Chapter 4: The Cave of Hot Wings and More
"Hey. Hey, Sulfur. Sulfur, wake up. Wake up. Wake up, Sulfur. It's morning. Hey. The sun is up and so should you. Come on. Wake up." Topaz was well awake and crouched over near Sulfur. She was poking his face as she spoke to him.
"Get away from me." Sulfur said groggily. "You're just like an annoying fairy."
"Fairies don't exist, Goldie, so get up." Topaz stood up and walked over to her bag. Achi was also out of his pokeball.
Sulfur stood up and stretched out his limbs as he greeted the new day. The two trainers began packing their things into their bags in order to start their journey to reach Oreburgh and obtain the first gym badge.
"You ready? We better leave now if we want to get to Oreburgh before dark again. I know you're going to take forever scanning Pokémon again." Topaz closed her bag and allowed Achi to climb her shoulder.
"Oh, be quiet. It's not that , it's the last stretch before we get to Oreburgh so it's very unlikely we don't arrive by sunset." Sulfur said picking up his bag in one hand and Ren in the other.
"Yup, that's exactly what I thought yesterday, yet here we are." Topaz replied as she turned toward the direction of Oreburgh City.
"Yeah, yeah, let's just go." Sulfur said following close behind.
After a short walk, the two rookie trainers finally made it to Oreburgh Gate, the cave separating them from their first gym battle. Sulfur rifled through his bag and pulled out a flashlight.
"Alright then, Rocky, pull out your flashlight and we'll get going." Sulfur said. Topaz looked over to Achi and motioned him to move off her shoulder.
"You heard the nerd. Lead us out of here, Achi." The small fire Pokémon jumped off Topaz and walked in front of both trainers.
"I should've known you'd be unprepared. Enough wasting time, let's head through." Sulfur entered the cave along side his sleepy Ralts.
"It's not being unprepared if I knew I was getting a fire Pokémon, thus a packed in flashlight. Also, you need to come up with a more clever nickname for me. It's not as creative as you might think."
"I don't think you had this cave in mind when you picked the Chimchar. I could call you a microcephalic adopte, but you probably wouldn't know what that means. So I called you something you'd understand." The two continued to argue as they traveled through the cave.
"And this is the point where I wish I could punch you in the face." Topaz replied back angrily.
What the two had failed to notice, was their back and forth woke a small colony of Zubat.
"Looks like your gonna have to put that boxing match to the side for now." Sulfur said looking up at the beast they had just awoken. Topaz looked up as well as she replied back to Sulfur.
"I'm still blaming you for all this."
"Oh shut up and battle already." Sulfur said. "Ren! Use confusion!"
The sleepy Ralts sprang into action as it sent small pink waves towards the attacking Zubats, several of them fell to the ground in pain.
"Achi, ember, now!" The fire Pokémon did as his trainer commanded and launched flecks of fire at another small group of Zubats.
"Nice one, that wasn't so hard." Sulfur commented.
Their victory was short lived however as more and more Zubats began pouring out of the deeper innards of the cave. Sulfur and Topaz looked in horror of the massive blood sucking Pokémon flying around.
"This...is where we run." Sulfur quickly picked up Ren and began to sprint out of the cave.
"Well, I'm not arguing with that logic. C'mon, Achi!" Topaz and the Chimchar chased after Sulfur, leaving behind the Zubats.
The two quickly ran out of the cave. Moments later, they burst through the cave exit. Topaz stopped to catch her breath as she looked over at Sulfur.
"Are you alright over there?"
"I think so." Sulfur said laying on his back breathing heavily. "Oh Arceus, please tell me we made it." Topaz walked over to Sulfur and sadly looked down on him.
"Do you want me to carry you to the Pokémon Center?" Topaz asked.
"Yeah, no thanks. Knowing you'd throw me off a cliff first chance you got." Sulfur said standing up along side Ren who gave Topaz a dirty look. Topaz shook her head.
"Why must you take away all my fun?" Topaz picked up Achi and headed for the center.
"Not fun for me." Sulfur said to himself, picking up Ren and following close behind. "Oreburgh huh? Well it looks like a mining town alright."
"It's definitely not a unicorn town, that's for sure." Topaz replied back sarcastically. She then entered into the center, making her way to the counter.
"Excuse me, we'd like to have our Pokémon healed please." Sulfur gave Ren over the counter as Topaz did the same with Achi.
"May we also get separate rooms for the night?" Topaz asked.
"Of course. Here you go. Rooms 11 and 12." Nurse Joy handed a key to both trainers.
"So what now? You wanna head to the gym?" Sulfur asked.
"I think we should go and schedule our battles with the gym leader." Topaz suggested.
"Alright, let's flip a coin to see who gets to go first." Sulfur pulled out a coin from his pocket and flipped it in the air. "Call it."
"Tails." Topaz said as the coin fell into Sulfur's hand. She leaned over towards Sulfur to see if she had won.
The coin had infact landed on tails claiming Topaz to be the victor.
"Stupid coin. Fine, looks like you get first dibs." Sulfur said a little bitterly. Topaz laughed.
"Ha, ha! You lose! Now let's go!" Topaz went back to Nurse Joy and then started for the exit as she cheered.
"Alright, just wait up. I'm coming too" Sulfur grabbed Ren from Nurse Joy and followed Topaz out the door.
After a short walk across the small town, they came across a building that stood out from the rest. The tall brown roofed building had the league's signature half pokeball sign at the entrance signifying its status as a gym.
"Hey, Topaz. I know you like you Chimchar, but I think we need to set up a strategy for you before we head in there." Sulfur took at his pokedex. "With a move set of scratch, leer, and ember...not exactly the best of odds." Topaz turned towards Sulfur.
"Alright then, Goldie. What do you suggest?"
"Let me see your Shinx's pokeball." Sulfur asked.
"Right." Topaz pulled out a pokeball and held it out to Sulfur.
Sulfur gave the ball a short scan and looked over it as well. "Tackle, lear, and charge. Not much better." Sulfur said. "Your best chance is to use leer to weaken your opponent."
"Alright then. I'll try that." Topaz entered the building and went to what seemed like a reception counter. "Excuse me, but I would like to schedule a battle against Roark."
"You're in luck. Roark is open for a battle right away. Are you interested?" The worker at the desk offered.
"That is perfect. I'll take it." Topaz replied back excitedly.
"Please head through the the doors, Roark is waiting." The receptionist motioned towards the double doors. Topaz happily walked through the doors, feeling quite confident. Sulfur followed suit.
The outside design of the building did not do the gym justice as the inside was a huge battle ground for any trainer who challenged the gym. Large rocks lay throughout the entire arena and two large bleachers on each side stood for any onlookers.
At the opposite end of the battlefield, a man stepped out of a back room wearing mining attire.
"Well, hello there! I'm Roark. So, you came to challenge me and my rock types did you?" Topaz walked over the opposite side of the battle field and pulled out Ray's pokeball.
"You bet I did! And I'm planning to win."
"You got a lot of fire in you. I like that. But you're about to learn fire can't defeat a rock solid offence."
Roark smiled.
Sulfur ran over to take his seat in the bleachers and like always, retreated his pokedex. Ren took her prime seat on his head and Walter was sent out to watch the battle.
Roark pulled out a pokeball. "Get ready for my rock hard attack! Go Geodude!" Roark sent out his Geodude who looked ready for action.
"Ray! Let's go!" Topaz threw her pokeball and the small Shinx appeared on the battlefield. "Alright, Ray! Start with leer!" Ray stared down Geodude as hard as he could.
"Oh no you don't! Geodude use rock throw!" The Geodude dug its fingers into the ground and ripped out a chunk of rock then proceeded to launch it at the Shinx.
Shinx could not move out of the way in time as the rock smashed into him unforgivingly.
"Ray!" The small blue Pokémon stood back up, signaling he was ready for another attack. "Alright then. Ray, let's go with another leer." Ray was confused by his trainer's command but once again stared down the rock Pokémon.
"Geodude! Use stealth rock!" The Geodude was becoming unsure from the stares but set the rocks like Roark commanded. Topaz became slightly flustered when the rocks appeared. She decided to call out an actual attack.
"Ray, tackle!" The Shinx was pleased to finally attack. He started running towards the rock Pokémon, determined not to miss. Once the attack landed, Ray jumped back to his place. However, it didn't seem like the Geodude took much damage.
Sulfur stared at his pokedex looking over the battlefield. Shinx had taken a lot of damage but it seemed the leers were failing to make any significant difference. Ren and walter looked on crying out in support for Ray who had taken a beating.
"Topaz! You're gonna need to go on the offensive! Its defense is to high!" Sulfur informed.
Roark laughed. "Now you see the damaging power rock! Now let's finish this!" Geodude launched another rock. Ray had swiftly moved out of the way learning from his mistakes.
"Alright, let's change it up. Ray use bite!" The blue Pokémon ran towards the rock Pokémon and bared his fangs. Ray then launched himself and bit down onto Geodude's arm.
Wincing in pain, the Geodude swung its arms around, attempting to shake the Shinx off.
"Geodude!" Roark called out. "Use rock throw!" The geodude smashed a rock into Ray's face, knocking him off.
"Finish it!" Roark yelled out determined.
Not giving Ray time to recover, Geodude threw one final rock,crushing the small Shinx. Ray had fainted.
Sulfur again looked to his pokedex. Shinx was down, but the Geodude was tired from the battle. Thus, it wasn't looking good for Topaz.
Walter and Ren cried out in worry as they saw Ray lose brutally.
"I'm sorry, Ray." Topaz called back Ray into his pokeball, losing a great deal of her confidence. She pulled out Achi's pokeball, hesitating her decision. "Alright, Achi. Let's go!"
The fire starter appeared on the battlefield. Immediately, the rocks around him floated in the air. The stones began to glow and immediately crushed Achi, leaving him badly injured. Topaz winced for her Pokémon.
Sulfur also winced as he saw Achi's HP bar drop to just over half on his pokedex. This was not going as planned.
Topaz decided to go with an attack.
"Achi, ember!" The small fire ape launched out multiple flecks of fire at the rock Pokémon.
Geodude recoiled and threw up its arms in defense.
"Keep up the pressure!" Roark yelled out.
His Geodude threw another rock at the Chimchar. Achi was more agile than Ray and easily dodged the incoming volley. Topaz took this chance to attack.
"Achi, use ember again!" Achi launched more fiery flecks at the Geodude, landing the attacked. The Geodude took all the damage it could and finally fainted.
Walter and Ren were celebrating at the recent victory but sulfur sat quietly. This was not the end and he knew it would take a miracle to win this battle.
"Topaz!" Sulfur called out. "Stand on guard, you can still win!" Topaz let out a huff and went back to focus on her battle.
"You took out my Geodude. Now prepare to face the true power of rock!" Roark sent out his pokeball and out came the gigantic rock snake Onix.
Sulfur looked on in awe at the sheer size of this monster as he began to scan it.
"This Pokémon has a magnet in its brain that serves as an internal compass. Its body absorbs many hard objects, making its body very solid. As it grows older, it becomes more rounded and smoother, eventually becoming similar to black diamonds. Onix tunnels under the ground at over fifty miles per hour, which causes tremors and a terrifying roar that echoes a long way. The massive, winding tunnels it leaves behind are used as homes by Diglett. Onix is capable of rotating its head, or any part of their body, a full 360 degrees. It is a very aggressive Pokémon that will constantly attack humans and Pokémon when it is in pain. Onix can be found in mountains and caves, though it prefers underground tunnels with little light."
"Oh, great." Topaz took a deep breath and looked over at Achi. "Let's go, Achi! Ember!" Achi, as before, launched more fiery specks at the large pokemon.
Roark said nothing as his Onix shrugged off the attacks. The Onix grabbed a large rock and flung it at the Chimchar. Achi dodged out of the way but Onix immediately sent another volley of rocks at the Chimchar. There was no escape this time.
"Achi, just get out of there!" Topaz cried out but there was no point in it. The rock attack landed dead on and Achi collapsed helplessly on the ground. The small ape had fainted. Topaz rushed over to her Pokémon and picked him up. Topaz had lost the battle and was greatly upset.
Sulfur looked onto the battle. He knew she had no chance of winning but he still hoped she would win. Ren and Walter looked on sadly.
Roark approached Topaz, returning his Onix to his pokeball.
"You fought well for being at a disadvantage." Topaz looked down as she spoke.
"Thank you. I'll be going." Topaz headed for the double doors with Achi in her arms. All she had in mind was to make it to the Pokémon Center.
Putting away his pokedex, Sulfur followed Topaz out, Ren and Walter following close behind. Once the two trainers made it to the center, Topaz walked over to the counter and handed over Pokémon.
Once the two trainers made it to the center, Topaz walked over to the counter and handed over Pokémon."Your Pokémon will be all better soon, there's no need to worry." The Nurse Joy said reassuring the saddened Topaz.
"Thank you." Topaz replied back blandly.
"That didn't go so well. I guess even with the leers, an ineffective attack still is ineffective." Sulfur said. Topaz turned over to talk to Sulfur.
"Look, Sulfur. Strategies may be your thing, but it's definitely not mine. Once my Pokémon are healed, I'm going out to train on my own. In the meantime, I think you should go challenge Roark. You might have a better chance." Topaz let out a defeated sigh as she spoke.
"Right, are you coming?" Sulfur asked. Topaz shook her head.
"No. I want to be alone. You go." Topaz went back to the counter, took back her Pokémon and headed for the exit. "Good luck, Sulfur."
Sulfur stood alone and looked down on his Pokémon. They looked back at him as if questioning what they were going to do next.
"Alright guys. Let's get back there and show this gym leader who's boss. " Sulfur said confidently. Ren and Walter were in full support and ready for battle. Sulfur smiled at his loyal friends. "Alright. Let's go over some strategy."
Sulfur stood with Ren by his legs on one end of the damaged battlefield as Roark stood at the other.
"Alright, now it's your turn to learn about rock hard offence." Roark said confidently. "Go Geodude!"
A different Geodude was sent out, ready for battle.
"Right then. Walter let's do this!" Sulfur sent out Walter and both combatants were ready on the battlefield.
"Rock throw!" Roark wasted no time and began his assault.
"Withdraw!" Sulfur countered.
Walter braced himself taking the rock throws full force. When the dust cleared, Walter had been unharmed. Geodude prepared another rock throw but was immediately cut off.
"Now! Razorleaf!" Sulfur called out.
Walter attacked with a torrent of leaves that the Geodude could just not defend against. Walter then tackled the Geodude and it was done.
Roark recalled his fainted Pokémon.
"You fought well friend. Go Onix!" The giant rock snake from the earlier battle stood tall looking down on the small Turtwig.
"Onix, stealth rock!"
The Onix tried to set up the rock trap but was immediately interrupted.
"Walter, razor leaf!"
The Onix saw the attack coming and abandoned its set up for a rock throw. Both parties were hit but with one taking more damage than the other.
"Onix, calm down! Use screech and lower its defense!"
The Onix let out a high pitched screech that stunned Walter in place. Onix used another rock throw knocking back Walter by surprise.
"Damn it." Sulfur cursed. "Walter get in close and use absorb!"
The Turtwig did as commanded and charged up quickly to the Onix, dodging rocks along the way. Soon Walter was close enough and shot a beam that drained the Onix's energy. Now the Onix was furious but Walter kept calm, dodging erratic attacks and rocks.
"Onix calm down!." Roark calling out to Onix to no avail.
"Now Walter! Razor leaf!"
With constant attacks from all angles the Onix couldn't keep it up. The last of its energy wasted on an enraged attempt to crush the agile Turtwig. Finally the Onix collapsed, fatigued and unable to battle.
"It's not over yet. Get ready for my ultimate rock offensive!" Roark sent out what appeared to be a small blue raptor.
"Walter use absorb!"
As Turtwig attempted to drain the Cranidos it was cut short.
"Headbutt!"
Walter was knocked back and could not continue. He had received to much punishment from the last battles.
"Walter return. Thanks, buddy." Sulfur said saddened a little.
"Send out your next Pokémon." Roark called out.
Sulfur looked down on Ren. As much as he would prefer not to, he had to in order to win. Ren was also determined to win. They were so close.
"Alright. Ren, get in there!" The small Ralts quickly scurried to her place on the rocky battlefield.
"Cranidos use headbutt!" Roark commanded.
Cranidos launched itself at Ren at full speed knocking the wind out of her.
"Ren use confusion!" Ren's counter was just as damaging as Cranidos' headbutt.
"Pursuit!"
Cranidos attacked with a dark type move but was quickly avoided by Ren's teleport.
With that opening, Sulfur continued to command. "Now, use growl!"
Ren gave a small cute growl. Cranidos was put off by this and relaxed a bit. Then Ren attacked again using confusion.
"Don't stop now, Ren! Double team!"
The Ralts made clones of herself surrounding the Cranidos. Cranidos lashed out at all the clones disappearing upon attacking them. Finally, Ren made herself known. She came in for a close range confusion, but was knocked back by Cranidos' struggle.
"Finish it off, Cranidos!" called out Roark. "Headbutt!"
The Cranidos charged at Ren with all the strength it had. But before it hit, Cranidos had collapsed. All the confusion took a toll on his mind until it just couldn't take it anymore.
Cranidos had fainted.
"Cranidos, return." Roark said in defeat.
Ren quickly ran back into Sulfur's arms as he embraced her as they relished in their victory.
"We did it! We won!" Sulfur yelled excitedly. Ren cooed in agreement matching her trainers happiness.
"Well, looks like you were able to overcome my rock assault, and for that I give you this Coal Badge." Roark walked up to Sulfur and handed him the badge. Sulfur took it.
"Thanks! Come, Ren. Let's head back to the Pokémon Center and show Topaz." And with that, the two headed back to rest and enjoy their great victory.