Ash, Brock, and Misty leaned the prow railing with the other passengers as they arrived at Cinnabar Island. A decapitated obsidian cone, the volcano, rose from the center of a ring of greenery with wisps of smoke rising from the crater. The green ring of the lower forests was dotted with and eventually bordered by a collection of white and gray shapes, the port and town. And, most importantly to Ash, the Cinnabar Island Gym.
"Only two more badges to go," Ash said, grinning as the island and port grew closer and closer.
"Oh, from what I know about Blaine, you might be stuck here for a while," Misty said with a cheeky grin of her own.
"At least it'll give me a chance to check out the rock-types who live near the volcano," Brock said. "And spend some time at the beach picking up pretty ladies."
"You want to waste a trip to the beach on sex or romance?" Misty looked over at Brock like he had grown a second head. "Tell me you would at least try swimming, please."
"Or trying more beach food, like at the last place," Ash added. "Or trying to find the pokémon that live near the beach!"
"I cannot relate to you two," Brock said deadpan.
"I mean, it's not like you've succeeded at getting a date," Misty smirked. "You're still worse than Falkner at getting women."
"Don't remind me," Brock groaned and Misty chuckled.
After their ship docked, they got off along with the rest of the passengers. It was Ash's first good look at the rest of the passengers gathered together and there seemed to be a lot of people who were either dressed in business casual (though Ash didn't know the term, he just knew they looked like they were ready to go to work) or dressed for a beach vacation. He didn't see very many people who were dressed like trainers.
Exiting the exodus, Ash, Brock, and Misty started looking for the Cinnabar pokémon center, but there were crowds of people everywhere. Brock eventually had to get out his pokégear and look up the directions.
When they finally got to the pokémon center there was a Nurse Joy at the entrance shouting after a retreating group. Ash noticed that none of said group were dressed like pokémon trainers.
"Honestly," the member of the Joy clan huffed as the trio walked up. "I know it's regional policy that we can rent rooms out when we've had a prolonged vacancy, but that's not an excuse for every tourist to try and grab a bed here. I really should propose a change regarding pokémon centers near resorts…"
"I take it that happens a lot?" Misty asked. The Joy glanced over at them and then looked them up and down.
"If you're looking for a room, I'll need to see your trainer's licenses," the nurse said, walking back into the center. They followed, fishing in their pockets to get out their licenses.
"Oh, thank goodness," Joy said after reviewing the licenses. "I'll give you three the last suite so that I can just tell the vacationers that we're out."
"Thanks," Brock replied.
"Just be glad that you got here when you did," the nurse went on. "If you came a few weeks later peak tourist season would've begun and there'd be enough trainers on vacation that we'd be out of beds."
The three trainers handed their pokémon over for a checkup and then went to wait in the lounge. There were a couple of groups of trainers already there but Ash, Brock, and Misty were able to grab a few chairs to themselves.
They sat in silence for a few moments until a loud voice from one of the other trainer groups shattered it.
"I hate that fucker!" one trainer shouted. "Giving us a damned riddle! What does that have to do with being a trainer? I can't make heads or tails of the fucking thing!"
"Language!" Misty shouted over at them. "Some of us are trying to relax here, dipshit!"
"Shut up, hypocrite!"
"We are being a bit loud," one of the others said. "Let's get out of here. Blow off some steam. See if the fresh air helps us with this fucking riddle."
As the loud trainer group filed out of the room Brock gave Misty a look.
"That was… rather aggressive," Brock said when she looked back.
"Sorry, just didn't feel like putting up with them," Misty apologized with a shrug. "Besides, Aaron's too young to hear that kind of language."
"No, I'm not," Ash protested.
"And, I also feel like we're going to be hearing a lot of complaints while we're here," Misty sighed.
"Why- oh, right, because we're going to be stuck here while Aaron has to solve his riddle," Brock sighed.
"Huh?" Ash's head swiveled as he looked at them both.
"Blaine, like Koga, has some… unique ideas about trainer qualifications," Brock explained.
"He makes everyone who's got three badges or more solve a riddle or series of riddles to gain access to the gym before they can battle for the badge," Misty added.
"Blaine changes the riddle and the secret entrance every month," Brock said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "He's constantly tearing them down and building new ones. What I wouldn't have given to have a budget that large when I was the Pewter City gym leader…"
"My sisters would have converted the gym into a stadium with that kind of money," Misty said, the tip of her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth.
"Where does he get it?" Ash asked, still looking between the two of them.
"The gym is inside the volcano and the gym doubles as a geothermal power plant," Brock explained. "That's where he gets the extra money."
"Ugh, what a waste," Misty groaned. "If I were in charge of the gym I'd use that money to set up a couple more deep-sea habitats so we could have a wider range of gym pokémon and then I'd work with the city to invest in better security systems."
"Well, Blaine thinks that Cinnabar Island is secure enough as it is," Brock said. "And he's also got that big lab on the island, which has its own security systems, but also means he doesn't need special facilities at the gym when he can just rent the lab's."
"And he uses all that extra money for these stupid riddles," Misty rolled her eyes. "At least the Fuchsia Gym is cheap. Koga, or Janine, can just tear it down and move it every few weeks because there's no electric grid, just a bunch of wood, paper, and some traps."
"Wait, don't poison types need special stuff like you were talking about earlier?" Ash asked. "The special habit-tats?"
"The Fuchsia City Gym has a hidden base where they keep their gym pokémon," Brock explained. "They keep its location a secret from everyone who's not a member of the gym, even from the rest of the League."
"See, at least their crazy ideas on how to test trainers are practical if you aren't running a power plant in your gym," Misty went on. "And they actually make sense! Tracking and survival skills can actually be very useful! But Blaine-"
"Giving trainers motivation to be more intellectual isn't necessarily a bad thing," Brock cut in. "But there are better ways to do that than riddles and constantly changing secret entrances. And denying trainers their advancements, that's what really gets me about how he runs things."
"It's an abuse of power, that's what it is," Misty huffed, crossing her arms. "Blaine should be giving out advancements based on how well trainers have raised their pokémon, not on whether or not they can answer a stupid riddle. If he wants to run trials at his gym then he can move to Alola or the Orange Islands."
While Ash wasn't thrilled about the idea of having to figure out a riddle to get his badge and about the potential lack of an advancement, he could also see that Blaine probably had a point, just like the Fuchsia City Gym. Not that Ash could say whether he believed Blaine or even the Fuchsia gym was going about reaching said point the correct way or not.
"I don't know what's worse," Brock went on. "Saying that trainers that give out the answer to the current riddle forfeit half their advancement or trainers who get the answer forfeit all of it."
"If it's so bad, why doesn't the League do anything?" Ash asked.
"Gym leaders are pretty much sovereign in their own gyms," Brock sighed. "The only checks against them are from the city government."
"What does sov-tren mean?" Ash asked.
"Sovereign," Misty corrected. "Basically, it means that no one can tell them what to do. Besides, there are some gym leaders who don't think he's doing anything wrong… and some of those same gym leaders would also rather be doing shows than actually running their damn gym, so we can discount their opinions."
"Well, even Surge has said nice things about the setup," Brock sighed again. "I think he wants to implement some sort of puzzle that trainers have to get through before they can battle for a badge."
"An obstacle course wouldn't be too bad, I guess," Misty shrugged. "But the riddles…"
"Eh," Ash also shrugged. "So where do I go to get this riddle?"
There was a public building for the Cinnabar Gym where trainers with less than three badges could go for their gym battles and where everyone else could go to get the riddles. It was a fancy white stone building on the outside with the sort of generic shiny tiles and fluorescent lighting on the inside that Ash was starting to associate with public places like hospitals, transit stations, and the like.
"There are three riddles this month," the secretary told him. "You'll want to solve them in the following order. First, 'If you are leaving, you've found me'. Second, 'If you can see my face, you can see my hands'. Third, the entrance can be found in 'a dangerous cave, stalactites and stalagmites that grab, containing either a flood or a fire.'
"And remember," the secretary went on. "If you receive the answer from anyone you forfeit your advancement. If you share the answer with anyone after you solve it, you forfeit half your advancement. Do you understand?"
"Yep," Ash nodded. "Thanks!"
"Good luck kid," the secretary said.
"Won't need it!" Ash exclaimed as he rushed back outside.
You sure you're not going to need it? Pikachu asked from his shoulder. Intellectual challenges like riddles aren't exactly your forte.
Oh, I'm not going to bother with the riddle, Ash smirked. I'm just not going to ask a human for an answer.
Heh! Pikachu snorted. Good call. We're the far more sensible species.
Well, your species is the one I won't get in trouble for asking, Ash replied. Now I've got to find a pokémon who'll know. Hmm… maybe a wingul? They like hanging around people and they've got a bird's eye view of the island. But where's a good spot to talk to one…?
You know, there are more flying-type pokémon than there are birds, so shouldn't it be a flying-type's eye view of the island? Pikachu asked as Ash began to walk, looking for an out of the way place.
Bird's eye view sounds better, Ash pointed out. More succinct, more elegant.
When was the last time you've even seen a bird? Pikachu asked.
No clue, Ash answered, his head on a swivel as they walked down the sidewalk. The part of the island where the public gym buildings were located wasn't as crowded as the rest of the Cinnabar so people were scared on the sidewalks and streets.
Ash looked up and saw a wingull flying overhead, a piece of pizza in its beak, which gave the boy an idea.
Hey, Pikachu, do you think you can find a nice out of the way dumpster? One that's great for pokémon to scavenge?
Probably, Pikachu shrugged. Why?
I can probably find a wingull there, Ash explained. And there shouldn't be any other humans around.
I never got why your species avoids dumpsters, Pikachu said, shaking his head. You're the ones who put everything in the dumpsters and then just stay away from it. You're missing out on all the stuff in them!
We just can't handle the smell, Ash answered. And getting sick from eating rotting things. Or touching things that are rotting… look, we've got delicate constitutions.
Along with delicate everything elses.
Well, we can't all be able to walk off a snorlax body slamming us. At least we've got opposable thumbs and the social skills to make cities.
And then you don't use them to their full potential! Pikachu declared, standing up straight, his tail quivering. You waste so much space on things like offices and clothing stores when you could be using it for televisions and food!
Huh, you've got a point, Ash mused, thinking it over. I mean, do people really need all that space for paperwork? I think humans organized themselves better then we could probably reduce the space for offices and use it to make more food. And we could put tvs in all the windows where we used to have offices!
Yeah! Pikachu agreed. And then we pokémon could have an easier time stealing food since you humans will have so much more of it!
Everyone wins, Ash nodded. I wonder why no one else has thought of this? I wonder how I can put this idea up for a vote…
I don't know, Pikachu shrugged. Eh, I'll go find a dumpster while you think about that.
After Pikachu ran off, Ash tried to remember how proposing laws and voting worked, but he hadn't paid that much attention to his civics lessons when he had been in school. He hadn't figured it out by the time Pikachu came scampering back.
I think I found a place and a pokémon, Pikachu said, beckoning with his forepaw. This way.
Ash followed the electric type through a few alleys until they arrived at a rusty green dumpster with a hole in one corner, the whole thing behind a building, right next to an empty park and playground. A lone wingull loitered nearby, chewing on a half-eaten hamburger.
We're here, Pikachu announced.
Is this the pokémon? Ash asked, looking at the wingull.
Who's asking? The wingull said, hopping in a semi-circle around Ash, dragging the burger with him. Quit hiding behind yer human and come out and talk.
No, it's just me, Ash said, making eye contact with the wingull.
Bullshit!
Nope, it's actually him, Pikachu said.
Heh, the wingull shrugged. Never thought- oh well, no matter how far ya travel some things repeat. What can I do for ya?
I was wondering if you've seen how trainers are getting into the gym this month? Ash asked.
Huh, ya humans, always wanting to know how other humans are getting into places or if they've gotten into a place, the wingull said, shaking his head. What'cha offering?
What do you want? Ash asked.
Hmm… last time I got some fresh food, the wingull said. But that was just passing on gossip from some pokémon who's trainers were letting them run in the forest for a bit, because they were sick of being cooped up underground… Hmm… I know! I want a whole, fresh pizza!
Sure, Ash said, shrugging, not getting what the wingull was going on about. Where's the nearest pizza place?
After running to the nearest pizza place, waiting twenty minutes for a fresh pizza, and then running back to the dumpster, Ash was able to fill his part of the deal.
I've never smelled the steam off one of these before, the wingull said inhaling deeply.
Careful, you might burn your tongue if you eat too fast, Ash warned.
Yeah, Pikachu nodded. Humans like to blow on it for some reason, like they think they've got ice breath, but it seems to work.
Something about the steam I think? Ash said, scratching the top of his head as the wingull pecked at the pizza.
This tastes way different hot, the wingul said, slurping up a string of dangling cheese. I'm going to have to nap on the slide after this. Hope none of those child prisons let loose soon.
They're not prisons, Ash corrected. They're schools. They're supposed to teach kids, not just keep them away from everyone else.
I don't know, keeping small human children and their grabby hands away from everyone else seems like a good end in and of itself.
Oh, it's easy to doge their hands, Pikachu said, leaning against a wall. And you can use them to distract the parents while you steal food or electricity!
Hmm…. not sure that'd work as well for me, the wingull mused between bites.
It is true that not many can be as adorable as I, Pikachu said, nodding sagely.
Alright, that's enough of this, Ash sighed. Do you know how to get into the gym or not?
Oh, yeah, the wingull nodded. Go to that human sleeping place with that big clock thing near the edge of the forest a little way up the volcano. And then go in the hot water place and reach into one of the mouths of the gyarados statues.
Huh… Ash said. Forest, "if you are leaving", clock, "see my face, see my hands", and then the cave thing is the gyarados statue mouths, I guess?
I don't know about all that, the wingull shrugged, a bit of pepperoni hanging from its beak. I just know that's how trainers get into the gym.
Well, I gotta go give it a try, Ash said. Thanks, and goodbye! He finished, waving and turning towards the volcano.
And thanks for the pizza, the wingull called back. As Ash and Pikachu ran off the wingull looked back down at the pizza.
I'm going to be round for a few days, the water-flying type sighed.
AN: I'd like to thank Amationary for beta reading.
This chapter is mainly worldbuilding and a few hints related to other plot points.
Skipping another month to try and get my buffer to a semi-acceptable state. Progress is slow but steady, so hopefully I'll be able to finish off the final arc with weekly releases.
The next chapter will come out September 7th, 2022
Don't forget to review! Concrit is welcome!