CHAPTER THIRTY
Daniel and Natalie walked along the cobblestoned streets, with tall street lamps beside wrought iron chairs at intervals to rest on for the weary passers by. There were two-storied inns with awnings over their entrances and flowerbeds at the windows; tall, faceless buildings with gleaming windows; high-rise apartment complexes with doormen in livery to greet residents; boutique candy stores emitting musical tunes and the jostling crowd of children fighting to get inside; clothing stores displaying fashionably dressed mannequins.
"I'm glad we found a room," said Natalie. "That inn was the only one left that wasn't fully booked."
"How can so many people be traveling at this time of year?" asked Daniel, shaking his head. "It must be good for business, though."
They walked through the streets, asking passersby for directions to the Celadon Gym. It wasn't difficult - the Gym was only a few blocks over from where they were staying. As they came closer, they saw that the path led through a row of trees, separated from civilization.
"The Gym's through here?" asked Natalie, as they walked through the secluded woodland. The path was well paved and the trees waved gently in the wind.
"I guess it suits the Gym Leader, her using Grass-type Pokemon and all." said Daniel. "Look!"
The Celadon Gym was a gigantic, spherical greenhouse with the top layer fashioned in the shape of a Gloom's bud. Daniel and Natalie walked up the set of steps to the entrance, a pair of glass double doors which opened automatically when they approached.
Daniel turned to Natalie. "Ready?"
"Ready," confirmed Natalie, pasting on a smile to hide her anxiety.
They were greeted at the reception desk by a young girl, who introduced herself and directed them down the hallway. As they proceeded, they passed rooms devoted to horticultural pursuits, both scientific and superficial.
"Flower arranging?" Daniel read one of the plaques, gathering a brief glimpse of a room full of ladies at tables, surrounding by bouquets of freshly picked flowers and vases of several sizes and ornate designs. "What a leisurely pursuit."
"Here we go," said Natalie, exhaling slowly. "The Gym."
They came face-to-face with a large set of double doors, fashioned in the shape of a Pokeball. There was an intercom and Natalie pressed the buzzer.
"Welcome to the Celadon Gym. Which of you wishes to challenge our leader?"
"We're both here to battle." replied Natalie.
"Only one challenger may enter at a time, please. Which of you will go first?"
Daniel and Natalie looked at each other.
"You go," they said to each other.
"Would you like for our leader to choose for you?" asked the patient voice.
"Uh, sure," said Daniel awkwardly.
"Our leader would like to challenge the boy first."
"Me?" asked Daniel, surprised. He was sure it would be Natalie.
The doors slid open and the most fragrant scent blew forth into the hallway. Daniel entered, stunned, turning to Natalie.
"I'll be back soon," he said.
"I'll wait here." smiled Natalie, as the doors slid shut, separating them from one another.
On the other side of the door, Daniel walked forward, mouth agape, as he took in his surroundings. He was in a glass domed complex, providing sunlight to all the plants below. As he walked along a pathway and came upon the battlefield, surrounded by flower bushes and arching trees. Everywhere he looked, he could see girls as young as he was sitting amongst the plants, discreetly watering or tending or planting. They averted their eyes when he caught their gaze. He caught sight of a woman walking towards him, a little younger than his mother, a soft smile on her fair features and dark hair cut to her chin. She wore a kimono with intricate patterns upon it, tied with an obi. Her movements were delicate.
"Welcome. My name is Erika."
"I'm Daniel," he replied, uncomfortably with how ungainly he looked in such a beautiful place. He was wearing tan short and a white vest, with his Pokeballs on his belt and his backpack slung around his back.
"Please, make yourself comfortable." Erika gestured to a girl, who brought forth a cushion for them each to sit on, while another girl brought a tray of piping hot tea served in a lacquered teapot.
"Thank you," said Daniel, sitting awkwardly on the cushion and accepting the cup and saucer.
"I hope you like green tea. It's my favourite," said Erika, her cheeks brightening.
"I've never tried it," admitted Daniel, as the girl poured tea into his cup with a steady hand.
Daniel took a tentative sip, warmed by the beverage. It was tasty. He felt as though all his senses had taken a stretch and were more in sync with his body.
"It's very good," he said, lifting his cup. "Thanks."
Erika watched him with an amused expression on her face. "You're not from Celadon, are you?"
"I'm from Pallet Town," said Daniel, taking a second sip. "It's an amazing greenhouse you have."
"Oh, it's not my greenhouse. I only own the Gym," said Erika. "But I do instruct a lot of our students."
"Flower arranging?" blurted Daniel.
Erika smiled. "I meant Pokemon battling."
It was very calming, thought Daniel. The air is alive and the plants are green and the flowers smell wonderful.
Once she had finished her green tea, Erika sat in silence and waited for Daniel to do so, watching his every movement. Erika rose as Daniel handed the empty teacup to a girl who stood by his side.
"Do you drink tea with everyone who challenges you?" asked Daniel, as he stood up, facing her. Girls fetched the cushions before they began battle.
"Not everyone," Erika shook her head. "But then I sensed that you were one to appreciate my little ceremony. For that, you have my gratitude."
Daniel inclined his head. "No problem."
"Well." Erika smiled, fetching a Pokeball from inside her kimono. "Shall we begin?"
Daniel and Erika stepped back to allow enough room for the Pokemon to battle. Daniel tightened his grip on his Pokeball; up until this point, Erika had been perfectly charming. But there was no way she was a Gym Leader for being easy to beat.
"Good luck, Daniel." Erika said, throwing her first Pokeball into the field, where it burst open with a dazzling array of light. "Victreebel!"
Victreebel was the evolved form of Weepinbell and looked like an upside down Weepinbell, with larger leaves on its side and a vine which coiled from its back to form a leaf, covering Victreebel's mouth to entice prey. Sharp teeth were visible at Victreebel's mouth.
"A Victreebel..." Daniel selected his first Pokeball, throwing it onto the field. "Go, Meowth!"
Meowth appeared in a flash of red light, drawing its claws and emitting a plaintive meow as it readied itself for battle.
"Victreebel, Wrap!"
"Meowth, Scratch Attack!"
As Meowth ran towards Victreebel, Victreebel shot long vines from its body which whipped at Meowth as it ran. Meowth dodged several of them, but was grabbed by the last one, hoisted into the air and dangling by its leg as Victreebel let out a high-pitched screech of ecstacy.
"Victreebel, Razor Leaf!" said Erika.
Victreebel released razor sharp leaves from its body, flinging them at Meowth. They cut into his fur and caused him to cry out in pain, but not before Meowth released a bright light and blasted Victreebel in the chest. Coins scattered as Victreebel released its hold on Meowth, allowing the feline Pokemon to land on its feet and rush to Victreebel at an incredible speed.
"Meowth, Bite Attack!"
Launching itself upon Victreebel, Meowth took a large bite, causing Victreebel to screech in pain.
"Finish it, Meowth! Use Scratch Attack!"
"Victreebel, Poisonpowder!"
As Victreebel managed to release a cloud of poison gas into the air, Meowth scratched Victreebel viciously with its claws. Victreebel keeled over and fell unconscious from the pain.
"Victreebel, return!" said Erika, holding out her Pokeball. Victreebel returned in a flash of red light.
Meowth returned to his side of the field, licking its fur where it had been cut.
"Meowth, are you alright?" asked Daniel. Meowth had turned a deep shade of purple.
"Your Meowth shows a lot of promise," said Erika, as she selected her next Pokemon. "Tangela!"
Tangela appeared in a flash of red light. Tangela was a spherical mass of thick blue vines which obscured its body so well so that only its eyes and little feet were visible.
"Meowth, Pay Day!" Daniel shouted, as Meowth's coin began to glow.
"Tangela, Constrict!" Erika commanded.
As Meowth released his Pay Day attack, Tangela began spinning so fast it became a blur. The Pay Day blast bounced off Tangela as Tangela's spinning form released long vines which shot out and wrapped around Meowth, holding him securely.
"Meowth!" cried Daniel.
As Meowth was held tightly by Tangela's vines, more vines sprouted and began whipping Meowth mercilessly. The poison began to set in as well and Meowth went limp in Tangela's vines. He was unconscious.
"Meowth, return!" shouted Daniel, holding out his Pokeball as Tangela released its hold on Meowth, letting him drop to the ground with a thud. Meowth returned into the Pokeball with a flash of red light.
Daniel weighed which Pokemon to send next. Grass-types were all dual-Poison types... except for Tangela! Aha!
"Ekans!" Daniel threw his next Pokeball onto the field. "I choose you!"
Ekans appeared in a bright flash of light, coiling its serpentine body and hissing at Tangela.
"Tangela, watch out for this one." Erika warned, as Tangela nodded. "Bind!"
"Ekans, Glare!" shouted Daniel.
As Tangela shot out several vines from its body which headed for Ekans, Ekans' eyes glowed purple and blinded Tangela, causing its vines to drop limp upon the ground. It had been paralysed.
"Ekans, Poison Sting!"
Ekans opened its mouth and shot a volley of poisonous barbs at Tangela, each of them landing a hit and causing Tangela to become poisoned.
"Wow," said Erika, nodding, as she held out her Pokeball. "You're good. Return, Tangela!"
Tangela, paralysed and poisoned and in a lot of pain, returned into the Pokeball with a flash of red light. Ekans flexed its body and fixed its stare on Erika.
"You're a more competent Trainer than I first thought." Erika said, retrieving her final Pokeball. "However, I must show you my final Pokemon."
Daniel's insides tightened. Erika was so calm and collected. Did she have a strong Grass-type up her sleeve?
Erika threw her Pokeball onto the field. "Go, my beauty! Vileplume!"
Vileplume was the evolved form of Gloom, with a blue-coloured bipedal body supporting a massive rafflesia flower on its head. The petals of its flower head were red dotted with white spots.
"Ekans, Wrap Attack!" shouted Daniel.
"Vileplume, Sleep Powder!" Erika commanded.
Vileplume released shining dust from its spores as Ekans leapt at Vileplume, wrapping itself around its body. As it began to tighten its grip, Ekans succumbed to the shining powder, falling asleep and releasing its hold on Vileplume.
"Vileplume, Mega Drain!" Erika commanded.
Vileplume glowed green and shot out a blast of energy which engulfed Ekans, absorbing its energy and giving it to Vileplume. Although the Grass-type attack wasn't very effective against the Poison-type Ekans, it still caused a bit of damage.
Daniel searched in his pocket for his last Awakening and aimed it at Ekans, spraying the medicine -
"Vileplume, Petal Dance!"
Vileplume released pink petals from its body as the Awakening took effect, waking Ekans up. The petals spun around Vileplume like a vicious tornado, whipping and cutting into Ekans. The petals continued to whirl as Ekans reared back its head, launching itself at Vileplume; but the petals struck again, sending Ekans hissing angrily to the ground.
"Ekans!" cried Daniel. "Glare!"
Ekans lifted his head and its eyes glowed purple, stopping Vileplume in its tracks. Paralysed, Vileplume's pink petals ceased their onslaught and dropped inert to the ground as Vileplume was unable to move.
"Wrap Attack, Ekans!"
Ekans launched itself at Vileplume, wrapping its long body around and tightly squeezing.
"Finish it!" Daniel cried, as Erika let out a small gasp, "Bite!"
Ekans bit Vileplume so viciously that Erika held out her Pokeball.
"Stop!" she shouted. "This battle is over. I concede."
Erika returned Vileplume to its Pokeball in a flash of red light as Ekans returned to Daniel's side, bowing its head so Daniel could give it a pat.
"You were amazing, Ekans! You did a great job - "
Daniel took a step back in confusion as Ekans glowed with a bright light.
"What - what's happening?" cried Daniel, as Ekans evolved into something bigger and fearsome.
Calmly, Erika explained, "Your Ekans is evolving. Isn't it a beautiful sight to watch a Pokemon evolve?"
The bright light dissipated and Arbok reared its powerful body and hissed in triumph. Arbok's ribs were spread out into a hood, with a terrifying pattern shown to prey. Its eyes and teeth were bigger and it lost the rattle that Ekans once had on its tail. It had a more predatory presence than Ekans.
"Arbok..." said Daniel, approaching the large serpent Pokemon. He patted it cautiously and Arbok acquiesced, bowing its head to show it still considered Daniel its Trainer.
"You are a fine Trainer, Daniel. Do come visit me sometime." Erika said, walking up to Daniel. She extended her palm, revealing the Rainbowbadge. It was cut in a myriad of colours, shining from the glare of the sunlight.
"Thanks!" Daniel said, adding it to his Badge case.
"Don't forget your prize money." Erika said, handing him a wad of cash from inside the folds of her kimono. Glancing at it, Daniel saw that it was almost three thousand dollars.
Ill at ease in Erika's mannered grace, he stuck out his hand to which she shook it. "It was nice to meet you, Erika. You're a great Gym Leader."
"Will your friend battle me next?"
Daniel nodded. "I'll send her in."