Chapter 23: Fuchsia Gym
After dealing with the Diglett, Lyra and the gang continued their search for the Fuchsia Gym. However, finding it was proving to be no easy task.
"Okay, this is ridiculous," Lyra huffed. "We've been searching for the Fuchsia Gym for a while now, but all we've found are trees and more trees."
"Yeah," Misty added. "I mean, why build a Gym in the middle of nowhere?"
Brock suggested they stop for a rest, so they settled by a small waterfall. Misty let her six Pokémon—Staryu, Starmie, two Poliwags, Seel, and Squirtle—swim in the stream. Lyra released all ten of her Pokémon: Pidgeot, Vulpix, Psyduck, her Nidoran couple, Skitty, Cresselia, and Finneon, as well as Pichu and Pikachu, who played with Skitty and Cresselia. Brock sat nearby, brushing the fur of his Vulpix.
"Hey Lu," Misty asked, "have you decided which Pokémon you're going to use?"
"Fuchsia Gym uses Poison-types," Lyra said. "So I've figured I'll use Crescent, my Cresselia, and my Nidorans."
"I like that idea," Brock said. "Poison vs. Poison can work, but why Cresselia?"
"Well, so far, none of my Pokémon—except for the newborn and the one I recently caught—have battled yet," Lyra explained. "I want them to get some experience."
"I see, but are you sure Cresselia is ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, Crescent has been training with my other Pokémon at the ranch. Professor Oak said all of them are quite strong now, and they even help the newer Pokémon train."
"Wow!" Misty said, and Brock agreed; Lyra's Pokémon had clearly grown quite strong.
The gang searched for the Fuchsia Gym once more. It seemed hopeless at first, until they suddenly spotted an old mansion.
"That's odd," Misty said. "Why is there a mansion in the middle of nowhere?"
"I don't know," Brock replied. "This place seems kind of spooky."
The gang decided to enter the building. As they walked down a corridor, Misty suddenly fell through a wall on the left side. Lyra and Brock gasped.
"How did that happen?" Lyra asked.
"That wall is a fake," Brock explained. "You push the wall and it swings inward like a door."
They found Misty on the other side. "What kind of place is this?" she groaned.
"I don't know, but I don't like it," Lyra said. "I feel like someone is watching us."
Suddenly, they saw a round Pokémon covered in purple fur with red compound eyes and white antennae.
"Hey, what's that?" Lyra asked, checking her PokéDex.
Venonat, the Insect Pokémon.
Its eyes act as radar, enabling it to be active in darkness. It is attracted by light at night.
Misty shuddered because Venonat was a Bug-type. The Venonat gestured for the gang to follow it. They did, but they were heading straight for trouble.
As they walked down another corridor, Lyra stopped immediately, sensing something below her. She looked at the ground and gasped in shock.
Voltorb, the Ball Pokémon.
It looks just like a Poké Ball. It is dangerous because it may electrocute or explode on contact.
The group quickly backed away in case it exploded. "Okay, seriously," Lyra said as Pichu and Pikachu hopped onto her shoulders, sensing a threat. "This place is dangerous."
They saw the Venonat again and chased it around a corner. Lyra stopped just before hitting a hidden wall, sighing in relief. Misty, however, wasn't as lucky and walked right into an invisible barrier. "Ouch! There are traps everywhere!"
"I hope whoever set these traps doesn't intend to take our Pokémon," Brock said, with anime tears running down his face. "I'd hate for them to take Vulpix."
They saw Venonat again. Lyra ran after it through another fake wall, only to see sharp stars flying toward her. Pichu and Pikachu instantly used Iron Tail to knock the stars away. Misty and Brock rushed to her side, seeing the ninja stars on the floor. Pikachu and Pichu had sparks flying from their cheeks; they were furious that Lyra had almost been injured.
A peal of laughter came from across the room. A woman in a bright pink ninja outfit stepped forward. "I am Aya," she introduced herself, "a ninja of this mansion."
"Hey! I don't care who you are," Lyra snapped. "You shouldn't throw those stars at people! I could have been hurt, and my Pokémon don't appreciate me getting injured at all."
Pichu glared at her. "Pichu, Pichu?" (Can I fry her?) "Pika, Pika, Pikachu, Chu," (I think that's a great idea, but Lyra won't appreciate it,) Pikachu reasoned.
Aya laughed. "I wish to battle you."
"Fine, I'll gladly battle you," Lyra replied.
"We shall battle with one Pokémon each," Aya announced. "I choose Venonat."
"Okay," Lyra said, taking out a Poké Ball. "Nidoran, I choose you!" Her female Nidoran emerged, baring her teeth. "Nidoran, use Poison Fang!"
Nidoran's fangs turned purple as she charged, but Venonat dodged. "Venonat, use Stun Spore!" Aya commanded.
Lyra ordered Nidoran to use Dig to avoid the powder. "Now, use Super Fang!" Nidoran's teeth turned white as she bit down hard on Venonat.
"Use Psybeam!" Aya countered. Venonat released a multicolored beam from its eyes. Lyra ordered Nidoran to use Thunderbolt to intercept it, knowing Psybeam would be devastating. "Now, use Poison Sting!"
Nidoran fired purple darts that hit Venonat. The insect Pokémon began to look sickly, its face turning purple.
"Venonat has been poisoned," Brock noted.
Suddenly, Nidoran began to glow and grew into a larger, light-blue quadruped Pokémon with darker patches and spiny ears.
"Nidorina!" Lyra said, checking her PokéDex.
Nidorina, the Poison Pin Pokémon.
The evolved form of Nidoran♀. When it senses danger, it raises all the barbs on its body. These barbs grow slower than Nidorino's.
Aya recalled Venonat, admitting defeat. Suddenly, a Voltorb rolled toward them and exploded.
"You've still got a lot to learn, Aya," a man's voice called out from the smoke. A man appeared with spiky black hair, wearing a blue ninja uniform and a long red scarf.
"Honored brother, I have failed," Aya said sadly.
"I am Koga," the man explained. "I am the Gym Leader of the Fuchsia Gym, which you have stumbled upon."
Pichu and Pikachu were still on guard. Lyra petted them to calm them down. "Calm down, you two. I don't think he'll attack us."
Misty and Brock chuckled and explained the situation to Koga. "Sorry about that," Misty said. "It's the only way to calm them. They didn't like it that Aya tried to injure Lyra."
"I see," Koga said. She trained her Pokémon well to hit those stars back so quickly, he thought. I can't underestimate her.
"My name is Lyra Mew Light," she said. "I wish to challenge you."
Koga smirked. "I sense a real fighting spirit. If you defeat me, you earn the Soul Badge."
"This will be a 2-on-2 battle," Koga announced. Lyra chose her male Nidoran, while Koga started with Venonat. Suddenly, Koga's Venonat began to glow and evolved into a large insectoid creature with purple wings.
"Oh Arceus, it had to evolve," Lyra muttered, checking her PokéDex.
Venomoth, the Poison Moth Pokémon.
The evolved form of Venonat. It flutters its wings to scatter toxic, dust-like scales.
Koga's Venomoth used Stun Spore, but Nidoran used Dig to dodge. "Use Sludge Bomb!" Lyra commanded. Nidoran fired brown sludge, knocking Venomoth down. Then, Nidoran began to glow as well.
"Interesting," Koga remarked. "Two evolutions in one battle."
Nidoran evolved into Nidorino, a purple Pokémon with a diamond-hard horn.
Before the battle could finish, Team Rocket interrupted to steal the Pokémon. They fired a sticky substance that trapped Venomoth and Aya's Venonat, but Pichu, Pikachu, and Nidorino avoided it with great speed. Koga tried to release Voltorbs from the ceiling, but James trapped them in more glue.
"Now we shall grab all your Pokémon!" Jessie cried.
Lyra sent out her Psyduck. Misty was confused. "Why Psyduck, Mew?"
"Watch and see. Psyduck, use Disable!" Psyduck froze Team Rocket and their Pokémon in their tracks. Then, it sent them flying with a massive Confusion and Psychic combo. Psyduck then used its psychic powers to dissolve the sticky substance holding the others.
Koga and Aya were so impressed they offered to trade for Psyduck, but Lyra refused. She explained that she had asked Lucario to teach Psyduck Calm Mind to prevent headaches.
The Gym battle resumed. Koga sent out Golbat.
"Crescent, I choose you!" Lyra called. Her Shiny legendary Pokémon, Cresselia, appeared in a shower of glitter. Koga and Aya were stunned by the sight of a Pokémon they had never seen before.
Koga ordered a Wing Attack, but Lyra countered with Hidden Power. Golbat used a deafening Screech, but Lyra followed up with Ice Beam, hitting Golbat's wings. "Let's wrap this up with Psychic!" Cresselia unleashed a blast of psychic that knocked Golbat out.
Lyra hugged Cresselia. "You were awesome for your first battle!"
Koga walked over. "Lyra, not only did you beat me, you saved my Voltorb from those thieves. I give you the Soul Badge." He handed her the pink, heart-shaped badge.
With the Soul Badge in hand, the gang bid farewell to Koga and Aya and continued their journey.
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Thank you for reading this chapter!
See you in the next episode of Pika Ball Z! ⚡