"I'm thinking about how to beat Giovanni."
Grey didn't raise his voice, but Blaine's heart still gave a sudden jolt.
"You… are pretty confident."
Blaine kept walking forward until he reached a floating arena, its four corners moored by thick chains.
With his back to Grey, he pressed a hand to his chest to steady himself.
It had been a long time…
A long time since anyone had said out loud they wanted to defeat Giovanni.
Giovanni's strength was a mountain most Gym Leaders couldn't climb—only look up to from afar.
"This is the new Cinnabar Gym."
Blaine stood at the edge, looking down at the flowing magma with a sigh.
With the recent cold, some of the lava had crusted over into solid rock, but the surrounding heat kept it cycling between melt and crust again and again.
"Gym Leader Grey, if you hesitate and stop in place, there's no way you'll topple Giovanni."
He nudged his sunglasses. In the glow from the lava, the lenses gleamed.
Tap, tap, tap…
Grey stepped up.
He too looked down at the magma; the Poké Balls on his belt swayed lightly.
Pop!
Blaziken landed at Grey's side, eyes fixed on the lava below.
As a Fire-type, it could feel the raw, terrible power roiling in that molten river.
"Blaziken, huh. You've raised it pretty well."
Blaine looked the Pokémon over and gave a solid nod.
Blaziken struck a few poses. Flames flared hot around its wrists, its way of saying thanks for the praise.
"Yoshi, yoshi."
With practiced ease, Blaine ran a hand along Blaziken's biceps, feeling the knotted muscle. Grey had clearly put in the work.
"If you plan to beat Giovanni with this Blaziken… you're still a ways off."
Praise is praise, but Blaine still stated the fact.
He paused, then added, "But for Sabrina, this should be fine."
"Not its time yet. I think Blaziken's got endless potential."
Grey bumped fists with it, smiling.
"To be honest, this guy hasn't really fought a straight-up match yet. I'll be counting on you, Gym Leader Blaine."
"Hahaha. Since you've asked, how could this old man not give you face?"
Blaine laughed, strolled to his side of the field, and pulled a Poké Ball from his lab coat pocket. "Grey, I hear you're pretty famous online. Are you streaming this?"
"Hm?"
The sudden question made Grey blink.
"Then… I'll start a stream?"
"Good. As you say."
Blaine stroked his mustaches, thoroughly amused.
Title: [New & Old Gym Leaders Collab: First Taste of the Flames]
Tags: [old-timer] [youngster] [volcano]
A classic clicky title—viewers poured in at once.
[OMG, Grey, you finally went live! Where'd you vanish to?]
[Yeah, streamer—no you, no junk-food soap operas to watch!]
[Streamer, that Sabrina stand-in is terrifying! Get back here quick~]
[Total normie here—who's the old guy in the lab coat? Looks like he doesn't know Pokémon battles.]
"Long time no see, folks~ I've been busy with a few things—can't reveal them yet~"
Grey finished setting up, then swung the camera to Blaine.
"That's Blaine, Cinnabar Gym Leader of Kanto. He's top-three strength in Kanto.
I'm lucky he agreed to a little collab today."
The chat went dead silent.
A couple stray lines drifted by—
Three seconds later, the screen erupted like lava.
[Hold up—didn't Blaine shut down Cinnabar a year ago?]
[Is he making a comeback?!]
[Ask Blaine when this cold snap's leaving. I want those hot springs!]
Seeing the chat, Blaine took out his phone and requested a voice link.
The streaming rig was a bit far; it'd be easier this way.
"I've been honing myself for a year. Running into Grey today felt fated, so I thought we'd have a match. I hope this gives all you Trainers something good to watch."
He ended the line and met Grey's eyes from across the arena.
In this place, eye contact meant battle.
Both threw their Poké Balls.
"My Pokémon burn the mighty to ash. Now—let the blazing sun feed the flames!"
Blaine's ball burst open. A golden-furred fox strode out, regal and disdainful as it faced the little blue jackal.
Riolu vs. Ninetales!
"Another Riolu?"
Blaine clocked the Pokémon Grey sent out, then glanced at the Riolu on Grey's shoulder.
Something about that little one felt… off.
He couldn't say why—just a feeling.
"Niiine!"
All nine tails rose. It tilted its head back and howled.
In that instant, a spear of blinding gold light fell from above, and the heat spiked like a rocket.
[Pokémon: Ninetales]
[Type: Fire]
[Level: 40]
[Ability: Drought]
[Moves: (omitted)]
Their levels were close, but just looking at the size mismatch, people would assume Ninetales had this in the bag.
[Streamer's Riolu still hasn't evolved?]
[I see a Soothe Bell on its neck—maybe it's close.]
[Think it'll evolve in the middle of this fight?]
Chat buzzed, everyone waiting to see what the Riolu could do.
Unevolved vs. fully evolved is always worth watching.
Grey opened fast. "Riolu, Vacuum Wave!"
"Rio!"
The moment Riolu raised its palm, twin shockwaves blasted from its hand.
Whoosh—whoosh!
Slicing the air at near-sonic speed, the pressure waves slammed into Ninetales' forehead. It staggered back several steps, chips of stone scattering.
Stupid fast.
"Niiine!"
Proud Ninetales bared its teeth—honestly looking more doglike than the little jackal for a second.
"Flamethrower!"
Blaine's command snapped out.
Ninetales opened its jaws. Fire-type energy compressed into a crimson jet; under the blazing sun it swelled to nearly half again its usual size!
The hiss and crackle filled the arena as Flamethrower tore toward the Riolu rooted on the spot.
The air scorched, wavered, warped.
"Rio…"
Riolu wiped the sweat beading on its brow, slid one foot back, and tensed its muscles.
The Flamethrower roared closer. Ninetales' maw opened to the limit.
Only when the flames reached halfway did Grey finally speak—slow and calm:
"Now—Quick Attack, slip it!"
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