"Kai said that if we pass through the Ice Path, we'll arrive at Blackthorn City." I said.

After the others and I passed through Mahogany Town, we stared at the beautiful icy cavern.

"Wow! The ice looks like crystals!" Nina exclaimed.

"This will be great inspiration for a winter design." Rina said, taking pictures of the sparkling ice.

I chuckled as I shook my head fondly.

"Jet, come on out!" I said, tossing a Pokéball.

At my command, my Mach Pokémon appeared.

"Uh, Eragona? Jet's a Dragon/Ground-type. He's four times weak to Ice-type attacks." Eric commented.

"Don't worry, Eric. He'll be fine," I said, "Besides, the cold never bothered us anyway, right, buddy?"

Jet smiled and let out a mighty roar, echoing throughout the icy labyrinth. My friends smiled as we entered the Ice Path. I marveled in awe at the rocks and ice glittering in the sun.

They do look like crystals.

Jet grunted as he knocked against the icy walls. Then, he stuck his tongue out and licked the wall. Jet whimpered when he couldn't pull his tongue back.

"Oh, Jet!" I chuckled, "You should've known better than to lick ice!"

Jet whined as he struggled to break free.

"Aw, poor guy." Nina commented, trying not to laugh.

The others watched in sympathy and amusement as my Garchop struggled to free his tongue. Libby let out a cry as if she were laughing. Jet glared at the smaller Pokémon and growled.

"Okay, Libby, that's enough," I said, "Jet, use Flamethrower to melt that part of the wall."

Jet nodded before releasing a ribbon of fire at the wall. The ice wall melted, and Jet's tongue was freed. Jet groaned as he shook out his tongue.

"Better, bud?" I asked.

Jet grunted with a firm nod. I chuckled as we continued to venture through the icy labyrinth. Then, a chilly wind blew into the cave.

"T-That's cold!" Rina said, hugging herself.

"Where did t-this chilly air even c-come from?" Elsu asked, shivering.

Then, I heard an eerie cry. I looked ahead and saw two Ice-type Pokémon: a Glalie and a white and purple Pokémon. I pulled out my Pokédex and scanned the floating Pokémon.

"Froslass, the Snow Land Pokémon. Legends in snowy regions say that a woman who was lost on an icy mountain was reborn as Froslass. When it finds humans or Pokémon it likes, it freezes them and takes them to its chilly den, where they become decorations. It freezes foes with an icy breath that is nearly −60 degrees Fahrenheit."

Become decorations!? No, thank you!

"Jet, use Flamethrower!" I exclaimed.

Jet growled before roaring out a ribbon of fire at the Ice-type Pokémon. The pair dodged the attack before using Ice Beam.

"Dodge, then use Dragon Rush!" I said.

Jet dodged the super-effective attacks as his horns started glowing. Cloaking himself in a purplish flame, Jet rammed himself into the Glalie, knocking it unconscious.

"Nice work, Jet!" I complimented.

Jet landed as he smiled back at me. The Froslass growled before exhaling a chilly breath upon Jet.

"Jet, no!" I cried.

Jet staggered backward, letting out a strained cry.

That must've been Icy Wind.

He then glared up at the Froslass and growled.

"Flamethrower!" I cried.

Jet stood up and launched a ribbon of fire at the Snow Land Pokémon. The Froslass gracefully dodged the attack before charging up its Ice Beam attack.

"Eragona, watch out!" Kat exclaimed.

"Flamethrower, Dragonite!" said an unfamiliar voice.

Then, a large ribbon of fire consumed the Froslass, causing it to fall to the icy ground.

Who did that?

I looked ahead and saw a woman with light skin, light blue hair, and blue eyes. She wore a blue battle outfit with a dark gray and maroon cape. Beside her was a Dragonite.

"Are you kids alright?" the woman asked.

"We're fine, thank you," Eric said, "Those Pokémon just came out of nowhere."

"Thanks for saving us." Nina said.

"Not a problem. Dragonite and I often come here to build up her endurance to Ice-type attacks since she's a Dragon/Flying-type."

Wow. That's an interesting way to train.

The Dragon Pokémon cried out as it extended its claws to Jet. Jet grunted before taking the Dragonite's claws and pulling himself up.

"So, who might you kids be?" the woman asked.

"I'm Eragona, and these are my Pokémon, Jet and Libby." I began.

My Eevee and Garchomp smiled and let out friendly cries.

"And these are my friends: Kat, Eric, Nina, Rina, and Elsu." I said.

"Nice to meet you." they said.

"A pleasure," the woman said, "I'm Clair, Blackthorn City's gym leader."

Our eyes widened.

"You're a gym leader?" Nina questioned.

"I sure am, and if you couldn't tell already, I specialize in Dragon-type Pokémon." Clair said.

The Dragonite beside her smiled and happily roared. The gym leader glanced at me before her eyes widened.

"Hold on a minute. You said your name was Eragona, correct?" she asked.

"Yep! That's me!" I said.

Clair smiled before taking my hands in hers.

"Oh, my! It's such an honor to meet you!" Clair said, "I'm a huge fan of your grandmother, the Dragon Queen!"

I chuckled nervously as Clair's blue eyes sparkled.

"Are you guys heading to Blackthorn City?" Clair asked, releasing my hands.

"We sure are!" Elsu said.

"Well, follow me! Dragonite and I finished training for the day."

After thanking the gym leader, we followed Clair out of the Ice Path and into the warm sun.

"Ah! Finally! Warmth!" Nina exclaimed.

"Whoa, guys! Check it out!" Rina exclaimed, pointing ahead.

We looked over a hill and saw a sprawling metropolis.

"Wow! It looks amazing!" Kat cried.

"Yep! Blackthorn City is the home of many Dragon-type trainers, specialists, and masters," Clair explained, "The Blackthorn City Gym is where many trainers come to battle me for the Rising Badge or simply to become a Dragon-type trainer."

If this is a dream, please don't wake me up!

"If I remember correctly, Eragona, you said you wanted to be a Dragon-type trainer like your grandmother, right?" Clair asked, glancing down at me.

"That's right!" I said, "I'm slowly making my way there. I recently caught a Kingdra, so that's progress."

"Incredible progress! Follow me, kids!"

We nodded as we followed the Dragon-type gym leader. Dragonite smiled back at Jet before taking to the skies with a mighty roar. Jet cried out as he followed Clair's Dragonite.

"You're Garchomp certainly is friendly." Clair commented.

"He was always like that since he was a Gible," I said, "Jet's a hard worker and always wants to do his best. He pushes himself to the limit and then shatters it. He's truly one of a kind."

Clair smiled as she glanced up at the two Dragon-type Pokémon.

"Well, I can tell he has a strong heart and soul," Clair said, "And I'd love to see what he can do in battle."

I glanced at Clair with a confused look. I looked back at my friends and saw them wearing the same expression.

"Are you challenging me to a battle?" I asked.

"That is if you accept it." Clair said with a smirk.

I chuckled and smiled at the gym leader.

"I accept!" I said.

Clair nodded as she led the others and me into the city. At every street corner was a different Dragon-type Pokémon: Salamence, Noivern, Altaria, and many more that I had never seen before.

I can't wait to have some of these Dragon-type Pokémon as my own!

As Clair showed us around Blackthorn City, we stopped in front of a building.

"Here we are, my gym and a dojo for Dragon-type trainers-in-training." Clair said.

Clair pushed open the doors and showcased a large battlefield with a pool in the middle.

"Wow, Clair! This is incredible!" Nina commented.

"Thanks," she said, "We can have our battle in the back, Eragona."

Clair led us to the opposite side of the gym and pushed open two doors. I smiled as a vast green yard spread to the sides of the gym.

"This'll be an unofficial gym battle since you're not looking for a gym badge." Clair said.

"Right." I said firmly.

As if on command, Jet and Dragonite descended from the skies.

"Enjoy your fly?" I asked.

Jet smiled as he happily cried out; Clair's Dragonite did the same.

"We're gonna have a battle now, alright?" I asked.

Jet nodded as he let out a mighty roar. After Clair and I took our positions, our Pokémon stood ready and waiting.

"Battle begin!" Eric declared.

"Alright, Jet, use Flamethrower!" I cried,

Jet obeyed and roared out a ribbon of fire at the Dragonite.

"Use Flamethrower, too, Dragonite!" Clair exclaimed.

The Dragon Pokémon nodded and launched a ribbon of fire as well. The two attacks clashed, resulting in an explosion. When the smoke cleared, Jet and Dragonite were staring each other down.

"Take flight, Jet!" I said.

Jet roared before taking to the skies.

"Follow him, Dragonite!" Clair said.

The Dragon Pokémon roared as it followed my Garchomp.

"Use Dragon Pulse, Jet!" I exclaimed.

Jet grunted as he fired a multicolored shock wave at the Dragon Pokémon.

"Counter with Dragon Breath, Dragonite!" Clair said.

Her Pokémon obeyed and fired a multicolored breath at Jet's attack, which caused an explosion, and dark-colored smoke filled the air.

"Flamethrower, once more!" I said.

Jet growled and fired a ribbon of fire into the smoke. I smiled when the attack hit the Dragonite, causing it to lose its balance in the air.

"Don't let up! Dragon Pulse!" I cried.

Jet growled as he fired a multicolored shock wave at the Dragon Pokémon.

"Dodge it, Dragonite!" Clair exclaimed.

Dragonite grunted as it dodged Jet's onslaught of Dragon Pulse attacks.

"Dragon Breath!" Clair said.

Dragonite turned around and released a multicolored breath at Jet. Jet stopped and let out a groan as tiny sparks flew off him.

Oh, no! He's paralyzed! Moreover, that was a super-effective attack!

"Jet, can you keep going?" I asked.

Jet groaned before letting out a mighty roar. Libby smiled as she bounced beside me, letting out cheer-filled cries.

"That's what I like to hear! Now, use Dragon Pulse!" I said.

Jet growled before roaring out a multicolored shock wave.

"Dodge it again!" Clair said.

The Dragonite nodded before flying over the incoming attack. Jet growled before firing another Dragon Pulse at the Dragon Pokémon, only for it to dodge the attack again. I clenched my fists as the Dragonite started to descend to the ground. I looked over at Clair to see her smiling.

What is she planning?

"Now, Dragonite! Finish this with Dragon Rush!" Clair said.

Dragon Rush!?

Dragonite roared as it cloaked itself in a purplish flame and charged toward Jet.

That's what she's been doing. She was leading Jet towards the ground so she could strike a super-effective blow from beneath.

"Jet, use Dragon Rush as well!" I exclaimed.

Jet growled as his horns started to glow. When he cloaked himself in a purplish flame, he charged at the incoming Dragonite. When the two clashed, a large explosion occurred. I shielded myself as the explosion's aftermath took effect. When the smoke cleared, I watched as both Dragon-type Pokémon landed in front of us, growling and panting. I watched in anticipation waiting for one of them to make the next move.

Is it over?

Then, Jet groaned before falling back.

"Jet!" I cried.

"Garchomp is unable to battle," Eric declared, "The winner is Dragonite. The victory goes to Clair!"

I sprinted over to my fallen Pokémon and dropped to my knees.

"Jet, are you okay?" I asked.

Jet woke up before looking over at me. Jet whimpered as he sat up.

"Don't feel bad, Jet," I said, "You did your best, and that's all that matters. We've experienced firsthand the might of a Dragon-type gym leader."

Jet let out a sad cry before placing his head on top of mine.

"You don't need to be sorry, Jet," I said, patting his jaw, "If anything, I'm sorry for not being strong enough for both of us."

"Nonsense." Clair said.

I looked up to see Clair and her Dragonite looming over me.

"You two were amazing," Clair said, "You have the blood of a Dragon-type Elite Four member flowing through you. Your connection with your Garchomp is unique; honing that connection will definitely make you both stronger; I know it!"

I grinned as I removed Jet's head from mine.

"Thanks, Clair." I said.

Clair nodded as she turned to my friends sprinting over to us.

"That was an awesome battle, you two!" Elsu exclaimed.

"It was!" Nina said, "I know you mentioned Jet knowing Dragon Rush, but seeing him use it was amazing!"

Jet stood up and smiled, letting out a friendly cry.

"It was an honor battling you, Eragona," Clair said, "An up-and-coming Dragon-type master in the making; that's what you are."

"An Elite Four in the making!" Kat corrected.

"For the hundredth time, I just want to be a Dragon-type trainer, not an Elite Four member." I said, glancing at the brunette.

Clair chuckled as she glanced at me.

"If you did become an Elite Four member, would you take over for your grandmother?" Clair asked.

I groaned before burying my face into my Garchomp's chest.

This has become a monthly thing they do now. They always say I'm going to be an Elite Four member when that's highly unlikely.

I rolled my eyes as I heard my friends and Clair laugh. I straightened my posture as I smiled at my friends.

"Oh, Eragona, I almost forgot!" Clair exclaimed, "There's a place I want to take you and your friends. I think you're going to like it. Follow me."

The others and I followed the gym leader and her Dragonite around to the front of the gym, soon leading us to a cave near the city's edge.

"What is this place?" Kat asked.

"This is the entrance to the Dragon's Den that will lead us to the Dragon Holy Land." Clair explained.

My eyes and smile widened at what the gym leader said.

The Dragon Holy Land? Yes, please!