Chapter 84 – Inferno's Secret!
May and I and our Pokemon took some time to relax and enjoy the last 5 days of our week long vacation on Phoenix Island. After the entire NIDO incident, we needed that. The island locals were all very grateful to us for ridding their island of Team Rocket, and they treated us even better than the other guests! Anyway, on the last day, we boarded the S.S. Anne and it took us back to Vermillion Harbor. Once in Vermillion City, we had Fearow and Pidgeot fly us to the outskirts of the Viridian Forest, and there, May and I mounted on Tauros and Fierymane, to visit Professor Oak before training for the Kanto League Finals. Flamefox rode with me, and Amber rode with May, as always, while Firestorm, Inferno, Redfur, and Fiona walked with us. Inferno had been acting a little strange since about the last day of our vacation, getting occasional dizzy spells, so I gave her some extra nutrients, which seemed to be helping. As our Pokemon galloped us ahead, we saw another trainer, training a Nidoqueen and a Sandslash. We caught up with him, and when he saw us, he stopped the training. "Ryan?" I asked. He said, "Hi, Joe and May! Long time no see!" May said, "Hi, Ryan. So, are you heading for Professor Oak's?" He said, "Yeah! I guess you guys are heading that way, too?" I answered, "Yep! And then I'm training for the League Finals!" Ryan said, "I know – how about a battle right now?" I said, "Okay!" He said, "Sandslash, go!" I said, "Go, Flamefox!" My fire fox faced down the big rodent, and Ryan ordered, "Sandslash, use sand attack!" I commanded, "Flamefox, avoid it with agility!" As Sandslash stirred up dust, Flamefox bolted around it, faster than my eyes could keep up with him. "Good, Flamefox, now use dig!" My Vulpix quickly burrowed underground, then shot up directly underneath Sandslash, sending it falling to the ground on it's back. "Sandslash, use swift!" Ryan ordered. I responded, "Use agility again, Flamefox!" Several energy stars were hurled at Flamefox, but they all missed him as he sprinted back and forth to avoid them, and I ordered, "Use fire spin!" His little body glowed bright white and his eyes glowed as he released the tornado of flames from his mouth! The flames wrapped around Sandslash, and once they dispersed, it fell over, defeated! Ryan recalled Sandslash to a pokeball and said, "Wow, Flamefox is stronger than ever! You really are a good trainer, Joe!" I said, "Thanks, Ryan" as I hugged my fire fox. Then Ryan said, "For my next Pokemon, I choose Butterfree!" and released the butterfly-like Pokemon from it's pokeball. I said, "Know what? Inferno has been acting a little less energetic lately. Maybe a battle is just what she needs to get rejuvenated." May said, "I don't know if that's such a good idea, Joe. You know she's been having occasional dizzy spells." I walked over to Inferno and asked her, "What do you think, Inferno? Are you feeling up to battle?" She responded, "Flareon!" and her eyes lit up, all ready for battle! So I said, "Okay, Inferno, you're up!" Inferno walked up, and seemed excited, ready to battle! "Butterfree, use stun spore!" Ryan ordered. I responded, "Inferno, burn that spore with your flamethrower!" Her eyes glowed as she released the stream of flames and burned up the spores, but suddenly, she stopped the flamethrower and seemed disoriented. Nidoqueen tapped Ryan on the shoulder and said, "Nido nidoqueen!" Ryan said, "Butterfree, wait! Something's not right." Inferno began to wobble back and forth and I asked, "Inferno, are you okay?" At that, she passed out on the ground! "Inferno!" I shouted and ran over to her. May ran up to her, as well, and said, "She's out cold!" Firestorm became frantic, and Ryan said, "We've got to get her to a Pokemon Center!" I said, "Right!" and took out her pokeball to recall her. May and I got back onto our riding Pokemon, and Ryan got on the back of his Nidoqueen, and they ran us, as fast as they could, to the Viridian City Pokemon Center. As soon as we arrived, I told Nurse Joy what happened, and she and Chansey took Inferno to the ER immediately. In the meantime, May, Ryan, and I waited in the lobby. Firestorm was absolutely beside himself, and I could feel his rapid heartbeat. I stroked his fur and said, "She'll be okay. I know she will, Firestorm. She's strong willed!" May said, "I just wonder something…" I asked, "What is it?" She said, "Firestorm and Inferno have been even more affectionate with each other than usual for the past couple months." I said, "You don't mean…" Just then, Nurse Joy came out from the back and I ran over to the counter. "Well, how is she, Nurse Joy?" I asked. She replied, "I don't know how to tell you this…" We all waited to hear what she was going to say next, expecting the worst, when she continued, "…Inferno is pregnant!" My jaw dropped, and Firestorm fainted. May said, "I knew it!" Ryan said, "Wow, congratulations, Joe!" I was speechless. Nurse Joy said, "You'll have to keep her out of battle for the next few months." Flamefox and Amber, meanwhile, were fanning Firestorm's face until he came to. I told him, "Congratulations, Firestorm! You're going to be a father!" and I hugged him. He was still woozy, but smiled and said, "Ninetales!" Amber and Flamefox licked his face. Chansey brought Inferno out from the back, and she was feeling better now. Firestorm ran over to her, and they licked each other's faces and nuzzled each other. I said, "Well, this was certainly a big surprise!"
After I returned Inferno to her pokeball, we continued through Viridian Forest, and soon we reached Pallet Town, and headed straight for Professor Oak's lab. Professor Oak was inside when I said, "Hi, Professor!" He saw the 3 of us, and our Pokemon, and said, "Hello Joe, May, and Ryan. Good to see you all again." May said, "Professor Oak, we have some news!" I released Inferno, and said, "She's pregnant." Professor Oak said, "Well, this IS a surprise! I guess congratulations are in order! You two are going to be grandparents to a litter of Vulpix and Eevee pups!" I said, "I guess I can't use Inferno in the League Finals." Professor Oak said, "Not in her condition. And I doubt Firestorm will want to leave her side now." I said, "Well, I still have Flamefox." Just then, I heard barking, and turned around to see Arcanine running at me! He knocked me down and pinned me to the floor, licking my face! "Easy, boy! I'm happy to see you, again, too!" as I petted his face. Professor Oak said, "You did a great job taking care of Arcanine for those few weeks. Now you can use him in the League Finals, too." I said, "That's right!" Just then, I felt the floor vibrating and said, "Is that an earthquake?" Professor Oak laughed and answered, "Not quite." Out of the next room entered Simon and the 2 reprogrammed NIDOs, and Professor Oak's lab assistant, Dan. "Simon, Dan!" May and I both exclaimed. Simon said, "Hey, guys!" and Dan said, "Hi!" Ryan said, "Whoa, what are those?" Simon told him, "Mechanical Nidokings, created by Team Rocket. Joe, May, and I helped to uncover and stop a Team Rocket operation on Phoenix Island involving hundreds of these things, but these are the only 2 still functional." Professor Oak said, "Yes, I heard about what you three did on Phoenix Island, and I must say, what you did was brave, but stupid. If you ever come across a Team Rocket operation of that magnitude again, I strongly urge you to let the proper authorities handle it." I would have loved to tell Professor Oak that we were the only ones who could stop them, but then I'd have to tell him about Ho-oh, Suicune, and the 4 good MechanPokemon, so I just replied, "Yes, sir" as did May. He continued, "That being said, you did do a good thing, and are all considered heroes by the island's natives. And I must say, these 2 NIDOs are extraordinary! They're definitely a credit to their creators. And your friend Simon, here, did a great job reprogramming them. In fact, he's quite the computer genius – we had a bug in the mainframe here, and Simon fixed it in a matter of minutes. I thought we were going to have to reboot the system and start over." I said, "That's Simon for you!" May asked, "Professor, aren't you worried having those 2 NIDOs here, that Team Rocket might try to steal them back?" He said, "Not at all. Team Rocket is so scandalized by the incident, that they're denying all knowledge, and I think they've moved on to other projects. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of them, but I'm pretty sure this is the last we'll see of their mechanical Pokemon project, especially after 3 failed and exposed attempts." Then he said, "Well, I presume you 3 came here to begin training for the League Finals." I said, "That's right." He said, "There are going to be some changes in the League, due to decisions made higher up. The Kanto League will be known as the Indigo League, and the Johto League Finals are officially being renamed the Silver Convention, and being moved to Mt. Silver." May said, "Wow! So this will be the last Kanto League finals." Professor Oak said, "That's right." I said, "I want to go check on all the Pokemon I caught and decide who to use in the finals." Professor Oak said, "That's a good idea. But you should also call Bill and tell him about Inferno. I'm sure he'd like to know, since he gave her to you." May said, "That's right! We should call Martin, too!" So, I called Bill first. "Congratulations, Joe! Welcome to the world of Eevee breeding!" I said, "Thanks, Bill." He said, "You two be sure to take good care of her now, and please let me know when the pups are due. I'd like to be there for that." I said, "Okay, we will." We called Martin next. "Hey guys. Long time no see" he said, jokingly. I said, "Yeah, really! Anyway, we thought you'd like to know, Inferno is pregnant." He said, "I knew it! Back on Cinnibar Island, I thought I noticed that glow about her – that, and she and Firestorm were very affectionate." I said, "May thought so, too. How come I'm like the only one who didn't notice?" He said, "I'm a breeder, Joe. May is going to be a breeder. We just… know." He continued, "Anyway, I'd love to have an Eevee pup when the time comes." May said, "Of course, Martin! We know you'll take good care of one." He said, "Thanks for thinking of me, guys. Say, are you on your way to the League Finals yet?" I said, "Yeah. We're already at Professor Oak's lab." He said, "Cool! I'll be there as soon as I can to help you train!" I said, "Thanks, Martin!" He said, "No problem!" and hung up. Ryan said, "Well, guys, I better get going. I'm glad Inferno's okay, Joe. I was worried. Anyway, maybe we'll battle at the League Finals." I said, "I sure hope so." With that, we shook hands, and he left. May and I went outside to Professor Oak's Pokemon sanctuary to walk around. I saw my Onix, Kangaskhan, and all my and May's other Pokemon, as well as our Tauros herd. May said, "You know, you have so many Tauros now, maybe you should name the one you use for riding and battle?" I said, "That's a thought. I never named him because, when I first caught him, I thought I was going to release him once we found his herd. But he decided to stay with me, loyal friend that he is." I released him from his pokeball and said, "Hey, Tauros! How do you feel about a nickname?" He just kind of looked at me, and I said, "You know, I'm so used to calling you Tauros, I don't think you need a nickname." We looked at each other, and I could feel a special bond with him, that I didn't feel with my other 5 Tauros. I said, "We'll leave you as Tauros. You'll know I'm calling you." He nodded, understanding me completely, and I scratched under his horns. May said, "I guess that solves that." I said, "Yeah" as I petted his furry brown mane, and he whipped his 3 tails about, happily. We continued to walk, and I got a good idea in my head of the inventory of Pokemon I had in my possession. I decided that for the time being, I would train Flamefox, Arcanine, Tauros, Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Scyther, pretty much my six strongest Pokemon so far. My Fearow flew by up above, as did May's Pidgeot. When we returned to Professor Oak's lab, Simon and Dan were playing ping-pong with the NIDOs. "Well, it's nice to see you found a good use for them" May commented. Simon said, "Yeah, and they're kicking our butts!" We just laughed, and walked back inside Professor Oak's lab room, where Firestorm and Inferno were sleeping, curled together. I said, "I'm gonna miss having them with us – but I know Arcanine will make me as proud as Firestorm."
The next day, May and I headed out for the League Finals. I had my six Pokemon of choice for initial training, ready to go. I petted Firestorm and said, "Take good care of Inferno, buddy." He replied, "Niine!" Then I petted Inferno and said, "You take care of yourself now." She said, "Flareon!" Professor Oak said, "Well, train hard, Joe, and I know you'll do good! Call me if you want to switch any of your Pokemon." I said, "I will. Thanks, Professor." Simon said, "Good luck, Joe! Knock 'em dead!" and Dan said, "Good luck." I said, "Thanks, guys!" With that, May and I rode off on Tauros and Fierymane, with Flamefox in my lap and Amber in May's lap. Firestorm yelled, "Ninetales!" and Inferno yelled, "Flareon!" as we rode off, and we waved back to them. We were going to meet Martin on the way, and I was going to begin serious training for the League Finals.