CHAPTER FORTY TWO
Natalie exited the Pokemon Centre, her Pokemon healed after their furious bout with Koga's Poison-types. Glancing around, she couldn't see Amy anywhere.
"Where do you think she's gone, Squirtle?"
Squirtle waddled forward, followed by Poliwhirl and Butterfree overhead. Natalie held Horsea in her arms as she glanced out towards the beach, where the ocean glittered invitingly. Perhaps she'd wait there while Daniel had his battle. Together, the Trainer and her four Pokemon walked south through Fuchsia City, taking in the sights.
Children played and ran amok as Natalie walked barefoot onto the sandy beach, picking a spot near the water. Immediately, Squirtle dived into the shallows to race Poliwhirl. Horsea eagerly wriggled out of Natalie's grip, but Natalie was quick to scoop her up and guide her over the hot sand and into the shallow end. Horsea sighed contentedly, diving under the water and blowing bubbles up at the sky, much quicker in water than on land.
"Wow," cried some kids, watching Natalie's Butterfly float gently on the breeze. Natalie noticed Amy sitting in the shade and made her way over to see if she was alright.
"Hi, Natalie," Amy glanced up. "I'm sorry for running off again. You must think me terribly unreliable."
"Not at all. What happened, Amy?" Natalie sat down beside her.
Amy exhaled miserably. "I lost the match. I almost scored a victory, but that damn Venomoth took out my Nidorina."
"That's OK," smiled Natalie reassuringly, patting Amy on the shoulder. Amy seemed to recoil from the touch. "What is it?"
"I'll be fine," Amy shot back, discomfited. "I need to be alone for a little while."
"OK," replied Natalie, nonplussed since she was an outgoing extrovert. "I'll leave you be."
Still stuck in the Fuchsia Gym, Daniel's eyes adjusted to the bright light as he stepped off the dais and looked around for his friends. Two podiums rose on either side to face the battlefield.
"Gym Leader of Fuchsia City? I challenge you - aah!"
Daniel took a step back as Koga appeared out of nowhere, lithe and wearing black all over.
"You challenge me? Hah!" Koga turned his back on Daniel, headed for the podium. "We will see if you are worth the effort."
Daniel stepped up to his podium, placing his four Pokeballs on the holder. "Where are my friends? We came here together - "
"Your friends have already battled me," Koga said disdainfully. "One was fortunate, the other not."
Was it Natalie or Amy who lost?
Selecting his first Pokeball, Daniel tossed it into the fray. "I choose Weepinbell!"
Weepinbell appeared in a bright flash of light, waving its vines about. Koga spun his Pokeball threw the air.
"Venonat!" Koga shouted. The furry purple insect stared down Weepinbell, unafraid.
"Weepinbell, Stun Spore!" cried Daniel.
"Venonat, Psychic!" Koga declared.
Venonat quivered with anticipation, releasing a psychic wave of energy. Weepinbell released shimmering golden dust into the air, blasted backwards by the Psychic attack and reeling in agony, greatly injured. Venonat succumbed to the paralysis dust, unable to move.
"Weepinbell!" Daniel called down from his podium, as Weepinbell weakly managed to stand. "Wrap!"
As Koga reached for his Paralyz Heal, Weepinbell shot out long vines which held Venonat in a tight embrace and squeezed. Koga could not get a clear avenue in which to administer his status potion. Soundlessly, Venonat suffered damage.
"Return, Weepinbell!" Daniel held out his Pokeball, selecting another. "Go, Meowth!"
Freed from Weepinbell's vines, Venonat was in the clear and began to move as Koga sprayed on the Paralyz Heal.
"Meowth, Pay Day!"
"Venonat, Sleep Powder!"
The coin on Meowth's forehead glowed as Venonat sprinkled sleeping dust upon the battlefield. Venonat was blasted backwards by Meowth's Pay Day, feet in the air struggling to get up as Meowth yawned loudly, succumbing to sweet dreams.
Glad he had restocked his items, Daniel fetched the Awakening from his bag and sprayed it on Meowth. Venonat jumped back to its feet.
"Venonat, Toxic!"
Stiffening as though to sneeze loudly, Venonat shot a stinking deluge of toxic waste towards Meowth, who roused in the nick of time!"
"Watch out!" cried Daniel, as Meowth leapt to avoid the spurt of sewage and landed cleanly, racing towards Venonat with its claws drawn.
"Venonat, Psychic!" cried Koga.
Meowth pre-emptively released a Screech attack that caused everyone to block their ears, stunning Venonat on the spot. As Venonat recovered and shivered with telekinetic energies, Meowth delivered a Scratch attack that sent it reeling.
"Finish it! Bite, Meowth!" called Daniel, clutching the podium in terror.
"Venonat, Tackle!" cried Koga.
But Meowth was quicker, sinking his teeth deep into Venonat's fur and grimacing as it jumped off. Venonat struggled, falling unconscious a moment later.
"Nice going, Meowth!" Daniel cheered, as Koga returned Venonat into its Pokeball.
"You are only a novice!" cried Koga, selecting his next Pokeball and tossing it into the battlefield. "And I am a master! Go, Muk!"
Muk appeared in a bright flash of light, its foul stink causing Meowth to hiss and its hair to stand up on end in alarm.
"Meowth, don't be afraid! Pay Day Attack!" shouted Daniel.
"Muk, Disable!"
Muk's shapeless form glowed blue as Meowth directed a blast of golden coins into Muk, barely damaging it. Meowth froze on the spot, Disabled by Muk.
"Muk, Poison Gas!"
"Meowth, look out!" cried Daniel.
Muk exhaled poisonous fumes from its mouth, surrounding the battlefield as Meowth inhaled, coughing and choking. Reaching for an Antidote to heal Meowth, Koga cried,
"Muk, Sludge!"
Incapacitated with poison fumes, Meowth was unable to dodge the discharge of waste sent by Muk, coated in the grimy liquid and trying unsuccessfully to clean its fur. Injured by the poison, Meowth began to grow weak. Daniel pocketed the Antidote and held out Meowth's Pokeball.
"Meowth, return!"
Koga watched fearlessly as Muk waved its goo-like arms in triumph. Daniel was torn between his remaining three Pokemon, selecting one and tossing it into the ring.
"Go, Seel! Let's show Muk what we're made of!"
Seel waddled forth, clapping its fins excitedly.
"Muk, Poison Gas!"
"Seel, Water Gun!"
Muk exhaled plumes of poisonous gas as Seel directed a jet of water straight at Muk's shifting form. Slightly injured, Muk wavered.
"Take this!" Daniel called down to Seel, wheezing and eyes watering from Muk's Poison Gas. He sprayed the Antidote onto Seel.
"Sludge, Muk!" demanded Koga.
Seel bounced to avoid the foul projectile, shooting another Water Gun at Muk. Hampered, Muk swayed uncertainly as Seel raced forth.
"Muk! Disable!" Koga shouted.
"Seel, Headbutt!" cried Daniel.
Horn lowered, Seel tackled Muk first, knocking it senseless. Its shapeless body began to shift as Seel retreated to safe ground, groaning as it collapsed upon the ground.
"Go, Seel!" Daniel jumped up and down.
Mirthless, Koga laughed as he returned Muk to its Pokeball. "I shouldn't go easy on a novice Trainer like you."
"I'm not a novice!" Daniel shot back. "I'm taking out your Pokemon one by one!"
Stretching his back, Koga selected his third and final Pokeball, spinning it through the air.
"A mistake I won't allow myself to make again! Go, Venomoth!"
Venomoth burst forth, glittering wings indicative of its dangerous beauty.
"Seel, Water Gun!"
"Venomoth, you know what to do!" shouted Koga.
Immediately, Venomoth split into five copies, one disappearing fruitlessly as Seel's jet of water blasted it. The remaining four flew towards Seel.
"Which one, Seel?" Daniel panted, heart racing. Venomoth was flying too fast to discern any differences; indeed, if there were any to be found.
Unsure, Seel opened his mouth and directed another jet of water at random, eliminating another copy as the remaining three flew forth.
"Psychic!" Koga called.
Glowing with a bright light, the Venomoth in the centre of the trio blasted Seel backwards several feet, greatly injuring it.
"Finish it off! Leech Life!"
"Seel, Headbutt!"
Seel wailed as Venomoth clamped its teeth onto his body, absorbing the remainder of his energy and flying back over to Koga. Seel had fainted.
"No, Seel!" shouted Daniel, concerned for his newest Pokemon. He held out his Pokeball. "Return, Seel. You did a good job."
Daniel tossed his second-to-last Pokeball through the air. "Go, Arbok!"
Arbok uncoiled with a fury and challenged Venomoth with a menacing hiss.
"Venomoth, Psychic!"
"Arbok, Glare!"
Arbok fixed Venomoth with a sharp glare as Venomoth trembled with psychic energies, dropping out of the air.
"Bite, Arbok!"
"Venomoth, Double Team!" cried Koga.
But Venomoth was paralysed, unable to move as Arbok sprang towards Venomoth and delivered a hefty bite with its fangs. Squealing in pain, Venomoth wriggled to no avail as Arbok defiantly tossed the injured Venomoth to the ground. Reaching for a Paralyz Heal, Koga aimed it at Venomoth.
"Arbok, Wrap!" shouted Daniel, fraught with anticipation.
Arbok sprang out and coiled its powerful body around the fallen Venomoth, squeezing tight. There was no avenue in which Koga could spray his status potion.
"No!" cried Koga, realisation dawning on his face.
"Bite, Arbok! Finish Venomoth off!"
Arbok plunged its fangs deep into Venomoth, who wriggled with a final agony before slumping insensible within Arbok's embrace. It moved no more.
"I win!" cried Daniel, jumping up and down. "Arbok, you did great!"
Arbok was reluctant to let its prey out of its embrace, but at Daniel's insistence allowed Koga to return his Venomoth to its Pokeball. Striding across the room, Daniel thought for one mad second he was about to fall prey to a samurai.
"Quite unanticipated," Koga shook his head, reaching inside his pocket. He drew out the Soul Badge. "Your victory merits this badge."
"No longer a novice, am I?" Daniel blurted out.
"You are no longer a novice, but there is some way to go before you earn my respect, young man. See that your friend is as prepared as you when she returns."
"Who?" Daniel couldn't help himself, but Koga shook his head and was gone.
Daniel turned for the exit, Arbok slithering by his side as he exited out into Fuchsia City.