This'll be the last triple update for a while, which is good for both you and me. I think my fingers'll fall off if I kept this up. Comments wanted, as usual. (I hadn't said that for a few chapters.)

Episode Fifty-Nine: Diving and Daisies

I ducked under the spinning star Pokémon and slammed my fist into its underside, causing it to spin out of control. It flew towards the arena's edge but managed to regain control before it left the confines and would have been disqualified.

"Bugger, well there is always next time," I muttered to myself, keeping my eye on the thing as it landed on another platform.

"Swift!" the Gym Leader yelled and the stars formed again.

"Oh hell no," I said as they shot towards me.

"Flame, dive!" Moron called.

The Gym Leader looked on, shocked, as I lept backwards and into the pool. The star attack smashed into the water and could go no further. I felt the chill as my tail flame went out but I quickly paddled over to another platform and climbed aboard.

"Can't get me that easy," I laughed, using a puff of fire to reignite my fire. (Incase you are wondering, Charmander's can reignite their tail flames if they do it within a minute of it going out. Any longer and we lose our firebreath and have to rely on other means.)

"Well, you learn something new everyday," the female Human said with a smirk. The Starmie was in midair again, shooting around the arena at high speed. I noticed that it was gaining speed with each pass it made, if it kept going then I wouldn't be able to keep up.

Luckily, it must have gotten dizzy as it stopped going around in circles and shot towards me again. This time, it was much lower so an uppercut wouldn't work. However, I still had Moron's plan firmly in the forefront of my mind. As it shot closer, I lept into the air and landed ontop of it.

My sudden weight sent it crashing to the ground, almost throwing me off. I quickly formed a fist and raised it up high. The Human seemed to realise what was going to happen as I heard her gasp when she spotted the, very sharp, claws.

"Flame, Metal claw!" Moron called.

I brought the pointy claws down as hard as I could, and slammed it into the center gemstone. It was a simple case of claws vs gem. My claws won, shattering the gemstone and causing the Starmie to make some incoherant noises that I assumed were screams.

It shot forwards, throwing me off, and flew around wildly untill it crashed into another one of the floating platforms.

"Starmie, return," the Gym Leader called, as the water Pokémon dissapeared into a Pokéball.

"Not bad for a fire type, eh?" Moron laughed as I made my way to the arena's edge and lept onto dry, not floating, ground.

"I guess not," the Human said, "we'll have to have a rematch sometime."

"Why not? We'll win then too, won't we guys?" Moron laughed, looking down at me and Squirtle.

"As long as you don't show your idiocy, definatly," I gasped, catching my breath. Swimming had taken a lot out of me.

There was a round of applause from near the door and I looked up too see Joanne and Pika watching.

"What the hell? She's supposed to be looking after the kits!" Squirtle said.

"Like you were supposed to have been doing the last two times," I said with a sly grin.

"Good point. But still."

"As long as there isn't another crazy Hypno around, they'll be fine," I replied

Moron had moved away, presumably to resieve the badge thingie. I had to admit that the fight was exilerating, considering that I was actually listening to advice and knew what I was doing for once.

"I oughta listen to Moron more often," I laughed.

"Did you hit your head?" Squirtle said, shocked.

"Not recently," I muttered, I hadn't told anyone about Vapor. I was holding that infomation back, dispite everyone wanting to know how I survived the lake.

We both walked past Joanne and Pika and stepped outside, I instantly spotted Scout pearched on a streetlamp and looking over towards a flowerbed.

"Hey Scout!" Squirtle called. The bird turned to look at us, my neck was starting to hurt from looking up at him.

"Hey Squirt. Sarge," he called back, gliding down to land beside us.

"I am not a Squirt. I'm bigger than you," Squirtle pouted.

"I know, but Squirt is quicker to say. Besides, the kits call you it so why can't I?" Scout laughed, "I presume your battle went well."

Squirtle told him it while I headed over to the flowerbed and nearly got hit in the face by flying dirt. I pushed through the daisies and found, not unexpectedly, Blacky digging a hole. He hadn't seen my arrival so I leant over and tapped him on the back, suprising him so much that he nearly jumped out of the hole.

"What are you doing?" I asked, with a smirk.

"Well, Spiral wants to go see mom and said that we oughta bring flowers," Blacky said, honest as always.

"Well, can't fault her for that," I said, my smirk long gone, "where is she anyway? I need a word with her."

"She's near the Pokémart, swiping some roses. Don't yell at her, Uncle Flame."

"I wasn't going to yell at her, so no need to put ideas in my head."

I headed off towards the Pokémart, having regually gotten free food from locals meant that I knew exactly where it was. Kudos to Blacky, Spiral was right where he said she'd be. I trotted up too her and coughed politly to get her attention.

"What? I'm busy!" She snarled, not looking at me.

"Well that isn't a nice way to say hello to your dear Uncle. Who, as I recall, nearly died in keeping you and your brother alive," I said, making her spin round.

"Oh crap. Sorry Flame."

"It's okay, I'd have done the same. You must take after me," I laughed.

"Are you going to yell at me?" She asked, fearfully.

"Now why does everyone keep assuming that I'm going to yell at you?" I smirked.

"I'm going to see mom, and there is nothing you can do to stop me," Spiral said, strait to the point.

"Why would I want to stop you? It is your right to visit your parent. Which reminds me, you want to know why I survived the lake?"

"I guess. How?"

"Your mom's cousin saved me. So, you have a real uncle, in a sense, instead of some imposter like me."

"You're kidding!"

"I don't kid around about stuff like this, after we go see your mom then we'll get Blacky and go visit. I'm sure he, or is it she, could use the company."

"Then what are we waiting for! Lets go! Comon Flame, lets get moving!" she burst out, running off ahead.

"A little thanks would be nice," I said, following along behind.