As the giant rock snake was released into the field, Rick smirked. "I'm pretty sure it will." He muttered. The shimmer in Iris' coat started flowing towards her horn and gathering into a small light ball, as the mare pointed it at Onyx. Brock however didn't seem concerned. In fact, he was smirking as well.
"Use Solar-" Rick was issuing a command when he was interrupted by Brock. "Onyx, return!" The gym leader called, returning the snake back to its ball and quickly throwing another one already in hand, releasing Geodude. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me. This changes everything." Rick muttered. "I see you came prepared. But I saw that Solar Beam coming as soon as that Rapidash stepped into this arena." Brock commended, although Rick didn't seem very pleased about it. He was saving it for Onyx, and now he had the wrong target. "Hm... you have a good eye. Normaly she has some stored at all times for when we need it indoors." Rick told.
"You know, besides a gym leader I'm also a pokémon breeder, so spoting these small details are second nature to me." Brock explained. Iris had the concentrated energy ready to shoot, but with the unexpected switch, she was holding the attack until further notice from her trainer... assuming she would be able to hold it long enough. "So, Rick? Without a natural source, I'm afraid you can only use it once, and your Rapidash doesn't seem to be able to hold it much longer. The question now is: how you're gonna use it? No matter your choice, we're ready for it." Brock questioned.
"Well, I have one question for you." Rick said. "Hmm? What is it?" Brock asked. "Do you have insurance for damage caused by the pokémon's attacks to the gym?" Rick asked. Brock scratched the back of his head, kinda confused as to the reason of such seemingly random question. "Uh... well, of course we do. This is an Official League Gym." Brock confirmed. "Okay, cool! So use Solar Beam at the ceiling!" Rick shouted, pointing up. Before Brock could say anything about it, a bright beam of light was fired from Iris' horn, opening a big breach on the rocky ceiling, and consequently causing some debris to fall on Geodude, although the pokémon got barely phased by them.
Brock was staring up with open mouth before Liam intervened. "Hey! If you're really trying to prove you're not a Rocket, you're doing a terrible job if you think destroying property is the way to go!" Liam rebuked. "In my defense, I did ask before doing it." Rick replied with eyes closed and arms crossed. The young trainer grited teeth and groaned in annoyance. "Well, I do hope this is part of some strategy of yours that justifies it... and a good one." Brock stated. "In your current situation, adding another wrongdoing certainly won't help your case, if the rumours hold true." He added. Rick quickly replied. "We're still fighting, right?"
Brock nodded. "Sure! Let's get to what's important! Use Rollout!" Brock commanded, punching the air. "That move again?" Rick muttered. Geodude curled into a ball and dropped to the floor before it started spinning towards Iris, who waited with legs splayed for the Rock-type to approach. The Geodude seemed to be more skilled using it than Liam's Sandshrew, though. It was going into a zig-zag pattern rather than a straight line. Iris reared up and proceeded to stomp on the opponent. However, her hooves only hit dirt as the Geodude veered.
"Low Kick!" Rick called. Iris sweeps one of her hind legs, hitting the Rock-type as it was about to hit that same limb and causing the Geodude to fly up, which Brock took advantage of. "Now use Brick Break!" He ordered. The Geodude uncurled with an arm raised, and using the downward momentum, he tried to strike down on the mare's back. With no time for a counter-attack, Iris dashed forward, avoiding Geodude's attack, which struck the ground. Brock gasped briefly before he issued another command. "Rock Throw, quick!". The Geodude picked up some chunks of rock resultant from his Brick Break and threw them at Iris. The mare reared and struck both rocks with her front hooves, shattering them.
At this point, Brock paused for a bit. "She's barely receiving any commands, and still..." He thought. "Hey, is there any problem? You were going pretty hard just now." Rick called, snapping the gym leader out of his thoughts. "Not at all! Let's see if you can get out of this one. Double Team!" Brock ordered to his pokémon. Geodude started making several illusory copies of itself. Holding hands, these formed into a circle surrounding Iris, before they started spinning around her. The mare released a heat wave from her body, breaking all the illusions and revealing the real Geodude behind her. Brock raised an arm covering his face. "High Horsepower!" Rick shouted. Iris stood on her front legs and pulled back her hinds before delivering a forceful kick to the Rock-type, sending it flying towards Brock. "Watch out!" Rick shouted a warning call at Brock, who ducked as his Geodude passed over his head and ended against the gym leader's stone pedestal.
"Hmm... I honestly didn't expect you to have an issue against Geodude." Brock commented, as he returned his fainted pokémon to its ball.
"Your pokémon seems very capable on its own without instructions." Brock stated. "When you spend so much time in wild areas, too much stuff can happen too quickly to wait for a command, so your pokémon learn how to adapt and act independently when needed. And after many years of field training, she became pretty good at it." Rick explained. "Of course, she will follow my instructions regardless. I just don't have to be constantly telling her what to do while I'm thinking on our next move." He added.
Brock scratched his chin. "So you have a different method of training. I actualy like that!" The gym leader smiled, grasping a second pokéball and pointing it at Rick. "Well, let's see if those skills you've aquired on the field will pay off at the end. Onyx, lets go!" He said, tossing the ball and releasing a giant rock snake onto the field. "The real battle starts now, Rick. Come at me with everything you've got." Brock said, before grasping his shirt and vest and throwing them away. "Because I'm not holding anything back!" The gym leader exclaimed, crossing his arms in front of his chest as Onyx let out a roar towards Rick and Iris.