The Trial at Dream Island (Flashback)

(Co-written by Gold)

It was a quiet day in Pallet. Not much was happing. As usual, Gold was studying pokemon as he eagerly awaited his 15th birthday so he can begin to train them. Putting a book about legendary pokemon down, he sighed. "I need experience if I'm ever going to become a real expert like Prof. Oak. Hey Pikachu, which pokemon do you think I should try and capture first?" Gold asked.

"Pika pika pika cha chu (how about a Squirtle? That would be easy enough.)" Pikachu spoke thoughtfully.

"True. But Squirtles are hard to find. There's noting here that has any info about how to find and capture one. Only a real water Pokemon expert would know that."

"A real expert, huh?" a voice spoke from behind.

"Frosty�is that really you?" he asked. (Gold has a good memory)

"Who else where you expecting, Ash Ketchum?" Frosty queried in a rare joke.

"Long time no see. How�re you doing?" Gold asked casually.

"I'm fine. I've been busy training. I'm going over to Dream Island soon so I can take a test. If I pass, I'll be made an official gym leader." She said placidly.

"Really? That's cool! I'd like to see your test. I might learn something. I'm sure you'll pass. Where are you planing to build your gym?" he asked. She smiled slyly.

"That's a secret."

"You can tell me. Come on, I want to battle you later."

"Nope, I'm not telling. You'll have to find it if you want to battle me."

"What's the point of having a gym if it's secret?" Gold asked

"Well�" Frosty tapped her chin thoughtfully. "�That�s a secret too."

"Oh come on!"

She smirked. "I�m hiding it as a challenge, or so I plan to. If the trainer can find me, they deserve to battle." Sure, it was an answer, but it wasn�t the whole truth.

A little later the two were discussing water and ice pokemon. "So you see, if you want to catch a Squirtle you just need the right bait." Frosty advised.

"Yeah?"

"Rice balls."

"What do you think is the strongest ice type pokemon?" Gold inquired.

"Why do you want to know that?"

"Because Ice is one is one of the best types. Ice is super effective against Grass, Flying, Rock, and Ground, plus it's good against Psychic, Ghost, and Fighting types. Also, because most Ice types are also partially water types, their only weakness, Fire, is less effective although it makes them weak to electricity."

"I'm impressed you know all that. Are you sure you need my help?"

I nodded. "That's about all you learn from a text book. It's better to learn from someone who knows more than you do. And you know more about Ice and water types then anyone I know!"

"Well, all ice types are different. They have there own powers, strengths, and weaknesses, just like all pokemon. A Jynx could resist electricity, but not fire; a Dewgong could resist fire, but not electricity."

"Yeah. I guess I'll just have to catch them all. All except for Articuno. I'd be happy just to study him!"

After they finished talking, Frosty told Gold when she would be taking the test.

"Silver and I will be there cheering you on!" He said, smiling.

"Thanks, Gold. I'll see you there. Remember, I did promise you. I owe you."

"Good Luck!" Gold shouted as she left. Later, he secured his and Silver�s passage to Dream Island and back with Prof. Oak. Oak was going to go watch, and he was more than happy to bring them with him.

It was a misty morning. Frosty stepped out onto the soft, sandy grounds of Dream League Stadium. She stood in her trainer�s box, and looked around. Hundreds of people had come to watch as she battled for her gym title. Their cheers were loud and excited, but Frosty couldn�t hear them at all. She waited; she had been told that she would be battling one of the Dream League Masters as her trial. She wondered who it would be.

"And now, Frosty Furimasu! The young woman of Cerulean City you have all come to see! She�s going to battle to become and Ice-type gym leader!" an announcer�s voice boomed across the stadium. Now the cheers were heard. Frosty spotted Gold and Silver in the crowd. Yeah, so maybe it was near impossible to have found them, but she did know where they would be sitting.

"Here we are, ladies and gentlemen, Frosty�s challenger!" A door on the other side of the area began to open. "It�s�MISTY! She�s battling her own aunt for the title!"

Frosty�s eyes grew wide. She knew that Misty was a living legend of Water-type pokemon�and yet, she had hardly ever even conversed with her aunt, let alone battle her.

Gold called out, "Go! Go Frosty! You can beat her!"

Silver rolled her eyes. "Sure, I�d like her to win, but it�s MISTY we�re talking about here. Come on, who do you think will win it? Let�s make a little wager."

He was all ears. "Yeah? I�ll bet you ten bucks that Frosty gets the title!"

"You�re on."

"Let�s begin the battle!"

Misty looked calm as ever. Frosty was surprised. Her aunt. Her brow furrowed. She would fight with her life.

Three pokemon each. No time limit. Once your pokemon goes out, it stays out. She knew all the rules. Misty smirked and held out a pokeball. "Go!"

Seadra appeared in a swirl of red light. Frosty then sent out her Lapras.

"Smoke Screen!" As if the stadium wasn�t foggy enough, a curtain of vapor surrounded the opponents and their pokemon.

"HEY!" Gold shouted. "I can�t see a thing!"

Misty called something across to Frosty. She had said: "You�re my niece, I don�t want to humiliate you if you lose."

At least she had said �if�. "Sing!" Lapras sung a beautiful melody�unlike Jigglypuff�s song, this one only worked on pokemon. Seadra closed its eyes, smirked, and giggled. Lapras sweatdropped.

"Bubble!" A lightning fast shot of bubbles hit Lapras.

"Ugh�now what? That�s a weak attack, yet it hurt Lapras." She turned to the battle. "Water Gun!" Five spurts of water were fired from its mouth at Seadra, knocking it back a bit. "Right, now-"

Seadra had received a command, and within moments, a Skull Bash knocked Lapras out of the running. "Return."

Dewdrop, Frosty�s Dewgong, was the next up. "Aurora Beam!" A colorful array of lasers mixed into a single beam and smacked Seadra into submission. It was called back, and replaced by Wartortle. The battle raged on, until the equally strong pokemon, Nepty (a powerful Vaporeon of Frosty�s) and Misty�s Tentacruel, remained.

The fog still enclosed the battle. It didn�t show any sign of leaving. The battle proceeded at an incredible pace.

"Nepty, Quick Attack!" The fox pokemon hit Tentacruel, just as it retaliated with Poison Sting. "Bite!"

"Tackle!"

Nepty sunk a bite in Tentacruel as it pounded into her stomach.

"Water Gun!" Frosty commanded.

"Acid!" Misty called.

A glob of acid-goo hit Nepty in the face. She was blinded, but shot the Water Gun. Unfortunately, it was a miss.

"Frosty, are we done now?"

"I�m not done yet! I�ll fight until my pokemon beg me to quit!"

"That�s pretty selfish."

"Er�" Frosty stammered. "They�re dedicated to me and will fight for me! Misty, you must know how it feels."

She nodded. Nepty agreed by arching her back and growling warily. She stumbled about trying to stay standing.

Silver gasped. "It�s starting to clear!"

Sure enough, Frosty noticed that the fog was beginning to vanish from around them.

Misty gave the final command, and a Hyper Beam put Nepty out of the game. Frosty had lost.

From Gold�s view, Frosty could be seen sitting on her knees in her trainer�s box, holding her pokeballs. Misty was standing proudly in hers. She took a microphone and went to her niece.

"I would like to thank you all for attending. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused by the Smokescreen attack."

"She lost!?"

"Of course, Gold. I told you, that�s Misty. Pay up."

"Hold it."

Misty went on. "The battle was a great one; each of us used all three pokemon. Frosty put up the best fight I�ve seen in my years of being a part of the Dream League. Therefore, I am granting her the right to become a Gym Leader."

Silver gasped. Frosty stood, apparently shocked, and faced Misty.

"She has requested that her gym�s soon-to-be location be hidden for a number of reasons. I give you- Frosty Furimasu, Ice Gym Leader!" Frosty, still surprised, took a bow.

"Alright! I can�t wait to battle her!" Gold got to his feet while Silver grumbled.

"Is that all you think about?"

"Shut up and keep your deal." Silver handed over ten dollars to Gold. He crammed it in his pocket, obviously caring more about the situation than the money. Silver followed him down to the rail, and they caught Frosty�s attention.

"Thanks for coming, you two."

Several people crowded around, throwing questions about the match to her. She ignored them.

"I challenge you, Frosty." Gold grinned. "As soon as I can, I�m finding your gym."

She nodded. Silver leaned nearer and yelled over the noise, "What�s your badge gonna be?"

Frosty proudly held up a round plastic badge. "Misty told me the Sickle Badge. Of course, this is merely a sample; the real ones are metal and look much better. I have to leave now, I guess." Misty motioned to Frosty. "I accept your challenge, Gold. I sincerely hope you can find my gym." With those final words, Frosty turned and walked away, the winner of a chance of a lifetime.