Chapter 97, everybody! In other news, I've been helping with a Pokémon group over on DeviantArt, which is where all my Pokémon writing juice has gone to. Will definitely be breaking down what's left to do here and examining what's left in the Indigo League to do—pretty sure I've got the major bits I wanted to do at least started, now it's a matter of connecting it all. I'll also probably start cross-posting this to AO3 considering FFN is doing a weird thing with not sending e-mail notifications anymore—hopefully it gets fixed, but just in case. :\
If you ever see me write the line I knew this day would come just know that I am referencing the Kim Possible episode "Bonding" and that Kovie the Magmar most likely asked you knew this day would come? And personally I thought my twenties was too early for cynicism to be a thing but I made the mistake of following politics so that happened. :\
And now for reviews: thanks to griffin blackwood, BlastShooter87, 0ne Swood Guy, LongNightDragon, thor94, CrowMADDER, Dragonkeeper10, DeathCrawler, akeiser45, Cyan Quartz, epantoja521, FayeHallow, SkeletonBisque, na zhi bi ge, Kayuri Igrimakeon Pax, Speed Reader, Guest, Emu Thing, Hikari-J, and Nobodyell for the reviews! Glad to see that Frenzy is still the fan favorite. X'D
Pokémon © Game Freak; Nintendo
And now, for something completely different:
The League would like to announce that the Pokémon League Admittance Exam (PLAE) is now accepting applications. For further information, please visit the League website, and remember that applications for the exam close three weeks before the League tourney begins.
Blaine escorted them down the volcano, jotting down in a notebook about prepping against a zombie Parasect apocalypse. Ash didn't think that was likely, but he wasn't about to comment until after he had the Volcano Badge.
"Well I have to admit, that was fun," Blaine said once they were near the trees. "Horrendously terrifying towards the end, but fun."
"Sorry," Ash said.
"That reminds me," Brock said, snapping his fingers. "Before we ran into you we saw a weird spider Pokémon—I know there's no spider Pokémon native to Kanto, so—"
"Oh you mean Parker," Blaine said—turned and gave a short whistle, prompting the spider Pokémon to come out from the underbrush and scuttle up to his shoulder. "I got him as a trade from Koga a while back—been using him to lure people to Kovie to properly scare people off. Most people panic at the sight of a Magmar, after all."
"Understandable," Misty muttered.
"But what is he?" Ash asked, forgoing using his Pokédex for this—there was no point since it wasn't a native Pokémon.
"He's a Spidops, from Paldea—Koga was off hunting for Poison Pokémon in the off season a few years back, as I understand it. But before I forget again," he said, digging in his pockets. "Ah dangit I thought I had—ah, right," he said, when the Spidops pointed at the stuffed Tepig. Open the mouth, dig inside, hand something to Ash. "For you—seeing as how you did defeat the Cinnabar Gym Leader."
"All right—thank you!" Ash exclaimed, accepting the Volcano Badge. "Ah man this is great—now all I need is the Earth Badge!"
"Good luck with that one, kid," Blaine said. "Last time I saw Giovanni was years ago—he's gone to ground harder than I have. Probably because that's what he specializes in."
"Hiding?" Misty asked.
"Ground types," Blaine said. "Anywho! Gotta go reinforce our bases—have to plan for Parasect and mystery shadows that move on their own. I knew this day would come."
"Mag?" his Magmar asked.
"We covered this," Blaine told him. "Watch yourselves out there in the wide world, kids!"
"So I have many questions," Misty said, once she was assured Blaine was out of earshot.
"That last bit might have been my fault," Darkrai said, floating out of the woods. "But good news, I'm also pretty sure I startled him out of his hiding place, so say thank you."
"Thank you, Darkrai," Ash said, bouncing around him while presenting his badge case. "Look look here I've got seven badges!"
"What do you want, a medal?"
"Now all we need is the Earth badge, which means we need to head back to Viridian City, which means getting off this island. Think Lenny's up for surfing? It's a lot calmer now."
"Or we could use the ferry," Misty said. When Ash made a face at that: "What? You rode Lenny in a storm, why is a ferry in clear weather problematic?"
"Because I trust Lenny more than I do a ship," Ash muttered.
"You're too young to be cynical at technology," Brock told him. "Come on."
Ash waited until they were slightly ahead before looking at Darkrai. "How old is old enough to be cynical at technology?"
"It's never too early to start," Darkrai assured him.
They reached Port Vista without the ship sinking, which Ash chalked up as a win.
"So we have two options," Brock said, once they were seated at an outdoor café. "One, we can go to a Pokémon Center and use the teleportation services available to get us to Viridian City. The Indigo League doesn't start for another couple of months, and I'm pretty sure they'll accept a lesser badge from some starting gym."
"I really wanted to get the Earth Badge, though," Ash muttered, slouching with his jaw on the table.
"You said two options," Misty said, looking at Brock. "What's the second option?"
"Well, the second option would be to make our way up the coast and over to Viridian—it would be relatively different ground to cover, and it would give some opportunities to train on the way and potentially find an alternative gym. Granted, it would also be time-consuming."
Ash perked up at that. "But hey, yeah! And maybe when we hit—I don't know, Vermillion City—I can swap out for some of my new Pokémon so they can get some training."
"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Brock agreed. "You'll be wanting the option for a more well-rounded team when the League rolls around."
"Great!" Ash chimed. "So—maybe when we get there I'll swap out Lenny and Frenzy and Patches—I gotta work with Vee more, and Haunter's still pretty new to the team—Lewis won't be old enough to officially count yet but we can start—"
"Can you at least wait until we get to Vermillion?" Misty asked.
"And we'll probably be going through a few other little towns on the way back to Vermillion," Brock said. "We could stop by to see our families—or go and see Pallet Town and then double back until the League starts. I know I want to see Professor Oak's lab."
"It is impressive," Ash agreed.
"I don't know," Misty sighed, leaning back, crossing her arms and closing her eyes. "If I visit my sisters, I might be tempted to leave Muk with them, and that's kind of mean to Muk."
"We'll probably hit Celadon before we hit Vermillion," Brock mused. "Pick up some more TMs, maybe."
"See if Erika finished rebuilding the gym," Ash said.
"Challenge her again," Misty posed.
"Eh, nah, once was enough—oh hey Misty, you could! Then you could have three badges!"
Misty glanced at her suspender, where she had been wearing both her Cascade Badge and her Soul Badge. "Hmm, tempting…I'll think about that."
"You guys are making me want to challenge a gym or two too," Brock said. "Maybe I'll challenge Lt. Surge when we get to Vermillion—and brush up on your self-defense, Ash."
"Ergh," Ash noised, gripping his hat. "I was looking forward to at least giving him a rematch, but if that's coming with it I don't wanna."
"It's not that bad," Misty told him. "Besides, knowing how to defend yourself is important."
"This is true," Brock agreed.
"Ngh, fine," Ash said, putting his hands on the table. "So we're agreed—we're going up the coast."
"And catch some water Pokémon," Misty put in.
"Then it's decided," Brock said. "We stay here for the night and then set off in the morning."
The waitress came over with their orders. "So, is everyone hungry?"
"Starved," they all chimed.
They headed north the next morning, following the graceful and gorgeous routes that snaked along the coast, well-maintained for the tourists but showing wear and tear from where storms had washed them out previously. There were several small towns they would be hitting on the way up, and, Ash hoped, a lot of trainers with Pokémon just itching for a battle.
Honestly, probably the only one who didn't like the decision had been Darkrai, who was entirely dismissive of travelling such well-trafficked areas—mostly because he had to stay hidden all day. Ash apologized profusely, but Darkrai didn't talk to anyone beyond snide comments until Brock presented him with a whole plate of Oran cakes.
But, as Brock pointed out, this route and the trainers that would be there would be good practice for Ash. Since the Pokédex never registered foreign Pokémon, Ash would have to figure out typing just by looking at the Pokémon and then react accordingly. That had gone relatively well for about ten consecutive rounds, until he was finally stumped by a pancake-looking fish—he had sent Pikachu out because he figured fish equaled Water type, was surprised when it absorbed the bolt and then slammed Pikachu with a Ground-type move. Pikachu had eventually won despite the accuracy drop when a combo of Swift, Quick Attack, and Iron Tail finally connected.
Ash also learned that this particular fish was called Stunfisk, and he was kind of glad that he had no plans to go to Unova anytime soon.
Another fun one he ran into was with a lizard, which its trainer nicely told Ash was called Keckleon. To Ash's surprise, it changed colors depending on the attack that hit, and even could blend in with its surroundings. They had finally beaten that one with a combo of Poison Sting and Dig, courtesy of Patches.
But, as they neared the first town, Ash was feeling pretty good about their route choices.
"Maybe there'll be a gym we haven't heard of on this route," Ash said. "Or we'll run into Giovanni."
"Stranger things have happened," Misty said, looking at the various billboards. "Now how about we find lunch first?"
"Sounds like a plan—"
"Hey Ash!" Brock barked. "I think we've found the solution to your badge problem!"
There was a moment where everyone in the immediate vicinity thought that Ash learned Teleport, he was by Brock so fast. "What? What is it?"
"This," Brock said, pointing to the poster. "It's the Pokémon League Admissions Exam—if you pass it, you've got a guaranteed entry into the League, no badges needed."
Ash and Misty made appreciative noises at that. "So that's what that snooty school was prepping those kids for!" Misty said.
"Well I know I'm better than those preppy kids!" Ash said, fists clenched. "When's the exam?"
"It'll be over the weekend to allow for everyone coming here to sit it," Brock said, reading the fine print. "Sign-ups are right now—we'll head over there now and then get a room and something to eat later."
"All right!" Ash cheered, bouncing around. "Pokémon League, here I come!"
"I just thought of something," Misty said to Brock. "Does Ash even have the patience to sit long enough for a written exam?"
"We should probably cut off his sugar now," Brock decided.
Brock's insistence that they go sign up immediately was clear when they arrived at the exam building to find it packed.
"Maybe one of us should go get the room and lunch now," Misty said.
"I'll flip you for it," Brock said to her.
"Ah, man, who are all these people?" Ash asked.
"Remember that discussion we had, about all the people who don't even get five badges?" Brock asked him; when he nodded: "A lot of these are those people."
Ash huffed. "Well can't they—I don't know—organize it by people who have badges and don't?"
"They have—Ash we're in that line."
"Thank you, sisters, for flooding the market," Misty sighed.
Ash groaned and sat down hard. "Ah man, it's going to take forever to get through this crowd!"
"Ash, stand up," Brock said, hauling him upright.
"Yeah, one of us should definitely go get lunch," Misty decided. "Oh wait I can go bye boys!"
"Wait don't leave me here get back here—"
"So how long is this going to take?" Ash asked.
"Too long," Brock moaned.