Chapter 5:
Risk and Reward
Sarah threw out her second pokeball. "Go Bulbasaur!"
Bulbasaur leapt out and got into a defensive stance.
"A grass type, huh? That's a good choice," Brock said. "Diglett, use Dig!" The creature vanished underground.
"Bulbasaur, hang yourself from the ceiling with Vine Whip!"
Bulbasaur jumped into the air and shot out a vine. "I don't know about this."
"Trust me."
"Clever," Brock said, one hand to his chin. "By keeping Bulbasaur in the air, my Diglett shouldn't be able to attack you." Then he smiled. "Diglett, Tackle!"
The Diglett suddenly came ripping out of the rock and flew straight into the air. It was heading straight for Bulbasaur.
"Now drop!" Bulbasaur let himself go and he plummeted to the ground. Diglett's momentum kept it rising. "Great! Now Vine Whip its behind!" Bulbasaur threw out its vines and started whipping the snot out of the little rock creature. It screeched and plummeted to the hard earth with a boom and dust cloud.
"Diglett!" The smoke cleared, showing Diglett knocked out. "Oh, well." Brock recalled it. "You did a good job. I'm impressed. But you're gonna need to come up with something else, 'cause that won't work on my last Pokemon." He threw it out. "Onyx, come on out!"
A massive stone snake appeared on the battle field. It let out a roar that shook the entire building. Bulbasaur took a step back. "Oh, crap."
"Just stay focused," Sarah called. "We can take it."
"Onyx, into the air!" The monster leapt up, almost to the point of touching the ceiling. Then it turned nose down and began to plummet.
"Bulbasaur, get out of the way!"
Bulbasaur turned and ran. The massive monster struck the ground with tremendous force. Rocks flew everywhere. A single stray one tore across Bulbasaur's cheek, leaving a long gash. He stumbled, but recovered. When he looked back, though, all he saw was an empty hole. "Oh, crap again."
"Now up!"
Onyx tore up through the ground and threw Bulbasaur up hard against the ceiling. Bulbasaur fell and crashed into the ground.
"Oh, no! Bulbasaur!" Sarah ran out onto the field. Bulbasaur was ok, but in no condition to fight. She picked him up and carried him off the field, where she placed him next to the trainer's box. "Great job."
"That guy's tough. Don't send in Kakuna."
"What? But I have to. He's the only Pokemon I have left."
"That's not true. You're a better fighter than any of us. If you put in Kakuna, he's going to be destroyed."
"I can't go in! I'm not going to expose my secret like that!"
"Send out your Pokemon!" Brock called over.
"Don't do it, Sarah. Not now," Bulbasaur pleaded.
Sarah shook her head. "I have no choice." She stood up and turned to the field. "Go, Kakuna!" The yellow Pokemon appeared on the field. "Use Tackle!" The Pokemon simply sat there. "What are you doing?"
"Kakuna doesn't know any attacks," Luke told her.
"What?"
"Go Onyx."
The snake charged forward and smashed into Kakuna, sending it into the wall. The little bug fell hard. Then to her surprise, it somehow righted itself. She could almost see it glare coming through the shell. Then it began to glow. It became a bright white and slowly cracked. Pieces of the shell fell away until it lay in pieces. In its place stood a Beedrill!
"All right! Now this is something I can work with!"
The Beedrill flew back onto the field. "Let me have the honor of destroying this pest," he called.
"My pleasure. Use Horn Drill!"
The bug flew in and started pelting the snake with its drill-hands. The snake fell back from the onslaught.
"Onyx, get underground!"
The Onyx threw Beedrill off and dug down. Beedrill flew up to get a better view.
"Now charge it!" The Onyx ripped up again, rising up to meet Beedrill.
"Give it a hard Horn Drill!" The bee fell forward, a drill pulled back. It swung and the two collided with a massive explosion. Smoke filled the room.
Sarah could hear two thumps, one louder than the other. Both Pokemon were back on the ground, but was either one standing?
The smoke finally cleared. Beedrill stood tall and proud on his feet. Several yards over, Onyx was lying still. Brock called it back. "It looks like you beat me. Nicely done."
Beedrill stumbled and collapsed. Sarah gasped and ran forward. Everyone else ran out and they all met. Sarah fell down and took Beedrill in her arms. "Are you ok?"
"It…hurts…" It was incredibly weak.
"Where's the nearest Pokemon Center?" she asked the gym leader.
"Down the street."
Sarah picked Beedrill up and started running towards the door. "Luke, watch Bulbasaur for me!" She ran out before he could respond.
Sarah cut the corner and began running through the street, bumping into a few of the pedestrians. "Hold on."
Beedrill let out a soft cough. A few drops of blood came up with it.
Sarah's eye let out a tear. She blinked it away and turned her head back to the street. There it was! She burst in through the door. "NURSE JOY! By Beedrill needs help!"
Nurse Joy came around to look at it. "Oh my. Chansey! We need to get it into the ER." A Chansey with a stretcher came out and Sarah lay her Pokemon down. Then it turned and ran off. Nurse Joy instantly turned to follow.
Sarah suddenly felt helpless. She looked around. There were a few other trainers there. Sighing she took a seat in an empty chair. "How could I do that!" was all that ran through her head.
Almost half an hour later, Nurse Joy came back out and looked her straight in the eye. Sarah knew right away something was wrong. She jumped up and ran over. "What's wrong? How's Beedrill?"
Joy sighed and hung her head. "I'm sorry."
Sarah froze. No. This wasn't happening. It couldn't.
"There was a lot of internal damage. It was too much to repair in the time we were given."
Tears began to fall down Sarah's face.
"I'm so sorry."
Sarah cried out as her mind caught up to reality. She wrapped her arms around Joy and cried. Joy took her hug and stood there. A minute later, Sarah pulled away. "May I see it?" Joy nodded.
Sarah was led down a hall to a bed. Beedrill was lying motionless. Sarah stifled another cry. She had done that.
Joy came up behind her. "I know this is a hard thing to ask, but what do you want to do with him? We have a small cemetery out back if you like."
Sarah wordlessly nodded. Joy took the Beedrill in her arms and they walked out back. Two Diglett came up and swiftly dug up a small hole, where the Beedrill was placed. Sarah stood as Joy placed the creature in its final resting place. After she had, Joy patted Sarah's shoulder lightly, then turned and left. Sarah stood for another few minutes, simply looking at the body in the grave. The body she had put there.
With another small cry, she turned and walked away.
Minutes later, she walked in front of the gym. Luke came out cheering. He held up a bright orange pin. "Check it out! I got a badge!" He then held up an identical one. "And here's yours!"
Sarah took it into her hand. With a cry she threw it onto the ground. "I don't deserve that!"
Luke and Bulbasaur, who had come out also, looked at her dumbfounded. "What are you talking about? You beat the gym leader. Of course you deserve it."
Sarah shook her head and turned away. "No."
"What's wrong?"
Sarah let out another cry. "Beedrill's dead." Luke gasped and dropped his own badge. There was a moment of utter silence. "The first Pokemon I help evolve and I send it to its grave."
"Oh, come now, Sarah," Luke said as he took her in a soft hug. "It's not your fault. You saw Beedrill. It fought of its own choice."
"But I chose to have him fight."
Luke pulled her closer. "It's ok." Sarah stood there and cried again. Everything flowed. She didn't hold it back.
She finally ran out of tears and pulled herself back. "Maybe it's best if I give up training."
"Oh, no you don't!" Bulbasaur said loudly. "If anything you should keep fighting. In remembrance of Beedrill."
"Perhaps you're right." Sarah stooped down and picked up the badge. "I'm meant to do this." She pulled out a small case and attached the pin. "Thank you, Beedrill. You helped me get through. I won't forget you."
"We should get going. There's enough time to get a start towards the next town."
Sarah nodded. Luke began to walk ahead, but Sarah stood for a moment more. "You were right. I should have fought in Kakuna's place."
Bulbasaur sat down beside her. "Yeah, I was right. But it's in the past. Best we be looking to the future."
Sarah nodded and brushed away her final tear. With that, she turned and went off to catch up to Luke.