Chapter 3--Battle with Brock
Willow stood before the massive doors of the Pewter City gym. Like the rest of the building, they were rock-solid and looked very old and durable. She shivered; if these doors were a reflection on Brock's attitude toward Pokemon training, they would have to fight their hardest to win the Boulder Badge.
"Well...are you ready, everybody? Come on; it's no use stalling." With that, she stepped timidly into the impressive gym--her first official battle. Willow took a deep breathe. It was time to meet Brock.
"Hello? Is...is anyone here?" Willow looked around, not wanting to step any further into the intimidating gym. As no sound came from any part of the stadium, she cautiously went forward. At that moment, the floor began to move! With a loud grinding, it split into a Pokemon battle arena! Brock leapt down from a platform at the back of the gym where he had evidently been resting, clear, dark eyes appraising Willow.
"So. A new trainer has come to challenge me. This is an official match, so we may only use a certain number of Pokemon. In my gym, the rule is two each. Select your Pokemon carefully; it's time to battle for the Boulder Badge!"
With this ferocious speech, Brock leapt to the floor, brushing his brown-black bangs out of his eyes. Willow cringed. She had no idea what to do about her second Pokemon! Brock stared impatiently at her, flustering Willow. Rafael would never beat a rock-type until he was much stronger, but Caterpie would barely damage a rock Pokemon! What could she do?
"Well? I don't have all day; there are other trainers who wish to battle me."
By this time, a sizable crowd of waiting trainers and Pewter City dwellers had gathered to watch the impending match. Poor Willow was so embarrassed and nervous! Rafael, not battling in this match, patted her head from his perch on her shoulder.
"My Pokemon are right behind me all the way. I just have to remember that," Willow whispered to herself. Later in her journey, she would remember this again, and it would help her greatly. For now, at least, it gave her the confidence to choose two Pokeballs off her belt. Willow wasn't so sure about the outcome of this match, but she was ready to fight with all her heart.
"I'm ready," Willow said quietly.
Brock smiled grimly. "Then let's get started! Geodude! GO!" What looked like a small boulder with arms and a face appeared.
Willow took an icy-blue Pokeball that seemed oddly colored to the citizens of Kanto off her belt--her first Pokemon, Sleet. "Then I choose Sleet! Let's go!"
The tiny Pokemon was quite a surprise to the other trainers. It looked like a blue and white, extra-furry Rattata to them, but in Willow's homeland, Blizat was a common ice/normal type Pokemon.
"Quick, Sleet! Use your Icy Wind!" Geodude was hit, but he quickly shook off the attack. "Oh, no! Sleet, look out! Do something!"
Before Sleet could dodge, Brock's Geodude came hurtling forward. It struck Sleet, slamming it into the ground.
"Sleet, hang in there! Don't give up!"
The spectators chuckled to themselves. Yep, this match was sure to go to Brock! Silly girl, all that cheerleading wouldn't save her now that Geodude was using the type advantage Willow had forgotten about--rock's advantage over ice! But Willow's faithful Pokemon wasn't about to give up yet. Slowly, he staggered to his feet.
"Sleet, you did it! Oh, thank you, Sleet!"
Willow thought fast. Icy Wind hadn't been strong enough to bring down the powerful Geodude; the only other move that could win this match was Ice Beam...but Willow didn't want to make Sleet use that--it would exhaust him! He still wasn't strong enough to use it effectively. She couldn't tell him to do that!
"Sleet, try using Icy Wind again! Just do your best!"
Sleet heard his trainer, and in his stalwart heart, he knew that the only way to win was to faint himself by using Ice Beam. Willow would never order him to do so; she cared for her Pokemon too deeply to do that. He would just have to do it himself. Brock saw the little Pokemon struggling, and knew that it was time to finish this match.
"Geodude, BODY SLAM!" Geodude was zooming straight towards Sleet, this looked like the end!
"Oh, no! SLEET!" But no! Suddenly, Geodude was drive backwards by a powerful force! It was Ice Beam! The little Blizat was using the last of its strength for Willow. Its courage defeated Geodude.
"NO! Geodude, return now! You won this one--let's see how you do against my next Pokemon! GO! ONIX!" The huge rock snake appeared with a roar, the single stone spike on its head grazing the ceiling even when it bent over.
Willow returned Sleet. "Sleet, you did that for me...thank you. You rest now. I'm gonna finish what you started," Willow whispered. She had only one Pokeball left. Holding it resolutely, she cast it forward, and with it all her hopes and fears. "Go!" Out came the yet-unnamed Caterpie.
The spectators began to laugh aloud. A CATERPIE? Was this girl CRAZY? Ridiculous! Brock seemed to think so too.
"Ha! This'll be over in no time! Onix! Slam!"
Caterpie puffed itself up. People were laughing at his trainer! He would not stand for this! Willow had saved him; now it was time to help her in return. A fine, sticky string shot out of Caterpie's feeler. It wrapped around and around Onix. Onix fell down--right on Caterpie! Smoke and dust was everywhere. Willow strained to see. Could Caterpie have hung on--despite such a terrible blow?
-o-o-o-o-o-
The smoke finally cleared. Onix was struggling to get up, but Caterpie lay still. Brock smiled. "Your Caterpie is finished!"
Willow swallowed hard, forcing back tears. But wait! Something was happening! With a shimmer and a pulsating glow, Caterpie began to change. Its excess webbing began to harden. Soon, Willow's Caterpie was replaced by a hard, green casing that gleamed in the gym lights. It had become...Metapod!
"Oh, wow! Caterpie, you're okay! I mean--Metapod!"
Brock scowled. "Onix, it doesn't matter! Rock Slide attack, now!"
"Metapod, harden!"
The rocks bounced off. Brock was furious! "Onix, you can beat that little bug! BODY SLAM!"
Brock had made a fatal mistake. Metapod hardened once more--and Onix, with a sharp crack! bounced off. It lay stunned.
"Come on, Onix! You can do this!" Slowly, Onix rose. But--oh no! Metapod's shell was cracked!
"Metapod!" Suddenly, another strange thing began to happen. Something rose from the ruined shell. A slim, purple body with six legs and large eyes arose, supported by fragile-looking, translucent wings. It was a Butterfree! Butterfree used its Sleep Powder, and the match was over. Willow's amazing Pokemon had evolved not once, but twice--only to help her. That day, loyalty won the battle. Willow had earned her Boulder Badge.
-o-o-o-o-o-
"Well, Willow, you certainly showed me a thing or two! I'm proud to present you with this Boulder Badge," said Brock, handing Willow the small, hexagon-shaped brown badge, fashioned to look like a rock.
Willow smiled. "Thanks, Brock! We finally did it, everybody! We did it, thanks to you!"
Willow's Pokemon, having visited the Pokemon Center, cheered along with her. The proud trainer and Pokemon were ready to set off for their next challenge--Cerulean City! But, to get there, they would have to go through Mount Moon. What might happen there? Willow didn't know, but with her new Boulder Badge gleaming on her jacket, she was ready to find out.