Choice: Chapter 2
Silver walked up the steps the Celadon City Gym, with Dynamite by her side. She walked up to the desk, "Welcome to the Celadon City Gym!" A young woman greeted them, "What can I help you with?" "Raichu rai, Raichu?" (A battle, what else could we be here for ya ditz?) Silver shot him a look. "Aw, your Raichu's adorable!" She lifted her hand to pet him "Raaai…" (Don't touch me…) He hissed, and sparks emitted out of his cheeks. "Umm, he's not fond of being touched." Silver warned her. The woman pulled her hand away, and looked a bit nervous. "We're here to challenge the gym leader, she's here, right?" "Oh, of course. Follow me, please."
They walked down the hallway, and into a room not unlike a classroom. "Ms. Erika! You have a challenger here!" "Welcome!" Erika stood up. She was currently telling a story, with the aid of a slide show. The girl, who had escorted her there, had returned to her post. "Hey, Brock," Misty whispered. "Haven't we seen her somewhere before?" Brock looked closer, "She does look kind of familiar..."
"Oh! I love your Raichu!" Erika smiled. Silver let a small grin appear on her face, but it quickly vanished. "Now I remember! You're that girl who tried to steal Pikachu!" Misty stood up and pointed at her. Silver's blood turned to ice. Erika was shocked, "What?" Silver took a step back, Dynamite jumped in front of her, ready to defend his friend. "You're a member of Team Rocket aren't you?" Brock accused her, standing up with Misty. Silver shook her head; she wasn't sure how to react. 'Idiot, you just had to steal that Pikachu didn't you?' She scolded herself. "Why did try to take Pikachu then?" Brock asked.
Silver never liked to tell the truth, about anything, even if it would end up benefiting her. She only felt comfortable behind lies, and the stories she created. The only thing she could think to do now was run. So, she did, down the hallway, and out the front doors, tripping on the bottom step. She got back up and kept running. Dynamite tried to follow, but he lost track of her in the city. He looked around alleys, and tried the Pokémon Center. 'Where could she be?' He wondered to himself, he started to worry. He tried looking for her on the road that leads out of town. He finally found her sitting on a large rock on the side of the road. He wasn't until he got closer, did he see she was crying. "Ria?" (Are you okay?)
She shook her head, "No matter where I go, or what I do, my past clings to me like a tumor." "Raichu rai, raichu…" (You did steal Pikachu…). "I like to steal yes… But I am NOT with Team Rocket anymore!" Dynamite wasn't sure how to respond. His friend was a kleptomaniac, and a compulsive liar, he wasn't sure if either could be treated. Even if it could, he knew she would never step foot in any kind of hospital. "Raichu, raichu rai?" (Why not just get the badge your way?) Silver pondered the idea for a moment. "It's probably the only way I'm going to get it now…. Alright, let's go steal the badge."
They made their way back to city, it was already night time. The first thing Silver noticed was a huge light from within the city; the gym was on fire. They ran up, standing behind a fire truck so they wouldn't be seen. Silver spotted Erika standing in front of the gym, and an idea struck her. "Go, Jasper." She released her Haunter from his Poke' Ball. "Haunter!" He smiled at her, already knowing they were about make mischief. "Go see if you can get a badge out of Erika's pocket, she's the woman with the blue hair," Silver pointed at her. Haunter did as he was told; he flew over, making his body transparent. His hand passed through the fabric, and he grabbed one of the badges. He lifted it out, and the badge floated through the air, back to Silver. "Thank you," She took the badge from Jasper, and started to turn away.
"Erika, don't go in there!" Silver heard someone yell, she turned and looked. "But Gloom might be trapped inside!" "I'll go in and find Gloom!" Ash darted into the building. " Don't, Ash!" Misty tried to stop him, but he just ignored her. "Jasper, go and make sure they get out," Silver figured Jasper wouldn't have much trouble in a burning building, being a ghost. He nodded and flew into the building. Inside, Jasper looked around, only seeing fire and smoke. He finally spotted Ash attempting to approach Gloom. "Hey, there's no smell… Ah!" Ash remembered how Erika explained that only when Gloom is threatened does it give off that horrid stench. "Let's go Gloom." "Gloom!" Ash picked Gloom up, and Jasper flew over. Ashes eyes went huge when he saw him, "A Haunter?" Jasper motioned with his hand to follow him, "Haunter!" (Follow me!) Jasper guided them out, and then disappeared before anyone could see him. Jasper flew back over to his trainer, "Haunter," (They're out.) "Good job," Silver smiled at him, amazed how he was willing to steal for her, then the next minute, help somebody. "Undyingly loyal…" She muttered. "Come on guys," She called Jasper back to his ball. "Let's get going."
Silver didn't leave town, though. She sat in a small park, staring down at the Rainbow Badge. Dynamite was sitting next to her. The fire was finally out, and the sun was slowly coming up. There was something bothering Silver, gnawing at her. The thought of going to the Pokémon League with a stolen badge bothered her. "Dynamite… That… That wasn't right, was it?" "Raichu?" (What?) "Taking that badge, from that woman who's gym was burning down… That wasn't right." Silver suddenly stood up. "Raichu rai?" (What are you doing?) "Rai Raichu." (That badge is yours.) "Other trainers worked for this… I'm no trainer, I'm just a thief." Silver fought back tears brimming in her eyes. "Come on," she started off out of the park. "Raichu?" (Where are you going?)
Ash was celebrating the fact he received the Rainbow Badge, and the gym was still standing though almost completely black from the smoke. Silver took a deep breath, and walked over. "Hey, it's you!" Brock said. "What do you want?" Misty sneered. Silver simply ignored them, and walked right up to Erika. "Here," Silver held out her hand, curled into a fist. Erika held out her open hand, she looked confused. Silver dropped the Rainbow Badge into her hand, Erika gaped. "How did you…?" "You got some nerve coming back here, and-" "I'm sorry." Silver cut off Brock's verbal tirade. She locked eyes with Erika. "I know you don't owe me any favors but… Please let me earn this badge, like a Pokémon trainer."
Erika was silent for several moments, she didn't understand why Silver came back. "You had the badge. You could have just left with it." Erika said. "I don't have to be a thief; I can earn my way into the Pokémon League. Let me prove that." Erika couldn't help but smile. "Alright then, I accept your challenge."
They had the battle right there in front of the gym. "Tangela!" Erika threw its Poke' ball and it came out. 'Okay… Grass types are weak against fire…' "Go, Brimstone!" Brimstone was facing his trainer when he came out, smiling and wagging his tail. Silver motioned with her hand for him to turn around, and he obeyed. "Tangela, wrap him up with vine whip!" Vines shot out from the Pokémon. "Don't do anything until I tell you, Brim." He nodded, and allowed himself to be wrapped up by the vines. Tangela pulled him closer. "Now use your Sleep Powder!" "Brimstone, Fire Blast!" Before Tangela could release the powder, Brimstone hit him point-blank with fire; it was a one hit K-O. "Return, Tangela!" Erika called him back. "Your Houndour is very impressive." "Thanks," She called Brimstone back to his ball.
"Alright, go Weepinbell!" "Weepinbell!" 'Wow, that Pokémon looks derpy…' "Go, Static!" Silver called out her Jolteon. "But electric types are weak to grass types." Brock said, wondering about her choice. "Use your Solar Beam!" 'Whipping out the big guns already… She's getting nervous.' Silver stayed silent, and Static stayed still while the attack charged. Once Weepinbell fired the attack, they jumped into action; "Static, move!" Static managed to jump out of the way, "Now use Pin Missile!" A bug type move, Silver knew bug types were very effective against grass types. "Bell!" Weepinbell stood his ground, but was taking huge amounts of damage. "Finish him off with Quick Attack!" Jolteon was running at Weepinbell, and before he could recover from Pin Missile, was sent flying back, and landed at Erika's feet. She was looking worried. "Return, Weepinbell. Are you ready, Gloom?"
Erika sent out Gloom, "Want to keep going, Static?" He happily nodded to his trainer. "Silver! Call him back!" Ash called. "What? Why?" She asked. Gloom suddenly revealed why. Jolteon tried in desperation to cover his nose with his paws. "Holy-!" Silver shoved her nose into the back of her elbow. "Return!" She said; her words were muffled in her sleeve. Static was called back to his ball. 'Alright… How can I- Oh!' She pulled out Jasper's Poke' ball, and threw it. "Haunter!" "Hey, that's the Haunter that helped guide me and Gloom out of the gym last night!" Ash said. He pulled out Dexter, "It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering. "
The smell wafting through the air didn't affect Jasper, "Jasper," Silver's face was still shoved in her sleeve. "Use Hypnosis!" "Gloom, Sleep Powder!" Both Pokémon obeyed, and the attacks hit the same time, knocking them both out. "Gloom!" Erika called. "What the… Ghosts don't sleep! What are you doing? Wait…" Silver smelt the air, "Oh, perfect!" She called Jasper back, and sent out Brimstone. "Quick, use flamethrower!" Gloom didn't stand a chance, and was knocked out by the attack.
Erika ran onto the field, and picked up Gloom. Silver walked over and stood next to Erika. "Gloom!" He managed to smile up at her, to let her know he was okay. Erika turned to Silver, "Your Pokémon are really powerful, you must be quiet the trainer." "Thanks." Silver said, nodding a bit.
"Here's your Rainbow Badge, rightfully earned." Silver smiled at the last part. "Thank you," Silver nodded and turned and started to walk away. Ash, Brock and Misty ran up to her, "Hey great job!" Ash congratulated her. "Thank you." "Are you going to Vermilion City next?" Brock asked. Silver shrugged, "Ya, I guess. Why?" "Would you want to travel with us?" To Silver, the question came out of nowhere. "Why?" She asked, taking a step back. "Ya Brock, why?" Ash asked. "I feel bad about running her out of the gym yesterday; I want to make it up to her somehow." "It's fine," Silver said. "Don't worry about it." "I feel bad too," Misty added. "Just travel to the next city with us, if don't like us you can leave us in Vermillion City."
Silver chewed on her bottom lip, 'If I travel with them, they might slow me down, and I'm not sure I can be sure they won't turn me into the Police… Though the company might be nice, and the good influence might be good too.' "I guess it would be okay…" "Raichu." (I don't think so.) Dynamite looked up at her. "It'll be fine, Dynamite." Dynamite wasn't convinced, 'What if they turn Silver in? No wait, they don't have any solid evidence. So, what do they want?'
They group had stopped and set up camp, it was already dark, and they weren't even half way to Vermilion City. Everyone was curled up and asleep, except Silver. She kept tossing and turning, she just couldn't fall asleep. She got up, and walked through the forest, and came to a cliff. She climbed up a tree, and sat on one of the branches overlooking the cliff. It was a clear night; you could see all the stars, and full moon. 'Should I trust them?' Silver asked herself. Dynamite joined her in the tree. "Rai?" (Are you okay?) Silver nodded, not looking at him. 'If I trust them, they might be my friends… Or they could hurt me somehow…' She softly chuckled at herself, "My god, I'm paranoid."
She started to think about how Ash ran in to save Gloom. The only people she had met were out to help themselves, not the people they claimed to care about. "Alright, maybe these guys aren't so bad… They at least deserve a chance." She whispered to herself. Silver and Dynamite sat there for an hour, not saying anything to each other. She started to climb down the tree, "Come on, we should get some sleep." She said to Dynamite. He jumped down the tree, and they headed back to camp.