Volcano Badge

After catching a ferry, the gang finally arrived at Cinnabar Island. Todd wasn't with them anymore; he headed towards the mountains to find more Pokemon to photograph.

"It says that Cinnabar Island is a tourist attraction." Brock said. "There are hot springs here."

"Really?" Misty asked, excited. "Can we go to the hot spring?"

Ash didn't mind them doing that.

"I'd like to take a break before heading to the gym." He said.

"And here." Brock stated. "I can get my fossils restored."

He remembered Prof. Oak telling him that there was a Pokemon lab on Cinnabar Island that restored Pokemon fossils.

When they docked at Cinnabar Island, they quickly headed to the Pokemon Center. Ash had his Pokemon checked out; he wanted to make sure they were one hundred percent for the gym battle. Tomo was by his side; he liked staying with his brother. Misty went to book the hot spring and Brock headed to the Pokemon lab.

"Okay." Ash said. "Let's ask someone where the gym is."

Just then a hippie came up to Ash.

"You looking for the gym?" He asked.

"The gym leader Blaine built his gym in a fiery place where firefighters would never win." The hippie said.

Then he left.

"What did he mean?" Tomo asked Ash.

"That was a riddle." Ash said. "And I have a pretty good idea what he was talking about. We'll see what the others have to say later."

The gang met back up at the hot spring and soon they all took a relaxing bath.

"This was a great idea Misty." Ash said.

"I thought we should relax after everything we've been through." Misty pointed out.

Pikachu and Togepi enjoyed it too.

Tomo's Growlithe didn't join them in the hot spring. Since it was a fire type Pokemon it didn't want to get wet, so Tomo left him in Nurse Joy's care.

"Hey Brock?" Ash asked. "Did you give your fossils to the Pokemon lab?"

"Yes I did." Brock answered. "And the professor said I will be getting Kabuto and Omanyte tomorrow."

"We can collect them after the gym battle." Ash said.

"That reminds me." He let them know about his encounter with the hippie and the riddle he received. "I'm pretty sure I know what he was talking about, but I wanted your opinions."

"That would be a volcano." Misty said.

"Misty's right." Brock added. "A volcano's lava is something that a firefighter would never be able to put out, no matter how much water is used on it."

"I know this gym's specialty is fire types." Ash said. "But isn't that going a little overboard."

"Well I must say I wouldn't put a gym in a volcano." Brock said.

"But sometimes gym leaders like to make their gyms look suitable for whatever type of Pokemon they use." Misty said. "Remember my gym is an aquarium because it's a water type gym."

Ash couldn't help but agree; Erika, the grass type gym leader had her gym resemble a greenhouse. Lt. Surge had his gym look electrical because of his electric type Pokemon. And Sabrina's gym had psychics for assistants, as her gym used psychic type Pokemon. After they were done in the hot spring, the gang found a room at a inn and fell asleep there.

The next day, the gang went to look for the Cinnabar Gym. The volcano was located at the far end of Cinnabar Island. When they arrived at the volcano, they didn't see anything.

"That's odd." Brock said. "We're at the volcano, but I don't see a gym anywhere."

"You don't suppose that the gym's inside the volcano, do you?" Misty asked.

"There's only one way to be certain." Ash replied.

There was a cave at the base of the volcano and the gang was just about to proceed to check it when the hippie Ash saw yesterday came out of the cave.

"I see that you solved my riddle." The hippie said. "But before you can battle Blaine you must answer this riddle first. What can keep your head dry in the rain, but you can also wear it if you already lost it."

"Another riddle." Ash sighed in exasperation.

"A wig." Misty said. "A wig can keep your head dry in the rain, but you can also wear it if you lost your hair."

"You're a smart young lady." The hippie smiled. He took off his wig.

"I am Blaine, the gym leader of Cinnabar Island."

Ash stepped forward.

"I'm Ash from Pallet Town." He introduced himself. "And I wish to battle you for the Volcano Badge."

"Follow me." Blaine said.

Blaine led the gang through a tunnel and then they arrived at the gym's battlefield.

"It feels warm in here." Ash wasn't bothered by the volcano's heat due to his dragon form.

The battlefield was inside the volcano and everyone could see lava flowing around.

"Excuse me." Brock said. "But wouldn't gym battles cause this volcano to erupt?"

"No need to worry about it." Blaine said. "I make sure that doesn't happen. Well Ash it's time for our battle and this will be a three Pokemon battle."

"I understand." Ash nodded.

So the gym battle commenced. Blaine's first Pokemon was Ninetales. Ash sent out Golduck.

"Ninetales, Flamethrower." Blaine commanded.

Ninetales launched a powerful Flamethrower at Golduck.

"Douse the flames with Hydro Pump." Ash said.

Golduck's Hydro Pump turned Ninetales' Flamethrower into steam.

"Use Fire Spin." Blaine said.

Ninetales flipped and launched a powerful Fire Spin at Golduck. Golduck was hit by the flames.

"You okay Golduck?" Ash asked. Golduck nodded, implying he was all right.

"Okay use Hydro Pump." Ninetales was hit by Golduck's Hydro Pump.

"Now finish it off with Scratch." Golduck charged at Ninetales and scratched it's face. Ninetales screeched in pain and fainted. Blaine returned Ninetales.

"I must say Ash I'm impressed with your battling techniques." Blaine said. "But I'm not done yet."

His next Pokemon was a Rhydon. Ash returned Golduck and sent out Vaporeon.

"Use Aurora Beam." Ash said. Vaporeon's multicolored beam headed for Rhydon.

"Dodge it and use Tackle." Blaine said.

Rhydon dodged to the side and charged into Vaporeon, making her cry in pain.

"That Rhydon is fast." Ash said. "We need to slow it down."

Then he came up with a idea.

"Use Ice Beam on the battlefield." Vaporeon's Ice Beam turned the battlefield into an ice rink.

Rhydon started to panic, it didn't like the ice and as the ice was slippery it had trouble trying to stay on it's feet.

"Now use Aurora Beam one more time." This time Vaporeon's Aurora Beam did hit Rhydon and it fainted. Blaine recalled Rhydon.

"I have to say Ash you are one impressive trainer." He said. "But now I introduce you to my no. 1 Pokemon."

Blaine's last Pokemon was a Pokemon that looked like it was made entirely out of flames.

"That's a Magmar." Ash said, opening his Pokedex.

"Magmar, the Spitfire Pokemon. It's body always burns with an orange glow that enables it to hide perfectly among flames."

Ash returned Vaporeon and sent out a taller version of his Buizel.

"Since you've introduced me to your strongest fire type Pokemon." Ash said to Blaine. "I'd like to introduce you to my Floatzel."

Ash's Buizel had evolved prior to the gym battle.

"Fine with me." Blaine chuckled.

He was enjoying this match more than Ash.

"Magmar, use Flamethrower." Magmar shot a Flamethrower at Floatzel.

"Counter it with Aqua Tail." Floatzel's tail was covered in water and it whipped the Flamethrower away.

"Fire Blast." Blaine commanded.

"Hydro Pump." Ash said.

When the Fire Blast and Hydro Pump collided with each other, steam flew everywhere.

"Rain Dance." Ash said.

Floatzel fired a light blue orb from it's hand and storm clouds appeared, making it rain. Magmar didn't like the rain.

"Now use Hydro Pump." Thanks to Rain Dance, Floatzel's Hydro Pump was a lot more powerful and not only did it cause Magmar to feel pain, it made it faint. Ash was the winner.

Blaine returned Magmar and walked over to Ash, who was petting his Floatzel.

"I have to say Ash." He said. "Of all the trainers I have battled in the past, you are the best. You gave me the best gym battle I've had in years."

"I thought this was a great battle as well." Ash smiled.

"I have one last riddle for you." Blaine said. "What's hot, but doesn't burn anybody?"

"The Volcano Badge, obviously."

"Bingo!" Blaine chuckled and handed Ash the Volcano Badge.

The Volcano Badge was in the shape of a flame.

After bidding farewell to Blaine, the gang waited for a boat so they could leave Cinnabar Island. Brock got his Kabuto and Omanyte from the Pokemon lab and he was very happy to have two new rock type Pokemon.

"Now there's just one more badge for me to obtain." Ash said, looking at his seven badges. He stored them inside his vest.

"Where are you going to obtain the last badge?" Tomo asked.

"Viridian City." Ash answered.

So the gang's next destination was Viridian City.