CHAPTER FORTY ONE

Blinking suddenly in the light, Natalie saw that she was in the same chamber as before, but Amy and Daniel were nowhere to be seen. At each end of the room rose podiums that faced each other.

"Daniel?" Natalie whispered. "Where are you guys?"

Leaping down from the rafters, Koga made his appearance, landing smoothly without a hitch.

"Ah! You startled me," Natalie held her beating chest. "Where are my friends?"

"You will see them after the battle," Koga stood up, stretching. "Let us begin."

Natalie walked over to a podium, while Koga ascended the one opposite.

"I hope you're prepared," Koga held up his first Pokeball. "The last challenger wasn't so lucky. Go, Muk!"

Muk appeared in a flash of red light, oozing slime amid its faceless features. Natalie pinched her nose against the stench.

"Go, Poliwag!" Natalie threw her chosen Pokeball into the fray. Poliwag waddled forth, feather tail erect with caution.

"Muk, Disable!" cried Koga.

"Poliwag, Hypnosis!" shouted Natalie.

Muk glowed blue and stayed very still, while Poliwag emitted a hypnotic wave from the swirl on its belly. Poliwag froze in place, Disabled, but the spell broke as Muk fell victim to Poliwag's Hypnosis attack. Koga was quick to administer his Awakening.

"Poliwag, Water Gun!"

Poliwag shot a jet of water at Muk, washing away the effects of the spray bottle Koga squirted on Muk, to his surprise. Muk yawned and remained asleep.

"Poliwag, Doubleslap!"

Rushing forth to Muk, Poliwag leapt up and slapped it twice with its tail. By now, Muk began to rouse, only slightly injured so far.

"Muk! Poison Gas!"

"Poliwag, Hypnosis!"

As Muk deeply inhaled, Poliwag was close enough to ensure its Hypnosis hit its target before Muk could finish its attack. Muk began snoring again.

"Water Gun!" cried Natalie.

Poliwag shot another jet of water at Muk, injuring it again. The damage was beginning to show.

"This is ridiculous!" cried Koga. "Your water attacks are rendering my status potions useless!"

"Finish off Muk! Bubble!" cried Natalie.

With great effort, Poliwag released a stream of bubbles that popped on Muk. Slumping slowly to the ground, Koga let out a cry of dismay.

"Nice work, Poliwag!" Natalie jumped up and down. Poliwag glowed with a bright light and began to change shape.

"Ah! It's evolving!" Koga announced.

Poliwag evolved into Poliwhirl, bipedal with hands and legs, slightly larger. It flexed its new limbs and glanced up at Natalie.

"Oh, Poliwhirl! Well done!" Natalie clapped.

Koga returned Muk to its Pokeball as Natalie did the same with Poliwhirl.

"You surprised me, I admit," Koga nodded. "It must be old age."

"Perhaps I'm a better Trainer?" Natalie joked.

Completely serious, Koga replied, "No."

Slightly dismayed, Natalie regained her composure regardless. "Choose your next Pokemon, Koga!"

"Same to you!" Koga selected his next Pokemon. "Venonat!"

Venonat blinked up at Natalie with big eyes, antennae quivering in anticipation.

"I choose Squirtle!" Natalie tossed her Pokeball onto the field.

Squirtle pumped its fists, ready for action.

"Venonat, Sleep Powder!"

"Squirtle, Withdraw!"

Squirtle hid in its shell as Venonat sneezed shimmering, golden-hued powder across the battlefield. Though hidden from harm, Squirtle inhaled the dust from within his shell and popped his limbs out, relaxed and at sleep.

"Squirtle!" Natalie had expected that to work. She fetched her Awakening from her bag.

"Venonat, Psychic!" Koga called.

Venonat quivered in anticipation, antennae glowing as Natalie reached from her podium to spray the Awakening. All of a sudden, Venonat released the psychic energy and it blasted Squirtle into the wall, away from where he could be healed.

"Excellent work, Venonat! Tackle!"

"Squirtle!" Natalie called. "Wake up!"

Squirtle was indifferent, though hurt from the Psychic attack. Venonat ran faster than Natalie thought possible, tackling Squirtle and knocking it further out of reach. Reluctantly, Squirtle began to rouse from sleep.

"Squirtle! Use Bite!" Natalie shouted.

"Venonat, Tackle!" cried Koga.

Squirtle was unable to evade the fast Venonat, crippled in pain as it tried to stand. Though he couldn't move, he used a Water Gun that blasted Venonat back in surprise.

"Finish it, Venonat! Psychic!"

"Squirtle, look out!" cried Natalie.

But Squirtle was too injured. Venonat released another wave of psychic energy, blasting Squirtle off his feet. He had fainted.

"Oh, no," moaned Natalie. She held out her Pokeball and Squirtle disappeared in a flash of red light. Venonat ran back to Koga's side of the field.

"Not so confident now, are you?" Koga turned on Natalie. "My Pokemon are full of surprises!"

"I choose you," Natalie tossed the Pokeball into the field. "Horsea!"

Horsea stood awkwardly upright, regarding Venonat with stout confidence despite its smaller size.

"Venonat, Toxic!"

"Horsea, Smokescreen!"

Venonat expelled a pungent poison liquid from its mouth at Horsea, while Horsea shot ink from its own mouth at Venonat. By chance, Venonat's attack missed while Horsea's hit dead centre, blinding Venonat as it stumbled about, the ink sticking to its fur.

"Bubble, Horsea!"

Horsea took in a deep breath and expelled bubbles upon Venonat, causing little damage except for Venonat to fall over.

"Venonat! Use your other senses! Psychic!"

Rising at the sound of his master's voice, Venonat's antennae tinged and it released a wave of psychic energy. Disadvantaged on land and moving slowly for its size, Horsea was knocked back the force and moderately damaged.

"Excellent, Venonat! Use Sleep Powder!" Koga ordered.

"Horsea, Bubble!" cried Natalie.

Horsea released another stream of bubbles at Venonat, as the bug Pokemon released shining golden powder into the air once more. Venonat was more than impeded; its speed had become affected. As the dust settled on the battlefield, Horsea fell asleep.

"Here, Horsea," Natalie could just reach Horsea with the Awakening, spraying it on from a distance. Horsea turned over in its sleep and yawned. Venonat had managed to gain some semblance of sight, though the inky smokescreen still clung to its fur.

"Venonat, Psychic!"

"Horsea, Water Gun!"

As Horsea roused, Venonat quivered and released another bout of psychic energy, blasting the Water-type back several paces. Horsea just managed to get up, firing a jet of water that hit its target. Venonat groaned and fell to the ground. Both Pokemon were heavily weakened.

"Bah!" Koga held out his Pokeball to return Venonat.

Natalie did the same. "Thanks, Horsea. You were great."

"Only one Pokemon left?" asked Koga, holding up his third and final Pokeball.

Natalie nodded. "This is my most beautiful Pokemon."

"I must disagree with you!" Koga threw his Pokeball upon the field. "No Pokemon can compete with the grace of my Venomoth!"

Venomoth burst from the Pokeball, glittery purple wings allowing it to soar high. Natalie threw her Pokeball, bursting open in red light.

"Butterfree, let's end this!" cried Natalie, as the diminutive Butterfly Pokemon rose high to match Venomoth.

"Venomoth, Double Team!" Koga commanded.

"Butterfree, Gust!" cried Natalie.

As Venomoth split into five copies, Butterfree flapped its wings furiously and produced a cyclone that caused Natalie to wince against. Koga watched in mute admiration as all copies of Venomoth were swept up into the gust and caused harm; the real Venomoth among them took damage while the other four disappeared into thin air.

"Butterfree, Confusion!"

"Venomoth, Toxic!"

Butterfree released a wave of telekinetic energy just as Venomoth's poisonous deluge sent Butterfree squealing to the ground, damaged severely. Venomoth was caught in the radius of Butterfree's attack, becoming confused.

"No!" shouted Koga. "Venomoth, regain control of your senses and use Leech Life!"

Butterfree, badly injured and greatly poisoned, struggled to stand upright.

"Butterfree, use Gust!" Natalie implored, voice high-pitched with worry.

Venomoth bared its little fangs and flew towards Butterfree, but midway it became confused and struck itself, nearly falling out of the air. The cyclone Butterfree produced by flapping its wings with as much strength as it could manage, picked up the fallen Venomoth and sucked it into the twister, damaging it greatly and slamming it against Koga's podium. It slumped to the floor, quite unconscious.

"I win!" Natalie ran from her podium, to clutch her poisoned Butterfree in her arms. She hugged it before returning it to its Pokeball.

"That was unexpected," Natalie glanced up to see Koga walking towards her. In his palm, he showed her the Soul Badge. "I underestimated you."

"Wow," Natalie accepted the Soul Badge, alongside the hefty sum of prize money. "My fifth Badge."

"Congratulations to you," Koga nodded. "You have the spirit of the warrior inside you!"

"Well," Natalie blushed, "I never thought of it like that. I just love my Pokemon and - "

But Koga was already walking away, adding over his shoulder, "Your friend should be waiting outside. Don't let me keep you! And good luck on your travels!"