Chapter-4 Enter the Violet City
After few days Ralts gets normal and they are about to leave poke-center.
"Thanks for your visit here Mr. Connor and take care of your Ralts." Nurse Joy says to Sam.
"Welcome Nurse Joy."
"By the way how did you get in the Dark cave without Flash?"
"Flash?"
"You don't know about it?"
"What is it?"
"Flash is a move that some pokemons can learn and with its help they can illuminate even the darkest places, but it is a rare move."
"So can you tell me where to get it?"
"You are lucky Mr. Connor that you are in Violet city."
"What do you mean?"
"There is a tower in this city which is called 'Sprout Tower', sages and saints from all around the come there to meditate, it strengthens the bond between their pokemons and most of them use Bellsprout, that's why it is named Sprout tower."
"But why are you telling me all this?"
"Because if you will defeat the leading sage of that tower then he will grant you Flash as reward."
"Really?"
"Yes"
"Then I should hurry."
"Yes, you should."
"OK bye Nurse Joy."
"Good bye Mr. Connor."
Sam leaves for Sprout Tower.
"Hey Dizzy, you know what we have to do now, don't you?"
/Of course, our next priority is Flash./
"Yes and we will get it.". Sam and Ralts reach Sprout Tower. It is a large tower standing straight in Violet city.
/Wow, look at its height./
"Yeah…. Now come on Dizzy, we have something to do.". They both enter the tower. There they see so many people who look similar to each other. They all are shaved-heads and wearing priest uniforms, they are the monks of the tower.
"Wow, just look at them, they all look like twin-brothers."
/But who is their leader?/
"I think we have to ask them.". Sam approaches one of the monks and asks,
"Hi there, good morning sir."
"Good morning young lad. Its rare to see young people like you here, what can be the reason of your visit?"
"Actually I want to meet the head of this tower, your leader."
"So, you are just another pokemon trainer who seeks the power of Flash."
"Yes sir, can you please help me with that?"
"Hmmmmmm…. I see, what a disciplined child, come with me.". Sam and Ralts follow him. He takes them to the top of the tower where they see a large gate in front of them on which historical paintings are carved on it.
"Here my son, it is your destination."
"I guess your leader is behind that gate."
"Yes dear and let me tell you something, our leading sage is a very good guy, both in social and spiritual activities, he treats everyone equally and with love, he also loves his pokemons very much but when it comes down to a pokemon battle, especially when something important as Flash is on the line, he can become the most strict person in the world."
"Re-Really? I guess he's a monk, so he should be good as you, how can he become strict?"
"Who knows? My duty is to show you path, to walk on it is your duty. Now I think I should leave, please excuse me." Then that monk leaves them alone.
"Hey Dizzy, are you ready?"
/Yes I am./. Sam pushes that large door. They enter in the room. It is a large room with walls painted in golden all over and many sculptures and paintings are carved on it, like it is a temple. There they see a monk sitting in the middle of that room, he's meditating.
"Hey sir, can you hear me?" Sam asks.
"Crystal clear." That sage replies and opens his eyes.
"Good morning sir, I am Samuel Connor from New Bark town and she is my pokemon Ralts."
"Good morning young pal, I am the leader of this glorious Sprout Tower, head of all monks, Sage Lee, you can call me Lee."
"Sir I came here to challenge you to a pokemon battle fo-"
"For Flash, am I right?"
"Certainly sir, so can you accept my challenge?"
"See Sam, this world is made of both, humans and pokemon as well as good and bad people. There are some evil people who use innocent pokemons to seek powers like Flash. So let me get this straight, when it comes to Flash, I never compromise with situations, I will not go easy on you."
"Yes sir, I understand."
"Good, now let me explain the rules, it will be a 3-on-3 pokemon battle, you can call back your pokemon whenever you want and whose all 3 pokemons lose first will lose the battle as well and as I said earlier, I will not allow the power of Flash to be fallen into wrong hands, so I will judge you Sam with your qualities, like your bond with pokemons, how you fight, how you treat your pokemon…. And if I find you the worthy, only and only then I will grant you Flash, regardless of the winner of this battle."
"What? You are saying that it doean't matter who win this battle, you will only give me Flash if I stand upon your expectations?"
"Certainly."
"Then why are we battling in the first place?"
"Because it is a measure to judge one's personality, how he works with pokemon, how strong his bond is, to which things he gives priority and many things."
"OK... I see."
"Now Sam, shall we begin?"
"Of course."
"Very well, Hoothoot I choose you.". Lee throws a pokeball and a single leg pokemon comes out of it.
"Hoothoot huh? Then Treecko, I choose you." Sam sends out Treecko. A fight between dark type and grass type begins. It's really a fierce battle between both of them. Lee's Hoothoot is very fast, Treecko tries to matchits speed but he can't, he lags in pace but he is not weak. Finally with Leer, Pound and Absorb, Treecko manages to beat Hoothoot, but he himself is very tired. Then Lee sends out a worm looking pokemon with spikes on its back, its Weedle. Now Treecko has a disadvantage since Weedle is bug type. Their fight begins and Weedle comes out to be victorious, as it showers its Poison Stings on Treecko. Sam calls him back and sends out Ralts. It is a great battle between both of them but Ralts wins it, though she is too tired. Lee calls Weedle back and sends out what is expected, Bellsprout. Sam knew that so he calls back Ralts and sends out Chinchar. Technically Chimchar should be at advantage since fire type usually triumphs over grass type, but this time the situation is totally opposite. Bellsprout's attack, speed, defense, everything is better than Chimchar. The fire-monkey tries his best but he is defeated. Now Sam has no choice but to send out his last remaining pokemon Ralts. She also finds Bellsprout's power and strength at a different level. She is also facing troubles in fighting it. She is using the whole of her move-set of Disarming Voice, Confusion, Magical Leaf and Teleport, but she can't withstand against it.
After a few minutes of battle, they are standing on their feet, fully tired. There is a silence of few seconds. Then they quickly charge for each other. They both exchange blows on their stomachs. But at the next second, Ralts falls on the ground and faints out. Lee wins the battle. Ralts hurries for Ralts and picks her up in his arms.
"Hey-hey, are you OK?"
/Ye-yeah, I think so./
"Good, you fought very well."
/I am sorry that I lost./
"Oh come on, don't be sorry. Your opponent was just too strong, you really fought very well."
/Thanks./
"Sam, you really fought a great battle." Lee tells him.
"Thanks but you won the match."
"You are really a trustworthy trainer of your pokemons, you believe in them and they also believe in you, you understand what's important, I have already seen love and compassion for your pokemons."
"Thanks, I just do what I like to do. I really love my pokemon."
"That's why you pass."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Lee takes the Flash out of his sleeves and gives it to Sam.
"Sam, take your reward as I promised."
"But I lost."
"As I said earlier, I will judge you on the basis of your nature, not on the winner of this battle."
"Thanks."
"Here Sam, take this HM05 Flash. Teach it to as many pokemons as you like, but be careful that you have to find a compatible pokmon to learn this move, keep in mind that not all pokemons can learn all moves."
"Y-yeah, thank you sir."
"Now I think you should leave on your journey of becoming pokemon master."
"You are right. It was nice meeting you Sage Lee, good bye."
"Farewell son and best of luck on your conquest.". Sam then begins walking towards the giant door. As he walks out of the room, doors automatically begins to close slowly. Sam suddenly stops walking and says,
"Wait a sec Dizzy."
/What happened Sam?/
"How Lee knows that I want to become the pokemon master?" Sam turns around to see Lee through the closing doors, in return he gives a smile to him, then doors are closed completely.
"Wow, is he able to read minds? That's amazing." He ignores Lee and continues walking. Lee is there in his room again. He sits down to meditate.
'Amazing, marvelous… the bond between that boy and his Ralts…. it isn't just a mere friendship, it is more than it. Together they are going to create history. I can sense that very strong power binds them together and that power is… love.' Lee thought to himself.
After winning Flash from Lee, Sam is really happy, it is a great experience for him.
Next day, after resting for the whole night in the poke-center, Sam is ready to do for what he came to do in Violet city. He is done with his preparations and he is ready to leave for Pokemon Gym with Ralts,
"Dizzy, are you ready?"
/Obviously./
"Good, now the moment has arrived for which we have prepared. Let's go and win our first badge."
After walking for a few minutes, they reach the pokemon gym. They enter the building but there is no one. Then suddenly, a boy same old as Sam wearing samurai outfit with long hair, covering one of his eyes jumps in front of him.
"Stop there right now." He says to Sam.
"Wa-wait, you are getting us wrong pal."
"Why do you come here?"
"We came here just to challenge the gym leader for a pokemon battle."
"Ohhhh, you are here for the badge."
"Yes. Can you please take us to the gym leader?"
"Well, you don't seem to be strong enough to me to challenge the gym leader, are you serious about that?"
"Yes I am. You may think that about me but I believe in myself. I am strong and ready to challenge the gym leader."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Very well then, I will introduce you to this gym's leader."
"Really? Where is he?"
"Right in front of your eyes….. I am the gym leader of Violet city, the user of glorious bird-pokemon, I am Falkner."
"I am Samuel Connor, you can call me Sam and she is my friend Ralts."
"Hmmmmm… now I am beginning to believe in you, but let me ask you again, do you really want to challenge me?"
"Of course, if not, then why would I come here though a long distance from New Bark town."
"You really are confident, but let me tell you something, as I told you that I am a bird user, they are the strongest pokemon in my view but when people say that jolts of electricity can clip bird's feathers, it really makes me angry. My father was a bird user too and this gym's former leader. I want to continue their legacy, I want to change people's view about bird pokemons, I want to show them the magnificent strength of them, so Sam, I will not go easy on you."
"I also don't want that."
"Good, now let me explain the rules. It will be a 3-on-3 pokemon battle, we both will be allowed to use 3 pokemons, and whosoever is the last standing will win the match. If you win then I will give you the badge, is that right?"
"Fine with me"
"Then let's go, Spearow, I choose you." Falkner throws a pokeball out of which a red-brown colored pokemon appears.
"Spearow? Then Treecko, I choose you."
"Treecko, really? Do you know that bird pokemons are better than grass type, so clearly I am at advantage."
"You don't have to worry about it. I know what I am doing." Then Sam orders Treecko to use Pound. He also does the same and their battle goes on. Both Treecko and Spearow are fighting each other furiously. Spearow is trying to take him down with it's Leer, Tackle, Peck and Defense Curl but he is too fast for it. After a tiring battle, Treecko corners Spearow and defeats it with his Quick Attack. Falkner sends out Swablu next. It is a blue bird pokemon with its feather made of cotton. Treecko tries to defend against it but he is too tired to battle it. Then Swablu strikes him heavily to his defeat. Then Sam sends out Chimchar. He is fighting very well against it but Swablu's strength is visibly greater than Chimchar. He is using the move-set of Leer, Scratch, Ember and Taunt, but it is not enough to defeat Swablu. The fire-monkey is trying his best to defeat it but can't. Then Swablu';s Quick Attack sends him flying off the battleground to his defeat. It wins though it is very tired. Sam sends out Ralts as his next and last pokemon. Swablu again uses quick Attack but Ralts uses Teleport to appear behind it and uses Confusion defeating Swablu. Then Falkner also releases his last pokemon which is a Staravia. Now the battle is between both of them, it is the last battle which will decide Sam's fate, either Sam can win or lose. After a pause of few seconds, they both charge for each other. They both are equally matching each other. Staravia is using a move-set of Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Gust and Double Team whereas Ralts is using Disarming Voice, Confusion, Magical Leaf and Teleport. They both are equal in their strength, it is hard to predict who will win. Staravia charges for her using Wing Attack but Ralts uses Teleport but Staravia judges her position and changes its direction accordingly. It hits Ralts successfully, everyone thinks it is over, Ralts is defeated but she gathers her remaining strength, catches Staravia off guard and uses Disarming Voice which hits it straight, she puts everything she got in her last attack. Staravia falls on the ground, she tries to stand up but she faints out and loses. Ralts really did it, she defeated it. Sam has finally won his first ever gym badge. He hugs her in joy.
"Wow that was a great battle." Falkner says.
"Yeah, it really was."
"You are really a great pokemon trainer, you defeated me fairly and squarely. As promised, here is your badge, it is Zephyr badge." Falkner hands a badge to him which is looking like a pair of wings. Sam is really happy to receive his first badge. It is really very meaningful for him.
"Thanks Falkner, thank you for this badge."
"Don't thank me, it is something that you have earned with your own hard work, you should instead thank your pokemons."
"Yeah, you are right."
"Sam, it just the beginning, let me warn you that there are gym leaders who are far stronger than me, you should work hard to face them. The road to Johto League is not easy, so be prepared."
"I will. Once again, thanks Falkner, I hope we will meet again, bye."
"I also hope that, bye Sam and good luck on your journey.".
Sam and Ralts leave for their next gym battle, to conquer their next opponent and Sam's journey continues.