Chapter 7-Battle for the Boulder Badge part 2
I sat on my bed in our room, studying my town map. I had discovered a new feature for it. Each of the metal ends had small but thick segments that extended to the other end and snapped into it, effectively keeping the map open in a way that I didn't need to hold it with both hands. I held the map in one hand, gently stroking Charmander as he dozed next to me with the other. It had taken Karen and I about a little more than a week to get from Pallet Town to Pewter City, but I saw that they weren't too far away on the map. Cerulean City, on the other hand, was more than twice the distance away. I estimated it would be some three weeks to get there. But then I took note of the towering Mt. Moon, and given the fact that I could just barely see it from the window in my room...
A month. I'd say a solid month to Cerulean City.
My eye twitched. "Holy crap."
The door opened and Karen and Bulbasaur walked in. She plopped down next to me, saying, "Watcha doin'?" Bulbasaur jumped up and lay next to Charmander.
"I have some news. I guess you could see it as bad."
"What is it?"
I faced her. "It might take us about a month to get to Cerulean City."
Karen stared at me, her eye twitched and she fell back onto the bed, her white hat sliding off her head. "Holy crap."
"My sentiments exactly," I muttered.
She sat back up, replacing her hat on her head. "Are you kidding me?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
"You rarely do."
"And what does that mean?"
"You're always so serious."
"And what the hell's wrong with being serious?"
"Nothing." She snatched my hat from my head. "But too serious, now that's a problem."
"Hey!"
I jumped up and grabbed for my hat, and Karen danced away, giggling. I grabbed for it once more and she twirled away. Once more and I missed when she sidestepped.
I'm a martial artist, how can I not get my hat back from Karen? I thought as I made another attempt, only for Karen to move out of the way again. This went on for several minutes.
Finally, I just dove and tackled her onto her bed. Karen cried out in surprise. We bounced several times, Karen and I both laughing. Charmander and Bulbasaur briefly glanced up at the commotion, and promptly lay their heads back down, sleep apparently more important than our antics. We gradually stopped moving after some time and only then did I notice that my arms were wrapped around her slim waist, and I held her close to me. We lay in that position for what seemed like an hour but was actually only a few seconds before I slowly unwrapped my arms and stood. I stooped to pick up my hat that had fallen from Karen's grasp and placed back upon my head. I moved to my bed and went back to studying my map, raising it up high and lowering my head, allowing the bill of my cap to shadow my face in an attempt hide my furious blush.
"Jack? Are you okay?"
Silence reigned for a few moments. There was the rustling of clothes and then the map was pushed down, revealing the red prevalent on my face. "Why is your face red?"
"It's not red," I lied.
"Yes it is." She poked me to indicate where. "Right there. Are you...blushing?" she asked hesitantly, scarcely believing I, of all people, would blush.
"Blushing is not in my vocabulary."
"Okay, now you're just being ridiculous. Then why is it red?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'm coming down with a cold, or something," I said weakly.
"Better hope not. Otherwise you can't challenge Brock."
That got me. "Might as well go now," I said, changing the subject. I put away my town map and returned Charmander to his Pokeball, and Karen Bulbsaur. I had been three days since Karen defeated Brock and won her first badge, the Boulder Badge. I figured that was enough time to allow Brock's Pokemon to heal.
Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the stone-gray Gym and stepped inside.
We stopped and stared. Just like before, the interior was unblemished, the damage done to it long since fixed. This time, however, the layout of the battlefield was completely different than the last time we were here. Three days ago, it had been a completely flat dirt arena. Now, though, it was wrought with rock spike sticking up out of the ground, their points reaching for the sky. Some of the tops were rather rounded out, but I couldn't help but notice the ones with wicked points.
I shared an uncertain glance with Karen. "What the hell?"
She was also troubled by the drastic change in the arena. "Maybe Brock can explain." She took a step forward. "Hello?" Karen called. "Anyone here?"
Shortly afterward, someone came forward from the back of the Gym. Brock stopped short of the battle arena, expression as stony as ever, and said, "Here to challenge me now?"
I nodded, my expression equally as stony, save for a small scowl. "Before we start, what's with the stalagmites?"
Brock chuckled. "Oh, this? It's just something I decided to implement into the Gym some time ago. A flat arena is optimal for a straight-forward battle, but the stalagmites give a chance for a deeper battle, allowing for both combatants to adjust their strategies accordingly, sometimes on the fly, or to outright develop new ones."
Makes sense, I guess.
"So how do you decide when to change the field?" Karen inquired.
Brock shrugged. "I flip a coin."
"Not quite what I expected," I muttered.
Karen gave my hand a quick squeeze and a reassuring smile before taking a seat on the bleachers.
"Whenever you're ready," Brock intoned.
I took a breath, steeling myself for the upcoming battle. I knew that Karen's victory over the renowned Gym Leader was due as much to luck as it was to an innate talent she had. I knew that I might not be so lucky. I could very well end up losing this battle, could wind up being crushed and all my Pokemon heavily injured. Which was now made all the more likely due to the unprecedented alteration to the arena. Those sharp stalagmites could do some serious damage. I forced those thoughts out of my head and tried to tell myself that it would be alright. I found it difficult to believe it. I glanced at Karen. She gave me a smile and I gave one in return, before I took my place at my end of the arena. Brock nodded and tossed out a Pokeball. It snapped open and sent out the Pokemon within.
Onix reared up to his full height of twenty feet, the end of his tail twisting around a stalagmite taller than me.
So he's starting out strong...Guess I'll have to, as well.
I sent out my first Pokemon, and in the second after he appeared at my feet, he sparkled. It was unmistakable. His golden-hued fur literally sparkled, just like it had on Route 22 during my battle against Gary. That couldn't have been a coincidence. But I just shrugged it off as a trick of the light.
Brock was staring at my Pokemon, and I took advantage of his shock at seeing a shiny Pokemon.
"Alright, Rattata, get on him!"
Rattata shot off in a golden blur and scampered up the length of Onix.
"Damn it! Shake him off!" Brock commanded, shaking off his initial shock at seeing a shiny Pokemon.
Rattata succeeded where Bulbasaur had failed, in that he managed to make it all the way to Onix's head. He didn't have much time to do anything else, though, as Onix began to flail about in an attempt to shake Rattata off, forcing him to hang on to the rock snake's horn for dear life.
After several long moments in which I wracked my brain, searching for a solution to Rattata's predicament, Brock gave another order.
"Ram him!"
Onix stopped his thrashing and immediately complied. He lowered his head and dove for a stalagmite, aiming to crush Rattata between himself and the rock.
"Get away!" I shouted in panic.
The golden Mouse Pokemon managed to jump away a split-second before Onix crashed head first into the spike, demolishing it and reducing it to dust. Rattata landed easily on a flat-topped stalagmite, waiting for my next command as Onix rose. The rock snake lunged for him again and without my telling him he leaped over his head and onto another rock column. He wasn't able to evade the next attack, though. Onix's tail swung around and impacted into the stalagmite Rattata was perched upon. The rock shattered into countless pieces and Rattata was sent flying with a cry of pain clear to the other end of the Gym. He hit the wall and fell to the ground amid a pile of rubble, his golden body quickly obscured from view.
"Rattata!"
My fears were quelled when the rubble shifted and out crawled my little Pokemon. I let out a breath of relief. My relief evaporated into panic when Onix lunged once more.
"Move!" I shouted.
Rattata, bloodied and bruised, dashed away right before Onix could hit him. The rock snake ended up crashing into the ground where the golden Mouse Pokemon had been only a moment before. The collision kicked up dust and shook the ground, but Onix didn't seem fazed when he reared up.
"Bind!"
"Don't let him get you, Rattata!"
Rattata took off, Onix in hot pursuit. The golden mouse was able to duck and weave between the obstacles in the arena, whereas Onix simply crushed them to get by. This slowed the rock snake down, allowing Rattata to stay out of the Rock-type's reach. But then Onix put forth a burst of speed and was suddenly right behind Rattata, barreling toward him at a rate that would soon have the Rock Pokemon overtake him. The sight of this suddenly caused my mind to flash back on a memory: my battle with Gary on Route 22, and how Rattata had gotten me the win.
"Jump!"
As if he knew what I was thinking, Rattata jumped, bounded off a spike, and soared toward the oncoming Rock Pokemon. Once close enough, Rattata chomped down onto Onix's nostril with his huge incisors. Onix roared in pain and reared up. He once again began to flail his head, trying to shake Rattata off. Rattata was able to keep his grip for a short while before falling off and landing easily on a rock.
Onix struck at Rattata, destroying the stalagmite that he had been perched on as he jumped to another one. This one was also promptly destroyed by the Rock-type, then the next. And the next. And the next. Soon, the floor in some areas between the spikes was completely covered by the rubble.
Then Rattata's attempts to keep away were brought to a halt.
As he landed on yet another rocky pillar, Onix brought his tail up in preparation to bring down on Rattata. The tail plummeted and Rattata leaped off onto the ground. Onix's tail made impact with such incredible force this time that I had to fight to keep my balance as the ground trembled. Even Karen felt it from her seat up on the bleachers. Brock, however, didn't seem affected, not even remotely.
But Rattata, he was severely affected. He landed on a particularly large chunk of loose rock, and when the enormous Rock-type pounded the ground, his tail caught the edge of it. The rock, with Rattata on top, went flying straight towards Onix's huge head. Seeing the opportunity, Onix swung his enormous head, colliding with the small figure of Rattata with enormous force.
I watched in horror as he was sent hurtling through the air.
He hit a stalagmite so hard I winced and he bounced off, rolling to a stop at my feet. I immediately fell to my knees and picked him up in my arms. Rattata was bloodied, bruised...and unconscious. I sighed in relief-at least he was still alive, after that last hit. I wiped off some blood that was trickling from his mouth. "You did great, Rattata," I said softly. I returned him to his Pokeball and clipped it back onto my belt. I grit my teeth. I knew this was going to happen. I knew one of my Pokemon would be gravely injured.
I reached for my belt and hesitated. I only had two Pokemon left, Charmander and Pikachu, Fire- and Electric-types, respectively. They weren't going to fare well against Onix, who was a dual Rock-and Ground-type. Onix would be resistant to any of their attack, and Charmander and Pikachu could very well end up like Rattata.
I should just forfeit right now...
No. I'm not going to forfeit just because one of my Pokemon was defeated. I'm sure Rattata would want me to keep going, to push on.
I took a breath, the sent out my next Pokemon. Pikachu looked up at Onix and recoiled a little. He looked back at me, our eyes met, and I felt what he was thinking. You really think I can beat him?
I wasn't sure he could, but I nodded anyway, not wanting my concerns to impede Pikachu as he battled. He nodded back and smiled confidently before turning to face Onix.
"Onix, Bind!"
"Quick Attack!"
Onix lunged and Pikachu dashed out of the way, weaving between stalagmites, Onix in pursuit. As Pikachu ran between the pyres of rock that were subsequently destroyed, I could see he was beginning to panic. I fully understood why. The only attacks that Pikachu knew-Quick Attack and Thundershock-would do little to no damage at all. And besides, even if they did enough damage, Onix would have just shaken it off and kept coming.
Despite my hopes, despite my wishes that he would be alright, Pikachu didn't last too long. As he ran from Onix, he twisted his head back and a small bolt of electricity shot from his cheeks toward Onix. As I was expecting, it didn't faze him on bit. The Thundershock hit Onix head on and simply dissipated, no damage done at all. Pikachu turned his head back, just in time to collide with a rock. He bounced off and Onix quickly struck. His tail swung around and crashed into Pikachu and sent him airborne my way. Pikachu landed at my feet, bleeding from a few cuts.
I stared down at Pikachu, not wanting to accept that he was already so injured, in not even a minute. He stirred and I scooped him up in my arms.
"Pi..." I didn't need to be a Pokemon to understand what he said. I'm sorry.
"No, don't be. You did your best. It's all on me." I returned my injured partner to his Pokeball and took Charmander's into my hand. I rolled his Pokeball in my hand, debating whether I should just give up right now. I shook my head and with a cry of frustration sent out my starter to face the towering Onix.
Charmander and Onix stared each other down, waiting for the other to make a move. Finally, Onix lunged at lightning speed. Charmander was able to evade his attack, though, by jumping high into the air and over the rock snake's head. Without me having to tell him to, Charmander aimed a Metal Claw at Onix's head, swiping across his scalp and chipping away a bit of rock. Charmander landed back on the floor strewn with rubble from decimated stalagmites and hopped away. Onix twisted around and lunged, but Charmander fired Ember towards his eyes at my command. Onix close them a split-second before the Fire attack hit, doing little damage, but Onix recoiled, giving Charmander enough time to close in on him.
"Metal Claw!"
Charmander swiped repeatedly at the rock snake's hide with steel-hard claws, chipping away some of his stone body. Onix flicked his tail at my Pokemon, who then hopped on top. Charmander sprinted up the length of his tail for a few yards before leaping and digging his metallic claws into Onix's side. He slid down and around the rock snake's side, leaving deep gouges in the stone that made up his body. Charmander let go and fell back to the ground.
"Fire!" I shouted.
Charmander shot Ember into the gouges in Onix's body, and got a significant reaction from him: the Rock-type bellowed in obvious pain. My eyes widened, and Karen looked equally as surprised. If I could keep doing that, then maybe, just maybe, I can beat Brock.
"Again, Charmander!"
The little Flame Pokemon dodged and incoming swipe and fired once more, eliciting another roar of pain. Again, but this time, I didn't get another chance to tell Charmander to fire because Onix's throes of pain sent his tail whipping around. Before either of us could react, it crashed into Charmander, sending him soaring back towards my end of the field. He crashed right into me, knocking the breath from my lungs and sending me to the ground.
"Jack!" Karen shouted.
I shook my head to clear my vision and took a shaky breath before looking at Charmander, splayed across my chest. I bolted upright and cradled him in my arms. He was still conscious, and lucid enough to look up at me. He gave a soft, apologetic growl and tried to squirm out of my arms. He still wants to battle. I held him tighter as he continued his attempts to return to the battle.
"No, Charmander," I whispered, "You're too injured."
He stared at me for a moment, then gave in, collapsing in my arms. His breathing gradually slowed from its accelerated rate until he was unconscious. I watched him, chest gently rising and falling, before standing. Karen called out to me, but I didn't hear her words. All my mind, my conscience, clung to was that all of my Pokemon were so injured, that they were all defeated quickly and I couldn't even get past Brock's first Pokemon. I hung my head
Shows how great a Trainer I am...
My very first Gym battle, and... and...
I lost.
Nurse Joy exited the emergency room in which Jack's Pokemon had been carted in to, and Karen hurried up to her.
"How are they?" she asked anxiously, biting her lip.
"They're fine," the nurse responded. "All they need now is rest."
Karen sighed in relief. "That's good. Um, are they well enough for me to take them?"
Joy thought it over. "Well, yes. But you'll have to be gentle with them. No battling for at least three days."
Karen nodded.
Joy went back through the double doors and came back shortly after holding a tray with six circular depressions in them, three of them occupied by Pokeballs. "Where's their Trainer?" she asked as she handed them to Karen.
"He left an hour ago. I'll get them to him."
"Oh, okay. Be careful with them."
Karen nodded again.
After Jack's defeat at the hands of Brock's Onix, he had just stood there, holding Charmander. His head was lowered, and his cap had cast shadows over his face. She couldn't see much, but she thought she had caught the glimmer of moisture. Without a word, Jack had simply turned and left the Gym. Karen followed after him, but he was already gone among the throngs of people by the time she stepped out of the Gym.
When she had finally arrived at the Pokemon Center, she found Jack sitting at a bench near to the emergency room. Even from here, she could feel the guilt emanating from him. Karen had approached Jack, feeling like she should do something to cheer him up, to get his mind off of his loss at the Gym, but when she spoke to him, all she got in response were short, clipped answers. Karen finally stopped trying, and Jack took that as his cue. He stood and left the Center for places unknown.
"Jack..." Karen whispered. She took the three Pokeballs entrusted to her by Nurse Joy and sent out the Pokemon within. Charmander, Pikachu, and Rattata looked up at her in confusion, then cast about for their Trainer. Charmander had a bandage wrapped around his torso, the only one of the three with them, but otherwise didn't look too bad.
"Jack's not here," she said sadly. They gave her inquisitive looks. Jack's Pikachu hopped onto her shoulder.
"Pika?"
Karen shook her head, long brown hair waving to and fro. "I don't know where he is."
Pikachu's ears drooped, and he hopped back down next to his comrades.
"How about we go find him?"
They nodded and Karen left the Center, Jack's Pokemon in tow.
The moon's pale light splashed across the grassy hill, giving it a ethereal appearance. The celestial object's ghostly illumination cast shadows through the landscape, shadows that danced as the wind whistled through the trees, gently shaking them back and forth. The grass and bushes rustled at the breeze's liking. The eerie call of some Pokemon came together with the moon's light to turn the hill into an otherworldly location, one that could be frequented by the spirits of the damned.
Funny how a crushing defeat can make you wax poetic.
I sighed and gazed up at the three-quarters moon. All I could think about at that moment was how bad I screwed up my Gym battle. My Pokemon were so hurt... Another breeze blew through, and I had to hold on to the branch I was perched on to keep from falling. I readjusted my hat, then turned my head at the soft sound of footsteps brushing along the grass. I raised an eyebrow.
Karen strolled up to my tree, Charmander, Pikachu, and Rattata at her feet.
"Jack?" She looked up at me, twenty feet above the ground. I got a sudden sense of dejá vu.
I stared into her soft brown eyes, which were filled with compassion and comfort, before returning my gaze to the sky.
"Jack?" she repeated.
I looked back at her, and my eyes fell to Charmander. His bandages brought up the guilt from within, which I had managed to suppress, but the look in his eyes seemed to convey that he didn't blame me, not at all. I slid off my branch and fell to a lower one, then to another, then to the ground. I turned from them and sat on a stump, head down.
"I'm sorry. Because of me, you were hurt."
Karen approached and place a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don't blame yourself, Jack. It's not your fault."
"Yes it is," I said, turning my head to her. "It's all my fault!" Karen flinched back, my answer having come back harsher than intended. "I'm sorry."
There was silence between us, the only sound the breeze and it blew past us and down the hill. Suddenly, Karen's arms encircled me from behind. She lay her head against my back and I tensed, but then relaxed.
The embrace said more than words could have ever conveyed.
We were motionless in this position, like statues, before she said, "You shouldn't blame yourself. You should never blame yourself. Your Pokemon all worked hard in the battle. Brock simply proved a powerful Trainer. But you can be powerful, too. You know what they say, 'when you fall, you get right back on the Ponyta'. You just have to do some training, Jack, and I'm sure you can beat Brock."
My Pokemon came around in front of me, smiling reassuringly.
I nodded. "You're right, Karen. Thank you."
She lingered in the embrace for a few seconds before letting go. The breeze suddenly felt chillier without the body warmth provided by her embrace.
As I sat there, wracking my brain for different ways to defeat Brock, my eyes drifted to my Pokemon, then to their tails. I perked up when an idea came to mind.
"Hey, Karen..."
"Yeah?" She sat next to me on the stump.
"Think your Pikachu can teach my Pokemon something?"
She cocked her head. "Teach them what?"
"Iron Tail."
