CHAPTER FORTY NINE
Upon their return from the Seafoam Islands, Daniel and Natalie thanked Lorelei again and checked into the only inn on the small island. After a relaxing bath and a filling meal, Natalie made herself a hot chocolate and headed to bed, fast asleep only seconds after her head hit the pillow. She dreamed of bright, glittering blue and the sensation of soaring across the sky when suddenly, she awoke to the aroma of bacon and eggs, padding out into the kitchenette in her pyjamas to catch Daniel cooking breakfast. Natalie greeted her Pokemon who rushed forth, glad to see their Trainer had slept well.
"What are you doing up?" cried Daniel, alarmed. "I'm supposed to make you breakfast in bed!"
"Well, I'm up now," beamed Natalie, settling herself at the table. "I needed that sleep - I was so tired. What time is it?"
"Just past eleven," said Daniel, as Natalie glanced outside to the sunlight filtered through the venetian blinds. "I thought I'd let you sleep."
"When shall we face the Gym Leader?" asked Natalie.
Daniel turned to face her. "I was thinking, there's a Pokemon Laboratory on this island. If you give them that feather, hopefully they can tell you what Pokemon it came from - "
"Articuno - " Natalie began.
"I know, I know. But these are Pokemon professionals who can confirm it."
Natalie stifled her yawn with her hand and rolled her eyes. "Daniel, I don't need to confirm it. I was there."
"Well, for the rest of us, then," Daniel replied, somewhat sheepishly.
They finished breakfast, changed clothes and checked out of the inn, splitting the bill 50:50. Between them, their prize money from Fuchsia kept their wallets full. Together they walked through Cinnabar Island, watching the coastline as Magikarp and Goldeen leapt in the surf, the sea warmed by the sun's rays.
Daniel and Natalie found the Pokemon Lab, a tall building with chrome furnishings inside. The receptionist glanced up as they approached, scientists in white lab coats walking to and fro, frowning as they checked clipboards or talked in hushed whispers with each other.
"Good afternoon, welcome to the Pokemon Lab," smiled the receptionist. "How may I help you today?"
Natalie retrieved the glittering blue feather from her bag. "I'd like to talk with someone who can examine this. I believe it's from the legendary bird Pokemon, Articuno."
Wide-eyed with astonishment, the receptionist dialled an extension on her phone and spoke briefly into it. Hurriedly nodding, she turned to Natalie.
"Go down that corridor, take the first left and it's the first office you come to."
"Thanks," said Natalie, her footsteps echoing on the tiles as she walked. Daniel rested on a seat in the waiting area. "You can come too, you know!"
Relieved, Daniel followed Natalie's departing back as they made their way down the maze of corridors, locating what they hoped was the right office and knocking on the door. Immediately, it swung open and there stood a scientist with parted hair, wide-rimmed glasses and a lab coat, sheathing a pencil behind his ear.
"Is this, um - "
"Are you the young lady with the Articuno feather?" his face lit up as Natalie produced it. "I'm Ivan. Please come in and sit down."
The office was cramped, detritus of a true Pokemaniac littering Ivan's desk, corkboard and posters on the wall. Unopened mail piled high on the desk, several limited edition Pokedolls sat in their original packaging upon a high shelf and an aged computer at which Ivan seated himself on the ergonomic chair and minimised the spreadsheets displayed on the screen.
"Right," Ivan removed his spectacles and breathed on them, wiping them clean with his wrinkled shirt. "Let's see that feather."
Delicately, Natalie handed it over and Ivan examined it underneath a microscope on his desk. Studying intently, he hummed and hawed until he came to a conclusion.
"Well?" asked Daniel. "Is it from Articuno?"
Natalie gave him a furious look, huffing in disbelief, but she too turned to the scientist as though to confirm what she already knew.
"I've never seen anything like it. Based on the rare sightings that have been recorded, I believe this to be a feather from Articuno," said Ivan, as Daniel showed surprise on his face. "Where did you find this, young lady?"
Natalie took a deep breath, then reconsidered. "Would you believe me if I told you I was shipwrecked, trapped in a cave off the Seafoam Islands, and rescued it from a power-mad Trainer, then flew atop it to safety?"
To Natalie's surprise, Ivan's face did not register disbelief. Instead, he nodded seriously.
"We believe that Articuno helps travellers who get lost, especially atop snowy mountains. You must have displayed great kindness for Articuno to trust you so."
"A Trainer and his Electabuzz almost succeeded in its capture. Articuno was paralysed, until I sprayed it with a status healing potion."
Nodding darkly, Ivan continued, "There are Trainers who will stop at nothing to capture the rarest of Pokemon. Their greed is such that they will put themselves before peril in order to snag such elusive gain. Have you heard of the other legendary birds?"
"There are others?" asked Daniel, in disbelief.
"Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. As you saw, Articuno is an Ice-type, while we believe Zapdos is an Electric-type and Moltres is a Fire-type."
"Wow," said Natalie, her eyes misted over, remembering Articuno.
"Articuno probably chose the Seafoam Islands to rest because it is cool and damp. I would guess Moltres roosts somewhere warm and Zapdos where there is a lot of electrical activity."
Coming upon a sudden idea, Daniel asked, "I have a question. What about Lance's Pokemon, Dragonite? Do you - "
Ivan laughed, settling comfortably on his chair. "You're not the first person to ask me that. If your question is what type - "
"No, I know it's a Dragon-type," said Daniel, more fascinated now. "But do you know what Dragon-types are weak to?"
Ivan leaned forward, adjusting his spectacles. Daniel and Natalie leaned in, the better to hear his secret.
"Evidence suggests that Dragon-types... are weak to Dragon-type moves."
Shoulders slumped, Daniel was more than disappointed. "Well, that solves the mystery, doesn't it? I mean, who else besides Lance has a Dragon-type Pokemon?"
Ivan laughed again. "Even among the legendary bird Pokemon, Dragon-types are just as elusive. Lance does not share the secret with how he first obtained Dragonite. It is part of his allure. Whatever his strategy, so long as Dragon-types remain a mystery, he is next to invincible."
Daniel rose from the iron-frame chair, unpeeling a crusty archaeological magazine from his backside. "Well, it was worth asking."
"Thank you for seeing me," Ivan shook hands with both of them, returning to his desk.
As Daniel headed out into the corridor, Natalie paused at the doorway, remembering something Lorelei had mentioned in the Seafoam Islands.
"Say, Ivan... Dragonite's a dual-type Dragon/Flying, isn't it?" asked Natalie.
"By the wings on its back, we can reasonably assume so," said Ivan. "Though no Pokemon has lasted long enough to inflict a second hit on Lance's Dragonite. Why do you ask?"
"Articuno's Ice-type attacks would be effective against Dragonite, wouldn't it?" Natalie held her breath.
"By your logic, so would Thunder-type and Rock-type attacks. But as I mentioned before, we do not know what Dragon-types are resistant or weak to. That gap in knowledge provides Lance with an almost unbeatable Pokemon, as each move performed against can only be an experiment, not part of a forethought strategy."
"I understand. Thanks for your time, Ivan."
Once outside, Daniel and Natalie headed towards the Cinnabar Gym.
"I saw you talking to the scientist before we left," said Daniel, patting Meowth on the head who happily trotted beside him. "What did he say?"
"Oh, nothing," shrugged Natalie, though she couldn't help but think there was more to what Lorelei had said. "I can't believe you're thinking about Lance's Dragonite already. We've only got five Badges, after all!"
Defensively, Daniel added, "It doesn't hurt to plan! Besides, after the way Lance defeated Gary Oak, I don't know how anybody can stand up to that Dragonite, let alone Gyarados or Aerodactyl."
"They crowned him Champion for a reason," said Natalie, vaguely. "He's no fool if he leads the strongest team of Pokemon in Kanto."
They approached the Cinnabar Gym, a large building not unlike an elementary school. They entered into the warm reception area, which was empty but for a pair of fortified gates and an intercom box built into the wall. Uncertainly, Daniel walked forward and pressed the buzzer.
"Welcome to the Cinnabar Gym," intoned a cool voice, as above them a surveillance camera swivelled to watch them. "Please state your name and business."
"My name is Daniel, and this is my friend Natalie, and we're here to battle the Gym Leader."
"One moment, please. In order to battle Blaine, you must first answer a serious of questions in order to test your knowledge of Pokemon."
"Oh, this will be easy," Daniel's face lit up. "I'm the top in my class at Pokemon Trainer's School."
"I will ask three consecutive questions and if you answer all of them right, you may proceed. If you get one wrong, you will not be able to enter."
"Can we - can we try again if we get it wrong?" asked Natalie, unsure.
"Certainly. In one week's time."
"What!?" erupted Daniel. "One week? Are you crazy!"
Hurriedly, Natalie placed a calming hand on his shoulder and shook him quiet as the voice intoned, "First question: among Charmander, Bulbasaur and Squirtle's final evolved forms, which is not a dual-type Pokemon?"
"Oh, oh - " Natalie bounced on the spot like she was stepping on hot coals. "I know this one - "
"Twenty seconds," interrupted the smooth voice.
"Bulbasaur is a dual Grass/Poison type, so it stands to reason that Ivysaur and Venusaur would be, too - "
"Wait. What does Charmander evolve into?" Natalie scrunched up her face, thinking hard. "Charmeleon, then... Charizard! But Charizard has wings, so does that mean it's a dual Fire/Flying type?"
"Yeah, yeah, you're right!" said Daniel.
"Ten seconds."
"Squirtle! What does Squirtle evolve into?" Daniel challenged Natalie. "Wartotle, then Blastoise! Blastoise remains a Water-type, right?"
"Yeah," said Natalie uncertainly, then understanding. "I see! It's Blastoise!"
"Blastoise!" cried Daniel! "Blastoise is not a dual-type Pokemon!"
Silence, then, "That is correct. Well done."
Exhaling, Daniel steadied himself against the wall while Natalie mopped her brow.
"Second question," intoned the cool voice. "For each evolution stone, name one Pokemon who would evolve when exposed to one."
"The Fire Stone," scrambled Daniel, the first to come to mind seeing as he knew Blaine to use Fire-type Pokemon "Well, let's see... not Ponyta, not Charmander - "
"The Water Stone, the Water Stone... Staryu! The Water Stone helps Staryu to evolve into Starmie!" cried Natalie.
"Twenty seconds," intoned the voice.
"Eevee! Eevee evolves into Flareon with the Fire Stone! And Jolteon, with the Thunder Stone!"
"The Leaf Stone - Daniel, that would make your Weepinbell evolve, wouldn't it?" asked Natalie.
"I don't want Weepinbell to evolve further," replied Daniel. "I like - "
"Ten seconds."
"Oh! We're wasting time!" cried Natalie. "Um, Weepinbell would use the Leaf Stone to evolve into Victreebel! Oh, quick - which Pokemon evolves using the Moon Stone?"
"Five seconds."
"I know!" shouted Daniel, nearly bursting Natalie's eardrums with the volume. "Amy!"
"What?" shouted Natalie in surprise.
Jumping up and down in triumph, Daniel said, "Amy's Nidorina would evolve if she used the Moon Stone!"
"Yes - into Nidoqueen!" Natalie beamed. "You're right!"
Both expectant, they turned to the intercom which remained silent.
"W-we're right," said Natalie, turning to Daniel in sudden horror. "Right?"
"Yeah, yeah," nodded Daniel frantically, his brain working overtime. "I think - "
"That is correct," intoned the voice.
Daniel and Natalie high-fived each other in joy.
"Oh, god," Natalie moaned. "The final question. What if we get it wrong?"
"Be quiet!" hissed Daniel, just as frantic. He had never failed an exam before. "I don't want to miss it - "
"Third and final question," intoned the cool voice. "What is the name of the Badge you will receive if you defeat Gym Leader Blaine in a Pokemon battle?"
"The - " Daniel stopped short. "I don't know. Natalie, I can't remember it!"
"Don't look at me!" Natalie moaned. "I never pay attention in class - "
"Twenty seconds," intoned the voice.
"Well, what are the ones we have so far?" Daniel asked, more to himself than to Natalie. "The Boulderbadge, the Cascadebadge - "
"The Thunderbadge, the Rainbowbadge, the Soul Badge - but Daniel, we still don't know - "
"Wait a moment!" Daniel impatiently held up his hand. "What is Cinnabar Island known for?"
"Ten seconds."
"Well, it's on the sea, but it's a Fire-type Gym," Natalie quailed under Daniel's forceful stare. "So it can't be that, obviously. Um - "
"The Pokemon Lab? No, that can't be it," Daniel scolded himself. "Blaine uses Fire-type Pokemon, so what about Cinnabar - "
"Five seconds."
"Ah! Ah! No!" Daniel raged, bouncing up and down furiously, wracking his brain for the answer. "I won't wait a week! I'll get this - "
"The volcano!" cried Natalie, fingernails digging into Daniel's arm as she grasped it tight. "The volcano is what Cinnabar's known for! The badge of Cinnabar Gym is the Volcanobadge!"
Holding their breath, Daniel and Natalie clutched tight onto one another, not noticing this was the closest they had been beyond a friendly hug.
"That is correct. Well done - "
"WE DID IT!" Daniel broke apart and performed several mad pirouettes of joy, laughing like a maniac. Natalie collapsed onto the floor, face flushed and glad to have the quiz over with.
Slowly, the gates began to slide open. Apprehensive, Daniel and Natalie walked past them, staring at the battlefield spread out before them.