"Where is he? Where did Ash go?" Alex and the others looked around but couldn't find Ash.
Just then, the wooden wall behind them rotated back, revealing Ash pinned to it by a string of darts, looking quite disheveled.
"Alex, Brock, Misty," Ash said, almost incoherent.
"Hahahahaha! Born in darkness, living in darkness, this is the destiny of a ninja. Female ninja Ayako has arrived!"
At that moment, a female ninja in pink clothes with green hair suddenly appeared from nowhere, landing in the room and laughing eerily.
"But don't you think your colors are a bit too gaudy?" Alex remarked, eyeing her tacky outfit.
"Why do you care so much? Do you like my greeting?" Ayako retorted, pulling out a few darts from her hand.
"Who throws darts so suddenly? It's dangerous!" Ash shouted angrily.
"Right? Brock, don't you agree?"
"Wow! This vibrant pink suits you perfectly! You're not just a female ninja; you're beautiful enough to be a top-tier beauty!" Brock said, leaning in, his eyes gleaming.
Ayako was startled and stepped back, coldly slapping his hand away.
"Brock, he's at it again," Alex said, a black line forming on his forehead. They didn't even know if Ayako was a friend or foe; was it appropriate to rush up like that?
"Anyway, this place is for training. Whose fault is it if you're not careful?" Ayako said, stepping on Brock's head with her foot.
"What are you talking about?" Brock protested.
"Duel me with your Pokémon, or you won't be able to leave this room."
At that moment, Venonat poked its head out from behind Ayako.
"This Venonat told me that four silly-looking people came in."
"Venonat, Venonat!" it chirped.
"Fight then! I accept your challenge, but can you please let me down first?" Ash pleaded, trying to wriggle free... Seeing this, Alex, Brock, and Misty almost spat blood.
"The Pokémon used will be one-on-one. Bring it on!" Ayako declared, her Venonat ready for battle.
"Alright, I choose you, Bulbasaur!" Ash called.
Hmm? Bulbasaur? That's not good. Venonat is a Bug and Poison-type Pokémon, giving it a double advantage over Ash's Bulbasaur. Why send it out? Wouldn't Charmander be more suitable?
Alex frowned, not understanding Ash's strategy. Does he have some other idea?
"It's time to battle, Venonat!" Ayako commanded.
"Bulbasaur, use Tackle!" Ash shouted.
"Bulbasaur!"
Venonat dodged Bulbasaur's Tackle with a single leap, then jumped off Bulbasaur.
"Venonat, use Stun Spore!"
"Bulbasaur, blow the Stun Spore away!"
Bulbasaur suddenly exhaled a gust of air from its mouth, dispersing the Stun Spore.
It can do that? That's too much of a stretch, isn't it? Just blowing it with its mouth disperses Stun Spore?
Alex couldn't help but feel speechless watching Ash's command. As expected of the protagonist, he's truly extraordinary.
"Use Vine Whip!"
However, Venonat was agile, and Vine Whip didn't hit it.
"Venonat, use Psybeam!"
Bulbasaur was dazed for a moment after being hit.
"Bulbasaur, snap out of it! If that's the case, use Leech Seed!"
When Venonat used Psybeam again, Bulbasaur leaped up to dodge, and then a seed emerged from the flower bud on its back, flying directly onto Venonat's head.
The seed then quickly germinated, rapidly absorbing Venonat's stamina.
"How about that? Leech Seed drained Venonat's power. Pretty good, right?" Ash said with a smile.
"Return, Venonat!"
"Bulbasaur, you did great. Return!"
"Hehe, I won," Ash declared triumphantly.
Just then, a Voltorb suddenly rolled in.
It exploded—not with a powerful Self-Destruct, but instead producing thick smoke.
Afterward, a man in a ninja suit appeared, forming hand signs.
"Ayako, you're truly too immature," he scolded.
"Brother, I was too careless," Ayako knelt down and apologized upon seeing the newcomer.
"So you're Miss Ayako's older brother? Hello, my name is Brock. Please take care of me from now on," Brock said eagerly, looking as if he was meeting the parents.
"Brock, stop being so enthusiastic. Go stand quietly behind us," Alex said, pulling Brock back to stand behind Ash.
"In any case, you must first duel me before you can leave this room," the man in the ninja suit said calmly.
"Who exactly are you?" Ash asked.
"I am Koga, the renowned Gym Leader of Celadon Gym," he replied.
"So, this is Celadon Gym?" Misty asked Koga.
"That's absolutely correct."
"So this is the Gym."
Alex and Ash looked around after hearing this... Outside, Team Rocket also found the place.
"This is the famous Ninja Gym, meow!"
"It looks like traditional ancient Japanese architecture," James observed through binoculars.
"There are many Poison-type Pokémon in that Gym!" Jessie said, lowering her binoculars and smiling.
"Attack the Ninja Gym and capture all the Poison-type Pokémon, meow!"
"So, a beautiful car for a beautiful woman, and Poison-type Pokémon, of course, belong with villains."
If Alex had heard this, he would have strongly agreed.
"Is that so?" James asked.
"Aren't beautiful flowers often poisonous?" Jessie said, throwing a rose to James... "Great! We were already looking for Celadon Gym. I must get the badge!"
Ash was full of fighting spirit, eager to start the battle.
"Of course, if you can defeat me, this pink badge is yours."
"Alright, let's duel!" Ash said, putting his hat on backward.
"How about a 2-on-2 battle?" Koga suggested.
"Okay."
"Then you're first. Go, Pidgeotto!"
"My preferred vanguard is Venonat."
"Hehe, Venonat was just defeated by me, you know."
"Hmph, this Venonat has very high experience points. It's almost..."
Koga hadn't finished speaking when Venonat evolved.
"Venomoth, a Bug and Poison-type Pokémon. The evolved form of Venonat has scales on its wings that scatter various colored powders when it flaps them," Alex's Pokédex chimed.
"Venomoth, spread Stun Spore!" Koga commanded.
"Pidgeotto, use Whirlwind!"
But the Stun Spore wasn't blown away; instead, it invaded Pidgeotto from both sides.
"Next, scatter Sleep Powder!" Koga commanded, looking completely at ease.
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