The next day
Blinking against the bright sunlight, Harry groaned as he got up. "Sometimes I hate the sun…" He muttered. Quickly going through is morning routine, which took half an hour, Harry returned to see Iriana still out cold. Wondering how to get her up, a sudden idea struck Harry. Giving a grin, the kind that made everyone within a ten mile radius shiver in fear and glance over their shoulders, Harry went and got a bucket, filled it with ice and water, and then crept back into the room. Standing behind Iriana, Harry mercilessly dumped the contents of the bucket on his friend while yelling "GET UP!"
The effect was instant. Harry started laughing while Iriana jumped out of bed, soaking wet and shivering, and screamed, "PURPLE CHICKENS ATTACKING THE CUPCAKES OF HAPPINESS!"
Harry just stood there with a 'WTF' look on his face while he watched the girl run around the room. He paled to ghostly white when Iriana turned to him, fire spitting from her eyes. "Oh crap."
"NOW YOU DIE HARRY! GET BACK HERE!"
Thirty minutes, several beatings, and a quick change of clothes later, a fuming but smug Iriana was standing next to Harry who was sporting several large lumps on his head, stood outside the Glacies Gym. "You didn't have to hit that hard you know." Harry grumbled.
"You didn't have to wake me like that you know." Was the come-back.
Sighing, Harry opened the large doors and walked inside the Gym, Iriana in step beside him. The inside was a large dojo-like room. The only difference was that in random spots on the floor were giant ice pillars.
"That's pretty cool." Iriana commented. She brushed a hand against one of the pillars. "It's real ice. Neat."
"I'm glad you think so." A new voice said. A tall woman stepped from behind a pillar. She had long, light blue hair that almost looked white, done in a high ponytail and cold, icy blue eyes that reminded them of actual ice. She wore a blue sun-dress that had snowflakes falling on it. "I am Crystal, the Gym Leader of Glacies."
"We are Harry and Iriana, just traveling Trainers." Iriana greeted.
Crystal nodded a small smile on her face, "I've heard about you two from my friends, the other Leaders. They say you two work very well together and are very strong. I look forward to our match. Though it's going to be different from any other Battle you've had before."
Off to the side, one of the pillars began shaking. It finally exploded, revealing the referee.
"I swear that guy is the same one!" Harry muttered "This is really starting to annoy me". Iriana just snickered at her friend.
"For the final Gym Battle, the rules have changed slightly. Instead of a two on two battle, it will be three on three. The challengers will each send out one Pokémon. When one Pokémon falls, that Trainer will send out the third Pokémon."
"Ninetales, I choose you!"
"Come on out Riolu!"
"Dewgong and Glaceon, let's do this!"
Crystal's first Pokémon was a white sea-lion Pokémon with a black nose and eyes and had two short fangs on its upper lip. Harry's Pokedex said: Dewgong, the Sea Lion Pokémon. Its entire body is a snowy-white. Unharmed by even intense cold, it swims powerfully in icy waters.
The second Pokémon kinda reminded Harry of a fox. It was covered in light-blue fur. Its inner ears, two spots on its back, tail end and cap-endings were all rhombus-shaped and were a darker blue. Its feet were also a dark blue, giving it the impression of wearing boots. Iriana's Pokedex got this one: Glaceon, the Fresh Snow Pokémon and one of the evolved forms of Eevee. Glaceon can freeze the fur on its body, and make it stick out like sharp needles.
"I'll start this off, Dewgong, use Hydro Pump! Glaceon use Quick Attack followed up with Ice Shard." Crystal ordered. Dewgong launched a powerful stream of water right at Ninetales while Glaceon vanished from sight.
"Ninetales dodge and use Fireblast!" Harry called
"Riolu, use Aura Sphere to stop Glaceon!" Iriana yelled.
Dewgong's attack though came at Ninetales too fast and the Fire-type was hit, smashing into a pillar of ice.
"Ow that hurt!" She growled out and then launched her own attack, landing a hit and badly burning the Water/Ice type.
Meanwhile, Riolu managed to land his attack on Glaceon who had appeared to launch its own. The Ice-type was smashed into a pillar similar to Ninetales.
"No! Glaceon, Dewgong, both of you use Aqua Tail!"
The two Pokémon's tails gained a coat of water on it, and then launched the attack like missiles.
"Ninetales, use Fire Spin, protect yourself and Riolu!" Ordered Harry
"Riolu, use Aura Sphere!"
The blue fox Pokémon nodded and released a stream of fire that surrounded herself and her partner just as the jet-stream of water landed. Steam filled up the arena, though they could see a red blur streak across the gym, along with a cry of pain.
When the steam finally cleared, two Pokémon were knocked out, Ninetales and Glaceon. Riolu and Dewgong were still standing, the former looking smug
"How did Glaceon get knocked out?" Harry questioned. "And Ninetales?"
"I had Riolu launch an Aura Sphere from inside the Fire Spin. It gained flames and hit Glaceon dead-on." Iriana said. "Maybe Ninetales was just overwhelmed, keeping the Fire Spin up against those Aqua Tails."
"Very inventive." Crystal commented. "Now pick your next Pokémon Harry." Grabbing her own Pokeball.
"You got it. Absol, time to play!"
"Finally! I thought you'd never let me battle!" The Dark-type growled out, staring at her opponents.
"Let's win this Mamoswine!"
A huge wooly mammoth/boar like Pokémon appeared. Its fur was a dark brown and looked very thick. It had very long tusks, a 'mask' on their face that had a white rim while the inside was blue. The fur on its muzzle was tan and shaggy, and it had a pig-like noise. Its feet were black and had three thick claws. Harry's Pokedex said: Mamoswine, the Twin Tusk Pokémon. Its impressive tusks are made of ice. The population thinned when it turned warm after the ice age.
"Mamoswine, use Mud-slap! Dewgong use Aurora Beam!" Crystal ordered, not wasting any time.
"Absol, dodge and use Night Slash!"
"Riolu, dodge and use Thunder Punch!"
As one, the two Pokémon jumped high into the air, making both attacks miss completely. Darkness coated Absol's head-blade while lightning coated Riolu's paw. Both of their attacks landed, Absol's knocking the wind out of Mamoswine, while Riolu's knocked Dewgong out.
"Dewgong return! Okay Mamoswine, it's all up to you. Use Earthquake!"
The Ice/Ground type started to stomp its feet, causing the whole room to shake. Iriana had to lean on Harry to help keep their balance. Absol and Riolu weren't as lucky, both falling to the floor.
"Now Mamoswine, use Ice Beam on Absol!" Crystal called out.
Mamoswine readied the frozen beam in its mouth, and then let it fly straight at the Disaster Pokémon.
"Absol get up!" But she wouldn't be able to jump in time, but she didn't have to.
"No one attacks my friends and gets away with it!" Riolu growled out, palm glowing.
"Riolu is using Aura to stop Mamoswine's attack." Iriana realized. "Riolu, send that straight at Mamoswine!"
The Fighting-type nodded and threw the attack straight at its creator with twice the speed, freezing Mamoswine solid.
"You think that will stop Mamoswine? Just give it a minute and he'll break free." Crystal said. Already they could see the frozen Pokémon shake, making cracks appear in his icy prison.
Absol turned to Riolu after she got to her feet. "Thank you Riolu."
"No problem." Riolu said with a smirk.
"That's my Riolu! Able to break the laws of physics." Iriana grinned. Harry just shook his head at her and turned back to the battle, only to have his eyes widen with something happened. Riolu was glowing with his evolution. As he was changing, Harry muttered to Iriana 'It's always during a battle with you' and turned back to watch the evolution.
When the light died down, they got to see the changes. A bipedal, jackal-like Pokémon was standing there. His forepaws were black and had one white spike on each arm on the upper-side of his wrists. There was also one more spike on his chest. His snout and ears were longer than what Riolu had. He had a furry yellow torso, and his thighs were in the shape of what looked like blue shorts. The new Pokémon stood only on his toes instead of the whole foot. Excited, Iriana pointed her Pokedex at the Pokémon: Lucario, the Aura Pokémon. By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.
"I knew she was the one." Lucario said proudly, staring at Iriana. "Tell her I am honored to have her as my Trainer."
Grinning, Harry relayed those words to Iriana, who beamed happily. "I am honored to have you as my Pokémon Lucario. Now, let's kick some butt!"
Lucario and Absol nodded at each other, and then stared at the once frozen Mamoswine who had broken free from his prison. Though it still seemed dazed from being frozen.
"Snap out of it Mamoswine!" Crystal commanded, trying to bring her Pokémon around.
Harry and Iriana smirked at each other.
"Absol, use Razor Wind!"
"Lucario, attack with Extreme Speed!"
While Absol's blade started glowing white, Lucario disappeared so fast he left an after-image. When he reappeared he slammed his paw into Mamoswine, knocking him to the ground with a large 'thud'. It stood up though almost immediately, only to receive the powerful attack from Absol, knocking him out.
"And the winners are the challengers Harry and Iriana!" The referee said and then vanishing in a flurry of snowflakes.
"Okay, new goal in life, find out if that guy is a stalker and why he's stalking us." Harry muttered to Iriana who snickered again.
"Well done you two." Crystal said walking up, her Pokémon already in its Pokeball. "For beating me, I present you with the Ice Badge." She handed over two blue snowflakes, which found their homes on Harry's bracelet and Iriana's circlet. "Head towards the mountains, there's a way into the League from Glacies. Just present your Badges to the scanner and the door will open. There are still Wild Pokémon in the caves, so be careful. I wish you two luck and look forward to see you at the League." Crystal finished.
Thanking her, the duo left and headed straight for the Pokémon Center to get their Pokémon healed as well as to get something to eat. After an hour, they left the Center and headed to the gates. Looming before them were giant metal doors big enough that a house would fit comfortably between them. Decorating the door was a giant mural of every Pokémon in the world, or at least the known ones. In front of the doors was Naomi holding the incubator.
"Hey, guys, I just wanted to wish you both luck. I'll try to be there for your battles." Naomi said, giving each one a hug.
"Thanks, we'll see you there." Harry grinned.
Naomi laughed, "Sorry I can't stay long; I wanted to take the Egg to Nurse Joy to check over." The orange haired girl waved goodbye as she ran off.
The two Trainers waved until she was out of their sight before turning back to the huge stone doors.
"Look there." Iriana pointed. Following her gaze, Harry saw a small, black lense on the door.
As they approached it, it flashed. "Present your Badges please." A robotic voice said. Shrugging, Harry held out his wrist, twisting it to let the scanner get all the Badges.
"Badges verified. All authentic, welcome to the Naturis League Road." With that, the doors slowly opened and the two slipped inside.