Chapter 196: Fuchsia Gym
Anticipation and Uncertainty
"When will you hatch, Togepi? Hatch quickly, let Mommy see you!"
Early in the morning, inside the Pokémon Center restaurant, Misty gently cradled her Pokémon Egg while absentmindedly nibbling at her breakfast.
More than ten days had passed, yet there were no signs of hatching.
Despite numerous check-ups confirming the egg was perfectly healthy, the lack of progress worried her.
"What if something's wrong?" she muttered.
Brock, sitting across from her, chuckled. "Relax, Misty. It'll hatch when it's ready."
Ash nodded in agreement. "Yeah, just keep it warm and carry it around. That's the best way to hatch it."
Unfortunately, they didn't have a Pokémon Incubator, a specialized device that mimicked the effects of the Flame Body Ability to speed up hatching.
These devices were highly advanced and twice as effective as Flame Body itself.
However, due to their exorbitant price, only Pokémon Breeding Houses could afford them.
"Well, I guess I just have to be patient," Misty sighed, hugging the egg close.
Pikachu patted the egg reassuringly with its tiny paw. "Pika-pi!"
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Excitement for the Fuchsia Gym Challenge
As they ate, the conversation shifted to the big event of the day—Ash's Gym Challenge.
Brock leaned forward excitedly. "To be honest, this is the Gym Challenge I've been looking forward to the most."
Misty raised an eyebrow. "Really? More than the others?"
Brock nodded. "Koga is unlike any other Gym Leader Ash has faced. He's incredibly tactical, and even though he won't use his strongest team, the battle will still be intense."
Ash grinned confidently. "I'm looking forward to it too!"
Koga wasn't just any ordinary Gym Leader—he was one of the strongest in Kanto.
Recently, his power had risen to Elite Four level, making him a serious opponent.
Of course, Kanto already had four official Elites—Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, and Lance.
But if one of them stepped down, Koga was a top candidate to take their place.
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Fuchsia City's Other Powerhouses
Koga wasn't the only Gym Leader with remarkable strength.
Both Blaine and Giovanni were far beyond the standard Gym Leader level.
✔ Blaine, the Cinnabar Gym Leader, appeared in the anime as a quirky old man who loved riddles.
✔ However, in the Pokémon Special manga, he was portrayed as a brilliant scientist who even helped create Mewtwo!
No one knew whether this world's Blaine was closer to the anime version or the manga version…
But one thing was certain—his true strength was far beyond that of a typical Gym Leader.
✔ And then there was Giovanni, the leader of Viridian Gym…
✔ His real strength was rumored to be on par with a Pokémon Champion.
Ash clenched his fist. "One day, I'll be strong enough to take them all on!"
Brock smirked. "One step at a time, Ash. First, focus on Koga."
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Arriving at Fuchsia Gym
After breakfast, Ash and his friends left the Pokémon Center and walked next door to the Fuchsia Gym.
The Gym compound was massive, larger than the Pokémon Center itself.
✔ Traditional high walls surrounded the area.
✔ The courtyard housed various buildings, not just the Gym Battle Hall.
✔ A tourist attraction inside allowed visitors to experience ninja training.
"Whoa, this place is huge!" Ash said in amazement.
Misty pointed to a sign. "Look, they even have a Ninja Experience Hall for tourists!"
Brock nodded. "Koga's family has trained as ninjas for generations. The Gym isn't just for battles—it's also a dojo."
Dozens of Trainers, tourists, and students walked in and out of the Gym's main building.
Ash, Brock, and Misty joined the registration line, ready for the day's battles.
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Inside the Gym Battle Hall
The Gym Battle Hall was already buzzing with excitement.
✔ Hundreds of Trainers filled the spectator seats.
✔ Many were watching battles to study Koga's tactics.
✔ Others were simply enjoying the intense matches.
Ash and Brock took a seat, observing the current battle.
Brock whistled. "Wow, look at the crowd! There must be at least 500 people here!"
Misty was surprised. "That's more than some tournament matches!"
Even though this was just a Gym Challenge, the large audience proved Koga's popularity.
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The Waiting Game
Ash waited patiently for nearly an hour as other Trainers took their turn.
Finally, a Gym staff member called his name.
"Challenger Ash from Pallet Town, please proceed to the battle hall!"
Ash took a deep breath, adjusted his hat, and stepped toward the doors.
As he approached, he glanced at Brock and Misty. "Wish me luck!"
Misty smirked. "You'll need it!"
Brock grinned. "Give Koga a battle he won't forget!"
Pikachu hopped onto Ash's shoulder. "Pika!"
With a determined nod, Ash signaled the staff to open the doors.
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Facing Koga
The battle hall doors swung open, revealing a massive battlefield.
Unlike some Gyms that had unique terrain, Fuchsia Gym had a standard flat battlefield.
Standing on the opposite side of the arena was Koga himself.
✔ He wore his signature purple ninja attire.
✔ His short black hair was slicked back.
✔ His sharp eyes exuded calm confidence.
Ash stepped forward and took his place.
He then glanced at the spectator seats—the sheer number of people watching made him momentarily nervous.
But he quickly shook it off. "Focus, Ash. This is just another battle."
Koga studied Ash carefully. "Challenger Ash from Pallet Town…"
He had already reviewed Ash's information, except for confidential details hidden by the Pokémon League.
But even without that, he knew one thing for certain—
Ash was no ordinary rookie Trainer.
✔ In just a short time, Ash had already reached Poké Ball level strength.
✔ He had obtained five Gym Badges—a remarkable feat for a new Trainer.
✔ His rapid growth was highly unusual.
Koga's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're progressing faster than most Trainers… I wonder if you can handle my tactics?"
Ash grinned. "Let's find out!"
Pikachu's cheeks sparked, ready for battle.
The Gym Challenge was about to begin—and Ash was ready to prove himself!
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To Be Continued…