A/N: Since it's my birthday today, I decided to post this chapter. I know it's a bit odd to post something for my own birthday, but this is more of my gift to those of you who enjoy reading this story. The fact that people enjoy my writing is enough of a gift for me. :)
Okay, the cheesy author's notes are done. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 7 - Improvement
"Okay, Celeste," Marcus said, "let's try to work on some of your battling skills before your rematch."
The duo returned to Route 2, just along the outskirts of Pewter City and close to the boundaries of Viridian Forest. The hot afternoon sun beat down on them from above, not a single cloud in the clear turquoise sky to block its rays.
Celeste nodded. "Sounds good to me."
Marcus's eyes began wandering around their surroundings. "So, let's just wait here for a wild Pokemon to show up so you can—"
"Hold on."
"What's wrong?" He turned to face her again; he noticed she was looking at him with a face that expressed both hope and uncertainty.
She flashed him a pleading smile. "Can I have a battle against you?"
Marcus blinked. "Um..."
"Please?" Celeste clasped her hands in front of her in a begging gesture; her aquamarine eyes widened to resemble an innocent baby Growlithe's. "You're much more skilled at battling than I am. Heck, your skill matches that of a Gym Leader like Brock! So, it'd be good practice for me."
He chuckled slightly, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm that good at battling... But, sure. I'll battle you."
"So this will be a two-on-two battle, just like at the Gym," Celeste called to Marcus from across the distance that they made to make room for their battle. "Is that okay with you?"
Marcus nodded once as he pulled a Poke Ball from his backpack. "Fine by me. Rattata, go!" He hurled the ball into the air. It burst open in a flash of white light, which condensed to form a shape. When the light vanished, Rattata stood on the grassy field in its place.
"Raaaaaa!" she hissed.
"Awesome choice!" Celeste said. She yanked her own ball from her backpack and tossed it. "Let's go, Metapod!" As it soared through the air, the ball popped open, releasing a flood of white light. When the light faded, Metapod appeared on the field.
Marcus raised his hand slightly. "Before we start, I'd just like to say something, and don't take this the wrong way. Celeste, I think you should use this as a chance to work on an actual strategy. It will be good for you to plan ahead before you go back for a rematch, rather than going with the flow of the battle and hoping you win—which, honestly, is what your battle earlier seemed to be. And since you now know all of Brock's strategies, it will be good for you to come up with your own to counter them."
Celeste nodded slowly, letting the advice seep in. "Going with the flow of the battle and hoping you win," her thoughts echoed. That's kind of like what Brock said—that I rely on my confidence and a little good luck when I should try to use my Pokemon's strengths to come up with strategies to use in battle. But what would be a good strategy for Metapod to use? Harden can help protect her from too much damage, String Shot can keep the opponent from moving, and—
"Celeste!"
She jumped at the sound of her name. "What?!"
Marcus smirked playfully at her, folding his arms over his chest. "Did you zone out again?"
With a nervous giggle, she shrugged. "I guess I did. Sorry! But I think I've come up with a good strategy to use."
"Great! Let's see how it works out! Rattata, use Quick Attack!"
At her Trainer's command, Rattata darted toward Metapod. She quickly picked up speed; in less than a second, she was already one foot away from Metapod.
"Quick, Metapod!" Celeste yelled. "Harden!"
The Cocoon Pokemon's green shell gleamed, shrouding her in a greenish-whitish light just as Rattata slammed head-first into her. The Mouse Pokemon bounced off the Bug-type's rock-solid shell, stumbling a bit from the pain the impact caused.
"Oh," Marcus said, his jade eyes growing slightly bigger with realization, "I think I see what you're trying to do..."
Celeste nodded. "Yeah, it's part of the strategy I came up with. Whenever the opponent attacks, Metapod will use Harden to protect herself from any harm." As she said this, the scene from the day's earlier battle where Metapod was crushed by Onix's tail—despite using Harden—replayed through her mind. She frowned. "I guess it won't work in some cases, though..."
Marcus averted his eyes downward, slowly nodding his head. "I know what you mean..." After a moment's thought, he looked back up at her, his expression more hopeful. "Remember how Metapod used String Shot to dodge? You could always use that, too."
Celeste grinned, her eyes brightening in realization. "Oh, you're right! And I can add that to my strategy..."
"So let's continue this battle and see how it works out! Rattata, Scratch!"
Rattata scurried toward Metapod, getting a good running start. When she was about a foot away from the Cocoon Pokemon, she leaped, drawing her sharp claws back and hissing at her target.
"Metapod, String Shot!" Celeste cried.
Panicking, Metapod glanced to her left; she spotted a rugged rock a couple of yards away. She fired a strip of thick, white thread from her mouth, wrapping it securely around the rock. She then yanked herself toward it, her body moving just as Rattata's claws swiped the air where she once was.
Celeste laughed, pumping her fist in victory. "Yeah, it worked!"
Metapod hopped joyously in her place, but she stopped when she caught a glimpse of Rattata, who was panting and glaring daggers at the Cocoon Pokemon.
"Now, use Harden again!"
Metapod's body stiffened as it began to glow a greenish-white; this time, the light seemed more intense than before.
"Wow," Marcus said, scratching his chin, "Metapod's Defense seems to be raising pretty high."
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"The move Harden raises a Pokemon's Defense, which means it will be able to withstand more hits than it normally would."
"Really? Awesome! This strategy is really working out."
Marcus grinned and nodded. "That's the whole purpose of this battle. Now let's cut the chit-chat and get back to it! Rattata, use Scratch, once more!"
"Raaaaat!" the Mouse Pokemon cried, leaping toward Metapod. Her claws drawn back to strike, she descended down on the Cocoon Pokemon.
"Dodge it again, Metapod!" Celeste commanded.
Metapod obliged, taking aim at an overhanging tree branch. She shot a strip of silk string from her mouth and, after securing it around the branch, swung away. Rattata crashed on the ground where the Bug-type once stood.
"Celeste, you know you can't just keep avoiding attacks, right?" Marcus pointed out. "You have to actually attack."
Celeste giggled. "I know that, Marcus. Like I said, I've got this all planned out. And it's working."
"If you say so. Rattata, use—" Marcus cut himself off, glancing around the field in confusion, and Rattata did the same. Metapod was nowhere in sight. "Where's Metapod?"
With a satisfied smile, Celeste looked up at the tree whose branch Metapod had previously used to dodge. "Metapod!" she called, and the leaves rustled in response. "Use Tackle!"
Suddenly, the Cocoon Pokemon leaped out from the leaves, soaring down like a green torpedo toward Rattata. The Mouse Pokemon barely had time to react before her opponent crashed into her; she cried out in pain.
"Rattata!" Marcus cried worriedly.
The Normal-type staggered a bit, trying to remain standing, but then collapsed onto the dirt. Marcus rushed to her side, kneeling beside her.
"Rattata, are you okay?" He carefully stroked her soft, purple fur as she looked up at him.
"Raaa," she replied with a nod, smiling.
He returned a warm smile, drawing her Poke Ball from his backpack. "Thank you for helping out Celeste. You did a great job, and you deserve a good rest." A red laser shot from the center of the ball, enveloping the Mouse Pokemon and slurping her inside. Marcus returned the ball to his bag and then dug around inside the pocket. "That was great practice, Celeste! But let's have one more round against Bellsprout—"
"Wait!" Celeste interrupted, causing Marcus to jump. "How about I go against Fearow instead?"
"Um... are you sure?"
"Positive! Since Metapod's a Bug-type and she's at a disadvantage against Brock's Rock-types, she would get better practice against a Pokemon she's at a disadvantage against. And Bug-types are weak against Flying-types, right?"
Marcus nodded, pulling out another Poke Ball. "Right. Suit yourself. Fearow, let's go!" He tossed the ball into the air, and it burst open, a white light flooding out. When the light faded, the Beak Pokemon fluttered in its place.
"Rooooowwwww!" Fearow crowed.
"Hey, Fearow," Marcus said, "we're just going to help Celeste with her battling skills. So... try not to go all-out, okay? Tone it down a little."
"Row." Fearow nodded in agreement.
Celeste smiled down at Metapod, clenching her fists in determination. "You ready, Metapod?"
Metapod wobbled back and forth, confidence in her onyx eyes.
"Great! Let's give it our all! Now, start off with String Shot!"
"Dodge it, Fearow!" Marcus commanded.
After taking aim at her target, Metapod fired a long, silk thread from her mouth. Fearow remained still, waiting for the attack to near; when it was close, he fluttered out of the way. The thread fell uselessly onto the dirt.
"Now use Peck!"
"Defend yourself with Harden!" Celeste coached.
With swift speed, Fearow soared along the ground. The Cocoon Pokemon stiffened, her green shell shimmering brightly in a pale green light. The Flying-type stabbed her with his sharp beak, but she remained strong.
"Keep on attacking!" Marcus said. "Fury Attack!"
"Use Harden again!"
As Fearow's beak repeatedly jabbed her with a quick rhythm, Metapod's shell began to shine more intensely than before. She winced; her defense still didn't ease the pain.
"Stay strong, Metapod!" Celeste encouraged.
The Beak Pokemon's attacking ceased, and he retreated, breathing heavily as beads of sweat formed on his head. The glow emanating from Metapod's body faded.
Celeste pumped her fist in the air. "Great! Fearow's getting tired. Now, Metapod, hit him with Tackle!"
The Cocoon Pokemon didn't respond.
"Metapod?" Celeste frowned.
Again, no response. The Bug-type tipped over onto her side.
"Metapod!" Celeste gasped, falling to her knees at her Pokemon's side. She shook her head in dismay as she cradled Metapod in her arms. "I don't understand. I thought Harden was supposed to protect her..."
"Actually," Marcus pointed out, "Harden just raises a Pokemon's Defense. It doesn't protect it; it just allows the user to endure more hits."
Celeste sighed, gazing down at Metapod apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Metapod..."
"You're not the one who should be sorry," Marcus said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We got a little bit carried away, so it's our fault. Sorry."
Fearow fluttered over to Celeste's side. He lowered his head slightly, a sorrowful croon sounding from his throat.
A small smile tugged at the edges of Celeste's lips. "It's okay, guys." She drew a Poke Ball from her backpack and directed it at the unconscious Bug-type. "Thank you for all your hard work. That practice will help us win our first Badge. Now, you deserve a good rest." A red beam shot from the ball's center, enveloping Metapod and sucking her inside.
Marcus grinned at her as she rose to her feet. "So, what do you say, Celeste? One more practice round?"
She returned a confident smile, pulling another ball from her bag. "You bet. Go, Charmander!" After hurling the ball, it popped open, releasing a flood of white light that condensed into the Lizard Pokemon.
"Manderrrr!" Charmander cried.
"Look, Marcus," Celeste declared, "I won't be going easy this time, and I don't want you to, either. We should both go all-out this time!"
Marcus chuckled. "You're really determined, Celeste. And that's what I've always liked about you. Let's give this our all for her, Fearow!"
"Rowwwww!" Fearow crowed, stretching out his wings.
"Charmander," Celeste said, "use Ember!"
"Dodge it!" Marcus commanded.
With a loud cry, Charmander opened his jaws wide and fired an array of fiery orbs at Fearow. The Beak Pokemon fluttered out of the way before the balls of fire could strike, allowing them to hit the ground where he once was.
"Now, Fearow, Pursuit!"
Targeting Charmander with his fierce onyx eyes, the Flying-type soared toward the Lizard Pokemon, skimming along the ground.
"Charmander, counter it with Metal Claw!" Celeste yelled.
Once Fearow drew in close, Charmander raised his claws, and they began to glow silver. The Beak Pokemon's body twisted slightly, his wing about to strike Charmander; the Fire-type slashed at his opponent's wing with his gleaming claws.
"Feaaarrrowwwwww!" Fearow cried in agony, collapsing onto the ground.
"Use Ember!"
Once again, the Lizard Pokemon's mouth opened wide, and millions of flaming spheres shot out from his throat. The spheres scorched the wounded Flying-type, causing him to let out a screech of pain.
"Fearow!" Marcus cried worriedly.
Groaning, Fearow twitched slightly, trying to heave himself off of the ground. His eyes were squeezed shut, but one of them opened wide and glinted. Noticing this, Marcus grinned.
"I knew I didn't have to worry. Now, get up and use Fury Attack!"
As commanded, Fearow rose into the air, gliding at a rapid speed. He reached Charmander almost instantly; his beak began prodding the Lizard Pokemon.
"Charrrrrrr!" Charmander shrieked.
"Quick, Charmander!" Celeste exclaimed. "Get out of the way!"
Between quick pecks, Charmander managed to endure the pain long enough to obey his Trainer. He took a quick side-step, avoiding Fearow's beak.
"Now use Scratch!"
Charmander swiped his claws at the Beak Pokemon, cutting him along the right side of his face. Fearow screeched.
"Fearow, Pursuit!" Marcus cried.
Glaring darkly at his opponent, Fearow twisted his body in Charmander's direction, his wing knocking the Fire-type off of his feet.
"Follow it up with Peck!"
The Flying-type obliged, stabbing Charmander with his sharp beak. The Lizard Pokemon cried out in agony.
"Charmander, no!" Celeste shouted.
On his back in the dirt, Charmander struggled to stand up, groaning.
"Please get up, Charmander. You can do it!"
Celeste's encouragement didn't do much good; the Fire-type fainted. With a disappointed sigh, she collapsed onto her knees.
"Don't be so down, Celeste," Marcus reassured, approaching her. "It was only a practice battle. You may not have won, but I can tell you've improved from it."
Celeste smiled, her aquamarine eyes brightening. "You really think so?"
He nodded.
"So... do you think I'm ready to challenge Brock again?"
His response was a soft chuckle. "I think the real question is, 'Do you think you're ready?'"
Celeste casted her eyes downward, giving the question deep consideration. Am I ready? I think I have the strategies I wanted to use down, but they didn't seem to work well during this practice battle. Will they work out against Brock?
"Celeste?" Marcus said.
She looked back up at him, smiling. "I'm ready."
Marcus awoke with a start in the middle of the night, jolting upright in his bed. He blinked a few times, allowing his vision to clear as he glanced around the darkened room. Once his eyesight adjusted, he exhaled.
"What a weird dream..." he muttered. "Hey, Celeste." He turned to the opposite side of the room, where Celeste's bed was.
Only, Celeste wasn't in it.
"Celeste?" Marcus cocked an eyebrow. "Where could she have gone...?"
He kicked away the covers and threw his legs over the edge of the bed. Still drowsy, he staggered a bit on his feet, but he managed to regain his footing as he made his way out the door and down the hallway.
"Celeste?" he said softly as he entered the Pokemon Center's lobby. His voice echoed through the empty room. He continued through the room, glancing around as he did so. When he reached the doors, they automatically slid open before him; he stepped out into the brisk night air. "Celeste?" he repeated.
"What?" The feminine voice came from right beside him.
He jumped and faced the voice's source. Celeste sat on a bench right beside the doors of the Pokemon Center, an open notebook and pencil in her hands.
"Oh, hey," Marcus said. "What are you doing out here?"
"I couldn't sleep. Too excited for tomorrow." As she said this, she returned her attention to the open page in front of her, scrawling words onto the lines of the paper.
He sat down next to her, looking up at the night sky. The full moon was set in the middle of the dark blue expanse, its light illuminating the darkness; millions of stars twinkled like diamonds around it. After admiring it for a few moments, he faced Celeste, eyeing her notebook. "What are you writing?"
Suddenly, the notebook's cover slammed over the half-written page. Celeste held it away from him. "Nothing..."
Marcus chuckled, leaning forward to get a closer look. "Come on," he urged, "you can tell me."
She hesitated for a moment, holding her breath. Then she exhaled and handed the notebook to him. "It's just... a story I'm working on."
"You write stories?" he asked, opening the book and beginning to read.
She nodded. "Yeah. I've always had an active imagination and would come up with some pretty crazy ideas. So, when I was seven, I started to put those ideas on paper. I actually just did it so I would never forget them, but after a while, they started to become short stories. And I've been writing them ever since."
"You're really good at it." Marcus's jade eyes continued skimming over the words on the page. "Have you thought about becoming an author?"
"Thanks, Marcus." Celeste smiled, gazing intensely up at the sky. "If I don't become a Pokemon Master someday, I'd still be happy as a best-selling author..."
As he finished reading, he smiled, closing the notebook and handing it back to her. "Well, Celeste, I believe that you can become whatever you set out to be."
"Celeste, slow down!" Marcus cried, running about a yard behind Celeste down the streets of Pewter City. "You don't have to be in such a rush! I don't think the Gym's even open yet!"
Celeste sighed in annoyance, coming to a halt and facing him. "At least be grateful I let you get dressed this morning."
He stopped in front of her, panting. "I am grateful. But I'd also be grateful if I didn't have to exercise first thing in the morning."
"Sorry," she scoffed, and they continued onward at a steady pace.
When they turned the corner of the street that led to the Gym, they saw Brock outside the front doors, sticking a key inside the lock.
"Brock!" Celeste shouted, making the Gym Leader jump in surprise. She darted toward him, grinning brightly and waving.
"Oh, hey, Celeste," Brock greeted with a grin. "I expected to see you here so early. Can't wait to lose?"
She laughed, folding her arms across her chest. "Trust me, Brock, I'm not going to be the one losing today. Now, how about we begin with that rematch you promised me?"
He smirked. "You're on."
"The official Kanto League battle between Celeste, the challenger from Pallet Town, and Brock, the Pewter Gym Leader, will now begin," the referee announced once Celeste and Brock had taken their places at each side of the battlefield. "At stake is the Boulder Badge. Each will use two Pokemon." He raised both his arms in a Y-shape. "Now, let the match begin!"
"I hope you're ready Celeste," Brock called across the field, a Poke Ball already in hand, "because I'm not going to hold back. Go, Geodude!" After he flung the ball, it popped open. A waterfall of white light leaked out from the inside, condensing into the form of the Rock Pokemon before fading.
"Dude, Geo dude!" Geodude cried, flexing his muscular arms.
Celeste laughed as she drew out a ball from her bag. "Do you honestly think that, if I wasn't ready, I would be challenging you again? Allow me to show you how much I've improved since the other day. Metapod, let's go!" She tossed the ball into the air. Light flooded out from inside when it popped open, forming into the shape of Metapod before fading.
"Metapod again?" Brock smiled. "You're actually starting to make me curious about what you have up your sleeve. Now, enough of this chit-chat—show me how much you really have improved."
"Gladly. Metapod, Harden!"
Metapod's body stiffened, her green shell beginning to glow a pale green.
"Oh, I see," Brock muttered. "You're raising Defense to protect against taking too much damage, aren't you? With just one move, you've already shown me how much you've learned. Geodude, start off with Tackle!"
Geodude raced across the rocky field, slamming his sturdy body against Metapod once he reached her. The impact caused her to skid backward, but she stood like a stone, almost unaffected.
The Gym Leader smiled again. "Metapod has some pretty good Defense, just like a Rock-type! But let's see how many hits she can endure. Keep using Tackle, Geodude!"
Once again, Geodude tackled Metapod, and continued to strike her again, and again, and again. With each hit, the Cocoon Pokemon was pushed a little farther back; eventually, she began to wince as the pain became apparent.
"Metapod, use Harden again!" Celeste commanded. "You have to hang in there!"
The light emanating from Metapod's body brightened, and as it did so, she began to steady herself without being shoved back with each hit she sustained from her Rock-type opponent.
"The battle seems to be going well so far," Marcus muttered from his seat on the sidelines. "Geodude is going to get tired eventually, and Metapod is enduring each hit and not taking much damage." A smile creeped across his face. "Celeste really has improved since the day I first met her."
Just as Marcus predicted, Geodude stopped slamming into the Cocoon Pokemon and retreated, panting heavily.
Celeste pumped her fist. Great! Now Metapod can attack! "Now, Metapod, use Tackle!"
While Geodude was recovering, Metapod lunged out at him, slamming her body against his. With a loud grunt, the Rock-type tumbled back into the dust.
"Geodude," Brock called, "get up!"
Let's make sure he can't attack, Celeste thought. "Metapod, wrap him up with String Shot!"
Groaning, the Rock Pokemon staggered to lift himself from the ground; the Bug-type fired a white thread of silk from her mouth at him. The thread wrapped itself securely around his round body, pinning his arms to his sides as well as to the ground. Both Geodude and Brock gasped.
"Yes!" Celeste cheered. "Now, hit him with a Tackle attack!"
"Geodude, you have to break free!" Brock encouraged.
The Rock-type obliged; as Metapod bounded toward him, gaining momentum, he wrestled against the silk string that constricted him. However, his efforts were cut short when the Cocoon Pokemon struck him.
"Hang in there, Geodude!" Brock yelled. "Keep trying to break the string!"
"Don't give him the chance to break it, Metapod! Continue hitting him with Tackle!"
Metapod, obeying her Trainer's orders, repeatedly threw her body against Geodude's, his hard body gradually starting to cause her pain with each strike. Between blows, Geodude used every bit of strength in him to attempt to rip the string apart. After a while, the silk began to weaken and gradually tear. The Rock-type winced from the pain of exerting so much force and being struck continually. The strong thread completely tore off, but he barely had a chance to move before Metapod slammed against him, the impact throwing him back onto the ground again.
"Geodude!" Brock cried, concerned.
Geodude did not respond, nor did he move. He remained on the ground, unconscious.
"Geodude is unable to battle," the referee announced, throwing his arm toward Celeste's respective side of the battlefield. "Metapod is the winner!"
"Woo-hoo!" Celeste cheered, hopping into the air in victory. Happily, Metapod hopped into her arms; she embraced the Bug-type, beaming. "That was awesome, Metapod! You've become so strong!"
With a sigh, Brock drew out a Poke Ball, directing it at the fainted Rock-type. "Geodude, return," he said, and a red laser shot out from the ball's center, enveloping Geodude and slurping him inside. The Gym Leader smiled, gazing down at the ball in his hand. "You did a great job, and that's why you deserve a good rest." He returned the Poke Ball to his pocket, exchanging it for another; when he redirected his attention to the field, his smile vanished and morphed into a serious expression. "Did you think this match was over, Celeste? Because it's not—actually, I'm just getting started! Go, Onix!" He tossed the ball, and it burst open in the air, releasing a flood of white light that formed the Rock Snake Pokemon before fading.
Celeste gulped as the colossal Pokemon roared, the sound causing the whole Gym to shake. To calm her nerves, she heaved a deep breath and slowly exhaled. I can do this... She pulled a Poke Ball from her bag and looked down at the Bug-type in her arms. "Thank you so much for all your hard work, Metapod. You can take a break now. You deserve it." Directing the ball at Metapod, she was sucked back inside by a red laser that was fired from the center. Celeste returned the ball to her bag and switched it for another. "Well, so am I. Charmander, let's go!" After tossing the ball, it popped open; a waterfall of white light streamed out, condensing into the form of Charmander before vanishing.
"Mander char!" the Lizard Pokemon cried.
"Onix, use Tackle!" Brock commanded.
"Dodge it, Charmander!"
With an angry roar, Onix swung his long, rocky tail at Charmander. In a panic, the Fire-type leaped to the side; Oniz's tail swept past, just barely missing him.
"Use Metal Claw!" Celeste shouted.
"Onix, wrap him up with Bind!"
Charmander drew his claws back, and they began to gleam a silvery-white. He began to race at the Rock-type, but he froze when he saw the opponent's tail closing in on him. With a cry of surprise, the Lizard Pokemon lunged over Onix's tail, allowing it to coil around nothing. Onix growled angrily, scowling daggers at Charmander.
Darn it, Celeste thought. Charmander can't get a move in without Onix almost hitting him. What am I going to do? Racking through her brain, she recalled a scene from Nigel's battle with Brock: Pikachu scurrying up Onix's long body, tricking the Rock Snake Pokemon into knocking himself out. Her face lit up. That's it! "Charmander, run up Onix's body and onto his head!"
The Lizard Pokemon's sapphire eyes widened at his Trainer's command; as if he could feel her confidence in her decision, he obliged. He hopped onto Onix's body and scaled up his side like a tall mountain. Once he reached the summit, Charmander clung to Onix's horn, being cautious not to look down what seemed like miles from the ground.
Brock laughed. "Hey, I remember Nigel doing that when I battled him. We're not falling for it again! Onix, shake him off!"
"Charmander, hang on!" Celeste coached.
As Onix began to flail back and forth vigorously, Charmander's grip on his opponent's horn tightened, clinging on for dear life. His head started to spin from all the shaking; the scenery around him began to blur and split into three different images from the dizziness. He shut his eyes tightly.
After a minute, the Rock-type vigorous actions stopped. He swayed a bit from dizziness and tried to regain his balance.
Celeste giggled. Perfect! "Charmander, Metal Claw!"
Shaking off the dizziness, Charmander released his grip on Onix's horn. His claws shimmered a bright silver; he slashed them deep into the Rock Snake Pokemon's sturdy head. Onix let out a roar of agony as he stumbled forward; with the Lizard Pokemon still on his head, he crashed onto the battlefield. A giant cloud of dust sifted into the air from the impact.
Celeste gasped. "Charmander!"
She waited impatiently for her Pokemon to give her a sign that he was okay. After a few moments, Charmander emerged from the dust cloud, staggering a bit on his feet. He regained his balance and grinned at his Trainer. "Char mander!" he reassured.
She smiled. "Thank goodness you're okay! Now, let's finish off Onix with Ember!"
The Lizard Pokemon nodded. He whirled around, facing the dust cloud that was beginning to subside. Finding his target, he shot an array of fiery balls from his gaping jaws. A loud groan was heard as the flames hit their target.
"Onix!" Brock cried.
Marcus rose from his seat on the bench, his wide jade eyes examining the scene at a closer range. "Did she actually win...?"
The other four pairs of eyes in the room also watched in wonder as the dust cleared from the air around Onix. The Rock Snake Pokemon laid motionless on the ground.
Celeste's face brightened. I won!
Then the Rock-type's long body twitched slightly. Celeste and Marcus gasped in surprise; Brock's expression broke into a grin.
"Onix, use Bind!"
Just then, Onix shot straight up from the ground, roaring. Before anyone could even react, his long, rocky tail swept forward, catching Charmander and wrapping around his body, constricting his movement.
"Charrrrr!" the Fire-type shrieked as the tail tightened around him.
"Oh, no..." Celeste muttered. "Charmander, you have to get out of there!"
To no avail, the Lizard Pokemon struggled against Onix's tail, groaning in pain. The consecutive boulders instead drew closer, pressing the air from his lungs. Growing furious, he opened his jaws, firing an array of embers at Onix's face. As the embers struck, the Rock Snake Pokemon let out a roar of agony; his grip loosened, allowing his victim to escape. The large Pokemon stumbled a bit, trying to stay upright, but then crashed down to the ground.
"Onix is unable to battle," the referee declared, pointing in Celeste's direction. "Charmander is the winner! And the victory goes to Celeste, the challenger from Pallet Town!"
Too amazed for words, Celeste simply gaped. "Really...? I won?"
"Celeste!" Marcus called excitedly, running to her side with a giant grin stretched across his face. "You won! You finally got your first Badge!"
After sharing a high-five with her companion, Celeste's expression brightened as she took in the moment. Giggling joyously, she rushed to Charmander—still catching his breath from having the oxygen squeezed out of him—and scooped him into her arms, embracing him. "Charmander, you were so awesome! We won!"
"Char, mander char!" Charmander said, grinning and returning his Trainer's hug.
"Celeste, I can really tell how you've improved on your skills since the other day," Brock said.
They stood outside the Gym, the early afternoon sun beating down on them from the cloudless sky above. Contrasting with the heat from the sun's rays, a brisk breeze swept past, carrying the mixed scents of the city and nature.
"Really?" Celeste replied, smiling. Receiving such a compliment from a Gym Leader, a Trainer with high status, gave her a warm feeling inside. My hard work paid off.
He nodded, returning a smile. "Of course. It was a really impressive and entertaining battle." With a nervous chuckle, he rubbed the back of his neck. "And... I should probably apologize if I came off as a little rude and gave you such a hard time."
She shook her head, giggling. "You don't have to be sorry, Brock. Actually, thank you for telling me all those things. Sure, they were a little hurtful... but they actually motivated me to improve and match up to you."
Marcus smiled.
"Well, here's your proof that you have matched up to me." After digging through the pocket of his pants, he extended his fist. He opened it, revealing a small piece of metal. It was only a simple gray octagon, but to Celeste, it was still a sign of an important victory. "It's the Boulder Badge, one of the eight Badges in the region that will allow you entrance into the Pokemon League!"
Celeste gasped as Brock dropped the Badge into her hand. Her aquamarine eyes glistened in joy as she examined how the sunlight hit its reflective surface, causing it to shimmer.
Brock grinned, giving her a thumbs-up. "Good luck with the rest of your journey. I look forward to watching you challenge the Pokemon League on television!"
"Thank you so much, Brock!" Celeste said. Unable to contain her excitement, she threw her arm into the air, holding the Badge between her index finger and thumb, hopping slightly as she did so. "Check it out, world! I got my first Badge! Awesome!"
To be continued...
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review and tell me what you think!
~Hayley
