19. A Shocking Find in Vermilion.

Walking down one final hill, the city of Vermillion was finally visible for Danny and his friends.

"Here it is guys, Vermillion City." Danny happily said. Charmander made a happy growl, and looked up at his trainer, happy to be this far already.

"It must have a harbor." Richard stated. "Look at the sea, it is beautiful. After your battle, we are stopping by the beach." Danny sighed. "Again? We were at the beach a little while ago, remember?" Richard already looked disappointed, knowing Danny was right, but Janine had an idea. "I haven't been on the beach since a year or 3, so we can do it anyway." Richard started laughing. "You know Janine, I get more and more happy that you decided to join us." Which made Janine laugh as well.

"Eh, guys. Your love story is really nice, but Charmander and I have a battle to fight here." Danny said, and this time, neither Richard or Janine laughed, but Charmander sure was having a good time this round. Danny laughed as well, seeing both of his friends turning a little bit red.

"We should get going." Richard said. "Yes we should." Janine added, and both walked down the hill. Danny walked after them, sidewise looking down at his buddy. "What do they got?" Charmander held up his shoulders, didn't know the answer, but it sure was funny.

Vermillion City was one big city, bigger than every city they had been into so far, and both Danny and Richard where overwhelmed by it. Janine, on the other hand, didn't seemed to be too impressed.

"Guys, if you think this is big, try Celadon City. I have been there once, it is humongous." She could have better talked to a wall, cause neither Danny or Richard were paying attention.

"Richard, do you mind staying here for a while?" Danny asked, while looking around, not even facing Richard. "Not at all." Richard was looking the total other way, neither of them wanted to look away from the beautiful city that is called Vermillion.

"Come on guys, this is not such big of a deal." Janine tried. "Celadon is way bigger, and more beautiful."

"You can better stop trying girl." A girl of around Janine's age came walking towards them. She had brown hair, until her shoulders, and was wearing a t-shirt which was half pink half blue. Her shorts where completely white.

"Every man that comes into the city for the first time is hypnotized by it. Don't ask me why, must be a man thing."

Janine looked at the girl with disbelief. "But this city isn't even that beautiful." "I know right?" The girl reached out. "My name is Daniella." "Janine, nice to meet you. This are…. Wait, where have they gone?" Janine turned around, and while she had walked up to Daniella, Danny and Richard where still standing still, admiring one huge building.

"I see they already found the mall." " The mall, I thought only Celadon had a big mall." "Yes, for women, this one is for men. Vermillion is the city for the men, while Celadon is our pearl." Daniella laughed.

"My guess is that at least one of you is on his or her, in your case, way to Surge?" Janine nodded. "That would be Danny, but seeing him right now, I don't think he will ever make it to the gym. And I wanted to go to the beach, I guess I can forget all of that directly." Janine looked down sadly.

"Hey, otherwise you and I go to the beach together, and we leave these two at the mall." Janine started to laugh. "That would be a great idea, I'll ask. By the way, the weather is too great to have a gym battle today anyway."

"Hey, Danny, Richard. Do you guys agree to go to the beach right now?" "Yeah sure Janine, go have fun." Danny said. "But if you don't mind, Richard and I are going into this mall first, Richard needs new shoes, and I can use some new clothing as well." Janine sighed. "You know, I thought I travelled with two guys, but right now I think I am the manliest of us three." Daniella started to laugh. "That's a good one, let's go."

Danny and Richard managed to snap out of the captivity that the city had on them, and walked into the mall. "This city really is great." Danny said, looking around in the mall, which also was huge, and filled with the stuff men liked: Good clothing, but mostly, several beer shops, because, let's be honest, most guys like a beer every once in a while. Too bad for Danny and Richard, there was more beer than any other stuff in the mall, so after they bought Richard some new shoes, they could go. Of course, no beer for them, they are 15, what did you think?

Janine and Daniella where having a better time at the beach, it was a warm and nice summer day, so the beach was crowded, but that didn't cut the pleasure.

"Janine look, seems like your friends are done shopping already." Daniella pointed out to two teenagers walking up the beach in their swimming shorts.

"That was fairly quickly, what was in that mall?" Janine asked. "Mostly beer, and they can't get that yet, not 18 yet." Daniella laughed. "It told you this city is mostly a city for men, and one thing guys like is to lush themselves." Janine started to laugh as well, as Danny and Richard sat down next to the two girls.

"Turns out the entire mall is one big alcohol factory." Richard said disappointed. "But, I got some new shoes." Danny looked over the sea. "Last time I was at the beach I got myself a Pokémon, I don't think that will work again." Daniella looked surprised.

"Where have you been then? The only places I know with a beach are Vermillion, Fuchsia and Cinnabar Island." "Somewhere pasted Pewter city was a beach, completely made by men, and I accidentally captured my Krabby there."

"Talking about Krabby, I think he will like to be out in the water." Danny took Krabby's Pokémon, and let the River Crab Pokémon out. "Krabby, you can have a swim, but come back here when I call you, okay?" Krabby nodded, and happily ran into the water. Once in it, he tried to get as far away of all the humans as possible, just swimming in the water was already great.

Squirtle had placed himself on the sand, next to Charmander, who was, as usual, frightened of all the water that was in front of it.

"Eevee, you can come out as well." Daniella gasped when she saw Eevee appear.

"Wow, you have a shiny Eevee? That's awesome!" Richard smiled shyly. "I know, she looks really great, doesn't she?" "Can I caress her?" "Yeah sure, Eevee likes being caressed." Daniella started to stroke Eevee from her neck backwards, and the Evolution Pokémon seemed to really like it.

But just when they thought the weather couldn't get any better, a couple of dark clouds came in, directly blocking the sun.

"Just when you think you have a nice day out on the beach." Daniella sighed. Around them, several people started packing, while I lot of them looked either irritated or straight out mad.

"I'll better call Krabby." Danny walked over to the edge of the sea, and started calling for his Water Pokémon. But no response.

"Krabby! Where are you?" Danny turned around, it doesn't react.

"I'll handle this one. Go Seaking!" a Seaking went out from its Pokéball, and appeared in the water.

"Seaking, go find Danny's Krabby." Daniella ordered. Seaking nodded. "Squirtle, you come along, you know how it looks." Richard said, and Squirtle dived into the water as well.

"I told Krabby to don't go too far." Danny said, looking over the water, hoping to find it.

A few minutes later, Seaking appeared back at the beach, directly confusing its trainer and the others.

"Seaking, where are Krabby and Squirtle?" Daniella asked, as an answer, Seaking kept looking left of them, and Daniella turned to see what it was:

Squirtle and Krabby where walking towards their trainers, and at the same time they were carrying a Voltorb.

"What!" The four of them ran towards the three Pokémon. "Krabby, where did you find Voltorb?" Krabby pointed towards a the sea.

"A Voltorb going on a sea trip? That doesn't sound too healthy." Daniella said. "Better get it to a Pokémon Centre. Seaking, return. Thanks very much." Danny lifted Krabby up, while Richard did the same with Voltorb, and they started running towards the center. At the same time, the first rain drops where falling down.

"Nurse Joy!" Richard was the first one to enter the Pokémon Centre. "Our Pokémon found this Voltorb at sea." Joy walked towards them, and took Voltorb from them. "I'll take it to the examine room, you wait here."

"We are just in time." Janine said, pointing outside, where the rain was falling down. There where even some hailstones in between.

"So said, it was such a beautiful day." Daniella said. Danny nodded, and Charmander was sitting as close to his trainer as possible. The sea might have more water in it, but it was avoidable, but the rain…..

Richard was sitting still and waited for Joy to return. "You guys think that Voltorb will be okay?" He asked. "I don't know, Krabby, did you found it in the sea?" Krabby nodded, and Squirtle agreed as well.

"I can't believe it is still alive than." Janine said. "For as far as I know, Voltorb isn't a Water type."

- Voltorb. The identity of this creature is unknown. It has an extreme personality, uses Electric attacks, and at times self-destructs. –

"Sound like on hell of a fighter, but not really a good swimmer." Danny said, looking at Janine. "So I don't think it can swim at all."

Nurse Joy came walking in the main room, which made Richard stand up directly.

"Is it going to be okay?" Nurse Joy didn't looked too positive. "It nearly drowned, you were just in time. It needs a lot of rest. Can you guys try to find out who is the owner?" "Yeah, sure, we'll go right away." Richard stormed out of the center.

"Yeah, we will go right after the rain has stopped." Danny said. "Come on man, you won't find anyone right now." But Richard was already gone.

"Sigh, I guess we are going than." Danny went outside as well.

"Not me, I'm staying warm and dry inside." Daniella said. Janine nodded. "Better to, we won't find anyone outside, everybody stays inside. I wonder how they are going to do this."

Richard pushed the doorbell of the first house he came across. An old man opened the door.

"Mister, we found a Voltorb. Do you happen to have lost a Voltorb?" The old man started to laugh. "Do I look like a Pokémon Trainer?" He said. "I'm too old for that, no, I don't have a Voltorb, the only one in this town I know could have a Voltorb, would be Lieutenant Surge, the gym leader. Maybe you better talk to him." Richard shook the old man's hand. "Thank you."

Danny came walking towards his friend. "Richard, I don't think this strategy will work." Richard smiled. "I know, but I got my answer." Danny looked surprised. "Really?" "Yeah, according to the man that lives here, the only person in this city that maybe owns a Voltorb, is Surge."

"Then we go there. I hope his gym had a roof." Danny said. "Cause if I look in the sky it seems like the rain won't end any time soon."

Back in the Pokémon Centre, Nurse Joy came towards Janine and Daniella to inform about Voltorb, and to tell them it wasn't getting any better.

"What we need is a good shock, does anyone of you have an Electric Pokémon with you?" Janine shook her head, but Daniella nodded. "I don't directly have an Electric type Pokémon, but my Clefairy knows Thunderbolt." Nurse Joy smiled. "That might work, follow me."

Joy brought the two girls into a room that was full with equipment, and in the middle an incubator, in which Voltorb was lying. And it didn't looked too good.

"Okay Clefairy, come on out." The Normal type Pokémon looked at its trainer. "How about a Thunderbolt to get Voltorb going again?" Clefairy nodded, and Joy quickly opened the incubator. The electric from Clefairy's Thunderbolt hit Voltorb, and it seemed to get healthier by the second.

When it opened its eyes, Daniella told Clefairy to stop, and returned her Pokémon to its Pokéball.

"Thanks very much Clefairy."

Meanwhile, Danny and Richard had made it towards the gym, and they were soaking wet.

A big man with army clothing opened the door. "My god, what did you guys think? Let's go for a swim?" He started to laugh. "You guys come in."

"My name is Lieutenant Surge, but seeing you guys came here you must know that already." Surge looked at Danny and Richard. He took his black sunglasses of his head. "So what brings you guys here?"

"You see, we found a Voltorb, in the sea, and we are wondering if it might be yours." Richard said. Surge looked up. "I would almost be worried that it would be mine, but my Voltorb is one a little vacation, it is in the Power Plant, near Lavender Town." Surge said. "So I'm sorry guys, it isn't mine." Richard sighed.

"Hey, don't look down kid. I'll give you some advice, and something warm to drink." Surge said. "Make a poster, hang it in the Pokémon Centre, and you can also put one in my gym if you like, and if the trainer reads it, he can come to you."

"That's the problem mister Surge….." Richard started, but Surge cut him off. "Please kid, no mister. Rather call me Lieutenant Surge." "Okay, lt. Surge, the problem is that we won't be here for long. Danny here wants to challenge you, and when he wins, we travel to the next town." Surge nodded. "I understand, you are on the gym tour. I got an idea, how about you bring that Voltorb when it is all better to me, when Danny is challenging me, and then I will keep it here for the trainer."

Surge smiled. "Besides, by the time Danny has beaten me, the trainer will have already found it." "What?" Danny directly said. "Let's be honest, you might be a strong trainer, but I have fought in the big war, I am tough. You ain't beating me kid." Surge started to laugh. "We'll see about that, I will train." "You got yourself a challenge kid." Surge and Danny shook hands.

"Can I get you something to drink kids?" He asked, but seeing that the rain was slowly stopping, he most likely knew the answer. "Thanks, but we want to get back to Voltorb right away." "I understand. I really admire the way you care for Voltorb. Let's make another deal. You go on your journey, and when you have had the league, you come back here. And if I still have this Voltorb, you can get it." Richard looked up. "Really?" Surge nodded. "Yeah, I can't imagine a better trainer than you. And Danny, good luck with your training, you will need it kid."

Back in the center, Voltorb was mostly restored again. The Thunderbolt from Daniella's Clefairy had helped it a lot, so when Danny and Richard stepped inside the Pokémon center, they were in for a surprise: Voltorb was jumping towards them, as if he wanted to say thanks, he went straight towards Richard, who had already kneeled down.

"Hi there little friend, I see you are already a lot better. I'm glad you are." Voltorb was smiling. "You know what? When your trainer doesn't come for you after we visited the league, I can take you with me. How do you like that?" Voltorb kept smiling, and said its name happily, as all Pokémon do.

"So you didn't found the trainer yet." Janine asked. Danny shook his head. "No, it isn't Surge's, and there is no other trainer in this humongous city that can have a Voltorb, according to one old man." Danny said, looking at Richard.

"Hey." Richard countered. "We're making posters, and hang them in here, in the gym, everywhere possible. And when someone sees that, they can find Voltorb at Lt. Surge's gym." Richard explained.

"Well, I hope it works." "I hope it doesn't." Richard said, looking at his new friend. "I really hope nobody comes for it, so it can come along with me." "You can't say that." Janine said. "I can see you really like Voltorb, and it visibly really likes you to, but it probably has a trainer. I asked Nurse Joy, and they don't live in the wild around here. And that trainer probably misses Voltorb a lot."

Richard sighed. "I know you are right. It is just, I would really like to take it with me." Danny laid a hand on his friends shoulder. "Hey, when I first met Pidgey I really wanted to take it with me as well, but I couldn't, and it later found me. Maybe you and Voltorb will as well." Danny said encouraging. "I hope that will happen." Richard said.

Back in the gym, Lt. Surge was looking out of his window, straight over the sea.

"I sure hope that Voltorb isn't mine. It is way to kind to go through something like this. Nah, I'm sure it isn't. My Voltorb is having a great time in the Power Plant. Well, better call it, just to be sure."

And while the sun was setting over Vermillion City, Danny, Richard and Janine said goodbye to Daniella, and thanked her for her help, and Lt. Surge had called towards the Power Plant, and heard news he certainly didn't wanted to hear.

3th Gym Badge here we come. I got some bad news.

This will probably be the last time I upload on Sunday for a while. I got now two weeks left for my finals, and I need to study. A lot. These two weeks will be filled with studying, training for my cycling matches in the summer break and even more studying. I hope it won't be a complete hiatus, at least these two upcoming weeks. I might not upload on Sunday, maybe earlier, maybe later, but after these two weeks, Danny's Journey will go on a 3 week long hiatus, cause I just can't handle writing a chapter from over 3 thousand words per chapter, and studying for all the classes I have. It normally takes around 3-4 hours to get a chapter done, mostly due to looking up information for it, thinking about the idea, and the title, that is the hardest part of all, so I rather use that time for studying.

That's all for today, have a nice day, and I will see you guys very soon.