CHAPTER FIFTY
With the Marshbadge added to her collection, Amy backtracked to the Pokemon Center to heal her Pokemon before counting her prize money. It was just over four thousand dollars, more than enough to keep her warm, clothed and well-fed for the next few days. Despite Sabrina's astonishing insights, Amy still felt self-conscious spending on little luxuries like going to a cafe, even though nobody would recognise her with brunette split-ends, shapeless clothing and a cast on her arm.
Pocketing her prize money in her purse, Amy felt the gap normally reserved for the Moon Stone which had disappeared after her encounter on the Cycling Road. Wherever those thugs were now, she hoped the police would soon catch up with them before they used it on their own Pokemon. Come to think of it, they were probably only after profit and selling it to the highest bidder.
Amy made her way across Saffron City, weaving between errant pedestrian stragglers and jaywalking only where there was no heavy traffic. She continued west into the wooded route upon the outskirts, relieved to escape the constant honking and screech of tyres. Soon enough, she reached the cosmopolitan city of Celadon. It was less crowded on the side walks here, so she let her three Pokemon out of their Pokeballs, all glad to be within their Trainer's vicinity.
Amy bought them some Poketreats, which they nearly mauled the entire bag for and so she gave them a few biscuits each, munching hungrily with more gusto than they paid to their routine, twice-a-day breakfast and dinner meals. Growlithe's fur was a brilliant shade of crimson with black stripes, the white fur fluffy on his chest and tail. Nidorina's hide was tough as nails, her spikes and edges enough to scare off wild Rattata and Pidgey added with her haughty glance. Cubone was taking in the sights, his bone club worn from use but like a baby blanket, his only weapon against the world. The bone mask which concealed his features was his pride and armour.
Amy passed the Celadon Department Store, hesitating only a few moments between the eager, chatty crowd and promise of material fulfilment that drew tourists year round to flash their cash. Trying to remain rational in the face of consumerism, Amy conceded she need some status healing potions and emerged an hour later, having bought clothes and a backpack that was more practical than the fashionable, admittedly tiny handbag she used to carry all her equipment.
Continuing west of Celadon City, Amy walked along the route where Spearow flew overhead and Doduo jumped great lengths in the air, reminding Amy of the battle she had fought to a draw, against the crass Trainer Alesha on the outskirts of Fuchsia City. Her Pokemon had learned so much so far, and her journey was only halfway complete.
Entering the building reserved for the bikers of Cycling Road, Amy approached reception and politely inquired as to whether she could ride the gondola to the bottom instead of riding down the slope. The receptionist glanced at Amy's arm in a cast and nodded. Amy handed over twenty dollars to cover the fee and strapped herself in tight.
Once again, she glimpsed the beautiful view of the mountain slope towards the speck in the distance that was Fuchsia and broad expanse of glittering ocean where Cinnabar Island lay somewhere beyond reach. This time, she could fully appreciate the experience as the gondola descended, treated to the view of cantering Ponyta, their ivory hide and flaming mane and tails beautiful.
Upon the gondola's arrival at the bottom of Cycling Road, Amy climbed out and thanked the receptionist as she headed east for Fuchsia City. It was a short walk, arriving in the city where she had won her fifth Badge and heading towards the Pokemon Centre. Once inside, she left her Pokeballs with the nurse to heal them while she walked down the corridor and knocked on the doctor's office.
"Come in," he glanced up from his notes as Amy closed the door behind her. "Ah. Amy?"
"Yes," Amy smiled, relieved that he was not so busy to forget her name. This doctor had helped affix the protective cast to her arm after the Cycling Road injury.
"Please take a seat," he indicated the high-tech machinery to one side, but Amy sat on a lone stool .Though he was clearly an efficient, brisk professional; Amy felt the hairs on her arm stand on end as his delicate touch probed her arm with care.
"I think it's about ready to come off," smiled the doctor, who within a manner of minutes had removed the tight vice that had been irritating her sleeping pattern. "Can you flex your fingers?"
Amy did so, greatly relieved to have her chief Pokeball throwing arm back to normal.
"Keep it in the sling until you go to bed tonight, and take great care not to sprain it again. A recurrence can cause worse harm than before."
Nodding, Amy slid off the stool, feeling at ease with her arm, almost silly to leave it in a sling but she would take no chances.
"Thank you, Doctor."
Amy exited out into the corridor and into reception, collecting her Pokeballs from the harried nurse who was dealing with a queue of Trainers, many of whom had lost to Koga and were tearfully swapping stories of woe while they waited.
Once outside, Amy released her Pokemon from their Pokeballs and headed south towards the beach, taking off her shoes to walk barefoot in the hot sand while her Pokemon barked and played, but as she approached the pier there was no ship visible to take passengers across the sea to Cinnabar. Disheartened but not giving up, Amy relaxed on the sand and watched surfers ride the waves, their toned stomachs glinting in the sunlight as they raced their Seel or Seaking to the water's edge.
Daniel and Natalie stepped onto the battlefield within the Cinnabar Gym, crimson-red and stretching wide among standalone torches which brightly burned. Podiums were erected on either side, facing each other. Natalie turned to Daniel.
"Where's the Gym Leader - ah!"
The ground began to move and shake, separating the battlefield and its podiums from the outer walls and exit to reveal a dark expanse below, where flames shot forth to encircle the room. Hurriedly, Daniel and Natalie ascended the podium together in fear.
"Only one of you will battle me!" cried a voice. From afar, a tall man wearing a shirt and tie with ironed pants ascended the podium opposite, adjusting his spectacles while a prominent moustache featured beneath his nose. "I am not in the business of conducting double battles!"
Glancing at each other, Daniel and Natalie bumped into each other as they descended the podium.
"You go - "
"No, you!" insisted Daniel. "Natalie - "
"You go," Natalie was firm. "I'll watch down here."
Relenting, Daniel was filled with unease at the battlefield surrounded by flames, separated out of harm's way to the Trainers and spectactors but no less daunting for the Pokemon who would be combating.
"Are you without a name? Speak up! I am Blaine - the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island!"
Courageously, Daniel cleared his throat and spoke up, "My name is Daniel. I challenge you, Blaine, to collect my sixth Badge to add my collection."
"Do you own a Fire Pokemon?" asked Blaine, turning to Daniel and Natalie each in turn. Both shook their heads. "Fire Pokemon thrive on the heat and fury during battle. I hope you brought Burn Heals!"
Shocked, Daniel glanced down to Natalie. "I forgot!"
"And you call yourself a Trainer?" Blaine smirked, pulling his first Pokeball of three from his holder. "Let us begin! Go, Ninetales!"
Bursting forth in a flash of red light, Ninetales landed gracefully, its many golden tails gathering together in a curl. The evolved form of Vulpix, Ninetales walked on all fours and regarded Daniel with a sharp gaze.
"That's - Ninetales - oh, how I wish Beth was here to see this!" cried Natalie, hands clutched to her heart.
Admittedly, Daniel found Ninetales eloquent, but the battle still had to be fought. If Blaine believed having aesthetically pleasing Pokemon was the deterrent to attack, he would be proved wrong. Selecting his first Pokeball, he threw it into the fray.
"Go, Meowth!"
Meowth leapt forward with a cry as he landed on all fours, alarmed at the fiery pit surrounding the battlefield. Noticing the Ninetales' stone gaze upon him, Meowth stiffened, his fur seized up as he prepared for battle.
"Ninetales," shouted Blaine. "Quick Attack!"
"Meowth, Fury Swipes!" cried Daniel, but Ninetales had disappeared into thin air.
Meowth tensed, senses trained on which direction Ninetales would appear. Ninetales leapt from the right, leaping upon Meowth who clawed and flailed wildly, both injured in the scuffle.
As Ninetales and Meowth broke apart, Daniel cried "Meowth, Pay Day!"
"Ninetales, Confuse Ray!" shouted Blaine.
Ninetales glowed with an eerie light, which blasted Meowth to no visible effect as Meowth's golden coin glowed brightly and knocked Ninetales backwards from the force, coins scattering in the furore. Taking advantage while Ninetales was distracted, Meowth made to leap on Ninetales but tripped mid-jump and injured itself in confusion.
"No! Meowth's confused!" shouted Daniel.
Leaping away from Meowth, Ninetales watched contentedly from a distance as the cat Pokemon struggled to stand, at odds with the concept.
"You've bitten off more than you can chew, challenger!" shouted Blaine. "My Fire Pokemon reign supreme!"
Sweating from the heat of the surrounding flames, Daniel mopped his brow and cried, "Meowth, are you OK?"
"Ninetales, Flamethrower!" declared Blaine.
Haughtily, Ninetales flared its many tails and released a stream of fire from its mouth, searing Meowth and knocking him across the battlefield, close to the white-hot edge.
"Meowth!" screamed Daniel, banging on the podium in worry. "Meowth, tell me you're alright!"
Weakly, Meowth tried to stand but was dissolved into a flash of red light, as Daniel returned him to his Pokeball.
"Smart move, kid," Blaine grinned. "Your Meowth would've gone up in smoke."
"That's not funny," replied Daniel, selecting his second Pokeball. "Your Ninetales will pay. Go, Seel!"
Seel waddled forth, eyes widening as the barrier of fire which surrounded Ninetales and himself. Getting ready, Seel faced Ninetales with determination.
"Ninetales, Confuse Ray!"
"Seel," cried Daniel, wracked with guilt over Meowth's near-miss. "Water Gun!"
Leaping to evade the ghostly aura Ninetales projected, Seel took a deep breath and released a jet of water, thoroughly soaking Ninetales. Cringing as her fur became wet, Ninetales tried to shake it off as Seel headed for Ninetales, stilted though he was on the hard floor.
"Ninetales, Quick Attack!" shouted Blaine.
Too soon, Seel leapt for Ninetales and delivered a Headbutt which sent her reeling. Feebly stirring, Ninetales opened its mouth that shone bright with flames, only for Seel's subsequent jet of water to finish off the Fire Pokemon.
"Good job, Seel!" cried Daniel. Seel made his way back to Daniel's side of the field. Discomfited, Blaine remained silent as he returned Ninetales to its Pokeball.
"You think the likes of Water Pokemon scare me?" Blaine selected his second Pokeball. "You'll have to be fast to catch my next Pokemon! Rapidash, ride forth!"
Rapidash, the evolved form of Ponyta, was larger and more fierce with a fiery mane and golden sheen upon its body. It regarded Seel with little interest.
"Seel, take Rapidash down! Water Gun!" Daniel shouted.
"Rapidash, Take Down!"
Faster than he could blink, Seel was flat on his back, greatly injured by the sudden impact.
"Seel!" cried Daniel, amazed at Rapidash's speed. "Headbutt!"
"Rapidash, Stomp!" Blaine commanded.
Staggered by the recoil, Rapidash was unable to fully avoid Seel's Headbutt attack, knocked off kilter. The horse Pokemon whinned in a Growl attack, startling Seel who fell victim to Rapidash's follow up Stomp attack.
"Seel, return!" shouted Daniel, realising the power Blaine had demonstrated to be true. His anxiety gave way to full scale panic.
"You can do this, Daniel!" Natalie cheered from below. "Don't give up!"
Emboldened, Daniel looked between his remaining two Pokemon. Which of them could take on the speed of Rapidash?"
"Come on, kid!" called Blaine, as Rapidash arrogantly cantered a lap around the battlefield with ease. "Getting too hot for you?"
Reluctantly, Daniel placed his hand on a Pokeball and summoned all his hope that the tactic would work. Throwing it into the battlefield, he shouted,
"I'm depending on you, Weepinbell!"
"Hah!" laughed Blaine, as Weepinbell nearly fainted at the sight of the fiery Rapidash. "You must be insane to use a Grass Pokemon against me!"
I'd call it desperate, thought Daniel. But I hope Weepinbell can pull it off.
"Rapidash, let's call this an easy win! Fire Spin!" shouted Blaine.
"Weepinbell, Stun Spore!" cried Daniel.
Weepinbell released glittering powder from its pores into the air, as Rapidash shot forth a burst of flame which consumed Weepinbell whole, becoming a fiery tornado in which Weepinbell was tossed into the air and slammed roughly on the battlefield floor. Burned and badly injured, Weepinbell was almost spent of energy.
"Rapidash!" shouted Blaine, for his Fire-type Pokemon was paralysed, unable to move.
"Return, Weepinbell!" cried Daniel, holding out his Pokeball to emit a bright red light and selecting his remaining Pokeball. "Go, Arbok!"
Blaine had retrieved his Paralyz Heal and sprayed it on Rapidash from afar as Arbok entered the scene, taking the initiative to deliver a volley of poison barbs at its opponent. Freed from paralysis, Rapidash was knocked back by the barbs which stung it so and injected poison that began to sap Rapidash of energy.
"No!" cried Blaine, now fumbling for his Antidote as Rapidash, weakened and poisoned, quickly lost stamina.
"Arbok, Glare!"
Eyes flashing, Rapidash was frozen in place by Arbok as Blaine realised his Rapidash's comeuppance was due.
"Finish it!" cried Daniel. "Bite!"
Arbok leapt for the paralysed and poisoned Fire-type, sinking its teeth in deep and suddenly no more, as Rapidash became bright red light that entered the spherical Pokeball held by Blaine.
Plagued by worry for his injured Weepinbell, Daniel nevertheless clapped furiously for Arbok's triumph, with Natalie joining in below. Chuckling to himself, Blaine selected his third and final Pokeball.
"You had me worried for a second, but now we're neck and neck! How will you fare against my greatest Pokemon?" Blaine tossed the Pokeball into the ring. "Arcanine, let's finish this!"
Arcanine ran forth, the evolved form of Growlithe. Larger and more fierce, Arcanine looked in its element within the battlefield of fire.
"Careful, Daniel!" cried Natalie. "This is it!"
Clenching his teeth, Daniel watched as Arbok uncurled from its coil and slammed its powerful tail upon the ground in a display of force. Arcanine seemed ready to launch at any moment.
"Arcanine, Roar!" cried Blaine.
"Arbok, Glare!" shouted Daniel.
Surprised by Arcanine's roar, Arbok paused in the most pivotal seconds leading up to Arcanine's next attack -
"Fire Blast!" shouted Blaine.
Deep within its body, Arcanine tensed and surged forth flames which took on a five-pronged shape headed straight for Arbok. Eyes wide with horror, Daniel screamed,
"Arbok! Look out!" Daniel screamed.
Coiled and tense, Arbok could no naught as the Fire Blast consumed the battlefield, embers remaining behind.
"It survived!" pointed Natalie, who from her viewpoint watched as Arbok sprang forth, burns covering its hide as it leapt for Arcanine, poison barbs shooting forth from its mouth.
"Impossible!" yelled Blaine.
Impaled repeatedly, Arcanine barked in pain though he did not succumb to poison. Arbok wrapped its coiled body around that of Arcanine's, squeezing tight as the Fire-type tried to wrest free.
"Arcanine! Flamethrower!"
But Arbok was first, robbing Arcanine of stamina with its bone-crushing embrace and biting hard into the Fire Pokemon's neck. Roaring in agony, Arcanine slumped to the ground as Arbok leapt off to safety. Both Pokemon were greatly injured, as Arbok heaved with exertion from its burns and Arcanine struggled to breathe.
"Arcanine! Take Down!"
"Arbok, Glare!"
Arcanine froze, paralysed and providing the opportunity for Arbok to leap out, jaws bared. It met solid air as red light returned Arcanine to its Pokeball, held out by Blaine. Questioningly, Daniel didn't understand until a second later that he had won.
"Arbok, return! You did a great job!" Daniel held out his Pokeball, to transport the burned Poison-type to safety. Holding in his glee for only a few moments, he burst with pride as the flames surrounding the battlefield died down and he ran forth to hug Natalie, choked with emotion but mainly perspiration from the heat.
"Congratulations!" cried Natalie, breaking apart as the clammy sensation became too much. Both desperately needed a shower.
Walking across the field, Blaine clapped his hands though his expression remained desultory. Slowly, he broke into a smile.
"Well done, young man," Blaine clapped Daniel on the shoulder. "I shouldn't have underestimated you. I present you now with the Volcanobadge."
Staring at it in disbelief, Daniel felt a thrill of wonder. His sixth Badge! He could not believe how far his Pokemon had come.
"And your prize money, too," Blaine placed a wad of cash in Daniel's hand, close to five thousand dollars. "You deserve it."