New Battles
Chapter 4: Cerulean Gym
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters involved except Brice.
Brice walked out of the Pokemon Center and pulled his coat closer to his body. Since he exited Mt. Moon the weather had gotten continually colder. Today was no exception, the weather reports were saying the temperature could reach below freezing by mid-day.
"I'll have to be careful while I'm out training." Brice said to himself as he began to head West from the Pokemon Center.
He had found a large, open grassland that he'd been using as a training grounds since he'd exited Mt. Moon, it was full of different kinds of pokemon that provided good challenges to his Pikachu who was already showing signs of its training. It was the fastest pokemon Brice owned and its lightning attacks were beginning to show some power as it fried Spearows in one shot.
"We should be able to take on Misty after today's training." Brice said to Pikachu as he released it from its pokeball.
Pikachu yawned, stretching its small arms as far as it could.
"Ready?"
Pikachu nodded, Ash looked up to see a Spearow glaring at them from the grass.
"Pikachu, thundershock!"
Pikachu released a blast of lightning that stunned the Spearow, it's eyes were wide-open as it fell to the ground. Pikachu leapt into the air happily, Brice rubbed his head and looked around to see if there was anything else.
"Come on, let's see if there's something else today."
Brice led Pikachu around for a few hours, Pikachu battled ten Spearows and watched as Mankey took out seven Sandshrews. As the sun began to set Brice returned Pikachu to its pokeball and made his way back to the city.
"We made some progress today, will it be enough to take on Misty though? I guess we'll find out tomorrow." Brice disappeared into the pokemon center and went to his room falling asleep on the bed he was currently renting.
The next day he awoke to see the sun was shining brightly. The snow on the ground reflected the sun's rays, glaring back at people who looked at it. Brice got dressed and slipped out Pikachu's pokeball from his belt.
"Today's the day." He said.
He put Pikachu's pokeball back in its place as he made his way out to the telephones. He rang up Professor Oak.
"Ah, Brice, it's been a while."
"Hello Professor. I was wondering if you got the Sandshrew I caught a few days ago?"
"I did. Do you want it in your party?"
"Yes please." Brice said, holding up his Metapod's pokeball.
Professor Oak disappeared from the screen for a minute. He returned carrying a pokeball which he put in the teleporter stand. Brice put Metapod's pokeball on the stand and the two of them were hit with small amounts of lightning before switching places.
"Thanks Professor, how are the others doing?" Brice asked.
"They're doing just fine. Your two Nidorans are developing quite the relationship. Spearow if flying freely, Weedle and Paras nap a lot lately, though the cold probably has something to do with that. Jigglypuff is getting along with Clefairy. Zubat and Geodude are enjoying themselves in the caves."
"That sounds great." Brice replied with a smile.
"Where are you calling from by the way?" Professor Oak asked.
"I'm in Cerulean City. I'm about to go take on Misty."
"Ah, good luck." Professor Oak said with a smile.
"Thanks Professor. I'll call you later." Brice hung up the phone.
He left the Pokemon Center and entered the Cerulean Gym two minutes later. He fought his way through the three trainers before Misty. Pikachu was still going strong.
"Ready?" Brice asked as he approached the Water-type gym leader.
Pikachu nodded and Brice cleared his throat.
Misty had been taking care of a Goldeen in the pool when she looked up at him. "Are you here to challenge the gym?"
"I am." Brice replied.
"Alright." Misty stood up and pointed at two boxes on the edge of the pool, "Those are the starting positions."
Brice walked over to one and sent Pikachu onto the platforms that were built into the pool. Misty was standing across the pool from him and she released a Staryu.
"Who are you, so I know who I'm facing."
"I'm Brice, from Pallet Town."
"Alright Brice, the rules are as follows: We will use our whole party, you as the challenger are the only one allowed to switch pokemon. That ok?"
"That's fine." Brice said, slipping off his coat and putting it on the floor next to him.
"You can make the first move." Misty said.
"Pikachu! Thundershock!"
Pikachu charged up its electricity and hit Staryu frying it instantly.
"Whoa! You're fast!" Misty said, wide-eyed as she returned her Staryu.
Her next pokemon was Starmie, a large gray-star shaped pokemon
"Thundershock again!" Brice called.
"Starmie! Use your agility!"
Starmie's image blurred as it darted forward.
Pikachu had the lightning blast already on its way. It his Starmie head on and feinted it.
"Starmie!" Misty shouted, returning it.
They walked over to the left of the pool and met each other midway.
"That was an impressive display Brice." She said, handing him the gym-badge.
Brice put it in its case and put the case back in his jacket pocket.
"Thanks. We trained hard, didn't we Pikachu?" He looked down at the yellow mouse pokemon who jumped slightly and smiled.
"Well, I wish you luck in your future battles." Misty said with a smile.
"Thanks." Brice returned Pikachu and left the Cerulean gym. He let out his Sandshrew, it looked up at him curiously as he knelt down to talk to it.
"Sandshrew?" he asked.
It nodded.
"Listen, I'm on a quest to collect all the pokemon in the world, and I need to beat the gym leader in Vermillion City to do that. He uses Electric-type Pokemon, and you're a ground type. Do you think you could help me?"
Sandshrew nodded vigorously.
"Thanks." Brice said with a smile before returning it.
He returned to the Pokemon Center and gathered his things. He re-stocked at the PokeMart and then set off for Vermillion City.