POKEMON

Chapter Nine:

Erika and a Reunion

Morning arose. Danny and Pikachu left the hotel and had breakfast at the café, and then decided to stop at the Price Exchange for the Celadon Game Corner.

Among checking the prizes, Danny saw he had enough coins to exchange them for a Vulpix, the fire fox Pokémon, one that he knew was very rare in the region. Then he was ready to take on the Celadon City gym leader, Erika. He trekked his way through the city, having to cut down a couple of bushes to get through, until he arrived at the gym, which was a circular structure with its' roof built to look like the flower on top of a Gloom.

As Danny and Pikachu approached the gym, they saw an old man peering into the gym windows.

"Heheh," the old man chuckled, "this gym is great! It's full of women!" Then he went back to looking through the window.

Danny and Pikachu shrugged it off, and they entered the gym. After confirming with the female receptionist, Danny was allowed inside the battle area. The whole place was decorated with numerous plants and flowers. Danny and his Pokémon had to cut down a bush and battle a couple of beautiful blondes with Bellsprouts and an Exeggcute to get to Erika. Danny thought they looked rather pretty, but he had to remember his goal was to get a Rainbow badge, not ogle over the women. But then he approached the gym leader, Erika, on the battlefield

"Gym leader uhh…" Danny let out a nervous laugh, seeing how beautiful Erika was.

"Hello," Erika said, not minding. "Lovely weather, isn't it? It's so pleasant. … Oh dear, I must have off. Welcome. My name is Erika. I am the leader of the Celadon Gym. I teach the arts of flower arranging and perfume production. My Pokémon are of the the grass type. It's all because of my Gloom. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been friends with Gloom ever since he saved me from a scary Grimer attack. And since then…" she noticed Danny staring. "Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea that you wished to challenge me."

"Yes I do," Danny said, coming to his senses again.

"Very well," Erika said, "but I shall not lose." The stadium lights brightened. "Tangela, I choose you!" She sent out her Tangela, who let out a shriek.

"Come on out, Charmeleon!" Danny said, letting him out of his Pokéball.

"Chaar!" Charmeleon let out a ready-to-fight type of sound.

"Hey," Danny grinned. "Charmeleon's not so nervous anymore! Charmeleon, Ember attack!"

Charmeleon shot some flames at Tangela, knocking it off its' feet, but it got back up, a bit scorched but capable of fighting.

"Tangela," Erika instructed, "bind it!"

Tangela wrapped Charmeleon in its' vinds with the Bind attack a few times, but after a bit of struggling, Charmeleon slipped out of the vines.

"OK, Charmeleon," Danny commanded, "another blow of Ember!"

Ember got another scorching, but Erika ordered Tangela to use Bind again, and after some tough binding, Charmeleon was able to use Ember again, and that did it. With some more flames, Tangela was scorched and knocked out.

"Very nice," Erika admitted, as she recalled the fainted Tangela to her Pokéball. Then she pulled out another one and threw it, calling "Go, Weepingbell!"

"Bell, bell…" the large flower bell-like Pokémon said, staring with its' large eyes.

Danny ordered, "Charmeleon, enough! Come back!" He returned Charmeleon to his Pokéball, and said, "Go! Pidgo!" and sent out his Pidgeotto.

Danny had Pidgo do a Wing Attack at Weepingbell, but it wasn't enough. Weepingbell countered with Acid, so Danny had Pidgo do another Wing Attack. Then after another Acid attack from Weepingbell, Pidgo finally knocked out Weepingbell with one last Wing Attack.

After recalling Weepingbell, Erika said, "Obviously, you have empathy with your Pokémon. And now I'll send out… GLOOM!"

And with that, Erika's Gloom emerged from the Pokéball she threw. "Gloom!" he happily said.

Dan recalled Pidgeotto and brought back out Charmeleon, giving it a Super Potion.

But Gloom used Acid on Charmeleon, but that didn't stop him from countering with an Ember attack!

Erika let out a soft gasp. Gloom appeared scorched, but still capable of battle. "Gloom, use Acid again!" she commanded.

Gloom did so, but Charmeleon wasn't hurt very much. He was still able to use Ember again, successfully defeating Gloom!

"Great job, Charmeleon!" Danny called out, and Charmeleon was so proudy he leaped up and high-fived Danny's palm!

"Oh!" Erika exclaimed. "I concede defeat. You are remarkably strong, and you show empathy and care for your Pokémon."

"That's right," Danny pointed out. "After evolving from a Charmander, Charmeleon got kind of cowardly from his new form and strength, but I was able to comfort him and show him evolution is good, and he's since warmed up to being a Charmeleon and likes me even more now than when he was a Charmander!"

Erika smiled. "That's sweet. As per league rules, I must confer you the Rainbow badge." She took the badge out of her pocket and handed it to Danny. "The Rainbow badge will make Pokémon up to the Soul level obey. It also allows Pokémon to use Strength in and out of battle. But you'll learn about that in Fuschia City. Please also take this with you." She handed Danny a TM labeled "TM 21." Then she explained, "TM21 contains Mega Drain. Half the damage it inflicts drained to heal your Pokémon!"

Then after exchanging contact information, Danny and his Pokémon left the gym with pride. Danny was now at the halfway point of collecting all the gym badges needed to enter the Pokémon League at Indigo Plateau!

…

Danny decided to try out the bicycle he got in Cerulean City. He rode it to the Pokémon Center, which was quite a distance away from the gym, with Pikachu holding onto his back.

After healing his Pokémon and then swapping Kadabra via the PC for Dugtrio, they decided to go on a little shopping spree at the Celadon Department Store.

The receptionist in the lobby of the Department Store greeted Danny with, "Hello! Welcome to the Celadon Department Store. The board on the right describes the store layout."

Danny took a look at the board that listed the floors, and he and Pikachu trekked up the stairs to the second floor, where the Trainer's Market was. He did need to get some supplies. On that floor, Danny bought some more Great Balls, Super Potions and a few other healing items.

On the third floor was the TV Game Shop. There were some Nintendo game consoles connected to TVs set up and some trading machines. Then the fourth floor was where wiseman gifts were sold. A poster advertised "Evolution Special! Element stones on sale now!" That had Danny go to the counter, where he bought a Poké Doll, two Fire Stones, two Leaf Stones and a Thunder Stone.

Danny looked at the Thunder Stone he bought. "I heard Pikachu can evolve into Raichu with a Thunder Stone," he said to himself. "Pikachu could get powerful… but if I evolve him, I can't change him back… I think he looks cute as a Pikachu, and he'd never be the same if I evolved him. Erika said that I show loyalty and empathy to my Pokémon… evolving Pikachu just to make it stronger is nothing like that." He showed the Thunder Stone to Pikachu and asked, "Pikachu, what do you think?"

"Pika pika!" Pikachu pleaded, refusing.

"Oh… you refuse to evolve?" Danny asked.

Pikachu closed his eyes and nodded his head "no."

"I understand…" Danny said, hugging his Pikachu. "I wholeheartedly agree with you! I can save the Thunderstone for Eevee… provided Butt doesn't evolve HIS Eevee into a Jolteon."

By now, Danny's bag was rather full, so they took the elevator back to the first floor, went to the Pokémon Center to deposit the stones and Poké Doll Danny bought, and returned to the Department Store, taking the elevator up to the fifth floor, the Drug Store. This was where ability enhancers were sold.

"Pikachu's base stats are the lowest of all the Pokémon in my party," Danny said to himself. "And our training and fighting isn't helping much. That Pokémon Handbook does say such ability enhancing vitamins can help."

Pikachu overheard and happily said "Pi-KA-chu!"

"Glad you like that idea," Danny said, beaming at his Pikachu.

So Danny bought some HP Ups, Proteins, Irons and Calciums to give Pikachu, who was happy to take them. Then they went up to the rooftop square, where a lounge and vending machines were. Danny got some fresh water and lemonade bottles from one of the vending machines.

Meanwhile, a little girl was running around crazily. Her older brother explained to Danny, "My sister is a trainer, believe it or not. But she's so immature, she drives me nuts!"

"I'm thirsty!" the girl said. "I want something to drink!"

So Danny decided to help out and give the girl a water bottle.

"Yay!" the girl said. "Fresh water! Thank you! You can have this from me!" She handed her a TM, labeled 13. Danny felt pleased by the good deed he did. "TM13 contains Ice Beam!" the girl explained. "It can freeze the target sometimes!"

…

Danny and Pikachu decided to explore west of Celadon City, to Route 16. A sleeping Snorlax was blocking the path to Cycling Road, but Danny was able to cut down a small bush that enabled him to cut through an unofficial gate to a small area fenced above Cycling Road. Danny noticed a small house there, so he peeked in through the window.

Some girl inside the house with a Fearow gasped. "Oh, you found my secret retreat! Quick, come inside!" So Danny did. The girl told him, "Please don't tell anyone I'm here. I'll make it up to you with this!" She handed Danny an HM labeled 02. "HM02 is Fly. It will take you back to any town. Put it to good use!"

"Er, thanks!" Danny said, and he and Pikachu quickly left.

…

Back at the Celadon Pokémon Center, Danny taught his Pidgeotto the Fly HM. Then among leaving, he noticed a couple of familiar faces…

"Brock! Misty!" Danny said in surprise.

"You're Danny, aren't you?" Brock asked. "I remember our battle in Pewter City. What a coincidence meeting you here!"

"What are you two doing here?" Danny asked them.

"We're checking out the different perfumes being sold," Misty explained. "The boy from Pallet Town traveling with us claimed perfume was stinky, so we ditched him."

A Pikachu joined up with Misty and Brock. "Pika-pika!" it said.

Danny looked down. "Is that one of you guys' Pikachu?"

Brock looked down. "Huh? Oh no, it belongs to Ash, the boy from Pallet Misty mentioned."

Misty chuckled. "Even his Pikachu prefered to check out perfume than stick around with HIM."

Danny's own Pikachu walked up to Ash's Pikachu, and they sniffed each other a bit.

"By the way," Brock added, "we also met your brother, Billy. He was preparing to challenge Erika for a Rainbow badge."

"I just hope he doesn't make the same mistake Ash did," Misty commented, "claming perfume is a stinky rip-off."

Danny took a whiff of the air, noticing the perfume Misty had on. "Well, I actually like the smell of your perfume," Danny noted. "As long as it's chosen and used wisely, perfume can be very pleasant."

"Yeah," Brock said, now in a dreamy-sounding voice, "and it can definitely help with pretty girls." He let out a giddy, almost perverted-sounding laugh.

Danny gave a look. "What's with Brock?" he asked Misty.

"Oh, he has a weakness for women," Misty explained.

Danny looked down as his Pikachu and Ash's were talking "Pika pika"s to each other.

"So Ash's Pikachu doesn't like Pokéballs either, huh?" Danny asked.

"Nope," Brock said, coming back to his sense. "Pikachu was Ash's first Pokémon he got from Professor Oak."

"Same!" Danny said. "When my rival Butt Oak and I got to Professor Oak's lab that morning, the three main starters were gone because we were both late, but Oak gave me a Pikachu and Butt an Eevee."

"Ash also now has a Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle as well," Misty added.

"Neat," Danny said. "I got those as well during my quest, but now they are a Venusaur, Charmeleon and Wartortle, respectively."

"That's pretty neat," Brock said. "So what are you doing next?"

"Well, now that I have the Rainbow Badge," Danny said, "I'm going to go for either the Soul Badge or the Marsh Badge next, after I make a stop in Lavender Town."

"Ash already has the Marsh Badge," Brock pointed out.

"WHAT?!" Danny couldn't believe it. "He got the Marsh Badge before the Rainbow Badge? This Ash must be a better trainer than I am!"

"I wouldn't necessarily say that," Misty commented, rolling her eyes. "It's a long story, but maybe I'll explain it to you in an email or something."

"We're going to be on our way," Brock said. "It was nice meeting you again, Danny!"

"OK, see ya!" Danny said, waving goodbye as he started towards Route 8, his Pikachu following and waving as well.

"Pika!" Danny's Pikachu added.

…

Danny decided to see if the Route 8 gate to Saffron City had been opened yet. The guard stopped him, saying "Whoa, boy! I'm parched! I'm on guard duty."

Danny pulled out a few water bottles, saying "How about some fresh water? Direct from Celadon City."

"Huh?" the guard asked. "I can have this drink? Gee, thanks!" Danny handed the water bottles to the guard, whom instantly opened one and began glugging down some fresh water. "If you want to go to Saffron City," he said, wiping his mouth, "you can go on through. I'll share this with the other guards!"

And so Danny and Pikachu finally were able to get into Saffron City, the largest city in the Kanto region. But there were quite a few Team Rocket Grunts wandering around. That made Danny feel a little nervous. When he and Pikachu passed by the large Silph Company skyscraper, a Team Rocket Grunt guarding the entrance stopped Danny and said, "I'm a security guard. Suspicious kids I don't allow in!" So Danny and Pikachu continued on until they got to the other side of Saffron City and through the gate to Route 7.

TO BE CONTINUED