Chapter 15

Steeling for a Battle

Like a lost puppy Ricky followed me into the gym. I don't really know why he was acting like this, its not like he hadn't been here before, I mean, he had seven of the eight badges already.

"Hey," I asked Ricky, looking around the room at all the steel beams that jetted out of the ground. "What's up?"

"Nothing…" He said, looking around. "Nothing's up. Why do you ask that? I mean, its not like this chick hates me or anything. Heh, heh."

"Wait… What?" I stopped in the middle of the hallway. "Didn't you already get the Gym Badge here?"

"Well, yes." He looked down the dark hallway in front of us. "But, well, you see… um…"

All of lights began to turn on, one at a time down the long hallway. "Why are you here?" A woman's voice echoed through the hall.

"I'm here for a gym battle!" I called out, looking around but not seeing anyone.

"I'm not talking to you!" The voice screamed. "I'll have you know, Ricky, I have a restraining order out for you, and you are in violation of it."

I turned around to look at him cowering behind me. "What did you do?"

"Well, I might have came on to her a little, um, too much."

"Too much? How much? If she has a restraining order, what in the world did you do?"

"Actually," A girl said as she entered the hall from a side door further down. "I'm surprised you have made it this far in this gym without the police finding you, Ricky. My father has been here around the clock." I turned the face her. The girl was in a blue and white dress with a red ribbon on her chest. Her brown bangs were pulled back into pigtails as the rest of her hair hung long behind her back.

"Oh." I said, looking back at Ricky. I noticed all day that he was either hiding behind me or saying in the shadows of the town. I guess I know why, now. He's running from the cops.

"Listen, kid." The girl said looking at me. "If you are with that monster…"

"No." I said, looking at her. "I have nothing to do with him, or what he did. I am Kyle Gray, from Viridian City, and I have come for a gym battle."

"Then why is he here with you?" She asked, pointing at Ricky.

"This stupid kid started following me in New Bark Town and now I cant shake him." I then laughed. "Heck, if you want to call the cops now go for it. Your business with him is between you two, not me. I could care less what happens to him."

At first she didn't say anything, but then she turned around, raising her hand. "Follow me, Mr. Gray." Ricky and I both shrugged as we began to follow. "Not you, Ricky. You stay here." She turned around to face him and grinned. "My father would like to have a few words with you. Being the head of the police here in Olivine he might let you go with a few bruises instead of a fine."

I heard Ricky gulp as a police officer stepped out of the shadows behind him. The cop was in full uniform as he put a hand on Ricky's shoulder. Ricky turned to look at him as his face turned to a shocked look.

"Punk." The cop spoke. "I'm going to love doing this."

"Come on…" Ricky said as he tried to back away. "I'm a, I'm a minor! You can't hurt me!"

"You got to think, punk. Who are they going to believe, a cop, or a juvenile delinquent that gets his kicks from molesting women?" The cop said as he drug him into a dark room.

"Please, follow me." The girl said as we walked into a battle room. She took one side of the field as I took the other. "I am Jasmine, leader of the Olivine Gym."

"I am Pokemon Master, Kyle Gray." I said as I stood with my back straight, almost forgetting Pichu was on my shoulder from him being so quiet.

"Yes, I know." Jasmine smiled as she pulled a lock of hair behind her ear. "I recognized you from your victory in the Kanto League last year. Also, I got a tip about a kid that has been sweeping all the gym leaders clean. Actually, I thought for a minute you dropped off the face of the planet, seeing as how long it took you to get here."

"What do you mean?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Well, the other four gym leaders said you beat them in less than three weeks." She smiled. "That is amazing. That would mean that you would have to win a gym match every five days or so."

"Okay. What's so unbelievable about that?" I asked.

"Nothing. That is if you never sleep and are constantly on the run." Her face turned serious. "In fact, I am surprised you even had time to train during those three weeks."

"I didn't." I smiled. "Actually, that's why it took me a month to get down here. I had been neglecting to train my new pokemon, but that short break I took was all I needed."

"How so?" She asked.

"Well, if you allow your weaker pokemon to train with pokemon that beat the Elite Four their skill and power will go up tremendously in a short time."

"I can see that happening." Jasmine smiled. "But I feel as if I should tell you that I am not like the other gym leaders. From here on the rest of the gym leaders are very skilled, not some kids that got their new pokemon."

"So I have been told." I said with a smile as I reached for a pokeball around my belt. "But hey, enough chit-chat, I got a deadline to meet. Heh, Only got four months to make it to the league."

"Very well then, if you are that eager to lose." Jasmine said as she took a pokeball in her hand. "This will be a three on three battle with the opponent being able to switch. Gym leader makes first move. Go! Magneton!"

She threw the pokeball out making a large Magneton float out. "Mag-ne-ton." It spoke in a voice that reminded me of a robot from an old tri-color movie.

"Alright." I smiled, already having my hand on the pokeball I wanted to use. "This will be fun. Go, Quilava!"

"Lava." Quilava said in a deep voice as he stood on the field. Within the past month he had grown a lot, and learned a lot. Him and Magcargo both learned moves, advance fire attacks and many more things off Arcanine.

"Fire type in against a steel." Jasmine chuckled. "How typical. Though, we have ways of dealing with that. Magneton! Zap Cannon!"

"Quilava!" I screamed as Magneton began to focus its magnets together as a white ball of energy appeared. "Use Quick Attack with Heat Wave." I saw a smirk come across Jasmine's face.

The ball of energy grew and grew and then was released in one massive ball. The energy ball moved fast, heading straight for Quilava, but Quilava didn't budge. He stood strong as the ball got closer and closer, and finally it struck. But the ball didn't hurt him; instead it passed straight through him, almost like he was a ghost.

"What?" Jasmine yelled.

"Now!" I said as Quilava let out a roar, followed by a wave of hot air that struck Magneton hard, making him pass out instantly.

Jasmine recalled her pokemon as she looked at me. "How did you do that?"

"Simple." I smiled. "Quilava used Quick Attack at the last second to make it look like the attack passed straight through him, then used Heat Wave when your pokemon was left open."

"Hmm." She smiled. "Very smart, but your speed wont help you in this battle. Go, Forretress!" Jasmine threw out her pokeball making the bug pokemon spin onto the field.

"Forre!"

A bug-steel type against a fire? Is this girl nuts?

"We end this now." Jasmine spoke. "Forretress, use Iron Defense!"

"Quilava, use Flamethrower!"

Forretress sucked itself inside its shell, much like a turtle would do, then it began to glow a bright white. Quilava took a deep breath, sucking in air as he blew out a large stream of fire that engulfed Forretress. When Quilava's attack was over Forretress was still inside of its shell, and it was still glowing bright white.

"Now, Forretress! Rapid Spin!"

"Quilava! Use your-" But it was too late. By the time I was able to speak my attack Quilava was already on the ground, hit by Forretress. I looked up at Jasmine. "So…" I asked. "I always though Forretress were slow pokemon. How did you get yours so fast?"

"A little thing called EV's." She said calmly. "I thought that the all powerful 'Pokemon Master' would know about that."

EV's? I remember reading about that in some of Mom's old research papers a few months ago, but I didn't think they were real.

"It's a nifty little research project." Jasmine smiled as she explained. "Turns out that certain pokemon have some deep abilities in their subconscious. If you battle a certain kind of pokemon enough then your pokemon would be more gifted in that area of battle. A lot of people say that a more 'well rounded' pokemon is the way to go, but I beg to differ."

I watched as Quilava stood. He wasn't hurt; at least he didn't look it. If I could take a guess, he looks like he was just taken off guard. Hmm… that gives me an idea. A smiled went across my face as I looked at Jasmine. "So you're telling me that you EV trained your Forretress to have exceptional speed?"

"But of course." Jasmine smiled. "With the strong defense that he already has the speed made it so he is unmatched."

From what I remember of that research paper, pokemon can only learn so much from battling, and from there, their stats are set. I bet you anything she has already maxed out that Forretress on speed. "Alright, Quilava! This is it!" I said with a smile. "Use your Heat Wave!"

"Forretress! Rapid Spin and Zap Cannon!"

Quilava let out a roar as a wave of heat went out in a sphere around him. Forretress began to spin, ramming into the sphere and smacking onto Quilava. The heat seemed to do some damage, how much I wont know, but Rapid Spin did little to nothing to Quilava.

Exactly what I was hoping for. I grinned. The things speed is off the charts, but everything else is low. Defense is high, but that's only because of that shell and the Iron Defense it is using. Its Attack is so low even one of the most powerful attacks wont do much damage, and its HP, man his HP must be close to nothing.

Forretress then stopped spinning as Quilava stood up. Out from its shell it came, as the white glow left. Forretress formed a large ball of energy in front of its body.

"Quick Attack!" I screamed

"Corner it!" Jasmine said.

No matter where Quilava ran, Forretress was there and stopped him every time. The energy ball quickly grew as Quilava looked at me, worried. I looked at him, and then at Forretress, noticing that its Iron Defense was down.

"Quick!" I yelled. "Flamethrower to the face!"

Quilava quickly let out a Flamethrower that struck Forretress dead on, but it also caused Forretress to release his Zap Cannon too early, making it strike Quilava. Both pokemon fell to the ground, and then struggled to stand. But as Quilava stood, he began to glow a bright white. He grew three times his size and the fire patch on his back moved up to a mane around his neck.

"Ty!" Typhlosion screamed, letting out a wave of heat that scorched Forretress even more. Forretress quickly moved inside of its shell, putting on its Iron Defense again, but it was apparent that this battle was going to be over soon.

"Congratulations." Jasmine said as she looked at her almost passed out Forretress. She then smiled as she looked at me. "But don't think your new pet will last through this battle."

My eyebrow rose as I looked at her. Does she really think she could win? That think is on its last leg, while Typhlosion has only just begun. "What are you talking about?" I asked

"This." She grinned. "Rapid Spin with Explosion!"

"Oh no! Typhlosion! Look out!"

I watched as the Forretress spun rapidly, getting only inches away from Typhlosion's face when it exploded. Chunks of its shell went everywhere, much like a grenade that throws pieces of shredded medal in all different directions. Shell dug deep into Typhlosion's face as a large shockwave hit him hard, making him fall to the ground. Both pokemon fell, passed out.

"That was a cheap move." I gritted my teeth as I recalled Typhlosion. "You couldn't win a fair fight so you made sure to take me down with you."

"Yeah, so?" She looked over at me as she recalled her Forretress.

"Do you not even care that you hurt your own pokemon?"

"Of course I do." She glared. "But I did what I had to do to make sure I would win."

"Well you haven't won yet." I said as I reached for the pokeball around my neck. "This fight is far from over."

***_-Scene Change-_***

Ricky wiped the blood away from his knuckles as he handcuffed the cop to a nearby pole. The cop was bloodied up really good, while Ricky only had a busted lip and black eye.

A few minutes prior it was the other way around, however. Ricky was the one cuffed up with the cop beating him down. Luckily Ricky had been in these kinds of situations before, and he learned a few tricks from them. One being, how to get out of handcuffs. Actually, it was quite easy once you learned how to do it, but it looked like this cop has no idea.

After only two punches from the cop Ricky was free. He then grabbed a pipe on the ground and beat the cop's face in. He hated being so brutal, but it was the only way he could see to get out of this situation.

Ricky turned to walk out of the dark room, running his hand though is red hair, which masked the blood that had stained it. "Wait…" The cop murmured out. "Wait…" He coughed, spitting up blood.

Ricky turned to look at him over his shoulder, keeping one hand on the door.

"Tell me… where did you learn to fight… like that…"

"Hmm." Ricky smiled as he locked the door. "Blame my old man, cop." He then shut the door, locking the beat up man inside.

***_-Scene Change-_***

"Prepare for my most powerful one!" Jasmine said.

"You too." I spoke, yanking the pokeball of the magnet attached to my necklace.

"Go! Steelix!"

"Go! Arcanine!"

Both pokemon stood strong on the battlefield when they came out, but Steelix towered high above Arcanine. It let out a roar, which shook the lights above us. Though the roar was loud, Arcanine didn't budge or flinch at all. He stood there, like a statue, waiting for my orders.

"You have a very loyal Arcanine there." Jasmine said. "I see them all the time at my fathers work, but rarely do I see one like yours."

"Thank you." I said. "But flattering me wont make me go easy on you."

"I didn't plan on it to." Jasmine spoke as she raised up a hand. "Let's end this fast. Steelix, use Stone Edge."

Crap, that's one of the most powerful rock type moves, and Arcanine is weak against that. I watched as some small stones started to float in the air. "Only got one shot at this, but, Arcanine! Dig!"

The stones began to fly at Arcanine as he dug franticly, tearing though the thin metal floor that was in the gym. He was able to evade the majority of the rocks, but some still hit him. When Steelix's attack was done, Arcanine was nowhere in sight.

"Steelix." Jasmine said. "Watch out, it's underground. Feel out the vibrations of the digging."

I watched as the massive rock snake pokemon closed its eyes. It sat in silence as it listened, or felt the ground, or something. Suddenly it jumped, moving out of the way as Arcanine leaped up out of the ground.

"Crunch!" Jasmine yelled as Steelix caught Arcanine in its mouth, midair.

"Oh no!" I watched in horror as Steelix crunched down on Arcanine. He cried out in pain, barking the whole time. "Arcanine!" I screamed. "Flamethrower!"

Arcanine was deep in Steelix's mouth when he let loose the powerful fire attack, which scorched the inside of its mouth and throat. Steelix released Arcanine, making him fall to the ground with a thud. Steelix franticly shook its head as Arcanine struggled to run back over to me.

"Are you okay?" I asked, running my hand over him.

"Arrrfff…" He winced as I ran my hand over his ribs. They are broke. I sighed, looking at him as I reached for his pokeball. His eyes opened wide as he stood tall, shaking his head.

"Arcanine," I spoke. "You are too hurt to battle, now return."

The beam of light shot at him, but he dodged.

"Arcanine, I said return!"

He dodged again, and then snorted embers as he looked at the Steelix.

"What's wrong?" Jasmine asked. "Is he too much for you, big guy?" She mocked, making Arcanine mad.

He let out a roar as he bolted to Steelix, trying to build up enough speed for an Extreme Speed attack, but with his ribs broke, he could barely run.

"Arcanine! Stop now!" I screamed, but he didn't listen to me. The Steelix, as well as Jasmine was taunting him, dragging him in to his demise, and there was nothing I could do but watch.

Arcanine began to run at full speed, covering his body in a blaze of fire and he struck the side of the Steelix hard. I watched as Arcanine's shoulder dislocated with the impact of the steel pokemon. The flames covering Arcanine fell as his leg went limp. He struggled to stand, now only being able to use three of his legs. Steelix lifted up its tail, making it glow a bright white.

Oh no, that's an Iron Tail! "Arcanine! Please move!" But it was useless. As well as dislocating his shoulder, Arcanine also paralyzed himself. The large tail crashed down on Arcanine, slamming him into the ground. When the tail was lifted, Arcanine was left under it, passed out.

"Great." I muttered as I recalled him. But that monster of a pokemon had to take some damage. I looked the Steelix over, noticing that it was taking lots of deep breathes, and that the scorches on its mouth and body wasn't going away. So, its burned, and probably below half life.

"Are you going to make a move or not?" Jasmine asked. "After all, you are on a tight schedule."

I glanced up, reaching for Magcargo's pokeball. No, wait. That thing knows Stone Edge, and using Magcargo would be suicide. He is so slow that he couldn't dodge any of the attacks. Kabutops wouldn't be any good either, and Pichu couldn't handle a thing like that, he doesn't have enough experience yet. I looked over at him as he hid in my book bag. "Wait." I started laughing.

"What?" Jasmine asked. "What is it?"

"I just remembered something." I laughed. "Something that won my way into the Elite Four. Something that I had completely forgotten about up until now."

"And what is that?" Jasmine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"This." I reached for a pokeball, throwing it out. "Go, Gyarados!"

"DOOOOOOSSS!" Gyarados roared in a deep, low voice. He slithered up to his side of the field, standing just as tall as Steelix.

"Hah, hah, hah!" Jasmine laughed. "My gosh, I thought you of all people would know that water attacks do hardly any damage to steel type. What an amateur move."

"Then why don't you come and prove me wrong?" I smiled.

"Fine." She grinned. "I will. Steelix, Thunder Fang!"

Steelix mouth began to spark as it slithered over to Gyarados. I waited till it was in close range before I barked an attack.

"Gyarados!" I screamed. "Flamethower!"

"What?" I heard Jasmine scream as her Steelix was engulfed in a mass of fire and flames. Scorches went all over its body as it still pressed on, making its way to Gyarados as it bit down hard, making electric surge though his body.

"Gaaarr!" He cried out.

"Now!" I screamed. "Hyper Beam!"

I watched as Jasmine's smile turned into a scared look. Steelix, unable to evade the close counter attack, was hit point blank with the powerful Hyper Beam. The blast was so strong that it knocked Steelix out of this Thunder Fang attack and smashed him into the wall, knocked out. Shortly after, Gyarados fell, paralyzed from the electric attack.

"Well, I guess that's it." Jasmine said as we both recalled our pokemon. "Congratulations, Kyle. You have beaten me in battle, and now I am proud to reward you with a Mineral Badge. Wear it proud, because few people ever make it this far into their journey."

"Thanks" I said, stuffing it in my pocket. "But if you will excuse me I need to run my pokemon to the pokecenter."

"Yeah I guess that's right, I did go a little crazy on you back there." Jasmine said, rubbing her head. "I'm sorry about that, but it's been so long since I had a good battle, I couldn't help but go all out on you."

"Hey that's cool and all, but I really gotta go." I ran down the hall. "Later!"

***_-Scene Change-_***

I ran down the hallway, making my way back to the area where I saw Ricky being drug into a room. I walked over to it, twisting on the doorknob, but it was locked. "Wait, what am I doing?" I asked myself. Why would I care what happens to him? He has been nothing but trouble ever since I met him. "Hmph." I smiled. "Yeah, he should get some since knocked into him." I then bolted for the exit, running outside. The light was blinding, much like it was every time I left a gym, even when it was about 6 or so in the afternoon.

"So how'd it go?" I heard a familiar voice. I turned around to see Ricky standing beside the door. His black and white striped hoodie was covered in what looked like bloodstains, though he didn't look like he had many cuts on him at all. Only a busted lip and a black eye, nothing compared to the blood that was covering his shirt.

"What happened to you?" I asked, looking at the bloodstains.

"Eh, nothing I couldn't handle." He smiled, stretching as he walked in front of me, leading me away from the gym. "So? Did you win or not?"

"Yeah, I guess I did." I said, looking at Arcanine's pokeball. "I really need to get to the Pokecenter though."

"Well, okay. I guess I'll meet you there." Ricky said, walking away.

"Where are you going?"

"Clothes shopping." He said as he took off his shirt, throwing it in some dumpster.

"Yeah… Sure." I said, watching as he disappeared into the sitting sun, down the streets of the city. I shook my head as I focused on the task at hand. I bolted down the street, to the red and white sign that stood tall, lighting the way to the Pokecenter.

***_-Scene Change-_***

I fell on the bed as Pichu curled up beside me. It was night already, 3am to be precise, and Nurse joy had been working around the clock on Arcanine since we got there. She was finally able to get him stable when she told me I should go onto bed. She said that all he really needed was a few days of bed rest and he would be fine.

Typhlosion and Gyarados on the other hand hardly had a scratch on them. All it took to get them back on their feet was a round though the auto-pokehealer. Joy said they passed out more from shock than anything else, Gyarados more literally.

I rolled over, looking at Pichu as he nuzzled up on the pillow. "Little bud, what should I do?"

"Pii?" He struggled to open his eyes, looking at me as he nodded off the whole time.

"I need to get on the road. We only have four months to get everything done. And if I want to get up there in time to scope out the competition, I guess we only really have three months to get to the League. We need to get going, and Arcanine's not going to be able to go with us."

"Piiiiii!" Pichu yawned as he closed his eyes.

I rolled over, looking up and the ceiling. What am I going to do? I then reached in my book back, searching for my pills. When I finally found them, I pulled them out, but when I did I heard something fall to the floor. I looked over off the bed and saw, laying beside my book bag, a Rare Candy.

"Oh my gosh!" I jumped up. "I forgot I had those things!" I dug through my bag, looking for the rest of them, seeing there were four left. "Yes, that just might work." I ran for the door, grabbing my key and locking it as I shut it behind me, running down the hall. I franticly searched for Nurse Joy's room, checking every room number until I came to one that said 'Joy'. I beat on the door, calling out. "Nurse Joy! Nurse Joy! Please answer!"

The door creped open as the Joy walked out in her pajamas. "Mmmm." She groaned. "What is it now, Kyle?"

"My Arcanine, I think I can help him!"

"You can help him by letting him sleep." She yawned. "And me too. So, good night."

I stuck my foot in the door, stopping it from shutting. "Listen, I have four rare candies in my possession." I said as I held them out in my hand. "I know they work by instantaneously boosting a pokemon's power and health, but do you think it could help heal bones?"

The Joy looked at the candies in my hand, and then looked at me. "Mr. Gray, I'm sure that I don't need to tell you this, but those were discontinued from production several years ago. They are considered illegal substances and I condone such behaviors in my center."

"Joy." I looked at her pleadingly. "Please."

"Ahh…" She sighed. "Pokemon do heal a lot faster than humans, but it will still take about two weeks for those bones to heal back properly. I will release him into your care tomorrow." She began to walk away as I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Joy. Will you please answer my question?"

"I already told you how I feel. It is my duty to get pokemon healthy enough to return to their trainer, after that, its on them." She shut the door. "Do whatever you want."

I sighed, walking down the hallway that led to Arcanine's room. I peeked in, looking at the dog sleeping on a stretcher with bandages wrapped around him. Stuffing the candies into my pocket I walked down the hall to my room, unlocking the door and stepping in. I took my pill, laid down, and just took everything in. "Tomorrow, after I get Arcanine back, I'll go check on my bike. From there, I guess I'll take a ferry to Cianwood City for my next badge." I rolled over, watching Pichu sleep. "From there… who knows."