CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Natalie paced nervously outside the Gym's doors for what seemed like an eternity. It had only been ten minutes or so when Daniel emerged, struggling to contain the grin that was threatening to emerge.

"So?" asked Natalie anxiously. "How did it go?"

Daniel showed her the Rainbowbadge in his Badge case and Natalie squealed excitedly.

"Great job!" she exclaimed, hugging him. "I knew you could do it!"

"And another thing... Ekans evolved into Arbok!"

"Really?" Natalie asked in a hushed tone. "Wow! First Bellsprout, then Ekans! Your Meowth will be next!"

"I hope not," replied Daniel. "My Meowth's the best. I don't want him to change one bit."

"Well, I should go in." said Natalie, pressing the buzzer as the door slid open. She turned to Daniel. "If you want, I'll meet you back at the hotel. You can spend some quality time with your Pokemon."

"Sure," Daniel assented, nodding. "I'll see you soon. And Natalie - good luck."

Natalie smiled, turning and entering the Gym as the doors slid shut behind her. Natalie looked at her surroundings as she walked down the smooth path, enjoying the sights and smells of the scenery around her. She noticed a young woman kneeling near a rose bush, dressed in an intricate kimono with fair skin and short dark hair.

"Welcome," the woman said, smiling. "My name is Erika. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Natalie. Nice to meet you, too," smiled Natalie, joining Erika at the rose bush. "May I help?"

Erika shook her head, rising. "I'm still waiting for more roses to bloom. Patience is a virtue."

Natalie glanced about the open space, glorying in the sight and smells of nature.

"I can tell you're nervous." Erika said, leaning in a little. "Don't be. You're safe here."

"Am I?" asked Natalie, a little dazed. "We're about to battle. It's going to get feisty."

"Indeed," Erika smiled, inclining her head. She stepped back to make room for a battlefield, as Natalie did the same. "I must warn you, I won't give you my Rainbowbadge without a good fight."

"Alright," said Natalie. "I'm ready."

"I hope you are." Erika said, retrieving her first Pokeball and throwing it onto the field. "Go, Victreebel!"

Victreebel appeared in a burst of red light, waving its leaf arms and thrashing its teeth.

"Victreebel... the evolved form of Weepinbell!" said Natalie. It looked very vicious.

Grass-type Pokemon were effective against Water-types, which formed the bulk of Natalie's Pokemon party. She had to be very careful here... of course, there was one tiny advantage she did have.

"I choose you! Butterfree!" Natalie shouted, throwing her Pokeball into the field.

Butterfree burst forth from the Pokeball in a flash of red light, fluttering its little wings as it chirruped and flew above the battlefield.

"What a beautiful Pokemon," Erika remarked. "Truly splendid. Victreebel, Poisonpowder!"

"Butterfree, Confusion!" shouted Natalie.

Butterfree released a telekinetic force as Victreebel shot a cloud of poisonous dust into the air. The telekinetic force blasted Victreebel to the ground, causing it great harm. Butterfree coughed and turned a shade of purple, having been exposed to poison.

"Butterfree, come here!" said Natalie, retrieving her Antidote.

"Victreebel, Wrap!" Erika commanded, as Natalie sprayed Butterfree with the Antidote.

Victreebel, however, was afflicted with confusion and unable to obey. It swayed unsteadily from side to side, its gleaming teeth gnashing together in agony.

Natalie administered the Antidote to Butterfree. Newly healed, Butterfree swooped above the field, glowing and releasing another Confusion attack which blasted Victreebel onto the ground again.

"Finish it, Butterfree! Tackle attack!" cried Natalie.

Butterfree swooped down upon Victreebel, tackling it in the centre of its body. Victreebel rolled over several times, moaning as it fainted.

"Nice going, Butterfree!" said Natalie, giving her Butterfree a high five as Erika returned the fainted Victreebel to its Pokeball.

"Your Butterfree has a strong spirit," Erika said, selecting her next Pokeball. "Not a bad starting point. Go, Tangela!"

Tangela burst forth from the Pokeball, a spherical mass of wriggling blue vines with eyes that stared at Butterfree.

"Butterfree, Confusion!" Natalie shouted.

"Tangela, Constrict!" Erika commanded.

Tangela became a blur as vines shot from its body towards Butterfree. Butterfree's Confusion attack rebounded off Tangela's spinning form and blasted the ground harmlessly, while Tangela's vines whipped and slammed Butterfree into the ground.

"Butterfree!" cried Natalie, hand to her heart.

"Tangela, Bind!" Erika commanded.

Tangela wrapped its vines around Butterfree, squeezing tightly. Butterfree wriggled fruitlessly in Tangela's grip, squealing madly.

"Stop!" Natalie shouted, holding out her Pokeball. "Butterfree, return!"

Butterfree was rescued from Tangela's hold, disappearing inside the Pokeball in a flash of red light.

Natalie was worried now. She only had her Water-type Pokemon left... all of which were susceptible to Grass-type attacks. Who could she rely on most?

"Who will you select next, Natalie?" Erika asked, a kind smile on her face.

Natalie pulled a Pokeball from her pocket. It suddenly felt very heavy with the weight of her expectation.

"I choose you," shouted Natalie, the Pokeball spinning as it landed on the ground, bursting open with red light. "Poliwag!"

Poliwag waddled forward on its little legs, looking up at Tangela from across the field.

"Tangela, Constrict!" Erika commanded.

"Poliwag, Hypnosis!" Natalie shouted.

As Tangela became a blur, its vines shooting out towards Poliwg, Poliwag shuddered as it released a hypnotic wave at Tangela. The hypnotic wave blasted into Tangela, causing its vines to fall limp as Tangela fell asleep on the ground.

"Poliwag, Water Gun!" Natalie shouted, as Erika reached into her kimono and retrieved an Awakening.

Poliwag released a jet of water from its mouth and shot Tangela in the mass of vines which covered its body. It wasn't very effective.

"Poliwag, return!" Natalie shouted, holding out her Pokeball and returning Poliwag inside it with a flash of red light.

As Erika sprayed the Awakening onto Tangela, Natalie threw another of her Pokeballs onto the field. "Go, Horsea!" Natalie cried.

Horsea burst forth in a flash of red light as Tangela stirred, getting back onto its feet.

"Tangela, Bind!"

"Horsea, Smokescreen!"

Horsea released a stream of ink into Tangela's eyes, blinding it and causing it to writhe its vines, one of them lashing out and whipping Horsea around the face.

"Horsea!" cried Natalie, but Horsea bounced back onto its tail in defiance, shooting a stream of bubbles from its mouth. The bubbles popped into Tangela's eyes and caused slight damage.

"Your tactics are a surprise." Erika said, holding out her Pokeball. "Tangela, return."

Tangela disappeared inside the Pokeball in a flash of red light. Calmly, Erika selected her third and final Pokeball.

"I think you'll find my last Pokemon a difficult contender." Erika said, throwing the Pokeball onto the battlefield. "I'll battle with my beautiful Vileplume!"

Vileplume appeared in a flash of red light, the big petal on its head unsteady with proportion to the rest of its body. Natalie felt immediately anxious - this Grass-type Pokemon looked formidable.

"Horsea, Smokescreen!" Natalie shouted.

"Vileplume, Mega Drain!" Erika commanded.

Vileplume glowed green and shot out a burst of energy which engulfed Horsea, while Horsea shot ink into Vileplume's face. Vileplume bowed its head so that its petal head shielded its face from the ink, while the burst of energy absorbed Horsea's energy and gave it to Vileplume. The ink disappeared from Vileplume's flower, while Horsea lay panting on the ground.

"Horsea, return!" Natalie shouted, holding out her Pokeball. Horsea returned into it in a flash of red light. Natalie carefully selected her next Pokeball, throwing it onto the battlefield. "Squirtle, I choose you!"

Squirtle appeared in a bright flash of red light, rolling its palms into fists as it faced Vileplume. Natalie came upon a sudden idea.

"Vileplume, Petal Dance!" Erika commanded.

"Squirtle, run to Vileplume while using Withdraw!" Natalie shouted.

Squirtle nodded, running as fast as he could over to Vileplume. Vileplume released pink petals from its body which spun in the air like a tornado. As the petals shot out at Squirtle, Squirtle took a running leap and withdrew into his shell, spinning madly as the petals missed their mark and Squirtle, still in his shell, skidded across to Vileplume.

"Now, Squirtle!" Natalie screamed, as Squirtle withdrew from his shell. "Bite attack!"

Squirtle leapt onto Vileplume and sunk his teeth in, causing Vileplume to thrash about angrily as it tried to shake Squirtle off. Weighed down by its flower head, Vileplume fell over.

"Tackle Attack, Squirtle!" cried Natalie.

"Vileplume! Stand up!" Erika commanded, as Vileplume tried in vain to get up.

Squirtle took a step back, launching himself and tackling Vileplume in the side. Wriggling about on the floor, Squirtle took a final leap onto Vileplume, delivering another Bite attack which caused Erika to gasp out loud.

"Stop!" Erika held out her Pokeball, returning Vileplume in a flash of red light. "I concede. You win."

"We won? We won!" Natalie cried, running out onto the battlefield, her arms open to receive Squirtle. Squirtle ran into his Trainer's arms, hugging Natalie tightly.

"You have a strong bond with your Pokemon. I can feel it." Erika watched the exchange with an admiring smile on her face. "Here you go. The Rainbowbadge, as promised."

Natalie accepted the Badge with a smile, holding it securely in her palm. It was beautiful. "Thank you, Erika. You're a great Gym Leader."

"Here's your prize money, too." Erika said, handing over a wad of cash she retrieved from inside the folds of her kimono.

Natalie accepted it, vowing not to count it in front of Erika. She was so serene, so collected... Natalie admired her zen.

"I think you'll go far, Natalie," Erika smiled, patting Natalie's hand affectionately. "You have a great love for your Pokemon."