Chapter Eleven: Sorta Ready to Rock and Roll
Alaska had never been so happy to step onto concrete.
After being trapped for nearly a week within the grassy confines of Viridian Forest, Alaska was nearly taken aback as she emerged from the trees and grass onto the familiar stone path. The change in light was rather overwhelming at first, but Alaska was too excited that she didn't care about the fact that she was blinded, and began running along the sturdy path, eyes half shut and no idea where she was going. Alaska just couldn't believe that she had finally left the forest and the mysteries it held, ready to embark on the first major challenge of her quest.
Pewter City looked rather different to Viridian, but Alaska was pleased to find it was a completely overwhelming change. The main road into the city branched off into several, leading to a number of houses of similar design to the ones in Viridian and a number of shops, small offices and apartment buildings only a few stories high. Signs pointed towards the Pokemon Center and Poke Mart, and Alaska was surprised to see some large bare sections of grass, simple places for people to relax in. Alaska was amazed at how everyone managed to seem rather relaxed, and walked through the quiet streets, the cheerful greetings she received much nicer than being attacked or landed on.
Alaska quickly healed her Pokemon, not wanting to waste any time in heading towards her first gym battle, but did feel reassured to be back around technology. The nurse was happy to point Alaska in the right direction, and she quickly headed off towards the Pewter Gym. Alaska felt a bit nervous as she walked through the peaceful streets. Had she trained her Pokemon up enough for this battle? Darwin would be alright, but would Paige be able to cope against the Rock types that the leader, Brock, specialized in? Alaska had to win this match if she wanted to prove the point of her quest, but her stomach was beginning to twist in knots. Alaska was having doubts, and was tempted to turn around and do some emergency training.
But than she saw the gym.
If Alaska hadn't known what type the gym was, she definitely would have known now. About three stories high, the Pewter City Gym could easily be mistaken for a large hill: rounded and circular, large, grey, the building roughed and jagged to resemble a large rock. It was tucked away between trees to keep it out of the way, and had a rather nicely put together rock path that went up to the doors and carried on around the sides of the building.
"Well shit," Alaska said, staring at in horror. The Viridian City Gym was very plain on the outside, and Alaska had never ventured to anywhere with particularly interesting buildings: this piece of modern urban development was breathtakingly fresh for her. Alaska was so amazed at the building that she began to walk forwards, her eyes focused on the building and not on the way ahead, interested to see what was inside.
The doors slid open, and Alaska's jaw dropped.
The inside of the gym was amazing. The lighting was dark towards the back half, but the front half was well lit and looked fantastic. The floor was completely covered with golden yellow sand, giving a beautiful outline to the rest of the gym. The stone pathway continued into the gym, cutting through the sand and heading towards the darkness, large boulders that definitely flanked the sides. A wooden bridge suspended high above, and Alaska turned to see rough stone steps heading up the metal walls, providing a shortcut for anyone wishing to avoid whatever challenge the gym possessed.
"That way ain't for me!" Alaska whispered to herself. She was amazed at the design of the gym, from how high it stretched to wondering what was behind the walls filling up the rest of the rock. But she was here for one reason, and it wasn't to admire the architecture: Alaska had to fight her hardest and win, showing the world that defeating a gym didn't require a starter to happen. Her Pokemon were as ready as they could be, and Alaska knew that she had a decent chance to win.
"Alright you two, let's get going," Alaska whispered, and walked forward towards the soft sand in front, ready for what might happen.
"Stop right there!" A voice suddenly boomed, and Alaska came to a halt, her foot hovering about the sand, wondering who was talking. "That is not normal sand. If you step on it, you will sink straight through and will not make it to your gym battle!" The voice sounded male, but Alaska could hear a definite robotic tinge in the background.
"Whatever you say, electric ghost…," Alaska whispered, taking a step backwards, and began walking backwards down the stone path, looking around for the source of the voice. Maybe it was some sort of way of putting the trainers off, and Alaska simply shrugged, deciding to focus on her battle.
A Geodude was in her face.
Alaska froze again, staring at the thing in front of her. Geodude's face (which really was most of his body) was only a few inches from her own, his hands clasping onto her shoulders tightly. Alaska glared at Geodude, and Geodude glared at Alaska.
"GEOOO!" He roared, and tilted his head backwards.
"Don't even think of Headbutting me!" Alaska cried, and punched Geodude in the eye. The rock head cried out and let go of her shoulders, collapsing down to the ground. Alaska jumped backwards, but Geodude swung his large hands around, sweeping her legs and knocking her to the floor.
"What do you want?" Alaska growled as she grabbed her bag before it fell into the mysterious sand. The Geodude obviously had some issue with her as it was now climbing up one of the rocks, getting to enough height before violently pushing off. "Damnit," Alaska hissed, and raised her legs up as much as her jeans would allow, lashing out when Geodude got close enough. But Geodude had expected this and grabbed her legs, swinging her around and send her skidding over the stones.
"What sort of bloody gym is this?" Alaska shouted, watching Geodude as he laughed and came soaring forwards. She desperately reached into her bag, grabbing the first two things she could: the long black charging cord for her laptop and the ever unneeded brownies from Freddie.
"When in Pewter, it seems," Alaska shrugged, and swung the brownie case into Geodude's face.
"DUUUUDE!" He roared, flying backwards into one of the rocks. He quickly leapt up, fists clenched as he came back for more. Alaska simply smiled and twirled the cord around once Geodude was near: the Rock Pokemon found his hands bound, unable to move as Alaska held onto the cord tightly. Geodude looked rather shocked as he remained floating in the air, and Alaska simply smiled widely.
"Take that!" Alaska cried, and spun around, letting go of the cord as she did so. Geodude shouted as he went flying through the air, smashing straight into another boulder in a cloud of dust and rocks. Alaska waited a few moments, but then burst into a smile when Geodude didn't emerge.
"Finally, stupid bloody rock head!" Alaska jeered, dancing a little on the spot as she put the brownies back in her bag. "That's what you get when you don't have legs, you –"
"Tut tut, that was quite a pity," a voice said, and for a moment Alaska thought it was the strange computer voice again. But suddenly the lights turned on, and Alaska turned around towards the other half of the gym. A bare field was right behind the boulders, covered with some sand and rocks from various battles but otherwise empty. At the other end, though, a figure was walking forwards, shaking his head.
"Such a shame, I was really looking forwards to a battle," the gym leader Brock sighed. He was wearing a thick brown and orange jacket and green jackets, looking fairly casual for a gym leader. His hair was brown and spiky, the same colour as his skin. Alaska wondered how he could see as it looked as if his eyes were shut, but it was possibly a trick of the light.
"What do you mean 'such as shame'?" Alaska asked, walking towards the field as Brock walked towards here. "I'm here and I'm ready to battle!" Brock simply shook his head, and he pointed towards the boulder. The Geodude lay there unconscious, the cord still bound around his hands. "I defeated the stupid rock thing, didn't I? Do you want me to turn it into a decorative lawn ornament or something before I battle you?"
"No no," Brock chuckled, "I wanted you to battle it. With Pokemon." Alaska stared down at the Geodude and gasped. In her surprise at before confronted, she had completely forgotten about her Pokemon and gone straight into fighting for herself.
"Yes, fighting Pokemon with Pokemon does sound rather logical now that you mention it," Alaska murmured, grabbing her laptop cord and stuffing it back into her bag. She pulled her two PokeBalls out and raised them up for Brock to (somehow) see. "I have my Pokemon, and they are just as ready as I am to battle."
"You only have two?" Brock said in surprise, and Alaska clenched the balls angrily at the tone of his voice. "Most trainers I battle usually have at least a full team, even if they are just Caterpie and Weedle."
"Well, I have a Pidgey and a Mankey: I think that's a lot better than some silly bugs!" Alaska growled, but was annoyed further as Brock began to laugh, his chiselled head tipping backwards as the cruel laughter echoed around.
"A Pi-Pi-Pidgey? You expect to defeat me with just a Pidgey and a Mankey?" Brock snorted, and Alaska was tempted to bash her brownies across his head in a few seconds. "I'm sorry for laughing, but there's no way you are going to defeat me with a team like that! Come back later when you at least have a third Pokemon," and without another word, Brock turned and walked back towards where he had been standing. Alaska simply stared after him with her jaw dropped, her PokeBalls dangerously close to falling out of her hands in her shock. How could he have been so rude to her, for absolutely no reason? There was nothing wrong with her Pokemon, and she had a decent chance at kicking him from here all the way back to Viridian. Alaska's rage was building up, and she began to storm forwards, ready to throw Darwin's PokeBall straight at Brock's smug, laughing head.
"I came here for a gym battle, and I'm not leaving until I get my gym battle!" Alaska shouted, and raised her arm, ready to throw the PokeBall wheter Brock liked it or not. But just as Alaska approached the field, she didn't notice the rocks scattering across the path by Geodude. As Brock turned around, Alaska suddenly stood awkwardly on one. Her entire body wobbled, and Alaska cried out as she fell forwards, a much larger rock right in her path. Not wishing to be impaled, and furious that she would be embarrassed, Alaska turned over to avoid landing.
Unfortunately, she fell into the sand.
8ES isn't going as quickly as I'd like, and there's a lot of chapters left to go, so I'm going to post three chapters in between stories now unlike the two that its usually been! :D So look forward to finding out what happens next next week, for the start of a very revealing mini arc
