Chapter 37: Cinnabar Island!
After catching a ferry, the gang were finally at Cinnabar Island.
Todd wasn't with them anymore; he took a path to the mountains to find more Pokémon to photograph.
"It says that Cinnabar Island is a tourist attraction," Brock said, "there are hot springs there."
"Really?" Misty said excitedly. "Can we take a hot spring?"
Lyra saw no problem with that. "I want to take a break as well before heading off to the Gym," she said.
"And here," Brock said, "I can get my fossils restored." He remembered Professor Oak telling him that there was a Pokémon lab on Cinnabar Island that restored Pokémon fossils.
When they docked on Cinnabar Island, they headed for the Pokémon Centre right away. Lyra had her Pokémon checked out; she wanted to make sure her Pokémon were ready for the Gym.
Tomo was with her; he liked staying by his sister's side.
Misty went to book a hot spring, and Brock headed to the Pokémon lab.
"Okay," Lyra said, "let's ask where the Gym is."
Just then, a hippie came up to Lyra. "You looking for the Gym?" he asked.
"Yes, I am. Do you know where it is?" Lyra asked.
"The Gym Leader Blaine built his Gym in a fiery place where firefighters would never win," the hippie said. Then he left.
"What did that man mean?" Tomo asked Lyra.
"What that man said was a riddle, Tomo," Lyra said, "but I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that one. We'll ask the others later."
The gang met up again at the hot springs, and soon they were relaxing in the baths.
"This was a great idea, Mist," Lyra said.
"I thought we could use some nice relaxation after all that we've been through," Misty said.
Pichu, Pikachu, and Togepi were enjoying it too. Lyra also let her Zorua, Plusle, and Minun out of their PokéBalls since they are not battling. Tomo's Growlithe wasn't in the hot spring. As it was a Fire-type, it didn't want to get wet, so Tomo placed him in Nurse Joy's care.
"Hey Brock," Lyra said, "did you give your fossils to the Pokémon lab?"
"Yes, I did," Brock answered, "and the professor said that I will be getting Kabuto and Omanyte tomorrow."
"We can collect them after the Gym battle," Lyra said. She then told the others about the hippie and the riddle.
"That would be a volcano," Misty said.
"Misty's right," Brock said, "a volcano's lava is something that a firefighter would never be able to put out, no matter how much water is used."
"I know the Gym Leader uses Fire-types," Lyra said, "but isn't that a bit over the top for a Gym?"
"Well, I must say I wouldn't put up a Gym in a volcano," Brock explained, "but sometimes Gym Leaders like to make their Gyms look suitable for whatever type of Pokémon they use. Like my Gym is full of rocks and boulders because we use Rock Pokémon."
"That's right," Misty also explained, "remember my Gym is like an aquarium because it's a Water Pokémon Gym."
Lyra had to agree with that; Erika, the Grass Gym Leader, had her Gym look like a greenhouse. Lt. Surge had his Gym look electrical because of his Electric Pokémon. And Sabrina's Gym had psychics as assistants, as her Gym used Psychic Pokémon.
After finishing with the hot springs, the gang found a room at an inn and fell asleep there.
The next day, the gang went to find the Cinnabar Gym.
The volcano was located at the far back of Cinnabar Island. When they arrived at the volcano, they didn't see anything.
"That's odd," Brock said, "we are at the volcano, but I don't see any Gym buildings."
"You don't suppose that the Gym is inside the volcano, do you?" Misty asked.
"Only one way to find that out," Lyra replied.
There was a cave at the base of the volcano, and the gang was just about to check it out when the hippie Lyra saw yesterday came out of the cave.
"I see that you solved my riddle," the hippie said, "but before you can battle Blaine, you must answer this riddle first. What can keep your head dry in the rain, but you can also wear it if you already lost it?"
"Oh Arceus, another riddle. I'm bad at riddles," Lyra groaned. "Umm, a wig?" she answered.
"That's correct, Lu," Misty congratulated her. Lyra looked at Misty confusedly. "A wig can keep your head dry in the rain, but you can also wear it if you already lost your hair."
"You're a smart young lady," the hippie smiled, and he took off his wig. "I am Blaine, the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Gym."
Lyra stepped forward. "I'm Lyra from Pallet Town," she said, "and I wish to battle you for the badge."
"Follow me," Blaine said.
Blaine led the gang through a tunnel, and then they arrived at the Gym's battlefield.
"Phew, it's hot here," Lyra said.
The battlefield was inside the volcano, and everyone could see lava flowing around.
"Do excuse me," Brock said, "but wouldn't Gym battles make this volcano erupt?"
"No need to worry," Blaine said. "I make sure that this volcano never erupts. Well, Lyra, it's time to battle, and this will be a 3-on-3 Pokémon battle."
"I got it," Lyra said.
So the Gym battle began. Blaine's first Pokémon was Ninetales. Lyra sent out Blastoise.
"Ninetales, use Flamethrower," Blaine commanded, and Ninetales launched a powerful Flamethrower towards Blastoise.
"Douse the flames with Hydro Pump," Lyra said, and Blastoise's Hydro Pump turned Ninetales' Flamethrower into steam.
"Use Fire Spin," Blaine said. Ninetales flipped and launched a powerful Fire Spin against Blastoise.
"Use Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump," Lyra said. Blastoise withdrew into his shell and spun around, releasing the Hydro Pump attack from inside, cancelling the Fire Spin, and Ninetales got hit by Blastoise's Hydro Pump. "Alright, now finish it with Skull Bash." Blastoise charged at Ninetales and hit Ninetales' body with a Skull Bash directly. Ninetales screeched in pain and fainted.
Blaine returned Ninetales. "I must say, Lyra, I'm impressed by your battling techniques," he said, "but I am not finished yet." His next Pokémon was Rhydon.
Lyra returned Blastoise and sent out Milotic. "Use Aurora Beam," Lyra said. Milotic's multicolored beam headed for Rhydon.
"Dodge and use Tackle," Blaine said. Rhydon dodged to the side and began to charge at Milotic at a fast speed.
"Whoa, that Rhydon is fast," Lyra said. "We need to slow it down." Then she got an idea quickly. "Use Ice Beam on the battlefield." Milotic's Ice Beam turned the battlefield into an ice rink. Rhydon started to panic; it didn't like the ice, and as the ice was slippery, it had trouble trying to stand its ground. "Now use Dragon Tail, follow it up with Dragon Pulse." This time, Milotic's Dragon Tail and Dragon Pulse both hit Rhydon, and it fainted.
Blaine recalled Rhydon. "I have to say, Lyra, you are one impressive trainer," he said, "but now I introduce you to my number one Pokémon."
Blaine's last Pokémon was a Pokémon that looked like a bipedal Pokémon with a red body that had yellow flame designs on it. A row of red spikes ran down its back, and there were two lumps on its forehead with a flame on top of each one. It had a puckered yellow beak and small eyes. Its thighs were yellow, and it had red feet with two clawed toes each. Its arms were covered in rigid red scales, and it had red hands with five clawed fingers. It had black metal shackles on its neck and ankles. At the tip of its yellow tail was a flame.
"That's a Magmar," Lyra said.
Magmar, the Spitfire Pokémon.
The evolved form of Magby. Its body is like a furnace, making Magmar a living inferno. It has been discovered only near active volcanoes.
Lyra returned Milotic and had another PokéBall in her hand. "Since you've introduced me to your strongest Fire Pokémon," Lyra said to Blaine, "I thought that you'll like to meet one of my strongest Water-types." Lyra tossed the PokéBall onto the battlefield, revealing a Shiny red Gyarados. "I'd like you to meet Triton."
"Grrr!" Gyarados roared.
Blaine was amazed by the Shiny Gyarados she had. "Amazing Gyarados you got there." Lyra smiled. "Fine with me." Blaine chuckled. He was enjoying this match more than Lyra. "Magmar, use Flamethrower." Magmar shot a Flamethrower towards Gyarados.
"Hit that Flamethrower with Aqua Tail," Lyra said. Gyarados shot a stream of spiraling water around its tail and whipped the Flamethrower away with it.
"Fire Blast," Blaine commanded.
"Counter it with Water Pulse," Lyra said. When the Fire Blast and Water Pulse collided with each other, steam flew everywhere. "Use Rain Dance," she said, and Gyarados fired a light blue orb from its mouth, and rain clouds appeared, making it rain. Magmar flinched because it didn't like the rain. "Now use Hydro Pump."
Thanks to Rain Dance, Gyarados' Hydro Pump became stronger, and not only did it make Magmar feel pain, it made it faint.
Lyra was the winner.
Blaine returned Magmar and walked over to Lyra, who was rubbing Gyarados' head. "I have to say, Lyra," he said, "of all the trainers I have battled in the past, you are the best. You gave me the best Gym battle I've had in years."
"I thought this was a great battle as well," Lyra smiled.
"I have one more riddle for you," Blaine said, and Lyra face-palmed, knowing that she was bad at riddles. "What's hot, but doesn't burn anybody?"
"Is it the Volcano Badge?" Lyra guessed.
"Bingo!" Blaine chuckled and handed Lyra the Volcano Badge.
The Volcano Badge was in the shape of a flame.
After bidding farewell to Blaine, the gang was waiting for a boat to leave Cinnabar Island.
Brock got his Kabuto and Omanyte from the Pokémon lab, and he was very happy to have two new Rock-type Pokémon.
"Now I just need one more badge," Lyra said, looking at her seven badges. She had kept them pinned inside a case that she made.
"Where are you going to get the last badge from?" Tomo asked Lyra.
"I can get it in Viridian City," Lyra answered. "It's close to Pallet Town." So the gang's next destination was Viridian City.
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Thank you for reading!
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