S3E9: Vermillion City

No one talked as we packed up camp nor as we walked the rest of the way to Vermilion City. It was a nice city almost just like the rest of the ones he'd stopped at along his journey to discover who he was meant to be? So with a sigh Foxx was the first to enter the city as he lead the way towards the city's gym.

He really didn't see any point in staying here longer then he needed to since they had other things to do before reaching Pallet Town. Really the only ones who complained that they wouldn't be staying is James and Meowlth. As for Jessie she really just wanted to make Foxx happy. Which leaves Dawn who really didn't want to cause any trouble for them and just went along with Foxx's lead.

Now as Foxx opened the door to the gym he realized that at some point since entering the city and walking to the gym they seemed to have lost Dawn. Part of him was sad that she wouldn't be watching him battle but then part of him was also frustrated that they would have to go looking for her later and that would only set them behind schedule.

"Foxx dear what's wrong?" asked Jessie as they entered the gym.

"Somehow we lost Dawn and that's only going to put us behind schedule." sighed Foxx as he took his position to challenge the leader.

"Foxx wait!" came a call from the doorway of the gym as Dawn came sprinting over in a cheerleader outfit that made Foxx's blood rush even more then before.

In fact Foxx was so distracted by her beauty that he failed to notice the battle had started and would've lost had Joy not blasted him in the head with a mild ember. This both knocked him back to the battle and allowed him to focus as well as make his opponent laugh at the fact that he supposedly didn't have the respect nor control of his pokemon. So with a grin on his now soot covered face Foxx looked at Joy.

"Thanks Joy I needed that." called Foxx with a smile. "Now lets teach this fool what it means to play with fire!"

With that Foxx and Joy surprised the gym leader, Lt. Surge, with a bombardment of and psychic attacks all without a single word uttered thus making it impossible for him to counter until the last moment. Now This didn't mean that at no point would it be an easy win. No Fox still had to earn it and that they did.

Fist off was Riachu who was agile and thus hard to hit. Yet in the end Joy was able to land just enough solid hits that gave her the victory but at the cost of a good chunk of her hit points. From there was Electrode who only knocked out Joy because it used selfdistrust as a last resort. This left each of them with one pokemon each. Foxx had Eevee while Lt. Surge had Elctrobuzz. Foxx thought hards as he sent out Eevee and chose each move carefully.

Since there wasn't the same synergy yet between Foxx and Eevee like there was between him and Joy he was forced to issue his commands verbally making this a even harder challenge. In the end Foxx was victorious only by one hit.

Thus after calling back Eevee he joined Lt. Surge in the center of the arena and it partially puzzled Foxx to see him smiling as he grew closer to him.

"Hay kid you had me thinking this was going to be another boring battle when you're vulpix hit you with the ember but you showed me quite the battle. In fact I've not had a battle of the underdogs like that since about three years ago on the St. Anne." teased Lt. Surge once Foxx was at his side.

"You must be talking about Ash and Pikachu." replied Foxx with a smile. "I remember him telling me about that battle and how you even gave him a thunderstone to evolve Pikachu only for the little guy to refuse and beat you anyways."

"You must be a friend of his?" asked Lt. Surge with a smile.

"We both grew up in Pallet Town. He's three years older then me yet we've always have been close especially me and Pikachu." explained Foxx. "In fact we're on our way home to see them for the holiday."

"Well you tell him I say hi and am still looking forward to that rematch." teased Lt. Surge as he handed Foxx the Thunder Badge before adding, "With this badge you're one step closer towards being a pokemon trainer of great statue and fame. If you don't mind me asking kid how many badges have you collected thus far?"

"This is my seventh Kanto Badge. I've collected a few from other regions via random battles here and there." confessed Foxx, "In fact I only decided to go after your's and the on in Fuchsia City because those are the only ones I don't have not that I really am seeking the glory of collecting all of the gym badges."

"Then what are your dreams?" asked a confused Lt. Surge.

"Well just to use my inventions to make life as good for pokemon and trainers alike as well as try to put a stop to the miss uses and abuse of pokemon in all the regions." explained Foxx as he pocketed the badge with a smile.

"So the path of a Poke Professor I see. Which does also explain the lab coat look." replied Lt. Surge. "Good luck kid."

With that the gang left the gym on their way to the next leg of their journey. Oh that is after making a short pit stop for Dawn to change and for Foxx to heal his pokemon. Joy seemed happier that Dawn changed for some odd reason but everyone just brushed that off for they were almost home for the holidays.

To Be Continued...