CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
Daniel and Natalie continued their walk along Silence Bridge, their Pokemon beside them. The sun had come out during the afternoon and shone down on them proudly, basking them in its warmth.
"How's Seel doing?" asked Natalie, holding Horsea in her arms as Squirtle and Poliwag walked beside her, with Butterfree flying overhead.
"He's enjoying himself, I think."
Daniel looked over to where Meowth was darting about in the bushes, always running a step ahead of Seel as he tried to traverse the ground and catch up. Weepinbell was relaxing in its natural environment, uttering incomprehensible Pokemon speak to the wild Oddish and Bellsprout hiding in the tall grass, while Arbok slithered on the ground, hissing lightly as it detected each new wild Pokemon within its range.
"Look! There's a sign over there." pointed Daniel, as Natalie ran over to read it.
"It says that this is one of the most popular spots for training Pokemon," said Natalie. "Since Trainers will usually have their fourth Badge by now, Trainers who are spotted here tend to be less of the beginner variety and have achieved moderate ability with their Pokemon."
"We're done with beginners, eh?" asked Daniel, as they continued along the path. "Well, it was fun while it lasted. I hope we get to see some - do you hear that?"
Natalie strained her ears. There was the unmistakeable sound of Pokemon battling.
"We're close! Let's go see!" Natalie shrieked, running ahead.
They turned a corner and entered a clearing, where a Pokemon battle was already underway.
"Pikachu, Thundershock!" cried a teenage girl with curly blonde hair and denim shorts.
"Spearow, dodge it!" shouted a teenage boy, wearing fashionably ripped jeans and a white shirt.
The Pikachu's Thundershock jolted through the air, landing a direct hit on Spearow, who was unable to dodge the attack. It plummeted to the ground, quite unconscious from the pain.
"That's two down, one to go!" shouted the girl, her curls bouncing as she jumped up and down. "You're toast, Robert, and so is your Spearow!"
"I'll take down that puny rodent if it's the last thing I do!" shouted Robert, returning Spearow back into its Pokeball.
"Look at her hair, it's so shiny!" Natalie commented, enviously noting the girl's fair features and thin body. "How does she manage to do it?"
"Who cares about her hair!" Daniel exclaimed. "I wanna see if he can take down her Pikachu!"
Unsurprised to find a sudden audience within their midst, Robert ignored them, while the girl laughed and tossed back her hair flirtatiously.
"Well, aren't you two a cute little couple spying on us!"
Daniel reddened and Natalie blushed furiously.
"We're not a couple!" Daniel retorted.
All of a sudden, the bright red light which announced the arrival of a Pokemon burst forth and Robert shouted, "Prepare for my ultimate Pokemon! Go, Fearow!"
Fearow flew into the sky, a mammoth bird with huge wings and a sharp beak. It had sharp talons on its feet and easily dwarfed the diminutive Pikachu in comparison.
"Don't you know Flying-type Pokemon are weak to Electric attacks?" the girl sighed. "Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Fearow, Mirror Move!"
As Pikachu released a powerful bolt of lightning from its cheeks, Fearow shuddered as it released a shining orb of energy from its beak which grew large enough to create a protective shield. As the Thunderbolt blasted the shield, it reflected the attack back at Pikachu, surprising it, as it was shocked by its own attack.
"Fearow, go! Fury Attack!"
Natalie gasped as Fearow dived for Pikachu, faster than she could ever imagine as Fearow ferociously pecked and clawed at Pikachu.
"Oh no!" shrieked the girl, as Pikachu fell to the ground, unable to move. "PIKACHU!"
Fearow flew back over to Robert as the girl ran onto the field, clutching her unconscious Pikachu.
"He won?" Natalie gasped, as Daniel applauded beside her. "But Pikachu - "
"Fearow was the faster Pokemon. And bigger, and stronger..."
They watched as the girl collected her injured Pikachu, heading for the Pokemon Center. Before they had a chance to call out, the boy named Robert had disappeared through the trees as well.
"What do you know about the next Gym Leader?" asked Natalie, hugging Horsea to her chest protectively.
"His name's Koga," explained Daniel. "He specialises in Poison-type Pokemon."
"Poison-types, huh..." Natalie looked around at her Pokemon. Being Water-types, none of them had a type advantage or disadvantage, besides Butterfree, who as a Bug-type was weak to Poison Pokemon. "Maybe... maybe Pokemon battling isn't necessarily about fighting with Pokemon types. Maybe it's about the Pokemon's individual strengths, too."
Daniel mused on this for a moment. "I think you're right."
Kneeling down to pat Weepinbell, Arbok slithered close and Meowth ran forward to embrace his Trainer. Upon seeing a bag of Pokefood, Seel waddled closer and Daniel fed them each one treat.
"Can I give my Pokemon some?" asked Natalie, reaching in her backpack. "I think I've run out."
"Sure," said Daniel, handing Natalie the packet.
Butterfree swooped down onto Natalie's shoulder as Squirtle and Poliwag gathered round, with Horsea eagerly trying to snatch a treat or two from the embrace of her arms.
Daniel and Natalie continued on through the forest, their sneakers treading on the damp grass as they glanced around at the treetops, the clear blue sky, the bright shining sun and down to the patches of tall grass where wild Pokemon frolicked.
Natalie gave a little gasp as they came into a clearing which dwarfed the one they had encountered earlier. There was easily enough space for many Pokemon battles to fit comfortably in the area; there were pairs of Trainers shouting commands to their Pokemon and yelling in triumph or shrieking in dismay. Daniel and Natalie walked past them, watching a Pidgeotto battle a Spearow mid-flight in one battle and two Rattata bare their fangs and leap at each other in another.
"Aw, yeah! I win!" shouted a voice nearby.
Daniel and Natalie turned to see a guy wearing low-hanging jeans supported by a chain belt pumping his fist in victory. He walked over to a young girl, wearing green dungarees and a cap over her short brown hair.
"Hand over my prize money," he demanded, holding out his hand. Crying, the girl handed him five hundred dollars. She was surrounded by her fainted Pokemon: a Meowth, Rattata and a Pidgey.
"Hey!" Natalie shouted. "I'll battle you next!"
The guy turned to Natalie, appraising her with scorn. "You?"
"Yeah, me! I think you're a bully for making that girl cry. I'll take you on right now!"
"Fine with me," shrugged the guy, grinning. "More money for me when I win!"
Natalie and the guy made room for a battlefield, while Daniel sat down on the grass, his Pokemon pooled around him. The guy opposite Natalie pulled one Pokeball from his belt, tossing it in the air and catching it with ease.
"Is that your only Pokemon?" Natalie asked in disbelief. "And you beat three Pokemon in a row?
"You bet! My Tauros is all I need to win."
"Tauros? I've never heard of that Pokemon." Natalie frowned, turning to Daniel. "Have you?"
Daniel shook his head. Natalie turned back to the guy. "What's your name?"
"I'm Jared! What's your name?"
"I'm Natalie," she replied, her Pokemon standing strong behind her. "Are you sure you want to battle all four of my Pokemon against only one of yours?"
"You're on!" said Jared, throwing his Pokeball onto the battlefield. "Tauros, GO!"
The flash of red light materialised into Tauros, a quadruped bovine covered in light brown fur with a mane of darker brown fur. It sported a pair of deadly horns atop its forehead and stomped its powerful hooves upon the ground, snorting heavily from its nostrils.
"That's Tauros?" Natalie exclaimed. "It's huge!"
Tauros gave Natalie's Pokemon an intimidating glare, startling them.
"Go on, then!" Jared shouted. "Who'll you choose first to battle my mighty Tauros?"
Natalie hesitated, then turned to Butterfree. "Well, Butterfree, you've got the best chance against this beast. Ready to fight?"
Butterfree was trembling a little, but flew into the air obediently, hovering above the battlefield.
"Your flimsy bug won't hassle my Tauros!" said Jared. "Tauros, Leer!"
"Butterfree, Confusion!" shouted Natalie.
Before Butterfree could react, Tauros shot it a sharp glare with its murderous eyes. Dazed, Butterfree fluttered to the ground and Tauros took off at a run, snorting as it headed for Butterfree.
"Butterfree, look out!" shrieked Natalie.
Butterfree flew up just in time to avoid Tauros' attack, but Tauros leapt into the air at the same time, tackling Butterfree and sending it across the ground in front of Natalie's feet. It lay unconscious.
"No way!" cried Natalie. She knelt and clutched Butterfree.
"You're in the big leagues now," said Jared. "I got my Tauros from the Safari Zone in Fuchsia. It's powerful!"
"He's right about that," said Daniel, worriedly glancing towards Natalie. "You OK?"
Nodding glumly, Natalie returned Butterfree to its Pokeball and raised an accusing hand to point at Tauros. "Poliwag, go!"
Poliwag waddled forward, its little nose snuffling in fear.
"Tauros, Fury Attack!" shouted Jared.
"Poliwag!" cried Natalie, as Tauros ran forward with the speed of a bull. "Hypnosis!"
Poliwag released a hypnotic wave from its centre which blasted Tauros full in the front. Tauros slunk slowly to its hindquarters, snoring loudly.
"Doubleslap!" cried Natalie.
Poliwag leapt up and whacked Tauros twice on the face with its tail.
"Water Gun!"
Poliwag shot a jet of water straight into Tauros' face. Drenched, Tauros opened one eye and roared loudly, leaping up and tackling Poliwag. Poliwag spun backwards towards Natalie, barely able to move.
Poliwag stirred weakly, returning back to its Pokeball in a flash of red light. Grimly, Natalie glanced up at Jared.
Jared grinned back. "Scared, are ya?"
Natalie shook her head. She sent Squirtle forward. "I'll take down your Tauros and wipe that silly smirk off your face before all is done! Go, Squirtle!"
Squirtle ventured forward, pumping his little arms and readying for battle. Tauros pawed the ground, tail whipping against hindquarters, hooves pounding into mud.
"Squirtle, Water Gun!"
"Tauros, Rage!"
The jet of water Squirtle expelled merely glanced off Tauros as it ran for Squirtle, head lowered and furious intent in its eyes.
"Withdraw!" cried Natalie.
Barely a second before impact, Squirtle retreated inside its shell. Spinning wildly through the air, Squirtle poked its head through and drenched Tauros with several jets of water, aided by its sudden spinning. Tauros was soaking wet, while Squirtle hit a tree and rebounded into the fray near Daniel, standing on two feet after emerging from his shell.
"Tauros, Leer!"
Squirtle covered its eyes with its hand, but this was the wrong thing to do - Tauros took charge and headed towards Squirtle, slamming him through the bush and beyond sight.
"Squirtle!" shrieked Natalie.
There was a moment's pause of trepidation and horror, then Squirtle launched himself from out of nowhere, tackling Tauros in the head and stunning it momentarily.
"Where did that come from?" Natalie said, shocked.
Squirtle landed on the ground and expelled a jet of water straight into Tauros' face. Mildly irritated, Tauros shook its head and launched at Squirtle again, but Squirtle jumped straight over Tauros, grabbing onto its mane as it boarded the irascible Pokemon.
Natalie let out a gasp of surprise as Tauros tried to buck Squirtle off, but Squirtle held on tight and expelled another jet of water into Tauros' face. Despite the attack only mildly irritating Tauros, it was beginning to cause damage.
Tauros finally managed to buck Squirtle off, and Squirtle released its grip and landed on its two feet with perfect balance. Facing off at each other, Squirtle bent on its knee and clenched its fists tight while Tauros leapt at Squirtle again. Squirtle rushed forward in a sudden burst of energy, tackling Tauros just under the chin with the butt of its head. Tauros groaned in agony and sunk slowly to the floor, as gasps from all sides resounded and Squirtle delivered a final Water Gun attack to finish off the Tauros.
"No way!" shouted Jared. "Tauros, get up!"
Tauros refused to rouse. It had fallen unconscious.
"You won!" cried Daniel, hugging Natalie, but she ran forward to embrace Squirtle, who while aglow in his victory was covered in beads of sweat from the duration of the fight.
"Congrats, Squirtle!" Natalie swung him around and into her arms, kissing him on the cheek. "You're the best!"
Jared returned Tauros to its Pokeball and walked forward, his hand outstretched with seven hundred and twenty dollars within.
"Thanks, Jared," smiled Natalie, accepting the cash. "It was a good battle."
"Your Squirtle's a tough fella," he replied. "Good luck with your Pokemon travels."
After healing her Pokemon with Potions, Natalie and Daniel continued down the path, enveloped by trees on either side.
"That Tauros was tough, huh?" asked Daniel.
"Yeah," said Natalie. "But my Squirtle was tough enough for it!"
Daniel was worried. If the other Trainers they were to encounter had Pokemon just as tough as Jared's…
Daniel and Natalie continued down the path and were surprised to see a large maze of fences, where Pokemon battles were taking place in every avenue. Pidgeotto soared above, Raticate clashed with one another and even a Victreebel was wrestling with its lesser evolved form Weepinbell in an opposing battle.
The sounds of battle could be heard from a distance as Daniel and Natalie made their carefully through, jumping out of the way to avoid a Charmander's Ember attack which scorched the grass neat between them, creating a fiery divide which soon crumpled to ashes.
"Wow!" uttered Natalie. "These Pokemon have guts!"
They came upon a fenced passage where they caught sight of a girl not too older than they were, with a brilliant mane of blonde hair and slim legs encased in tight fitting denim. When they matched gazes, she uttered "aha!" and ran forth to challenge them to a battle.
"You!" she pointed to Daniel. "I want you to battle me!"
Taking steps back to make room for a battlefield, Natalie watched quietly as Daniel appraised his Pokemon nearby. Meowth, Seel, Weepinbell and Arbok.
"Come on!" said the beauty, introducing herself as Lola. "I choose Clefairy!"
Clefairy burst forth in a flash of red light, taunting Daniel's Pokemon by waving its fingers in a show of mockery. Arbok hissed menacingly and Meowth readied its claws.
"Seel! Let's do this!" said Daniel, as Seel waddled forth, muttering its name under its breath as it considered its challenger before him.
"Clefairy!" shouted Lola. "Pound!"
"Seel, Water Gun!" cried Daniel.
Seel launched a jet of water at Clefairy which hit it straight in the face, sending the small pink Pokemon reeling. No less emboldened, Clefairy got to its feet as Seel ran forth to Headbutt Clefairy.
Singing in a high-pitched voice, Clefairy danced along to the tune as Seel slumped, suddenly drowsy and falling asleep on the grass.
"Seel! Wake up!" shouted Daniel, reaching in his bag for an Awakening.
"Clefairy! Double Slap!" cried Lola.
Clefairy snapped to attention, its song ceasing immediately as it launched a double hit on Seel, who awoke with a sudden cry, quite confused as to what had just happened.
"Headbutt!" shouted Daniel.
"Pound Seel again, Clefairy!" cried Lola.
Clefairy was faster on its feet, as Seel managed to regain its clarity while Clefairy dealt another hit to the sleep-dazed Seel. Crying out in pain, Seel let loose a defensive Growl which stopped Clefairy in its tracks. Regaining the upper hand, Seel launched itself at Clefairy, only narrowly missing the small pink Pokemon.
"Go, Seel! Go, Seel!" chanted Natalie from the sidelines, as her Pokemon waved in unison.
Lola cried, "Clefairy, Metronome!"
As Seel ran to Clefairy with its head bowed and horn ready, Clefairy wiggled its fingers and exhaled a stream of fire which Seel narrowly avoided.
"What?" Daniel shouted. "Clefairy's not a Fire-type!"
"Metronome allows the Pokemon to interpret a random move," Lola smiled. "It's what makes my Clefairy so special - aah!"
In her vanity, Seel had taken the advantage to tackle Clefairy and send it flying, fainted to its Trainer's feet.
"Oh, no! My Clefairy!" Lola's brow creased in worry as Daniel cheered for Seel, who clapped in victory.
"You're a brat!" Lola shouted, returning Clefairy to its Pokeball. "I choose you, my lithe rodent! Pikachu!"
Pikachu burst forth, cheeks crackling with electricity.
"Careful, Daniel!" cried Natalie.
"Seel, return - " Angrily, Seel shook its head. "But, Seel - "!
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
"Seel, Water Gun!"
The jet of water narrowly missed Pikachu who disappeared into thin air. Seel tensed, then launched himself forward with intuition as Pikachu reappeared, but both missed their strikes. They turned to face each other.
"Thunderbolt!" cried Lola.
"Water Gun!" shouted Daniel.
Pikachu's Thunderbolt shot out as Seel's jet of water connected, the electricity conducting and thoroughly shocking Seel. Out for the count, Seel lay dazed.
"Return!" Daniel held out Seel's Pokeball, sweat matting his forehead. "I choose Weepinbell!"
Weepinbell came next, staring down Pikachu who stared back intently.
"Oh, you think a Grass-type is your winner? Puh-leese! Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
"Weepinbell, Stun Spore!" cried Daniel.
Pikachu disappeared into thin air as Weepinbell exhaled golden dust upon the battlefield. Tackling Weepinbell in the side, the plant Pokemon rolled over several times, vines flailing as it tried to regain its balance.
"Daniel, quick!" cried Natalie, pointing to Lola, who was fishing in her purse to heal Pikachu, paralyzed in place.
"I can see that, thanks!" Daniel shot back, pent up with battle fever. "Weepinbell, Vine Whip!"
Long vines shot out from Weepinbell, whacking Pikachu across the face and sending it sprawling to Lola's feet. Hurriedly, Lola sprayed the Paralyz Heal.
"Wrap, Weepinbell!" cried Daniel.
Vines shot out and secured Pikachu in place, now just as immobile as before as it writhed, trying to escape the Grass Pokemon's embrace. Weepinbell threw Pikachu up into the air and slammed in on the ground forcefully.
"No!" shrieked Lola, running up to her fainted Pikachu. "You jerk!"
Daniel walked over, hand outstretched. "Thanks for a great battle."
"Yeah, right," huffed Lola, handing him a sizeable wad of cash. "I'll be back, mister. You better watch out."