Chapter 12: The Nugget Bridge
"Well are you going to ask the gym leader for a challenge today?" Kate asked.
"Yeah let's go!" Roger said. They walked to the Cerulean Gym and met Ace.
"Hey guys, check this out!" He approached them and showed them his new badge.
"Whoa." Roger said. "Cool."
"There are four gym leaders there." He said. "Luckily I didn't go against the hard one. But if you do you won't stand a chance. Well I have to go. See ya around." He left.
"Hmm." Kate thought. "I only know one gym that has four gym leaders and that's a water type one. This must be the one."
"Let's check it out." Roger walked to the gym with Kate and went in. "Hello, anyone here?" Four people walked up to them.
"Are you here to challenge the gym?" One of them asked.
"Yes." Roger said.
"Well three of us are already scheduled for a battle which means we have one spot left." One of them said.
"And that is me!" One of them said. "Hi, I'm Misty, Nice to meet you." She had orange hair and teal eyes.
"Misty why don't you show them around." One of them said. "By the way I'm Daisy." A girl with blonde hair and green eyes said.
"I'm Lily." A girl with pink hair and blue eyes said.
"And I'm Violet." A girl with blue hair and brown eyes said.
"I'm Roger." Roger said.
"And I'm Kate" Kate said.
"Now let me show you around." Misty said. She walked to a room with aquariums in it. "This is where we keep most of our Pokémon."
"Whoa!" Roger looked around at the variety of Pokémon in the room. He scanned all of them in his Pokephone. "Wow, some of them don't even live in this region."
"Yeah, I travel to different regions with my friends sometimes." Misty said. "Now allow me to show you the battlefield." She walked to room with a pool in it with two buoys in it. "This is where we will battle."
"Okay." Roger examined the battlefield. "Looks good to me."
"Golduck." A golduck came out of Misty's pokeball.
"Hey, what are you doing out here?" Misty yelled.
"Golduck?" Golduck put his hands on his head in confusion.
"Even though you evolved you still give me headaches." Misty called back her Golduck.
"What was that about?" Kate asked. "He was acting completely like a Psyduck."
"Yeah I had this Golduck ever since he was a psyduck." Misty explained. "I thought making him evolve would make him a better battler. It worked but his personality didn't change and he still gives me headaches."
"Haha!" Kate laughed. "I guess that's just how Golduck wants to behave."
"Yeah." Misty sighed. "I guess I can't do much about it now. Anyway that was everything I wanted to show you."
"Great, that was really helpful." Roger said. "I found a whole lot of new Pokémon for my Pokephone."
"I'm glad." Misty said. "So what are you guys going to do now?"
"I'm not sure." Kate said. "Probably some training."
"You guys should try the Nugget Bridge." Misty said. "They have strong trainers there. I would be happy to come with you."
"Alright then." Roger said. "Let's get going." They walked to the Nugget Bridge and found a trainer.
"Let's battle!" He said. "Go Tentacool!" He threw a pokeball and a tentacool appeared.
"Ok." Roger scanned the Tentacool with his Pokephone. "I will just use a poison type too! Let's do this Nidoran (male)!" Roger threw a pokeball and Nidoran appeared.
"Use acid!" The trainer said.
"Dodge and use tackle!" Roger commanded. Nidoran jumped over acid and tackled Tentacool. Tentacool was poisoned. "Nice job."
"Use water gun!" The trainer said.
"Run threw it with peck!" Roger said. Nidoran ran through the water and pecked at Tentacool. Tentacool gave in. "We did it!"
"Ni ni!" Nidoran ran to Roger's arms.
"Wow that was real impressive." Misty said. "You knew exactly what moves to do at the right time."
"Thanks." Roger said calling back Nidoran. "Let's keep going." They walked up to another trainer.
"I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!" She said. "Go Beedrill!" She threw a pokeball and Beedrill appeared.
"My turn." Kate said. "Go Butterfree!" She threw a pokeball and Butterfree appeared. "Fly up and use harden!" Butterfree flew into the air and used harden.
"Use twineedle!" The trainer said.
"Use harden again!" Kate said. Butterfree hardened as Beedrill attacked her with his twineddle. "Ok now use confusion." Butterfree sent a headache to Beedrill causing him to fly without control. "Now use harden again and then use tackle." Butterfree hardened and then tackled Beedrill. Bedrill crashed into the bridge and gave in. "Good job."
"Free." Butterfree flew onto Kate's shoulder.
"Let's keep moving." Kate said as she called back her Butterfree.
They ran into another trainer with a pidgey. "Well you know the drill." He said. "Let's have a battle."
"Alright, go Torchie!" Roger threw an orange Pokémon and Torchie appeared.
"Use sand attack!" The trainer said." The pidgey started blowing dust toward Torchie.
"Dodge and use quick attack." Roger said.
"Fly over him to dodge!" The trainer said.
Torchie's speed boost took effect. "Torchie do a wide fire spin straight up!" Roger commanded. Torchie blew a wide fire spin into the air.
"Dodge it!" The trainer demanded. The Pidgey tried to but Torchie's fire spin was too wide for Pidgey to get out of.
"Now close it!" Roger said. Torchie thinned out the fire spin so it can be more effective. "Now use rock slide!" Torchie had bunch of rocks fall from the sky to land on Pidgey and he gave in.
"Nice try." The trainer called back Pidgey. "Thanks for a good battle." He left.
"Torchic tor!" Torchie cheered.
"Yeah, you did do a good job." Roger picked up Torchie. "I'm proud of you."
"Wow!" Misty said. "That is a very strong Pokémon. You too were perfectly in sync."
"Thanks." Roger said. "This is Torchie, he was my very first Pokémon. Say hi buddy."
"Tor tor tor!" Torchie hopped onto Misty's arm and greeted her.
"Hi there." She petted Torchie. "Aw, you're so cute."
"Tor." Torchie cooed to show that he liked the way Misty petted him.
"I guess he likes you." Roger said. "But we should keep going." They kept walking and found another trainer.
"Hey." He said. "This side of the bridge is where all the strong trainers are."
"Really, how so?" Roger asked.
"You see, trainers have battles with each other and the farther they progress the more battles they have in here. If they didn't have to go to the Pokémon center yet then they are usually here." He said.
"Yep, he's right." Misty said. "I made it all the way through before."
"Wow," Roger said "That's so cool."
"Anyway let's battle." The trainer said. "Go Wartortle!" He threw a pokeball and a wartortle appeared. Roger scanned the Pokémon with his Pokephone.
"Go Bulbasaur!" Kate threw a pokeball and Bulbasaur appeared.
"Use Skull Bash." The trainer said. Skull Bash hit Bulbsaur. "Now Water Gun!"
"Dodge and use Leech Seed!" Kate said. Bulbsaur dodged and threw a seed at Wartortle. The seed opened and roots squeezed onto Wartortle. His energy was drained. "Now use tackle!" Bulbasaur slammed into Wartortle.
"Use Rapid Spin!" The trainer said. Wartortle charged at Bulbasaur with rapid spin.
"Spin him the other way with Vine Whip." Kate said. Bulbasaur hit Wartortle's shell and he span the other way crashing into the edge of the bridge. "Now use tackle!" Bulbasaur smashed into Waltortle with tackle and he gave in.
"Come back." The trainer called back Waltortle. "Go Kadabra!" He threw a pokeball and a Kadabra appeared.
"I'll take care of this one." Roger said. "Squirtle time to shine!" He threw a pokeball and Squirtle appeared.
"Use Confusion." He said. The Kadabra sent a headache toward Squirtle.
"Use Water Gun!" Roger said. Squirtle squirted water at Kadabra and he fell down.
"We will just make sure that doesn't happen again." He said. "Use disable." Squirtle was unable to use Water Hun.
"I knew you would do that." Roger said. "Squirtle use tail whip."
"Use teleport!" The trainer said.
"Use tail whip to your right." Roger said.
"Squirt?" Squirtle wanted to know why because Kadabra wasn't there.
"Trust me!" Roger said. Squirtle used tail whip to her right and hit Kadabra when he appeared. "Now use bite!" Squirtle quickly bit Kadabra and he gave in.
"Come back." He called back his Kadabra. "Well we tried, you two are really strong."
"Thanks." Roger and Kate said.
"Squirtle squirt." Squirtle started playing with Bulbasaur.
"I think I see the end of the bridge!" Misty said. "Let's go."
"Hello." A man said. "Congratulations on making it to the end of the bridge. Here is your prize." He handed Roger and Kate gold nuggets.
"Wait a minute!" Misty said. "Since when do people who go through the Nugget Bridge get gold nuggets?"
"It's a new thing the company made." The man replied. "By the way you two have a lot of potential, how about joining Team Rocket?"
"What!" Roger yelled. "No way!"
"Okay." The man said calmly. "We will have a battle; three on three. If I win you join us."
"What do I get if I win?" Roger said angrily.
"Roger you aren't actually considering this battle are you?" Kate asked.
"I will give you this TM." He pulled out a TM toxic. "And I will give you more information about Route 24 that trainers like you would want to know."
"Deal." Roger said.
"Then you made a mistake. Show them Machop!" He threw a Pokémon and a Machop appeared.
Roger scanned Machop with his Pokephone. "Well I guess Nidoran (male) will do the trick." Roger threw a pokeball and Nidoran appeared.
"Use Karate Chop!" The man said.
"Just stand there." Roger said calmly." Nidoran was hit by Karate Chop. "Now while he is close, use tackle, then follow up with Peck!" Nidoran tackled Machop and then pecked him. "Alright!"
"Darn you!" The man yelled. "Use Low Kick!" Machop ran towards Nidroran.
"Use Leer!" Roger said. Nidoran leered Machop but was kicked by Low Kick. "I know you're okay so use Double Kick!"
"What!" The man yelled.
"Nidoran!" Nidoran furiously kicked Machop until he gave in.
"You did great." Roger said.
"We're not done!" The man said. "Go Tentacool!" He threw a pokeball and a tentcool appeared.
"Alright let's keep going, use Tackle!" Roger said.
"Use water gun!" The man said. Nidoran was hit by water gun. "Now use supersonic." Nidoran got confused.
"Rest." Roger called back Nidoran. "Squirtle you want to try?"
"Squirtle!" Squirtle walked up.
"Use Acid!" The man said.
"Dodge and use Bite!" Roger commanded. Squirtle dodged the acid and bit Tentacool. "Follow up with Tail Whip." Squirtle slapped Tentacool with her tail.
"Use Wrap!" The man said. Tentacool grabbed Squirtle and squeezed her.
"Just what I wanted." Roger said calmly. "Tackle, close range!" Squirtle slammed into Tentacool with Tackle. Tentacool gave in.
"Wow, aren't water types great?" Misty cheered.
"Squirtle!" Squirtle went to Misty to play with her.
"Wait, Squirtle we are still battl-" Roger stopped himself. "Ok fine, we should try this again." Roger threw a pokeball and Nidoran (male) appeared again. "How are you feeling?"
"Ni ni!" Nidoran jumped up ready to battle.
"This should be easy, go Doduo!" The man threw a pokeball and a Doduo appeared.
Roger scanned it with his Pokephone. "Use Peck!" Nidoran charged at Duduo with Peck.
"Use peck too!" The man said. One of the heads clashed with Nidoran's, the other head landed a critical hit on Nidoran.
"Are you okay?" Roger said concerned. "Do you still want to battle?"
"Nidoran." Nidoran got up weakly and nodded his head.
"Okay then use Leer!" Roger said. Nidoran lowered down Duduo's defense.
"Use Fury Attack! The man yelled. Duduo harshly pecked at Nidoran and wouldn't stop until he was knocked over.
"Nidoran!" Roger yelled.
"Nido." Nidoran got up weakly and still tried to fight.
"Stop." Roger said firmly.
"Ni!" Nidoran was surprised that he had to stop battling.
"You have to rest you are going to be seriously injured if you keep going." Roger said. "I know you want to keep battling but your health is more important."
"Nidoran." Nidoran went to Roger sadly and sat down.
"Ok ready buddy?" Roger asked Torchie.
"Tor tor tor!" Torchie jumped off Misty's shoulder ready to fight.
"Use fury attack!" The man yelled.
"Dodge with agility!" Roger commanded. Torchie dodged both of Duduo's beaks and used his speed boost to go faster.
"Okay then, use drill peck." The man said. The Dudou charged at Torchie.
"Use Night Slash!" Roger yelled. The scene turned dark and Torchie slashed at Dudou. Both heads had a critical hit and gave in.
"Nidoran!" Nidoran told Torchie he was impressed with his speed.
"Torchic chic!" Torchic told him that he could do it too.
"That's it!" The man yelled calling out his Duduo and pulled out a phone. "Send out Mewtwo now!"
"Never heard of that Pokémon before." Roger said trying to remember. "Have you heard of it?" He asked Kate.
"No, but that might be one of the two Pokémon that lived in Kanto that we weren't able to learn about." Kate replied. "Remember we came here only knowing about 149 Pokémon."
"That's impossible!" Misty screamed.
"Who is it?" Roger said.
"Mewtwo is one of the strongest Pokémon ever. I've seen him once and he has incredible powers. He is also legendary Pokémon." Misty answered.
"And just to think, that's one of the 151 Pokémon Aunt Birch wanted us to find." Roger said.
Two minutes later a Team Rocket grunt walked up to the man. "Sir." He said a bit scared. "He isn't in there."
"What!" The Man yelled. "What happened to it?"
"Someone caught it." The grunt said. "Here's the evidence." He handed the man a note.
It said: 'Hello, I just wanted you to know that Mewtwo has been caught in the Cerulean Cave. I now own him and his cloned Pokémon to take them away from harm. So be careful Team Rocket, Mewtwo is on my side. And one more thing, if Roger Birch is around tell him I said good luck and I can't wait for our battle.'
"That's me!" Roger said. "Who could've wrote it?"
"Scan the note for fingerprints." The Man ordered. "We will find this person and take Mewtwo back."
"I've tried sir." The grunt said. "But the person must have been wearing gloves because there aren't any."
"Wait a minute!" Roger yelled. "Where is my TM and what about the information you promised?"
"Almost forgot." The man pulled out the TM and gave it to Roger. "Here take it, this move contains Toxic."
Roger took it. "Okay, so what about the information?"
"Fine, if you go further out in Route 24 you will eventually run into a house where a man named Bill lives in. Bill is an expert in researching Pokémon. He also created the pc that you can find in Pokémon Centers. You can learn a lot information from him." He said. "Let's get out of here."
"Not so fast!" Misty yelled. "No one should be able to hide a legendary Pokémon into our city cave without any of us knowing!" She pulled out a pokeball but Golduck came out of his pokeball instead. "Huh?"
"Golduck." Golduck just put his hands on his head again.
"Alright use Hydro Pump!" Misty said.
"Golduck?" Golduck was clueless.
"Why did I even try?" Misty sighed.
"Wait!" Kate said. "Psyduck get stronger when they are confused. Since Golduck acts like one confusion might have the same effect. So why not use Amnesia?"
"That's a great idea but Golduck has never used that move." Misty said.
"It's never too late to try." Kate said.
"Okay, I will try." Misty said. "Golduck try using Amnesia!"
"Golduck!" Golduck got confused but took his hands off his head showing that he was ready for battle.
"Awesome! Now use Hydro Pump!" Misty said. Golduck sprayed water at Team Rocket and they blasted into the sky.
"Wow that was strong!" Roger admired.
"Wow, Golduck that was amazing." Misty cheered.
"Golduck?" Golduck's amnesia wore off, and he returned to his normal self.
"Well." Roger said. "Let's go find Bill!" They walked through Route 24 to Bill's house.