The Valor of the Volcano Badge
"You're really gonna let me keep this Omanyte?!" Bryce exclaimed, holding out a Pokeball in his hands, gazing up to the trainer at his side.
As the pair exited Cinnabar's Fossil Restoration Lab, Alexa beamed down at the bewildered boy. "You bet I am! I had those two fossils, but I only needed one to fill out my team against Blaine. Figured you could have another little buddy to add to your roster!"
"Well thanks!" The boy cheered, clipping the new ball to his belt.
"No problem," She said, before retreating into thought. 'Going into this battle with an all new team member is gonna be wild, but I'm so ready for it! It'll sure give us an edge on Blaine!'
Together in the early morning sun, the pair made their way down to the Ferry Docks so that they may meet up with the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island. For coming in second and third place during Trivia Night, their gym battles would come in the early morning during Blaine's training hours.
Upon their arrival, the Gym Leader awaited at the end of a boarding platform of a large white ship. "Perfect timing!" The moustached Gym Leader called out. "Are the pair of you ready for a challenge on one of my favorite playing fields!"
Alexa and Bryce smiled as they approached the friendly Gym Leader. Together, the trio boarded the large white ship and made their way across the ocean, away from Cinnabar Island, towards a tall volcano in the distance.
On the vibrantly colored, disco-like battlefield, Alexa and Blaine stood across from one another with a Pokeball in hand. With two entrance pathways out onto a pedestal of rock at the volcano's center was the location where Alexa's next gym battle would take place.
A floating Gym Referee-Bot hovered in the air, with a green and yellow flag on either side. "The Gym Challenge today will consist of a 3 on 3 battle between Challenger: Alexa Ketchum of Pallet Town. Versus, the Flaming Hot Quiz King of Cinnabar Island- Blaaaine." The robot buzzed, as it raised its green and yellow flag in sequence. "Let the battle commence!"
"Milotic! Let's do this!" Alexa cheered, pitching out her Shiny serpent of the Hoenn Region. Raising its head high above Blaine, gold stars twinkled around it as it gave an emotionless stare.
"Arcanine! Let's flare things up!" The old man shouted, tossing out his canine Pokemon. With a majestic, tan mane and vibrant orange and black pattern, it was obviously a well-kept Pokemon.
"Battle!" Both Gym Leader and Challenger roared out in unison, making Bryce, positioned on a heat resistant glass balcony high above the battle, marvel down at them.
Cloaked in water, Milotic rushed across the colorful battlefield in an attempt to land its first move; an Aqua Jet. However, cloaking its body in a blinding white light, its opponent darted to the side using an Extreme Speed to dodge. Then, opening its maw, the Fire Type launched an immense Flamethrower at its opponent.
"Aqua Tail!" Alexa roared, making her Pokemon's golden tail curl upwards, with a coat of water swirling around it. Pushing against the flaming attack, Milotic was able to nullify the effects of the move. A thin mist then set in over the battlefield.
'Making a cover for herself,' Blaine thought to himself. 'It can only last for so long. Soon enough it shall be evaporated away by the heat of the volcano.' Suddenly, Blaine's attention was caught to a faint blue glow appearing within the mist. "There you are! Arcanine, Will-O-Wisp!"
As three flaming purple orbs were propelled forwards tearing into the mist at the sight of the blue light, its target soon shifted to that of a light blue shield. The projectiles collided and were nullified by Milotic's Safeguard.
'If there's one thing I picked up on about Blaine,' Alexa thought to herself, recalling Red's battle the night prior. 'It's that he'll go for long-term Burn damage.' As the image of Red's Snorlax with a scorched mark on its thick leg appeared in her head. "Safeguard will keep my team safe for a while! Alright Milotic! Hydro Pump!"
As her trainer called out, Milotic threw its head back and charged up an orb of swirling water in its mouth. Launching it forwards, the propellant stream shot over the bright field and hit its mark, soaking the Arcanine. Digging its feet into the ground, Arcanine pushed back, but was soon met with the force of Milotic riding through the torrent in its own Aqua Jet.
"A diversion!" Blaine exclaimed, as his Arcanine was knocked backwards, collapsing on the ground with swirls in its eyes, just as the mist diminished around them.
"I picked up on some of your tricks watching you battle Red!" Alexa said with a grin. "Now show me what else ya got!"
"I like the fire this one has," Blaine said, cracking a grin of his own, seeing she would be a formidable opponent. Magmar! Give 'em the heat!" Tossing its ball out, the orange and red Pokemon calmly stood, gauging its foe. "Go! Iron Tail!
"Milotic, you meet him with an Aqua Tail!" Alexa cheered, as her Pokemon shot forwards into a slither.
Magmar, swinging its flame-tipped tail forwards, made it enveloped in a sliver glow. Milotic whipped its body around, sending forth its tail cloaked in water. Both attacks collided, however Magmar's power was enough to break through Milotic's attack.
"Flamethrower!" Blaine roared, as his Pokemon spun, following through with its own attack. Swelling its chest, it blew a stream of intense heat from its bill, catching Milotic in the attack. A blue glow overtook its body however, as the effects of its Safeguard removed its chance of getting burned.
"Milotic use-"
"Thunder Punch!" Blaine commanded, as his Magmar rocketed forwards with a fist surging with electricity. Clocking Milotic in the face, the Shiny Pokemon fell backwards.
Bryce from his balcony, sat and watched clutching the sides of his head. 'Amazing! Blaine has a move on his Pokemon designed to counter the type it's weak to!'
"Return, Milotic," Alexa said, returning her downed Pokemon to its ball. "You did awesome." She smiled, clipping it back to her belt and drawing a new one. "Now it's your turn!" Alexa cheered, pitching a new Pokeball forwards.
Hitting the field was Alexa's brand new Pokemon. Revived from an ancient item found deep within Mount Moon from millions of years ago.
"Welcome to the Cinnabar Island Fossil Restoration Center!" A man in a lab coat said, positioned next to two large tanks with green fluid floating about in them. "Our goal is to revive relics of the past and unite them with the trainers of today. I take it you're here for me to revive some Pokemon?"
"You bet," Alexa said, taking off her large yellow pack, setting it on the ground with a thud. Unzipping the bag, she pulled out a small, helix patterned fossil. "Here you go Bryce. How about you hold onto this."
"Sure thing!" He cheered, taking the one fossil into his two hands.
"And I'll…" Alexa said, using her muscles to pull the larger fossil out of her bag. "Be reviving this one!" Holding the large, dark brown fossil in her hands, the item appeared to be the large, wide head of a Pokemon.
"Oh my! What an incredibly rare find!" The Lab Assistant cried out, seeing the massive fossilized remains. "This is a Kabutops Fossil!"
"That's what you were carrying in your bag this entire time!?" Bryce exclaimed as his eyes bulged outwards.
"Kabutops. The Shellfish Pokemon. With sharp claws, this ferocious, ancient Pokémon rips apart prey and sucks their body fluids. Although just when its body had begun to change so it could function on land, it didn't adapt in time and went extinct." Bryce's Pokedex uttered, as he gazed down at the bipedal Pokemon with two long blades for hands.
"Sounds- ferocious," He said in awe. "And kinda sad..."
'A Rock/Water Type! Perfect for a challenge against Blaine!' Alexa thought to herself giddy with excitement. 'Plus!... A new Pokemon for my team! All I gotta do is see what moves I'm working with.' However just as Alexa opened up her Pokedex, her new Kabutops sped forwards entering its hunter mode. "Hey! Wait!" The teen called out.
Kabutops charged in at the Magmar with its silver blades out to either side. Slashing the right one forwards, followed by the left, Magmar ducked and weaved to dodge the oncoming attacks. Then, dropping low, the Spitfire Pokemon struck the Fossil Pokemon with a fist that glowed bright orange, sending the Kabutops flying backwards, dragging its blades into the ground to gain traction. Then, standing up on its two legs, the Pokemon glanced around, finally getting sight of where it was battling. Its eyes widened as anxiety set into the Pokemon, as it crossed its arms and began quivering, seeing that it was fighting inside of a volcano.
"Aw, poor baby," Alexa said, taking notice of the fearful Pokemon. 'From its perspective, it was a cozy fossil… now who knows what's going through its head right now.' Sticking out her hand, she sent out a pulse of blue Aura from her hand; establishing a connection with the Pokemon. Feeling a calming wave come over it, the Pokemon settled, locking eyes with the girl. "My name's Alexa. And I'm your new trainer. I bet things look really scary right now. Do you want to sit out on this fight?" Her opponent, Blaine, dropped his guard after seeing the trainer use her Aura to calm the Pokemon.
Meeting the trainer's gaze and feeling at ease, the Shellfish Pokemon nodded its head, letting its guard down to her. Its trainer had a smile on her face as she recalled it to the ball, placing it back onto her belt. 'You'll just have to get to know me and the team a little better after this.'
"Amazing…" Blaine said in a whisper.
"So cool!" Bryce uttered.
"Alrighty Blaine! You ready for me to turn up the heat?!" Alexa roared, pulling the next ball off of her belt. As the flames of battle lit inside her, she pitched out her next Pokeball. "Go! Incineroar!" She uttered with great charisma, as the Pokeball opened, releasing a black tornado of energy.
Rocketing across the field at a blinding speed, the Heel Pokemon exited its Darkest Lariat seconds before collision with Blaine's Magmar, showing that its right fist was cloaked in black energy. Drilling its opponent's face with a Sucker Punch, Incineroar stood with a smoking fist, and a toothy grin as the black and red energy dissipated around it.
"Magmar is unable to battle!" The Ref Drone announced. "Will Leader Blaine please send out his next Pokemon!"
"Such rigor…" Blaine said, recalling his fainted Pokemon. "It seems only fitting that I bring a worthy opponent!" He roared, throwing out his final Pokemon. "Emboar! Let's scorch them to cinders!"
The Unovan Starter emerged on the field, smashing its two bulky hands together. With a snort sending embers out of its nose, a bright orange flame burned from around its neck. Making the first move, Emboar charged in with its right palm spread out, glowing orange. Using an Arm Thrust on its nimble opponent, Incineroar sprang off the ground, driving two feet into the back of the Mega Fire Pig Pokemon's head. Sending it to the ground, Incineroar jumped up into the air, before letting gravity carry it down with an elbow drop. Incineroar threw back its head and arms, letting out a roar which echoed through the volcano's interior.
Blaine's Emboar began to rise, getting up onto its four limbs. "Heat Crash!" Blaine exclaimed, as an intense flame enveloped his Pokemon's head. Charging in with a fury, the Unovan Pokemon tackled Incineroar in its gray midsection. Feeling a pain in its gut, Incineroar jutted out its claws, enveloping them in a dark glow.
"Throat Chop!" Alexa cried out.
While restrained, Incineroar used a free hand to drive its fingers repeatedly into the back of the Pokemon's neck. After getting jabbed several times, Emboar released its grip of Incineroar, soon crashing to its knees.
With its opponent now grounded, Incineroar spun over the back of the Pokemon, who laid in the ground. Wrapping its arms around the massive waist of the Pokemon, Incineroar lifted the Pokemon up off the ground, keeping the Unovan Pokemon's shoulders high above its own head. Then, shifting its weight backwards, the pair went backwards, as Mega Fire Pig Pokemon's head bashed off the colorful dancefloor.
"Nice suplex!" Alexa cheered on. "Now let's give him the whirly dirly!"
Positioning itself at the Emboar's legs, Incineroar grabbed and locked them in place, staring at its grounded foe. "Growh!" The Pokemon said. Entering a Darkest Lariat, the massive Emboar was locked in the grip of the Pokemon and sent spinning as well. With precision timing, Incineroar released its grip, sending Emboar flying off the pedestal of rock they were fighting on. Smashing back first into the wall of the volcano, Emboar fell, landing on the ground just before the exit to the battlefield.
"Emboar is unable to battle!" The Ref Drone cried out, raising its green flag to Alexa's side of the field. "That means the challenger, Alexa Ketchum is the winner!"
"Nice one, Incineroar!" Alexa shouted, rushing out onto the field next to her starter, who stood with its arms crossed. Leaping up, she wrapped her arms around the Pokemon's neck, but was soon put into a headlock (and noogie) by the Pokemon, who sported a toothy grin.
Now standing in the center of the battlefield, Blaine, his Emboar, Alexa, her Incineroar, and Bryce stood awaiting for Alexa's Badge presentation.
"And here you are," Blaine said, sticking out his hand which contained a flame-shaped badge with a pink diamond residing in the center. "For besting me and my team in a battle of wits and skill! I present to you: The Volcano Badge!"
"Sweet!" Alexa cheered, raising the token high into the air, as Incineroar appeared behind her, flexing its muscles and letting out a loud roar. "Thanks for the battle, Blaine!"
"No, thank you," The sunglasses-wearing Leader said, stroking his white mustache. "I always cherish battles with knowledgeable trainers. Now, how about you, Bryce? Are you and your team ready for the Gym Challenge?"
"Welllll…" Bryce said hesitantly laughing. "If we're being quite honest, I don't think my team is at the level to be facing you just yet! But when we get a lot stronger and have learned some more, I'll be ready to battle you!"
"Alrighty then. When you're ready, my team and I will be prepared for you!" Blaine said with a smile. "Now you kids better take the stairway down to the Ferry Docks so you can get back to the Island. Have many safe travels ahead of you!"
"We will!" The pair of trainers said, as they turned with Incineroar behind them and walked out of the battling chambers.
'So what Oak said was true,' Blaine thought to himself, stroking his facial hair as the image of the girl using her Aura to calm the timid Kabutops popped into his brain. 'Ash's little sister is looking to get her mojo back… Well I think she just got one step closer.'
"Boar," The Pokemon snorted at his side.
"Yes, my friend," The Gym Leader said, patting his Pokemon on the shoulder. "I suppose we ought to send word to Sabrina. I am sure those two will cross paths sooner than later. Alexa is certainly someone she'd ought to keep her eye on."
