A/N: Thanks for the review!  Are any of you readers wondering why I put this story in the Slayers section instead of Pokemon?  It's simple: More Slayers fan know about Pokemon than vice versa.  Besides, I think Slayers fans will find more humor in this fic.  Well enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not under any circumstances own anything that isn't mine to own, this includes Slayers and Pokemon.  Psst!  I'd hate to spoil it, but can you guess who the new gym leader for the /Boulder/ badge is? ^_^

Ch3: Ready, Aim, FIRE! Lina's First Kanto Badge

            Lina found that the Viridian Forest was full of bug trainers and bugs.  It didn't take long for her to get annoyed by it all.  Really, bug trainers were challenging her left and right, and she would shoot them all down with just one fire attack from Pyro.  Near the end of the forest, she spotted a small lake.  With a shrug, she decided that she could do a little water target practice.  She released Pyro as she picked up an appropriate stick, plucked a piece of her sturdy hair, tied one end to the stick and one to a hook with her lure.  Ready, set, go!  Lina launched the hook into the water and waited.  Before long she felt a giant tug, but she tugged her end even more.  With a last heave, she managed to make her catch surface.  Not even waiting to see what it was, she had Pyro barbecue it Pokemon style.  It was only after the smoke cleared that she realized to an extent what she actually did.

            Instead of fireballing a potential opponent or meal (^_~ if only real fish existed in this world…), she had smoked a tall, blond-haired boy dressed in sky blue garb (-_- Anyone who's a Slayers fan should be able to realize who this is. . .).  She half pondered on whether she should help him out, but when he slowly started to sink, she made up her mind (a ten-year-old Lina isn't /that/ mean. . .).  She called out Butterfree and Pidgey and had them help to keep him surfaced and bring him closer so that she could help haul him onto the shore.  It didn't take too long for him to revive. . .

            Lina pointed the Statidex at him and read away.

Name: Gourry Gabriev

Race: Human

Hometown: A town in Johto known as Elmekia (um… purely coincidental…)

Height: 5' 5"

Weight: 106 lbs.

Pokemon:

-Dewgong (Lv. 20)

-Scyther (Lv. 17)

Overall Grade: A-

Status: Skilled Trainer

# of Badges: 0

Voice-over: Gourry is a 13-year-old on a quest for adventure.  He may not be the smartest of the bunch, but his love of pokemon leaves him with a skill to be reckoned with.  Fortunately, he is usually very friendly.

            Lina watched as Gourry came back into consciousness.  When he sat up, she asked him, "Why were you in the lake?"

            "Huh?  Ummmmmm……"  Gourry appeared to be in deep thought.  Before long, he looked up with a bright look in his eyes.  "I don't know!"

            Lina sweatdropped.  She sighed and asked, "Well, the name's Lina.  Lina Inverse.  I gotta get to Pewter City now, so try not to fall in again.  See ya."

            "Wait!"

            Lina stopped and turned back to see that Gourry was standing up.  "Aren't you a bit too young to be out by yourself?  Where are your parents, little girl?"

            A stressmark appeared on Lina's head.  'Parents?  Little girl?'  Lina wasn't going to argue with him calling her a little girl, since she /was/ a little girl, but couldn't he see that she had pokemon meaning she was on a pokemon journey?  She told him.  "I'm traveling alone with just my pokemon."

            "Alone?  There are some really bad people out there, ya know."

            In a low voice, Lina said back, "I know, and I can take 'em."

            Gourry didn't hear this as he proclaimed, "I know!  I'll come with you and make sure you reach your destination safely!  Where are you headed?"

            Lina's eye twitched.  She had just said it, but she supposed her Statidex was never wrong… "Like I said before – I'm headed for Pewter City – to get a Boulder badge.  Now, look.  I-"

            Before Lina could object to Gourry's accompaniment, Gourry's mind was set.  He put a hand on Lina's shoulder and said, "Pewter City's not that far.  Come on, I'll treat you to lunch when we get there!  Oh, by the way, I'm Gourry Gabriev, a traveling pokemon trainer.  What's your name?"

            At this, Lina raised an eyebrow.  She never turned down free food…  "Lina.  Lina Inverse.  Let's go!"

            With that, Lina and her new-found friend set off for Pewter City.

            Gourry took Lina to a quaint little restaurant somewhere in the middle of town.  They both ordered extra large meals that made their waitress' eyes widen in amazement.  They fought over food until they were full and nothing was left.  Gourry paid the humongous bill, and they set off to find the Pokecenter, deciding to tackle the gym challenge after everyone was well rested.

            Lina had spent a total of 10 days training in the Forest, but when she got out, she was more than ready to face Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader.  Little did she know, Brock had already left on his "quest" to become a Pokemon Breeder.  Lina now had a well-trained Charmander, Butterfree, Spearow, Pidgey, and Rattata, as well as a friend to watch her sure-fire win (she's just confident).  After a good night's rest at the Pewter City Pokecenter, Lina, armed with her pokemon, set forth for the Pewter City Gym, in order to get her Boulder Badge.

            Once she arrived, she took a deep breath and pushed open the large doors with a bang.

            "I am Lina Inverse from Pallet Town.  I hereby request a gym battle with the leader of this gym!"

            From the shadows, a figure stepped forward.  As the lights flashed on, Lina easily noted that the person was /not/ Brock.  His hair was a wiry purple, his skin had a bluish tint with several rocks randomly covering his body.  His eyes were a cold, sapphire-blue and he was completely adorned in khaki-colored clothes from head to toe.  Lina pulled out her Statidex with surprise and checked him.

Name: Zelgadis Greywerds

Race: 1/3 Human, 1/3 Golem (Pokemon), 1/3 Gyarados (Pokemon)

Hometown: N/A – Recently moved to Pewter City

Height: 5' 2"

Weight: N/A (Very much due to 2/3 heavy pokemon genes)

Pokemon:

Geodude (Lv. 14)

Graveler (Lv. 25)

Sandshrew (Lv. 12)

Overall Grade: A-

Status: Experienced Trainer

# of Badges: 1

Voiceover: Since his grandfather's experiment backfired, he has been looking for a cure to rid himself of his Pokemon counterparts.  Although the experiment left young Zelgadis with abnormal strength and understanding of Pokemon, he greatly despises his new appearance and perseveres until the day he can force his grandfather to undo it.

            Gourry pointed at him from behind Lina, "Hey, he looks funny."

            The gym leader put up his hood and a mask over the lower part of his face-hiding most of his "abnormality" out of view.  Lina ignored this and immediately started to get worried, an adjective that usually wasn't used to describe her.  She had backup if she absolutely needed it, but Lina hated to resort to it if she didn't have to.

            Zelgadis stated in a crisp, clear voice, "I accept your challenge as this gym's replacement leader.  Step into the trainer's box, and we will begin."

            As these words came out of his mouth, the area between the two trainer boxes mechanically changed to become a rocky battlefield.  Lina gulped.  Could she win?

            Before she had time to think it over, Zelgadis started. "Two on two pokemon battle.  The challenger is allowed to switch pokemon during a match.  Sandshrew.  Go. (No enthusiasm whatsoever…)"

            Lina grimaced but chose her first pokemon.  "Butterfree!  I choose you!"

            The gym leader's face was emotionless as he launched his first attack.  "Let the battle begin!  Sandshrew, use scratch attack."

            Lina quickly commanded, "Butterfree!  Use Whirlwind to blow him back!"

            "Dodge by going underground!  Attack from below!"

            The two pokemon did as they were told.  Butterfree's Whirlwind was ineffective as Sandshrew abandoned Scratch in favor of Dig.  Butterfree slowly flew above the field, awaiting his master's command.

            "Butterfree!  Rise higher and be ready to dodge when Sandshrew surfaces!"

            Butterfree made a consenting note and flew higher.  Sandshrew had yet to surface.

            Now grimacing with slight frustration, Zelgadis ordered Sandshrew, "When Butterfree comes around, come out and use your high jump scratch attack."

            Apparently, Butterfree was just flying over Sandshrew because Sandshrew suddenly jumped out of the ground, claws outstretched.  Thankfully, due to an intensive training session, Butterfree barely managed to dodge it, but the very tip of his left wing was hit, resulting in faltering flight.

            "Now!  Tackle attack it Butterfree!"

            Butterfree backed up for momentum and tackled Sandshrew 5 feet above the ground with such power that it made an imprint when his opponent landed, cushion only slightly by the thin layer of sand.

            Zelgadis hissed, "Try to get up. . ."

            Sandshrew was trying very hard to get up, but Lina wouldn't give him the chance.  "Butterfree!  Finish it with Confusion!"

            Psychic waves emitted from the rhythmic flapping of Butterfree's wings.  However, since Butterfree's left wing was hit, that psychic wave was a bit off target.  The other wing hit Sandshrew, but after a few moments, it could still stand while breathing hard.

Emotionlessly, Zelgadis told Sandshrew to use Rollout.  Upon hearing this, Lina told Butterfree to get out off the way.  Apparently, Butterfree's wing became more painful with each flap, because Butterfree was slowly losing aptitude.  Noticing the lack of flight, Lina told Butterfree to use Sleep Powder on her command.  When Sandshrew was at the peak of its jump, Lina told Butterfree to use it.  Butterfree was very weak now however, so most of the Sleep Powder didn't reach Sandshrew.  It did make it sneeze somehow, though.  Sandshrew stopped in midair to sneeze, and upon realizing that he was 70 inches off the ground, plummeted down without the help of wings.  Upon hitting the ground, Sandshrew was knocked out.  Butterfree landed soon afterwards, breathing very hard.

Zelgadis grimaced as he returned Sandshrew to its pokeball and stated, "You struck down my first pokemon.  I formally congratulate you.  But see if you can handle this!  Graveler!  I choose you!"

            Lina smirked as she stated, "Won't know until we try, now will we?  Butterfree, you think can continue?"

            Butterfree shakily nodded its head in agreement.  "Alright then!  Try Poison Powder!"

            Butterfree launched the attack but Zelgadis had Graveler attack with a jump tackle, effectively knocking Butterfree to the ground.  But just before Butterfree fainted, tiny purple powder escaped Butterfree's wings upon impact, allowing Graveler to accidentally breathe it in.  The score now stood as Zelgadis: 1 faint, 1 poisoned, and Lina: 1 faint, 1 new pokemon.

            With a fresh wave of hope, Lina thought, "I can win this!"  Lina returned Butterfree to its pokeball and "carefully" considered her next choice.  Lina was always one for favoritism, so her choice was…"Pyro Go!"

            Zelgadis scoffed.  "A Fire Pokemon against a Rock Type?  Don't you know that fire is weak against ground?"

            Lina confidently grinned.  "As a general statement, you're right.  But with my training, my Pyro is different than other fire-types.  Plus, your Graveler is poisoned.  All I really would have to do is prolong the match and it'd faint by itself.  Let's go!  Pyro!  Improvised Ember attack #2!  Fireball!"

            A large ball of fire grew at Pyro's mouth, and was launched at the very slightly weakened Graveler.  Zelgadis seemed surprised when the attack sent Graveler back a few feet.

            "Graveler.  Use a Magnitude attack."

            Graveler pounded both of his large "fists" into the ground, sending a shockwave that made the rock boulders on either side of Pyro collapse on top of him.

            "Pyro!  Jump back and send out an Improvised Ember attack #1!  Flare Arrow!"

            Pyro jumped back far enough to escape the rock avalanche and release a fire "lance" that turned into five arrows of fire after getting through the remains of the debris.  Every single one hit Graveler, but in separate places.  The result – Graveler was knocked onto his back, but he could still get up.

            Zelgadis was determined not to let a greenhorn trainer beat him, but there was something different about the way this challenger trained her pokemon, and he knew it.

            "Graveler, Rock Throw."

            Basically, the attack was no different except the rocks that fell were larger.  Again, Pyro instinctively dodged the attack and stood on top of the large rock pile.  Lina grinned and thought a moment before deciding Pyro's next attack.  "Pyro – Use Improvised Ember attack 3!  That should do the trick!  Mega Brand!"

            Since Zelgadis had never heard of such an attack, he didn't know how Graveler could defend against it except, "Graveler, defend yourself."  Graveler put both arms in a criss-cross in front of his face, but that barely did anything as he was enveloped in a pillar of fire.  When the smoke cleared, both trainers found that Graveler, too, had fainted.

            Zelgadis grimaced as he returned Graveler to his pokeball.  "You tried your best.  Good job."  He turned to Lina and started walking towards her.

            Lina was currently congratulating Pyro on their first gym victory when Zelgadis loomed over her.  She stood up with a cheeky grin.  Zelgadis held out a fist, and opened it to reveal the Boulder Badge.  Lina eyes sparkled with glee, and perhaps greed.

            "Take it.  You won it fair and square.  Although, I've never seen attacks like the ones your Charmander used."

            Lina graciously took the badge, thanked him happily, and bent down to show Pyro.  Gourry congratulated Lina and she gave him a victory sign in response.  She then put her new badge in a pouch in her cape before sitting down and calling out the fainted Butterfree to her lap.  Zelgadis and Gourry watched as she took out a small purple potion from her bag and poured a drop into Butterfree's mouth.  In a second, Butterfree was alive with energy.  When she stood up again, Butterfree rested on her shoulder and said a few words in "Butterfree" language.  Lina turned to Pyro and asked, "Say what?"

            Pyro closed his eyes and answered slightly haughtily, "Char mander char charman."

            "WHAT?!"  Lina looked at her Butterfree in an incredulous exclamation.  "Why should I give you ice cream?!  Not only will you get fat, you'll get sick too.  Pokemon shouldn't have ice cream."

            Zelgadis was startled at this sudden outburst.  "How, how do you know they want ice cream?"

            Pyro said another few words and Lina growled, "Pyro doesn't want ice cream; he wants beef jerky, he says.  According to him, Butterfree wants Butterscotch ice cream.  I'm not even sure that's a flavor."

            Zelgadis cleared his throat and said, "Again, how do you know what they want?"

            Lina looked back up at him with a slightly surprised look.  "Eh?  I can understand what fire-type pokemon say, but not any others, so I have Charmander translate for me.  You didn't figure that out already?"

            Zelgadis coughed into his hand and remarked, "Are you really a pokemon translator?"

            Lina cocked her head slightly as she said, "I suppose you could say that, yes."

            Gourry asked, "Oi, Lina.  What are we going to do now?"

            "Need you ask?  We eat!"

            Zelgadis sweatdropped as Gourry cheered in agreement.

            Butterfree said something, Charmander translated, and Lina immediately said, "No ice cream or beef jerky!  I'll give you treats when we get there, but not sweets!  Afterwards, we're headed for Cerulean City!"

            Lina considered something a moment before she asked Zelgadis, "Hey, Zel.  Want to come with us?"

            Zelgadis seemed surprised by this.  "Why?"

            "You want to cure yourself, right?  So you don't look the way you do now?  I think I know some people in Cinnabar that might be able to help.  It's on my way, too.  What do you say?"

            "How did you-"

            Lina winked and said, "I have my ways.  So do you want to come?"

            Zelgadis cracked a small smile.  "Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm better off searching alone."

            Lina shrugged.  "If that's the way you want it.  Just know that you're always welcome to join me.  See ya!  Come on Gourry!  Butterfree!  Pyro!  Let's go!"

            Without another look, Lina ran back out, Gourry and her pokemon in tow.  Zel exhaled deeply, and went at lightning speed to his room to pack for his journey – a step that took only two mere minutes.

A/N: Well? How do you like it?  I didn't make it too easy right?  Please Review!