As soon as they walked out Danny summoned everyone else. His Pokemon made joyous sounds. Jack tackled him to the ground in a hug. Grant and Dawn snuggled at his sides, and Danny laughed.
"I missed you guys too," he said, trying to get Jack off of him, "Aw, did all of you get bigger?"
Training does that master! You just never notice because you always train us! Scarlet chirped, helping him up by picking everyone up with Psychic. She hugged Dawn and made cooing sounds, Dawn, baby, how I've missed you!
"Snorunt no!" Dawn hugged her back, her little feet kicking the air in excitement, "Snorunt!"
Learned new moves! Sweetie, that's amazing!
"Deer, deerling," Grant said.
"AWWW," Jack cawed, nodding his head.
"You all learned new moves?" Danny asked, turning to Scarlet, "What are they?"
"Deerling, eer, deer, deerling," Grant said.
He learned Leech Seed, Faint Attack and Take Down, Scarlet said, Careful with Take Down master, it has recoil damage.
Danny nodded.
"Archeops," Jack said.
Only Crunch? Scarlet asked.
Jack lifted his wings as if to shrug, "Arch."
"What about you Dawn?" Danny turned to the youngest member of his team, who was still being cradled by Scarlet.
Dawn blushed, "Snorunt, sno!"
More Ice moves! Scarlet cooed, Those are very powerful indeed! Ice Shard and Icy Wind, yes, you'll freeze the competition with those types of moves!
Dawn giggled.
"Jolt!" Sabrina's Jolteon barked.
"He's getting impatient with the reunion," Sabrina grinned, "He wants to battle now," Sabrina looked down at Jolteon, "Patience friend, we're going soon."
"Sorry," Danny began taking out his Pokeballs, "Ready guys?"
His team cheered as they disappeared. The only one out was Scarlet.
She grew up so much master, Scarlet said as Sabrina led them towards the Gym.
"Do you think she'll be old enough to help with this battle?" Danny asked.
"Oh I'm certain," Sabrina answered for Scarlet, "She has the type advantage, and I hear this guy doesn't have very strong Pokemon. I bet your Deerling could beat him." Sabrina paused, "I still wouldn't risk that though."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Danny said as they approached a building with the Gym sign he had become accustomed to, "So, me or you first?"
"JOLT!"
"I'll go first if you want. My boy Jolteon is itching to fight."
Danny looked at the Jolteon, who had begun to jump slightly, as if excited. He bared his fangs in a strange smile. His hair stood on end, becoming needlelike as sparks of electricity crackle through the air.
"Alright then," Danny said.
The approached the entrance, and Danny took a long, hard look at the building, trying to pump himself up. Even after all this time, battling left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Pika pikachu!" A yellow ball of electricity launched itself onto Danny, causing him to stumble backward. Danny felt Scarlet catch him with her powers, keeping him upright until he regained balance.
"P-Pikachu?" Danny gasped.
"Danny!" A familiar voice called from inside the Gym, and Ash ran out to hug his friend.
Sabrina laughed, "I'll be inside Danny. I have the feeling I should leave you guys alone."
Danny barely heard her as he hugged Ash back.
"Wait," Danny pulled away, "where did you go? Why'd you leave me alone in Pinwheel Forest?"
Ash's wide grin fell.
"I didn't leave you," he confessed, "I went after you. I couldn't find you. And," Ash's eyes grew glassy as he looked away, "I gave up. I-I'm sorry."
Danny felt a little tug on his heartstrings as he hugged Ash again.
"Well, I suppose the creep's getting a Gym Badge, huh?" Iris huffed from behind. "Why don't we go now? We were all fine without him!"
The boys broke away, and Danny looked at Iris, disgruntled, "Nice to know that you still care," he snarled.
Iris shuddered but didn't look away, "I just don't trust you. At all."
"You shouldn't say such mean things though," Cilan walked out of the Gym at that moment, "My goodness Iris, what has gotten into you?"
"That FREAK is what's gotten into me!" Iris cried, "It's his eyes, haven't you seen them Cilan!? And the wrongness…"
"I've seen Psychics and others similar to Danny Iris," Cilan said calmly, "You see many different strange people as a Gym Leader. Learn to deal with it."
Iris let out a frustrated noise.
"Well, I've got a Gym Badge to grab," Danny decided to leave now before he did something stupid, "See you guys."
"Wait," Ash grabbed his arm, "Can I come to watch?"
Iris made an exasperated noise and Cilan hushed her. Danny shrugged, "Sure."
Whirlipede, the Curlipede Pokémon and the evolved form of Venipede. Whirlipede can spin its hard-shelled body like a tire to smash into opponents
Ash showed Danny to where the battlefield was, telling him about his own battle with Burgh, almost jumping out of his shoes in excitement. Pikachu darted between them, reenacting what he thought were the best parts. Cilan and Iris followed behind.
They walked into a heated battle between Sabrina's Swoobat and Burgh's Leavanny.
"Swoobat use Gust!" Sabrina commanded as her Swoobat dodged a String Shot.
Swoobat flapped its wings, creating a whirlwind. Dust flew into the air as the opposing Leavanny was swept away.
"Protect yourself!" Burgh called out, and Leavanny lifted up its leaf arms, a glass-like shield appearing. Gust harmlessly passed it by.
"Now Hyper Beam!" Burgh said.
"Leavanny!" Leavanny opened up its mouth, a ball of bright white energy shooting out.
"Fly Swoobat!" Sabrina said.
Swoobat shot up, Hyper Beam missing it completely.
"Again!" Burgh cried as Swoobat descended.
But Swoobat knocked down Leavanny before it could do anything. Swoobat pulled up, watching carefully.
Leavanny fell and didn't get up again.
"Sabrina is the winner!" the referee raised a flag to her.
"That was cool," Danny said as Burgh walked over and presented Sabrina the Badge.
Sabrina glanced over at him and blushed lightly. She quietly put the Badge away.
"Jolt!" Jolteon jumped and down barking, "Jolteon jolt eon!"
"Swoobat, swoo, bat!" Swoobat did a loop-de-loop in the air.
"Spa time, you both earned it," Sabrina said.
"Do you treat everyone to the spa?" Iris asked as Sabrina began to leave.
"Of course. A good pedicure and foot massage are always good for your feet after such intense battles," Sabrina said, "Looks like you could use one to loosen up a bit."
Sabrina laughed as Iris opened and closed her mouth, unsure of what to say.
"Much luck Danny," Sabrina put a hand on his arm lightly, "The spa's just next door if you want to come and celebrate with me after."
"For your win or mine?" Danny asked.
"Both," Sabrina turned and walked out, her Pokemon following her happily.
"Another challenger I presume?" the man Sabrina had been battling asked.
"Yes sir," Danny replied, 'You're the Gym Leader, right?"
He bowed, "Burgh at your service. You'll have to give me a few minutes to heal my Pokemon. Meanwhile, my assistant can show you our waiting room, where you may help yourself to refreshments."
Danny nodded.
This is so exciting master! Scarlet clasped her arms together, My baby will finally have her first battle, and with a Gym Leader too!
"You're really going to let Dawn battle?" Ash asked as they watched Scraggy and Dawn give each other longing hugs.
"Yeah," Danny said, "She's good enough. We think so anyway."
"Scrag!" Scraggy hugged Dawn, rubbing his checks against hers.
"Snorunt," Dawn sighed, "Sno."
"Man, he missed her," Ash commented.
"I didn't realize it," Danny said as Scraggy used Headbutt on Dawn, "Those two really like each other."
Dawn squealed and let out many icy shards. Scraggy shivered, and they hugged again.
"Ready for the battle challenger?" the assistant who had led them here came in.
Danny stood up, "Definitely."
Dawn, I choose you!"
"You can do it, Dawn!" Ash called from the sidelines.
You can do it! Scarlet cheered along with him.
Dawn shook in anticipation, walking onto the field.
"A Snorunt?" The Gym Leader asked, taking out a Pokeball, "I don't think I've actually seen one of those." He tossed it into the air, and Dweeble emerged, "Let's see how this plays out Dewwble
"Icy Wind Dawn!" Danny called out.
Dawn blew out a chilled, sparkly blue snow from her mouth.
"Protect yourself Dweeble!" Burgh called.
A clear glass shield appeared, stopping the wind before it could move any further.
"Try again Dawn!"
"Dweeble, use Protect once more and then use Rock Wrecker!"
Dawn blew as hard as she could. Dweeble threw up his shield, but Protect failed! The icy breeze hit Dweeble, slowing his speed in the process.
Dweeble put its claws together, summoning glowing rocks. It tossed them at Dawn.
Walk it off Dawn, you can do it!
"Snorunt!" Dawn grunted, shaking herself off.
"X-Scissor!" Burgh cried, then addressed Danny, "I won't let something like that slow Dweeble down!"
"Use Avalanche!" Danny told her.
Dawn summoned a dark cloud and it loomed over Dweeble. As Dweeble's claws began going through the motions, a mountain of snow fell atop him, burying him underneath.
The pile shook once. As the cloud disappeared and the snow melted, it revealed that Dweeble had fainted.
"You're stronger than I thought," Burgh said.
"Return Dawn," Danny held out his Pokeball, "You did a good job Dawn, but I think one round is good enough for now," he looked at Scarlet, "I'm sending Jack then you."
Scarlet took Dawn's Pokeball and held it to her chest, Fine by me, my baby needs warming up.
"Are you even listening to me?" Burgh asked Danny as he tossed out Jack.
"I am," Danny replied, "I prefer actions over words though."
"You're a strange one," Burgh said, "Most times people boast about their Pokemon."
"They can speak for themselves," Danny said as Burgh summoned a Whirlipede.
"Whirl!" The Whirlipede spun, its eyes still and looking at its opponents carefully.
"Aww?" Jack cocked his head at this strange rolly-polly like creature.
"Pluck Jack!" Danny said.
Jack charged forward and bit into the Whirlipede, tossing it aside.
"Arrchhh!" Jack slurred as he stumbled backward, face purple.
"Jack! Are you OK?" Danny watched as his Pokemon stumbled.
"It's Whirlipede's Poison Point," Cilan called from the sidelines, "he's been poisoned!"
"You can take it, Jack!" Ash cheered.
Danny cursed, "Jack, use Dragon Breath on it!"
"Solar Beam!" Burgh chuckled as Jack missed his target. A ball of light gathered, and Danny knew that Jack probably wasn't going to survive this battle.
"Try Dragon Breath again!" Danny called.
Jack exhaled the retching Dragon Breath, and yellow lines appeared around Whirlipede, stopping it from using Solar Beam.
"Paralysis!" Cilan cried from the sidelines, "What a lucky break!"
"Wing Attack!"
"Steamroller!"
Jack's wings glowed white as he knocked back Whirlipede. Whirlipede jumped up and spun, tipping its antenna forward. It hit Jack square-on. Jack collapsed to the floor. He tried his best to get back up but finally succumbed to his poisoning.
"Return!" Danny called, "Scarlet, you mind?"
I don't mind sending this one to another level of pain, Scarlet laughed, giving Danny back Dawn's Pokeball, For JACK!
"Flame Burst!"
"Use Steamroller again!"
Scarlet spat out the liquid flame before Whirlipede even ad a chance to begin its momentous spin. It burst into flames.
"WHIIRRLL," it screeched in agony, then fell to its side, looking like a freshly cooked sausage.
"Whirlipede is unable to battle! The round goes to the challenger!"
"I suppose this is our last round," Burgh smiled, "Thank you very much for this inspiration. Leavanny, please, let's end this fabulous battle!"
Gracefully it emerged, taking a bow at Scarlet.
"Leavanny," it greeted Scarlet happily, extending a hand.
How nice to meet you, Scarlet waved but did not move further.
"Flame Burst again," Danny said.
Scarlet killed it in one shot.
"Leavanny can no longer battle, Danny wins!"
Burgh stumbled in surprise, "That's the fastest someone's ever battled me!"
Danny shrugged, "Type Advantages."
Burgh smiled, "That's true." Burgh motioned at what Danny assumed was a camera, "Let's reward this boy. I have to get Whirlepede checked out first," he turned to Danny, "Congratulations on your badge." And with that Burgh jogged out.
A few minutes later, an assistant came forward with a pillow. They held it up for Danny, presenting him with the Insect Badge. Danny took it wordlessly as his Pokemon and Ash cheered.
"Thanks," Danny said, "Come on Scarlet, let's go give you a spa treatment."
Danny noticed Ash following him.
"Wait, Danny," Ash said, grabbing his shoulder, "Even after we talked, are you still mad."
Danny sighed. "No. I just need to think things over. And a foot massage does sound tempting."
"Then let me come with you!" Ash said.
"Really?!" Iris cried out, "We're doing this?"
"Iris, you need to chill," Ash snapped, "And I just won this badge too. I think my Pokemon deserve a little treat too."
"Pika." Pikachu nodded.
"Well, that sounds like an excellent idea!" Cilan said.
"To the spa it is," Danny turned and began leading the way, wondering if he should re-join the party or leave with Sabrina.
How adorable, little Scraggy and Dawn.
So Burgh wasn't as amazing as the other Gym battles because he's so damn easy to beat. But don't worry, things WILL be cracked up in terms of battle. Gym Battles anyway.
Anywhoo, let's see what a day in the spa looks like! Hopefully Danny and Iris actually settle this stupid petty squabbles.
OR WILL THEY? (DUN DUN DUUUNNN)
Leave a review, I'll see you soon guys :D