Pokémon - The Journey Begins
Chapter 7: Water Washout!
"So, where is the Cerulean Gym?" Matt asked, pulling out his map.
"Oh, that map won't be neccesary; I just so happen to know where exactly the gym is!" Lizzie said, smiling. "Besides, it's on the other side. And what's the hurry anyway? We need to rest at a Pokémon Center, then I need to go shopping!"
"Yeah, I need to pick up some Pokémon supplies as well. I have no Pokéballs left," Matt said grimly. "I'll worry about that later. I just need to pick the right Pokémon to use against the Water Pokémon that they have."
"Hey, how did you know that they owned water Pokémon?" Lizzie asked.
"It says so on the map!" Matt said, pointing. "Look, it's here: 'Cerulean City specializes in Water Pokémon'. There, see?"
"Well, that shut me up," Lizzie said, taking a few steps back.
Matt put his map away, chuckling. "Well, let's go to the Pokémon Center, then we'll go to the gym."
"Sounds fine with me," Lizzie replied.
Matt agreed to take the 'scenic route' around Cerulean City before actually entering the Pokémon Center. Matt regretted that he didn't bring a camera; there were certain sights which he wouldn't mind capturing on film. Lizzie was surprised to hear that even though Matt doesn't live that far, he had never visited Cerulean at all just to visit.
After making a turn at a quiet intersection, Lizzie pointed to the Pokémon Center. "My house is actually over there, see?" Lizzie stated, pointing elsewhere. "It's kind of convenient, actually. In case I want to go home, I mean."
"If you're so close to the Pokémon Center, why not just go home anyway?" Matt asked.
"Are you inviting yourself into my home?!" Lizzie snapped.
Matt blushed. "What? No, I was just wondering. I mean, it's just common sense. If you live so close to the Pokémon Center, what would the point be going there? You probably would give your Pokémon a better treatment back at home."
"But I can't cook," Lizzie muttered.
"That has nothing to do with it," Matt replied.
"I guess. But anyway, let's go inside."
Upon entering the Pokémon Center, Matt's face fell. He looked around at the messes left on the floor due to spilled drinks, and wrappers from chewing gum and possibly other items.
"This place is a dump!" Matt commented. He then shuddered due to a disturbing odour. "It stinks in here, too; God, do they ever clean up in here?!"
"Oh, there are tourists that come in here around noon. They make a big mess, and the custodian is expected to clean it all up. Isn't that terrible?" Lizzie asked.
"Does the custodian even do the work?" Matt commented while walking up to the front desk to ring the bell.
"He's a slacker, just like everybody else in this city. Even though it has some really nice scenery, the public utility places such as this are always the ones left in shambles."
"That's atrocious," Matt commented yet again.
A very tired Nurse Joy from the back room approached the front desk. "Yes, can I help you?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah, I'd like my Pokémon healed," Matt said. He picked up his Squirtle and placed him on the desk. He then removed the other five minimized Pokéballs from his Pokémon belt and placed them in a tray.
"Mine too, please," Lizzie said, handing Nurse Joy four Pokéballs.
"Okay, I'll be back..." Nurse Joy said, looking around the Pokémon Center. "This is starting to frustrate me. I'm going to either hire a new custodial staff or put up a few signs not to leave such a mess."
"It's a shame what they've done here, really; my friend Lizzie here showed me around Cerulean City and it's really very nice," Matt said.
"That's...nice," Joy replied, then yawning. "Well, I have a lot of work to do. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Geez, you look really tired," Lizzie stated. "Tell ya what, how about we help clean up around here just a little bit. Perhaps it'll make you feel better?"
"Lizzie..." Matt muttered harshly.
"Oh, come on, what's the rush?" Lizzie asks.
"The fact that we have to get to the Cerulean gym."
"We could always go tomorrow."
"I would rather go now, while there's still sunlight."
"Matt, come on," Lizzie pleaded.
"No, no, it's all right. It's not your responsibility and even though I really appreciate your offer, I certainly can't just make you clean up. Not without any form of pay, anyway," Joy replied before turning around and entering the back room.
"Why did you do that for?" Lizzie asked sternly.
"Come on, Lizzie. I'm a Pokémon trainer; I don't have time to be picking up garbage and mopping up floors left by some other irresponsible morons. Doesn't the gym close soon?
Lizzie took a glance at her watch. "It's almost 7:30. The gym closes in an hour; but that's beside the point! I'm sure poor Nurse Joy is constantly in demand to heal these trainers' Pokémon!"
"All right, all right, when we get back from the gym, we can do a little bit of work."
"Fine, but once we get our Pokémon we'll have to dart out to the gym."
"Dart out? I thought you said it closes in an hour."
"Have you forgotten that the Cerulean gym is on the other side of the city? It might take over an hour to get there on foot! And none of the buses near us will go out that way. We'd have to go near the entrance of the city, and transfer once. The end result, we get there by nine."
"How do you know all this?" Matt asked.
"I happen to LIVE here!" Lizzie replied, laughing. "You don't spend fifteen years in the city you grew up in and know absolutely nothing about it!"
Nurse Joy walked back to the front desk with a full tray in her hands.
"Here you go kids." Nurse Joy said. "It didn't take very long at all, since there were no other Pokémon needing healing."
"Wow, that was really quick," Matt said, putting his Pokéballs away. "I guess if we want to make it before the gym closes, we should leave now..." Matt put his Pokéballs back on his belt, and violently grabbed Squirtle.
"Squirtle!" Squirtle yelled, striking Matt on the head.
"Ouch! Knock it off, we need to leave now!" Matt said, as Lizzie grabbed her Pokéballs.
"Okay, let's go! We'll be getting in running shape after we've reached the gym!" Lizzie said, putting her backpack on.
"All right," Matt replied, thanking Nurse Joy while leaving the Pokémon Center.
Matt and Lizzie ran down the street. Lizzie gave directions so that they knew where to go. They were sometimes darting through intersections at red lights sometimes and cutting off traffic; Matt didn't like this idea. They were endangering the lives of those around him, including their own.
Nearly fourty-five minutes later, completely exhausted from the long marathon that they ran, they had arrived at the entrance to Cerulean City's Pokémon gym.
"Gr...gr-gr-great!" Matt said, gasping for air. "We...made it..."
"Come on!" Lizzie exclaimed. "It wasn't THAT bad!"
"Not that BAD?!" Matt snapped. "Are you crazy?! What kind of normal human being has the capabilities of running such a long distance?!"
"Well, whatever, let's just get into the gym so that you can fight. It's starting to get cold out here." Lizzie said, beginning to shiver.
As soon as they were able to catch their breath, Matt and Lizzie entered through the front doors of the Pokémon gym. Inside were marble walls, paired with colourfully decorated aquariums with water Pokémon swimming about. Matt noticed carpeted floors, next to several couches and chairs, all which looked very comfortable to him at the moment.
Matt and Lizzie continued to walk past the lobby, and down a long hall. The only noise made in the area were the sounds of Matt's and Lizzie's feet touching the carpet. Squirtle's footfalls were very light sounding, but not impossible to hear.
"Ugh, do these gyms always have to look and sound so ominous? Pewter's gym was exactly the same!" Matt commented, wiping sweat away from his forehead.
"Yes, but Pewter's gym looks like a cavern; this looks a lot more nicer," Lizzie said.
Matt followed Lizzie, still gasping for breath once in a while. "Yeah, I agree, it's not dark in here!"
"The gym floor is that way," Lizzie pointed.
Matt and Lizzie entered the fighting arena, which looked exactly like a battle arena should, in Matt's opinion. At the top were several seats, all the way around, surrounding the battlefield which was found down a several sets of stairs. It was like a stadium. The battlefield itself contained three floatation devices on a swimming pool filled with water.
"Don't tell me that's the battle arena..." Matt muttered. "How in the hell am I supposed to fight on THAT?"
"Oh, we have a challenger?" a voice asked.
"I don't know, let's, like, go and take a look!" another voice said.
"Hey, wait for me! Like, what's going on?"
"Great, valley girls..." Matt groaned.
Lizzie lightly slapped Matt over the head. "Hey, watch your mouth! These leaders are my friends!"
"Okay, I'm sorry...did you say 'leaders'?" Matt asked.
"Well, between the three of them, they all share the same Pokémon," Lizzie said.
"Wow, this is like, our first challenger in months!" one of the girls smiled.
"Okay, like let's get it over with," one of the girls says and hops onto the leader platform on the swimming pool. "Yours is over there."
"Oh, I get it...I think." Matt walked down the set of stairs and approached his platform. He then jumped on top of it. He looked around. "I don't like this."
"Hi, my name is Daisy. We shall use two against two Pokémon each. If we each win one battle, we'll go into suddendeath. You all right with that?"
"Yeah," Matt replied.
"Good. Goldeen, go!" Daisy shouted, tossing an enlarged Pokéball into the battlefield. The large, goldfish-like Pokémon appeared, diving into the pool.
"Come out, Zubat!" Matt shouted, opening an enlarged Pokéball. Zubat's form quickly took shape after the ball was opened.
Matt was quick to begin the battle. "Zubat, Supersonic waves!"
Zubat, currently with no battle experience, used its own natural radar to detect the location of its opponent. After spotting it, the bat-like Pokémon flapped its wings at a rapid pace, while firing several mind-altering waves directly from its mouth. Goldeen was struck point blank, as now it was confounded.
"Oh no! Goldeen! Wash it off underwater!" Daisy commanded.
Goldeen, somewhat acknowledging the command given from its trainer dove underwater. However, seconds later, it strangely swam head-first at a rapid pace directly into the walls of the pool. Goldeen slowly surfaced, for it had just knocked itself out.
"Goldeen, return!" Daisy said, absorbing Goldeen back into her Pokéball. She then picks up another Pokéball and throws it into the battlefield. "Staryu, go!"
Taking form, a starfish-like Pokémon with a shining jewel in the center of all of its legs appeared in the battlefield.
"Return, Zubat!" Matt commanded, absorbing Zubat inside of its Pokéball. He then grabed another Pokéball. "Pidgey, go!"
Matt's trusted Pidgey took form after springing out of its Pokéball.
"Tackle, Staryu!" Daisy commands.
Staryu from its position underwater leaped out as its presence caught Pidgey by surprise. Its spinning legs struck Pidgey directly across the mouth, as Staryu returned underwater. Pidgey tried to regain its balance in the air.
"Pidgey, Gust attack!" Matt commands.
Pidgey spoted Staryu preparing to surface as it began to flap its wings at a rapid pace, the force of the winds causing Staryu to collide heavily with the pool's wall.
"Staryu, wash it off underwater!" Daisy commands.
Staryu, quick to recover from its previous attack jumped into the water, then surfaces.
"Water Gun, now!"
Staryu instantly launched forth a cannon of water, striking Pidgey as it attempted to dodge the attack. However, the attempt was in vain. The attack damaged Pidgey's wing as its attempts to remain in the air were in vain.
"Damn it. Pidgey, return!" Matt yelled, absorbing Pidgey back into the Pokéball. Daisy in response also called back her Pokémon.
"Okay, I have one last chance. Squirtle, go!" Matt said.
Squirtle, who had been beside Matt, jumped off the trainer platform and landed in the middle platform of the battlefield.
"In that case, I choose Seel!" Daisy threw a Pokéball as it landed on the middle platform. It sprang open, as a Pokémon very similar to the form of a seal took shape.
"Seel, Headbutt, now!"
"Squirtle, Water Gun!"
Seel, acknowledging the command given by its trainer began to charge at Squirtle. However, Squirtle quickly inhaled and exhaled a blast of water, which struck the Seel, causing it to call back the attack. Squirtle then leaped off of the tile and clutches Seel between its two claws, slamming it underwater. Seel in response swated at Squirtle underwater with its tail. Squirtle, taking the blow head on rose to the surface and jumped back onto the middle platform.
"Don't give up, Squirtle, Bite Attack!" Matt commands.
Just as Seel resurfaced, Squirtle once again grabed onto Seel with its claws. He began sinking his teeth onto the back of Seel as it desperately tried to shake Squirtle off. Squirtle sank his teeth in deeper, as Seel cried out even more in intense pain. After several more cries of pain from Seel, Daisy decided to call it back.
"Like, congratulations! You are, like, a very skilled trainer!"
Matt smiled, calling back Squirtle beside him.
"Like, catch," Daisy said, tossing to Matt a small water-droplet type badge. It was the Cascade Badge. "This is the official badge of the Cerulian Gym. This is proof that you have beaten me, Daisy, the sensational sister at the Cerulian Gym!"
"Nice..."
Back near the front door to the gym, Lizzie greeted Matt with a smile. "Hey! That was really good! Are you sure you've just started Pokémon training?"
"What, did I look professional or something?" Matt said, smiling.
"Kind of." Lizzie glanced at her watch. "Should we get back?
Matt didn't respond. Instead, he walked over to a nearby couch and allowed himself to collapse directly on top of it. "In about twenty minutes, okay? That run mixed with an intense Pokémon battle I just had pretty much took me completely out, and I need to rest..." Matt said, and wiped more sweat from his forehead.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Chapter 7: Water Washout!
"So, where is the Cerulean Gym?" Matt asked, pulling out his map.
"Oh, that map won't be neccesary; I just so happen to know where exactly the gym is!" Lizzie said, smiling. "Besides, it's on the other side. And what's the hurry anyway? We need to rest at a Pokémon Center, then I need to go shopping!"
"Yeah, I need to pick up some Pokémon supplies as well. I have no Pokéballs left," Matt said grimly. "I'll worry about that later. I just need to pick the right Pokémon to use against the Water Pokémon that they have."
"Hey, how did you know that they owned water Pokémon?" Lizzie asked.
"It says so on the map!" Matt said, pointing. "Look, it's here: 'Cerulean City specializes in Water Pokémon'. There, see?"
"Well, that shut me up," Lizzie said, taking a few steps back.
Matt put his map away, chuckling. "Well, let's go to the Pokémon Center, then we'll go to the gym."
"Sounds fine with me," Lizzie replied.
Matt agreed to take the 'scenic route' around Cerulean City before actually entering the Pokémon Center. Matt regretted that he didn't bring a camera; there were certain sights which he wouldn't mind capturing on film. Lizzie was surprised to hear that even though Matt doesn't live that far, he had never visited Cerulean at all just to visit.
After making a turn at a quiet intersection, Lizzie pointed to the Pokémon Center. "My house is actually over there, see?" Lizzie stated, pointing elsewhere. "It's kind of convenient, actually. In case I want to go home, I mean."
"If you're so close to the Pokémon Center, why not just go home anyway?" Matt asked.
"Are you inviting yourself into my home?!" Lizzie snapped.
Matt blushed. "What? No, I was just wondering. I mean, it's just common sense. If you live so close to the Pokémon Center, what would the point be going there? You probably would give your Pokémon a better treatment back at home."
"But I can't cook," Lizzie muttered.
"That has nothing to do with it," Matt replied.
"I guess. But anyway, let's go inside."
Upon entering the Pokémon Center, Matt's face fell. He looked around at the messes left on the floor due to spilled drinks, and wrappers from chewing gum and possibly other items.
"This place is a dump!" Matt commented. He then shuddered due to a disturbing odour. "It stinks in here, too; God, do they ever clean up in here?!"
"Oh, there are tourists that come in here around noon. They make a big mess, and the custodian is expected to clean it all up. Isn't that terrible?" Lizzie asked.
"Does the custodian even do the work?" Matt commented while walking up to the front desk to ring the bell.
"He's a slacker, just like everybody else in this city. Even though it has some really nice scenery, the public utility places such as this are always the ones left in shambles."
"That's atrocious," Matt commented yet again.
A very tired Nurse Joy from the back room approached the front desk. "Yes, can I help you?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah, I'd like my Pokémon healed," Matt said. He picked up his Squirtle and placed him on the desk. He then removed the other five minimized Pokéballs from his Pokémon belt and placed them in a tray.
"Mine too, please," Lizzie said, handing Nurse Joy four Pokéballs.
"Okay, I'll be back..." Nurse Joy said, looking around the Pokémon Center. "This is starting to frustrate me. I'm going to either hire a new custodial staff or put up a few signs not to leave such a mess."
"It's a shame what they've done here, really; my friend Lizzie here showed me around Cerulean City and it's really very nice," Matt said.
"That's...nice," Joy replied, then yawning. "Well, I have a lot of work to do. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Geez, you look really tired," Lizzie stated. "Tell ya what, how about we help clean up around here just a little bit. Perhaps it'll make you feel better?"
"Lizzie..." Matt muttered harshly.
"Oh, come on, what's the rush?" Lizzie asks.
"The fact that we have to get to the Cerulean gym."
"We could always go tomorrow."
"I would rather go now, while there's still sunlight."
"Matt, come on," Lizzie pleaded.
"No, no, it's all right. It's not your responsibility and even though I really appreciate your offer, I certainly can't just make you clean up. Not without any form of pay, anyway," Joy replied before turning around and entering the back room.
"Why did you do that for?" Lizzie asked sternly.
"Come on, Lizzie. I'm a Pokémon trainer; I don't have time to be picking up garbage and mopping up floors left by some other irresponsible morons. Doesn't the gym close soon?
Lizzie took a glance at her watch. "It's almost 7:30. The gym closes in an hour; but that's beside the point! I'm sure poor Nurse Joy is constantly in demand to heal these trainers' Pokémon!"
"All right, all right, when we get back from the gym, we can do a little bit of work."
"Fine, but once we get our Pokémon we'll have to dart out to the gym."
"Dart out? I thought you said it closes in an hour."
"Have you forgotten that the Cerulean gym is on the other side of the city? It might take over an hour to get there on foot! And none of the buses near us will go out that way. We'd have to go near the entrance of the city, and transfer once. The end result, we get there by nine."
"How do you know all this?" Matt asked.
"I happen to LIVE here!" Lizzie replied, laughing. "You don't spend fifteen years in the city you grew up in and know absolutely nothing about it!"
Nurse Joy walked back to the front desk with a full tray in her hands.
"Here you go kids." Nurse Joy said. "It didn't take very long at all, since there were no other Pokémon needing healing."
"Wow, that was really quick," Matt said, putting his Pokéballs away. "I guess if we want to make it before the gym closes, we should leave now..." Matt put his Pokéballs back on his belt, and violently grabbed Squirtle.
"Squirtle!" Squirtle yelled, striking Matt on the head.
"Ouch! Knock it off, we need to leave now!" Matt said, as Lizzie grabbed her Pokéballs.
"Okay, let's go! We'll be getting in running shape after we've reached the gym!" Lizzie said, putting her backpack on.
"All right," Matt replied, thanking Nurse Joy while leaving the Pokémon Center.
Matt and Lizzie ran down the street. Lizzie gave directions so that they knew where to go. They were sometimes darting through intersections at red lights sometimes and cutting off traffic; Matt didn't like this idea. They were endangering the lives of those around him, including their own.
Nearly fourty-five minutes later, completely exhausted from the long marathon that they ran, they had arrived at the entrance to Cerulean City's Pokémon gym.
"Gr...gr-gr-great!" Matt said, gasping for air. "We...made it..."
"Come on!" Lizzie exclaimed. "It wasn't THAT bad!"
"Not that BAD?!" Matt snapped. "Are you crazy?! What kind of normal human being has the capabilities of running such a long distance?!"
"Well, whatever, let's just get into the gym so that you can fight. It's starting to get cold out here." Lizzie said, beginning to shiver.
As soon as they were able to catch their breath, Matt and Lizzie entered through the front doors of the Pokémon gym. Inside were marble walls, paired with colourfully decorated aquariums with water Pokémon swimming about. Matt noticed carpeted floors, next to several couches and chairs, all which looked very comfortable to him at the moment.
Matt and Lizzie continued to walk past the lobby, and down a long hall. The only noise made in the area were the sounds of Matt's and Lizzie's feet touching the carpet. Squirtle's footfalls were very light sounding, but not impossible to hear.
"Ugh, do these gyms always have to look and sound so ominous? Pewter's gym was exactly the same!" Matt commented, wiping sweat away from his forehead.
"Yes, but Pewter's gym looks like a cavern; this looks a lot more nicer," Lizzie said.
Matt followed Lizzie, still gasping for breath once in a while. "Yeah, I agree, it's not dark in here!"
"The gym floor is that way," Lizzie pointed.
Matt and Lizzie entered the fighting arena, which looked exactly like a battle arena should, in Matt's opinion. At the top were several seats, all the way around, surrounding the battlefield which was found down a several sets of stairs. It was like a stadium. The battlefield itself contained three floatation devices on a swimming pool filled with water.
"Don't tell me that's the battle arena..." Matt muttered. "How in the hell am I supposed to fight on THAT?"
"Oh, we have a challenger?" a voice asked.
"I don't know, let's, like, go and take a look!" another voice said.
"Hey, wait for me! Like, what's going on?"
"Great, valley girls..." Matt groaned.
Lizzie lightly slapped Matt over the head. "Hey, watch your mouth! These leaders are my friends!"
"Okay, I'm sorry...did you say 'leaders'?" Matt asked.
"Well, between the three of them, they all share the same Pokémon," Lizzie said.
"Wow, this is like, our first challenger in months!" one of the girls smiled.
"Okay, like let's get it over with," one of the girls says and hops onto the leader platform on the swimming pool. "Yours is over there."
"Oh, I get it...I think." Matt walked down the set of stairs and approached his platform. He then jumped on top of it. He looked around. "I don't like this."
"Hi, my name is Daisy. We shall use two against two Pokémon each. If we each win one battle, we'll go into suddendeath. You all right with that?"
"Yeah," Matt replied.
"Good. Goldeen, go!" Daisy shouted, tossing an enlarged Pokéball into the battlefield. The large, goldfish-like Pokémon appeared, diving into the pool.
"Come out, Zubat!" Matt shouted, opening an enlarged Pokéball. Zubat's form quickly took shape after the ball was opened.
Matt was quick to begin the battle. "Zubat, Supersonic waves!"
Zubat, currently with no battle experience, used its own natural radar to detect the location of its opponent. After spotting it, the bat-like Pokémon flapped its wings at a rapid pace, while firing several mind-altering waves directly from its mouth. Goldeen was struck point blank, as now it was confounded.
"Oh no! Goldeen! Wash it off underwater!" Daisy commanded.
Goldeen, somewhat acknowledging the command given from its trainer dove underwater. However, seconds later, it strangely swam head-first at a rapid pace directly into the walls of the pool. Goldeen slowly surfaced, for it had just knocked itself out.
"Goldeen, return!" Daisy said, absorbing Goldeen back into her Pokéball. She then picks up another Pokéball and throws it into the battlefield. "Staryu, go!"
Taking form, a starfish-like Pokémon with a shining jewel in the center of all of its legs appeared in the battlefield.
"Return, Zubat!" Matt commanded, absorbing Zubat inside of its Pokéball. He then grabed another Pokéball. "Pidgey, go!"
Matt's trusted Pidgey took form after springing out of its Pokéball.
"Tackle, Staryu!" Daisy commands.
Staryu from its position underwater leaped out as its presence caught Pidgey by surprise. Its spinning legs struck Pidgey directly across the mouth, as Staryu returned underwater. Pidgey tried to regain its balance in the air.
"Pidgey, Gust attack!" Matt commands.
Pidgey spoted Staryu preparing to surface as it began to flap its wings at a rapid pace, the force of the winds causing Staryu to collide heavily with the pool's wall.
"Staryu, wash it off underwater!" Daisy commands.
Staryu, quick to recover from its previous attack jumped into the water, then surfaces.
"Water Gun, now!"
Staryu instantly launched forth a cannon of water, striking Pidgey as it attempted to dodge the attack. However, the attempt was in vain. The attack damaged Pidgey's wing as its attempts to remain in the air were in vain.
"Damn it. Pidgey, return!" Matt yelled, absorbing Pidgey back into the Pokéball. Daisy in response also called back her Pokémon.
"Okay, I have one last chance. Squirtle, go!" Matt said.
Squirtle, who had been beside Matt, jumped off the trainer platform and landed in the middle platform of the battlefield.
"In that case, I choose Seel!" Daisy threw a Pokéball as it landed on the middle platform. It sprang open, as a Pokémon very similar to the form of a seal took shape.
"Seel, Headbutt, now!"
"Squirtle, Water Gun!"
Seel, acknowledging the command given by its trainer began to charge at Squirtle. However, Squirtle quickly inhaled and exhaled a blast of water, which struck the Seel, causing it to call back the attack. Squirtle then leaped off of the tile and clutches Seel between its two claws, slamming it underwater. Seel in response swated at Squirtle underwater with its tail. Squirtle, taking the blow head on rose to the surface and jumped back onto the middle platform.
"Don't give up, Squirtle, Bite Attack!" Matt commands.
Just as Seel resurfaced, Squirtle once again grabed onto Seel with its claws. He began sinking his teeth onto the back of Seel as it desperately tried to shake Squirtle off. Squirtle sank his teeth in deeper, as Seel cried out even more in intense pain. After several more cries of pain from Seel, Daisy decided to call it back.
"Like, congratulations! You are, like, a very skilled trainer!"
Matt smiled, calling back Squirtle beside him.
"Like, catch," Daisy said, tossing to Matt a small water-droplet type badge. It was the Cascade Badge. "This is the official badge of the Cerulian Gym. This is proof that you have beaten me, Daisy, the sensational sister at the Cerulian Gym!"
"Nice..."
Back near the front door to the gym, Lizzie greeted Matt with a smile. "Hey! That was really good! Are you sure you've just started Pokémon training?"
"What, did I look professional or something?" Matt said, smiling.
"Kind of." Lizzie glanced at her watch. "Should we get back?
Matt didn't respond. Instead, he walked over to a nearby couch and allowed himself to collapse directly on top of it. "In about twenty minutes, okay? That run mixed with an intense Pokémon battle I just had pretty much took me completely out, and I need to rest..." Matt said, and wiped more sweat from his forehead.
TO BE CONTINUED.
