Fire And Ice

TOM:   Doc...I'm ready for you.

DOC:   I must say, I'm impressed with the abilities you've displayed so far.  That Electivire...I saw it when you were helping us, as you know.  No doubt it's proven itself quite useful.  What move does it know?

TOM:   Well, it would have made short work of that Gabite, I'll tell you that.

DOC:   Ah, Ice Punch! We need to talk and compare! I've been studying electricity and conductivity in low-temperature environments.  You may wish to investigate the Frozen Plateau--but I digress.  We can discuss all this later.

Tom Cedar versus Doc, Leader of the Mastam City Gym

He's gonna lead with that Ampharos, but I don't want to show all of my cards just yet.  I'll play it slow and wear him down.

There's the Ampharos! Alright then...

Go, Honedge!

It's sizing you up, Honedge; it's not ready to attack yet, but it's charging up energy.  Quick, perform a Swords Dance, then launch forward with a Shadow Sneak!

Yeah, that did it! Good hit, Honedge!

Oh...okay, that Charge Beam is a lot stronger than I thought.  Honedge, return.

Maybe I should show one of my cards.  Go, Gliscor!

Before it gets a chance to get at you, dig down!

It's charging again, but that's not gonna do it a whole lot of good when she pops out of the ground--

Ka-POW! A knockout blow! Excellent job, girl! I don't know how much of that was Gliscor and how much was Honedge, but I'm very pleased! Gliscor, stay in for the Heliolisk.

And there it is.  It's fast, but I'm pretty sure you're faster! Brick Break!

Incoming!

YES! Heliolisk goes down! Superstar effort, Gliscor! We might be able to sweep Doc's entire team!

And here comes his Electivire.  Alright, Gliscor! Hit it with--

KEVIN:   Come on, man.

TOM:   Kevin?! Where the hell did you--?

KEVIN:   Electivire v. Electivire.

TOM:   What?

KEVIN:   It'll be awesome.  Come on, you know you want to.

TOM:   ...Gliscor?

GLISCOR:   Hey man, you do you.  I'm good.

TOM:   Alright, Doc! You wanted to compare Electivires? We'll do it now! Elekid, go!

Woah, what is Doc's Electivire doing?

I've never seen that move before, but the entire battle terrain has been charged with electricity.  Well, if it will help him, it'll help you, too! Dash in and use Low Sweep!

Right in the ankle! That brought Doc's 'vire down to a knee--!

Woah! His Electivire knows Fire Punch! I didn't realize Electivire could learn both! Well, in that case, let's clash fire and ice! Hit 'em up!

Right to the top of the head! Good power!

His fists are flaming again! Get ready to bob and weave--!

A grapple?! He's trying to suplex you belly to belly...

But he's struggling! Bring your elbow down on him and break that grapple!

That did it! Now, let's show him how it's done! Use Return!

Now that's a suplex! Right into the computer banks! He's on his last legs now--

But look out! Those fists are gathering flame! Bring him down!

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! GREAT JOB, ELEKID!

KEVIN:   Told you.

TOM:   Thanks, Kevin.

KEVIN:   Now I must away back into the shadow.

TOM:   What do you mean--?

And he's gone.  Of course.  Three down, only one left...

The Lanturn.

Alright, Elekid, I don't know what other tricks this thing will have up its sleeves, so set up a Light Screen and keep yourself protected.

Incoming bubbles!

Most of them are popping against the Light Screen.  We can't hit this thing with an Electric-type move; the whole reason the generator got to dangerous levels is because this thing can absorb electrical energy.  Hit it with a Return!

A solid slap, but not nearly enough--

It's not a Charge Beam, but it's definitely some kind of beam coming out of that fish! Good thing we have that Light Screen to filter the attack.  Hit it again!

It's slippery, but you're doing what you can! Just keep at it!

Another beam! It looks like it's trying to confuse Elekid with that attack.

DOC:   Sometimes you have to throw conventional wisdom to the wind.

I see...I think Doc realizes Lanturn can't take Elekid one-on-one unless Lanturn can get Elekid to hurt himself.  Keep your speed advantage; hit it with a Low Sweep!

Solid punt! Good work--it's back in its puddle!

More bubbles! Brace against the screen!

The screen is broken! Put it back up, we need to wear this bulky fish down!

Okay, some bubbles snuck past the shield, but we can do this! Press forward!

Alright! Now, cover that mouth and chuck that fish as hard as you can! Return!

The fish is flying--THE FISH IS DOWN! WE DID IT!

Great job, Elekid! Now we've truly earned our Ingenuity badge!

DOC:   Congratulations! I know those Charge Beam TMs are around her somewhere--

CLEM:   I have them right here!

Excellent! TM 57 will be very useful, considering how many Electric-types I have now.

DOC:   Alright, excellent battle.  You came well-prepared, but preparedness only takes you so far.  I thought I was prepared, and look what happened to the plant.  I know you have your plans and there are things you want to do, but reality can be a rude awakening.  Don't let your visions blind you to the unexpected.

TOM:   I'll try to keep that in mind, Doc.

DOC:   Oh, and your prize money--

TOM:   Keep it.  Invest it back into the plant for repairs.  I know it's not much compared to the price of some of these machines, but every little bit helps nowadays.

DOC:   That it does.  Thank you.

TOM:   You know, Doc, I've been thinking.  I've got some serious experience with electrical engineering.  I could stay here for a few days and help with getting the plant up and running at full capacity once again.  Maybe longer if there's a lot of work left to do.

DOC:   I appreciate the offer, Tom, but we need to find the S.S. Anne.  I can only do so much with my resources here; I can possibly locate it, but getting out to it will be an entirely different matter.  That's where you and your companions come in.

TOM:   So you'll need us to actually reach the S.S. Anne once you locate it?

DOC:   Precisely.  If it's still water-bound, you'll need HM 03 and you'll need to teach your Pokemon the move Surf.

TOM:   Where can we get that HM?

DOC:   Marcus is the only person in the region with the Surf HM.  The last I heard, he's running a tournament out on an island chain to the south.  By hoarding the Surf HM, he's able to control who has entry rights to that tournament.

TOM:   We'll find a way to get that HM.

DOC:   We can handle operations and repairs here, but I recommend you take some time to weigh your options before you make a decision.

TOM:   I will.  Thank you, Doc.

It's about time to connect back up with everybody and figure out what we want to do next--

JIM?!

JIM:   Hey there, champ-in-the-making--

TOM:   Where the hell were you when the Zoroark attacked?! People DIED here, Jim!

JIM:   Well, that's why I got out of here when things started going south.

TOM:   ...are you some kind of specter?

JIM:   ...what?

TOM:   Are you a Zoroark?

JIM:   What? No--!

TOM:   I'm gonna hit you--

JIM:   Don't do that--!

TOM:   Why are you dodging, fox-man?!

JIM:   Fine! You can hit me in the arm--

TOM:   Good man.

JIM:   Ow! That hurt!

TOM:   I've been sliced through the neck.  You'll live.

TOM:   Say Jim, when you beat the gym, your name gets put on the gym's victor plaque, right?

JIM:   That's right.

TOM:   What about if you were offered the gym's badge for valorous action done in service of the gym? We were all offered the badge for helping save Doc and the plant, but only one of us that I know of took Doc up on the offer.

JIM:   I dunno...you're welcome to check.

Well, let's see.  Well, I'm up there:

THOMAS CEDAR

And there's Arturo right above me:

ARTURO STONE

Let's see...Jess...Jess...Je--

C. T. WILLOW

...could it be??

TOM:   DOC! DOC, WHERE ARE YOU?! DOC!!

DOC:   Tom? What's the matter--

TOM:   C.T. Willow!

DOC:   Hey, calm down there--

TOM:   A boy came through here before the incident with the Zoroark.  Before the S.S. Anne made port.  Describe him!

DOC:   Agh! Uh...I don't really...oh wait! Yes, I do remember a boy coming through here not too long ago.  He was from the Sinnoh region, must have been about twelve years old.  Brown hair, green eyes...he mentioned his first Pokemon was a Luxio--

TOM:   WHERE DID HE GO?!

DOC:   He went south! Must have been about a little over a week ago, though.  He was headed towards Dallus.  He said he was challenging the gyms--

TOM:   Who was he with?!

DOC:   He wasn't with anyone! He was traveling alone--

TOM:   How many badges did he have? His name wasn't on any of the other gym plaques! Not in Chloris, not in Isis, not in Kahu--!

DOC:   I don't know! Tom, what is going on?

TOM:   I don't have time to weigh my options, Doc.  I need to head south towards Dalus as soon as possible.

DOC:   What are you talking about?

TOM:   Cole Thomas Willow.  His mother is Holly Abigail Willow.  We were together for eleven years, married for six--

DOC:   Wait, you mean...?

TOM:   ...that was my son, Doc.  He's here, in Cythos.