Arden was impressed by Celadon city when he entered it. It was large and lively—for a city in Kanto. Of course, it was nothing like Goldenrod but, then, nothing was ever just like Goldenrod. Gentry, who had, until then, been sitting peacefully in his arms began to squirm.

"Hey, watch it," said Arden, grabbing him under the arms and holding him away from himself. "What's your problem all the sudden?"

"Nii nii niiidoran!" shouted the pokemon, thrashing about. He knocked Arden's hands loose and the boy dropped him. Gentry landed on his feet on the fitted-brick street, and began to run.

"Gentry!" shouted Arden, giving chase. "Come back here! You're not allowed to just desert my team because we reached a city!"

The nidoran paid him no mind and continued to run. Arden followed after, as fast as he could, shouting for Gentry to stop. He chased the pokemon down streets, across squares, and through alley ways. Finally, Gentry ran into a house through the open door, Arden still in hot pursuit.

"Gentry? Arden?" said a familiar female voice.

Arden looked around, his eyes widening. "Uh—hey, Iris."

"Niido!" shouted Gentry, leaping into the girl's lap.

Iris blinked. "What are you doing in my house?"

"I'm, uh…" Arden rubbed the back of his neck, and then gestured vaguely at the nidoran. "He wanted to visit you."

Iris smiled, and hugged Gentry. "Is that right?" she said. "You're such a sweetie, Gen!"

"Niido, niido," said the pokemon, nuzzling her.

"Have a seat," said Iris, motioning to the table she was, herself, seated at. Arden pulled out a chair and sat down. "So, what brings you guys to Celadon?"

"We're going to challenge the gym here."

"Erika's gym?" asked Iris. "Well, that's brave of you. She's really quite tough. She's got a whole bunch of very pretty grass pokemon."

"Well, I'm not afraid of any grass pokemon," said Arden, crossing his arms. "I mean, they're weak anyway, aren't they? And I've got a fire pokemon. He can take her."

"You sound confident," noted Iris.

"Yeah, I guess," Arden said with a shrug. "So—how's Brain Damage?"

"Brain? He's uh… He does alright," she said, scratching Gentry behind the ears. "I don't think he's completely right in the head, however."

"You don't say."

Iris checked her watch. "I have an appointment I have to keep," she said, standing. Arden stood as well. "Sorry to be rude, but…"

"No, not at all," Arden said. "We need to be going, anyway. Gym challenge and all that…"

She handed Gentry to him. "Now, Gen, you be good to Arden. Treat him just like you'd treat me, alright? I know you will—you're such a kind little pokemon."

"Niido," sighed Gentry, his eyes tearing up. He reached out a paw toward Iris.

"Good bye," Arden said, leaving. Iris waved to them as she closed the door. Gentry lay limply in his arms as he traversed Celadon's streets, looking for the gym. "It has to be around here somewhere… Ah, damnit! I've passed that stupid department store like six times already!"

Arden gave a frustrated sigh and leaned against a fence post. He looked down at Gentry. "What about you? You know this place, right?"

"Nii," murmured Gentry, half-heartedly.

"Can you show me where the gym is?"

The nidoran shrugged. "Nii."

"Come on. Don't mope. Help me out some," said Arden, setting Gentry on the ground. "Show me where the gym is."

With another sigh, the little pokemon started along. Arden followed him to a forested area south of the city. "A park?" he asked as Gentry lead him down a path. Erika's gym came into view, shielded from the city by tall, leafy trees. Arden picked up Gentry and hugged him. "Alright! Way to go!"

"N-nii," said Gentry, rubbing his head against Arden softly. Arden ran toward the gym, entering it with vigor.

The inside housed a grove of trees. "Gah!" said Arden, fanning himself with one hand. "It's like a green house in here! Why would someone want to spend their time in a gym like this?"

He made his way through the trees looking for the gym leader. A neat little path lead through some of it, but the rest of it was long grass, which radiated a sort of humidity. Thoroughly uncomfortable, Arden came upon a young woman asleep beneath a tree. He cocked his head to one side. "That her?" he asked Gentry.

"Do," said Gentry, nodding.

Arden knelt down next to Erika and shook her shoulder. Slowly she opened her eyes, and looked up at him. Arden felt his heart flutter at the beautiful woman's gaze. "Oh, I must of dozed off," she said in a sweet, musical voice. "It's such a nice day…"

"We're… indoors," Arden said.

"Oh," said Erika. She looked around. "Why, so we are! …is it a nice day outside, too?"

"Y-yeah, I guess," Arden said. "You're the gym leader here?"

"Yes, I am," she answered. "I also arrange flowers here. It's a very soothing, harmonious activity. You should try it some time."

"Ah, duly noted," mumbled Arden. "But, uh, what I came here for was a pokemon battle."

"Oh, you're a trainer? I had no idea," she said, standing. "Forgive me, I didn't realize you wanted a battle." She held up a pokeball. "Go tangela."

Arden tossed out his ball. "Blazer, get in there!"

"Vul!" shouted Blazer, as both he and the opposing pokemon appeared in the field.

"Tangela, use growth," said Erika.

"Blaze—flamethrower!"

The vulpix growled and arched his back before shoot a stream of flame from his mouth at the tangela. The flames hit it, causing it to recoil in pain. It spun and fell to the ground, unconscious. "Vuulpix!"

Erika returned the fainted pokemon to its pokeball. She held up another. "Go, gloom."

The gloom appeared, waving its arms and drooling. "Gloooom!"

"Ember, Blaze!"

"Gloom, megadrain!"

Blazer shot a blast of fire from his mouth, striking the grass pokemon. It shook, and squealed, rubbing out the fire. It leaned forward, and the leaves on its head began to glow as it sucked energy from Blazer. The vulpix gritted his teeth, and flattened his ears as he felt the vigor leaving him.

"Blazer! Don't you take that sitting down! Flamethrower!"

"Vul!" said the pokemon, arching his back. He attacked, and the fire struck the gloom head-on. It fell down, fainted. "Pix!"

Erika recalled it. "I'm impressed. Your pokemon's quite good," she said. "Here—the rainbow badge."

Arden set down Gentry and took the badge. "Cool," he said as Blazer rubbed against his leg. Gentry glared at the vulpix and, flattening his ears, nuzzled Arden's other leg. "Ugh—stop that you guys. It's so creepy."

"If you'd like to stay, I can teach you how to arrange flowers," said Erika. "It's greatly relaxing."

"Ah, no thanks," said Arden, pushing his pokemon away from himself. "I need to get going. By the way, where's the closest gym to here?"

"Well, Saffron's closest, but the gatehouse is closed," she said. "But, Fuchsia city is a short ride down Cycling Road away. It's a very nice place. It's by the ocean and it has a Safari Zone."

"Safari Zone?" said Arden. "What's that?"

"It's a reserve for catching rare pokemon."

"Ah! Awesome!" exclaimed Arden. "Let's go, guys!"

He turned and began to run. Gentry and Blazer ran after him, pushing each other into trees as they went.

A/N: The first request picture is finished and up on my DA, and I'm currently working on the second request. 's currently being weird, and I can't seem to edit my profile now, but it should be easy enough to find using any of the other links to pictures thereon. I'll have the link up as soon as I can.