Chapter 31: Volcano Battle
Summary:
Zeryph's team regroups with Ash and the others. Then they take on Blaine's hidden gym, within the Cinnabar Volcano.
Notes:
Next chapter is already in progress, and should be up later on. If not today, then sometime tomorrow. It starts right after this one ends, and it's going to have something special. My 25th birthday is on the 31st, this month, and isn't too far away. And although it's a little early yet, I don't see any reason why I can't enjoy myself in my own writing.
As I entered my mindscape, I noticed something was off immediately. Well, for one, my mindscape doesn't look like a bunch of islands floating in a dark void, with gravity all out of whack. I started to prepare myself for some trouble, but I relaxed when I remembered; this is how the Distortion World looks.
"Zeryph. Over here." I turned towards the source of his voice. Giratina, who was floating in the empty void. His shadowy tendrils were waving in a nonexistent breeze. "Sorry to bother you at such a time."
"Oh no, it's fine." I summoned a chair that I could sit down in, as this was still in the mindscape. It was mine, but I'm not against Giratina messing with how things look. Especially if it makes him a bit more comfortable. "I was just about to begin preparing for tomorrow's gym battle. So, I don't mind a little company."
"Your seventh one now, right? You've made quite a bit of progress in the past month or two. Well…in the outside world, anyway. The dimension I rule over is quite…disconnected, from the timeline you and my brothers are familiar with." Giratina floated over, close enough that he wouldn't have to speak up.
"I'd be surprised if it wasn't. Now, onto why you're here, please." I said.
"Very well. Listen, in the near future, there is going to be a…disaster. Dialga warned us of it, during the time in which you and your team were absent. He was going to inform you, at the first light of dawn yesterday, but wasn't able to for reasons we're both aware of." I nodded. "He has asked that you not be told of exactly what is going to happen, but, that doesn't mean I can't offer my aid. I want to make sure you're prepared for any possibility."
"OK, so, what are you saying? That you're offering to help us train for it?" I asked.
"Certainly, but it's more than that. As I am a Ghost-Type, I believe that I should be able to possess someone…in some way." I gave a small tilt of my head to the side. "Your expressions being similar to other Pokemon is amusing. Back on topic- I want to offer you my own powers, should things get out of hand."
"Oh really? So…what happened to waiting until Sinnoh?" I asked.
"We are waiting for Sinnoh. I will not be joining your team until you defeat me in battle. However, that does not mean that you can't still make use of what I offer. And should things go as badly as Dialga has foreseen, you will need all the help you can get." Giratina said. I barely noticed Mewtwo's arrival while I was thinking over what he said.
"I'm…going to have to think about it. Can I let you know tomorrow, after the Gym Battle?" I asked.
"Certainly. So long as you don't wait for too long. Else, it won't mean anything. As far as training goes, it would be wise to limit to within your…Dungeon stuff. It would be much too dangerous to train in the mortal world. Even my own realm would be a little dangerous." Giratina said.
"Alrighty, so, we'll talk more tomorrow then, I guess. And, if you can, let your brothers know that I'd like them to be on standby, just in case." Giratina answered with a nod. "Have a good night. I shall see you again, tomorrow." As Giratina faded away, the world around us changed back to normal. I then took a slow, deep breath. I wonder what he meant by a disaster though. Something related to Mewtwo, perhaps? But that…can't possibly be right. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
"What was that about?" Mewtwo asked.
"He was offering his aid to us, for the future. Just in case we happen to need it. Unfortunately, I don't really have any details on why, other than that he wanted us to prepare ourselves for whatever happened." I explained.
"OK, I…guess. So, what about our plans for tomorrow?" He asked. Whether he means Blaine, or going out with him, I'm not sure.
"Well, good thing you asked. Come, sit, and let's talk strategy." I said, while bringing up a spot for Mewtwo to sit down and get comfortable. We spent the rest of the night planning for Blaine, laying a primary plan, plus back-ups…and back-ups for those, as well. The plan we had laid out was that he would lead off, then it would be Solais, Melanie, and then Kaorah to round off the team.
We knew that Kaorah would be limited by the volcano threat, but we'll be able to manage. As the mindscape began to fade away, I felt Lexie gently shaking me awake. I slowly blinked my eyes open, and saw her smiling down at me.
"Hey Lexie." I said. I heard a soft groan from my left.
"Hey Zeryph. Not…so loud, please." Lexie was very quiet.
"What's wrong?" I asked, making sure to lower my voice.
"Melanie seems to have…taken ill, after our last bit of training." Lexie said. I quickly got up and went over to check on her. I reached out and put a hand on her forehead. She felt very hot, likely a low fever.
"Oh dear. I'm so sorry honey, had I known you would've-" Melanie put a finger over my lips.
"Shush, you. It's not your fault I got sick. I just shouldn't have stayed out past when I started to feel the cold." Melanie whispered. She then sniffled quietly, and let out a soft groan.
"So, what's wrong?" I asked. "Other than temperature, you're burning up."
"Headache, slight runny nose with occasional sneezing…and a light cough. The latter of the three isn't really bothering me, as much as the headache is. Still, not feeling too great." Melanie told me. Could tell from her voice that she didn't sound great. She wasn't looking too good either.
"Might be a cold, it's fortunate you seem to be the only one to catch one, knock on wood." I said. Slowly, I pulled the blanked off her, then slipped my arms under her body. I lifted Melanie into a bridal carry. "Let's get you to Nurse Joy, see if we can't figure out what's going on. Lexie, sweetie, would you get the door for us?" I asked.
The three of us headed to the foyer. Though I was still in just my sleepwear, it doesn't really matter. This takes priority over my usual morning stuff. Melanie snuggled against me, careful to not let anything get on me. Not that it would matter too much, as I'll be showering anyway. In my first life, I was a bit of a germaphobe. But, not here, especially since I need to take care of my girls.
"Nurse Joy? Good morning." I said quietly, as to not irritate Melanie's aching head anymore than necessary. "Could we get a bit of assistance, please?" I asked.
"Certainly. What seems to be the- oh my." Nurse Joy took notice of Melanie's condition.
"We did a bit of survival training, over the past couple days. Had to hike through a blizzard though. Elements caught up to her." I said.
"Oh well, such things happen when the cold is a concern. Bring her back, and I'll see if I can get her something for it. Do you know the symptoms?" I took a moment to explain what Melanie told me. "Ah, all right. Sounds like it might be just a cold. Go ahead and lay her in one of the beds. I'll bring her something to take for it." As Nurse Joy went to get some medicine, I carried Melanie to one of the medical beds.
"Would you like me to make you some soup? Might help you feel better, too." Lexie offered.
"No, thanks for offering though. You could still bring me some breakfast from the cafeteria at least." Melanie said. I laid her down, and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. Lexie left to get her something, which wouldn't take too long. I made sure to let her know to just get something light.
"We're gonna go face Blaine, today. Our plans were originally set up for you to take one of the spots, but since you're feeling ill, you don't have to battle." I told her.
"Ah well, sorry for missing out. Just, don't go and get yourselves too messed up. You won't have a healer for this one." She said.
"We know honey. Get yourself some rest, and get well soon. We're gonna need you at full strength for Viridian." Nurse Joy returned with the medicine, just as I was finished speaking. Melanie winced when she took it, likely didn't taste great. But whatever Lexie brought her would take care of that.
Speaking of which, Lexie returned as well, right on cue. She had a small tray in her arms, with a plate that had some bacon and eggs, plus a glass of water. Melanie accepted what she was brought with a smile.
"How long do you think she'll be in here for?" I asked.
"Up to about a day, at least, maybe more. It depends on how well her body uses the medicine, and her immune system." Nurse Joy said. "But…considering just who she is, I wouldn't be surprised if she fully recovers in just a few hours."
"Heh, knowing her, she probably would." I said. "But using a healing spell to cure yourself of something so minor, is really just a waste."
"It is, which is part of the reason why I didn't try it. Healing should really be more for injuries and poison, not for a minor illness." Melanie agreed, and I smiled at her. "Besides, you guys won't really need me for the gym, anyway. If someone gets burned, you should be able to take care of them." While what she said earlier about us not having a healer is true, it's only partially. I do have the same healing magic, but it's nowhere near as effective, since I haven't practiced with it like she has.
The door to the Pokemon center slid open, and a bell chimed as it did. I looked to see who it was, and waved when I saw them. Ash and the others have made it. I thought they wouldn't be here until later today, but I guess I was wrong.
What's interesting is the new member their group seemed to pick up. A Lucario, which was certainly interesting. Ash wasn't meant to get one until Sword and Shield, which is not for another…several years, actually.
"Hey kiddo, glad to see you and the others made it. Who's the new guy?" I asked.
"Actually, uh…he's not mine. He was waiting at Oak's lab, and decided he was going to travel with us when we got there." Ash said.
"Yes, it's true. I was waiting for you, but your cousin explained you wouldn't be heading back to Pallet Town until after Viridian City." He said. "I'm here because I was asked to personally deliver something for you, specifically. It's right here-" He reached into the bag he was wearing, and withdrew an envelope. "You can read this when you'd like. What you do afterwards, and when you get around to it, is your decision." He handed over the envelope. From the design, if I had to guess, it was something very important.
"While I do have to get back, I think I'm going to stay. For now at least, and then travel along with you as you head north. Then I'll split off from the group and return to those waiting for me in Pallet Town." He told us.
"If I may ask, what is the letter for?" I asked.
"The most that I can tell you, is that it's from the Kingdom, and it's important. I can't really say much more than that. Also, you may like to know, that little one you saved is doing very well." He told me.
"I'm really glad to hear that." I said. "Now then, I've got a morning routine I need to get to, then my team and I are heading for the gym, uh, minus one." I said.
"Minus one? What happened?" Ash asked. He sounded concerned, especially since he knows better than anyone that I don't like to leave my team behind.
"Melanie has taken ill. She's gotten herself a bit of a cold, after some training we did. She'll be fine by tomorrow, at the earliest." Unless she pulls through way sooner, of course.
"Oh, well, I hope she gets better soon." Ash said.
"Thanks, kiddo. I've gotta go get changed, and then get my team for breakfast. You guys can head on over to the gym when you're ready." I said.
"Isn't it kind of early?" Brock asked.
"Maybe so Brock, but it's better to go ahead and get it out of the way. Gives us more time for travel to Viridian, and more time for training when we get there." I answered him.
"We might also have to wait for Blaine's team to rest, too." Ash said. "Unless he has a second one handy in case of having to do more than one battle in a row."
"All Gym leaders have spare teams. Usually, in case of a trainer like Zeryph." Misty said."That way they've got a team that's prepared for a stronger challenger than what they might get normally."
"So Zeryph's in for a tougher battle than I am? Huh, I mean, I guess we should expect that by now. Especially after how easily he's won his previous matches." Ash said. I had started to walk away, so I didn't hear anything else they might've said. My morning routine went as it always did, apart from letting the others know where Melanie was.
They all decided to go and see her before heading to breakfast. Lexie had gotten out of the shower just as I got back, but she hadn't told the others. I guess she knew I was going to anyway, since my bag was in the same room as everyone else. Following the usual routine, and once we had breakfast, we started for the gym.
Mewtwo and I redid the plans, cycling Melanie out for Lexie, since Melanie was no longer able to battle. Well, at least for today, since she'll be able to once she's feeling better. Still, I'll want her to take it easy for a while, too, as to not make her sick again because of stress. Kinda interesting too, by the way, that both times when someone could've gotten sick, it was her. First on the St. Anne, and then now, after hiking through a blizzard.
Maybe she needs a bit of time off. She has more work to do than the rest of us. Especially since she has to work as both a fighter and a healer. I'll bring up the idea after we finish up with Blaine later. In fact, time off sounds like a pretty good idea, at least for a little while. I'm not sure I'll be doing Orange Islands, not the league anyway. Especially since Ash is supposed to win that one.
Following that, is going to be Johto. Our second full region, course, this also depends on when the stuff that sends me to Sinnoh will happen. Our first trip in that direction is likely to be the Lucario Kingdom. Actually, Mewtwo and I, will probably go once we finish up with Blaine. There's also Cameran Palace, now that I think about it.
Since we're going up Mt. Silver for training, that would make for a good opportunity to visit the palace, even if it's a long hike. I didn't think about it, at first, but it makes me wonder if Ash still got Sir Aaron's Aura, or if I did. Course, we won't know for sure until that actually comes up. But, that's not for a while longer. It'll be just after Hoenn, if I remember right.
We'll worry about that when it comes around. For now, we've got a gym battle to worry about. Starting with a hike up the volcano to where Blaine's new gym is. I also found out this small town wasn't the only location here. With the hot springs, and the massive inn. I hadn't seen them when my team flew in, as I was focused more on the town by the southern shore. Ash had let us know after they got to the town.
Once again, it's a case of my team being too focused on the league challenge to worry about anything else. Ah well, maybe a visit to the hot springs would do great for everyone. If they allow Pokemon, that is. If not, well, I can cheat with the Dungeon System. Even if my powers are meant only for training, it's not the first time I've used them for something that isn't. Solais and Melanie both come to mind.
[Break]
It was almost noon by the time we got up to the gym, since Ash and the others wanted to take a little while to rest after the long trip. I would've suggested that they just fly everywhere, but Ash is the only one with someone that has someone who can carry a passenger. Not to mention the fact that doing so would be messing with the timeline. Maybe not in a major way, but it still counts.
I could feel the heat from the volcano, long before we entered the gym. It's fortunate that I had clothes to wear for this, shorts and a white t-shirt. I'm not sure how long I can stand it for. But then again, with how much time I spend outside in this life, vs my past one…and in a black t-shirt no less. I'm saying I should be OK, but we'll see.
It took us a few minutes to find the entrance, which was actually very well hidden. It used one of the hot springs to hide a switch that would open the door, as well as the door itself. A man that Ash and the others had met, revealed himself to us. The man we were preparing to face, himself. Blaine, the seventh out of eight, for the Kanto league.
"Say, I recognize you, you were the one that flew over the island at supersonic speed, right?" Blaine asked us.
"I would be surprised to hear that, but after the Pokemon race…I'm not so sure you'll be able to surprise me again." Ash said.
"Yes, that would be us." I said to Blaine. "And kiddo, you haven't seen anything yet. I promise you, I'll find something even more surprising than what the weights did." I told Ash. "Anyway, we're here for the same reason as my cousin is, the Gym." I said to Blaine.
"Two challengers in one day then, very well. Who's up first, you or the kid?" Blaine asked.
"I'm gonna let Zeryph go first. He's crazy strong, but I know they'll hold back enough to not cause anything bad." Ash said.
"Thanks kiddo. And, yeah, you're right, we're gonna be holding back, at least a little bit. We don't want to damage the gym." Or, set off the Volcano, but that goes without saying. Besides, it's set to erupt naturally, sometime in the near future. Perhaps during Orange Islands, closer to the start of Johto. Or, it'll be while we're in Johto, itself.
"My team has already been figured out for this." I said.
"Then if you'll take your side of the field, we'll begin. We will be using three Pokemon each for this battle." Blaine said, a little unexpected, as I was preparing for one of his teams from the games. If it's only three each, then it's likely Ash will face the same team. As I walked to my side, I informed Mewtwo of what our revised plan would be, as well as including Lexie and Kaorah. Kaorah was to shift to the second battle, for Rhydon, and leave the third for Lexie.
That puts Mewtwo against Ninetales, who emerged from her ball and landed on the field just as Blaine gave the signal to begin.
[Ninetales]
[Level 4 (47)]
[Primary Moveset]
[Fire Spin]
[Energy Ball]
[Fire Blast]
[Disable]
I warned Mewtwo about Disable, as soon as I saw it. It's likely that his opponent will need him to be right up on her before she can use it. If that's the case, she's probably going to use it if he goes for a physical attack. Which puts him at a disadvantage, as he isn't really a ranged fighter. He doesn't have the means to deal with her, unless he tries to end it as fast as possible.
[Kaorah, switch with me.] Mewtwo said.
[What? Why?]
[I lack the means to deal with her effectively, even with Aura Sphere. She can use disable on me if I get too close, and may use it to stop an attack just before it connects.] Mewtwo said.
[Fine, your call. Means Rhydon is yours to deal with.] Kaorah walked up to the line, then she and Mewtwo tagged, allowing them to trade places on the field.
"Interesting strategy." Blaine said.
"It's them who came up with it." I said. "Mewtwo believes he won't be able to do anything, so he and Kaorah switched." I wasn't going to give away that I knew what Blaine's Ninetales knew as her main four, but I wouldn't be surprised if he figured it out.
Kaorah made a show of shedding her weights before diving into the ground. Although her scales can withstand the heat, it will only last for so long. This is definitely the better choice, as Earthquake would be far too risky in here.
"Be ready for anything, try to feel for her movements." Blaine warned Ninetales. I watched the way her tails were waving, and how she began to bring the ends together to prepare for launching Energy Ball. Of course, this technically wasn't our first time fighting one. But the first two were a Dungeon boss and a fusion who wasn't in control.
Ninetales frowned and closed her eyes, then she suddenly jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding a swipe that likely would've knocked her out of the ring. Her response was to quickly cast Disable, followed up with a swing of her tails. Kaorah ducked out of the way of the Energy Ball, but wouldn't be able to go back underground. Despite this, she didn't let her opponent gain any distance.
Kaorah swung her tail, sweeping up some dust from the ground and throwing it at Ninetales. The Sand Attack wasn't as effective with how the ground was here. Still, it was just enough for Kaorah to get close and land a Dragon Tail. The hit dazed her opponent enough to prevent another use of Disable, and, it opened the Ninetales for a second hit. At such close range, Dragon Rush didn't have as much speed as it would normally, but it still hit hard thanks to the weight training.
Blaine's Ninetales was quick to recover, before jumping away from the edge of the field. She launched another pair of Energy Balls at Kaorah, before following up with a quick Fire Spin, in order to stop Kaorah's sudden advance. Kaorah thumped the ground with her tail, along with a low snort. The slight rumble dislodging some dust from higher up, but not doing enough to be a risk.
From this, Kaorah used the dust in the air, to whip up something she had yet to use so far. She would need to use the basic knowledge for Twister, along with the dust in the air, and the rotation from Fire Spin. With all of that together, she managed to whip up a Sandstorm. The heat rising up from below, certainly helped with what she was doing.
It wouldn't last long, since we were in a volcano. Well, above what was actually the volcano, but still. It would be enough to at least cut visibility down by a large amount. Just enough for Kaorah to very quickly close in and attack. I heard the hit from the Dragon Rush, even over the sound of the wind. This time, it definitely hit hard enough to knock Ninetales off the field, and it looked like it had hurt. Not bad enough to cause any worry, but without Melanie here, we won't know for sure.
Blaine called the ring-out, and returned his Ninetales to her ball. We had to take a brief pause to wait for the twister to settle down, before we would be able to continue.
"I've noticed that you don't call out orders to your team. Why is that?" Blaine asked.
"Preference, really. Plus, we usually have our strategies planned out up to a day in advance, sometimes more. If there is anything to call out, we use telepathy for it. Saves us from giving away what we plan to do, so our opponents are left guessing." I said.
"Well then, let's see how well it continues to work for you. Round two, whenever you're ready." Blaine said, as Cerise stepped onto the field. This was a surprise, to be sure. I had thought that Mewtwo was going to be on second. When I asked, he took a moment to fill me in, and I found myself agreeing. While Kaorah was busy with Ninetales, he and the others took a moment to talk about our current backup plan. It was decided that he would switch with Cerise, both to give her a gym battle, and to take advantage of Rhydon's large grass weakness.
"That's rather bold of you, using a Grass-Type in a Fire-Type gym." Blaine said.
"So it is, but at the same time, she still has Type-Advantage for this matchup." I said.
[Rhydon]
[Level 4 (48)]
[Primary Moveset]
[Fury Attack]
[Smack Down]
[Earthquake]
[Horn Drill]
My eyes widened when I read through Rhydon's info.
[Watch out for Horn Drill! It's an instant KO if it lands!] I warned Cerise in a hurry.
"Rhydon, end this quickly! Horn Drill!" Blaine called. So, they're going for it right off the bat. Cerise wasn't about to let that happen, she drew the string from her hood, and an arrow from within her feathers. She knocked, drew, and let loose a Spirit Shackle. Though it would miss Rhydon, it didn't miss its target, his shadow. The arrow landed with a burst of purple energy, pinning Rhydon's shadow to the ground, and stopping him dead in his tracks.
His decision to turn and try to deal with the arrow was a mistake, as it opened him up to another attack. Cerise made her move, quickly closing the distance and striking along his back with a Leaf Blade. Rhydon growled, rounding on her to strike with Fury Attack, but under the effects of Spirit Shackle, his movements were limited.
This opened him up to a second strike from the opposite direction, causing him to stumble.
"Rhydon, Earthquake! Dislodge that arrow!" Cerise took Blaine's order as a warning to jump, taking to the air to avoid the rumbling ground. Though it did dislodge Spirit Shackle, that wouldn't help against an airborne target. "Smack Down! Get her out of the air, then go for another Horn Drill!" Cerise couldn't shoot while she was in the air, and would likely be too dazed upon landing if she crashed.
It was a risky decision, but she chose to avoid the rock by going low, diving and then pulling up into a glide straight at her opponent. I started to warn her off of what she was doing, but apparently, that wasn't necessary. The moment she got in range, she unleashed a Sucker Punch. To the left side of Rhyhorn's head, just before he could land Horn Drill.
Cerise used the time he was dazed to quickly land several Leaf Blades, before quickly retreating, using a Spirit Shackle so he wouldn't be able to pursue her. A quick Earthquake took care of the arrow, but the moment of distraction was enough for Cerise to ready something else. Energy Ball, which, she carried right towards him, and she hit him in the chest, using the Energy Ball to augment the kick that she'd landed.
Rhydon stumbled backwards, then growled softly as he slowly fell over. He was returned before he hit the ground. This means the only one left is Blaine's Magmar. Cerise stepped off the field, and Lexie took her place. Lexie had begun to stretch, and pull her own weights off, just as Blaine sent out Magmar.
[Magmar]
[Level 4 (49)]
[Specialty- Air Lens]
[Primary Moveset]
[Fire Punch]
[Flamethrower]
[Fire Blast]
[Skull Bash]
I warned Lexie about the Air Lens, which would make Electric-Type useless. But that didn't put any of her other types out of contention.
"Hey Zeryph, I'm gonna try something here." Lexie said, and she revealed the Empowerment Seed that she had taken before.
"You sure? This wouldn't be a good time if things go wrong." I said.
[BGM Suggestion]
[Amaranthe- Fireball]
"I know, but it's still worth a shot." Lexie prepared herself, then, she ate it with a loud crunch. Slowly, the air around her began to ripple, and then, there was a huge burst of white-hot flame. What emerged from that was something different. Lexie had gained height, and flames now burned from the sides of her legs, from her shoulders, and from the top of her head. Her ears had gained a quite a bit of length, and they drooped, hanging behind her rather than standing up like they normally did.
The ground beneath her began to burn just from being near her, in fact, the very air seemed to be burning. Her eyes glowed brightly, with power, and flickered like the flames coming off her body. Lexie began to bounce on her feet, burning the prints into the ground. It's fortunate then, that her weights are fireproof.
"Woo! Well, I guess it worked. Looking pretty hot there, Lexie." I said. Lexie's response was to grin at me, along with a quick wink. She was experienced enough to not let any unnecessary thoughts interrupt the battle. "Now, let's win us a gym battle!"
"Hell yeah! Let's light it up!" Lexie's flames flared up around her, their color turning white. She then began to go through the steps of preparing a Pyroball. I had to shield my eyes, while I reached into my inventory for a pair of sunglasses. That little orb was way more intense than normal, almost like staring at a miniature sun.
"Magmar, Flamethrower! Don't let her stay still!" Blaine called from the other side of the field. Lexie kicked the Pyroball into the air, and then leapt out of the way of the blast. She had to focus on both dodging, and making sure her Pyroball didn't hit the ground. With what she was putting into it, it was safe to say it might even be more of a miniature G-Max Fireball, instead of the normal Pyroball.
It was when she slipped up on a dodge that we discovered something. If this is in fact, a mega form…I think I might know what the ability is. She soaked up the flames like a sponge, and hers grew even brighter. It seems that Libero, may have been traded out for Flash Fire. Which, isn't a bad trade, especially in this situation.
Lexie quickly figured it out, and began to take advantage of it. Soaking up everything sent her way. Blaine and Magmar quickly adjusted, and began to use attacks from different types, but by then, it was already much too late. With the Pyroball prepared, Lexie leapt high into the air, twisting before making contact with an incredibly powerful kick. The Pyroball was launched at high speed, and made contact, right on target. The flaming sphere exploded with a loud 'FWOOM!'
I shielded my face from the burst of extremely hot air, then slowly lowered my arms, wincing from the light stinging I could feel. Magmar had been totally knocked out by the hit, but he would be fine after a short rest, and a brief checkup to make sure the hit hadn't done internal damage. Lexie landed softly, her body still ablaze. It took several minutes for her to figure out how to reign it in, and end the transformation.
Lexie picked up her weights from the ground, and slowly slipped them back on, while Blaine and I walked towards the middle of the field.
"Mr. Ketchum, I have never, in my life, seen anything like that. Well done." Blaine pulled a Volcano Badge from his right pocket, and then offered it to me. We shook hands, then I accepted the badge before putting it in my case. Seven down, one more to go.
"Thanks, Blaine. It really shows just how well my team has trained." I said.
"Indeed, now, if you'll allow me just a little bit of time, I'll have my team ready to face your cousin in battle. As he has seen what he'll be facing, I'm sure he'll be ready." Blaine said. Though I've taught Ash very well, his team does still have trouble. Especially his Charizard, who, from what I've heard, has been unwilling to work with him.
Though I would've stayed around to watch the battle, my team still has a tradition to follow. I told Ash where we'd be going before we left. We would wait to eat until Ash and the others were done with their own battle, but not for what else I had in mind. The hot springs, which, I haven't told my team about yet. I'm sure they would all appreciate some time to relax. With that in mind, that's the direction we began to head in. I had Mewtwo go get Melanie. They'll meet us at the hot springs.
