Day 36

Sunny

Current mood: estatic!

Current location: Just outside Azalea Town

Dear Diary:

Yay! The second Johto badge is ours! But my ears are still ringing from all the screaming Misty did today...I'm surprised she hasn't caught laryngitis yet!

"Why was she screaming?" you ask? It started this morning when we departed for the Gym. Misty was a little worried about how Ash would do without Charizard, but Ash assured her than Cyndaquil was quite capable of doing the job, despite his small size. On that note, we entered the Gym.

At first glance, the Gym's interior looked very much like a forest. No sooner had we stepped inside, did a Caterpie come crawling down from a tree to greet us! You could say the whole town heard the ensuing scream.

I heard a bit of giggling coming from another tree as Brock tried to peel Misty off of him. Ash looked in the same vicinity I was looking, and discovered a young boy clad in safari attire sitting comfortablely atop a high branch, apparently amused by Misty's fear. He quickly climbed down and introduced himself as Bugsy, resident bug Pokemon extrordinaire. Ash's offer of a duel was promptly accepted: a three-on-three match with a badge as the prize.

"Gold side ready?" Bugsy just stretched his arms, anxious for the duel to start. "Silver side ready?" Ash gave Brock an affirmative nod. Misty's screaming drowned out the whistle when she saw what Bugsy summoned: a Spinarak. Ash, meanwhile, decided to summon Cyndaquil. He looked a little woozy, but Ash figured he'd warm up soon enough.

The Spinarak kept firing String Shots all over the place, and likewise; Cyndaquil kept dodging them. It wasn't too long before the entire arena, and Cyndaquil too, was covered in string. As I watched Cyndaquil frantically attempt to get free, I swore I saw some of the plants in the room start to approach us. The other bugs seemed to notice as well, wrapping Team Rocket up in string!

Back in the arena, Ash called for Cyndaquil to use a Flamethrower; but all Cyndaquil could do was muster a few embers--it was enough to break him free of his bindings. Before he could attack again, he was poisoned! Ash quickly called him back and summoned Chikorita, giving Brock time to give Cyndaquil an Antidote.

Chikorita proved to be quite the opponent for the Spinarak as she whacked it with endless Vine Whips. Suddenly, the Spinarak decided to attack from the air, but Chikorita used her Sweet Scent to lure it down. She then slammed into it, defeating it!

Bugsy's second Pokemon, a Metapod, proved to be a problem for Chikorita. Despite her strongest attacks, the Metapod kept Hardening itself. Then it Tackled Chikorita, knocking her out! Ash whistled for me, and I charged into battle!

The Metapod, meanwhile, began kicking up a lot of dust, making it nearly impossible to see. I could still hear Metapod, though...so I began charging my agility, dodging attacks as I ran. I whizzed up to the Metapod and knocked it out so quickly, I felt like a Thunderbolt myself!

We were all shaking as Bugsy summoned his best: a Scyther! I promptly fired a Thunderbolt at it, weakening it a little. But, the Scyther began to Slash me again and again, draining nearly all my strength! I weakly crawled back to the sidelines as Cyndaquil entered the arena again, good as new.

After more dodging, Cyndaquil fired a Flamethrower at the Scyther, but he blocked it with a Swords Dance! Finally, Ash told Cyndaquil to jump and use Flamethrower from the air--and the plan worked! Scyther was knocked out! We all cheered as Brock declared "Game set! Silver wins!"

Bugsy was quite proud of Ash as he gave us a Hive Badge, so much so that he asked for a rematch the next time we came. As we departed the Gym, Kurt and Mazie gave us a few Lure Balls and a Heavy Ball as parting gifts before we left...

...and here we are in camp. Our next stop is Goldenrod City, Johto's largest city...I wonder what kind of Pokemon await us there?

Pondering this until tomorrow,

Pikachu