CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Go on," Natalie urged, as she lined up behind the Trainers with weak Pokemon in their arms. "I'll only be a minute."

Daniel nervously approached one of the payphones, paying the service charge and dialing home. As he held the receiver to his ear, he heard it ring and wondered if his Mom would be home...

"Good afternoon, Mary speaking."

"Mom! It's me, Daniel!"

"Daniel! It's been days!" replied Mary in exasperation. "Where are you right now?"

"I'm in Cerulean City, Mom. Natalie and I have got two Badges already!"

"Really? That's excellent news!"

"How's Beth doing?"

"She misses the both of you. She spends so much time with Vulpix, I'm beginning to think that Pokemon's a little mollycoddled to tell you the truth. How's Meowth doing?"

"He's a much better fighter now. He's learned some great moves."

"And Natalie?" Mary asked, concerned. "Her mother hasn't been the most talkative lately... has she rung her lately?"

"I don't think so," Daniel said, glancing to the line of Trainers at the counter. Natalie was collecting her newly healed Pokemon, safe in their Pokeballs. "Look, Mom, I've gotta go - "

"OK! Don't forget about me!"

"Tell Beth I said hi!"

"Give me a call tomorrow and tell Natalie I'm thinking of her."

"Will do. Bye!"

Daniel disconnected the call and met up with Natalie.

"All done?" he asked.

Natalie nodded. "What did your Mom say?"

The two of them exited the Pokemon Centre, greeting the afternoon sun with a smile.

"She said she's good, Beth's good, and to wish us both luck on our journey!"

"She's a nice woman, your mother." Natalie said. "So, we can head to either Vermilion City or Celadon City for our next Badges. Where should we go first?"

"Well, I was thinking..." Daniel said tentatively.

"What?" Natalie asked.

"Misty, the Gym Leader, mentioned that to the east of Cerulean City is a route which leads to the Rock Tunnel. It's a little dark, but it leads to Lavender Town."

"That's not where we're headed." Natalie maintained patience. "Doesn't Rock Tunnel sound a little hazardous?"

"I thought you were interested in adventure!" Daniel said.

"We're not hikers, Daniel! We barely made it out of Mt. Moon alive - and that was with torches guiding our way. Who's to say we won't get lost? Who will find us then?"

"Well, we have our Pokemon," Daniel said, retrieving his three Pokeballs and releasing his Pokemon into the fresh air with separate flashes of red light. Meowth, Bellsprout and Ekans made collective noises of appreciation as they greeted their Trainer.

Natalie watched Daniel hug all his Pokemon, then smiled. "OK. But you better watch my back!"

"You'll have your Pokemon for that, too! Don't forget!" Daniel smiled back.

Natalie released Squirtle, Poliwag and Butterfree from their Pokeballs so that they could walk alongside her. Butterfree flew overhead with a twittering cry of joy.

"Let's go," Natalie smiled, as they walked in the direction of Rock Tunnel.

Daniel and Natalie walked along the route east of Cerulean City, headed for Rock Tunnel. The afternoon was beginning to dim, with the sun's rays slowly disappearing as each minute passed. It was getting colder, now.

"I can see some Trainers battling," remarked Natalie, as Daniel turned to see two Bug Catchers facing each other. "I think I'll ask the next Trainer I see to battle."

Daniel and Natalie turned a corner, bumping almost instantly to a man of large girth with a swarthy beard and a large grin on his face.

"She wants to battle you," Daniel said, surprised at how similar all hikers looked.

Natalie was taken aback; she was expecting someone petite or a youngster.

"You want to battle me, little lady?" asked the man, his voice deep. He laughed loudly, patting his chest. "Well, that just makes my day! A little girl like you?"

"Sure, why not!" Natalie said, choosing not to react to the slight. "Let's battle!"

Natalie and the hiker made room for a battlefield while Daniel watched on the sidelines with his Pokemon at his side.

"You sure you can handle this?" grinned the hiker, pulling a Pokeball from the pocket on his vest.

"You bet!" Natalie said.

"Well, it'll take more than a pretty little girl to beat ol' Alan! Go, Machop!"

Alan threw his Pokeball onto the field, revealing Machop in a burst of red light. It flexed its considerable biceps in a show of pride.

"Butterfree, I choose you!"

Butterfree flew into the battlefield, whizzing over everyone's heads and emitting a cry of delight at being chosen.

"Machop, er, jump up and hit Butterfree!"

Natalie let out a giggle as Machop tried in vain to swat Butterfree. Butterfree was easily able to avoid Machop's lightning-fast punches as it stayed high above the battlefield.

"Butterfree, Poisonpowder!"

Butterfree released a stream of poison spores which settled over the battlefield like dust. Machop coughed violently, turning a shade of purple.

"Can't you hit that puny bug?" Alan exclaimed. "Oh, rats, where's my Antidote - "

"Butterfree, let's finish Machop! Confusion Attack!"

Butterfree stiffened as it released a telekinetic wave at Machop, blasting it off its feet and flat onto its back. It had fainted.

"Nice going, Butterfree!" Natalie cheered, as Daniel clapped from the sidelines. Meowth joined in with the applause, as did Bellsprout with its leaf arms. Ekans hissed in encouragement.

Alan returned his unconscious Machop to its Pokeball with a series of grumblings.

"That was a cheap shot," he said. "You got lucky! You won't get lucky this time!"

Alan selected his next Pokeball, throwing it onto the field. "Go, Onix!"

Onix appeared in a flash of red light, causing Natalie to take a few steps back and look in wonder at the rocky, serpentine beast. Onix faced Butterfree menacingly.

"Butterfree, Sleep Powder!"

"Onix, Rock Throw!"

Onix whipped its long tail around and bashed Butterfree, sending it flying through the air and flat onto the ground. It grabbed hold of a nearby boulder with its tail and sent it flying towards Butterfree.

"Butterfree, return!" Natalie screamed, holding out her Pokeball and returning Butterfree with a flash of red light as Onix's boulder landed where Butterfree lay only seconds before, crashing with a great thud.

"You give up that easily?" Alan taunted. "Just when I was getting started?"

"Oh, I'm only getting started, Alan." Natalie said fiercely. "My Pokemon will stay strong to the very end - you hurt one of them, you hurt them all! Poliwag! Avenge your fallen friend!"

Poliwag bounded forward, a determined expression on its face as it faced Onix.

"That tiny pipsqueak? Hah! You've got no chance against me!" Alan said.

"We'll see! Poliwag, Bubble!"

"Onix, Screech Attack!"

Poliwag released a stream of bubbles at Onix as Onix released a soundwave at Poliwag. Poliwag staggered on its feet unsteadily, dazed; while Onix shook off the minor injury and roared at Poliwag, launching itself at Poliwag in rage.

"Poliwag, watch out!" Natalie warned.

Poliwag stiffened for a moment, then released a hypnotic wave which blasted Onix in the face, causing it to stop mid-attack and land on the ground, skidding to a halt at Poliwag's diminutive figure. It was snoring, having fallen asleep.

"Onix!" cried Alan in despair. "Get up, you lazy brute!"

"Poliwag, finish it! Water Gun!"

Poliwag seemed to suck in its breath, then released a jet of water which blasted Onix in the face. Onix writhed in pain as Poliwag jumped out of the way.

"Careful!" Natalie said, kneeling to collect Poliwag who ran into her arms. They watched as Onix lay inert. They had won the battle.

"Kids! Bah!" Alan said, returning Onix to its Pokeball. "What are you good for, anyway?"

"I believe you owe Natalie some money, Alan," warned Daniel, keeping a close eye on Natalie's opponent.

"Yer, yer..." Alan said, walking over and handing Natalie four hundred dollars. "Good luck to the both of yer."

Alan stomped off in the direction of Cerulean City, as Daniel and Natalie continued walking.

"That was a great battle!" exclaimed Daniel. "Butterfree and Poliwag are getting stronger!"

"You should train, too, Daniel." Natalie said, as they continued walking. "You never know - Meowth might evolve soon!"

Daniel glanced down at Meowth. Evolve? Daniel had loved Meowth since he was a baby. He didn't want Meowth to become a Persian.

"Hey!" cried a voice. "Over here!"

Daniel looked up to see a girl waving from far away. She ran up to him, breathing heavily.

"I can see you have Pokemon. You must be a Pokemon Trainer!" she said.

"I am." Daniel replied. "Would you like to battle?"

"Sure! But, uh, I only have one Pokemon. Is it OK if we only use one Pokemon each?"

Daniel looked down at his three Pokemon. "That's fine with me! My name's Daniel. What's your name?"

"I'm Caitlin! Nice to meet you." she said, as they both stepped back to make room. "Ready?"

"Yes, I am! Go, Bellsprout!"

Bellsprout stepped forward, its leaf arms waving gently in the wind. Daniel could see overhead that it was starting to get dark now.

"I choose you!" Caitlin said, throwing her Pokeball into the field as it erupted in red light. "Go, Meowth!"

"Gosh, it looks like your Meowth, Daniel!" Natalie said.

Meowth hissed at Caitlin's Meowth.

"Meowth, it's alright," Daniel said, patting his Meowth's fur. He turned back to the battle.

"Meowth, Scratch Attack!"

"Bellsprout, Wrap!"

As Meowth leapt at Bellsprout, Bellsprout released long vines which held Meowth in place and tightened as Meowth let out a cry of pain.

"Meowth!" cried Caitlin.

Daniel hesitated, watching his opponent's Meowth in agony. He couldn't stand it - it was like watching his own Meowth in pain. Bellsprout glanced at its owner, somehow aware of its master's apprehension.

"Meowth, Pay Day!" Caitlin shouted.

Distracted, Bellsprout was blasted full force by Meowth's attack, releasing its hold of Meowth as it wriggled on the ground. Coins fell everywhere on the grass as Caitlin's Meowth regained its posture and headed towards Bellsprout.

"Daniel!" Natalie chided. "Concentrate!"

Bellsprout had taken the initiative in place of Daniel's silence and used Vine Whip on Caitlin's Meowth. Meowth was able to dodge Bellsprout's vines this time, however, and leapt onto Bellsprout, sinking its teeth in for a Bite Attack.

"Bellsprout!" Daniel cried, as Bellsprout flailed about, unable to release its vines as it writhed in pain.

"Sleep Powder!"

Bellsprout released a cloud of shining dust which settled over the battlefield. Meowth began to get sleepy, then retracted its teeth from Bellsprout as it keeled over, snoring loudly.

"Meowth?" Caitlin asked in concern.

"Bellsprout, are you OK?" Daniel asked, approaching his Pokemon. Bellsprout was heaving; barely able to stand up.

"I lost, didn't I?" Caitlin wailed, picking up her Meowth and rocking it gently.

Daniel felt guilty for his hesitation. If he had been focused on the battle, Bellsprout wouldn't be so near unconsciousness.

"Here, Bellsprout," Daniel said, offering Bellsprout a Potion. He helped Bellsprout to drink it. Bellsprout wobbled a bit on its feet, but found steady balance and it no longer had an unhealthy pallor. Caitlin walked over to Daniel.

"Here's your prize money," she said, handing over two hundred and fifty dollars. "Why'd you hesitate to attack before?"

"I have a Meowth, too." Daniel said. Caitlin's eyes widened; she hadn't noticed until now.

"Oh, I see." she said. "We Trainers forge a special bond with our Pokemon, huh?"

Daniel nodded.

"For me and my Meowth, it's easy for us to focus on one another. But I suppose when you have more than one Pokemon, it's difficult to spread the love around, you know?"

At this, Daniel and Natalie glanced at their Pokemon.

"You're right," Daniel said softly. "It's more than just training them to be strong. It's loving them, too."

Caitlin nodded, smiling, then turned and walked away without saying another word.

Daniel exhaled, bending down to Bellsprout's level. "I'm sorry, Bellsprout."

Bellsprout looked up at its Trainer, then nodded. It waddled closer, extending its leaf arms and Daniel embraced it in a hug, careful not to crush its thin body. Hugging Bellsprout was an awkward experience compared to Meowth's cuddly, feline body.

Standing up, Daniel and Natalie continued walking, their Pokemon by their side. As they travelled further, they began to see more rocky outcrops than flourishing forestry. They walked around a corner and saw a Pokemon Center in sight, near the base to the Rock Tunnel.

"A Pokemon Center!" Natalie exclaimed. "Let's go!"

"Thank you for visiting the Pokemon Center! Please come again!"

Daniel and Natalie walked away from the reception counter, their Pokemon fully healed. They pocketed their Pokeballs and looked at each other.

"So, are we ready to take on the Rock Tunnel?" Natalie asked nervously.

Daniel took a deep breath. "I think we're ready. I don't think it makes much difference if we travel by night - it's dark in there anyway; no natural light of any kind."

"How will we light our way?"

"I think I have an idea." Daniel said, releasing Meowth from its Pokeball. Meowth appeared in a flash of red light, looking up at his Trainer. "Meowth, can you provide a source of light for us in the Tunnel?"

Meowth nodded, concentrating hard, then Natalie let out a gasp of surprise as the coin on its forehead began to glow, albeit faintly.

"Meowth! That's amazing!" Natalie said.

"I think he does it when there's shiny objects around, like coins," Daniel explained. "But I've seen him do it when it's just him and me, so I figure this may be our best bet at travelling through the cave!"

"Let's go!" Natalie smiled, releasing Squirtle from its Pokeball in a flash of red light. Squirtle eagerly joined Natalie's side.