Episode 55:
Icy and Sara Together Forever

Icy and Sara traveled to Saffron City to see their parents again. Sara’s parents were so overjoyed to see their daughter for the first time in 4 years, and Icy’s parents were equally happy to see their son a human again. Sara’s father had a special gift for his daughter. It was the Butterfree from her childhood. It had grown a bit bigger, but was still cute. She took it and thanked him.

Icy then told Sara he needed to contact the Pokémon League for some business. He called the league commissioner. “Hello, this is Icy. I was inquiring about opening a non-league gym in the Viridian Forest?”

“Yes Icy. We have you on our file. It’s cleared. But the league will not recognize the badge you give out for there you know.”

“I know, I know. I just want to have a gym to train pokémon in and hold battles.”

“Can’t find any regulations against it. Good luck. Remember, you still gotta build it. Oh, just for the record, what type will you be primarily training there?”

“Bug pokémon sir.”

“Bug?”

“Yes, you know, caterpies, weedles, butterfrees. Bugs.”

“Ok, I’ll do you a favor and list you under our non-league gym section. Then you’ll get some trainers to battle you.”

“Thanks.”

Icy turned to Sara. “The League OK’d my gym idea. I’m going to be Viridian Forest’s first gym leader!”

“That’s great Icy. Let’s go!” The kissed their parents good-bye and left for Viridian Forest. After a few months, Icy opened his new Bug Gym to the public. He and Sara were the gym trainers there, training all bug types, along with Icy’s other pokémon, of course.

A young boy walked in. He was only 10 years old, had blond hair, short, and wore a silver ring. “Excuse me,” he asked politely, “but are you the same Icy who was once a Pikachu?”

Icy walked over to the kid. “Yes, I am. How did you know?”

“I read about you in the papers last month. Bill and Mewtwo cured you and Sara. That’s cool! You knew Mewtwo.”

“Yah… He’s not that bad once you get to know him. So did you want a battle?”

“Oh, wizards, yes! Would you battle me please. I just started training pokémon. I only have two though. Is that enough?”

“Yes. We can battle two on two.” Icy teleported to his section. “I’m sure they told you I was psychic right?”

“No, they left that part out. Ummm, you aren’t going to use any psychic pokémon are you?”

“No, only bugs. Let’s go. Ready to fight, come in sight, Icy calls, Buttercup!”

“Hehe… That’s a neat battle motto. I should come up with one too… I call, Flametail! Go!!” The boy’s Charmander eyed the Butterfree.

“Buttercup, use your stun spore.” Buttercup swooped down and hit Flametail with the stun spore.

“Oh no, Flametail, ember attack.” Although young, the boy knew his pokemon well. The ember attack fried the spores. “Ok, scratch that Butterfree now.” Flametail quickly got the upper hand pinning Buttercup to the ground.

“You’re good kid. Buttercup return! Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Suctioncup!”

“A caterpie?”

“Never underestimate your opponent young trainer. This caterpie may look weak, but not after he does his stuff. Suctioncup, string shot now!” The caterpie tied up the amazed charmander then tackled it. Flametail smashed against the wall and fainted.

“Oh… That caterpie is strong.” He returned the charmander to its pokéball. “Try this, go Pikachu! Hehehe…” The pikachu examined its rival. “Pikachu, thundershock that caterpie!” Pikachu blasted Caterpie across the gym into a wall with one blast. “Ha! Never underestimate the pikachu, eh Icy…” Icy laughed.

“You fight well kid. Here’s a Forest Badge to show your friends. It won’t help you in the league, but it does show you bested a gym trainer. Wear it in good health.”

“Thank you mister Icy. Well, I gotta go. C’mon Pikachu.” The kid waved goodbye and ran off. Icy healed his pokémon and went back with Sara.

“You let him win?”

“No, he beat me. Bugs don’t often win. But with a lot of training, they can. I don’t want to cream trainers, just teach them to be prepared for powerful pokémon in small packages.”

“Oh, I see…” She went back to teaching a pokémon class in the back room. Icy went back into the main gym and trained some more of his pokémon.

The End... Or is it?