Chapter 24 - The Storm Badge Battle
The next day, after we awoke and ate, Flamefox, Firestorm, and I began to walk through town, in search of the Olivine Gym. As we walked, I heard a familiar girl's voice say, "Well, hello, stranger!" My fire foxes and I turned around to see our friend, May, from back in Violet City, and standing next to her was a Quilava. "Hi, May!" I exclaimed, as the blond haired girl ran up to us, accompanied by her Quilava. "How are you?" I asked. She answered, "We're doing great, thanks to your help a few months ago. Look, my Cyndaquil evolved into Quilava!" I replied, "Yeah, I noticed that. Great job raising him!" Then I asked, "So, what are you doing here? I'm a little surprised to see you." She said, "We're after our fifth badge!" I almost fell over backwards! "You mean, since the last time we saw you, you've won four badges?!?" I asked her. "That's right" she answered, "Because I believe in my Pokemon, just like Sage Li said I should. Now my Pokemon and I have a strong bond, just like you and your Pokemon!" I then asked her, "Have you caught many Pokemon yet?" She answered, "Oh, a few here and there. I have a strong team now!" I said, "So do I." To that, she said, "Then we'll have to battle sometime. But right now, I'm anxious to find the gym!" I said, "Me, too! Come on, let's go look for it together!" May and Quilava accompanied me and my fire foxes as we walked through the city. We finally found the gym, but when we got to the door, the sign said it was closed! "What? I don't believe it!" I said. We walked across the street to the Pokemon Center and went inside. I asked Nurse Joy, "Do you know why the Olivine Gym is closed?" She answered, "Jasmine, the gym leader, went to look for a sick Pokemon at the lighthouse. I told her I'd go, but she insisted on going herself. She cares very deeply for Pokemon!" May said, "Oh, I hope she finds it and is able to help it!" Nurse Joy said, "Me, too."
As we left the Pokemon Center, May said, "Maybe we should go to the lighthouse and see if Jasmine needs any help." I said, "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea!" Then, without thinking, I let Tauros out of his pokeball, and got ready to mount. Then it occurred to me that May might not have a rideable Pokemon. So I asked her, "Would you like to ride on Tauros with me?" She answered, "Thanks, but I've got my own transportation. Go, Pidgeot!" She released the large bird Pokemon from his pokeball. "Wow, a Pidgeot! Impressive!" I said to her. She climbed up on his back, with Quilava on her back, and said, "Come on, Pidgeot, let's fly to the lighthouse!" With that, Pidgeot took to the air. "Come on, Tauros! Let's follow her" I said to my trusty buffalo-like Pokemon and we were off, Flamefox in my lap, and Firestorm running beside us. We all headed for the lighthouse.
Upon arrival, I could see that May was already there. I recalled Tauros, and May and I went inside the lighthouse, accompanied by Flamefox, Firestorm, and Quilava. It appeared to be abandoned, until we reached the top floor and heard, "Amphaarrrr..." May and I, and our Pokemon, ran ahead to see a brown haired lady holding an Ampharos. She turned to us and asked, "Who are you?" I replied, "I'm Joe, and this is May." May said, "We both went looking for you at your gym, but you weren't there. Nurse Joy told us where you were, so we thought we'd see if you needed any help." Jasmine replied, "How sweet of you. Actually, I could use some help. Ampharos needs a special medicine, only available from my friend on Cianwood Island! If you could go to his pharmacy there and get the medicine, I would be really grateful!" We both said, "Okay!" and went back down to the bottom of the lighthouse.
As we left the lighthouse, I asked, "How are we going to get to Cianwood Island?" May replied, "Well, I can fly there on Pidgeot. Why don't you fly on your Fearow?" I answered, "He's at Professor Oak's Pokemon sanctuary right now. I guess I can swim there with Vaporeon. We've swum together in lakes and ponds already, so I think she can handle this." We walked up to the beach, and May released Pidgeot. With Quilava on her back, she got up on Pidgeot's back and said, "I'll wait for you there!" After they took off, I released Vaporeon from her pokeball. I said to her, "Do you think you can swim me all the way to Cianwood Island? It's a good 2 mile swim!" She smiled at me and said, "Vaporeon!" I asked, "Are you sure?" She nodded, so I took out Flamefox's and Firestorm's pokeballs and recalled them. "Sorry guys. You know I hate to keep you in your pokeballs, but it won't be for too long." I then said to my aqua-skinned water Eevee, "Are you ready?" She exclaimed, "Vaporeon!", as if she was really looking forward to this long swim, and she got into the water. I took off my shoes and socks, and rolled up my pants, before I got on Vaporeon's back, in the water. I held on tightly to her as she swam ahead. I could feel her gracefully gliding through the water. I hoped she'd be okay - I'd sat on her back while she swam before, but not for such a long distance. I knew she could do it, though! She was strong, and made for the water. She swam fast, even with me on her back - she thrust across the water like a speed boat! We reached Cianwood in about half an hour. May was already there, waiting for us. "What took you so long?" she asked. "Actually, I thought we got here pretty quickly" I replied. Then I said, "Good work, Vaporeon! Return and rest!" and I recalled her to her pokeball. I released Flamefox and Firestorm, and May said, "Let's find the pharmacy!" Our Pokemon walked with us to a small village. There were only a few houses, some small buildings, a Pokemon Center, and the pharmacy. We went inside. "Hi there, can I help you?" asked an older man behind the counter. May said, "Jasmine sent us. She needs a special medicine for an Ampharos at the Olivine lighthouse." The man said, "Jasmine, eh? That doesn't surprise me. She cares very much for all the Pokemon in Olivine City. I have exactly what she needs. Hang on!" He went into a back room. I looked out the windows, and across the road, there was the Cianwood Pokemon Gym! "I forgot that Cianwood has a Pokemon Gym!" I exclaimed. May said, "Yeah. The Gym leader is Chuck. He likes to use fighting types. The prize is a Storm Badge if you win." The man came back with a vial. "Here you go" he said, and handed it to May. "Thanks!" May and I responded, and we then left the pharmacy. I said, "May, why don't you go ahead back to Olivine City? I think I'll go battle Chuck." She asked, "Are you sure?" I answered, "Yeah. Only one of us has to deliver the medicine. That way, you can battle Jasmine. If I went back, I wouldn't be able to battle her right away after you battled her, anyway!" May said, "That's true. Okay, well, good luck!" I replied, "Thanks!" With that, she took off on Pidgeot. I said to Flamefox and Firestorm, "I think I'll use Scyther for this battle. Is that okay with you guys?" Flamefox answered, "Vulll!" and Firestorm answered, "Niiine!" We crossed the road and entered the gym. It was more like a fighting dojo inside than a gym. A big man with big sideburns and a mustache came up to me. "And what can I do for you?" he asked me. "My name is Joe, and I challenge you to a gym battle!" He answered, "As a gym leader, I can't turn down an official challenge. I hope your Pokemon are ready to take a beating!" I replied, "We'll see about that!"
I stood on my side of the battle arena, with Flamefox and Firestorm. The announcer came on, "This will be a 2 on 2 battle, no time limit! A Storm Badge is at stake! Begin the battle!" Chuck said, "This Pokemon will show you who's toughest! Go, Primeape!" and he released the fighting monkey-like Pokemon. I responded, "I choose you, Scyther!" and released my mantis-like Pokemon from his pokeball. The opponents stared each other down! "Scyther, use fury cutter!" I ordered. As he flew at Primeape, Chuck shouted, "Primeape, use low kick!" Before Scyther could attack, he was kicked in the chest by Primeape and knocked to the floor. He stood right back up. "Try a wing attack, Scyther!" I commanded. He flapped his wings intensely, and the strong g-force hit Primeape, and knocked him to the floor, but he also stood back up. "Primeape, use seismic toss!" Chuck shouted. As Primeape ran up to Scyther, I ordered, "Scyther, use double team!" Scyther increased his evasiveness by making it appear there were several of him. But Primeape attacked each one until he found the real Scyther, picked him up, and tossed him! He crashed to the ground on his belly, on the other side of the arena. "Scyther!" I shouted, and ran over to him. He turned over and sat up. "Are you okay?" I asked him. "Scyther!" he shouted, and stood back up. He was beaten up, but not defeated. "You can win this, Scyther! I know it!" He returned to his spot in the arena. "Primeape, use karate chop!" Chuck ordered. "Scyther, avoid it with agility!" I shouted. Scyther managed to keep avoiding getting hit with Mankey's arms. "Now use thrash, Primeape!" Chuck shouted. Primeape began to violently thrash around, and he hit Scyther several times, and knocked him to the floor again. But the thing about thrash is that it confuses the user after they attack a few times! Seeing Primeape confused, I said, "Now, Scyther! Use heat butt!" Scyther quickly flew at Primeape and their heads crashed into each other. Primeape spun around 3 times, then collapsed to the floor, defeated! "Primeape is unable to battle! Round one goes to Joe and Scyther!" the announcer said. Scyther began to fall backwards, but I ran up to him and caught him! I said, "Good work, Scyther! You deserve a rest. Return!" and I recalled him to his pokeball. Chuck said, "Not bad, kid! For my second and final Pokemon, I choose Poliwrath!" and he released the water/fighting frog-like Pokemon. I said, "I have just the thing for that! Go, Jolteon!" and I released my electric spiky-haired dog, for his first gym battle. "Jolteon, use thunderbolt!" I commanded. "Poliwrath, evade it!" Chuck shouted. Poliwrath jumped out of the way, and Jolteon's attack missed! "Use dynamic punch, Poliwrath!" Chuck ordered. "Jolteon, avoid it with agility!" I ordered. He ran around, too fast for Poliwrath, but then Poliwrath managed to anticipate him, and Jolteon took the dynamic punch, and sailed across the arena. The attack had it's desired effect, and Jolteon was confused. "Now use hypnosis!" Chuck shouted. In his confusion, Jolteon couldn't avoid the attack, and Poliwrath's hypnosis sent him to sleep. "Jolteon!" I shouted, and ran into the arena to pick him up. "Jolteon is unable to battle!" the announcer said. Chuck asked, "Would you like to forfeit?" I responded, "Not a chance!" and re-released Scyther. As I held Jolteon, I discussed my battle plan with Scyther. "I know you're tired, Scyther, but I just need you to buy me some time until I get Jolteon awake. Do you think you can hold out?" He looked me in the eyes, nodded, and entered the arena. I was so proud of him in that instant. "Scyther, use fury cutter!" I ordered, as I massaged Jolteon, trying to get him to awaken. "Poliwrath, water gun!" Chuck shouted. As Scyther flew at Poliwrath, Poliwrath launched a powerful stream of water at him, which pinned Scyther to the wall. When Poliwrath stopped, Scyther fell to the floor! "Scyther!" I shouted, as I ran up to him, still holding Jolteon in my arms. Scyther weakly stood back up. "Can you still battle?" I asked him. He nodded, and returned to the arena again. "He's resilient!" Chuck observed. Then he commanded, "Poliwrath, use fury swipes!" I counter commanded, "Scyther, use your slash!" Poliwrath and Scyther came at each other, and were locked in combat, hands and scythes, pushing against each other. "Come on, Jolteon! Wake up!" I said, as I continued to caress my electric dog. "Scyther!" I heard, as Poliwrath finally slammed him to the ground. Just then, Jolteon's eyes opened! As Poliwrath looked over Scyther, I shouted, "Jolteon, thunder!" Before he knew what hit him, Poliwrath was hit full force by Jolteon's powerful lightning attack! Poliwrath was instantly knocked out! "I don't believe it!" Chuck shouted. "Poliwrath is defeated! The winner is Joe!" the announcer said. I ran over to Scyther, and helped him to stand up. "Great work, Scyther and Jolteon!" I said to them. I put Scyther's arm around my shoulder, and put my arm around his to help him stay balanced as I walked him out of the arena. Chuck walked up to us and said, "You and your Pokemon did very well! You've earned this Storm Badge!" I took the badge in my free hand and said, "Thanks!"
Afterwards, I walked Scyther out of the gym, accompanied by Flamefox, Firestorm, and Jolteon. I said, "It's okay, Scyther. Just hang in there. We'll get you to the Pokemon Center and you'll be as good as new." We walked up to, and then inside the Pokemon Center. After their examination, Nurse Joy said, "Scyther and Jolteon will be perfectly fine. But I recommend that you not battle them for a few days. Let them have time to rest and fully heal." I said, "Thanks, Nurse Joy." I recalled Scyther and Jolteon to their pokeballs. Now it was time for us to return to Olivine City.