The gang had a lot of adventures recently while finding some Pokémon. Most of their Pokémon had evolved as well. May had a new Pokémon on her team; a Skitty. She found an unwell Skitty while training with her Pokémon, and she and the others took it to a Pokémon doctor to be healed. After Skitty was healed, May caught Skitty and was happy with her new Pokémon.
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Their first adventure was when they met up with Nicholai again. He had caught a Zangoose recently. He also challenged Ashlyn to a battle and he lost to her as well. The group across a Seviper who turned out to be Jessie's Seviper. As it turns out, Zangoose and Seviper would always fight each other until one of them is defeated. Unfortunately, Zangoose lost to Seviper. To cheer Zangoose up, the gang decided to help Zangoose on how to beat Seviper. Soon enough, Jessie's Seviper showed up again and Zangoose won the fight and sent Team Rocket blasting off.
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May had managed to win the Fallarbor Contest. She used her Staryu for the performance and Beautifly for the battle part. When they first arrived in Fallarbor Town, Ashlyn and May quickly went to sign up. But like in Mauville City, one spot was left. Ashlyn let May have the spot. She also helped May with her battling and gave her some pointers which May was grateful. The two girls also met Grace, who was also able to give May her confidence to push through the contest.
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The gang came across a Torchic farm. Like the Mudkip marsh, these Torchic's would be given to new trainers at the start of their journeys. May thought the baby Torchic's were so adorable. Then Team Rocket had shown up and tried to take the Torchic's so that they could be given to the boss. However, the gang stopped them. Alain's Torchic was able to evolve into Combusken.
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They met Team Aqua and Magma again. Team Aqua and Magma fought to steal a meteorite from a place called Mt Chimney because they believed that the meteorite would help them in finding Groudon or Kyogre. But they failed because the gang was able to protect it.
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The gang's Pokémon had also evolved. Hagan and Alain's Aron finally evolved Lairon. Ula finally evolved into Milotic. Max's Taillow evolved into Swellow, Treecko into Grovyle, Zigzagoon into Linoone, Seedot evolved into a Nuzleaf, and his Nincada evolved into a Ninjask. May's Azurill evolved into Marill. Brock's Mudkip evolved into Marshtomp and Lotad into Lombre.
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The gang soon arrived at Lavaridge Town. When they got there, everyone decided to relax in the hot springs which Lavaridge Town is known for since they've been traveling for a while. No one disagreed on the decision.
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It was the next day, the gang was in front of the Lavaridge Town Gym.
"So are you excited for your gym battle, Ashlyn?" Max asked.
"Totally." Ashlyn replied.
"Hi there!"
The gang turned to the voice and saw a slender, medium height girl with long, straight crimson red hair that is tied up in a high, spiky ponytail with a blue band with a side fringe at the front, and crimson red eyes. She wore a short black T-shirt with a red fire emblem on it, exposing her belly button, plain blue jeans with a red belt, and black and gray colored shoes. Ashlyn recognized her as Flannery the Lavaridge gym leader.
"What brings you here to my gym?" Flannery asked.
Suddenly Brock was right in front of Flannery holding her hands, "Why I'm here to capture your beautiful fiery heart!" He declared with heart shaped eyes.
At that moment, Max grabbed Brock's ear and pulled him away.
"OW! The ear! The ear!" Brock yelped.
"I'm pretty sure that you would turn to ashes before you get the chance." Max stated, dragging Brock away.
"I'm here for a gym battle." Ashlyn replied, changing the subject.
"Well I wish to battle you, however I can't at the moment." Flannery explained.
"Why? What's wrong?" May questioned.
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Flannery took the gang to the gym and saw that the battlefield was filled with holes. They all sweat dropped at the condition of the battlefield.
"My opponent from my last battle really liked to use 'Dig' a lot. Sorry about that." Flannery apologized, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.
"We can give you a hand if you want." Ashlyn offered.
"Really? That would be great!" Flannery smiled.
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So the gang and some of their Pokémon were helping Flannery fix the battlefield along with Flanney's Slugma, Magcargo, and Torkoal. The battlefield was almost all fixed up.
"Thanks for your help. How about a break?" Flannery suggested.
"Yeah!" Max and May cheered.
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And so, Flannery brought a tray of drinks for everyone.
"I can't thank you guys enough for helping me." Flannery thanked the gang.
"So how long have you been the gym leader?" Max asked.
"Three...days." Flannery replied while saying the last part hesitantly.
The gang gawked at Flannery's answer.
"Who was the gym leader before you?" Max questioned.
"It was my grandfather actually." Flannery answered.
"Could you tell us a little about him?" May requested.
Flannery explained how her grandfather was a great gym leader with his powerful Typhlosion by his side. But then one day he got really interested in Pokémon Poetry and started a Pokémon Poetry club. Then her grandfather got ahold of a book of poetry from a famous person, and he soon decided to travel so that he could write poetry. He was going to explore more of the Hoenn Region and the Johto Region. Her grandfather promised that he would be back in a full year and soon left.
"Well that explains why you became the gym leader without knowing too much about it." Max commented.
"I guess so." Flannery agreed.
"So will we be able to battle after we repair the battlefield?" Ashlyn asked.
"Of course! It's the least I can do since you're all helping me." Flannery replied.
"Well then, let's get back to it." May declared.
And so, Flannery and the gang went back to work.
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Flannery and the gang were soon done with the repairing the battlefield. Once that was over with, Brock and Max helped Flannery prepare for the upcoming battle which she was thankful for. Finding the gym badges were a bit difficult, but with Romulus's help they were able to find them. Since the referee was on vacation, Brock offered to be referee which Flannery didn't mind.
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Now Ashlyn and Flannery were ready for their battle. Brock was referee while Alain, May, and Max were sitting to the side to watch the battle.
"The match between Lavaridge Gym Leader, Flannery, and the challenger, Ashlyn Ketchum, from Pallet Town, will now begin. Each trainer will use three Pokémon and the match ends when all three Pokémon of either opponent are unable to continue battling. The Challenger will attack first, the Challenger will be permitted to make substitutions during the match, the Gym Leader will not." Brock announced.
"Are you ready, Ashlyn?" Flannery asked.
"Born ready." Ashlyn replied.
"Battle begin!" Brock shouted.
"Let's go, Mystique!" Ashlyn released her Secret Agent Pokémon.
"Inteleon." Mystique the Inteleon appeared on the field.
"Meg, let's go!" Flannery released her Lava Pokémon.
"Meg!" Meg the Slugma appeared on the field.
"Mystique, use Water Gun!" Mystique shot out a stream from her mouth and headed towards Meg.
"Meg, use Flamethrower!" Meg shot a stream of flames and collided with the water, creating a heavy mist in front of the two opponents.
Ashlyn found the perfect opportunity with the steam in the way.
"Mystique, Snipe Shot!" Mystique fired a shot of water at Slugma from her index fingertip. Slugma cried out in pain from the water type attack.
"Meg!" Flannery cried out in worry, "Are you okay?"
Meg nodded her head in determination, "Slug!"
"Alright, now use Ember!" Meg releases bolts of fire from her mouth at Mystique.
"Mystique, dodge!" Mystique jumps out of the way from the attack.
"Rain Dance!" Mystique summons rain clouds and rain starts pouring over the field, causing Meg to flinch at the rain drops as Mystique turns invisible.
"Now Hydro Pump!" Mystique appeared next to Meg and blasts a powerful jet of water from her mouth which hit Meg who cried out in pain from the brunt of the attack. Then Meg fell forward with swirls in her eyes.
"Slug~" Meg groaned.
"Meg is unable to battle! The victory goes to Mystique!" Brock announced.
"Great job, Mystique." Ashlyn complimented her Secret Agent Pokémon.
Mystique smiled at her trainer, "Inteleon."
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"Wow, she beat Flannery's first Pokémon." Max commented.
"But she has two more to go." Alain pointed out.
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Flannery returned Meg, "Impressive, Ashlyn." She complimented Ashlyn.
Ashlyn returned Mystique, "Thanks, Flannery."
"Now here's my next Pokémon, Mag!" Flannery released her second Pokémon.
"Mag!" Mag the Magcargo appeared on the field.
"Sebastian!" Ashlyn released her Ruffian Pokémon.
"Corphish!" Sebastian the Corphish appeared on the field.
"Mag, use Smog!" Mag opens its mouth and releases a thick, gray smoke from it.
"Sebastian, Metal Claw!" Sebastian holds out his arms so that his body becomes shaped like a 'T'. His body then starts to glow and he brings his claws forward, blowing through the smoke.
"Now Bubble Beam!" Sebastian opens his right pincer and releases light blue bubbles at Mag who got the brunt force of the attack.
"Mag! Are you alright?!" Flannery called out.
Mag nodded, "Mag!"
"Alright, now use Lava Plume!" Mag causes an explosion around it, creating a mix of smog and fire to cover the field and throw fire towards Sebastian.
"Sebastian, Protect and then Hydro Pump!" Sebastian projected a green colored barrier around himself. The fire blasts bounced off the barrier. When the blasts stopped, he shot a powerful jet of water from his mouth and the attacks slams into Mag. After the attacks stopped, it showed Mag with swirls in its eyes which meant that it fainted.
"Mag~" Mag groaned.
"Mag is unable to battle! The victory goes to Sebastian!" Brock announced.
"Good job, Sebastian." Ashlyn smiled.
Sebastian smiled back as he pinched his pincers, "Corphish!"
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"Now she'll be facing against Flannery's Torkoal." Max commented.
"I wonder how this one will turn out." May said.
"Well I know that Ashlyn will win." Alain declared.
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Flannery returned Mag, "You're one heck of a trainer, Ashlyn. You already got me down to my last Pokémon."
Ashlyn returned Sebastian, "Thanks, Flannery. I'm excited to battle your last Pokémon."
"As am I. Let's go, Torkoal!" Flannery let out her last Pokémon.
"Koal!" Torkoal appeared on the field.
"Come out, Ula!" Ashlyn released her shiny Tender Pokémon.
Ula the shiny Milotic cooed as she appeared on the field.
"Torkoal, use Heat Wave!" Torkoal opens its mouth and creates a ball of orange fire in its mouth. It then releases a wind of flames at Ula.
"Ula, Mirror Coat!" Ula's body becomes surrounded in a white, blue, or multicolored reflective aura. The fire attack got bounced off and it struck Torkoal.
"Hydro Pump!" Ula blasts a powerful jet of water from her mouth at Torkoal who cried out from the attack and was sent tumbling across the field. When the dust cleared, it showed Torkoal with swirls in its eyes which meant that it fainted.
"Tork~" Torkoal groaned.
"Torkoal is unable to battle! The victory goes to Ula! So the winner of this gym battle goes to Ashlyn Ketchum!" Brock announced.
"You did it, Ula!" Ashlyn cheered.
Ula cooed and came over to Ashlyn. She nuzzled against Ashlyn's cheek as she petted Ula.
"You did great, Ula." Ashlyn smiled.
Ula cooed at the compliment.
Flannery and the others came up to Ashlyn and Ula.
"Thanks for the battle, Ashlyn. It was a really good one too." Flannery admitted.
"You're welcome, Flannery. I liked the battle as well. I know for sure that you'll be a great gym leader." Ashlyn stated.
"That means a lot to me, Ashlyn. As the gym leader of the Lavaridge gym, I present you the Heat badge." Flannery held out a badge in her hand.
The Heat badge was in the shape of a wisp of fire which was red orange colored with a yellow dot.
"Thank you, Flannery." Ashlyn slightly bowed and gently took the badge from Flannery's hand.
"Alright! We got the Heat Badge!" Ashlyn posed with Tesla and Ula.
"Raichu! (Badge number five!)" Tesla cheered.
Ula cheered.
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Soon after the gym battle, Flannery and the gang found out that Flannery's grandfather hadn't really left town at all. Apparently, he had been very worried about Flannery being the new gym leader. But she managed to reassure him that she was fine.
"I can't thank you guys enough for everything." Flannery admitted.
"You're welcome, Flannery. I know you're doing great as a gym leader." Ashlyn complimented.
"Thanks, Ashlyn. I wish you luck in your next contest." Flannery wished.
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With the Heat badge in hand, Ashlyn and her friends are on their way to Verdanturf Town where Ashlyn and May's next Pokémon Contest is.
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Pokémon Caught: Mightyena (Lela)(F), Marshtomp (Finn)(M), Shiny Combusken (Hestia)(F), Kirlia (Miku)(F), Kirlia (Lancelot)(M), Swellow (Percy)(M), Linoone (Ziggy)(M), Grovyle (Kazuki)(M), Beautifly (Willow)(F), Shiny Milotic (Ula)(F), Corphish (Sebastian)(M), Lairon (Hagane)(M), Sableye (Jacinth)(M), Shiny Flygon (Libelle)(F), Shiny Electrike (Damini)(F), Shiny Bagon (Idris)(F)