“Hehehe!” I continued to giggle as Blissey was being silly and carrying me around like I was a stray cat as she sauntered out of the Gym without looking back, and then marching to the Pokemon center.
“W-wait up!” Bugsy called out, but Blissey didn’t wait up, and instead, continued on, practically skipping down the street and entering the pokemon center with a triumphant stride. I wasn’t sure what Blissey was doing, but I was totally there for it, because for a moment.
Yeah. Friendship Evolution was really cool, and there was something that had sparked between us. It was more than just a happy feeling. It was something real.
We were friends. Blissey and I. More than just people working together, or her chasing after a weird kid and making sure her pokemon were healthy.
Blissey… Blissey thought of me as a friend.
I giggled some more at the thought and then Blissey stopped.
“Bliss! Blissey!” She cried out to the mostly empty pokemon center.
But the Chansey and Nurse Joy that worked here both jerked as if scolded and suddenly Blissey was surrounded by pink.
“Oh my! Look at you!” Nurse Joy cried out, and Chansey was cheering as well, literally pulling out little paper fans from somewhere and she was dancing and cheering Blissey on like she had just finished first in a race.
It was super cute, especially as I looked up I could see Blissey’s smile bright and happy.
“Congratulations!” Nurse Joy offered first to Blissey, grabbing her fin and shaking it happily, and then leaning down to grab my hand.
“Thanks!” I said and Nurse Joy smiled at my obvious happiness.
“What’s the big deal?” Bugsy finally asked as he had reached the entrance in time to see all of this and was breathing heavily. “I mean, I’ve never heard of a Blissey before, but… Is it that weird?”
“Oh my, yes!” Nurse Joy broke in before I could say anything. “The exact mechanics between evolving into a Blissey aren’t truly understood! Every Blissey is a wonderful addition to the world! They spread happiness and healing wherever they go!” Nurse Joy gushed and I giggled as I noticed Blissey getting a little embarrassed by the all words.
“Blissey is a Friendship Evolution.” I added instantly to Nurse Joy with a big smile. “All you have to do is be Chanseys friend and battle together until your bond grows big and strong and then Bwooom! Blissey is here!” I cheered out and Blissey giggled and patted me on the head, but I realized a moment later, Blissey action wasn’t in agreement but the same emotion Nurse Joy gave me.
A sort of affectionate disbelief.
I looked up and realized Blissey was the same. She didn’t quite understand either.
“Friendship evolution is a thing!” I called waving my arms around but Nurse Joy just giggled and joined Blissey in patting my head.
“Making friends with your Pokemon is very important.” Nurse Joy offered, but it wasn’t really genuine.
I slumped. Fine I’ll just have to prove it!
—--
Considering it was getting late,Bugsy and I jumped once more onto Dragonites back and flew back across the ocean to the mainland. Olivine City was really easy to find as we just followed the boats and ships that were either heading out, or rushing back to the city as the sun drooped low.
That and the large lighthouse that flared bright light into the sea letting us home in on it.
Flying over the port city for a bit we spotted the pokemon center and landed.
Everything was going normally, until we actually entered the Pokemon Center when suddenly Nurse Joy pounced on me. Chansey and Nurse Joy both hit party poppers showering Bugsy and I in confetti.
“Congratulations!”
“Chansey!” They both cheered and I blinked, having been a little startled.
“Wha?”
“Another Blissey has come into the world! How wonderful!” Nurse Joy spoke, hands folded in front of her face and stars practically in her eyes. “Can you let her out?”
“Ahhh, sure?” I offered, confused and did so.
“Blissey!” She greeted the world and then blinked at the new set of Nurse Joy and Chansey that were both staring at her with sparkly eyes
“It’s true! Our sister was telling the truth!”
I laughed at the attention Blissey was getting making her be a little embarrassed.
It seems a Blissey appearing was a big deal, and Nurse Joy back in Cianwood had put out the word to all of her sisters. Nurse Joy explained as we were all bunched up on a couch as she offered us some fancy tea, that was definitely not something normally offered to Pokemon Center trainers.
Bugsy and I were both quietly sipping at the treat as Nurse Joy’s Chansey chattered away at Blissey acting almost starstruck.
It was… Strange. I get that Chansey themselves aren’t the most common right now. And Blissey isn’t an easy evolution to get in a world where they aren’t common battlers, and on top of that, the idea of friendship causing Pokemon to evolve not being understood or accepted…
I watched as Blissey flexed and the corded muscle stretched under her skin and yep.
Blissey was still buff. Maybe even more buff. The Chansey looked shocked and I think there was a bit of envy too.
I was just finishing the tea when I realized…
Blissey would be stronger now than she was before… Would her Gravity be stronger too?
I shuddered a bit.
At least Arcanine would be happy.
—--
The next morning bright and early I walked over to the Olivine City Gym.
Thankfully like Chuck Jasmine the Steel Type Gym Leader was still actually holding matches at her Gym despite it being so close to the end of the cycle.
Walking inside the fancy almost high tech gym, I walked up to the secretary at the front, Bugsy following behind me.
“I’d like to challenge Jasmine!” I greeted smiling and the secretary gave me a smile that told me that wasn’t the first time she’d heard that.
Ten minutes later there I was. Standing across from the girl that wasn’t smiling kindly at me, but was looking at me with judging eyes.
I guess she already knew who I was.
“Victoria. I was wondering when you would come here.”
“Jasmine! Please let me face your strongest team!” I greeted in turn and she nodded, pulling one of her six pokeballs on her hip.
She was already prepared for this.
The referee wasn’t Bugsy this time, and then finally it began.
“Go! Steelix!” She called and I blinked. That was her Ace I think?
Oh well.
“Go! My Blue Heart!” I cheered and threw.
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Opposite the enormous Steelix Gyarados appeared roaring his rage, as he looked on at the pokemon across from him.
“A-a Gyarados!?” Jasmine cried out in shock at his appearance, even taking a step back for a moment before firming her resolve. “I didn’t know you had one!”
“This is his first Johto battle!” I called out in turn. Jasmine and I having a stare down even as Gyarados and Steelix did as well. A moment went between all of us. Steelix was pissed at Gyarados, and my Blue Heart was equally pissed at Steelix.
A rivalry.
Then it was time to begin.
“Steelix! Rock Throw!”
“Get em! Use Aqua Tail!” I called out, Gyarados wasn’t as good at picking moves against different types, but what he could do was get into the fight.
Rocks were launched at him as Steelix swiped its steel tail into the ground and flung them, but my Blue Heart roared in rage as he charged. Water flowing up his tail as he surged across the ground sort of like a snake.
He wasn’t as fast without flying, but Steelix wasn’t exactly a quick pokemon.
The first rock bashed Gyarados in his face and I winced in sympathetic pain, but he ignored it, his roar of rage growing only louder as he plowed through. Smashing his head into Steelix seemingly uncaring about the fact he bashed his head into a chunk of steel as his tail flashed out.
Steelix wasn’t unaffected though, he was pushed back, and roared back in pain, when a moment later the Aqua Tail lifted the Steel type off the ground, bending it over at the force of the blow.
Gyarados wasn’t quite as fully fleshed out as Arcanine. He had gotten the least amount of Gravity training of my main team besides Lucario…
But he was also a Gyarados and Gyarados were good at brutal physical fighting.
“Steelix! Thunder Fang!”
“Gyarados! Lightning Rod!” I demanded and grinned as he couldn’t pull back fast enough to escape the bite, but he didn’t need to.
A moment later the lightning arcing between Steelix’s fangs clamped onto Gyarados, but his tail was covered in Steel Type Energy and a moment later it flowed over him and then down. Instantly I noticed Jasmine figuring out my trick, and I think there was actually a hint of respect in her eyes.
“Now! Waterfall!” I roared out and Gyarados surged, water blew upwards from around where he touched the ground, and slammed into Steelix and it only pushed Gyarados further, as his whole body bent into the blow.
Waterfall was probably his strongest Water Type move after all. Considering how often he had climbed the Waterfall to evolve.
Steelix roared in pain.
“No! Steelix! Don’t let him push you around!” Jasmine yelled out, and the Steel Snake turned and slammed into Gyarados once more with a Thunder Fang.
Considering Gyarados was surging up in water…
I winced as my poor Blue Heart roared in pain, but it swiftly turned to anger. And he slammed an Aqua Tail into Steelix to try and remove him.
I watched as the two snakes curled against each other. Basically failing to properly keep distance, they simply slammed whatever move they could into the other as they rolled and tumbled. The ground shook, the arena quaked. I rushed back grabbing Bugsy and pushing us down as the two rolled past us, crushing the area we had just been in their brutal battle.
But then it happened.
Gyarados had gotten his fangs into Steelix and lifted.
A moment later Steelix hung in Gyarados’s mouth moving to try and escape as Gyarados hefted the incredibly heavy pokemon up.
I watched as light grew.
“STEELIX!” Jasmine shouted, but I had my own orders.
“That’s right! Blue Heart! You’ll win this fight! Here we go! That power is burning hot! Its strength tells you to grasp victory! HYPER BEAM!” I roared out in delight at what was happening.
Much to Bugsy’s shock as I was practically sitting on him, and then everything in the arena went white. A blast of energy erupted from my Lazer Fish, slamming point blank into Steelix that couldn’t escape no matter how hard he tried.
The energy had nowhere to go. Only out, so it slammed into him and sheared off, blasting sideways out of Blue Hearts mouth. The arena suffered, but I didn’t care, because Steelix roared as Gyarados let out everything he had.
Then it grew dark and Gyarados slumped, dropping Steelix who crashed into the arena floor. Then quiet followed.
Gyarados was huffing strongly, obviously exhausted. I winced as I saw that he was injured from his battle. Steelix had definitely left its mark. But I waited.
He deserved a chance to celebrate his victory.
“Steelix is unable to battle!” The referee finally called out a moment later. Gyarados roared to the sky, before turning to me.
“Good job!” I cheered and his roar took on a happy note as he slithered over and pushed himself right into me.
Of course he ended up lifting me off my feet, but that was no problem. Just held onto his face as he delighted in my hug.
“Great job! I knew you could do it! You’re amazing!” I called, words just for him, and that was enough to satisfy my lonely boy..
I was back on my feet soon and I returned him, even as Jasmine, having already returned Steelix sent out another Pokemon. This time a Magneton.
Placing Blue Hearts Pokeball back on my belt, I ran my hand across them to find the next pokemon that Jasmine would face.
“Go! Lucario!”
—--
Jasmine fell to her knees shortly after returning her Skarmory.
Dragonite roared, hands raised up as she proclaimed her victory, not something I’d normally see in her, but that Skarmory had been tough!
That and her Forretress that had hit Dragonite the battle just before with a Gyro Ball. Considering that move got stronger compared to the differences in speed between each pokemon and Dragonite was all about that speed…
It had really knocked Dragonite around, but she had taken that personally, and had decided to crush Jasmine's last pokemon in turn to really push through her dislike of being struck so powerfully.
I walked across the battlefield even as Jasmine continued to stay sunk on her knees.
There was always a bit of empathy in that I hated losing too.
But in order for me to win, I had to make others lose. To overcome the politics, it meant I had to become someone who only won.
Dragonite walked over beside me, our eyes met and I smiled as she was still looking tough and fearsome, but I knew all she wanted to do was get healed up and get pampered by her Hubby.
I nodded to her, and then looked to Jasmine.
“That was an amazing battle!”
“I didn’t… I couldn’t knock out any of your pokemon.” She whispered and I nodded at that. Gyarados was the closest. But Lucario had fought well winning once. She was growing well, and in the end, I had pulled her back because she wouldn’t have managed another victory. Then Arcanine had gotten her turn.
“I returned my pokemon, so it’s not like I’m untouched.” I countered trying to be nice.
She released a scoff that was all air as she looked up, there were tears in her eyes, but there was also a sense of steel in behind the tears.
“I’ve never been beaten so hard before.” She eventually decided and rose up. “It won’t happen again!” She demanded as she towered over me and I felt my own smile grow from my awkward apologetic one to one that was all teeth and fangs.
“Good! Face me again! Get stronger and stronger! Challenge me again and again!” I demanded and the girl stepped back abruptly. Ah! That might have been a bit too much.
I laughed rubbing at the back of my head. “I look forward to facing you again. You really surprised me with some of your moves. Your Skarmory is crazy!”
“You took out Steelix before I could… I heard from Whitney, and so I sent my Ace out first… Usually the others do some prep work to buff him up when I’m doing serious battles… I underestimated you.” She offered and I blinked because that was interesting!
That meant our next battle would be even better!
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a case. When she opened it she looked through it and slowly brought out a Badge.
“The Mineral Badge, is given to trainers that have proven that they have forged their pokemon to Steel… I offer it to you. With a Star to prove you have overcome the Olivine City Gym today, and forever.”
“Thank you.” I offered out taking the badge from her with gentle hands and smiling as I showed it to Dragonite who looked proud, but not interested in it.
I took out my case and popped it open, and I heard her gasp, as I slowly inserted it inside.
She was tall enough that she was looking down and able to see the case.
“Is that?”
“It’s the proof of my journey so far.” I said after a while. I wasn’t sure what else to say, but it seemed to have been enough Jasmine swallowed and then nodded.
“You… Whitney was being a brat.” She decided after a moment with a grumble and a look that wasn’t at me, but at something far away. “You’ve definitely earned my badge. I look forward to seeing this year's Conference.”
“You’ll see me there.” I agreed and that was that.
I turned and Bugsy waved goodbye to Jasmine.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I don’t think Jasmine recognized him either.
Poor Bugsy. He was too new of a Gym Leader that the others didn’t even recognize him outside of his Gym.
I looked over and his eyes weren’t really following me.
Bugsy had the eyes of a boy that wanted a battle.
I smirked and turned away. I’d give him another one, but not now. We needed to rest everyone up. And maybe ride Arcanine to possibly the most dangerous Gym in Johto. Even including the Blackthorn Gym.
Mahogany Town was ruled over by Pryce. Pryce who had been one of the most powerful Johto Trainers for so long he was practically an institution.
He was also in Mahogany Town.
—--
I kept my head on a swivel looking for the one thing I expected I wouldn’t see until it was too late as we entered Mahogany Town.
Ninjas.
Just like Fuchsia was Kanto’s Ninja Town, Mahogany Town was literally called the Hiding Place of Ninjas.
At least I was pretty sure this wasn’t the Manga, and Pryce wasn’t actually an evil big bad.
But he was likely going to be pissed with a Kanto trainer showing up.
“Brrr.” Behind me I noticed Bugsy shivering a bit.
“Shorts are nice, until it suddenly starts snowing.” I reminded him and he nodded. Luckily Arcanine was nice and warm and Bugsy was warming his hands against her fur.
Arcanine on the other hand?
I looked over her head and noticed her tongue sticking out as she kept attacking the snowflakes that flowed past her head.
“Alright, just take us to the Pokemon Center, and we can do some running around.”
“Arc!” She cheered and took off causing Bugsy to yelp as he held onto me tightly to keep from falling off.
Arcanine raced through the sleepy snowy Town, and it didn't’ take us long to find the Pokemon Center and slide inside.
Literally.
“Arcanine!” I scolded her but she didn’t care, having barely slowed for the automatic doors she ended up sliding on the ice purposefully even sitting a bit and letting herself spin around as we all came flying into the center.
“Ow.” Bugsy whispered, but he was okay, and I reached down and helped him up.
“Oh. Welcome?” Nurse Joy called out and then I noticed her eyes widening as she saw me…
This was going to become a thing wasn’t it?
—--
“Okay!” Bugsy offered, returning to the main room now wearing pants and a jacket, where Blissey was happily chatting with Nurse Joy's Chansey as Nurse Joy gushed over Blissey.
I smiled at Blisseys happiness, because she enjoyed the happiness that her presence brought. Even if it was embarrassing her a little.
She hadn’t even had anyone eat her egg yet!
Waving to Bugsy I looked away from those three.
“Great. Arcanine is warming up with some more runs, but I’ll be heading to see Pryce soon.” I told him and he nodded firmly.
“Do you think you’ll win? Pryce isn’t like the others.” Bugsy added and I frowned.
Yeah. Johto had a lot of newbie gym leaders.
Kanto did too after all, but I had already fought the best.
I nodded. “I’ve fought the best Kanto has already too. Even the old guys. Blaine… Was strong. Really strong. I can beat Pryce.” I told him and he nodded slowly, not looking like he quite believed me.
“Is that what you think?” A voice growled out and I looked towards the door. Pryce had just walked in, stalking in the snow coating his boots as he casually knocked off the powder.
I rose up, because there was a reason he was here, and it was me.
“That’s right.” I said, firmly and the old man's scowl grew dark. Real rage covered his face.
This was a man that hated me.
“Then come, I’ll show you the strength of a Glacier.” He demanded and I nodded. Our eyes had met after all.
He turned and instantly came face to snout with a lightly panting Arcanine. Arcanine had been sent out on a run after all, and she returned instantly, she lapped across Pryces face in a greeting and walked right past him. Prancing as she entered the Pokemon Center to look at me.
I felt myself shift into a smile, fighting as my lips wanted to quirk up. The look on Pryce’s face was picture worthy. I bet Blaine would give me real pokedollars for it. But I turned to focus on Arcanine.
“Hey Arcanine. You ready for a battle?” And of course at the ‘B’ word it was all over.
It was time to battle.