Pokemon : Rewind

"It's not that difficult..." Ash muttered as he stepped onto the mountain's summit, stretching his sore limbs. A confident smile graced his face as he glanced back at the climb.

To be honest, the challenge was not as hard as he initially feared. With consistent training and a clear mind, anyone in decent shape could accomplish the climb. 

The mountain's designed route ensured safety while still presenting a test of endurance and will.

Navel Gym's challenges weren't meant to be impossible, but they tested determination and composure.

"That was amazing, Ash!" Misty and Tracey emerged from the cable car station, bundled in thick coats against the summit's freezing temperature.

Ash waved at his friends, giving them a wide grin and a thumbs-up to show he was unscathed. 

Pikachu leaped onto his shoulder, clearly unaffected by the climb. Ash's calm demeanor reassured everyone that the journey had been manageable for him.

A smattering of applause broke the silence as a small crowd of trainers and tourists gathered, impressed by Ash's feat. 

Among the crowd, a tall young man stepped forward. He was the gym leader, Danny.

"Outstanding! A pleasure to meet you. I am Danny, the Navel Gym Leader, representing the Eastern Star of the Southern Cross." 

Standing over 1.8 meters tall, Danny towered above Ash, who was just 1.55 meters at this point in his journey.

"Hello, I'm Ash! And this here is my partner, Pikachu," Ash replied, shaking Danny's hand firmly.

"Of course, I know you. Ash Ketchum, champion of the Indigo Plateau Conference—hailed as the strongest winner in the league's history." 

Danny's smile broadened. He had watched Ash's battles online and admired his tactical prowess. Yet, he knew strength alone wouldn't win this gym challenge.

Danny led Ash and his companions to the second challenge site. Unlike the snowy terrain around it, the area was an open field free of ice. At its center were two small geyser holes, each about half a meter in diameter, emitting light mist.

"This is the second challenge: freeze the geysers and construct an ice boat," Danny explained as boiling water erupted from the holes, shooting up in twin columns of steaming heat.

The rules were simple: within one minute, the challengers needed to freeze the geysers and shape the ice into boats. The geysers only erupted for a minute before ceasing, repeating the cycle periodically.

With Ash already having scored a point by completing the climb, victory in this task would secure his gym badge without needing a tiebreaker.

"Nidoqueen, let's go!" Danny called out, releasing his Pokémon. Despite not being an Ice Type, Nidoqueen was a master of Ice Beam, thanks to Danny's focused training.

Ash nodded, choosing Blastoise for this challenge. "Blastoise, it's your turn!" he declared.

Blastoise stepped forward confidently, roaring low as it assessed its opponent. Its sharp eyes gleamed with determination. 

Over time, its interactions with Ash's powerful team had instilled a certain pride—and perhaps a hint of arrogance. Still, Blastoise remained disciplined under Ash's guidance.

Danny studied Blastoise closely. "That's a powerful Pokémon," he acknowledged, his tone serious. "But this challenge is about more than brute strength."

The crowd fell silent as everyone anticipated the geysers' next eruption. Trainers inexperienced in such high-stakes settings might falter under the pressure of waiting, but Ash remained focused, his eyes locked on the geysers.

When the water columns shot up, Ash was ready. "Blastoise, Ice Beam!" he commanded sharply.

"Nidoqueen, Ice Beam!" Danny echoed.

Both Pokémon reacted instantly, releasing their Ice Beams at nearly the same time. Blastoise's beam reached the geyser first, spreading rapidly over the steaming water. Nidoqueen's beam followed closely, matching its rival's intensity.

"Blastoise, go all out!" Ash instructed, pushing his Pokémon to unleash its full potential.

Blastoise's Ice Beam intensified, growing thicker and freezing the geyser faster than before. Danny quickly urged Nidoqueen to do the same, but it struggled to match Blastoise's raw power and speed.

Danny's eyes widened as he realized the gap between them. "How is this possible?" he muttered, watching as Blastoise gained the upper hand.

The geysers soon transformed into solid ice columns, two meters long and half a meter wide. 

Blastoise, with precise movements, used its strength to cut and stabilize the ice, carefully lowering it to the ground. Nidoqueen followed, completing its task moments later.

"Charizard, you're up next!" Ash said, releasing his fiery partner.

Danny, not one to back down, released both Scyther and Machoke to assist Nidoqueen in shaping the ice into a boat.

"Charizard, follow the model!" Ash pointed to a wooden sign displaying the required shape of the ice boat.

Charizard roared in acknowledgment, assessing the task before unleashing a controlled Flamethrower. 

Its flames carved the ice with precision, melting away excess material to form a sleek, aerodynamic vessel.

On the other side, Danny's Pokémon worked together efficiently. Machoke used its raw strength to shape the ice, while Nidoqueen and Scyther added fine details.

The race to complete the boats was on. Both trainers watched intently as their teams worked tirelessly, the crowd buzzing with anticipation.

Who would finish first?

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