Lighthouse

After several days of traveling, the gang finally arrived in Olivine City.

"Finally we're here." Ash said. "Now I can earn my fifth gym badge."

"Do you know what Pokemon to use for this gym Ash?" Misty asked.

"Yeah this gym's specialty is steel type Pokemon." Ash answered. "So I will use Cyndaquil and Houndour in the gym battle, because fire types are super effective against steel types."

"Trust you to think things out Ash." Brock smiled.

The gang arrived at the Olivine Gym. It was designed like a big steel roof. Ash knocked on the door and asked for a battle, but there was no answer. Ash tried again, but there was still no answer.

"Do you think the gym leader's not here?" Misty asked.

Just before her question was answered, the door opened and out came a little girl.

"Hi there." The girl said. "My name is Janina and I'm Jasmine's apprentice."

"Is Jasmine the gym leader?" Ash asked. "Is she here?"

"Yes Jasmine's the gym leader." Janina said. "But I think she's at the shining lighthouse at the wharf. She has been going there a lot lately."

"Oh really?" Ash stated. "Then we'll go there and ask Jasmine for a gym battle then."

Janina led the gang to the lighthouse.

"So Janina." Misty said. "I take it you wish to take over leadership of the Olivine Gym from Jasmine when you're older?"

"Yes I do." Janina said. "But sometimes I don't think I'm cut out for it."

"Huh? Why do you think that?" Misty asked.

"Well because Jasmine says that I don't fully understand my Onix." Janina answered. "And there are still so many things about being a trainer and gym leader that I don't understand. And I don't think I'm strong enough because my Onix always loses to water type Pokemon."

"That doesn't matter though." Brock argued. "Rock type Pokemon grow stronger every time they lose to water type Pokemon. I'm from the Pewter Gym, the rock type Pokemon gym and losing helps your Pokemon become stronger. I had a Onix before I evolved it into Steelix, and even if he doesn't like water we still battled against lots of water type Pokemon in the past. We didn't give up and neither should you or your Onix."

"Brock's right Janina." Ash said. "Besides if you do lose a match, you just have to keep trying until you win it."

Janina thought about what Brock and Ash said.

Janina and the gang soon reached the wharf. There were two lighthouses; one was the old brick built lighthouse and the other was the modern stone built lighthouse.

"The old brick lighthouse is the shining lighthouse and it has been around for a very, very long time." Janina explained.

"Wow, let's check it out." Ash said.

"Yeah, let's." Misty added.

So they all went inside.

"Hello, is anyone here?" Ash called out. No one replied.

"Jasmine is probably at the very top of the lighthouse where the light is." Janina said.

Everyone began to walk up the stairs to the very top.

When they got to the top, they noticed a yellow and black striped Pokemon next to the beacon of the lighthouse.

"That Ampharos is Jasmine's." Janina said. "It's name is Sparkle and it's the one who makes the light shine from the lighthouse."'

Suddenly Ash's Flaffy came out of her Poke Ball.

"Hey Flaffy, what are you doing out?" Ash asked.

Flaffy ran over to the Ampharos and started to nuzzle it.

"Flaffy must be excited to see it's evolved form." Misty said.

Just then an old man and a pretty, long-haired young woman came up to them.

"Oh hello." The woman said. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi Jasmine." Janina said. "One of the trainers here wanted to challenge you to a gym battle."

Ash introduced himself to Jasmine.

"Would you battle me?" He asked.

"I am sorry Ash." Jasmine apologized. "But I am afraid I'm not really in the mood for any gym battles. Because my Sparkle here is sick and I can't even think about gym battles at the moment."

The old man, who's name was Myron and Jasmine's grandfather explained everything. In the olden days, before electricity was invented Ampharos' tail lights were used to become the light beacon for the shining lighthouse. Even though there was now an electricity powered lighthouse, people still liked and used the shining lighthouse, even if it was now old. But recently Sparkle had become very sick and it's tail light had become weak, and nothing seems to be helping Sparkle feel better.

"No wonder you don't want to battle Jasmine." Ash said before walking over to Sparkle and petting it's head. "I personally never think of doing anything while any of my Pokemon are sick."

Flaffy nuzzled Sparkle again to cheer it up.

"Is there anything that can help Sparkle?" Brock asked.

"There is actually." Myron said. "I ordered a special medicine from the pharmacy in Cianwood City which can cure Sparkle. I just got a call from the pharmacy that the medicine is ready and we can pick it up at any time."

"I would get it myself." Jasmine said. "But I can't leave Sparkle. So Janina I need you to go to Cianwood City to pick up the medicine for me."

"You can count on me Jasmine." Janina said.

Ash spoke with Tomo, Misty and Brock.

"What are we going to do?" Ash asked. "I mean it's obvious I won't be able to battle here for a while."

Myron had the answer; he explained that Cianwood City had a gym there as well. So Ash decided to head to Cianwood City to earn his fifth badge. Tomo, Misty and Brock liked that idea, so together with Janina they jumped onto a ferry to Cianwood City.