Chapter 58 – Fierymane's Big Day
After our experience battling Team Rocket and their NIDOs, May and I looked forward to some much needed rest. We spent one more night in the woods before heading off to Vermillion the next day. May looked beautiful by the light of the fire. Flamefox and Amber were curled up asleep, next to each other, as were Firestorm and Inferno. Redfur slept by May's side, and Clefairy stood at May's side as she cooked some canned stew over the fire. Tauros and Fierymane grazed in nearby fields, Vaporeon swam around in a nearby pond, Jolteon lay on the ground, asleep, and Scyther and Kadabra kept guard over us, up in the trees. "So where do you think Suicune led them?" I asked May, in regards to our 4 MechanPokemon friends. May answered, "I don't know. But I'm sure they're safe." I then said, "I just wish Suicune had stuck around longer. I never really had a chance to talk to him after the incident with Ho-oh, back at the Tin Tower. I just wanted him to know there are no hard feelings." May said, "I'm sure he knows." I said, "The funny thing is, while he was here, I could briefly feel his presence, and I swear I've felt it before, at times, during our journey." May replied, "Maybe he's following you! Maybe he feels he owes you a debt for saving him from Team Rocket." I laughed and said, "Oh yeah, right, a legendary Pokemon wanting to repay a debt to a Pokemon trainer? I'm sure he has more important things on his mind." She asked, "Like what?" I just blinked, and replied, "I have no idea. What does a legendary Pokemon think about?" May and I both looked at each other and we were both speechless. Finally, changing the subject, she asked me, "So, what are your plans for the Kanto League?" I answered her, "Well, next I'll battle Lt. Surge in Vermillion. After that, we'll head for Celadon City and battle Erika, then Saffron City to battle Sabrina…" May interrupted, "Hold it! You're going to battle Sabrina?" I answered, "Yeah… well, when we reach Saffron, anyway." She said, "If I were you, I'd avoid Sabrina. When I went through Kanto last year, I steered clear of her gym. I've heard some pretty strange stories about her. She's a very powerful psychic, but has some kind of split personality. And I've heard that she turns any trainers that lose to her into dolls." I laughed and asked, "You can't be serious?" She answered, very seriously, "There are plenty of other gyms in Kanto. Please reconsider battling Sabrina, Joe." I replied, "Well, I'll think about it, but for now, I still intend to battle her when we reach Saffron City." May just sighed. I continued, "And one day, I'll head back to Viridian City and battle that Giovanni guy!" May said, "Be careful! He's very tough! I almost didn't defeat him." I replied, "Thanks, but that's still far off. Next up is Lt. Surge. What do you think? Onix?" She replied, "Yeah, and maybe Jolteon, too, since he's also electric." I asked, "How about Kadabra?" She answered, "I don't know – he's never been in a gym battle before. Do you think he's ready?" I said, "I think so. Well, I'll make my final decision when we get there." We then ate by the campfire, and once it got really dark, we rolled out our sleeping bags to fall asleep under the moon and stars. Flamefox returned to me to sleep curled up on my chest, and Amber did the same with May.
The next morning, after breakfast, we mounted up on our riding Pokemon and headed out. Vermillion was only a few hours away. Our Pokemon galloped us ahead quickly, and I just enjoyed the feeling of the wind in my face as the landscape zipped past us. Flamefox sat in my lap, Amber sat in May's lap, and our other Pokemon ran alongside us, or flew above us – Kadabra, of course, was nowhere to be seen.
Once we reached the outskirts of Vermillion City, we saw an older man fishing from a wooden bridge up ahead that we would have to cross over. He noticed us and shouted, "Hey there!" We slowed down. "Wow, you're Joseph Ehlle and May Redfield! This is a great honor!" May and I looked at each other, then back at him, and asked him, "How do you know our names?" He answered, "You two are celebrities. After all, you're both Pokemon League champions!" May said, "Thank you! We're flattered that you remember us!" Then she asked him, "Catch anything yet?" He answered, "Nope, not a thing all day! I was really hoping to catch a Starmie. But about all this old rod seems to catch is Magikarp." Then he looked at Fierymane and said, "This is a fine Rapidash you have here! She looks like you've raised her well!" May replied, "Thank you!" and Fierymane blushed a bit. Then he said, "Say, I have a great idea! I'm a member of the Vermillion City Pokemon Fan Club, and we're having a meeting tonight. Why don't you two come as my guests? I'm sure they'd love to meet 2 Pokemon League champions – and the club president's favorite Pokemon is Rapidash!" I replied, "Well, we were on our way to Vermillion City, anyway, so why not?" May said, "Yeah, sounds like fun!" So, we recalled our riding Pokemon and walked with the man to Vermillion City, accompanied by Flamefox, Firestorm, Amber, Redfur, Inferno, and Kadabra, who materialized and dematerialized at will, making more bouquets of wild flowers appear in May's hands. The man seemed confused, but I just told him, "Kadabra's always like that."
That evening, the old fisherman led us to a quaint old building with 2 huge Arcanine statues guarding the door on either side, and a big Aerodactyl statue above the door, behind a sign that read "Vermillion City Pokemon Fan Club". The fisherman said, "This is it. I can't wait for you to meet our president!" We entered the double doors and walked down a hallway that led to a large room, accompanied only by our 3 fire foxes, Redfur, Inferno, Clefairy, and the ever-elusive Kadabra. Inside the room was a large table, with a Rapidash statue in the center. There were people of all ages sitting around the table, with various Pokemon, and against the wall, overlooking the table, was a couch, and a man with a black hat, tie, and sport coat sat there. The fisherman said, "That is our president!" Everyone was looking at us, and talking among themselves. The president stood up and said, "Why, hello, Rodney. So, who are your guests here?" He replied, "Everyone, I'd like for you to meet Joseph Ehlle, the Johto League champion from 2 years ago, and May Redfield, last year's Kanto League champion, along with their Pokemon – Flamefox, Firestorm, Inferno, Redfur, Clefairy, and… uh… well, Kadabra is here, somewhere." The people all laughed as Kadabra materialized just above the fisherman's head, making his hat levitate in the air. The president sat back down and banged his gavel on the table a couple times to get everyone's attention, then said, "Well, this is truly an honor! Welcome to the Vermillion City Pokemon Fan Club! So, what other Pokemon have you brought with on your journey?" I released Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Scyther, and the room bustled with excitement. People walked up to meet our Pokemon, and Kadabra did magic tricks in the air with his psychic abilities, including making flowers appear in front of the ladies. Finally, May and I released our riding Pokemon, Tauros and Fierymane! The president stood back up and exclaimed, "A Rapidash!" He walked over to Fierymane and said, "Now this is a great example of a fine Pokemon! Look at the perfect beauty, the regal elegance, the flowing, flaming mane and tail!" The fisherman rolled his eyes and said quietly to us, "You got him started! This could go on for hours!" The president then said, "Miss Redfield, please, bring your majestic fire horse to the front of the room!" May and Fierymane followed the president to the head of the table, so everyone could see her Rapidash. After rambling on a while longer about the perfect beauty of Rapidash, which put half the room to sleep, the president said, "Miss Redfield, you've made my day! Never before have I seen a finer Rapidash! It gives me great pleasure to nominate you vice president of the Vermillion City Pokemon Fan Club! Do you accept?" My jaw dropped, and May just looked stunned. She finally said, "Well, I thank you for this great honor, but I can't really stay here. I'm accompanying Joe on his Kanto journey." The president said, "Oh, but you must! You obviously show great promise raising and caring for Pokemon, and you have a League championship under your belt! Please reconsider!" May simply said, "I'll think about it." The president said, "Fair enough. Meanwhile, we're having a dinner party after the meeting. Please stay for that." She said, "Okay, we will."
The dinner party was great. They had excellent food for the guests and their Pokemon, and Fierymane was treated like the guest of honor! She was allowed to eat at the head of the table, fed the finest oats and grains, given a couple rare candies for dessert, and after that, she was given a full back massage and brushing by some fire Pokemon experts. She was having a blast, and whinnied in contentment. She sure seemed to be living it up! I sat next to May and asked her, "You're not seriously considering staying, are you?" She answered, "Of course not! But, I don't want to offend them. And, Fierymane is being treated like royalty! I want to at least let her have tonight, before I let them down." I said, "Okay. I'd hate to spoil Fierymane's fun."
That night, we stayed at the Dune Star Hotel and Resort, all expenses paid by the president of the fan club! May commented to me, "This will sure make it harder to tell them no" as she sat up in her bed, with Amber, Redfur, Inferno, and Clefairy, watching TV. I replied, "No doubt" as I dialed up room service from my bed, where I sat with Flamefox and Firestorm. May said, "You just ate!" I answered, "I know, but we don't get to stay at a hotel like this very often. As long as we're here, and it's being paid for, we might as well enjoy it!" May agreed, and oredered something, as well, and we watched some movies on cable with our Pokemon. Rapidash, still being given the star treatment, had her own room next to ours, where she had her own bed, and people waiting on her!
The next morning, after a great breakfast, we left the hotel and headed for the park. The fisherman was there, and saw us. He said to May, "I know our president got a bit carried away yesterday, but he just loves Rapidash! Please don't feel pressured into staying here, though. I know you need to follow your own path, and the president will get over it." May said, "Thanks" as she petted Fierymane. The president came running over to the park and said, "Oh, good. I was just looking for you, Miss Redfield! Have you made a decision yet?" May started to answer, "Mr. President, I'm greatly honored that you want me to be your vice president, and I greatly appreciate all that you've done for us and Fierymane, but I…" Suddenly, we heard shouting. "Fire! There's a fire!" The president, the fisherman, May, and I, along with the fire foxes, Inferno, Redfur, and Fierymane all went running to see. A local restaurant was up in flames. The owner was shouting, "My son is trapped on the top floor!" We could see him standing at the window. "The fire trucks are coming, but I don't think they'll get here fast enough!" I shouted, "Go, Vaporeon!" and released her from her pokeball. "Use water gun!" She began to shoot a stream of water into the building, attempting to suppress the flames. May said, "It's too much for her! She can't put it out by herself!" All of a sudden, Fierymane went running! "Fierymane, no!" May shouted. She didn't listen – the fire horse continued running, inside the burning building! I shouted, "Vaporeon, be careful not to hit Fierymane with your attack!" The boy vanished from the window. We all waited. Suddenly, the second floor gave in and there was a loud crash! "Fierymane!" May shouted. The restaurant owner yelled out his son's name. Then, out from the flames, Fierymane came galloping towards us, with the boy on her back! The father ran to his son, and May ran to Fierymane! He hugged his son, and thanked May and Fierymane, and May hugged Fierymane. Fierymane licked May and the boy. The fire trucks finally came and managed to put the fire out. Although the second floor caved in, the building would still be salvageable, and the restaurant would be reopened in a month or so. The president said, "That was an excellent job, Miss Redfield and Fierymane! You 2 make a great team!" May then said, "Mr. President, I want to finish what I started to say before. I'm honored by your offer, but I just can't stay here. I have to follow my own path." He said, "I understand. Well, the town owes the you and your Rapidash a debt of gratitude. And I would like to name you and Joe honorary members of the Vermillion City Pokemon Fan Club." We both said, "Thank you!" Fierymane whinnied with excitement.
That evening, we were all invited to a hero's dinner for May and Fierymane. It was as great a dinner as the previous night, and we really enjoyed ourselves. Fierymane was once again given the star treatment! We spent one more night at the Dune Star Hotel, before heading further into town the next day, looking for the Vermillion City Pokemon Center, so that I could get my Onix before my battle at Vermillion City Gym.