CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
Having arrived in Vermilion City, Daniel and Natalie made a short stop to the Pokemon Center before heading on the route north which led to Saffron City. They walked down a path bordered with tall grass on either side, a pond in the distance where Poliwag frolicked and further still, surrounded by tall trees. There were a few Pokemon Trainers battling with their Pokemon, training to challenge Lt. Surge of Vermilion Gym.
"It seems so long ago," said Natalie wistfully, as they watched a frenetic young girl with a Pikachu battle her boyfriend, who had a Squirtle. "Do you reckon we're ready to take on the Saffron Gym Leader?"
"I hope so," said Daniel dourly.
He had wanted to include Amy in their travels so that they could tackle Victory Road as one party. Perhaps if she lost against the Viridian Gym Leader, she might be there when they returned... but that would be displacing faith. Amy's Pokemon had just as much chance as he or Natalie did.
"Amy mentioned an unofficial Gym using Fighting-type Pokemon," Natalie offered, watching a Butterfree fly overhead while its Trainer raced to keep up. "It would be good practice."
Together they entered the building which served as a checkpoint between Vermilion and Saffron. Daniel and Natalie were offered a passing welcome by the receptionist as they continued through, into the giant metropolis of Saffron City, once again deluged in the carnal horn-honking and aggressive jay walkers among heavy traffic.
"It's so loud!" remarked Natalie, who had returned her Pokemon to their Pokeballs and put her hands in her ears, standing among a crowd of pedestrians waiting for the walk light to flash green. "I don't know how Amy managed to grow up in a city. There's no space to think!"
Shouting above the ruckus to make himself heard, Daniel asked, "Where did Amy say the Gym was?"
"Inbetween a PokeMart and a tea shop," said Natalie.
"What?" yelled Daniel.
Raising her voice, Natalie shouted, "Inbetween - "
They jumped to avoid a honking car. Wordlessly, Natalie tugged at Daniel's arm, pulling him through the frenzied, chattering crowds. Together it took them an hour to find the tea shop, alongside which was the faded sign 'Fighting Dojo' and a wooden building and a sliding door.
"This must be it," murmured Natalie, glad for any excuse to abandon the suffocating crowds. "Let's hurry."
Sliding the door shut behind them, Natalie joined Daniel's shocked gaze as they glanced upon the dim, dusty battlefield where several black belts stared them down. Chief among them, a bulky man upon the raised dais stepped down to face them.
"You must be my newest challengers! Unless you've taken a wrong turn?"
"No," Natalie stepped forward. "We are here to challenge you - and to win."
Peals of laughter from the surrounding black belts. Their leader folded his arms and observed Natalie.
"I am the Karate Master of this Dojo. I - we - use Fighting-type Pokemon. Do you know what that means?"
"Yes," Natalie replied, not rudely. "I still believe I will win. I have six Badges."
Nodding, the Karate Master made a slight hand movement and the black belts moved out of the way so that the battlefield was unobstructed. Natalie took her position opposite the Karate Master, revealing the four Pokeballs on her belt as she selected the only she'd need.
"Four Pokemon?" asked the Karate Master, who held up two of his own. "Very well - "
"I will only fight with one Pokemon," said Natalie bravely. "And if I lose, I will gladly hand over half my prize money - but if I win - I receive double."
"Hah! Are you a gambler or a fool, to challenge me so boldly?" the Karate Master shot back.
"Neither. I am a Pokemon Trainer on the rise, and I have grown to have confidence in the Pokemon I have raised so far," Natalie kept in mind the altercation she had with her mother, which she had not discussed with anyone, not Daniel or Amy. "Every Trainer needs money and I believe I will win."
"I do not care for money, only victory," said the Karate Master, choosing his first Pokeball. "Victory that will be certain with your choosing only one Pokemon."
"We will see," Natalie replied, unafraid.
"Are you sure, Natalie?" asked Daniel, silenced by Natalie's glare. "You're not low on cash - "
"I have to do this, Daniel," Natalie heaved her shoulders as she took a deep breath. "You'll just have to trust me."
The Karate Master scoffed, throwing his Pokeball into the ring. "Let's begin round one! Hitmonlee!"
Springing forward, Hitmonlee demonstrated its dexterity with kicking the air in short, furious bursts. Natalie held her Pokeball close, then tossed it onto the battlefield.
"Butterfree, let's fight!"
Butterfree flew forth, twittering and hovering above the battlefield, out of the Hitmonlee's reach.
"Your puny Butterfree will fall before my Hitmonchan's lighting-fast attacks!" shouted the Karate Master. "Hitmonlee, High Jump Kick!"
"Butterfree, Sleeping Powder!" cried Natalie.
Butterfree swooped low over the battlefield, releasing shining powder from its wings as Hitmonlee leapt into the air, kicking upward but narrowly missing, crashing upon the training mat that was the battlefield. The black belts gasped in surprise. Sprained, Hitmonlee suffered a bit of harm while the powder settled, falling over into restful slumber.
"Hitmonlee!" demanded the Karate Master angrily, fetching an Awakening from within his robe. "That was too close to miss!"
"Butterfree!" cried Natalie, as the butterfly Pokemon glared down upon the sleeping Fighting-type. "Gust!"
Waving her wings hurriedly, everyone clutched for a wooden post as the beams creaked, while Hitmonlee was damaged by the sharp wind. The Karate Master tried to administer his Awakening, but the Gust blew away the contents.
"Tackle!" shouted Natalie.
Butterfree swooped low to tackle the sleeping figure of Hitmonlee, injuring it further. Cursing, the Karate Master raised his hand and returned Hitmonlee into its Pokeball with the other, bright red light flashing.
"That was a fluke," he said, selecting his next Pokeball. "I won't let you win again! Go, Hitmonchan!"
Punching his fists wildly, Hitmonchan materialised and watched Butterfree flit from side to side.
"Butterfree, Gust!"
"Hitmonchan, Fire Punch!"
Buffeted by Butterfree's Gust, Hitmonchan raised his fiery fist to defend against the tornado which scathed his skin and caused him injury. Leaping into the air, Hitmonchan managed to aim a hit for Butterfree, who cried in pain as she suffered burns.
"Butterfree!" screamed Natalie, the spell breaking, realising what she had put her Pokemon through in order to double her bet. She rummaged in her bag for a Burn Heal - "
"Finish that Bug off, Hitmonchan!" shouted the Karate Master. "Mega Punch!"
Butterfree glowed with all the colours of the rainbow, projecting forth a beam which blasted Hitmonchan clear off its feet. Greatly wounded, Hitmonchan could barely stand, suffering confusion.
"No! Hitmonchan, attack Butterfree!" yelled the Karate Master in desperation.
Confused, Hitmonchan punched itself in the head, ending the battle with a KO. Natalie had administered the Burn Heal, so Butterfree twittered happily, no longer burned but still quite injured.
"Master," spoke one of the black belts, walking forward. "I will avenge you - "
"And take on Natalie's Butterfree?" shot Daniel, bravely considering the black belt's muscles. "She's as good as any Psychic-type."
"How dare you!" roared the black belt, stepping forward to intimidate.
"Quiet," spoke the Karate Master, walking over to Natalie where her Butterfree hovered overhead. "You have done well. You deserve this prize money."
Uncharacteristically, Natalie flipped through the wad of cash he presented.
"Thanks," she added, distractedly. "Come on, Butterfree, let's go..."
Daniel turned to the Karate Master. "I want to battle, but I have to see what's up with her."
"Very well," the Karate Master inclined his head. "Some training will be good to overcome my defeat today."
Daniel rushed out after Natalie, who headed in the direction of the Pokemon Center several blocks away.
"Natalie!" he called out. She didn't hear him over the scrum of traffic. "Is everything OK?"
She turned, dazedly as though in a trance. They headed into a deserted alleyway. Close together, Daniel asked, "What's wrong?"
Natalie took a deep breath. "My mum wants me to win the Pokemon League."
"Isn't that our goal anyway? To challenge the Elite Four and win?" asked Daniel.
Shrugging, Natalie replied, "She doesn't care for my glory or achievement. She just wants the prize money, is all."
Softening, Daniel said, "Do you have to give her - well, do you have a choice in the matter - "
"Of course I have a choice!" Natalie blinked back tears. "But I'm not going to be the daughter who abandons her mother in her time of need. Alesha wants to leave and not come back. It's up to me."
"It doesn't have to be," Daniel said in a low voice. "You can - "
"No, Daniel. You don't understand," Natalie shook her head. "Mum has nobody to help her. I will enter the Pokemon League to win the prize money for her."
Silently, Natalie wiped her eyes and tried to smile. "I just wish I knew how to stop her spending all the money I give her."
"It'll be OK," said Daniel, discomfited, not at all sure how to reassure Natalie.
"Anyway," she cleared her throat. "I'll head to the Pokemon Center. You go to the Fighting Dojo and I'll meet you there."
"And miss my battle?" Daniel joked, but Natalie was past laughter. "OK, um - "
"I'll see you there!" Natalie insisted, not rudely, just hurried. She ran off into the crowds of citizens.
Daniel took a deep breath as he re-entered the Fighting Dojo. Upon the dais was the Karate Master, who had healed his Pokemon and turned to face his newest entrant.
"All set?" he asked. Daniel nodded. "Good. Let's get this battle over with. I've had enough of being defeated by youngsters."
They stood at equal positions opposite each other on the battlefield.
"Do you wish to wager more money to use less Pokemon, too?" the Karate Master mocked.
"No," said Daniel. "Though I will use only two Pokemon to keep things fair."
"Very well," he observed, sucking in his breath and tossing his Pokeball onto the field. "Hitmonchan!"
Hitmonchan parried and ducked, readying for the coming fight. Daniel put two Pokeballs aside on his belt, keeping two at the ready and choosing one of them to throw into the ring.
"Go, Arbok!"
Uncoiling its long body, Arbok slammed its tail upon the fighting mat, watching speedy Hitmonchan carefully.
"Arbok, Glare!" shouted Daniel.
"Hitmonchan," yelled the Karate Master. "Agility!"
Too late, Hitmonchan had made eye contact with Arbok and didn't move. Arbok launched itself at Hitmonchan -
"No!" cried the Karate Master.
But Hitmonchan was feigning, ducking to avoid Arbok's lunge and delivering a severe uppercut Mega Punch that caused Arbok great pain, toppling over.
Surprised, Daniel shouted, "Arbok, Wrap!"
"Hitmonchan, Fire Punch!" demanded the Karate Master.
Arbok tightly wrapped its great bulk around Hitmonchan, squeezing hard. Hitmonchan's fiery fist still managed to pummel Arbok, who hissed in pain and began suffering burns, flinching occasionally though still holding Hitmonchan in place.
"Arbok, Bite!" cried Daniel.
"Hitmonchan - "
Arbok plunged its fangs deep into Hitmonchan's neck. Barely able to breathe, Hitmonchan dematerialised into red light within the Karate Master's Pokeball.
"That was too close," the Karate Master selected his next Pokeball, as Arbok returned to Daniel's side of the field. "Go, Hitmonlee!"
Hitmonlee sprang forward, ready to avenge its fallen comrade. Arbok eyed Hitmonchan daringly.
"Return, Arbok," said Daniel, as Arbok slithered to his side. Daniel threw his other Pokeball into the field. "Go, Weepinbell!"
Weepinbell waddled forward, waving its leaf arms at the wildly kicking Hitmonlee.
"Hitmonlee, Mega Kick!" shouted the Karate Master.
"Weepinbell, Stun Spore!" cried Daniel.
Hitmonlee ran forth and kicked Weepinbell clear across the mats, bowling Daniel over in the process. Nevertheless, the shining powder that had come from Weepinbell's pores hung over the battlefield, paralysing Hitmonlee.
"Gah! Hitmonlee!" cried the Karate Master, retrieving a Paralyz Heal.
"Weepinbell!" gasped Daniel, helping Weepinbell up. The plant Pokemon returned to the battlefield, angrily. "Razor Leaf!"
Spinning around in the air, Weepinbell loosed razor sharp leaves into Hitmonlee, cutting into its skin. As the Karate Master administered the Paralyz Heal, Hitmonlee stretched and readied to spring.
"Hitmonlee, use Mega Kick again!" yelled the Karate Master.
"Vine Whip, Weepinbell!" cried Daniel.
Hitmonlee sprang forth, but was impeded by the vines which whacked into him delivered by Weepinbell. Spinning on the spot, Hitmonlee lost his momentum -
"Acid, Weepinbell!"
Weepinbell shot forth pungent liquid which seeped into Hitmonlee, damaging it further. The Fighting-type Pokemon desperately attempted a High Jump Kick, failing miserably and crumpled upon the training mat.
"I win!" cried Daniel, running onto the battlefield to hug Weepinbell, quite different from Meowth's soft, cuddly fur.
Walking over, the Karate Master looked like he was about to explode as he handed over a wad of cash.
"I will be heading to the mountains to train, after these series of embarrassing defeats... how many Badges do you have left to claim?"
"I have six," said Daniel. "I will be heading to the Saffron Gym next."
Doubtfully, the Karate Master eyed Weepinbell and Arbok, who were both Poison-types. "Good luck, young man."