Chapter Text
*The trio disembark onto the town of Petalburg, upon arrival. Once there, Ivy nonchalantly guides them over to the town’s Gym, where Mr. Pokemon had been waiting.*
Mr. Pokemon, upon noticing Red and Blue, as they step inside the Gym: Red…Blue!! Boys, how glad I am to see you here, after all this time!
Blue, tilting his head to the side: It’s only been a few days, old man…
Mr. Pokemon, nodding, with a frown: And a rough few days they’ve been, my boy! You can’t imagine what’s been going on with the Pokemon League while you two have been away!
Red, shrugging: Honestly, after the last few days I’ve had…I’m about ready to believe anything, at this point.
Mr. Pokemon, sighing: Well, I’d make sure you’re sitting down for this part, then. My sources have told me…that there’s a questionable Professor lady dressed in cavewoman gear, who’s been working for that mad scientist, Colress! And not only that…she’s been spotted here in Hoenn, these last few days!
Blue, shaking his head: We know, gramps. We ran into her already, a couple days back.
Mr. Pokemon, gasping: Truly?! And…the Legendary Pokemon she was spotted with-
Red, shrugging: Primal Dialga, right? We already dealt with it, don’t worry.
Mr. Pokemon, sounding relieved: Well…leave it to you two, to be able to defy the odds, like that! Even so…do you think she’s…still a looming threat?
Blue, shaking his head: Doubt it, considering we got rid of all her Pokemon…permanently, thanks to Red’s future self.
Red, nodding: Yeah, and thanks to a certain Pokemon that Colress made, too.
Mr. Pokemon, blinking a few times before speaking again: Well…I can’t begin to imagine what the story behind any of that must be like…but you do must have had quite the adventure while we were separated, at least! Especially considering you got a…girlfriend, Red?
Red, as his face turns red: What…? No, it’s not what it looks like, Mr. Pokemon! She’s just-
Blue, winking, forcing himself in front of Red: -MY girlfriend!! Ow!!
Ivy, elbowing Blue in the ribs: In your dreams, idiot. Look, my relationship status isn’t important right now. What is important…is the actual news you wanted to tell Red and Blue, right?
Mr. Pokemon, sounding unsure: Well…yes, that would be correct! But…how would you know-
Ivy, shrugging: -Let’s just say I’ve been around the block a few times, alright? Well…tell them what’s going on, would you?
Mr. Pokemon, after clearing his throat: Erhem…right. Well, with my absence from the Pokemon League, over these past few days…Colress has decided to declare me dead, and has more or less decided to crown himself the new chairmen of the Pokemon League.
Red, sounding alarmed: Wait…seriously? But…how?!
Mr. Pokemon, shrugging: Pokemon battling is a big-time sport these days, you know? If the main man in charge of running things is gone, someone needs to step up and take order, right? Well, the other members of the Pokemon League decided that they didn’t want to take up the mantle, it seems…which has led to Colress becoming the de facto chairman, it would seem.
Blue, frowning: So…he truly thinks you’re dead, then?
Mr. Pokemon, nodding: Indeed…hence, my new summer vacation getup! Like it?
Blue, shrugging: Well, gramps…I doubt anyone would recognize you in an outfit as flamboyant as that, I gotta say…
Red, shaking his head: So…that’s really your plan now? Just…disguising yourself as a commoner tourist for the rest of your days?
Mr. Pokemon, shaking his head: Of course not, boy! What kind of fool do you take me for? I was trying to find you two for a reason, after all!
Blue, shrugging: And that reason would be…?
Mr. Pokemon, shaking his head: The reason is that…you two have a higher chance than anyone I know…of collecting all eight of Hoenn’s Gym Badges! And once you do that…you’ll be able to not only try and become a Hoenn League Pokemon Champion…but you’ll be granted access to the Battle Frontier, as well! Meaning, you’ll be able to meet with the Frontier Brains…AKA, the other members of the Pokemon League…the world’s most skilled set of Trainers! Only then, will you maybe be able to convince them that Colress isn’t a very great guy!
Blue, shaking his head: Well, you are the true Pokemon League chairmen, right? Why don’t you just head to the Battle Frontier yourself, and clear all of this up?
Mr. Pokemon, frowning: Because, Blue…I can’t be sure who is or isn’t absolutely loyal to Colress. And if they are…I think we all know what Colress would want to do with me.
Red, nodding: I see. So, we just gotta keep collecting Badges then, right?
*Just then, an imposing, serious-looking man steps through the door of the back room, with a nod.*
Man, nodding: That’s correct, young man. You see, Mr. Pokemon has already informed me of the situation…hence, why I’ve been happy to offer him a place, here in my Gym. Even so…I’m afraid I’ll spare no punches, when it comes to testing you. All of you, that is.
Blue, smirking: So, you wanna have a Triple Battle with us like Flannery, then?
Norman, nodding: That’s right. Each of you…pick your best Pokemon each, and I’ll fight you with my three very best as well. That way, I’ll be able to gauge your power as a team…which you’ll no doubt need to work as, if you plan to take down the Colress Corporation, of all companies. As such…come out, Slackizard, and land a Giga Impact blow! Swallax, Toxify whoever’s Pokemon seems most threatening. And Zangmikyu, ready a Wood Hammer, ready to strike whoever’s weak to Grass-typed moves.
Red, nodding: Definitely a much more broad-ranged team than Flannery’s was. That being said…I’m sure a natural Charizard can outdo anything a genetically-modified one can do. Charizard, Fly into the air, and get ready to strike it from above!
Blue: Umbreon, Crunch that ghost to bits! Don’t tell me you have something planned for that Swallax, do you, Ivy?
Ivy, grinning: Watch, and be amazed. Chesnaught, unleash an Earthquake, and take out that gelatinous bear thing!
Blue, sounding alarmed: Wait…Umbreon’s still on the ground too…it’s gonna get ravaged by the Earthquake too, isn’t it?
*As Charizard Flies into the air, Slackizard tries desperately to leap into the air, to try and land an aerial Impact into Charizard…to no avail, as he ends up falling flat on his face for his effort…and thanks to his Traunting ability, he merely continues to lay flat on the ground, while Charizard Flies down with a massive divebomb maneuver, KOing the lazy Fire-typed fusion. Chesnaught, meanwhile, pounds the ground beneath them hard enough to cause a small Earthquake, ravaging Swallax’s exposed belly, in the process. He still manages to burp out a Toxic cloud of poison towards the Grass-type, however, causing Chesnaught to clutch her chest in disgust, even as Swallax ends up fainting soon afterwards. Zangmikyu, however, proves to be a cunning foe for Umbreon - who, despite leaping into the air, the moment that Chesnaught’s fists hit the ground, Zangmikyu still manages to slam the Dark-type out of the air, and into the ground, with its Wood Hammer, where the Earthquake proceeds to finish off Umbreon quite easily.*
Norman: Zangmikyu, focus your efforts next on the Chesnaught, and Play Roughly with it!
Ivy, smirking: Ha! You’ve activated my trap card…because Chesnaught’s Tera-type…is Grass! Terastalize into a pure Grass-type, Chesnaught…and KO Zangmikyu with a powered-up Frenzy Plant attack!!
Blue, shaking his head: No way…she transformed her Chesnaught into another type…just so he wouldn’t be hit hard by Zangmikyu’s Fairy-type attack!!
Red, nodding: Yeah…smart stuff, right there…since there’s no way that Chesnaught would ever move first, against any sort of Mimikyu fusion…
*The group watch in awe, as Chesnaught’s body takes a pure crystalline form, as it changes into a pure Grass-type. As expected, Zangmikyu ends up hitting it first, but no matter what it tried to do, it couldn’t seem to pierce Chesnaught’s newly-crystalline skin. Then, several large Plant vines sprout up, from around Chesnaught, as they snap and gnash at the haunting Ghost-type fusion. It wasn’t too much longer before the Plants soon lose their appetite, and collapse back into the ground. By that time, however, Zangmikyu was also lying flat on the ground, having fainted as well.*
Norman, as he hands the trio a Balance Badge each: A fine battle this was. All three of you have shown that you have what it takes to battle as a team. I can only hope that this experience teaches you all to strive to even further heights.
Red, nodding, as the three all add his Badge to their collection: We will…and thank you, Norman. We’ll need every trick in the book, after all, if we ever plan to take down Colress, right?
