CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Natalie bumped into Daniel just as he exited the Pokemon Centre, followed by his four Pokemon. Meowth licked its fur, Seel lazed around on the grass, Arbok hissed at passers by and Weepinbell enjoyed the afternoon breeze, eyes closed in blissful surrender.
"Daniel! Did you just battle Koga?"
His grin told her all she needed to know. "Yeah! I won the Soul Badge!"
Natalie peered at his Badge case, which held as many Badges as hers. "Nice work. Now we have five Badges each."
"Wait, does that mean - did Amy not win?" Daniel considerately rephrased what he was thinking. "Where is she?"
Natalie pointed to the sandy beach to the south of Fuchsia, looking out onto the great ocean beyond. "She wants some time alone."
"That's fair enough, I suppose," added Daniel, as Natalie fidgeted. "What do you think?"
"We could help her, if she'd let us," said Natalie, irritated. "We're her friends."
"Maybe she doesn't think the same. You said it yourself earlier, city folk are different."
"Perhaps," Natalie chewed her fingernails.
"Do you want to take a walk?" Daniel offered, still pumped from his win with Koga. "I want to check out the Pokemon Zoo."
"Sure," Natalie smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
Slowly, Amy stretched her aching limbs and shook sand off her clothes as she headed back towards Fuchsia City. Her Growlithe trotted faithfully by her side and she gave him a quick pat, heading west to where the Cycling Road stretched uphill.
Nearby, the path veered towards a small clearing where a patch of grass grew wild. Amy wandered closer, Growlithe sniffing the ground and barking as they came across a Trainer, dressed in overalls and carrying a cage as he shouted orders to two bird Pokemon who pecked each other in friendly rivalry.
"Hey - wait - you!" cried the Trainer. "I see you have Pokemon! I want a battle!"
Settling upon the ground, Amy saw that the two bird Pokemon were a Spearow and its evolved form, Fearow. They clicked their beaks and cawed loudly, causing Rattata in the wild grass to scatter for safety.
"I don't know," shrugged Amy, deadpan. "I'm not really - "
Wait a second! Don't turn this Trainer away, you need money!
"What?" paused the Trainer.
"Sure, I'll battle," Amy managed a grim smile. "I could use the experience. I'm Amy."
"My name is Jacob."
They made room for a battlefield, while the breeze tickled the treetops and wild Pokemon fled for higher ground to watch in refuge. Growlithe stood by Amy, while her other Pokemon remained inside their Pokeballs.
"Spearow, you're up first!" cried Jacob. Spearow was a small, ferocious little bird with a canny glint in its eye.
"Growlithe, are you ready?" asked Amy anxiously. Growlithe nodded and stepped forward.
"Spearow, Fury Attack!" shouted Jacob.
"Growlithe, use Ember!" cried Amy.
Spearow flew towards Growlithe, avoiding the volley of flames by a close inch and pecking Growlithe repeatedly on its side. Howling, Growlithe ran to safe ground as Spearow rose high in the air.
"Growlithe, Roar!"
"Spearow, use Fury Attack!"
Mid-flight, Spearow was stopped in fright by the fearsome roar that Growlithe embellished. Running forth, Growlithe tackled the Spearow clean out of the air and delivered a hefty Bite that caused the Spearow to caw in pain.
"No! My beautiful Spearow!" Jacob jumped up and down like a spoilt brat denied his fifth chocolate bar. "You'll pay, you'll pay!"
"Beauty is subjective," Amy glanced at Spearow in confusion. "Growlithe, Ember!"
Growlithe yelped as Spearow delivered a Peck attack and flew into the air, pelted by flames from Growlithe's mouth and sinking to the grass, insensible.
"You're doing good, Growlithe!" Amy patted him on the head, as Jacob returned Spearow to its Pokeball. Beside him, Fearow flapped its wings ominously.
"Fearow, avenge your fallen friend! Go!" cried Jacob. Beating large wings, Fearow soared above the battlefield.
"Growlithe, come back!" Amy selected a Pokeball on her belt, tossing it into the grass as Growlithe ran back to her side. "Go, Nidorina!"
Nidorina ran forth, growling at Fearow who was fearless in the face of danger.
"Fearow, Fury Attack!"
"Nidorina, Poison Sting!"
Fearow dived on Nidorina before she could retaliate, the two locked in a vicious struggle as Nidorina managed to kick the bird Pokemon off. Flying into the air, Fearow was a large sight to behold. Nidorina opened its mouth and shot its volley of poison barbs.
"Mirror Move, Fearow!" cried Jacob.
As Fearow conjured a glowing portal that covered its airbone body, Nidorina's poison barbs disappeared into it and shot back with equal force. Quick to avoid them, Nidorina was impaled by a few but to almost no effect.
"You can't outsmart me!" cried Jacob, punching his fist into the air.
"Don't count on it!" shouted Amy.
"Fearow, Fury Attack!"
"Nidorina - "
But Nidorina had pre emptively shot a volley of poison barbs at Fearow who dived, impaled and cawing in pain.
"Bite, Nidorina!" cried Amy.
Nidorina leapt upon the falling Fearow and delivered a hefty bite to its neck, knocked off-balance as Fearow swiped its wing in frustrated retaliation. Nidorina crashed into a tree, stunned while Fearow fell into the tall grass, crumpling.
"Fearow, get up!" shouted Jacob, surprised to see his large Pokemon out of action.
"Tackle, Nidorina!" shouted Amy.
Fearow flapped its great wings as it rose from the undergrowth, tackled in the side by Nidorina who leapt from her perch and knocked the bird Pokemon over. Cawing loud enough to cause ear damage, Fearow groaned and collapsed into the tall grass.
"My Fearow!" Jacob ran forth. "How could I let this happen to you?"
Relief flooded through her face as Amy walked over to Jacob, holding out her hand. "It was a good battle, Jacob."
He shook her hand and returned Fearow to its Pokeball. From within his wallet, he produced five hundred dollars. Amy had to restrain herself from jumping in glee.
She raced back to the Pokemon Center to heal her Pokemon, then headed to the Pokemart to buy some supplies. She bought an Antidote and an Awakening, with just over one hundred dollars remaining. As she exited the Pokemart, she saw Daniel and Natalie from afar, checking out the Pokemon Zoo.
"Hi," Amy smiled and walked over. "How are you two doing?"
Glancing at each other, Daniel and Natalie nodded their assent.
"We're good, thanks. How are you doing?"
Hesitantly, Amy replied, "Better. So, shouldn't you two be off? I hear there's a ferry that takes passengers from Fuchsia City to Cinnabar Island once a day."
"Where?" asked Daniel.
"There's a pier near the beach. It costs, though," added Amy, envying the pair their shared finances.
"We were - " Natalie hesitated, glancing towards Daniel. "We were thinking we might stay, to help you train for the Gym Leader."
There was silence, broken by the insistent, tearful cries of a young child: "But I want a Chansey!"
Ignoring the interference, Amy replied, "Why would you do that? I'll only stagger your journey."
"Not at all," Daniel piped up, going red. "We enjoy your company. We should go it together."
Amy fixed him with a curious gaze. Daniel, misinterpreting her look as disapproval, glanced away. Musing, Amy ran a hand over the sling that held her injured arm.
"It would be a terrible inconvenience, you know - another night's stay and meals..."
"The prize money more than covers our share," Natalie added. "We all need help from time to time, we've all lost Pokemon battles. The point is, friends stick together and help each other out."
Tears welled in Amy's eyes but she blinked them away, hating her foreign feelings.
"If it's not too much of an inconvenience," replied Amy tentatively. "It would - oh!"
Natalie leapt forward and hugged Amy, who winced as her injured arm pressed into her chest.
"Sorry!" Natalie clapped her hands to her mouth, cautiously stepping back to make room.
"It's OK," smiled Amy. She turned to Daniel. "Thanks."
"No problem," smiled Daniel, glad to have Amy back again.
Together they walked south, to the beach where the afternoon sun began to wane. They all took off their shoes and luxuriated in the feel of sand beneath their feet.
"That's better," Natalie lay on a towel spread out on the sand, while her Water Pokemon ran for the ocean.
Amy tucked her legs in as she settled, wincing at the pain in her arm. The nurse had said it would take a few days to heal, and to take it easy.
They stayed for a few hours, watching the sunset dip below the hills. At last, they rose and shook the sand from their towels.
"We should find a place to stay," Natalie suggested.
The next day, Amy made her way by herself to the Fuchsia Gym. She had insisted on going by her own, to help her gain confidence for the coming battle. Daniel and Natalie decided to visit the Safari Zone and take the free tour offered by the reserve.
Amy walked up the path and slid open the door to the Gym, taking in a deep breath. Inside, the light shone through latticed windows and at the far end, Koga ascended his podium.
"I've been waiting for you," he said, placing his three Pokeballs in the holder.
"How?" Amy was astounded. "How did you know?"
"I watched you come from the window," Koga shrugged, to which Amy rolled her eyes. "Not that many Trainers visit often, you know."
Amy ascended her podium, readying her Pokeballs. She took another deep breath and faced Koga.
"It was good of you to come back," said Koga, selecting his first Pokeball. "Perseverance is paramount in a Pokemon journey."
"I'm not going to give up," said Amy, surprised.
"Hold onto that spirit, young one. Now," Koga threw his Pokeball into the battlefield. "Let us begin! Muk!"
Muk's stench filled the battlefield before it had materialised from the red light. Selecting carefully, Amy threw her chosen Pokeball into the fray.
"Go, Cubone!"
Spinning his bone club through his hands, Cubone faced Muk with a feral gaze.
"Muk, Disable!"
"Cubone - wait!"
Oblivious, Cubone ran forth as Muk glowed an eerie blue, arching his arm back and tossing his bone club towards Muk. Cubone became Disabled, but his bone club spun through the air and bashed into Muk, causing great agony to the Poison-type who relinquished his hold. Cubone was on his feet and sprinting, catching the bone club which soared back into his hands and leaping into the air, bringing it down with a crash upon Muk.
"Cubone!" cried Amy, colour returning to her cheeks.
"What's happened?" paled Koga. "Muk, get up!"
Muk sank to the floor, out for the count. Exhausted from the burst of speed, Cubone waddled over to Amy's side of the field, who whooped in joy.
"That's right! Cubone, you're great!"
Speechless, Koga returned Muk to its Pokeball.
"Your Cubone has the warrior's spirit," Koga mused, selecting his second Pokemon. "But so does my Venonat!"
Venonat burst forth, bug eyes intent upon Cubone.
"Cubone, Bone Club!" cried Amy.
"Venonat, Sleep Powder!" shouted Koga.
Venonat quivered, releasing shining dust upon the battlefield. It evaded Cubone's Bone Club, but not the second strike and toppled over in pain. The shining dust settled upon the battlefield and Cubone promptly fell asleep. Amy was glad she had bought an Awakening, but as she retrieved it from her purse, she dropped it at her feet.
"Venonat, Toxic!" cried Koga.
Venonat spewed forth toxic sludge which coated Cubone, steadily poisoning him over time.
"Cubone!" Amy held the Awakening but now needed the Antidote. She reached out to spray it -
"Venonat, Psychic!" Koga commanded. Venonat blasted Cubone off its feet where it landed at the base of Amy's podium, quite unconscious.
"Cubone..." Amy felt dread fill her veins. She returned him into his Pokeball and selected her second. "Go, Nidorina!"
Nidorina pawed the ground, facing Venonat who quivered with telekinetic energies.
"Psychic!" Koga shouted.
"Nidorina, Bite!" Amy cried.
Narrowly avoiding Venonat's Psychic attack, Nidorina ran towards Venonat and leapt on top, biting hard so Venonat squealed in agony.
"Venonat, Sleep Powder!"
"Nidorina, Tackle!"
Nidorina leapt back as Venonat released shimmering dust into the air, only for Nidorina to tackle Venonat flat on its back, crumpled.
"Nice job, Nidorina!" Amy jumped up and down, as Nidorina turned to Amy. "Nice - "
All of a sudden, Venonat released a blast of psychic energy that knocked Nidorina clear off its feet, reeling backwards. Gasping a final breath, Venonat fainted.
"Nidorina! Are you OK?" Amy shouted, glancing over her podium. Nidorina managed to stand, while Koga returned Venonat to its Pokeball.
"My Pokemon fight to their last breath!" Koga threw his final Pokeball upon the field. "Go, my Venomoth!"
Wings fluttering, Venomoth whizzed about the field while Nidorina tensed, cautious.
"Nidorina, return!" Amy held out her Pokeball, emitting the flash of red light. "Growlithe, you're up!"
Growlithe appeared, breathing fire and staring down Venomoth.
"Ember, Growlithe!" cried Amy.
"Venomoth, Double Team!" shouted Koga.
"Oh, not again!" shouted Amy, as Venomoth split into five copies. Miraculously, Growlithe's volley of flames burned the real Venomoth, who fell from the air in great agony.
"No! Venomoth, Psychic!" cried Koga.
"Growlithe, Take Down!" screamed Amy.
Growlithe rushed towards the falling Venomoth, tackling it mid-air and sending it rolling across the floor, barely breathing. Growlithe felt a bit of recoil demonstrating such a burst of energy, while Venomoth collapsed under the pain of the burns, unconscious.
"We did it, Growlithe!" Amy was close to tears, so happy she could burst with pride. Growlithe ran to greet her at the base of the podium and the two embraced, Amy unafraid to weep into his fur. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Unnoticed, Koga walked up to Amy who stood, composing herself but her cheeks continue to glow.
"I have been bested, and I acknowledge your skill," Koga handed her the Soul Badge, shaped like a pink heart. "It is yours for the journey ahead."
Though she tried to conceal her outward joy, Amy accepted it along with the several thousand dollars in prize money.
"Thank you, Koga," Amy said, meaning it. "I understand now what you mean about perserverance. Working your way towards a goal is more satisfying than the momentary thrill of instant gratification."
But her words were on lost ears, as Koga had disappeared. Alone, but not lonely, Amy and her Growlithe headed towards the exit.