Chapter Four
[3 April, 2:15p- Pewter City Gym]
X
Upon arrival, they find three individuals outside of the Gym.
"Oh for the love of God." Forrest mutters.
"Guilty until proven innocent." Ryan says.
"I think you mean 'innocent until proven guilty.'" Nathan retorts to the twin, although guilty.
"My way works faster."
"It's not very fitting to be quarrelling on day three." Forrest say, walking to the door. "Inside, all four of you." Ryan, although annoyed, obliges as the rest follow peacefully. They five enter the main stadium, where Forrest begins pointing.
"Twins, over there," he says, pointing to the side where the referee stands, "Nathan, there." He points to the other side. "Will here, me there. You'll all get what you want. Ryan and Liz will get to see a match, Nathan will get those two to leave him alone, and Will and I will battle. Happy?"
"No." Ryan says.
"Shame." Forrest finishes, walking over to his side of the field.
"Two Pokemon each. Go, Geodude!"
"Eevee, I choose you!" Will calls.
"That will put him at a type disadvantage." Ryan points out to his sister who nods with a brief chuckle
"Eevee, let's go! Quick Attack!"
"Dodge and use Rock Throw!" Forrest calls, the floating Geodude turning away from the charging Eevee before picking up a nearby stone to chuck at it. The stone hits Eevee in the back of the head, sending it flying further.
"Eevee, let's try it again!" Will calls out. Eevee jumps high and aims for Geodude, who prepares for attack.
"Mega Punch, Geodude!" Forrest orders, Geodude getting a well-aimed hit on Eevee.
"Eevee!" Will calls, watching the creature fly across the field. Landing on all fours, it turns to face the Geodude. "Try again, aim for the top of the head!" Eevee starts out on a sprint.
"Geodude, Rock Throw!" Forrest says, his Geodude picking up a pair of rocks on the ground.
"Dodge them!"
Both rocks miss as Eevee pounces and crashes on top of Geodude.
"Bite!" Will calls quickly. Eevee opens its mouth and digs its teeth into the rocky head of the Geodude. Geodude frantically spins, trying to reach the Eevee.
"Spin in circles!"
"Keep rebiting!"
Eevee sinks its teeth into another point of stone while Geodude spins in a Rapid Spin style. One minute later, Eevee flies of the spinning ball, leaving both dazed. Geodude clutches its head, the room spinning; Eevee staying low to the ground.
"Take Down, full power!" Will commands; Eevee snapping forward and taking off. Eevee collides into the Geodude in critical fashion, knocking Geodude back a couple yards. Geodude advances again, waiting for Forrest.
"Take a page out of their book, grab on!" he says. Geodude aims and clamps its hands around Eevee, who stirs to break free. "Now, Seismic Toss!" Geodude spins, Eevee squirming, eventually sending them both into the ground. Eevee crash-lands under Geodude, who gets off nearly injury-free.
"Well, it's very clear who is leading." Ryan points out from the sidelines.
"There is still time." Liz reminds
"He's in trouble with this one." Nathan says to himself.
"Stand up, Eevee!" Will says with concern. Eevee struggles to its feet, fight still left in it.
"Mega Punch!"
"Dodge and use a Bite attack!" Will tries. Eevee narrowly dodges the punch, slamming into the Geodude's forehead with force and digging its teeth into the rock. Geodude grimaces, quickly grabbing onto the creature before it can respond. "No!"
"Seismic Toss, once again!"
"What a horrible miscalculation." Liz says with sympathy.
Eevee is slammed into the ground once again with greater force. "Eevee!" Eevee is slow to respond, barely standing.
"Mega Punch." Forrest says, without much force behind the words. Geodude senses the change in tone and lightens up the attack, but nonetheless is able to knock Eevee out.
"Eevee is unable to battle, Geodude is the winner!" Salvadore announces.
"Good work, Eevee." Will says, returning the fainted Pokemon. "My next and final Pokemon choice is Vulpix." Will throws the ball, releasing his Vulpix, who emits a cry.
"Let's go, Vulpix! Quick Attack!"
"Geodude, Mega Punch!"
Vulpix collides with Geodude, only to be punched away by its attack.
"Vulpix, use Will-o-Wisp!" Will orders. Vulpix creates a blue ball of flame in its mouth and fires at the Geodude, too busy recovering to block.
"Look out!" Forrest calls, watching his Pokemon engulfed in the flame, burning it. The light blue flame remains around the Geodude as it tries to steady for another attack. "Geodude, dig underground!" Geodude lands and starts spinning, digging a hole for itself.
"Vulpix, get to the hole!" Will says, strategizing. Vulpix is cut off by the underground resurgence of Geodude, knocking it off course. The burn reactivates.
"Alright, Vulpix, just a little bit more. Quick Attack!"
"Mega Punch!"
The two collide in a similar manner as they did on their first attack, this time leaving Geodude to suffer its final burn.
"Geodude is unable to battle. Vulpix is the winner!"
Vulpix walks back to its side of the battlefield, looking at Will.
"Great job, Vulpy!" he cheers.
"Not bad." Ryan admits.
"Alright, Will. Well done." Forrest says. "Steelix, let's go!" The thirty-foot tall Steel/Ground-type Pokemon appears from its Pokeball, ready for battle.
"Well this is going to be interesting." Nathan points out. "Both Pokemon are super-effective against the other."
"Vulpix, use Ember."
The large Pokemon finds it difficult to avoid the fire attack due to its size, getting a full blast of it.
"Steelix, strike it down with an Earthquake!" Forrest commands. Steelix lifts its mighty tail and slams it down on the ground, causing it to shake and cracking the ground. Vulpix tries to jump but finds itself unable to do so, taking a big hit.
"Vulpix, go jump on its tail!" Will orders, being crafty again.
"Iron Tail!" Forrest counters. Steelix takes a swing, but misses, Vulpix dodging it and jumping just above it. Steelix's tail crashed into a chunk of rock, shattering it and spreading it over near Salvadore.
"Watch it!" he calls, covering his head with his flags.
"Sorry!" Forrest says, his Steelix returning to position.
"Make your way to the head and spread Will-o-Wisp!" Will orders, concocting a good strategy to take down the mammoth beast. Steelix lets out its cry as it is directly burned. "Great, now hit it with Ember, full blast!"
As Steelix tries to extinguish the new flames that cover its body, Vulpix makes its way to the head.
"Steelix, move!" Forrest calls, Steelix moving as fast as it can in a circle around Vulpix. "Now use Bind!" Steelix quickly constricts the tiny fox, squeezing it.
"Vulpix, Ember! Try to break free!" Will orders. Vulpix tries to regain its composure, but only ends up with a few tiny flames. Suddenly, Steelix lights up a bright blue, letting out a cry. The restraint on Vulpix weakens considerably.
"What the?"
"It's the burn! Go!" Nathan calls to Will from the stands. Will glances briefly.
"Vulpix, escape and use Ember!" Will finishes. Vulpix squirms, but is able to make his way out of Steelix's grasp. Vulpix casts Ember as he runs up the makeshift-staircase to Steelix's head.
"Now hang on and use Ember again!"
"Steelix, Dig!" Forrest commands. Steelix takes a dive with the tiny fire fox on its head, burning it continuously as it enters the underground. Smoke rises from the entrance point. A minute passes, leaving both Forrest and Will on the edge of their toes. Steelix resurfaces, only to dive right back under. A flash of fire tells Will that Vulpix is still fighting.
"Keep going, Vulpix, you can do it!" he calls, Vulpix straining to hang on as Steelix goes back under. This time, the Pokémon do not resurface for a suspicious period of time.
"If the Pokemon do not return to the playing field in one minute, I'm going to suspend the ma-" Salvador tries before a large tremor interrupts him. Steelix shoots out of the ground, Vulpix sent flying from the shock. Steelix itself crashes to the ground, knocked out, sending a cloud of smoke over the field. Salvadore walks onto the field to get a better look.
"Steelix is unable to battle." he calls from the dust cloud, but not declaring a winner. The smoke clears a little as he tries to locate Vulpix. "Sir, I can't find the Vulpix."
"Stop looking." Forrest tells him. On his side of the field, he sees a little flash of red prancing around the edge of the cloud before finally curling up. "Vulpix is over here."
"Is he up and about?" Salvadore asks, making his way over.
"He was indeed after you declared Steelix unable. I lose."
"Steelix is unable to battle; Vulpix and Will are the winners!" Salvadore says, raising the green flag.
"Where is he?" Will asks, running onto the field and almost falling into one of the holes. Nathan, up in the stands, begins clapping. Liz joins, but Ryan does not partake, instead sneering.
"Over here." Forrest calls to him, waving his hand. Will arrives, picking up his Pokemon. "That match was very well played. I'm very impressed."
"Thank you." Will replies, putting Vulpix back in its pokeball. "It was very close."
"Very close, but that's the kind of battle I enjoy. It's no fun if it's lopsided." Forrest explains, reaching into his pocket. "And as proof that you defeated me, here is the Boulder Badge."
Will accepts the badge with a smile of excitement. "Alright, badge number one!"
"Now, I shall escort you all back to the Pokemon Center." Forrest says, playing babysitter.
"Fine." Ryan mutters, being forced to oblige.
"That was a very well fought match, Will." Liz says to her brother's disapproval.
"Thank you." Will replies, turning to the blonde. Forrest walks behind the four as they walk to the Pokemon Center.
[2:10p- Pokemon Center]
The trip is made in silence, a comment about a cloud from Liz here, or a battle strategy from Forrest there. Nathan holds the door for the group, Nurse Joy quick to greet.
"Well, isn't this an interesting bunch." she comments.
"It didn't appear that Nathan made it back to the Pokemon Center after his match, and Will just triumphed as well." Forrest explains. "That being said I also need to exchange Pokemon." Ryan and Liz escape to the couches.
"Your Pokemon are ready." Nurse Joy says, digging under the desk for them. "And I would be delighted to heal two victorious trainer's Pokemon."
"Thank you." Forrest replies, accepting his Crobat and Rhyperior.
"The man about your transfer device said he would be over sometime between five and six." Nurse Joy adds.
"Excellent. Hopefully I won't have any more challengers before then." he replies before taking his leave. Nurse Joy accepts the five total Pokemon of Nathan and Will.
"This might be a while." Nurse Joy admits. "A couple hours, few."
"That's fine." Will replies.
"Might keep them off of my back." Nathan admits. "Actually, you know what? Can I see my Pokemon again?"
"Sure." Nurse Joy says, bringing back the tray. Nathan picks up the bottom left ball.
"Shh." he whispers, throwing the ball around the side of the desk. Absol is released, which Will walks casually to look at. The ball abruptly flies to Nathan's hand, which Ryan sees and causes him to stand up in anger. Nathan quickly recalls the Absol, handing the ball to Nurse Joy. "Thank you." Nurse Joy accepts the ball in silence.
"Not fair." Ryan says.
"I beg to differ." Nathan replies. "Where does it say that I ever have to reveal which Pokemon I have to you?" Nathan grabs onto Will's arm and drags him out the door with him, angering the blonde.
"Do not give chase." Nurse Joy says adamantly, popping up behind the counter. Ryan growls, furious, storming back to his residence in the back of the Pokemon Center. Liz shrugs her shoulders and follows back to their room.
"Whoa!" Will says, almost being hit by the door on the way out.
"Sorry about that. They're really very annoying." Nathan says, letting go and turning around to him. "I'm Nathan."
"It's fine. I'm Will." The two shake hands, looking at one another. "So, you were responsible for that attack back in Viridian City."
"Yeah." Nathan admits. "Sorry."
"Oh no, I should thank you." Will says. "The Pidgey wasn't going to make it into the air again, and Vulpix didn't look ready for anything else."
"Hmm." the black-haired one replies. He begins walking forward, Will following next to. Swinging his bag around, Will rummages within to find his badge case.
"One down, seven to go." he remarks.
"Oh yeah." Nathan says, stopping to find his own case. Pulling the Boulder Badge out of his pocket, he holds it up to the sky, then inserts into the slot provided. "Absol really paid off in this one."
"Forrest mentioned that you defeated his Rhyperior." Will reminds himself.
"I did, with a last-minute Superpower attack." Nathan explains. "Thrilling. Not that yours wasn't"
"I feel bad for whoever has to fill in the holes." Will remarks. Nathan laughs at his words, putting his bag back on his back.
"Well, I'll best be off."
"Nice to meet you." Will replies.
"Nice to meet you as well. See you around town probably." Nathan says, walking in a different direction.
X
[3 April- 4:00p]
"You know, I'm really sick of that kid evading me." Ryan says, the two arriving back from lunch.
"Are you really still holding a grudge after this long?" Liz asks. "Really?"
"I just want him to confess. And when I find out what that Pokemon was, I can rally against it should I ever battle him." Ryan explains.
"You could just challenge him yourself." Nurse Joy offers from the desk.
"I could, but he would probably say no, or try to beat me with the Hoot-hoot he said he caught." Ryan replies.
"It never hurts to ask." Nurse Joy says.
"True."
"Oh, Liz, I have the contest schedule you asked me for." Joy adds, pulling out a piece of paper from a file on her desk.
"Thank you so much." Liz says, reading the paper aloud as it pertained. "So, the nearest will be in Cerulean City next Saturday, the thirteenth."
"We'll be there by then." Ryan says, reading over her shoulder.
"Mount Moon will be an excellent place for me to practice contest technique." Liz says.
"You may also be able to catch something of use there." Joy reminds. "There are sometimes rare Pokemon sighted there."
"I'll be sure to look out for them."
"And in the week in between, I can challenge the Gym Leader there to a battle." Ryan says, more focused on his.
"They also have aquatic shows in the gym some days." Joy reminds. "I've made the trip for a few of those."
"That could be fun." Liz remarks, reading over. "
X
[3 April- 5:30p- Pewter Pokemon Mart]
"Here you go." the shopkeeper says, handing Will the goods out on the table. "That'll be $60.50." Will takes out a card from his wallet and hands it to the man, who promptly scans it and hands it back.
"Thank you very much." Will says, putting the potions and pokeballs into his bag.
"And your parcel should be ready for pickup in Cerulean City when you arrive. I'm so sorry for the inconvenience."
"That's quite alright, I can wait." Will replies.
"Have a good day."
"You too."
Will makes his way outside, watching the sun sink further into the horizon. After walking about the town for another few moments, he decides to enter the museum.
Encased Kabutops and Aerodactyl fossils sit on the ground floor as Will passes through the gate.
"Cool." Will remarks as he begins looking in the cases. Several rare stones, models of space exploration. A helix fossil sits next to a picture of an Omanyte. Fossils of other regions were also out for show. Turning to the next case, he nearly runs into a man dressed in a trenchcoat.
"Watch it, kid," he says, not stopping.
"Sorry." Will says, finding the man to be quite rude. Turning a corner into a different room, he finds Nathan admiring a model of one of Mossdeep Space Center's shuttles.
"This looks just like the one back home." Nathan comments.
"Hello." Will says, scratching the back of his head.
"Hi." Nathan replies, taking his eyes away from the model.
"So, do you live in Hoenn?" Will asks, walking over to the glass case to read.
"I used to. I was born in Mossdeep City. My dad used to work in the Space Center." Nathan explains.
"That's cool." Will says, looking at the models. "So, why did you move to Kanto?"
"Dad took a job at Sliph Co." Nathan replies. "We live in Saffron City. You?"
"Cinnabar Island."
"Ah, the volcano."
"Yes. It's pretty dormant now, so the caves are open." Will adds, referring to the eruption nearly twenty-five years ago.
X
Nathan and Will walk around the museum for a while longer before making their way to the food court added on the west of the building for dinner.
"And then it knocked the entire tent down." Will tells Nathan, referring to the incident in Viridian Forest.
"That's hilarious." Nathan said. "I made the trip all in one day, so no tales for me to tell."
"You had the old man in the last house freaked out, though." Will recalls.
"Hm?"
"When I passed in the morning, he had seen your Absol and was flipping out to Officer Jenny. I guess there really was an Absol."
"Si. I shall consider not letting it out in pitch black conditions when I'm dressed in all black."
"Probably best." Will agrees, smiling.
Just then, a loud crashing noise rings out from the center of the building, shaking the entire museum.