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he knowes pokemon more than i know _Chapter_1039_en
Chapter 142
Chapter 1029: Lavaridge Gym, Flannery
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
After confirming with Nurse Joy that Torkoal could be released, Ash took his two companions and rushed straight to the Lavaridge Gym.
Lavaridge Town.
In his previous haste, Ash hadn't paid much attention to his surroundings. Looking a second time, he noticed that the path through the town was far from level.
It was more like a damp, dark-earthed trail.
Along both sides of the road, hot spring inns were open for business, with quite a few old grandmas and grandpas sitting at the entrances to cool off.
"Young lads, want to come in and rest for a bit~"
"It's great for soothing your tired muscles~"
The old grandmas waved with wide smiles, making the scene feel a bit strange.
Ash quickened his pace. Clearly, nothing held more appeal for him right now than the Lavaridge Gym.
Following the directions on the map, the three of them soon arrived in front of a Gym.
It was a rather traditional wooden dojo with a tiled roof. The roof was covered in deep red tiles, reminiscent of blazing flames.
However, at that moment, a figure was sitting on the steps at the entrance of the Lavaridge Gym.
It was a woman a few years older than Ash and his friends. Her fiery red hair was tied up, yet it fanned out at the end of her ponytail like an explosion.
She wore a small black short-sleeved shirt that exposed her flat, fair stomach, and her lower body was clad in a pair of hip-hop-style, wide-legged jeans. She looked like a very spirited girl.
"Huh?"
However, she was just sitting on the steps, her gaze vacant, sighing repeatedly as she cupped her chin.
Suspecting nothing, Ash walked right up to her to inquire.
"Hello, I'm a trainer who has come to challenge the Lavaridge Gym. Is the Gym Leader here?"
Upon hearing this, Flannery finally snapped out of it. She shot up from the ground, looking completely startled.
"Uh... that, oh, I'm the Gym Leader, Flannery! Pleased to meet you!!"
She even gave Ash a deep, ninety-degree bow, her reservation and awkwardness palpable.
This, in turn, completely baffled Ash, because that was something the challenger usually said.
It seemed she was a true rookie of a Gym Leader.
"In that case, let's hurry inside and start the battle!"
Seeing his chance, Ash took the initiative, making a move to walk into the Gym.
But Flannery remained rooted to the spot outside the door like a wooden post, seeming quite hesitant.
"I'm sorry, I can't accept your challenge..."
She suddenly bowed to Ash again and said:
"I'm planning to resign from my position at the Gym. I'm not qualified for this position right now."
Ash and his two companions: "?"
This was the first time they had ever met a Gym Leader like this.
"So, did something happen...?"
Brock, like a caring big sister, gently patted Flannery's shoulder.
He was a Gym Leader himself and knew that some Gym Leaders did indeed experience psychological barriers... they just needed to be overcome.
It's worth mentioning that Brock's definition of a "big sister" was anyone more than three years older than him.
And Flannery happened to be exactly three years older than him, so Brock felt utterly uninterested.
At his words, Flannery seemed to have found an outlet, pouring out all her troubles at once.
"Two... two weeks ago, I just took over the Lavaridge Gym and accepted two Gym challenges..."
Without exception, she had been swept 3-0 by the challengers, who ferociously claimed their badges.
And they were said to be two newbie trainers who had just started their journey.
She remembered how she used to be an apprentice, watching her grandpa—the former Fire-type Elite Four member—conduct Gym challenges. Hardly anyone could ever force her grandpa to use his full strength.
Most of the time, he would hold back, offer some guidance, and then give them the badge.
This had led the outside world to always consider their Lavaridge Gym to be both powerful and respectable. "I've brought shame to the Lavaridge Gym!"
Flannery sniffled, looking as if she was about to burst into tears.
Despite her fashionable attire and a personality as fiery and free-spirited as a flame, she was an extremely sensitive person at her core.
Flannery even felt that she had gotten the position of Gym Leader from her grandpa through nepotism.
Her grandpa had watched from the side as the referee for those two battles. Seeing her get swept 3-0 twice in a row, even her usually kind grandpa had become silent, not saying much.
It looked like he was completely disappointed in her.
After hearing Flannery's story, Brock was the first to offer comfort:
"It's alright, it's always like that the first time. Just keep working hard from now on."
*Wait, why do those two fierce trainers who swept her 3-0 sound so familiar?*
Ash, standing beside them, quickly chimed in:
"Right, right! I have friends whose gym is called the weakest ever. They'll even give you a badge for free, but they're still surviving tenaciously, like Magikarp."
Brock and Blue: "..."
*Is this a party? Whoever's not here becomes the topic of conversation, huh?*
But that wasn't Flannery's focus.
"Uh, handing out badges for free? Shouldn't a gym like that be reported and shut down?"
Seeing that Flannery seemed ready to investigate which gym it was, Ash quickly changed the subject and led her into the Gym.
*God forbid she actually reports the Cerulean Gym...*
Although Misty was currently defending the Cerulean Gym, Ash didn't know if, should old history be brought up, he'd be credited with the great achievement of getting two large "SEALED" signs posted on the Cerulean Gym's gate.
Soon, the group entered the Gym.
After a round of encouragement from the three of them, Flannery seemed to have mustered her courage once more.
"Alright! Ash from Pallet Town, I, Flannery, accept your challenge!"
She clenched her fists, her confidence restored.
"This time, I will definitely prove to my grandpa that I can be a proper Gym Leader too!!"
With a wave of her hand, Flannery finally walked to the front to lead the way.
A spacious, open-air rock training ground appeared before them, seemingly surrounded by volcanic hot springs that periodically steamed with white vapor.
*Sizzle!*
It would even erupt with columns of hot spring water, shooting straight up into the sky.
"Is that a volcanic geyser...?"
Ash didn't dare to be careless. He could almost see a figure being launched into mid-air by the geyser.
And as the group arrived, an elder with curly white hair, dressed in a casual kimono robe, also walked up to them.
Wearing frameless glasses and with his arms crossed, he walked with a stern expression to the referee's position.
"Is that the former Elite Four member? He just looks like an ordinary old man..."
Ash couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Elite Four members usually had distinctive outfits.
For example, the Dragon-type Elite Four member looked like a rugged old sea captain, while the Ice-type Elite Four member, Bonnie, had the appearance of an elegant and noble lady.
But the person before him truly looked like an ordinary old man.
He had seen several other old men on the road earlier with the exact same kind of outfit.
(end of chapter)
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
After confirming with Nurse Joy that Torkoal could be released, Ash took his two companions and rushed straight to the Lavaridge Gym.
Lavaridge Town.
In his previous haste, Ash hadn't paid much attention to his surroundings. Looking a second time, he noticed that the path through the town was far from level.
It was more like a damp, dark-earthed trail.
Along both sides of the road, hot spring inns were open for business, with quite a few old grandmas and grandpas sitting at the entrances to cool off.
"Young lads, want to come in and rest for a bit~"
"It's great for soothing your tired muscles~"
The old grandmas waved with wide smiles, making the scene feel a bit strange.
Ash quickened his pace. Clearly, nothing held more appeal for him right now than the Lavaridge Gym.
Following the directions on the map, the three of them soon arrived in front of a Gym.
It was a rather traditional wooden dojo with a tiled roof. The roof was covered in deep red tiles, reminiscent of blazing flames.
However, at that moment, a figure was sitting on the steps at the entrance of the Lavaridge Gym.
It was a woman a few years older than Ash and his friends. Her fiery red hair was tied up, yet it fanned out at the end of her ponytail like an explosion.
She wore a small black short-sleeved shirt that exposed her flat, fair stomach, and her lower body was clad in a pair of hip-hop-style, wide-legged jeans. She looked like a very spirited girl.
"Huh?"
However, she was just sitting on the steps, her gaze vacant, sighing repeatedly as she cupped her chin.
Suspecting nothing, Ash walked right up to her to inquire.
"Hello, I'm a trainer who has come to challenge the Lavaridge Gym. Is the Gym Leader here?"
Upon hearing this, Flannery finally snapped out of it. She shot up from the ground, looking completely startled.
"Uh... that, oh, I'm the Gym Leader, Flannery! Pleased to meet you!!"
She even gave Ash a deep, ninety-degree bow, her reservation and awkwardness palpable.
This, in turn, completely baffled Ash, because that was something the challenger usually said.
It seemed she was a true rookie of a Gym Leader.
"In that case, let's hurry inside and start the battle!"
Seeing his chance, Ash took the initiative, making a move to walk into the Gym.
But Flannery remained rooted to the spot outside the door like a wooden post, seeming quite hesitant.
"I'm sorry, I can't accept your challenge..."
She suddenly bowed to Ash again and said:
"I'm planning to resign from my position at the Gym. I'm not qualified for this position right now."
Ash and his two companions: "?"
This was the first time they had ever met a Gym Leader like this.
"So, did something happen...?"
Brock, like a caring big sister, gently patted Flannery's shoulder.
He was a Gym Leader himself and knew that some Gym Leaders did indeed experience psychological barriers... they just needed to be overcome.
It's worth mentioning that Brock's definition of a "big sister" was anyone more than three years older than him.
And Flannery happened to be exactly three years older than him, so Brock felt utterly uninterested.
At his words, Flannery seemed to have found an outlet, pouring out all her troubles at once.
"Two... two weeks ago, I just took over the Lavaridge Gym and accepted two Gym challenges..."
Without exception, she had been swept 3-0 by the challengers, who ferociously claimed their badges.
And they were said to be two newbie trainers who had just started their journey.
She remembered how she used to be an apprentice, watching her grandpa—the former Fire-type Elite Four member—conduct Gym challenges. Hardly anyone could ever force her grandpa to use his full strength.
Most of the time, he would hold back, offer some guidance, and then give them the badge.
This had led the outside world to always consider their Lavaridge Gym to be both powerful and respectable. "I've brought shame to the Lavaridge Gym!"
Flannery sniffled, looking as if she was about to burst into tears.
Despite her fashionable attire and a personality as fiery and free-spirited as a flame, she was an extremely sensitive person at her core.
Flannery even felt that she had gotten the position of Gym Leader from her grandpa through nepotism.
Her grandpa had watched from the side as the referee for those two battles. Seeing her get swept 3-0 twice in a row, even her usually kind grandpa had become silent, not saying much.
It looked like he was completely disappointed in her.
After hearing Flannery's story, Brock was the first to offer comfort:
"It's alright, it's always like that the first time. Just keep working hard from now on."
*Wait, why do those two fierce trainers who swept her 3-0 sound so familiar?*
Ash, standing beside them, quickly chimed in:
"Right, right! I have friends whose gym is called the weakest ever. They'll even give you a badge for free, but they're still surviving tenaciously, like Magikarp."
Brock and Blue: "..."
*Is this a party? Whoever's not here becomes the topic of conversation, huh?*
But that wasn't Flannery's focus.
"Uh, handing out badges for free? Shouldn't a gym like that be reported and shut down?"
Seeing that Flannery seemed ready to investigate which gym it was, Ash quickly changed the subject and led her into the Gym.
*God forbid she actually reports the Cerulean Gym...*
Although Misty was currently defending the Cerulean Gym, Ash didn't know if, should old history be brought up, he'd be credited with the great achievement of getting two large "SEALED" signs posted on the Cerulean Gym's gate.
Soon, the group entered the Gym.
After a round of encouragement from the three of them, Flannery seemed to have mustered her courage once more.
"Alright! Ash from Pallet Town, I, Flannery, accept your challenge!"
She clenched her fists, her confidence restored.
"This time, I will definitely prove to my grandpa that I can be a proper Gym Leader too!!"
With a wave of her hand, Flannery finally walked to the front to lead the way.
A spacious, open-air rock training ground appeared before them, seemingly surrounded by volcanic hot springs that periodically steamed with white vapor.
*Sizzle!*
It would even erupt with columns of hot spring water, shooting straight up into the sky.
"Is that a volcanic geyser...?"
Ash didn't dare to be careless. He could almost see a figure being launched into mid-air by the geyser.
And as the group arrived, an elder with curly white hair, dressed in a casual kimono robe, also walked up to them.
Wearing frameless glasses and with his arms crossed, he walked with a stern expression to the referee's position.
"Is that the former Elite Four member? He just looks like an ordinary old man..."
Ash couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Elite Four members usually had distinctive outfits.
For example, the Dragon-type Elite Four member looked like a rugged old sea captain, while the Ice-type Elite Four member, Bonnie, had the appearance of an elegant and noble lady.
But the person before him truly looked like an ordinary old man.
He had seen several other old men on the road earlier with the exact same kind of outfit.
(end of chapter)
