The Legendary Trainer: Kanto

Chapter 18: A Volcanic Blowout

Within a few days, we were heading back to Pallet Town to talk with everyone before making our way to Cinnabar Island for our seventh Gym Badge. When we get to Pallet, I decide to go hide from everyone in the Tauros Pen. I lie there and sleep for a few hours. I told Pidgeotto to keep the girls and everyone away from me for a while so that I can relax and think about everything that has happened. Professor Oak found me around lunch. "I see you haven't lost some of your old habits." Professor Oak says. "Nope. This has always been a place I can go and get some peace and quiet. And my Pokémon all know I need this." I say. "Ellie looks happier than usual." Prof. Oak says. I try to brush it off because I really don't want to talk about this. "Is something wrong?" Prof. Oak asks. "No. It's just that all of that has been an extreme pain in the tail for the past month or so. I'm just glad that we all finally worked something out to stop talking about it for a little while." I say. "It couldn't have been that bad." Prof. Oak says.

"Here's the best way I have to explain it, I was the point of a love triangle and the girls couldn't deal with it. I was forced to make a choice between them and I feel like Leaf may be trying to be tough about this even though she's really hurt that I chose Ellie." I say. "Ah. So that's what's got you in here away from those two." Prof. Oak says after figuring it out. "William, you made your choice and Leaf should accept that. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you to do so since you didn't want to hurt either of them." "It wasn't, but I didn't have a choice. I had gone on an extremely dangerous mission without them and they were so mad and so upset with me that they just started to tell me everything." I said. "What mission? I haven't heard anything about a big mission since Sylph Co." Prof. Oak asked. "You need to update the Pokedex, Professor. There's 151 species of Pokémon in Kanto." I say. "Can you show me?" Prof. Oak asked. I use the stylus to draw Mewtwo's symbol, but he doesn't show up. I establish the mental link, "Mewtwo, where are you?" "I'm tending to my own matters. I do not wish to be at your beckon call." Mewtwo explained. I showed Professor Oak the Pokedex I had that registered Mewtwo.

Time went on and we said our goodbyes as we left Pallet Town for Cinnabar Island. When we arrived, we couldn't find the Gym anywhere. We tried asking some of the locals, but they said that they haven't seen Blaine, the Gym Leader, in decades. We went to the Pokémon Center and I called Brock since I didn't know whom else to turn to. "Brock, there is a Gym on Cinnabar Island that leads to the Pokémon League, right?" I asked. "Yes. I know why you're asking. Blaine likes to test a trainer's ability to find the Gym before facing them for the Gym Badge. You should be able to sense for yourself where he is." Brock said. He had to leave after that. "What's that supposed to mean?" Leaf asks. I go outside trying to think about what Brock said. "William, is something wrong?" Ellie asks holding my arm. "Brock said I should be able to sense it. I have noticed something was off about the island since we landed." I say as I crouch down. I place my hand on the ground and try to sense any abnormalities. I sense a gigantic room within the local volcano with a set of stairs leading there from the hot springs.

I start moving towards the hot springs. The girls have no idea what I'm doing, but follow anyways. "William, where are we going?" Ellie asks in a kid like voice. "I know where the Gym and where Blaine is." I respond while walking. We get into the hot springs and I ring the bell to get serviced. "Hello young people. How may I assist you?" The man asked in a high voice. "Take us to the Gym within the volcano behind that hidden door right behind you." I say. Leaf hits me in my arm for being rude. The man's voice changed. "So, you figured it out. How did you?" The man asked in a deep voice. "I'll tell you while we do our Gym Battle, Blaine." I say. Blaine removes his disguise and opens the door. The girls are shocked at this. We follow behind Blaine and reach the Gym. "So, how did you figure it out? Usually I have to give a subtle hint for trainers to figure it out. But, I haven't seen you kids set foot into the hot springs before today." Blaine says.

"Would you believe I was the Legendary Trainer and I used my powers to sense traces of Pokémon auras to find it?" I ask explaining to Blaine and the girls. "If that's true, you'll be one great opponent. Let's see what you've got!" Blaine said. We get started. I use Blastoise to get through most of his team. He finally sends out his final Pokémon, Rapidash. I withdraw Blastoise. "William, what are you doing?" Leaf asks like I just made an idiotic move. "Charizard, you're up!" I say as I throw a Poke Ball. "Charizard? You could've swept through my entire team with that Blastoise you had out. Why did you change?" Blaine asked. "That's just it. I could've solo run through the entire Gym Battle. That's not my style. I like to earn my Gym Badges with a little bit of a challenge at the end. That's why I withdrew Blastoise and sent in Charizard." I said. Leaf still thought I was being an idiot for doing this. Ellie looked at me like this was another thing that made her fall for me. "You're a pretty honorable trainer, kid. All right then. If you want a challenge, that's what you're going to get." Blaine said. I established a telepathic link with Charizard before Blaine started to attack.

It was a close battle. But, Charizard's Dragon Claw attack was too much for Rapidash to handle in the end. When the battle was over, Blaine and I walked to the middle of the Gym floor and met to speak. "That was a great battle. I can see why a lot of trainers look up to you as a hero. You are definitely deserving of that title by the honor you show when you battle." Blaine said. "Thank you, Blaine. But, no one aside from a few Gym Leaders, Professor Oak, Leaf and Ellie know who I am. And I'd like to keep it that way for a little while before I come out and reveal myself as the Legendary Trainer." I say. Blaine has a puzzled look on his face. "How do people not know who you are?" Blaine asked. I activate the armor and use the voice modulator to show Blaine how I keep myself separated from the Legendary Trainer persona. "Pretty convincing. If I didn't know that you had put that on, I wouldn't have known that you were in there either." "Can you please keep my identity a secret? I don't want anyone to treat me differently because of who I truly am." I say. "Your secret is safe with me." Blaine says as he gives me the Volcano Badge.