CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Daniel slowly opened his eyes to the glare of sunlight. He sat up all of a sudden, noticing that Natalie was still snoozing with her Pokemon.
"Natalie," Daniel shook her awake, insistently. "Natalie, wake up!"
Natalie gave a contented smile, then woke up, blinking from tiredness. "What?"
"We've slept in!" said Daniel.
"What?" Natalie asked groggily. "Oh, no!"
All around them, there was the sound of nature and of wild Pokemon trotting about. None of the campers remained; they had already packed and left.
"It's midday!" said Daniel. "We've got to hurry or the day'll be over before we know it!"
Daniel and Natalie woke their Pokemon with urgency. Meowth tried to ignore his Trainer, while Ekans hissed in irritation and Bellsprout uncurled itself with reluctance.
"Squirtle, Poliwag, Butterfree!" Natalie gently roused them from their slumber.
Squirtle tottered on its feet, as did Poliwag, while Butterfree flew over their heads, the only one of them happy to be awake.
Daniel and Natalie, with six Pokemon between them, headed into Lavender Town and noticed that several of the citizens were headed to the south.
"Oh, I almost forgot. There's a fishing event happening on the Silence Bridge," said Natalie.
"Well, we don't have any fishing rods," Daniel said. "But according to the Town Map, the Silence Bridge leads to a route near Vermilion City. Shall we head there next?"
"Sure," nodded Natalie. "It'll be great to see some Water Pokemon!"
After healing their Pokemon at the Pokemon Center to get them ready and refreshed, Daniel and Natalie walked south to find an increasing number of fishermen preparing their bait and tackle.
"There are Trainers here, too," noted Natalie. "They must be trying to catch some of the Water Pokemon, too."
Daniel and Natalie walked through the short route which connected Lavender Town to the Silence Bridge, walking out onto the pier where lots of fishermen were weighing their catches. Some had caught Goldeen or Horsea, but the main catch of the day was Magikarp, floundering uselessly as the fishermen shook their heads in disappointment.
"You should look out for a Water Pokemon, Natalie," said Daniel. "You can add another one to your party!"
Natalie looked indulgently at Squirtle and Poliwag, but spared a glance for Butterfree soaring overhead. She looked out at the sea, stretching beyond the safety of the pier. One day she hoped to swim with her Pokemon by her side.
As they walked along the long wooden pier, Natalie almost bumped into another fisherman heading her way.
"Hey, watch it!" said Natalie.
It was a young boy, weighed down with the bulk of his fishing equipment with four Pokeballs on his belt.
"I'm sorry, miss," he muttered, trying to heave his load.
"I see you have Pokeballs on your belt. Would you like to battle?" Natalie asked.
The boy saw Natalie's Pokemon at her side and sighed. "Now?"
"Yes!" Natalie said in triumph. "There's nothing but Magikarp being caught today. Unload your gear and let's battle!"
"Alright, then," the boy said sourly, as the two of them moved to an empty space on the pier to make room for a battlefield.
The spot they had chosen had a moderate amount of water in the middle, with the pier on either side supporting the opposing Trainers.
"I have four Pokemon, you have three," the boy pointed out, a grin curling his face as he weighed the possible advantages.
"Don't take them lightly," said Natalie. She turned to Daniel. "This won't take long."
"Give him all you've got!" said Daniel.
Natalie turned to the boy. "I'm Natalie. What's your name?"
"I'm Elliot. You ready?" he asked, setting his gear down beside him.
"I am. Go, Poliwag!" Natalie called.
Poliwag stepped forward, its feather tail waving in the sea breeze. Elliot selected a Pokeball from his belt and threw it into the water which separated the two Trainers from one another.
"Go, Goldeen!"
A red light flashed from underwater, then, as Elliot's Pokeball broke surface to fly back into his hand, Goldeen emerged from the water; a small fish Pokemon with orange markings interspersed on its white body. It had a horn on its forehead and a billowing tail.
"What a pretty Pokemon," Natalie said. Goldeen dived underwater
"I don't catch Pokemon 'cause they're pretty!" Elliot was firm. "I catch them 'cause they're strong! Goldeen, Horn Attack!"
"Poliwag, Hypnosis!"
Poliwag released a hypnotic wave from its stomach as Goldeen surfaced, its horn aimed for Poliwag. Goldeen was stunned by the hypnotic wave and instantly fell asleep, slamming onto the pier at Poliwag's small feet.
"Goldeen!" shouted Elliot. He reached into his pocket for an Awakening, but there was no way to approach his Pokemon without crossing the water. "Return, Goldeen."
Goldeen went back into Elliot's Pokeball in a flash of red light, then Elliot selected another and threw it into the water.
"I was just getting started!" Elliot grinned as the familiar flash of red light slowly disappeared to allow for the outline of a Pokemon to break the surface. It landed on Elliot's side of the pier, glaring at Poliwag.
"It's Shellder!" said Daniel.
"Return for now, Poliwag. You did well," said Natalie, as Poliwag nodded and joined Natalie by her side. "Butterfree, go!"
Butterfree swooped into the vicinity of the battlefield, flapping its beautiful wings softly.
"Butterfree, Confusion!"
"Shellder, Withdraw!"
Shellder withdrew into its shell as Butterfree released a telekinetic wave at Shellder. The telekinetic wave bounced off Shellder's shell and disappeared.
"Shellder, Clamp!"
Shellder launched into the air all of a sudden, grabbing Butterfree by surprise and plummeting into the water below.
"Butterfree!" screamed Natalie.
"Hah! Your butterfly belongs to the ocean, now!" laughed Elliot.
"Return!" Natalie said, pointing her Pokeball into the water. Butterfree disappeared inside it in a flash of red light as Shellder broke surface, landing on Elliot's side with an expression of triumph.
"You got lucky," panted Natalie, a sheen of sweat breaking out at the thought of her precious Butterfree being dragged into a watery grave. "But now you'll meet my strongest Pokemon! Go, Squirtle!"
Squirtle stepped forward, fixing Shellder with an angry gaze.
"Shellder, Supersonic!"
"Squirtle, dive underwater!"
As Shellder released a supersonic wave at Squirtle, Squirtle dived underwater and dodged it narrowly. Without preamble, Squirtle surfaced on Elliot's side of the pier, grabbed hold of Shellder and used Bite Attack on the inside of Shellder's shell.
"Withdraw!" shouted Elliot, apoplectic at this sudden intrusion.
Before Shellder could withdraw, Squirtle tackled Shellder, sending it past Elliot and into the water behind him.
"Shellder, come back!" shouted Elliot. There was no response from Shellder.
Elliot grumbled to himself as he returned Shellder to its Pokeball. Squirtle dived back into the water, swimming across to Natalie's side of the pier where she patted him on the head.
"My next Pokemon," said Elliot, this time letting his Pokeball release onto the pier where he stood. "Poliwag!"
Natalie felt a twinge as Poliwag burst forth, waddling on its little legs. Natalie's Poliwag watched it curiously.
"Poliwag, Hypnosis!" shouted Elliot.
"Squirtle, dive underwater!"
As Squirtle dived underwater to avoid the hypnotic wave, Elliot shouted, "Don't let Squirtle get the upper hand! Doubleslap!"
As Squirtle burst from the water, Poliwag was ready and used its tail to slap Squirtle several times. Stunned, Squirtle stumbled and tripped over on the pier, near the water's edge.
"Poliwag, Hypnosis!" yelled Elliot.
"Squirtle, Withdraw!" cried Natalie.
Squirtle popped into its shell, avoiding the hypnotic wave which bounced off Squirtle's shell and disappeared. Squirtle emerged, leaping on Poliwag and delivering a Bite Attack which caused it to squeal in pain.
"Oh, no..." Natalie said. "I hate seeing Water Pokemon getting hurt."
"Poliwag, Doubleslap!" said Elliot.
"Squirtle, Tackle!" Natalie shouted from her end of the pier.
As Poliwag turned to slap Squirtle with its tail, Squirtle tackled Poliwag, sending it rolling across the pier and stopping at Elliot's feet. It had fainted.
Elliot retrieved a Pokeball, staring at it wistfully. "My dad's a fisherman, you know. I try my best to be like him."
Daniel stayed silent, thinking of his own father.
"I've caught all these Water Pokemon to try and impress him, you know? But fighting you, Natalie," Elliot glanced up at his challenger. "Who was I kidding? Water Pokemon can't beat Water Pokemon. All they do is shoot water at each other."
"Don't be like that," Natalie reprimanded. "Water Pokemon can be strong, like my Squirtle; or tricky, like my Poliwag."
"I don't want to challenge the Pokemon League. I want to fish," Elliot shrugged.
"That's what your Water Pokemon can help with! I'm a fan of Water Pokemon. They're my friends and I believe in them."
"Here," Elliot said, throwing the Pokeball to Natalie, who caught it with a gasp of surprise. "I surrender. You can keep it."
"B-but, it's your Pokemon!" exclaimed Natalie, openly shocked.
"I just caught it," shrugged Elliot, walking over and handing Natalie a wad of cash. "You're a much better Trainer than me. You deserve to raise it, not me."
Natalie accepted the cash in surprise, watching Elliot take his fishing gear and head off in the direction of Lavender Town.
"You better be going to heal your Pokemon at the Pokemon Center!" Daniel called after him. "Can you believe the nerve of that guy?"
"I think he's a bit confused about how to do the right thing," said Natalie. "Perhaps his father's demanding. Perhaps his father's absent and Elliot isn't sure what to do in the first place..."
Daniel remained silent. He wished he could open up to Natalie about his father... but his mother had warned him and his sister a long time ago not to offload that burden onto others.
Natalie released Butterfree from its Pokeball, administering a Potion to it. It looked much healthier.
"Squirtle, Poliwag, Butterfree," said Natalie, feeling a little anxious. "This Pokemon is a surprise addition to our party. Abandoned by its owner, we'll treat it with as much care as we can..."
"Even if it's a Magikarp?" asked Daniel.
"Yes," Natalie said confidently. "No matter what Pokemon it is; all Pokemon are to be loved equally."
Natalie threw the Pokeball into the water, where red light flooded the surface and formed a Pokemon underneath.
What Pokemon could it be? Natalie asked herself. Even if it's a Magikarp, oh God -
The Pokemon broke surface, nervously looking at Natalie and her Pokemon.
"Horsea!" cried Natalie, running to the surface.
Horsea dived underwater with a wail of panic, only bubbles left to indicate it had broken the water's surface.
"Squirtle, Poliwag, can you dive underwater and explain the situation to Horsea?" asked Natalie.
Squirtle and Poliwag nodded in unison, then both dived underwater a second later.
"Are you sure you want another Pokemon, Natalie?" Daniel asked. "This one, especially - it might feel resentful of Elliot, or of you, for trying to raise it."
"I've got to try," Natalie said, adamant. "This Horsea needs to be looked after. I've space in my heart for more than just the six Pokemon I'm allowed to carry."
Squirtle broke the surface, climbing back onto the pier.
"Is everything alright?" asked Natalie. Squirtle nodded happily.
Horsea broke the surface, with Poliwag joining it a moment later.
"Are you OK, Horsea?" asked Natalie. Horsea nodded. "If you'd like, we can give it a test run. I'll look after you for a few days, and if you're not happy, well... I'll take you back home to the sea."
Horsea bounced from the water onto the pier. Now that it could be viewed properly, Daniel saw that it was a small, light blue seahorse with tiny scales. It had neither arms nor legs, only a fin on its back and a curled tail. Its belly and fin were cream-coloured and it had protrusions on its face not unlike spikes.
"Would you like to walk with us, Horsea? Or would you prefer the privacy of your Pokeball?" Natalie asked.
Horsea considered this for a moment, then sidled up to Natalie. Natalie bent down and picked it up, seeing that Horsea had difficulty hopping about on land.
"Let's go." Natalie smiled.
Daniel and Natalie continued south along the pier, passing by many fishermen who were already packing up their kits.
"Look at those clouds," one grumbled, trying in vain to stuff his fishing rod into his backpack, at least partially. "Just when the fishing was getting good."
A light rain began to shower, sprinkling Daniel and Natalie.
"Meowth!" Daniel said, scooping him up in his arms. Meowth was wriggling in discomfort from the rain.
"We're almost there!" said Natalie, pointing to a junction which led off to the west. "That has to be the route to Vermilion City! Let's run!"
Natalie set off at a run, clutching Horsea in her arms while Squirtle and Poliwag raced to keep up. Butterfree caught up easily, flying lazily in the rain. Daniel, clutching Meowth, ran after Natalie with Bellsprout and Ekans keeping up at a steady pace. They turned into the route leading west, which led through a forested area.
Meowth was desperately trying to climb out of Daniel's embrace. Irritated and arms covered in scratches, Daniel replied, "Meowth, stop struggling!"
Daniel retrieved his Pokeball and pointed it at Meowth, putting him back in his Pokeball with a flash of red light. They continued walking, the light rain not unpleasant, with high trees on either side of them and a narrow path cutting through the woods.
"How's Horsea doing?" asked Daniel.
Natalie smiled, nodding. "She's doing really good!"
They continued walking as the path began to thin and they came out into a vast field, interspersed with patches of tall grass and Trainers.
"Look at all of them!" said Daniel.
In the wide space they had entered, there were several pairs of Trainers testing out their Pokemon in battles with each other. Young and old, male and female, adept and novice. The light rain began to stop and Natalie shook the remaining droplets from her hair.
"I'm going to heal my Pokemon at the Vermilion Pokemon Center. You should stay here and battle!" she said.
"Are you sure?" asked Daniel.
"Yeah! I'll be back real soon!" she said, hurrying off with Horsea in her arms and Squirtle and Poliwag running in her wake.
Daniel looked across the field for Trainers with whom to battle. Several were already matched up, and the few he could spot on their own were attempting to catch wild Pokemon. Daniel could see Pidgey and Spearow flying over the treetops, Rattata and Raticate trying to hide from one another in the tall grass, and even a Drowzee or two trying to ward off Trainers with their Hypnosis attack.
"Hey! You're a Trainer!"
Daniel turned to see a young boy running up to him, wearing shorts and carrying a Pokeball in his hand.
"Yes, I am," said Daniel. "Would you like to battle?"
"Sure!" said the boy. "I just caught this Pokemon, though, so would you mind only using one Pokemon each for this battle?"
"I don't mind," said Daniel, looking down to Bellsprout. "Bellsprout, how would you like a turn to battle?"
Bellsprout nodded, stepping forward. The boy looked at Bellsprout doubtfully. "That thing can battle?"
Daniel was unfazed. "Let's see your new Pokemon."
The boy stepped back to make room for a battlefield, then threw the Pokeball into the fray.
"Go, Ekans!" he shouted.
Ekans appeared onto the battlefield, hissing at Bellsprout.
"Oh, man, you are too easy!" the boy said gleefully. "Ekans, Poison Sting!"
"Bellsprout, Sleep Powder!"
Bellsprout released a haze of shining powder onto the battlefield as Ekans opened its mouth and released a volley of poisonous barbs at Bellsprout. The poison barbs mostly missed, but hit their target on Bellsprout, who wobbled unsteadily at they made contact. As the shining dust settled over the battlefield, Ekans was sent into a sudden sleep.
"What?" shouted the boy. "Your Bellsprout is supposed to be weak to Poison!"
"Bellsprout is a dual Grass/Poison type," said Daniel. "Poison-type Pokemon can't be poisoned, either!"
"Aw, man," said the youngster. "Ekans! Hey, Ekans, WAKE UP!"
Ekans snoozed contentedly, oblivious to its Trainer's shouts.
"Bellsprout, Wrap!"
Bellsprout shot its long limbs towards Ekans, tying itself around the serpent Pokemon and entangling it tightly.
"Oh, no!" said the boy. "Ekans, wake up!"
Ekans began to writhe in pain as it woke up, realising with a jolt what a conundrum it was in.
"Bite Attack, Ekans!" shouted the boy.
But Ekans had already fainted from the tight grip of Bellsprout's vines. Bellsprout released Ekans, who fell unconscious onto the ground.
"Oh, no... "
Daniel walked up to the boy. "You've got to train your Pokemon more for its first battle. Try battling wild Pokemon first!"
"Yeah, yeah..." said the boy, reaching into his pocket and giving Daniel fifty bucks. "Oh, man, my mom's gonna kill me when she finds out I lost my pocket money..."
The boy collected the unconscious Ekans in his arms, running off in the same direction Natalie had, presumably to the Pokemon Center.
"How did that battle feel, Bellsprout?" asked Daniel.
Bellsprout nodded, waving its leaf arms around. Daniel smiled, then continued walking with his Pokemon. He found a Pokemon battle that had just finished, and, upon recognising which one was the victor, approached him.
"Hi, my name's Daniel. Would you like a Pokemon battle?"
The man turned around, surprised. He was an elderly man, with two Pokeballs on his belt.
"You?" he asked, guffawing. "I just beat a youngster like you for having no respect for his elders!"
Daniel and the elderly man made room for a battlefield.
"What's your name?" asked Daniel. "I'm Daniel."
"The name's Darian," said the elderly man. "Get ready to face the might of my Pokemon!"
Darian threw a Pokeball into the fray, revealing Growlithe in a burst of red light. It pawed the ground and regarded Daniel with a keen eye.
"Ekans, go!" Daniel said, as Ekans slithered past him and onto the battlefield.
"Growlithe, Ember!" shouted Darian.
"Ekans, dodge it and use Poison Sting!"
As Growlithe opened its mouth and released a volley of flames, Ekans leapt to the side to avoid the attack, shooting a volley of poison barbs back at Growlithe. Growlithe was impaled by the barbs, tottering unsteadily on its feet.
"Growlithe! You're poisoned!" exclaimed Darian, reaching in his pocket for an antidote.
"Ekans, Wrap!" cried Daniel.
Ekans shot out from its position and wrapped itself around Growlithe tightly.
"Bite!" shouted Daniel and Darian in unison.
Ekans' attack was first, however - Growlithe was in too much pain . Ekans bit into Growlithe, causing it to howl in misery and slump immobile, onto the ground. Ekans slithered back to Daniel's side of the field as Darian returned Growlithe to its Pokeball in a flash of red light.
"Well, that's a surprise..." said Darian, retrieving his second Pokeball and throwing it onto the battlefield. "Go, Magnemite!"
Magnemite appeared in a flash of red light. It had a grey, circular metal body with a screw on top of its head and a horseshoe magnet on the left and right side of its body. It levitated in the air and had a single eye, watching Ekans cautiously.
"Ekans, return," Daniel said, as Ekans slithered back to its Trainer's side. "Meowth, you're up next!"
Meowth burst forth from its Pokeball, glad that the weather was drier than before. It unsheathed its claws at the sight of Magnemite.
"Magnemite, Sonicboom!"
"Meowth, Pay Day!"
Magnemite began spinning wildly in the air, producing a shock wave directed at Meowth just as Meowth released its Pay Day attack. The shockwave intercepted Meowth's attack, causing coins to scatter everywhere mid-field and blasted Meowth off its feet.
"Meowth!" cried Daniel. Meowth got to its feet, dazed.
"Thundershock!" shouted Darian.
Magnemite shuddered, surrounding by electricity as it released a bolt of lightning at Meowth.
"Meowth, watch out!" warned Daniel.
Meowth dodged the bolt of lightning narrowly, running towards Magnemite as fast as it could.
"Tackle, Magnemite!" said Darian.
"Meowth, Growl!" said Daniel.
Meowth let out a high-pitched hiss as it neared Magnemite, stopping it in its tracks. Meowth took this moment to leap on Magnemite, scratching it fiercely. Bobbing in the air with Meowth attached to it, Magnemite's body glowed with electricity again.
"Meowth, watch out!" warned Daniel, as Meowth leapt off Magnemite.
"Thundershock!" shouted Darian.
"Meowth, dodge it!"
Magnemite shot a bolt of lightning which hit Meowth before he knew what was happening, sending him into spasms of pain as he writhed on the grass.
"Let's end this, Magnemite! Tackle!"
Magnemite headed towards Meowth with a fury, its single eye widening as Meowth's coin began to glow.
"Pay Day!" shouted Daniel.
Just as Magnemite was face-to-face with Meowth, Meowth blasted Magnemite away, sending coins scattering as Magnemite landed painfully on the ground.
"Bite Attack!" shouted Daniel.
Meowth leapt upon Magnemite before it could respond, sinking its teeth in and causing Magnemite to emit an odd, robotic echo of pain.
"Beaten by a darn cat!" shouted Darian in fury, returning Magnemite to its Pokeball.
Meowth ran over to Daniel, who scratched him behind the ears affectionately.
"You're a great Pokemon, Meowth," Daniel smiled.
"Here you go," said Darian, handing over four hundred dollars. "You're not bad for a kid."
"Thank you, sir," smiled Daniel, as Darian walked off in the direction of Vermilion City.
Daniel decided to walk in the same direction, to check if Natalie was OK. She might get lost walking around Vermilion City.
What am I thinking? Natalie can handle herself. Natalie's a bright, bubbly person who can befriend anyone.
Daniel walked through the field, passing Trainers battling furiously with cries of "That's not fair!" or "My Pokemon can beat yours easily!" or "That's not enough money! Give me some more!"
After a few more minutes of walking, the thicket of trees had lessened and opened onto a narrow path, where Daniel could see tall buildings and people in view. He had arrived in Vermilion City.