Chapter 11

Fire, Water, and the Earth Badge

Blackthorn City-

When Lance had arrived home yesterday, he immediately went to the Dragon's Den to request the blessings of the shrine. It was a sacred place for him and all the citizens of Blackthorn City in the Johto Region. This was home. This was the place where he started his journey, where he had gotten his blessing before his family had saw him off to begin his quest as a Pokemon Trainer in Kanto all those years ago.

It seemed like so long ago, he thought. The shrine of the Dragon's Den was a wooden temple built into an enormous cavern behind the little valley that was Blackthorn City. Statues of past Dragon Masters and their Pokemon lined the inside hall, each one with its own bowl of blue flame standing in front of it. It was a sign that though his ancestral Dragon Masters who no longer in this world their spirits still burned with unquenchable flame.

He approached the altar made out of dark wood, two blue-flamed candles flickered. In the candlelight, the Stone of Dragons seemed to radiate an untold energy. It was an old stone, and it belonged to Draken, the original Dragon Master in a long forgotten time. Lance knelt in silence before shiny, perfectly round black stone.

He remembered Blackthorn City's history, as it was ingrained in him from the time he was young. Draken had led his people into the valley with his Dragon Pokemon that were being hunted down like a plague hundreds of years ago. It was said that the power of the Dragon-type Pokemon rivaled that of Johto's Gods. Since then, like the ninjas of Fuchsia, the leadership position of Blackthorn City had passed through the most worthy of Dragon Trainers. Lance's family had held the Gym Leader position for five generations.

Lance closed his eyes, he could still remember when the statues seemed taller, and the Champion of Kanto, Samuel Oak, had traveled to Blackthorn city to study the Dragon's den. It was there that Lance met the man who would later become the Professor. Ten years later, Oak came to Blackthorn again.

What a lucky day that was, he remembered. Lance had been chosen to apprentice to take up the Gym when his partner Dratini (who would later be Dragonite) defeated his cousin Claire's Horsea. However, his family chose to send him with the now Professor Oak to Kanto instead. He was about to set off with Oak, when he was introduced to his little orange Fire-type Pokemon. Since then, his Charmander had evolved fully. Claire always reminded him that it wasn't technically a Dragon-type, but it was close enough for Lance.

"I was supposed to go on that journey," Claire said now, sitting across from him in her room above the Gym. When Lance went off on his journey, his cousin had stayed to take over the Gym. "You were supposed to be the one who was stuck here."

Claire had light platinum hair, and wore the same traditional cape that Lance had. She always had a straight face, but the sarcastic humor was there in her voice. Lance knew that she wouldn't leave her duty of protecting the people of Blackthorn City for the world.

She continued, "Now you're off protecting all of Kanto. Even the people here love you like you're still one of ours. You truly are the pride of Blackthorn City. Well, I'm the joy of course."

Lance smiled. He had hoped to begin preparing for the upcoming tournament in the Dragon's Den first thing today, but Claire had requested a visit before he could start there. "So why the sudden interruption? It's seven in the morning, Claire."

"I wanted to ask you something," she began. Lance gave her a look as if to say "go on." "The town elders and I have been tossing an idea back and forth to each other for quite some time now. What if Blackthorn City Gym was to join the Kanto League as a ninth Gym? There's even been some support from little New Bark Town to the south."

In the context of history, this was a surprise to Lance. Blackthorn City had always had a fiercely independent culture. Why now did they want to forsake their ancestral ties to the Johto region and join with Kanto? However, the reigning Champion already knew the answer: Johto was falling into disrepair.

"I know Johto isn't the strongest or best talent pool for Pokemon Battling, but Blackthorn has always been just fine. We still have connections and trade with Goldenrod City, don't we? The situation is still manageable isn't it?" Lance asked. There was something else, though. Something new. Lance could see it in Claire's eyes.

"The roads are closing right in the middle of the region," said Claire as she showed Lance a map of Johto on her little smartphone. There's a group of people around the Ruins of Alph and Violet City that have closed off the main highway that connects us to Violet and Violet to Goldenrod."

Lance could feel his face contort in confusion. "Why would they do this?"

Claire's voice softened to a whisper. "They say anyone who denies their Gods should hunger in solitude. The movement is growing in Mahogany Town, too. This Church of Alph."

Lance began to realize that it was happening again and history was repeating itself. The poor region of Johto was looking for a scapegoat to its troubles, and they have singled out Blackthorn City and the Dragons yet again.

"You also mentioned New Bark Town," said Lance. "Why would they want to come under our jurisdiction?"

"The Professor who lives there doesn't like the smell of the Alphs, and he thinks he has something to offer that Kanto may have been lacking for a long time." Claire sat back in her chair, crossed her arms, and smiled.

Lance was thinking. "I'm all for helping out, but what could such a small town really offer the Kanto region that they'd be willing to accept?"

"Fresh talent," said Claire. "Just yesterday I finished battling a group of three trainers, all from New Bark Town. They've each traveled Johto and won all the badges in the region, not an amazing feat these days, but still they beat me. If you would let them participate in the Kanto League Championships, you will see their power for themselves."

Lance was getting impatient, he was late for his training schedule. "I'll have to think about it," he said as he quickly got up and headed out the door. Suddenly, his phone rang.

Blue? Why would she be calling? He answered the phone, and the girl's voice made his heart skip a beat.

Blue's voice was shaky, and she sounded upset. "I found the Rocket Boss, he's the Viridian City Gym Leader."

"I'll check it out." For a second, he thought that he would call Bruno, Agatha, or Lorelei and have them deal with this. Blackthorn City was so far away from Viridian City and the Kanto region. "No," he decided. "It's my responsibility! Back to Viridian City, Dragonite!" he jumped on his golden dragon and shot off like a comet into the east.

Viridian City-

At least they had a night's sleep this time. Red woke up at ten in the morning, only to find that Green had already made his way downstairs and was feeding his Charizard some breakfast food.

Red's rival looked up at him. "I bought you some food for Blastoise. It's good to have a pregame meal. I didn't know whether or not you prepare properly, so I made sure you did."

Red had taken a back seat to Green's preparations basically the whole time. At first, he had tried to have some input, but he quickly gave up when he realized that Green wasn't going to listen. Green has his plans, but I don't have to follow them, he thought.

Green spoke with his mouth full. "Do you remember the game plan?"

Red tried to fake sounding excited, but ended up sounding rehearsed. Just smile and nod. "Keep my distance and shoot Hydro Pumps while you move in for close ranged attacks." He released Blastoise, who went straight at the pre-match food eagerly.

"Yeah, and you'd better remember that," said Green. "If your Blastoise accidentally shoots Charizard, you'll have to answer to my fist. Be careful with those cannons." He glanced up at the giant turtle Pokemon.

Even though Red and Green seemed to be at each other's throats, their two large Pokemon were amiably eating and trying each other's food.

Eventually, it came time for them to leave. Green and Red recalled their Pokemon, and headed out the door towards the once-empty Viridian Gym.

They arrived at the front doors of the Gym to be greeted by a few news crews and reporters.

"How does it feel to be the first challengers of the re-opened Gym?"

"Do you think you can call upon past Gym Battle strategies to win?"

"Did you meet our new Gym Leader in advance?"

Red wanted to stop and answer each and every question, but Green grabbed ahold of his sleeve and tried to pull him away.

"How does it feel to be battling with your best friend from the same town?"

Green stopped after the last question. Red noticed he was seething, his face turning red with rage. "He's not my best friend. He's not my team mate. He's just the reason why I could get a match so quickly. Now get out of here, all of you, or I'll have Charizard start the grill up early."

Red shook off the insult and walked inside the glass doors of the Gym. He heard Green stomp in behind him. He thought he heard one last reporter yell out "So you do plan to use Charizard, then?"

The glass doors slid shut and locked behind them. The lights were off in the Gym, except for a track on the floor that designated where the challengers were to go. They walked in silence. Red didn't want to deal with Green's snobbish attitude and Green was likely still upset from "being in the same league as Red."

Watch me win it on my own and show Green up. The thought was pleasing to Red. The last two times he had battled Green he had lost. Now, however, he had Blastoise.

They came to a tunnel which likely led out to the battlefield. What kind of Gym would this be? What would the battlefield be like? Who was the Gym Leader?

All of his questions were answered as soon as they stepped into the light. The stadium itself was small, and it looked just like one would expect it to from the outside. It was a circular dome with a few rows of stands, a television booth (not in use), and the battlefield itself was made out of hard tan earth with an inches thick layer of sand covering it. However, it was the one girl in the front row of the stands that caught his eye.

"Blue?" he asked. She hadn't come back to the Pokemon Center the previous night and Red had decided that's because she stayed at her house instead. "How did you get in here?"

She just sat calmly with her arms crossed. Nidorina stood on the edge of the wall that surrounded the battlefield. "My dad let me in. Just do me a favor, Red, and beat him."

"Enough chit chat," said Green, his voice echoing in the empty stadium. "Hey, Gym Leader, you called us here for a private battle, now come on out."

Red was frozen in half shock, half fear, and half anger. There weren't even enough halves in a whole to sum up his disbelief. Out of a dark tunnel on the opposite side of the battlefield emerged the man in a dark suit. The Rocket Boss.

"I'd say so, Green," said the Boss. "You must not remember the last time we met... Even so, this match must commence quickly. It seems my daughter has phoned a friend to come apprehend me."

Blue stood up and yelled at the Rocket Boss. "I knew it! You said that you'd turn yourself in!"

"Blue, you and I both know that I never planned on living a life of captivity. You also know that I'm truly done with Team Rocket. Just let the battle start, end, and let me go. I promise I'll write."

Does she know him? How? Red thought to himself, scratching his head underneath his hat. Red didn't have time for questions. Obviously, the Rocket Boss was the final Gym Leader. That explains how he was able to convince other Gym Leaders to help him. "Go! Blastoise!" Red sent out the great turtle who rumbled its low voice intimidatingly.

"Oh, where are my manners," the Rocket Boss continued. "My name is Giovanni. I am the Gym Leader of Viridian City, and former head of Team Rocket. That little girl sitting in the stands you are so fond of is my daughter.

"I invited you two here to reward you with the opportunity to win the final Gym Badge. You get one shot. After this battle I'm leaving win or lose, and you shouldn't try to stop me. I can't have Lance get here to arrest me." Giovanni smiled a cocky smile. "Do we have a deal?"

Red was about to turn down the deal in order to keep Giovanni in the Gym to wait for Lance, but he was interrupted with the familiar roar of Charizard emerging from its Poke-ball.

"Sure, whatever," said Green. "Just shut up and let me beat you. I have a tournament to prepare for."

"So eager. But so be it." Giovanni tossed two Poke-balls into the air. Out of the first one emerged Kanghaskan, the eight-foot tall bulky monster that had terrorized his Pokemon at Team Rocket's hideout in Celadon City. The second was a four foot tall purple spiked Pokemon. Red was about to take out his Pokedex, but Green answered for him.

"Nidoking, huh?" Green smiled. "Charizard go!" The air got hot as Charizard spit a river of flame across at Kanghaskan.

"Sand Tomb, Nidoking," instructed Giovanni calmly. The purple spiked Pokemon whipped up the sand on the battlefield and created a shield of swirling sand around its partner Pokemon.

Green frowned as the sand settled.

"Green, maybe we should work together," whispered Red to his team mate. "This guy is no joke."

Green just scowled. "Stick with the plan, Charizard! Get in there!" The orange lizard lifted up off the ground with its big wings and some sand swirled around the speeding Pokemon. At the last second, Kanghaskan leapt surprisingly high into the air and headbutted Charizard before it had a chance to react. The brown monster put Green's Pokemon in a headlock as it threw it towards the battlefield. Charizard tried to regain its composure in the air, but Giovanni ordered a Poison Sting attack. Nidoking placed a glowing purple horn right between Charizard's wings on its back, knocking it away.

"Get away from them! Use Fire Spin!" Charizard, still hurting from the Poison Sting attack, managed to spit some fire and spin its blazing tail around so fast it created a protective fiery tornado, keeping the Rocket Boss's Pokemon away.

"Now's the time to act, Blastoise!" Red commanded. "Hit Kanghaskan with Hydro Pump!" Blastoise's two shoulder cannons emerged from its shell. Two clicks and a boom later, Kanghaskan was sent hurtling towards the wall of the battlefield.

Giovanni turned his attention towards Red, now. "Hit the Blastoise with Dig." Nidoking jumped up and dove into the battlefield as if a diver would do into a pool.

Seizing the opportunity that Kanghaskan was still reeling from the high pressure water attack, Green sprang into action. "Hit that Nidoking while it's underground with Flamethrower!" Charizard slithered on all fours over to the hole in the ground left by Nidoking who was tunneling under the ground somewhere.

Charizard had inhaled, getting ready to lose its flaming breath into the tunnel when Blastoise was knocked into the air from below by a purple blur. It was too late for Charizard to stop its attack, and while Blastoise was still airborne, it was roasted by flames that came out of the ground. Nidoking took the next opportunity to tunnel back under the ground, away from another potential attack from Charizard.

Luckily, Blastoise had pulled into its huge, multiple hundred pound shell so the fire attack didn't roast it too bad. It landed with a thud that seemed to shake the whole battlefield. The rear end of its shell was noticeably lodged into the ground.

That's not good for his mobility, thought Red. And with that Nidoking God knows where underground, it could strike again at any moment.

Red then saw a dark shape sneak up behind Charizard. "Blastoise, use Hydro Pump at Charizard!"

Green understood what was happening. "Duck!" he commanded.

Charizard plopped onto all fours as the boom of the Hydro Pump shot at Kanghaskan for a direct hit to the face... or so Red thought. The gigantic brute was quicker than it looked as it slammed down onto the ground right on top of Charizard, who let out a roar in pain. Kanghaskan then rolled over swiftly before grabbing Charizard by one of its wings and spinning around and tossing it right at Blastoise, who was still stuck in the battlefield.

The dust cleared and Charizard couldn't open one of its eyes in pain as Blastoise cried out. The force from the impact may not have damaged the shell, but Blastoise's insides surely felt the force of the impact.

Nidoking emerged from a new hole in front of Giovanni as Kanghaskan pounded on its chest menacingly. "I'm disappointed, boys. The two brightest stars seem to be snuffed out. How pathetic."

"Don't give up, Red," Blue called. Nidorina stood on the ledge and Red's friend had a Poke-ball in her hand. "Even if you lose we have to keep him here so he can answer for his crimes."

Giovanni frowned and turned to his daughter. "Would you just let me go?"

"No," Red said. Green was angry and shaking. Charizard had never been treated like this in a battle before and he didn't know what to do. Red remembered the conversation with Blaine, about how Giovanni had so ruthlessly killed young Mewtwo in cold blood. He saw now, at his starter Pokemon and Green's: one struggling to stand up, the other rendered immobile. "Green, we have to put our differences aside. This is more than just a Gym battle, we have to work together."

Green frowned. "I thought I could do this on my own but... I guess having team mate can be of use sometimes. If this guy really was the head honcho of Team Rocket, I want some glory of taking him down too. Charizard, get up and get Blastoise out of the dirt, too!"

Red ran over to Green and the two rivals shook hands. Charizard, meanwhile had gotten up. It found new strength as its tail flame burned savagely. The orange lizard's eyes burned with the intensity of the sun.

"That's more like it. Don't disappoint me now," Giovanni called to the two rivals. Kanghaskan roared and Nidoking braced itself for anything that would come next.

With a mighty roar that must have shaken the building and a crunch, Charizard lifted Blastoise into the air. Red never fathomed how much sheer strength in those wings it must have taken to carry Blastoise into the air.

"Aerial assault! Let's knock out that Kanghaskan first!" called Green.

Read pointed his finger like it was a gun at Kanghaskan. "Ready the artillery!"

Blastoise pulled its arms inside the shell so that only its head was poking out from the top. The cannons popped out of its shoulders as they pointed at Kanghaskan. BOOM! BOOM BOOM! The Hydro Pumps shot mercilessly at the ground around Kanghaskan. The battlefield looked like a war zone, the ground exploding as the ultra-high-pressure water blasted holes in the sand and dirt like a bazooka.

Kanghaskan wasn't a fast runner, however. It tried to jump and dodge, but Charizard was somehow able to handle Blastoise's weight as to fly around in a circle, shooting it from all sides. It wasn't long before Kanghaskan collapsed from the multiple hits it took.

"Now after the Nidoking!" Nidoking jumped up in the air, ready to dive back underground, but Charizard was able to front flip in the air and throw Blastoise itself at the purple Pokemon. It let out a grunt as Blastoise landed on top of Nidoking, thoroughly immobilizing it. Charizard landed and roasted Kanghaskan with a Flamethrower for good measure as it roared in its pride.

Red was stunned. "When we battled apart, it looked like he was invincible."

Green actually smiled. "When we battle together, we are invincible." He patted Red on the back. "We should do it again sometime... friend." Red smiled and they gave each other a silent nod.

A clapping sound was heard. "Head's up," came Giovanni's voice. Out of the corner of his eye, Red saw two glimmers of light hurtling through the air. Red and Green each reached out and simultaneously caught the objects.

"Here is the Earth Badge," Giovanni said. "For evidence of your victory against the Viridian Gym. Hear my words and remember them now, as we may not meet again.

"To Red and Green, follow your dreams and don't let anything stop you. To Blue, my daughter," his voice got softer, as if he was actually crying, "I promise to keep in touch, but I have to go now. I'm not going to be captured today." Giovanni pulled out a Poke-ball from his suit.

Red saw Blue jump out of the stands. She was crying as she ran over and grabbed Giovanni's arm, not letting him release the Pokemon he was about to use for his escape.

"You're not leaving me again," sobbed Blue into the man's suit. "You're going to go to jail to answer for your crimes so I can see you... You're my dad, but you're still a criminal and a murderer. Don't go... Don't go, daddy."

Red was moved on the inside, and Green already had Charizard prepare to strike to not let the former Rocket Boss escape. There they stood, father and daughter. His best friend who was his first love, and her father that was missing all of her life. Red couldn't let this man escape. He had to answer for his crimes. He had to finally be there for Blue.

A flash of light, and a voice inside his head that everybody else seemed to hear too: A touching moment. You never seemed the type to have feelings, though.

There he stood, the Phantom. All dressed in grey with black gloves, boots, and bandana on his face. At once, Giovanni's Poke-ball fell from his hand.

Is this what you love? A daughter? Does she bring comfort to you? Is this girl the reason you can sleep at night after what you've done?

Giovanni fell to his knees, and Blue quickly called out to the Phantom, though it seemed to break her heart to say the words. "Good thing you're here! Help us keep him until Lance gets here! It shouldn't be long now!"

Red could feel the tension in the room as he knew that Blue was staring into those hauntingly blue eyes. Green was stunned at what he had just seen, for once at a loss for words. Charizard growled but didn't move.

Is she what you live for? Asked the Phantom as he lifted a gloved hand and pointed at Blue. At once, Blue's eyes turned to fear to match her fathers as she began to choke and grab at her throat.

"What... No... Stop this!" cried Giovanni, tears falling from his eyes. Red thought he heard a stir underneath Blastoise, but he kept his eyes glued on the situation on the battlefield.

Suddenly, the Phantom pointed his other hand at the ground and lifted its arm. Nidoking appeared out of the ground, choking and kicking the same way Blue was. Her face was turning red now. Red felt himself start to cry, but he couldn't move or say anything out of pure fear and terror. What was he watching?

This must be one of the Pokemon that you send to do your bidding. Is it not? Blue seemed to be released from the Psychic choking, as she hacked and rolled around on the ground.

"Stop this, right now!" cried Giovanni. "Please! Please, I'm sorry, I'll go to jail. Just don't hurt my Pokemon!"

Obviously you care a lot for this one... Was it your first? The Phantom seemed to be enjoying itself, playing with the fear it inspired in Giovanni. Here they were again, tormenter and the tormented, except now the roles were reversed.

No, I'm not like you, the Phantom continued as he released Nidoking from the choke as it crashed to the ground, unconscious. I don't kill innocents. The Phantom now raised its hand again, and this time it was Giovanni who collapsed and began to choke in terror.

"STOP!" called Blue in a hoarse voice. "He's a murderer, but he needs to answer for his crimes... He's my dad... I need a daddy... I need my daddy..." Giovanni was beginning to turn purple now. His legs kicked violently at the dirt. Blue pleaded one last time: "He's my daddy... Please, let him live..." For a split second, Red saw the Phantom tremble.

He's too dangerous to be left alive, was all anyone heard in their heads as the Phantom spoke the final words. The phantom shot a wave of blue, Psychic energy at Giovanni still kicking on the ground. His body erupted in a blaze of sickly blue fire.

"Blue... I love-" was the last thing Geovanni said before an ear shattering explosion spit dirt across the entire battlefield. When the dust settled the Phantom was gone, and the only thing left of Giovanni was a dirty suit, a sickening pile of bones, and a pink mist in the air.

Blue began to vomit with grief as Red ran over and held her as she cried and cried. "I hate him... I hate him..." she said over and over between tears and sobs. For once, Red knew she wasn't talking about the former leader of Team Rocket.