Chapter 14: Showdown at Cerulean City

"Torchic!" Torchie was pecking at Roger's head to him wake up.

"Hi buddy!" Roger started. Then he noticed that Kate put a cheer uniform on Torchie. "So, you too?"

"Tor!" Torchie was rolling around on it.

"At least you like it." Roger said getting up.

"Nidoran!" Nidoran ran up to Roger and jumped into his arms.

"So are you ready for our battle?" Roger asked.

"Ni nidoran!" Nidoran jumped up in excitement.

"Well that's new." Roger noticed that Nidoran was relaxed and ready to battle. "Must've been the training we did yesterday."

"Nidoran." Nidoran winked at Torchie as a thank you.

"Good morning." Kate hugged Roger. "Are you ready to win?"

"Yeah." Roger said. "So is Nidoran."

"That's just great!" Kate said petting Nidoran (male). "By the way I have the schedule for the gym battles. First they are preforming a water show. Then there will be the introductions and finally the battles. You will be the main event again."

"Alright then." Roger prepared for the battle. "I can't wait."

"Misty also invited us for breakfast so let's go." Kate called back all her Pokémon who were wearing their cheer uniforms.

"I guess you guys should come back too." Roger called back his Pokémon. They walked to the Kitchen and found the Cerulean Sisters eating with Bill. Before Roger went to the table he thought of a plan. "I should intimidate Misty with Pikachu."

"Good idea." Kate said. "I guess you trying to get inside her head."

"Wait what!" Roger was confused by Kate's metaphor. "No that's gross."

"It was a metaphor." Kate faced palmed herself.

"Well time to show you off!" Roger threw a pokeball and Pikachu appeared.

"Pika!" He jumped out in excitement.

"Try to show yourself off as much as possible." Roger said. "But still behave, okay."

"Pikachu." Pikachu nodded his head and they walked to the table. "Pika." Pikachu sat on the table.

"Hello." Misty said.

"Hi." Roger sat down next to her. "Ready for our battle?"

"Yeah but don't expect to win." She winked.

"We will see about that." Roger grinned.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu made a little spark in his cheek.

"The food is great." Roger grabbed pancakes and chocolate syrup. "Want some?" Roger gave Pikachu some of his food.

"Pika!" Pikachu made a larger spark on his cheek.

"It seems like Pikachu is ready." Misty said observing Pikachu and secretly constructing a plan of her own against Pikachu.

"Yeah, we have been training very hard and now I'm sure we are ready." Roger said in confidence.

"So are you guys going to watch the water show?" Violet asked.

"Not all of it." Roger said. "I'm going to get my Pokémon checked out at the Pokémon Center just to make sure they are one hundred percent for the battle." Roger handed Kate Torchie's and Squirtle's pokeball. "Here you go."

"Thanks." Kate took the pokeballs. "I will save you a seat."

"Okay." Roger went to the Pokémon Center and gave Nurse Joy Pikachu and his pokeballs. "I just need to see if everyone is ready to go."

"Alright then." Nurse Joy took the pokeballs. "So are you going to see the gym battles today?"

"Yeah." Roger said. "Actually I'm competing."

"Really?" Nurse Joy said. "Which Sensational Sister are you going against?"

"Misty." Roger said. "I can't wait!"

"Misty!" Nurse Joy accidentally dropped her hat due to fear. "I'm so sorry."

"What do you mean?" Roger asked.

"Misty is the strongest out of all the Sensational Sisters." Nurse Joy explained. "She has just won her fiftieth gym battle in a row and that's not the first time. Everyone she has ever battled looked like a warm up for her."

"This might be extremely hard." Roger said. "But I still have to try."

"That's what they all say." Nurse Joy grabbed Pikachu and the pokeballs. "All your Pokémon are fine but Nidoran (male) can use a rest.

"What!" Roger said. "I brought him here yesterday!"

"I know." Nurse Joy said. "But Nidoran must have been even more tired than the rest of your Pokémon. Don't worry he will be fine." Nurse Joy exited the room. "Now have to go. I don't want to be late." She left.

"Come out Nidoran." Roger threw a pokeball and Nidoran appeared.

"Nidoran!" Nidoran jumped out ready for battle.

"Are you sure you're ready for this battle? Misty is very strong and I can tell you are tired. "Roger said with concern.

"Nido!" Nidoran nodded his head jumping side to side.

"Okay come back." Roger called back Nidoran. "I'm proud of you." He said to the pokeball. "Now let's go see the rest of that water show." Roger walked away from the Pokémon Center and went back to gym. "Now where is Kate?"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu ran to Kate and their Pokémon cheering.

"Oh, there you are." Kate said. "What took you so long?"

"I was just checking out my Pokémon." Roger sat next to Kate.

"Torchic tor." Torchie jumped on Roger's shoulder wishing him good luck.

"Squirtle!" Squirtle hugged Roger's leg.

"I will try my best you guys." Roger said. "I heard that Misty is really strong and Nidoran is still a bit tired."

"Torchic!" Torchie was worried that he made Nidoran work too hard.

"Are you going to switch him out?" Kate asked. "That would be the smart thing to do."

"No way!" Roger snapped. "I have too much faith in him. Also didn't you see how excited he was to battle this morning? I've never seen him like that before and I do think he is ready."

"I guess." Kate said. "But you have to be careful."

"Of course." Roger said watching the show. "This is so cool." Roger was watching Misty riding a Dewgong using Aqua Jet. He scanned him with his Pokephone.

"I agree." Kate said. "These stunts are amazing!" They held hands and watched the rest of the show. Then show ended with all the Pokémon coming out of the water and using Water Gun.

"So cool!" Roger took a picture of them with the Pokephone.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" A voice boomed. "I'm Jordan Tran and I will be your MC!" The crowd cheered. "First I would like to introduce our newest Pokémon judge, Bill. Let's give him a warm welcome." Bill walked to the battlefield and waved at the crowd.

"Wow, I can't believe he is going the judge for my battle." Roger said.

"Yeah, that will be interesting." Kate said.

"And now time to introduce our gym leaders, the Sensational Sisters!" Jordan introduced. The crowd cheered even louder. Daisy, Violet, Lily, and Misty all walked to the battlefield. "We will now be taking a thirty minute break to prepare the gym battle."

"Well, I should get going." Roger said. "Wait a minute, do you have an awakening?"

"Yeah, why?" Kate asked pulling one out.

"I need you to use one your Pokémon to put Nidoran to sleep so he can rest before the battle." Roger threw a pokeball and Nidoran appeared.

"Fine then." Kate said. "Butterfree use Sleep Powder."

"Free!" Butterfree blew a green powder towards Nidoran and made him fall asleep.

"Thanks." Roger called back Nidoran. "I didn't know Butterfree knew Sleep Powder."

"I taught her that the other day." Kate said. "We just haven't used that move much."

"The battles will be starting in ten minutes." Jordan announced.

"I have to get going." Roger said.

"Good luck." Kate kissed him.

"Thanks." Roger kissed her back. "Alright, Pikachu, let's go!"

"Pika pika!" Pikachu ran towards Roger and followed him to the waiting room. There was a guy with black hair and green eyes, another guy with blonde hair and brown eyes, and girl with brown hair and blue eyes.

"So are you ready for your first gym battle?" Roger asked Pikachu while he laid down on a couch.

"Pikachu." Pikachu nodded and jumped onto the couch next to Roger.

A man with a black suit walked into the room. "My name is Dean and I will be calling you over to the battlefield." He said in a deep voice. "The order will be Rachel, George, John, and Roger. We will be starting in five minutes."

"Well it looks we're going last." Roger petted Pikachu.

"You're going against Misty!" Rachel said. "She beat all three of my Pokémon only using one of hers."

"Really?" Roger asked. "That's incredible."

"It is." Rachel said. "By the way how much badges do you have?"

"I only have one." Roger pulled out his badge case and showed her his boulder badge.

"So you're a rookie." Rachel said. "Well check this out." She showed Roger her badge case, she had seven badges. "If I win this, I can go to the Indigo League."

"Whoa!" Roger admired the badges. "But even if you do get eight badges the tournament doesn't start until June, that's ten months from now. So what will you do while you're waiting?"

"I would probably challenge more gym leaders for some training." Rachel said. "By the way check this out." She pulled out a medal that had the image of a Ho-oh and a Lugia engraved on it.

"No way!" Roger said. "You're a Pokémon master!"

"Yep, I won this at the Johto League in 2009." She put her medal back.

"That's impressive." Roger said.

Dean went back to the room. "Rachel, it's time for you battle."

"Good luck on your battle." Rachel said.

"You too." Roger watched Kate leave. "Wow Pikachu, just think, we could be Pokémon Masters just like Rachel."

"Pika pi!" Pikachu agreed with Roger.

"But first we are gonna have to beat Misty." Roger watched Rachel's battle against Daisy.

"Well it looks like Daisy has one more Pokémon while Rachel has two!" Jordan said.

"Poliwhirl use Body Slam!" Daisy ordered.

"Electabuzz use Thunder Punch!" The two moves collided but Electabuzz was victorious.

"Poliwhirl is unable to battle." Bill declared. "Therefore the winner is Rachel and her Electabuzz!"

"And Rachel earns the Cascade Badge!" Jordan and the crowd cheered. "Congratulations!"

Roger waited two hours for his match. He watched Violet defeat John by using two of her Pokémon and Lily defeating George by only using one Pokémon.

Dean came back to pick up Roger. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." Roger answered. "Come on let's go."

"Pikachu." Pikachu jumped onto Roger's shoulder.

"So you're going against Misty." Dean said. "I beat her once. It was tough but I managed to do it."

"Really?" Roger asked. "That's amazing."

"But I was lucky, just remember to have fun and to look out for your Pokémon." They reached Roger's side of the battlefield. "Good luck." Dean left.

"Let's do this." Roger walked out.

"Now it's time for our main event!" Jordan dimmed down the lights. "Introducing the challenger, Roger Birch!" A light shinned at Roger. "Versus our very own Misty." The light turned to Misty.

"Just for you to know I don't part from my badges easily." Misty pulled out a pokeball.

"Well you will today." Roger said.

"The battle between Roger will begin soon." Bill said. "Each trainer will use three Pokémon with only the challenger being allowed to switch. Begin!"

"Pikachu, let's go!" Roger said.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped off Roger's arm and onto a buoy.

"That reminds me of Ash." Misty said to herself. "Go Staryu!" She threw a pokeball and Staryu appeared. "Use Rapid Spin!"

"Perfect." Roger said. "Don't move." Pikachu let Staryu hit him and fell into the water.

"And a clean Rapid Spin by Staryu!" Jordan said. "What's this? It seems that Staryu is paralyzed."

"Now use Volt Tackle!" Roger commanded. Pikachu lunged towards Staryu.

"Jump into the water." Misty said nonchalantly. Staryu dodged Pikachu's attack causing him to crash into a buoy.

"Well that's going to cause some serious problems for Pikachu because not only did he take a lot of damage it looks like Staryu is back up!" Jordan said.

"Now use Water Gun!" Misty ordered. Staryu started spraying Pikachu with water. "Follow up with Power Gem!" A ray of light Pikachu causing him to slam another buoy. "You see Roger, I go against electric type Pokémon all the time, I know what to expect."

"Oh, no!" Roger said. "This is bad."

"Now use Rapid Spin." Misty said. Staryu was paralyzed. "Jump back into the water."

"And it looks like Misty is taking control of this battle." Jordan said.

"Not for long." Roger said. "Use Thunderbolt on the water!" Pikachu shot a huge wave of thunder and it reached Staryu. "Good thing water conducts electricity.

"Just like that Roger might have changed the outcome of this battle!" The crowd cheered with Jordan.

"Use Rapid Spin again." Misty said.

"Use Volt Tackle!" Roger commanded. Volt Tackle and Rapid Spin collided but Staryu wasn't able to overpower it and gave in.

"Staryu is unable to battle to battle." Bill said. "Pikachu wins."

"It looks like Pikachu survived!" Jordan said. "But this match is far from over!"

"Go Starmie!" Misty threw a pokeball and a Starmie appeared. "Use Rapid Spin!"

"Use Thunderbolt!" Roger said. Starmie was hit and was set flying.

"Now use Psyshock!" Misty ordered.

"Psyshock?" Roger didn't know that move and was thrown off. Pikachu was hit with a blast of psychic energy and gave in.

"Pikachu is unable to battle." Bill said. "Starmie wins."

"Starmie is one of Misty's best Pokémon." Jordan warned. "Most challengers don't normally defeat it."

"Rest." Roger called back Pikachu. "Sorry, I was just thrown off by that move." He said to Pikachu's pokeball and pulled out a different one. "Mercedes, let's go!" The pokeball opened and Mercedes appeared.

"This is a huge surprise!" Jordan said. "This is the first time a trainer has ever used a fire type against Misty. Can Roger pull it off?"

"Mercedes?" Misty was confused. "But why?"

"Use Flamethrower full power!" Roger ordered.

"Dodge it!" Misty said. Starmie jumped over the Flamethrower and let it hit the water.

"Keep using Flamethrower!" Mercedes kept using Flamethrower but kept hitting the water.

"Growl." Mercedes started to complain.

"Don't worry I have a plan." Roger said.

"And it seems Mercedes can't land a hit at Starmie." Jordan said.

"Use Flamethrower at the water!" Roger said. Mercedes shot her Flamethrower at the water and it immediately evaporated making a huge fog.

"No one can see but the battle must continue." Jordan said.

"No all the water is gone!" Misty cried. "What was that for?"

"Now we don't have to worry about falling off the buoy." Roger smiled.

"Starmie use Hydro Pump to fill it back up." Misty commanded.

"Stop it with Bite!" Roger said.

"Growlithe?" Mercedes couldn't find it through the fog and water started to fill up the pool.

"Use your nose!" Roger said. Mercedes started sniffing the ground and found Starmie and then bit it.

"No!" Misty said. "Use Rapid Spin!" Starmie started to spin around and set Mercedes flying. "Now use Hydro Pump!"

"Not so fast!" Roger barked. "Use Reversal." Mercedes found Starmie and spun it around until it crashed.

"That's it!" Misty yelled. "Use Hydro Pump on Mercedes!" Mercedes was slammed by a huge blast of water and gave in.

"Mercedes is unable to battle." Bill said. "Starmie wins."

"And Starmie pulls out a victory against the Growlithe." Jordan said. "Will Roger be able to beat two of Misty's Pokémon by only using one?"

Roger bit his lip. He was very nervous if Nidoran will be able to defeat two Pokémon in a row but he had to try. "Alright Nidoran let's go!" He threw a pokeball and a sleeping Nidoran (male) appeared. "Good thing I have this." He pulled out the awakening and sprayed it on Nidoran.

"Ni?" He woke up. "Nidoran!" He jumped into a battle stance.

"Use Hydro Pump!" Misty commanded.

"Hiya?" Starmie tried but nothing came out.

"It seems that Starmie ran out of water." Jordan said. "This can really turn things around."

"Great!" Roger cheered. "Use Tackle!" Nidoran slammed Starmie. "Now use Double Kick!"

"Use Rapid Spin!" Misty demanded. Starmie spun and sent Nidoran back into a wall. "Now use Bubble Beam!"

"That's it!" Roger remembered how Nidoran was able to shoot through Squirtle's bubbles with Poison Sting. "Use Poison Sting." The Poison Sting went through the bubbles and hit Starmie. "Now Tackle!" Nidoran slammed it. "Finish it up with Double Kick!" Nidoran repeatedly kicked Starmie until it fainted.

"Starmie is unable to battle." Bill said in shock. "Nidoran wins."

"And it seems that Misty has been brought down to her last Pokémon." Jordan said. "This is a real surprise!"

Roger was also very surprised. "Wow that was pretty good."

"Nidoran." Nidoran used Focus Energy to show Roger his new move.

"No way!" Roger cheered. "I can't believe you learned focus energy."

"And it looks Nidoran just learned Focus Energy!" Jordan announced.

"This battle isn't over yet!" Misty warned. "Go Gyra.." Another one of Misty's pokeballs opened and Golduck appeared. "What!"

"It look like Misty chose Golduck for the battle." Jordan said.

Misty face palmed herself. "Fine. Oh, wait a minute!" She remembered that Golduck can use Amnesia. "Use Amnesia!"

"Golduck?" Golduck emptied his mind and was ready for the battle.

"Alright Nidoran, use Focus Energy!" Roger said. Nidoran started to focus on Golduck.

"Use Hydro Pump!" Misty ordered. Golduck shot a blast of water at Nidoran and managed to fill the water battlefield back up.

"Oh, no!" Roger said. "Nidoran swim back to the buoy!"

"Here I'll help you." Misty said cockily. "Use Focus Punch!" Golduck punched Nidoran and slammed him into the buoy.

"Nidoran are you okay?" Roger asked.

"Ni." Nidoran got up weakly.

"Use Hydro Pump!" Misty said. Another blast of water hit Nidoran. "Finish him off with Focus Punch." Golduck slowly approached Nidoran with his fist ready to attack.

"Well it looks like this is it for Roger." Jordan said.

"Come on Nidoran!" Roger yelled. "Think about all the training you did!"

"Now hit him." Misty said. As Golduck was about to hit Nidoran, Nidoran started to glow. "What!"

"No way!" Roger said. Nidoran started to grow in size and fully evolved into Nidorino. "Nidorino." He pulled out his Pokephone.

"Nidorino, the poison pin Pokémon. Nidorino has a horn that can break through a diamond and is quick to anger." The Pokephone informed.

"So cool!" Roger cheered. "Are you ready to end this?"

"Nidorino!" Nidorino stomped on the ground showing that he was ready.

"What we just witnessed was Roger's Nidoran evolving." Jordan said. "Truly amazing."

"Use Peck!" Roger said. Since Golduck was close to Nidoran, he was slammed in the stomach by Nidoran's horn. "Wait that looked like Horn Attack!"

"That's it!" Misty yelled. "Use Hyper Beam!" Golduck launched a powerful blast towards Nidorino.

"This will be fun." Roger smiled. "Use Horn Attack to block it!" Nidorino shoved his horn at the blast and prevented it.

"Look at that!" Jordan admired the defense. "Nidoran blocked Hyper Beam with his horn.

"But how?" Misty wondered.

"If Nidorino's horn can break through diamonds I thought it would work on Hyper Beam." Roger explained. "And now that Golduck can't move, use Poison Sting!" Nidoran charged towards Golduck and thrust his poison barb at him. Golduck slammed into another buoy and gave in.

"Golduck is unable to battle." Bill declared. "Therefore the winner is Roger and his Nidorino."

"I can't believe it!" Jordan said. "Roger won!"

"We did it!" Roger cheered.

"Nidorino!" Nidorino jumped into Roger's arms.

Roger almost fell. "You're getting heavy."

"Nice try." Misty called back her Golduck and approached Roger. "You did great, you earned this." She handed him the Cascade Badge.

"Thanks." Roger took it. "Nidorino check it out."

"Nidorino!" Nidorino admired the shine on the badge.

"So will you still be staying here for the night?" Misty asked.

"Sure, thanks." Roger said. "I will leave tomorrow."

"Well, see you around." Misty left.

"Roger!" Kate ran to Roger with all their other Pokémon. "You did great." She kissed him.

"Thanks." Roger said.

"Nidoran!" Nidoran ran to Nidorino.

"Nido!" Nidorino started to play with Nidoran.

"We should probably go back to our room now." Kate said. They went back to their room and decided to walk around Cerulean City for the rest of the day. After that Kate went to bed while Roger was polishing his pokeballs.

"Well this is the last one." He picked up Nidorino's pokeball. "Wow my first Pokémon to ever evolve." He stared at the pokeball. "Thank you Nidorino." Then he went to bed. The next day Roger and Kate were all packed up and ready to leave.

"Before you go I would like to ask you a question." Misty said.

"Sure what is it?" Roger asked.

"I would like you to leave your Lapras here. We could really use her in our water show." She said.

"Lapras." Roger started to think.

"You want to do it, don't you?" Kate said.

"Yeah." Roger said. "It's not fair that she has to stay in her pokeball while the other Pokémon get to run around. Or because she is too big to battle inside certain rooms."

"I promise that I will give her back whenever you want, and she can have a big home right here." Misty persuaded.

"Let's see what Lapras thinks." Roger called out Lapras. "How about staying here with Misty?"

"Lapras." Lapras was surprised.

"That's right." Roger said. "It's not fair for you. You should be able to swim around but instead you're cramped up inside a pokeball."

"Pras." Lapras insisted on staying with Roger."

"No." Roger yelled. "I've made up my mind, you will like it here better, just give it a try. Please!"

"Lapras." Lapras nodded her head.

"Here." Roger handed Misty Lapras' pokeball.

"Thank you. We will take great care of her." Misty said.

"I will miss you." Roger hugged Lapras and left the building.