Finally a new Pokemon chapter! Sorry about the hiatus.
After his restful stay at the lighthouse, Brooklyn decided it was time for him to move on.
He shook hands with Bill who was wishing he could stay. Brooklyn declined his offer. "I gotta keep going if I want to get to the Indigo League championship. My Thunder Badge is also waiting for me." Brook stated.
Bill sighed before he soon nodded. "I understand. And I'm still hoping to be able to see the most ancient of Pokémon: The Dragonite." He said.
Brook's eyes widened at the idea of encountering a dragon type that powerful. Maybe even he could catch one. After one goodbye to Bill, Brooklyn set off on his way to Vermilion City, climbing a tree and taking off into the sky, Bill watching him from afar.
The red gargoyle knew he was lucky to have his wings to be able to travel from city to city, wondering what moron would even want to walk this far out. Grinning to himself, Brooklyn checked his map to find the city he wanted to go to, eventually heading off in said direction.
In time though, just as his wings were about to fall off, Brooklyn squinted in the sky to see some skyscrapers. He gasped softly. "Whoa… is this place really that big?"
Brooklyn managed to land close enough to the entrance into Vermilion, seeing the sign that said 'welcome to Vermilion City'. He straddled his shoulder bag, feeling his nerves getting to him again. "Will I get to beat this new gym leader?" He asked himself, a small prick of doubt beginning to surge into his mind until his belly rumbled. Brook licked his lips. He sure was hungry and could go for some burgers.
He also had to find a Pokémon Center to ensure his Pokémon team got proper rest too before heading to the gym. Taking a breath, Brooklyn stepped into the big city, the sounds of the cars and such slowly reminding Brooklyn of his New York home. It made tears of homesickness prick in his eyes, but Brooklyn shook himself. He couldn't think about that now. He had to concentrate.
Wandering about the city for a while, getting a bite to eat soon wound up having Brooklyn get rather lost, ears flat, hoping someone or an Officer Jenny could help him. Looking around once more, to his relief, Brooklyn spotted another Officer Jenny on her usual motorbike.
The red beaked male quickly ran out, but making sure not to startle her. He didn't want to be jumped again like last time. Jenny turned about, gasping, a hand on her chest. The rest of her family, the other Jennys, had informed her about this gargoyle Pokémon trainer, and now here he was.
"Excuse me, but, why aren't you going to the Pokemon Center?" Jenny demanded, still not too trusting but Brooklyn did his best to be as non threatening as possible, caping his wings. Feeling nervous, he spoke.
"Uh, to tell you the truth ma'am, I'm kinda lost. I never been to this city. Do you know where the Pokemon Center is?"
That made Jenny's face soften, before it brightened. "I suppose I can take you there. Hop on." She gestured with her hand. Brooklyn's face lit up, glad this was a much better Officer Jenny encounter than the previous ones. He gratefully took her hand, sitting behind Jenny on the bike, Officer Jenny taking off to the Pokemon Center.
In just a few minutes Brooklyn spotted the large building ahead, Jenny halting her bike a few yards away. Brooklyn hopped off her bike. "Thanks a lot." He said with a grin. Jenny bowed her head. "Don't get lost again, do you hear?" She giggled, before riding off once again.
Brooklyn took a breath, stepping into the building, wondering if Gary would be here too. But when entering he was nearly run into by another trainer holding his injured Pokemon. "Easy, Growlithe! You'll be ok!"
The red male stared at the bruised and battered dog looking Pokemon, wondering what happened. There was even a little girl holding her burned up plant looking Pokemon he learned called an Oddish.
"Whoa, what in…?" He wondered, before heading to the front desk to find Nurse Joy. There she was, looking exactly as she did the last time. "Hey, uh, Nurse Joy? Why are all these Pokemon injured?"
Joy gave a worried expression as she explained. "The gym leader at the Vermilion Gym is probably the toughest one there is. His name is Surge and has won many battles." She said gravely as a boy came over with his hurt Pidgey. His ears fell. He and his Charmander have won the last few battles but maybe before fighting he should meet this Surge.
"This isn't right. Surge shouldn't be hurting new trainer's Pokemon in such a way." He said bitterly, Joy putting Pidgey on a gurney. She looked at him. "If there ever comes a day where someone finally puts Surge where his mouth is, I don't think so."
Growling, Brooklyn turned to leave the Center, eyeing the Gym a few miles away. He climbed up the side of the building, taking to the sky again. He glided all the way to the gym, landing in front of it. Straddling his bag, Brooklyn strode up to the door, knocking on it.
The door opened up, creaking a little, making Brooklyn's ears fall, not sure what he was gonna be expecting. Taking a shaky breath, he stepped gingerly inside, hearing a deep voice come.
"Well, who has come to be my next victim?"
The red male growled again. "Another challenger! I am Brooklyn from Manhattan. Show yourself, Surge."
He readied himself, seeing Surge appear with two of his lackeys beside him. Surge surely was a tough looking human, Brooklyn able to see his muscles in the man's arms, hair short and sticking up like a Pikachu's fur, a smug smile on his mouth. Though his eyes widened at the sight of Brooklyn.
Surge laughed, scoffing at him. "And what are you supposed to be? Cosplaying as a Pokemon?" He mocked, making Brooklyn's talons ball into fists. "Can it, Surge. I'm a gargoyle, thank you. I've come to face you for a Thunder Badge!"
The gym leader folded his arms. "Is that so? And what would you have that could beat my unbeatable Raichu here?" He said, drawing out a Pokeball, making his Pokemon appear in a flash of light
Eyes trailing down, Brooklyn gasped then when seeing Surge's Pokemon, a rather buff and sturdy looking Raichu. "Wow, a Raichu…" He breathed, pulling out his Pokédex. For Brooklyn had heard of the final stage of Pikachu.
"Raichu, a mouse Pokemon of the electric element, the evolved form of Pikachu. It can shock with more than 100,000 volts to render a Dragonite unconscious." His Pokédex explained, now making Brooklyn feel nervous, but he kept his glare.
"Well, my Charmander can beat your lousy Raichu any day!" He spat, swishing his tail in defiance.
Surge let loose a hollering laugh. "Hear that fellas, the baby gargoyle thinks a fire type can beat us! Why not show me yer baby Charmander?"
Grinning in confidence, Brooklyn drew out his Charmander from his Pokeball. The little guy raised his arms. "Char!" It squeaked, until spotting his opponent.
Raichu grinned nastily at Charmander. "Raichu…" it taunted, making Charmander tremble now, recalling while being wild having encountering a Raichu before, really injuring him. He gave a small squeak of fright, backing up a little.
Brooklyn raised his brow, not used to his friend being this scared. "C'mon, buddy. Don't you want to show Raichu what you're made of?" He asked, trying to encourage Charmander who shook his head, Raichu still taunting him.
Charmander whined, scuttling to hide behind Brooklyn's leg, causing Surge to laugh even further. "Ya didn't do your research huh? Fire types are weak against electric types." Surge revealed, much to Brooklyn's shock, wishing he studied more.
"Oh, perfect…" He grumbled, feeling rather foolish now. Brooklyn looked at his other Pokemon but figured a water type probably wouldn't be much help either. Scooping Charmander into his arms, he bared his teeth at Surge. "I'll be back, and I will kick your sorry behind."
Surge huffed. "Yeah. But don't come back with that baby Charmander until you've given me a worthy opponent!"
Swishing his tail, Brooklyn didn't respond back, stalking out of the gym, knowing he needed Oak's advice on Surge's Raichu and what can beat it. Charmander still trembled while climbing onto his shoulders, Brooklyn petting him gently.
"I'm sorry buddy that I forgot about your weakness." Brooklyn apologized, smiling at Charmander who gave him a small nuzzle, the two heading back to the Pokemon Center, both of them needing to refresh themselves before going back there.
Once at the Center Brooklyn found a telephone, wanting to call Oak about switching Pokemon for one that can battle the Raichu. He saw Oak on the phone video about to eat his lunch, looking up in surprise.
"Oh, it's you! How are things for you Brooklyn?" Oak asked, smiling. Brooklyn flinched, lowering his ears. "Honestly, not too good. I'm in Vermilion City and this one might be tougher than I thought."
Oak frowned, recalling Surge there. "Yes, Surge. Probably the toughest trainer I knew way back when. And when he became a Gym Leader the fame and his muscles got to his head. But, I think you might have a Pokemon just right for this match."
Brooklyn's ears perked at that, smiling. "Really?"
The Professor pulled out what appeared to be his Sandshrew who squeaked at him. "These little guys can be pretty tough against Lightning Pokemon, especially the Sandslash too which is what Sandshrew here will eventually evolve into. Do you wish to use this one in your match?"
The beaked male then pulled out his other Pokeballs, knowing his options were limited since he didn't have any Ground Pokemon with him now. He nodded, picking up the Magikarp ball. "Yes. And, I wish to exchange my Magikarp for him."
Oak eyed Brooklyn's Magikarp Pokeball. "As you wish, though wouldn't you want to have Magikarp back in the future since he will evolve into something stronger?"
Brooklyn shrugged. "Maybe, though at the moment, he isn't much in battle."
The Professor chuckled. "Don't underestimate these Magikarps, Brooklyn. But for now you can have your Sandshrew. Just put Magikarp under the teleporter here."
Sighing, knowing he had nothing to lose, Brooklyn put Magikarp right where Oak told him too while Oak put Sandshrew inside a spare Pokeball on the other side. There was a bright flash and the screen showed the Pokemon being switched out, Sandshrew appearing in his ball beside Brooklyn, who picked it up in amazement. The technology here in this world never ceased to amaze him. "Wow, thanks Professor. I hope Sandshrew will help me win this match."
Oak nods. "He sure will. I wish you good luck Brooklyn and I'll see you in the next city." The video phone flickered off, ending the call.
Brooklyn glanced down at the new Pokeball in his hand, relieved to have caught this guy before facing Surge at all. He knew now he was ready. "Welcome to the team, Sandshrew." He greeted, placing Sandshrew and the others into his bag, glancing at Charmander. "Let's go and show Surge what we're made of!" He said, Charmander hopping up and down.
….
While walking back to the Pokemon Gym Brooklyn ensured he was researched on Sandshrew's attacks in his Pokédex until finding himself back at the doors. Swallowing then sighing, Brooklyn pushed the doors open.
"Surge, I've come back to kick your behind!" He yelled, swishing his tail. He could hear laughter as Surge revealed himself.
The muscled human smirked, seeing him and Charmander back. "Daw, the baby Pokemon cosplayer and his wittle baby Pokemon came crawling back." He sneered, Raichu grinning like his owner.
Brooklyn stood his ground. "We haven't come crawling back. I've brought a new challenger. Sandshrew, I choose you!" He called, throwing his Pokeball. Sandshrew popped out in a flash of light, startling Surge and Raichu.
Surge eyed the Sandshrew who was glaring at his competitor. "Well, well. Someone's finally toughened up. But yer Sandshrew will probably never defeat an evolved Pokemon."
Brooklyn folded his arms. "Care to put it in the ring then?" He said in his most challenging way, wings spread out. Surge inclined his head. "I accept."
Standing on either side of the ring, Brooklyn and Surge kept their glares hard at one another, the announcer saying the rules. "The challenger Brooklyn using a Sandshrew! The gym leader Surge using a Raichu. This is a one on one match, no time limits with the challenger striving for the Thunder Badge! Go!" He waved his flag.
Surge pointed. "Raichu, Thunder Shock!" He shouted, Raichu charging up it's electricity. "Raichu!"
Brooklyn gasped. "Sandshrew, dodge it!" He shouted, Sandshrew quickly rolling out of the way, the Thunder Shock striking the ground, making his hair stand up a little. That was powerful lightning.
"Think you can do better?" Surge mocked, Sandshrew panting while Charmander and Brooklyn both watched. Brook nodded. "Sandshrew, Scratch Attack!"
Sandshrew let out a battle cry, racing hard at Raichu, scratching as hard as it could before Raichu could defend itself, causing Raichu to yelp out, using its tail to smack his opponent away. "Raichu, Mega Punch!" Shouted Surge.
Raichu sent a hard punch to Sandshrew, winding up knocking it backward who cried out in pain, Brooklyn flinching. He was worried this would be a match he couldn't win at. But his Sandshrew was tough, he knew. They couldn't lose to this jerk. "Don't give up Sandshrew!"
Sandshrew struggled to his feet, seeing Raichu preparing for another Thundershock. He quickly curled into a ball, his only defense against the attacks. "RAICHU!" Screamed the opponent, shooting its lightning but it bounced harmlessly off, Raichu staring in surprise seeing its own lighting coming back, striking him hard.
"Ah! No!" Roared Surge as Raichu flopped down to the ground, winded but not out yet. It glared at Sandshrew after it uncurled. Brooklyn smiled. This was their chance. "Sandshrew, Scratch Attack again!"
The ground Pokemon charged forward, slashing as hard as possible at Raichu in the face, making it more dizzy and yelping out, Sandshrew next kicking him hard, causing his rival to collapse, stars in its eyes. Sandshrew held up its hands in victory, Surge growling.
"Raichu is unable to battle. Sandshrew is the winner!" Called the announcer, Brooklyn feeling breathless at the fact that they might have actually won! He walked into the ring, going over to pet Sandshrew. "Hey, great fight bud! You deserve a rest." Sandshrew nuzzled his hand before going back into his Pokeball.
Surge reluctantly strode forward, his hand out for a shake. "Well, guess you aren't such a bad trainer. And, suppose you do deserve this badge." He withdrew the Thunder Badge after he and Brooklyn shook hands, Brooklyn staring in longing at his prize, shakily taking it. He now had three badges!
"Uh, thanks. And… I hope we haven't injured your Raichu too much." Brooklyn said. Surge laughed. "My friend's a tough one. But yers was tougher. Good luck in the Indigo League… Brooklyn."
Brooklyn caped his wings, bowing to the Gym Leader before making his leave, attaching his new badge to his bag alongside the others, eager to get to the next city, feeling immensely proud of himself, wanting now to gain more Pokemon experience and even hopefully have Charmander evolve into Charmeleon, one day.
Soon Brooklyn will encounter a new friend in the next chapter before heading to Celadon City for his rainbow badge.
