16"The P1 Grand Prix" Ash muttered thoughtfully. Ash had seen the poster plastered on a wooden signboard just outside Celadon City. He'd left Celadon quite a bit behind, and all the while he pondered on it. It was a tournament for fighting type Pokemon, and he just so happened to have one on his team. It was true that he hadn't gotten the chance to train with Hitmonchan much, maybe he should enter it and treat it like it was a bonding experience. Plus winning a tournament was always a fun thing to do.
The Grand Prix was being held inside an unofficial Gym just on the outskirts of Celadon City, a small building, unlike the unofficial gym in Saffron City. He walked up to the man standing outside the building and gently knocked on the table to get his attention.
"I would like to register for the Grand Prix, please."
The man looked at Ash from top to bottom before scoffing.
"You can register only one Pokemon. Which will it be?"
Before Ash could speak, Charmeleon popped out of his Pokeball and stepped forward to say he was going to fight. The man looked unimpressed.
"We only allow fighting types to enter" he shook his head. "If you're going to waste my time here kid, then don't. I'm very busy."
Charmeleon growled and was ready to attack, but Ash held him back.
"You can't fight all my battles," Ash said with a kind smile. "Let your friends fight some too."
Charmeleon almost looked like he was sulking when Ash called him back. Ash swapped Charmeleon's Pokeball for Hitmonchan's and called him out. "I'll be entering with this guy."
The guy behind the table gawked.
-x-
The inside of the 'gym' was plain in every way. Spotlights on the low ceiling pointed to the boxing arena-like ring, that was all there was in there. There was no room for spectators or guests, just enough for the participants.
"First match, Ash versus Coleman. Contestants, please come forward" the referee announced.
Ash and Hitmonchan stepped forward, with Hitmonchan taking the ring. Coleman had brought a Machop to fight. The match began and Ash called for Comet Punch. Hitmonchan moved in quickly, but Machop used the motion to its advantage and turned it on Hitmonchan with a Seismic Toss. Machop followed it up with a Karate Chop, putting Hitmonchan on the defensive. No matter what Ash called for after, Machop countered it easily. Ash was losing his cool fast as the nerves started to get to him. If he could not command his Pokemon right, he was going to lose this. He did not want to lose here, he did not want to fail the trust his Pokemon put in him.
Hitmonchan called out to him and sh looked up to see the Pokemon look at him, still blocking Machop's attacks. The two stared for a while before Ash nodded. Hitmonchan wanted Ash to study him, and that was what Ash would do.
Hitmonchan's eyes narrowed for a moment before he dodged the incoming punch using Agility. A Comet Punch followed before a flurry of punches finished Machop off.
Hitmonchan fought like a boxer, nimble on his feet and delivering precise powerful punches. How Ash had not thought about that with Hitmonchan being called the 'Punching' Pokemon was beyond him. But then again, the boy had never seen a single match of boxing in his life.
Things after that had been smoother. With Ash now gaining an understanding of how Hitmonchan fought, he was able to lead better and call better attacks. The duo's partnership helped them reach the final, where their opponent was Anthony, a trainer who also used a Hitmonchan.
"It is always interesting to see growth in the middle of battle," Anthony said with a chuckle. "But you're still years away before you can defeat us."
Anthony was right about that. They may be using the same Pokemon and moves, but it was clear that Anthony's Hitmonchan had the advantage with its experience. Ash and Hitmonchan were on the defensive and no matter how many times Hitmonchan climbed out of it, he was thrust back into it.
But for some reason, Ash's Hitmonchan seemed to smirk through all the hits. Ash did not understand at first, but the ferocious punch that sent Anthony's Hitmonchan to its knees had Ash gawking. It did not look like the Comet Punch Hitmonchan was throwing before. Checking his Pokedex, Ash learned that Hitmonchan used the move 'Bide'. Ash was kicking himself for not checking up on Hitmonchan's moves before like he had with his other Pokemon. Hitmonchan was a Pokemon who was previously trained, that fact had Ash not give him more attention. He took a deep breath and made a mental note to rectify that. If he wanted to become a good trainer, he would need to focus on them all and not just a few.
Anthonoy's Hitmonchan had not fallen from the Bide, instead, it came back with even more ferocity. Ash's Hitmonchan was one more put on the back foot. Hitmonchan got into position for another Bide, but an electrifying punch from Hitmonshan caused Paralysis, and a follow-up flurry of Comet Punch got the knockout.
Ash sighed in defeat and knelt beside his fallen Pokemon.
"I'm sorry that we were not fully in sync today. I promise we'll become better. I'll do better."
"That's the spirit" Ash looked up to see Anthony and his Hitmonchan walking over. "Your Pokemon is strong, but you're the one who needs to catch up to him. Fighting type Pokemon are not like most others. You need to train with them to prepare yourself as you prepare them. You need to be in sync mind, body, and soul."
"Yes," Ash stood, helping Hitmonchan to stand as well.
"You have spunk, kid. So allow me to help you and your Hitmonchan a little. With this, you can deal with one of its weaknesses" Anthony said with a smirk.
-x-
Anthony was nothing if not a slave driver, running both Ash and Hitmonchan through the ground with his training method. It lasted only for a few days, but every moment of it was painful and Ash did not want to repeat it ever again.
But by the end of it, Hitmonchan had learned the move that left it paralyzed, Thunder Punch. It was a devastating move that gave Hitmonchan an edge against flying types. The training also worked in getting Trainer and Pokemon closer. Ash would not fumble with this Pokemon in battle again.
Bidding Anthony farewell, Ash continued his journey to Fuschia City, the site of his next Gym battle. Though much like the rest of his journey, Ash stopped at a Pokemon Center to rest up and heal his Pokemon. The nurse there was rude and dismissive, barely paying Ash much attention while she healed his Pokemon.
"This place sucks" Ash muttered as he stepped out of the Pokemon Center. The nurse was rude, the one guy he asked for directions was rude, and the entire city was dirty and grimy! Gringey City indeed… Ash couldn't wait to get out of here.
The lights flickered for a moment before they went back to normal. Ash looked at them for a moment before shrugging. Did the electricity not work here either? Another thing to hate about this place…
Ash continued on his way to the exit of the city and just as he was about to step out, a blur passed by his ear and stopped before him. Ash frowned at it before taking his Pokedex out.
Magnemite, the Magnet Pokemon. Magnemite floats in the air by emitting electromagnetic waves from the units at its sides. These waves block gravity. This Pokémon becomes incapable of flight if its internal electrical supply is depleted.
The Magnemite was floating oddly in front of Ash and any attempt to walk by it was stopped when it used an electric attack at Ash's feet.
"Are the Pokemon just as nasty here?!" Ash snapped. But Magnemite was undeterred, still floating in an odd pattern. It gently tackled Ash and pushed him back towards the city. It stopped once they were in, before floating away and motioning to the filthy river. Ash looked over and furrowed his brows as he saw something move in the water. He pulled out his Pokedex to get some information.
Grimer, the Sludge Pokemon. Grimer's sludgy and rubbery body can be forced through any opening, however small it may be. This Pokémon enters sewer pipes to drink filthy wastewater.
The Pokedex fizzled before another entry was shown.
Muk, the Sludge Pokemon; the evolved form of Grimer. From Muk's body seeps a foul fluid that gives off a nose-bending horrible stench. Just one drop of this Pokémon's body fluid can turn a pool stagnant and rancid.
Before Ash could react in any way, Magnemite blasted the waters with a powerful electric move. The water stilled while the electric move hit it, before it began to bubble and the Grimer shot out of it looking not too happy. Muk was the last to jump out, it also did not look pleased either.
"Why would you do that?!" Ash hissed, fumbling with his Pokeballs. Charmeleon popped out without Ash calling on him and blasted the Grimer with Flamethrower.
"Yeah, I guess I did promise you a battle. But you're not doing it alone!" Ash called Squirtle out as well. Charmeleon did not mind it, too busy blasting the Grimer with Flamethrower. Squirtle joined in with Bubblebeam, aiming at the Grimer as well.
One after the other the Grimer jumped back into the water and swam away from Ash until it was only Muk left. Magnemite joined in with Charmeleon and Squirtle as the trio attacked the Muk. Muk did not fight back, backing away towards the river to make its escape. Ash thought quickly and threw a Pokeball. Muk was drawn into the Pokeball and three shakes later the Pokeball vanished, confirming the capture and being sent to Professor Oak's Laboratory.
"Hey, you!" Someone screamed and Ash turned to see a man rushing towards him. "What's the big idea making all the ruckus?!"
"Ah well-"
Ash explained what happened to the man, but the man's mood did not seem to be better. If anything, he became more violent. Ash called his Pokemon back and ran. He stopped once he was outside the city, panting hard.
"I never want to come back here" he wheezed out. The Magnemite floated in front of Ash and looked happy. He took a deep breath to calm down and looked at the magnemite. "You were probably doing it to protect the people there, right?"
The Magnemite bobbed in the air.
"Well, you saw how that man reacted. No doubt the rest would do the same. Worst city I've ever been to" Ash huffed. "You deserve to be somewhere you'll be appreciated" he pulled out a Pokeball and held it out. "I know just the place. Professor Oak's Lab is a nice place. I know you'll like it."
Magnemite looked at the Pokeball for a while before gently bumping into it. Magnemite was drawn into the device, and three shakes later the capture was confirmed and the Pokeball was sent to Professor Oak.
Hello hello hello! I'll just get to it cause I know it could be brought up. I wanted Ash to get his Muk because I absolutely adore that Pokemon (Ash's one, not the species). To do that, I had Ash slow down in certain places so he could be there just in time when the Grimer and Muk were about to go to the Power plant. So yeaaaaaah I did that.