Chapter 25: Trouncing Through The Ice Path

"We're so close!" Angelina smiled as she viewed the Poke-Gear's map. "I can't wait to get my last Johto badge!"

"Easy there," Jeremy responded, the duo was at a table in the Pokemon Center waiting on Angelina's Pokemon to be healed, "Many of the strongest Dragon-type Trainers in the world come from Blackthorn City, including the gym leader." he took a sip of his water and then put it up in his bag, ready to go.

"Really? I wonder what they're weak against," Angelina thought for a moment and pulled out her Pokedex from her bag, looking up dragons.

"Dragon types," Dexter started, "Pokemon that contain the dragon trait often use multiple elemental attacks and prefer to be weak to ice types."

"Well that sounds easy," Angelina grinned after putting the dex and gear in her bag and zipping them up, "I can switch out for Delibird here."

"Maybe if you had a year to train Delibird," Jeremy corrected. "He isn't the toughest of your Pokemon and needs a lot of training before it can take on Dragon Pokemon."

"Your Pokemon are healed," Nurse Joy said as a "ding" went off from the counter. "Angelina, your Pokemon are healed."

Angelina got up and walked to the counter, "Thank you," she took the tray from Nurse Joy and latched six Pokeballs to her belt.

"Your welcome," Nurse Joy nodded.

Angelina and Jeremy leave the Pokemon Center and make their way towards the Ice Path. As soon as they were inside, they immediately began to shiver and put on sweatshirts to stay warm. The cavern itself stretched on into the distance, and there were patches of slippery ice everywhere as well as huge boulders. It would be tough to navigate, that was for sure, but Angelina needed to get to Blackthorn City for her final Gym battle.

"Bachiko, what's wrong?" Angelina felt her Togepi squirming uncontrollably in her arms.

Bachiko was wriggling and squeaking happily in his position, and Angelina sighed. She should have known that the baby Pokemon was getting more and more active, and needed the exercise. If he wasn't allowed to walk, he acted up like this, expending all his excess energy in any way he could. She lowered Bachiko gently to the floor. Bachiko jumped up and down in joy, his tiny feet pattering on the ground as he did so.

"Follow me closely, Bachiko. In fact, Shadow, come on out and act as Bachiko's shepherd. Keep him out of trouble."

Absol emerged and looked around for Togepi, but the Baby Pokemon had disappeared only to find him squeaking quite happily in the arms of a member of Team Rocket! The grunt attacked with his Gloom and tried to escape, but Togepi was no longer happy and bit the man's finger, scuttling back to Angelina as Jeremy took care of the Rocket with his Typhlosion. Togepi was so happy to be back with his mother that white light bathed the cavern. When Togepi emerged, it looked quite a bit different; namely, it had a more bird-like appearance, with a longer neck, fin-like arms, longer legs, as well as two wings protruding from its back. The shell seemed to have disappeared, or at the very least, morphed into the creature's body, giving its abdomen a blue and red sprinkle design.

"Oh wow!" Angelina said, taking out her Pokedex.

"Togetic the Happiness Pokemon. It will appear before kindhearted, caring people and shower them with happiness."

"Bachiko, you're so amazing!" Angelina said, hugging her new Pokemon.

"Togetics are meant to be mature and wise, according to reports, but I bet they've never seen a Togepi quite as energetic as yours." Jeremy said, watching the happy moment between Angelina and Togetic. They finally exited the Ice Path, then carefully made their way down the mountain path and arrived in Blackthorn City several hours later.

§To Be Continued§

*Jeremy explains the last gym leader uses Dragon Pokemon that are weak to Ice types
*Angelina and Jeremy travel through the Ice Path
*Angelina wants to use her Delibird in her last gym battle.
*Angelina's Togepi evolves into Togetic after almost being kidnapped by a Rocket.

Yep, finally in Blackthorn City and Angelina is excited about her last gym battle for the last Johto badge. What happens next? Stay tuned for the next two chapters!