The sound of footsteps outside Ash's room suddenly shifted just as they drew near. Jessie's voice came through the door in a hushed, irritable grumble. "Meowth, are you sure about this? Is the treasure that old man mentioned really inside this inn?"
"Of course, meow! I eavesdropped on that old greezer Blaine talking to a waiter. He was going on about the secret beneath the hot springs and a 'true trial of fire,' meow!" Meowth's voice was thick with smugness. "He must have hidden something valuable under the water, meow!"
Ash, standing right behind the door, heard every word. A look of realization crossed his face.
Team Rocket had stumbled onto the truth by pure accident, but they had mistaken Blaine's metaphors about the Gym for a literal treasure map.
He cracked the door open just enough to see the trio scurrying toward the outdoor hot springs.
"I can't let them wreck the place..." Just as Ash was about to step out and stop them, Brock and Misty were jolted awake by the commotion and stepped out of their own rooms.
"What's going on, Ash?" Misty asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"It's Team Rocket. They've misunderstood something and are about to tear the hot springs apart."
The three of them gave chase immediately. However, they were a moment too late. By the time they reached the outdoor hot springs, Team Rocket had already jumped into the water. Jessie and James were prying at a stone sculpture at the bottom of the pool that looked like a simple decoration.
"Stop!" Ash shouted.
But it was too late. A heavy click echoed through the air as Team Rocket accidentally depressed the mechanism. The entire floor of the spring began to vibrate. The water started spinning in a rapid vortex, draining away to reveal a complex structure of gears and tracks beneath.
"Waaaaah!" "What's happening, meow?!" The trio screamed as they spun helplessly down with the water.
Ash and his friends recoiled as the floor opened further, revealing a downward passage radiating intense heat. A wave of hot air hit their faces, and they could see a fiery red glow at the end of the tunnel.
"This is..." Brock stared at the passage in shock.
Ash's eyes sharpened. "It looks like we stumbled onto it... the entrance to the Cinnabar Gym!"
Without a second thought, Ash jumped into the passage, with Misty and Brock right behind him.
The tunnel slanted sharply downward. The temperature climbed higher with every meter, and the rocky walls transitioned into a deep, glowing crimson. When they finally burst through the veil of light at the end of the passage, the sight before them made everyone gasp.
They were standing on a massive platform located deep within the heart of an active volcano.
Below them was a churning lake of molten lava, the heat so intense that the very air seemed to warp and twist. In the center of the platform was a regulation-sized battlefield, surrounded by a seemingly bottomless abyss of magma, connected to the outer rim only by several thick, heavy iron chains.
This was the true Cinnabar Gym.
"Hahaha!" That familiar laughter drifted over from the far side. Blaine stood there, still wearing his flamboyant Hawaiian shirt, clapping his hands. "I didn't expect you to find this place in such a... unique way. You certainly surpassed my expectations!"
His gaze swept over the disheveled Team Rocketwho were currently clinging to the edge of the platform, nearly falling into the lavabefore settling on Ash. "Especially you, young man. You saw through my identity long ago, yet you kept your composure. That level of discipline is rare."
Blaine cleared his throat, offering one final riddle. "Now, before we begin, one last question: What is something that is easy to say when you don't know it, but impossible to say once you know it?"
Misty and Brock fell into deep thought again, while Team Rocket looked utterly bewildered. Ash simply smiled, his eyes lingering on Blaine's suspiciously thick hair. "A toupee."
Blaine froze for a second before erupting into a boisterous laugh. "Hahaha! Excellent! Excellent! I truly can't hide anything from you!"
With a swift tug, he ripped the thick wig from his head, revealing a perfectly shiny bald dome. Simultaneously, he tore off the Hawaiian shirt to reveal his crimson Gym Leader uniform. His entire aura shifted, becoming dignified and powerful.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am the Leader of the Cinnabar Gym, Blaine!" His eyes burned with intensity as he looked at Ash. "Young man, I've had my eye on you since you answered the first riddle.
You possess not only keen insight and knowledge, but more importantly, you understand the value of patience. You understand the true essence of fireit isn't just a wild blaze; it is contained heat and precise control."
He strode across the iron chain bridge to the opposite side of the battlefield. "I accept your challenge! This will be a three-on-three match. Only the challenger is permitted to swap Pokémon. The battle ends when all three Pokémon on either side are unable to fight!"
"That's exactly what I wanted!" Ash stepped forward and took his place in the challenger's box. Misty and Brock hurried to drag the shivering Team Rocket members to a safe corner to ensure they wouldn't interfere.
"My first Pokémon is this one!" Blaine tossed a Poké Ball. "Ninetales, take the stage!"
An elegant and mysterious Ninetales appeared, its nine tails swaying like flickering embers, its crimson eyes shimmering with wisdom.
Ash thought for a moment before pulling out a Poké Ball. "I choose you, Ponyta!"
A flash of silver light erupted as the Shiny Ponyta Ash had caught in the Safari Zone made its graceful debut.
Its coat, white as moonlight, shimmered with a strange silver brilliance under the volcanic glow. Its mane and tail were composed of burning silver flames, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
"Oh my god, it's beautiful..." Misty couldn't help but gasp.
Even Blaine showed a look of genuine interest. "Oh? A rare Shiny Pokémon. It seems you really are no ordinary trainer."
"Ponyta, use Stomp!" Ash commanded, taking the initiative.
The Shiny Ponyta transformed into a silver blur, charging straight for Ninetales.
However, a blue light flashed in Ninetales' eyes. An invisible wave of Extrasensory energy expanded, attempting to halt Ponyta's charge.
"Ponyta, jump!" Ash shouted.
Ponyta leaped into the air, gracefully soaring over the barrier of psychic energy, before bringing its hooves down with the force of a thousand pounds toward Ninetales.
"Ninetales, use Flamethrower!" Blaine countered immediately.
A scorching blast of fire erupted from Ninetales' mouth. Ponyta twisted its body mid-air, its silver mane flashing amidst the fire. It seemingly narrowly avoided a direct hit, though the aftershocks of the flames brushed against its body.
To everyone's surprise, Ponyta wasn't hurt. Instead, a faint red glow began to pulse around its body, and its silver flames seemed to burn even more fiercely.
"That's... the Flash Fire ability!" Brock shouted in delight. "Ponyta is absorbing the fire!"
The corner of Ash's mouth curled upward. This was all part of the plan. When he had first caught it, he had used his Aura Power to sense that this Shiny Ponyta possessed Flash Fire and a latent Flame Body. That "narrow miss" earlier had been a calculated feint to bait the opponent.
"Now, Ponyta!" Ash's voice was full of confidence. "Show Blaine just how strong you are after absorbing that fireuse Flame Charge!"
Ponyta let out a long neigh as its entire body was enveloped in silver flames. The fire was hotter and brighter than usual, empowered by the Flash Fire boost. It turned into a silver meteor, blitzing toward Ninetales at a speed far greater than before.
"What?!" Blaine's expression changed. "Ninetales, block it with Extrasensory, quick!"
But Ponyta, fueled by the flames, was simply too fast. Before Ninetales could even deploy its psychic power, Ponyta slammed into it with the heat of a silver star.
Boom!
It was super effective! Ninetales was sent flying by the impact, crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Ninetales, use Will-O-Wisp!" Blaine tried to regain control of the situation.
Eerie purple flames spat from Ninetales' mouth, but Ponyta didn't dodge. Instead, it charged right into them. The moment the Will-O-Wisp touched Ponyta, it was absorbed into the silver flames surrounding it, converting into even more power.
"It's over!" Ash's eyes turned sharp. "Ponyta, one last Stomp!"
Having absorbed double the fire power, Ponyta's forehooves glowed with a searing light as it stomped down with thunderous force. The blow landed precisely on Ninetales' head. Letting out a pained cry, the fox Pokémon finally collapsed.
"Ninetales is unable to battle! Ponyta wins!" the waiter, acting as a temporary referee, announced.
Blaine recalled Ninetales, looking at the spirited Ponyta with admiration. "Brilliant tactics! Baiting your opponent into using Fire-type moves to trigger Flash Fire for a turnaround... Young man, your battle intelligence is impressive."
Ash smiled and recalled Ponyta, whispering encouragement to the Poké Ball. "Great job. Get some rest."
"Then here is my secondRhydon!" Blaine sent out his next Pokémon.
The heavy Rhydon landed on the field, each step making the platform tremble slightly.
Ash sent out his next partner. "I choose you, Growlithe!"
Having undergone specialized police dog training, Growlithe's eyes were sharp and its posture was rock-steady, a far cry from its former self.
"Oh, a Growlithe? It seems you intend to have a Fire-on-Fire battle with me!" Blaine remarked. "Rhydon, use Rock Throw!"
"Growlithe, dodge and use Crunch!"
Growlithe moved with fluid precision, weaving through the falling boulders and lunging to bite down on Rhydon's leg.
However, Rhydon's defense was staggering. The Crunch only left a shallow mark on its hide.
"What a solid defense..." Brock noted.
"Growlithe, don't stop! Use Roar!" Ash commanded suddenly.
Growlithe let out a soul-shaking howl, causing Rhydon to momentarily freeze in intimidation. Seizing the opening, Ash gave the next order. "Now! Use Flamethrower!"
The scorching flames hit Rhydon directly. Although not very effective against its rock hide, the intense heat still made Rhydon roar in pain.
"Rhydon, use Horn Drill!" Blaine commanded.
The drill on Rhydon's head began to spin at high speeds, lunging straight for Growlithe. If this hit, it would be a one-hit KO.
"Growlithe, use Dig!"
In the nick of time, Growlithe vanished into the ground, narrowly avoiding the lethal Horn Drill.
"Use Flamethrower from underground!" Ash issued a bold command.
Several pillars of fire erupted from the ground directly beneath Rhydon's feet!
While Fire-type moves didn't do massive damage to a Rock-type like Rhydon, the sudden heat and the force of the pillars caused Rhydon to lose its balance.
"Now, come out and use Take Down!"
Growlithe burst from the earth, using every ounce of its strength to slam into the off-balance Rhydon.
Rhydon crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. It struggled for a moment but failed to get back up.
"Rhydon is unable to battle! Growlithe wins!"
Blaine looked at the disciplined Growlithe as it returned to Ash's side, his admiration deepening. "Perfectly combining police dog training with Pokémon battling. Remarkable. Now, for my final PokémonMagmar, take the stage!"
A towering Magmar with powerful claws appeared on the field. The sparks spitting from its mouth were a clear indication of the terrifying thermal energy contained within its body.
This was Blaine's trump card, and the opponent Ash had been saving for his own ace.
Ash took a deep breath, recalled Growlithe, and pulled out a very familiar Poké Ball.
"It's finally your turn..." Ash's gaze met with the partner inside the ball. "I choose you, Charizard!"
Charizard's first legendary battle starts in the next chapter!
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