CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Before Amy had managed to make it safely out of Mt. Moon, Daniel and Natalie entered Cerulean City with Meowth and Squirtle at their respective sides, looking around at the multitude of buildings and crowd of passersby. Cerulean City was connected to Saffron City in the south by way of a connecting passage, so there were many shoppers in view, most notably at the PokeMart or at the Bicycle Store. Daniel could spot the Cerulean Gym tucked away, while Natalie noticed a long bridge to the north which led to a sea inlet.
"I don't know if I have enough money for a hotel room..." Daniel said. "Joshua took a lot of money from me."
"Are there any Pokemon Trainers you can battle?" Natalie asked. "Let's ask when we heal our Pokemon."
Daniel and Natalie entered the Pokemon Center, waiting patiently in line for their turn as they stood in the queue. After passing over Meowth, Bellsprout and Ekans, Daniel asked the nurse at the counter,
"Do you know where any Trainers gather in Cerulean?"
"There's the Nugget Bridge, if you're looking for a challenge. Once a week, they challenge Trainers to a five-in-a-row battle and if you can successfully win all five, you win a Nugget!"
"A Nugget?" Natalie asked. "What are they?"
"Well, they're extremely rare. They're made of pure gold and can be sold for several thousand dollars. Many Trainers attempt the Nugget Bridge challenge, but they often lose on the third or fourth battle. It's a very trying effort," the nurse said. "But it's good practise for taking on our Misty, the Gym Leader!"
"Well, we're Pokemon Trainers and we have the confidence to try it!" Natalie smiled. "When does it start?"
"They'll be on the bridge tomorrow starting early in the morning. Can I offer you directions to some of Cerulean's finest hotels?"
Daniel checked the amount of money in his wallet. Barely enough for one night's stay, let alone the Potions he'd need to stock up on if he were to take on the Nugget Bridge challenge.
"Natalie, I'm not sure I have enough money for a hotel."
Natalie turned to Daniel, glancing down at the cash he was counting.
"Don't worry about it. I'll pay for your room tonight - "
"But, Natalie - "
"You can pay me back when we conquer the Nugget Bridge. After all, we get a fee for each Trainer we beat, right?" she smiled.
Daniel and Natalie walked through Cerulean City with Meowth and Squirtle by their sides. Having booked their hotel rooms, stocked up on items from the PokeMart and ensuring their Pokemon were fighting fit from the Pokemon Center, their next stop was to cross the Nugget Bridge, which led to a sea inlet full of Water-type Pokemon.
As they approached the Nugget Bridge, a young boy wearing a backwards cap noticed them and waved his hand to indicate his presence. Daniel and Natalie walked over to him.
"Are you taking the Nugget Bridge challenge?" he asked eagerly.
Daniel looked past the young boy to where the bridge lay before him; it was easily big enough for Pokemon battles. He couldn't see any Trainers in the distance.
"Where are the Pokemon Trainers?" Daniel asked.
"They're waiting for a challenger. You don't think they stick around all day, do you? Besides, lots of tourists walk past, especially old people. You don't have to take on the challenge just to walk on the bridge."
"Oh, I see." Daniel said, weighing his options then nodded his assent and shook the boy's hand. "Count me in. I'm ready to battle."
"Super!" cried the boy, turning and yelling to the sparse passersby on the bridge. "Hey! We've got ourselves a challenger!"
The boy turned back to Daniel. "I'll make sure any other Trainers coming by know there's already a challenger, so you won't be holding anyone up. Are you going with him?" the boy looked at Natalie.
"Sure am," she smiled, patting Daniel on the shoulder. "I'm his support!"
"Well, head up the bridge when you're ready. Remember, you must battle the five Trainers consecutively in order to win. No coming back this way to heal your Pokemon unless you've got Potions on you, or else you immediately forfeit the challenge and must start all over again.
"Understood," Daniel said, turning to Natalie. "Let's go."
They thanked the boy and walked up the bridge, noticing the first Trainer almost instantly.
"You're the new challenger, right?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm Daniel."
"I'm Cale. Let's battle!"
Both of them made room for a battlefield on the bridge, then selected their Pokeballs from their belt.
"Seeing as you won't be visiting a Pokemon Center while on the challenge, I don't mind if you have more Pokemon than me. The goal is to win, not to match how many Pokemon the opponent has. Of course, with any Pokemon battle in Kanto, the amount of Pokemon you can carry is six, so that is our limit."
"Sounds good," Daniel said, nodding. He threw his Pokeball into the field. "Go, Ekans!"
Ekans appeared on the field in a flash of red light, hissing as the rattle on its tail quivered.
"Caterpie, go!" shouted Cale, who threw his Pokeball into the field to reveal the Bug-type Pokemon, Caterpie.
"Ekans, Leer!"
"Caterpie, String Shot!"
As Caterpie breathed in to release its String Shot, Ekans' eyes glowed and it fixed Caterpie with a glare. Caterpie watched, mesmerised, as it stumbled from Ekans' attack and was unable to move.
"Ekans, Poison Sting!" Daniel shouted.
Ekans opened its mouth and released a series of poison barbs, all of which landed precisely on Caterpie. Stumbling backward, Caterpie was too weakened to move.
"Ekans, finish it with Bite Attack!"
Ekans leapt at Caterpie, taking it in its mouth and biting down hard. With a final squeal, Caterpie lay limp in Ekans' mouth. Ekans tossed Caterpie onto the wooden bridge and slithered closer to Daniel's side of the field.
"Caterpie, you were great." Cale said not without remorse, returning Caterpie to its Pokeball and selecting another from his belt, tossing it onto the bridge. "Weedle, you're up next! Go!"
Weedle appeared on the battlefield in a flash of red quivered with its sharp stinger.
"Ekans, Wrap Attack!"
"Weedle, String Shot!"
As Ekans leapt from where it stood, Weedle opened its mouth and released a stream of string which missed Ekans completely and landed at Daniel's feet. Stomping his shoes to remove himself of the substance, Daniel watched as Ekans wrapped itself around Weedle tightly.
"Bite Attack, Ekans!"
Ekans took a bite out of Weedle, causing it to squeal in pain in addition to the tight grip Ekans had on Weedle. Weedle was suddenly immobile in Ekans' grasp. Weedle had fainted.
"Daniel wins!" cheered Natalie, jumping up and down. "Nice work!"
"Ekans, return!" Daniel said, holding out his Pokeball as Ekans disappearing inside it in a flash of red light.
"Weedle, you did a great job." Cale said, holding Weedle in his arms as he walked over to Daniel and handed him two hundred dollars in cash. "You're a good Trainer. I have no regrets. Continue on to the second Trainer."
As Daniel continued on past Cale, Natalie commented, "That was really easy!"
"It'll probably get tougher. Here we go," Daniel said, as the second Trainer bounded forth.
"My name's Laura. What's yours?"
"I'm Daniel. This is Natalie."
"Hi, Daniel, Natalie. Which of you is challenging me today?"
"I am."
"Are you ready to battle?" Laura asked, making room for a battlefield. "I'm tough!"
Laura selected her Pokeball and tossed it onto the bridge. "Pidgey, go!"
Pidgey appeared in a burst of red light, flapping its wings to stay airborne. Daniel turned to Meowth.
"You ready?" he asked. Meowth nodded, stepping forward. "I choose Meowth!"
Meowth bared its claws, as Laura shouted,
"Pidgey, Sand-Attack!"
"Meowth, block your eyes!" Daniel cried, as Pidgey blew up a sandstorm directed straight at Meowth. Wings flapping madly, Pidgey headed for Meowth for a Tackle Attack.
"Meowth, Scratch Attack!" Daniel shouted.
Meowth attempted to see through the sandstorm, but was unable to spot Pidgey, who appeared out of a sudden and rammed into Meowth, sending him flying across the bridge. As Meowth stood up to gain its balance, Laura called, "Use Quick Attack, Pidgey!"
Pidgey disappeared into thin air, but Daniel was ready. "Meowth, get ready to use Scratch Attack!"
Meowth stayed still and waited for Pidgey to appear. As Pidgey emerged from thin air, beak sharp and wings ready to make contact, Meowth scratched Pidgey wildly as it came close. Pidgey flailed in the air, unable to determine air or land, when suddenly Meowth's forehead glowed with a bright light and blasted Pidgey straight onto the bridge. Coins bounced around Pidgey's fallen figure, who had fallen unconscious.
"Nice work, Meowth!" Daniel said, as Laura gasped and returned Pidgey to its Pokeball. Selecting another Pokeball, Laura tossed it into the battlefield. "Go, Nidoran!"
A female Nidoran appeared in a flash of red light, facing Meowth with a fixed stare.
"Nidoran, use Leer!"
"Meowth, block your eyes!"
Meowth covered his eyes with his paw as Nidoran attempted a Leer Attack. It was ineffective, however, and so Laura shouted, "Nidoran, Tackle Attack!"
"Meowth, use Growl!"
Meowth let out a growl which made Nidoran stop mid-run, eyeing Meowth cautiously.
"Meowth, use Bite Attack!"
Meowth leapt at Nidoran to grab it with its paws, but Nidoran dodged out of the way and used Double Kick on Meowth, sending him to the ground with a yelp of pain.
"Nidoran, use Tackle Attack!"
"Meowth, look out!" Daniel cried.
Meowth jumped out of the way of Nidoran's Tackle attack, lashing out with its claws for a Scratch Attack. Nidoran stumbled from the pain as Meowth leapt on Nidoran, this time catching hold and delivering a Bite Attack which made Nidoran squeal in pain. Nidoran slumped to the floor, unconscious.
"Daniel wins again!" Natalie cried in joy.
Daniel couldn't help but smile as Laura gave him two hundred dollars in cash and pointed him in the direction of the third Trainer. Daniel administered a Potion to Meowth before continuing on.
"Do you think Beth's OK?" Natalie asked, as they neared the third Trainer, a young boy with shorts and wearing a backwards cap. "We should give your Mom a call, too. I should give my Mom a call, now that I think about it... not that she cares, anyway."
Daniel was on the verge of offering sympathy, but his senses were alerted as the third Trainer greeted Daniel and Natalie and informed them that his name was Timmy.
"Ready when you are," he said, with three Pokeballs on his belt.
"I'm ready," Daniel nodded, as space was made for a battlefield. "Let's go!"
Timmy unlatched a Pokeball and threw it into the battlefield. "Go, Zubat!"
Zubat appeared in a flash of red light, flapping above them all with its fangs bared. Daniel looked down at Meowth. "Ready for another battle?"
Meowth nodded, stepping forward, his claws bared.
"Zubat, Leech Life!"
Zubat zoomed down towards Meowth, as Daniel shouted, "Meowth, Bite Attack!"
Meowth tensed as Zubat flew towards him, fangs glinting in the sunlight. As Zubat came within range, Meowth leapt up at Zubat, its teeth bared, but Zubat managed to sink its teeth in first. As it sunk its teeth in Meowth, Zubat seemed to feed off of Meowth's blood, draining its energy and absorbing it in the process to strengthen it.
"Meowth!" Daniel cried, as Meowth fell to the wooden bridge, harmed. Zubat flapped around Meowth triumphantly as Meowth attempted to stand up.
"Zubat, Supersonic!"
Zubat emitted a sound wave at Meowth, making him stumble around the bridge. Daniel felt a sense of foreboding which made his heart sink.
"Zubat, finish it with Bite Attack!"
Zubat swooped down upon Meowth, sinking its teeth into the confused cat Pokemon. Meowth sunk to the floor, unconscious. Daniel merely gaped. Natalie stayed silent. Timmy, who hadn't an idea as to Daniel's love for Meowth, said, "Come on! Choose your next Pokemon, dude!"
Daniel hesitated. Meowth had never been defeated - even battling against Joshua, Daniel had withdrawn him from the battle before he could get too seriously hurt. Now, Meowth was out of the running for the Nugget Bridge challenge.
"Daniel, you've got to choose your next Pokemon." Natalie said insistently. Daniel turned to her. "If there's anything to do right now - it's to continue fighting. Meowth would want you to win. Don't turn back now."
Daniel faced Timmy, his expression resolute. He retrieved Meowth's Pokeball and returned him to his Pokeball in a flash of red light. Attaching the Pokeball to his belt, Daniel detached a separate Pokeball and threw it into the field. "Go, Ekans!"
Ekans appeared in a flash of red light, its fangs bared. Its body quivered like a rattle snake.
"Zubat, Supersonic!"
"Ekans, Poison Sting!"
Ekans opened its mouth and released a series of poison barbs straight at Zubat. Zubat released a sound wave at the same time. As Zubat was belted with the barbs to almost no effect, Ekans wriggled in its attempt to shake off the sound wave's effect.
"Zubat, Bite Attack!" Timmy shouted!"
Zubat swooped down upon Ekans, its fangs bared, but all of a sudden, Ekans leapt up and used its own Bite Attack on Zubat.
"It was feigning confusion!" Natalie gasped, as Ekans plunged its teeth deep into Zubat's body. "The Supersonic must have failed!"
As Zubat fell, Daniel shouted, "Ekans, Wrap Attack!"
Ekans wrapped its long body around Zubat, tightly binding Zubat within its embrace. As Zubat squealed in pain, Ekans bit hard into Zubat.
"Zubat!" Timmy cried, as Ekans let go of Zubat and slithered back to its side of the battlefield. Zubat lay quite unconscious on the bridge.
"Are you OK?" Natalie asked Daniel. She hadn't forgotten Meowth's defeat.
"Yeah." Daniel added, unable to prevent the sour tone.
"I choose Rattata! Go!" Timmy shouted, as the Pokeball he threw opened it a burst of light to reveal Rattata.
"Ekans, Wrap Attack!"
"Rattata, Quick Attack!"
Ekans leapt at Rattata just as Rattata disappeared into thin air. As Ekans watched its surroundings, it tensed, coiling itself and hissing to itself. Rattata appeared out of nowhere, headed straight for Ekans - but Ekans was fast. Ekans shot out at Rattata like a gun from a bullet, its fangs sinking deep into Rattata. As Rattata squealed in pain, Daniel shouted, "Use Poison Sting, Ekans!"
Ekans tossed Rattata onto the bridge, opened its mouth and released a volley of poison barbs, all of which struck Rattata. Rattata, who was now as purple as its colouring, was both poisoned and unconscious.
"You're doing a great job, Daniel." Natalie said.
Timmy returned Rattata to its Pokeball, selecting his next Pokemon and tossing the Pokeball onto the battlefield. "Go, Sandshrew!"
Sandshrew appeared in a burst of red light, a Pokemon not unlike a bipedal armadillo with dry, tough skin.
"You did good, Ekans. Return," Daniel said, holding out a Pokeball as Ekans returned inside it with a flash of red light. Daniel reached for a different Pokeball on his belt. "Go, Bellsprout!"
Bellsprout appeared in a flash of red light, waving its leaf arms at its opponent.
"Sandshrew, use Sand-Attack!" Timmy shouted.
Sandshrew dug sand into Bellsprout's face, startling it and knocking it off-kilter.
"Bellsprout, use Poisonpowder!" Daniel shouted.
"Scratch Attack, Sandshrew!" Timmy shouted.
Bellsprout, still blinded by the sand in its eyes, released a cloud of poisonous dust from its mouth which settled upon Sandshrew and caused it to become poisoned. As Sandshrew leapt towards Bellsprout, its fists raised, it began coughing heavily as the poison began affecting it.
"Bellsprout, use Vine Whip!"
Bellsprout extended long vines from its body and lashed out at Sandshrew with them. The force of Bellsprout's vines slammed Sandshrew face first onto the bridge. With one final cough, Sandshrew fainted, unconscious.
Daniel realised that he had won, but made no sound as Timmy returned Sandshrew to its Pokeball and walked over to Daniel, two hundred and fifty dollars in his outstretched hand.
"You're a good Trainer," he said. "I have no regrets."
Daniel was still silent as he accepted the prize money and pocketed it, returning Bellsprout to its Pokeball.
"Daniel? Are you OK?"
Daniel shook out of his reverie and turned to Natalie, managing a weak smile. "I'll be fine. I just wish I had Meowth with me."
"Hey! Are you the next Trainer?" shouted a girl's voice.
Daniel and Natalie looked to see the fourth Trainer waved them over. Daniel and Natalie approached the girl their age.
"My name's Reli. You ready for a battle?"
Daniel nodded. As they made room for a battlefield, he made an attempt to overcome his monosyllabic despondency. "Sure. Let's get this battle started."
Reli threw a Pokeball onto the bridge and it erupted with a burst of red light. "Go, Oddish!"
Oddish appeared, its body not unlike a bulb except blue in colour with leaves on the top of its head and small, round feet. Daniel selected a Pokeball from his belt and threw it onto the bridge.
"Go, Ekans!" Daniel shouted, as Ekans appeared in a flash of red light.
"Oddish, Poisonpowder!" Reli shouted.
"Ekans, Bite Attack!"
Ekans shot out and leapt at Oddish, as Oddish released a cloud of poisonous dust. Ekans was unaffected, its teeth sinking deep into Oddish who squealed in pain.
"Oddish!" Reli cried. "Use Absorb!"
As Oddish began to glow, small orbs of light began detaching themselves from Ekans and were absorbed by Oddish. Oddish began to glow as it absorbed Ekans' energy. However, as Absorb was a Grass-type move, it wasn't very effective against Ekans, the Poison-type.
"Wrap Attack, Ekans!"
Ekans coiled itself tightly around Oddish, squeezing as Oddish squealed even louder and fell limp in Ekans' embrace. Oddish had fainted.
"Nice job, Ekans," Daniel said, who seemed to have recovered some of the colour to his face. "Well done."
Reli, irritated by how quickly her Oddish had fallen, returned Oddish to its Pokeball and selected another Pokeball from her belt. "Let's see how you like this! Go, Bellsprout!"
Reli's Bellsprout burst forth from its Pokeball in a burst of red light, waving its leaf arms at its opponent. Ekans hissed as it watched Bellsprout dance.
"Ekans, Bite Attack!"
"Bellsprout, Wrap!" Reli shouted.
As Ekans lunged at Bellsprout, Bellsprout avoided the attack as it wrapped itself around Ekans. Ekans' serpentine body was not easy to confine, however. Ekans wriggled out of Bellsprout's tight embrace and lunged again, this time biting deep into Bellsprout's body. Bellsprout let out a cry of pain.
"Bellsprout!" Reli exclaimed. She was close to tears. "Use Vine Whip!"
"Ekans, Leer Attack!"
As Reli's Bellsprout released long vines from its body, Ekans fixed Bellsprout with a piercing glare. Bellsprout's long vines lay limp upon the bridge as Bellsprout stood, frozen to the spot.
"Nice work, Ekans!" Daniel shouted. "Now use Wrap Attack!"
Ekans shot out at Bellsprout and wrapped itself around Bellsprout's thin, stem-like body. As it tightened its grip, Ekans used Bite Attack on Bellsprout, finishing it off. Bellsprout went limp in Ekans' embrace.
"I win!" Daniel said, his cheerful mood breaking through.
Reli returned Bellsprout to its Pokeball as Daniel returned Ekans to its Pokeball. Reli walked over, two hundred and fifty dollars in her hand.
"Here you are. You're a very good Trainer," she said, as Daniel accepted the prize money. "I have no regrets."
"Your fifth battle," Natalie whispered, as she and Daniel walked past Reli and headed for the final Trainer on the Nugget Bridge challenge. "Be strong."
The fifth and final Trainer stood just near the bridge's northern terminus. Beyond him were meadows and fields of green just waiting to be explored, surrounded by Cerulean City's beautiful ocean.
"I'm Ethan, your only obstacle remaining to the prize of the Nugget Bridge." he shook hands with Daniel before making space for a battlefield. "I hope your Pokemon are ready for a battle like none before."
As Daniel made the space required, he noticed than Ethan had only one Pokeball on his belt.
"Ah, don't underestimate me," he grinned, unlatching the Pokeball from his belt. "This one's a feisty Pokemon."
Daniel felt a little anxious, but readied himself by selecting a Pokeball on his belt.
"May the best man win. Go!" Ethan shouted, throwing his Pokeball onto the battlefield.
Ethan's Pokeball burst open in a flash of red light, revealing Mankey, a Fighting-type Pokemon.
"Be careful, Daniel," added Natalie in an undertone. "That Mankey looks manic."
Daniel threw his Pokeball into the battlefield, revealing Bellsprout with a burst of red light.
"Mankey, Scratch Attack!"
"Bellsprout, Vine Whip!"
Mankey set off towards Bellsprout at a run as Bellsprout extended long vines from its body, headed straight for Mankey. Before the vines could lash out at Mankey, however, Mankey had reached Bellsprout and scratched Bellsprout right across the face.
"Bellsprout!" Daniel shouted. "Whack him with your vines!"
"Mankey, Karate Chop!" Ethan shouted.
Before Bellsprout could attack, Mankey dealt a severe blow to Bellsprout using its fist, causing Bellsprout to fall onto the bridge, its vines loosely falling with it.
"Finish it, Mankey! Low Kick!"
Mankey took a step back, then, as Bellsprout attempted to get up, Mankey aimed a kick straight at Bellsprout's face. Bellsprout flew across the bridge, landing at Daniel's feet as it looked up at him with blank eyes. It had fallen unconscious.
"No way..." Daniel said, kneeling before Bellsprout's limp body. "Bellsprout, are you OK?"
Bellsprout made no sound as Daniel retrieved Bellsprout's Pokeball and a flash of red light sent Bellsprout back inside its Pokeball. Daniel selected Ekans' Pokeball with a feeling of dread in his stomach. This was his last Pokemon. He couldn't suffer another defeat - not after Joshua.
"Come on! Let's go!" Ethan shouted. Ethan's Mankey looked crazed as it returned to its side of the field.
"Ekans, I'm putting all my trust in you!" Daniel shouted, throwing the Pokeball onto the bridge and revealing Ekans in a flash of red light.
"Mankey, Leer Attack!"
"Ekans, Poison Sting!"
Ekans opened its mouth and shot a volley of poison barbs straight at Mankey as Mankey's eyes glowed and it fixed Ekans with a glare. Ekans was frozen to the spot in fear, but the poison barbs hit their target and sent Mankey reeling, rolling over several times and landing on its back. As it stood, Mankey had a purplish tinge to its coloring. It was poisoned.
"Mankey, take charge! Scratch Attack!"
As Mankey headed towards Ekans, its movement impaired by the poison coursing through its veins, Mankey's attack missed by inches as Ekans regained control of its body in the nick of time. Ekans leapt at Mankey, wrapping its long body around it and tightening its embrace.
"Finish it, Ekans! Bite Attack!"
"Mankey, get that Ekans off of you now!" Ethan yelled.
Despite Mankey's struggles, Ekans managed to take a bite out of Mankey, causing it to shriek an ear-splitting scream and fall to the bridge floor. As Ekans uncoiled itself from the unconscious Mankey, it returned to Daniel's side as Ethan, mouth agape, watched Mankey lie still, out for the count.
"I WIN!" Daniel yelled, as Natalie cheered alongside him. Daniel hugged Ekans, albeit not too roughly after seeing how tightly Ekans' Wrap Attack was and gave Natalie a high five.
Ethan, who had returned Mankey to its Pokeball, walked over to Daniel.
"You bested me, fair and square. I have no regrets. Here, take your prize money."
Ethan handed Daniel three hundred dollars in cash.
"I also have a gift for you. Upon completion of the Nugget Bridge, the winning Trainer is to receive a Nugget. However, due to the influx of Trainers recently, we have run out of Nuggets, so we can only offer the monetary value of a Nugget in cash."
Daniel, who had intended to sell the Nugget anyway so he could pay back Natalie for the hotel room, was quick to respond, "I'll take the cash."
Ethan handed over five thousand dollars in cash. Eagerly pocketing it, Daniel shook hands with Ethan. "Thank you for a great battle. The five of you are very keen Trainers."
Daniel turned to Natalie. "I've got to take Meowth and Bellsprout to the Pokemon Centre. We can count all my prize winnings and sort out how much I owe you."
But to Daniel's surprise, Natalie shook her head. "You keep it, Daniel. You've earned it."
"But - "
"If it's not too much trouble, I'm going to go for a small walk now that we've reached the other side of Cerulean City."
"No, that's not any trouble at all."
"You go spend your winnings. Keep some for hotels, though!" Natalie smiled, turning to head north, in the direction of the bridge's north terminus.
"I'll try," Daniel grinned, taking off at a run back the way he came. He had managed to survive the Nugget Bridge challenge. Daniel wondered if he was strong enough to face the Cerulean Gym Leader.