Chapter 21: The Second Badge.
My eyes fluttered open, but it felt like there was some weight on them. My head hurts and my eyes were burning a little. I rubbed my eyes softly. Eevee slept on the bed beside me.
I don't really remember what happened last night. I felt like I just went straight to bed in my hotel room and locked myself in. I wanted to be left alone. I restrained a sigh. It was going to be a hassle to act normal around everyone after just pushing everyone away. And my head hurts.
I didn't even know what time it was. For all I knew it could've been 3:00 A.M.
Eevee yawned beside me and said," Good morning."
"Good morning." I said plainly.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Eevee.
"Yeah, I think." I said. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Let me check." Said Eevee. I could feel her move around on the bed. "8:13."
"Alright." I yawned. "We may as well get up, I wonder if everyone else is awake already?"
"Bet you they're awake."
I moved around a little and felt my clothes. "Shoot I slept in my clothes. "
"Well it can't be helped." Said Eevee. "You never bought Pajamas anyway."
"Right," I said scratching my hair. "I'm going to go take a shower. "
I went ahead and took a shower afterwards I ironed my pants and also my hoodie . It seemed impossible because I couldn't see the wrinkles. But I felt the wrinkles and patted them down. Then using the Iron I would steam the area and rub it for a while. Eevee would chime in from time to time to tell me the wrinkle was gone.
I put on my goggles and made my way down the stairs. I didn't want to take the elevator for fear of the Wizards waiting for me at the bottom. Once I made my way downstairs I followed the sweet smell of syrup and pancakes to the dining hall where I found everyone else.
"Over here sleepyhead!" said Cell.
I followed the sound of his voice and made it to their table.
"Good morning," said Cell as if nothing happened.
"Good Morning." I said. "Good Morning Latios."
Latios spoke in my head, 'Good morning'
It seemed Cell already had a set of pancakes, bathed in syrup, on his plate. Latios also sat with a set of pancakes.
"What do you want waffles or pancakes?" asked Cell.
"Three Waffles." I said.
"Alright," said Cell. "Waiter three waffles! And syrup!"
We had our breakfast and walked outside the building.
"So now what?" I asked Cell.
"Well we find the gym leader and you beat him. Oh yeah, I should warn you this fight isn't going to be easy. Especially if you can't swim." Warned Cell.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well… Let's just say that the gym leader's on this continent will use terrain to their advantage and they'll set up their own buildings as an advantage against you." Said Cell. "And I'm talking about the trainer in this matter."
"I can't swim…" I said quietly.
"Oh…" said Cell.
"Well… who knows. Maybe since this is the second gym leader it won't be that bad." Said Cell.
The three of us walked off towards the gym.
"What is this!?" I said angrily.
The automatic door was open before me, spraying steam into my face. It revealed a large room, with a floor made of a layer of hot boiling spring water. I could hear people, or Pokemon, splashing around in the water around the room. I was already getting dizzy already from the heat already. I took off my hoodie and tied it around my waist.
"Well good luck." Said Cell, with a shrug.
"This room is warm," said Latios comfortably in my head.
"How do I even 'get' to the other side?!" I asked, slightly irritated.
Suddenly I heard someone walking across the hot spring pool. I heard the person's feet touch solid ground.
"Oh. Well maybe I was wrong." I said poking the water with my finger. "Hot!" I pulled my finger out of the water. This time I dipped my arm into the water and pulled it out immediately. Turns out the water reached up to my elbow.
"Still this is pretty messed up." I muttered to myself.
"Could you people close the door?" asked the person that was walking on the solid platform submerged in the water.
"Oh sorry." I said, "May I speak to the gym leader, this place desperately needs a renovation."
"No it doesn't, and anyway yeah, what do you want?" he asked.
"I want a battle." I said.
I couldn't get a grasp of what he looked like since he was walking around in the water. It didn't help my hearing all that much.
"You're blind?" he asked.
"Yeah." I sighed.
He nodded and said," Alright get in. Oh yeah take off your shoes and leave them outside. Roll up your pants, and careful the water is hot."
"Can I take out my Pokemon here, to get them used to the heat?" I asked.
"Sure but they'll get exhausted from the heat." he said.
"You have a point." I said. "But I think it'll be a disadvantage since probably nobody on my team, myself included has ever fought in heat like this."
He shrugged and said," Well whatever pleases you."
I took out Scyther and Zorua.
"What's going on here sir?" asked Scyther. Scyther tried to pull me into a hug but I ducked and backed away.
"It's burning hot. What's with all the water?" asked Zorua.
"You two, this is the gym leader we're facing. You guys may want to get used to the heat we're fighting in."
"It can't be that hot." Said Zorua. He poked the water, and immediately pulled his hand out saying," I'm getting a sudden chill." He faked a cough and laid on the ground playing dead. "I think I got a fever."
"Looks like a certain someone can't take the heat." Said Scyther. He poked the water with his foot nervously. "Lukewarm, someone turn up the heat."
"Scyther, no." I said simply.
"Can you talk to Pokemon?" he asked.
"What no, I just feel like he said something like, lukewarm turn up the heat. I mean look at his facial expression."
"He does look unsatisfied. Maybe I should go and turn up the temperature."
"Please no!"
"Alright, if you say so." He said. "Anyway let's get this battle on the road."
I took off my shoes. And picked up Zorua and put him on my shoulder for the time being. I took out Eevee.
"Eevee, we're going to fight in this hot spring." I said. "The heat is pretty unbearable. I plan on taking you out last so you won't be worn out by the heat."
"Alright, I'll be weary of getting thrown into boiling water." She said.
I nodded and put her back in her ball.
"You're definitely talking to Pokemon," said the gym leader beside me.
"Well Pokemon have emotions too. Some people say that they can't understand our language. I think they can." I said with a soft smile. "Now c'mon. Wake up, Zorua, before I dump you into the water."
"Someday I'll get you for this." He said.
I stood up and Zorua flew off my shoulder. He stared up at me.
"Well, let's get going." I said.
"Fine!" said Zorua walking into the water. He threw himself into the water and said," Hot hot hot!"
After a second he calmed down and said," Actually this is alright. Hey don't you need Eevee too?"
"She's going to come out only if you and scyther are having a hard time. Besides Mr-" I said, not remembering his name.
"Aqua. Just call me aqua." Said the gym leader.
" ." I said with a smile.
"There is something fishy going on here." He muttered to himself. His aura was normal. Not bad, not good, just normal. I'd trust Cell over him if some something happened.
I looked at the water and sighed. Not like I can do anything else. I jumped in. An instant jolt of heat ran up my legs. It felt like the skin on my legs were peeling. I couldn't even figure out which one of my legs to bring out the water first, making it look like I was dodging invisible bullets aimed at my feet.
"You alright?" asked Aqua.
"Perhaps you should just get out," suggested Scyther.
"Hah, now you know how I feel," commented Zorua.
After a few seconds I started to be able to bear the heat and calmed down. The heat almost became soothing.
"Alright, lead us." I said.
"Just be careful around the edges, you might fall into the deep section." Warned Aqua.
"What happens if my pokemon fall into the 'deep' section." I asked.
"I am the water-type gym leader, so there are strong currents around that area, if they're not a seasoned swimmer you just might be in for some trouble. You can always lend a hand if your Pokemon can't really swim."
We walked around for a few seconds, and reached the far end of the building.
"Let us start the battle." Said Aqua.
"Wait in the water?" I asked in shock.
"Where else?" asked Aqua.
"But isn't this unfair?" I asked.
"This is what makes the gym leader's in this region so unique. We always, always, have an advantage. I can even do this!" he clapped his hands loudly and suddenly water started to pour down on all of us like rain.
"Hot spring, with rain?" I asked, covering my head from the burning heat.
"I can't begin to explain how unfair this is," said Zorua.
"Sir I suggest we train a little more before we fight him." Said Scyther.
"The other gym leaders are worse!" Aqua said. "Think of this as training."
"Well you heard what he said," I said. "Let's show him what we got."
"Go! Staryu!" shouted the gym leader throwing a Pokeball into the water. The area exploded releasing a staryu onto the field.
I covered my face as the water splashed over me.
"Zorua, start the game off if you will." I said, irritated by the humidity and water.
"Your wish is my command master Yoshi," Zorua said, sarcastically moving closer to the staryu.
"Let the battle begin," said the gym leader.
"Zorua, Fury Swipes!" I said, unsure of what the Staryu was going to do.
"Right!" shouted Zorua, half swimming to the Staryu.
"Staryu, Bubble beam!" shouted the gym leader.
Zorua immediately sunk into the water and ducked beneath the bubbles. But when he resurfaced the Staryu had also sunk. Most people would've been fazed by this. But I wasn't.
I could hear the Staryu as I focused.
"Zorua, 6' o clock." I said, without breaking out of focus.
"Get him, with swift!" shouted the gym leader.
Zorua jumped to the side as I said," Fury Swipes!"
But he was once again too late. He couldn't move properly in the water due to his height and the Staryu was simply fast.
"What do I do?" he asked.
"Come back!" I said. I took out my Pokeball and made him return. I looked to my left and said," Scyther. Can you finish the job?"
"It'll be a cakewalk sir." Said Scyther walking onto the flooded field. He was taller so the water shouldn't be much of a problem. Especially since he could fly.
The Staryu resurfaced as the gym leader said," Swift!"
"Dodge them and use Fury Cutter," I shouted. Scyther wove from side to side avoiding the stars. But then he messed up, probably due to the water, and he got hit. He turned around to block the stars with his back. He fell backward and said," Help?"
"Block them with substitute!" I shouted. Suddenly Scyther stopped moving and sat there. He suddenly appeared behind Staryu and hit it with a fury cutter.
The Staryu was knocked back into the water as Scyther's disappeared again.
"I wasn't expecting a person that can use substitute." Said Aqua. I could hear him replace the Staryu with someone else.
"Go Vaporeon!" said Aqua.
I felt a little regret in fighting another Eevee. Eevee's were a personal favorite and fighting Eevee's brother was a little bad.
"Vaporeon go invisible." Shouted the gym leader.
And Vaporeon was possibly the most hard to fight and catch in a match.
"Scyther just listen to me. Don't trust your eyes, trust mine and maybe your sense of feel." I said.
"Sir that's sounding bad." Said Scyther.
"I know, trust my ears." I said.
Scyther sighed. He closed his eyes and shook his head around as if he could almost see the Vaporeon. I could hear it, and feel it, where the water shook and where the water created ripples. Though it was invisible, it was not gone. It swam smoothly through the water like a submarine. It moved quickly encircling Scyther who seemed nervous judging by his aura. I was slightly surprised the Vaporeon couldn't hide its aura though. But the pattern of swift and calm movements stopped when suddenly it stopped.
"Scyther 5 o clock." I said, my eyes still closed, my skin ready to receive and my ears ready to hear.
Scyther spin and threw himself into the water hitting the Vaporeon back with a fury cutter.
"Got him!" announced Scyther.
"Ouch, you jerk!" said Vaporeon.
"Boil him scald!" shouted Aqua.
"Scyther, dodge it!" I shouted. Boiling, steaming water flew out of Vaporeon's mouth like an uncontrollable geyser, making it nearly impossible to dodge.
"Impossible!" he shouted, he was flushed out and was pinned to a wall due to the pressure.
"Scyther, get out!" I shouted. Putting him back in the pokeball. The Vaporeon huffed proudly after stopping his geyser. I reached my hand out to touch the rain. It was already hot and of course this would be enough to simulate weather properties. Scyther is pretty messed up so I will only call on him for emergencies. I felt my other two Pokeballs. A Zorua and an Eevee. Eevee to lower the health. Zorua to take it out with a sucker punch. Then go straight to Starmie. Eevee's moves are limited too. Using Secret power in this area will not help either.
"What's wrong?" asked Aqua.
Dig won't work, Eevee will drown. Her already slow speed will take a hit in here. I can force a switch with yawn.
"Go Eevee!" I shouted putting her into the field.
"Ahh," she hissed. "Hot!"
"Sorry bear with the heat." I said.
Her feet barely touched the bottom of the water.
After a few seconds she announced," I'm good. What do you want me to do?"
"Eevee, yawn. I want your brother Vaporeon out of here." I said.
She looked around clearly confused like a person that had fallen into the water alone, off a boat in the middle of a sea with no way of getting back up. "Where?"
I closed my eyes.
"Vaporeon, Scald!" shouted Aqua.
"Not this time, Eevee, Secret Power then dodge the move!"
A geyser of water shot out of the water surface. Eevee created a circle of water in the air and she fired at the geyser.
It stalled it for just a second, fighting the force of the geyser. Eevee swam away and swam closer to the source of the geyser. Then released a yawn.
Suddenly Vaporeon yawned stopping the geyser and Aqua said," Shoot!"
Aqua switched out the Vaporeon for the Starmie.
"Eevee Return!" I shouted. She tackled the Starmie back into the water. "Get him Eevee!'
She dove into the water and slammed Starmie out of the water and to Aqua's side.
"Return Starmie!" said Aqua with a sigh.
"Let's run this through." I encouraged Eevee.
Aqua put his Vaporeon back on the field.
"Scald!" shouted Aqua.
A geyser of water fired from Vaporeon's mouth.
"Secret power!" I shouted. "And get out of the way!"
The water before her floated and spun in a circle pushing the geyser back for just a second, long enough for Eevee to get out of place.
"Yawn!" I shouted at Eevee.
She yawned once and the Vaporeon stopped the geyser to join her.
"It's my loss." Said Aqua in defeat. He put Vaporeon back and walked over to me. I was surprised that he quit so easily. He lead me out of the gym, where Latios and Cell were waiting. He handed me the badge and went back inside like nothing happened.
{Setsuna-Damius: The name's exoventure now.
Exoventure: Ahem! Umm… Hey fans… And new people? It's been a while. I've started this story the beginning of Freshman year, and now? It's senior year. I was busy. I made a few more chapters after I quit. And then I looked at the reviews and the amount of people still viewing this story. And I had to admit I wanted to continue this. I mean it's halfway done, it's not that big of a push to finish it. I guess. I hope. I mean I'm enjoying picking this back up again. Sorry once more for taking so darn long. Well expect a few more chapters in the next few days. And I'm going to apologize in advance. I wrote up to a cliffhanger area and I didn't continue it. So I have to take time to write a new chapter. As I do this I'm going to rework a few of the old chapters. And maybe the Mc's name. I don't know the name Yoshi is just. I dunno. And ontop of that it's my name. The only reason I chose it was because Yoshi is Japanese and ran well with the origin of Roukou. And it's common. So I thought it worked. But as I read my own name in here. I feel pretty. Wierd. Well in any case! Happy new years!)