Boundless

by NoxxTheEternal

The story will follow my OC Blake Larkin, a talented young trainer hailing from Vermillion City alongside his chosen starter, a Cyndaquil named Cinder. They'll travel through dangerous lands, defeat powerful trainers, and discover long-forgotten secrets all in their pursuit of one thing: the Champion's throne.

3. Chapter 3

Next to the surrounding buildings, the gym held an impressive size, yet it paled in comparison to Vermillion's gym in Blake's mind. Blake could still appreciate how simple the gym's architecture was, resembling a martial arts dojo . He had seen Koga a few times on the news though he had no clue what he looked like outside of a few blurry photos. The man usually disappeared before the cameras could focus on him. He'd heard rumors that the man was a superpowered ninja, which he thought was ridiculous. Ninjas couldn't possibly be real, especially ones with powers. He supposed that the idea was cool though. Imagine that - being able to disappear into thin air, run on walls, use crazy martial ar-

"Focus," Blake muttered to himself, shaking his head as he reached for the wide wooden gym door. It creaked open as he slid it aside, revealing the gym's interior. He quirked a brow as he stepped inside, noticing that the light levels felt like he'd never left the outside. The gym's lighting mimicked natural sunlight well, making it difficult to distinguish the difference. There was no reception desk upfront, unlike Vermillion's gym. Instead, an open threshold led to the opposite side of the room.

Soon, Blake found himself face-to-face with the battlefield. The battlefield he faced was the typical type he was accustomed to - expansive and constructed of stone.

The violet walls had great windows that let in enough natural light to fill the room. As he walked through, he noticed a tingle behind his eye. He watched as a wispy pink barrier trickled into existence around the field, illuminating the surrounding area with a soft light. He smiled, seeing the psychic barriers up close for the first time. Though he was confused, as he thought they'd be a lot brighter. However, something more pressing grabbed his attention at the same time.

He turned his head to see Koga standing opposite him on top of a spectator's box. His robes were the same violet as the gym, with a white belt tied around his waist. A red scarf concealed most of his face, with only his sharp black eyes and bushy eyebrows being visible.

This was it, Blake's first gym battle. He felt ready, having trained tirelessly with Cinder every day since they began traveling together. And while this may be their first battle together, Scyther's speed and strength would be crucial. After their earlier discussion, Blake was confident that they could work together to secure victory.

|Flashback|

Blake stretched and yawned as he ambled through the crisp early morning air, the rising sun casting long shadows across the path ahead. He was heading back to Fuschia City, his thoughts consumed by the upcoming challenge. Despite hours of painstaking research, he couldn't find any substantial details about Koga's team. All he knew was that the enigmatic trainer favored a venonat and nidoran in his no-badge matches. Blake was cautiously optimistic about his chances, but he wanted to ensure both members of his team were well-prepared for whatever lay ahead.

His mind drifted to thoughts of Scyther. The two of them had yet to speak after the events of the previous night. Blake had decided to wait until they were closer to Fuschia City before addressing the bug-type Pokémon. Scyther clearly enjoyed battling as much as he and Cinder did. He just had to hope that he would listen to him during the battle.

The two of them had yet to speak after the events of the previous night. Blake had decided to wait until they were closer to Fuschia City before addressing the bug-type Pokémon. The insectoid Pokémon blinked a couple of times before locking its sharp black eyes onto Blake, who greeted the bug-type with an enthusiastic grin.

"Scyther! Good to see ya. I just wanted to talk to you for a bit before the battle." Blake said with a friendly grin. The bug type grunted in response, doing a bit of an odd shrug. Blake sensed that there was no need to call Cinder out this time; Scyther appeared to have mellowed a bit since their previous encounter.

"First, how are you feeling? If you're hungry, I can get you some food," Blake offered, fidgeting with the straps on his bag. Scyther regarded him with an air of reluctance before nodding slightly. Blake's grin widened. "Great, I'll get you something to eat. In the meantime, let's chat."

After Blake set his things down, he grabbed the package of dead caterpie he'd bought and took one out of the packaging with a grimace on his now light green face.

"Here," Blake gurgled, chucking the caterpie at Scyther, watching amazement as he skewered it with a claw and took a bite all in one swift, smooth motion. And he seemed to rather enjoy it, eyes losing their edge as he ate peacefully. Blake threw three more mostly for his amusement watching as Scyther easily caught each one.

"Wow, with moves like those, Koga'll be a breeze aye?" Scyther rolled his eyes, flicking the remains of the morsel he'd been given off of his claw.

"Ah come on don't be like that," Blake said good-naturedly, "You still wanna fight don't ya?" He asked, worry tinging his voice. Scyther rolled his eyes once more, though he quickly nodded rubbing his scythes against one another.

"Good, but before we do this, I want to lay out a ground rule as far as our trial here," Blake said, sounding a bit more serious. Scyther looked a bit disagreeable at that but he was content to merely grunt and nod.

"I need you to follow my orders. We don't know each other so I know that might be weird, but trust me I've got a completely different perspective on the field than you. I might see something you don't." Blake said, pacing a bit. Scyther didn't seem too annoyed about that it, nodding in agreement. Blake smiled a bit and continued, "I just started my journey a bit short of a month ago, so sometimes I may not know exactly what to do but just try to trust me alright?"

Scyther's sharp, black eyes bore into Blake's, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, with a subtle nod, Scyther made it clear that he understood the rule. Blake let out a sigh of relief, appreciating the bug type's willingness to cooperate.

"Great," Blake said, his smile widening. "That's the spirit, Scyther. Let's do our best alright?" He hesitantly reached out patting the metallic carapace on Scyther's shoulder awkwardly, a gesture of camaraderie that seemed to resonate with the bug type. Scyther nodded, seeming much more amicable than before.

As they continued their conversation, Blake outlined some strategies and potential battle scenarios. "You're going to be the second one I send in, I doubt Cinder will be able to take out two gym-trained pokemon on her own. Your speed and agility will be key here. Koga is a poison type master so I don't doubt that his pokemon will have moves capable of eating straight through your armor. You're extremely fast so I doubt that'll be an issue, you also can fly which is useful. You'll likely have to watch your footing if he decides to use a pokemon with toxic spikes. I don't know what we're up against exactly but I heard that occasionally he uses a Golbat against stronger noobies. We'll probably be fighting it and in that case, I'll probably-" Blake stopped, seeing Scyther's strange stare. Blake's face flushed with embarrassment, "Sorry, I ramble a lot I can stop,"

Scyther shook his head, flicking his claw forward as if to say 'Go on'. Blake smiled, feeling a bit of a connection forming between them already. He continued to ramble on, eventually releasing Cinder so that they could all discuss their strategy for the match. Both of them appeared to be genuinely interested in the discussion, occasionally chiming in with a nod or a grunt.

Eventually, it was time for them to go and with a renewed sense of confidence, Blake returned Scyther to his pokeball and shouldered his bag. He beckoned for Cinder to follow and they began making their way toward Fuschia City.

|Present|

He was shaken from his thoughts as Koga spoke, declining his head just the barest inch.

"What is your name challenger?" His harsh voice rasped from across the room. Blake stepped forward meeting his gaze confidently.

"I'm Blake Larkin. I've come here for my first badge if you think you can take me," Blake said with a cheeky grin.

Koga looked utterly unphased. "Ah yes, yet another D Class upstart who thinks himself stronger than he truly is," He said harshly, flipping down from the pedestal he was on. He landed upright without making a sound. "Come then, boy. Tell me, how many pokemon do you have?"

"Two," Blake answered, ignoring the bite of the poison master's words - he refused to back down, not at his first step. Not even Koga would throw his game off.

"Well then, take your position. Either you will leave today with your sixth badge, or you will not." Koga's voice, despite the rasp, was controlled. "Janine!" He shouted after clearing his throat.

There was a sound like escaping gas and when Blake looked over, a girl was standing there in a cloud of fading smoke. She looked a bit older than him, wearing clothing similar to Koga's only black.

"Yes, father?" She replied, bowing in his direction. Though there was a similar curve to their features, he noticed the excitability in her eyes and the small twitch in her hands that didn't quite match Koga's cool and collected energy.

"You are to referee this match between me and the challenger," Koga said, not taking his eyes off Blake for a moment.

"Hello, challenger! I'm Janine," She greeted him, turning to meet him with a friendly smile. "I wish you the best of luck, my father is quite formidable. You'll find that poison types are quite powerful. Brute force won't carry you very far here." She advised.

He noticed that despite their similar facial structure, she seemed more excited and fidgety than Koga who was composed and relaxed. He wondered if she was as strong as her father. He'd never heard of her before, then again there wasn't much information to be found about the man in the first place.

"Janine…" Koga warned with narrowed eyes. She sighed but straightened again, "Yes, Father," She rolled her eyes, taking her place on the side of the field.

Cinder's pokeball gave off a comforting warmth that helped to dispel the nerves he was feeling. It was showtime now - this was their first step toward Champion-hood.

The psychic barriers snapped into reality around them, Blake watched in amazement as the pink wisps from before solidified briefly giving off a flash of white light before turning into rose colored glass. He briefly wondered what kind of psychic was controlling the barriers. He knew that at the Vermillion gym, a hypno presided over the battlefield. But in Kanto, most gyms used a member of the alakazam species. But he'd heard that some other gyms like the ones in Johto used pokemon like chingling and xatu instead. He wondered what-

Blake shook his head, feeling Cinder's heat rise up his arm, it was time to focus. He unclipped her pokeball from his belt, preparing to release her from its confines.

As Blake held Cinder's Poké Ball in his hand, he could feel her anticipation radiating through the small, red and white capsule. The cyndaquil was always eager for a battle, and that desire for battle was matched only by her determination to win. This was their moment, and together they would win, standing atop their foe's ashes.

Janine raised her hand, ready to signal the start of the battle. "This will be a two-on-two match. The challenger, Blake Larkin - she looked up at the scoreboard that popped out of a wall panel above them- against the Fuchsia City Gym Leader, Koga. The battle begins... now!"

Knowing that challengers went first, with a swift motion, Blake pressed the pokeball's release. It burst open in a flash of light, and Cinder emerged with a confident burst of flames. Her fiery back ignited, casting a warm glow in the dimly lit gym. Cinder stood proudly, her small but fierce form ready for action.

"Alright, Cinder, it's time to show them what we're made of," Blake declared with unwavering determination. Cinder nodded in response, her gaze fixed on Koga, the Gym Leader, who stood with his cold and calculating demeanor.

Koga didn't waste a moment and sent out his first pokémon. "Venomoth, go!" With grace, he released the large, purple moth-like creature onto the battlefield. Venomoth chittered menacingly, its mandibles clicking, and its violet wings slowly flapping.

Blake frowned in surprise; this wasn't the pokémon he had anticipated. However, his expression quickly shifted into a confident grin. Considering its use in a battle against a relatively inexperienced trainer like himself, he figured it had recently evolved. That gave him more confidence in their odds. Regardless, Cinder was more than ready for the challenge.

"Ember!" Blake called out, his voice firm but calm. His eyes remained fixed on their formidable opponent, whose large beady eyes shimmered with the limited psychic abilities characteristic of its species.

"Be cautious," Blake warned Cinder. "Watch out for its spores; a single touch could be dangerous."

Cinder remained composed, undisturbed by Venomoth's menacing presence. She inhaled deeply, gathering the fiery energy needed for her attack. Her flames blazed with intensity as she unleashed a scorching volley of burning ash toward Venomoth. The opponent stood poised, awaiting Koga's orders, as the fiery assault descended.

"Venomoth, Protect!" Koga's voice carried a note of authority as he issued the command. Instantly, Venomoth conjured a shimmering hexagonal barrier, a translucent shield that expertly deflected Cinder's flames, rendering them harmless.

Blake's tongue clicked with a mix of frustration and realization. Of course, Venomoth knew Protect. He cursed Koga as he thought of what to do next. Although Blake's knowledge of the high-level move was limited, he knew it to be a nearly impenetrable shield that demanded considerable energy from its user. It was clear to him that he would need to find a way to wear down Venomoth's defenses. If elemental attacks weren't working, a more physical approach could be the key.

"Quick Attack!" Blake ordered, prompting Cinder to dash forward. However, her rapid assault was thwarted once more by the shimmering barrier. The glow in Venomoth's eyes intensified, and in an instant, Cinder was enveloped in a swirling shroud of vivid blue energy. She fought against the force, her flames blazing fiercely in her struggle, but her efforts proved futile. With a merciless display of power, Venomoth hurled her down to the ground like a discarded toy, where she bounced harshly upon impact.

"Up!" Blake's voice carried a sense of urgency as he clung to the railings. "Fire Spin!"

Cinder shot up, anger clear in her eyes as she bathed the area in more flames, animating them to rise around the bug type in a blazing vortex. Venomoth desperately attempted to escape the scorching inferno, soaring away from the relentless heat that pursued it at breakneck speed

Koga, unfazed, countered with his strategy. "You can't outrun it. Use Confusion on the flames, take control of them!" His command resounded through the Gym as Venomoth's eyes blazed brighter than ever. It exerted all its psychic might to seize control of Cinder's fire, repelling them from its body. Cinder battled against the overpowering confusion, struggling to maintain dominance over the conflagration that gradually receded from Venomoth's form.

During this tug-of-war between mental abilities, Blake quickly made his next call, "Let it go, conserve energy!" Cinder released her control of the flames, watching as Venomoth scattered them into the wind with a snarl.

Blake clenched his fists. Koga's experience as a Gym Leader was evident in his quick response. He needed to strategize and not rely solely on brute force. He remembered the advice Janine had given him earlier.

"Let's try a different approach. Use Smokescreen!" Blake ordered, hoping to obscure Venomoth's vision.

Cinder obeyed, and released a thick cloud of smoky darkness that enveloped the battlefield, shrouding Venomoth in obscurity. Koga's confident expression faltered slightly as he assessed the situation.

"Venomoth, use Gust to clear the smokescreen!" Koga countered.

The Venomoth's wings flapped quickly - glowing slightly before a large gust blew across the Battlefield, banishing the darkness, and revealing Venomoth once more.

Blake knew he had to act quickly. "Cinder, now! Quick Attack!" he shouted.

Cinder emerged from the dissipating smokescreen like a fiery comet, her small body colliding with the Venomoth with surprising force. The Venomoth staggered back, clearly affected by the powerful tackle as its eyes lost their glow for a moment.

Koga's eyes narrowed, his expression growing even more serious. "Venomoth, use Toxic Powder!" he commanded. Blake's eyes narrowed, that had to be code for something. Nevertheless, he knew he couldn't risk those spores touching Cinder.

"Move it, don't let that hit you!" He called urgently.

The Venomoth released a cloud of sleep-inducing spores, but Cinder, fueled by her determination to succeed, managed to dodge most of them. However, a few spores made contact, and Cinder's movements started to slow down. That was when Venomoth's wings began to secrete a thick purple liquid that solidified into dozens of dark crystalline spikes that she scattered around the field

"Cinder, burn the spores and use Smokescreen again, avoid those spikes!" He urged, knowing that he couldn't risk her falling asleep.

Cinder responded, creating another smokescreen that billowed around her, obscuring her from Venomoth's view. She quickly released a blast of flame to burn the remaining spores in the air to a crisp. It was a gamble, but Blake hoped it would buy them enough time to counter Koga's strategy. Cinder ran as carefully as possible though, under the smoke it was difficult.

Eventually, she stepped on one hissing in pain before she continued moving, feeling the poison slowly course through her veins.

As the smokescreen thickened, Blake thought about his next move. While Cinder had made great strides in improving her use of Fire Spin, for the moment her psychic prowess wasn't strong enough for this foe.

But Blake was used to being on the backfoot by now and so was she. If they couldn't brute force them they'd have to play around them and shut it down with something they wouldn't expect. He just had to hope that Cinder would be able to pull it off.

"Fire Spin around the field! Draw it in!" Blake called out to her from beneath the smoke which was quickly being dispelled by another gust. Without hesitation, Cinder began to spew more flames around the field running around the smoke, occasionally releasing more as it grew thin. Venomoth used Confusion to dispel what little it could see, but the fire type just continued until the entire battlefield was covered in flames.

Eventually, the flames began to rise off of the stone floor before narrowing in, churning around Venomoth and Cinder in a mini vortex of fire, large enough to box both of them into a small section of the field.

Blake grinned ferociously. Once again that good old Larkin intelligence was doing him well. His mother might be pretty smart in her stupid lab but battle was where he shined. During his many hours of research for this battle, he'd been strategizing for a possible venonat. Because of the line's aversion to heat and flames, Fire Spin was the perfect move. This move was a little improvised but Cinder was making it work.

"Psybeam! Find it in the smoke! Break through the flames!" Koga called out, a tinge of annoyance breaking through his cold demeanor. Venomoth used Gust a few more times before the heat began to get to it. Its eyes glowed dimly as it released a thin beam of pink energy near where Cinder was currently located.

The searing beam tore through the thick smoke, narrowly missing Cinder, its blinding path barely piercing the wall of flames behind her. It relentlessly struck again and again, each subsequent blast growing weaker as the oppressive heat began to take its toll. Venomoth's pained shrieks filled the scorching arena, and with every agonizing moment, Cinder felt the venom coursing through her veins burn more fiercely. Her determination, however, remained unshaken as she strained to maintain the blazing inferno with grit teeth.

"Venomoth, Protect!" Koga's voice strained against the backdrop of crackling flames. The poison type pokemon erected yet another shimmering barrier in a desperate attempt to shield itself from the relentless Fire Spin. However, its attempt was futile. Cinder's relentless efforts raised the temperature and size of the flames, pushing the barrier to its limits.

"Keep it up, Cinder! You've got this!" Blake's words of encouragement echoed from his vantage point, his eyes straining to find Cinder amidst the swirling inferno.

Cinder pusher herself to her limits, her determination fueling her strength. She slowly crawled toward Venomoth with unwavering resolve. Though not the strongest combatant on the field, she refused to accept defeat. Her indomitable will manifested as raw power, her very back erupting with an explosive surge of flames.

"Blaze," Blake muttered, looking at his starter with amazement. Throughout their journey, she'd only used it once against Scyther and this time it was just as astonishing to watch

The intense conflagration on her back radiated enough light to illuminate the entire battlefield. The additional strength surged through her, carrying her through the searing pain. She drew the flames closer, wincing as they seared her fur. Then, with what remained of her strength, she summoned the last of her power to leap onto the hovering Venomoth, which had sunk lower due to its agony and exhaustion.

Blake watched, torn between amazement and worry, as Cinder willed the fiery vortex to envelop both her and Venomoth. The flames consumed them, the conflagration intensifying.

He cringed, hearing Venomoth's agonized shrieks of pain. Cinder made no sound, merely focusing on the flames until she was sure she'd won. Blake began to become concerned as she didn't stop. Surely Venomoth was done now? He glared at Koga who said nothing, retaining his stoic demeanor as he watched the display.

"Cinder, stop!" Blake's voice cut through the roar of the flames. Responding to his command, Cinder released the vortex, sending the remaining flames spiraling into the air with a final, defiant snarl.

As the fiery tempest scattered, Venomoth lay sprawled on the ground, its body marred by numerous burn marks, and most of its wings reduced to tattered charred remnants. Koga merely scoffed, returning Venomoth to its ball. Koga's indifference to his Pokémon's suffering left Blake deeply disgusted. Cinder could've killed the poor thing if Blake hadn't called her off.

Cinder stood hunched, most of her fur thin and burnt. She was barely upright but she glared at her fallen opponent defiantly. With the last bit of her energy, she roared a small plume of flames into the air before sinking to the ground, exhausted by her great feat with Fire Spin.

With a concerned hunch of his brow, Blake returned his exhausted cyndaquil, "That was amazing." He whispered to her through the pokeball. The ball wobbled in his handle briefly before going inert.

Blake grinned at her pokeball in his hand. That was badass. His starter had truly surpassed his expectations. Venomoth were formidable opponents even for a evolved pokemon to take on. Though this one seemed a bit…undeveloped. Regardless, he was still proud of Cinder for being able to defeat it.

"I will admit, that was a decent play. Sloppy but effective. Venomoth recently evolved and isn't up to the standard of my main team," Koga said, looking down at its pokeball before sending it down a chute of some kind, "I thought she would overpower your cyndaquil, clearly I was wrong. However, because of that play, you are now merely tied with me."

Blake heard this and took that moment to think, staring at Cinder's pokeball. Koga was right, that play was sloppy, while he had confidence in Scyther's abilities, Cinder may have been key in the next match, but with that play, she'd merely sacrificed herself for the tie regardless of how cool it had looked.

However, he wouldn't be admitting any of that to the poison gym leader. He merely leveled an annoyed glare at Koga for daring to try to talk down to him.

"Tsk," Blake tutted, "Yeah well I'll be sure to beat you more cleanly this time." He grasped Scyther's pokeball, throwing it up and down gently before releasing the bug type onto the battlefield. "Scyther, you're up. Cinder went down it's up to you now." He said to the bug type who snarled menacingly upon his release.

The bug type regarded him with a nod, snarling at Koga who observed Scyther with a hint of interest in his eyes. "Scyther, an interesting choice. Let's see how it fares against my next pokemon. Golbat, to me!"

The rafters above rumbled as a dark shadow dropped. As the shadow descended from the rafters, it materialized into a menacing figure - a Golbat. The size of its body and wingspan was impressive, and its fangs glistened wickedly in the ambient light of the gym. The sickly leathery blue skin that it was covered in made it stand out from the vibrant purple of the rest of the room. Blake felt a shiver of unease run down his spine as he realized this wouldn't be an easy battle.

Scyther flashed his scythes which shone with a wicked glint. Golbat screeched loudly, an unsettling sound that echoed through the gym. It flapped its wings menacingly, ready to strike. Blake knew that this battle would be a test of Scyther's speed and precision more than ever. While in their infantile state, the Golbat line was very weak. However, once a Zubat evolved into a Golbat they became a formidable predator of the night, unlocking moves like Supersonic, Confuse Ray, and Mean Look to trip up their prey. Along with that they were known to be quite fast and deadly quiet to boot.

Scyther's sharp eyes locked onto the Golbat, and he emitted a low growl, his wings fluttering with anticipation. Blake couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. This was it, right here right now he had to not only win but prove to Scyther that he was a worthy trainer.

From the sidelines, Janine spoke up, "The match is now one-to-one. It's a draw, the next knockout will decide the match. The challenger will go next."

"Scyther, stay focused," Blake instructed, his voice steady. "Golbat are fast and tricky. We need to outmaneuver it. Be careful with your footing, they have Toxic Spikes down. Start with Fury Cutter!"

Scyther nodded, his scythes gleaming a sickly green as he rushed at Golbat with buzzing wings, preparing to slice into the poison type. Golbat wasted no time and darted forward with astonishing speed, trying to catch Scyther off guard with a glowing wing. But Scyther was prepared. He sidestepped the assault gracefully and swung his scythes through the air, slashing at Golbat with precision.

The Fury Cutter attack struck Golbat directly, and the Flying/Poison-type screeched in pain, spiraling backward from the force of the blow. It struggled to regain its composure in mid-air, clearly rattled by Scyther's swift and accurate counterattack. The attack had left a deep slash in the poison type's side which didn't look comfortable in the slightest.

Koga's brow furrowed slightly at the unexpected turn of events. "Impressive," he muttered under his breath. "Golbat, regain your focus! Use Air Cutter then stop this farce with Confuse Ray!"

Golbat flapped its wings furiously, launching several razor-sharp blades of glowing wind toward Scyther. The shimmering blades sped directly toward Scyther who danced between the blades with finesse, his keen instincts and agility allowing him to avoid being hit.

Golbat's mouth then opened and with azure eyes that glowed in their sockets, it spat out a dancing red and purple orb that slowly headed toward Scyther unbeknownst to him as he avoided the blades of wind that threatened to cut into his armored carapace. Blake saw it coming with wide eyes.

He'd never seen a pokemon affected by Confuse Ray up close, however, he didn't exactly want to see what it would do to Scyther. He heard that the move was a nightmare to deal with, the energy that went into the move temporarily induced auditory and visual hallucinations which would be devastating during a battle like this where reflexes and awareness were key.

"Scyther, to your right!" he shouted. Scyther's keen, obsidian eyes swiftly shifted and with lightning-fast reflexes and astonishing speed, Scyther propelled himself through the air, evading the incoming Air Cutters with nimble grace. He emerged from the evasion with minimal damage—a mere nick on his shoulder. However, despite his agility, he couldn't elude the Confuse Ray in time. Blake winced as he watched the eerie orb bore into Scyther's flank, a sense of dread settling in his gut.

Scyther snarled to his left at something Blake couldn't see, slashing at the air with a glowing claw. Blake's teeth grit together. He knew that Confuse Ray typically wasn't long-lasting - unless the pokemon in question was of the ghost type. The problem was in waiting for it to wear off before your opponent could defeat you.

"Scyther! You've gotta shake it off," Blake pleaded, but it was to no avail as Scyther continued to slash at the air, snarling and spitting at still-unseen opponents.

"Golbat, Air Cutter," Koga intoned, his calm returning in full force alongside an air of smugness.

Golbat let out a piercing screech, its massive wings slicing through the air as it unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp, glowing wind blades toward Scyther, who found himself defenseless against the relentless assault. The shimmering blades cut through his armor with a sickening crunch, piercing deep into his left shoulder and his right thigh. Agonized cries escaped from Scyther's mandibles as he instinctively lashed out, slashing at the air in a desperate attempt to fend off the relentless onslaught.

Scyther's armor typically grew thicker and more resilient with age, as additional layers formed over time. However, in his youth, his armor remained relatively thin. While it offered some protection against blunt force, elemental attacks like the one he had just endured pierced through it with ease. For the time being, he would need to endure the onslaught, waiting for his senses to return.

Blake's brows furrowed with a mix of frustration and concern as he watched Golbat relentlessly assault Scyther, who struggled to defend himself amidst his hallucinatory state. His mind raced, desperately searching for a solution to their predicament, but it yielded nothing. In that harrowing moment, all he could do was trust Scyther's strength and hope that he could break free on his own.

"Come on Scyther, wake up. Show me that strength and ferocity from before…"

Scyther's cry pierced the air as he was sent hurtling through the sky, the force of the wing attack smashing against his armored chest with a resounding crack. With swift reflexes, he retaliated, slashing with his glowing claw, leaving a searing, thin red gash across Golbat's back as the bat-like Pokémon agilely dodged the attack.

Scyther growled and chased after Golbat mindlessly, slashing in its general direction. It hissed as it struggled to dodge each hit. Under normal circumstances, it might've been able to fight him off, but confused and enraged as Scyther was, he was a whirlwind of green blades, unpredictable and sharp. Golbat couldn't keep up with the wild ferocity Scyther brought to bear, struggling to land a meaningful blow without receiving two in return.

"That's right, Scyther! Show them who's boss!" Blake encouraged the bug type who still seemed like he couldn't hear him. However, Blake noticed that when he spoke Scyther moved his head ever so slightly in his direction. He was almost free, the move was dispelling!

Scyther and Golbat became a whirlwind of motion, their forms blurring in the sky as they clashed repeatedly. In a dance of blue and green, they streaked across the field, their confrontation a dazzling spectacle. With a determined snarl, Scyther launched into an overhead slash, meeting Golbat's glowing wing head-on. The bat's jaws clamped down on Scyther's armor with a vicious bite. While the armor held firm, it bore the marks of the assault, cracking around the two deep puncture wounds.

"Close in on Golbat with Quick Attack and follow it up with another Fury Cutter!" Blake commanded, seeing that the bug type had become more coherent throughout the exchange. Scyther batted Golbat away, snarling at its foe. He turned, regarding Blake with a nod that eased his mind somewhat. Scyther was back, and Blake acknowledged the bug type's return with a confident grin of his own.

Scyther responded swiftly, using Quick Attack to dash toward Golbat. The sudden burst of speed caught the Poison-type off guard, and Scyther collided with it, dealing a solid blow with a glowing scythe. Immediately afterward, Scyther spun around, his scythes gleaming even brighter as he unleashed another Fury Cutter, striking Golbat with a powerful slash with both.

Golbat let out a pained screech, blurring away from the bug type who lowered himself to the ground once more, tired and heavily injured but still ready to go, baring his fangs at where his opponent reappeared. Golbat looked spent itself sporting numerous weeping wounds and it wasn't flying very high anymore.

Golbat was struggling to keep up with Scyther's speed and natural combat ability. Blame smirked at Koga, however, he remained stoic, watching the battle unfold with an unwavering gaze. But Blake knew that he was thinking the same thing - the next strike would decide the battle. Both of them were tired yet Scyther was still faster and had more options. It would be down to the wire, but Blake had faith that Scyther would pull through.

"Golbat, Wing Attack!" Koga snarled, showing the closest hint of anger Blake had seen throughout the entire match. Good. Golbat hissed, flying higher into the air before doing an aerial maneuver to turn itself upside down, using its momentum to carry it faster on glowing wings.

"Scyther, one more time! Finish this with another Fury Cutter!" Blake called out.

With an unwavering resolve, Scyther surged upward, his wings humming with furious energy. His scythes blazed with an incandescent glow, their edges seeming to vibrate with intensity. Golbat descended rapidly, a storm of wings and fangs.

As their paths converged, Scyther met Golbat's Wing Attack head-on, the clash of forces sending tremors through the air. Gritting his mandibles against the pressure, Scyther fought to maintain his position, muscles straining with the effort. With a powerful push, he forced Golbat's assault upward, and in a single fluid motion, he unleashed his Fury Cutter, delivering a searing strike that sliced through Golbat's meager defenses.

This time, Golbat could not withstand the sheer force of the attack. The Poison-type Pokémon emitted a final, shrill screech before plummeting to the earth with an echoing thud, defeated.

Scyther landed back on the ground, exhausted but victorious. With a triumphant roar, his voice reverberated through the air, reminiscent of the grating clash of two blades in a victorious symphony.

The gym fell silent as the battle concluded. Scyther stood proudly, breathing heavily but victorious. The psychic barriers fell but Blake could still see the nebulous wisps of pink energy left behind. Blake ignored this as he couldn't control his excitement any longer. He rushed forward, clasping the bug type's shoulder.

"You did it, Scyther! We won!" Blake exclaimed with a wide grin. Scyther, too, reveled in the triumph, his jagged smile a testament to his victory. Blake allowed his bug-type companion to savor the moment. After all, Blake was certainly experiencing a surge of pride and exhilaration himself. He had just secured his first gym badge, a milestone that filled him with a profound sense of accomplishment.

Though clearly annoyed by the outcome, Koga couldn't help but grudgingly acknowledge their performance. "That was... impressive," he admitted grudgingly, reluctantly returning his Golbat with a curt nod. "You and your team have earned the Soul Badge, I suppose that I was wrong about you young man."

Blake beamed with pride as Koga approached and handed him a unique, purple-hued badge shaped like a stylized pair of wings. He accepted it with gratitude, clipping it onto the inside of his jacket. While he should've probably got a case to store his badges, his seasonal record held all the information regarding how many gyms he'd defeated. The physical badges were more of a souvenir if anything. And Blake would display his with pride.

As Koga's curt acknowledgment of their victory reached Blake's ears, a flicker of annoyance crossed his face, though he chose not to voice it. The poison master's attitude irked him, but Blake decided to let his success speak for itself, maintaining his composure even as he extended a hand toward Koga in a gesture of sportsmanship. Koga, however, merely regarded Blake's hand with a dry look, prompting Blake to awkwardly retract his own, a hint of exasperation and confusion etched into his features.

Blake watched as the man put up a hand sign, disappearing in a cloud of black smoke that caused Blake and Scyther to cough something fierce.

"What a dick, huh Scyther?" Blake asked the bug type as it dissipated, who snorted but made no signs of disagreement with the statement. Janine giggled from the sidelines, "Excuse him, father can be a bit…short sometimes. He's a good man, he just takes himself far too seriously," She sighed putting her hands into a sign, "But that was a fantastic match. I hope you come back when you're stronger, I would love to battle you someday."

With those words, she disappeared. Blake was left with one that as he looked at the badge he'd tucked away.

How the hell do they do that?

xXx

"Welcome back Mr. Larkin, I take it you need your pokemon healed again?" Nurse Joy greeted him as he walked up to the front counter.

"Mhm, I just battled Koga. We won but it was tough. I think Scyther might be okay though, he didn't get poisoned from what I saw." Blake said, handing her both pokeballs in his possession. She took them and placed them on the tray behind her, passing them off to a Chansey who gurgled happily.

She then turned back to Blake with a kind smile, scanning his ID into the system.

"Congratulations Mr. Larkin that's wonderful. Koga isn't an easy man to defe-" Nurse Joy paused right in the middle of congratulating him. Something caught her while looking at his information after scanning his Trainer ID. "Excuse me, Mr. Larkin, this says this was your first badge?"

He grinned proudly.

"How about that!" She chuckled. "You know very few beat Koga, I've seen trainers way farther in their journeys lose to the man. You're going places, young man."

Blake blushed, feeling pride bloom in his chest. This was why he chose his path. If he ever wanted to be the champion he had to push himself and set himself apart from everyone else.

"How are they?" Blake inquired. Both of his pokemon had performed fantastically. He was particularly surprised at Scyther's ability to follow commands with such precision. It made him wonder if Scyther had ever been trained by a previous trainer, despite his relatively young age. It wasn't completely impossible but who knew, Blake wasn't even sure if the bug type would be sticking around him in the first place.

"Oh, they'll be fine. Your Cyndaquil was poisoned but once I get some antidote into her system she should be fine by the morning, perhaps let her rest for a few days though. She has a few minor bruises and some burnt skin but some potion and burn heal oughta do it. Your Scyther should be fine within the next few hours, though I'd still take it easy with him."

Blake listened attentively to Nurse Joy's assessment of his Pokémon's condition, relieved to hear that both Cinder and Scyther would recover with some care and rest. He nodded in acknowledgment, grateful for her expertise and the efficient care provided by the Pokémon Center.

"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Blake replied sincerely. "I appreciate you. I'll make sure Cinder and Scyther get some rest. They've both been through quite a bit today."

Nurse Joy smiled warmly. "You're very welcome, Mr. Larkin. It's always a pleasure to help dedicated trainers like you and your Pokémon. If you have any questions or need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. And congratulations again on your victory over Koga. That's a remarkable achievement."

Blake's smile widened at her words. "Thank you and I'll keep that in mind. We'll be on our way to Celadon City soon, but for now, you wouldn't happen to have a room available for me would ya?"

"Of course. Here you are Mr. Larkin, just head down the hall to your left." Nurse Joy pulled a key from her pocket

After receiving a key, Blake made his way to the room she assigned to him, 104. The room had a very simple design with violet walls, a wooden chair in the corner, and a bed with a nightstand on either end. He decided to lie down, not having seen a bed in weeks. Eventually, he found himself drifting off to sleep, tired from the events of the day.

xXx

"So, Scyther, what's our next move?" Blake inquired, his gaze fixed on the bug type Pokémon who momentarily abandoned the juicy Caterpie he'd been eating. With supplies gathered and ready for the journey to Celadon, Blake was just waiting for Cinder to recover from her battle with Venomoth to leave.

Nurse Joy had already turned Scyther over thankfully. Fortunately, Scyther's injuries were less severe due to his natural healing abilities, a trait common in most bug type species. Given a full day to recover, his strength would return in full. Deciding to seize the moment, Blake led Scyther to the nearby beach, where they strolled along the shore, Blake relishing the sensation of sand beneath his bare feet and shins. Before departing from Fuschia, Blake needed to know whether Scyther would continue to travel alongside him and Cinder.

"If you wanna go back to the wild, I understand. Living out there certainly seems thrilling." Blake said with a tinge of sadness, drawing pictures in the sand with his fingers. He hadn't known Scyther long, but he'd quickly warmed up to him over the last three days. It felt nice having more than one friend along for the ride.

Scyther shook his head, rising to his feet with natural grace. He extended a scythe-like limb towards Blake, crossing the gleaming blades over each other. Blake arched an eyebrow in curiosity before mimicking the gesture, forming an 'x' with his crossed arms. A contagious eagerness lit up Scyther's expression, and Blake found himself mirroring it on his face as well.

"So, does that mean you'll be joining us then?" Blake asked the bug type, his eyes locking onto Scyther's as the creature nodded 'yes.' A triumphant smile stretched across Blake's face, his happiness evident in his eyes. "Good, welcome aboard, Scyther. Officially, this time."

Scyther emitted a contented growl in response, its scythes gleaming as it flashed them eagerly. Now that the bug type had affirmed its place on the team, Blake couldn't hold back the question that had lingered in the back of his head since the moment he had captured the formidable insect.

"Scyther, do you want a name?" Blake asked, throwing him another Caterpie. Scyther skewered it with a quick jab of his claw, giving him an odd look before taking a large bite that caused brown blood to spurt out.

Blake looked away before it made him sick. Was this something he'd have to get used to? Surely Scyther didn't have to eat things like that all the time.

Suppressing his disgust, Blake continued, "You know, a name, like how I've been calling you Scyther." He watched closely as Scyther paused, lost in thought for a moment, before offering a slow nod of approval. In the next instant, Scyther tore into another chunk of Caterpie, splattering his cheek with blood, which he greedily licked away, unfazed by the gruesome sight.

Blake looked sick, turning away from the sight. He watched a krabby and psyduck battle in the distance for a moment, smiling as the psyduck used some sort of psychic move to throw the krabby into the water.

With renewed focus, Blake retrieved his notebook and began reading the names he had written down. His voice rang out, starting with suggestions like "Mantis," "Swarm," and "Jet," which Scyther promptly dismissed with a frustrated growl. He shifted gears, considering names that carried a sharper edge, such as "Blade" and "Slash." Finally, he tried once more, "How about 'Edge'?"

The moment the name left his lips, Blake sensed he had reached the limits of his creativity. He watched intently for Scyther's reaction, and to his delight, the bug type responded with a low, approving screech, accentuated by his eerie, jagged smile.

"Alright, then Edge it is," Blake declared with a wide, joyous grin, reaching out to pat Edge on the chest - a gesture the bug type appeared to welcome. They strolled along the shore, savoring their growing camaraderie for a while longer. However, as the minutes passed, Blake began to sense it was time to resume their journey.

Together, they retraced their steps, heading back to the Pokémon Center where Cinder awaited them.

xXx

The sun shone down on Blake as he sat down on a large stone, plotting his next move. For the past few days, Blake had been winding his way along Route 18 finding it far more enjoyable than the path he'd taken to get to Fuschia. While the weather on Route 14 wasn't entirely horrible, he found the forest hot and mildly claustrophobic. It was nothing like the expansive, flat lands of western Fuschia which was nowhere near as warm and had enough space to let him stretch his legs.

Blake could certainly do without the rain that came every other day since he'd been on the path. However, he was happy about the amount of trainers on the route. It teemed with them, each challenge filling Blake's heart with excitement A few of them challenged him and he gleefully accepted each one, defeating most of them with ease. Though he did recall an older trainer he'd nearly lost to with a poliwhirl that nearly managed to knock Edge out with a well-placed Water Gun.

In the distance, Blake could hear the rapid buzz of wings signaling that Edge was somewhere nearby. Within the past few days, Blake grew exasperated with stopping the young bug type from challenging random pokemon in the area and eventually gave up, telling him he could do his thing so long as he remained close.

He respected Edge's desire to challenge himself and wouldn't stop him, though he did ask that he take it easy on challenging other trainers. Although he knew Edge posed no threat to himself, he couldn't forget the bug-type's initial attempt to behead him when they first met. He didn't want his new friend to do anything that could lead either of them into trouble. Thankfully, he'd been compliant so far, so Blake left him to his own devices for the most part.

Blake looked up, seeing the large expanse that was Evolution Mountain. The mountain wasn't quite as large as Mount Moon in the north but it was still a destination Blake was keen to explore. Rumor had it that Evolution Mountain was named for the various evolutionary stones that could supposedly be found within its depths. Blake was curious to see if the rumors were true, though he figured it was mostly an urban legend. Still, he wanted to see what the hype was about, an evolutionary stone would always be nice to have. However, in his mind, other matters were a bit more important at the moment.

"Alright Cinder, I think it's time for a new move. You've got a handle on Fire Spin already so I wouldn't be surprised if Flame Charge is easy for you." Blake said, pulling his pokedex out to find the section on cyndaquil. Cinder churred happily, plodding over to his side to watch the tutorial. Blake continued, "You did extremely well against Venomoth, but you would've had a way easier time if you could've gotten up close. Flame Charge will be good for keeping your opponents off of you and it'll give your tackles a lot more power."

The battle with Koga made Cinder's weaknesses as a fighter more apparent to him. While she was developing far better control and firepower she had little to no way of dealing with other pokemon physically unless they were around her size or lacked any kind of armor. The challenge for their second badge likely wouldn't be as hard, after all unlike Koga, Erika was known for being one of the easier gym leaders to defeat. But no matter how easy it had the potential to be, Blake wanted to be as prepared as possible.

Blake hit play on the video watching as another cyndaquil stepped into the frame. The flames on its back rose high before seeming to flow over its fur like water until it was covered in the flames. It stood on all fours, bounding towards its target shrouded in a shroud of flames. On contact, every flame in its control flew forward leaving the target singed and blackened.

He paused the video and turned to Cinder, who was watching on with stars in her eyes. Blake chuckled at her expression before giving instructions.

"Flame Charge is one of the easier moves for a cyndaquil to learn. The level of fire manipulation needed for the move is pretty low from what the dex description says. All you have to do is pull the fire from your back over the rest of your body. If we keep at it, we should have it mastered by the time we reach the mountain."

Cinder snarled her agreement.

"Remember, this move is still one of finesse. Pure power is only a part of it. Your level of control should make this easy for you, but don't overpower the move to try and get it to work." Blake warned her, receiving a determined nod, "Alright then, let's get started."

Blake took a step backward before she began her first attempt.

A bead of sweat rolled down Blake's forehead. The air was beginning to heat up. Cinder's back flared up brightly, embers sparking to life around her as the flames rose and rolled over her back.

Her face was tense with concentration as she focused her limited psychic abilities on controlling the flames. They trickled over her briefly before she gave it up, hissing in pain. The flames became mere embers in the wind as she released the technique.

Blake's brows were hunched with concern as he watched smoke rise from her fur. He reached forward, brushing his fingers against the rough, brittle fur that came away at his touch.

He sighed. That wasn't supposed to happen.

"Let me write that down," Blake said, reaching into his bag and grabbing his notebook. The need to record their attempt was far too strong to resist. He'd been doing this for most of their training sessions to date. He'd used the same method to prepare for tests when he'd been in school. It was useful then, and he still found it useful now.

He scribbled a few notes quickly before looking back up at Cinder expectantly. "Alright, let's try again. This time, try to keep them away from your fur. Use the same control you have over Fire Spin. You've got this, you've just gotta keep at it. When you feel like you've got the hang of it, I want you to start running."

After gathering herself, Cinder nodded, flaring her back up once more. She willed her flames to rise once more. This time, the motion was more fluid and quicker to boot.

Within moments, the flames had reached farther than they had during her first attempt by a wide margin, enveloping her body in its fiery embrace. This time, instead of hissing in pain, Cinder snarled in triumph.

Cinder's shroud of flames flared to life as she ran around with blinding speed.

Blake grinned happily, feeling his heart flutter with excitement. He jotted in the notebook once more. He didn't need the pokedex to tell him that Cinder was using the move correctly.

Blake shielded his eyes as she ran past him in a bright orange blur. She was glowing so intensely that it hurt him to look at her.

Cinder blitzed across the field, leaving smoldering footprints in her wake as she made it to the end of the clearing. She panted lightly, churring at Blake pridefully.

"You did good!" Blake cheered, praising her for getting it down so quickly. Blake knew she could do it, she just needed a little nudge. "Let's go again, I want you to be able to do it in less time by the time we reach Erika."

Cinder rose to the challenge, snarling as she burst into flames once more.

xXx

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the tranquil meadow where Blake and Edge stood. Blake's determined gaze was fixed on a cluster of boulders that served as his makeshift target. It was time for his first real training session with Edge. Most of his time had been focused on Cinder during their time so far.

Since Edge was antsy for a fight, Blake simply left him to his own devices during training time. Often waiting for him to come back from his own "training" so that he could patch up his wounds. Edge seemed to grow taller, standing an inch inches taller than him now, gaining a bit of bulk as well. He knew bug types grew quickly, but seeing it in person was fascinating. Edge would likely tower over within the next couple of months.

"Alright, Edge," Blake began, his voice steady and encouraging. "I've let you out to practice on your own. But now it's time to learn something new."

Edge's eyes shone with excitement. He growled curiously, pointing at the pokedex Blake now had in his hand. His finger scrolled through until he found what he was looking for.

Blake had been doing extensive research on where to go with Edge's training. His move pool was quite sparse with most of his moves being physical. Blake considered teaching him something ranged, but since they were on the way to Celadon, he figured he'd just get him something at the Department Store. He'd have plenty of choices for ranged moves then.

"We're going to get you started with learning Brick Break. I think a bit of move variety would help you out. And with the power it'll give those scythes of yours, you'll be able to bust straight through rock types easily," Blake said, crossing his arms, "Now this might be uncomfortable, but if you want to learn the move you're gonna have to keep trying to break one of these boulders."

Blake slapped one of the rocks with a grin as he watched Edge look at him skeptically, holding up one of his claws.

"Aww, come on, you big baby, even if you break one of your claws, it'll grow back. Cinder would've done it in a heartbeat if it meant getting stronger." Blake's grin widened as Edge quickly sped over to the rocks, preparing to slice it in half. Ever since his defeat at Cinder's hands, he'd been itching to prove his strength over her. This "rivalry" was a one-sided one, but Blake knew it would keep him motivated during training.

"Alright Edge, to learn Brick Break you have to use your body's energy to harden and strengthen your claws. We'll know you've got it when they start glowing. This will probably take a while, so don't rush it. We've got time."

Edge growled in acknowledgment, staring at the boulder before him, his bladed claw poised for action. His scythes quivered with anticipation, and he focused on Blake's words, determined to learn Brick Break.

With a swift and precise motion, Edge struck the boulder with all his might. His bladed claw connected with the rock, sending a shockwave of energy through it. But instead of breaking, the boulder merely chipped, a few small fragments crumbling to the ground. Edge grunted, feeling his arm shake from the recoil.

Blake nodded approvingly. "That's a good start, Edge. Now try it again, but this time, focus more on channeling your energy into your claw."

Edge nodded, his eyes locked on the boulder. He took a deep breath, centering himself, and then struck once more. His bladed claw held a wispy glow as he concentrated his energy. The boulder shuddered under the force of his attack, but it still held its ground.

Blake's encouragement never wavered. "You're getting closer, Edge. I can see it. Just keep pushing yourself."

For hours, Edge continued to strike the boulder, each attempt bringing him closer to mastering Brick Break. The meadow was filled with the sound of his determined grunts and the occasional clang of metal against stone. His attacks grew more focused and powerful with each try, but the boulder remained stubbornly intact.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant shades of orange and pink, Edge collapsed onto the grass, exhausted. His bladed claws ached from the repeated strikes, but he refused to give up. Blake admired his determination. He would've given up long ago if he had been in the same place.

Blake knelt beside Edge, offering a soothing pat on the back. "You did great today, Edge. I can see the progress you're making. Tomorrow, we'll continue working on it. Brick Break is a tough move, but I know you'll get it."

Edge growled softly in response, a mixture of fatigue and determination in his eyes. He shook his head, standing up, walking back up to the rock.

Blake just watched from where he was standing. If Edge could keep going, then he wouldn't stop him.

They continued like this for some time until Edge eventually grew too tired to continue. They may not have gotten the move down, but it was a start and that was truly all that Blake could ask for.

xXx

The sun began its descent, casting a warm golden hue across the landscape. Blake grinned as he looked up at the mountain, which loomed majestically before him and Cinder. Its immense presence cast a long, sprawling shadow that stretched across the lush grassland. Evolution Mountain's peak, shrouded in a delicate veil of clouds, held an air of mystique, beckoning them closer.

Blake's goal was to explore the mountain's base levels, perhaps descending deeper if possible. The thought of getting lost inside frightened him a bit. However, he reassured himself with the thought that Evolution Mountain had markers to guide their way back. Edge wasn't keen on going inside a mountain, so Blake kept him clipped to his side, where he remained safely within his pokeball.

"We're finally here. Most of this place has been explored already, but I'm sure we can find something neat here. Did you know? The legends say that the great protector, Mew, once lived on Evolution Mountain. Its special energy is supposed to be absorbed into the stone underneath the mountain. Some people think that's how the evolutionary stones that supposedly exist underneath formed. Personally, I don't think we'll find any, but it'll still be fun to explore. What do you think, Cinder?" Blake paused as he looked down at Cinder. She blinked at him, yawned, and turned her head back to the road.

"Tough crowd," Blake quipped with a mocking pout, but he continued babbling on anyway as they approached the mountain's imposing entrance.

As they neared the mountain's base, Blake couldn't help but be captivated by the surrounding scenery. Towering trees with leaves of varying shades of green framed their path. As they drew closer to the mountain's base, Blake felt a peculiar sensation tingling behind his eyes. He could see and feel an almost palpable energy enveloping the rocky surface that glistened in the waning sunlight. The very ground beneath their feet seemed to pulse with this unknown energy.

"Cinder, you feel that?" Blake asked the fire type, who looked around before churring at him with a confused expression. "Hm, weird. I'm sure it's nothing, probably just a pokemon in the area." Blake mused, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something extraordinary lay ahead.

He felt the cool underground air slither up his sleeves and brush his neck. He was grateful that Cinder provided him with the heat for this journey. When he eventually found his way to Mount Moon, he knew he'd need a thicker jacket, but for now, he'd be alright.

Sporadically placed torches and Blake's trusty flashlight were their only guides, as they went deeper inside. Along the way, Blake spotted a few Pokémon walking around, mostly geodude and paras, which paid him little heed. Yet, these geodude appeared different from the norm; their bodies were adorned with a light gray stone. It was distinctly different from the typical dusty brown, and some even bore crystal-like growths that burst through their rocky shells.

He whipped his pokegear out to quickly take a picture of the floating rock types. Trace would love to see them. It wasn't unusual for geodude to be strangely colored because of the different areas that they spawned from. But Blake hadn't ever seen any geodude that looked like this.

He could only wonder what they'd look like once they evolved. He thought about catching one of them, but thought better of it. Geodudes were mostly mindless before they reached a certain age. This took decades and the ones he was seeing seemed to fit the description. He watched as they floated around and continued bumping into one another mindlessly.

Still, his mouth drooled at the thought of having a golem on his team. They were a devastating force on any battlefield. Their incredible strength and durability reached heights that most pokemon dreamed of. Though they were less popular than the rhydon species, that was more so because of their rarity rather than a lack of viability in battle. He resolved to catch one if he could find one that was at least somewhat coherent.

Blake also noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere; the vibrations in the air intensified as they delved deeper. The environment grew cooler and more humid, and the fragrance of earth and moss wafted into their nostrils.

Blake's excitement surged as they continued deeper into the mountain's heart. He idly wondered whether they might stumble upon an evolutionary stone. Even if he never encountered a pokemon that required one, possessing even a fragment of such a stone could fetch a handsome price.

Fire Stones and Thunder Stones rarely formed in such places. But given the strange energy in the air, Blake wouldn't have been surprised to stumble upon a treasure trove of them. It was the only thing he could think of that would cause his head to feel the way it did.

Upon reaching a particularly spacious cavern, Blake sensed more of the energy in the air, different from what he'd felt on the upper levels. It felt simultaneously hot, like a room ablaze, and yet an electric chill seemed to creep up his spine. He glanced down at Cinder, whose fur had raised to a sharp point.

Cinder's fiery glow illuminated the cavern's interior as they explored. The walls were adorned with intricate rock formations, and occasional glimmers hinted at colorful stones beneath the surface. Blake suspected they weren't elemental stones, as they lacked the orange or red that he was expecting. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the cavern, creating an eerie ambiance.

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed throughout the cavern, the sound bouncing off the rocky walls. Blake and Cinder exchanged anxious glances, proceeding cautiously. As they rounded a corner, Blake's eyes widened in astonishment as they beheld a geodude unlike any they had ever encountered.

This geodude was radically different from the norm, even more so than the ones he'd seen in the mountain before. Multiple clusters of glass-like stones jutted out from its stone-like skin, resembling sharp spikes. A large cluster of crystals sat in between its large brows like a crest. All the clusters held a different color, alternating between a fiery magma-like orange and a bright, electric green. It was almost like a living embodiment of the mountain, buzzing with that same unfamiliar energy he'd felt before.

The Geodude growled aggressively, the sound akin to stones clashing. It flexed its muscular arms; the crystals protruding from them glittering ominously in the dim light.

Cinder took her place in front of Blake, snarling at their opponent with her back blazing furiously.

Cinder swiftly positioned herself in front of Blake with a snarl, her back blazing furiously. Blake's heart raced with excitement and anticipation. Geodudes were a common sight in Kanto, but most trainers passed them by, knowing they took decades to reach their full potential. However, this one seemed mature and ready for a challenge, and Blake couldn't resist the allure of adding such a unique specimen to his team. "Cinder, what do you think?" Blake asked, never taking his eyes off the formidable Rock-type. Cinder, in response, rolled her eyes and emitted a dismissive churr.

"Booooo! Whatever, I want this one alright?" Blake said with a pout, "Just be careful, geodude hit hard."

Cinder nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. The cyndaquil turned swiftly, unleashing a torrent of crackling flames toward the approaching geodude. With uncanny reflexes, the rock-type Pokémon extended its stone-covered arms. Its stone-like limbs shielded itself from the fiery onslaught. Blake let out an exasperated sigh. Figures. His gaze momentarily flickered toward his belt where Edge's ball lay, contemplating a swap. However, he quickly dismissed the idea. They were no strangers to being on the back foot; they could overcome this challenge together.

The geodude transformed into a rolling boulder, tucking its arms tightly against its body. With a grunt, it surged forward, kicking up a swirling cloud of dust in its wake.

"Dodge, Cinder! Fire Spin, quick!" Blake shouted with wide eyes. "Don't let it get a hit on you!"

Cinder sprang into action, lithely leaping aside as the geodude thundered past. Blake mirrored her movements, narrowly avoiding a collision with the rock type as it unwound with astonishing speed. The geodude jammed its fingers into the ground, grinding to a sudden halt, just in time to face a blazing torrent of flames spewing forth from Cinder's maw. A pained grunt escaped the geodude as flames licked at its rocky shell.

With unwavering focus, Cinder commanded the fire to coil around the geodude's form. The rock-type grumbled in anger as the flames spun around, ensnaring it in a swirling vortex of heat and light. The heat of her attack sent beads of sweat rolling down Blake's face and filled the cavern with a stifling warmth.

"Good job, Cinder! The geodude species weaken when exposed to prolonged heat. Their core can't handle the constant heat beneath all that rock," Blake advised her, anticipating an imminent victory. "Just a little more, and it'll be ripe for capture."

But fate had other plans. Without warning, the geodude emerged from the fiery whirlwind, fist clenched and primed to pummel Cinder into submission. It hurled a clumsy punch, but Cinder danced nimbly out of harm's way. Simultaneously, she released her grip on the Fire Spin, unleashing a fiery burst into the geodude's face. The rock-type roared in irritation, swatting at the air wildly.

Blake's grin transformed into a determined expression. "Cinder, Flame Charge!" he declared, urgency lacing his voice. "We'll chip it down!"

With a battle cry, Cinder surged forward, her fiery mane blazing brightly as she became a living conflagration. The geodude glared with fury as she closed in. Suddenly, Blake's confusion gave way to alarm as the geodude's fist ignited with brilliant yellow sparks.

Thunder Punch.

The geodude swung its electrified fist, delivering a shocking blow to Cinder's midsection. She gasped, emitting a puff of smoke as her body recoiled from the electrifying impact. She retaliated by dispersing her gathered Flame Charge into the geodude's face, resulting in a fiery explosion. The force sent her hurtling through the air, her body trembling from the electric shock. She staggered to her feet, panting heavily, with a bruise forming where the geodude's punch had landed.

"Flame Charge once more, Cinder! Hit it with all you've got!" Blake called out. Cinder was struggling, her options limited. But she needed to wear down the geodude's defenses. Blake was confident that, with time, her relentless flames could soften the rock-type's tough exterior.

Cinder's Flame Charge ignited, transforming her into a blur of fiery intensity. She darted around the geodude, leaving a trail of scorching embers in her wake. The rock type struggled to react as Cinder crashed into it, eliciting a pained grunt. Another explosion of flames illuminated the cavern, casting eerie shadows across the rocky walls.

In each exchange, the geodude retaliated with Fire Punch. Fire and electricity streaked through the air, creating a dangerous combination that kept Cinder on her toes. Geodude struggled to hit Cinder with either of its attacks as she grew faster with every use of Flame Charge, which was slowly taking a toll on the rock type. The heat from their attacks was making the room unbearably hot. The heat from the attacks made the room so hot that eventually, Blake had to take his jacket off. His gaze remained fixed on the battle, searching for an opening amid the chaos.

"Cinder, we need a plan!" he shouted, striving to be heard over the tumult. "Distract it with another Flame Charge, then blind it with Smokescreen!"

Cinder nodded, her flames burning even brighter as she ran forward, using Flame Charge once more. She circled the geodude, leaving behind a blazing trail, and then released a thick cloud of smokescreen, enveloping the area in obscurity. However, Blake quickly realized the error as he coughed loudly, covering his face with his shirt.

Amid the smokescreen, the geodude growled in frustration, its fists impacting the ground in a shower of sparks. Blake called to Cinder, "Now, Ember!"

Cinder responded by launching a barrage of Ember attacks into the obscurity, scattering flaming ash in all directions. The geodude roared in agony as the embers found their mark, causing its elemental punches to falter as it struggled to see through the haze.

Emerging from the smokescreen with a last burst of Flame Charge, Cinder's fur blazed as she crashed into the disoriented geodude. The impact sent the rocky pokemon tumbling backward, its shell smoldering.

Without hesitation, Blake grabbed a pokeball from his belt and hurled it toward the weakened geodude. The ball engulfed the rock-type in a flash of red light. The ensuing moments felt like an eternity as the ball wobbled and trembled, resisting the geodude's struggle. It shook once, twice, three times, and finally chimed with a triumphant click, showing a successful capture.

"We did it, Cinder!" Blake exclaimed, rushing over to retrieve the pokeball containing the geodude. "You were incredible in there."

Cinder purred contentedly, feeling his fingers brush her ears as he scratched her affectionately. Blake smiled down proudly. "That was great. Using Flame Charge as an explosion was genius. When did you learn to do that?"

Although Cinder had the basics down, the explosive effect of Flame Charge had been eluding her. They'd been trying to figure it out since she'd begun practicing the move, but seemingly, she'd figured it out. Surge had always told him that the best way to learn was through action. But, feeling the natural heat in the room, Blake had other ideas. There was something up with this mountain.

Cinder growled noncommittally, leaving Blake amused. "Fine then, keep your secrets." He rolled his eyes at the fire type, whose eyes shone humorously. He quickly scanned her form, seeing the large bruise that had formed on her stomach. Blake tutted loudly, sitting down and taking his backpack off.

"Alright girl, let's get you all patched up," Blake said, withdrawing a potion and bandages.

As Blake attended to Cinder he looked around the cave taking in its glistening surface underneath. The geodude he caught was certainly unique with growths that almost resembled the evolutionary stones. As he looked closer, he could tell that the stones

After a large dosage of potion into the site of the wound, the fire type's injuries were healed. They were once again on the move, though Cinder was quite tired. Blake wanted to continue, but the walk back through the mountain would take hours already.

The two of them traced their path through the cavern, back onto the major route that went through the mountain. From there, they were able to find the markers that led back outside. By the time they made it back to the outside world, the sky was pitch black. Blake looked down to see Cinder trudging alongside him. While her injuries had technically been mended, potions could only do so much for the energy expended after a battle.

"Alright girl, I'm going to recall you. You're probably tired from all that action. When I find a place to camp, I'll let you back out." Blake said, pulling her pokeball out. But Cinder shook her head no, continuing to plod along as sluggishly as ever.

As he continued on the path toward Celadon, Blake looked back at the mountain with a contemplative expression. He'd come back there one day. The allure of the mountain's secrets made the prospect of going deeper incredibly enticing. He had to know what those crystals growing out of Geodude were. And that buzz in the air the deeper he went told him there was even more to discover.

But for now, it was time to fully focus on the road ahead. He'd be in Celadon soon and he now had three pokemon. Blake would put all of his time into ensuring Edge, Cinder and himself would be ready for their next fight. He didn't think that it would be hard, however after facing Koga he now knew that he couldn't expect the gym leaders to always take it easy.

And that was fine by him.

He looked down at his belt where three pokeballs now lay. His team was halfway full now. Some trainers would probably have more by now. Trace himself was sitting at four, according to him. But Blake was more focused on quality rather than quantity. Anything that wouldn't keep up in the long run was useless to him, as harsh as it sounded. There's only so much a raticate can do to a dragonite after all.

Of course, he didn't know if his newest capture would work out, but he couldn't see why not. All pokemon respected strength, some more than others, of course. But defeating a pokemon in single combat usually guaranteed obedience, or so he'd heard, anyway.

He decided he would worry about it later. He needed to find a place to rest for the night.

xXx

After finding a secluded spot to rest for the night, Blake got a camp set up for the night and let his pokemon eat and relax before deciding that it was time.

"Alright guys, I'm gonna release our new teammate. The last we saw it, we were in battle, so everyone be as nonthreatening as possible." Blake cautioned his Pokémon. He gave a pointed look to Edge, who had been eagerly sharpening his claws. Edge let out a reluctant grunt, folding his scythe-like appendages over his chest in a display of annoyance.

He looked at Cinder who stretched and yawned lazily, clearly unfazed by the impending battle. She had already faced Geodude in combat earlier and emerged victorious, so she watched the unfolding drama with disinterest.

Blake couldn't help but chuckle at Edge's sulking demeanor. "Oh, don't be such a baby. You'll get your chance to duke it out, eventually; just hold off for now, alright?" he teased, giving Edge a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Edge nodded begrudgingly, his wings twitching with impatience. Blake took this as a sign to release Geodude, and with a press of a button and a burst of radiant light, the Rock-type Pokémon materialized before them.

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the secluded spot where Blake and his Pokémon had set up camp. The air was tense with anticipation as Geodude, the newly captured Rock-type Pokémon, found itself in a standoff with Edge, the sharp-witted Scyther. Blake watched with a mix of excitement and amusement, knowing that a battle was inevitable.

"Alright guys, I'm gonna release our new teammate. The last we saw it, we were in battle, so everyone be as non-threatening as possible," Blake cautioned his Pokémon. He gave a pointed look to Edge, who had been eagerly sharpening his claws. Edge let out a reluctant grunt, folding his scythe-like appendages over his chest in a display of annoyance.

Cinder, Blake's Fire-type Pokémon, stretched and yawned lazily, clearly unfazed by the impending battle. She had already faced Geodude in combat earlier and emerged victorious, so she watched the unfolding drama with disinterest.

Blake couldn't help but chuckle at Edge's sulking demeanor. "Oh, don't be such a baby. You'll get your chance to duke it out eventually; just hold off for now, alright?" he teased, giving Edge a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Edge nodded begrudgingly, his antennae twitching with impatience. Blake took this as a sign to release Geodude, and with a press of a button and a burst of radiant light, the Rock-type Pokémon materialized before them.

Geodude blinked in confusion, its rocky exterior reflecting the moonlight. It let out an angry grunt as it took in its surroundings, its eyes narrowing at Blake and Cinder. Edge, sensing the tension, stepped forward, scythes glinting menacingly in the moonlight. Geodude responded with a fierce roar, muscles tensing as it prepared to defend itself.

Blake shook his head and took a seat beside Cinder, his heart pounding with anticipation. The battle was about to begin.

"Edge, go!" he called out, giving his Scyther the command to engage. With a burst of speed, Edge darted forward, wings slicing through the air as he closed the gap between himself and Geodude.

Geodude, not one to back down from a challenge, responded swiftly. It raised a rocky fist, crackling with electricity, and unleashed a Thunder Punch in Edge's direction. But Edge's agility proved to be his greatest asset as he dodged the attack with a graceful twist, narrowly avoiding the electric discharge.

Edge retaliated with a lightning-fast assault that took Geodude by surprise. He darted in, striking Geodude with a bright green scythe before it could react, and then quickly retreated, leaving the rock-type disoriented and frustrated.

Geodude growled and channeled fire into its other fist, launching a Fire Punch towards Edge. The fiery first streaked through the night air, but Edge was prepared. He executed a perfect Double Team, creating illusionary copies of himself that confused Geodude. The Fire Punch struck one of the decoys, dissipating harmlessly.

Seeing an opportunity, Edge unleashed a barrage of Fury Cutter strikes, his scythes glinting like silver blades in the moonlight. Each hit landed with precision, wearing down Geodude's defenses and chipping away at its rocky exterior.

Geodude, desperate to turn the tide, resorted to its Rock-type moves. It gathered a boulder-sized rock in its hands and hurled it at Edge with a mighty Rock Throw. Edge, however, was already in motion, using his incredible speed to evade the projectile, which crashed harmlessly into a nearby tree, sending it tumbling down with a loud crash.

Edge wasn't done yet. With a series of graceful flips and spins, his movements became a blur as he closed in on Geodude, who struggled to keep up.

The final blow was imminent. Edge descended upon Geodude with a powerful Brick Break, slashing through the air with razor-sharp scythes that glowed brightly against the darkness. Geodude, exhausted and battered, had no chance to defend itself. The devastating blow sent Geodude tumbling to the ground, defeated and unable to continue the fight.

Blake watched with admiration as Edge emerged victorious, his Scyther's wings folding back at his sides. Edge had proven himself in battle, and the moonlit clearing was filled with the triumphant buzz of success.

"Great job, Edge!" Blake called out, rushing forward to congratulate his Pokémon. Edge chirped in response, clearly pleased with his performance. As the adrenaline of battle began to subside, Blake couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride in his team. Their journey was just beginning, and with each battle, they grew stronger together.

Blake patted the bug type on the shoulder when he approached. "Thanks for stepping in, Edge."

The bug type screeched happily, crossing his scythes over his chest in an 'x', which Blake matched with a grin.

Then they simply waited for Geodude to wake up, Edge eyeing the rock type vigilantly. Blake silently hoped that that wouldn't become a thing remembering Blue's Scizor and how overprotective it got. Seeing those eyes stare at you from the dark was certainly a scary sight.

Eventually, the rock type began to stir, blinking its large black eyes as it awoke. It floated up sluggishly, not even bothering to growl at them again. Blake quickly made a move to introduce himself.

"Geodude," He nodded to the rock type who rumbled back tiredly.

"I'm Blake. I'm sorry you've got to be confused. During our battle, I captured you which makes you a member of my team." Blake said receiving an annoyed growl, "But only if you want to join me. Just hear me out real quick alright? I'd hate to have Edge beat you up again." Geodude looked offended but slowly nodded anyway, seeing the look the bug type gave it.

Blake smiled then continued, "I'm going to travel across the Kanto region seeking battles from eight of the strongest trainers in Kanto so that I can take part in the Indigo Conference. It's a big tournament that takes place in eight months."

He watched Geodude take that in before continuing, "But if I wanna get there I need a team of strong pokemon who're willing to train and fight until we're crowned as the best. Do you think you can help me with that? If not I could always take you back to your home. I feel like it's a waste of your talent but hey, it's up to you," He finished with a shrug, awaiting the rock type's answer.

Geodude contemplated Blake's words, its rocky exterior showing no emotion, but its gaze softened slightly. It had been caught off guard by the capture, and the battle with Edge had left it battered and weary. Still, there was something in Blake's earnest tone that intrigued it.

After a few tense moments, it finally nodded, a sign of reluctant agreement.

Blake grinned, relieved that Geodude was willing to give their team a chance. "That's the spirit!" he exclaimed. "Welcome to the crew, Geodude. We're going to make a great team together, I can feel it."

Geodude grunted in acknowledgment, still looking a bit grumpy but showing a hint of camaraderie. It was clear that Geodude was a Pokémon of few words, but actions would speak louder as they traveled and battled together.

Blake reached for its pokeball from his belt and gently touched it to Geodude's rocky surface. With a flash of red light, Geodude was safely inside.

"Rest up for now, Geodude. Tomorrow is a new day, and we've got more adventures and battles ahead of us," Blake said as he clipped the Pokeball back to his belt. He turned to his other pokemon, who had been watching the interaction curiously.

"Alright, everyone, let's get some rest. We've had an eventful day, and we need our energy for the journey ahead," Blake announced. His Pokémon nodded in agreement, settling down for the night.

As the moon continued its watch over the camp, Blake couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the adventures that awaited them. With Geodude now part of their team, they were one step closer to their goal of competing in the Indigo Conference and becoming the best trainers in Kanto.

As he drifted off to sleep, he decided on a fitting name for their new teammate.

"Geode," he murmured softly, his voice carrying in the stillness of the night. "I think I'll call you Geode."

xXx

Author's note:

All I gotta say is that I cooked with this chapter, my keyboard is literally smoking rn lol. I think I'm gonna start using the end of my chapters to answer questions and offer my input on theories surrounding the story. So if you have any thoughts, opinions, concerns or anything else of the sort feel free to leave them in the comments. Who knows, I might decide to indulge you with an answer.

Anyway, bye, for now, see you in the next one :3

-Noxx