CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
"Brr! It's freezing!" said Natalie.
Swaddled in a dressing gown with a towel around her hair, Natalie emerged from the bathroom as steam from the shower blew past her through the open door.
"Better go in quick before it gets cold in there," said Natalie, as Daniel rose from the couch.
"Thanks," said Daniel, heading into the bathroom and closing the door.
Towelling her hair dry as the sound of the shower started again, Natalie changed into a pair of fleece pants with a chunky jumper and a scarf wrapped around her neck. She put on woollen socks and a beanie with a bobble-head on top.
"Aren't you guys cold?" asked Natalie, looking to the Pokemon.
Most shook their head. Squirtle, Poliwag and Horsea were used to the cold, being Water-types; Meowth had fur and Weepinbell absorbed water as a Grass-type, but Arbok and Cubone were shivering a little.
"Come sit by the heater," said Natalie. She walked over and flicked the switch on the unit to increase its heat setting. Arbok and Cubone immediately gathered round, with Meowth joining in soon after.
Smiling, Natalie turned and took a look out of the window. It was a gloomy day - grey clouds suffocated the sun and rain poured on the streets and buildings of Celadon City. It would be a difficult trip to get to Fuchsia City in this weather.
Luckily, both she and Daniel had bought raincoats and Daniel's mom had packed him an umbrella which they intended to share. They would be putting all their Pokemon in their Pokeballs to keep them warm during the journey. The Water-types could travel outside of them if they wanted, seeing as they didn't mind the rainy weather too much.
Ten minutes later, Daniel emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a woolen jumper and pants with thick socks, his face red from the heat of the shower.
"What would we do without hot showers?" Daniel grinned, as Meowth ran up to him and he hugged him deeply. "Let's get packing and we can leave for the Cycling Road."
Daniel and Natalie set out through Celadon City, wearing large raincoats and sharing an umbrella between them while Squirtle ran to their side. The other Pokemon were safe and warm in their Pokeballs.
"Do you see it?" asked Natalie, wincing as a rain gutter spilled onto the umbrella and caused droplets to seep down around their bodies.
"Not yet," said Daniel, his teeth chattering. They took steady steps as they crossed the pavement, being careful not to step in puddles.
They neared the Celadon Department Store and saw a large 'CLOSED' sign across its doors.
"Where can we ask for directions?" asked Natalie, looking around. There were few civilians to be seen; most were in their homes, bundled up in layers of clothing in front of a fireplace.
"Let's go to the Pokemon Center and ask," said Daniel, his teeth chattering.
Daniel and Natalie entered the Pokemon Centre, glad at the warmth which surged through the vents. Everyone was a little happier with heat in the building.
Natalie joined the queue of Trainers healing their Pokemon, while Daniel approached the pay phone, deciding to call his Mum. He inserted a coin, dialing the Pallet Town prefix and his home number.
"Hello?" answered a familiar voice.
"Beth?" Daniel asked. "Shouldn't you be at school?"
"Are you kidding? Nobody's going to school! It hasn't rained so hard in ages!"
"Where's Mom?"
"She's in bed with a cold." replied Beth. "Where are you and Natalie at now?"
"We're in Celadon City. It's raining really hard here, too. How's Vulpix doing?"
"She's curled up in bed, asleep. We've all missed you and Natalie at school. Is she there? Can I talk to her?"
"We're getting directions to go to Fuchsia City." said Daniel, looking over his shoulder. Natalie was talking with the nurse, nodding and leaving the queue. "I have to go. I'll call when we get to Fuchsia, OK? Tell Mum hi for me!"
"I will. You tell Natalie hi for me! Good luck!"
Daniel hung up the phone and headed over to Natalie. "What did the nurse say?"
"She said the Cycling Road's closed today," Natalie sighed. "The rain's made the bicycle track too slippery. They're not letting anyone past the checkpoint."
"That puts a dent in our plans... looks like we'll have to take the long route."
"How will we get there?" asked Natalie, as Daniel retrieved his Town Map from his backpack.
"We go east from Celadon and take the Underground Path to Lavender Town. From there, we go south, down the same route that we took when we headed to Vermilion, except we keep going south until we reach Fuchsia City."
"Do you reckon we'll get there in a day?" Natalie asked.
"I think it's safe to stay in an inn at Lavender Town and head off early tomorrow morning. That way, we've got the entire day to travel."
"And hopefully better weather!" Natalie joked. "Let's head off."
"Beth says hi, by the way," said Daniel, as they exited onto the pouring rain.
"Oh, she's sweet," smiled Natalie, pulling the hood of her raincoat over her head.
The two of them ran through the rain, with Squirtle close behind, splashing in the puddles as he did so. They headed west, retracing their steps back to the edge of the city, where they passed through a checkpoint and emerged onto the path connecting Celadon to Saffron. They made their way down the path, wet mud squelching beneath their shoes. The rain had drenched the pine trees, making them look like sodden skeletons. Pidgey and Pidgeotto huddled together under trees, hiding their nests from view. Oddish frolicked together in the grass, their leaves absorbing the rainwater.
Daniel caught sight of the building housing the Underground Path, motioning for Natalie to follow.
"Let's go!"
They ran over a puddle and reached the building, opening the door and rushing inside. Their footprints left wet, muddy footprints over the cracked tiled floor as they passed the deserted reception desk and proceeded to walk downstairs.
"This place is so cold and dark," said Natalie, as they reached the bottom of the stairs. The path ahead was weakly illuminated by sconces installed along the walls. "How long do you think it'll take us to reach the other side?"
"Saffron City's pretty big... I'd say about half an hour or so."
"Alright," Natalie said determinedly, removing the hood of her raincoat and shaking her damp hair like a dog. "Let's go."
They walked side by side, their eyes darting about at the poor condition of the walls and floors. Halfway down the path was a public bathroom, where Daniel excused himself and left Natalie to wait outside with Squirtle.
"How are you doing, Squirtle?" Natalie knelt and embraced the little turtle in a hug. "Not too tired from the walk?"
Squirtle shook his head.
"That's good," Natalie stood, patting him on the head affectionately.
"You picked a bad time to travel, little lady."
Natalie turned around in shock to see a man dressed in combat fatigues, wearing a black leather jacket. His hair was slicked back with gel and he wore a menacing expression on his face.
"W-what do you want?" Natalie demanded.
"I want your Squirtle," spoke the man, retrieving three Pokeballs from his belt. "In fact, I'll take all your Pokemon."
"No way! DANIEL, HELP!" Natalie shouted.
The man walked over to the bathroom door and hooked his umbrella through the handle.
"Natalie?" Daniel's voice came faintly through the door. "I can't open the door! It's stuck!"
"Now that we're alone..." the man moved back into the hallway, throwing his Pokeballs upon the floor. "Go, Pokemon!"
Sudden flashes of red light dazed Natalie in the poorly lit space as three Pokemon materialised. A Drowzee, waving its hands mesmerically; a Koffing, levitating above the tiled floor and emitting poisonous gas from the orifices on its body; and a Raticate, baring its large teeth at Squirtle.
"You won't take me so easily!" Natalie retrieved her Pokeballs, releasing all of them with a flash of red light. "Go, Butterfree, Poliwag and Horsea!"
Butterfree zoomed above the action as Poliwag stood on its little feet, glaring at the opponent's Pokemon and Horsea quivered a little, unsure of how to proceed.
"Let's go!" shouted the man. "Raticate, Quick Attack!"
"Butterfree, Sleep Powder!" shouted Natalie.
"Koffing, Smog!" yelled the man.
"Poliwag, Water Gun!" yelled Natalie.
"Drowzee, Disable!" roared the man.
"Horsea, Smokescreen! Squirtle - "
As Raticate disappeared into thin air, poison gas filled the room at the same time Horsea released a spurt of ink from its mouth. Twin jets of water burst from the mouths of Squirtle and Poliwag.
Coughing, Natalie blinked back watery eyes from the poison gas and tried to see what was happening, but the hall was filled with choking, blinding poison gas. She gasped as Squirtle let out a cry of pain and hit the floor with a thud. Natalie felt something touch her and jumped; she saw that it was Butterfree, glowing with a blue light and unable to move. Drowzee had Disabled Butterfree.
As the poison gas began to clear, she saw Squirtle getting up on his feet, coughing, making his way back to where the fighting was. Poliwag, Horsea and Butterfree had turned a shade of purple, all coughing violently. Butterfree opened its wings weakly, while Poliwag cried and Horsea lay struggling on the ground. The man's Raticate stood loyally by his side, its teeth bared; Drowzee continued to wave its arms in a hypnotic fashion and Koffing levitated, having ensured that none of the man's Pokemon were affected by the poison gas. There was a large amount of ink on the floor and walls, but little had landed on the man's Pokemon. Horsea had been too scared to aim accurately.
"S-squirtle," Natalie choked, closing her eyes against the tears and scrabbling in her backpack for an Antidote. "Here - "
"Raticate, Quick Attack on Squirtle! Koffing, Sludge on Butterfree! Drowzee, Headbutt on Poliwag!"
"No!" Natalie croaked.
She watched helplessly as Raticate tackled Squirtle into the wall; Butterfree rose into the air but was unable to dodge the ball of sludge which covered its body and sent it writhing to the ground; Drowzee lowered its head and launched itself at Poliwag, sending it rolling across the ground with a cry of pain.
Only Horsea remained, lying on the ground and unable to stand, coughing as its eyelids fluttered weakly.
"Your Pokemon are so weak, there's no point in taking them!" shouted the man, guffawing loudly. "Except your Squirtle... he'll sell for a nice price, that one. Rare, too."
"N-not my... SQUIRTLE!" Natalie screamed, her throat burning and raw. She collapsed in tears, clutching at her neck.
The bathroom door burst open and Daniel ran out, shouting, "NOW!"
Arbok leapt at Drowzee, fixing it with an intense Glare which paralysed it and bit deeply into Drowzee's neck; Meowth shot a Pay Day attack at Raticate which narrowly missed and exploded against the wall, sending coins bouncing upon the tiled floor; Weepinbell released an orange mist which blew through the hallway.
"Koffing, Smog! Raticate, Quick Attack!"
Raticate disappeared into thin air again, as the orange dust settled upon the man's Pokemon. Koffing became paralysed, unable to move; while Drowzee, succumbing to Arbok's attacks, fell unconscious in its grip. Raticate tackled Meowth, sending it sprawled to the floor, but it succumbed to the paralysis powder, too, and lay inert on the ground.
"Arbok, use Bite on Koffing! Weepinbell, Vine Whip on Raticate!"
Arbok leapt at Koffing, sinking its teeth deeply in, while Weepinbell whipped the paralysed Raticate with long vines.
"What? No!" shouted the man, scrabbling in his backpack for a Paralyz Heal.
"Not so fast!" shouted Daniel, as Meowth recovered on its feet. "Meowth, use Screech on that man!"
Meowth emitted a high cry, deafening the man and causing him to fall on the ground, clutching his ears. Koffing and Raticate had fainted, in the clutches of Arbok and Weepinbell, respectively.
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" roared Daniel, standing over the man. "What a cheap trick to attack Natalie! Weepinbell, secure this man with your vines! Arbok, keep an eye on him and use Glare if he does anything suspicious!"
Nodding, Arbok slithered over to the man to keep a watchful eye as Weepinbell released long vines from its body and bound the man from head to toe. Daniel searched through his bag for an Antidote, but realised with horror that Horsea, Poliwag and Butterfree had fainted from the pain. Only Squirtle remained, just strong enough to drag himself across to Natalie's panting form.
"Here, Squirtle," said Daniel, spraying his Antidote onto the turtle Pokemon. He then administered a Potion to Squirtle, who regained his colour and health.
Meowth looked after Squirtle and checked that he was OK, while Daniel knelt beside Natalie.
"Do you think Pokemon medication works on humans?" he asked, stroking her forehead, sodden with sweat.
"I need some water," gasped Natalie.
Daniel picked Natalie up in his arms, taking her into the bathroom. He helped her drink water from the tap and splashed water on her face to cool her down. Glancing weakly into the mirror above the sink, Natalie caught sight of her pale complexion and retched. She tore out of Daniel's embrace as she dry retched into the toilet.
"Are you alright?" asked Daniel, awkwardly.
Natalie wiped her mouth with a shaking hand and turned to him. "I feel so weak..."
"Here, I'll help." Daniel allowed Natalie to lean on him, as the two of them walked back into the hallway. Arbok was still guarding and the man remained conscious on the ground, unharmed but restrained by Weepinbell's vines.
"I'll get you back for this, kid!" he shouted, but Weepinbell wrapped one of its vines around his mouth, forcing him to be silent.
"You'll be coming with us to the police station in Lavender Town," said Daniel. Meowth bounded up to him, happy to help. "Natalie, I'm going to return your fainted Pokemon into their Pokeballs."
Daniel retrieved three Pokeballs from Natalie's backpack, returning Poliwag, Butterfree and Horsea's unconscious bodies with flashes of red light. Supporting Natalie and helping her to walk, Meowth and Squirtle followed behind as they approached the man.
"You don't deserve to be a Pokemon Trainer, but I'm returning them to their Pokeballs so I can give them to the Adoption Center. Hand over your Pokeballs."
The man complied hesitantly, as flashes of red light illuminated the hallway and the fainted Drowzee, Koffing and Raticate were returned into their Pokeballs.
"Weepinbell, release your vines so that the man can walk but bind his hands and mouth. Arbok, keep a close eye on him. We're going to travel as one big party until the exit, making sure he doesn't escape. OK?"
All Pokemon nodded as they set off down the hallway. They met flickering lights and cracks in the walls and little else as, after ten minutes, they reached the end of the hallway. They ascended the staircase a little awkwardly as a party, then Daniel held open the door and kept a close eye on the man as he walked through it, still bound by Weepinbell's vines.
The five of them emerged into a wet, muddy grassland, but the rain had stopped pounding as hard. A light drizzle sprinkled the treetops and caused only mild discomfort to the wild Pokemon who watched warily as they walked down the route; Daniel supporting Natalie and Weepinbell binding the man. Arbok, Meowth and Squirtle kept an eye out, but nobody was to be seen.
"We should be there soon," Daniel said, as Natalie nodded weakly.
They crossed the route without too much trouble. Their shoes left muddy footprints in the ground and their raincoats were wet, but the man was soaked wet.
As they approached Lavender Town, they came upon a few civilians who were securing their awnings and outdoor furniture, their eyes wide at the spectacle before them.
"Could one of you please help me get the police?" asked Daniel, as Natalie coughed weakly beside him. "We're taking this man into custody after attempting to rob us."
"T-that way!" stuttered an old man, pointing to where a blue-and-white building stood, its large window panes splattered with mud.
"Thanks," Daniel nodded, trying to stay calm. He hadn't taken such initiative since embarking on his Pokemon journey.
They entered the police station, where at a curved reception counter sat a receptionist. Several police officers looked up at the sight of visitors; one nearly dropped their can of lemonade from the vending machine, while the others just stared.
"What's happened?" gasped the receptionist.
"This man," Daniel spat. "He attacked us in the Underground Path, using his Koffing's Smog to harm Natalie and her Pokemon. She and her Pokemon need medical treatment."
"Very well," a police officer strode over to the man, securing a pair of handcuffs on him as Weepinbell slowly released its vines. "I'll take over from here. This man will go into a cell and his Pokemon will be put up for adoption. Are you alright to make your way to the Pokemon Center?"
"I'll be fine," Daniel nodded. "Thanks."
Daniel turned to leave, supporting Natalie on his shoulder as his Pokemon and Squirtle followed behind, but the receptionist called out, "Wait a minute! What about a small reward for the boy?"
"I don't have time for a reward," said Daniel. "I need to help my friend."