CHAPTER IV: The Boulder Badge
"Thank you! Your Pokémon are now fighting fit! We hope to see you again." Nurse Joy smiled as she gave a farewell wave while Quinton and Arashi left the Pewter City Pokémon Center doors. As she did the light flickered on and off. Nurse Joy called, "Oh no! Another power surge! Quick, get the machines up and running again! We have to protect the Pokémon!"
Arashi glanced behind her, "Hmm… wonder what that was all about…"
Quinton shrugged, "Not sure… Did you ever notice that everyone at every Pokémon center says the same thing?" Quinton asked as they made their way to the Pokémart.
Arashi turned her head to look up at him as they walked side by side. She answered, "No. I didn't notice… it's probably just protocol. Every employee learns their greeting and goodbye for their customers."
"No, I understand. It's not the fact that they all say the same thing, it's what they say."
Arashi walked into the Pokémart handing the door to Quinton as she entered. Her eyebrows squinted as he emphasized the "what". She grabbed some potions from the front shelves and a few antidotes before going to counter to check out, "Alright… what do they say?" she put her things on the counter and turned to him as the person behind the desk began to scan the items.
"Well, they say that they hope to see you again, is that implying they hope your Pokémon are again injured… therefore you have to come back." Quinton's voice raced.
Arashi paid and put the items in her bag, "Dude you are reading WAY too much into it."
"Oh I'm sorry, Lil' Miss." The cashier spoke softly, "But my cash register isn't working, it seems to have shorted out… I can't get it open to give you change."
Arashi paused, "Uh… just keep the change then. I don't mind." She forced a smile, trying too hard to hold back her annoyance at the prefix "Lil'".
The two walked down the Pewter City streets staring and the strong earthy city. The buildings were magnificently crafted out of the stone and rock from the earth and held strong foundation in the ground beneath their feet. Despite the primitive building blocks, they had bright signs and lights in the streets which lit up the city at sun down. Finally, the two reached the Pokémon gym, "Alright this is it! Come on!" she cried as she grabbed Quinton's wrist and began hastily pulling him to the gym entrance. As she reached it, she turned around the say, "This is gonna be great! We're gonna get our first-"
Before she could say anything, the door swung open and NV came rushing out, the two connected, Arashi's head slamming into his cheek. Both fell backwards onto their butts in the soft earthy dirt. NV called out,
"Well Well!" He got to his feet and immediately began to dust the dirt off his dark gray and black horizontal striped T shirt. His slightly baggy tan jeans didn't show the dirt, "Look who thinks their big and tough enough to challenge the gym leader and get their first badge."
"Oh please, this is going to be a walk in the park!" Arashi responded as she inspected her scraped knee. A drop of blood came oozing out.
NV raised his eyebrows with an expression that mirrored concern before rolling his eyes and pulling out a pack of gauze from his gold and black backpack, "Here." She tossed it in her lap nonchalantly, "Don't want you bleeding all over Gym Leader Brock's nice battle platform."
Arashi took it and tossed it behind her as she jumped up, "I don't need your charity!" Quinton picked it up off the ground and put it in his pocket.
NV sighed, "Alright then, just trying to help." He shrugged.
"Since when do you care?" Arashi asked squinting suspiciously.
NV didn't reply but instead pulled out something from his pocket, "Take a look at this!" he showed her the Boulder Badge. It shimmered in the light as the sun reflected off the silver, octagonal token of achievement. Arashi had to look away. He continued, "It was easy. For me. He said I was the strongest trainer he's seen come through here in a long time!"
Arashi sighed. Now NV was off to Cerulean City… at this rate, she'd never catch up to him, he'd get to the Pokémon league first, but… maybe it wasn't the speed that mattered. Even if he got their first, she would beat him every chance she got, every encounter she'd come out on top, she knew she could, she knew she was capable, "That's nice NV, soon I'll have one of those, too." She said gritting her teeth and trying with all her energy to be gracious.
NV raised an eyebrow having been caught off guard by her response. He just wanted to push her buttons, get a reaction, keep the conversation going, and he failed. He put the badge back in his pocket, "Don't count on it. You're not exactly what they call a prodigy like myself. Smell ya later, Arashsnot!" he pulled out a bicycle from the rack of bikes next to the door and jolted off.
"Honestly, where does he get such an attitude." Quinton calmly remarked as he rode away.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Arashi screamed, threw her cap to the ground and jumped on it, Eevee shuttering, "NERD VERD!" the control and tranquility she forced upon herself in his presence was now gone, "HOW DID HE EVEN GET A BICYCLE!"
Eevee bit her sock and tugged toward the gym. Arashi looked down at Eevee's anxious and excited purple eyes and spoke, "I know girl… I'm sorry. Let's focus on us right now." She leaned down, "Are you ready to get that gym badge?"
"Weeeeeeeeeeee!" Eevee hopped up and down with excitement.
"Are you ready Quinton?" Arashi asked.
"I'm unsure what to expect but… ready as I'll ever be." He grinned.
"Alright, let's get to it then!" Arashi entered the gym with Quinton and Eevee close behind her. She looked up and saw Brock standing there as if expecting their entrance.
He stood about 5"9, over a foot taller than Arashi, his brown hair spiky and tan skin glowing in the sunlight which cascaded through the sun roof windows. His arms appeared lean and strong however they were far from muscular. He appeared to be in his older teens; it had been years since his journey with Ash. Arashi already felt the intimidation creep over her as she looked into his squints of eyes. He gave a smirk, "You and that other little trainer were so loud. I was ready for you."
"Well I'm ready for you! I'm here to get my first badge and take my first step to being Pokémon league champion of Kanto!" Arashi called out with a huge grin, "Eevee and I both, it's our dream!"
"Weetwee!" Eevee called climbing up Arashi and standing on her shoulder.
"Wow… those are some big dreams, reminds me of another trainer I once knew very dearly who wanted to be a Pokémon master." Brock looked at his Eevee, "Another Eevee? Wow, those aren't everyday Pokémon but the boy had one, too."
Arashi's eyes widened, wow… a Pokémon master? That's something I could not be. I am not patient enough to catch every Pokémon… as NV said… I only caught one, and it hates me. Wait… NV? Eevee? Arashi decided to ignore that for now, "Let's stop talking and do this!" she threw a pokéball out, "Bulbasaur, Poison Powder!"
Brock threw a pokéball and in the ray of red light Geodude appeared, "Geodude tackle attack!"
Geodude rolled through the poison powder which drifted down on the field and his hard rock body connected with Bulbasaur's side. She flew back, sliding on the earth, her eyes squinted. Arashi bit her fingers as she watched. Geodude rolled back to his side of the floor, and then the poison hit. Geodude became dizzy and stumbled as it did damage, he couldn't avoid it Bulbasaur's attack.
Arashi cheered internally, "Bulbasaur Vine Whip!" she called as Bulbasaur regained her balance.
"Defense Curl now, Geodude!" Brock called in his raspy voice.
Geodude curled up and raised his defenses as Bulbasaur delivered a super effective vine whip. Geodude hung on, but as the poison took effect, he became even slower and more lethargic… he was almost down for the count. Arashi ordered a last strong tackle. Even though it wasn't very effective, it was all that was needed. Geodude fainted. Brock called him back a look of concern on his face, "Onix go!" he regained confidence as the 17 feet stone beast appeared in the ring. Arashi stared up at him and turned to Bulbasaur who also looked incredibly afraid.
"What's the matter? Never seen an Onix before?" Brock chuckled.
"Not in… uh person…" Arashi chuckled a bit nervously before pointing, "Alright Bulbasaur poison powder!"
Again the purple powder emerged from the tip of the bulb and shot up into the air showering the entire battlefield. Arashi waited and watched as the Onix became poisoned, she then looked to Brock to see his reaction. He showed his teeth for a second before becoming calm again, she was getting to him. She turned to her Bulbasaur, "leech seed him!"
Onix shook his long body and rocks came tumbling down from above Bulbasaur. She jumped out of the way and spun around trying best she could to not let the rocks touch her although, inevitably a few did and she stumbled slightly, but ultimately, not a lot of damage was done. Arashi cheered silently with a fist pump as Bulbasaur sent the seeds flying at Onix and immediately began to sap life from him. With that, Bulbasaur healed slightly and then Onix was affected by the poison. Brock's face contorted more this time. Arashi smirked, good to know I'm getting into his head.
"Sandstorm now, Onix!"
"Bulbasaur, finish him off with a vine whip!"
Sand erupted from the ground and circled around the Pokémon, Arashi couldn't see in to know what was happening, she felt a slight amount of panic but held her cool. Sure enough, vine whip missed.
"Onix, rock throw!" a rock hit Bulbasaur in the side as she fell over. It had cleared enough for Arashi to see. She cried out, "Bulbasaur vine whip quick!"
More health was sapped from Onix and given to Bulbasaur, then the poison. His health was getting lower.
"Keep chipping away, Onix." Brock smiled.
"Bulbasaur, return!" Arashi held out the pokéball as Bulbasaur came back to her. She placed it in the pouch on her belt and turned to Eevee, bending down more to her level she spoke, "Alright, girl, we can do this. You just have to stop and wait… listen to where Onix is and go for it, he's a big target."
Eevee nodded in reply, a look of excitement and determination on her face.
"Alright, let's do this then!" Arashi sent Eevee out to battle.
"Onix, grab that thing and put it in a bind." Brock ordered.
Arashi scowled at his assurance and nodded to Eevee who delivered a fast as direct quick attack sending Onix down and out for the count. Brock's eyes widened as he slowly held up his hand and returned Onix. The dust cleared and Brock nodded, "Very good… I better warn the Pokémon League."
Arashi watched as he approached her, his head low. Standing in front of her he reached into his pocket and pulled out the boulder badge, an octagonal symbol of beauty. Arashi lit up as she held it tightly in her grasp, "Thank you." She smiled.
"No, thank you for a good battle. You treat your Pokémon with a lot of love and kindness, like friends. They get you." He grinned.
"Gym Leader Brock Sir?" Quinton piped up, "I believe it is my turn to battle you."
"Yeah sure… let me heal my Pokémon." He pointed behind him.
"Excellent!"
~~~x~~x~~~
The entire gym rumbled with the power of the sun as light glowed from the windows. Both Brocks' Pokémon eliminated within two turns.
Brock's jaw was dropped at the unexpected move and power.
"Thank you, Sir." Quinton took the badge carefully from his hand, "It was great to battle with you." He then headed out of the gym. Arashi quickly followed, she herself incredibly surprised and awestruck at the one sidedness of that fight, if you could even call it that. As soon as the door swung shut behind him, she called,
"How did your Porygon learn Solar Beam?"
"It's just a TM. My parents gave it to me before I left." Quinton smiled brightly, "I knew it'd come in handy at the first gym! The second one, too!" they headed toward the route to Cerulean City.
"Yuh… yuh don't say." Arashi stopped suddenly as she bumped into someone, gosh, I'm so clumsy today. I really need to actually look where I'm going, "I'm sorry. I didn't s-"
"Watch it!" a young man jumped back dressed in black clothing, a large red R on his shirt and black cap. He had tools in his hand, and was messing with a telephone pole, rewiring something.
Arashi raised an eyebrow, "Hey, are you supposed to be doing that?"
Quinton knew exactly who this guy was and what organization he was from. He scowled, "Team Rocket."
"Team Rocket?" Arashi questioned, Wait! I've heard of them.
"Just keep walking and mind your own business, Squirt, you didn't see a thing." He snapped as he went back to his business.
"Who are you calling a Squirt?" Arashi scowled and nodded to Eevee, "I don't know what you're up to, but I know it's up to no good, I can tell you're stealing power from the city! That's why the lights kept flickering!"
"Oh how observant. Are you going to stop me with tha—oh an Eevee. How nice. I think I'll just take that from you while I teach you to keep your nose out of places it doesn't belong!" he through a pokéball and a Zubat flew forth, fangs barred and ready.
"Over my dead body! Eevee go!" Arashi was ready for anything, if that meant battling a few thugs along the way, she welcomed it, and what kind of trainer would she be if she didn't look out for the good of Pokémon and their owners.