"This is the Volcano Badge, signifying that you have passed the trial of the Cinnabar Gym."
Blaine, drenched in sweat, handed Johan a crimson badge shaped like flames.
How many does that make now?
"Ka-kaah~~"
Gengar snatched the badge and began to play with it in its hands.
"And this, too."
As per tradition, Blaine rummaged around and retrieved a Technical Machine (TM).
"What's this?"
"Overheat," Blaine said with a hearty laugh.
"I've spent quite some time refining this move. The version I'm giving you should pack even more of a punch."
Even if the move backfires, there's always Medium Heat Overheat and Small Heat Overheat, right?
Regardless, Johan was happy to accept such a powerful Fire-type move.
Having recently obtained Thunder and now Overheat, the combined value of these TMs exceeded a million Pokédollars.
Not to mention the added bonus of personal tips from Wattson and Blaine.
However...
The materials required to teach these moves would likely cost a fortune.
And...
Both Thunder and Overheat would undoubtedly cause a ruckus during training.
Johan couldn't help but worry about his house.
Especially since only Dragonair could learn Overheat, and Dragonair's off-battle luck...
Setting something on fire wouldn't even be surprising.
Leaving the Gym.
The cool evening breeze offered much-needed relief to Johan and Blaine, who were both drenched in sweat.
Seeing Blaine pale and looking utterly spent, Johan couldn't help but ask:
"Are you alright, Blaine?"
"I'm fine!"
Despite his lips being a little pale, Blaine waved it off energetically. "That was the coolest battle I've ever had."
Johan's expression turned a bit odd.
He'd heard rumors that Blaine didn't like challengers coming to the Gym and had disguised it as a hot spring resort to deter them.
He had assumed it was because Blaine, like Wattson, didn't care for weak challengers.
But now it seemed...
The real reason was that each challenge left Blaine utterly drained!
Why build a Gym's battlefield inside a volcano...?
"Johan, how about soaking in the hot springs with me to relax?"
Blaine stretched, his joints cracking loudly.
"Uh, I just remembered I might've left the gas on at home. See you later, Blaine!"
Johan and Gengar hurriedly fled.
Watching their retreating figures, Blaine smacked his lips.
"Ah, youth. So much energy, even after a battle."
Under the gentle moonlight, the quiet courtyard echoed with the rhythmic clacking of bamboo fountains.
Having declined Blaine's invitation to the hot springs, Johan still ended up soaking in a hot spring for over half an hour with his Pokémon.
Lounging on the smooth, exposed gray rock, he gazed softly at his four Pokémon playing in the water.
Both Vulpix and Dragonair had taken some hits during the battle, but after liberal applications of healing and burn sprays, they were mostly recovered.
They were now frolicking in the spring, indicating they were back in good shape.
Johan gently stroked Dragonair's tail as it rested beside him, lost in thought.
Dragonair can fly, so can it be ridden? Could it carry a person?
Theoretically...
With Dragonair's size, carrying a person should be easy—as long as he held on tight and didn't fall off.
And if that didn't work...
Gengar could probably step in as backup.
"Without realizing it... they've all grown up," Johan murmured, a hint of sentimentality in his voice.
Gastly had evolved into Gengar, and Tinkatink had evolved into Tinkatuff. Dratini had grown into Dragonair.
Even Vulpix, though not yet evolved, had come a long way.
From the shy, timid little creature hiding in a trash heap, it had grown into a Pokémon brave enough to face off against Ninetales, withstand its assaults, and ultimately defeat it.
The look in Vulpix's eyes as it asked Johan not to withdraw it during the battle with Ninetales was a stark reminder of how much it had changed and grown.
Growth for Pokémon wasn't just about evolution.
Of course, evolution was a profound transformation of life itself—a rebirth at its core.
But Johan valued even more the emotional and mental growth of his Pokémon.
Whether to evolve or not was up to them.
His job was to care for and nurture this group of little companions.
"Gengar," Johan suddenly called out.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar, disguised as a ghostly fountain, looked over, water trickling from its mouth.
Johan's eye twitched.
Am I poisoned now?
"How many badges have we collected?"
At his question, all four Pokémon crowded around. Eight badges, each in different colors and designs, were neatly laid out beside the hot spring.
Among them were two badges from other regions: Hoenn's Stone Badge and Johto's Rising Badge.
The Pokémon chattered excitedly, each boasting about which badges they had helped earn, their pride evident.
"Badges aren't just tokens of a trainer's strength; they're medals for the Pokémon as well," Johan thought, gaining a deeper appreciation for their significance.
They temporarily set aside the Stone Badge and Rising Badge.
"Wait, Tinkatuff, the 'Pink Badge' is from Kanto too."
"Chu?"
Tinkatuff blinked, then reluctantly returned the Pink Badge with a look of disdain.
Badges given away don't feel as meaningful.
"Ka-kaah~~"
Counting the remaining badges, Gengar realized they had six.
"Oowu?"
"Are we two short?" Vulpix asked.
"Yeah."
Johan rubbed his chin.
That left Cerulean Gym and Pewter Gym.
"Ka-kaah!"
"When do we challenge them?" Gengar asked eagerly.
Johan shot it a glance. "It's not that simple."
Seeing the Pokémon's puzzled expressions, he collected the badges and explained:
"You've seen how strong the Kanto Gym Leaders are, right?"
Hearing this, the Pokémon nodded solemnly.
Even they had heard the rumor that Kanto's Gyms were the toughest to beat.
And their experiences confirmed it.
"So," Johan continued, face serious, "the last two Gyms are the hardest!"
The Pokémon's expressions grew grim.
Everyone knows:
The best is saved for last, and the hardest challenges often come at the end.
Clearly, the remaining Gyms were nightmare-level difficulty.
"While you're strong against other Gyms, for these two, I can only say... we need more training."
"Ka-kaah!"
Led by Gengar, all four Pokémon nodded earnestly.
More training it is!
"Now!" Johan declared, rising from the spring and wrapping a towel around himself.
Time for training?
The Pokémon looked at him eagerly.
"Time for a midnight snack!"
Huh?
"You can't train well without a full belly or a good night's sleep!"
Oh~~
Something felt off about that logic, but... it made sense?
Due to the volcano, Cinnabar Island lacked an airport.
The next day, Johan and his team took a small ferry across a strait to Pallet Town.
Johan was still hesitant about testing Dragonair's ability to carry him in flight.
He didn't enter Pallet Town, opting instead to catch a bus from its outskirts to Viridian City.
Having spent time in Kanto, Johan had developed a constant sense that he might be challenged at any moment.
After all, Kanto was likely the region with the most battle-enthusiastic trainers (as proven by all the Youngsters and Bug Catchers).
He didn't want to risk running into Professor Oak, who might suddenly suggest a practice match.
Not to mention, the professor's enthusiasm for Gengar had even started to make Gengar uneasy.
So, they bypassed Pallet Town entirely.
Before reaching the bus station, they had to cross a large field.
The winter sun shone warmly, the grass swayed in the breeze, and everything seemed peaceful.
"Maybe I'll save Pewter and Cerulean Gyms for later and head home for a nap," Johan thought cheerfully.
"Caw!!"
Suddenly, a flock of Spearow, like a black cloud, swooped down, their red eyes locked onto Johan's team.
Johan pinched the bridge of his nose.
I forgot these guys ruled this area.
But... they only bullied new trainers like Ash and Pikachu.
Zzzap—
"Oowu~~"
A Blizzard whipped up, followed by Dragonair's Thunderbolt.
The golden lightning tore through the black cloud, sending Spearow plummeting like rain.
After the "Spearow rain," a rainbow arced across the sky, and a magnificent tail feather traced the horizon, leaving shimmering sparkles in its wake.
"Chu!!"
Tinkatuff squealed excitedly, immediately searching for a rock to throw.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar rolled its eyes.
"What's the big deal? Just a shiny Fearow."
Still, it admitted... it was pretty.
But Johan wasn't so calm.
Staring at the sky, he murmured, "It's Ho-Oh!"
Vulpix and Dragonair exchanged knowing looks.
So that's Ho-Oh... the cameraman.
The brilliant figure in the rainbow was none other than the legendary Pokémon, Ho-Oh!
They say Ho-Oh only appears to righteous trainers, and no one has ever seen its full form—only whispers of legend.
Recalling the tale, Johan raised an eyebrow.
"So, I really am a righteous trainer, huh..."
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates