Stray Not from Thy path
By Baronpoison
Part 4

“Heal” for the second time in the same number of days, the commanding voice of a Nurse Joy (the second cousin of the mother of the one in Mauville’s husband, obviously) awoke me. I blinked. Behind me, three pokéballs rested on the healing tray. To my right, stood Blaziken, tall and proud, chest puffed out and hands clasped dramatically behind his back. To my left, Trapinch and Electrike, the former staring curiously around and the latter looking intently up at Nurse Joy who was wrapping his ear in bandages. Baron was nowhere to be seen.

After about half an hour of luxury pampering by Nurse Joy and a soothing back massage from a Chansey, Baron entered the room. He smiled and asked “All rested?” we nodded, “Good. C’mon, we got work to do!” He exclaimed. Leaving the centre, (rather reluctantly) we headed off to Flannery’s Gym, following Baron who was striding cockily ahead. We stopped outside the gym, the bright pink sign stating “Flannery’s gym! Fire pokémon forever! All challengers welcome!” Baron winked at us “Girls, eh? This ones gonna be a pushover!” I looked at Electrike nervously, we didn’t have any pokémon with a definate advantage over the fire type… this was NOT going to be a pushover. The second we stepped inside, I broke out into a sweat. The gym layout was like a cave, fake rock walls towered perhaps some forty feet above us and the sheer faces were steaming and smoking from the immense heat. Everywhere, great clefts where delved into the floor and from them lava spouted and fire erupted in great booms. There was no one around. We could not see right to the back of the cave, the walls twisted and turned in a never ending maze. Baron looked down and smiled meekly, noticing that Electrike, Trapinch and I were sweating uncomfortably. Blaziken, of course, was right at home and striding proudly ahead with his head held high. “Looks like we’ll fight fire with fire…” mumbled my trainer under his breath. After about a minute of following the path and dodging the dangerous vents of fire, we came upon the gym disciple.

He surprised us by stepping out from behind a pillar carved in the likeness of a Charizard. “I see you come to challenge Flannery. Your pokémon are weak. You will be no match for her or me. I am Kai, the gym disciple. Prepare to lose, fool!” He yelled. I sighed, Kai was tall, skinny and wearing a light silk shirt, baggy pantaloons and a purple turban with an impressive Skarmory feather in the top, making him look like an ancient Arabian merchant. And, as was a general rule of thumb with trainers, the weaker the trainer, the more they tried to make their costume flamboyant as a way of saying “Fear me! I dress nicely so…fear me!” Looking down, Baron asked “Electrike, you wanna take this one?” Electrike shook his head and growled “Trike Trike’elec!” “I’m too hot and sweaty, let Gulpin take it!” Baron glanced at me and nodded, “Go get ‘em!” he hissed. I cursed Electrike under my breath, I knew my opponent was probably weak but…I mean probably…not definitely… Kai smiled as I came forwards “The poison type…” he mused, “So many choices…what shall I use…hm…” he stroked his chin as if in deep thought, “Ah ha! Go! Torkoal!” he flipped a bright red pokéball from out of his pocket and popped it open with a flick of his thumb. There was the customary flash of blue light then I was faced with a tall and menacing Torkoal with a pair of dark, sea blue eyes. “Koaaaaaal…” it gurgled from somewhere deep inside its shell. He made the first move, my adversary leapt into the air and came crashing down in a menacing body slam. I braced myself and rolled sideways to avoid the crushing blow. Torkoal landed on his feet and turned slowly to stare at me. I took my chance and leapt forwards with my fists outstretched, another rock smash. The tortoise pokémon blinked stupidly, I had hit it on the hardest spot. Its forehead. Slowly, before I had time to stand up, the great mouth opened and shot a blast of flame in my direction. I winced as the burning heat enveloped me from head to toe. “PIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!” I yelled. Then I blacked out.

I awoke to Nurse Joy again. But this time there was no luxury pampering, Baron scooped me up, nodded his thanks to the Nurse and took me outside before setting me down on the ground and crouching to face me. “Gu?” How did it go? “Terribly. After you fainted the rest went down like flies. Even Blaziken got knocked out by a body slam.” “Piiiin-gu?” Are we gonna try again? “Yes!! What do you think? We lost once and I’m not going to let that dishearten me! No way, m’lad! We’re going right back in there whether you like it or no!” “Pi!” Good, lets go then! Baron smiled and ruffled my tuft of hair “Yes, lets do that…” Standing, he turned and we re-entered the gym…

We practically ran to the Charizard pillar where, once again, Kai leapt out and surprised us. This time his turban was blue and the buttons on his silk shirt were undone, revealing a rather hairy chest. “I see you have come back! Well, you get top marks for perseverance but your battling needs some work. Go!! Torkoal!” Once again, the immense pokémon crawled forwards to meet me and lowered his head. I stood there, waiting for the right moment to react. Torkoal leapt forwards! I threw myself to the side and my enemy sailed overhead before smashing his head on the rocky “cave” wall. The lumbering pokémon turned and slowly plodded towards me, eyes closed against the pain “Tooooooor…” it moaned. Once more, I stood my ground. This time, the jaw dropped and a ball of fire welled up inside. I panicked, and dived under the belly of the Torkoal before thumping with my fists into the soft underside. The fire failed and Kai’s pokémon spluttered before toppling flat onto his face. Baron cheered wildly but Kai just shrugged. “You passed the first test, now for the real challenge! GO MAGCARGO!” Kai’s second pokéball flicked from the belt and opened on the floor. Another flash of blue and I was faced with my next opponent, a tall leering Magcargo. The fire pokémon opened its mouth and I could see a terrifying ball of fire welling inside. I screeched and cowered in the corner. The whole world seemed to slow down and I could see the fireball beginning to leave the mouth. Suddenly, the whole world seemed to explode. I was incredibly lucky, just before the fireball had incinerated me, the floor I was cowering on opened into a fissure and let out a burst of steam. I flew high into the air, dodged the fireball and landed behind Magcargo, hands already swinging into a rock smash. “Argo?” my opponent blinked, croaked and toppled backwards onto its shell. “Magcargo! Return!” spat Kai, stepping forwards and shaking Baron’s hand spitefully, “It seems you beat me, Sir. I wish you best of luck with Flannery.” Baron nodded and was about to go when, “Oh, I see your Gulpin is very powerful, would you consider parting with it? I can offer you a very large sum of money…” I believed him, Skarmory feather turbans and Wurmple silk shirts don't come cheap! “Uh, no thanks,” replied Baron “It’s not really honourable…” Kai stared. Slowly, he grabbed the cuff of his silk shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing the large pink “R” of team rocket tattooed on his bare chest. “Insolent whelp!” he snarled, curling his lip “Prepare to lose! Arbok! Get him!” Baron stood there. Frozen. “This is outrageous! Ampharos! See to it!” Suddenly, from behind me, there leapt a most impressive and sleek Ampharos. Its heavy fists thudded mercilessly on the base of Arbok’s skull. The cobra reared and hissed, spitting venom at the new threat. But Ampharos was too fast, pirouetting on the balls of her feet, she slashed her tail in Kai’s pokémon’s face and let rip a powerful electric shock. Arbok fell back and fainted, leaving Kai to drop his shirt and turban and leg it down the rock corridor and out of the gym. From somewhere behind me, someone was making a curious spluttering noise. Turning, I saw Baron staring at the owner of the Ampharos.

She was tall and skinny, with long golden hair which flowed down her back in a silky, shining mane. And her eyes…they were piercingly blue and cold like ice…I don’t know much about what humans think about eachother but I could tell Baron thought she was beautiful. She stared at him for a second then gestured to the sleeve of her loose white shirt. “See,” she said, tapping the fourth badge that was pinned there “I got one up on you, and I was watching you against that disciple, you only won by luck. You are pathetic. You’ll never beat Flannery. I did, I’m so much better than you!” she smirked and strode off, beckoning to her equally beautiful Ampharos to follow. “Piin?” Who was that? I asked Baron quizzically, “That,” said my trainer, smiling broadly, “was Florence. She’s always been one step ahead of me, she hates me for following her and beating the gym leaders quicker and without training but…” he broke off and glared at me “That’s none of your business. Anyway, Flannery should be just around the corner, let’s get going!” So we turned, and entered the final gym chamber…

The final chamber was roughly square in shape, with walls that were painted with designs of flame and ruin. There was a podium at the back. Around four feet high, and on it, stood a woman with long flaming red hair and sharp, angular features. She was kneeling over an injured Charizard and rubbing the space where its wings joined the body in a gentle back massage. Baron coughed nervously, “Flannery? I come to ch-” she raised a hand to silence him “I know why you come, do not interrupt a healer at work! This Charizard has been badly injured by the previous challenger and I am doing everything I can to save her life.” She stopped and continued to massage her pokémon, ignoring us. Perhaps ten minutes passed before the Charizard was fully healed. She returned it and stood up straight, hands on her hips. “Before we battle,” said Baron “I think you ought to know that your disciple is-” Flannery nodded again. “Yes- I know, Kai was never trustworthy. I hoped to make him loyal but I failed. I will have to look for a new disciple as soon as time allows. So- with that out of the way, care to battle?” Baron nodded. “Good,” replied the leader “Charizard! Go!” I must admit, after my performance against Kai, I expected to be sent out. But no! Baron flicked a pokéball from his waist and Blaziken was sent spinning into the stadium. The battle had begun.

It all happened so quickly! One moment Charizard was perched on the edge of the podium, waiting for a command, the next moment (at a nod from Flannery) he was flying straight for Blaziken’s back! The chicken pokémon was knocked forward and crashed into the ground. He only had time to pick himself up before being hit in the face by a spinning fireball. Blaziken blanched and reeled backwards. “Ken?” he crowed. Baron shrugged and waved his hand. The pokémon ran forwards and leapt high into the air, twisting onto his back and aiming a high kick at Charizard before it landed. But the leader’s starting pokémon was very fast and he snatched Blaziken by the leg and swung him into the wall. “Bla.” It moaned and fell backwards unconscious. Flannery gave her pokémon the thumbs-up but Baron just shrugged and returned Blaziken. “Go, Electrike.” He said casually. Once again, I was left for last as the green mouse sped forwards to take on the Charizard. Electrike executed an incredible double-attack, he charged head on into his opponents chest and a thunderbolt leapt from his back and snaked its way towards his half-dragon adversary. Charizard was trapped in a beam of white light and he jerked off the ground and fell back into the podium. Flannery nodded and smiled at Baron “That was good.” She called Charizard back and released a powerful-looking Ninetales. “Tales.” It snorted, looking at our measly Electrike. Instantly, Electrike was thrown against the wall by some unseen force. Ninetales was using confusion. “Triiiiiiikeeeeeee!” wailed the injured pokémon, as it was released from the grip and hit the floor with a sickening crunch. It was only a few seconds before he got back to his feet and threw himself at Ninetales, arms flailing. The fox just flicked a tail and Electrike was sent spinning across the cave. The insane, crazy light which was flaring nearly always in Electrike’s eyes went out. Baron made a choking noise and returned his prize pokémon. “Guess it’s up to you then…” I nodded and was about to step forward “Trapinch, GO!” I blinked. He chose Trapinch!? Over ME!? The little ant squealed and charged forwards, only to be immediately knocked out by a crushing blow from Ninetales’ leg. I rolled my eyes. I was up next. “Go, Gulpin!” I smiled, my time was finally come. I sped forwards and twisted at the last moment, baring the top of my head at Flannery’s Ninetales, I hit her right between the eyes. Score. The fox stepped back in confusion and attempted to release a fireball. The attack went wide and I had enough time to spring off into the air and slam my fists on my opponents spine. Knocking her clean out. “Ninetales!” moaned the gym leader, recalling the sleek pokémon. “Ah well, finish it off, Rapidash!” A sleek and beautiful Rapidash leapt from the leader’s pokéball. It charged and, like I had done before, twisted in front of me and kicked it’s heels into my face. It was a mistake, the hooves sailed right over me, I ducked under and yawned loudly. Sending the Rapidash into a deep sleep. Oh, this was too easy. I stood there, standing over the sleeping pokémon and taking my time to line up my fists for a powerful Rock Smash. But no, just as my attack was about to land, Flannery threw a strange object at her pokémon. It woke up and released a powerful flame-thrower in my face. I screeched and swung my fists down in a last ditch attempt to take out the enemy. Still groggy, the Rapidash had no time to avoid my flailing manoeuvre and was thrown against the back wall, a dark lump forming on her snout. “Rapidash, that’s enough.” Flannery smiled. “Congratulations my good man, it seems you beat me. Take this.” The podium lowered, Flannery handed Baron a badge in the shape of a flame and I fainted.