That...that break was necessary. I'm banking pretty heavily on Elekid and Lapras in this gym, but we've got some heavy hitters that can take some punches if need be. Back to the gym.
Alright, just gotta do a little bit of backtracking...reuse the first key on the door to the north...use the next key on the door to the west...then just go through the--
Holy hell in a hand-basket. That is an expensive-looking door...with a really big keyhole. Hmm...
Both small keys. Well, I could try the wooden door on the other end of the hallway, but...but if I came from the room with a moat...and I needed the bronze key to get into this little atrium...then that means I would need a key to get through that other door. But I can't get to that door...unless--
Crud.
Okay, let's try backtracking. Backtracking usually works.
Start of the gym, assuming I was facing north, I turned east instead of west then went north, I went through the northern door into the room with the girl, I went through the northern door instead of the western door into the room with the moat, went through the western door and ended up in the golden door hallway--
Wait! The iron key from the young girl's room should allow me to pass through the western door in her room, through the little courtyard, and into the room I would have arrived in had I turned west initially--
But wouldn't that mean I would have to have the key from that southwest room in order to get through that--
Screw it, I'm trying it anyway.
Huh...that door to the west is unlocked...it didn't even need the key. Hey, maybe the other one is unlocked, too!
Oh good, no trainers in the courtyard. Gives me a bit of a break. Now, let's check out this door...
That door's unlocked as well. So be it. Let's see, if this is a relatively new gym, and none of the trainers I've faced so far are older than teenagers, then that should mean that the trainer in this room--
I...um...hello there? Are you one of Prodiga's trainers? Are you here to--?
Oh, don't put that Poke Ball in your mouth. It's been on the floor and you might choke on something--
Play? Yes, I will play with you. Will you give me the key to the next room if I play with you?
You have a key, right?
Okay, so if I play with you, will you let me have the key? Great, thank you very much! What kind of game do you want to play--?
No, don't put that in your mouth--!
Oh...you want to play Pokemon? You want to have a battle? Okay, we'll battle. You let your Pokemon out and I'll let mine out.
Another Swablu? Excellent! Lapras should be able to take care of this bird without incident. Lapras, use Sing before it gets a chance to put you to sleep!
You sing weird, Lapras...but it's asleep! Now, pelt it with Ice Shards!
Yeah! Once more and Swablu should go down!
Alright! Swablu is down! We--
I...um...I didn't mean to...well, I did, but...
Well, do you have any other Pokemon? No? Oh...okay. You did a really good job, though!
But uh...I don't want to be mean or anything, but you did say that you'd give me a key--
And you've fallen asleep on top of your Swablu. Fantastic. I just--
Ah, there it is! Sticking out of the kid's pocket! Great, now I'll just--
And $50? Well, I know it's traditional to give the winner of a battle half of your money...but if this kid only has $50, I can't take that away from him. Maybe when he's got a few more matches under his belt.
Let's see what we're up against now...there's a door to the left and a door to the right. If I just came from the eastern side of the gym, then that means the door to my right is the door to the north. I'll take that one.
Key fits in nicely. Now what's on the agenda?
Another room with a moat, and--
An adult?!? Was not expecting that one.
TOM: I have three keys already, but let me guess...I need a fourth key to open that big golden door, huh?
TRAINER: Yep.
TOM: Well, I'm here to claim it.
TRAINER: You'll have to get through me first. I'm prepared to defend this gym with everything I've got--you're a lot older than most of the trainer's I've seen that come through this gym.
TOM: Ditto.
TRAINER: This gym is about the beginnings of journeys, so we tend to get younger trainers. I recently just started training Pokemon myself--
TOM: Oh my god, me too! I used to be an electrical engineer down in Kanto before I started battling Pokemon!
TRAINER: I used to work down by the docks. Always saw Pokemon trying to do my job as well as I could, but I stopped trying to compete with them and started working with them.
TOM: Can...can we be friends? I'm Tom.
TRAINER: Lucius.
TOM: After this battle, we should trade phone numbers or something. It's very rare to meet someone on the same page as yourself when you're out training Pokemon.
LUCIUS: Let's see if you still want my number after the battle. This gym, like I said, is about starting journeys. Your's leads you through me, and mine brought me here to stop you from getting any further.
TOM: The unstoppable force meets the immovable object.
LUCIUS: More like two rookies who have no idea what they're doing getting ready to square off.
TOM: That's way more like it. Hell, I'm not even offended. That is an accurate assessment of--
Ah, he let out a fish! Go, Lapras!
Use Ice Shard! Try to freeze the moat!
Okay, it's not working, but you hit it! Try--
Oof, that thing can pack a wallop! Lapras, before that thing can hit you in the face again--
Man, this thing is fast! You better put it to sleep before it wreaks havoc on your face! Sing!
Wait--!
SHIT--!
...
...
...
...
...
...
Okay Lapras, I need you to listen to me very carefully. You have a fish lodged in your throat. You have him right where you want him--
Yes, I know how stupid that sounds! Use Ice Shard to hit it point blank in the face to dislodge it and blast it against the concrete wall!
Alright...it's fallen out onto the concrete! Pelt it! Pelt it hard!
Lucius...let us agree to never again speak of this battle. Call out your next Pokemon! Lapras is ready for it--
Magikarp? What's a Magikarp?
Oh, I think I've seen those before! Alright, Lapras, let's--
What? WHAT?!
What do you mean you won't fight it? Do you think it's beneath you? Well, I don't care! Fight it--!
WHAT THE HELL THAT THING IS GOING BERSERK!!! AND IT'S ACTUALLY DOING DAMAGE!?
Lapras! Hit that thing with Confuse Ray! Maybe we can get it to hurt itself for a bit!
I...I think it's confused. It seems to be going all over the place now as opposed to just hitting Lapras. Well, now's as good a time as any to use Ice Shard and pelt that thing until it stops spasming.
That's it! That's the way to--
Oh, don't let that goofy bastard keep hitting you! You're better than this! Pound him with a Water Pulse and show him who's boss!
There! He's flopped into the pile of Poke Balls! Attack!
There you go! Did we get him?
I...I think?
He's recalling the carp! We did it, Lapras! We--!
The "big guns", huh? Well, send him out! We're ready--
For the life of me, I cannot remember why this little guy looks so familiar! But that fire on his tail is a pretty good indication that this little fella is a Fire-type, so Water-type moves will make short work of him! Lapras, use Water Pulse--!
Kech! Sneaky lizard filled the room up with smoke! Well, blast through the cloud, Lapras! Try to clear it up!
Well, you tried, that's what counts--
Incoming!
I forgot Lapras is also an Ice-type, so this is gonna hurt...but now we have a clear shot! Hit him with Water Pulse! Give it all you've got!
Great shot, Lapras! You knocked it right into the moat--!
Wait...that could be a really bad problem for that guy. Oh shit, hold on!
Ah, damn it, where'd he go? Where is he--?
Ah ha! Got ya, little buddy! Here, dry him off in my jacket...
He does not look good, Lucius...his tail-fire is out. That...that can't be good, right?
But he's gonna be okay.
Right?
Tell me he's gonna be okay...
...
...
...
That's a good sign, right? Good! Oh, that's a relief!
You, uh...you may want to rethink using this Pokemon in this room...or maybe ask Prodiga for a different room if you really want to use this guy in battle.
Good fight, Lucius. A bit more panic at the end than I would like, but good. Thanks for the $900, but I still need to find the key. Hey Lapras, can you see anything under the water?
No? Crud. Alright, I guess it's time to go for the "old reliable".
Elekid, see if you can spot anything unusual in the moat or around the room--
What's over there?
Hey, that kind of looks like an Ultra Ball. Funny, I thought the pile was just of regular Poke Balls--
The last key! Great job, Elekid! Bring it here.
Thanks, buddy. Get some rest; you're going to need it. You too, Lapras. Here, have some water and freshen up.
Hmm, this key doesn't look like it's big enough to open that gold door, but who knows? Let's see...
Yep...way too small. I wonder, though, if the keyhole looks like a cross and I have four keys...
Eureka, I think they combine in some way! Now, if I can just figure out how.
Got it! Door's open!
If this isn't the way to Prodiga, I don't know what is. Well guys, we've gone this far and everyone's tip-top...only way to go now is up.
