“Drag, Dragonite.” Dragonite complained at me.
“I know, I know! I couldn’t help it!” I mumbled as we flew over the ocean. Under the morning sun.
I hadn’t intended to stay so late, but the stories were fun, and the atmosphere was great, and then it was late, and I was invited to stay the night, and well…
The food was really good.
Matthews' wife Hanna knew how to cook. Like really knew how to cook.
Now it was morning and there had been breakfast as well…
In other words we made a late start and Dragonite was teasing me. “C’mon let’s fly off that meal, find Cinnabar Island and set up a match!”
“Draaag!” She called out and burst into an even speed. All I had to do was hold onto my hat. And enjoy the ride.
Very soon after smoke rose out of the horizon and there it was.
A small volcanic island.
Cinnabar Island.
“Drag!”
“Yeah! That’s it!” I laughed as we circled around the island from the sky checking it out. Almost all of it was jungle, and it made me wonder what Pokemon hung around the green island, but there was also a small little section of the island that was the town.
“Let’s land outside of town! Don’t want to cause a big fuss!” I called out and Dragonite nodded. We circled closer but ended up needing to land in the jungle itself.
The beaches were entirely covered in people for a long way down.
“Jeez what’s with all the people?” I wondered and then as I reached the town I remembered.
“Ooooh. Cinnabar is a tourist trap. Right.” I muttered. The streets were covered in shops. People hawking goods, and lots of tourists in bathing suits wandering around laughing in the sun.
Pfft. Why would they come here? They could just get a flying pokemon and go to any beach in the world?
People are so weird.
As I clomped into the town I started looking around. Now where was the gym… Oh right. I walked past the broken down old Gym. Blaine was working out of the volcano for whatever reason.
As I looked around I stopped because…
I knew that orange and green outfit.
“Brock?”
“Huh? Oh hey! Vicky!” Brock greeted me, and there was Ash, and Misty.
“Huh! You! I want a rematch! Right no-”
“Ash, we are here for the gym remember!” Misty snapped at Ash and he backpedaled but I just laughed instead.
“I’ll be happy to fight you Ash, but I’m looking for Blaine's Gym as well. At least the real one, and not this old thing.”
“Oh? You know the Gym resting on your nose is just heat haze?” A voice spoke up and we all turned. Long wig, dark glasses, and a sort of… Hippy? Was that a thing in the pokemon world? Drugs and stuff? I actually didn’t know…
I’d be careful.
But regardless I knew this man. From the anime, and since Koga had warned me to come here. It’s not like I hadn’t seen pictures of the former champion before Lance before. Well…
Pictures without the wig anyways.
“Oh hey Blaine.” I greeted hand raised casually, and the old man jerked and looked around to make sure no one else had heard.
“Ah. The former Champion, master of the flame is-”
“Right in front of me. Koga mentioned your secret Gym, but that I would need to gather information on it… It’s in the volcano. Isn’t it?” I asked and the man literally sputtered in denial before his shoulders fell.
“How did you know?”
“You’re a fire type specialist…” I said trailing off and just rolling my hand a bit in a circle as if that should explain everything.
It totally did too. Of course his secret gym was in the volcano. I understood Pokemon trainers pretty well.
Most of them were absolutely crazy. Live in caves, as Rock specialists. Or practically be born for water. I side eyed Misty. It would be like hearing of a secret water type gym and not immediately checking the rivers nearby.
Obvious to anyone. Also I had seen the anime.
“Wait… This is the Gym leader! I’m Ash Ketchum! I-”
“Hold on kid. Just hold on.” Blaine offered with a sigh “I’ll deal with you in a minute?” He asked me, and I nodded with a thumbs up.
“Very well. Ash Ketchum. I don’t accept challenges from just anyone anymore. Not after this town was ruined by fools more interested in trinket trash than Pokemon. Normally I offer some riddles and see if someone can earn their place, but that didn’t quite work out.” He glanced to me.
“What!? But!” Ash started whining but I actually interrupted.
“That’s not entirely fair, that means this is my mistake, not his… Ash is… a little unfocused, but he’s good with Pokemon. He’s worth giving the challenge too… But if you aren’t sure. How about we give it some time? I’m not really in a rush. So how about I hold off until you decide if you want to give Ash a try? I’ll uh… Stake my chance on it!” I said nodding.
While Ash was a shit at times in the first season. He was a good trainer. And deserved a fight. Besides. He and his Charizard needed this. It was one of the times they worked together!
And I wanted to fight that Charizard when it was actually working with its trainer someday. It was a powerhouse.
Heh. I guess I was getting that trainer competitiveness as well!
“Wha! No! Vicky don’t do that! Ash is a moron!” Misty screeched, and Ash turned to glare at her, from where he was looking at me, looking thankful, and a little embarrassed.
Brock looked concerned too, but didn’t say anything.
“Heh. That’s something I haven’t seen before… Alright. Here.” He reached into his pocket and gave me a tissue packet.
“The Riddle Inn.”
“That’s right. I run an Inn on the island in my spare time. There aren’t any openings for lodging anywhere else on the island. I only invite trainers that I think have a chance. Stay the night tonight. We’ll see.”
“Thank you Champion Blaine.” I said the last part quietly bowing.
“Former Champion.”
“Wait what!?” Ash asked shocked at the reveal, but as expected Brock and Misty probably actually paid attention to school… Or the news… Or just, anything besides pokemon. Even stuff directly related to Pokemon…
Or remembered Pokemon he had seen before…
Okay Ash was not the smartest cookie, but he had good instincts.
They both knew who Blaine was and gave him a bow as well.
“You’re embarrassing me. I’m just a gym leader now. Prove to me you are worthy of a challenge young man. I look forward to it.”
“W-wait. How do I do that? Do I need to battle someone? Bu-He’s just walking away.” Ash whined and I laughed, ignoring him to offer a hand to Togepi who seemed delighted at the attention and grabbed onto my finger before shaking it up and down.
How cute!
“This is Togepi.”
“Yeah I know. Very cute. She’ll be a strong one once she evolves. Her Metronome giving you trouble?” I asked, as the little one played with my finger and I smiled brightly at her, which she returned. What a little cutie!
“Wait! You know about Togepi!? How? Even Professor Cerise doesn’t know anything!” Misty demanded and I looked up to her.
“I know lots about Pokemon!” I said, smiling. “She looks like she is doing great. Just be her friend, and she’ll evolve eventually.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Misty seemed confused at my words, although Brock had heard me too, even ignoring Ash’s pacing that was filled with muttering as he nibbled at his thumb.
He was trying to think of a way to impress Blaine…
It wasn’t going well.
“But I asked how did you know?” She asked, but I just ignored her looking to Brock.
“You look good Brock! How’s the journey been?”
“Heh. It’s been an adventure. I wouldn’t change it for the world though.” He offered and I smiled at that. “How about you? Catch any new Pokemon?”
“Well you know about… Oh! Yes! My Big Blue Heart! Oh gosh Do you want to meet him? He’s the sweetest baby!” I said delighted practically bouncing.
“Wait! Challenge me! If I beat you Blaine will accept my challenge for sure!”
“Ash you idiot.”
“I don’t think that’ll work Ash.” Brock added, but I shrugged.
“I don’t think we’ll figure out what Blaine wants today, but rather than just stand around doing nothing some training battles sounds fun! How about we find someplace and go to it?”
“Yeah!” Ash cheered seemingly perfectly happy now that he had a pokemon battle to experience. What a funny guy.
“But uh.. That could be hard. The jungle is pretty dense, and people are everywhere on the beaches.”
“There has to be some place to have a Pokemon battle on the island!” He decided and started… well running around looking.
On foot.
I mean, sure his Charizard doesn’t listen to him, at least I think it doesn’t. Some things were different after all, but like…
You have a flying type Pokemon Ash.
“For a Pokemon trainer he kinda forgets he’s a pokemon trainer sometimes huh?” I asked his companions and both sighed, chin dropping to their chests.
Yep.
—--
We eventually found an out of the way area that was either a pokemon lot or a tennis court.
“Ash Ketchum! I Victoria Ferrous accept your challenge!” I called out, earning a smirk from the boy as we faced each other.
“Well get ready to lose!”
“How many pokemon?”
“I have six Pokemon!” He said, sounding proud, and I just nodded.
“Well I only have five. But that’s fine. Let’s do six on five.”
“What!? I-I don’t need a handicap!”
“Yes you do.”
“You do.” Brock and Misty both chimed in and Ash turned on them but I cut him off.
“It’s fine. It’s an advantage yes, but you caught more Pokemon. So you have more pokemon for battle. It’s a good thing, an advantage you earned.”
“Heh! That’s right! I’m the better trainer with six Pokemon!”
“Ash…” Brock muttered in irritation. But I just looked to him and smiled and he nodded.
“Six on five battle. Trainers ready? Begin!”
I threw, and Ash called out.
“Go Pidgeotto!”
My ball released and Arcanine took the stage.
“Sorry, if I don’t start with her, she gets… Moody.” I answered, but no one really heard Brock Misty and Ash were all reacting. Despite having seen her before Brock was examining her with his eyes, Misty was sighing at her fur, and Ash.
“What was that Pokemon again?” He muttered having pulled out a paper pokedex and was going through it…
“Ash! That’s an Arcanine!” Misty yelled at him.
“She’s a fire type!” I called out to inform him of the obvious and he looked up in surprise and flashed me a thankful smile.
“Right! In that case. Pidgeotto use Gust!”
“Go.” I called, and my lack of attack seemed to confuse Ash until Arcanine just disappeared, and when Pidgeotto stopped to try and find her she turned around to find Arcanines drooly mouth right there.
The bird screeched in shock and fear.
“Let her go Arcanine!” I called out before the battle was just outright over. This was training.
A much droolier Pidgeotto fled into the sky a few moments later, feathers far more rumpled and looking very unhappy.
“Pidgeotto! Use Quick Attack!”
“Ash! That Arcanine moves too fast for that!” Brock called out, and he was right. I didn’t have to say anything. Extreme Speed kept Arcanine well out of reach of Pidgeotto. Even if the bird was pretty fast.
“Sand attack!”
“Shield.” I called out, and Arcanine burst into flame. Flame Wheel was an attack that covered the pokemon in flame and then they tackled their enemy.
Arcanine was just doing the first part. It was my version of counter shield for Arcanine. At least the prototype for it. The problem was, my pokemon really were better at physical attacks than special, but something like this was a special attack for sure.
It still worked.
The sand blasted forward but hit the thermal strength of the fire and despite flickering it held and kept the sand off Arcanine.
“Wha!?”
“As one trainer to another. That was Flame Wheel. It’s normally an attack move, but I trained Arcanine to use it as a shield against some moves that are tricky to deal with. The flame is strong enough to stop some things from getting through.”
“Whoa.” Misty called out. “Ash! Be careful! Vicky knows what she’s doing!”
“So do I!” He snapped, growing frustrated. Hmm. Ash did need coaching at times, but that wasn’t really useful Misty. All you did was make his hackles rise up. I was getting a little annoyed at the two. Brock wasn’t too bad, but Misty kept kinda interrupting the fight with her comments, and most weren’t really useful.
I sighed. Nothing I could do to change it now.
“Pidgeotto! Fly high and Gust!”
“Go.”
I called out, and Arcanine burst into motion again, Pidgeotto flew higher, but she could only get so high before her gust failed.
And there were walls and fences around us.
With four bounds to reach the highest edge Arcanine leapt and once more snatched the bird out of the sky.
She once more screeched, this time more in outrage at the treatment.
Arcanine spat her out once they were on the ground.
Then her tail started wagging as slobber sloughed off the poor bird.
This was cruel, but… Well both trainer and Pokemon could use some experience. Pidgeotto should be doing gust on the move. Or quick attacking to get around or something.
Too slow.
Way way too slow for a Pokemon that is supposed to be one of the speedsters of Kanto.
“Pidgeotto! Ugh! Return! You did great girl, that was just a bad matchup. Alright, Let’s go Squirtle!” He yelled, and I already knew how this would go.
“Evade.” I called out and Arcanine nodded. We were on a wavelength. No need for me to say more.
“Squirtle Water Gun!”
“Squirt! Squirtl!” The little turtle called out, and I knew I would be asked to cuddle him after. Soooo cute! Oh my Arceus!
The water blasted out, and Arcanine moved, almost casually showing off how little danger she was in. Oh Arcanine was kinda taunting the poor guy.
She sidestepped, leapt, flipped fully sideways laned and ducked. Every stream of water missing completely and she made it look easy.
“Squirtle! Ugh! Hold still!”
“Ash. Have I called out an attack at all this battle?” I called out to him, and he looked at me like I was crazy.
“What?”
“Have I called out a move name?” I repeated the question more urgently.
“No? That’s the problem!”
“Exactly. Ash. Every time you call out the attack, you are telling your opponent what is about to happen.”
“They do it at the matches all the time!”
“Ash, that's usually the commentators! The trainers don’t do that!” I said to him. “Watch! I’ll show you. Arcanine! Tackle attack!”
“Wha?” The confusion from the trainer didn’t stop Squirtle from leaping to the side and hiding in the shell. Saving him from Arcanine who had risen up on her hind legs and slammed into where Squirtle used to be.
“Arcanine! Tackle attack!”
“Squirtle dodge!”
“Arcanine! Tackle attack!”
“Squirtle dodge!”
“Arcanine! Tackle attack!”
“Squirtle dodge!”
“Arcanine! Tackle attack!”
“Squirtle dodge!”
“Get it yet!?” I demanded and Ash looked confused.
“Arcanine! Go!” And she did another slow tackle attack, but without knowing what exactly was coming Squirtle tried to read Arcanine for too long, and instead got his shell stomped on.
I didn’t say anything, and even with Ash yelling to dodge. Squirtle was really confused.
Stomp.
Stomp.
Stomp.
“Okay.” I called Arcanine off. And Squirtle popped out of his shell looking a little exhausted and shaky, but he was on his feet a few moments later.
“Rrrrr! You shouldn’t make fun of me!”
“I’m not! This is something that I had drilled into my head while battling too! You just haven’t run into anyone willing to do it for you yet.” I side eyed Brock but he shrugged.
“I explained it a few times but…”
I nodded. Ash was stubborn.
“Fine Squirtle! Attack!” Ash called out and instead of doing that Squirtle turned and looked at him.
I couldn’t see the turtles face, but I could guess.
‘What the hell does that mean!?’
“You have to train for that Ash!” I called out, interrupting the poor boy's uncomfortable stare off with the pokemon. “Okay! I think I got my point across with that one. I’m gonna come at you again! So ready up!... Arcanine! Go!”
“Squirtle Water gun all around you!”
“Squirt!” The water type confirmed returning to his shell and a burst of water shot out and then spun him around.
That wasn’t going to really stop Arcanine, but it was smarter than trying more Water Guns normally. So I’ll approve!
Arcanine came down and grabbed Squirtles shell in its mouth having leapt over the water and just snatched it right up.
Arcanine used shake. It vibrated the air…
I think it’s pretty effective.
Squirtle was dropped and sort of oozed out of his shell, eyes swirled.
That’s gotta be dizzying.
“Return!” Ash called and looked pretty upset.
Yeah. Sorry buddy.
“Fine! Pikachu!”
“Oh alright. Arcanine. Go!” I called out, and this time I was more serious. Pikachu wasn’t at the top of his game right now, but his special power was still remarkable.
“Thunder bolt!”
The charge up was a bit too long. The aiming was longer as Pikachu closed his eyes while charging it up. Curling in and then flinging it out aiming at where Arcanine had been.
It missed entirely. I wanted to say something about that too, but…
No. That was something Ash and Pikachu needed to discover on their own.
Arcanine tackled Pikachu from behind, bowling over the mouse as it gave its little cry of pain.
“Pikachu no! Buddy!?” Ash called out and then slowly Pikachu rose up looking dirty and scuffed.
Arcanine hadn’t hit him that hard, but this wasn’t champion Pikachu. This Pikachu was still chubby, without the lean athleticism that he would gain in the future.
“Piiiika!” Pikachu tried again, as it regained its feet, but again the attack went wide as Arcanine moved before Pikachu had even aimed it.
The second tackle was enough to cause the poor mouse to slump.
Ash rushed in and gathered his buddy up checking him over. I just waited.
“It’s okay Pikachu. Just rest.” Ash whispered and headed back. Misty quickly hurried over and gathered up the mouse letting ash focus.
“Alright. It’s all on you! Charizard!” Ash roared and I gasped in delight.
A Charizard! Amazing! So cool!
“Chaaaaaar!” He roared, sending out a flame from his mouth as he released into the air, but then he instantly sort of slumped and puffing out air and not looking very interested in a fight.
Arcanine, despite buzzing for a battle, waited, and so did I.
“Charizard! Flamethrower!” Ash called, but nothing happened.
Yeah. That’s what I was afraid of.
There was a moment where we all just kinda waited. Wind blew, and a little dust swirl blew over the court.
“Charizard!” Ash whined, pleading with the Pokemon, but Charizard seemingly was taking enjoyment in ignoring his trainer.
“Ash.” Brock moaned face palming, and I could see the eagerness in Arcanine drooping along with her tail.
Damn. Arcanine just got combat blocked. I was gonna need to set up some spars with her or something or she would hound me.
Heh.
I shook off the pun and was about to speak when a voice cut in.
“Hey! You kids! This isn’t a battle stadium! I’m calling Officer Jenny! Don’t you move!”
“Shit! Cheese it!” I decided, jumping onto Arcanine and my words caused a panic from the others. Ash returned Charizard and booked it along with Misty and Brock and all of us ran off.
—---
“So… Why did… we run again?” Misty asked, gasping for air.
“Eh, mostly because it seemed more fun than sticking around.” I admitted and got a glare from the girl at that.
But Ash was quiet holding Pikachu which was being looked over by Chansey and glaring at the ground.
Yeah.
“How about we split up for a while? Meet up at the Riddle Inn tonight?” I asked the group. I could just go do my own thing for a while. I really wanted to dive into the ocean around the island, and explore the jungle!
“Aw. Oh sure. I wanted to see your Milotic.” Misty grumbled, and I just laughed.
“Well if you want to come with, I’m fine with it. I wouldn’t mind going scuba diving to see what Pokemon are in the ocean around here.”
“Oh! That would be so fun!” Misty called out looking delighted, she turned to the boys and noticed that Brock looked a bit iffy about it, but Ash was off in his own mind.
“You go Misty. We’ll meet up tonight. I’ll stick with Ash. We can do some guy stuff.” Brock offered smiling, and Misty’s smile was bright as she nodded. “Oh… Brock will you?”
“Sure. I’ll take care of Togepi. I don’t think she’ll like diving too much.” He laughed and then Misty handed over her baby and I nodded patting Arcanine.
“C’mon we can ride back to town, find some diving business or something. Unless you have gear?” I asked, and Misty shook her head.
“Not on me. That would be perfect.”
The redhead climbed on the back of Arcanine who easily took our weight and we were off leaving Ash and Brock in the small alley we had hidden in.
Glad I got out of there. Ash was kinda… Difficult to deal with.