The next morning, after a good breakfast, we were walking around in the city, well, walking around lost in the city. Oh great...
"Is it this way?" I asked Aldor, there was so many corners, they were all starting to look the same.
"Uh, no," Aldor squinted at a map he was carrying- which was doing us no good.
"Ugh, I have to get to the Gym, Nurse Rose said it was in the park, now we just have to get there," I searched among the thousands of signs to see any that could possibly lead us to the park. The noises around me were hurting my ears and it was getting hard to concentrate, this was worst than getting lost in a forest. Eye-shine was trembling on my shoulder, this must be new to it as well.
"Maybe if we go this way, it will lead us to the park," Aldor pointed to the right.
"Are you sure?" I asked him uncertainly.
"I think?" His answer didn't assure me at all but it was all we had to go on.
"Oh, this is just great! You led us to a highway!" The cars buzzed past us noisily, that I'm even sure if my words got to him.
"I swear, it's around here!" He shouted back at me. A car suddenly honked as it zoomed by, scaring both of us. But Eye-shine was terrified, it yelped in surprise before jumping off of my shoulder and took flight in the opposite direction of the highway.
"Eye-shine!" I called after it and tried to run after it but the dozens of busy people blocked my way.
Eye-shine flapped frantically, dodging past signs and people. It screeched as it skidded to a halt in front of a giant human head advertising the latest fancy iPod, the image scared it and it flew away from it as fast as it could. With its heart pounding frantically in its chest, it had to get out of there. It suddenly screeched as it flew right into a sign on a building. Dazed, it slid to the ground, crumpled from the impact. A man then accidentally stepped on its tail, making it screech in pain. Frantically, it ran in place to try to get away from him, only running into a signpost when he lifted his foot. It wobbled into the street, dazed, not sure if down was up or up was down. Cars suddenly honked, startling it back into reality, only to be running frantically from the cars afterward. Car exhaust made it cough and it burned its eyes. Panting fearfully, it took flight, barely dodging the cars as they zoomed past it. Then the wind harshly blew, making it flip head over wing as the wind carried it abruptly upwards. It screeched helplessly, feeling a little bit sick from the ride. Then the wind suddenly stopped and Eye-shine fell towards the ground unexpectedly, landing in a park trash can. Seeing stars, it wobbled out, accidentally falling on its head. Head ringing, it wobbled drunkenly towards a bench, though it was hard to tell what it was from all of the spinning. Painfully, it banged its head on the leg of the wooden bench, making it shake its head to knock some senses back into it.
"Hello?" A female voice called out. Scared, it scurried under the bench, shivering with fear. On the bench was a young girl, about twenty, with honey blonde hair. She had red headphones on and music softly sounded from them. Her light grey eyes had a shyness to them, but at the same time, they looked kind. She wore a sort of light fern green vest that extended to her waist and had a little pouch wrapped around her waist, under it was a lighter blue-green shirt that had short sleeves and a sort of cheerleader skirt that came below her thigh. She had light brown stocking boots that was just below her knees and had no heels to them. She was very stylish, and very pretty.
She bent down to look under her bench, seeing a Terror curled scaredly under it. "Hm, a Stoker Class, not as interesting as Sharp Class, but it's still cute." She just commented. "Are you lost, little guy?" She asked it. She got up from her bench and knelt down, facing the Terrible Terror from the shadow of the bench. Slowly, she reached her hand down, it shriveled back in fright. "Now, now, don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Come on," she smiled sweetly. Slowly, Eye-shine crept out of its hiding place. When the girl was able to reach it, she picked up the dragon and cradled it in her arms. To the Terror, she smelled like sweet honey.
"Are you lost?" She asked softly. It growled quietly, still a little scared. She chuckled understandingly, "I know what it's like to get spooked by the city, but you'll get used to it." She smiled again as she petted the Terror while with the other hand, she moved her headphones so that they were around her neck. "Are you feeling better now?" She asked it. It chortled back happily.
"Eye-shine!" A familiar voice sounded, though a little out of breath. Eye-shine called back, roaring with happiness as it jumped into my arms. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay!" I hugged my dragon, "But don't ever do that again!" I warned it, it growled an apology.
"So, I take it that that Terrible Terror is yours?" A girl asked me.
"Yes, thank you," I was relieved. Aldor then came huffing towards me. "Now you show up, slope poke!" I teased.
"Hey, I had to take the long way in order to get through the crowd! Show some sympathy!" He growled back.
"Aldor?" The girl asked.
"Sage?" He looked at the girl with recognition.
"How long had it been? It feels like ages since I last saw you!" The girl walked up to him and hugged him tightly before letting go.
"Yeah, it has been along time, it's good to see you!" Aldor smiled.
"Uh, excuse me if I interrupt your reunion, but who is she?" I asked hotly, crossing while Eye-shine was perched on my shoulder.
"Oh, sorry, Ashley," Aldor chuckled, "this is Sage Azura, she was a friend of mine when she was in my town." Aldor gestured to her.
"Pleasure to meet you," she stuck out her hand, intending me to shake it. I didn't want too, but it wouldn't be polite if I refused, so I shaked it anyway.
"Sage, this is Ashley Aldez, I'm currently traveling with her," Aldor gestured towards me.
"Isn't that right, where are ya'll heading?" She asked sweetly.
"Well, we're searching for the Clear Glass Gym," I answered before Aldor could.
"The Gym? So you dare to challenge it?" She asked with a hint of a laugh.
"Got a problem with that?" I growled at her.
"Well, maybe," she shrugged simply, "since you are talking to the Gym Leader," she giggled. Shocked, I immediately wished I hadn't growled at her. "But since you are a friend of Aldor's, then I'll let this slide just this once. But I have to do something before I do any battling," she winked at me. "If you would, come with me," she beckoned us as she walked towards the center of the park. Grumbling, I followed her with Eye-shine on my shoulder.
"Be nice to her, will ya?" Aldor told me when she wasn't in hearing distance.
"Where did you know her from?" I asked him.
"Well, I've known her in my home town before she started her own journey. She told me about her travels whenever she visited, but I guess she decided to become a Gym Leader." Aldor chuckled. "Believe it or not, she's actually very shy. She only opens up to only a few people. My guess is that's why she became a Gym Leader in the first place. To help her with her shyness. But she's a fierce battler, I promise you that," he winked. Me and Eye-shine looked at eachother with uncertainty before we shrugged it off.
"Well, here we are!" She led us to a large glass building with a red target sign with three jagged scratch marks swiping decoratively across it. Different targets meant different things, for instance, a target with battle scratches is a Gym symbol. Two palm trees were bent over in front of the entrance, their leaves swaying softly in the wind, they were there to give the building a decorative look. She walked inside, with us following, and led us downstairs. "This is where I take care of my dragons." She said.
"I thought Gym Leaders weren't suppose to reveal their dragons," I told her.
"Well, that depends," she smiled. She's just full of mysteries, isn't she? "This is the stable," she stopped at a wooden door with a push in handle. As she opened the door, warm light shined in, the smell of wood and dragon wafted through the air strongly.
Inside, there was four large box corridors, one was bigger than the other three, with wooden doors blocking their way, much like a stall. Four stalls were on either side of us, most of them had names imprinted on them. Ax, Iris, and Valentine. I stared at a stall door with a fancy written "Ax" on it in gold letters.
"Who's "Ax"?" I asked before a sudden head leapt at me, startling me and making me fall backwards. The axe like head gurgled laughingly, smiling a toothy dragon smile.
"Well, that's Ax, always been the one to joke around, haven't you, boy," Sage scratched her dragon's head happily. The dragon's eyes lolled with happiness.
"What kind of dragon is it? I've never heard of a dragon with an axe-like head." The dragon purred as I got up and brushed off my jeans.
"Well, I'm surprised, Ax is sort of not from this region, let me show you what I mean." Sage then opened the stall, letting the dragon slowly walk out, or, crawl out?
"It has six legs!" I almost panicked.
"Heh, yeah, it's a Hackatoo and it's part of the Sharp Class. Its head can actually chop down trees, so you can imagine how sharp it is." Sage smiled.
"Uh, huh, and what about the color?" The dragon had a pink and yellow color. Very bright, and very spotted, like it was a bright colored leopard or something.
"It's species is usually a brown color, but once in awhile, you'll find an Exotic dragon with these kinds of bright colors." She explained.
"It's like your Nadder, very rare and very unusual but Exoctic's are more common to knowledge. There are only certain places you can find them, and if you can catch them, they'll be your best and strongest friend." Aldor told me.
"Where can you find Exotic's?" I asked them.
"Mostly in the Rosana Region, a place where you have to travel by boat." Sage said. "But she's not the only one from the Rosana Region." Sage went to another stall with the name "Iris" on it. Upon opening it, something whooshed into the air, nearly knocking all of us over from the draft.
"What was that?" I braced myself.
"Iris sit!" Sage suddenly commanded and a dragon suddenly appeared, obeying its trainer by sitting in front of her. Remembering my dragon-dext, I grabbed it from my pocket and pointed it at it.
"No data," the male electronic voice said.
"How can that be?" I started to push some buttons to see it was broken.
"Because your dext is only registered for the Livid Region, meaning it can only scan dragons that are native to this region." Sage explained. I then looked at the beautiful purple and blue dragon, it had a long tail with leaf like back-spines. Playful eyes illuminated the dragons face, it was certainly a peculiar dragon. It had an overbite and had stubby spikes on the side of its face. "This is Iris, she's a Scuttleclaw, and Scuttleclaws are known for their boundless energy," she giggled as Iris nudged her. "And also, another Sharp Class dragon."
"Two Sharp Class dragon, that means you're a Sharp Class Gym Leader, right?" I asked her.
"That's right, you're catching on!" She smiled. "The next one is in the biggest stall," she walked to another stall that was, indeed, a little bigger than the others. "Valentine, come on out!" She swung the door open. There was a grumble inside before a head shyly slithered out of the darkness. It had a long nasal horn as well as a horn under its chin. Its snout was long with sharp teeth that rowed its overbite and it had shy yellow eyes. As it got out, I realised how long it was, its neck looked longer than the body minus the tail. Its back spines were long and they looked sharper than knives. It was a bipedal dragon but it looked like it could walk on all four legs. The color was also very interesting, it had a silver grey color with yellow outlined circles neatly rowing the side of its neck all the way down to the side of its tail. Each varying in size until they started to get smaller at the tail. There were tints of blue on the back of its neck and all the way down to its back too.
"Oh, wow, a Windstriker," Aldor marveled at the dragon. The dragon bowed its head shyly as he walk up to it.
"Careful, it's shy, but it will not hesitate to attack." Sage warned and Aldor respectively back off. "Valentine, like me, doesn't like to be around people much. I found her when she was just a hatchling and we became the best of friends. She was also my starter dragon. I started my journey with her, and she's always been at my side." She scratched the dragon's neck then she suddenly laughed humorously. "Oh, boy, the trouble it was training her. But I wouldn't give up on her and she wouldn't give up on me."
All three very strong looking dragons. All of them Sharp Class, not going to be easy since I only have three dragon and one of them is a Stoker Class. I thought.
"Hey, Ashley, did I hear you right when you said you wanted to challenge me?" She suddenly got a strange spark in her, she was pumped up even though the battle hasn't started yet.
"You bet! I'm ready when you are!" I balled my fist, I'm going to have to give it my all, no matter what.
"Then let's go, let's see what you're made of." She said that almost daringly.
Finally, I was here, the battlefield. It was a normal dirt battlefield with the same markings as the battlefield at the Dragon Center. Above us, was a glass roof with light shining brightly down from it and there were five rows of stands, where Aldor is going to sit. "Are you sure you are ready? You haven't even trained your dragons to help them become stronger," Aldor warned me. "Do you even have a plan?" He asked me.
"Well, not really," I cracked a nervous smile. He facepalmed himself before shaking his head.
"Good luck, you'll need it," he said with contempt, shaking his head subtly, he walked towards the stands and settled himself down on the third row to get a good view.
"You ready, Ashley?" Sage called from her spot on the battlefield, which was the left. I was in my spot on the right.
"You bet!" I balled my fist at her. "I'm going to win no matter what!" My determination was burning, now I just have to prove it.
"I like your spirit! Charles, call it!" She called to a red headed referee. He had two flags, on his right was a red flag, on the left was a green flag.
"The battle between the Gym Leader Sage and Ashley Aldez of Poffalo Town will now begin! Each trainer will have the use of three dragons, furthermore, only the challenger is allowed to substitute dragons. Choose your dragon!" The referee waved his red and green flags.
"Now, Ax, let's win this!" She threw her draco-ball into the air to let out her Hackatoo. The Hackatoo growled, showing a different side than his previous happy personality from before.
"So, Ax is up, alright. Eye-shine, I choose you!" Eye-shine immediately jumped onto the battlefield. It glared at the Hackatoo, raising its wings to look as big as possible.
"A Stoker Class, are you sure?" Sage was skeptical.
"Of course, just you wait!" I was confident, but I wasn't sure how long it will last.
"Okay," she said still not convinced.
"Both trainers ready?!" The referee raised his flags, he didn't need to be told the answer, our expressions alone told him that we were born ready. "BEGIN!" He brought down the flags, now it was on.
"Alright, Ax, use leer!" Sage suddenly reacted. Ax suddenly raised itself on its two back legs, the other four legs held outward while it glared at Eye-shine, making Eye-shine cower in fear.
"What's leer?" I asked myself.
"Leer is a status move that lower opponent's defense, be careful Ashley," Aldor warned.
It won't matter if we don't take a hit. This might get tricky.
"Alright, flamethrower, go!" I commanded. Eye-shine reacted, taking flight before unleashing a massive fireball.
"Dodge it!" Sage reacted, then, just like it was at the speed of light, Ax moved.
"So fast," I growled, speed always gives you the upper hand because you can attack first or evade an attack. "We'll have to boost our speed too, Eye-shine, agility!" I commanded, Eye-shine screeched as it took flight as started to move faster too, heading straight for Ax in a zigzag motion.
"Perfect, grab it with wrap!" Sage commanded. Ax suddenly lashed his tail around and grabbed Eye-shine out of the air and coiled it around Eye-shine like a snake coiling around its prey.
"Eye-shine!" This isn't good.
"What are you going to do now?" Sage challenge. "No dragon has been able to escape from Ax's wrap." Sage boasted.
Gotta think, what can I do? Wait, I remember, it'll work but I'm not sure if it will be successful. I just have to trust in my dragon.
"Eye-shine, use flamethrower and hurry!" I commanded. Eye-shine was start to squeal as it struggled against the tightening wrap, soon, it will be out of the battle. "Come on, Eye-shine, you can do it!" I encouraged it. Fiery determination filled its eyes, it won't give up, not now. Taking the last of its breath, it inhaled before its mouth started to light up. Then, out from its mouth, a bright fireball blasted its way through, hitting the Hackatoo in the face. Startled, Ax shook his head to get the bright flames out of his eyes while simultaneously letting go of Eye-shine.
Grateful to be out of the clutches of the dragon, Eye-shine took its place on its side of the battlefield. But I could tell it was feeling it, it was panting.
"Hmph, using flamethrower to distract Ax? Hm, I guess it makes sense when Terrible Terror's don't really have that much power. A flamethrower from it won't even scratch my dragon." Sage boasted.
"Eye-shine, you okay?" I asked it. It looked back at me with pride in its eyes, balling its tiny paw into a fist. It's still ready to battle. Alright, flamethrower won't touch it, it's too speedy and that wrap... what can I do? Maybe I can switch? No, not yet. I have faith in my dragon. I have to keep going. "Alright, Eye-shine, we're just going to have to roll the dice." I told it, it responded by giving a short affirmative growl. There's gotta be a weakness, every dragon has one. Very softly, I told my dragon, "Fly around, confuse it, until I can find an opening." Upon request, my dragon took flight, flying around the Hackatoo in a large circle.
"What are you up too?" Sage wondered to herself as she watched the tiny dragon circle around hers. We better stop it before they do what they want to do. "Let's finish this, Ax, use guillotine!" She commanded.
"Ashley! If it hits, Eye-shine will be out of the battle," Aldor was starting to panic.
"Don't let it hit, keep flying!" I shouted at Eye-shine hurriedly. If it hits, it's over.
At lightning speed, Ax took flight and caught up to Eye-shine, it growled as it prepared to lash Eye-shine with its sharp snout.
"Eye-shine, roll then move up!" I commanded. Eye-shine reacted, it rolled to the right, making Ax miss, then it started to immediately head upwards in a strained motion.
"Follow it!" Sage commanded. Ax moved upwards after Eye-shine, that was when I saw it its underbelly through the many legs, it wasn't completely armoured, that was its weak point. But with all of the legs, it wasn't going to be easy.
"Got it! Eye-shine, dive down, and meet it head on!" But Eye-shine knew what I was going for, we were in sync to the max.
Eye-shine did a slow backward flip that angled it towards Ax as it dived down.
"Fine, let's get it over with," Sage shrugged before she smiled. "Now, flamethrower!" She finally said. Ax suddenly opened its mouth and a large fireball raced towards Eye-shine.
"I don't think so, now Eye-shine!" I shouted, I gritted my teeth.
With determination lighting its eyes, it dodged to the left before coming back around under Ax. "Now use your flamethrower!" I pumped my fist into the air excitedly as Eye-shine unleashed its fiery attack at the stomach of the Hackatoo. The Hackatoo screeched in pain, its flight faltering "Another flamethrower!" I couldn't see it through the flames, but I knew that Eye-shine heard me as more flames consumed Ax.
"Ax, get out of there!" Sage shouted horrified. Ax suddenly started to fall, it was quite high in the sky, so when it hits the ground...
Ax suddenly crashed into the ground with a bang, flames finally dispersed, leaving only smoke covering the field. Eye-shine took its place on the ground as it waited for something to happen. The smoke finally cleared. Showing a Hackatoo not moving except for the slight rise and fall of its chest.
"Ax is unable to battle! The Terrible Terror wins this round!" The referee pointed a flag towards me.
"YES! WE DID IT, EYE-SHINE!" I jumped with joy before Eye-shine jumped into my arms making me laugh as it nudged my face.
"I guess big things come in small packages, not bad for a beginner trainer." Sage sighed. "But you still got to win two more battles to win my badge. And I don't give my badges up that easily." Sage then returned her dragon. "Good job, Ax, you gave your all, now take a good rest." She put the draco-ball away. "Alright, Iris, let's win this! Come on out!" She tossed another draco-ball into the air. Her Scuttleclaw came out, I could sense its bursting energy and determination to win.
"We still have far to go, let's do it!" I pumped my fist. Eye-shine jumped back into the battlefield, snarling with hints of challenge in it.
"Battle BEGIN!" The referee waved the flags.
Will Ashley win her first Gym badge? Or will the tables turn? Read the next chapter to find out.
THIS IS A CREDIT NOTE- Sage Azura was given to me by a friend who supported me when the story was just starting out. So, I decided to thank that person by using this character in the story. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful and interesting character to work with!