Chapter 21: Boys will be Boys

Princess Day had come and gone. Marie was merciless to the boys when it came to shopping.

"I never want to see another dress again." Andy said.

(A/N: Sorry the Princess Day was so short)

0000

After about a month of traveling and getting lost, we find the trio entering Fuchsia City.

"Thank goodness." Marie said.

"I'm going to see Officer Jenny." Andy announced.

"I'm going to the gym." Aaron said.

"And I'll go to the Pokemon Center and take a long bath." Marie stated.

0000

After Aaron won his gym badge from Koga, he decided to call his dad.

"Hey Dad"

"Hey Aaron. Is everything ok?"

"Everything is just great. Professor Elm said that you were away on business."

"Yeah. I went to go see Professor Birch in Hoenn."

"Neat. I'll travel there one day."

"I'm sure you will." Dan said "How are things with you guys?"

"Fine. Did I tell you we have a new addition?"

"No you didn't. Who is it?"

"Her name is Marie. She's from Cherrygrove."

"Really?" Dan said with a hint of amusement.

"Yeah. Static kinda destroyed her scooter." Aaron admitted.

"Do I want to know?"

"Not really."

"Do you know why Professor Elm has been acting funny since I got back?"

"No. Why?"

"I was just wondering if you knew anything. It's like he wants to tell me something, but is very hesitant."

"I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably nothing."

"Probably."

"Hey Aaron!" Marie called entering the Pokemon Center from dinner. "I just got a movie to watch. Want to watch it with me?"

"What movie?"

"The Parent Trap. With Haley Mills"

"Nah. Sounds like a chick flick"

"Is that her?" Dan asked.

"Yeah. This is Marie. Marie. This is my Dad, Daniel Ketchem."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Ketchem."

"Same here."

"Is Aaron always this stubborn?" she asked.

"Hey!" Aaron exclaimed.

"Most of the time. Don't worry about it. Boys will be boys." Dan said laughing

0000

The next morning, the trio took a ferry to Cinnabar Island. Andy was excited.

"Blaine is the gym leader. His specialty is fire. His strongest is his Magmar."

"Ok Andy. We get it." Aaron said.

When the ferry landed,

"Wow. There are a lot of tourists here." Marie observed

"I wonder why." Andy said.

"What do tourists think are hot and cool?" a hippie came up from behind the trainers.

"Uh." The boys said.

"Hot springs." Marie stated.

"Right."

"Where's the gym?" Aaron asked.

"Where do you put your glasses?"

"I don't wear glasses." Aaron said.

"In front of your eyes." Marie said.

"Correct." The hippie said pointing to a burnt building.

"Oh no! I have to get the Volcano Badge! Do you know where the new gym is?" Aaron asked the hippie.

"It's in a place where a firefighter will never win."

"Huh?" the boys said.

"If you kids need a place to stay, here is my card." The hippie gave them a card.

"The Riddle Me Inn. If you look near a swing you'll see my hands or at least my face." Marie read outloud.

"Too many riddles." Andy said rubbing his head.

0000

Marie had solved the riddle for the inn. After they stayed the night, they left to go look for the gym.

"A place where a firefighter can't win." Aaron mused.

"A firefighter can't win where there is no fire." Andy started.

"Please." Marie sighed. She grabbed both of there heads and moved them into the direction of the volcano.

"What does a volcano have to do with anything?" Aaron asked.

"If you put a team of firefighters in a volcano, can they beat the heat?" she asked.

"No." Andy said. "Oh. I get it. The gym is inside the volcano."

"Ok." Aaron said uncertain. "Who puts a gym inside a volcano?"

0000

When they got to the volcano, they found the hippie waiting at a cave.

"What are you doing here?" Aaron asked.

"It's not a hat, but it keeps you head dry. If you wear it, it's because you lost it." The hippy answered.

"Another riddle?" the two boys asked.

"A wig." Marie answered.

"Correct." The hippie said as he pulled off his wig.

"AGGHHH! OMG! YOUR BLAINE!" Andy screamed like a fan.

"Yes I am." Blaine said.

"I am your biggest fan. When I grow up, I want to be a fire type gym leader. My name is Andy." Andy introduced himself.

"I don't think even an Officer Jenny can distract him." Aaron said. "Excuse me. My name is Aaron and I came here to challenge you for the Volcano badge."

"I accept your challenge. You are extremely lucky I had just gotten the gym fixed."

"It was broken?" Andy asked.

Marie slapped her head.

"About a year and a half ago, these three idiots decided to freeze the volcano." Blaine explained.

"And with the heat from the volcano and the chill from the ice, the volcano cracked and started to erupt?" Andy asked.

"Exactly. You know your science."

"Volcanos are what got me interested in fire types."

0000

After Aaron barely won against Blaine with Typhlosion and Static, he came to a realization.

"I need a water type."

"Yeah. That would be helpful." Marie said. "Especially against Brock and the Viridian leader."

"Who is that?" Andy asked.

"No one knows."

"What do they train?" Aaron asked.

"Brock trains rock and the Viridian leader trains mainly ground and normal." Marie told him.

"Who all do I have left?" Aaron asked her while she was answering questions.

"Well, next is Celadon, that's grass types. Then Saffron has psychic types. I wish you luck there. Then Cerulean has water."

"Wow. You know your gyms." Andy stated.

"Well, I want to be a researcher. Might as well start somewhere." She said.

TBC