Phillip had a short journey getting to Cinnabar Island.

Making a stop back at the cycling path, Phillip fought a double-battle against two trainers that used one fire type each, giving Lapras and Blastoise easy wins. Then, he took the hidden path he found earlier to find a house at the end. Inside was a girl that said she could teach the flying Pokémon in his team how to... fly.

Phillip made sure get out of the mad house immediately.

His next stop was a spot closer to Fuchsia City: a small town that had direct access to the ocean. More specifically, the town was connected to Route 19.

Originally, he was going to utilize Blastoise for transport on this route. However, as he was given Lapras as a gift back at the Silph Raid, he used Lapras instead.

As he wasn't fishing, Phillip only encounters with wild Pokémon were exclusively Tentacool. However, thanks to number of Swimmers roaming the area, Phillip collected data from several others.

This included the evolution of Goldeen known as Seaking, an orange, black, and white fish with white fins and black dots littering the tail fin and pectoral fins. Poliwag and Poliwhirl were also new additions, the former being a round animal with two stubby feet, a tadpole's tail, and a swirl for a belly, while the latter was a larger form of the other, but the eyes were on the top of its head, lost the pink mouth just over its belly, grew hands, and a larger swirl.

Route 19 was a quick ride, so Phillip easily moved on to Route 20.

Like the route before, Route 20 only had Tentacool for those not fishing. Even the Swimmers didn't provide much Pokémon data, with the only new data being Cloyster; a purple shell that hide beneath it a white shell, and beneath that was a single white horn and a black orb with eyes and mouth.

However, the route did provide land sources where other trainers stood. The biggest land mass, however, happened to be the Seafoam Islands.

The Seaform Islands, despite its name, happened to just be one island. It wasn't even that big of an island, but the only way to cross over to the other side of the route was to go through the cave system the island had, which was far bigger than what the tiny island suggested.

There were five floors in total; one base floor and 4 floors below it. Traversing them, Phillip catalogued the data of several of them, from Golduck, the blue duck, to Dewgong. He felt extremely cold by the time he got to the lowest floor, so he quickly found the correct exit and left the Seaform Islands.

Now exiting Route 20, Phillip looked forward to get his first look at Cinnabar Island. When it got into view, Phillip was slightly perplexed.

Maybe playing the games diluted his memory, but this Cinnabar was far more bustling than what he remembered. There were far more buildings than he expected, and loads of people seem to invade each street and alley.

Just as he was about to get to the island, Phillip noticed a large cruise ship docking at the island.

Realizing that his entire adventure was unnecessary, Phillip brought a palm to his face in exasperation before pointing forward, motioning Lapras to land.

Now on the island, Phillip noticed how the buildings were set up. Most, if not all, were selling something to the people around, either food or souvenirs. Banners were tied from pole to pole, while people crowded almost every building to judge and/or buy the wares. The only other type of buildings happened to be hotels. However, for whatever reason, most seemed to be rejecting the people entering them, as many would-be customers came out slightly peeved.

Asking around, Phillip managed to obtain extremely little involving the Gym that was supposed to be here. He did manage to hear about a run-down old building that was close to the center of town, so he started there.

Not surprised in the least, Phillip ran into Ash and friends while finding the broken building. However, they weren't alone. They were accompanied by a man with light brown, shoulder-length hair, and a matching mustache that stuck out from both sides of his mouth. He was wearing a red long-sleeve shirt with a blue wave-like design at the bottom and red pants with black shoes. Around his neck was a necklace made of greens beads. His eyes were complete blocked from view by a pair of sunglasses.

The Gym, the broken building that Phillip noticed nearby, was in sever disrepair. The building by itself was slanting heavily to one side and the walls were both cracked and missing parts. The wooden fence that surrounded had two boards formed into an X at the opening, but had several other boards broken and littered the street before it.

"You've got to be kidding me," Phillip grumbled as he walked up to the group.

Ash noticed him first, and gave Phillip a deadpan stare. "Came for the same reason?"

"Yeah."

The man pulled out a card and gave it to Ash, telling them "If they needed anything." Misty made the comment how it didn't make sense how someone who owns an inn would state that tourists ruined the island. However, the man was long gone.

Ash looked over to Phillip. "Well, if the Gyms out of the question, want to come with us? We'll probably be going to the Pokémon Lab."

Phillip rubbed the bridge of his nose before looking back up with a sigh, "Might as well, but I wouldn't be surprised if it got turned into a tourist trap as well."

"Called it."

This was Phillip's response to the rest seeing that the Pokémon Lab had been turned into rows of souvenir stands.

At Ash's request (more like his growling stomach), the group tried to retire for the night at the Pokémon Center.

The key word here being "tried".

With hotels being packed, the Pokémon Center was filled to the brim with the tourists that couldn't make reservations. In fact, it was so packed that the tourists were spilling out into the lobby.

As they left the Pokémon Center, Brock mentioned how they were probably the only ones there with any Pokémon. Misty proposed a camp out, but Ash noticed a hotel and decided to see if they could get room and board there.

As the three went in, Phillip stayed outside, leaning his back into the gateway that headed into the inn. He expected what the answer was going to be. This came to be as Ash and friends came back out, slightly dejected.

"Refused?" Phillip asked, with a nod of heads being his answer. "Yeah, I noticed that almost every hotel was pushing away customers."

"Why didn't you tell us?!" Ash exclaimed.

"Because I thought you had paid attention," Phillip answered, before sighing. "Do you not have that card on you?"

Ash gave him a questioning look before seeming to piece together what he meant. Ash pulled out that card that said "Big Riddle Inn" at the top of it, and instructions at the bottom. However, the instructions were … odd to say the least.

"'If you look towards the swing, you'll see my hands, or at least my face,' huh? "

Phillip looked up from the card to look at the group. "I heard that there's an old park at the outskirts of the town. It might be the best place to start."

"Well, I see a swing, but I don't see anyone's hands or face."

Brock's first analysis on the riddle already made Phillip facepalm immediately. Looking up, Phillip and Misty noted a clock on a nearby building. Phillip immediately began walking towards the building as Misty explained the answer the other two before the group began to move.

"Oh, two smart birds for the price of one." The man from before greeted them at the door and congratulated both Phillip and Misty for getting the right answers. "As a price, I'll give you free rooms at the hotel."

"Your riddles maybe dumb, but your prizes are terrific!" Ash told the man, who did his best to take the statement as a compliment. After Phillip smacked the back Ash's head, Ash's stomach growled for attention. The man brought the group to a table and excused himself to kitchen. Moments later, the table was filled small plates and bowls for the four travelers.

As chopsticks were the given utensils, Phillip had to take some time to get used to eating. In comparison, Brock managed a steady pace, while Ash trucked onwards with ravenous fervor. Misty, on the other hand, wasn't really feeling hungry. She was more interested in finding the rooms to sleep.

At some point, a phone rang off from a nearby table and the man went over to answer. As Ash placed his concern about Misty not eating, and Misty stating she just wanted a bed, the man exclaimed loudly. With the attention now on him, the man told the group that the lab was being attack by a balloon.

At this, Ash, Misty, and Brock immediately rushed out. Phillip stared down at his bowl for a bit while the man tailed the other three. At the man's leave, Phillip tipped the bowl high above his head, dumping the contents into his mouth. With a quick chew and swallow, he followed after them.

"Team Rocket really needs go on a vacation; I swear to Christ!"

As Ash used his Pikachu and Pidgeotto to attack Team Rocket and burst their balloon, Phillip arrived in time to have his Charizard catch the now falling net of Pokémon and drop it safely on the land, as to prevent any further injuries.

As the lab Pokémon were cheering and the trainer Pokémon were placed back in their balls, the man turned to the group with congratulations and a reward.

"Blaine made a Gym the tourists never see." Ash grew excited upon hearing this, but dropped to ground at the next part.

"It's in the place where fire fighters could never win."

"Not another riddle!"

Phillip placed his hand to his chin, "Well, this one doesn't have clear-cut answer." He looked up at the man. "Hey, Mr. Poet. Any other hints on this one?"

"Nope," the man said with a pop. "You'll need solve riddles on your own." The man turned to walk away, but looked back at them after a few steps. "Before you go to bed, I suggest using the hot springs." With that and a wave, the man walked away.

Ash looked at the rest of them. "Well, I guess we're not losing anything if we do, right?"

Phillip rotated his neck. "Well, it'll be a first for me, so sure."

"Aw, I can't figure it out," Ash said to the two other boys in the hot spring, all dressed only a towel around their waists to protect their modesty.

The hot springs of the inn was placed in the back, really close to the volcano that Cinnabar was known for. The springs were enclosed and split in two by a large, reed fence. Several rocks were large enough to breach the water's surface, and one acted as part of the separation barrier. The reason for the separation was the one side was meant for the males and the other was for females.

"Hey, Phillip! Anything on your side?" Ash asked from one side of a rock spire to the other, where Phillip resided.

"I'll let you know when I acclimate," Phillip groaned out, battling the urge to just scream.

As his first experience in a hot spring, Phillip felt like he was sitting a pool of lava. The only problem was that if it were a lava pool, he'd be dead by now. So overall it felt like torture without an end. He was hoping he acclimated to the heat soon.

"It's where a fire fighter could never win," Brock repeated.

Phillip pulled himself from the water, sitting on a jagged edge of the spire. "It's not off the island, so," Phillip looked up to the top of the volcano, "you think it's the peak of the volcano?"

"You think Blain would be that crazy?" Brock asked.

"It's a place where tourist wouldn't try going and extremely hot." Phillip responded. "I wouldn't put it past him if he's that desperate to stay away from the town."

"Yeah, but does that fit the criteria?"

"Well-"

*CLUNK*

"The heck was that?" Phillip asked, interrupting his previous thoughts as what sounded like a machine just shifted hard.

A piece of the volcano slide between the two parts of the hot spring, moving towards the male's side, and opened a cave. The only problem was that the reed fence that separated the two side came crumbling down, showing Misty to the males.

Phillip immediately turned his head away from her while Brock and Ash stared on in confusion.

Of course, Misty yelled and attack all three with no remorse.

"Phew!" Misty exclaimed she fanned herself with her hand. "Is it me, or is it getting hot down?"

The group had collected their clothes from the bins, and entered the hidden cave. Candle lights lit the way down the well-crafted stone stairs. However, as Misty pointed out, the cave was becoming warmer with each step.

"Let me put it this way, Misty." Phillip tugged the collar of his shirt, which caused a sudden cloud of steam to rise up

As they continued down the staircase, they happened upon a large metal door.

Ash reached out to pull on the handle, but Phillip pulled his hand back.

"Don't. With the heat down, that thing will scald your hand off."

"Then how do we get though?" Ash asked, staring at the door.

Just then, the door opened. Inside was a room that had a small rectangle of land in the middle that was held up by four metal chains, one at each angle. To reach the middle, two circular stones platforms was seen on each side of the room. The door on their side only led to a small stretch of stone before the circular platforms were needed to get to the middle piece.

However, the largest oddity of this place was that, below the middle piece (that had the Pokémon arena painted on it) and the where the platforms rose out from, was magma.

"Well, we know why it's so hot now!" Phillip said as sweat began to increase, himself now completely drenched.

"Hey, Phillip," Misty spoke, concern in her voice. "You don't look to go."

"I don't feel so good."

Lights flickered on, and a voice spoke. "I see you solved my riddle." The man from before stood on the other side of the room.

Ash called the man out for being here. The man said something, but Phillip couldn't keep his focus on the words. The heat was messing with his mind and he felt the urge to hurl. He fought it down to watch as the man pull off his hair, mustache, and glasses to reveal a new face. Phillip was able to catch the man's name: Blaine.

"That's...nice and all but-" Phillip wasn't able keep it up much longer. With only a step forward, he stumbled and fainted.