63 Navel Island
Ashlyn and the gang had quite the adventures for the last two weeks.
First the gang accidentally got washed up on Pinkan Island due to getting caught in a whirlpool and so they immediately when to find Officer Jenny who apparently works here because this island is highly protected by the Pokémon Reserve. The gang also found out that all the Pokémon on this island are all the color PINK! A special type of berry grows on this island, known as; Pinkan Berries and any Pokémon who eat the berries turned pink, also the Pokémon only stay pink if they eat the berry all the time.
As expected, Team Rocket had showed up who was being chased by a pink Ninoking. Before they could do their motto, Ashlyn told Tesla to use Thunder Shock which sent them blasting off. When the Ninoking had its attention on Officer Jenny and the gang, Ashlyn quickly sent out Espeon and had her use Psychic to stop its attack. Then Ashlyn took out her flute and performed Oración. The Ninoking calmed down and left the area. Officer Jenny told them that she can get them off the island on her boat, which they agreed and they also promise to keep this Pinkan Island a secret.
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Next the gang was passing through a town when they heard an announcement from the announcer telling people in town about a show on a boat. On the boat was a show called the Pokémon Showboat, a wonderful carnival where Pokémon can speak and perform plays.
Of course Pokémon couldn't really talk unless your Team Rocket's Meowth and a powerful Pokémon. It was all human actors acting out their own voices from the back stage, while the Pokémon in the performance mimed the voices.
However there was a problem with one of the performers, a young actress from the performance named Kay, told them that she have been having problems with her Raichu ever since it shocked her early in their relationship and since then she was afraid of her Raichu and her Raichu was afraid of her. But all in the end, the problem was solved, Kay and her Raichu relationship was back to normal and now they are back to performing with the others actors and Pokémon.
Also the gang all promised not to say anything about the secret of the Pokémon Act.
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When they were at Kinnow Island, Ashlyn and her Pokémon were training when they found two Pokémon eggs that were left near the beach while Ashlyn, Tesla, and Lucario were taking a jog along the beach. Lucario suggested that they take the eggs with them. During training, Steenee evolved into Tsareena and Trumbeak into Toucannon. Misty managed to find a Shellder and it attached itself to her Slowpoke who evolved into a Slowbro which made her very happy.
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When the gang arrived at Navel Island, they looked around and saw the place was quiet and empty.
"Is it just me or this place seems deserted?" Ashlyn questioned.
"No it's not just you." Volkner responded.
"Are you sure that this is Naval Island, Tracey?" Misty asked.
"I'm sure." Tracey confirmed.
"Well if this is Naval Island, where's the gym?" Ashlyn asked.
"Excuse me, are you all lost?" A male voice asked, from behind them.
The gang turned around and saw a man with short auburn hair and black eyes, wearing a light blue shirt with a white vest, long grey pants with a pair of grey boots and a big back pack on his shoulder. Ashlyn knew that this man was Danny the Naval Island Gym Leader.
"Actually we are. We're looking for the Navel Gym." Ashlyn replied.
Danny smiled, "I will take you there. I know the gym very well." He offered, "The name's Danny Matsumoto by the way."
{A/N: I added the Japanese dub actor's last name to Danny's. It does sound kind of cool when you say. But if you want me to change it, I will}
"Thanks, that would be great." Ashlyn smiled.
"No worries," Danny said and turned around, "Follow me."
The gang followed Danny and he led them to the foot of the big mountain that stood on Navel Island.
"This is the gym." Danny pointed out.
"You mean that the Navel Gym is actually a mountain?" Ashlyn gasped. Then she turned to Danny, "This is a test, isn't it?"
Danny chuckled, "That is correct." He pointed towards, to a gate at the foot of the mountain, "You see, when you pass through that gate, the challenge starts."
Ashlyn and Volkner walked up to the gate and pushed it open. Through the gate was a path that led up to the mountain. Tracey saw a sign board and looked at it.
"This sign post says that challengers for the gym have to climb up the mountain and those who are not challengers can take the cable car." he said.
"Well that doesn't seem so bad." Ashlyn commented.
"Oh hold on," Tracey interrupted, "It says that the challengers must not use any Pokémon for help up at the mountain, or they will be disqualified."
"Oh boy," Ashlyn sighed, "Well since I need this gym's badge, I must as well do it."
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Ashlyn, Tesla, and Danny started to climb up the mountain, while Volkner, Tracey and Misty took the cable car. Danny was climbing the mountain easily. Ashlyn was finding somewhat easy since she had been training with her Pokémon.
She heard the cable car cable running, she turned her head to the left side and saw Tracey, Misty, Volkner, and Raichu inside the cable car.
"You can do it, Ashlyn!" Misty cheered.
"You're doing great!" Volkner added.
"Be careful!" Tracey warned.
Ashlyn smiled at their encouragements.
Danny looked at Ashlyn, "You seem to have no trouble with this, aren't you?" He asked her.
"I don't mind it." Ashlyn grunted. "I find this fun because I train with my Pokémon." She smiled, "Also it's not that bad."
Danny laughed at Ashlyn's response, "Yep, you're definitely different to other girls your age. Most girls would whine or demand another way to get up this mountain." He said.
Ashlyn sighed, "Everyone is different and I'm one of the girls who understands nothing about girly things. Well most girly things." She said, almost proudly.
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Soon Ashlyn and Danny took a rest.
Ashlyn sighed, "Man this is hard work. Climbing a mountain is tougher than climbing a tree."
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After the climbing, Ashlyn, Tesla, and Danny had to now walk up to the top. At the top was snow and the cold snowy wind was blowing fiercely. Tesla was getting exhausted by the strong wind and fell over into the snow. Ashlyn saw that and ran over to Tesla.
"Here girl I'll carry you." Ashlyn placed Tesla inside her hoodie and Tesla poked her head out.
Danny smiled seeing the close bond that Ashlyn had with Tesla. Finally Ashlyn, Tesla, and Danny reached the top of the mountain. Misty, Tracey and Volkner, who were wrapped up in blankets to keep warm, saw them walk up the mountain. Volkner and Raichu ran over to Ashlyn and Tesla.
"Raichu!"
"You alright?" Volkner asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It was actually quite thrilling." Ashlyn smiled.
Danny chuckled, "I'm glad you like it Ashlyn." He said, "After seeing you climb the mountain, I have to say that you've passed."
"Huh?" Tracey and Misty blinked.
"I figured as much. It was odd that nobody was here at the top when we arrived." Volkner started.
"And seeing how you were able to climb the mountain so easily since you do it all the time with other challengers." Ashlyn finished.
"Wait, are you saying that Danny is..." Misty pointed dramatically at Danny.
"That's correct. I'm Danny Matsumoto, the Navel Island Gym Leader." Danny introduced himself. "The real challenge begins."
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"These are the rules. Matches here are decide in three rounds and if you win two out of three you get the Sea-Ruby Badge." Danny showed the Badge.
Ashlyn and Tesla nodded.
Danny led Ashlyn to two geysers, "First, we'll see who can freeze hot water the fastest."
And two geysers came out of the ground.
"Our first challenge is a frozen geyser race," Danny announced, "We each use one Pokémon, who knows ice attacks, to freeze a hot water geyser. The one to freeze their geyser first wins this challenge."
Ashlyn chose Glaceon and Danny used Nidoqueen for this challenge. Both Glaceon and Nidoqueen used Ice Beam to freeze the geysers. Both geysers were frozen at the top which turned out to be a draw between Danny and Ashlyn.
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The next challenge turned out to be a sort of ice sculpturing race. The challengers had to carve the frozen geysers into sleds, using their Pokémon. Danny used Nidoqueen, Scyther and Machoke, while Ashlyn used Tesla, Leafon, and Natsu. Thanks to Natsu's Flamethrower, the sled was quickly done.
"All right!" Ashlyn cheered, "Great work everyone!"
"Well, you won the second match, Ashlyn," Danny said. "But now its time for the final challenge."
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"The third match is a sled race. We're going to race, starting here at the 'START' area and all the way down to the beach, which is the finishing line, 'GOAL' is." Danny explained.
Danny had Scyther, Geodude and Electrode in his sled with him, and Ashlyn had Tesla, Persian, and Espeon in her sled.
Danny and Ashlyn got into position at the start line, on top of the mountain. Then when the signal lights, at the start line, went from red to green, Ashlyn and Danny raced down the mountain at once. Volkner, Misty and Tracey went into the cable car to get down from the mountain and to watch and see who would cross the finish line first.
Ashlyn and Danny raced down the mountain, on their sleds, like crazy. They were both eager to cross the finish line first.
Danny had his Scyther steered the sled with its scythes, "Great work Scyther." He said.
Ashlyn had Persian use Iron Tail for the right side, while Espeon took the left side with Iron Tail, they both used their tails to steer the sled.
"Woah!" Ashlyn shouted, grumbling, as the ride got bumpy.
As they continued, they arrived at a terrace, had changed from easy smooth snow to hard, chunks of rocks and trees.
"Esp Espeon! (Ashlyn, we got a problem!)" Espeon called out.
"Rai Raichu! (The sled is coming apart and fast!)" Tesla shouted out.
Ashlyn gritted her teeth, "We can use this." She said, as the sled was falling apart even more. "Hold on!"
Danny's sled was fine and he was getting near the finishing line.
As Ashlyn's sled was breaking apart more, the speed of the sled also increased because it was getting lighter, "Tesla! Espeon! Persian! Hang on!" She shouted out.
Espeon jumped into the front area, Tesla jumped into her partner's head and Persian hung onto her shoulder.
Danny looked back and saw something go past him fast, "What?" He gapped.
"Here comes Ashlyn!" Everyone shouted out.
"Ahhh!" Ashlyn's sled, increased even more and she soon crossed the finishing line, but landed in the ocean with a splash and a rainbow was created. Ashlyn, Tesla, Persian and Espeon were wet, but they were also happy for winning the race.
Danny arrived at the finishing line, he stopped the sled and smile, "She beat me."
"Whew! That was unexpected!" Ashlyn shook her head, her hair dripping wet. Tesla, Espeon, and Persian shook to get the water out of their fur.
Volkner helped pull Ashlyn out of the water.
Danny walked up to them, "Ashlyn, you gave the best challenge, that I ever have. You've chosen your Pokémon well and you won two out of three, it would've of been three but the first was a draw." He complimented and held his badge out, "I present you the Sea-Ruby Badge."
The Sea-Ruby Badge was a white oyster shell shape badge, with a small green gemstone on it.
"Thank you." Ashlyn smiled, as she took the badge.
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As the sun fell to sunset, they gang waved goodbye to the Navel Island Gym Leader.
"Rai!"
"Goodbye Danny!" Ashlyn waved.
"Bye!" Misty waved.
"Bye! Good luck on the rest of your journey!" Danny waved.
Volkner gave a small wave back.
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With the Navel Gym finished with, Ashlyn and the gang bid farewell left Navel Island on Lapras, heading off to their next adventure.
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Pokémon on hand: Raichu (Tesla)(F), Lucario (M), Espeon (F), Shiny Charizard (Natsu)(M), Gengar (M), Persian (F), Tsareena (F), Toucannon (M), Pikachu (Levina)(F), Vaporeon (F), Leafon (F), Glaceon (F), Dusk Lycanroc (Romulus)(M), Kangaskhan (F), Lapras (M), Crystal Onix (Crystal)(F), Pokémon Eggs (2)
