Chapter 36
Early the next day, the two Chasers, military soldier, and computer expert woke up and had breakfast together. Chase was still ecstatic about his win the day before, and how his Caterpie had finally evolved. Silver and Bill got into a conversation about designing computers, and Jason polished his Poké Balls while wearing his new cowboy hat. He claimed a clean Poké Ball made for a happy Pokémon.
Around ten-thirty in the morning, after everyone was all packed up, the Trainers were about to set a course for their next destination. While Chase, Silver, and Jason were huddled around a map, Bill moseyed over to the bulletin board where the Pokémon Center's staff posted news and fliers containing information on upcoming events.
One particular flier caught Bill's attention. It read at the top in big, bold letters, "Computer expo today and tomorrow at the Celadon Computer Center!" Down below, it read, "Come and view some of the new breakthroughs in computer technology!"
Turning to face his friends, Bill contemplated what to do. The computer enthusiast made his way over to Chase, Jason, and Silver—who were still mulling over the map—and said, "Hey, guys?" Their three heads popped up and fixed their gazes on him. "Um, I was wondering if it would be all right if I hung back in Celadon. You can go ahead with your journey—after all, I still haven't challenged Erika, and there's supposed to be this big exposé at the Computer Center that I'd like to go to."
Chase looked down and thought for a second, then looked back up and said, "Okay, Bill. That's fine."
"Yeah," Jason added. "Go ahead. That's all right with us."
Bill replied with a smile, "Thanks, guys."
Chase decided on where he wanted to go next. According to him, the three Trainers would be going down Cycling Road to Fuchsia City. Surely the Gym Leader there would accept a challenge to battle now.
When they were ready to depart, the trio gave Bill a heartfelt goodbye, and they went their separate ways: Bill headed to the Computer Center, and Chase and company went out to Cycling Road to the west of Celadon.
By the time they made their way to the gate, it was about noon. The sun shone brightly and there were absolutely no clouds in the deep blue sky.
Inside the guardhouse was a large collection of bikes that were rented to people. The friendly man at the counter explained that if Chase and his friends were taking a ride, they'd need to return their bikes to the guardhouse at the bottom of the bridge near Fuchsia. So they agreed and paid a minimal fee to rent three bikes. Soon, they were off and riding down the large expansion bridge.
After a while of coasting leisurely down the road, a burly-looking biker on a motorcycle puttered up beside Chase.
The gruff man wore a black leather jacket and tight-fitting jeans, despite his massive girth. His bike sputtered occasionally, and his bald head shone in the sun.
"Hey kid," the man said casually over the noise of his engine. "You look like a Pokémon Trainer. Wanna have a battle?"
Chase skidded to a stop on his bike, looked at the man and said, "I sure do!"
"Great!" the biker exclaimed happily. "Just by the by, my name's Percy, but all my friends call me Cue Ball."
"Nice to meet you! My name's Chase!"
"Okay then, Chase, let's spread out a ways and then we'll choose what Pokémon we'll use. How does a one-on-one battle sound to you?"
"Sounds good."
Once the two were far enough away from each other, and Jason and Silver had also moved out of the way, Percy released his Koffing; it coughed out poisonous gas as soon as it materialized on the field.
Chase mused over what Pokémon to use, then grabbed a Poké Ball and tossed it high in the air. The red and white sphere popped open and released Metapod.
"Okay, Metapod! Let's do this!" Chase shouted, trying to encourage his Cocoon Pokémon. Metapod fell on its side.
"Well, not the Pokémon I would've chosen," Percy mumbled, "but that's up to you. You get the first turn!"
"Thanks! Now, Metapod, use Tackle!" Despite the fact it had received a direct order from its Trainer, Metapod remained motionless on the ground. "Um, String Shot?" Chase's Bug-type shot a weak spray of gooey string out that didn't even reach halfway to Cue Ball's Koffing.
Reluctantly, Percy commanded his Poison-type Pokémon to use Smog. Koffing shot out a cloud of dark purple poison that floated slowly over to Metapod.
"Metapod, dodge! Jump! Run! Wiggle! Twist! Moonwalk! Do anything, just don't get hit!"
But Chase's pleas fell on deaf ears as the toxic cloud engulfed Metapod. When the poison faded away, the Bug-type had swirls in its eyes.
"Well…" Percy muttered, letting his sentence trail off as he scratched his hairless head. "…Good game!"
Chase smiled weakly and said, "Thanks, but that wasn't a very 'good' game if you ask me."
Percy got on his motorcycle and prepared to leave. But before he rode off, the biker said, "Well, I hope you can train that Metapod of yours into a Butterfree. I've heard a lot of good stuff about 'em. They learn Psychic-type moves that can really help out, especially when you fight the Fuchsia Gym Leader."
Chase thanked Percy, saying he would keep his advice in mind, and then watched as the motorcyclist rode off down the road. Chase's friends tried to console him on his loss, but he declared he was all right.
They were soon back on their bikes and coasting gently down Cycling Road. All three Trainers enjoyed the sea breeze that blew in from the ocean; Jason claimed it reminded him of his time in Canalave City in the Sinnoh Region. Chase explained the shoreline was very close to his hometown of Pallet, and went on to say he'd go to the beach a lot in the summer. It was only a short jaunt from his house, and his family would usually join him.
When they reached the next guardhouse, they deposited their rental bikes into the storeroom of the building upon the request of the man in charge there.
Next, they walked through the short expanse of road that was known as Route 18 and strolled into Fuchsia City. Chase directed the group towards a Pokémon Center, passing the Gym along the way.
After Chase's Metapod was healed, he asked Silver and Jason to wait in the lobby for him. He claimed he wanted to do something really quick before he set out to the Gym. Chase hurried outside. They waited only a few minutes before Chase came back in, saying, "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go!"
"What was that all about?" Jason asked wryly.
He replied, "Oh, just a little preparation for the Gym battle."
Chase stepped through the Gym doors and saw the same man at the counter from the last time he was there. He still wore sunglasses inside the building, despite it being dark.
The Trainer stepped up to the desk and asked if the Gym Leader was accepting challenges at the moment. The man didn't reply, and stayed leaned back in his chair with his head cocked. Chase prodded the man further, asking a bit more firmly.
"Huh? What?" he sputtered, sounding like he had just woken up. "Wuzzat?"
"I'm here to inquire about the Gym Leader. I would like to know if he or she is accepting challenges right now."
"Yeah," the man replied. "She's accepting. The Leader should be in the next room through that door behind me." He glanced down at his watch. "It's been a good thirty minutes since I fell asleep—I mean, since the Gym Leader started practicing. Go on in and see if she'll battle you."
"Okay, thank you!"
After all three had gone through the door, the man leaned back again, propped his legs up on the counter, and began to snore.
Inside the room where the battlefield was located, they saw the Gym Leader practicing with her Pokémon, Venomoth.
The Leader was tall, and she appeared to be around twenty years old. Her name was Janine; she had dark purple-colored hair that was tied up in a ponytail, and she wore a black shirt and pants. She also had a purple scarf and wristbands.
"Oh, hello!" Janine said in surprise. "What can I help you with?"
Chase replied, "I would like to have a Gym battle with you, please."
"That's fine. Just stand on one end of the battlefield and we'll get started. It'll be a three-on-three match, okay?"
"Got it!"
Chase hurried over to his side of the field while Janine returned her Venomoth and approached where she would stand. Jason and Silver sat on the bleachers near the sidelines and watched.
Janine sent her Pokémon out first. It was a Weezing, a round and purple-colored Poison-type. Chase released his Haunter, who made a funny face in an attempt to scare its foe.
"All right, Trainer, what's your name?" Janine called across the room.
"It's Chase!" he answered back.
"Okay, Chase, you get the first turn!"
He told his Haunter to use Hypnosis. It disappeared and then reappeared in front of Janine's Pokémon, putting it to sleep. Next, Haunter used Lick, but it appeared to do nothing as Weezing snored loudly.
Haunter backed away and turned to Chase. Its Trainer shrugged and told it to use a Shadow Ball. The Ghost-type sent a ball of dark energy sailing forward. As Weezing was hit, it woke up and floated back into the air after suffering some of the attack's blowback.
"Weezing," Janine shouted, "use Sludge Bomb!"
The Poison Gas Pokémon shot a ball of purple-colored goop at Haunter, who moved out of the way of the attack in a humorous fashion. Janine ordered her Pokémon to continue using the attack, and so Haunter began to fly around the room crazily without being ordered to do so.
Chase shouted, "Whoa, Haunter, stop it!" It halted and shot an innocent look back at the boy. "Quit goofing around and use a Lick attack!"
Haunter's face lit up, and it swiftly moved in front of Weezing and made a scary face. The Poison-type flinched, which gave Haunter the opportunity to lick it with its enormous tongue again.
The round, purple-colored Pokémon shivered and fell to the ground, knocked out by a strange tingling sensation.
"Good job!" said Janine. "But you won't have such an easy time with my next choice!"
She sent out her Venomoth. It fluttered in the air with its light purple wings shimmering in the light flowing inside through the windows.
"Weren't you just training with that Venomoth? Isn't it tired?"
"Don't be concerned; what you saw was just a warm-up. Now, do you want to attack or not?"
"Oh," Chase smiled nervously. "Haunter, use Shadow Ball!"
The Ghost-, Poison-type launched its dark ball of shadows at Venomoth. But an instant later, it had flown behind Haunter.
"Venomoth, use Psybeam!" The Bug-, Poison-type Pokémon shot a beam of psychic energy at Haunter's back. The Gas Pokémon fell to the ground, unconscious.
"No! Haunter!" Chase cried out.
"Move in for the kill with blinding speed! That's how a ninja gets it done!" Janine shouted.
Chase returned his Pokémon and grabbed another one of his red and white spheres. It released Charmeleon, who, like always, shot a Flamethrower into the air.
"Charmeleon, use Flamethrower!"
Charmeleon cracked a wry smile before it unleashed its powerful Fire-type attack. Janine told her Venomoth to dodge, which it did splendidly. The Poison-type flew high above the Flamethrower and did a nosedive, hurtling towards the ground.
Just as it was about to collide with the floor, Venomoth spread its wings and changed its direction. It tackled Charmeleon head-on and knocked it over. Venomoth innocently fluttered back over to its Trainer.
"Charmeleon, are you okay?" Chase asked worriedly.
The Fire-type lizard pushed itself off the ground and gave its Trainer a nod, then turned back around.
"Okay, then, let's try a Scary Face!"
Charmeleon made a startling face at Venomoth, who intern just floated there with its emotionless expression and big, vacant, purple eyes.
"Well, that didn't work," Chase muttered. "Charmeleon, use Dragon Rage!"
A ball of purple-colored energy was shot at Venomoth. The Poison Moth Pokémon tried to dodge, but as it moved out of the way, one of its wings were hit. It fell to the ground, unable to fly with this injury.
Chase, thinking quickly, commanded, "Use Metal Claw!"
Charmeleon's claws on both of its hands began to glow. It dashed forward, quickly gaining ground on the fallen opponent. But, as Charmeleon tried to swing its right hand at Janine's Pokémon, Venomoth jumped backwards and out of the way. Charmeleon thrust its left hand down, but again, it jumped out of the way.
Charmeleon's claws were now embedded in the ground, and it was having a hard time of pulling itself free. Janine called to her Pokémon and told it to use Poison Powder. With its one good wing, Venomoth scattered a plume of poisonous particles on Charmeleon.
"Use Flamethrower!" Chase exclaimed quickly.
His Pokémon shot its attack straight towards Venomoth. It was engulfed by the flames, and fell on its back, knocked out.
Charmeleon unhitched itself from the ground as Janine returned her Venomoth to its Poké Ball. It then stiffened as the pain from the poisoning took affect.
Chase called across the room to Charmeleon, asking, "Are you all right? Can you go on?" Charmeleon turned and nodded, putting on a determined grin to hide its pain. "Okay, I'll keep you in for now."
"All right, time to break out the big guns!" Janine declared as she threw another Poké Ball into the air. What materialized was a huge, bulking, purple-colored Pokémon.
Whoa! What is that thing?" Chase pulled out his Pokédex and flipped it open. Immediately, the little red device relayed its information.
"DRAPION," the computer started, "THE OGRE SCORP POKéMON. IT HAS THE POWER IN ITS CLAWED ARMS TO MAKE SCRAP OF A CAR. THE TIPS OF ITS CLAWS RELEASE POISON."
"It's certainly not something you'd see around Kanto," said Janine.
"I'll say," Chase replied as he stared at the gargantuan figure.
"I caught it when my father and I went to the Sinnoh Region for our vacation. It was just a little Scorupi when I caught it in Pastoria's Great Marsh, but I couldn't help but train it as much as possible."
"It's not so little anymore." Chase commanded Charmeleon to use Flamethrower.
The Flame Pokémon again shot a stream of fire out of its mouth. Drapion just stood where it had materialized and took the attack like it was nothing.
"Drapion, use X-Scissor!" Janine called.
The Ogre Scorp Pokémon crossed its arms to make an "X" shape, and approached Charmeleon menacingly. Charmeleon was able to jump out of the way and hit Drapion with another Flamethrower, but then Janine's giant Poison-type used a Pin Missile attack that seemed to come out of nowhere. The Fire-type did its best to not get hit by the flying spikes, but it did take some damage.
"Another Flamethrower, quick!"
Charmeleon, now up against a wall, began to call forth the immense flames from within, but Drapion thrust its claws forward and pinned the Flame Pokémon against the wall. Drapion's claws were embedded in the concrete, much like Charmeleon's claws had been stuck in the ground earlier, trapping the Fire-type.
Charmeleon's flames in its mouth puttered out. Drapion tightened its grip and threw its foe across the room, making it roll on the ground and into another wall. Due to this large quantity of damage, along with the poisoning Janine's Venomoth so generously gave to it, Charmeleon fainted.
As Chase returned his fallen friend, Silver and Jason were speculating what would happen next from high atop the metal bleachers.
"That Drapion sure is strong," said Silver.
Jason replied, "I agree. Janine did a good job training it."
"I wonder who Chase will send out next?"
"I'd go with Politoed, seeing as it would hold up against that Drapion the longest."
Chase tossed out his third and final Poké Ball. It popped open and sent a stream of white light hurtling to the ground. A figure began to materialize. It was green and looked ready to battle. It was the Pokémon that would hopefully earn Chase another Gym Badge… Metapod.
"Metapod?!" Silver exclaimed, dumbfounded. "Does he want to lose?"
"Now, hold on a second." Jason calmed his friend. "Let's see what Chase is cooking up."
"Metapod, use Harden!" Chase called. Metapod's hard shell flashed for a moment, hardening and increasing its Defense stat greatly.
"Drapion," called Janine, "use Poison Sting!" Drapion shot a bunch of purple-colored needles seeping with poison at Metapod, but they all just ricocheted off its shell.
"Harden!" Chase called again. Metapod's shell flashed once more, again escalating its Defense.
"X-Scissor!" Janine called out in annoyance.
Drapion approached the immobile Metapod and hit it with its crossed arms, making the Bug-type hurtle backwards into a wall and cracking the cement. But Metapod seemed unharmed.
Chase called, "Harden again!" Metapod's shell flashed, and it hardened even more.
"What is he doing?" Jason thought to himself. He pondered about it for a moment as he watched Metapod being flung all over the battlefield, but then he realized something. "I know what he's doing!" he said out loud.
"What's he doing?" Silver asked curiously.
"You remember when Chase asked for us to wait in the lobby so he could head outside for a bit?" Silver nodded. "I bet he had a little pep talk with Metapod about evolving! You see, when a Metapod takes damage, they build up energy which is needed to evolve!"
Just then, Drapion hit Metapod again, sending it sprawling through the air. It eventually came to a stop where it began glowing. It grew wings and its hard shell seemed to smooth out as antennae and feet formed. As the light faded, the evolved Pokémon stretched its new wings, and a moment later, fluttered into the air and exclaimed, "Butterfree!"
"All right!" Chase exclaimed. "Use Confusion, Butterfree!"
The Butterfly Pokémon's eyes began to glow a light blue, and Drapion was covered in a similar-colored veil, but nothing seemed to happen.
"Chase!" Jason called from the stands. "Psychic-type attacks won't work on Drapion, it's half Dark-type!"
"Then we'll have to try something else," the boy announced. Drapion tried to attack with another Poison Sting, but Butterfree dodged it gracefully. "Okay, try to use Sleep Powder!"
Butterfree flew high above Drapion and started scattering green spores around that made Drapion very drowsy. It fell asleep and snored loudly.
"No, Drapion!" Janine called out anxiously.
"We have 'em now! Use Tackle!"
The butterfly began attacking the sleeping Ogre Scorp Pokémon with continuous Tackle attacks. All the while Janine was calling to her friend, trying to awaken it. When Drapion finally did awaken, it stood up only to be met with a full-body tackle right in the face. It toppled over backwards with swirls in its eyes, unconscious.
Uncontainable excitement coursed through Chase as he exclaimed, "Yes! Butterfree, you did it!"
The Bug-, Flying-type fluttered around in the air playfully, letting out a joyous "Free! Free!"
Janine graciously returned her fallen Poison Pokémon as Jason and Silver cheered happily from the stands, with the former waving his cowboy hat in celebration. The Gym Leader walked up to Chase and handed him a pink, heart-shaped Badge from her pocket.
"Here, you deserve this," she said kindly. "It's the Soul Badge."
Chase smiled and replied politely, "Thank you." He placed his new Gym Badge in his jacket, making a fine addition to his collection. Jason and Silver joined him, and they all thanked Janine for the wonderful battle and said goodbye.
On the way out of the Gym, the three friends could see the man at the counter sleeping. They all chuckled to themselves and left for the Pokémon Center. When they got there, Chase had his team healed, and they all went outside.
It was then as Chase was having fun with his Butterfree that Silver got a call on his PokéGear. He stepped away from the others and answered it.
"Silver?" a familiar voice came over the speaker. "It's been a while. How goes that mission of yours?"
"Uh, good, it's going good," the redhead stammered.
"Listen. We need you back here at the base."
"Y-yes. I'll head back right away."
"No, I'll send a helicopter to pick you up within an hour. Just tell me where you are."
"Um…" Silver trailed off, looking back at his friends. Butterfree had perched itself up on Chase's head, lying on its belly. "I'm in Fuchsia City, Dad," he said with regret in his voice.
"Good. I'm already having a helicopter pick up Professor Nelson from the Lavender base. I'll have it fly over to get you."
"Tell them I will be waiting on Route 18, southeast of the guardhouse."
"Fine." Giovanni hung up. Silver, disheartened, stuck his phone back in his pocket.
"Say, who was that?" Chase asked with Butterfree still on his head.
"Well, that was my dad. He said he wanted me to come home."
"Oh…"
"Then we'll be seeing you?" said Jason.
"Yeah. I'll make arrangements to meet up with you guys later. We still have a certain clone to deal with."
"That's right!" Jason replied. "You just remember not to get too involved with Team Rocket anymore. They're bad news."
"I'll try to keep that in mind," Silver replied with a nervous smile.
They all shook hands and said goodbye, then Chase and Jason watched as their friend left.
"You know, maybe I should call my parents and tell them how I'm doing," Chase thought out loud.
Jason nodded. "That's a good idea."
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