It took another day for the S.S. Anne to pull into Fuchsia's port. Daisy and I hid out in our cabins, trying to avoid running into Blue again. Fortunately, our trip was short and we were able to get off the boat.

We stepped onto the beach south of Fuchsia City. A few sailors were chatting with one another, mumbling about how Cinnabar Island was closed off for some reason. I hoped that it would be sorted out by the time I was finished with my next Gym Battle.

For now, we walked north and into Fuchsia City, leaving behind the smell of salt water.

We arrived at Fuchsia and took in the sights. The city was vibrant and filled with plants around the houses and stores. The city was home to the Pokémon Zoo and the Safari Zone, areas filled with various rare Pokémon.

The Fuchsia City Gym was located at the south end of the city, with a few houses and the Pokémon Center being nearby. The area was set on a large cliff. Much of Fuchsia was uneven and built on slanted cliffs. Red bricks made up the paths that went through the city.

"Wow, we're finally here!" Daisy breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad we finally made it, and there isn't some sort of crisis." It's a lot less overwhelming than the other cities. I commented. "That's true. Probably thanks to how it's still got the Safari Zone." 

We stopped in at the Pokémon Center to get our lay of the land. Daisy decided to send a message to her grandfather, while I looked around for any familiar faces. No sign of anyone we knew for a change, interesting. They were probably all getting ready for their final Gym Battles at this point.

After getting our bearings, Daisy and I left the Pokémon Center and made our way to the gym. I was eager to finally get my sixth badge

We walked inside the gym to see a man and a girl arguing in the center of the battlefield. The battlefield was a purple-tiled floor that seemed to reflect the light from the ceiling.

The man had spiked teal hair and cold black eyes. He was much taller than the girl and was older than she was, maybe 40. He had a red scarf around his neck and was wearing a black ninja-like outfit. He wore a scowl on his face.

The girl had purple hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a pink scarf and a yellow hair tie. Her hair was spiked up in the back like the man's. She was also wearing the same ninja-like outfit. She was much younger, maybe 15 or 16. I got a feeling based on their appearances they were related.

"Janine you are not ready!" The man shouted at her. 

The girl shook her head and clenched her fists. "Please, Father! I know I can do this! If you would just give me a chance!" 

The man shook his head despite her pleading. "I am sorry but your training is not complete. I will simply just have to manage two jobs." The man declared.

He finally noticed that we were standing in the doorway, and he immediately stood straight up and bowed. His daughter then followed suit, though her form was less refined.

"I am sorry you both walked in on that. Forgive us, please. What brings you here?" The father asked. They both stood up with perfect posture.

"Well, Red here wants to challenge the gym," Daisy answered.

Janine's eyes lit up. "Father, this is fate! Please let me take this battle! Then, I can prove to you that I'm ready!" Her father seemed to be hesitating.

I signed to ask if either of them knew sign language, and they both nodded. A pleasant surprise! I then signed that I'd like to take on Janine.

Koga seemed to relent. "Fine. I will let you battle this challenger. However, I'll be watching closely." Janine seemed to be on cloud nine. 

"Thank you, father! Ok, alright, I can do this. I am Janine, the Fuchsia City Gym Leader! I'll be your opponent today, challenger!" Janine introduced.

Koga's mouth curled into a slight smile. "And I am Koga. Forgive us for all the talking, we were deciding what we were to do if I became an Elite Four Member. Agatha is retiring soon and tryouts are opening." Koga explained. "Best of luck to you challenger, and Janine, posture!" Janine straightened her posture and Koga went over to the sidelines.

"Welcome to my gym, challenger. This will be a best-of-three battle. This means that once one Pokémon defeats its opponent, both battlers will choose a new one. The winner of two out of three rounds is the winner of the overall battle." Janine explained. 

Koga held up some checkered flags. "I will serve as the referee for this battle. When you're both ready, the battle will begin!" I didn't have any Pokémon who did well or poorly against Poison-Type Pokémon, so I decided to lead with Charmeleon.

"Good luck!" Janine shouted. The girl threw her Poké Ball into the air and sent out an Ariados. Ariados was a large spider Pokémon with a red body and yellow legs. 

This was a Pokémon from Johto. I knew it was a Poison and Bug-Type, so we had an advantage. Alright, start with Flamethrower! Charmeleon reared his head back and then threw it forward, spewing flames at Ariados.

"Ariados use Sucker Punch!" Janine's bug type vanished for a second, then he reappeared behind Charmeleon and drove his foot into the lizard, catching him by surprise. 

Charmeleon let's try Dragon Rage! Charmeleon whipped around and launched a blue flame into the face of the spider. Now use Slash! He lashed out with his claws, slamming them into the opposing Pokémon.

Janine's eyes glanced back at Koga, who was watching the fight intently. "Ariados use Psychic and then use Toxic." Ariados's eyes adapted a blue glow and it sent out a wave of energy. The energy trapped Charmeleon in its hold. I desperately needed some way to counter Psychic.

Ariados flung a purple ball into Charmeleon that trenched him in toxins. "Now throw him into the ceiling!" Charmeleon ascended into the air, crashing into the roof. The lizard landed on the ground and shook from poison damage. 

Charmeleon use Slash! Charmeleon got to his feet and charged at Ariados, keeping his eyes at the ready. Janine then smirked, and I knew we had her in my trap.

"Sucker Punch!" Charmeleon put all your firepower into your tail flame! I quickly told him. Ariados vanished, but just before he reappeared Charmeleon's flame erupted with fire. The fire consumed the spider as soon as it appeared behind my Pokémon. 

We had scored a direct hit, it was time to follow up. Now, Flamethrower! Charmeleon wheeled around and prepared to launch fire into the spider. He shook as the poison echoed through his body. Ariados jumped back and shook its body.

Janine then snapped her fingers. "Finish this, Poison Jab!" Ariados jumped forward and slammed its leg into Charmeleon's chest. My Fire-Type companion collapsed onto the ground and took further poison damage, falling unconscious. 

"Charmeleon is unable to battle, Ariados is the winner!" Koga declared. I called back Charmeleon and tried to determine who I should send out next.

"Well done trainer, your Charmeleon has a lot of firepower. However, Toxic's damage is extremely dangerous when given time to build up." Janine sent out a Golbat next. The creature began to flap his wings and flew above the battlefield. He snapped his massive mouth at me.

I decided I needed to send in Squirtle. Pikachu would be my closer for this fight if I got that far. Which meant I needed to count on Squirtle. He faced down the opposing Pokémon 

"Golbat use Acrobatics!" Janine shouted and Golbat dove forward. Squirtle use Rapid Spin! Squirtle dove into his shell and began spinning, just as Golbat was about to make contact with his feet.

Golbat's foot bounced off of the shell, and Squirtle jumped forward and slammed into the bat's mouth. The opposing Pokémon hissed and flew into the air.  "Golbat use Supersonic!" Golbat let out a high-pitched screech in an instant

Squirtle started to teeter back and forth. This was confusion, the worst status to be affected by at a time like this. Still, we had to fight. Squirtle use Ice Beam, I know you can do this! I

Squirtle began to charge the white beam in his mouth, and fortunately it went flying into Golbat's wing. The bat crashed onto the ground in front of Squirtle. 

"Hang in there Golbat! Use Poison Fang!" Janine pleaded. Golbat stood up on its feet and took one step before falling over. 

Squirtle now's our chance, use Water Pulse! This time I wasn't as lucky and Squirtle tossed a ball of water into the air. The ball went flying back down, crashing into my Pokémon. I did a double-take while Golbat lunged out and sunk his teeth into Squirtle's arm.

"It seems you two are evenly matched," Koga commented. Janine straightened her posture again and tried to calm herself down. I stared at Squirtle, who was still rocking back and forth. Squirtle! Squirtle listen to me! I called, Squirtle gave no reaction.

Come on Squirtle! You say you're the tough guy! Well, show me how tough you are, and snap out of it! Listen to me, and let's win this!  Squirtle shook his head and unleashed a ball of water into Golbat's body.

Golbat was flung off of the turtle and shook the ice off of his wings. Use Bite! Squirtle jumped onto the bat and chomped down on his head. Now use Ice Beam! Squirtle immediately unleashed the blast of ice onto the opposing Pokémon. Golbat fell over, unconscious.

"Golbat is unable to battle, the winner is Squirtle!" Koga announced. I gave Squirtle a thumbs-up and called him back.

Janine sighed and returned her Pokémon. "Well done, Golbat." Koga was shaking his head at Janine.

I felt bad for her, but I couldn't just give up. We had to win one more battle. I clutched Pikachu's Poké Ball and sent him out. 

Janine's eyebrow went up. "A Pikachu, huh. Not often you see so many unevolved Pokémon at this point in someone's journey." I guess I could've evolved Pikachu by now... and it's a bit weird Squirtle still hasn't evolved. But, he still won. 

I shook my head, the final round of a gym battle wasn't the place to think about this. Janine called out a Tentacruel, who stood up by using his tentacles as feet. I was surprised he didn't need water. The giant jellyfish had dark blue skin and a piercing glare. Poisonous red sacs decorated the beast's body as it towered over Pikachu.

"Tentacruel use Scald!" Tentacruel fired a spray of scalding hot water at Pikachu, who leaped into the air to avoid it. Pikachu use Thunderbolt! Pikachu sent a jolt of electricity into Tentacruel from above. The shock hit Tentacruel head-on, but we weren't finished yet. Now use Mega Punch!

Using his falling momentum, Pikachu readied his fist and slammed it into Tentacruel's head, making the beast topple over.

Tentacruel shot up and Janine grinned. "Use Giga Drain!" Tentacruel's tentacles lashed out and wrapped around Pikachu, draining his energy. A similar position to the last Gym Battle we were in. Use Thunderbolt! 

Pikachu surged with electricity, firing it into the opposing Pokémon. Tentacruel shuddered but tightened his grip on my Pokémon. Pikachu's electricity fizzled out as the opposing Pokémon started to squeeze.

Pikachu needed to get free somehow. Thunder Wave! Pikachu sent out a wave of electricity that stunned Tentacruel, giving us an opening. Now use Quick Attack! Pikachu burst from Tentacruel's grasp and rammed into the opposing Pokémon.

The mouse landed on the ground and faced down his foe. "Tentacruel, use Sludge Bomb!" Tentacruel fired down several globs of poison. Pikachu, run in with Quick Attack! Pikachu started to dash across the battlefield as explosions slammed down around him.

One ball crashed in front of Pikachu, flinging him into the air. "Now use Scald!" Tentacruel then fired another spray of hot water into Pikachu. He crashed onto the ground and exploded with fire, having been burned. Thunderbolt! Pikachu fired another bolt of electricity into the opposing Pokémon.

Tentacruel shook off the damage. "Now use Giga Drain again!" Tentacruel's tentacles lashed out, but the Pokémon froze. He was stuck in place from paralysis. Use Mega Punch! Pikachu ran across the ground and jumped up, slamming the fist into Tentacruel in an uppercut.

Tentacruel tumbled over and Pikachu landed in front of him. My Pokémon winced as the burn lit up around him for a moment. Still, the Pokémon kept his expression blank. Janine looked at her Pokémon with bated breath. "Hang in there Tentacruel... we haven't lost yet! Mud Shot!" 

Tentacruel's eyes snapped open and the Pokémon unleashed a blast of mud into Pikachu. He was launched back and rolled across the battlefield. "Now use Sludge Bomb!" Janine's Pokémon fired down a giant purple pellet that slammed into Pikachu.

The mouse screeched as the move exploded. The smoke cleared and Pikachu was panting, struggling to remain conscious. Koga leaned in, watching intently while Janine was hunched over to get a look at the battlefield.

Come on Pikachu! Hang in there! I called to him. We can do this! We just need a bit more! Pikachu then grit his teeth and his expression changed to show determination shining through. The mouse was surrounded by electric energy and began to run forward.

Janine's eyes widened. "Tentacruel, use Scald!" Her Pokémon unleashed a blast of boiling water into the mouse. Pikachu began to push forward through the beam, surging with power. Tentacruel shuddered from the paralysis and his attack faltered. Pikachu ran across the ground and slammed directly into Tentacruel.

The opposing Pokémon tumbled over, having been knocked unconscious by Pikachu. Pikachu took a bit of recoil damage and was hurt by the burn again, but he remained awake. "Tentacruel is unable to battle! Red and Pikachu are the winners!" I ran up to Pikachu and scooped up the Pokémon.

He was faintly smiling at me now. Pikachu, you were amazing! I can't believe you did it! You're incredible! I cheered as I spun him around.

Janine sighed and returned her Pokémon. "C-Congragulations, challenger. You and your Pokémon battled well." Janine seemed to be fighting back tears. She walked up to me and handed me a pink, heart-shaped badge. "This is the Soul Badge, and take this. The TM for Toxic. Best of luck with the rest of your journey."

Daisy ran up to join me and Pikachu. "Great work, Red! That's your Sixth Badge!" Next up, is number seven. I was more determined than ever to get my last two badges and make it to the Elite Four.

Koga went up to Janine, meanwhile. The girl's posture shot up and she wiped some tears from her eyes. "Father I-"

"Janine. You did a splendid job!" Koga interrupted the girl and put his hand on her shoulder. The man smiled at her.

"I did?" Janine confirmed, looking at her father in disbelief.

Koga chuckled. "Of course you did, my dear. You did everything right. You and your Pokémon are an incredible force together, and you're a much better loser than I am. You're mature enough to put up a strong fight for trainers, and also be able to step aside when they best you. This Gym will be in good hands if I'm chosen for the Elite Four."

Tears filled Janine's eyes and she threw her arms around her father, and he returned the embrace. "Oh father, thank you!"

I glanced at Daisy. We should probably leave now. The girl nodded and we walked out of the gym, leaving the family to enjoy the moment together.