So true to her word Janine led the group out of the Safari Zone and to the Fuchsia City Gym only stoping of briefly at the Pokecenter so Foxx and the others could heal up their Pokémon even though Foxx was the only one who'd be going after a gym badge.
Once the entered the gym Foxx froze as he spotted the old man in the ninja outfit from earlier before his huge fight with Team Rocket. This made Foxx a bit frustrated and angry with him. So with a glare he snapped, "You! If you're a gym leader or even just a retired gym leader you could've done something about Team Rocket!"
"Yes and I was about to when you four entered town and I figured I'd see how good of trainers you really were. I was right there the whole time in case you needed me which you never did." explained the man, "In truth had you not been with them they would've failed before they'd ever gotten started. They seem to be young children who had no experience in battles at all."
"That's uncalled for!" snapped Foxx as he took a battle stance, "My parents may not be the best of trainers but they're learning and getting better everyday. As for Dawn she's not a normal trainer and focuses more on the Pokecontests then the gym badge challenge. In fact I don't care about these stupid badges and am only doing this because someone said it would help build me credibility for what I want to be and do!"
"I see you have a lot of fire in you kid. The name's Koga and I except your challenge." replied the man with a grin, "Two Pokemon only since I know its all you have."
"We'd loan him ours if he needed them!" snapped a flustered Dawn still a bit angry at being called weak and useless but she was also fighting with the warm feelings she got from Foxx defending her.
"I know you would but I also don't need a full display of his skills. A simple two on two battle will be enough for me to determine if he's truly worthy of this badge." explained Koga with a grin he was playing off their anger and it was working though he thought anyways.
"Joy, I'm going to keep up the angry act but what the game plan is for you to keep moving. He uses Poison Pokémon so ranged fire attacks and maybe even a flaming whirlwind will help." mentally instructed Foxx as he let join down off of his shoulders.
"Yes Foxxy Pooh." mentally replied Joy with a wink as they waited for Koga to throw out his first Pokémon.
"Venonat I choose you! Poison Powder!" called Koga as he tossed a pokeball into the arena which started to fill with a poisonous cloud and without instruction Joy bolted to the sides of the arena before opening her mouth a little to blast the Venonat from behind as well as burn up some of the poison power.
The attack worked and Joy continued to run just out of range of the slowly growing poison cloud while blasting Venonat continually with ember. Thus after a short while just as the poison cloud was about to overtake the whole arena Venonat fainted and was recalled. With it came a victory flamethrower to burn away as much poison powder before Koga could send in his next Pokémon.
"Venomoth! Gust!" called Koga as he tossed in his second Pokémon which right away began flapping its wings in order to push the remaining poison powder towards Joy.
Just then with a smile Foxx nodded at Joy which was the signal and once more she opened her mouth to form a fire attack only to begin running with the fire. She circled the arena as fast as she possibly could causing the Venomoth's continual flapping to deflect in just the right way to build a flaming wall of wind and fire thus trapping the Venomoth and as Joy circled it she slowly closed in knowing that with the wall of fire and wind at her control it would burn away the poison cloud and capture Venomoth.
See the fire was only strengthening her thus making the wind part ineffective against her. It was almost time for the finally strike as now Venomoth was trapped yet it would have to be well timed or it would've been all for nothing. Foxx could see even with her gaining strength from the flames it still wasn't enough to defeat Venomoth so with a well timed toss he held out her pokeball and recalled her just as Eevee popped out.
"Eevee! Freezer Burn!" called Foxx as the flaming whirlwind was slowly dying and Venomoth was regaining composer and was almost ready to attack and defend, but before it could Eevee it with a chain attack of an Ice Blast followed up by a Fire Blast.
It was enough to send Venomoth to the ground but Eevee also was poisoned in the process. He still had to deal a little more damage to clam the victory but now he had a time limit to do so. So with that he ordered, "Eevee! Star Tackle followed by a Aqua Shock!"
With this Eevee did a five strike tackle from all sides and upon landing after the final tackle she unleashed a water gun followed by a thunder strike. This time it had been enough to knockout Venomoth and claim the victory just as Eevee began to stagger because of the poison of which Foxx acted quick to heal her of as soon as the battle was called.
"You are indeed as skilled as I expected and you and your Pokémon seem to be vey close for you to be able to issue commands so fluent yet so complex. Few can actually issue combo attacks like that with two Pokémon let alone one. Your Eevee and Vulpix are both unique and majestic Pokémon. Take good care of them as they will take care of you." replied Koga as he slowly approached Foxx handing him the Soul Badge he added, "With that said I'm glade to award you with this Soul Badge as a symbol of you skills."
"Thank you." replied Foxx as him and his companions left the gym heading for the docks in hopes of catching a ship to Pallet Town.
To Be Continued...