Disclaimer: Pokemon and co. doesn't belong to me . . . . blah blah blah . . . Authors Notes: Here I am again and all ready for season 2 of this fic for the few of you that'll probably come banging on my door to demand I finish this already. As usual, Feedback would be greatly appreciated! And so would suggestions for the final chapter of my fic Forever. I kinda got writers block on that one. Ketchum: The Journey Continues Season 2 Battle Against Blaine! Chapter 2 ~~~~~~Musashi's POV~~~~~~ We went through the tunnel to Blaine's Gym. Basically it was a battling arena hung by chains over a huge pit of lava. Oh joy. I got a reassuring hug from Satoshi before he plucked Tochi's pokeball from his belt and idly played with it as we waited for Blain to show. I guess I should mention that Tochi is actually Golem. She evolved after a rumble with Team Rocket about six months back. "Welcome challengers to my Gym for the most powerful type of pokemon. Fire types. Who will be first to lose?" I scowled and stepped forward, someone needed to deflate this airbag, and a sure bet it was going to be me and Satoshi. "Three each, one minute and thirty second time limit each battle. The clock will start when both pokemon are on the arena. Two victories out of three determines the winner." "Agreed!" I nodded. He threw out his first Pokeball. "Go, Rapidash!" "Go Vaporeon!" The clock started ticking. "Agility." "Blizzard!" Blizzard was more wide spread than any other of Vaporeon's attacks and had the best chance of hitting it. "Stomp." "Ice Beam!" I shouted the moment Rapidash lifted it's hooves to Stomp Vaporeon. Ice Beam hit and made a patch of ice on Rapidash's chest. "Shake it off then Fire Spin." Shake it off?! I think I'm in way over my head. "Counter with Hydro Pump!" The flame and water collided. Steam covered the whole arena. I looked at the clock, ten seconds. "You can do it Vaporeon!" I shouted, hoping Vaporeon could hear me. The buzzer sounded. We waited for the steam to clear. Rapidash was out. "Yes! Return Vaporeon!" "Very good, perhaps you two will provide a real challenge!" "Like the Warrior of Fire? What a nice thing to say!" Satoshi and Inferno grinned. I chuckled. Blaine was looking mad. I think that's what Satoshi was trying to do, get him mad so he'd make mistakes. I'd have to thank him later. "You boy have no idea how powerful that Charizard is!" "Yeah I do! He used to be my dad's Charizard! Isn't that right Inferno?" (That's right!) Oh Blaine was definitely mad now! "Go Arcanine!" "Go Blastoise!" "Fire Blast!" "Hydro Pump!" Blaine was using sheer strength now, all thoughts of strategy were replaced with anger. I almost felt sorry for Arcanine. Still glaring at Satoshi he gave me my Volcano Badge. Satoshi and I switched places. ~~~~~~Satoshi's POV~~~~~~ I took my place on the platform, Blaine was going to make some big mistakes now that he was so angry. "I choose you, Inferno!" "Go Charizard!" (Sister.) He nodded. (Brother.) She returned before they began to fight. I understood now, it was pretty much common courtesy among Charizards to greet like that. "Finish this fast Inferno! Fire Claw!" "What?!" (No way!) She shouted as Fire Claw took her out. There was the sound of amused clapping. (Very good Brothers. Now watch and learn how to defeat a Magmar in a few easy moves.) Charizard said when he landed on the arena and shooed Inferno over to me. "You!" (Hello Blaine, been a awhile. Feel confident enough to catch me today? You seemed to be blowing a lot of hot air earlier.) "Go Magmar!" Magmar erupted from the lava and landed in front of Charizard. (For the ones who don't know Fire Claw out there using your body is essential, especially your tail.) Charizard lectured as he tripped Magmar with his tail. (Like the Blastoise Magmar is slow and relies on brute force. So speed is important here!) He took to the air. (Notice how Magmar is just starting to get up, now is essential for your final move whether it be Seismic Toss or Fire Claw.) Charizard picked up Magmar and began doing loops. I cheered. He performed a perfect Seismic Toss, Magmar was out. (And that's the Warrior of Fire way of beating a Magmar in a few easy attacks.) He bowed. (Thank you.) He left and went back to his cavern. Blaine was fuming. "Go Canis!" Canis? I pointed my pokedex at it. "Canis. The evolved form of Lupis with a Fire Stone. This Wolf/Fire pokemon holds the record for Battle endurance. Approach with caution." Oh, lovely. "I choose you, Rare Beauty!" "What a sissy . . . name . . ." Blaine trailed off when he got an eyeful of Rare Beauty. "Water Mirror!" This was her most powerful attack, equal to Fire Claw and Dragon Rage. She roared like she was starting Dragon Rage but that's when similarities ended. Five perfect mirror images of her made of water erupted into existence. The water copies and the original all roared and let loose with Hydro Pump. Canis didn't stand a chance with six Hydro Pumps pounding into it and fainted. The copies evaporated and Rare Beauty staggered. "Return!" I recalled her, until she had more practice that attack would take a lot out of her. Inferno and Rare Beauty got a big lunch when I fed everyone to get their strength back. "Paradox, do me a favour?" (Of course!) I pulled a plastic bag full of Inferno's kibble from my pack and hooked the handles in his beak. "Go to this spot by the volcano, on the wall there's a tiny switch, push it and follow the tunnel. You'll meet a Charizard there. Give him this bag and tell him it's from me, okay?" (Got it!) He walked out the door and flew toward the volcano. ~~~~~~Inferno's POV~~~~~~ I curled up on the floor by the couch Satoshi was on. While waiting for Paradox to return he'd fallen asleep. What was taking that bird so long? There was a tap at the window, I lifted my head and looked, there he was! *What took you so long? Satoshi was worried.* I asked as I opened the door for him. *I had a conversation with the Warrior of Fire and lost track of time.* I sighed, he yawned and vanished into his pokeball. I curled up again and went back to sleep. I blink open my eyes. Satoshi is still asleep, and he has the nerve to call me lazy! And he's a Charmeleon. The culprit is at his feet, Shelldon. I stand up and knock on his shell, he opens it and looks at me. *What do you want Inferno?* *Why did you change him? You know he doesn't like to wake up as a Charmeleon.* The huge clam closed his shell. I shook my head and put him in his pokeball. Picking up my dozing trainer still in his pajamas, I carried him to the bathroom. ~~~~~~Musashi's POV~~~~~~ I held back my chuckled as Inferno recalled Cloyster . . . Errr . . . Shelldon and carried the still sleeping Satoshi into the bathroom. Everyone had chosen their own names and I was trying my best to remember them. Pikachu's name is Zeus, after a Greek God. I'm still trying to figure out where Clefairy got the name Pippi. Pidgeot was listening to Satoshi read a book one night and chose the name Paradox. Primeape . . . now there's a funny story. She wanted to learn how to speak so she got Meowth to try and teach her. Thing is it got to hard for her and she wound up only learning one word which she chose for her name, Candy. Raticate chose a name that really fits him, Chewy. No clue where Banshee got the name Makaar. Dragonair had chosen Draco for his name. Lullaby, now that's a name that fits Jigglypuff. Ramona is Marowak's name. And for Butterfree, she chose Flutter. It's cute. Satoshi was grumbling when he came out of the bathroom. He looked at the clock and made for the phone. "Hello?" "Hey mom, morning." "Satoshi! What a pleasant surprise! I was just talking about you!" "Really? To who?" "I'll go get her!" She vanished from view for a moment and came back with a small bundle. Satoshi raised his eyebrow. "I want you to meet your baby sister! Her name is Nodoka." I was there in a flash. "Awwww! How cute!" I crooned. "I have a sister?" "Well, yes. I found her on our doorstep." Satoshi smiled. "Musashi's right, Doka's cute." As if on cue, little Nodoka opened her eyes. They were a beautiful deep cobalt blue. "Hey there Doka-chan." Satoshi smiled. Nodoka smiled and burbled. "Bye mom! Bye Doka-chan!" "We love you sweety!" She hung up. "Me too Satoshi." I smiled as I ruffled his hair. He grinned. ~~~~~~Satoshi's POV~~~~~~ Musashi and I were on our way to Pallet where we'd stop by my house and say hi to Nodoka before heading to Viridian for our Earth Badge. "Hey Rare Beauty! I've got a little sister now!" (Really?! When did she hatch?) I nearly fell off her head laughing. (What?) "I'll explain later." I told her while clutching my side in laughter. Musashi's Blastoise relayed what Rare Beauty had said, she toppled over on his shell laughing. We landed on the shore and recalled our pokemon, at first Inferno had joined me on Rare Beauty's head but ten minutes into the ride he'd gotten seasick. I pulled my key from my pack and opened the door. "Mom! I'm home!" (Your mother's with the baby. Come on in.) Embrana greeted. (You know, Pirow is getting along with Nodoka very well.) I closed the door and locked it behind us. "How about you Embrana?" (The kid's got a set of lungs like you wouldn't believe.) Was all she said before going into the kitchen. Me, Musashi and Meowth followed. "Hi sweety. I was just trying to feed Nodoka." Trying was right, she was covered in baby food. "You should have had a lot of practice with me." I grinned. "Yes, but all the tricks I used with your aren't working. You were a good little baby." "Yeah, and I willingly ate . . ." I looked at the label. "Refried strained carrots?" I looked at mom. "Mom, no wonder she doesn't want to eat. This stuff looks and even sounds disgusting." I tossed the jar into the garbage. Nodoka laughed. "See! She agrees with me!" Musashi laughed. I let out Inferno, Rare Beauty, Shelldon, Tananda, Ramona and Pirow. Rare Beauty and Shelldon made for the pool after looking at my little sister. Tananda and Pirow perched on the chair in the living room. Ramona stayed behind with me, mom, Inferno, Musashi, Embrana and Meowth in the kitchen, offering a suggestion that might actually work.