Author's Note

Apple Bloom faces her seventh gym battle. Let's hope she has a warm coat.

26. A Frosty Encounter

After ridding Mahogany Town of Team Rocket, Apple Bloom prepared herself for her gym battle. Sweetie Belle had her Snubbull spar against Apple Bloom's Pidgeotto.

"Snubbull, use Headbutt!" Sweetie Belle called out.

Snubbull rushed in and hit Pidgeotto. But, the Bird Pokémon recovered and flew up.

"Okay, Pidgeotto." Apple Bloom said. "Use Air Slash!"

Pidgeotto flapped hard and struck Snubbull. Scootaloo stepped in. "That's enough, guys. I think we need a break."

"Good idea." Apple Bloom replied. "Can't ware ourselves out."

At that moment, both Pokémon were glowing. That means it's time to evolve. When the glowing stopped, Pidgeotto grew and has a yellow line in his head feathers, and Snubbull became a gray bulldog with large lower jaws.

"Lookie there." Apple Bloom said as she pulled out her Pokédex. "We now have a Pidgeot and a Granbull."

The Pokédex examined Pidgeot. Pidgeot, the Bird Pokémon and the evolved form of Pidgeotto. This Pokémon is admired for it's wonderful colors. Then, it explained Granbull. Granbull, the Fairy Pokémon and the evolved form of Snubbull. It has a sweet personality, despite having strong tusks and jaw.

The girls soon heard somebody clapping for them. It was an old man with white hair. He wears a thick navy coat over a red shirt and beige pants.

"Well done, my dears." The old man said. "You understand Pokémon well. Those are amazing evolutions."

"Thank you, sir." Apple Bloom said. "I'm getting ready for my gym battle here."

"Then, perhaps I'll see how well you really are. My name is Pryce. I'm the gym leader and my specialty is Ice types."

"Ice types." Scootaloo gasped. "Sounds powerful."

"Indeed it is. They don't call me Icy Pryce for nothing." He then gives Apple Bloom some advice. "Heal up your Pokémon and meet me in the gym."

As Pryce heads for the gym, Apple Bloom realizes that she has a tough fight ahead. Meanwhile, in Kanto, Rumble sees his destination. "There it is. Saffron City!"

He soon explores the area. "Diamond Tiara and her friends freed this area and Silf Co from Team Rocket. I guess that prissy girl isn't bad as Applejack said she is. Time to heal my Pokémon, and prepare for my gym battle."

Back at Mahogany Town in Johto, Apple Bloom is ready to face Pryce in a three on three battle.

"Are you ready, Apple Bloom?" Pryce asked.

"Ready when you are." Apple Bloom answered.

"Then, here's my first Pokémon. Go, Seel!"

Out pops a white seal like critter. Apple Bloom studies it with her Pokédex. Seel, the Sea Lion Pokémon. Their thick fur keeps it warm from fridgid temperatures.

"Let's go, Ampharos!" Apple Bloom called out.

Pryce sees Ampharos with interest. "An electric type, huh? Let's test it out. Seel, use Icy Wind!"

Seel blew very cold air at Ampharos. Then, Pryce called out another command. "Follow it up with Aurora Beam!"

As Seel fires a rainbow beam, Apple Bloom reacted quickly. "Dodge. Then, use Thunder Punch!"

After avoiding the Aurora Beam, Ampharos landed an electrical puch so powerful, Seel fainted.

"Seel is unable to battle." Said a female snowboarder. "Ampharos wins!"

"Seel, return." Pryce said. He then makes his next choice. "Your Ampharos is pretty strong, my dear. But, let's see how it can handle Seel's evolved form: Dewgong!"

Out comes a longer version of Seel. Apple Bloom studies it carefully.

Dewgong, the Sea Lion Pokémon and the evolved form of Seel. Said the Pokédex. This Pokémon like to lounge in the warm sun after a tasty meal,

"Dewgong, use Aqua Tail." Pryce said.

As Dewgong readies it's tail with water, Apple Bloom strikes quickly. "Ampharos, use Discharge!"

Ampharos sends electricity through the water. But, Pryce isn't upset. "Try this on for size. Use Sheer Cold!"

Dewgong fired a super cold snowstorm. It was so powerful, Ampharos fainted.

"Ampharos is unable to battle." The snowboarder announced. "Dewgong wins!"

"Return, Ampharos." Apple Bloom said sadly.

"Brr, that was cold." Sweetie Belle said. "I can feel it from here."

Apple Bloom makes her next choice. "Let's go, Typhlosion!"

Typhlosion comes out flaring up. Pryce looks at it with interest.

"I wondered when a fire type would show up." Pryce remarked. "Dewgong, use Aqua Tail!"

As Dewgong readies itself, the electricity from Discharge kicked in and paralyzed it.

"Let's do this, Typhlosion." Apple Bloom called out. "Use Flame Wheel!"

Curling up into a firey ball, Typhlosion rolled fast and struck Dewgong hard. The Sea Lion Pokémon soon fainted.

"Dewgong is unable to battle." The snowboarder said. "Typhlosion wins."

"Yee haw!" Apple Bloom cheered.

As Pryce recalls Dewgong, he soon got Apple Bloom's attention. "Time for you and Typhlosion to meet my last Pokémon. Stop this if you can. Go, Piloswine!"

Out came a furry creature with tusks. Apple Bloom studies this creature. Piloswine, the Swine Pokémon. It has fur that keeps it warm from the bitter cold. And, uses it's tusks to chip away ice to find food.

Apple Bloom realized that she better wrap it up fast. "Typhlosion, use Flame Charge!"

Flaring up, Typhlosion streaked towards Piloswine. Though hit hard, Piloswine is still standing.

"Here's our answer to fire types." Pryce said. "Piloswine, use Mud Bomb!"

Piloswine fired blobs of mud and hit Typhlosion. Pryce followed it up. "Now, use Earthquake."

Stomping on the ground, Piloswine shook up the ground. Typhlosion was shakrm up so much, it fainted.

"Typhlosion is unable to battle." The snowboarder announced. "Piloswine wins!"

Apple Bloom sadly recalled Typhlosion. Pryce looks at his opponent. "Looks like Piloswine took out your best Pokémon, miss."

"Typhlosion was my best Pokémon." Apple Bloom said as she makes her next choice. "But, not my last. Let's go, Miltank!"

Miltank comes out, ready for battle. Pryce doesn't look impressed. "This will be easy. Piloswine, use Ice Fang!"

Piloswine charges with a mouth full of ice. Apple Bloom reacted. "Miltank, use Zen Headbutt!"

Miltank's head glowed as it meets Piloswine head on. Piloswine was knocked back as Apple Bloom followed it up. "Now, let's go for it. Use Rollout!"

Curling up, Miltank rolled up and struck Piloswine. The mighty Swine Pokémon soon fainted.

"Piloswine is unable to battle." The snowboarder announced. "Miltank wins. The winner of this gym battle is Apple Bloom from Canterlot!"

Apple Bloom and Miltank hugged each other. Pryce recalled Piloswine and approached his opponent.

"Nothing warms a heart more than seeing friendship between Pokémon and a trainer." Pryce said proudly. "Seeing you and your Pokémon is a good example. You truly earned the Glacier Badge."

Apple Bloom receives a badge shaped like a snowflake. "Thank you, Pryce."

As the farm girl puts away her badge, Lance comes in and gets everybody's attention. "Those fiends of Team Rocket took over the Radio tower at Goldenrod City."

"Oh no." Pryce gasped. "That's terrible."

"I'm heading to Goldenrod City right now. Cutie Mark Crusaders, I'm inviting you to join me on my mission."

The girls nodded as Apple Bloom speaks. "We'll be glad to help out, Lance."

Meanwhile, in Saffron City, Rumble is ready to wrap up his gym battle.

"Arcanine, use Fire Fang!' Rumble called out.

With a mouth full of fire, Arcanum clsmos down on Alakazam, causing the psychic Pokémon to faint.

"Alakazam is unable to battle." One of the psychics announced. "Arcanine wins. The winner of this Gym Battle is Rumble!"

Rumble cheered and cuddled Arcanine as gym leader Sabrina recalled her Alakazam.

"A splendid gym battle, young Rumble." Sabrina said proudly. "I give to you the Marsh Badge."

"Thank you, Sabrina." Rumble replied.

After putting away his badge, Rumble exits the gym. "Next stop, Cinnabar island!"

End of Chapter 26

APPLE BLOOM
Typhlosion
Pidgeot
Sentret
Ampharos
Drowzee
Miltank

At Prof. Elms Lab
Scyther
Sudowoodo
Poliwag

SWEETIE BELLE
Croconaw
Beedrill
Granbull
Sunkern
Togepi

SCOOTALOO
Bayleef
Weepinbell
Quagsire
Machop
Pineco