Scene 65: Lost and Gloom

Kari is traveling down through the mountainous Route 7. She battles several Trainers & Wild Pokémon, even managing to catch herself a Vulpix! She jumps over a small ridge and decides to take a break for a late breakfast.

While Eevee is finishing off his bowl, Kari cleans out and organizes her backpack. Her things are everywhere as she tidies things up and throws out any broken Pokéballs, snack wrappers, used-up medicine bottles, and rinses any excess grime from her water bottle and bento box. As she works she thinks back to her battles with Lt. Surge & Sabrina.

They had been more intense that she could imagine. She sighs, "If that's how they all are, I'm not sure I can handle fighting against another Team Rocket's Admin." She remembered Prof. Koga's face. She can't remember if he, too, might be a Gym Leader as well. Surge was cruel, just like how he was at the Academy; Kari didn't know Sabrina from school, but she had her own twisted idea of Pokémon battles. Kari only had Koga for a few classes, but she wonders what type of Trainer he might turn out to be... Vee! Kari looks up.

Having finished his food, Eevee ran off to explore. Kari puts the last of her supplies back in her pack and follows after him. Just past a few large boulders she sees a sign and the entrance to a large city. They've finally arrived in Celadon City!

First things first, Kari follows the signs towards the Pokémon Center. Just a few minutes into their walk Kari notices a Pokémon hiding out in a back alleyway. She pulls out Dex to look it up. It's a Gloom! Kari's never seen one before, but she's so ready to catch it!

She reaches into the pouch on her belt but stops, "Huh? Wait a minute..." Kari notices how Gloom is looking around the alley, confused. Kari looks at Eevee with concern, "Could it be lost, do you think?" She walks forward, waving at the small Pokémon, "Hey there." Gloom jumps. She's wary of the stranger and is shaking all over.

Realizing how nervous Gloom is, Kari slows her pace, crouching down a bit. She takes another slow step. But Gloom was too frightened- it releases a smelly odor. Kari and Eevee freeze in their tracks at the fumes. Eevee jumps and quickly hides himself inside Kari's backpack, being sure to close it up nice and tight! Kari's face is turning green under the putrid smell. She tries to hold her breath as she thinks.

Kari remembers reading about Gloom back in school. They use this odor to scare away people and other Pokémon, any kind of prey they want to escape from, but... Kari squares her shoulders and prepares herself to hold-out till the bitter end..! She sits cross-legged across from the Pokémon. Though she's straining to breathe, Kari wants the Gloom to understand her intentions.

"Don't worry, you don't have to be scared." She smiles at the Gloom, "Are you lost?" Gloom is halfway behind a dumpster, watching the girl. She expected the stranger to run away like they usually did... how strange that this girl didn't. Gloom looks up into her face. She's actually smiling. Gloom, confused, cocks her head to one side.

Gloom takes a tentative step towards the girl. GlooGloom..? This was her chance to make a good impression. Kari reaches out to pet the poor Pokémon, still holding her breath and smiling, "There, there. See? I won't hurt you." Kari's hand is gentle atop Gloom's flower. Gloom..! The Pokémon is smiling, too, calmed by Kari's presence. The gas fades and Kari can breath again. Feeling comfortable and confident, Kari picks up the Gloom, "See? Nothing to be scared of." The Gloom smiles back.

As they walk the streets, Eevee is talking to their new friend. Kari laughs, mocking Eevee for having hidden when Gloom needed him most. His ears droop at her words,~Vee... But Gloom reassures them that it's used to that kind of reaction. Happy to hear it, Eevee jumps from Kari's shoulder to the top of her head, almost making her lose her balance. She catches herself, "Hey, you! Don't be getting used to riding up there!" Eevee snickers.

They arrive at the Pokémon Center. Gloom gives her new friends a curious look, Gloo? "I was thinking that maybe Nurse Joy would know where to find your owner." The door slides open. As they approach the desk, a young lady comes running up to her, "Gloom! Oh, there you are!" Gloom gets excited to see the girl. Kari looks between the two, "Is this your Gloom?" Kari can see the small tears on the edge of her eyes. The older girl nods, "Yes. I've been looking for her everywhere. You see, they were doing work on our garden this morning. I suppose the loud sounds must have scared poor Gloom." She takes Gloom from Kari's hands and holds her in a tight embrace, "I'm just glad you're alright."

They sit down together at the Pokémon Center Cafeteria and the girl, introducing herself as Erika, offers to buy Kari a drink. They watch as the two Pokémon play around at the nearby window. Kari looks her new friend up and down, noting her simple green and white dress and matching red headband over her short blue hair. Her eyes seemed to carry this warmth in them. Erika turned and caught Kari's eyes. Trying to cover how she was staring at her, Kari takes a sip of the green fizzy drink in front of her. She winces and Erika laughs, "So what do you think? It's a local favorite, though some people might say it's an acquired taste." Kari tries for a smile, "It definitely is... different..!" Erika sips from her own cup, "Maractus Fizzy Marmalade is a sweet juice made from the Grass Pokémon's very own flower seeds, so it's very healthy. However, it does have a prickly kind of aftertaste."

Erika is watching her Gloom play with Eevee with a smile on her face, "I'm surprised she wasn't afraid of you." Kari laughs, explaining about getting a blast of Gloom's toxic odor, "But I knew I just had to be gentle. I didn't want Gloom to be afraid of me." Erika nods, "Not many young Trainers would be brave enough. You certainly are something special." Embarrassed at the compliment, Kari averts her eyes, landing on the TV just behind their table. It flashes to a commercial, Kari recognizing the symbol on the screen.

She jumps to her feet and goes to see. The broadcast is of the local Contest happening today. Lilian is standing on a stage, welcoming several crowd-goers as the hall prepares for the event. Kari gives an excited squeal, " No way! I didn't know Celadon City had a Contest Hall! And it's today!" She runs to the desk. Eevee sees her running off and follows.

"Nurse Joy! Is there still time to sign up for the Contest!?" Eevee jumps onto her shoulder as Nurse Joy looks down at her sadly, "I'm sorry. But the deadline's already passed." Kari's shoulders slump, "Oh, no... Really?" Eevee..?

"But I'm sure we can make an exception." Erika appears behind Kari. Nurse Joy looks at her, smiling, "Oh! Miss Erika, good morning!" Nurse Joy gives a small bow to her. Erika picks up her Gloom as she speaks, "Kari did me a great favor, Nurse Joy, and helped me find Gloom when she was lost and scared. Isn't there something you could do for her?" Taken by her story, Nurse Joy agrees immediately, "Oh my! Is that so? Well, I'd be more than happy to return the favor for such a helpful Trainer!" Kari looks between the two of them, "Really!?" Erika smiles at her as Nurse Joy starts typing on her screen, "Of course, Kari. It's no problem at all."

Nurse Joy looks up, "I'll just need your Trainer's License and Contest Card." Kari hands over her Pokédex. Erika is surprised to see a Pokédex in the hands of such a small girl. She remembers that same device on an old friend of hers, "I knew that you had to be a talented Trainer to be on a journey at your age, but it turns out that you have a Pokédex as well..?" Kari looks up at her, "Prof. Oak gave it to me. He says it's just a prototype of some kind, but that it'll still help me on my journey. And you know what? It really has!"

Erika smiles at Kari's enthusiasm as she goes on, "I love meeting all different types of Pokémon everyday and getting to learn all about them, too!" Erika nods, giving her Gloom a squeeze, "And I'm sure they love getting to meet you, too." Gloooom! Nurse Joy hands Kari back her Pokédex and Contest Card, "You're all set, Kari!" Kari pulls out her Kanto Destinations wallet to return the card, "Thanks!"

"Well, I better get going." Erika waves to Nurse Joy. She looks to Kari, "And I'm sure I'll be seeing you pretty soon, too, Kari." She turns to leave as Gloom waves a final goodbye to her two new friends. Eevee is waving back, but Kari sits wondering, "What did she mean by that..?"

After healing up her Pokémon, and a well deserved shower, Kari prepares for the Celadon Contest. She arrives at the Contest Hall just as they're calling for the Coordinators. She looks around at all the Trainers, but she doesn't recognize a single one of them. As Kari approaches the counter and the end of the line, the man stops her, "I'm sorry, but there were only 25 Coordinators registered for today's event and they're all accounted for." A pair of girls stop to watch before entering the green room. Kari pulls out her Contest Card for the man, "But I am registered, Sir. I was a last minute addition, but I should be there." He scans the card and checks on his device once more. The page refreshes and a new name pops up, "Huh... Well, it seems you're right. In that case..." He hands her back the card and opens the barrier again, "Good luck out there, Kari." She smiles at him, "Thanks!" As Kari and Eevee approach the door, the other girls give her ugly looks. She ignores them and keeps walking.

Kari sits in the back with Eevee. She gives him a reassuring look, "I know this is super last minute, but let's make sure we do our very best, ok?" Vee! The TV lights up as Lilian takes to the stage! All the Coordinators in the greenroom crowd around the TV to watch.

Lilian introduces the panel of judges: Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, and Celadon City's Nurse Joy, "But wait, there's more!" She spins around, "As a special treat we have our 4th and very special Guest Judge!" The camera pans over the excited crowd as a spotlight hits the back of the stage where there's a break in the curtain.

"You may know her as the Celadon City Gym Leader, or even the owner of Rainbow Perfumes located here in the heart of Celadon- it's your very own Celadon Princess! ERIKA!" The crowd goes wild at the sound of her name. Kari jumps to her feet, "Erika!?" Through the curtain the very same girl she met earlier appears. She's now wearing a cute traditional hakama, the top in pink and the bottom blue, a matching black headband and sandals. She bows to the audience, "I'm pleased to be here. And I can't wait to see all the wonderful performances today!" Kari can't help but smile. She watches as her friend walks to join the panel onstage, "I had no idea..!"

Behind her, the pair of girls from before walk up to a boy. He's sitting in front of a mirror, prepping himself. The taller of the two girls leans in to whisper something to him. The other girl gives a nod in Kari's direction. He glances over at the small girl: raggedy old jeans, a plain collared shirt, long untamed hair covered by a hat, and dirty tennis shoes. He sniffed, an eyebrow raised- So this simple girl with the naive look in her eyes was favored by the competition, huh? He'll be sure to make her understand where she stood in this Contest Circuit...

Lillian opens up the show! Kari's always loved watching the performers before her. She was sure to watch with analytical eyes in order to get ideas for her own stage performances. Soon, Kari gets called on-deck. She and Eevee follow the stagehand to the side-wings. She watches from behind the curtain as a boy takes the stage. He was wearing an emerald green vest over a white and green striped button-up, a bright red bowtie around his neck, long black shorts (the lining in that same green on the outside) that closed just under his knees, with long white socks and shiny black shoes. His sandy brown hair moved as if caught in a soft breeze as he moved along with his Squirtle. Squirtle is spinning all around on its shell with the music.

The boy makes a pose and snaps his fingers, "Now! Use Water Gun!" Squirtle flies up into the air, spinning. The water is sparkling under the dim lights of the stage. The audience is cheering on their great performance. Kari's watching in awe, "Wow. He's good..!" Lilian runs out, "And that was Payne, everybody! Thank you for a fantastic performance!" He and Squirtle bow. They wave and blow kisses as they exit the stage.

Kari runs up at him, "That was such a great show, Payne! You and your Squirtle were awesome!" He stops before her, "I know." Kari's surprised by his voice. Though sweet sounding, there was something heavy about it. He sneers, "So I guess you should just give up now, huh? Cuz there's no way I'm going to lose to a little girl like you. Especially one that doesn't even know how to read time."

"W-what..?" Kari doesn't know why he would say something like that. Payne puts his hands in his pockets and walks passed them without another word. His Squirtle raises a cocky eyebrow to Eevee as he passes. Though taken aback, Kari follows him with her eyes. Just inside the door to the greenroom Payne is met with two girls. Kari recognizes them from when she first entered the Contest. So the girls that had given her those dirty looks was friends with him... Well it made sense now.

"And now! Put your hands together for this season's youngest competitor- KARI!" Eevee pawed at Kari's sleeve. Vee-Eevee! Kari was brought back by his voice. That's right- she couldn't let herself get distracted now..! Kari shook her head. She took a couple of deep breathes. She looked to her partner, "You ready?"Vee!

{{Current Team: Eevee, Sandslash, Mankey, Bulbasaur, Magnemite, Gastly}}

Eevee: Tackle, Swift, Shadow Ball, Hyper Beam

Sandslash: Dig, Rollout, Aerial Ace, Sand Tomb

Mankey: Focus Energy, Scratch, Hidden Power, Karate Chop,

Bulbasaur: Tackle, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Energy Ball

Magnemite: Tackle, Thunder Shock, Supersonic, Magnet Bomb

Gastly: Lick, Shadow Ball, Psychic, Night Shade

Total Pokémon: Eevee, *Pidgeot*, *Raticate*, *Butterfree*, *Beedrill*, Ceffairy, Spearow, Arbok, Sandslash, Goldeen, *Poliwrath*, Jolteon, Drowzee, Horsea, Tentacool, Magikarp, Psyduck, Slowpoke, Magnemite, Voltorb, Zapdos, Elekid, Gastly, Meowth, Growlithe, *Hitmonlee*, Hitmonchan, Koffing, Grimer, Vulpix...