"Uh…" Misty said, one morning. "Ash? Where's Primeape?"

She looked around. "After how long it took you to demonstrate you were serious yesterday, and finally get him reminded, I'm surprised he's just not here."

"Oh, right," Ash realized. "No, I sent him off with Pidgeot late last night. He wanted to go to the Saffron Dojo for a bit just to finish working something out, he was nearly there but then… you know, the world ended. He said it shouldn't take long."

"Well, if he's right, that should help," Brock said. "What kind of thing?"

He frowned at the food he'd made for Primeape, then shrugged and slid it over to Riolu. "I haven't done yours yet, but this is similar."

"Thanks," Riolu said.

"It's a whole martial art, but it was custom built for him," Ash explained. "So, you know how there's stuff like throws, and things like that?"

Riolu looked interested. "Right…"

"Well, it doesn't have those," his trainer shrugged. "It's just, punch things until they stop fighting back."

"Hmm," Riolu commented, thinking about that. "I'm going to guess Primeape has heard of counter, and therefore it's not just very easy to beat this style… might need to think about that one a bit."

"So, what's next?" Pikachu asked. "I know the Kanto Gyms, I just can't remember which came next."

Celadon City Gym. Leader: Erika.

"Oh, yeah, her," Ash remembered. "She banned me from the gym! I had to sneak in."

Misty grinned cheekily. "Trust me, Ashley, we all remember that."

"I don't," Riolu piped up, holding up his hand. "How do you get banned from a gym?"

"This should be fun," Pikachu said, sniggering.

"The gym sells perfume, I guess?" Ash replied. "At a perfume shop. And, I said I didn't like the perfume. So I got banned from the gym."

"You said that perfume turned boys into zombies," Misty supplied.

"Can you blame me?" Ash asked. "My main example was Brock!"

Misty raised her hand to retort, then thought about it. "Actually, no, I can't blame you for that one."

Brock groaned. "That's cold, Misty…"

"Anyway, hopefully you won't insult the perfume this time," Misty went on. "It's that or dress up as a girl again and sneak in that way."

"It's always weird when I have to do that," Ash complained. "It never fits as well as Jessie and James seem to when they wear disguises."

"...okay?" Misty replied. "I'm not sure how to react to that… anyway, no insulting the perfume."

"Got it," Ash nodded.

"And," Brock added. "Don't forget to include a Pokémon from each evolutionary stage. That's Erika's rule about nurturing your Pokémon, you need to include one from each evolutionary stage you have – last time Pikachu counted for your second, Charmander and Bulbasaur for your first and you didn't have a third."

"Right," Ash frowned. "So… Squirtle or Riolu, Ivysaur or Pikachu, Pidgeot or Charizard… well, I guess having the Flying-types along is a real help!"

He frowned. "I guess… well, I used both Ivysaur and Pikachu at Vermillion, and Pikachu again at Saffron… so Squirtle, Ivysaur and Charizard seems like a good choice."

"I get it," Riolu agreed. "I was at Vermillion too."

"Right," Ash confirmed. "So, use Squirtle, Ivysaur and Charizard… turn off nose… I'm ready!"

"Ash, trying to give you culture is like trying to teach a rock to swim."

Brock coughed. "Didn't you get a Corsola?"

"You know what I mean!"

Erika nodded to Ash. "It's nice to meet you, challenger. You will be the second one today, in case you're wondering."

"Oh, huh!" Ash replied. "So, who was the first?"

Erika made a dismissive gesture. "Some boy who forgot to read the rules. He thought he'd beat me with a Fearow, but then got annoyed when I insisted he use the right Pokémon… especially because that meant he had to use a Squirtle and a Golem. It was a close match – a good match – but he's got problems controlling that bird of his."

She frowned at Ash. "I take it you have read the rules?"

"Yeah!" Ash agreed.

"Took you about five years to get around to it, though," Pikachu said.

"I know, I know," Ash hissed back.

"Good," Erika said, stepping back to her side of the gym arena. "As a Grass type trainer, I emphasize being rooted in the terrain. Show me you can react fast enough when the entire forest is against you!"

She threw her first Pokéball. "Tangela!"

"Squirtle!" Ash countered.

Erika raised an eyebrow. "Starting with a Water-type? Daring."

For his part, Squirtle eyed Tangela contemplatively. "So, you're my opponent… I'll just have to tie you in knots!"

"Tangela, as we discussed," Erika instructed, and the Grass-type's vines extended to the side of the arena. He pulled himself over there, and began wrapping up a tree in them.

"Is that allowed?" Misty asked.

Erika smirked slightly. "Of course."

"Hydro Pump, Squirtle!" Ash called. "Soak the floor!"

"And that's the downside of a rule like that," Erika allowed. "This is going to make a mess…. Tangela, now!"

Tangela began pulling… and the entire tree erupted out of the ground, seeming to come to life and walk as Tangela yanked on the roots and branches to make the tree do what he wanted.

Ash stared, then clamped down on his shock. "Squirtle, watch out! That thing probably weighs several tonnes!"

"Working on it!" Squirtle replied, then took a good look at the faux-Ent lumbering towards him. "Wow, that is pretty big, yeah… good thing I have a plan."

The Tangela strode forwards, using Stun Spores, and Squirtle sneezed before diving into the muddy water he'd created to wash them off.

"There's not a chance such a roundabout way of fighting will work on me!" he declared, popping back up and sticking out his tongue. "I'm the badass- eep!"

Squirtle dove back under the water to avoid a shower of leaves.

Then a branch came down in a massive Wood Hammer, which would have been very painful if Squirtle had been underneath.

Erika rubbed her temples, looking at the mess on her gym floor, which was getting worse every moment. Partly the water was deepening, but mostly it was the efforts of her Tangela who kept throwing out Razor Leaves, Wood Hammers and simply taking steps. "Well, I suppose I could always try some more aquatic plants… just an idle thought."

"The funny thing is, she's doing most of the damage," Pikachu said.

"Yeah, uh… what kind of waterproofing does the gym have?" Ash asked. "I think that could matter a lot soon..."

"Adequate," Erika said. "Giga Drain, Tangela!"

Squirtle sprang out of the water, avoiding the green pulse of Giga Drain as it suffused the muddy water, and pointed. "Eat this, Hydro Cannon fodder!"

Ash sent out Pidgeot, swung onto her back, and took to the air in a single motion.

Squirtle inhaled massively, and then sent out a small jet of water… with a tiny blue sphere, striated with white lines, in the centre of the stream.

On impact with Tangela's tree it detonated into so much water that it drenched the whole floor surface. Erika's dais had a little wave lap over it, which made her look down with annoyance, while Misty got soaked up to mid-thigh but she was a Water type trainer so it was something she shouldn't have minded.

She did, but she shouldn't have.

Tangela's tree puppet had no chance, and went crashing back into the water with a sploosh that sent a further wave rippling out. Squirtle panted twice, then fired an Ice Beam which froze over the surface and made the tree splinter from frost-shatter.

"Come on back, Squirtle!" Ash called. "Ivysaur, your turn!"

Ivysaur came in hard, sliding across the ice and firing a cloud of Poisonpowder, before grinning in satisfaction as Tangela turned a distinctly unhealthy shade.

Erika thought hard. The ice stopped Tangela from using Ingrain, and a lot of his attacks wouldn't work well against another Grass type…

"Bind him!" she called, and Tangela shook himself out before lumbering in a sort of dazed way towards Ivysaur.

As his vines got close, though, Ivysaur grinned more widely – then used Venoshock and knocked Tangela out with a flash of purple light.

"Not bad at all, challenger," Erika allowed. "Now, it's time for you to face my Starter Pokémon. Gloom, come out!"

Ash had to admit, it was amazing how much Erika could change how her voice sounded from trying to sell perfume to trying to command Pokémon.

But, well, Gym Leaders earned their positions.

As he thought about that, Ivysaur squared his shoulders and crouched down low on the ice.

Gloom, meanwhile, set her stance and began using Sweet Scent.

The two stared at one another.

Then, Ivysaur scratched his head with his vine. "Can we actually hurt one another?"

"I… don't know?" Gloom said, puzzled.

Ivysaur bashed the ice with a foreleg. "Nope, too hard… what generally happens in this situation?"

"Usually, Leech Seed, but that's no good," Gloom admitted.

"Gloom!" Erika called. "Seed Bomb, blast the ice at Ivysaur!"

"Block it!" Ash retaliated. "Catch the Seed Bombs!"

Ivysaur used Vine Whip, batting the Seed Bombs out of the way before they could explode instead, then used Solarbeam.

Gloom used Solarbeam as well, and the two attacks blasted against one another with very little effect whatsoever.

"This is very good tea, Erica. You grow it yourself?"

The petite woman nodded gravely, passing the refilled cup to Misty. "Yes, I do. It's the Celadon special blend, with a hint of white leaves and just a touch of the fruits of the gym's Tropius."

Behind her Ash was slumped against the wall, reading a file on his Pokédex about the longest Pokémon match in history. He was starting to feel that he was going to be the new example.

Out on the field, Ivysaur and Gloom were huddled around a computer screen, going through the complete list of moves they could find and ticking off the ones they knew, trying to find something that would end the damn fight.

"Hmm…" Ivysaur said. "Grass Pledge?"

"No," Gloom replied. "You?"

"Nope," Ivysaur shook his head, hitting page-down. "Hmm, Energy Ball, I should pick that one up some time but I don't have it now… this is taking forever."

"Well, if you'd just stop healing yourself…"

Ivysaur used Synthesis, not for the first time, and healed the damage he'd taken in the last little while. "You stop first."

Gloom shook her head, using Sunny Day to re-intensify the sunlight, and used her own Synthesiss. "No thanks."

"Suit your… self," Ivysaur's voice trailed off, then he looked up. "I win. Fury Cutter."

Gloom brushed away the cut leaf. "I can't remember what that one does. Should I be impressed?"

"Fury Cutter," Ivysaur repeated, his leaves whipping across again, and Gloom frowned.

That one actually stung.

"Fury Cutter."

Ash looked around at the hiss of surprise, noticing that something was actually happening.

"Fury Cutter!"

Erika put down her teacup and stood up. "What?"

"Fury… CUTTER!"

The final blow sent Gloom flying, and she smashed into the greenhouse wall before sliding limply down.

Unconscious.

Erika hurried over and checked on the Grass-type, then returned her. "Well, the battle could have been shorter, but never mind. Now, for your final challenge here."

She sent out a Victreebel. "Weather Ball!"

The Grass-type formed and spun, facing towards Ivysaur and launching a miniature sun at the other Grass-type. Ivysaur dodged, and the explosion blew a hole in the already-melting ice cover.

"Dig! How does that weather ball move work again?" Ash asked Dexter, since the 'dex was already in his hands anyway.

Weather Ball is a move that varies depending on the ambient conditions. Fire in sunny weather, Water in rain and so on.

"Hail, Victreebel!" Erika commanded. "And Weather Ball the nearby ice! Now move onto one of the solid parts of the ice… and be ready for that Pidgeot of his. The conditions are harsh, but he has to try anyway."

"Oh, I get it!" Ash realized. "This Pokémon's able to stop Pidgeot, and Ivysaur, and they're ready to handle Squirtle, too, right?"

"Of course," Erika confirmed. "I had him ready anyway, but you're going to have trouble with him.

Ash nodded. "Ivysaur, back up where you came down, I'm calling you back!"

He held up Ivysaur's Pokéball, then threw another one. "Charizard, Flamethrower!"

Ivysaur did not return.

Instead, Ivysaur picked his trainer up by the ankles with Vine Whip.

"You forgot," he said. "About Charizard. In a Grass gym. Which required you to use him."

Ash tried to look put-upon, which was hard upside down and ten feet in the air.

Erika considered Ash's performance. "Well, I wasn't impressed with that part of it… but your actual Pokémon switches were pulled off well. And it's clear to me that you've built up your Pokémon regardless of their actual evolutionary level, which is exactly what I wanted to see."

She flipped him a Rainbow Badge. "You've earned it."

Ash reached to catch the badge, but instead went thump to the ground as Ivysaur caught the Rainbow Badge himself.

"Now, we're even," the Grass-type advised.

"Welcome to Cinnabar Island, challengers."

Blaine adjusted his glasses. "This is the Gym set into the heart of an active volcano, and like my element and this very mountain, my focus is on powerful attacks delivered without concern for defence." The Gym Leader paused, the shifting magma below causing patterns of light to play across his face. "So. You will face me in a conventional battle, but first one of your Pokémon must take on one of mine in a contest of raw power. No evasion, no defending, just pure raw power."

Team Rocket were only paying cursory attention, too focused on trying not to bake in the intense heat of the magma chamber.

"Why can't we just get Gyarados ta give da place a hose down?" Meowth asked, panting frantically.

Blaine heard him. "Don't… do that." He calmed down slightly. "For battles where water types or attacks may be present, we use the secondary battlefield further up and away from the chamber. Follow me there."

The team trooped after him, Jessie fanning herself extravagantly. "Phew… why not the main chamber, anyway?"

Blaine suddenly stopped, and spun on his heel to face the Rockets. "Have you ever heard of Sootopolis?"

James and Jessie looked at one another, and shrugged.

"We've been, but I don't see the relevance," Jessie said.

"Ooh, is this a field trip thing?" James checked.

The elderly Cinnabar leader looked a little disappointed, then started walking again, forging ahead at speeds that required the challengers to trot to keep up. "It was a volcanic island that was the base of power for Groudon in the region, once. Then he fought Kyogre, and she summoned a great tidal wave to sweep him away." Blaine then made an explosive gesture. "Sixty million tonnes of water. Rocks at eight hundred degrees C. Steam is twelve hundred times the size of water. Sootopolis is now an enormous crater, and no, it wasn't shaped that way before. That is the kind of explosion you can produce. Do not drop water on an active volcano."

"Er, wow. I guess you know about that sorta thing then?"

Blaine snorted. "I have to. Bad enough when some Totodile or Wooper is used, but anything larger and there's the risk of flash-frying the entire battle in seconds. A volcano is not a candle, and not to be snuffed so easily."

They were at the other arena now, and Jessie pondered for a second before taking one of James' Pokeballs. "Right, I think we're ready for the power contest now."

The labcoated Gym Leader took one of his own. "Let us begin then. Rapidash!"

Jessie threw her own ball. "Growlie!"

Blaine stared, then adjusted his glasses with a sigh. "You sent out an Arcanine?"

James nodded, smiling affectionately at his Pokémon. "Yep, that's Growlie alright!"

"And I suppose he has Flash Fire as well. Brilliant. Well, this is going to be a long, long fight." Blaine took the stairs into a little booth with what looked like glass windows set into the side.

They probably weren't glass windows.

"I recommend you get into your observation booth as well. This place is going to get hot."

The rest of Team Rocket made their way into their own booth, Meowth stopping to loop a small jar filled with an unidentifiable substance around Growlie's neck. After a few whispered instructions, he faded out with Faint Attack… then appeared right where he'd left off, and scrambled to get through the booth door.

Growlie sniggered, and Meowth made a rude feline gesture.

Blaine took a microphone. "Well, this is a total farce, but whatever. Match one: pure power. Begin!"

The Rapidash began by, well, rapidly dashing forward, cloaked in a Flame Charge. Growlie met it head on with one of his much-loved Flare Blitzes, the two fire attacks detonating with not much force but a great deal of raw heat. As the shimmer punched outwards, both Pokémon drank in the heat, their respective Flash Fire abilities causing their internal flames to burn hotter in imitation of the fire around them.

Meowth looked out of the strangely iridescent "glass" at the explosion, snapping his claws. "One…"

Growlie recovered first from the stunning force of the impact, shaking out his fur and exhaling a Heat wave, having absolutely no effect on Rapidash but driving Blaine to glance at a nearby thermometer. "This could get nasty…"

Rapidash shook Embers at Growlie. Growlie spun around to attack in a Flame Wheel. Both punched out an Inferno at once. The temperature in the room continued to rise, the walls developing a faint, ruddy glow.

"So, um…" Jessie began. "What exactly is this challenge supposed to prove?"

She touched the window, then winced and licked her finger. "Ouch!"

"How you cope with overwhelming strength," Blaine retorted. "And with the need for it. Normally I'd do riddles and this would mostly be curiosity, but since someone teleported directly into my lobby I made it mandatory."

Meowth continued to count under his breath. "Four, five…"

James turned curiously. "What are you counting for?"

"Six!" Meowth focused for a moment, and a Double Team illusion appeared in the firestorm outside for a brief instant, before dispersing in the heat. "Just keepin' track for the big guy, dat's all."

"Keeping track of what?" James asked, still watching his Pokémon.

Growlie had got the message, whatever message Meowth had intended to convey anyway, and was disengaging – though not without a little difficulty, as the floor itself was slightly tacky from heat.

Since it was solid rock, that was just another sign that the place was unhealthy to be in right now.

"Well, the jar I gave him has a meltin' point, and ya need ta use it at the right time," Meowth explained. "When it's just about to go soft. I put a load'a beads on the wire cord with different meltin' points, ta keep track. See, it's all dat, um, ninja thing. About bein' prepared."

"Is that a ninja thing?" Jessie asked. "I thought that was the Scouts."

"I was never into those," James mused. "Nice uniforms though."

Growlie bit on the wire to either side of the jar, his powerful teeth shredding the heat-proof cord, and spat it at the space above Rapidash.

Tracking the object as it flew, Meowth relaxed. "Got it dead on."

Growlie spat flame, and the jar, finally softening in the furnace heat, exploded about five feet short of Rapidash and two feet above his head.

The purplish substance within evaporated near instantly, clouding its target for a few seconds before dispersing.

Blaine's eyes narrowed. "What was that?"

Rapidash staggered slightly, but shook his head and drew himself back up to his full height again.

Growlie snarled a challenge, and his foe accepted, both scorching forward in Flare Blitzes.

But the moment the two hit one another, Rapidash abruptly collapsed to the floor in exhaustion. Growlie had apparently expected it, since he skidded to a halt before running Rapidash over and threw his head back in a victory roar.

"What was that?" Jessie asked curiously, as James threw up his arms in congratulation and the floor began to set once more into a glassy black material.

"Some of Arbok's Gastro Acid, it's interestin' stuff. Turned that Flash Fire right off. I'm impressed with how well dat worked, might be a good idea to do it more… if I remember, dat is."

"What about if you forget?"

"Eh, I don't think I'll remember to do it then so it must not be a good idea…"

The intercom in their booth buzzed to life. "Please leave by the back door, there's not much oxygen left in this arena. We'll need to use ancillary arena 2, and this one will take an age to properly become safe again."

Red beams of light returned both Pokémon from the arena to their respective 'balls, and Team Rocket followed the illuminated signs to their remaining matches in the volcano Gym.

"Very well. Begin!" Blaine called, tossing a Pokéball onto the cool floor of the arena they had moved into.

James replied by sending out his own Pokémon, and the two beams of white light coalesced into…

"James…" Jessie asked, staring at the enormous Rhydon that dwarfed its opponent, "Why have you sent out Weezing?"

James looked embarrassed. "Well, I thought it would be good for him to have a bit of fun now and then… you know how he gets, moping around if he doesn't get to do something."

"That's just his normal expression," Jessie retorted.

"A trainer can always tell," James replied mysteriously. "But what I want to know is why he gets a pass sending out a Rhydon? And, for that matter, how he gets a pass on that hairdo…"

Blaine stared. He couldn't tell if this was part of some incredibly elaborate stratagem or just complete idiocy. Who in their right mind sent out a Weezing in a Fire gym?

That said, this team were clearly more intelligent than they appeared – one only had to look at the way they had defeated Rapidash for that.

"Weezing! Use Smog and Haze!"

Okay, they were lucky idiots.

Rhydon stood there as the smog invaded his airspace, not flinching at the foul stuff, then smashed a foot down on the floor to use Bulldoze.

Fortunately for Weezing, he was still levitating and hence unaffected.

Blaine sighed. "Intermediate badge teams. Smack Down, Rhydon!"

The drill Pokémon obediently snapped off a piece of the arena floor and hurled it at Weezing… and it went wide. It seemed to take a twisted path in the air, curving crazily away from its target.

"What?" Blaine asked. "How did that- oh."

He nodded, almost despite himself. "Oh, that's clever."

James smiled deviously. "Isn't it? It's simple refraction. All the ice in the air from the Haze that Weezing used with the Smog… it's like that thing that happens when an inversion happens in clouds."

"What, we crash a balloon?" Jessie frowned. "I swear that's what happened last time."

Blaine got a considering look on his face. "So, it's a refractive effect, which means it's most effective at longer range, where there's greater depth for the light to bend, which also means that… Rhydon! Giga Impact!"

Rhydon snarled, took a low angled stance and rushed at his foe like a charging bull.

Weezing looked slightly vacant as the charge swept down on him, not moving out of the way as Rhydon angled in towards him.

James snapped his fingers. "Now!"

Weezing glowed red.

Blaine's jaw dropped. "What."

Rhydon hit Weezing with the force of a runaway train… and was blown backwards into the wall with the force of two runaway trains.

Blaine walked past his collapsed Rock type, tossing the Pokéball to return Rhydon over his shoulder without breaking stride. "You."

James blinked, Jessie in the background scooping up the concussed Weezing. "Me?"

"Yes. You." Blaine was actually quivering with rage. "How is it that you keep doing things like that? Weezing can't learn Counter."

Meowth shrugged. "Pokémon learn a lotta things they ain't supposed to, you know?"

The Gym Leader stared for a moment at the talking Meowth, then rubbed his temples with his forefinger and thumb. "Whatever. Next Pokémon."

Cubone stared down her opponent across the Gym floor.

That opponent, a Ninetales, did the same and flared his eyes into the green-blue of Detect.

Cubone considered. Let's see… if I first go left, then I can pull in a ribcage between my destination and him, then a pair of Bonemerangs on the top and below to prevent vertical escape, that allows me to box him in with a Bone Rush staff angled to land behind him. That and a quick move forward ensures his only ways out are forward, back or towards me. Forward or back I can deal with via a pair of Earth Powers as soon as I land, and then he's going to end up in range of my Bone Club and in the air from jumping the ribcage, unable to dodge…

Ninetales gave a high, barking laugh, then returned to his Pokéball.

Cubone blinked. "What just happened?"

Blaine shook his head. "He does this sometimes… if his Detect shows that an opponent is definitely going to get a hit in, the lazy guy just doesn't bother fighting."

"Um… okay?" James said. "I'm glad our Pokémon don't do that."

I think it makes total sense. In fact, why didn't I think of that idea first?

"Does that count as a win for Cubone?" Jessie asked, as James lamented his big mouth.

"Yes, it does," Blaine agreed. "But my final Pokémon will make things harder for you. Magmar!"

Blaine's Magmar appeared in a burst of white light, swinging a Mach Punch straight out of the Pokéball. Cubone blocked it with a quickly formed thigh bone, but was caught off guard by Magmar simply Rock Smashing it out of his way and volleying in a Dynamicpunch.

Cubone picked herself up from the small crater she'd made in the wall, and looked around woozily. She couldn't see anything… her skull helmet was misplaced, maybe?

Okay. First principles. I'm in a fight. I'm just a little concussed. Wow. Concussion. Con-cus-sion.

Focus.

Right, I'm not well at all. I need to fight. I can't be sure where my opponent even is. I don't know where I am. I must be concussed.

Can't defeat anyone like this. Can help set it up.

As Magmar charged down on her, Cubone's eyes flared a ruddy yellow-orange. She drove her club into the wall hard enough to shake the chamber slightly, causing the fire damage on the walls from previous gym battles to violently shake loose.

The effort was too much for her, and she passed out before Magmar even got there – but the blow itself seemed to cause the air to vibrate and swirl, the room ringing like a bell.

Jessie recalled Cubone from their side of the arena, and James sent in their last Pokémon allowed for the fight.

The flamboyant trainer didn't waste any time. "Gyarados, Twister!"

The swirling tornado that formed in the room gathered up all the tiny rock particles drifting in the air and began sandblasting everyone in the room.

Blaine wrapped a scarf round his face. "Sandstorm? Is this what that Cubone was doing?"

Jessie nodded. "I'm pretty sure, yes."

"But why?" Blaine asked, thinking. "Why set it up like this if it was only for a Pokémon as vulnerable as a Gyarados?"

James winked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Fine." Blaine shook his head. "Magmar, Thunderpunch!"

The Spitfire Pokémon charged forward, lightning gathered in his fist… only for the lightning to promptly fizzle out, dissipating in seconds.

"Dat's why!" Meowth called from the Rocket side of the arena. "All tha metal an' quartz in the rock sucks away electricity!"

"We're specialists at this!" Jessie said proudly.

Gyarados roared, then unleashed a huge wall of water from thin air and rode it towards Blaine's Pokémon.

Blaine sighed. "It's that thing with the blue Sandslash all over again…"

With a great hiss of steam, Magmar was hammered under by the wave, Blaine returning him after it was clear he'd lost.

The Gym Leader sloshed over to the Rockets through the new, three foot swimming pool, muttering darkly to himself about people too clever for their own good.

"You fought well. Here is the Volcanobadge. Now, get out of here before I have to get you involved in the repair work, it's going to be a nightmare getting rid of all this water."

AN:

Gym Battle (with what looks suspiciously like the team from Pokemon Trainer in Brawl) and a Rocket Gym Battle focused much more on SCIENCE!

Ahem.

The explosion that Blaine refers to really did take place, though not due to Pokemon gods fighting, and the tidal wave did take out the Minoan civilization. The island that remains, Santorini, was the basis for the design of Sootopolis.

The martial art Primeape has developed is essentially Coup de vitesse from the Honorverse books. Think Close Combat, but as an entire martial art.

No major rewrite changes.