Pokemon: Ace's Adventures!

Ace and the girls stood outside the Vermillion City Gym, their anticipation palpable. Professor Cerise, his wife Talia, and their daughter Chloe had joined them, eager to see Ace take on their city's formidable Gym Leader, Lieutenant Surge.

Ace exhaled deeply, steadying himself. Smeargle, standing by his side, mirrored his deep breath. Lately, Smeargle had taken to staying out of its Pokéball, and Ace had grown accustomed to its constant presence.

With a slight nod to his companions, Ace pushed open the heavy gym doors. The interior was dimly lit, with a metallic sheen reflecting off the walls. The hum of electric currents could be heard faintly in the background. Two men in delinquent-like attire greeted them, smirks plastered on their faces.

"Here for a Gym battle, huh?" one of them sneered, leaning lazily against the wall. He turned his head and shouted, "Boss! We've got another baby here for you to play with!"

Ace kept his expression neutral, unfazed by the taunts. He recognized this ploy from the anime: Surge's strategy often included letting his lackeys rile up challengers, forcing them to battle under pressure before facing his relentless electric assault.

Behind him, however, the girls bristled at the insult.

"They can't just call Ace that!" Dawn muttered indignantly.

Ace turned slightly and shook his head, silencing them with a calm look. "Don't let it bother you," he said simply.

Professor Cerise, watching the exchange, sighed and muttered under his breath, "This is classic Surge... though he's pushing it a bit too much this time."

Beside him, Talia was smiling brightly, though her grip on Cerise's hand told another story. "Such rude behavior," she said sweetly, her fingers tightening painfully. "Don't you agree, darling?"

Cerise winced, forcing a strained smile. "Y-yes, dear. Very rude indeed."

Before anyone could respond further, a booming laugh echoed through the gym. Heavy footsteps followed, and the group turned to see Lieutenant Surge stepping into the arena. He was an imposing figure—tall, broad-shouldered, and every inch a military man. His muscular frame and confident stride exuded authority, and his smirk was one of someone who knew he was a force to be reckoned with.

"Well, well," Surge said, his deep voice filling the room. "Another baby here to challenge the big leagues, huh?" His eyes landed on Ace, then shifted to Smeargle. "And you're bringing your baby Pokémon to the fight? This'll be over quick."

Ace stared back, unflinching. "I'm here for a Gym battle, Lieutenant Surge," he said firmly.

Surge smirked, crossing his arms. "You've got guts, kid, I'll give you that. But guts won't help when you're up against the thunder."

Despite his outward bravado, Surge's eyes analyzed Ace and his group. The boy stood calm and composed, unfazed by his taunts. And the people behind him... Surge's gaze lingered on Professor Cerise. 'If Professor Cerise came in person,' Surge thought, 'this kid isn't ordinary. Time to see what he's really made of.'

"Alright, kid," Surge said, his voice booming once more. "Let's see if you can handle the shock!" He gestured toward the arena, his grin widening. "Follow me."

Ace followed Lieutenant Surge through a heavy metal door that led to the prep room and battlefield. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the corridor as the door shut behind them. Meanwhile, the delinquent from earlier turned to the rest of the group.

"You lot," he said, jerking a thumb toward another door, "head through there. That'll take you to the stands where you can sit and watch."

Just as the group was about to move, the gym doors swung open again with a dramatic flair. All eyes turned to see a confident young man stroll in, trailed by a group of girls dressed in cheerleader outfits. His spiky hair and cocky smirk were unmistakable.

"I'm here for a Gym challenge," the newcomer declared loudly.

The delinquent shook his head with an annoyed expression. "You'll have to wait, kid. There's already a challenger in the ring."

The newcomer's smirk faltered for a moment before he sighed in exaggerated annoyance. "Fine. I'll wait."

Professor Cerise, who had been watching the exchange with curiosity, suddenly spoke up. "Wait a minute... Is that little Gary?"

Gary's face turned a deep shade of red as he turned to the professor. "Don't call me that!" he snapped, his tone embarrassed. "I'm not little anymore!"

Cerise chuckled, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Well, it is you. I didn't expect to see you here, Gary. What brings you to Vermillion City?"

Gary coughed, regaining his composure. "I'm here to take on Lieutenant Surge, obviously," he replied, then paused as he noticed the group of unfamiliar faces except for Cerise and his family. His gaze fell on Cerise again. "But why are you here, Uncle Cerise?"

Cerise smiled and gestured toward the gym stands. "I'm here to watch my student, Ace, battle Surge."

Gary's smirk returned, though his eyes hardened slightly. "Ace, huh?" he muttered, his tone thoughtful.

As the group began moving toward the stands, Gary lagged behind, deep in thought. 'So this is the kid Grandpa's been talking about,' he thought. 'What's so special about him?'

Gary followed the others into the stands, his expression unreadable. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll watch. Let's see what this Ace guy is made of."

Ace and Lieutenant Surge stood at opposite ends of the battlefield, the air charged with tension. The bright lights of the Vermillion City Gym illuminated the area, casting long shadows behind the two trainers.

The referee stepped forward, raising both arms. "This will be a 3-on-3 battle between Gym leader Surge and Challenger Ace Drago! Only the challenger is allowed to switch Pokémon during the match."

Ace flexed his fingers, shaking off any lingering nerves, while Surge simply cracked his knuckles with a confident smirk. The imposing Gym Leader radiated an aura of strength and experience, but Ace wasn't intimidated.

The referee looked between them. "Trainers, send out your first Pokémon!"

Surge chuckled, pulling out a Pokéball. "Alright, baby. Let's show you how a real trainer fights. Jolteon, front and center!"

With a sharp toss, Surge's Pokéball burst open, releasing a sleek and agile Jolteon. The Electric-type Pokémon landed gracefully on the field, its fur bristling with static electricity. Sparks danced around its body as it growled, eyes locked on Ace.

Ace calmly retrieved his own Pokéball. "Alright, let's go, Clefairy!"

The Pokéball snapped open, and in a flash of light, Clefairy appeared on the battlefield. She landed softly, immediately twirling on one foot with a cheerful giggle, her pink form glowing faintly under the Gym lights.

Surge raised an eyebrow at the choice, a mocking grin tugging at his lips. "A Clefairy, huh? This should be quick."

Ace's expression didn't waver. 'He's underestimating her. Perfect.'

(Pls give me some power stones!)

(Find out next time on Pokemon:Ace's Adventures!)