Chapter 21 - Battling Lilly

'I'm your next challenge!' said Lilly. She took out a pokeball. 'Go, Horsea!'

'That's my Horsea!' Misty exclaimed. She sighed. 'I remember when I left it here... I missed it so much...'

'Go, Beedrill!' said Kash.

Beedrill buzzed around Horsea, waiting for its attack.

'Horsea, water gun!' called Lilly. Horsea pointed its nose at Beedrill and shot out a burst of water, hitting Beedrill hard.

'Come on Beedrill, you can do it!' said Kash. 'Use your twineedle attack!'

Beedrill flew down towards Horsea and stabbed at it with its stingers.

'Horsea, dive under water!' said Lilly. She smiled as Horsea jumped into the water, swimming down to avoid Beedrill's attacks.

'That's not fair!' said Kash.

'You're in the Cerulean City Gym,' said Lilly. 'You play it the way we play it!'

Kash cringed and looked up at Beedrill.

'Alright then, I will play it your way!' he said. 'Beedrill, follow it under water!'

Beedrill gave Kash a curious look.

'Go on,' said Kash. 'I'm sure you'll be alright.'

'I'll give it a try,' said Beedrill. It dived down to the water and splashed into it, using its powerful stingers to propell itself through the water. I could barely see what was going on underneath the water. I could just make out the yellow shape of Beedrill struggling through the water, and the blue shape of Horsea swimming around quite easily.

'Beedrill can't battle underwater!' I told Kash, pulling at his jeans.

'Not now, Pikachu!' said Kash. 'This is important! Beedrill, poison sting attack!'

Beedrill tried to attack Horsea but the water pokemon was too quick for it while underwater.

'This is no good,' sighed Kash. 'Beedrill, surface!'

Beedrill swam to the top of the water and peered over at Kash, wondering what to do now.

'Horsea, tackle attack!' called Lilly. Horsea swam speedily over to Beedrill and tackled it from underneath. Beedrill was thrown into the air. As it was thrown, Beedrill shook the water off itself and was able to start beating its wings before it fell back into the water.

'Good work Beedrill!' smiled Kash. 'Now, string shot!'

Beedrill gathered up a sticky fluid and shot it out at Horsea. It wrapped the water pokemon up in a thin coat. Horsea tried to shake it off but it was no use.

'Quick, Beedrill!' said Kash. 'While it's distracted, get it with your poison sting!'

Beedrill zoomed down to Horsea, its stinger pointing straight towards it.

'Look out, Horsea!' cried Lilly. But it was too late. Beedrill slammed into Horsea, stinging it badly. Horsea was flown back with the impact, and it landed with a crash on one of the floating mats.

'Hang in there, Horsea!' cried Lilly desperately. Horsea forced itself up. Kash gasped.

'That's one strong Horsea,' he said. Beedrill watched the water pokemon curiously. Horsea stared angrily at Beedrill for a few seconds, then suddenly collapsed.

'Oh no!' cried Lilly.

'Yeah!' shouted Kash. 'Two down, one more to go! Good work, Beedrill!'

Lilly called back Horsea and Daisy stepped up. She got out her pokeball. Kash and I stood, waiting, as we wondered what pokemon she was going to send out.

(-o-) PiKACHU (-o-)