"So any luck?" Brendan teased as Ash made his way back into the Pokemon Center, just before lunch.

"None whatsoever." Ash sighed. "I looked all over town and saw no one that looked like her anywhere."

'What did Nurse Joy say?" Wally asked.

"She's new to town, and doesn't know who that person is." Ash said.

"Well, maybe the gym leader will know where to find her." Wally said. "Wattson seemed fairly smart and helpful."

"Wattson was special, but Wally might be onto something, if she's a trainer, the gym leader might have a few ideas on where to find her." Brendan said.

"Any luck with finding out their type by the way?" Ash asked.

"From what we heard they specialize in fire types." Wally piped in.

"Okay, I have a plan, I did my research, let's do this!" Brendan said.

Outside the Pokemon Center

"Ashton?" The girl from yesterday said, surprised to see him. "I heard you were looking for me, but I didn't think you'd be leaving so soon."

"Oh, no I still need to repay you for yesterday, or at least set up a way to repay you." Ash said.

"Hey Ashton, we've got this, you can catch up later." Brendan said. "Besides, we wanted me to do this on my own this time."

"Are you sure?" Ash asked.

"Go for it. If he needs any help I'll be there to help him." Wally said with a smile.

"Well, if you're sure." Ash said.

"Great!" The girl said. "I want to show you something while you're here Ashton." She said, grabbing Ash's arm and dragging him off.

"Good luck Brendan!" Ash exclaimed as he was rushed off.

In the back parts of the city

"Not that I'm worried, but you never told me your name." Ash said, as the girl fumbled with a key ring.

"Oh, sorry. Between my grandfather retiring and all the new responsibilities I guess I forgot that part." The girl said sheepishly. "I'm Flannery." She said, as she finally got the right key.

"Flannery, sounds a bit like flame. It's funny, I saw your Numel is a fire type." Ash said joking.

"Flame to the Ash." Flannery said, teasingly. "Come on, I think you'll find this really cool."

Flannery lead Ash to a large room that had low lighting coming from the ground, but not much else he could see right now.

"Hold on." Flannery said, flipping a switch. Instantly stadium lights flooded the arena, showing a few lava pools scattered about a larger arena. "I guess I also forgot to mention…". Flannery said before being interrupted.

"I'm here to challenge the Lavaridge Gym Leader for my fourth badge!" Brendan exclaimed, throwing open the doors, only for them to bounce back, slamming shut on him. "Ow."

"What are the chances? If I had known you all were coming here, I'd have brought you all along." Flannery said.

"So, can I still battle the three of you?" Brendan said dazedly.

"I would, but I didn't plan on having challengers, and I gave the judge the day off." Flannery admitted.

"I could judge it." Ash said. "I've been in my fair share of them."

"Are you sure Ash?" Flannery asked. "I didn't plan on this being how we spent the day."

"Consider me repaying you for what happened with Numel and Surskit." Ash said, walking to the center of the arena. "Do you know the normal rules for a fourth badge challenge?"

"Oh! Grandpa used to leave them on the podium as a reference guide!" Flannery said excitedly.

"Yep right here." Ash said, as Pikachu ran off to sit next to Wally. "Alright trainers, this will be a three on three match with only the challenger being allowed substitutions at any time. The match will be over when one side has no Pokemon able to battle." Ash said, having heard the line plenty of times. "Trainers at your ready."

"Ready!" Brendan said.

"Ready." Flannery said.

"Then, let the battle begin!" Ash said.

"Slugma come on out!"

"Aron I choose you!"

"Slugma use Ember!"

"Aron use Rock Tomb!"

Aron stood his ground as he was surrounded by flames before launching rocks at the fire type.

"Slugma use Sunny Day!"

"Aron use Rock Tomb!"

The heat in the gym became even hotter as Aron launched another series of rocks at Slugma.

"Slugma use Ember!"

"Aron use Metal Claw!"

Ash had to hide his shock, he didn't know when Brendan and Aron had figured out that move, but he didn't have time to ask as the rocks surrounding Slugma shattered and Aron was engulfed in flames.

"Aron is unable to battle, the winner is Slugma." Ash called out.

"Great work Aron." Brendan said. "Come on out Nuzleaf!"

"A grass type in a fire type gym?" Flannery said, confused.

"It makes more sense than you think." Brendan said. "Ashton spent the morning looking for you, I spent the morning prepping for you. Including finding out about Nuzleaf's special ability, apparently when the sun is beating down on him, he get's faster. Now Nuzleaf use Bullet Seed!"

"Slugma use Ember!"

The seeds burnt up before they even reached Slugma, but Nuzleaf was gone before the flames reached him.

"Now Nuzleaf use Nature Power!"

"Slugma use Smog!"

Nuzleaf's leaf changed to a dark brown as a series of rocks fell from the sky burying Slugma beneath them. By the time Slugma made it out from under the rocks she collapsed from exhaustion.

"Slugma is unable to battle, the winner is Nuzleaf." Ash called out.

"Slugma return. Come on out Numel! Use Ember!"

"Nuzleaf use Fake Out!"

Nuzleaf was across the arena in an instant, slamming into Numel, and stopping it from attacking.

"Numel use Ember!"

"Nuzleaf use Bide!"

Nuzleaf was engulfed in flames as he stood there, absorbing all the damage he could.

"Numel use Magnitude!"

The lava pools bubbled as the arena shook, causing even Wally and Pikachu to fall backwards off of their seats, somehow through it all Nuzleaf stood tall.

"Nuzleaf, unleash it now!"

"Numel use Tackle!"

The two Pokemon collided in a shockwave, resulting in both being knocked out at the same time.

"Both Nuzleaf and Numel are unable to battle, the match will now go into it's final round." Ash said.

"Torkoal I choose you!"

"Come on out Marshtomp!"

"Torkoal use Overheat!"

"Marshtomp use Water Gun!"

With the intense heat of the gym, what Marshtomp was able to produce was little more than a trickle of water as he was blasted by the pulse of heat.

"Marshtomp use Mud Slap!"

"Torkoal use Overheat!"

The fiery attack came towards Marshtomp once more but this time, it seemed less powerful as Marshtomp pushed through, covering Torkoal's head in mud.

"I forgot! Overheat gets weaker each time you use it!" Flannery said embarrassed. "Torkoal use Body Slam!"

"Marshtomp use Mud Shot!"

Marshtomp rolled out of the way of Torkoal's attack before shooting a blast of mud back at the fire type, causing Torkoal to spin out.

"Marshtomp use Mud Shot!"

"Torkoal use Iron Defense!"

Torkoal hid in her shell as she was blasted by Marshtomp's attack, sending her flying into the distance.

"Torkoal use Flamethrower!"

"Marshtomp use another Mud Shot!"

The attacks collided, but Marshtomp's Mud Shot pushed through, slamming into Torkoal and giving him the win.

"Torkoal is unable to battle, the winner is Marshtomp!" Ash declared. "The match goes to Brendan!"

Wally and Pikachu cheered from the stands as Flannery walked over to Brendan.

"Good work Brendan, I still have a lot to learn as a gym leader, but as it's leader I present you with this." Flannery said holding out a badge. "The Heat Badge."

"Alright Marshtomp! We just got our fourth badge!" Brendan declared.

"This calls for a celebration, I'll start cooking right away." Wally said happily.

"Hey Ash, can you help me with something?" Flannery asked as the other two were excitedly leaving the gym already.

"Sure, what do you need?" Ash asked. "As long as it's not being your judge full time."

"No, no I just need some support for this." Flannery said.

Brendan's Current Team and their moves

Marshtomp: Tackle - Mud Slap - Water Gun - Mud Shot

Nuzleaf: Bide - Fake Out - Bullet Seed - Nature Power

Taillow: Peck - Focus Energy - Quick Attack - Wing Attack

Aron: Tackle - Iron Defense - Rock Tomb - Metal Claw