Chapter 9
"Vine Whip!" Red grinned at the sound of Pikachu's voice as Ivy smacked the rock snake in front of her with her vines. The Onix let out a roar as the Grass-Type attack hit it, and the giant Pokemon collapsed.
"Onix, Return!" The Pokemon disappeared in the PokeBall Red's opponent carried - a young man with spiky brown hair wearing a long-sleeved green shirt under and orange vest. "All right; I'm beat." He walked forward, across the battlefield, stopping in front of Red, Riley, and Ivy. Holding out a small, metallic item shaped like a rock, he added, "Here's the Boulder Badge to signify that you won."
Red's eyes sparked with excitement as he accepted the badge. Riley grinned, as well.
"All right!" Riley exclaimed. "One badge down, seven to go!" Red made a few motions, causing the Pikachu to continue, "Thanks for the battle, Brock."
"It was no problem," the Gym Leader replied. "You know, though, it came to me as a surprise to find that the one issuing the orders was a Pikachu."
"I'm surprised you didn't yell out in shock." Riley smirked. "A few of the locals in Pallet Town didn't quite believe what they were hearing when I first started talking and defending Red from Blue. We've been close friends ever since."
Brock smiled and laughed. "That's good to hear."
Red made a few motions, and Riley translated: "So, where's the next Gym?"
"In Cerulean. You'll have to go through Mt. Moon in order to reach it, though."
Red nodded as Riley stated, "Thanks! That'll give us a lot of training before we reach the next town." With that, the Trainer left with his Pokemon releasing Peter from his PokeBall as he did so.
"So you got it?" Peter asked, landing on Red's right shoulder.
"We got it," Riley confirmed, grinning from Red's left. "The next place is in Cerulean - we have to go through Mt. Moon, according to Brock."
"Mt. Moon?" Peter's eyes widened. "That's Zubat territory! I've heard that they like to suck the life out of Pidgey! Red, when we go in there, please put me in my PokeBall."
Red gave his friend a concerned look, then nodded quietly.
"We won't be going there just yet," Riley chided. "We need to get Ivy up to full health, first." He motioned to the Pokemon Center, which they had just reached. "That's why we're here."
The group entered the Pokemon Center, and Red handed Ivy and her PokeBall over to Nurse Joy so that the Pokemon could get her health restored. They then sat down at a nearby table, waiting until Nurse Joy returned with the Bulbasaur.
"What do you mean, you can't meet me?" Red looked over at an old man in surprise upon hearing him tell into a cell phone. "You said you would meet me in Pewter's Pokemon Center, you dolt! What's keeping you!"
Riley and Red exchanged strange glances, only to look back in shock at the old man when he yelled, "WHAT?! Team Rocket's attacking Mt. Moon?!"
Red looked at the two Pokemon with him and made quick motions with his hands. Riley nodded in agreement while Peter gave the two a look of confusion. When Nurse Joy returned with Ivy, the group ran out of the Pokemon Center without another word.