Chereads / Jessie’s Pokémon Journey (AU) / Chapter 34 - A Toxic Gym Battle

Chapter 34 - A Toxic Gym Battle

The episode starts with Koga and Jessie standing on opposite sides of the battlefield, ready to battle. Domino, Meowth, and Janine are both on the sidelines, ready to watch this battle. Jessie and Koga both have a Poké Ball in their hand.

Jessie starts speaking in her thoughts. "Battling Koga, who's going to be an Elite Four member soon… I'm so nervous." She starts sweating a little.

"Muk, go!" Koga throws his Poké Ball in the air, sending Muk into battle.

"Muk!" The Pokémon cries out.

"Muk, huh?" Jessie pulls out her Pokédex.

"Muk, the Sludge Pokémon. Poison type and the evolved form of Grimer. Thickly covered with a filthy, vile sludge. It is so toxic, even its footprints contain poison."

"Alright Diglett, I choose you!" Jessie throws her Poké Ball in the air and sends Diglett into battle.

As Diglett was sent out, it sparkled around the Pokémon, indicating it was shiny. "Diglett dig!"

Janine gasped from the audience. "Wow, a Shiny Pokémon?!"

Domino nods. "Yep, that's indeed a Shiny."

Meowth growls. "I wish I was a Shiny Pokémon." He quietly says to himself.

"Impressive that you have required a Shiny, but it doesn't determine automatic victory," Koga says.

Jessie clutches her fist. "Me and Diglett are gonna give it our all!"

The title screen shows.

"A Toxic Gym Battle."

It cuts to the Fuchsia City Pokémon Zoo, where the Team Rocket trio are seen in zookeeper uniforms and cleaning up the exhibits.

"This is fucking stupid. Why are we zookeepers?!" Butch asked in frustration.

"Well, we have to make up the money for wasting on those good-for-nothing stupid vacuums," Cassidy replied with a growl

"If I see more Pokémon vomit I think I'll vomit!" Mondo says, gagging.

"Besides, getting this job is part of the entire plan!" Cassidy says with a grin.

Butch looks at Cassidy, confused. "And that is?"

"We're gonna steal all the Pokémon at the Zoo for the boss! Just look at the Pokémon here: Lapras, Kangaskhan, Slowpoke, Voltorb, and Chansey! So many for the boss."

"I just want to send any Pokémon to the boss. I'm in." Mondo agreed.

"If I don't have to clean stupid Pokémon exhibits, I'm in." Butch also agrees.

"Great!" Cassidy says, still grinning.

It cuts to James, looking at the Voltorb exhibit and frowning.

James proceeds to groan. "I feel so bad for abandoning Jessie's Gym Battle… again. What kind of friend am I?"

Then it cuts to James relaxing under the shade of a tree near Fuchsia City.

James stands up. "I should go to the Gym and watch her Gym Battle! But…." Then proceeds to sit back down. "Koga might recognize me and then my friends will find out the truth about me."

Gastly burst out of its Poké Ball on its own. "What truth?"

"EEP!" James shrieked. "Gastly, what are you doing outside?! The sun is still out!"

"You're under shade, remember?" Gastly reminded.

"Oh… right." James then continues feeling bad.

"What truth are you talking about, why are you so sad?" Gastly asked once more.

"It's nothing…" James responded. "Just go back inside your Poké Ball."

"I'll tell you what, if you tell your friends the truth whatever you're hiding from them, I will gladly evolve into Haunter!" Gastly said with a laugh.

James looks at his Pokémon in confusion. "Wait what?"

"You heard me!" Gastly recalls itself back in its Poké Ball.

It cuts back to Fuchsia Gym as Koga versus Jessie is about to start.

"Dig, let's go!" Jessie commanded.

"Diglett Dig!" Diglett buries itself on the battlefield.

"Muk?" Muk cries in confusion.

Diglett pops out from the ground and lands the hit on Muk.

"Muk!" The Pokémon cries in pain from the super-effective move.

"Ha-ha!" Jessie laughed. "With a Ground-type move, Muk should go down easy!"

Koga grins. "Muk, Disable!"

Jessie's eyes widened. "Uh oh…"

Muk's eyes glow blue and then Diglett is now surrounded by a blue aura and glowing as Diglett is now disabled from using Dig.

Jessie grits her teeth. "Of course."

Koga is seen smiling. "You should know that I will not be defeated easily."

"Diglett, use Slash!" Jessie commanded.

"Diglett Dig!" Diglett's body starts glowing white and heading towards Muk by appearing and disappearing from the ground every time it moves.

"Minimize, quick!" Koga commanded.

"Muk!"

Diglett was about to Slash at Muk, but the Pokémon compressed its body to become smaller to avoid the attack.

Jessie sweats a little. "He's good. Diglett, Sand Attack!"

"Diglett dig!" Diglett pops into the ground and then sand starts coming out of the hole where Diglett is and sand starts getting into Muk's eyes.

"Muk!" The Pokémon cries in pain.

"Sludge!"

"Muk!" Muk starts firing large balls of sludge from its mouth right at Diglett.

Diglett manages to dodge every sludge ball from quickly disappearing in the ground and popping back up in different places.

Jessie smiles. "Nice dodging Diglett! Keep using Sand Attack!"

"Diglett dig!" Diglett once more pops into the ground and then sand starts coming out of the hole right at Muk.

"Muk!" The Pokémon cries in pain from getting more sand in its eyes.

"Muk, don't let the sand affect you, and use Sludge again!" Koga commanded.

Muk starts firing large balls of sludge once more from its mouth right at Diglett. Diglett also once more keeps dodging by quickly disappearing and reappearing from the ground in different locations of the battlefield, but at the last one, a Sludge manages to strike Diglett.

"Diglett!" The Pokémon cries in pain.

"NO, DIGLETT!" Jessie called out.

It's revealed that Diglett has fainted from battle.

Janine starts being the referee for this Gym Battle. "Diglett is unable to battle, Victor goes to Muk!"

"And just like that, Jessie is already down one Pokémon, great..." Domino says.

"This is bad…" Meowth added.

"Diglett, return!" Jessie recalls Diglett back into its Poké Ball. "I had the advantage and I still lost this round…"

Koga closes his eyes. "Of course, I am going to be an Elite Four member soon, I must train to overcome weaknesses like ground Pokémon."

Jessie pulls out her next Pokémon's Poké Ball. "Pidgeotto, I choose you!" She sends out Pidgeotto into battle.

"Pidgeotto!" The Pokémon cried out while flying in the air.

"Quick Attack, Pidgeotto!"

Pidgeotto swoops down and quickly attacks Muk, dealing damage.

"Muk!" The Pokémon cries in pain.

"Disable!" Koga commanded.

Once more, Muk's eyes glow blue. "Muk!" and then Pidgeotto is surrounded by a blue aura and glowing as Quick Attack is now disabled.

"Mirror Move!" Jessie commanded.

Koga raises an eyebrow. "What's this?"

Pidgeotto now has glowing blue eyes and now Muk is surrounded by a blue area. Pidgeotto, from using Mirror Move, uses Muk's Disable to disable Disable.

Jessie grins. "Bingo!"

"Wait so, Pidgeotto disabled Muk's disable?" Domino asked, confused.

"That's actually kinda smart," Meowth admitted.

"I have to say, your battling strategy is quite impressive." Koga also admits. "Sludge!"

"Muk!" starts launching large balls of sludge from its mouth and manages to hit Pidgeotto, dealing damage.

"Pidgeotto!" Pidgeotto cries in pain.

Jessie grits her teeth. "Mirror Move, once more!"

Pidgeotto copies Muk's last move again by throwing sludge right at Muk.

"Minimize, go!" Koga quickly commanded.

Muk quickly shrinks itself and dodges its move from Pidgeotto using Mirror Move and grows back to its original size.

Jessie growls. "Wing Attack!"

"Pidgeotto!" Pidgeotto swoops down and tries to strike Muk with Wing Attack, but Muk dodges the move.

"No way, I can't hit it!" Jessie said in disbelief.

"That's what training in the ninja way does to a Pokémon! Muk, Sludge!" Koga commanded.

"Muk!" Muk starts throwing more sludge balls at Pidgeotto right in the air.

"Pidgeotto, try to dodge them!" Jessie quickly commanded back.

Pidgeotto tries its best to dodge the move, but one sludge from Muk manages to hit the Pokémon. "Pidgeotto!" The Pokémon cries in pain and drops to the ground.

Jessie gasped in shock. "Crap, Pidgeotto get up!"

Pidgeotto slowly gets up and is still in the fight.

Jessie smiles. "That's the fighting spirit! Sand-Attack!"

"Pidgeotto!" Pidgeotto flies up in the air and starts using its wings to put sand in Muk's eyes.

"Muk!" The Pokémon cries in pain.

Koga noticed something. "A lot of sand is in Muk's eyes… Alright, Sludge!"

Muk starts throwing more sludge balls right at Pidgeotto, but this time Pidgeotto manages to dodge every single one of them this time.

"Mirror Move!" Jessie commanded.

"Pidgeotto!" Pidgeotto copies Muk's last move and throws sludge bombs at the Pokémon, but Muk gets hit and takes major damage.

"Muuuuuuk!" Muk slowly starts to dissolve into the ground.

"Muk!" Koga says in disbelief.

Muk quickly forms back into battle, showing that it still can fight.

"I know you still have heart in you! Use your Poison Gas!

"Muk!" Muk opens its mouth and shoots out a thick dark green liquid from the mouth right at Pidgeotto.

"Try to dodge it!" Jessie commanded.

Pidgeotto manages to dodge the first one, but the second Poison Gas catches the Pokémon off guard and it causes the Pokémon to crash right towards the ground and immediately faints.

"NO!" Jessie gasped in shock.

Janine declares the round. "Pidgeotto is unable to battle! Muk wins this round."

Domino's eyes widened. "No wonder Koga is going to be an Elite Four member! He hasn't lost a single Pokémon and Jessie already lost two!"

"It's probably over already…" Meowth admitted.

"Pidgeotto return!" Jessie recalls Pidgeotto back to its Poké Ball. She smiles at the Pidgeotto's Poké Ball. "You did great, Pidgeotto. Take a nice long rest."

"Select your next Pokémon," Koga says.

Jessie begins thinking inside her thoughts. "If I'm going to lose, I have to at least knock out one of his Pokémon." Jessie soon pulls out one of her Pokémon's Poké Ball to battle. "Squirtle, I choose you!"

Jessie sends out Squirtle on the battlefield against Muk.

"Squirtle!"

"Skull Bash, let's go!"

Squirtle starts sprinting towards Muk and jumps at all of the Muk with its head down but Squirtle barely affects Muk as its body is made of liquid so Squirtle's head goes slightly in Muk.

"AW COME ON!" Jessie yelled out in disbelief.

Koga closes his eyes for a little bit to command his next move. "Poison Gas."

"Muk!" Muk looks down seeing Squirtle trying to get its head out of the Pokémon's body. It soon opens its mouth and spits out a dark green liquid and nails Squirtle's shell with it.

Squirtle finally gets its head out of Muk. "Squirtle…" Purple bubbles surround the Pokémon signaling Squirtle was poisoned.

Domino sighs. "Squirtle gets poisoned again. No water Pokémon deserves this."

"I almost feel bad for it," Meowth admitted.

"Drat poisoned!" Jessie grits her teeth. "Hydro Pump!"

"Squirtle!" Squirtle unleashes tons of water from its mouth right at Muk. However, Muk dodges the move by quickly descending to the ground and quickly ascending to its size.

"My Muk is nearly impossible to hit. You might as well forfeit, Jessie." Koga suggested.

Jessie growls at Koga suggesting forfeiting. "No, I'm not!"

"Very well… Muk, Sludge," Koga commanded.

"Muk!" Muk throws more sludge from its mouth right at Squirtle. Squirtle manages to jump out of the way for each sludge, dodging it, but soon takes damage from the poison.

"Hydro Pump!" Jessie commanded.

"Dodge it Muk, once more." Koga counters.

Squirtle blasts out water from its mouth right at Muk. Muk tries to dodge Hydro Pump again, but this time the water flies too fast for Muk to dodge and the Pokémon takes damage.

"What?!" Koga said in disbelief.

"Haha, nice one Squirtle!" Jessie complimented with a smile.

"Sludge again!" Koga commanded.

"Withdraw!" Jessie countered.

"Muk!" Muk starts firing sludge balls once more from its mouth at Squirtle. Squirtle quickly withdraws into its shell as the sludge hits Squirtle's shell, not taking as much damage.

Squirtle withdraws out of its shell and then proceeds to take damage from the poison. "Squirtle…" the Pokémon cried in exhaustion.

"Hydro Pump!"

"Minimize!"

Muk quickly shrinks down to try to dodge the Hydro Pump as Squirtle releases a bunch of water from its mouth. Despite its short size, Muk was struck by the water from Squirtle's aim as the Pokémon took damage.

"Muk!" The Pokémon cries in pain before officially fainting.

Koga grits his teeth. "Muk!"

Jessie pumps up her fist in the air. "We did it, Squirtle!"

"Squirtle!" Squirtle jumps up to celebrate but the Pokémon drops to the ground and faints from the poison.

"Ah!" Jessie gasped.

"Both Muk and Squirtle are unable to battle as this round is officially a draw." Janine declared.

Domino frowns. "Even though Jessie was able to knock out one of Koga's Pokémon, she still lost one as well."

"She should put me in already, I would definitely bring her back from this deficit," Meowth says, grinning as he praises himself.

Domino looks at Meowth with an annoyed expression. "Right…"

It cuts to where Team Rocket is, still with their zookeepers on, ready to proceed with the plan.

"Okay Cass, what's the plan this time?" Mondo asked.

Cassidy explains her plan. "The plan is simple. We just trick all the Pokémon in the zoo into thinking it's lunchtime, but we are just secretly leading them into a cage and that's when we steal them!"

"Misleading Pokémon into thinking they're eating by lying to them just to steal?" Butch grins. "I love it!"

"Let's put this plan into action!" The Team Rocket trio all said together.

It cuts to James looking at the Voltorb exhibit.

The Voltorb looks at James back. "Voltorb!"

James nods, thinking he understands the Pokémon. "I don't even know what you're saying, but I agree."

One of the zookeepers, who is just Butch in disguise, walks up to the Voltorb exhibit and opens up the fence. "Alright Voltorb, it's time for lunch!"

"Voltorb?" The Pokémon cries in confusion.

James raises an eyebrow at the 'zookeeper.' "Why can't you just feed them while they're in the exhibit?"

"It's the law here in Fuchsia City, all the Pokémon in zoo exhibits have to eat together." The 'zookeeper' replied.

James continues asking questions. "I may not be a Pokémon translator, but that Voltorb sounded confused there about it?"

"The law was recently enforced, some of the Pokémon are still confused about it." The 'zookeeper' turns to Voltorb. "Come on, Voltorb."

The Voltorb rolls out of its exhibit, following the 'zookeeper' as James just continues looking on in confusion.

James begins thinking to himself. "Hmm… the guy sounded very familiar." He begins to secretly follow the 'zookeeper' with stealth.

It cuts back to the Fuchsia Gym and the Gym Battle between Jessie and Koga as Squirtle nor Muk are on the battlefield, signaling that both trainers recalled their Pokémon.

Koga starts sending out his next Pokémon to the battlefield. "Weezing, let's go!"

"Weezing!" The Pokémon cried to the battlefield.

Jessie pulls out a Poké Ball and sends her next Pokémon into battle with Weezing. "Ponyta, I choose you!"

"Neigh!" Ponyta cried out into the battlefield as well.

"Take Down!" Jessie commanded.

"Neigh!" Ponyta starts to charge at Weezing.

"Weezing, float up to dodge!" Koga countered.

"Weezing!" Weezing simply floats up as Ponyta misses the Take Down.

"Now, Smog!"

Weezing opens its mouth and shoots out a stream of black smoke at Ponyta. Smog manages to hit Ponyta.

"Neigh!" The Pokémon cries in pain.

Jessie grits her teeth. "Fire Spin!"

Ponyta opens its mouth as red-orange flames and starts heading towards Weezing.

Koga closes his eyes for a second. "Dodge that move as well, Weezing."

"Weezing!" Weezing manages to float out of the way to dodge Ponyta's move once more.

"I-I can't seem to hit any move on his Pokémon at all..." Jessie starts panicking a little.

"Sludge!" Koga commanded.

"Double Team!" Jessie quickly countered.

"Weezing!" Weezing's main head opens its mouth and starts sending sludge balls right at Ponyta, but Ponyta manages to create multiple illusions of itself as Weezing hits illusion after illusion with Sludge. After Weezing was finished, every Ponyta illusion disappeared.

Koga grits his teeth. "Smog!"

The main head of Weezing once more opens its mouth and shoots out a stream of black smoke at Ponyta.

"Dodge it, Ponyta!"

"Neigh!" Ponyta manages to slide out of the way to avoid the Sludge from Weezing.

Jessie grits her fists together. "Now Fire Spin!"

Ponyta opens its mouth and sends a red-orange fire vortex right at Weezing and actually manages to hit the Pokémon.

"Weezing!" Weezing drops to the ground from getting hurt.

Jessie snaps her fingers and smiles. "Nailed it!"

Koga crosses his arms. "Alright, time to bring you down to your last Pokémon! Weezing, use Self-Destruct!"

"WHAT?!" Jessie and everyone else said in shock.

"PONYTA BRACE YOURSELF!" Jessie quickly commanded.

Weezing starts glowing white and soon explodes violently, sending smoke everywhere in the battle. Jessie and everyone else cover their faces from it. Soon, to everyone not being surprised, the smoke clears up to reveal Weezing had fainted.

"Weezing is unable to battle!" Janine declared.

The smoke soon clears up some more to reveal Ponyta on the ground with its eyes closed.

"Oh no… Ponyta." Jessie has her head down.

Janine was about to declare Ponyta was unable to battle, but the Pokémon started glowing white to everyone's shock.

"P-Ponyta!" Jessie said in shock.

Ponyta starts evolving as the Pokémon gets much taller and now has a horn on its head. The white glow fades away, revealing Ponyta has evolved into Rapidash.

"Neeeeeiiiiigh!" The Pokémon cried out.

"Y-you evolved!" Jessie smiles so much after seeing her Ponyta evolve.

Domino chuckles. "Looks like the battle isn't over for Ponyta yet."

"Except they're Rapidash now!" Meowth added.

"Weezing, return!" Koga recalls Weezing back into its Poké Ball. "I see you have a strong bond with your, now, Rapidash." He nods in approval.

"We're ready for your next Pokémon now, Koga!" Jessie chuckles.

"Very well." Koga sends out his next Pokémon to the battlefield. "Venomoth, go!"

"Venomoth!" The Pokémon cries out to the battlefield.

It cuts back to James secretly following the 'zookeeper', Butch in disguise, with the Voltorb. They soon stumble across some buildings with curtains surrounding the entrance and a sign that says 'Dinner!'.

"Just step right this way, Voltorb!" The 'zookeeper' says.

Voltorb simply rolls to the curtains.

The 'zookeeper' grins and starts speaking in his walkie-talkie. "Okay, Voltorb is in. That's all of them!"

All of a sudden, the building's walls fall like cutouts to reveal a bouncy castle-like structure with Voltorb and the rest of the zoo Pokémon inside and locked away behind bars. The zoo Pokémon all have sad expressions on their faces.

James quietly gasped. "No way. Could it be?"

Two other 'zookeepers', Cassidy and Mondo in disguise, arrive at their partner-in-crime with grins on their faces.

"Alright, all we need is a vehicle and a bouncy castle to attach and the Pokémon is as good as ours!" Cassidy explained.

"Yeah! No one will stop Team Rocket now!" Mondo declared.

"TEAM ROCKET!" James immediately reveals himself to the trio. "You let those Pokémon go!"

Butch growls in annoyance. "It's the sunglasses twerp! Just great!"

Cassidy growls too, but soon brightens up when she notices James' friends are gone. "Look, the twerp's friends are not present!"

"Ha! You don't stand the chance against the three of us all by yourself!" Mondo declared.

James grits his teeth. "We will see about that!"

"And what you will see is a little something called trouble!" Cassidy smirks.

"And our allowances are going to be doubled!" Butch also smirks.

To infect the world with devastation!"

"To blight all people in every nation!"

"To denounce the goodness of truth and love!"

"To extend our wrath to the stars above!"

Cassidy rips off her zookeeper disguise. "Cassidy!"

So does Butch. "And Butch, of course!"

"We're Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night!"

"Surrender to us now or you will surely lose the fight!"

Mondo does a flip and lands right in front of them, tearing his zookeeper uniform as well. "I'm Mondo alright!"

"The only way you're getting these Pokémon back is a Pokémon battle!" Cassidy said.

Team Rocket all pull out their Poké Balls, ready to battle.

"You three want to battle? You got it!" James pulls out three of his own Poké Balls.

"Raticate, Primeape, and Marowak let's go!" Team Rocket all said together, sending their Pokémon into battle.

"Raticate!" "Primeape!" "Marowak!"

"Koffing, Pikachu, and Charmander, I choose the three of you!" James counters their three by sending Koffing, Pikachu, and Charmander to do battle against Team Rocket's Pokémon.

"Koffing!" "Pikachu!" "Charmander!"

Team Rocket immediately starts commanding their Pokémon to attack. "Raticate, Super Fang!" "Primeape, use Mega Punch!" "Marowak, you use your Bonemerang!"

Raticate dashes towards Koffing, ready to bite, but Koffing dodges it by floating out of the way. Primeape tries to punch Charmander hard, but the Pokémon keeps dodging its moves by sliding left and right fast. Marowak throws its bone towards Pikachu, but Pikachu avoids it by ducking its head.

James smiles. "Nice dodging you three! Charmander, use Flamethrower, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt, and Koffing, use Sludge!"

Charmander breathes fire right at Raticate with its mouth, Pikachu releases multiple bolts of yellow electricity from its cheek save right at Primeape and Koffing opens its mouth and sends Sludge bombs right at Marowak.

"Raticate!" "Primeape!" "Marowak!" Team Rocket's Pokémon all cried in pain as they were sent back towards their criminal owners and fainted.

"Uh oh…" Cassidy said.

"Time to run!" Butch suggested.

"Right!" Mondo agreed.

Team Rocket quickly recalls their Pokémon and starts sprinting off, trying to get away.

"Koffing, use Self Destruct and send Team Rocket blasting off!" James commanded.

"Koffing!" Koffing starts floating toward Team Rocket and starts glowing white.

"GO AWAY, SHOO!" Cassidy yelled at the Pokémon.

Koffing officially explodes, sending Team Rocket to the sky and blasting off.

"If we can't beat one twerp, how are we going to beat three?" Cassidy rhetorically says.

"Maybe we should work on our battling more because we're total zeros!" Mondo suggested.

Butch growls. "Shut up, Mondo!"

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET IS BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Ding!

James smiles seeing his fainted Koffing and recalls it back. "You did great, Koffing. You deserve a nice rest." James turns to his other Pokémon. "You guys did great too!"

"Charmander!"

"Pikachu!"

James chuckles and happily recalls Charmander and Pikachu back to their Poké Balls. He notices a key on the ground and out of curiosity, he approaches it and picks it up. "This must be the key for the cage, they must've dropped it." James walks over to the cage, finds the lock, and unlocks it, setting the Pokémon free. "You guys are happily free!"

All of the zoo Pokémon happily cried out in joy as they exited the cage and went back to their zoo exhibits. It cuts back to the battle between Koga and Jessie.

"Venomoth, use Toxic!" Koga commanded.

"Venomoth!" Venomoth releases a black substance at Rapidash.

"Rapidash, quickly dodge it!" Jessie countered.

"Neigh!" Rapidash jumps to its right to dodge the Toxic.

Jessie smiles. "Right on! Now use Fire Spin!"

Rapidash opens its mouth and releases a red-orange spiral of fire at Venomoth and hits the Pokémon.

"Venomoth!" The Pokémon cries in pain. Venomoth drops down to the ground and to everyone's surprise, the Pokémon faints by just one move.

Koga, Janine, Domino, and even Meowth gasped in shock.

"Impossible!" Koga said in shock.

Janine declares the round. "Venomoth is unable to battle! Rapidash wins this round."

"Whoa… I never thought Rapidash was this strong." Jessie starts smiling. "Now I might actually have a chance to win this!"

"Jess might actually do it!" Meowth says, cheering her trainer on.

"Yeah, now it's completely tied together with two Pokémon left for each trainer. This might actually come down to the wire!" Domino pointed out.

"Venomoth, return!" Koga recalls Venomoth back in its Poké Ball. "Thank you for your sacrifice."

Jessie chuckles. "I bet you're regretting telling me to give up, are you?"

Koga remains expressionless. "I said what I said and I will live by those words." The Gym Leader pulls a different Poké Ball. "Arbok, I choose you!" He sends Arbok into battle.

"Arbok!" The Pokémon cries into battle.

"Rapidash, use Take Down!" Jessie commanded.

"Neigh!" Rapidash starts dashing toward Arbok with incredible speed, slamming into the Pokémon with its whole body.

"Arbok!" "Neigh!" Both Pokémon cried out from them taking damage but still standing.

"Glare, Arbok!" Koga commanded.

Arbok's eyes start to glow blue, glaring at Rapidash as the Pokémon becomes paralyzed.

Jessie's eyes widened. "Oh no, Rapisdash is paralyzed! Come on, Rapidash, fight out of it, and use Take Down!"

Rapidash remains still as paralysis affects the Pokémon.

"This ain't good, Rapidash is in trouble…" Domino says.

Meowth nods. "No kidding!"

Koga closes his eyes. "Acid"

"Arbok!" Arbok spits black acid right at Rapidash.

Rapidash couldn't move because of the paralysis and got hit and took damage. "Neigh!"

Jessie starts to worry. "Come on Rapidash! Use Take Down!"

Rapidash remains still as paralysis affects the Pokémon once more.

"It seems like you're quite in a predicament, challenger," Koga says. "Acid again!"

"Arbok!" Arbok spits out Acid once more at Rapidash.

The acid strikes Rapidash once more, taking more damage. "Neigh…" the Pokémon begins heavily breathing.

"Come on Rapidash, use Take Down!" Jessie commanded.

Rapidash tries to sprint towards Arbok, but the paralysis stops the move from happening.

"It's useless, challenger!" Koga says. "Acid for the third time, Arbok!"

"Arbok!" Arbok spits out acid once more and hits Rapidash, the flaming horse Pokémon taking more damage and very close to fainting.

Koga crosses his arms. "I rather you just stay silent and let Rapidash faint."

Jessie clutches her fists together. "TAKE DOWN, LET'S GO!"

"NEIGH!" Rapidash starts sprinting towards Arbok and completely bats Arbok with its body, both of them taking damage.

Arbok immediately hits the ground and faints from battle.

"It… can't be," Koga says.

"Arbok is unable to battle. The winner of this round is Rapidash!" Janine declared.

"Yes!" Jessie looks over and sees Rapidash completely heavy breathing and in so much pain from taking so much damage. Her happy expression goes to sadness. "Okay Rapidash, you took too many hits, I'm recalling you back and forfeiting one of my Pokémon."

Rapidash immediately turns around to face its trainer and shakes its head no. "Neigh!"

"Y-you still want to continue?" Jessie says with her mouth open in shock, then she smiles. "Okay, let's do it!"

Koga starts talking to himself quietly. "Wow… I never saw such a strong bond between a trainer and their Pokémon." The Gym Leader takes out his last Poké Ball. "Golbat, let's go!" Koga sends Golbat into battle.

"Golbat!" Golbat screeches into battle.

"Fire Spin!" Jessie commanded.

"Neigh!" Rapidash opens its mouth and fires a red-orange spiral flame right at Golbat, heading towards the Pokémon.

"Dodge it and use Wing Attack!" Koga countered.

Golbat screeches and flies out of the way to dodge the Fire Spin, immediately dives down, and strikes Rapidash with one of its wings.

"Neigh!" Rapidash immediately cries in pain, hits the ground, and officially faints.

"Rapidash is unable to battle, Golbat wins this battle and both the challenger and the Gym Leader are down to their last Pokémon!" Janine declared.

Domino and Meowth both bow in respect to Rapidash for giving their all.

"Major respect for Rapidash," Domino says.

Meowth nods. "Agreed."

"Rapidash return!" Jessie recalls Rapidash. "You did such an excellent job Rapidash, thank you so much." Jessie's eyes become watery for a few seconds from looking at Rapidash's Poké Ball before putting it away. "Meowth, I need you!"

"Aw yeah, it's my time to shine now!" Meowth exits the spectators' area and jumps into the battlefield against Golbat.

"Supersonic, Golbat!" Koga commanded.

Golbat screeches as big blue sound waves come out of the Pokémon's mouth while doing and heading towards Meowth.

"Meowth, dodge it, quick!" Jessie countered.

"AH!" Meowth quickly ducks to the ground to avoid the Supersonic. Meowth quickly peeks an eye and stands up. "You missed me!"

"Thunderbolt!" Jessie commanded.

"Get ready to get zapped, bat!" Yellow sparks surround Meowth's body then fire bolts of lightning right at Golbat.

The Thunderbolt hits Golbat and screeches in pain, but despite the super-effective move, Golbat remains standing.

"WHAT?!" Meowth yelled in disbelief. "That didn't take you down?!"

"This is one strong Golbat…" Jessie says to herself quietly.

"Mega Drain!" Koga commanded.

Golbat screeches and soon lands on Meowth's shoulder getting closer to the Pokémon's neck.

"Hey, get off of me!" Meowth tries to swat the Pokémon away.

Jessie looks on with eyes widened. "Get Golbat off of you with Scratch!"

Meowth's claws start glowing white and becoming more sharp. "Take this!" The Pokémon scratches the Golbat, trying to get the Pokémon off of his shoulder, but no good.

"Now!" Koga commanded.

Golbat bites down Meowth's neck as he screams in pain.

Jessie, Domino, and Janine all gasped in shock.

Golbat begins sucking and draining Meowth's health and energy by the neck. After it is done, Golbat flies to their part of the battlefield after regaining health.

Meowth starts to feel a little dizzy from its energy and health being drained. "Jess, I'm feeling a little woozy."

"Supersonic, now!" Koga commanded.

Golbat screeches and sends blue sound waves from its mouth right at Meowth.

Jessie starts worrying. "Meowth, try to dodge it!"

Meowth's dizziness from its health getting drained made the Pokémon difficult to dodge the upcoming Supersonic. Meowth ends up getting hit by the move and now is confused. Meowth starts to hallucinate from the confusion. "I see Pidgey flying everywhere!"

Domino starts worrying. "Jessie better think of something fast!"

Jessie grits her teeth. "Bubble Beam!"

"You got it, Jimmy!" Meowth says giving a thumbs up in the wrong direction. Meowth ejects a spray of bubbles from its mouth, but it is nowhere close to Meowth's target, Golbat because it is confused.

Jessie sighs and facepalms. "It's Jessie by the way…"

Domino also facepalms from the spectator area.

"Alright Golbat, finish it off with Wing Attack!" Koga commanded.

Golbat screeches as it starts diving below Meowth getting ready to strike him with its wing.

Jessie starts to panic and comes up with a quick option. "THUNDERBOLT!"

Electricity starts surrounding Meowth as Golbat gets closer to him. Golbat strikes Meowth with the Wing Attack, but the Pokémon gets hit by Meowth's Thunderbolt as well.

Golbat and Meowth both yell in pain as they both get hit with the move as dust fills the entire battlefield. Both Jessie and Koga stand there and wait for the dust to clear to see who came out on top. As the dust slowly clears, it's revealed that both Golbat and Meowth are lying on the ground and have fainted.

"NO WAY!" Both Jessie and Domino said in shock.

Koga stays completely silent as his daughter declares the match.

Janine gives out the final results. "Both Golbat and Meowth are unable to battle, which means this Gym Battle is officially a draw!"

"Meowth!" Jessie hops onto the battlefield to grab her talking Pokémon.

"Golbat, return!" Koga recalls Golbat back in its Poké Ball. "You did well and served your purpose flawlessly."

It cuts to Jessie, still holding her fainted Meowth, Domino, Janine, and Koga are all gathered around.

"So… what happens if a Gym Battle ends in a draw? Does Jessie still win the badge?" Domino asked.

"I believe that if a draw happens, it's the Gym Leader's decision whether or not to give the challenger the badge, right dad?" Janine asked for confirmation.

Koga closes his eyes and nods. "That is correct, Janine. So you were studying to become a Gym Leader all this time. You will definitely make a great future Gym Leader."

Janine's eyes water and sheds a tear. "Thanks, Dad."

"As for this Soul Badge…" Koga reaches into his pocket and pulls the Soul Badge out. "Normally I don't hand the Soul Badge out when the battle ends in a draw, but since you beat my daughter before in a battle and I saw how strong your bond and determined your Rapidash is, Jessie. I will happily present you with the Soul Badge." Koga gives Jessie the Soul Badge.

"Alright!" Jessie happily accepts the Soul Badge. "I got… the Soul Badge!" Jessie poses with the badge she just earned.

Domino claps for her. "Way to go, Jessie!"

It shows Jessie, still holding Meowth, her, and Domino waving goodbye to Koga and Janine as soon the two exit Fuchsia Gym. What was waiting for them was James from the outside.

"Did you win the badge, Jessie?" James asked.

"I didn't really win it, because me and Koga drew, but I still earned it!" Jessie pulls out her badge case from her purse and opens it up to reveal the Soul Badge to James.

"Awesome, nice job, Jessie!" James praises.

"So are we heading back to Saffron City now?" Domino asked.

"Not yet," Jessie answered. "We're staying in Fuchsia City for a little bit, but after we do that, let's head to the Pokémon Center to heal Meowth and the rest of my Pokémon."

Jessie starts heading to the Pokémon Center with Domino and James following her, confused by Jessie's answer.

"Well that's another badge down for Jessie and she just needs three more badges before she can compete in the Kanto Pokémon League! What more stores for Jessie and her friends? Find out as the journey continues!"