There will be an Easter egg featured in this chapter. I wonder if you can find it.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Pokémon characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 31: Fight for the Light
The next day, Mr. White brought us back to the town where we could take the ferry to the last station before we had to walk the rest of the way to Olivine City where the next Gym was waiting for us. It took a couple of hours before we reached the coastal city. The ocean looked even wider compared to the sight I saw in Vermilion City a year ago. Though… The view made me a little uncomfortable as it reminded me of the storm when I almost drowned. I shook my head to get rid of the negative feelings. I shouldn't let that trauma hold me back from sailing across the sea.
"Here we are! Olivine City!" Ash exclaimed eagerly. "Let's go to the Gym right away!"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu cheered happily.
"Why not?" I said. "Our Pokémon are healed after what happened, so…we should be ready."
"I knew you were going to agree with me this time, Ashley", Ash grinned. "C'mon, guys! To the Gym!"
"Ash, we need to find it first and you obviously don't know where it is", Misty pointed out before my brother could run off.
"Oh yeah… Forgot about that detail…", Ash chuckled sheepishly and scratched his cheek.
"Pika…", Pikachu sweat dropped in response.
"Leave the guiding to me!" Brock smiled and picked up his Johto guidebook. "Let's see… It shouldn't be far away from here."
We entered the city and walked down the busy streets that were packed with humans and Pokémon alike. At some points, Brock got distracted by pretty girls and forgot the main objective.
Ash, Pikachu and I watched Brock, unamused as he ran off to flirt with a random woman with Misty following him to drag him back to the group. I let out a soft sigh and turned around to get ready to move on when I accidently bumped into somebody.
"Uff!" I grunted before I quickly pulled back to apologize to the stranger. "I'm sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!"
It was a girl who appeared to be close to my age, but clearly a couple of years younger than me. She had fair skin that had slight hints of a tan, chocolate-brown hair that was like split in half with a blue and white bandana tied around her head and blue eyes with long eyelashes. My heart suddenly made a big leap in my chest when the girl blinked her eyes in surprise to comprehend the situation.
"It's okay", the girl smiled cutely and waved her hands in ease. "I wasn't paying attention myself."
"T-That's good…", I stuttered as my cheeks began burning.
"May!" a young boy yelled as he waved his hand in the air, holding a grocery bag in his other hand. "We've gotta hurry! Mom needs the groceries for dinner!"
"Coming, Max!" the girl May shouted back before she bowed her head to me. "I'm sorry, but I've got to go. Bye!"
"Um…!" I wanted to call out to her as she ran after the boy, but I had no idea why. I just…wanted to talk to her a little more. I pressed my hand on my chest, feeling how my heart clenched a little in pain as the brunette disappeared from my sight.
"Ashley? You okay?" Ash asked.
"Pika?"
I snapped out of my trance and clapped my cheeks to calm down the heat. "Y-Yeah, I think so… Except… I might be getting sick again."
"Again?" Misty asked as she and Brock had now returned to us. "It's been a while you said you felt sick."
"Yeah…", I nodded as my heart began feeling better. "But I think I'm good now."
"You sure about that, Ashley? If this is a reoccurring illness, you might have to check your health with a doctor", Brock said.
"Maybe later…", I nodded. "Let's focus on the Gym first."
"Are you sure, Ashley?" Ash asked concernedly. "If you're sick, we can go straight to the hospital."
"I feel fine now", I reassured my twin brother. "If I feel bad again, I'll let you know."
"Oookay…", Ash pulled the word, still not sounding convinced.
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A couple of minutes later, we finally found the Olivine Gym. The building looked like a hangar and was decorated with some steel ornaments. "According to the guidebook, the Gym Leader here specializes in steel-type Pokémon", Brock read the information from said book.
"Steel-type? Good thing I have Victor", I sighed in relief, happy I had at least one Pokémon that was super effective against steel Pokémon.
"And I've got Cyndaquil and Dunsparce that knows that ground-type move Drill Run!" Ash grinned. "This is gonna be a piece of cake!"
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu hissed eagerly through his teeth.
We entered the Gym, but found nobody by the reception desk, so we walked straight to the battlefield. "Hello! Is anybody here?!" Ash shouted, his voice echoing around us.
"I am here!" a young feminine voice echoed back. "Welcome to the Olivine Gym! Who has come here to challenge the Gym?"
"It's me and my sister, Ash and Ashley!" Ash called back. "We're here to challenge the Gym and earn our next badges!"
An automatic door slid open and revealed a very young girl, around the same age as that Max boy, standing like a model. "I accept your challenge! My name is Jasmine, the steel-clad defense girl!"
I found that hard to believe. She looked too young to be a Pokémon Trainer. The rules said the Gym Leaders had to be at least ten years old or above. The Gym Leaders could take in apprentices under the age of ten, so perhaps…
"Are you really the Gym Leader?" Ash asked, doubting the girl.
"I am!" Jasmine pouted with her hands on her hips. "Which one of you would like to go first?"
"Me!" Ash stepped onto the battlefield while Pikachu jumped off his shoulder, standing next to him ready to battle if told. "What are the rules?"
"A Gym battle here is a three-on-three!" Jasmine explained as she grabbed a Poké Ball from her shoulder bag. "Go, Onix!"
"Oooooo!" a huge Onix appeared on the field.
"Wait, that's not a steel-type Pokémon", I pointed out.
"But look at its body! It shines like metal", Misty commented.
"Hmmm…", Brock rubbed his chin as he stared at Jasmine's Onix. "Something's off, but I don't know what…"
"I can take care of an Onix! Croconaw, I choose you!" Ash called and threw his Lure Ball.
"Croco-naaaw!" Croconaw growled and snapped his jaw after he got called out.
Jasmine smirked with a soft shrug. "A water-type Pokémon doesn't scare my Onix", she commented before she got serious. "Onix, use Tackle!"
"Oooooo!" Onix screeched as it slithered fast toward Croconaw, aiming its head at the water-type Pokémon.
"Croconaw, stop Onix with Water Gun!" Ash shouted.
"Naaaaaaaw!" Croconaw shrieked as he fired a large Water Gun straight at Onix's face. The rock snake Pokémon got pushed back and had to cancel the move, but I noticed something odd. Water Gun should be four times super effective against an Onix, so why was it still standing straight and not showing signs of fatigue?
"Oooooo!" Onix used the soundwave of its screech to cancel the Water Gun move.
"Water Gun didn't work?!" Ash gasped in surprise.
"Pika?!" Pikachu shrieked in surprise as well.
"Onix, use Tackle again!" Jasmine yelled.
"Oooooo!" Onix knocked its head onto Croconaw, throwing him in the air before he crash-landed on the battlefield.
"Croconaw!" Ash yelled worriedly. "Are you okay?!"
"C-Croco…!" Croconaw grunted as he pushed himself up on his feet, already covered in bruises.
"Your Croconaw is resilient", Jasmine commented. "But it will take more to defeat my Onix!"
"In that case, Croconaw, use Water Gun again!" Ash shouted.
"Croco!" Croconaw took a deep breath, puffing his chest out, and fired a new Water Gun.
The water attack was just about to hit Onix when a new voice interrupted the battle. "Stop this battle right now!"
Croconaw canceled his move after he managed to splash Onix's face with some water. A new person had showed up which made Jasmine nervous. It was a woman in her late teens with long brown hair, dressed in a white sleeveless sundress. She had a Magnemite that rested on her shoulder.
"This battle is over!" the teen declared.
"Why? We were just in the middle of a Gym battle!" Ash argued.
"This Gym battle is invalid because you are not battling the Gym Leader", the girl explained. "I'm the Gym Leader of the Olivine Gym, Jasmine."
"You're the Gym Leader?" Misty asked in disbelief.
"What a beautiful Gym Leader!" Brock exclaimed, having hearts in his eyes for the untempt time of the day.
"Then who is this girl?" I asked, seeing the imposter was trying to walk away.
"Janina!" Jasmine called sternly.
Janina froze instantly. "Yes?!"
"Come with me to my office."
"Okay…", Janina recalled her Onix and bowed deeply to us, her eyes glowing in shame. "I'm so sorry for tricking you."
We were left stunned by the revelation. It turned out the girl was none other than a Gym apprentice! Jasmine told us to wait for her, so we stayed in the Gym until she returned without Janina.
"I apologize on behalf of my apprentice's poor behavior", Jasmine said with a concerned expression and hugged her left arm. "Normally, I would make it up to you by accepting your challenge to a Gym battle… But I'm physically or emotionally unable to battle right now."
"Why is that?" Ash wondered.
"It's a private matter that I must solve", Jasmine sighed. "Until the issue is fixed… The Gym is going to stay closed. I'm sorry."
"What?!" Ash exclaimed in shock. "For how long?"
"I'm afraid I can't give you a concrete answer", Jasmine shook her head.
"That's too bad…", I mumbled. I had hoped my brother and I could earn our next Johto badge and be in a good pace on our journey, but now we had to wait for Jasmine to get better and feel strong enough to challenge other Trainers.
Brock pushed himself to the front and grabbed Jasmine's hands, staring at her with determined eyes. "Please tell me what troubles you, Jasmine! I promise I can fix the problem for you!"
"Cool it down, Romeo…", Misty sighed tiredly.
"Togii?"
"Brock's right!" Ash called out. "If we can help you, the sooner you can open the Gym!"
"Umm…", Jasmine hesitated as she looked at each and every one of us.
"Magne…", her Magnemite beeped worriedly as it had remained on her shoulder.
"Please! I'll do anything for you so we can have a battle!" Ash begged and pressed his hands together.
"Anything…?" Jasmine repeated, her sad eyes now glowing with hope.
"Yes! We'll do anything and everything for you, Jasmine!" Brock nodded frantically.
"As long as it's within our capacities", I added. After all, we had no idea what Jasmine was worried about that she couldn't accept challengers.
"Then… If I could ask you to come with me so I can explain it for you", Jasmine finally gave us an answer.
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The Gym Leader brought us to the harbor and to a section where there was a tall lighthouse next to a much smaller one that looked old and rustic. "Are those lighthouses?" Ash asked.
"Yes", Jasmine replied, her Magnemite now being inside its Poké Ball. "The old lighthouse is called the Shining Lighthouse. It has an old history, so it's Olivine City's precious treasure and landmark."
"Is the Shining Lighthouse broken or something?" Misty wondered.
Jasmine grimaced softly. "Yes and no. I'll explain everything inside."
We entered the lighthouse and walked up the stairs to the very top where we got greeted by the sight of an elderly man patting an Ampharos' back. "Grandpa", the Gym Leader called.
"Jasmine", her grandfather looked up as Ampharos coughed like its throat was full of mucus. "Who are these kids?"
"They came to my Gym to challenge me to a battle and they want to help me with Sparkle", Jasmine replied.
"That's so nice of them. My name is Myron. Nice to meet you, kids."
"Nice to meet you too, Myron!" we greeted the elderly man simultaneously.
"How's Sparkle?" Jasmine asked worriedly.
"Not good, but he's not getting worse."
Jasmine stepped to the Ampharos called Sparkle and crouched down to gently caress his back. "I'm so sorry you have to endure this illness, Sparkle…", the teen said with a hint of sob in her voice.
"Rooo…", Sparkle hissed before he coughed again.
It hurt my heart seeing a Pokémon being sick. I could tell by his coughs that he was struggling to get the sticky mucus out of his throat.
"Is this Ampharos the reason why you can't battle right now, Jasmine?" Ash asked.
"Yes", Jasmine confessed. "Sparkle is responsible for the lighthouse, but he recently came down with a stubborn summer cold and that has weakened him a lot."
"Even though we have the new lighthouse, the Shining Lighthouse has a long history", Myron took over the story session. "Long before we had electricity, the people of Olivine City used Ampharoses to light up this lighthouse. It has become a landmark and everyone who comes to the city by boat, they know they will arrive to Olivine City by seeing two lights next to each other. But now that Sparkle's weak, he cannot use his power and everyone in the city is worried."
"Have you treated him at the Pokémon Center?" I wondered.
"Yes, but Nurse Joy is unfortunately unable to cure Sparkle", Jasmine explained. "We had no choice but to order a very special medicine from the pharmacy in Cianwood City. The medicine is ready, but I can't leave Sparkle to go and pick it up myself. I thought of sending Janina, but after what she had done to you, I put her on probation."
"Cianwood City…", Brock picked up his guidebook to check the map. "It's located on a large island south from here. The guidebook says it takes a quarter of a day to get there by boat."
"A quarter of a day…", I counted on my fingers. "That's six hours. It's not that bad."
"An island?" Misty repeated before she sighed dreamily. "Spending a day or two by the beach with water Pokémon would be lovely…"
"Maybe, but we've gotta get Sparkle his medicine so he gets better!" Ash declared and smiled at Jasmine. "If we get the medicine for you, will you accept my and Ashley's challenge?"
"I would truly appreciate your help and gladly accept your challenge if you can bring the medicine for Sparkle", Jasmine smiled as she looked very relieved by the good news.
"Rooo-oogh!" Sparkle tried chirping, but it ended up with another nasty cough. Jasmine quickly patted his back to soothe the pain.
The peace soon got broken when a large ball was thrown into the lighthouse and exploded, covering us in smoke. We started coughing as the thick smoke engulfed us, making us panic about the sudden attack.
"What's going on?!" Ash coughed.
"Don't know, but we must evacuate!" Myron yelled.
I saw Brock's silhouette crouching down and picking up Sparkle on his back. "Jasmine! Myron! I've got Sparkle! Let's go!"
We ran down the stairs to the exit, the smoke crawling after us, but we outran it. I was extra fast on my feet, so Brock and I ran ahead to get out to the fresh air and confront the person who targeted the Shining Lighthouse.
"We're almost out!" Brock comforted Sparkle who coughed against his shoulder.
I nearly threw myself out with Brock right behind me. The next thing I knew, a cage fell down and trapped us. "What?!" the two of us exclaimed in shock.
Familiar laughter cackled far above us as the cage got pulled up just as everyone else ran out of the building. "Prepare for trouble, we've come with all of our might!"
"Double trouble, stay down while we steal your light!"
"Meoowth, that's right!"
"Team Rocket!" we all yelled angrily at the trio.
"What do you three want this time?!" Ash growled.
"We want to give our boss the perfect souvenir from Olivine City, so we're taking Ampharos!" Jessie cackled from the air balloon as we flew toward the ocean. Ash and the others ran after us on foot, but they were unable to reach us.
"No, you won't!" Brock shouted and started kicking the lock while still carrying Sparkle. The steel cage was too strong to get dented by weak kicks from the young adult.
"Brock, stand back!" I called as I grabbed a Poké Ball. "I'll deal with the lock!"
"Okay!" Brock nodded and stepped back.
"Cedric, I need your help!" I called and held the Poké Ball while it released my Larvitar.
"Taar!"
"Cedric, tackle the lock until it's broken!" I shouted.
"Laar!" Cedric nodded and dashed toward the locked door, throwing himself at it. The metal cage creaked by the first impact, but it barely had a dent.
"Try again!" I called.
"Larvitaar!" Cedric tackled the door and bounced back to continue the same movement.
"Hey! Stay still in there!" Meowth yelled as the cage wobbled for every jump Cedric made, his weight affecting the air balloon.
"Stop right there!"
Brock and I spotted Janina and her Onix as the large rock snake Pokémon slithered after the air balloon. "Janina?!" Brock exclaimed in surprise.
"Quick, Onix, grab the cage!" Janina shouted, holding onto Onix's spear.
"Ooooo!" Onix roared as it moved its tail toward the cage.
"Oh great, another nuisance!" Jessie growled. "Arbok, I choose you!"
A white light flew down to the cage and morphed into Arbok, the snake Pokémon holding onto the cage with its tail hanging upside-down. "Shaaarbok!"
"Arbok, use Poison Sting!" Jessie yelled.
"Shaaaar!" Arbok hissed and fired a shower of poisonous barbs toward Janina. The girl panicked and raised her arm to shield herself, but her Onix quickly used its tail to protect her from the move. Brock and I sighed in relief seeing she was unharmed.
"Meowth, get us out of here!" James called.
"Aye-aye, James!" Meowth yelped just as the air balloon started flying faster.
"Onix, after them!" Janina shouted just as her Onix slithered after us.
Cedric had stopped tackling the lock when we all got distracted by Janina's sudden appearance. "Cedric, continue tackling the cage!" I told him. "We need to break the cage to get out!"
"Taar!" Cedric nodded and started tackling the café again. The bars were now having small indents meaning the strategy was working.
I was too distracted observing him to make sure when to tell him to stop if he got tired that I never noticed Janina's Onix's movement. Before I knew it, the cage shook for a second before I realized we came to a standstill. "What just happened?"
"Janina's Onix grabbed Arbok with its tail and is holding the air balloon back!" Brock replied. "Now's our chance to break the lock!"
"You heard him, Cedric! Use everything you have to break the cage!" I yelled, feeling encouraged that the situation was turning on our side.
"Laaaaaar!" Cedric shrieked before his body suddenly started glowing. I got caught off guard before I watched in awe as he evolved into a shell-like creature known as Pupitar. "Pupitaaar!"
"Wow, Ashley! Your Larvitar has evolved into Pupitar!" Brock exclaimed.
"That's awesome, Cedric!" I praised my Pokémon. "Now that you are stronger, let's break the cage!"
"Puuupitaar!" Cedric hissed and threw himself at the cage. With his new weight, he managed to break the cage, opening the locked door. Brock and I immediately ran down Onix's tail while Cedric bounced ahead of us.
"Hurry!" Janina waved her hand before we rushed onto the dock, getting on safe land.
"Okay, we're free! Let's finish Team Rocket!" Brock called out.
"Leave that to Pikachu!" Ash yelled as he and the others reached us by foot. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" Pikachu jumped high up in the air and unleashed the electric move. Team Rocket's balloon and Arbok got electrocuted, shrieking in pain, while Onix was unaffected thanks to its dual type. Smoke emitted from their bodies when the move was done.
"Your turn, Janina!" Ash nodded to the little girl.
"Okay, Onix! Let's throw them far away!" Janina told her Pokémon.
"Ooooooo!" Onix screeched and swung the whole package around, still holding onto Arbok, until it built up enough momentum to throw Team Rocket far away in the sky to probably crash into the ocean.
"Alright! Great work, everybody!" Ash cheered.
"Pika!" Pikachu posed while making the victory sign with his fingers.
Brock gently put Sparkle down on the ground so Jasmine could give her Pokémon a big hug. "Thank Arceus you're okay, Sparkle…", she sighed in relief, a small tear glowing at the corner of her eye.
"Roooh…", Sparkle cooed weakly.
"Thank you for saving Sparkle, Brock, Ashley, Janina", Jasmine said.
"It was nothing, Jasmine! I'll always save you and your Pokémon!" Brock flirted, acting like he was a Prince Charming.
I crouched down and gently caressed Cedric's smooth body. "You were amazing, Cedric. I'm proud of you."
"Puupi!" Cedric's eyes smiled, chirping happily.
Jasmine stood up and turned to her apprentice. "Janina, you and your Onix worked great together. You've learned how to communicate with your Onix and utilized its strength in the correct way. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you, Ms. Jasmine", Janina smiled sheepishly before she twiddled her fingers. "Umm… Am I still under probation?"
Jasmine giggled, "Not anymore. But I do have a new task for you."
"Onix and I will do anything for you!" Janina exclaimed eagerly.
"Oooo!"
"I need you to go to Cianwood City and get the medicine to Sparkle", Jasmine instructed the girl. "Do you think you can do that for me?"
"Of course! Sparkle is like family to me and I want both him and you to feel much better!" Janina nodded excitedly.
"Then let's go to Cianwood City together!" Ash suggested.
"It may be a short trip, but Brock can also teach you more about Onix's strength since he has one too", Misty added.
"Togiprii!"
"Really? That'd be such a huge help for me!" Janina stared at Brock with shiny eyes.
"Anything to help a beauty's apprentice to become a stronger Trainer!" Brock patted himself on his puffed out chest.
"I don't know if you're aware of it, kids", Myron spoke up. "But Cianwood City has a Gym that you can challenge before you come back to Olivine City."
"Cianwood City's got a Gym?!" Ash exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes", Jasmine confirmed it. "The Gym Leader's name is Chuck and he's a fighting-type specialist. I wouldn't miss the opportunity to obtain the Storm Badge before you return for my Mineral Badge."
"Then Ashley and I'll come back for your Gym when we each have a Storm Badge!" Ash exclaimed determinedly.
"A fighting-type Gym…", I mumbled as I remembered how my Primeape was still training in the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City. My thoughts then went to my current team, realizing I had three Pokémon that could do well against a fighting specialist Trainer. "Looks like you have to take a break from the Gym battles for a while, Cedric."
"Puup."
We rushed to the dock where the ferry to Cianwood City was located and got onboard after paying for the tickets. Jasmine, Myron and Sparkle stayed on the dock and waved goodbye to us as the ferry took off to the wide ocean. I may have not obtained a badge today, but I would get a second chance soon.
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Ashley's party:
Cedric the Pupitar (male)
Hikaru the Ampharos (male)
Mystic the Togetic (male)
Victor the Houndoom (male)
Axel the Scyther (male)
Lily the Espeon (female)
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Ashley's Pokémon at the Lab:
Trica the Furret (female)
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Ash's party:
Pikachu (male)
Bayleef (female)
Cyndaquil (male)
Croconaw (male)
Shiny Noctowl (male)
Dunsparce (male)
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Ash's Pokémon at the Lab:
Heracross (male)
Wartortle (male)
Tauros (male)
Ivysaur (male)
Snorlax (male)
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Misty's party:
Goldeen (female)
Staryu (genderless)
Psyduck (male)
Togepi (female)
Poliwhirl (male)
Chinchou (female)
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Brock's party:
Geodude (male)
Onix (male)
Crobat (male)
Pineco (male)