Chapter 7

Erika

Celadon City-

                     Blue woke up the next morning to find that Red wasn’t in his bed in the Pokémon Center’s room.  She took her time getting dressed and decided to make her way to the Gym, figuring that’s where Red had already headed.  To her surprise, he was right outside the Pokémon Center making sure his Pokémon were fit and ready to fight.

                     Pikachu was darting up and down the street, occasionally leaping into the air.  Machop was perfecting its stances and punching the air.  Pidgeotto flew at impressive speeds in the air, performing a loop de loop every now and then.  Meanwhile, Red shouted encouraging commands at his Pokémon, lifting their spirits.   Wartortle somehow got a hold of a whistle, and was using it to keep rhythm with the exercising Pokémon.  It was almost acting as a coach.

                     “Having fun?” Blue asked.  The Pokémon took a break as a Red handed each of them a Pokémon treat.  Wartortle struck a pose and nodded.  “When are you going to head to the Gym?”

                     Red recalled all his Pokémon.  “We were waiting for you to get up!  We’re going now!”  He smiled and pulled out a map of the city and started on his way.

                     “Well lead the way, sir,” she laughed.

                     They walked through Celadon as Red mumbled to himself, working out battle strategies and tactics.  Occasionally he would burst out in sweeping arm motion but Blue quickly learned to stand on his other side.  The city was one huge shopping center it seemed.  The people of Celadon lived in beautiful, medium sized apartment buildings while the streets were lined with gift stores and shops.

                     Eventually they came to the center of the city, one didn’t need a map to find it.  A fifty story hotel was in sight no matter where you were, even from the Pokémon Center.  As they rounded the magnificent hotel’s entrance, they came across a gigantic circular greenhouse.  Blue was puzzled, but Red simply walked inside.  As she crossed through the sliding glass doors, she made out a sign hidden under leafy vines that were creeping from the inside.

                     “Celadon Pokémon Gym,” she read.  “Well at least these places never get repetitive.”

                     It was as if they exited civilization as they knew it and walked into a jungle.  Impenetrable exotic plants and trees lined the neatly kept grassy pathway that ran sideways in front of them.  In front of them a great tree rose up and out of the roof of the gym itself.  At its base, an opening led down presumably to a lower level.  It didn’t take long before the two trainers were greeted by a small blue Pokémon, with four long orange leaves on its head underneath a large flower with spherical petals.

                     Red pulled out his Pokedex to identify the Pokémon as Gloom.  Apparently the little “drool” coming out of its mouth was a sweet sappy substance.  Gloom shook itself and little sparkly spores came out of the flower on its head as it smiled and sat down right on the pathway.   Blue didn’t know whether to be disgusted or fascinated.  The spores made their way down the hole in the tree, and a few seconds later Erika, the Celadon Gym leader emerged from it.

                     “Ah you are here,” she said as she gently poked and prodded the many ferns and flowers that surrounded the tree, inspecting them.  “Gloom let me know.”  She went over and sat on her knees as she massaged the little Pokémon’s flower petals.  Gloom greatly appreciated this as it smiled and even more sappy drool came out of its mouth.

                     “I planted each and every one of these plants myself,” she said.  “Please, release all of your Pokémon and let them play a while before we begin our battle.  I’ve found Pokémon of all types enjoy the atmosphere of my Gym.”

                     Red and Blue did as they were told, and as they were told, the Pokémon acted like they were in Disney world.  Butterfree and Pidgeotto took off into the many tall trees, eventually disappearing out of sight in the large building.  Pikachu ran off to smell all the exotic smelling plants.  The rest of the Pokémon simply followed their trainers (who followed Erika) around the pathway and up some wooden stairs until they came to a large, open roofed and walled tree house.  Through the glass they had a magnificent view of Celadon City.

                     As they turned their gaze towards the inside of the Gym, they saw that the thick trees formed a ring around an open, grassy plane.  Small pools dotted the plane here and there.  Sitting above the ring of trees were many wooden benches, presumably for spectators.  However, this was a private Gym match, and the stands were emptied.  Erika broke the silence.

                     “Go on down, have some fun! Relax!” she said.  The Pokémon didn’t need telling twice.  Wartortle and Poliwag made a dash straight for the little ponds.  Machop decided to take a jog around the stadium ring.  Ivysaur made its way down the stairs and in a few moments it was seen casually walking towards the middle of the plain, finally plopping down where the sun’s rays magnified the brightest on the closed flower it carried on its back. Nidorina decided to hang out with the trainers.

                     “This is easily the most impressive Gym we’ve been in,” said Blue as she watched the Pokémon play in the grassy area below.

                     “You won’t find a more impressive,” Erika stopped herself, “Well, a more pleasant Gym anywhere in Kanto.”

                     Red had had his fill of the sights he wanted to get down to battling.  He wondered what Pokémon Erika would use.  Wait, he thought.

                     “If you don’t mind me asking, ma’am,” he started, “you’ve seen my Pokémon before the battle.  Where are yours?”  He felt like the Gym Leader had gotten an unfair head start, seeing Red’s Pokémon before they battled.

                     Erika giggled.  “Why they’re right down there, I can see them, can’t you?”

                     Red and Blue strained their eyes until they started looking at the exotic plants closer.  While they could recognize any Pokémon immediately, it wasn’t long until they saw Gloom and its flower, blending in with the surrounding plants.  How many other Pokémon were there, camouflaged and hidden within the Gym?

                     “I’m sorry, ma’am,” said Red.  “I just want to battle, how much longer?”  He didn’t want to give the Gym Leader any more of an advantage.

                     “Oh we can get started now,” said Erika.  “It’s my pleasure! A treat for helping rid my City of Team Rocket!”

                     They made their way down to the grassy plain as Blue stayed in the stands.  The battlefield was like a clearing surrounded by trees and strange plants.  Red couldn’t see the ring of wooden benches above even if they were filled with people.  There was only him and his opponent.  Erika made her way to the opposite side.  Red’s and Blue’s Pokémon observed them, ready to watch.

                     “Call your first Pokémon!” Erika’s voice seemed rather far away, stifled by the humidity in the greenhouse.

                     “Machop! Machop!” Red hollered up towards where his little grey Fighting-type was jogging minutes earlier.  Soon, he caught sight of his Pokémon sliding down the tops of the trees before swinging on a strange, blue vine and landing in front of its trainer impressively.   Though its feet were firmly planted on the ground at this point, it still held the long blue vine that almost ran a hundred feet back towards the tree it hung from before disappearing in the leaves at the top of the tree.

                     “Oh,” giggled Erika.  “It looks like you’ve chosen my first Pokémon as well.  Come on out, Tangela!”  The blue vine whipped from Machop’s hand startling it and Red.  It recoiled its way up the tree, and a few minutes a tangled mass of the blue vines lowered its way down to the ground from another vine, like a spider hanging from a thread from its web.  The mass then stuck two red feet out as it touched the ground and with a snap, it withdrew the vine and two eyes could be seen poking through the ball of coils and it ran to greet Erika.

                     The two Pokémon took their places ready to fight, separated by the green grass and a pink flower smack in the middle of the field.

                     “Ivysaur, get out of the way!” came Blue’s voice from above.  Everyone around couldn’t help but crack a smile as Red had almost forgotten it was Ivysaur as it reluctantly got on its four legs and made its way towards the edge of the ring of trees where it lay down again.  Butterfree came and rested atop its flower.  

            Silence.  Like outlaw and sheriff in the old west, each Pokémon waiting for the other to make a move.  The first move was made by Machop, rushing forward towards Tangela.  Red could hear Erika giggle as Tangela stood still and unleashed a long vine at the little Pokémon’s legs, swiping and tripping it. 

            Machop shook it off as it somersaulted forwards and continued its rush.  Too easy, Tangela shot another vine at Machop.  This time it wrapped around its belly and tossed it back from the direction it came.  Red grimaced, this was not going well.  Machop couldn’t get near Tangela without those vines interfering. 

            “Machop!” Red got his Pokémon’s attention.  Red walked over and whispered a command to his Pokémon, who saluted in response.  Machop rushed again towards Tangela.

            “This again?” Erika seemed disappointed.  “Brock and Misty spoke so highly of you, oh well.  You know what to do, Tangela!”  The blue vine zipped at Machop, but the disciplined Fighting-type Pokémon was a quick learner.

            It snatched the vine out of thin air and tried to pull Tangela closer to it, but only succeeded in pulling out more of the vine as the blue coil Pokémon sat there.  It was like pulling the tape out of a tape measure. 

            “Be careful Machop!” hollered Red.  Just as he said that, Tangela shot a second vine at Machop, but just like people are left-handed or right-handed, this vine wasn’t as agile as the other and Machop easily grabbed it.

            With a long blue vine in each hand, Machop skillfully tied them together with the skill of a sailor.  Even Blue above in the stands was impressed at the complexity of the knots.

            “The problem with being tangled is that you can get yourself in a knot!” said Red proudly.  Blue put her face in her hands.  It was easily the lamest one-liner her friend had ever used. 

            Tangela tried to pull the vines back in, but Machop pulled back on the knotted vines, like tug-of-war.  Tangela pulled with all its might when Machop let go, and the knot smacked the blue tangled ball in the eyes.  When it opened its eyes, it couldn’t react in time as Machop had closed the distance between them.  With a solid kick, not unlike a soccer player, it sent Tangela soaring until it was stopped by a tree with a thud; sliding down unconscious. 

            “Interesting,” said Erika.  “But now it’s time for the main event.  Victreebell, please join us would you?”  One of the flowers, a gigantic five foot tall bell shaped flower with a leaf on the top and two at its sides turned towards the battlefield.  It had two angry eyes at its top and it lifted the top leave to reveal a gaping mouth with sharp teeth.

            It had no roots as it ominously bounced towards Machop.  Machop adjusted fighting stances, never encountering anything like this.  Its whole body was one giant bell it seemed.  Victreebell began spinning, the leaves at its side were razor sharp, and when Machop leaped to dodge them the yellow Venus fly trap Pokémon opened its top and devoured the grey fighter.

            Red was stunned.  “That’s not fair!” he said finally.  “You can’t eat your opponent’s Pokémon!”  Erika giggled.  They could still see Machop punching and kicking from the inside as Victreebell’s body stretched and convulsed before it finally calmed down.  In an instant, it “spit” out Machop, covered in a nasty purple ooze, fainted into the nearby pond.  Blue’s Poliwag tried to use its tail to splash water on Machop and clean him off.  Wartortle was angered at its fallen comrade and jumped out of the pond, ready to fight.

            “Sorry, boy,” said Red.  “Water Pokémon have a disadvantage against plants.” True, Wartortle possessed the most brute power of any of his Pokémon, but Red needed to be smart.  Blue was surprised as she watched Red tell his favorite Pokémon to stand down.

            Red lifted his head and called to the treetops.  “Pidgeotto! It’s your turn!”  In less than a second, Pidgeotto flew in and stood on Red’s shoulder.  “That’s an impressive Pokémon, Erika.” Red smiled.  “But let’s see it keep up with Pidgeotto!” 

            The bird lifted off of Red’s shoulder and flew straight at Victreebell.  At the last second, as the plant opened its gaping mouth, Pidgeotto ascended at an almost ninety degree angle.  Red and Pidgeotto had practiced some flight maneuvers earlier in the morning, and Pidgeotto was happy to show off its speed.

            Victreebell was powerful, but not agile.  It couldn’t gather its wits as Pidgeotto flew at it, then changed direction only to be hit on the opposite side by a sharp beak or scratched by its talons.  Finally, when Victreebell’s anger came to a peak, Pidgeotto flew up and broke through the glass on the ceiling of the Gym.  Pikachu took it upon itself to zap the falling glass into dust from a nearby treetop.  Sharp glass was a hazard, after all.

            A loud coo was heard and Victreebell looked up into the sky.  It tried to find Pidgeotto, but the bird was diving at the Pokémon in exact direction of the sun.  Victreebell was soon blinded by the light as it tried to find its speedy foe. 

            Like an eagle scooping a fish from the river, Pidgeotto lifted Victreebell from the ground and flew around the ring of trees in circles with it.  Erika, Blue, and even Red marveled at the strength of Pidgeotto lifting a Pokémon over four times its size.  Eventually it dropped Victreebell in the middle of the field again with a thud.

            Victreebell’s eyes were red with rage, it had never been so humiliated and helpless in its life.  It opened the leaf atop its mouth and a shrill, piercing shriek of anger echoed throughout the Gym. Even Erika knew her Pokémon was on the ropes; the tide had turned oh so fast.

            Pidgeotto made a U-turn at just the exact moment.  Though it was no longer the same, un-potty trained Pidgey, it still knew how to “put the icing on the cake.”  As Victreebell shrieked, Pidgeotto flew by, and dropped its business through the mouth atop Victreebell.  Purple ooze bubbled and fizzled as it reacted with the bird poop, overflowing Victreebel’s mouth.  Eventually, it toppled over, unable to deal with the disgustingness. Pidgeotto flew towards the pond where Poliwag and Wartortle celebrated the win with the clever bird.  Pikachu emerged from the brush and splashed water on its butt, trying to clean it up.

            Erika had never lost in such untasteful fashion.  Nevertheless, she approached Red and held out her hand, a shining badge glinted in the sunlight beaming through the glass ceiling.

            “This is the Rainbow Badge,” she said.  “You’ve earned it!  Though I would never, ever battle that way, I must admit that you are certainly unorthodox, and have a very bright future!”

            Blue had already made her way down to the grassy clearing and rushed Red, throwing her arms around him.  “I’m so proud of you!” she yelled.  Red couldn’t help smile as he embraced her too.  “Four badges down!”

            Red was taken aback.He had already accumulated four badges.  A sense of pride welled up in him.  “Come here everybody!” His four Pokémon dog piled on the two trainers.  They were halfway there.  Four badges down, four more to go.  Erika smiled and applauded at the promising young trainers.

Lavender Town-

            Lance, Lorelei and Agatha gathered at Mr. Fuji’s house.  Agatha’s brother was busy cooking in the kitchen with Cubone’s assistance as the three Elite Four members formulated their next plan of action against Team Rocket.

            “Where did the Rockets who invaded Pokémon Tower disappear to?” asked Lance.

            “Sabrina appeared, then disappeared with some of the ring leaders,” answered Agatha.  “She’s got some crazy Psychic powers, far beyond my own.”

            “From the intelligence we’ve gathered, the Phantom seems to have those kind of teleporting powers,” added Lorelei. 

            “In any case,” said the old woman.  “I think the Rockets are gathering in Saffron City, under Sabrina’s protection.”

            Lance smiled.  “She may have the roads blocked off,” he said.  “But some of us have Pokémon who can fly.  It seems we’ve finally got them cornered.”

            Lorelei smiled as well.  Things were finally turning in their direction.  Agatha was quick to temper the situation.

            “First thing tomorrow, fly in and inspect the city.  Don’t forget, she’s holding Bruno, one of us, captive too.  Don’t underestimate Sabrina, or Team Rocket.”  Lance and Lorelei agreed in unison.

            A banging was heard as Cubone cutely banged its little bone on an empty pot.  Soup was ready! And Mr. Fuji happily served the three great Trainers.