Episode 43:
Fire and Icy: Backfire

Icy and Sara woke next morning to a pleasant surprise. Waiting for them in the lobby was Buttercup, good as new. Icy ran up to his friend and gave her a big hug. “Buttercup! You’re ok!” Tears of joy fell from his eyes. Buttercup shed small tears too that sparkled as they fell. Sara and Nurse Joy were also equally as happy Buttercup was better.

“Frii frii friiiii!” Buttercup cheered.

“Buttercup’s ok! I knew she would make it!” Sara exclaimed.

“Icy, in celebration of Buttercup’s recovery, I had Brock himself prepare a special meal.” Brock walked into the room. “Brock, I do believe you and Icy have met before.”

“Yes, but when he was a human. It’s ok Icy, I’ve no hard feelings. Now, where’s that courageous butterfree?” Buttercup came forward. “There you are,” he said in a babyish tone as he petted her on the head. “She looks very healthy now. Joy must have taken really good care of you, didn’t she?” Joy blushed. “Well, I’ve taken the liberty of cooking you all a special breakfast. I hope you...” he stopped, noticing they were already eating the great meal. “Uhhh, let’s eat?” He sat down next to Joy and ate with them.

After breakfast, Brock said his good-byes to everyone, especially Nurse Joy, and boarded the next Pidgeot to Pewter City. Icy and Sara thanked Nurse Joy for saving Buttercup’s life and left the pokécenter.

“Well Icy, now that Buttercup is better, what are we going to do?” Sara asked.

“I’m going to have a rematch with Blaine. Hocus and I have been working on a new strategy. Hocus and Cyber will battle Blaine’s fire pokémon.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Remember what happened to Buttercup...”

“This time will be different,” Icy said. “I hope,” he added softly. They reached the volcano entrance. A trainer happily ran out, sporting a Volcano Badge. “If he can do it, I can do it.” Icy and Sara entered the gym and headed for the main chamber.

“You decided to come back. I am impressed. I was hoping to get to battle you again. You are a worthy opponent. How is the butterfree?” Blaine seemed in be in quite a good mood for someone who just lost a gym match.

“She fine now. I’ve come for a rematch. This time, I’m going to get that Volcano Badge.” Icy’s determination was definitely back as he expanded his first pokéball.

“Very well. Two on two match. Go Ninetails!”

“Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Cyber!” Cyber materialized on the suspended field. “Cyber, conversion now!” Cyber’s physical characteristics now resembled a fire type.

“Ninetails, fire spin!”

“Cyber, sharpen and tackle!”

Ninetails fired the ring of flames at Cyber but they had no effect. Cyber jump through the ring of fire and hit Ninetails with its sharp front. Ninetails cried out in pain.

“Cyber, psybeam now!” Cyber finished off Ninetails with one blast. Blaine seemed impressed.

“Impressive. You must be very close to your pokémon for them to fight so valiantly. Ninetails return. Magmar, come out!” The lava below the field bubbled. Suddenly, Magmar jumped out and landed in front of Cyber.

“Double team Cyber, split up!” Cyber formed two duplicates of himself and immediately tried to tackle Magmar.

“Defend yourself with a shield of fire Magmar.” Two of the porygons vanished when they hit the fire wall. Magmar caught hold of Cyber. “Good. Flame-thrower!” Magmar burned Cyber until he started to overheat.

“Ughhh... Cyber return! Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hocus!” His abra appeared. Hocus studied the lava covered pokémon. “Psywave!” Hocus sent out waves of psychic energy. Magmar was stunned for a sec but became fully alert when Hocus followed up with a psybeam.

“Flame-thrower Magmar!” Magmar dodged the psybeam and launched his flames at Hocus.

“Confusion Hocus!” Hocus used his confusion on the fireball sending it back at Magmar. It pushed him back slightly but didn’t do much damage. “Auww... How do I hurt him? Hocus, try using psychic to wear him down.”

“Magmar, multiple fire blasts now!” Magmar spit five fireballs at Hocus. His concentration broken, he tried teleporting. He successfully dodged the first two fireballs but was hit by the last three. Hocus fell to the ground, sweat dripping from his head. Icy was worried. Flashbacks from the first match formed in his head.

“Hocus. Are you ok? What’s wrong?” Hocus began to glow. His breathing had increased. “Hocus?” Hocus grew a bit taller and a spoon appeared in his hand. Hocus had evolved into Kadabra! “Hocus! You evolved! I can’t believe it!” Hocus recovered his energy and took on a fighting pose. “Alright Hocus, psybeam, full power!”

“Kadabra...” he muttered as he conjured up his energy. A blue, glowing ball of psychic energy began forming in front of Hocus.

“Magmar, fire blast now!” Magmar spit a large fireball at Hocus, but it was deflected. “Agh. You have to break its concentration. Multi-fireballs now!”

Just as Magmar was about to spit more fireballs at Hocus, Hocus released the massive energy beam at him. It destroyed every fireball Magmar could spit then collided with the molten surface of Magmar’s body. He was knocked back a little and managed to stay on his feet.

“Psychic attack Hocus.” Hocus lightly pushed Magmar over telekinetically. He fell and fainted. “All right!” Icy shouted with joy. “You beat him!” Hocus was pleased with himself as well and floated to Icy’s side.

“Most impressive Icy. You have definitely earned this Volcano Badge!” Blaine walked over and handed Icy the shiny red Volcano Badge.

“Haha! Seven badges! Just one more to go!” Icy and Sara joined paws and ran out of the gym.

“You did great Icy! I never doubted you for a second! Cyber and Hocus really nailed those fire pokés!” Sara said. They headed back to the pokécenter to retire for the day.

That night, Icy dreamed of winning the Earth Badge, the eighth badge necessary to enter the Pokémon League. But something wasn’t right in the dream.

{ Evil music plays }

“I’m waiting for you Icy... I know what you want to know... I know... Bwahahahahaha!!!”