The Lost Chronicles of Giovanni

by Rocketlord6485

When an ambitious young man takes his first steps into a world of wonder and mystery, he quickly discovers there is no turning back upon crossing the villainous likes of a terrorist organization bent on overthrowing the Pokémon League and controlling the world. Vol. I of the Giovanni Chronicles. NOTE: this was my first story, so please try and bear through grammar/spelling errors.

37. Chapter 37: Blaze of Glory

The Lost Chronicles of Giovanni – Chapter 37: Blaze of Glory

Blaine stood patiently on his Gym Arena floor, waiting for the arrival of Giovanni; one of his challengers of the day. He was exhausted from events that had proceeded the day before. Luckily the Volcano had not truly erupted. Unfortunately Torino managed to get their scheming hands on the innocent legendary Moltres. What would become of the mythical bird, who could know for sure?

But nothing could be done at the time. Today's focus was on the Gym Battle that Giovanni desperately urged for.

"There you are!", Exclaimed Gio's voice from behind. "It took us forever to find this Gym."

Blaine turned and laughed. "Thats a shame. Finding it will be far trickier in the future."

Delia then appeared behind Gio, holding Faith. "How do you figure?"

"I've decided to move the Gym.", Blaine sighed. "These constant tourists have been so bothersome. I prefer to reside somewhere far more peaceful."

"Where?", Gio asked.

Blaine grinned. "My lips are sealed."

"Oh c'mon, just tell us!", Gio moaned. "I wont tell anyone!"

"I'll give you a hint.", Blaine whispered. "The eruptive reward of the seventh obstacle."

Gio looked at him bewildered. "What is this? Some kind of riddle?"

"Possibly.", Blaine teased. "Or perhaps its the most obvious of answers."

"Mreow?", Meowth questioned with curiosity.

"Tell me about it." Gio rolled his eyes. "Forget it. Lets just battle."

…...

On the battlefield, Gio and Blaine took their stances across from each other.

Delia cautiously approached Gio. "Do you know what Pokemon you're going to use?"

"Well Nodorina isn't an option anymore.", Gio explained. "I transferred her back to Oak's lab earlier this morning. I couldn't carry more then six Pokemon."

"Thats right.", Delia remembered. "You should have transferred Kangaskhan instead."

Gio shook his head. "Kangaskhan is close to a breakthrough. Remember that move I taught it this morning? This battle is just what we need."

"Well in that case, surprise me." Delia and Faith then rushed to the sidelines as the Gym Referee appeared.

The referee waved his arms. "This is an official Gym Battle between the Leader Blaine and the challenger, Giovanni. You will each use three Pokemon. Only the challenger may make substitutions. Let the battle begin!"

Blaine hurled his Pokeball into battle. "Fine then riddle me this!"

Rhyhorn appeared. "Grhyyy!"

"So much for a fire-type specialist.", Gio mumbled.

But Blaine had heard. "I don't see much difference. Both Rock and Fire Type Pokemon are weak against water. I assume you're original plan was to summon a water type so no issue to be involved here."

"True.", Gio grumbled. He then called upon his own Pokeball. "Cloyster, I choose you!"

Cloyster appeared. "Cloooooyster!"

Blaine examined Gio's choice. "A wise choice of Pokemon, but at the same time very risky."

Gio became annoyed. "We'll just see about that! Cloyster, Water Pulse now!"

The shellfish Pokemon glided towards the still Rock horn beast, readying to shoot a blast of water from its mouth. Seconds later, the blast came a full speed.

"Rhyhorn, Protect!"

The hydro pulse attempt was useless, simply splashing upon the defensive Rhyhorn with no affect.

"Now Rhyhorn, use thunderbolt!"

Gio eyes widened. "What?"

"Grhyyy!", The beast unleashed a powerful blow of electricity from its horn, directed at Cloyster.

"Uhhh! . . . Cloyster, quick! Barrier!"

A psychic sphere like shield suddenly surrounded Cloyster in a bubble of defense. The electric attack became completely absorbed.

Gio chuckled. "How do ya like that?"

"Cunning.", Blaine remarked. "But how much can the barrier really withstand?"

"Do you're worst!", Gio antagonized.

Delia grew concerned. "Umm, Gio I don't thinks its smart to risk Cloy-"

It was too late. Blaine was already back in the game. "Rhyhorn, thunderbolt again!"

Several more times, the thunderbolt struck. Though Delia couldn't help but notice Cloyster weakening as its barrier began to shrink and shatter. "Umm Gio I think-"

"That should be just enough.", Blaine interrupted. "Rhyhorn use thunder attack!"

Unlike thunderbolt, thunder was far more devastating. A blast of voltifying energy filled the battlefield resulting in a massive explosion.

Gio opened his eyes once the smoke subsided to find Cloyster laying fainted upon the Gym floor. Rhyhorn, however, was still in its prime thanks to its immunity to electrical attacks. Gio angrily stood up, and called back Cloyster.

From the sidelines, Delia stood with her mouth dropped in disbelief. "That was . . . so quick."

"Pi . . .", Faith whimpered nervously.

Gio closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his frustration.

"Any more ideas up you're sleeve?", Blaine taunted. "I'm afraid I haven't got all day to wait around for you."

Gio reopened his eyes and pointed his finger forward. "Meowth, go!"

Meowth leaped from behind Gio and into battle. "Meeeowth!"

"Why Isn't he using Krabby?", Delia pondered.

But it was too late to advise him. Blaine was already engaging Gio.

"Rhyhorn, tackle it!"

Rhyhorn began to stampede towards Meowth like a blood hungry maniac.

Gio was overwhelmed at how fast Rhyhorn was moving, having being both a ground and rock type. But he wasn't about to switch Meowth out that easy. "Meowth, jump and dodge it."

"Meeeowthy!" Meowth bounced into the air seconds before Rhyhorn could ram it.

Incredibly, Rhyhorn speedily halted its pace the second its target evaded its course.

Gio, having hoped that the stone beast would have collided with the wall, had to think of a new strategy. "I'll just have to tire it out for a while.", Gio thought.

"Rhyhorn's speed is quite remarkable, wouldn't you agree?", Blaine questioned mockingly. "I don't know what you have planned but don't expect it to end in success." Blaine then began again. "Rhyhorn, fury attack!"

Rhyhorn thrusted its horn in the direction of Meowth as it began to charge once again.

"Meowth, dodge it!"

Meowth leaped in the air again, evading Rhyhorn completely.

"Keep up the pursuit!", Blaine commanded. "We wont loose to a fuzz ball!"

"Meowth, dodge again!"

For the next 5 minutes, Meowth repeatedly shot upwards every time Rhyhorn came nearer.

Luckily for Gio, Meowth had great stamina. Unfortunately for Blaine, Rhyhorn was growing exhausted until a point where the beast fell to the floor.

"This is no time for a rest Rhyhorn!", Blaine scolded. "You must fulfill your duty to me!"

But Rhyhorn was motionless.

Gio smiled. "Perfect, Dig now Meowth and strike as soon as you can!"

The feline fighter burrowed beneath the ground at full speed.

Blaine began to panic. "A Meowth can learn dig? How could I have not known such a-"

He was cut off in mid sentence at the sight of Meowth, surging from beneath the ground, directly into Rhyhorn.

"Grhyy!", The rock beast bellowed as it flew forward into the wall.

Unharmed, Meowth stood up. "Mreowy!"

Delia smiled. "That worked out rather nicely."

"Pi! Pichu!"

Blaine reclaimed his fainted Pokemon. "Very impressive. But that was just a warm up."

"Give us all you got!", Gio taunted.

"Oh I plan to.", Blaine assured as he hurled another Pokemon into battle. "Go, Vulpix!"

Vulpix appeared. "Vul!"

Gio withdrew his Pokedex.

VULPIX, THE SMALL FOX POKEMON. THIS SPECIES OF POKEMON ARE USUALLY SHY YET FRIENDLY. BUT WHEN ATTACKED BY A STRONGER ENEMY, IT COMBATS WITH DEVASTATING FURY BEFORE RETREATING. IT MAY ALSO FEIGN INJURY TO AVOID BATTLING.

"I'll finish this before it begins!", Gio claimed confidently. "Meowth, weaken Vulpix with fury swipes then finish with water pulse!"

Meowth dashed forward, its claws fully extracted.

Calmly, Blaine finally gave orders. "Confuse Ray."

Vulpix's body suddenly became surrounded in a purple aura as its eyes began to emit a ray of bright energy.

It was too late to resist. Meowth stopped in its tracks, hypnotized with allusions running through its mind. The cat Pokemon began to stumble around in a daze, striking itself with its claws every time it tried to resist its false senses.

"Meowth, snap out of it!"

It was useless. Meowth was now beyond Gio's control, brutally injuring itself without even knowing it.

Blaine smirked pleased. "Vulpix, put it out of its misery. Fire Blast attack now!"

"Vullll!", The blazing fox immediately unleashed a fiery bomb spiraling at Meowth.

Direct hit! Meowth crumbled to the ground in agony, its crisped body immobilized. Finally, the feline struck the ground.

Gio sorrowfully scooped Meowth into his arms. "I'm sorry Meowth. You gave it you're all. Take a good rest."

"Poor Baby!" Delia rushed over to claim Meowth. "I'll keep him safe with me."

Gio nodded. "Thanks."

She returned to the sidelines, and Gio returned to his battle. What Pokemon would he choose next?

"The battle is nearing its end.", Blaine explained. "Take you're pick, but by all means choose wisely."

Gio clutched tightly onto his Briskoball; Kangaskhan. "We've been training all morning.", He whispered. "Please don't fail me." He then tossed it into battle.

Kangaskhan appeared. "Kangaaa!"

Blaine shook his head with discontent. "If you truly think brute strength will overcome this battle, then you're out of luck . . . Vulpix, Flamethrower!"

"Kangaskhan, you use flamethrower to!"

"Kanga!"

"Vulll!"

The 2 beams of blaze clashed at contact. The room filled with smoke yet again after another supreme explosion.

Kangaskhan emerged safely from the smog.

Vulpix, however, was trembling.

"Vulpix, give if the Meowth treatment!"

Vulpix readied to perform another confuse ray.

Gio immediately took action. "Kangaskhan, look away!"

The titan swerved around to avoid eye contact with Vulpix.

Blaine laughed. "So, you wont see it coming from afar. But will you see it coming by surprise?"

Gio tilted his head suspiciously. "Trying to confuse me again?"

But Blaine simply ignored the question. "Vulpix, dig!"

As Meowth had done early, Vulpix instantly concealed itself beneath the ground.

"Good.", Blaine continued. "At my command, you will pop out in front of it and engage another confuse ray."

This was bad. Kangaskhan couldn't detect Vulpix's movements from below. "Kanga?"

But Gio was conjuring a plot of his own. "Don't close you're eyes Kangaskhan! They know that could work as a disadvantage to you!"

Kangaskhan, having a strong resentfulness towards Gio in the past, was now ironically listening to its master with open ears.

"Kangaskhan.", Gio stuttered. " . . . Use Earthquake now!"

"Skhann!", The beastly titan slammed its body into the ground. A giant quake shook the Gym, practically knocking both Gio and Blaine off balance. It soon became insanely intense, in which Vulpix cannoned from beneath the ground and into the ceiling. The quake finally ceased and the unconscious Vulpix struck the Gym Floor.

Gio jumped for joy. "Yes!"

Blaine hastily returned Vulpix to its Pokeball. "How disappointing.", He grumbled.

"Don't feel bad.", Gio encouraged. "Its not over yet!"

"One of us is on the brink of failure.", Blaine charaded while he ignited his final Pokeball. "But luckily in my favor, failure is my mortal enemy!"

Magby appeared. "Maggbyy!"

Gio shrugged. "So . . . thats you're secret weapon? Are you serious?"

"Never judge a book by its cover.", Blaine warned. "Magby, Dynamic Punch!"

"Mag!", The mini-molten Pokemon lunged forward at Kangaskhan and unveiled a deadly blow from its fist directly at the titan's skull.

Kangaskhan was launched backwards into the wall. "Kaaang!", It cried in pain.

"Oh no!", Delia worried. "Thats practically undodgable."

"Kangaskhan, we cant loose!", Gio whined. "Get up!"

Kangaskhan weakly stood up before slowly stumbling towards Magby.

"This just keeps getting better and better.", Blaine commented. "Magby, use Dynami-" He was abruptly interrupted when Magby began to glow brightly. "I . . . I cant believe it!"

Magby was exceedingly growing in size as it changed its form . . . and then the transformation quickly ended seconds later.

Magby had evolved into Magmar. "Magggmar!"

Gio was left dumbfounded. "Thats unfair!"

"More like lucky.", Blaine corrected.

"I'm afraid evolution has no affect on the battle.", The referee enlightened. "By rules of course, the battle must continue!"

"Kangaskhan, keep away from Magmar!"

Blaine chuckled. "No running this time. Magmar, surround you and Kangaskhan with a fire spin!"

Magmar began to engulf an array of flames around Kangaskhan and itself. The field had suddenly shrank by these events, leaving only a small amount of space between the combatants. Kangaskhan had no where to run, and Magmar was closing in.

"Magmar, Dynamic punch!"

"Kangaskhan, resist with Dizzy Punch!"

The two swayed their fists before clashing. The impacts sent them both stumbling backwards and into the flames. Kangaskhan quickly returned within the blazing circle to recover while Magmar emerged unaffected.

…...

Gio could no longer see the battle withing the circle, for the flames had greatly advanced in height.

"I cant see!", Gio complained.

"Its the Pokemon's battle now.", Blaine explained. "We can no longer intervene with these simple exchange of commands."

Gio gritted his teeth. He knew Kangaskhan wasn't strong enough to use another earthquake, but even by that fact, it seemed impossible to think up a new strategy. "Kangaskhan . . . please hang in there."

"Gio!", Delia called from aside. "There is one attack that can help! Remember?"

…...

The fist fight continued within the coil of flare. Magmar was slightly weakening, but Kangaskhan could barely hold on any longer. Kangaskhan fell to the ground, ready to faint at any moment until it suddenly heard a faint voice from beyond the flames.

"Kan . . . skhan . . . use . . . ersal . . . ", the voice shouted.

Kangaskhan couldn't make it out.

"Use . . . versal . . . attack!"

Still unable to hear, one last attempt was made.

"Kang . . .khan . . . se. . . . Reversal attack!"

Finally, it was heard. The beastly kangaroo tightened its focus, filling itself with strength and motivation.

Magmar then approached, ready to finish the job but was then caught off guard by the suddenly empowered Kangaskhan.

The titan grabbed the Molten Demon by the leg and propelled its body through the fire.

…...

Blaine's eyes widened with disbelief. Kangaskhan was egressing out of the fire, dragging Magmar along the way.

Gio couldn't believe what he was seeing. "No way!"

"Gio, end this now!", Delia shouted.

"Right!", he exclaimed. "Finish it Kangaskhan!"

"Skhann!" Kangaskhan lifted Magmar into the air and then chucked it into the wall.

"Impossible!", Blaine grieved. "Just impossible!"

"This battle is over!", The referee declared. "The victory goes to Giovanni of Viridian City!"

Blaine sighed and called back his fainted Magmar. Once the fiery area had disposed, Blaine approached Gio and Delia whom were now celebrating.

"That was great Kangaskhan!", Gio congratulated. "Everything worked out perfectly!"

"Kangaaskhann!"

"It sure was close battle.", Delia commented. "But I knew you'd come through Gio."

He hugged her by surprise. "Wouldn't have won without you're advice."

"That was fair battle I suppose.", Blaine said handing Gio a Fiery Diamond shaped badge. "So here is you're Volcano Badge."

Gio took the Badge with satisfaction. "Just One left . . ."

Delia examined the badge. "Gio, I think that you're clue to Blaine's riddle."

"What I just said?", Gio questioned. "Or the Badge?"

Delia giggled. "Both!"

Gio pondered. "Eruptive reward of the seventh obstacle . . . Wait a minute, this Gym Battle is the seventh obstacle I guess."

"Makes sense to me.", Delia said happily. "And the reward?"

"The Volcano Badge!", Gio turned to face Blaine. "You're moving the Gym to the Vol-"

But Blaine was nowhere in sight.

…...

Gio and Delia exited the Gym to find Lawrence waiting anxiously.

"Well, Well! Did you win?", He demanded.

Gio nodded. "Yeah but it was pretty tough so good luck."

"Luck is my middle name!", Lawrence exclaimed as he rushed inside the gym. "I'll see you guys later! . . . Maybe! . . . Don't wait up."

Delia handed Meowth over to Gio. "We should get Meowth to a Pokemon Center."

"Right!"

…...

Later at the Pokemon Center, Gio and Delia sat waiting for Meowth to recover.

After an unusual silence and exchange of glances, Delia gave Gio a serious look of concern. "Whats wrong? I would think you'd be more cheerful now that you have you're 7th Gym Badge."

"I am.", Gio lied. "Couldn't be happier, why?"

Delia rolled her eyes. "Stop that! Just tell me whats wrong."

Gio sighed before whispering only 2 words. "One left."

Delia then understood. "Its you're mom isn't it."

"I don't know why . . . but I'm afraid." , He confessed sadly. "Afraid to confront her. Afraid to return home. Afraid to . . . remember bad memories."

She reached for his hands. "Don't be. Because I'll be there with you."

Gio eyed her. "Always?"

She laughed. "You're so cute."

"I'm being serious!", He said strictly.

Delia looked away, trying to think of a way to change the subject. "Gio . . . why don't we just stay here for a week. It'll give us time to plan, think, and relax."

Gio just nodded stressfully. "Sure, fine."

…...

At the Viridian Gym, Rita Ketchum entered her private office to find her pregnant agent, Miyamoto holding out a gift wrapped box.

"What is that?", Rita asked intrigued. "A gift for me? Miyamoto, you really shouldn't ha-"

"Actually its not from me, Madame.", Miyamoto said in a hushed tone. "It was mailed here from an unknown address."

"Is that even possible?", Rita questioned suspiciously. "If its a bomb then I am so sewing someone."

"Theres a not attached to it." Miyamoto held out a folded piece of paper.

"Miyamoto, you know I don't like to read.", she scolded. "Instead, you read it to me. I'm not touching that box until I know who sent this."

Miyamoto opened the letter and began to read the words written down. "'Just a very precious gift for a very precious Woman.'"

Rita laughed mockingly. "Is that it? Who signed it?"

"'XOXO, Metsuma you're destiny.'", Miyamoto finished. "Well that was shortly dramatic."

"I knew Metsuma was hitting on me!", Rita exclaimed. "But I cant blame him. I am after all a thing of beauty."

"Of course Madame.", Miyamoto forcefully agreed. "But if he is trying to spark something, I think he's going to have to do a lot better."

"Very true. Open the box.", Rita snapped. "But don't tear the gift wrap! I want proof of my being admired."

Miyamoto gently removed the gift wrap to glimpse the present within the small box.

"What is it?", Rita demanded. "A ring? Necklace? Priceless Jewelery?"

Miyamoto grinned. "Its a Masterball . . . with a Pokemon inside."

TO BE CONTINUED . . . . . . .