Kanto Chapter 13 - Erika vs the results of Amber's special training
"Well I guess we should hit the Pokémon Centre first. You all need to be at your best for when we face off at the Celadon Gym."
"Pi!"
The trio of Amber, Pichu and Eevee, made their way through the busy streets of Celadon City heading to a familiar looking red roofed building.
Walking through the automatic doors, Amber and her pokémon made their way up to the pokémon transfer device. Whilst waiting for her turn on the machine Amber looked around, the Celadon Centre was pretty busy, lots of people were standing around inside and using the facilities, lots of colourful and bold outfits that Amber never really saw in sleepy Pallet Town. Continuing to scan the area Amber locked eyes with a weird looking old lady, with crazy eyes. She was dressed in white robes, Hakamas and holding a Gohei. Amber felt the woman's stare burn into her, so she quickly turned her head away to avoid eye contact.
Nope definitely do not see people like that in Pallet Town … Or Vermillion City come to think of it. Now I really think about Vermillion is quite a tame, tranquil little city compared to Saffron and Celadon.
Thankfully, it was now Amber's turn to use the communicator. The teenager patched in and waited as the screen dialled out. It was not long before the entire monitor was taken up by the giant face of her mentor. "Hey Kid! It's great ta see ya!"
Amber giggled out loud "I'd say the same, but I can only see your nose and mouth."
"Only my? Oh haha better move back a bit." Lt Surge wiggled his chair backwards. "There dat better?"
"Um hum" Amber smiled. She could see him properly now.
"Ha never get used to dese tiny cameras" Surge commented.
"I don't think the issue is that the camera is small" Amber gave the Gym Leader a cheeky grin and giggled some more. "How are you all? How's the Guys? And Raichu? And the other pokémon?"
"Yeah, great, we're all doin' good here, kid. So how're you doin'? Where ya calling from? Oh, hey Pichu! How you doin? Hey an you got an Eevee! Nice"
"Pi pi pi pichu pi!" Pichu waved excitedly at his original owner.
"Eeeeee" Eevee chirped in response.
"I'm in Celadon City." Amber replied, "I'm going to take on the Celadon Gym for the Rainbow Badge."
"Ah Erika, Grass type. Could be a tricky one for ya."
"Well that's part of the reason I'm calling, can you send me my Voltorb?"
Surges face soured and his tone deepened "Which one…"
Amber sweat dropped, she put her hand behind her head and chuckled nervously, Surge would never forgive her for swamping with gym with the electric ball pokémon.
"I'll send ya this one" Surge went off camera and returned with a lively Voltorb in his giant hands.
"Voltorb voltorb voltorb" the pokémon rocked and wiggled in his grip. "This one shows some real promise."
"Perfect. I'm sending you Chinchou" Amber took out a pokéball and placed it on the miniaturized transporter.
"Ah Chinchou, the pokémon you got from ya mother! I look forward ta spending some time with her. Neva had one myself." Surge recalled the Voltorb and did the same action.
Both watched the monitor showing the journey of the two pokémon crossing over.
Amber took the ball containing Voltorb and slid it to her belt. Surge showed that Chinchou had come through OK also.
"Take good care of her, I'll be wanting her back real soon" Amber smiled and waved.
"Will do, you got this kid!"
The two saluted and signed off the machine.
"You won't win at the Celadon Gym with those pokémon!" a sharp voice barked at our young pokéheroine.
Startled by the voice and comment, Amber spun round to find herself face to face with the crazy eyed Channeler. Whaa? The startle soon turned to anger. Who does this weird woman think she is?! How dare she! She doesn't even know my pokémon!
"Hey listen you! My pokémon are great! We'll beat Erika and get that Rainbow Badge no sweat! We don't need dumb opinions, especially from old fogies like you who don't know what they're talking about!" Amber growled at the old lady, pushing her face close to hers, noses almost touching.
"Pi pichu!" Pichu added, backing up his trainer. A little insulted too.
The old lady flicked the girls nose.
"Owwwwwwwww!"
""It's is you, dear naive child that doesn't know what they are talking about. If you think your current team of outclassed, inexperienced, nervous, disobedient pokémon will be enough to defeat Erika, think again! Heed my warning! I foresee that you need a flying pokémon to succeed!" With that the crazy old fortune teller started to wave her Gohei and chant unintelligible words.
Amber, Pichu and Eevee backed away from the chanting woman and walked towards the front counter.
Amber rubbed her nose. Crazy old bat! What does she know? Ok so maybe grass is going be a little tough, but we can do it! I have Magnemite and now Voltorb … and I have Electrode on hand … Who won't listen to me … … disobedient … that was oddly specific … wait how did she know that?!
A crowd had started to form over the other side of the room. Breaking out of her thoughts and wondering what all the fuss was about, Amber walked over and squeezed through the small gathering to see what the big deal was. A man stood dressed in a bold red ring masters coat, black trousers and big black boots, accessorising with a long whip and lollypop.
"Yes I can teach the impossible, possible! I can teach my bespoke moves to any pokémon. That's right any pokémon! You won't find these moves in any TM's around, heck I can even train a mouse to fly! That's right folks you got to see it to believe it!"
Teach a mouse to fly … Amber looked at Pichu. A flying pokémon.
"Yes, all this can be yours from the bargain price of ք7000, that's right just ք7000!"
The crowd reacted "ք7000? You got to be kidding?" "pfft what a rip off." "forget that." Most trainers started to walk away leaving a few behind still listening to the trainer's pitch. "He's full of it."
As the crowds dispersed Amber stood front and centre, Pichu and Eevee at her side. All three looking around as the people were leaving.
"You!" The showman pointed to her.
"Me?"
"Yes You. I can tell you're no sheep kid. You don't follow these crowds." The Tamer gestured to the people walking away from him and put his arm round the teenage girls' shoulders. "You don't care what they think. You are your own person and I can tell you shape your own destiny! Fortune favours the bold! Am I right?"
"Yeah! You're right! That is me!" Amber was pumped.
"Also, you have the perfect pokémon for my training techniques. Pikachu and Eevee families are the best and most versatile to train. Am I right?
"Um hum, Um hum!" Amber eagerly nodded. Her pokémon were great. This guy knows!
"Pichu" "Eeeeeee" The two pokémon looked at each other and burst into excited smiles.
"I'd say the cost of ք7000 is a fraction for trainers of our calibre, to have different, mind blowing techniques that no other trainer could even fathom. Am I right?"
"Hmm" Amber looked at her purse, after her major shopping spree, she barely had enough. "It would be all my money gone…"
The Tamer squeezed the girl a little harder into him, and looked into the distance, using his other arm to dramatically point across the horizon of the Pokémon Centre. "But think how much money you will win, for starters the pay out at Celadon Gym for winning that Rainbow Badge will more than cover it. Am I right?"
Amber looked up at the vibrantly dressed man. "How did you know I was going to challenge the Celadon Gym?"
The man stepped back from Amber and put his hand behind his head. "Well … I … of course have a 6th sense for these kinds of things! Yeah! When you train as many pokémon as I have, you get a feel for trainers and where they are … heading!" He smiled. "So, what do you say? Ready to train Champion?" The Tamer held his hand out.
Amber took his hand and shook it.
"Ok. Let's train."
Earlier that day in the dark underbelly of the Celadon Game Corner, a new story develops as a young male Rocket officer strides into the main office of the Team Rocket Head Quarters.
Two figures of great importance sit adjacent to each other. The backs of their office style chairs turned on their subordinate as he delivers some fateful news.
"Ma'am, Sir. Field Agents have reported back that they have been able to access the abandoned Power Plant on route 10. The Electrode and Voltorb residing there have all gone, no positive ID yet, but our intel is strong and reliable that it has come back to roost. On your command we are ready to send in a team now to locate and retrieve the legendary bird Zapdos."
"How strong and reliable?" The female boss replied, still not turning to face the officer.
"89% Ma'am."
"89, I think we can act on that." The mystery man spoke to the mystery woman, just loud enough for the subordinate officer to catch.
A pregnant pause followed.
"Assemble Alpha team only and dispatch immediately, remember it is imperative that this mission is done under stealth conditions. We will not have a repeat of 12 years ago." The mystery woman spun her chair round to face the officer.
"Yes Ma'am."
The mystery man mirrored his female counterpart and spun his chair to face the officer "And may I remind you that it is imperative that no attention is brought to the organisation at this time. We do not need the Pokémon League getting wind of us. This is a crucial time for us. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good. Now go."
The officer saluted and vacated the office.
The man turned to the woman, "Once we have just one of the Legendary Birds the world will fall into chaos and right into our grasp." He gave her deep sinister smile.
"Things are finally going to go the way they should for Team Rocket." The female replied, also breaking into a smirk.
"Suppose the League does find out about …"
"It will all be too late!" The woman slammed her fist down onto a desk, slightly rattling the sturdy wooden frame. "And when that all grown up pain in our ass decides to stick his upright twerpy nose into our affairs, we will be ready for him with our ace in the hole!"
"Speaking of that, I haven't had an update on that front for a little while, have you heard anything?"
"Ugh no I haven't either, get someone to check in with Shane and Thea immediately. We need that leverage. NOW"
"I'll get the call put out right away."
"Arceus help us if that boy turns out to be as useless as his father." The woman winked and smirked playfully.
The pair burst out laughing, before stopping and looking at each other seriously.
"So here's the secret technique kid, you're Pichu is going to go really high in the air, like really high, like flying high and then change his posture to fall, using his velocity as an advantage to hit the opponent. The way the move hits, it damages as hard … as … Like … the fly attack. Yeah that's it just like Fly Attack."
"Now what makes this so special is Pichu, as you know doesn't have wings, am I right? So, to make him go up real high in the air, we're going to use these!" The Tamer pulled out a big bunch of helium balloons. He attached one Pichu noting the little pokémon starting to slowly lift off the floor.
"Balloons?!" Amber was dumbstruck. "I can't use balloon's in a Pokémon battle!"
"Well of course not! This is just to train the … falling part! Yes! Teaching the falling part! The falling part is what causes the damage so that is the most important. See we make the floaty and teach the fall, Floaty Fall! The technique is Floaty Fall. It never fails."
Amber sweat dropped "Floaty Fall?"
"Yes! Floaty Fall! Do you want me to teach it to your Pichu or not?!"
Amber quickly put the palms of her hands together "Yes, yes, sorry, sorry! Please teach my Pichu … Floaty Fall …"
"Alright that's more like it. Now you take these balloons, put enough on so Pichu floats up pretty high, when he's high enough have Pichu pop the balloons with his electricity and dive bomb down onto his opponent." The Tamer instructed.
"Right." Amber attached two more balloons to Pichu, watching as he slowly lifted into air.
"Pichuuuuuuu" The little mouse pokémon squeaked in slight alarm as he rose into the air.
"Don't worry Pichu, if you get too high, burst the balloons with your Thundershock!"
"Piiiiiiiiii" Pichu called down to his trainer. He was unsure but he trusted her.
The Tamer set up a mannequin on the ground. "Here get Pichu to target this."
The pair watched Pichu rise higher and higher.
"So, when is high enough?" Amber asked.
"That's your call, trainer." The Tamer replied, eyes fixed on the airborne yellow pokémon.
"Pichu burst the balloon's and dive bomb the target!" Amber called up.
With little effort the pokémon sparked a little electricity, popping the balloons instantly, he then proceeded to fall down onto the target, smashing into it but not really doing a great deal of damage.
"Ok good for first try. Get Pichu to fall more streamline, using the air currents to his advantage creating more speed in the fall, that will create more power and impact more damage behind the attack. Then work on going higher to increase that power even more. Well there you go, you have all you need right now so I'll leave you to practice."
"Uh? You're not going to stay?" Amber looked to the man as he slowly back away.
"I have some nearby business to attend to, yes that's it! Some nearby business. But I'll be back soon to check on your progress. So practice, practice, practice! Am I right?" The Tamer hastily made his exit and sped off down the road.
"But what about teaching the floaty part?" Amber called out after him.
"We'll do that when you got the fall part down!" The Tamer called back, now almost out of sight.
Amber and Pichu stood, watching the dust trail the Tamer had left behind, both a little dumstruck.
"Ok Pichu, guess we go again." Amber looked to her pokémon, who looked back up at her. "Pi."
Back outside the Pokémon Centre, the Tamer approached a mysterious figure lurking against the side of the building, the shade covering the person's features.
"Here is your cut. I must say you really have a good eye for them." The Tamer handed over a wad of money.
"Well of course dear, I am a seer after all." The Channeler stepped forwards and took the cash from the Tamer.
"I must say targeting the Pokécenters in Gym Cities was a genius idea. Trainers that are so blindsided to win Gym Badges they will literally believe anything."
"And don't forget buy anything!" The Channeler counted her cut of the day's takings.
"I am telling ya, with your insights and my showmanship, we are making some seriously easy money! Am I right? And best of all there are 0 repercussions on us!"
The Tamer put on his showman voice. "Oh no, the technique does work. 100%. Maybe you're pokémon just isn't at the right level yet, maybe you just need to hone your skills as a trainer … keep practicing you'll get there… In maybe … let's see ... Never."
The pair shared a laugh.
The charlatan Tamer felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around his expression of joy dropping to shock. There stood the gullible red headed trainer with her Pichu. The Channeler jumped back into the shadows out of sight.
"Are you ready to see how far we've come!" Amber asked enthusiastically.
"You?! How?! Errrrrrrr, I mean you're here ... so quickly!" The Tamer stood startled. How did she catch up to us? "Shouldn't you be practising? The technique will only work with 100% commitment!"
"Well I think we've got the falling part down, wanna see?" Amber beamed.
"Uhhhhh sure?" The Tamer responded, unsure.
Amber turned and looked down at Pichu. "Pichu! Use Floaty Fall!"
"Pichu!" The little mouse charged the floor underneath himself and levitated up high into the air.
What … but how? Her Pichu can … fly? How did she do this? The Tamer stood in disbelief, putting his hand to his forehead acting as a visor as he watched Pichu soar up into the sunlight.
Pichu somersaulted mid-air to dive down feet first, creating a devastating aerial tackle attack. Pichu made direct contact with the ground, leaving it cracked on impact.
"Nice Pichu! That was your best one yet!" Amber congratulated her pokémon.
Both the Tamer and the Channeler stood, eyes bulging at the sight.
Amber turned to the Tamer. "We ran out of balloons pretty quickly, so we improvised on the "Floaty" part, but we're ready to learn the proper technique now."
She did it? She actually did it! She made one of my ideas … work … I can't believe it … I can't believe what I've just seen. She actually made a mouse … fly.
"Kid, how, how did you get your Pichu to launch up like that?" The Tamer asked stammering.
"Oh well the ground is made up of metals, so I had Pichu unleash a built-up negative charge to project his bodyweight up. But we're ready for you to show us the way you do it now."
"The way … I … do … oh … you, you got it! As in you've already got it! Yeah! That's actually how I already teach a Pichu to do the Floaty Fall. Yep you figured it out. Impressive, real impressive, you're a real insightful trainer. Am I right?" The Tamer folded his arms closed his eyes knowingly and nodded.
"Alright! Now we're ready to take on the Celadon City Gym! Thank you, sir, this move's gonna be amazing! It will definitely give us the edge!" Amber balled her fists in excitement.
"Uh huh … I mean … Of course! Well done on completing the training."
"I remember you mentioning you have bespoke moves for Eevee too?" Amber enquired.
The Tamers face dropped. "I … said that?"
"Well I don't have enough money right now, So I'll be back just as soon as I've beaten Erika, then we can train together more!"
Train together more? Panic took over the boldly dressed man."Ohhhhhhhh, yeahhhh ... Oh wait no! No! Sorry but I have to leave for the next Town already! What a shame."
"Oh." Amber's face fell a little with disappointment.
"Yes, sorry, I have a busy schedule as I am sure you can imagine, touring the world is no mean fete, in fact I should have already left! So, I bid you farewell Miss, and hope to see you again." The Tamer bowed to the young trainer. "Bub bye now."
"Then I guess I'll be seeing you." Amber smiled and waved goodbye, heading off the in the direction of the Celadon Gym, Pichu following after her.
"You didn't see that coming." The Tamer deadpanned to the Channeler, who just shook her head slowly in agreement, her eyes not leaving the retreating trainer and her Pichu.
That girl will save us all.
Amber slammed opened the big glass doors and walked right into the greenhouse designed Celadon Gym.
"Erm excuse me? You can't just barge in here!" A Lass tapped her on her shoulder blade, causing the teenager to stop in the tracks of her power walk and turn to face the apprehender.
"But I've come to challenge for a Rainbow Badge." Amber interjected, completely unaware of any wrongdoing.
"I'm sure you have, but you have to meet certain criteria to be allowed into this gym, you know!"
"Criteria?" Amber tilted her head slightly to the side.
"Yes, for starters, you have to show me … a cute pokémon!" The Lass folded her arms.
"A cute pokémon? But they're all cute! Is that all I have to do?"
"No! There's other things to, you have to … eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"
Amber picked up Pichu and held him in front of the Lass's face.
"Pichu!" Pichu greeted the trainer and waved his little paw.
The Lass's eyes bulged into hearts. "Oh he's cute! He's SUPER cute! Can … can I pet him? Just a bit? Pleeeeeeease?"
Amber placed Pichu into the trainer's arms and the Lass cuddled him into her chest, burying her face in his fur. "Oh, he smells so good! I just want to bury my face in his belly! Oh I love himmmmm!"
Amber sweat dropped. "So, err what else do I need to do?"
The trainer was busy canoodling over Pichu.
"A-hem"
The Lass looked up "The other? Oh well seeing as you brought this cutie to see me, I'll let you in." The Lass conceded.
"Thanks" Amber half smiled, "Let's go Pichu." Pichu wriggled out the Lass's arms and bounded after his trainer.
"Oh! Please bring him back to see me real soon!" The Lass waved after them.
Amber walked around the garden maze that was Celadon City Gym. Inside it was swarming with tree's, plants and beautiful flowers, sunlight filtered through the glass dome roof and the whole place smelt like a spring garden.
"It's beautiful in here Pichu." Amber looked all around as she followed the path.
"Piiiiiii" Pichu agreed also taking in the beautiful sight and smells.
"That's far enough." A beautiful woman with long flowing blonde hair stepped out onto the pathway, holding a pokéball and blocking the way. "Before you face Gym Leader Erika you have to go through me!"
Amber smiled and readied a pokéball. Alright a warmup.
"How the hell did we pull that off?"
On a patch of grass in the concealed shrubbery just outside Celadon Gym, Shane and Thea sat sipping on some well-earned cold beers in the warm sun. They had not long got off the phone from their commanding officer for an update on the Prospect Ketchum Case. The two had managed to convey to him that they were all still in Vermillion City, still working on gathering hard proof on the identity of their target but close to a breakthrough. With the hard and long conversation over the two were now feeling noticeably carefree regarding the earlier predicament, relaxed and with little fear of getting caught out in their increasing web of lies. The mounting pressure for results and chewing out for lack of progress now felt a mere whim after the stresses of their day.
"Either we are that good, or we work for a really dumb organisation." Thea propped herself up on her elbows, sat with legs stretched out.
Shane sat cross legged next to her; he was a little taken back by her comment. Team Rocket … Dumb?
Hiding his minor disgruntlement to the comment, he replied with full confidence. "Of course, we're that good my friend, that is why we were chosen for this mission and why we are already at the rank we are, at the age of 19."
"I'll drink to that" Thea rose up slightly and the two chinked their beer cans together and drank.
"Ahhhhh … So how long do you think before Little Miss Red will be walking through here?" Thea commented, finishing her beer, crushing the can and throwing it to the side. Now they were on the outskirts of the City, the pair felt confident to continue their plan with little consequence.
Shane looked down the pathway, leading to the Gym. "Soon. She'll definitely turn up soon."
Pssshhht "Maybe time for just one more then" Thea pulled back the tab on a new beer can.
Amber had beaten all the Celadon Gym trainers and made her way to the heart of the garden maze. There stood a giant Oak tree overlooking a grassy pitched battlefield and sitting underneath was a middle-aged lady, oozing poise and grace. She sat with her eyes closed, hands placing delicately atop her lap. She was dressed in a traditional Kimono, her hair dark and tied up in a perfect neat bun a top her head. She opened her eyes and regarded the trainer. Hey eyes kind and warm with light crows' feet donning the skin around them.
"You must be Amber. It's a pleasure to see you. I'm Gym Leader Erika. I battled your father when he was just starting out, and now I have the pleasure of battling his daughter. I'm honoured, if not feeling a little old. Hee hee." The Gym Leader put her hand to her mouth a giggled softly. "When your Father and me met for the first time he really didn't project the best first impression, but he proved himself that day to be every bit of the Champion he is now and what a fine man he has become and such a beautiful family. Come here, let me get a look at you."
Amber feeling awkward, blushed slightly and smiled as she approached the Gym Leader. Arww she's so nice.
"My, my, you're the absolute picture of him. Quite the little Tomboy aren't we?"
… maybe not.
"Your Mother was a tomboy too when we first met. We were good friends, Misty and me, during her tenure as the Cerulean Gym Leader. She really was one of the best I'd say, I was sorry to see her retire so early. But hey that's the choices we make. We don't get to speak much these days, but when we do, you know you're all she talks about? Oh, she is so proud." Erika clasped her hands and smiled.
Ambers face lit up. "She does? She is?"
"Well of course! What parent wouldn't be? You're a talented rookie Pokémon Trainer taking on the League Challenge and a world-renowned Super Model!"
Amber sweat dropped "Actually it's my Brother, Cole that's the famous model."
"Oh, hee hee silly me, you must be the talented rookie Pokémon Trainer taking on the League Challenge and a budding Movie Star!"
Amber drooped a little further. "… Again that's my Brother. Cole. He's the one starring in a movie."
"Ah … then talented rookie Pokémon Trainer taking on the Pokémon League Challenge?"
Amber perked up "Yeah that's me!"
"See? She talks about you all the time." Erika closed her eyes and smiled proudly.
"Erika, I already have the Cascade Badge and the Marsh Badge. I formally challenge you to a pokémon battle!"
"Down to business? Then I gladly accept."
The two moved adjacent to each other on the grassy pitch. A gym trainer stood at the edge to referee.
"We will have a 3 on 3 battle, no limit." Erika's soft demeanour now turning serious.
"Suits me. I choose you Pichu!"
"Oddish I choose you."
A beam of red formed into the little round blue pokémon with feet and sprouting leaves. Pichu bounded on the field.
"Pichu start off with Raindance!"
"Raindance? How interesting. Oddish use Growth"
Clouds formed above the battlefield and a downpour began. Oddish sucked in and grew by a small amount, a slight glow surrounding her.
"Pichu, Thundershock now!"
"Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"
The little mouse let off an electric attack boosted by the pouring rain, it was a direct hit and the little Oddish took some damage.
"Oddish absorb attack."
Oddish pulled some life force from Pichu, healing her own injuries.
Amber grimaced. "Ok Pichu let's finish this with our special move! Floaty Fall!"
"Floaty Fall?" Erika looked on bemused.
Pichu charged the earth beneath him and spring boarded high into the air, falling into a direct tackle attack from above on the Oddish. It was an instant KO.
"Oddish is unable to battle."
Erika recalled her pokémon and looked down at the ball softly. "Well done Oddish, I'll mix some revive potion for you when the battle is over."
"Alright Pichu!" Amber called out to her pokémon, who turned and waved his paw in response.
The Grass Gym Leader was taken aback. "Wow, I've never seen an attack like that before … I see now it's going to take a more to take you down. Weepinbell I choose you."
"Ok Pichu, let's go again with Floaty Fall!"
Pichu once again launched himself up, somersaulting in the air to dive bomb down to deliver another devastating tackle attack. But Erika was now wise to it.
"Now Weepinbell use Poison Powder!"
The powerful expel of powder launched directly in Pichu's downward path, causing the little pokémon to cough and splutter, losing his trajectory and fall to the ground poisoned.
"Pichu!"
Erika didn't hesitate. "Weepinbell, finish him with Venoshock."
Ambers eyes went wide as the attack the hit Pichu. "No! Pichu!"
The little yellow pokémon's eyes spiralled and referee called on the battle. "Pichu is unable to battle."
Amber recalled her fallen friend into his ball. "You were great Pichu, take a good rest." So much for the special training …
The rain subsided from the battlefield.
"Poor Pichu, I'll give you some antidote for him when the battle is finished." Erika called out.
Amber nodded and pulled out her next pokéball "You're up Magnemite!"
"Magnemite magnemite." Magnemite formed and bobbed around, hesitantly.
"Oh. You're Magnemite is very Timid." Erica commented.
Timid? …
"Weepinbell use Razor Leaf"
The sharp leaves pelted Magnemite. The damage wasn't much to the steel type, but the onslaught of little leaves continued to bash the little pokémon, who was getting more and more overwhelmed.
"Respond with Mirror Shot!" Amber called out for Magnemite to attack, but it just wouldn't respond from the pressure of the ongoing attack.
"Magnemite …" Amber's chest felt heavy.
Erika took in situation and her eyes saddened with empathy for the frightened little pokémon, she shook her head slowly and spoke out. "You're pokémon can't continue the match like this. It's too inexperienced against my Weepinbell. It's got no confidence in battle."
Amber hesitated, "But I know it's really strong … I know … it is…"
Amber flashed back to the battle with her mother.
Misty stood on the floating platform of the Cerulean Gym Pool, her Staryu in the foreground.
"You're magnemite has no confidence in itself, it needs more battle experience."
Was Mom … right?
The young redhead sighed and nodded sadly in agreement and pulled out it's pokéball. "Magnemite return!"
The referee put her arm out "Magnemite will not continue to battle. Challenger is down to their last pokémon."
"Magnemite …" Amber looked sadly at it's ball. "I'm sorry. All this time I've been pushing you into all these battles with no consideration for how you were feeling … I should of picked up on it, my mother even warned me! But I … I didn't listen, I didn't want to hear it."
"I'm a bad trainer." The teenager's eyes glassed over, with tears threatening to spill.
Erika spoke up "No Amber, a bad trainer wouldn't care how their pokémon felt. A bad trainer would have just willed it to keep battling on regardless. A bad trainer would give up on their pokémon. But not you. You see beyond the base stats and feel out your pokémon's true potential. It is an admirable quality in a pokémon trainer, and the relationship we have with our partners is what makes a Champion. But that's not to say you can simply ignore it's short comings. By working together, training together, I know you can bring out it's real power."
Amber heard the Gym Leaders words, but she was trapped inside her own head. Her mind going over all the previous battles she and her pokémon had fought together.
…
"It's is you, dear naive child that doesn't know what they are talking about. If you think your current team of outclassed, inexperienced and nervous pokémon will be enough to defeat Erika, think again!" The old Channelers voice echoed in Amber's head over visions of each time her pokémon partners had feinted.
Amber looked at the floor, willing herself not to cry. I'm in over my head. Maybe I should walk away now.
"You won't win at the Celadon Gym with those pokémon!" The Channelers voice rang out again.
At those words, the visions played out and she remembered the victories and happiness she and her pokémon felt. Amber's eyes dried and steeled over with determination. No. My pokémon are great! AND WE WILL WIN. TOGETHER. The teenager looked back up and took a pokéball off her belt.
"Voltorb it's all down to you." Amber released her last pokémon.
Voltorb formed and rocked around, battle ready.
Erika smiled warmly, her kind eyes showing a soft expression. But soon they too hardened. Back to business they had a gym battle to finish.
"Weepinbell use your Wrap Attack on Voltorb" The elegant Gym Leader wasted no time, her confidence in her and her pokémons abilities unwavering.
Vines shot out and wrapped up the electric ball pokémon, lifting it up and smashing it to the floor.
"Voltorb!" The pokémon cried out in annoyance.
"No Voltorb!"
The pokémon was trapped in the attack.
"Hm, what a disappointing ending, to think you started off so well … guess Misty was just bragging after all."
"We refuse to lose! Voltorb, use Screech Attack now!" Amber called out.
Voltorb let out an unbearable high-pitched noise on the Weepinbell, causing it to withdraw the vines and literally drop the ball.
"Alright! Now Voltorb use your Rollout attack!" Amber commanded, her confidence in the battle returning.
Voltorb charged up and rolled-out, bashing into the Weepinbell who was still recovering from the piercing screech noise, still the grass type withstood the attack with ease.
Rollout … Erika was doubtful of the move choice against her pokémon but all the same interested in what unorthodox strategy this young trainer would implement next.
"Weepinbell, Razor Leaf!"
Voltorb was still rolling, turning around and going again at the Weepinbell with more velocity. Leaves shot out from the grass type but did nothing to slow down the hurtling electric ball, once again smashing into the yellow plant pokémon, this time it hurt.
"Weepinbell use Poison Powder." The pokémon released a cloud of poisonous spores but to no effect on the still rapidly spinning voltorb.
"Keep it up Voltorb!" Amber called out. The pokémon circled round and bashed into Weepinbell once more knocking it clear out.
The referee put her arm up. "Weepinbell is unable to battle. Gym Leader Erika is now down to her last pokémon."
"Oh Weepinbell!" Erika recalled her fallen pokémon. "You we're wonderful out there, now rest in your pokéball, and I'll make you all better soon." The soft-spoken Gym Leader looked back out to her challenger. "That was an impressive comeback Amber but I'm afraid you're Gym Challenge may end here. I choose you Tangela."
Erika pulled out another pokéball and released the mass of jumbled vines. Two eyes blinked out from the abyss of her tangled body.
Voltorb stopped spinning and rocked on the spot, ready battle it's new opponent.
"Voltorb, let's go again! Rollout!"
The pokémon revved up and launched itself at the Gym pokémon. Tangela took the attack in her stride, not taking much damage from the hit.
"Tangela Substitute now."
Tangela created a dummy of herself out of excess vines, creating a decoy which Voltorb ploughed into and instantly destroyed, the electric ball looped round and rolled out at full pelt again, smashing into Tangela before slowing down and coming to a halt.
Tangela rose back up on her feet. That one hurt, and Erika felt it. She had to put this pokémon down and soon.
"Ah Tangela! Use Mega Drain!"
"Voltorb counter with Light Screen."
Tangela threw out her vines and fired the draining attack on Voltorb. It hit, but the electric ball was still fighting fit and ready to go. Tangela glowed as she regained some health from the offensive move.
Amber now felt in complete control of the match. She could practically taste the Rainbow Badge. "Voltorb, let's finish this battle with your secret attack!"
Erika felt dread. Oh Arceus what's this going to be?
"Voltorb. Finish this. Signal Beam!"
The electric pokémon charged up and let out a wide yellow beam of energy.
Erika gasped A Signal Beam attack? From a Voltorb? "Tangela! You have to dodge it!"
Tangela tried to jump out the way but he was too slow, the beam hit, and Tangela went skidding across the grassy pitch.
"Oh Tangela!" Erika cried out to her pokémon, but it was in vain. The ref held her arm out in Ambers direction. "Tangela is unable to battle. This battle goes to Voltorb and the challenger.
Amber squealed out with joy and bounded over to Voltorb and scooped it up, holding it up with outstretched arms. "You did it Voltorb! you did it!"
"Vol torb" The pokémon looked back at it's trainer, shutting it's eyes with a delighted expression. Amber hugged the pokémon into her.
Erika walked over. "Congratulations to you and your pokémon, Amber. That was a win well deserved. Your Mother was right about you, you really do have a special gift. And as proof of that, I happily present to you this Rainbow Badge." The Gym Leader pulled out a pretty little flower emblem with petals arranged in a spectrum of colour and placed it into the teenager's hand.
Amber accepted the token of the Celadon Gym and showed it to her Voltorb. "Look Voltorb, we got a Rainbow Badge!"
"Voltorb!" The pokémon looked proud.
"Here take this TM too, it's Grass Knot. I believe this could your battle style well and I trust you to come up with a great strategy for it." Erika smiled warmly. "Now after such an intense battle, how about we heal up the pokémon and I show you some pictures I have of me and your mother back in the day? I have some of Misty sporting some wildly embarrassing hairstyles."
Amber grinned in response. "That sounds great."
After healing up the pokémon and taking a little down time to enjoy some embarrassing stories of her parents, Amber was ready to continue her pokémon journey.
"Just remember, in battle always look to your pokémon with compassion and understanding and together you will become strong." Erika embraced the young trainer with her parting advice, as the two said their goodbyes.
"I will Erika, I promise."
"Good girl. I look forward to seeing your progress. Give my love to the family."
Amber nodded and exited the large glass doors with even more resolve and made her way in the direction of her next challenge. The sun had begun to set, creating a beautiful deep-set red sky and casting shadows along down the dirt path walkway steeped in thick shrubbery.
The redhead walked, unknowingly, straight past two heavily concealed individuals, who were passed out under the bushes amongst empty beer cans in a deep alcohol induced sleep. Oblivious of yet another lost opportunity for them.