Chapter 8: Vs. Misty and Starmie!
Zero woke up groggy and sore. His chest ached, and his broken leg was throbbing. He looked up, the remnants of sleep clouding his vision, and saw that Mark was already awake. He had his Pokémon out of their Poké Balls, presumably to prepare for the upcoming battle with Misty.
"Tulip, I'm going to be depending on you for this one," Mark said. Tulip grunted happily. She seemed excited to have another chance at fighting a Gym Leader. "However, you're a Poison type and Misty has a Starmie from what I've heard. You'll have to be especially careful."
"It doesn't have any Psychic moves," Zero said, startling Mark, who hadn't realized Zero had woken up. "Tulip should be perfectly fine battling it. She just learned Sleep Powder too, so that should leave a good opening for Tulip to attack."
"O-oh, thanks," Mark said.
"Tulip should also have the move Leech Seed at her level of experience," Zero continued. He got up, wincing as he placed his leg on the floor. "That should be helpful as well."
Mark checked his PokéDex for a moment, then nodded. "She has it. Thanks for the advice, Zero. I appreciate it."
"Don't sweat it." Zero smiled, and Mark returned the gesture.
"Will you be watching the match?"
Zero shook his head. "No, sorry. I have an errand I have to run for my dad. But I'll pop in once I'm done."
Mark sighed, an air of annoyance surrounding it. "That's fine. I'll see ya later then, I guess." He returned his Pokémon to their Balls and slung his bag over his shoulder. He shot Zero a disappointed glance before he left the room.
Now Zero felt bad. But what other choice did he have? He didn't feel it was fair to schlep Mark over to the daycare on Route 5 for something his dad asked him to do, but he wanted to support his friend. But… that wasn't all of it. Zero wanted some alone time. Speaking with Bushido the night before was still a shock to him, and the information the Kabutops had relayed was too much to take in. Being alone with his thoughts for a bit could be good for him. It would allow him to process the events from last night.
Zero let Braze out of his Poké Ball. The Chameleon uttered a low grumble and gently rubbed his head on Zero's good leg. "Come on, buddy. We've gotta go pick something up for Dad," Zero said. "But first… let's go get me checked out. That Steelix did a number on me."
.
Mark stood before the Cerulean City Gym with an air of confidence not unlike the one he had felt before facing Brock. He knew that if he got too cocky, it could result in a loss, but he was confident enough for his Pokémon to feel the same way. He approached the Gym's doors, and was about to step through...
"Not so fast, chubby punk," said a nasally voice behind Mark.
Mark sighed and turned around to see a boy around his age. Not Zero, but he was lanky and tall like Zero was. His face was more angular though, and rather than a mop of bright red hair and freckles, this kid had a brown buzz cut and a big mole on his nose. "Who're you calling punk?" Mark asked the guy, who was clearly more punk than he claimed Mark to be with his band T-shirt and cargo pants.
"The name's Truman," said the guy. "I want a Pokémon battle with you. Two Pokémon each, one-on-one battles, no switching out unless your Pokémon faints. Deal?"
"Listen, I don't have time for this," Mark replied, facing back toward the Gym. "I have a Gym Badge I need to earn."
"Same here," Truman sneered, blocking the way to the door. "Now battle with me or you're getting your Boulder Badge stolen."
Mark reflexively unclipped the Badge from his shoulder strap and shoved it in his pocket. "W-what? You can't just go around stealing people's Badges!"
"It's worked pretty well already," Truman said.
"What… whaddya mean?"
Truman opened up his vest. To Mark's surprise, the boy had a wide array of Gym Badges from all over the world, some being duplicates. It was clear that the boy hadn't earned any one of these fairly. Though, Mark couldn't tell if Truman was a pickpocket, or he just wagered bets on the Badges in battles. Either way, the guy was a sicko.
"You're really starting to piss me off," Mark said, his lips curling into a disgusted snarl. "Fine, I'll battle with you. But you can't have my Boulder Badge!"
"Fine, then. I'll just take it next time. Go, Gloom!"
Truman sent out a medium-sized plant Pokémon. Its eyes were closed, and drool was dribbling from its mouth. It had bulbous, plant-like growths on its head, each with one large, white dot in the center. Mark breathed in and immediately plugged his nose. His eyes began to water.
"A-alright, Falcon, it's your turn!" Mark exclaimed, sending out his Pidgey. The little bird seemed happy to be battling again, as it took to the sky right away, chirping happily.
"Interesting choice," Truman said. "Alright then, let's begin! Gloom, use Stun Spore!"
"Sand Attack, Falcon!"
Falcon barely had time to react before the Gloom shot forward, spraying a bright yellow powder on the poor Pidgey. It squawked helplessly, convulsing on the ground. Mark swore under his breath. Truman had the upper hand.
But Falcon stopped thrashing on the ground for a moment and winked at him. What did that mean? I'm okay, said a voice in Mark's head. Trust me.
"Okay, then, Falcon, use Gust!" Mark ordered, his voice crackling. He brought a hand to his throat. Then he realized: he and Falcon were communicating with each other. But how? Mark recognized the tone he ordered Falcon in was the same one Zero had used just the night before.
Interesting.
Mark snapped out of his thoughts as the Gloom shot forward again, using a Mega Drain attack to attempt to siphon health from Falcon. The Pidgey proved that the paralysis wasn't actually a big deal and flew into the air. He whipped up a tiny tornado and sent it flying at the Gloom, who was hit head-on. It stumbled backwards and promptly fainted.
"H-how the hell did you do that?!" Truman spluttered, returning his fallen Pokémon.
"Do what?" Mark replied smugly.
"Y-you… your Pokémon followed an order you never gave it!" Truman's cheeks were turning bright red. "You're cheating! You have to be!"
"It's not cheating if I have a strong bond with my Pokémon," Mark retorted, but he wasn't actually confident in the sentiment. "Which you don't seem to have. Do you forfeit? Or are you gonna send out your next Pokémon?"
Truman opened his mouth to respond, but he promptly shut it, rethinking what he was about to say. He then simply returned his Gloom and said, "You got lucky this time, punk. But next time we meet, I will win, and I will take your Gym Badges. You got that?"
"Heh. Good luck," Mark replied. He outstretched his hand hoping Truman would shake it, but the Trainer spat on it instead as he sauntered off.
Jackass… Falcon said. The Pidgey hopped over to Mark and nuzzled against the hand, which Mark had shaken the spit off of.
"Indeed," Mark replied, sighing. "So, you can talk. I… honestly wasn't expecting that."
It's not so much a "talking" thing. I just… think things and your mind hears it. It's kinda like telepathy.
"Then what's up with my voice? How can you understand the staticky stuff?"
Dunno. It feels like electricity in my brain telling me stuff. It could give you an advantage if you use it right, and if my teammates can talk to you that way.
"I guess I'll have to see. Tulip is the one who's most likely to be able to talk to me, being my oldest Pokémon…"
Well, the Gym Battle is coming up, and Misty uses Water types. With Tulip being your best bet, you'll be able to experiment there.
"Thanks for the help, Falcon. Return."
Mark returned Falcon and finally set his sights on the Gym doors in front of him. After the easy fight with Truman, his confidence was rising, and he was ready to take on Misty. As he stepped forward, the automatic doors slid open. Mark was a little disappointed that he couldn't slam them open like he did with the Pewter Gym doors, but it didn't really matter. He was happy just to be inside the Cerulean Gym.
Another set of automatic doors opened, and the sharp smell of chlorine immediately flooded Mark's nose. He shut his eyes reflexively as they teared up. When he opened them again, he saw that he was standing in a swimming pool area. Children in inner tubes and babies holding onto pool floaties were swimming among various Water-type Pokémon. Horsea, Staryu and Tentacool all filled the pool, and a Dewgong was on the sidelines using Mist to cool off some Trainers sitting under the sun roof. In the back of the pool area was a young girl in a bathing suit, sitting on the lifeguard's chair. She was petite, with bright orange hair tied up on one side in a ponytail and shimmering blue eyes.
The girl noticed Mark and hopped down from her perch on the lifeguard chair, wrapping a towel around her waist. "Heya!" she said cheerily, smiling. "My name's Misty, and I'm the Cerulean City Gym Leader."
"I'm Mark. It's nice to meet you," Mark replied. "Also, my friend Zero says hi."
"Zero? Zero Fuji?" Misty asked.
"Uh… sure? He's got bright red hair, if that helps."
Misty giggled. "Yeah, that's him! He and I are childhood friends. Next time you see him, let him know that I'd like a battle with him sometime."
"Will do. I came here for a battle, so let's do it!"
"Agreed, let's go! Though, it's free-swim hour right now in the pool. Do you want to step outside for our battle? There's a pond nearby, so my Water-type Pokémon can really shine!"
"Sure, if it's alright with you."
"Of course! Wouldn't want to disturb the patrons, now would we? Now c'mon, I'll show you my favorite spot."
Misty took the ponytail out of her hair, letting the short orange waves flow above her shoulders. She then took her white and blue jacket off of a coat rack and slipped it on. "Whenever you're ready, we'll head out."
"I'm ready."
.
Mark and Misty stood across from each other, a pond in the middle of Cerulean City acting as their battlefield. A referee stood on the sidelines, holding two flags. "The battle between Misty of Cerulean City and Mark of Littleroot Town will now begin!" the referee said. "Each Trainer is permitted to use two Pokémon each and may only send out one at a time. When both Pokémon on one side of the field are declared unable to battle, the fight will end! Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
"Alright Staryu, you're up first!" Misty called, sending out a small, brown starfish Pokémon. The red jewel embedded in its center glowed in the mid-morning sunlight as it spun in the water.
"Okay, Button, you're up first!" Mark sent out the Paras, who squealed and nuzzled up against Mark's leg. "We can do it buddy," he added in a whisper.
"Battle, begin!" called the referee, and she swung her flags sharply downward.
"Button, use Fury Cutter!" Mark commanded.
The Paras shot forward, his claws enveloped in a pale green light, then struck the Staryu right in the middle of its core gem. It wasn't fazed, however, though it was knocked backward by the blow. Misty didn't react. Mark began to strategize: Either she knew what Fury Cutter did and had a plan to counteract it, or she didn't and thought it was just a weak Bug-type attack. He could continue to build up its power, or not risk missing…
In the middle of his planning, Misty called for her Staryu to attack Button. It rammed into the mushroom bug with a Tackle attack, sending him flying. He landed in the pond with a sploosh, but he got up quickly and shook the water off of his mushrooms. Button seemed to be rejuvenated after falling in the water, though…
...Dry Skin? Mark kept quiet about his theory and gave another command. "Button, use Fury Cutter again!"
"Bubble Beam, Staryu!"
This time, Staryu struck faster. It kept its distance from Button and sprayed a stream of bubbles toward the Paras. Button turned to Mark and nodded, taking the attack with ease. He chittered happily as the water soothed cracks and nicks along his body. He then attacked Staryu with Fury Cutter, and it struck with double the power as the last one. Staryu flew backward, uttering a hollow cry, but it regained its bearings and stood back up.
"Y-your Paras has Dry Skin!" Misty exclaimed. "How did I not see it before? Alright, Mark, you're pretty good."
"Uh, thanks…" Mark replied sheepishly.
"But don't think you can win with just an ability that absorbs water! Staryu, Swift!"
"Button, Fury Cutter again!"
Staryu sent a wave of star-shaped projectiles flying toward Button. The Paras's claw glowed light green again, but he was hit head-on by the projectiles. "Ah, nuts! Button, hold on!" Mark cried as the Paras was knocked backward. He screeched and fell onto the shore near the pond, knocked out by a critical hit Swift.
"Paras is unable to battle!" said the referee. She held up a flag on Misty's side of the battlefield.
"Button, are you okay?" Mark asked, picking up the little bug. He nodded and chirped weakly, and Mark returned him to his Poké Ball.
"I told you just relying on Dry Skin wouldn't win you the battle!" Misty said, high-fiving her Staryu. Though, it wasn't much of a high-five because the star-shaped Pokémon didn't have any hands to speak of. "Send out your next Pokémon! Staryu and I are raring to go!"
"Alright, then," Mark said. "Tulip, you're up!"
The Bulbasaur emerged from her Poké Ball and growled, taking her place on the shore apprehensively. She looked worried about fighting near the water. "Don't worry, Tulip, you've got this." Mark shuddered. He still wasn't used to that tone. But… did that mean…
O-okay, Tulip replied. She could! She could talk to him!
"Tulip, use Sleep Powder!" Mark commanded, and Tulip obeyed immediately. She ran around the bank of the pond, and before the Staryu could react appropriately, she sent a wave of green powder at it. The red gem in its center dimmed, and it fell to the ground, fast asleep.
"Finish it off with Vine Whip," Mark said. Tulip smacked the Staryu a few times with her vines, and the starfish failed to wake up. It had fainted.
"Staryu is unable to battle!"
"How did you do that? Your Bulbasaur must have a strong bond with you if you can command it without using words," Misty marveled, returning her Staryu to its Poké Ball.
"You could say that," Mark replied nonchalantly. Tulip trotted back over to their side of the battlefield and smiled.
"Alright, then, let's see if Bulbasaur here can take out my Starmie!" Misty sent out a bigger star-shaped creature, though it was purple rather than Staryu's golden-brown. The Starmie also had a red jewel-like core in its center.
"Starmie, use Bubble Beam!" Misty commanded, confident that she could hit this time without an ability in the way.
"Tulip, Vine Whip!" Mark riposted.
The Starmie stayed on its side of the water battlefield and shot a Bubble Beam attack at Tulip. The Bulbasaur dodged, planting her vines onto the ground and jumping up, using the vines for balance as she stayed in the air. She then let one of the vines go, wrapping it around a rock to launch herself forward, and she used the momentum and the other vine to smack the Starmie right in the jewel core. A critical hit. It stumbled back, but stayed standing, its gem pulsing in pain.
"Starmie, Recover!"
"Don't let it heal itself, Tulip, use Sleep Powder!"
Since Tulip was close, and Starmie had no idea what the Bulbasaur was going to do, it hesitated. This was its downfall. Tulip was able to swiftly spray the bright green Sleep Powder all over the large starfish, and it collapsed in the water, fast asleep. The Bulbasaur finished it off with a hefty Tackle, and the Starmie remained in the water, unable to move.
"Starmie is unable to battle! Mark of Littleroot Town wins!" The referee raised her flags triumphantly, and Tulip bounded back over to Mark and headbutted him affectionately in the stomach.
Mark, I did it, I did it! she cheered.
"You did a great job, Tulip," Mark replied.
Then, Tulip began to glow bright white. Mark shielded his eyes, and when he opened them, a new Pokémon was standing before him. A turquoise-blue amphibian with a bulbous pink flower on its back and violet eyes looked at him and smiled, her sharp fangs showing. Thank you for helping me evolve, Mark, Tulip said, headbutting him again.
"O-of course, Tulip. I'll always be here to help you get stronger," Mark replied, hugging his brand-new Ivysaur.
"Great job, Mark," Misty commended. Mark looked up to see her standing over him, a teardrop-shaped Badge in her hand. Mark took it graciously and clipped it to the strap on his bag, right below the Boulder Badge he had received from Brock. "This is the Cascade Badge. Wear it with pride."
"Thank you for the battle, Misty," Mark said. He stood up, picking Tulip up off of the ground. "Uh… if you consider the unorthodox communication with Tulip cheating, I can always battle you again. I don't mind."
Misty shook her head and chuckled. "A bond between Trainer and Pokémon is nothing to be ashamed of, Mark. You'd be surprised at the things I've witnessed in the two years that I've been a Gym Leader. You earned that Cascade Badge fair and square. Also…" She fished into her jacket pocket and pulled out a little blue disk. "Take this Technical Machine for Scald. A little birdy told me you're carrying a Magikarp. When it evolves, it'll be able to burn its opponents with the steaming hot water this move produces."
"How did you…" Mark trailed off, taking the TM.
"I'm able to see every Pokémon on someone's person when they register for a fight," Misty teased, smiling. "Welp, thanks again for the battle! We should do this again sometime."
"Agreed."
Mark and Misty returned to the Gym to say their goodbyes. As they approached, in front of the doors were Zero and an unfamiliar person with pink hair wearing beige overalls, a black-and-white striped turtleneck, and a black beanie. In Zero's hands was a Pokémon egg, white with green spots. Zero wore a worried and, quite frankly, terrified expression on his face.
"Hey, Zero, what's going on?" Mark asked.
"M-Mark, we've… we've got a problem," Zero replied, his voice shaking.
Zero spun the egg around, revealing a gaping mouth with fangs and a long tongue, leaking drool.
"Ah, you must be Uncle Mark!" it said. "How very nice to finally meet you!"
...
Author's Note:
Sorry this took so long, I procrastinated writing this. But... Tulip evolved into Ivysaur, and Mark earned his second Gym Badge! He also discovered that he can talk to Pokémon as well. Truman will return, and two new characters will be introduced in the next chapter. Stay tuned!