Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon or any of its parent companies. I am merely a humble storyteller. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
Note: I am English, so some of the wordings, spellings, and expressions will be those commonly used in England.
Chapter Forty-Six: Feeling Vine and Ready!
Considering that Erika specialised in Grass-type Pokémon, it was no surprise that her Gym was pretty much a giant greenhouse, surrounded entirely by glass that glistened in the sun, filled with plants of all sorts and various Grass-type Pokémon doing their own thing. It was green and green and more green on top of that, splashed with colour from beautiful flowers whose wondrous scents permeated the whole building.
Thorny vines blocked Red and Leaf's way several times, only to be sliced away by Eevee's Chop Down with a curious Pikachu studying her carefully. A Pokémon with Cut would have been equally helpful, but none of Red's Pokémon, of course, knew the move, and Leaf's Bellsprout and Sandshrew were in the Pokémon Box. Either way, they managed to traverse their way through the path and found themselves on a battlefield of grass. On one side of it was a tree, and under that tree was Erika sipping tea at a table with a few of her friends.
"Oh, you're finally here, are you?" Erika said. She took a sip from her cup and breathed deeply. "I thought you had given up on your journey. I thought maybe that our little run-in with Team Rocket scared you off."
Red scowled. "You do remember that I told you of all the times I battled Team Rocket already on my journey?"
Erika looked politely surprised. "Did you? Oh my, I must have forgotten. Please forgive me, Red. It probably wasn't that interesting of a story."
Leaf nudged Red. "Is she really the Gym Leader?" she whispered.
"Yeah. Definitely."
"Is she… is she playing around? She doesn't seem to act like a Gym Leader."
"I like to think she is."
"Oh!" Erika said, setting down her cup, eyes set on Leaf. "You brought your friend." She bowed. "A pleasure to meet you. This is the Leaf girl you mentioned before, isn't she?"
"Didn't you just say you forgot my story?" Red mumbled.
Leaf bowed back. "A pleasure to meet you too."
Erika walked up to her, as daintily as one could, and cupped Leaf's chin between her fingers. "Your name is one of the best I've ever heard. And my, look at those eyes. So pretty, yet they've seen so much. All those trying times with Team Rocket and more. I'm certain that experience helps in your battles, doesn't it?"
"I… I guess," Leaf said, squirming.
"Although, you still have a long way to go." Erika's hand fell to her side. "Struggling against a crazy boy obsessed with shorts isn't the way to go."
"How do you know about the battle with Ben?" Red and Leaf said together.
"A few of my friends go to the university," Erika explained. "They simply told me of your battle. I must say, I am disappointed you seem to be unable to fully utilise the true potential of Grass-type Pokémon. Then again, not everyone can."
It was not so much a hint of condescension as much as it was a huge slathering of it.
"My Ivysaur's just going through a slump," Leaf said evenly. "I'll be there to help him through it, and when he's recovered, you'll see how amazing he can be."
"If you say so, my dear," Erika said, smiling sweetly.
Leaf's face was like thunder, but fortunately Eevee was there for cuddles.
"Are you ready to start our battle, Red?" Erika said.
"You bet I am!"
Erika laughed a noblewoman's laugh. "I'm glad to hear that. And please, don't be a disappointment, especially as I've had to wait a fair bit of time for you to challenge me. Although, I'm not holding my breath."
Red bit back the scathing reply that sought to burst off his tongue, settling with a brusque 'Let's get this started, then'.
o~o~o~o~o
Beedrill hovered in front of Red, her crimson eyes focused on the Pokémon on Erika's side of the field. It was a creature whose true shape was hidden by a mess of blue vines, its eyes the only part of its face that could be seen. It had no arms but did have feet, feet that looked as though it was wearing a pair of red boots.
Tangela, the Grass-type Pokémon. Its whole body is swathed with wide vines that are similar to seaweed. The vines sway as it walks.
"A pure Grass-type, huh?" Red said. "Well, Beedrill's got this in the bag."
Leaf was sat away on a bench with some of Erika's Gym Trainers, Eevee on her lap. Ivysaur was by her feet, reluctantly watching the battle for, as Leaf told him, 'Maybe watching other strong Grass-types will inspire you'. It remained to be seen if Leaf's idea would bear fruit.
Another young lady known as Reiko took on the role of referee and declared, "Battle begin!"
"Let's end this quickly," Red said. "Beedrill, Poison Jab!"
Beedrill zigzagged through the air and rammed a poisonous stinger into the Vine Pokémon, knocking it back. Tangela, however, managed to stay on its feet, appearing quite comfortable.
"What?" Red whispered to himself, before shouting, "Twineedle!"
Again, Beedrill zipped towards Tangela and jabbed it twice with its stingers. Tangela moaned, yet it still did not reel.
What the heck was going on? Both of Beedrill's moves were super effective STAB ones, enough to absolutely wreck the Grass-type. Yes, it was a Gym Leader's Pokémon, so it was obviously going to be stronger than average, but Beedrill was quite powerful herself, enough that she should have been doing more damage than she was. It did not make a lick of sense.
"Is that all?" Erika called. "Please don't say it is."
"We've got a lot more!" Red snapped. "You just watch us!"
"That's what I have been doing," Erika said, sighing dramatically. "Tangela, Constrict."
Several of Tangela's vines extended out and coiled around Beedrill, stopping the Twineedle Red asked for her to perform. Although, as painful as the attack looked, Beedrill did not seem to be in much discomfort.
"Constrict?" Red said, practically laughing. "Isn't that one of the weakest moves ever?"
Erika smiled. "Even the weakest techniques can be handy when used in the right ways. It's something called strategy. Tangela, use Growth."
Before Red's eyes, Tangela grew, absorbing nutrients from the field and the sunlight that shone through the surrounding glass, adding an extra ten centimetres to its one metre height, and causing its feet to enlarge and its vines to thicken.
Including the vines that held Beedrill.
The poor Bug-type buzzed in distress as Tangela's Constrict increased in strength.
"Beedrill, no!" Red screamed. "Shake yourself loose!"
"We shall not give you the chance!" Erika cried. "Now use Slam!"
Tangela raised the struggling Beedrill high into the air and brought her back down with a resounding crash. The vines slid off the dazed Bug-type, who pushed herself up on her stingers, her antennae twitching as she tried to regain her bearings.
"You're good, Beedrill," Red said. "Don't worry, you're good."
Beedrill hovered, her wings beating nineteen to the dozen, the tips of her stingers glinting in the sunlight.
"Ah, your Beedrill it much more durable than I expected," Erika said. "I commend you for that. Perhaps I should play this battle a little safer. Tangela, Ingrain."
At once, Tangela's feet seemed to melt into the grass, transforming into red roots that dug into the earth. The Grass-type sighed as the earth responded to its call, gifting it nutrients that helped ease the damage it had taken from Twineedle and Poison Jab. However, the roots appeared to hold it into that single space.
It could not move.
It was a sitting Psyduck.
But Red could not celebrate. Why would a Gym Leader make such a play? Why would Erika put her Tangela at such a disadvantage? He looked to Leaf, who was gaping at the Vine Pokémon.
"No way," she said.
"Leaf?" Red said. "What's up, Leaf?"
Erika's eyes shone. "Oh, have you seen it, my dear? It's fine. Explain it to him. Gym Battles are not just to earn a Badge, but a lesson Trainers learn from. Please provide him with this nugget of wisdom."
"Well, if you've got no objections," Leaf said. "Red, Tangela's holding an item."
"Holding an item? You mean like what Lt. Surge told me about, where Pokémon can hold items to get stronger and stuff?"
"Exactly. And Tangela's holding quite the nice one. Do you see that purple stone hidden amongst its vines?"
"Barely."
"That's an Eviolite. It boosts the defences of a Pokémon that can still evolve."
"What?" Red whispered. "Is that why Tangela was tanking those super effective hits? Wait a minute… Tangela can evolve! Since when?"
Erika applauded Leaf, who chose to accept it as genuine. "Excellent! You have got a great mind for Pokémon. Why aren't you headed for the Pokémon League?"
"It doesn't appeal to me in the slightest," Leaf replied.
"What a shame," Erika said, shaking her head as though a teacher displeased at their student's wrong answer. "Oh well, allow me to recommence with this battle, then. Use Slam!"
Beedrill hovered out of reach of Tangela's vines, the Ingrain giving her plenty of room to manoeuvre around the Grass-type. Nevertheless, the ferocity with how Tangela swung its vines meant Beedrill could not go near it without getting a good thrashing from the Gym Leader's lead Pokémon.
It was a stalemate.
Oh, wait. No, it was not.
With each of Erika's subsequent commands, Tangela grew, and its vines extended their reach, forcing Beedrill to climb higher and higher to avoid being obliterated by the increasingly overwhelming power of the Growth-induced Slams.
Red clenched and unclenched his fists. There had to be a way out of this. Maybe he could bring in Charmeleon and save Beedrill for later, using the former's long-distance attacks to take Tangela down? Maybe he could get a sneaky Flame Charge in and use the speed boost against Erika's other Pokémon?
But the Eviolite. And who was to say a sneaky vine would not hammer Charmeleon into the ground and knock him out in one hit?
Red wracked his brain, thinking of anything he and Beedrill could do to gain the upper hand. He needed to focus.
Focus…
A grin spread across his face. "Beedrill! Fly into Tangela using Focus Energy!"
Leaf gasped.
The Celadon Gym Trainer's gasped.
Erika looked politely confused.
Ivysaur opened one eye and watched.
Without questioning her Trainer, Beedrill dove at Tangela, shutting her eyes and taking deep, calming breaths. Yes, she would not question him. If he told her to do it, then no doubt it was something that would give them a good chance of victory.
She opened her eyes.
She was fluttering in front of the engorged Tangela.
Now, if you were one of the spectators or the competing Trainers, then you would have seen Beedrill blindly zoom between the flailing vines, barely avoiding being clipped by them, the focus her technique provided her sharpening her instincts.
"Yes!" Red roared, ecstatic his gambit paid off, knowing full well it would probably fail against a faster foe. "Twineedle!"
Beedrill struck Tangela twice, the first hit making it wince but the second scoring a delicious hit that made the Grass-type squeal in agony.
It writhed and it squirmed, unable to move from the spot, its vines smashing everything but its opponent, deaf to even the voice of its Trainer.
The first round was over, and everyone knew that. Beedrill graciously ended it with a Focus Energy-boosted Poison Jab.
"Oh my," Erika said, returning Tangela to its Poké Ball. "The battle ended ever so suddenly, did it not? Kudos to you, Red, I did not expect that."
She produced another Poké Ball, her smile intermingled with an essence of danger. "Let's see how you fair against this beauty. Victreebel, come out and bloom!"
For the life of him, Red could not discern the 'beauty' in this creature; if he were being honest, 'eldritch' would have been fairly good term for it. It was a Pokémon that stood taller than him, bell-shaped and yellow with green markings. A large green leaf was at either side of its body, and another was sat on top of its head, from which a brown vine tipped with yellow ran down its back. Yet that was not all: beneath the leaf upon its head was a cavernous mouth bordered by pink lips, decorated with two pointed teeth. It screeched at Beedrill, its eyes hungry for a good battle. Around one of its side leaves, hanging from a string, was a grey stone covered in minute pink crystals.
Victreebel, a Grass and Poison-type Pokémon, and the evolved form of Weepinbell. They are said to live in huge colonies deep in jungles, although no one has ever returned from there.
Red eyed Victreebel warily. Both of Beedrill's STAB moves had now been rendered merely normally effective, essentially making Victreebel a more formidable foe than Tangela even before it had begun to fight.
"Beedrill, start off with Poison Jab!" Red ordered once Reiko restarted the match.
"Use Poison Jab too, Victreebel!" Erika called.
Beedrill's stinger connected with the end of Victreebel's vine, the impact pushing the former away. No damage to either, but it was clear Victreebel packed a punch.
Twineedle followed, but it failed for at Erika's call for 'Weather Ball!', Victreebel fired from its gaping mouth a silvery, crystalline sphere at Beedrill, stopping her attack dead.
Leaf took a sharp intake of breath.
"You still focused, Beedrill?" Red asked. "Great. Okay, Fury Attack!"
"Evade," Erika said, and Victreebel awkwardly bounced out of the way of Beedrill's furious attack. "Please follow up with Sunny Day."
Leaf took a sharper intake of breath.
A shimmering yellow light formed at its monstrous maw, expanding and rising until it touched the glass ceiling, and the entire world seemed much brighter. And much hotter. And much more uncomfortable.
"Sunny Day?" Red muttered. "That just makes Fire-type moves more powerful. Why would she…"
He took off his hat and ran his hand through his messy hair, his cheeks flushed. "Who cares? Beedrill, get it with Poison Jab! Don't let it dodge!"
Beedrill's stinger shone that poisonous purple as she sought to spear the carnivorous plant beast, speeding towards it with such velocity that evading it would have been impossible.
However, it appeared that 'impossible' took a break from its definition.
Victreebel hopped backwards with far more poise than it did before, so quickly it was a blur.
"What!" Red gritted his teeth. "You were holding back Victreebel's true speed!"
"Was I?" Erika responded innocently.
Leaf frowned and took out her Pokédex. Her frown deepened.
"But Beedrill's even faster!" Red boasted. "Let's use another Poison Jab!"
With much gusto, Beedrill launched herself at Victreebel, again and again. However, out of all her attempts, only a few managed to connect with the Flycatcher Pokémon, who countered with its own Poison Jab, landing several of them.
"Your Beedrill has been entertaining," Erika said. "But now it is goodbye. Weather Ball."
Red smirked. Weather Ball? That same technique Victreebel used before, the one Beedrill ate for lunch? Her mistake. Beedrill would charge through it and Victreebel would be exposed.
Thus, that is what he told Beedrill to do.
The gasp that followed from Leaf as he gave Beedrill the command shook him, but it did not shake him as much as the Weather Ball that Victreebel spat out at his beautiful bug. It was no longer a silvery, crystalline sphere, instead an inferno ball that was twice as big.
It engulfed Beedrill.
It exploded.
A charred Beedrill dropped heavily to the gym floor.
She was unable to battle.
"Beedrill…" Red said weakly, running to her side. "Beedrill…"
Beedrill stirred feebly, lightly nudging Red's palm with her head.
"Thank you so much," Red said. "You were awesome. You can have a nice, long rest in your Poké Ball until we go to the Pokémon Centre."
She disappeared back into her Poké Ball with a grateful buzz.
"What was that?" Red asked once he returned to his side of the field. "Seriously, Erika, what kind of Fire-type move was that? And how is your Victreebel so fast?"
"Leaf, dear," Erika said with a lazy wave of her hand, "if you don't mind."
Red gritted his teeth and turned to Leaf.
"Um, Weather Ball is a move that changes and becomes more powerful depending on the, well, weather," she explained. "It's usually a Normal-type move, but in rain it becomes a Water-type move, Ice in hail, and –"
"Fire in sun," Red finished. "There are moves like that?" Despite himself, he grinned. Of course, there were. The world was so huge, why would there not be? There were so many things to learn about, so much to experience. "And what about Victreebel's speed, Leaf?"
"It's due to its Ability. Chlorophyll gives that Pokémon a speed boost in the sun." Leaf fanned herself with her hat. "It's also holding a Heat Rock, which means Sunny Day will last longer. Risky for a Grass-type to rely on techniques that increase the power of one of its biggest weaknesses, but that's why you're a Gym Leader, right, Erika?"
"That's exactly right, Leaf," Erika said.
Red stuck out his jaw. This had certainly put a crimp in his plans. Lo would be taken out in one shot by the Sunny Day-powered Weather Ball, Clefairy would not be able to stand the constant onslaught of Poison Jabs, and Charmeleon, while himself being powered up by Sunny Day, would still be much slower than Victreebel, and Red would need him for Erika's final Pokémon.
He had no other choice. "Pikachu. Get out there and show them what for."
Pikachu hopped forward, electric sparks shooting from his cheeks, squinting in the burning, yellow glow.
"An Electric-type?" Erika said, cocking her head to the side. "I must say, using that type in a Grass Gym does not fill me with much trepidation. Don't you even have another common super effective type of Pokémon, perhaps a Pidgeotto or even a Paras?"
"Don't need them," Red said. "Besides, Pikachu will leave you pleasantly surprised. Or greatly irritated. Whichever comes first."
"Ooh, you have piqued my interest," Erika said (although the authenticity of her interest could be debated) as Reiko called for the battle to go again. "Victreebel, Weather Ball."
The miniature version of the sun streaked across the field and blasted into Pikachu, or to be more exact, his clones. The real one bounded into air and shocked Victreebel with an electric pulse, the drooling plant trying to leap to the side, to no avail.
"Ah, no point in attempting to evade a Shock Wave," Erika said. "No matter, it did negligible damage at best. Now, Poison Jab!"
"Get away with Zippy Zap and then counter!" Red screamed.
Victreebel's venom-fuelled vine struck the ground where Pikachu was only a second before, and it screeched to high heavens as Pikachu propelled himself into it.
Erika's eyes gleamed. "Ah, there's that strange technique. Even Surge mentioned it when he last called. However, it's not good enough."
"We'll see about that!" Red snapped.
Leaf watched on, ignoring the excited whisperings of Erika's Gym Trainer's. So, this was a Gym Battle? It was one thing to view a high-stakes match on television but another entirely to watch it in person. She clenched her toes as Pikachu smashed into Victreebel with another Zippy Zap before the Grass-type's vine connected with the mouse's sternum.
Should she have been on this journey, questing for Badges like Red and Blue? Would she have not suffered as much against Missingno.? Would Ivysaur be his old self had she had the battle experience provided by Gyms?
But she would have only done what people expected of her, not what she wanted to do, right? Yes, this Gym Battle was fascinating, exciting even, but it was not for her. She would get stronger, but that would be through her own dreams and ideals, not through fighting against others for a piece of metal.
She and her team would become stronger.
She glanced down at Ivysaur. One of his eyes was still open. She smiled.
Pikachu leapt over another Weather Ball, its heat singeing his tail. Red's jacket was lying at his feet, as was his hat, his t-shirt sticking to him uncomfortably. He stared up at the Sunny Day again. Just how long was that meant to last with that blasted Heat Rock? Only Pikachu's Zippy Zap was allowing him to stand toe-to-toe with Victreebel's speed, and even then, Weather Ball was making it extremely difficult to get close too often.
They needed a window of opportunity, one fleeting stroke of luck to take advantage of, to pull off a Floaty Fall. Or maybe, just maybe, they would need to make their own luck.
"Pikachu!" Red shouted. "Run around Victreebel with Zippy Zap!"
Doing as his Trainer commanded, Pikachu's body became surrounded by electric sparks and he proceeded to run around the monstrous pitcher plant, whose venomous vine barely missed the rodent time and again.
"Simply childish games, I see," Erika said. "Your Pikachu is quick, but that means nothing with Chlorophyll active. Weather Ball!"
From its gaping jaws (wait, did it even have jaws?), came forth another fiery sphere. However, it was not headed directly at Pikachu, more at the place he was due to run to for, while Red's running strategy was quite sound, it was also far too predictable. The following explosion blasted Pikachu so high he almost touched the glass ceiling. Once he reached the apex of his ascent, gravity threw a lasso around him and pulled him back down, perhaps proclaiming to him 'Get down here, young man! What do you think you are, a Flying-type?'. As he fell, Victreebel's shining purple vine rushed up to meet him.
Slow motion. That was how everything appeared to Red for those few seconds. Time seemed to move differently for him, panic and calmness both speaking to him, trying to get him to do anything to get the clearly injured Pikachu out of further trouble.
Something clicked.
This was the lucky break they needed.
"Lean back, Pikachu!" Red shouted.
A dishevelled Pikachu's ears twitched and, despite the fact his eyes were shut in pain, he leaned back in mid-air, which might seem improbable but who cares? Poison Jab missed.
"Floaty Fall!"
Erika frowned. "Floaty… what?"
For the briefest instant, Pikachu was engulfed by the yellow, balloon-like sphere, before it popped and he shot towards Victreebel like a missile, slamming his tail into the Grass-type and fitting it snuggly into a crater. Erika pursed her lips, her Gym Trainers watching on, goggle-eyed.
Red punched his fist into his palm. "Yes! Gosh, I didn't think Floaty Fall would be this useful so soon!"
Leaf started to clap for Pikachu's win over Victreebel, but stopped after only two, for why should she clap for a victory when the battle was not yet over? Using its limp vine as leverage, Victreebel pulled itself up, its leaves drooping, but still capable of fighting.
"I see," Erika said. "That must be another technique courtesy of Evan, is that right? Super effective on Victreebel it seems to be. However, it is still not as refined as it can be. You only hit Victreebel with it because you caught us off-guard. I don't see you doing it again." She simpered. "Prepare yourself, Red, for while we are on the verge of fainting, we shall still take down Pikachu. Victreebel, Power Whip."
Ivysaur opened both his eyes.
Red clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, as Pikachu formed clones of himself, each of them glaring at Victreebel, red cheeks crackling.
"Bad choice," Erika whispered. Victreebel's vine extended and thickened, much like Tangela's did, but it also developed a green aura, an aura that radiated so much power the grass and surrounding trees and flowers seemed to tilt towards it.
But it would not hit Pikachu. It would slam down and eradicate several of the clones, and Pikachu would finish it off with Zippy Zap.
That was the only result.
Except it was not.
The Power Whip did not smash into Pikachu and his Double Team clones from above, oh no. What it did was sweep across the field, from left to right, giving the clones a one-way trip into the ether and providing the real Pikachu a journey into one of the Celadon Gym trees, splintering it.
Pikachu did not get back up.
"Pikachu!" Red screamed, sprinting over to Pikachu, who was hidden under a blanket of bark and leaves. He brushed them off him and cradled the Electric-type close to his chest.
"That was a great battle, Pikachu. You did more than I could've ever asked for."
The walk to give Pikachu to Leaf was long, and the walk back to take his battle position was even longer. It was a precarious position, the worst one in a Gym Battle since his first one against Brock, but maybe it was not as bad as he thought; Victreebel was a hit away from being defeated.
He took a deep breath. He could do it. They could do it.
"I choose you, Charmeleon!"
"Oh, that must be Brock's conqueror," Erika said of the red lizard who hissed at Victreebel. "Oh dear, whatever will I do?"
Sarcasm aside, there was not a lot she could do. Sunny Day finally faded, and a Fire Spin tore through the slowed and weakened Victreebel, all that was needed to send it back to the Poké Ball realm. Yet, neither Red nor Charmeleon celebrated.
"Your Victreebel was incredibly strong, Erika," Red said. "Those moves and that Ability sure messed us up." He grinned sardonically. "Just a pity you didn't set up another Sunny Day; we wouldn't have minded an increase to Charmeleon's STAB moves."
"I am sure you would have loved it," Erika said, pulling a Poké Ball out from her sleeve. "Anyway, allow me to reintroduce you to my beloved Vileplume."
And there it was, the Grass and Poison-type that decimated those Team Rocket Grunts, a happy thing that danced and bathed in the delicious sunlight.
"It's another that shares your typing, Ivysaur," Leaf said to the plant dinosaur. "I hope you're enjoying this and learning a lot.
Ivysaur shifted slightly but did not face his Trainer.
A blast started the battle as Sludge Bomb and Fire Spin cancelled each other out, and through the smoke Vileplume birthed another ball of sludge that cannoned through, barely missing a ducking Charmeleon.
Red chewed the inside of his cheek. "Fire Spin one more time!"
Lo and behold, it was countered again by Sludge Bomb. And another followed up its sibling, grazing Charmeleon's horn.
"What's up with only using Sludge Bomb?" Red asked. "Got nothing to else to hit Charmeleon with?"
Erika stifled a yawn. "There seems to be no point in using another technique. Sludge Bomb seems to be more than enough."
"Fine, then. Charmeleon, Flame Charge time."
Warming his body up until flames took it over, Charmeleon streaked across the field, a fiery dart seeking the bullseye, zigzagging past the repeated Sludge Bombs.
Vileplume was pushed back, wincing as its skin burned.
"Yes, we're in range!" Red said. "Hit it with Fire Spin!"
Flames built up within Charmeleon's mouth, wisps of smoke filed out of his nostrils, tremendous damage in Vileplume's future. Except, the future is never set, is it? Golden spores drifted from the flower on its head and settled on Charmeleon like soft snow. The Fire Spin faded and died, and Charmeleon stumbled, his arms limp, his legs and head heavy.
"No, no, no!" Red said, smacking his knee. "Stun Spore! Darn it. Fire Spin again."
Charmeleon tried. Charmeleon failed. He shook his head, as though that would be enough to rid himself of the paralysis. Obviously, it was not.
Erika flashed her pearly whites at Red. "Oh, Charmeleon seems to be struggling. What a shame. Allow me to be charitable and end this battle. Vileplume, Hidden Power!"
Hidden Power? Red had never heard of such a move. Curiosity struck him dumb as Vileplume sang out a long note without breath, summoning multiple white balls that quickly transmuted into dirt clods, circling it like it was a planet and they were its moons.
The balls left their orbit and flew like bullets into a Charmeleon powerless to dodge, thumping against his scales with super effective damage.
"Charmeleon, fall back!" Red shouted. "Come on, get back here."
Charmeleon tottered backwards, agonisingly slow, pausing every so often as his body was overcome with the paralysis. Rather kindly, Vileplume helped him along by attacking him with Sludge Bomb.
"You okay to go on, Charmeleon?" Red asked. "Because we've got our backs against the wall."
A growl told Red Charmeleon would not surrender this battle until Vileplume fully knocked him out, which was quite inspirational, but what would their tactics be now? It was hard enough getting close to Vileplume with its long-range attacks, but with paralysis thrown into the equation too? The Badge seemed to be getting further and further away with every passing second.
There had to be a way to work around the paralysis, there had to be a way to even the playing field. There just had to be.
Another barrage of mystical dirt clods pummelled into Charmeleon, and an instinctive Fire Spin was thrown back into Vileplume's face.
Ah! Was this it? Trapping Vileplume after taking the Hidden Power? Fire Spin may not have been the most powerful Fire-type move in the world, but it was a fiddly little manoeuvre that could come in handy in a pinch.
The flames wrapped themselves around one of Oddish's final evolutions, a serpent ready to crush and swallow its meal.
This was it.
They could build on this.
"Petal Dance."
Oh, how cruel. Before the Fire Spin could fully envelop the giant, walking flower, Vileplume pirouetted, producing a tornado of pink petals and bursting through the conflagration. It danced faster and faster, building up such incredible momentum. The combination of petals and Vileplume itself bowled Charmeleon over as he was thumped and smacked around, lost in the whirling pink twister, Red's cries of 'Metal Claw!' and 'Flame Charge!' unheeded by the struggling lizard.
Soon, the petals died and Vileplume's performance ended. Charmeleon was lying prostrate on the grassy floor, attempting to push himself up, while Vileplume was standing woozily on its feet, its eyes dull. It was confused.
"Confused?" Red murmured. "Petal Dance made it confused? All right, we can take advantage of… of… oh."
'Oh' indeed. For the confused Grass-type shook its head, and from one of its petals plopped out a shockingly pink berry, which it promptly guzzled down. Its stature straightened and its eyes became alert once more, the side-effects of Petal Dance merely a passing nuisance.
"Another held item?" Red said weakly.
"A Persim Berry," Erika explained, sparing Leaf this time. "Known less commonly as a Bitter Berry." She threw out her arms and gestured around herself elaborately. "One of the many, many beautiful plants we grow here in our gorgeous Gym." Her lips curled. "I hope this Gym Battle has been enlightening thus far, Red. Has it shown you how useful giving your Pokémon items can be? Maybe you'll actually defeat me next time."
"Battle's not over yet," Red said, scowling.
"If you say so."
Of course, the battle was not over yet. Charmeleon still had plenty of fire left within him, although he did seem to be on the cusp of activating Blaze, which was pointless if they could not get past the paralysis.
That darn paralysis.
Charmeleon still had some speed from his Flame Charge, but the muscle stiffening effects were still hindering him. Rapid movement was impossible! But they could not take their time lest they be obliterated by Hidden Powers and Sludge Bombs from afar.
Red furrowed his brow. Or could they? He gazed out at Charmeleon, who was still on all fours, breathing heavily.
Could they…?
"Charmeleon!" Red barked. "Stay where you are! Don't try and stand! Save your energy!"
"What are you…?" Erika started to say. She shook her head. "No matter, you've simply gifted us this battle. Vileplume, Sludge Bomb!"
The poisonous gunk projectile soared in an arc, determined to end the challenger's run once and for all.
Leaf could not take her eyes away.
Ivysaur's bored into the Sludge Bomb.
"Hop to the right!" Red screamed.
The Sludge Bomb splattered on the field, but that was the only thing it hit as Charmeleon threw himself to the right and landed on all fours.
Red thumped his chest. "Yes! It worked!"
"Lucky," Erika muttered, ordering a Hidden Power.
"To the left!"
Grimacing, Charmeleon tensed himself and leaped to the left this time, the barrage of dirt balls narrowly missing him.
"Sludge Bomb!"
"Take it back now ya'll! Great! Now bounce closer this time!"
Unable to believe what they were witnessing, the spectators could only stare as they bore witness to a paralysed Pokémon not being fully hindered by the status effect, a reasonable explanation beyond them.
Except for Leaf, that is, a very capable child who always knew two plus two equals four. Or twenty-two depending on the context of the question. Of course, the Stun Spore had weakened Charmeleon's muscles, which increased the chances of his movement being completely hampered should he become too aggressive. Which is why, as was obvious to her, Red was having Charmeleon bide his time and save his energy, ready to avoid the no doubt devastating damage they would receive from a successful Vileplume strike. It was not something she nor any normal Trainer would have ever thought of doing, and not for the first time in her life did she wonder how Red's brain worked.
Charmeleon dodged another Hidden Power, each evasive manoeuvre he made bringing him closer and closer to Vileplume. It was all coming together, but one slip up, one second of Lady Luck turning her head away, and the chances of a victory would vanish in a puff of smoke.
Then, suddenly, Charmeleon was before Vileplume.
It was now or never.
"Dragon Breath!"
A haze of purple, draconic energy rushed into Vileplume's face, causing it to contort in discomfort, a wave of energy that Charmeleon forced out, paralysis be damned.
Red held his breath as the Dragon Breath flickered away, the paralysis ending its reign prematurely.
This was it.
Did it work?
Vileplume tidied itself up and glared at Charmeleon, whose eyes were half open and watery, his teeth revealed in a tight grimace.
Red's face fell. It did not work.
"You should have used Fire Spin," Erika said, flashing him a dangerous, little smile. "What on earth were you trying to do there? Alas, you failed. Now, farewell, dear Red and Charmeleon. Hidden Power!"
The white balls reappeared, doing the conga around their summoner, each declaring to Charmeleon in a sing-song voice 'We're gonna get you, we're gonna get you, we're gonna get you, we're gonna get you, we're gonna get you, we're gonna get you (at this point there were going to be at least fifty more 'we're gonna get yous', but that might have been a little bit much for this story.).
Charmeleon heaved himself to his feet and held his arms out in front of him, claws shiny and metallic, which then faded away quickly, white and keratin.
This was it.
They had put up a good fight.
They would accept the final blow with dignity.
The Ground-type Hidden Power spheres spun quicker, ready to be released.
Then, when the time came for them to be unleashed, they slowed before breaking into dust. Vileplume's flower drooped and its arms hung by its sides, its eyes shut tight as spasms of soreness burned through its body.
Red gasped.
It worked.
Dragon Breath got off the paralysis!
"Yes!" Red bellowed as Erika blinked rapidly and stumbled over her kimono, bemused. "Now's our chance, Charmeleon! Fire Spin!"
Paralysis versus paralysis, two slow Pokémon who may or may not have been able to get off attacks successfully. Except the fire that burned within Charmeleon (and the boost from Flame Charge and a now activated Blaze) exploded and assailed out from his mouth, claiming Vileplume for its own, at long last able to enjoy its meal.
The Gym Trainer's shrieked and called out to Erika, who simply ordered a half-hearted Petal Dance, which failed. As Vileplume fell to a Flame Charge, the fiery maelstrom dissipated, and its flower collapsed on itself. Reiko had no other choice but to make the call:
"Vileplume is unable to battle! Gym Leader Erika is out of usable Pokémon! The victory goes to Red from Pallet Town!"
"Charmeleon!" Red shouted, running over to him, whereby the lizard collapsed into his Trainer's arms, eyes unfocused, head lolling, but a pleased grin upon his face. "Charmeleon, you did it! Man, you were great! You were all great! You, Beedrill, Pikachu, we all came through together, and we did it!"
Back on the bench, Leaf placed a hand on her chest. He did it. Red won his fourth Badge. And what a heck of a battle it was. Erika was such a tough opponent, tougher for the fact she used a single type, notwithstanding one that had so many weaknesses. She could only hope the battle would serve as motivation for Ivysaur, who, to her disappointment, had gone back to sleep. With Pikachu in her arms and Eevee by her feet, Leaf strode over to Red, who was in the process of receiving his Badge.
"You and your team fought well," Erika said. "And there I was thinking I would not allow any of those unorthodox battle methods my fellow Gym Leaders told me about catch me unawares." She smiled. "You're not that bad. As a matter of fact, I would almost be inclined to say you might be good."
"Is that the best compliment I'm going to get?"
"Quite possibly." From the recesses of her kimono, Erika brandished a Badge, one in the shape of a flower with multicoloured petals. "Here, you are, Red: the Rainbow Badge."
Red picked it from her dainty hand and studied it closely. He showed it to Charmeleon, who sniffed it, and then to a groggy Pikachu, who yawned and went back to sleep in Leaf's arms.
"We did it," he said softly. He beamed and an explosion of euphoria reverberated around the Gym. "We got the Rainbow Badge. Leaf, did you see that? Did you see how awesome that was! Man, Beedrill flew her wings off, and Pikachu showed how cool Floaty Fall can be! And did you see how Charmeleon's Dragon Breath came in clutch?"
"Yes, yes, Red, I saw it all," Leaf said, placing a strong hand on his shoulder lest he fly to the moon. "Honestly, that was a great battle."
"It totally was." Red held the Badge up to the light. "And next stop is Fuchsia. That's if my map isn't lying to me. I would've gone to Saffron, but I have no clue if that crazy city's going to let me in yet."
"Oh," Erika said, stifling a yawn. "You're going to try and acquire the Badge from Koga next? And when will you be setting off?"
"As soon as possible," Red said. "I want my fifth Badge already."
"And where are you headed, Leaf?" Erika asked, a dreamy look on her face.
"Oh, I'm returning to Pewter," Leaf said. "It's been a long time coming."
"I see," Erika said, gazing at them as though seeing them properly for the first time. "That's a pity. You don't wish to explore Celadon more?"
"We've been here eleven days," Red said. "We've seen a whole lot. Besides, we need to continue our journey."
"Oh. And does that mean you also visited the Game Corner?"
Red scrunched his face up in bewilderment. Leaf, on the other hand, said, "The Game Corner? I think Professor Willow might have mentioned it in passing. No, that's one place we haven't visited."
"Maybe we can go there another time," Red said. "I want to go to Fuchsia."
"And I really need to go to Pewter," Leaf added.
"Oh, don't be spoilsports," Erika said with a sly glint in her eyes. "Have another day in Celadon to relax, especially after our Gym Battle. Koga's not going anywhere. You will love the Game Corner. The games are ever so… enjoyable. You can even win… Pokémon as prizes, including some rare ones. And you will adore the posters they have on the walls; I am sure children such as yourselves will have such a thrill gazing at them! Lovely posters! This is a recommendation from this city's Gym Leader."
Red and Leaf exchanged a look that said 'Do you want to or…?" They shrugged,
"Okay, Erika," Red said. "We'll play some games at the Game Corner tomorrow."
"And I guess I could try and win some Pokémon," Leaf said. "I abhor the idea of them being prizes, but if I can get some to join my team, then I'll consider it a good day tomorrow. Still, it doesn't sit right with me."
"Understandable," Erika said. "I don't agree with it either, truth be told. As a matter of fact, not many of the inhabitants of our fair city deem the Game Corner a good representation of Celadon as a whole. Who knows, maybe someday soon that Game Corner will stop that practice of giving away Pokémon? Anyway, one of my assistants will provide you a Coin Case so you can partake in the various games there, and I will bid you both farewell. I hope you have a fun time at the Game Corner and have an even better time enjoying the posters. Red, thank you for a fun battle. Goodnight."
Erika's body crumpled, but before she hit the ground, her Gym Trainers arrived like ninjas and caught the snoring nature-loving princess.
"Er…" Red said.
"Er…" Leaf said.
"Er…" Red said again.
"Er…" Leaf said again.
One of the young women pressed a case into Leaf's chest and hurried over to Erika, who was sleeping soundly upon a plump pillow in the shade of a tree.
Without so much as another word, the duo left the Celadon Gym, resolving not to comment on the inane end to the day.