Chapter 13 - Goldenrod City Battles
As we were under way in the Ilex Forest, my conscience got the best of me, and I decided we should backtrack and make sure that Oddish was okay. So we headed back in that direction, and I had Fearow search from above, while my Vulpixes and Eevee sniffed around. We reached the approximate area where the battle had taken place, when I heard Fearow's familiar caw - he spotted it! I dismounted from Tauros. "Okay, you guys stay here! I don't want to risk anyone else getting poisoned!" I told my Pokemon. I walked ahead a distance and saw Oddish. It had gotten up, but didn't get far, and just sat there on a rock. I took out some potion and some burn heal for it. As soon as it saw me, it stood up, ready to run away. "It's okay, Oddish. I'm not here to battle you, I'm here to help. I'm surprised to hear myself say that after what you put my Vulpix through, but I couldn't just leave you beaten and burned." It looked at me curiously, and said, "Oddish?" I held out the vial of potion. "Here, you need to drink this" I said to it. It slowly approached me and came close enough for me to pour the potion in it's mouth. Then I applied the burn heal to it's leaves and skin. "There, you should be as good as new, Oddish!" I said. "Oddish!" it replied, already feeling better, and it ran off into the woods. I felt better, too, and was now ready to head for Goldenrod City. As I turned around, I saw a figure standing in front of the shrubs in front of me. It was the Stantler from yesterday! "I don't believe it! You again?" I asked. He just stood there, looking at me. "You pulled a dirty trick on me yesterday, making me think I caught you! But I'm not letting that happen again! Firestorm, Flamefox, flamethrower attack, now!" I commanded. My Vulpixes leapt into action, launching their attacks at Stantler. He took the hits, which knocked him down, but he soon stood back up. Then another Stantler appeared from the shrubs, and another, and another, until there was an entire herd. "Not this trick again! You don't really expect us to fall for that again, do you?" I loudly asked. Then I picked up some stones from the ground, and threw some at one of the Stantler. They hit, bouncing off it's body. I threw some at another Stantler, and it was also hit. I gulped, "They're... not... an... illusion!" I dropped the rest of the stones in my hand, and shouted, "Run!" to all of my Pokemon, as I turned and ran! The real stampede of Stantler came after us. As we ran, I recalled Tauros and Eevee to their pokeballs, and picked up each of my Vulpixes. Flamefox sat up on my shoulders and gripped my forehead, while I carried Firestorm in my arms. Fearow saw that we were in danger and swooped down, so that he was flying next to us. He motioned for me to get on his back. "Are you sure, Fearow? Okay, I hope you know what you're doing!" I yelled, and then jumped onto his back. Soon, with a few wing flaps, we were airborne, safe from the Stantler herd. Flamefox stayed up on my head, and I still held Firestorm with one arm, while I gripped Fearow with my other arm. The view was breathtaking from up here in the sky. Fearow flew us down to a wild area just outside of Goldenrod City. After we landed, I could see he was exhausted - he wasn't used to carrying that much weight on his back! "Thanks, Fearow! Return, and rest!" I said, recalling him to his pokeball. "Wow, that was impressive!" came a female voice from behind us. My Vulpixes and I turned to see a female Pokemon trainer, a few years older than me, running over to us. "Your Vulpixes are so cute!" she said, crouching down to pet them. "Thanks" I replied. She then said, "My name's Jane. I'd love to have a battle with you and your Vulpixes!" I answered her, "I'm Joe. Consider your challenge accepted!" She replied, "Then let's do it! A 2 on 2 battle! For my first Pokemon, I choose Lickitung!" she said, releasing the long-tongued pink reptile from his pokeball. "Okay, Flamefox! Go for it! Just keep a safe distance from that tongue!" I said. "Vulpix!", he replied, and entered the battle. "Lickitung, use lick!" Jane commanded. "Avoid his tongue with your agility!" I ordered. Flamefox held his ground, avoiding a tongue-lashing at every turn, but her Lickitung was fast! I needed another strategy. "Flamefox, use dig!" I shouted. He burrowed under the ground, still avoiding the tongue. "Lickitung, watch it!" Jane yelled, but Flamefox shot out from the ground underneath him, the impact sending her Lickitung airborne, and then he crashed to the ground, but he stood back up. "Quickly, Flamefox, use flamethrower!" I commanded. Lickitung's tongue started to lash at Flamefox just as he did the attack, and Lickitung was engulfed by the flames, tongue and all. Afterwards, he fell over backwards, unable to battle anymore. "Lickitung, return!" Jane said, recalling him to his pokeball. "Good job, Flamefox!" I exclaimed. Then Jane said, "For my next Pokemon, I choose Skarmory!" and she released the steel-type bird. "This one is your's, Firestorm!" I told him. Then I commanded, "Use flamethrower!" Jane responded, "Skarmory, use your agility to avoid it!", which he did, and he flew down at Firestorm. "Now use your steel wing!" she shouted. "Firestorm, use YOUR agility to avoid it!" I yelled to him. He tried his best, but the Skarmory was fast, and he did get hit by the steel wing attack. He got knocked to the ground, but he stood right back up. "Do it again, Skarmory!" Jane ordered. "Firestorm, use your confuse ray!" I shouted. Firestorm's confuse ray got Skarmory, causing him to crash down, and flap around helplessly. "Now hit it with your flamethrower!" I commanded, and Firestorm did so, engulfing Skarmory in flames. When the flames dispersed, he was defeated! "Return, Skarmory!" Jane said, recalling him to his pokeball. "Good work, Firestorm!" I excitedly exclaimed to my Vulpix, and both of my Vulpixes ran up to me for a hug. Jane then said, "You're really good. I guess I need more practice." I replied, "That's okay. You'll get there! Thanks for the battle, though. I needed some practice, since I'm heading for Goldenrod Gym next." She said, "Well, if you battle like you just did, I'm sure you'll win! Good luck!" I responded, "Thanks! Good luck to you, as well", and we went our seperate ways.
My Vulpixes and I walked the remaining few miles to Goldenrod City. It was quite a happening city, too! They had a casino and everything! But my first stop was the Pokemon center. I had all of my Pokemon checked out before our battle with Whitney. It was Flamefox's turn for a gym battle. I heard through the grapevine about one of Whitney's Pokemon, and I had a secret strategy up my sleeve. Anyway, as soon as my Pokemon were checked out, we headed for Goldenrod Gym.
Flamefox, Firestorm, and I entered the building. Whitney was inside, with her Clefairy. "Hi there! Can I help you?" she asked me. "Yeah. I'm Joe, from Crimson Town, and I want to challenge you for a Plainbadge!" She said, "I accept your challenge! It'll be a 2 on 2 battle, okay? Choose your Pokemon carefully!" I responded, "I'm ready when you are!" We entered her indoor arena. The female announcer said, "Joe from Crimson Town has challenged Whitney for a Plainbadge! This will be a 2 on 2 battle, no time limit! Let the battle begin!" I said, "Okay, Flamefox, you're up!" He entered the arena as Firestorm and I watched. Whitney said, "My first Pokemon will be Clefairy!" I gave my first command, "Flamefox, let's start things off with flamethrower!" Whitney ordered her Clefairy, "Use minimize!" Flamefox launched his flamethrower, but Clefairy's minimize greatly increased her evasion. "Now use double slap, Clefairy!" Whitney commanded. Clefairy came at my Vulpix, slapping him twice, and knocking him down. "Flamefox, use body slam!" was my next order. He did so, thrusting his body at Clefairy, and knocking her down. "Clefairy, use metronome!" Whitney ordered. "Watch out, Flamefox! Metronome can do anything!" I cautioned my Vulpix. He stood ready as she waved her arms back and forth, like windshield wipers. The metronome conjured up an ember attack! Flamefox took the hit, but it hardly did any damage. "Let's show her a REAL fire attack, Flamefox! Use flamethrower again!" I ordered. This time, Clefairy took the hit, and was knocked out. "Clefairy is unable to battle! The first battle goes to Joe and his Vulpix!" came the announcer's voice. "Clefairy, return!" Whitney said, recalling her Clefairy to her pokeball. "For my second Pokemon, I choose Miltank!" she said, releasing the female version of Tauros from her pokeball. "I suspected as much. Come out of there, Flamefox! This battle is going to Tauros!" I said, releasing Tauros from his pokeball. Flamefox, Firestorm, and I watched, as Tauros readied to attack. Then Whitney commanded, "Miltank, use attract!" I responded, "Oh, please! You don't expect my Tauros to fall for that, do you? Tauros, use your body slam!" He just stood there. "Tauros, body slam!" I repeated. He still just stood there. I walked in front of him. He looked spaced out. "Tauros?" I asked, waving my hand in front of his eyes. It was no good - he was in love with Miltank! "Miltank, use rollout!" Whitney yelled. Miltank curled into a ball and rolled at Tauros, full speed. I jumped out of the way, and shouted, "Tauros, get out of there!" But he took a direct hit, and went flying into the air, then crashed to the ground. He stood back up, but still stared blankly at Miltank as she rolled at him again. She hit him at full force once more, sending him flying and crashing again. This time, he was defeated. "Tauros is no longer able to battle! This battle goes to Whitney and Miltank. The challenger and the gym leader are down to one Pokemon each!" said the announcer. "Tauros, return!" I said, recalling him to his pokeball. So much for my strategy! "Love hurts, doesn't it?" Whitney coyly said to me. I gave her a dirty look. Then I turned to Flamefox and said, "Flamefox, I'm not gonna make you battle if you don't want to. I can forfeit. I won't think any less of you if you don't want to enter this battle, buddy." He looked back at me, shook his head, and said, "Vulpix!" Then he entered the battle field. "Thank you, Flamefox! You are a true friend. I know you can win this!" I said to him, feeling like I was lying. The big pink cow just stood there, ready to make mincemeat out of my little fire fox. "Miltank, use rollout!" Whitney commanded. "Flamefox, use dig!" I ordered. He burrowed under the ground, as the rolling cow came at him, and she missed. Unfortunately, her rolling around so fast made her a difficult target, and Flamefox missed her when he shot up from the ground. "Keep up the rollout, Miltank!" Whitney shouted. "Flamefox, try flamethrower on her!" I ordered. He launched the stream of flames from his mouth, but Miltank rolled right through it, coming at him full speed, and she hit him, sending him airborne and then he crashed down, just like Tauros. He stood back up. "Use your agility to avoid her, Flamefox!" I yelled. He was able to keep avoiding her rolling, but it was clear to me that he was getting tired. Finally, it was just too much for him, and he slowed down enough to be hit directly by her rollout again. He was sent hurtling through the air, and he crashed down to the ground. I thought the battle was over, when he weakly stood back up. "Miltank, one more rollout! That should finish this battle!" Whitney shouted. As Miltank rolled at Flamefox, something was happening to him. His entire body started to glow. I thought, "He can't be evolving. He'd need a fire stone for that. But what's happening to him?" As Miltank came rolling at him, his eyes glowed a brighter white than they ever had before. What came next floored me - he released a stream of flames from his mouth, and they formed a tornado of fire that spun around, heading directly for Miltank! He had learned fire spin! The tornado of flames wrapped around the rolling Miltank, and she stopped rolling! Once the flames dispersed, there she stood, and then she fell backwards to the ground. "Miltank is no longer able to battle! The victory goes to Joe and his Vulpix!" came the announcer. "Flamefox, that was excellent!" I shouted, and then Firestorm and I ran over to him, and I picked him up to hug him. Whitney ran over to her defeated Miltank, and shouted, "What have you done, you little monster? My poor Miltank!" and then she broke into heavy sobbing, while she hugged her fainted Miltank. Flamefox and I looked at each other, then back at her, in disbelief. I walked over to her and said, "Uh... not to interrupt or anything, but can I have my badge?" She suddenly stopped crying. "Badge? Oh... right. Here you go. I'm sorry. I just love a good cry, don't you?" she asked me as she handed me my badge. "Yeah...right. Whatever. Well, thanks for the battle" I replied. With that, I carried Flamefox to the Pokemon center, and dropped him off, as well as Tauros. While we were there, I saw a sign being posted that there was going to be an evolution stone convention tomorrow, hosted by the Eevee brothers from Stone Town in Kanto. I had a promise to keep to Firestorm and Eevee, and this looked like my best chance to do so. Once Flamefox and Tauros were all healed up, I decided we should stick around town for a while.