Chapter 9
Where the trees ended lay a large clearing with a large patch of tall grass up ahead. A beaten path snaked northward, then east, then north again where Pewter City could be seen on the horizon. Seeing the sunshine was a breath of fresh, thinner air. Felix had the best sleep of his life the night before entering the city at the northern edge of Route 2.
Pewter City was a gray town full of gray buildings and gravel landscaping. One man could be seen trying to cultivate a garden, spraying Repel to keep the Rattata and Caterpie away, but he was in the minority. Most of the residents of Pewter didn't grow vegetation in their yards, but preferred to surround their brick homes with all kinds of rocks. The little plant life around existed as weeds growing through the gravel.
A sign in the center of town read "PEWTER CITY: A Stone Gray City".
"I'll say," Daisy commented.
"I haven't seen much of Team Rocket or anything suspicious around here," said Felix, looking around.
"Let's head to the Pokemon Center and get some rest. We're likely to find some local trainers there that can let us know how things have been around here," said Daisy.
The pair headed over west for the Pokemon Center. Inside sat a man and his Jigglypuff in the lobby. The man let out a loud yawn and mentioned how Jigglypuff's song makes Pokemon fall asleep, and he often gets sleepy as well. Jigglypuff, seeing a new audience, started to sing one of her songs. Pikachu became entranced and dozed off. Felix's eyes became heavy as well until he heard someone mention Team Rocket somewhere behind him. Felix fought the drowsiness and made his way toward a man on the phone in the corner as Daisy slumped herself onto the couch and shut her eyes.
"What? Team Rocket is at Mt. Moon?" said the man loudly into the phone. "Huh?"
Felix, in his urge to eavesdrop on the conversation and fight the drowsiness, got a little too close for comfort for the old man.
"I'm on the phone! Scram!" barked the man and shooed Felix with his hand. He turned away and started whispering into the phone.
Felix returned to the couch in the lobby and fortunately Jigglypuff had finished her song. Pikachu lay asleep on the floor while Daisy snored sprawled out on the couch.
"Wake up, guys!" Felix shook Daisy's shoulder.
"Huh… what…" mumbled Daisy, wiping drool from the side of her mouth.
"Team Rocket is at Mt. Moon," said Felix anxiously.
"Pikaaaa," said Pikachu groggily.
"I remember Officer Jenny mentioning that in Pallet Town," said Daisy. "Looks like we'll be meeting up with them sooner than expected. Mt. Moon overlooks Pewter just to the east."
Felix felt a nervous knot in the pit of his stomach. Was he ready? So far, he'd only beaten two Bug Catchers in a Pokemon battle in his whole life, and Zane sort of twice. But among the anxiousness of taking on a powerful crime organization, there was a flutter of excitement. Could Magnemite be at Mt. Moon? Would he be reunited with his best friend once more?
Felix and Daisy checked Pikachu and Nidoran into the Pokemon Center and waited a few moments for them to return with their health restored. They exited the building. Felix took a deep breath and walked with his companions toward Route 3. They made it to the entrance at the outskirts of town when suddenly a gang of kids sprang out of nowhere.
"Where do you think you're going?" sneered one of the kids.
"We're heading to Mt. Moon," said Felix. "Please get out of my way." Daisy nodded at him and Felix took it as her being proud of him for standing up for himself.
"You're a trainer, right? He's not going to let you leave until you face him," said the same kid. He looked rough around the edges, but there was a youthful innocence about him. While the gang was using intimidation tactics, they didn't seem as malicious as Team Rocket.
"What do you mean 'he'? You mean Brock?" asked Daisy with a spicy attitude.
"Yeah, Brock! He's the gym leader here in Pewter," said another kid in the gang with dark, shaggy hair.
"What do you mean 'let me'?" Felix challenged, his eyes narrowing.
"Brock is bored. There aren't many serious trainers here. They're all like Bug Catchers, those weird kids in the forest. All the hotshot Pokemon League trainers spend most of their time in the big cities on the east side of the bay, but Brock is totally into it! He's not going to let a halfway decent trainer like you just leave without challenging him!" said the kid with the dark hair.
Felix paused. This could be the test he needed to see if he stood a chance. As a ten-year-old, he was just beginning to have the self awareness that he might not know what he doesn't know. What exactly does it take to rescue a Pokemon from an organized crime syndicate run by grown-ups? He at least needed to be able to take on one strong trainer if he had any chance.
"Alright. Show us the way to the gym," said Felix.
The gang of kids led Felix and Daisy back west into the city, and it wasn't long before the pair were standing at the front doors of the Pewter City Pokemon Gym.
"Good luck! You're going to need it!" sneered the rough-looking kid and the gang ran off.
Felix and Daisy looked at each other.
"I just want you to know, I believe in you. I always have," said Daisy.
"I know," said Felix.
They entered through the front doors only to find Zane there with a Pokeball in his hand, standing in front of a kid that looked to be about fifteen with spiky brown hair and no shirt.
"I already have a challenger," said the kid. "But you are more than welcome to watch!"
A kid with glasses ushered them to the bleachers off to the side of the arena. The inside of the gym was shabby with sitting arrangements that hadn't been well maintained. The battle arena itself was made up of gravel and large boulders layered on top of what looked like cracked asphalt. The overhead lights were dim with a few completely burnt out bulbs.
The kid with glasses sat with Felix, Daisy, and Pikachu on the bleachers and introduced himself.
"Hiya! You're different from the other challengers who usually come here. You and that kid, Zane, seem like you have a great understanding of Pokemon."
"Well, they both learned from one of the most renowned professors in the world: my grandfather, Professor Samuel Oak!" said Daisy with a smile.
"That's fascinating! Have you ever challenged a gym before?"
"No, this is my first time. I haven't been out of Pallet Town for very long," Felix replied.
"Hm. Well I can just tell you have what it takes to become a Pokemon champ! There's just something about you."
"Thank you, I guess," said Felix.
"I'm no trainer, but I can tell you how to win here in this gym! Let me take you to the top!"
"I welcome any advice you have," said Felix.
"It will be tough for your Pikachu at this gym! The gym leader down there with the spiky hair, that's Brock. Electric attacks are harmless against Brock's ground-type Pokemon. I hope you have another Pokemon in your arsenal."
"Er, no. Pikachu is all I got…" said Felix sheepishly.
"The match is about to start!" Daisy informed them.
"We'll use two Pokemon each! First to knock out the other trainer's two Pokemon is the winner! Are you ready?" declared Brock.
"I'm always ready," said Zane with a smirk.
"Go, Geodude!" cried Brock, hurling a Pokeball through the air. A small round rock with eyes and a mouth came emerging out. Arms protruded out the side of his head, but he had no legs.
"Spearow, attack!" demanded Zane. "Use Leer!"
Spearow gave a piercing stare at Geodude who let his guard down.
"Geodude, Tackle!"
Geodude lunged at Spearow, wounding Spearow.
"Another Leer!"
Geodude was getting phased. Geodude went for another Tackle, hitting Spearow. Spearow had a harder time staying in the air, finding it difficult to fly.
"Peck, Spearow!" Zane cried.
Geodude didn't expect such force to come from Spearow and Geodude fell to the ground hard. He was still conscious though. Geodude was able to get off another Tackle, Spearow barely hanging on to consciousness. Spearow pecked Geodude one more time before falling unconscious to yet another Tackle.
"Is that all you got?" sneered Brock.
"You haven't seen the best of me yet," Zane said, his lip curling. "Eevee, finish him with a Tackle of your own!"
Eevee came bursting out of Zane's thrown Pokeball and barrelled toward Geodude. The contact knocked Geodude out cold.
"You haven't seen the best of me either. Onix, I choose you!" shouted Brock.
An enormous snake made of solid, connected boulders came forth from the flashing light. A horn protruded from his head as he let out a great roar.
"Tackle, Onix!"
Onix lunged forward and struck Eevee with the front half of his snakelike body. Eevee was knocked to the ground, visible bruises already starting to appear all over his brown furry body.
"Tail Whip, Eevee!" cried Zane.
Eevee swung his tails at Onix. The precise strikes of the tail chipped away at the rocks that held Onix's body together. Onix retaliated by lunging forward again, this time possibly breaking one of Eevee's legs. Limping in pain, Eevee executed another Tail Whip, softening Onix up further.
"Alright, Eevee, time to Tackle!" said Zane with a smirk.
Eevee lunged at Onix and ran into him with full force through the pain of his battered body. The blow took Onix by surprise as he winced in pain.
"Onix! Bide!" Brock roared.
Onix coiled himself into a defensive position.
"That's Onix's signature move," said the bespectacled kid.
"What does it do?" asked Felix.
"As a Pokemon chips away at Onix's great defense, Onix absorbs the energy and then deals out double the damage he absorbed," said the kid.
"Eevee! Tackle!" Zane commanded.
Eevee dove at Onix. The force of the blow made Onix cry out in pain. Eevee, in an immense amount of pain in his own right, obeyed another one of Zane's commands to tackle Onix. This time Onix's head swayed, his eyes dilating as he began to lose focus.
"My brother might win this thing!" gasped Daisy, leaning forward in her seat.
"It's time, Onix," snickered Brock, folding his arms across his bare chest.
Onix let out a roar and flung his tail at such a velocity that it sent Eevee flying across the arena. Eevee's flight ended abruptly by smashing into a concrete wall across from the bleachers, leaving a crack. His unconscious body fell to the ground with a near-ceremonious thud.
Daisy covered her mouth and groaned in disappointment.
"Dammit, Eevee!" Zane growled. He looked away as he returned his fainted Eevee into his Pokeball.
"Good match. I perceive you will be an excellent trainer someday. It was an honor battling you today," said Brock.
Zane didn't look up at Brock as he pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to him. He kept his head down and slumped out the double doors without another word.
Brock put the cash in his pocket and turned his attention toward the bleachers.
"Hey, kid! Pallet Town, right?"
Felix nodded.
"I'm going to heal my Pokemon at the Center and then you're next!"
Brock marched out of his gym, followed by the other members.
"It's not going to be easy, but I think I can win," said Felix. He looked over at Pikachu and Pikachu nodded back at him, sparks hovering over his cheeks.
"I don't think so," said Daisy. "I think you need to come up with a strategy first."
"Pikachu's got Tail Whip and Quick Attack," said Felix. "I can lower his defenses little by little and strike hard quickly."
"Geodude and Onix can hit hard themselves," said the kid with glasses. "Between the two of them, they can wear down your Pikachu before he has a chance to set up."
"Pika…" Pikachu sighed.
"Well, so what am I supposed to do? Just give up?" barked Felix in frustration.
"No, but I'm sure if we head back to Viridian Forest, we could come up with some answers," replied Daisy, calmly.
"Is that really necessary? If I never went back there for the rest of my life, it'd be too soon."
"The Bug Catchers will help us. I just don't think it's wise to battle with one Pokemon when the Gym Leader is allowing two. And besides, I really don't think Pikachu is ready."
"Oh alright…"
"Pika…" Pikachu hung his head, letting out a large sigh, the sparks ceasing immediately.
The two of them thanked the kid with glasses for his help and walked out the front doors of the gym. As they walked around the corner to slip away back to the forest, Brock and his gang exited the Pokemon Center and spotted them on the gravel road.
"Hey! You aren't leaving until we've had a match!" shouted Brock as his gang began to circle them.
"What if I don't want to battle? What if I just want to go to Mt. Moon?" scowled Felix.
"Hey! I got to keep the lights on and keep the boys fed. I can't afford to let a newcomer with a Pokemon walk away," said Brock. "Besides, I've heard Team Rocket invaded Mt. Moon! How do I know you aren't one of them!"
Felix sighed. As frustrated, tired, and hungry he was, he understood Brock. He turned his back and pulled the brim of his hat over his eyes.
"Team Rocket stole my Magnemite. I'm going to Mt. Moon to find it and bring as many members of Team Rocket to justice as I can," he said softly.
Brock nodded his head.
"A noble cause," said Brock. He turned his head to the side to think for a moment. "I've been trying to gather the strength to take on Team Rocket myself."
Brock gestured to the gang behind him. "The war took so much from us. Many of us are orphans. My father survived the war, but after my mother passed away from a terminal illness, he abandoned me. Then Team Rocket came out of the shadows and took what we had left. I started this gym when I proved myself to the Elite Four I was worthy of Pokemon League membership. I offer a place to live and train for kids who lost everything and want to fight back." Tears began to swell in his eyes.
Felix turned back to face Brock.
"You're doing great work, Brock. Thank you for what you're doing for your community," said Felix with a smile, his lower lip quivering. "Come with us. We can take them together."
Brock shook his head. "You don't know what they're capable of. We're not ready. You're not ready if you can't even beat me."
"I'm going to face you, Brock. I'm heading to Viridian Forest to train. I promise to return in one week. If I win, you let me pass to Mt. Moon. I'll know I'm strong enough. If you win, I'll pay you what I owe you and I'll stay and train in your gym. I'm… I'm an orphan, too."
Brock nodded and the two of them shook hands. Daisy and Pikachu smiled.