CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Having battled their way past Silence Bridge and through the route that led to Fuchsia City, Daniel and Natalie were exhausted and hungry as they passed rows of trees, blankets of tall grass and followed the paved path where just beyond they could spot civilisation.
"That must be Fuchsia City," Natalie rubbed a stitch in her side. "I'm so tired."
They jumped out of the way to avoid a Pidgeotto who swooped low over a Weedle, scurrying into the undergrowth. Further still, they came upon an audience of Trainers grouped around a clearing where red flashes of light indicated a Pokemon battle going on.
"If we hurry, we can check it out!" Daniel said.
"You go ahead," panted Natalie.
Scooping up Meowth in his arms, Daniel rushed for the ensuing battle and heard gasps as electricity and fire kept them back. Nudging his way through, he saw a robust red-haired girl speak harshly to her Pikachu and a Growlithe, unconscious in the arms of his Trainer, a brunette in baggy clothing with her arm in a sling.
"No way!" Daniel breathed. He turned back, heading towards Natalie who was being drenched with water from Squirtle's Water Gun. She shook her hair and massaged her scalp, face sunburnt. "Natalie - "
Blinking reddened eyes, Natalie replied, "What's made you so happy all of a sudden?"
"Amy! I saw Amy!"
"What?" Natalie asked.
They walked closer, easily moving through the crowd who began to separate and saw the girl returning Growlithe to her Pokeball in a flash of red light. "Oh!"
Getting to her feet, Amy noticed Daniel and Natalie approaching and glanced around as though wishing to escape. The silence was broken by the loud chatter of Spearow in the trees, Rattata running across the fields and two male Nidoran competing for the attention of a female Nidoran.
Awkwardly, Amy began, "Did you watch the battle?"
"Just as it ended," blurted out Daniel, before Natalie could speak. "Who won?"
"It was a draw," shrugged Amy.
Natalie softened as she saw Amy's arm in a sling. "What happened, Amy?"
Amy looked away. "I decided to travel to Fuchsia City by bike."
"Bike?" Daniel and Natalie added in unison.
"There's a Cycling Road which runs south from Celadon City to Fuchsia City. Anyway, I guess I thought I'd give it a try - "
"It's not a serious injury, is it?" asked Daniel.
Amy's lip wobbled, but kept the resk of her face glacial. "It's OK. I mean, it's a bit silly..."
Daniel was taken aback as Amy erupted into mirthful laughter. Natalie joined in, but Daniel was bamboozled.
"What - "
Amy wiped her eyes. "It's just so stupid of me! Who am I, thinking I can ride a bike?"
Timidly, Daniel joined in the laughter though he took things too literally to share in other people's humour.
"Come on," Natalie beckoned to Amy. "We're heading to the Pokemon Center. Let's travel together and we can catch up."
Thinking they needed 'girl time', Daniel stayed a few steps behind but Natalie beckoned him forth. "Come on, Daniel! You're lagging behind like a Slowpoke."
Once they reached Fuchsia City, Amy helped them locate the Pokemon Centre. While they waited in queue with their Pokemon, Daniel and Natalie recounted to Amy their battle with Gym Leader Erika and how they had reached Fuchsia by taking the route south of Lavender Town. Although she was still getting to know them, Amy opened up about her trouble on the Cycling Road and how thugs had made off with her Moon Stone.
"How did you manage to get back to Fuchsia?" asked Natalie, handing her tray of four Pokeballs to the nurse.
"That was a bit of luck. Someone on the track must've saw what was happening and came to the rescue," Amy mused. "I met him in Mt. Moon for the first time, and he saved me there, too."
"Sounds like you have a secret admirer," Natalie smiled.
"It's strange," Amy paused. "He doesn't seem to be overtly interested in me. But he's there at the right time. I guess I should count my lucky Staryus."
Natalie shrugged. "I don't know. I like the idea of a strong guy chasing me around Kanto."
Amy blushed and stepped next in line, handing over her tray of three Pokemon.
Once they had healed their Pokemon, they emerged out into Fuchsia City. The sun began to dip behind the hills, atmosphere growing colder.
"Brr," Natalie rubbed her arms. "We should find a hotel. Do you know of any, Amy?"
Amy shook her head, not wanting to elaborate. "I haven't had occasion to check in, yet."
Daniel checked his wallet. "I need to stock up on a lot of items... those battles took a lot. Can I borrow some money?"
"Sure," Natalie reached for her bag. Amy watched this free exchange enviously. "How much do you need?"
They exchanged cash and Amy glanced up at the waning afternoon. "I should get going - "
"No way!" Natalie said. "There's no way you're getting away this time!"
"But - "
"Amy, you are determined to go it alone." Natalie noted. "But sometimes, having friends isn't a bad thing, you know?"
Stiffly, Amy relented. "OK."
"I'll head to the Pokemart," said Daniel, heading off. "Why don't you guys find a hotel?"
"Sure. I'll come get you from the Pokemart when we do," Natalie called to him over her shoulder. "Don't spend too much!"
Amy and Natalie set off through the town, searching for the hotels. They found a row of them, entering each only to find that the available rooms were priced out of their budget.
"There is no way I'm paying that much for one room," said Natalie, as they exited the third hotel in a row. "Here's a hostel. We could try here."
Amy paused before following Natalie inside. It was shabby but functional, cluttered reception desk on one side and crowded with Trainers mingling in the communal lounge, talking of their catches in the Safari Zone or tactics on how to defeat Koga, the Fuchsia Gym Leader.
"Excuse me," Natalie glanced at the postadolescent boy with acne who gawked back. "How much are rooms here?"
"They're all shared rooms," he spoke at a louder volume than normal. "How many people you got staying?"
Natalie glanced at Amy. "We can share a room, if you like. The three of us?"
Amy stiffened at the idea of sharing a room with a boy, let alone anyone, but had long ago cast off dispersions of grandeur. "I suppose that would be frugal."
"Three people staying," said Natalie. The boy consulted a ledger while Amy glanced around at the packed lounge, nervous boys who noticed her arm in a sling.
"That'll be one hundred fifty dollars for one night," the boy accepted Natalie's cash and handed her a room key.
"I have my share," Amy retrieved her battered purse, finding what paltry twenty-dollar notes she had left. She found a fifty and handed it to Natalie.
"Thanks," Natalie smiled, turning to the boy who manned reception. "Does the room allow Pokemon?"
Surly, he raised an eyebrow. "We've had more Trainers than regular guests. Yeah, you can have your Pokemon. But don't break anything!"
Amy followed Natalie up the stairs and to their shared room, which she unlocked with her key. Inside, the space was minimal, with wire-framed single beds and a desk with a chair.
"Where's the bathroom? And the kitchen?" Amy's panic began to rise, but she kept her face a mask.
"Um, I think we share the bathroom, it's down the hall," Natalie peeked out the corridor, where at the far end a loud flushing reverberated through the walls. "The kitchen must be communal, too."
Amy tried her hardest not to have a panic attack, that she would be spied on in the shower, or have to use the toilet while a queue of people waited outside. Miserable, Amy collected herself and tried not to fret.
Natalie heaved her bag from her shoulders and collapsed on her bed with a groan. "I forgot. Daniel. I'll go grab him."
Daniel emerged from the PokeMart, carrying bags of Potions and status ailment supplies when he bumped into Natalie.
"That much?" Natalie eyed the bag. "We do go through them, don't we?"
"Did you find a hotel?" asked Daniel, as they walked through the town together, goosebumps prickling their skin from the cold.
"There was none within our price range, so I booked us in at a hostel. We share a room, the three of us."
"Three?" Daniel blurted out. "Do you mean Amy?"
"Yes," Natalie was quick to retort. "She's decides to stay."
"Does that mean she's sorry for abandoning us?" asked Daniel sourly.
"She didn't abandon us," Natalie chided. "The point is, it'll be cheaper to split the bill three ways. Whether or not Amy wants to come with us on our journey, that's another story."
"It's more than a little inconvenient to get our hopes up that she will come with us," said Daniel.
"Then don't put your hopes up," said Natalie. "Not everyone sticks around, as you well know."
Awkwardly, they moved off the topic of implied family and reached the hostel, where animated youth congregated outside. Together they entered the hostel.
Amy glanced up from where she sat on her bed as the door unlocked and Natalie and Daniel entered. Natalie began pouring Pokefood for the Pokemon, while Daniel avoided eye contact and Amy tried to make herself comfortable.
"So, Daniel," Amy began to break the ice, watching Daniel's Seel waddle across the floor. "Tell me about Seel."
The next day, the three of them left the hostel in search of the Fuchsia Gym. They asked for directions at reception and found it just outside of town, along a path which led to a building designed with Japanese architecture. Taking off their shoes and putting on the clogs provided, they pulled open the sliding door and entered.
"Wow," said Amy.
The chamber was spacious, with wooden floorings and muted light from the windows illuminating the dark room. Amy smacked into something hard, unseen while beside her, Daniel and Natalie did the same.
Swearing loudly, Daniel said, "What is this?"
It became clear that at odd intervals, invisible walls formed a cordon like a labyrinth around the room. Thinking quick, Natalie released Butterfree from its Pokeball.
"Butterfree! See if you can fly overhead!" Natalie called.
But the invisible barriers reached as high as the ceiling. Sadly, Butterfree fluttered down onto Natalie's shoulder and they all took different paths, trying to work out the mystery of the invisible maze. In the centre of the room was the dais, elevated above the floor.
"Where's the Gym Leader?" Daniel asked, bumping into another invisible barrier. "Ouch!"
"Move slowly," Natalie insisted, eyes closed and hands dreamily outstretched.
"As slow as you?" Daniel retorted, noticing Amy move with the grace of a dancer balancing books on her head.
Amy could see the dais in sight, but she bumped into another wall. Her arm was throbbing horribly. Cautiously, she turned right, relieved as she stepped up onto the dais.
"I've done it!" cried Amy.
"Now tell us how to get there!" shouted Daniel, his voice reverberating around the chamber.
Natalie squealed as they were plunged into sudden darkness. Amy tried to feel around, but there was nothing to grab onto. Illumination filled the room, but this time Amy was alone upon the dais. Daniel and Natalie were nowhere to be seen.
"Daniel? Where are you? Natalie?" Amy called.
The dais in the centre of the room atop which Amy stood began to descend neatly into the ground, its outline forming a Pokeball shape. Podiums rose from either side and a high cackling filled the room.
"Who's there?"
Amy jumped, startled as a man jumped out of the shadows, wearing black and a stern expression on his face.
"I am Koga, the Fuschia Gym Leader. Congratulations on making it to middle."
"Where are my friends?" Amy demanded, surprised she had blurted that out.
"They're safe. I can't have them watching our battle, else they may learn my secrets," Koga mused. "Choose a podium and we will commence battle!"
Amy walked round to the podium, climbing the few steps up to where she could see Koga do the same. Amy placed her three Pokeballs in the holder.
"I see you still fight, even though you have sustained an injury." Koga noted.
Amy nodded. "I'm growing to accept a few scars in battle is worth the fight to keep my Pokemon."
"Indeed," Koga nodded. "Well, let us begin!"