"I'm battling where even the waves run from, what does that even mean?" Ash asked as he and Cassie walked around the island.
"We'll maybe it's like waves on a beach, so maybe your battle is on the beach." Cassie said.
"Yeah, but they don't run from the beach, they go in with the tide." Ash said.
"Well where are there waves but no tide? Maybe that's the answer." Cassie said.
"I think I have an idea, come on!" Ash said rushing off.
"Ash!" Cassie yelled chasing after him.
Cassie followed Ash to a beachside cove, where the man from the Pokémon Center was waiting.
"I'm here for my gym battle!" Ash exclaimed.
"Very well, but first some introductions are in order." The man said, tearing off his fake wig and beard. "I'm Blaine the gym leader of New Cinnabar Island, prepare to be burned."
"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and you're going down." Ash said with a similar energy to Blaine.
"Well then come out Weezing!" Blaine called out.
"Jigglypuff I choose you!"
"Weezing use Smokescreen!"
"Jigglypuff use Disable!"
Smoke poured out of Weezing's mouth as Jigglypuff released a strange energy, causing the smoke to stop.
"Weezing use Fire Blast!"
"Jigglypuff dodge it!"
Jigglypuff rolled out of the way of the flames, digging herself into the sand slightly.
"Weezing use Sludge!"
"Jigglypuff deflect it with Pound!" Ash said, swinging his arms.
Jigglypuff gripped her microphone in the same fashion, swinging it at the sludge attack and launching it back at Weezing.
"Weezing use Fire Blast!"
"Jigglypuff use Body Slam!"
As Weezing was recovering, Jigglypuff floated into the air above it, before dropping its entire weight down on Weezing dropping both to the ground.
"Weezing use Fire Blast!"
Jigglypuff was coughing up sand as Weezing lined up the shot and decimated the small normal type.
"This is your seventh gym badge, I won't go easy." Blaine said.
"I would hope that." Ash said, returning Jigglypuff to her Pokeball. "Dratini come on out!"
"The small dragon again." Blaine said with a light chuckle. "Weezing use Sludge!"
"Dratini use Hyper Beam!"
A bursting stream of light fired out, engulfing Weezing and shooting high into the sky.
When the beam of light disappeared Weezing had to float back down to the ground, meanwhile Dratini was nowhere in sight.
"Dratini? Are you out there?" Ash asked.
'Plbthhhhh'
A mound of sand began to move as Dratini stuck his head out of the sand, only to see Weezing right in front of him.
"Dratini get out of there!"
"Weezing use Fire Blast!"
Dratini drilled himself back underground, spinning up sand in the process, and narrowly dodging the attack.
"Weezing cover the area in Sludge!"
"Dratini use Hyper Beam!"
A glowing light extruded from the sand, but something odd happened, the beam didn't hit Weezing, rather Dratini did, sending the poison type spinning.
"Weezing use one last Fire Blast!"
With Dratini still falling he couldn't move out of the way as he was hit by the full force of the fiery attack.
"Dratini!" Ash said, swimming out to the dragon. "You did great, take a long rest."
Blaine and Cassie patiently waited for Ash to make it back to shore.
"Alright, no more messing around. Vileplume I choose you!"
"Weezing use Double Edge!"
"Vileplume dodge it!"
Blaine watched in shock as the normally calm and slow species that is Vileplume easily leapt off of Weezing, digging the poison type into the ground.
"Now use Petal Dance!"
Vileplume began to run back towards Weezing unleashing the petals as soon as he drew near, sending them flying at the stunned poison type.
"Weezing use Double Edge!"
"Vileplume use Solar Beam!"
Weezing was quickly closing in as Vileplume was still absorbing sunlight.
"Come on Vileplume." Cassie rooted.
Just as Weezing was about to hit, a burst of light shot out from Vileplume's flower, knocking the pure poison type into the air and crashing into the water.
"Great work Weezing, take a break." Blaine said.
"So, let me guess a fire type now?" Ash asked.
"Ninetales come on out!"
"Vileplume use Toxic!"
"Ninetales use Flamethrower!"
An orb of toxic sludge was sent out of Vileplume's flower, careening high over the searing flames, and dripping down Ninetales as Vileplume became engulfed in the fire.
"Ninetales use Dig!"
"Vileplume into the water!"
Vileplume ran into the water, dousing the flames, as Ninetales buried itself underground.
"Now start charging a Solar Beam!"
Blaine smirked to himself. Ash really thought that being in the water would keep Vileplume safe from Ninetales, he'd learn the hard way.
Bubbles began forming in the water around Vileplume before Ninetales leapt out from underground, rocketing Vileplume into the air.
"Finish this with Flamethrower!"
With Vileplume spinning out of control he was unable to dodge as he was hit by a second scorching flamethrower, having been knocked out before he reached the water again.
"Vileplume return!" Ash recalled. "I need something that can move at a moment's notice, and who better than Rapidash!"
"Ninetales use Dig!"
"Rapidash use Agility!"
Rapidash sped forward as Ninetales dove beneath the sand once more.
"Rapidash use your agility and go on top of the cliffs!"
Rapidash made quick work of the rocky terrain standing proudly overlooking the sandy shore below.
"Ninetales come out and use Fire Blast at the wall!"
Rocks began to tumble down, allowing Ninetales to follow Rapidash to the top of the cliff.
"Rapidash use Stomp!"
"Ninetales use Fire Blast!"
Rapidash sped through the flames, kicking Ninetales back down to the beach, and following soon after.
"Ninetales use Fire Blast!"
"Rapidash use Ember!"
Rapidash's fire balls only helped Ninetales's attack grow in power.
"Use Agility and jump right through!"
"Dodge it!"
Rapidash leapt through the flames, a warriors look in its eye as she landed, digging her hooves into the sand. Fire began growing and swirling in her mouth, she wouldn't be outmatched in this department. A burst of fire in the shape of a star shot from Rapidash, blasting Ninetales off of its feet.
"Woah, that was powerful." Cassie commented.
"Rapidash keep up the heat with Fire Spin!"
Rapidash ran circles around the recovering Ninetales, trapping it in a cyclone of flames.
"Ninetales use Dig!"
"Rapidash use Stomp!"
Rapidash leapt into the air, slamming down onto the beach, a shockwave of sand launching Ninetales back into the air.
"Ninetales use Fire Blast!"
"Rapidash use your Fire Blast!"
The two fire attacks collided into a huge cloud of smoke, covering the battlefield.
"Rapidash use Stomp!"
"Ninetales use Quick Attack!"
As the smoke cleared, Rapidash stood victorious over a knocked out and pinned Ninetales.
"Ninetales return, time for something hardened by the volcanic eruption." Blaine said. "Golem come on out!"
"Rapidash use Fire Blast!"
"Golem use Rock Throw!"
Golem launched itself at Rapidash, burying itself in the sand, unfazed by the flames.
"Rapidash use Fire Spin!"
"Golem use Body Slam!"
Golem walked through the embers, before slamming into Rapidash, sending the fire type to the ground in defeat.
"Rapidash return!" Ash said. He had two options left, and neither were good matchups. "Okay Seel, good luck."
Seel popped out of his Pokeball, clapping with joy until he saw the Golem in front of him.
"Golem use Rock Throw!"
"Seel use Ice Beam!"
Rather than follow Ash's instructions, Seel began running away from the Golem.
"Seel!" Ash exclaimed, seeing it run into the sea.
"Golem use Rock Slide!"
"Seel you have to fight!"
Seel swam around dodging the falling rocks.
"I need a plan." Ash said, as he felt the waves hit his feet. "Wait, where the tide runs from! If it runs from here, it needs to get close. Seel attack with the tide!"
Seel poked his head out of the water in confusion before ducking back out of the way of Golem.
"Come on Seel, you have to fight back." Cassie cried out.
As a wave began coming to shore it began to grow as Seel made his way on top of it, the wave crashing into the beach, and soaking Golem.
"Wait, where's Seel?!" Ash asked looking around.
"Seel! Seel!" Seel cried, a large snot bubble coming from his nose, an indent of his face on the cliff.
Ash hung his head in defeat as he returned Seel to his Pokeball.
"Alright Pikachu its all up to you." Ash said.
"Pika." Pikachu said uneasily, looking at the formidable opponent in front of him.
"Pikachu use Mimic!"
"You think copying one of our moves will stop us, Golem use Rock Throw!"
"Pikachu isn't mimicking your move, he's mimicking the last move he saw." Ash said with confidence.
"The last move he saw?" Cassie asked.
"I figured out you were the gym leader yesterday, and I wanted to prepare, so I found out how to teach Surf to Seel last night, I just didn't account for him not being emotionally ready." Ash said.
"Brains and Brawn, heh." Blaine said, seeing Pikachu bring a large wave crashing down on the beach, Golem was completely water logged once it cleared.
"Well Ash, congratulations. You've officially earned the Volcano Badge." Blaine said, holding out the badge.
"Alright! I just got the Volcano Badge!" Ash exclaimed.
"And that makes seven, one more and you can challenge the league." Cassie said.
"If you're looking for another gym, I heard the Viridian City gym has a new gym leader and he hasn't lost yet." Blaine said.
"Alright then that's where we're heading." Ash said with confidence.
At the Team Rocket HQ
"Do you know who you are?" Kazor asked.
"Yes father, my name is Ash." The Ash clone said.
"And what is your duty?" Kazor asked.
"To find and capture Articuno." The Ash clone said.
"Good, good. Now go, take Pikachu and bring me Articuno." Kazor said.
"Yes Father." The Ash Clone said.
Ash's team and their moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Mimic - Thunder
Vileplume: Petal Dance - Solar Beam - Toxic - Acid
Jigglypuff: Sing - Pound - Disable - Body Slam
Rapidash: Fire Blast - Stomp - Agility - Fire Spin
Dratini: Wrap - Leer - Dragon Rage - Hyper Beam
Seel: Headbutt - Ice Beam - Surf