Hitching a ride on Lapras Austin and Lance headed back to Pallet town to talk to Professor Oak and discuss the location of the final gym. "So what kind of Pokémon do you think he uses?" Lance asked his brother.
"I don't know, but I guess half the fun is finding out." Austin said, "Besides I really don't care what type of Pokémon he uses, I didn't come this far to lose, I'm going to win my eighth badge!" The ride back felt like it took forever, Austin wanted to finish this and go on to the Pokémon League. When they hit shore Austin went straight for the Professor's laboratory. Austin knocked on the door and was greeted by Professor Oak who had much to say.
"Ah Austin great to see you, I'm so proud of your captures." Oak said. "Thanks Professor, but really…" Austin started. "Why it seems like just yesterday I had you leave my lab and you've captured so many different types of Pokémon." The Professor said. "Thanks a lot Professor, but all I wanna know is…" Austin tried to say. "Even Pokémon just recently revived and some thought to only be Legend." Professor Oak said. "Professor, I…" Austin muttered. "It really is…" the Professor tried before Austin yelled out, "PROFESSOR!" This time Austin had Professor Oak's attention.
"All I want to know is where is the last gym?" Austin finally got to say. "Oh that," Oak said, "Well let's take a look here." The Professor said looking over Austin's badges. "Boulder, Cascade, Thunder, Rainbow, Marsh, Soul, Volcano," he thought one moment and then simply said, "it's in Viridian city." Austin's excitement was now replaced with annoyance, "You mean I went all that way for a gym that was only a 20 minute walk from here?!"
Professor Oak laughed, "Yes, it certainly seems that way, I mean it's kind of funny when you think about it." Austin looked as though he'd been smacked with a baseball bat while Lance chuckled next to him. "Well then," Austin said perking back up, "I think it's time I took off for Viridian city again!"
Not staying for a very long visit Austin headed back to Viridian city, Lance by his side. Walking down the road Austin remembered so much, the first time he met Charmander, walking don that same road to pick up Professor Oak's parcel, trekking through the Viridian forest. The nostalgia was great; it only psyched him up more for the up coming match. "Lance does this path bring you any memories?" Austin asked his brother. "Yeah I guess," Lance said, "I really wasn't thinking about it, I'm just kind of bored." Austin laughed a bit, his brother wasn't one to keep interest on such things, he more thought of the here and now.
Austin reached Viridian city in about 30 minutes, a little longer than he expected, he got a little side tracked literally walking down memory lane. It was late in the day and the gym was more than likely closed so Austin was just going to stay the night at the Pokémon Center and go first thing in the morning. Although it wasn't late, Lance said he was bored and Austin still had an urge to battle. "Hey Lance, I figure since the gym is closed, wanna have an exhibition match?" This caught Lance's attention. "I thought you'd never ask!"
The two stood outside and had the agreement, three Pokémon a piece, Lance had the advantage, Austin hadn't really seen how Lance's Pokémon fought yet. "Starmie, let's go!" Lance's first Pokémon was Starmie; Austin had only seen this one on the way to Cinnibar Island. "Okay, how about Hitmonlee!" Austin decided to use his Hitmonlee; it hadn't seen a battle for a while. "Starmie, use swift!" Starmie fired a shower of star-shaped rays from its center jewel. "Hitmonlee dodge it and come back with a Jump kick!" Hitmonlee dodged the attack and landed a powerful kick on Starmie. It closed its eyes, proud of the strong kick it landed, but was blind sided by the swift attack hitting it in the back. "What happened?!" Austin called out. "Yea, it's a fun little thing about swift," Lance said, "it's homing, you can't dodge it if you're within range!"
"Very nice little brother, I see why they let you start young, but Hitmonlee's still standing, Hitmonlee, rolling kick!" Hitmonlee did a quick spin and brought its foot down of top of Starmie. "Don't take that Starmie, use Ice Beam!" Starmie fired an ice beam from its top star point at Hitmonlee, "Hitmonlee, use Mega Kick!" Hitmonlee kicked right through the Ice leaving Lance stunned, "I know a few tricks myself, Ice is weak against fighting types, Hitmonlee, do another Mega Kick and land this one on Starmie!" Hitmonlee sent a powerful kick into Starmie, sending it sliding, it hit a wall, Austin thought it was done for. "Recover." Lance muttered, Starmie began glowing and stood up again, recover restored its strength. "Finish this with Bubblebeam!" Starmie fired a powerful stream of bubbles at Hitmonlee, "Hitmonlee, dodge it now!" It didn't matter, Hitmonlee was fatigued, it was struck by the attack and fainted, round one was Lance's.
"Alright, we did it, great job Starmie!" Lance congratulated his Pokémon as he called it back into his Pokéball. Austin called back Hitmonlee, "Thank you Hitmonlee, you did great," Austin said, "Lance, I still have two Pokémon, Charmander go!" Austin's second Pokémon would be his mainstay Charmander. Lance nodded, "Or maybe this'll be it, Growlithe, let's go!" Fire type vs. Fire type, it made for an odd match up, but could be interesting. "Growlithe, tackle!" Growlithe lunged at Charmander, "Dodge it and use Slash!" Charmander swiped at Growlithe with its sharp claws, "Growlithe, look out!" Growlithe was able to jump out of the way. "Growlithe, use Ember!" Growlithe spat small flames at Charmander. Austin chuckled at this, "Flamethrower." Charmander spat a flamethrower attack at Growlithe, engulfing the ember attack as well as well as Growlithe; the intense heat knocked Growlithe out.
"Lance, I've been training with Charmander since I started, you just caught Growlithe, experience won that fight." Lance was a bit annoyed by that comment, but it was true. "Alright fine, I'll go all out, Venasaur, let's go!" Lance called out Venasaur and was ready for round three. "Alright fine!" Austin called out, realizing only one Pokémon he had could fight with Venasaur, and he got a stunned look on his face. "Hey Lance, I'm not feeling well all of a sudden, I forfeit, you win." Austin said. "What, that's not a real win!" Lance shouted, he wanted to prove himself, but Austin was evidently done for the day.
The next day came; Austin went to the gym ready for his final gym match before facing the Pokémon league. He walked in and registered for a match. He walked in to the battle arena, and what he saw shocked him more than anything before.
