Chapter Forty Seven: Fifty Shades of Green

As soon as they left the mansion grounds, Alaska found herself emerged within a beautiful city, but could quickly see that Celadon was not afraid to show its wealth.

Everywhere there were tower blocks that rose to the sky, each one a different piece of architectural wonderment, pieces of imagination crafted from concrete and glass. The majority were apartment blocks that eventually blurred into one another after they had passed twenty of them, but there were many that were for business, giant corporate logos emblazoned across the entire building and their colours seeping into the glass and decorations. It seemed every building was trying to outdo the ones that came before it, each one get taller, bigger and shinier, and Alaska could only wonder how many millions, maybe even billions, had gone into glorifying these office spaces.

The smallest buildings there passed were three storeys, and they only contained restaurants and shops. Alaska's stomach growled to try some of the cuisine they could smell, having being taken away before having a proper breakfast, but annoying her hosts may not be the right thing to do.

"Unfortunately, the gym is on the other side of the city, so there will be a bit of a drive," Jericho said as he sat across from them, his smile warm and friendly but his eyes suggesting something sinister behind it.

"We are perfectly fine with that," Alaska replied, and she leaned back in her seat. She had only seen limousines in the movies, so when the long black vehicle had pulled out in front, she had expected a celebrity to strut out and start signing autographs. However, the sleek limo has for her, along with Sandy, Daisy, Evelyn and Jericho, and it was more than Alaska could have expected. Cream leather seating went around the entire cabin, and there was plush purple carpet, two mini fridges and a small television. Alaska, Sandy and Daisy sat to one side, with the Athlew's opposite, and an awkward silence in between.

"Ooooh, is that the Department Store in the distance?" Sandy said, pointing out the window. Alaska wasn't sure if she was being sincere or just trying to break the tension, but they all stared out the tinted black windows. The Department Store was the largest building in the city, towering over everything else beneath it. It was painted a luminous purple that made it stand out even more, and it looked wider than anything Alaska had seen.

"The Department Store is the cornerstone of our industry," Evelyn said stiffly as they drove on. "We get about two million people through there every year, and some people come to Celadon simply to have a taste of what is on offer. There are over twenty floors, and if there is a product that is available in Kanto, than we sell it."

"Good to know. Once this is all over, I might just celebrate with a bit of shopping spree," Alaska said, flashing them all a smile, and the limousine fell silent once again. Evelyn gave her a pursed look, while Daisy's face read 'What are you thinking?' Alaska simply sunk into the chair and watched the buildings slide past.

She had not meant to lose it at everyone at the breakfast table. That had been the last thing she meant to say. But the one thing that was starting to annoy Alaska was how everyone she met seemed to have an idea of what she should do with her life. Keeping up this war with Gideon was destroying her, but being locked away inside a mansion was not going to help her either. Alaska wanted to finish her Pokemon journey and get the remaining badges that were simply waiting for her, and she was not getting to let them think they can simply shut her away from the life that she actually wants to lead.

I was too rash though, Alaska thought, the comforts of the seat slipping away as she stared towards Jericho. She had only begun arguing with them over their attempts to lock her away and not let her do anything. Alaska had a funny feeling that Jericho had realised this and was simply trying to torture her, but there was something in his smile and the steely look on Evelyn's face that was simply unsettling. There was not much she knew about Alexis: the gym leader had been hired as a temporary replacement when Erika quit and disappeared within a few days, and had proved successful enough for the league to keep her. Alaska should have done more research on her and prepared for battle, but her words had forced their hands.

This is how it always happens though, Alaska thought bitterly to herself. Everything that had happened recently had been based on rash decisions. She'd attacked the shadowed man without a second thought, and had gone after Gideon in Lavender Town, had destroyed the generators at the Power Plant on purpose, fought with Chloe and ruined the bar. All of those decisions had been the results of anger and quick thinking, doing the first thing that came to mind because it seemed like the right thing. Some of her intentions may have gotten through all the destruction, but mostly Alaska was only hurting those around her: Paige, Sandy, Nadia, Trevor, Daisy, all had been hurt by her rashness, and it was becoming too much to handle.

I need to reach a decision about my life, and soon, Alaska thought as the limousine rounded a bend. Latios has warned me about continuing with this, the 'Elites' want me to fight, the Athlew family and the spies want me to hide, and the fortune teller thinks I need control… one of them has to have the right idea about what to do. The one thing that was clear though was that Alaska had become too deep in this mysterious plot that Gideon was controlling. If she kept fighting in it, there was a chance Alaska would only get hurt more, and the entire war was becoming too draining and demanding of her time. But after what Gideon did to Sandy, Alaska wanted to see him pay…

"Oh look, we're nearly there," Jericho said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence, and Alaska snapped out of her day dream, though a cold feeling lingered throughout her body. She, Sandy and Daisy stared out the window as they turned onto a fairly quiet road. It was a gardener's dream, rows and rows of flower beds flanking the car, each one coming in a different set of colours. There was a soft breeze outside that made the flowers all dance, and Alaska became lost in the beauty, feeling a pang of home sickness as she thought of all the flowering her mother use to do.

The car came to a sudden halt, making them all lurch forwards, only Jericho and Evelyn remaining posed – clearly, they had practiced the art of remaining still in a limo. The driver suddenly appeared at the door, holding it open, and Jericho beamed his sneaky smile as he signalled for Alaska to move.

"What lovely manners you have," she said with an acidic smile and stepped out onto the road, relieved to finally be out of the tension the limo had housed. Alaska found herself on one of the neatest roads she had ever seen in her entire life. The grass was perfectly trimmed and shined the brightest green as the sun pounced off it. The road was neatly formed and kept in by orangey-red bricks, and not a single piece of gravel was out of place. There were no skyscrapers, boutiques or restaurants nearby, and Alaska wondered dif they had stopped in the right place. But she saw Sandy staring past her in awe, and Alaska turned in the same direction, feeling her jaw drop as she moved.

The Celadon City Gym was the most beautiful building in the city. It was a shining structure of jade light, the entire outside made from panels of green tinted glass that shone like emeralds. It was held together by giant chunks of wood that had been polished to glow as well, and vines were draped across them like leafy green scarves.

"This place is beautiful," Alaska whispered, and she began moving towards it, the radiant nature of it overpowering.

"It is called the Greenhouse by the locals," Evelyn explained behind her. "I have seen many of the other gyms, and frankly, it is the best one in Kanto, maybe even the best in the world!" Alaska had to agree. None of the others had shone like this or made her so willing to enter, and all of her problems began to drift away as Alaska moved towards it.

"Alaska, wait up!" She paused and turned back around as Sandy rushed up alongside, her lavender dress bouncing as she moved. "Alaska, do you think you're ready for this? I know you've been training for the past few weeks, but you only woke up an hour ago! Do you think it is wise to have a battle right now?" Alaska sighed, the single action letting all her happiness about the beautiful gym slip right out of her.

"To be honest, I would have liked a chance to sort out a proper battle strategy, but they've taken that from me. I want to wait, but I have to prove to these people that I cannot let them control me. If I can defeat Alexis, they might just let me go about my journey on my own accord." Alaska forced a smile, trying to encourage herself more than Sandy, but the silky voice of the fortune teller crept back to her, the cards with the scales and Apricorn Ball flashing before her eyes.

"And what if you fail, what then?" Sandy said, her tone suddenly serious. "You have a good team, but it has been a while since your last proper battle that was not just for training. There is always the chance you will lose, and then what can you do? They will only end up controlling you in the end." Her words felt like a stab to the gut, and Alaska knew that she was right, but there were other reasons for her actions.

"I know I could lose, but it's the same with every battle," she replied, whispering now as the others began to move towards them. "And you are right that I haven't had a gym battle since Surge, and that's why I want to do this. I need to know that I can still face gym leaders and that I haven't ruined my chances of achieving my original goals." It was almost as painful to say as it was to hear, but Alaska had to say it. Her mind was being turned to custard by all the mysterious questions that surrounded her, but she still had the central big decision to make: did she defeat the League or defeat Gideon first? The imbalance scales flashed before her eyes again, and Alaska knew that she had to make this decision soon. All the warnings and worries she had received of late were clouding around her mind, and it was past time that Alaska finally made a decision that was right for her.

Sandy looked both shocked and saddened by what Alaska had said, and Alaska felt a twist of guilt, but Daisy, Jericho and Evelyn were upon them now, and there was no more time for discussion. Alaska merely gave her a reassuring smile, hoping it would be enough. "Are you still going to cheer for me?"

"You know I will," Sandy replied, but the look in her eyes told Alaska the smile was not enough.

"Come along you two!" Jericho boomed as he walked past, walking with a spring in his step. "We phoned Alexis ahead, and she is waiting for us. You can't keep a gym leader waiting: it will only cause them to defeat you faster." Alaska turned towards him and glared, the cocky smile on his face making her want to kick him where it hurts.

"Tell me Jericho," she said, a gleeful thought crossing her mind, "are you worried about how when you hit puberty, it is going to look as if your balls are constantly on fire?" Alaska smiled as Jericho's beam disappeared in a second, and she walked past him and towards the parting glass doors when her head held high, Sandy unable to contain her laughter alongside her, and the look on Evelyn's face that the glass reflected was enough to make her day.

The sliding doors parted as Alaska approached, and she was hit with a beautiful mix of aromas that reminded her at once of the old garden store her mother use to go to, playing outside after it had rained, and some tropical perfume her sister use to own. She paused in the entrance, letting the scents wash over her before she examined the gym, but before Alaska could even do that, something laughed behind her.

"Oooh, look what the Persian coughed up!" The voice sneered. "It's be a while darling, where have you been?"

"Have you missed me Clyde?" Alaska said, turning to look above the doors, wondering where the security system was placed in this gym. "I didn't think you were the sort to care."

"I am shocked Alaska," Clyde replied in his droll voice. "We're besties, aren't we? In fact, if I had known you were coming, I would have set up for your arrival! You know, locking down the building, securing everything so your monsters don't destroy it, the usual."

"Oh Clyde, your so considerate," Alaska said, beaming up at the system, and turned away with the smile lingering on her face. Throwing an insult back at Jericho had brightened up her mood, and Alaska was beginning to feel more like her old self again. The wonderful smells she got from the gym were stirring up old memories as well, and Alaska gave Sandy an overly bright beam as they made their way into the gym.

As they walked through, Alaska wondered if the glass outside was actually green or if it just reflected the colours inside. The gym seemed more like a garden shop inside as they walked along a grassy floor through flowerbeds that made the ones outside look dead by comparison, a rainbow of colours smiling brightly up at her. Alaska saw bushes and trees that hade no place being inside, yet somehow it worked in here. Gym attendants and trainers dressed in green dresses that made them blend in were wandering around, Bellsprout, Oddish, Hoppip and strange Grass types Alaska didn't recognise following behind. All of them smiled and waved at Alaska and Sandy, and the Pokemon did the same as well.

"This is such a happy gym," Alaska said, unable to help herself. She remembered the cold, steely appearance of the Vermilion Gym, the dusty emptiness of Pewter and the snappy tone Misty had used on them, and found herself slowly falling more in love with this gym.

"I LOOOOOVE THIS GYM!" Sandy screamed next to her, causing Alaska to jump, and suddenly there were PokeBalls out. Butterfree was released into the air, and instantly she was drawn towards a bed of sunflowers that reached up to Alaska's shoulders. Bellsprout slumped on the ground, and her beady black eyes lit up in excitement at the world she had entered. Alaska was pleased that they were enjoying themselves as well, and was wondering if her own Pokemon might appreciate it when there was a tiny squeak.
"Was that you?" Alaska asked indignantly, and turned to face Sandy. However, her question was answered by another tiny squeak, and despite her best efforts, Alaska found herself swooning. The tiniest Pichu she had ever laid eyes upon was resting in Sandy's arms, looking up at Alaska with wide eyes and wonderment that only newborns can manage.

"I haven't shown him to you yet, have I?" Sandy said, smiling proudly and gleefully. "Isn't he just so adorable? When I first got a proper chance to lay my eyes upon him after Daisy and I had left the tunnel, my heart stopped for a second, and no offence, but he was the only thing on my mind for the time." Alaska shrugged it off and they laughed, and Pichu wiggled at the noise, yawning so that his rosy pink cheeks stretched, his spiked black tail seeming to wag in happiness.

"Do you want to hold him?" Sandy said, moving her arms to Alaska.

"What? Hold him? Me? Oh… ok," Alaska said, stunned, and she scooped the Tiny Mouse Pokemon up. Pichu gurgled for a second, but than he settled into her arms and continued to stare up at her with eyes too big for his head. Alaska felt her breathe disappear, and her heart twisted as she remembered he had hatched in the Underground Tunnel, only moments before Alaska nearly doomed them all.

"There's no need to cry!" Sandy said, patting Alaska on the shoulder. Alaska hadn't even felt the tear creep down her face, but knew it was one of guilt, the innocent Pichu in her arms unaware of how close Alaska had come to killing him. It only made Alaska want to start this battle sooner so she could finally reach her decision and put everything behind her. She passed Pichu back to Sandy and wiped the tear away, turning around, ready to find Alexis.

The search ended quicker than she expected.

"Hello, you must be Alaska." Alaska jumped, having not noticed the woman appear behind her, and wondered how long she had been there and if she had seen the tear. She forced a smile as shook Alexis' hand, and quickly examined the gym leader. She was wearing a tiered turquoise dress that emitted happiness and positivity, with matching leather boots that nearly reached her knees. Alexis had long black hair tied back in a ponytail that brushed against the top of her dress, and was wearing only minimal amounts of makeup on her round but smiling face. Alaska had been expecting someone more intimidating after the last few gym leaders she had met, but everything about Alexis, from her warm eyes to the tips of boots, showed that she was going to be a much nicer, friendlier person to interact with.

"Jericho called ahead to let me know to expect the great Alaska Acevedo," Alexis said, still smiling. "I must say that I have heard a fair few things about you from the other gym leaders and from Jericho, so you must know that I am expecting a great battle!"

"I wouldn't listen to a word they say, I don't think any of them actually like me," Alaska replied, trying to make it a joke but the bitterness crept through anyway. Alexis continued smiling in a sympathetic way though, but her eyes darted towards Sandy now.

"You must be Sandy, I have heard good things about you too," the gym leader said. "I was saddened to hear you had been shot, I hope you are recovering well? Oh my goodness, look at that little fellow!" Alexis leaned in and began to stroke Pichu's head. The Electric type stared blankly up at her for a moment before looking back at Alaska, and she smiled to see the little creature was more interested in her. It warmed her, but did nothing to take away her annoyance at being reminded how everyone was watching and talking about her.

"Oh look, here come the others," Alexis said, and Alaska and Sandy turned as Daisy, Jericho and Evelyn marched through the rows of flowerbeds. "I am good friends with the Athlew family. I helped Jericho out a few years ago when he got in a bad situation, and after we fought a rampaging Dragonite, we became quite good friends. However, I don't think I have ever seen him this annoyed." That made Alaska feel better, and she smiled and waved at Jericho as he approached, his face almost as red as his hair. Daisy gave her a warning look though, and Alaska stopped, though kept the smile on.

"Hello Daisy, it's been a while," Alexis said, and leaned forwards to kiss Daisy on the cheeks. Alaska wondered if her friendly nature was going to transition into the battlefield. It would be wonderful to battle someone that let Alaska go first all the time and told her Pokemon to accept every attack out of courtesy.

"Can we just get down to the battling please?" Jericho said impatiently, glaring at Alaska.

"Well, that is up for Alaska to decide," Alexis said, and she turned towards her, her permanent smile lighting up the world. "What do you say Alaska, are you ready to battle?" Alaska paused for a moment, glancing between the people around her. Jericho and Evelyn both looked furious, Daisy looked uncomfortable and Sandy's eyes were wide and staring, trying to convey her feelings in a single stare. The Athlews wanted her to battle for the wrong reasons, and Sandy knew that Alaska would struggle against the gym leader, and Alaska had half a mind to agree with her.

But than her eyes lay upon Pichu, the Tiny Mouse staring up at Alaska in permanent wonderment. Her actions had nearly killed the Pokemon before he had even gotten a chance to live, another act in an endless string bad calls and wrong decisions made on the moment. Alaska had put herself into this very situation through the same stupidity and rashness, and it was time she put a stop to it. She needed to start making the right decisions, and she needed to get balance and control in her life. And there was only one way Alaska could find out what to do next.

"Let's battle," she said, smiling determinedly and clasped a PokeBall in her hands, hoping that she had finally made a right call.

Up next: the Celadon Gym Battle! And it will be the most exciting and unexpected one yet ;)