As a town at the foot of a volcano, Lavaridge Town has the same features as Cinnabar Island in Kanto, with hot springs and sand baths!
Ash and his friends first checked into the Pokémon Center, then went to comfortably soak in a hot spring! Afterward, they got a good night's rest!
The next morning, after breakfast, Ash and his friends got ready to challenge the Lavaridge Gym! On the way, May handed out some of the local hot spring buns that she had bought at some point!
"They're so yummy!" May's cheeks were puffed up as she ate, making her look adorable. "Pika" "Eevee"
Ash took a bite. "Mmm, the sweet red bean paste filling is really delicious!"
"Right?! Right?! Hot spring buns are the best!"
Soon, Ash and his friends arrived at the Lavaridge Gym, only to find no one to open the door. "Is anyone here?" Brock called out.
Just then, a red-haired girl's jacket caught fire as she rushed out of the courtyard. As expected of a Fire-type Gym, she even walks with fire.
"It's hot... it's so hot..." Everyone was speechless. This really is a Fire-type Gym. Ash shook his head. "Come on out, Mudkip! Use Water Gun!" Mudkip shot a stream of water from its mouth, extinguishing the flames!
"Phew~ I'm saved!" The red-haired girl sighed in relief. Seeing Ash and his friends, she coolly took off her damp jacket. "Thank you!"
Brock immediately rushed over with hearts in his eyes. "You're so beautiful. Your fire has lit up my soul. Let's have a burning romance together!"
Max grabbed Brock's ear and dragged him away. "Alright, alright! If you want to burn, go burn yourself!"
May asked in confusion, "But why did your clothes catch fire?"
"Because I was doing some special training with Mag and Meg!" The girl scratched her head awkwardly. As she spoke, two Slugma walked up to her side. The girl squatted down and petted their heads. "Those are the names of these two Slugma. I'm helping them with special training so they can evolve! I accidentally got burned by their Flamethrower! By the way, why are you all here?"
Ash explained his reason for being there. "I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and I'm here to challenge the Gym!"
"A Gym challenger! Awesome, a challenger has finally arrived!" (???) Flannery jumped in front of Ash excitedly. "I've been waiting for a challenger to arrive! My name is Flannery, nice to meet you!" She said, shaking Ash's hand, which made Brock stare in envy. He wanted to push Ash away and shake her hand instead!
Afterward, everyone introduced themselves!
"I can finally have a Gym battle! I'm on fire!" Flannery's fighting spirit was burning!
"But... I remember the Lavaridge Gym Leader's name was supposed to be an old man named Grandpa Moore?" Brock asked, confused, recalling the information he had gathered.
After some explanations, they learned that Moore was Flannery's grandfather. He had fallen in love with Professor Oak's haiku poems and decided to travel back to his hometown in the Johto region. He had only handed the Gym over to Flannery three days ago, meaning Flannery was a rookie Gym Leader!
But Flannery was a little too much of a rookie. Not only had she not fixed the bumpy, uneven battlefield, but she also didn't know where the Gym Badge, the Heat Badge, was, which left everyone speechless!
Just as Ash and his friends were rummaging through the Gym to find the Badge, an old man in a beach outfit with an afro hairstyle walked in to use the restroom. He helped them find the Badge box on a shelf in the restroom!
It was obvious to anyone that the old man was more familiar with the place than Flannery. Just as the old man was about to run off, "You must be Grandpa Moore, right?" Ash asked, his tone full of certainty!
"Huh? Grandpa!" ?(?`?'?)?????? Flannery looked at the old man in surprise. "It's true! The more I look, the more it looks like him!"
Seeing this, Grandpa Moore had no choice but to drop his disguise and admit it!
"Grandpa! It's really you! Why are you back?" Flannery asked in confusion.
"Oh, it's just because I was worried about you!" Grandpa Moore sighed, then looked at Ash with admiration. "You're a good young man, very observant!"
Afterward, Grandpa Moore and Ash's group worked together to fix the battlefield. In the afternoon, after enjoying a sand bath and hot spring at Flannery's house during lunch, the Gym battle officially began!
Grandpa Moore acted as the referee and announced, "The Gym battle between the rookie Gym Leader, Flannery, and Ash from Pallet Town is about to begin!"
Flannery grumbled, "Grandpa! The word 'rookie' is unnecessary!"
Grandpa Moore replied sternly, "Flannery! I am the referee right now, you are not to call me grandpa!"
"The number of Pokémon used is limited to three. Only the challenger may substitute their Pokémon!"
"Mag, let's go!" Flannery took the first turn and sent out a Slugma!
"You're up, Mudkip!" "Gle~" Mudkip looked at the opposing Slugma with a burning desire to battle!
[Slugma]
[Elite - Early Stage]
"Ash, you can make the first move!" "Mudkip, Water Gun!"
"Gle~" Mudkip shot a stream of water toward Slugma.
"Mag, dodge it!" Unfortunately, Slugma was too slow and was hit by the Water Gun!
"Are you okay, Mag! Don't lose, use Flamethrower!" Slugma shot a stream of orange flame. "Mudkip, Water Pulse!" Mudkip condensed a ball of water in its mouth, and it collided with the flame. Bang! A large cloud of steam rose up!
"Now! Mudkip, Mud-Slap!" Mudkip condensed some mud and hit Slugma right in the face. Slugma's vision was obscured! "Go! Mudkip, Water Pulse!"
"Gle~" Mudkip condensed a water ball and attacked. "What?!" At such a close distance, Slugma couldn't dodge and was sent flying!
"One last hit, Tackle!" "Gle~"
Mudkip's Tackle knocked Slugma out of the battle!
Flannery's first Pokémon was defeated in the blink of an eye. She now needed to recover and rally for the rest of the battle.
"Mag, you were great. Come back!" Flannery recalled her Slugma, then took a deep breath. "Next, Meg, it's your turn!"
Another Slugma appeared on the field, its hardened body gleaming under the battlefield lights.
"Come back, Mudkip!" Ash smiled as he recalled Mudkip, deciding to switch things up. "You're up, Corphish!"
"Crab!" Corphish scuttled onto the field, its claws snapping in anticipation. It was a Water-type, just like Mudkip, but its hard shell and aggressive nature made it perfect for a direct confrontation.
"A Water-type! Meg, use Body Slam!" Flannery commanded.
"Crab!" Corphish stood its ground. "Corphish, Bubble Beam!"
Meg leaped into the air, its body glowing as it prepared to crush Corphish. Corphish fired a barrage of bubbles that struck Meg in midair, but the Slugma's heavy body continued to descend.
Bang! Meg's Body Slam sent Corphish reeling, but the Crab Pokémon quickly recovered.
"Corphish, use Harden!" Ash shouted. Corphish's shell glowed as its defenses increased. "Now, use Bubble Beam again!"
The bubbles struck Meg, pushing it back.
"Meg, Flamethrower!" Flannery countered.
A stream of fire erupted from Meg's mouth, but Corphish's hardened shell resisted the heat.
"Now, Crabhammer!" Ash's voice was firm. Corphish's right claw glowed with energy, and it charged forward, slamming its hammer-like pincer into Meg's soft, rocky body.
CRACK! The sound echoed across the stadium. Meg groaned and collapsed, unable to continue the battle.
"Slugma is unable to battle! Corphish is the winner!" Grandpa Moore announced.
Flannery was stunned. Two of her Pokémon had been defeated so quickly. She had one last chance.
"Meg, you did your best. Come back!" she said, her voice trembling slightly. "It's all up to you now. Go, Torkoal!"
A large, tortoise-like Pokémon with a volcanic shell appeared on the field, steam and smoke puffing from its nostrils. The air in the Gym became even hotter.
Ash smiled. He was ready.