CHAPTER SEVEN

Grateful to exit the maze of forestry, Daniel and Natalie exited Viridian Forest, where the sunset had caused a shroud of darkness upon their path. Their Pokemon walked at their sides, as they headed up a small path which led towards entering Pewter City.

"Wow."

Pewter City was bigger than Viridian City, with a bustling marketplace and a crowd of Trainers gathering at the Pewter Gym. To the north, there was the Pewter Museum, while the route to Mt. Moon lay east. Natalie spied a Pokemon Center and headed towards it.

"Come on!" she said, dragging Daniel along with her.

They entered the Pokemon Center, where they saw a queue of Trainers lined up, ready to heal their Pokemon. Daniel and Natalie joined the back of the queue.

"Why are there so many Trainers here? It's almost night-time," Natalie wondered aloud.

The guy in front turned to them sneeringly. "It's for the Trainers who battle at night, to adjust their Pokemon for the trek through Mt. Moon. You don't expect all Pokemon to get used to the dark on their first time, do you?"

Daniel and Natalie shook their heads.

"That kind of thinking won't win you many battles," he disapproved. "You have to take a practical approach to Pokemon battling."

He stepped forward to grant his Pokemon for healing and Daniel turned to Natalie.

"You don't think we're putting our Pokemon at a disadvantage, do you?" he asked.

"No!" she replied, after a moment's silence. "Viridian Forest is dark. That counts, right?"

"Will you be taking Caterpie with you?" Daniel asked. He was referring, of course, to the computer system which allowed Pokemon Centers to store and transfer Pokemon between one another. Since each Trainer could only hold six Pokemon at a time, this was a service which Trainers often used.

"I think I'll take him with me. He's lonely at the moment and I don't want to leave him by himself."

"What about Bellsprout?" Natalie asked Daniel.

"Bellsprout can come with me. I'll keep it in its Pokeball for now, though. Meowth, I can trust - but Bellsprout might run away again."

"Yeah..."

"Next, please." spoke the nurse at the counter.

Daniel stepped forward, handing over the Pokeball which contained Bellsprout.

"Will your Meowth be healed today as well?" the nurse asked.

Daniel nodded, holding out Meowth's Pokeball. The Pokeball opened, taking Meowth inside it with a flash of light and closing with a snap.

"Here you are," Daniel said, passing over the Pokeball with Meowth inside. He felt a bit exposed without Meowth; he quietly admitted to himself the attachment he had long since formed with having a Pokemon by his side. Perhaps now that he was on his own, Meowth was the reminder of his family back home.

"Thank you, your Pokemon are fully healed." the nurse smiled, handing back Daniel's two Pokeballs. "Have a nice day!"

"I'll wait outside for you," Daniel said to Natalie, as she stepped forward and he exited the queue to head outside.

The cool night air was a relief from the sterile environment inside the Pokemon Center. Daniel released Meowth from its Pokeball, attaching the Pokeball to its belt. Meowth gratefully snuggled Daniel's legs as Daniel watched small homes close their curtains over lit windows, where conversation flowed in abundance. He felt a pang of melancholia and unsuccessfully tried to stifle it.

"I'm all done," Natalie said, a minute later as she emerged from the Pokemon Center. "Where to next?"

"It's getting late, so I think we should find somewhere to stay."

"You don't want to face the Gym Leader?" Natalie asked.

"I do, but..." Daniel hesitated. "I'd like to train Bellsprout some more before I do."

"I understand." Natalie nodded, then turned and ran towards the Pewter Gym.

"Natalie, where are you going?" Daniel yelled, as he and Meowth followed her.

"The Gym, silly! Where else?" Natalie shouted back.

Daniel reached the Pewter Gym just as Natalie and Squirtle did, only to feel a slight rumbling coming from the Gym.

"Did you feel that?" Natalie asked, turning to Daniel. He nodded. "What was it?"

Natalie approached the door, tentatively knocking on it twice. She waited, but heard nothing.

"Maybe he's not there?" Daniel offered. "Natalie, we should train more before - "

"Shush," she said, pressing her ear to the door. "I'm listening."

Another rumble shook the ground, as Natalie tried to peer through the window. "I can't see anything. Can you?"

Daniel peered through the window, but could only see a flat, rocky field. "Nothing."

The door opened suddenly and Daniel and Natalie guiltily turned around, expecting to see the Gym Leader. Instead, it was a young boy barely younger than them. His face was stained with tears and he was clutching an unconscious Rattata in his arms.

"Are you OK - "

"Brock's a meanie!" More stifled meanderings, before the boy wiped his running nose with his sleeve and ran off towards the Pokemon Center.

Unfazed, Natalie shrugged her shoulders and entered the Gym, with Daniel following behind her.

The Pewter Gym was dominated by a massive battlefield with sharp rocks lining the edges. From where Daniel and Natalie stood, near the entrance, at the opposite side of the battlefield was a man with dark hair and muscular arms.

"I am Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader! Who dares to challenge me next?"

"I challenge you," Natalie said, stepping forward with her Squirtle at her side.

"Natalie, are you sure about this?" Daniel asked.

"Of course I'm sure. It's a Pokemon Trainer's duty to collect all eight Badges and I'll start now!"

"Your spirit is admirable." Brock said.

"Yes. He called you a bully," Natalie said grimly.

"My style of battling could be called that. Strength is overwhelming." Brock said. "This will be a battle with two Pokemon each! Are you ready?"

Natalie thought briefly of Caterpie, of how she hadn't trained with him at all. She would have to rely solely on Squirtle. "Yes."

Daniel and Meowth stepped onto the sidelines, which constituted little space to watch.

"If you'd feel safer, Meowth, you can go back in your Pokeball." Daniel said.

Meowth shook its head vigorously. It wanted to watch the action unfold.

"I choose you, Squirtle!" Natalie called.

Squirtle stepped forward, ready to engage in combat.

"A Water-type... well-chosen." Brock said, unlatching a Pokeball and tossing it into the fray. "Go, Geodude!"

In a flash of red light, the Pokemon called Geodude appeared. It was a boulder which hovered in the air, with eyes and a mouth and a pair of strong arms.

"Your Rock Pokemon is weak to my Water-type!" Natalie smirked. "Squirtle, use Water Gun!"

"Geodude, Defense Curl, now!"

Geodude curled into a ball, spinning madly as Squirtle unleashed a jet of water from its mouth. The stream of water merely glanced from Geodude's spinning body.

To Natalie's surprise, Brock shouted, "Geodude, Tackle!"

Still spinning, Geodude zoomed towards Squirtle. It tackled Squirtle and sent it flying across the battlefield, hitting its head on a rock.

"Squirtle!" Natalie cried in terror. "Get up, Squirtle! Show them what we're made of!"

Slightly dazed, Squirtle stood up. It was a little hurt, but its determination was still strong. It returned to its place in the battlefield.

"I can't believe the attack didn't even affect Geodude..." Natalie said.

"You think your puny turtle can take down my powerful Rock Pokemon? Think again! Geodude, Tackle it again!"

"Squirtle, look out of the way!" Natalie cried.

Squirtle managed to avoid Geodude's fierce tackle, but Geodude attempted to tackle Squirtle again, each time coming closer to hitting its target.

"My Geodude is faster than your Squirtle. Your Pokemon will get tired before this battle has reached its climax!"

"What do I do..." Natalie said, doubting herself for a moment, then drawing herself up in defiance. "No! I won't allow you to win! Squirtle, Water Gun!"

Squirtle expelled another jet of water from its mouth, but this time Geodude avoided it, heading to Tackle Squirtle from the side.

"Squirtle, use Bubble at the last minute!" Natalie screamed.

Squirtle turned to face Geodude as it approached, took a deep breath and expelled a stream of bubbles at Geodude's face. Pounding the air with its fist to clear its vision, Natalie shouted,

"Now, Squirtle! Water Gun!"

Squirtle expelled a jet of water which hit Geodude straight in the face. Flailing as it fell to the floor, it writhed in agony as the water drenched its form and it lay still, unconscious.

"Nice job, Squirtle!" Natalie congratulated her Pokemon, as Squirtle waddled over to her and she gave him a high-five.

Brock returned Geodude to its Pokeball and detached his second Pokeball from his belt.

"Nice work. I underestimated you..."

"Thanks," Natalie grinned. She looked down at Squirtle. "We're a pretty good team, huh?"

"You're not bad. But you've got a way to go yet!" Brock drew back his arm and tossed the Pokeball onto the battlefield. "Onix, go!"

The red light materialised to form a Pokemon that resembled a chain of grey boulders, not unlike a large, rocky serpent.

"Wow," Daniel said, looking up at Onix. Meowth watched in wonder."That's a big Pokemon."

"Squirtle," Natalie said, not missing a beat. "Water Gun!"

"Onix, avoid the attack and Tackle Squirtle!"

Onix, with a rocky serpent's body, was easily able to avoid the jet of water which erupted from Squirtle's mouth and swing its tail directly into where Squirtle stood.

"Squirtle, Withdraw!" Natalie screamed.

Squirtle hid inside its shell just as Onix's tail made contact. The shell landed into a pile of rubble and lay still, but Squirtle emerged, unscathed.

"You can't hide forever! Onix, Screech Attack!"

Onix opened its mouth and released a sound wave which deafened Squirtle. It spun on its feet, trying to unblock its ears.

"Onix, Tackle it again!"

Onix lifted its tail up and slammed it into the pile of rubble where Squirtle stood. Squirtle had only just managed to avoid the attack, but the ensuing avalanche of rubble caused Squirtle to trip and get lost in the commotion.

"Squirtle! Are you alright?"

Squirtle emerged from the rubble, a little worse for wear, but still determined.

"Squirtle, use Water Gun again!"

Squirtle's jet of water missed by inches, as Onix swung its tail around for another attack.

"Use Withdraw, Squirtle!"

Squirtle withdrew into its shell just as Onix whacked Squirtle across the battlefield. This time, Squirtle hit the wall and ricocheted, spinning like a top, into the middle of the battlefield. Natalie suddenly got an idea.

"Your Squirtle is pathetic; hiding in its shell to avoid my attacks. All it takes is one carefully timed smash and your Squirtle is toast!"

"Squirtle, follow my lead, OK?" Natalie asked. Squirtle turned to Natalie and nodded.

"Onix, Tackle Attack! Knock it into the rocks!" Brock yelled.

"Squirtle, use Withdraw again!" Natalie cried.

Squirtle withdrew into its shell as Onix swept its tail across the battlefield. Just before Onix's tail made contact, Natalie screamed,

"Squirtle! Use Water Gun while you're mid-air and don't stop!"

As Onix's tail sent Squirtle flying, Squirtle's shell once again hit the wall. As Squirtle spun through the air, Squirtle emerged from its shell, releasing a jet of water which, when combined with the spin that Onix's attack had sent it into, caused Onix to be drenched multiple times over in a whorl of cold.

"Onix!" Brock shouted, as Onix fell to the ground with a crash. Squirtle hid inside its shell, hit a number of rocks and spun several times, eventually coming to a stop. It emerged from its shell, standing on its hind legs and red in the face from the exertion of spinning. It faced Onix.

"Squirtle, finish it! Use Water Gun one more time!"

"Stop!" Brock called.

Natalie and Squirtle stared in surprise. Brock ran over to Onix, petting its face. It was shivering from the cold, and looked substantially weaker with water dripping over it.

"This match is done. You win, challenger." Brock said, unable to meet Natalie's eyes, or perhaps looking nowhere near her. It was hard to tell from this distance.

"I won?" Natalie gasped in disbelief. She turned to Squirtle. "I won!"

Daniel stared, a smile growing over his features for the victory of his friend. He stood and immediately began clapping, with Meowth joining in. Brock returned Onix to its Pokeball, then walked across the battlefield to Natalie. Natalie felt an ominous feeling as Brock reached into his pocket and retrieved something small. He handed it to her.

"A Badge..." Natalie said, taking it from him. Although the victory had given her warmth, seeing the Badge up close had given her goosebumps.

"The Boulder Badge; awarded to Pokemon Trainers who can defeat me in battle. You have proven that even as you begin your journey, you possess the potential to one day reaching the Pokemon League. Go. Be on your way, and don't forget: your Pokemon are your friends. Love them with all your might!"

Still in disbelief, Daniel congratulated Natalie as she clutched her new Badge, finding their way after dark to their new hotel and tucking in separate beds, the delight of the day's antics still fresh on their minds.

"Rise and shine, Daniel!"

Daniel opened his eyes and saw that Meowth was at the end of his bed, freshly woken. Natalie was dressed, with Squirtle at her side. Both looked ready to greet the day.

"Did you have a good sleep?" Natalie asked, as Daniel climbed out of bed in his pyjamas.

"Not bad," he said, rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Just after ten. Squirtle and I visited the Pewter Museum while you were sleeping."

"You sure like to get things done early, don't you?" Daniel said, as he entered the bathroom.

"Don't take too long!" Natalie called. "We've got to train your Bellsprout before you can take on the Pewter Gym Leader!"

Showered, dressed and with his teeth freshly brushed, Daniel emerged from the bathroom to see Meowth trying to wrest open the Pokeball which contained Bellsprout.

"Meowth, no!" Daniel exclaimed, taking the Pokeball from Meowth's grasp. "Not yet. We'll see if Bellsprout likes me when we start training."

Daniel and Meowth exited the hotel, looking both ways for Natalie. They couldn't see her.

"Well, there you two are!"

Natalie and Squirtle walked up to them, licking ice cream cones they had purchased from a nearby vendor. "I was beginning to wonder if you two would be ready before noon."

"We're ready," Daniel replied wearily. He was used to waking up early for school, but he and Natalie had stayed up late after she had won the Boulder Badge, talking about strategies. They had gotten to bed pretty late, but that didn't seem to stop Natalie. She wore no signs of lethargy; her cheeks glowed.

"There's a clearing just between the entrance to the Viridian Forest and Pewter City which looks like a great place to train Bellsprout." Natalie said, marching at a pace that Daniel tried to keep up with. Meowth eyed Squirtle's ice cream hungrily.

"Don't worry, Meowth. I'll buy you one when we get back," Daniel said. Meowth looked up at Daniel and purred contentedly.

The four of them approached the clearing, on the cusp of the Viridan Forest with enough space to spread out for several Pokemon Trainers.

"This is it!" Natalie exclaimed. "This is where we can train Bellsprout."

"How about Caterpie?" Daniel asked. "We could have a Pokemon battle between the two."

"Of course!" Natalie's face lit up. She reached on her belt for Caterpie's Pokeball. "Ready?"

"Sure am," Daniel said grimly, as he and Natalie stepped back to make enough room. Daniel already had one problem that he could foresee - Caterpie, while diminutive, was a Bug-Type; which meant that Bellsprout's Grass-type attacks wouldn't have much effect.

"Go, Caterpie!" Natalie threw the Pokeball into the field. It erupted in a burst of red light to reveal Caterpie, eager to begin the fight and wriggling around in anticipation.

"Bellsprout, go!" Daniel shouted, unlatching Bellsprout's Pokeball from his belt and throwing it onto the field. The red light which erupted from the Pokeball formed Bellsprout, which faced Caterpie defiantly.

"Bellsprout, Vine Whip!"

Bellsprout turned its head and looked at Daniel, shaking its head. It folded its little leaf arms in defiance.

"Bellsprout, you need to attack!" Daniel insisted, as Bellsprout once again looked at him in anger.

"Caterpie, String Shot!"

Caterpie took a deep breath and released a stream of string, catching onto Bellsprout's thin body and winding its way around the stem. Bellsprout was engulfed in Caterpie's String Shot, suddenly unable to move.

"Bellsprout, do something!" urged Daniel.

"Caterpie, use Tackle!"

Caterpie launched itself at Bellsprout, its small size nothing compared to the tackle which it landed on Bellsprout. Bellsprout's feet held tight on the ground so it stayed immobile, but it remained nothing more than a punching bag now. Daniel realised the danger and retrieved his Pokeball, aiming it at Bellsprout.

"Bellsprout, return!"

Bellsprout disappeared in a flash of red light inside the Pokeball. Caterpie stood motionless, unable to believe it won its first battle.

"Caterpie, we won!" Natalie cried. "Well done - "

Natalie gasped as Caterpie began to glow with a bright light.

"What's happening?" Natalie asked.

Caterpie's entire body was engulfed by the bright light, as it changed form and materialised into a different Pokemon.

"It's evolved," Daniel said. "It's a Metapod!"

Metapod was not unlike a chrysalis, its hard body green.

"Oh!" Natalie rushed onto the field and picked up Metapod. "Are you OK? Are you hurt?"

"It's not hurt, Natalie," Daniel laughed. "It's just evolved. I'm sure it's fine."

"I'm going to take you to a Pokemon Center just in case," Natalie said, retrieving a Pokeball and capturing Metapod inside it. "Daniel, wait right here! I'll be right back!"

"I need to heal Bellsprout, remember?" Daniel said.

"Oh! Of course," Natalie said, her features fixed in deep concentration. "Give Bellsprout to me and I'll heal it for you."

Daniel retrieved Bellsprout's Pokeball and tossed it to Natalie, who only just caught it. "Hey!"

Daniel shrugged, watching as Natalie headed in the direction of Pewter City. "Don't take too long!"

A/N: Sorry to take so long to post this new chapter. Thanks for your patience.