On Not So Thin Ice

*Ice Path*

"So…." I said to my team of pokemon as we walked through the Ice Path. "We only need to battle one more gym before re-entry into the pokemon league, so look alive, and focus on training. The next gym will have Arceus knows what type of pokemon in it."

"What about Lyra in New Bark Town?" Flint the Typhlosion asked.

"We can fly back to New Bark Town and visit Lyra whenever we want since Talon knows Fly." I replied.

"Regardless of what I know and how many badges we have, would it not be a good idea to actually look for a pokemon in this place?" Talon the Pidgeotto chided.

"I….I wouldn't want to upset any of you, but," Powerball the Electrode said as he rolled a dead Golbat our way. "The 'catch a new pokemon' ship has set sail.

"Arceus damn it…" Liteweight the Jumpluff said. "Can we do nothing correctly?"

"Is that rhetorical?" I asked. I turned to look at a small crevice that led just below the path. "Hang on…is that…?" I began to slide on the ice.

"Hank, where are you going?" Flint looked absolutely done with the Ice Path.

"WATERFALL!" I shouted as a threw the HM at Twinkle the Staryu.

"Caught it!" Twinkle called back.

*Later*

"Slippin' and Slidin' we hope life through…" Powerball had just started singing all of the multiplication songs from School House Rock when we ran into someone we did not expect to see. I returned all my pokemon except for Talon.

"Is that the-" Talon began to ask, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Oh, Hank, is that you?" The Kimono girl asked. "I seem to be stuck on the ice, could you give me a push?"

"Hank…what the hell is this woman doing here?" Talon whispered.

"I hear your Pidgeotto!" The woman said. "It is good that he is still with you."

"Well, of course he is. Who am I going to use instead of him? Charlotte the Spinarak? (Yeah I bet all of you forgot about her, but why speculate on stupid stuff, just forget about her again. She is totally not coming back)"

"Oh, of course Hank…" The woman said. "As I was saying before all this however, I seem to be rooted here. I should not have worn sandals."

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock." Talon said.

"Okay, so I'll give you a push." I agreed. "Just keep your balance and you'll do fine." I said as I gently shoved her down the ice.

"Many great thanks to you, Hank Coro." The Kimono girl said as she left.

"What was with her?" Talon asked.

"How the hell would I know?"

Once outside the tunnel, the most gl-

*Ringgg* *Rinnggggg*

I picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey Hank! It's Joey, remember me?"

"Yes Joey." I said, pinching my nose. "I remember you."

"Hey you remember my Ratata?"

"The top percent one? Yeah I remember."

"What? No! I wanted to tell you that it evolved and we thought you might like a rematch."

"Sure. We can meet back where we last fought over on route 30" I hung up. "Aright Talon." I said to my Pidgeotto. "Let's get you all healed up in Blackthorn's pokemon center and battle Joey again."

*Talon evolved into Pidgeot*

"Meh…" Talon said as he evaluated himself. "It's not that impressive, I'm just a giant bird with gorgeous hair…"

I celebrated a bit in my mind. I had a party full of pokemon that had reached their final stages now. With the exception of Twinkle, who I couldn't evolve since I lacked the stone, I had faith that all of my pokemon could hold their own if I were to challenge the eighth gym.

*Blackthorn City*

As we arrived in Blackthorn city for real this time, I noticed an old man training a group of trainers. "Who are they?" Flint wondered aloud.

"They seem to be learning a fire-type move." I said as we studied them some more. "Come on, let's go see if you can learn it."

*Flint learned Blast Burn*

"Now be careful how you trainers use that move." The old man said as he addressed myself and the other group of trainers. "For once you use it, your pokemon will not be allowed to attack for a whole turn afterwards, which could prove fatal for your partner."

"Sounds like we should be absolutely sure we want to use this move when we decide to use it." Flint said as he repeatedly ignited his flame.

*In front of the gym*

As my party and I made our way to the front of the gym, I noticed a boy leave out the doors, distraught at something.

"Hey." I said as I walked up to him. "Do you know who runs this gym and what type of pokemon they use?"

"You mean Clair?" The boy asked. "Don't challenge her if you know what's good for you or your pokemon! Her team of dragons is like a pokemon Femme Fatale!" And with that remark the young boy stormed off.

"Dragons huh…" Talon said. "The only one of us who even resists dragons is Lucius, the rest of us will be useless."

I looked at Powerball, who was grinning. "Why are you so cheery?" I asked.

"Did you hear what that kid said? About Clair's female pokemon?"

"What's it matter?" Talon asked, his long hair waving in the breeze. "Dragon type moves are powerful, and Hank would never let Lucius die in that gym. We'll need him for the league more than anybody. Face it, we're screwed."

"Talon, come here." I said as I held up three TMs and gave them both to him.

*Talon learned Hyper Beam*

*Talon learned Attract*

*Talon learned Return*

"I swear to Arceus Hank, since you just replaced all my moves except Fly, this plan better work." Talon said.

"Don't worry Talon." I said as I reached into my bag and tied a Silk Scarf around his left leg. "This plan will work like a charm."

So, I suppose this is needless to say, but this chapter is pretty late…Of course, now that I graduated, I can devote more time and hopefully finally finish this story before the summer ends. Until next time -Doobop