Chapter 74 – Fire vs. Fire
May and I had no trouble finding the harbor where the cruise ship to Cinnibar Island was moored. We dismounted from Tauros and Fierymane, and boarded the ship, along with Flamefox, Firestorm, Amber, Inferno, Refur, and Fiona. It was a very luxurious liner, with a swimming pool, lounge chairs, and refreshments. I was a bit surprised, however, to see that there weren't really any other Pokemon trainers on board – mostly a lot of tourists. I asked, "Are you sure this is a cruise to Cinnibar Island, where Cinnibar Gym is located?" May answered, "That's what it says in the brochure." I asked, "But how come there seems to be more tourists than trainers?" May replied, "Cinnibar Island has really turned into more of a tourist attraction than anything else, because of all the hot springs located there, surrounding the island's volcano. There's also a Pokemon research lab located there." I asked, "There is a gym, though, right?" She answered, "Trust me, there is. Just not many people go there to battle for a badge anymore. It's kind of… hidden." I asked, "What do you mean?" She answered, "You'll see when we get there." In the meantime, we enjoyed some shipboard activities, and I took in a swim with Vaporeon in the pool. It had been a while since we swam together.
When we arrived at the harbor of Cinnibar Island, May and I, and our Pokemon walked down the ramp of the ship and onto the dock. The town ahead was full of tourist shops and restaurants. I said, "Wow! It sure doesn't seem like there could be a Pokemon gym here." May said, "Follow me. I know exactly where to go." I said, "Okay" and the Pokemon and I all walked with her. There was a Pokemon Center on the island that looked totally filled with people. May said, "Most of the hotels here are fully booked year round. The hot springs business really took the attention away from the gym." I said, "That's too bad." We passed the Pokemon research lab, which was a large white building. After we walked a while, May led me to an old wooden building that was in shambles. "This is the original gym" she said. I looked at it and said, "What happened?" She answered, "Blaine abandoned it because nobody came to challenge him anymore. Instead, he opened up a hotel, the Big Riddle Inn." I replied, "That's an odd name." She said, "Blaine likes to tell riddles. I'm warning you ahead of time so he doesn't completely confuse you." I said, "Thanks." She continued, "Anyway, Blaine does have another gym here, but… I don't know if I want to ruin the surprise." I asked, "What surpise?" Just then, I spotted a man with long light brown hair, a moustache and beard, and sunglasses, wearing a red and blue shirt with red pants. Before he could say anything, I exclaimed, "Blaine!" He was completely taken by surprise, but I could recognize him right through his disguise! He started to say, "I don't know who you're…" when I interrupted, "This is a great pleasure for me! You've always been like an idol to me because you specialize in fire types! I want to specialize in fire types, too, and was really hoping you'd look at mine!" He stood for a second and said, "Idol? Really? Well, normally I taunt new trainers with riddles, but for you, I won't. After all, you already saw right through my disguise! Who are you?" I answered, "I'm Joe, from Crimson Town!" He replied, "Ah, the big Johto League winner 2 years ago! Yes, I've heard good things about you. Your fire Pokemon were quite impressive in the League battles!" Then to May, he asked, "Did he really know it was me, or did you tell him?" She answered, "Honest, cross my heart, he knew it was you." He nodded and said, "Well, Ms. Redfield, its good to see you again. You did very well in last year's Johto League, too." She said, "Thanks." Then to me he said, "May here did very good battling me last year for her Volcano badge. I trust that you, too, wish to battle me for a badge?" I answered, "You bet! But I see your old gym is in shambles, and May hasn't told me where your new gym is." He said, "In that case, just one riddle – it's a place where firemen wouldn't stand a chance." I replied, "Sounds to me like its in the volcano!" He lowered his sunglasses and said, "You got it! You're very sharp, Joe!" Then he said, "Come with me to my hotel. You guys can relax there, and when you're ready, Joe, we'll have our battle." I said, "Sounds good!"
As we walked, he said, "Your Vulpix and Ninetales look very powerful. So what other fire types do you have?" I answered, "I also have Inferno, my Flareon, and Arcanine." He said, "All good Pokemon. You'll have to meet my Vulpix when we reach the hotel. I'm planning to evolve it soon – it's very strong." Then he said, "Oh, I wanted to tell you, there's someone else staying at the hotel who has very high regards for you." I asked, "Really? Who?" He replied, "For this, I will give you a riddle – it's someone you know who's very cool!" I just looked at May, then back at Blaine and said, "That's not much to go on – I know a few cool people." He said, "Then I guess you'll just have to wait and see." For the rest of our walk there, I wondered who this mystery person could be.
Pretty soon, we reached the Big Riddle Inn, and Blaine led us through the 2 glass doors in the front of the building that led into the lobby and said, "Make yourselves comfortable. I'll let my special guest know you're here." May and I, along with our fire Pokemon, walked through 2 more doors that led behind the hotel and there were all kinds of hot springs in the back. May said, "Wow, this looks so relaxing!" I sat down in a lounge chair and said, "I wonder who this person is that knows me?" I heard a familiar voice answer, "As Blaine said, someone you know who is very cool!" I turned to see who said that, and was completely surprised to see Martin with his Arcanine and his Vulpix, Tails! May was equally surprised! "Martin? What are you doing here?" I asked. He said, "I'm just here on a little vacation, and… I guess I never told you – Blaine is my uncle." May said, "I never knew that!" Tails ran up to her parents, aunt and uncle – it had been a while since they'd seen each other. Tails had a pink bow in the center curl of hair on her head, just like her mother. May said, "Tails looks great! You're doing a good job raising her, Martin!" He said, "Thanks!" Blaine soon joined us, accompanied by his Vulpix. He took off his wig of light brown hair to reveal his white, balding hair and said, "I guess there's no need for this around you guys." I asked, "So, Blaine, how come your gym is hidden now?" He answered, "Since this island became more of a tourist attraction, less people came to battle me. The hotel business was an obvious choice here, since I can make more money that way. But I still keep the gym open, under the table, for the trainers who are lucky enough to find it. I told you, I taunt them with riddles, and those who figure them out have earned the right to battle me. For you, however, this is more of a privilege. For one thing, you have a lot of respect for me, and for another thing, Martin has high regards for you. A lot of trainers don't respect me because I only use fire types, and they say fire can be taken out easily with water. But a true trainer knows that Pokemon battling is about more than just type advantage." I said, "I knew that!" Blaine said, "Which is why you're a good trainer. Now how about you release your Arcanine so I can see him, too?" I replied, "Absolutely!" and opened his pokeball. He materialized before us. Martin said, "Very nice! He looks as strong as mine!" Our Arcanines greeted each other with friendly barks. Blaine said, "You seem to have a real knack with fire Pokemon, Joe. This might be a tough battle for me to win – but we'll see!" Then he said, "I'm gonna get all of you some cold lemonade. I'll be right back!" After he left, I said, "Martin, I was wondering something." He asked, "What is it?" I said, "During our journey here in Kanto, a few times I felt like we were being followed, and one time, I was positive I heard Sneasel cries and we found Sneasel tracks!" May said, "That's right. I was wondering about this, myself." I continued, "Sneasels aren't native here, though. Can you think of anyone who you might have given any Sneasels to here in Kanto?" He replied, "I haven't given any Sneasels to anyone in Kanto. You know as well as I do that they'd be illegal to use in battle here. They haven't been included in the worldwide Pokedex and for that matter, not even the Pokedex in Johto yet." I said, "That's really weird." He said, "Maybe someone found Sneasels here in Kanto." I said, "Maybe – but why would he be following us?" Martin muttered, kind of cryptically, "Maybe he's watching over you." May asked, "What did you say?" He replied, "Uh… nothing. Just making a little joke. But no, I haven't given anyone in Kanto any Sneasels yet." I asked, "And you wouldn't have been following us, right?" He asked, "Now why would I be following you guys around?" May said, "We know. We already discussed it and figured it couldn't have been you. I'm sure you have a lot better things to do than sneak around and stalk us." We all laughed, but still I wondered. Blaine returned to the room with a tray of glasses of lemonade, and said, "I heard laughing. Did I miss a funny joke?" Martin said, "No, it was nothing. So how many challengers have you had this month, Uncle Blaine?" He answered, "Not too many. A lot of the less experienced ones forfeited when they saw the gym." That remark made me a tad nervous. I asked, "Really?" May said, "Don't worry, Joe! I'm sure you'll do fine. You've got a lot of experience now. Besides, it's not that much different from Claire's gym." Martin cringed and said, "Don't mention that name." I said, "Sorry, Martin." He never did tell us what the grudge was between him and Clair. Blaine said, "I once invited Lance and Clair to come here and visit, but they declined. I'm not sure why." Martin said, "Probably because Lance realized that if Clair accidentally fell into the lava, the impact of the coldest substance on earth meeting the hottest substance on earth would cause the world to split in half." We all laughed hard, but then I said, "All joking aside, I know Clair isn't exactly the nicest person on earth, but she did help me to beat her brother by giving me that Nevermeltice." May said, "That's true, but was that really to help you win, or just for her to have the satisfaction of seeing her brother get bested?" Martin said, "With Clair, probably the latter." We watched our Pokemon playing together for a while, and I asked Blaine, "So, how many fire Pokemon do you have?" He answered, "A lot! You'll see some of them in our battle, but later I'll let you see the rest if you want." Then to all of us, he said, "In the meantime, why don't you guys enjoy a dip in the hot springs? Then later on, Joe can have his battle." So, we did so, and the Vulpixes all continued to play together, while Firestorm, Inferno, the Arcanines, Redfur, Fiona, and Fierymane hung around near the volcano. They all basked in the heat emanating from it. This was an ideal place for fire types to live.
That evening, after we were all rested up and relaxed, I was ready for my battle with Blaine for my Volcano Badge. By one of the hot springs, there was a Gyardos statue, which poured a constant flow of water into the springs from it's mouth. However, when you pressed down on the statue, it opened a secret door with a secret passageway that led down a flight of stairs. The walls were illuminated only by candles, and it was very intensely hot inside! I walked down the stairs with May, Martin, the Vulpixes, Firestorm, Inferno, and the fire dogs. At the bottom of the stairs were double metal doors. May said, "I highly advise that you have one of your fire types open the door – the handles are red hot!" I said, "Okay – Flamefox, open the door." He stood up on his hind legs and pulled the door open. We all walked inside. It was a huge rock cavern within the volcano! There was a pit of lava, and, suspended over it with chains, was a concrete battle platform! I was rather impressed! Blaine emerged from a doorway on the opposite side. "Well, how do you like it?" he asked. I answered, "It's great! I can see how it could be intimidating to some trainers, but I'm impressed with it!" He said, "Thanks! Now how about we get this battle under way. Are you ready to begin?" I answered, "I'm ready!" He said, "Very good. This will be a 3 on 3 battle!" Then he threw his first pokeball and shouted, "Go, Rhydon!" The gray, horned Pokemon materialized on the platform. I replied, "In that case, I choose Vaporeon!" and I tossed out her pokeball. Blaine ordered, "Rhydon, use fury attack!" Rhydon came at my Vaporeon, thrusting at her with it's arms, trying to hit her. She managed to keep dodging the attacks, but got hit by one and knocked sideways. She stood back up and I ordered, "Vaporeon, use water gun!" She shot a powerful stream of water at Rhydon from her mouth, which pushed it back and knocked it onto it's butt! "Rhydon, use horn drill!" Blaine commanded. Rhydon stood back up and came at Vaporeon with it's horn spinning! I responded, "Vaporeon, use bubblebeam!" She shot out a stream of bubbles at the charging Rhydon, and the bubbles each exploded on impact, disorienting the Rhydon and knocking it back down again. Once it stood back up, Blaine ordered, "Use take down!" I commanded, "Vaporeon, whirlpool!" She released a tornado of water from her mouth that wrapped around the charging Rhydon and stopped it in it's tracks! When the water dispersed, the Rhydon fell, belly down to the ground! I exclaimed, "Good work, Vaporeon!" and she jumped up to me for a hug. May said, "Good work, Joe!" and Martin said, "Excellent, Joe!" Blaine recalled Rhydon and said, "Not bad! But now, for my second Pokemon, I choose Rapidash!" and he released the fire horse Pokemon from it's pokeball. May said, "That's a nice looking Rapidash." I said, "I'll stick with Vaporeon for now." Blaine said, "Very well. Rapidash, use stomp!" The very quick fire horse ran at Vaporeon, and hit her with it's hooves! She flopped sideways to the floor! "Vaporeon!" I shouted. She stood back up, and I said, "Good girl, Vaporeon! Now use whirlpool again!" She released the tornado of water from her mouth, but it all just turned to steam surrounding Blaine's Rapidash, until it completely dispersed! My jaw dropped! His Rapidash hadn't even been touched! Blaine shouted, "Rapidash, use fire spin!" It shot flames out of it's mouth, which formed a cyclone of fire! Vaporeon attempted to evade it, but there was nowhere to run to! "Use acid armor!" I ordered, hoping it would be enough to protect her. She was wrapped up by the intense flames, and when they disprsed, she fell over! "Vaporeon, return!" I ordered, recalling her to her pokeball. I took out my next pokeball and shouted, "Go, Jolteon!" My electric dog materialized, and I ordered, "Use thunderwave!" He launched the paralyzing electric attack, but Blaine commanded, "Rapidash, use your agility!" It easily avoided Jolteon's attack, and Blaine shouted, "Now use take down!" As it ran at Jolteon, I ordered, "Use your agility, Jolteon!" He ran in a blur, avoiding Rapidash's attack, but Rapidash was also very fast, and there was only so far either of them could run before reaching the edge of the battle platform, and Rapidash was able to finally hit Jolteon with it's attack, knocking him down. While he was down, Blaine ordered, "Rapidash, use stomp!" Just as Rapidash was about to crash it's front hooves down upon Jolteon, he ran off in a blur, to the edge of the platform, as Rapidash's hooves crashed down onto the floor! "Excellent, Jolteon! Now use thunderbolt!" He released the powerful electric attack, and hit Rapidash before it could run off! It was disoriented from the attack and I shouted, "Jolteon, use double kick!" He ran at Rapidash in a blur, and kicked at it with his feet at a lightning pace! Rapidash fell over sideways! I finally ordered, "Jolteon, use take down!" He charged at Rapidash like lightning, and Blaine ordered, "Rapidash, use flamethrower!" Although it still lay on it's side, it released the flames from it's mouth, directed at the charging Jolteon! Jolteon ran straight through the attack and hit Rapidash, finally subduing it! I couldn't believe it! "Rapidash, return!" Blaine ordered, recalling it to it's pokeball. I exclaimed, "Way to go, Jolteon!" He called out his name, but he looked like he'd taken some damage by charging through the flames. Blaine said, "You are good, Joe. But now, you'll face my most powerful Pokemon! Come out, Magmar!" Out of the lava below the hanging platform, we could see a form rising up. It rose up to the platform, the red and yellow humanoid-form spitfire Pokemon. Blaine said, "Magmar is one hot Pokemon! It lives right in this lava pit, which is where I first discovered it!" I said to Jolteon, "What do you think? Are you strong enough to handle it?" Despite his somewhat weakened condition, he nodded. I said, "Okay, Jolteon, use thunderbolt!" He launched the powerful attack, but the heat surrounding Magmar's body just dispersed the electricity! Both Jolteon and my jaw dropped simultaneously. Blaine ordered, "Magmar, use fire blast!" It launched t-shapes of flames at Jolteon. I ordered, "Jolteon, evade them with your agility! He used his agilty to move back and forth in a blur, but Magmar kept the fire blasts coming, and Jolteon was hit by the edge of one, which caused him to fall over. He was too weakened now, so I recalled him. I said, "I don't even think Vaporeon could handle it if she was fully restored. But I do have a Pokemon who is strong and can handle the heat! Go, Arcanine!" and I released my big fire dog! Martin said, "Now this battle will be good!" May said, "Be careful, Joe. Magmar is pretty strong, too." I said, "We'll just see. Arcanine, use take down!" My huge orange, black, and white dog leapt at Magmar, but Blaine ordered, "Use fire punch!" Magmar punched with fists of fire at my attacking Arcanine, and hit him, knocked him backwards onto his back! "Arcanine!" I shouted. Magmar began to walk towards him and Blaine ordered, "Use body slam, Magmar!" It jumped down onto Arcanine, but Arcanine forced Magmar up! Then Blaine ordered, "Magmar, use smoke screen!" The platform became enshrouded with smoke, and we couldn't see! When the smoke cleared, Magmar was holding up Arcanine over it's head, and May and I both gasped! "Magmar, use seismic toss!" Blaine ordered. Arcanine went hurtling towards the wall of the rocky cavern! "Arcanine, no!" I shouted. Before he hit the wall, he put out his legs, and thrust himself from the wall back onto the platform, on all fours, in an attack-ready stance! "Yes! Awesome, Arcanine!" I exclaimed. "Magmar, use fire blast!" Blaine ordered. I said, "Arcanine, do the same!" They each launched a t-shape of flames that met in the middle of the platform and created a huge, bright flash of an explosion, knocking each of them to the ground! Blaine then ordered, "Magmar, use mega punch!" As Magmar came flying at Arcanine, fist out, I ordered, "Arcanine, body slam, now!" Arcanine leapt at the attacking Magmar, and slammed his body into Magmar. They slid across the floor of the platform, Magmar under Arcanine, and came to a stop right at the edge of the platform! "Intense!" Martin exclaimed. Magmar was pinned down to the floor by Arcanine, but still had some fight left. It used mega kick on Arcanine, and sent him flying backwards to the floor on his side. It stood back up and Blaine ordered, "Use your body slam again, Magmar!" It thrust itself onto Arcanine, but he fought back, rolling over so Magmar was pinned under him again! They kept rolling and again reached the edge of the platform! "Arcanine, be careful!" I shouted. Magmar was on top of Arcanine, but Arcanine rolled it over and both of them fell off the edge! "Arcanine!" I shouted, and May screamed. They both fell into the lava pit below, still clinging each other! "No! It can't be" I shouted. We all waited… nothing. "Arcanine" I said quietly, as I felt tears forming in my eyes. Suddenly, there was movement. "Look!" May exclaimed. Up from the lava, Arcanine shot up onto the platform, where he slammed down Magmar! "I don't believe it!" Blaine exclaimed. Arcanine had beaten Magmar! "Yeah! Good job, Arcanine!" I shouted, as I jumped onto the platform and ran up to hug him. "You had me worried for a few moments there, boy" I said, as he licked my face with his huge tongue. May and Martin jumped over, as well, along with our other fire Pokemon, and May said, "That was an intense battle, Joe. You did great!" Martin said, "Yeah! Your Arcanine's a real powerhouse!" Blaine recalled Magmar and said, "Your battle skills are excellent, Joe. You're a great fire Pokemon trainer already. I'm not sure how much more you could learn from me." Then he, too, jumped over to the battle platform and said, "Here is your Volcano Badge. You've earned it!" I said, "Thanks" and took it in my hand. Then he said, "Take your wounded Pokemon to the springs. It really helps Pokemon recover from battle faster." So, I took Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Arcanine to the springs with me, and they were feeling better in no time. After that, Blaine showed me his multitude of other fire types.
We had dinner at Blaine's hotel later, and Martin said, "Why don't you guys stick around for a little while. There's going to be a Sumo Pokemon tournament in a few days, mainly for normal type Pokemon. You could use your Tauros, Joe!" I said, "That sounds great. Sure, I'll compete! How about you, May?" She said, "I'm not really interested in the battle, but I wouldn't mind staying on the island a few more days." Blaine said, "Then it's settled. You'll stay here for a few more days and enjoy yourselves." I said, "No argument here!" So the three of us, and all of our Pokemon, enjoyed a good night's rest that night, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the island the next few days before the tournament.