Chapter 3: Getting into the Splash of Things!
Maddie woke up the next morning to her sister standing over her sleeping bag, tapping her bare foot. She made a ridiculous sight in her pajamas. "Lyn, why are you standing over me?" she asked, sleepily.
"I couldn't sleep last night because I was trying to figure out a strategy for beating the gym. And I think I've decided on one."
"And that strategy is?" Maddie sat up, unzipping her sleeping bag so she could get out of the comfortable warmth. A blast of cold air hit her and she shivered.
"I'm going to add another Pokemon to my team." Lyn announced, as if it was obvious. "A nice water type would be a perfect addition. No offense to Charmie and Claudia, but they would not have an easy time, so I would need a Pokemon with a type advantage."
"Do you have to talk so much this early in the morning?" Maddie complained, getting to her feet.
Lyn looked annoyed. "I'll have you know, I waited until eight to bother you."
"It's 8 am?" Maddie yelped, grabbing for her backpack. "We have to go, doesn't the gym open at 9?"
Lyn rolled her eyes. "NOW she gets the urgency. Lucky for you they have two showers, so I'll see you when you're done."
A half hour later, Maddie and Lyn were dressed and headed out of the Pokemon center, fully dressed and ready to leave with their Pokemon. "Thanks for taking care of us, Nurse Joy."
"It's been my pleasure. And good luck with your gym badges!" Nurse Joy called as they left.
"Where do you think we can catch a water type?" Lyn asked, looking around.
Maddie slapped her forehead with a groan. "You came up with this brilliant idea and have no idea how to get it done?" She asked, rolling her eyes.
"Excuse me, I haven't been to Pewter City before." Lyn fumed. "I did see some water outside of town, though."
Maddie followed her sister grudgingly out of the city. Lyn stopped by a pool of water and took off her shoes to dip her toes in. "Are you trying to scare them out of the water with your stinky feet?" Maddie asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lyn gave her sister a dirty look. "My feet aren't stinky. I thought if I just sat here and enjoyed the water, a Pokemon would come over and let me battle it."
"I'll watch the master in action, then." Maddie shook her head and sat down beside her sister.
Lyn spotted a blue mass appear, just peeking over the surface of the water. Lyn perked up as the mass moved toward her at a fast pace. She tapped Maddie on the shoulder, and pointed to the mass, a finger to her lips.
A pair of white eyes with black pupils popped out of the water and a shot of water hit Lyn in the face. Before she could do more than blink, a wide white striped fin appeared as the Pokemon flipped over and dove again.
Maddie was laughing. "He showed you!"
Lyn, sopping wet, glared at her sister. "That was a Poliwag, you-you" Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she got to her feet. "Claudia, want to help me catch that Poliwag?" She asked, looking down at the feline at her side.
"Mrow!" Claudia purred, on alert at once.
Poliwag appeared again, leaping into the air. Lyn backed away, instructing Claudia to do so. Poliwag landed fluidly onto the grass, prepared to battle.
"Claudia, use Scratch!" Lyn instructed. Claudia pounced, clawing at Poliwag's slippery skin. Poliwag toppled to the grass on the onslaught, knocked out. "Yes! Pokeball, go!"
The Pokeball sailed in a red and white blur toward the Poliwag. When it made contact it opened, and enveloped the Poliwag in a red light. The Poliwag disappeared into the Pokeball and the device closed. The Pokeball landed on the soft grass and shook three times before going still.
"I caught a Poliwag!" Lyn cried, pumping the air with her fist.
"Wow, you caught a Poliwag. Congrats. You have one problem though." Maddie said dryly.
"And what is that?" Lyn asked, looking back at her sister.
"That Poliwag is weak now, it would stand no chance against a Rock gym. You'll need to train it up."
"You're right. I'll heal it up at the Center and do some training. Do you want to go after the badge first while I train?"
"And get to do something before you at once? Absolutely!" Maddie grinned. "Race you to the center!"
"Hey wait!" Lyn cried, putting the Pokeball on her belt. She chased after her sister, with Claudia on her heels.
Maddie and Lyn healed at the center and did some training. Lyn decided to name Poliwag Polley, since it seemed to be a fitting name for the little tadpole. When Lyn and Maddie felt confident they were prepared, they headed for the gym.
Maddie stopped at the gym, shouldering her bag. "Wish me luck."
"You don't need luck, you'll do fine. And if I wait until after you are done, I can get some strategies out of watching you battle him."
"So that's why you wanted me to go first?" Maddie arched an eyebrow.
"It might have been." Lyn giggled. "Just go and kick rock butt."
Maddie giggled in return and opened the gym doors. Lights blinked on overhead as they illuminated a rocky field. A bare-chested man was waiting at the end of the room, waiting for them. "Are you two challengers?"
"Yes, we are." Maddie stepped forward. "I want to challenge you first."
"Very well. My name is Flint. My son Brock will officiate." The man nodded toward the side where a boy Lyn and Maddie's age stood, with a green and red flag in hand. "It will be a two-on-two battle. You can switch out, but I cannot. The badge is yours if you can beat both of my Pokemon."
"Agreed." Maddie called forth Baby and the battle commenced. She battled her hardest and managed to beat both of Flint's Pokemon.
"Well done, I will give you this official Boulder Badge to show you have beaten the Pewter City gym." Flint approached her and handed her a small badge. To Lyn, he said, "Let me heal my Pokemon and I will accept your challenge. Forrest?" He called to a younger boy in the stands. The boy hurried over and left with Flint's Pokeballs.
Brock walked over to Maddie with a small smile on his face. "I'm Brock, and I am impressed with your battling skills. Are you a new trainer?"
"Fairly new, I just got Baby the other day." Maddie answered, blushing.
"I wish I could go on a journey, I'd love to meet new Pokemon and people." Brock said, a wisftful tone in his voice.
"You could go with is." Maddie blurted out, turning beet red.
"Go-with you?" Brock's eyebrows constricted in consideration. "I would have to ask my father."
Maddie walked away, mentally kicking herself. You just met him, why would you ask him that?!
Forrest returned eventually and handed the Pokeballs back to Flint. "Are you ready for your gym match?" He asked Lyn, accepting the Pokeballs.
"Y-yes, sir." Lyn nodded.
After a hard fought battle, Lyn won with Poliwag. Flint approached her and handed her a small badge. "This is to show you have beaten the Pewter City Gym. Congratulations to you both."
"Thank you, sir." Lyn nodded and they left the gym, chatting excitedly about their matches. "I can't believe how exciting that was!" Lyn said excitedly as they returned to the Pokemon Center.
"No kidding, that was the most thrilling battle I've ever had." Maddie agreed.
Lyn and Maddie spent the night in the Pokemon Center. The next morning they dressed and headed toward Mt. Moon when a male voice called, "Hey, wait up!"
Lyn and Maddie turned and spotted Brock, Flint's son, running after them. "Hey, what are you doing here?"
"I decided to take you up on your offer. I'll travel with you." Brock answered.
Lyn rounded on her sister. "You invited him to join us?" She asked, shocked.
"I kinda blurted it out. But why not?" Maddie shrugged.
"Because we just met him." Lyn pointed out.
"If it helps, I can cook and I would be a good companion." Brock offered.
Lyn hesitated, but on a pleading look from her sister, finally relented. "Fine, but you're going to be expected to help out. Got it?"
"I promise I will help out." Brock vowed.
"Good. We're leaving now. Are you ready to go?"
"Already packed and told my dad that I was leaving." Brock nodded.
"Good. Then let's go." Lyn led the two out of the city toward Mt. Moon.