You should know what to do, I don't need to explain…. But just so you're reminded, I'm not a plaigerizer, like some people are accusing. This is my own ideas and they've been written three years before this was even posted.
Chapter 20: Steel Mineral Battle
Angelina and Jeremy are back at the Olivine Pokemon Center during the next day.
"Angelina," Nurse Joy said at the counter as Angelina and Jeremy sat at the table, "I have a package for you, it just got here."
"Kewl," Angelina walked to the counter as Nurse Joy handed her a package. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," the nurse replied, walking back behind the counter.
"It's from Mom," Angelina said as she sat back down on the table, placing the brown package on the table and opening it.
"What is it?" Jeremy asked.
"A Badge Box!" Angelina smiled as she pulled out a small navy colored box. "I've wanted one of these forever!" she opened it up and saw eight places for her badges.
"That's a nice one," Jeremy responded, "Hopefully you can add one more in there after today's fight."
"Better put my badges in there," Angelina pulled out her five badges, on the top row she placed from left to right; The Zephyr Badge, Hive Badge, Plain Badge, Fog Badge. Then she placed from left to right, on the bottom row the Storm Badge. "Sweet," she closed the bag and put it in her pack.
"Your Pokemon are ready," Nurse Joy said as she walked from behind the counter with the Pokeballs on the tray.
"Thanks," Jeremy said as he picked up the tray and walked to the table, he and Angelina got their Pokeballs.
"Let's get going," Angelina stood up, "I can't wait to fight Jasmine."
"What's your plan?" Jeremy asked.
"Charcoal and Frostine!" Angelina smiled. "We're gonna win with friendship!"
"Let's go then," Jeremy added as he and Angelina walked out the Pokemon Center, the doors closing behind him. "The gym was this way," he directed.
"I can't wait!" Angelina anxiously responded as the duo walked to the gym, in which they arrived there in five minutes. It was tall, and had metal plating on the outside.
"Here we go," Angelina said as she opened the gym door and walked into the lobby, Jeremy tagging along behind her.
"Oh hey," Jasmine replied as she walked from out of a door, "You're here."
"Sure am," Angelina smiled, "Ready for our battle?"
"You bet," Jasmine said, "Cici, come here."
"Coming.…" a little girl's voice said. She walked out of the same door as Jasmine, a girl around the age of seven with light brown hair and dressed similar to Jasmine.
"This is Cici," Jasmine replied, "My little cousin, she's also the Olivine Gym official judge."
"Official judge!" Jeremy and Angelina responded in shock.
"No one believes it," Cici sighed, "But I am!" she smiled.
"Come this way and we'll battle," Jasmine informed the duo as she and Cici walked through the same door they came through.
"I can't wait!" Angelina ran through the door with Jeremy following behind her. The arena was a grand, almost plain room immersed in rugged boulders; on the left and right were bleachers.
"Please take your place," Jasmine said as she waited on her side of the arena, Angelina walked to hers as Jeremy made his way to the bleachers with Pichu and Togepi.
"The battle will take place today," Cici announced in the judge's box, on the side of the arena near the middle. "Both challenger and leader are allowed three Pokemon each, Angelina may switch once while Jasmine will switch none."
"Since I'm the leader I'll choose first," Jasmine said as she enlarged a Pokeball, "I choose you!" a gray Pokemon with magnets attached to it floated about two feet above the arena as it came from the Pokeball, "Magneton!"
"Magneton is a strong Steel and Electric type, Angelina!" Jeremy exclaimed. "It has a weakness to fire types! You and Charmeleon can beat it!"
Angelina grinned confidently. "Let's go, Charcoal!" she threw her Pokeball and unleashed the slender fire-lizard Pokemon.
"Begin!" Cici commanded.
"Zap Cannon!" Jasmine instructed. Magneton formed a large electric ball in front of itself and shot it at Charmeleon.
"Zap Cannon? Let's see what the Pokédex says," Angelina said.
'Zap Cannon is a super-powerful electric attack that always paralyzes, but it only has 50 accuracy.'
"Well, that should be easy to avoid. Charmeleon, dodge it and then use Bide!"
Zap Cannon was an easy miss, and so Charmeleon used Rage. Magneton used a Sonic Boom, and then followed up with a Thunder. Charmeleon then unleashed all of its stored energy at Magneton, finishing it off with one hit.
"Angelina is the winner!" Cici informed everyone.
"That was good," Jeremy complemented Angelina. "I'm impressed."
Jasmine released her second Pokémon, a Magnemite that zigzagged curiously. Smirking with a confident growl, Charcoal darted toward it and unleashed his flames as he did before.
Angelina grinned at his reaction, but soon gasped as she spotted the Magnet Pokémon maintain a weak field of static around it. "Charcoal, wait! The Magnemite's going to—!"
"Charrrrr!" Charcoal, unheeding, made contact with his enemy, ensnaring the small metal creature with his fire. It went down just as the first did, but Charcoal stumbled upon his landing. He shivered, traces of electricity taking hold of his movements.
"...paralyze you, with Thunder Wave," Angelina finished. She sighed, but smiled a little nonetheless at her Charmeleon, who now cast an embarrassed glance at her.
"Char...meleon," Charcoal muttered as he managed to stand, witnessing as the fallen Magnemite was recalled into its PokéBall and enlarged another one.
"I bet it's Ampharos, right?" Jeremy asked.
Jasmine, hesitating for a moment, shook her head pleasantly as she threw out her final Pokeball. Angelina practically jumped out of her skin once she saw a giant, bright steel serpant materialize in front of Jasmine. It almost reaching the ceiling despite the fact that its tail wound around on the floor multiple times.
Jeremy chuckled as Angelina and Charcoal continued to gape at the steel snake that rotated its tail and other segments of its body continuously.
Jasmine, on the other hand, smiled kindly and held her hand out to gesture her colossal Pokémon. "Th-This is my Steelix," she introduced, "Say hello."
The Steelix emitted a low groan and rose up high above the ground, almost managing a friendly expression through its unchanging face of steel as it made a bow. Angelina and Charcoal, standing in its deep shadow, could do nothing but make astonished nods in return. It was only when the Steelix backed off when Angelina recovered from her shock, and instead gazed in amazement, hardly able to fumble for her PokéDex.
"Steelix, the Iron Snake Poké body has been compressed deep under ground, and, as a result, its composition changes to become diamond-like. The many small metal particles that cover this Pokémon's body reflect bright light well."
"...Wow," sighed Angelina, putting away the device once it had done its job. "I know Steelix are huge, but I didn't know Steelix were this huge! It's so...big!"
"Char-charmel!" cried Charcoal in agreement, and cringing again in paralysis.
Angelina's gaze fell upon her fire Pokemon, and she grimaced. After a second's thought, she picked his PokéBall. "Charcoal, want to switch out for now?"
"Meleon!" Charcoal nodded in eager relief and smiled as he was recalled into his PokéBall.
Angelina was swift to choose her next Pokémon. An azure sphere traded places with Charcoal's; she held it somewhat tight in her palm. After another second's hesitation, she tossed it onto the field.
"Go, Frostine!"
As if a small boat were plopped onto dry land, Angelina's Lapras was planted on the arena's firm earth. A fleck of doubt entered Angelina's heart as her Frostine cast a monotonous glare at her. Angelina released a slow sigh and, without hinting at any sign of weakness, nodded as sternly as she could muster. Frostine almost seemed to overlook this gesture, but the Pokémon glared head on at Jasmine's Steelix.
"Ra!" Frostine howled in her soft yet hauntingly dark voice. Angelina managed a small, reserved smile.
"Begin!" Cici shouted.
"Steelix, Iron Tail!" Jasmine barely called out in a yell.
"Frostine, use Water Gun!" Angelina commanded in a quick response. Her Lapras reared hear head and rapidly fired a flurry of water bullets, refusing to let up even as Steelix swung its shining tail end upon her. The crushing blow crashed into the sea creature's neck, causing Angelina to cringe, and it was only then that Frostine's attack flew off its mark and vanished altogether.
"Raaa!" Frostine shrieked and let loose another barrage, concealing not a shred of cowardice toward the gigantic steel snake, who flinched in heavy discomfort.
Tiny earthquakes racked the battle field as Steelix roamed further away in a futile retreat as it was unable to escape the Water Gun's range. The cut and polished boulders making up its body glittered and brightened considerably, almost as if it generated its own light.
"Good! Keep using that Water Gun, Frostine!" encouraged Angelina excitedly.
Frostine opened her mouth and released another round of water balls without hesitation. But, without warning, the attack literally evaporated halfway on its charge toward Steelix. The strawberry-blonde haired girl's eager smile turned into a surprised frown, and she watched as Frostine was barely able to extend the distance of her Water Gun, merely succeeding in slathering the field with puddles.
"But how? Frostine, what's going on?" Angelina asked, puzzled.
"Ra!" Frostine nearly retorted in frustration, firing another attack. The shining Steelix, comfortably away from danger, looked amused past its rugged, unchanging face. It approached and braved a sliver of the feeble Water Gun, carving a trail of mud as it unearthed a wad of boulders and hurled it toward its enemy.
"Frostine, hit the boulders with another Water Gun!" Despite the Pokémon's instant obedience, Frostine couldn't repel the oncoming rocks and barely shielded herself with the shell on her back as she was pelted relentlessly.
Angelina raised her arm over her face to block the globs of mud that splattered near her, and sighed in relief when Frostine again raised her head high, prepared with a dark glare. On the other side of the field, Jasmine had a settled look of confidence displayed on her face as a result of the situation.
"Steelix is using Sunny Day," Jeremy explained loudly, "So...that's why your Pokémon's water attacks are weakened, Angelina."
"Sunny Day?" Blinking, Angelina eyed Jasmine's Steelix that glimmered through the mud stains on its metallic figure. She turned her head to the windows that dotted the Gym's walls, noticing the bright rays that leaked through.
Taking a deep breath of the air that had warmed since Sunny Day took effect, she turned back to Frostine. The Pokémon hadn't shifted a single flipper, only glaring ahead of her at the steel serpent. A seething blaze burned in her black irises, and she emitted a low hiss.
"Steelix," Jasmine's soft voice recited the name of her Pokémon, "Please, use another Iron Tail on Lapras."
With a groan and twist of several of its segments, Steelix's tail illuminated and slashed down upon Frostine. The attack, however, connected with the moist earth, this time spraying the astonished strawberry-blonde Trainer with mud. Jasmine immediately clapped her hands together and mouthed a silent apology. Angelina let a short laugh escape her and watched Frostine unleash yet another feeble Water Gun, the Pokémon sliding across the soaked puddles that had yet to dry.
"We'll have to wait until Sunny Day goes away," Angelina murmured, wiping some of the earthy sludge off her face and shirt. "Frostine, for now try a Body Slam!"
Pivoting to avoid another oppressing Iron Tail from Steelix, Frostine aggressively faced it. Her eyes again blazed with a searing darkness, a look that made Angelina shiver in unease. Frostine roared as she thrust her body into Steelix, smashing even her head in her reckless collision.
At once, as if jolted by a sudden wave of overwhelming energy, Steelix flailed and cried out. It worked its sluggish body away from Frostine like it had bounced away from the powerful tackle. Steelix, huffing anxiously, sent a wary glare toward her, who returned with a piercing glower. Angelina's eyebrows rose, as did Jasmine's, at this peculiar reaction.
Body Slam shouldn't have hurt Steelix that much, should it? Angelina tilted her head curiously as she thought, Steelix is Steel-type, and Body Slam is a Normal-type move, so it shouldn't be very effective...
I guess it was a critical hit, she concluded. Her eyes brightened as she noticed the Steelix's shine dim and whittle away, and she smiled. "Alright, it's time to use Water Gun!"
"Ra!" Frostine forced herself through the mucky mud, quickly approaching the cautious Steelix.
"Steelix, Iron Tail!" ordered Jasmine.
Her Steelix glanced at her, but raised the tail end of its body and thrashed upon Frostine once more. Frostine evaded a hit to the head, but a cringe added to her already cold scowl as the heavy steel whipped harshly on her side. She shrugged it off a moment later, shrilling and again throwing herself into the steel snake wildly. Steelix nearly cried out, and scraped away from Frostine as she neared for yet another rash Body Slam.
"Frostine!" Angelina called out.
Immediately, the blue Transport Pokémon froze stiff, her perturbed fury ebbing away immediately. She made eye contact with her Trainer, staring with evident innocence, as if she'd snapped out of a trance.
Angelina grinned uncomfortably. "Okay Frostine! Finish with Hydro Pump!"
Frostine still stared at her, unaware of the blatant gawking from her unsettled opponent. A light glisten of appreciation almost sparked in her placated eyes for just a moment and she whirled toward Steelix, opening her mouth wide.
"Iron Tail again, Steelix!" Jasmine ordered her Pokémon, which followed the command without question. The moment Steelix slashed toward Frostine, Frostine unleashed several pulses of water. She ceased fire as she was nearly toppled over by the Iron Tail's crushing blow to her side. Frostine only glared quietly, which her opponent returned as they waited.
But Steelix, its endless steel body cloaked in water, squinted and collapsed, creating a violent tremor that wracked the sturdy Gym. Angelina took a wild stumble and clumsily regained her balance, watching the Pokémon.
"Angelina and Lapras are the winners!" Cici announced.
"Yeah!" Jeremy cheered as he ran to Angelina from the bleachers.
When Steelix's body vanished in a beam of red light, returning to the black and yellow PokéBall that Jasmine now held, Angelina heaved a sigh and smiled at Frostine.
"Great job, Frostine! We won!" Angelina exclaimed, waving at the blue Pokémon. Frostine looked at her blankly, the grave glance typical to Lapras's stoic character. Nonetheless, Angelina maintained her elated smile and held out her Pokémon's blue-silver sphere. "Thank you, Frostine! Return!"
After recalling Frostine, Angelina and Jeremy bounded across the battlefield that was smeared with heavy coats of muddy puddles.
The Olivine Gym Leader faced the girl with a feeble yet uplifting smile, and waited until she and Jeremy reached her to speak. "...You are a better Trainer than me, in both skill and kindness." With one hand clasped on Steelix's PokéBall, Jasmine held out the other, turning it over and delicately releasing her fingers. In her palm rested a sleek, silver badge that seemed to give off dozens of tiny sparkles. Angelina gazed at it in wide-eyed interest as Jasmine concluded, "In accordance with League rules, I confer upon you the Mineral Badge."
"Thank you!" Bowing, Angelina gently took it and added the Mineral Badge in her box, next to the Storm Badge.
"An excellent display, and your Lapras was interesting," Jasmine smiled, "If you're in town, you should check out the beach, and good luck on the other gyms, too."
"Thanks, I'll do my best! So, well... I gotta go and get cleaned up," Angelina replied, gesturing the dry mud splatters on her shirt and legs."
Regret immediately immersed in Jasmine's green eyes, and the Gym Leader inclined her head, looking at the floor. Apologetic, she humbly stuttered, "I-I'm sorry about that...Steelix never meant it, I'm sure."
"No problem, no problem!" Angelina spun on the dot and looked over her shoulder as she added, "It's only a little bit of mud."
Jasmine, coming out of her bow, smiled back just slightly, then walked out of the arena with Cici.
"Good job," Jeremy said as both Pichu and Togepi jumped into their trainer's arms happily. "That was a good battle."
"Thanks," Angelina replied, she giggled as Pichu nuzzled her face affectionately. "So where's the next stop from here?"
The duo walked out of the gym and were greeted by the beautiful setting sun as they entered the streets that bustled with people the deeper they strode into the city.
"Mahogany Town, we can stay at the center tonight," Jeremy suggested.
"Great, and then tomorrow we're off to earn my seventh Johto badge!" Angelina said excitedly, running to the center with her friend following behind her.
§To Be Continued§
*Angelina received a badge box as a gift from her mother.
*Angelina goes to the Olivine Gym and battles Jasmine for the Mineral Badge.
*Jasmine uses Magneton, Magnemite, and Steelix, which all three are defeated by Angelina's Charmeleon and Lapras.
Okay, there's the two chapters! I might be busy this week due to my marching band spring trip to Virginia on Thursday. So, I'll update when I return, which won't be until next Monday. Thanks for reading, reviews are much appreciated.