dust and stone filling the gym.
Silence followed—before the referee raised his hand.
"Onix is unable to battle! Victory goes to trainer Alex"
---
The dust settled. Brock recalled his partner with quiet respect, then looked across the battlefield at Alex.
"…Professor Alex. I never realized you were such a Trainer. Your strength… it's the real thing."
The two men walked forward, meeting at the center. Brock extended a hand. Alex shook it firmly.
"You've earned this." Brock placed the Boulder Badge in Alex's hand.
Behind them, Misty and Delia cheered proudly, while Rena stood serene as always.
Of course, the moment couldn't end without Brock's infamous habit—he turned toward Delia and Misty, his eyes sparkling.
"Would either of you… care to join me for dinner sometime?"
Both women's smiles vanished instantly, their rejection sharp and merciless.
Brock froze, struck down by his eternal fate.
Alex chuckled quietly, shaking his head. Just like the anime.
And with that, the first Gym was conquered.