I Don't own Pokemon, nor do I own anything related to it. The only thing I own are my OCs
A/N:Thanks so much to everyone who's favorited this story, and even more thanks to those who took the time to write a review! Please continue to do so!
Chapter 15: Battle for the Badge 1: The Boulder Badge!
The rising sun's golden beams seeped through the glass windows of the Pokemon Center, illuminating the room. The golden rays reflected off Mandy's chocolate brown hair and Nicole's light blond. Slowly, their eyes fluttered open, but quickly shut their eyes again from the light.
With a yawn, Mandy and Nicole threw off the covers and rose to their feet, both stretching their limbs.
"Today's the day, huh?" The blond said.
"It is. I'm a little nervous, honestly."
"Don't be! Your an amazing trainer, you have nothing to worry about!"
"Thanks Nicole." Mandy's stomach grumbled. "But before we go, let's eat something."
Nicole and Mandy both laughed and headed down to the cafeteria. After a breakfast of pancakes, the two dawned their trainer apparel and headed toward the large stone building in the center of town.
As the two stood before the large doors of Pewter Gym, Mandy's heart and mind were racing. Her heart was beating so fast she could have sworn that iit was about to explode, and her mind was running over and over again with different strategies and plans. With shaking hands, the trainer in red pushed them open, revealing nothing but a dark abyss.
"Hello? Anybody here?" The brunette said, calling into the darkness. A bright light then switched on, it's rays revealing a boy sitting on a stone pedestal.
The boy appeared about her age, possibly a little older. His hair was deep brown, similar to her own, and spiky. his face was stern and his eyes were seemingly shut. The light shining on him reflected off his tan skin. He wore an orange shirt that was partially covered with a green vest that had four pockets on it. A brown belt with a golden buckle was worn over his brown pants and white and black sneakers.
"Who goes there?" He asks, "State your business here."
"I.... I'm Mandy Serence from Pallet Town. And I've come here to challenge you for the Boulder Badge."
"... Very well then." More lights then turned on, revealing the rocky battlefield of the gym. A man then came out. His clothes were red and blue with a poke ball symbol on his shirt, proof that he was a battle referee from the Pokemon League. He held one green flag in each hand and stood on the sidelines.
Nicole headed to the seats on the sidelines as both Mandy and the gym leader, whom she'd known as Brock, headed to their opposite sides of the battlefield.
"The rules are as follows," the battle referee said, "Both trainers are allowed two Pokemon each. Only the challenger may switch their Pokemon." the two trainers both nodded their heads in agreement. "Good. Trainers, choose your Pokemon!"
Brock quickly grabbed a poke ball from his belt, and enlarged it. "Go, Geodude!" He then threw the sphere onto the field, a large rush of white light emerging from it. As the light took shape and dissipated, the Pokemon within could be viewed. It's body was like that of a boulder, it's skin grey with dips and bumps on it. It's face was located in the center of it's round, torso-like part of it's body. It had two large arms coming from it's sides, it's hands curled up into fists.
Despite her nerves, Mandy managed to grab her own poke ball off her belt as well. "Bulbasaur, I choose you!" And with a flick of wrist, the red and white sphere flew from her hand and released Bulbasaur from her container.
"Match set! Geodude vs. Bulbasaur. Match begin!" The referee the waved on of his flags, signaling the beginning of the match.
Brock made the first move. "Geodude, use Tackle!" The boulder-like Pokemon immediately charged at Bulbasaur, Mandy had to think fast.
"Bulbasaur, use your vines to vault over Geodude!" Using her vines, Bulbasaur jumped up and over Geodudes Tackle and land safely behind it. "Now use Razor Leaf!" Sharp leaves were thrown at Geodude, causing a critical hit from behind and knocking Geodude into one of the rocks on the battlefield. As the dust from the impact settled, the rock type could be seen. His body had took a good amount of damage, but the fight was far from over. Seeing the series of rocks surrounding his Pokemon, Brock formulated a plan.
"Geodude, use Rock Throw!" Heeding his trainer's command, the rock type began to throw the rocks around it, all varying in size.
Thinking quickly, Mandy shouted, "Bulbasaur, use your vines to knock away as many as you can!"
Quickly, Bulbsaur extended her vines and did her best to knock away the boulders. The larger boulders were quickly swatted away, but, some of the smaller ones hit Bulbasaur, causing some damage, but mostly minor.
"Okay Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!" With her vines already extended, the grass type quickly grabbed hold of Geodude by the arms. After being pulled up into the air, the rock type was driven straight back into the rocky floor with a loud thud. As the dust from the impact settled, Geodude could be seen in a crater, out cold.
"Geodude is unable to battle! Victory goes to Bulbsaur!" The referee said raising the flag in his left hand, towards Mandy.
"Alright Bulbasaur!" Mandy cried, jumping up in the air, a huge smile on her face. Bulbasaur shared the same large smile as her trainer.
"Yay Mandy and Bulbasaur!" Nicole said, cheering her friend on.
"You've got a lot of skill. But I'm afraid this is where it ends. Onix, go!" A second poke ball flew from his hand, opening and spilling a huge amount of white light. Slowly, The light cleared and revealed the huge Pokemon. It's size was greater then any Pokemon she had yet to see, causing both Mandy and Bulbasaur to be a little nervous. It's body was composed of a series of boulders that shortened as they made their way from it's head to it's tail. It's head was similar to an oval shaped boulder, and what appeared to be a stone spike in the center.
"Match set! Onyx vs. Bulbasaur. Match begin!"
"Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf!" Several sharp leaves were thrown at the rock snake, but they seemed to just bounce off the hard surface of it's body.
"Your going to have to do a lot better then that! Onix, use Tackle!" The rock type charged Bulbasaur, then used it's tail to knock the grass type back, doing a large amount of damage in the process.
"Bulbasaur, are you okay?" Mandy asked, worry in her voice.
"Sa... Saur." She called back in conformation. he was weak, but she wasn't giving up yet.
"Okay.. um, Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!" The grass type's two vines were extended and began to furiously whip and Onixs face, but only seemed to be more of an irritation then do any damage.
"Okay Onix, let's end this! Use Tackle again!" Using it's stony body as leverage, The rock type smashed it's lower body into Bulbasaur, knocking her straight into a large boulder and causing a large amount of dust to go up into the air.
"Bulbasaur!" A worried Mandy shouted. As the dust settled, Bulbasaur could be seen on her back, out cold.
"Bulbasaur is unable to battle! Victory goes to Onix!"
Pulling out her poke ball, the trainer in red returned Bulbasaur back to rest. "You did great," She said to the sphere, "You deserve a nice rest," then reattached it to her belt 'Okay, think. Since Bulbasaur is out, you got to choose another. I don't have another grass type, or any water types, so I'm just going to have to go with my most powerful over all. And I know just who that is.' Slowly, Mandy reached for the first poke ball on her belt, the one that felt the most natural in her hand.
"Charmander, I choose you!" When the sphere had hit the ground, it released it's contents and revealed the tiny lizard-like Pokemon within. Both Pokemon made eye contact, each giving the other a silent challenge, and neither backing down.
"Match set! Onix vs. Charmander. Match Begin!"
"Okay Charmander, use Ember!" The tiny lizard breathed forth a long stream of fire. At first, the flames only touched the larger rocks that compiled it's body, but as they reached to the smaller rock on it's tail, pain became more apparent on it's features. 'Of course, it's tail! The rocks are easier to heat up and singe because their so small!'
"Charmander, use Smokescreen!" A thick, dark smoke was released from the tiny lizard's mouth in place of the usual flame. The smoke blanketed the field and covered Charmander's location on it. The rock type frantically searched for the tiny lizard, head frantically turning in different directions. With The sight of her Pokemon's silhouette in sight, Mandy called out, "Now, use Scratch on Onixs tail!"
A slight glow overtook Charmander's claws. He then raised his claws, then they clashed with the already damaged tail repeatedly, causing the rock type to let out a cry of pain.
"Onix, shake it off!" Shouted Brock. Doing it's best to overcome the pain of having it's wound being picked at, the rock snake lifted it's tail and promptly whacked Charmander back, out of the could of fading smoke and into a nearby rock, stunning him.
"Now Onix, use Bind!" With the tiny lizard in an out-of-whack state, the rock type wrapped it's large body around him and began to constrict his body. Tighter and tighter Onix squeezed, causing Charmander to cry out in pain.
"Charmander!" The shout of his name caused the fire type's blue eyes to open and look at the trainer who called his name, his own. The look on her face was that of sorrow, worry, and horror. With blue eyes watching, a single tear ran from Mandy's left hazel eye and dripped off her pale chin.
Suddenly, Charmander's body began to glow, the light enveloping it body and everyone's attention was drawn to him. His body began to grow in size and change shape, becoming more obvious as the glow began to fade. His body, which was once a shade of orange-ish gold, was now solid gold, save for the peach colored scales that remained on his stomach. His once rounded head became more narrow and a horn-like projection on the tip of his head. Just barely visible through the cracks of Onix's rocky body, the longer, sharper laws on his larger limbs could be seen. The flame at the tip of his tail was not only still present, but the flame was larger and burned more furiously.
"Charmeleon..." Mandy whispered, stunned. But this feeling soon faded as she realized the new chance she had been gifted with. A smile spread across her soft face and a wave of confidence filled her. "Charmeleon, use Flamethrower!"
With what little breathing room he still had, the fire type managed to release a large stream of fire from within itself, on twice as large and hot as Ember, from his mouth and into Onix's face. A roar escaped form the rock type's large mouth as it's body loosed enough for Charmeleon to squeeze from it's grasp.
"Darn it! Onix, use Tackle!" A frustrated Brock commanded. Doing it's best to shake off the left over soot from it's eyes, the rock type swong it's mighty tail, but with his increased agility, Charmeleon easily dodged the attack.
"Charmeleon, grab on to his tail!" Heeding his trainers command, the lizard-like Pokemon wrapped it's claws around the tip of Onix's tail, being lifted up into the air with it. "Now let go!" With a release of it's claws, the fire type was now in the air. Going up for a few seconds, then heading back down to Earth, and Onix in turn. "Okay Charmeleon, let's finish this! Use Slash on Onix's face!"
And with claws glowing, Charmeleon and Onix collided in a great flash, blinding all in the building. As the flash faded and everyone's eyes opened and adjusted, Charmeleon was seen standing tiredly before a defeated Onix, a triumphant smirk on his features.
"Onix is unable to battle! Victory goes to Charmeleon! The winner of this match is Mandy Serence of Pallet Town!"
At first, Mandy stood there stunned, her victory not immediately registering in her mind. A small smile began to form on her face, slowly growing to a wide smile. She soon dashed over to Charmeleon, wrapping him in a warm embrace, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so proud of you..." She whispered, her hug tightening. After a few moments, Nicole joined the embrace, laughing and causing the other to as well.
Brock watched with a smile on his face, surprising not at all disappointed in his lost. This girl was different from the other trainers he had faced. Most would gloat and hold responsibility for the win for themselves, but this one, she understood what's truly at the core of a battle, Pokemon and trainer working together. After returning his faithful Onix to it's poke ball, he approached the trio. Immediately sensing his presence, Mandy quickly wiped away her tears and faced him.
"That was a great battle. I can tell you've got a lot of skill, how long have you been a trainer for?" Brock asked, inquisitive about her experiences.
"I.. I've only been a licensed trainer for about three weeks, but I've been studying battle techniques ever since I can remember."
"I'm impressed. Well, you've more then earned this." He said, outstretching his hand. He slowly opened it, revealing the small item within. It was a tiny octagon that was a shade of pewter gray. "This is the Boulder Badge, a symbol of your victory here and your first step on your way to the Indigo League."
With shaking hands, Mandy wrapped her fingers around it, squeezing it to make sure this was not a dream. A smile of joy and pride quickly made it's way onto her face. "We... we did it! We got the Boulder Badge!" Mandy leaped in the air for a brief moment as Charmeleon and Nicole let out cheers of their own.
"Thank you." Mandy said, outstretching her hand. Brock then met hers in a strong handshake. After saying their goodbyes, Mandy and Nicole headed back to the Pokemon Center where Charmeleon and Bulbasaur could get a little more rest before they headed out.
"It's still a little unreal to me, to be honest," Mandy said, a large grin on her face. She and Nicole had been munching on some sandwiches on a couch in the Pokemon Center Lounge.
"Yeah? Though I'm not sure why, you can really handle yourself well in a battle," the blond commented. The two sat back in a comfortable silence in the Pokemon Center lobby. "So have you made up your mind yet?"
"About what?" The brunette tilted her head in confusion.
"The singing contest in Cerulean City, remember? Back in Viridian Forest you said you'd think it over!"
An uneasy lpok crossed the red trainer's features. Could she really do something like that? World knows she was painfully shy and her self-confidence was just about as bad. But then her eyes returned to the new badge she pinned inside her vest. The sight of it filled her with comfort. That badge was not only the sign that she was a good trainer, but that this was her chance at a new life, that this was a chance to shake off her old reputation and misery and give herself a chance to shine. A smile soon replaced her worried expression.
"You know what," Mandy said, rising to her feet, "I think I'll do it! It might actually be kind of fun."
"That's the spirit! You've got a voice no one can match, so you're bound to win!" The two then laughed in happiness.
"Mandy," Nurse Joy had appeared with the young woman's tray in hand, "Your Pokemon are all ready to go."
The two friends quickly rushed over. "Thanks so much!" the brunette said, gently taking her poke balls of the plastic tray.
After grabbing their stuff and bidding farewell to Nurse Joy, the pair began their walk down the path to Mt. Moon, but this time, with a spring in their step.
A/N: Yay, another Chapter down! I've become a little concerned about the lack of reviews for the past few chapters, so please, pretty please, write a review!