Chapter 36

Redwald, Greta and Eusine were standing in front of Cerulean Gym entrance. The excitement was going through Redwald’s veins to his sound. “I so can’t wait to finally challenge the leader!” He sputtered. “You rushed our breakfast, Red. I feel hungry already…” Greta grunted. The early hours of the morning and the cold breeze going through their skins made them more aggressive.

Eusine put his hand on Redwald’s shoulder and stood in front of him, turning his back to the Gym. “Listen, Red.” He said. “Don’t forget what happened the last time you faced a Gym leader.” Redwald was not sure what Eusine was referring to. “You got carried away with your enthusiasm and you almost hurt yourself.” He was talking about Redwald fainting in the end of the battle when he ordered the last move to Tangela.

“Don’t worry, Eusine.” Redwald softened the situation with his gentle smile. “I am more under control of myself now.” He thought it was truthfully nice of Eusine to be worrying about something like that, Redwald thought. “Now, let’s conquer the Cerulean Gym!” He crowed and walked inside. Eusine and Greta followed him behind.

Tiffany was the one to welcome Redwald. “We have been expecting to see you, Mr. Walker.” She said. Redwald thought it was bizarre to have Tiffany speak officially. He thought that was just a requirement of the Gym. “Please, follow me.” She said, looking at Redwald, Greta and Eusine one after another, implying they all were invited.

Tiffany walked to a white gate that needed to be pushed to left and right sides. She put her hands on the two sides of the gate and slid them to opposite sides. The gate had opened as the battlefield showed off itself inside.

The inside was a giant chamber. There was an oversized swimming pool at the end of the chamber, which was the battlefield. It stood right next to wall which is made of glasses. There were seats all around the chamber for audience. Redwald thought at least a hundred people could fit in this chamber.

“Please take the right side of the battlefield.” Tiffany said. Redwald nodded and walked the distance. In the meantime, Greta and Eusine took their sits. Redwald climbed up the stairs and took his position on the right side, excitedly waiting for the Gym leader to show up. His hands were shaking but he tried to ignore that fact. When could he overcome his excitement over the Gym battles, he thought.

Another door on the backside of the chamber opened. The light blue door slid opposite directions just like the white one. The Gym leader, young Misty appeared in a swimsuit with a towel on her shoulders.

She walked with confidence. She was so happy that anyone could tell that she was living for Gym battles. She stood next to the stairs and waved at the audience, in order words only Greta and Eusine. However, she waved them so that she was greeting a great audience. She likes to be a star, Redwald thought as Misty climbed up the stairs to finally locate herself on the right side of the battlefield, which was a swimming pool.

“Welcome, Redwald.” Misty shouted. “I was expecting to see you today indeed, but honestly not that soon.” She was smiling with a friendly tone. Redwald nodded. “I couldn’t wait anymore!” He yelled. “I can tell…” Misty responded. “…seeing you still shake on the top of Gym.”

“Still?” Redwald responded. “This is where the actual thing happens! If anywhere, this is the place to be shaking.”

“I like your enthusiasm.” Misty said. “Now tell me, young boy. How many badges do you have so far?”

“One.” Redwald responded. “Only one.”

Misty looked at Tiffany who stood on the other side of the battlefield, then nodded. Tiffany nodded at Misty back. Redwald didn’t know what was happening, but it seemed to that everyone was ready to battle.

“The Pokémon Battle between the Gym leader Misty and the trainer Redwald Walker from Pallet Town will now begin.” She said. “Each may use three Pokémon. Although the challenger is able to substitute Pokémon, the Gym leader is not. Once the three Pokémon of each side are unable to battle, the battle is officially over.”

She pushed a button. Two white platforms came to the surface from the bottom of the pool. “Those platforms will help your Pokémon stay outside of the battle if they choose to not go in the water.” She said. “The battle may start now!”

Misty grabbed a Poké Ball out of her pocket of her swimsuit. “Let’s get this show started, then. Slowbro, I choose you!” She said, as she threw the Poké Ball towards the giant swimming pool. An odd-looking Pokémon popped up on the platform. Redwald scanned the Pokémon through his Pokédex.

“I know a good candidate for this match-up!” Redwald responded. He grabbed the right Poké Ball and pushed the button on it to open towards the platform of his side. “Eevee, it’s your turn now!” He shouted. Eevee appeared on the platform, giving a mean look at Misty and Slowbro at the same time. Therefore, the first round officially had begun.

“I let you move first, Redwald.” Misty said. “Go with Bite!” Redwald ordered. Eevee jumped on Slowbro’s platform with glowing teeth as he bit the Pokémon on his arm. Although Slowbro was supposedly in a pain at least a little, the dull stare on his face did not change even a little bit. He kept staring at some blank point for the time following. Redwald and Eevee shared a moment of unexpected surprise of this reaction.

Misty did not have any intention of wasting her time, apparently. “Slowbro, Confusion now!” She ordered. Slowbro, for the first time, interrupted his eye contact to whatever and stared at Eevee in a very peculiar way. Eevee felt startled and stepped back, but the platform was small enough to not let go of him anywhere unless he jumps. Slowbro’s eyes glowed in pink as the two kept staring at each other in the eye. Soon later, Eevee’s eyes turned pink as well.

“Pull yourself, Eevee!” Redwald shouted out. “Stop looking at him!” His voice echoed through the battlefield. But it was no use. Eevee was once caught in Slowbro’s eyes, and it was there to stay.

Once Slowbro’s eyes returned to normal, Eevee lost his balance on the platform and fell, but he was not fainted yet. “Eevee, are you alright?!” Redwald responded, desperately hoping for something good.

“What is going on there?” Greta asked. She seemed she got lost in it. “Confusion is a psychic-type move that may confuse the opponent.” Eusine responded. “Like how Eevee now is.” He cleaned his throat. “Eevee has a high possibility of hurting himself while making his moves.”

Greta hadn’t realised until then that the Gym saloon was more crowded than the beginning. Misty’s students, apparently, gathered around the seats, and they were watching the battle very silently, almost invisible.

“Eevee, let’s take things slower, shall we?” Redwald said. “Now, gently use Tackle.” The look in Eevee’s eyes was very timid and unaware. Although he heard what his trainer said and tried to do as he pleased, he had hard time keeping his balance on foot. He took one simple step forward and fell on the platform, hurt himself by hitting his face very hard.

Misty chuckled. “Water Gun, Slowbro!” She ordered. Slowbro put a sinister smile on his face and used Water Gun on Eevee. The water hit him right on his stomach and pushed in the water. Eevee was still not fainted, but he struggled to keep himself on the surface. Redwald knew it was going to be a bigger trouble if it kept going that way. He grabbed Eevee’s Poké Ball, called him back in it. “Thank you, Eevee. Take your time to rest for now.”

Redwald substituted Eevee with Tangela. He grabbed her Poké Ball and pushed the button on it to let her show up on the empty platform. “Tangela, it’s your turn now!” He said. Tangela appeared on the platform, as she rolled around herself to show some sort of dance move with elegance.

This time Redwald was the one who had no intention of wasting time. “Vine Whip!” He quickly ordered. Tangela stood solid on the shaking platform and let some of her vines out of her body. They extended for meters until they reached to Slowbro. Once she felt she was safely close enough to hit him, she used Vine Whip on Slowbro’s body. Some of vine hit Slowbro on his stomach, while some other aimed on his shoulders. There was a couple which aimed on Slowbro’s back as well. Eusine seemed impressed how Tangela improved herself using Vine Whip compared to the first times when he could not even properly hit the opponent.

Slowbro still kept his motionless look even after the move, as Tangela sucked her vines back around her dark body. Misty knew how dangerous Vine Whip was for her team. “Disable.” She ordered calmly. Slowbro’s eyes glowed bright once again, as Tangela was caught in them. Once Slowbro’s eyes returned normal and he expressed a sinister smile again, Tangela felt odd for the time being.

“What was that about?” Greta asked. It did not look anything like Tangela received any sort of damage, although she seemed sottish. “The move disable disables the last used move for a while.” Eusine said. “Thus, she won’t be able to use Vine Whip for a while.”

“But…” Greta mumbled. “…Vine Whip is the strongest move any of Red’s Pokémon has against Water-type expert.” She felt sorry for the situation. “I know,” was everything Eusine could say as a response to her.

“Let’s see what you’ve got there other than Vine Whip, Redwald.” Misty said. Redwald did not look anything like he was considering surrendering. “We keep going, that’s what we’ve got!” He yelled. “Tangela, feel it inside! Use Bind!” He ordered. Tangela once again let her vines come out and aimed on Slowbro. But Slowbro unexpectedly moved fast and dodged the vines, making Tangela miss the move.

“Now, Confusion!” Misty ordered. Tangela felt hypnotized in Slowbro’s glowing eyes until she felt the pain all around her body and felt confused.

“Arrgh, not again!” Redwald shouted out. Eusine worried that Redwald was losing his control in the battle. “Please, be calm…” Greta repeated silently over and over again. Redwald squeezed his hands, showing his fists. Eusine understood even better how aggressive Redwald could get in battles.

“Use Bind, Tangela! Properly, this time.” He ordered. Although Tangela tried her best, she could not even manage to let her vines come out of her body. Instead, she hit herself from the inside and felt some sort of pain that made itself obvious in Tangela’s giant eyes.

Redwald knew he had to recover from this. He just then realised he had a recovering move in his hand, if only Tangela could manage to use it. He had no choice but to try his best. Substituting another Pokémon only for the first opponent could lead to an obvious loss in the end. He had to take a chance, he thought. “Tangela, use Absorb! Please!” He shouted. Tangela stood up and kept the balance on the shaking platform. Her eyes glowed in green as she stared at the opponent. “Slowbro, just like how Tangela and Eevee did, felt hypnotized in Tangela’s glowing eyes. She absorbed the energy she could from Slowbro and transferred half of it through her body. Once her eyes got back to normal and Slowbro came to reality along with her, Tangela felt more energetic. Slowbro, as always, did not show any sort of reaction on his face.

“We make it, Tangela!” Redwald was celebrating the moment of victory back there. Tangela turned her back and joined Redwald’s victorious happiness for a moment. Misty, in the other hand, had no intention of giving away the victory so easily. “Confusion again!” She ordered. Tangela turned her face to Slowbro again, dreading. The mean looks in Slowbro’s eyes startled her already. Once Slowbro used Confusion, Tangela got damaged again, still confused at some degree.

She was too tired, barely standing up. The shaking platform didn’t help at all either. Redwald knew trying another Absorb could only be forcing it, as Slowbro still had his Confusion move. He felt lost for a moment, had no idea what to do about it. Just then, Tangela stood up and cried out, trying to say something, that she was feeling something inside. Redwald could not understand what Tangela was trying to say, but Eusine seemed familiar with such situation. The pleasant expression on his face was saying that whatever was happening, it was something good.

Tangela let go of her vines only a little. She shook them hard. The vines synthesised some sort of powders. As she shook them harder, the powders found their way through Slowbro. Redwald didn’t understand what was happening, until Slowbro put his hands on his stomach and seemed somehow off.

“Slowbro!” Misty responded. “So, you just poisoned my Pokémon, Redwald. That’s such luck on you.”

It occurred Redwald just then. Tangela learned how to use Poison Powder. It was just the time, Redwald thought. Before Misty had a chance to order a move, Tangela extended her vines much farther in the air. Greta got lost in the excitement of hers and stood up to shout out. “I think Tangela is trying to say the effect of Disable is gone!”

Redwald nodded. “Tangela, use Vine Whip then!” He ordered. Tangela extended even more vines and covered Slowbro all around, hitting him with Vine Whip one after another. It was such a critical hit that Slowbro could not go on after that. As he fell on the platform and shook the platform really hard, he was fainted.

“Slowbro is unable to battle.” Tiffany said, rising her right arm in the air. Misty called Slowbro back in his Poké Ball. “I have to give you this, I am surprised how you changed the course of the events all of a sudden.” She said. “You and Tangela did a very well job.”

“But don’t get carried away.” She then said. “It won’t matter, because my next Pokémon will not be a match for you.”

Redwald did not say anything. If Misty was that confident about her next Pokémon, it must had been something good, and it wasn’t even her last Pokémon, presumably the one before her ace, he thought only. He decided to keep it going with Tangela.

“Golduck, I choose you!” Misty threw the Poké Ball as she pushed the button on it and let it go wide in the air. A blue Pokémon came out of the ball and rolled in the air before he landed on the platform. The Pokémon was truly fast. It was going to be hard to surpass his speed. Redwald scanned the Pokémon through his Poké Ball.

Redwald had to accept the fact that Golduck was somehow terrifying Pokémon, especially considering he was trained by a Gym leader. But he could not step back. He felt that Tangela felt startled as well. Redwald had to encourage her.

“We can do it, Tangela.” Redwald said. Tangela turned to her trainer and nodded with determination in her eyes. Redwald tried his best weapon at the moment. “Start off with Vine Whip!” He ordered. Tangela let go of her vines through the air until they reached Golduck.

“Get rid of them, Golduck. Fury Swipes.” Misty ordered. Suddenly, Golduck’s claws glowed bright and grew bigger as Golduck raised his hands in the air. He used Fury Swipes on the vines to cut them off. As Tangela’s vines fell on the platform and in the water, Tangela watched all the things happening in the moment of cold shock. Neither did Redwald expect such thing.

“Tangela, are you alright?” Redwald responded. She was desperately shaking her short cut vines in the air. “Sorry for the harm.” Misty responded. “Tangela will recover in a couple of days. But now, what needs to be done has to be made. Golduck, Ice Beam!” She ordered. Golduck jumped in the air and opened his beak as a bright, light blue beam appeared. Both Redwald and Tangela were watching what was happening. They could not overcome the shock yet. Golduck fired off the Ice Beam and hit Tangela right on her dark skin. Tangela did not even get to cry out before she fainted.

As she fell on the platform, she closed her eyes and let her small body lie there, doing nothing. With the closed eyes, she looked just like a dark void with vines all around. “Tangela is no longer able to battle.” Tiffany confirmed.

“Red needs to pull himself together.” Eusine said. “He didn’t see the effect of Fury Swipes coming at all. Same for Tangela. But he needs to be prepared for anything in the battles, especially if this is a Gym battle that we are talking about.”

“Eevee, come out!” Redwald shouted as he threw the Poké Ball, pushing its button. Eevee once again appeared on the platform. He seemed still tired from the first round. “Bring it on, Redwald.” Misty said.

“Bite, now!” Redwald ordered. Eevee jumped on the other platform, trying to brighten his teeth, yet failed. Apparently what Redwald foresaw was not correct. Eevee’s Bite was still under effect of Disable. For a brief second, Eevee stared at Golduck right next to him, as Golduck waited for an order. Misty pulled the trigger right away, taking advantage of the situation in which Eevee was surprised. “Hydro Pump!”

Golduck opened his beak, preparing his body to fire a huge body of water toward Eevee. Redwald knew how strong the move Hydro Pump was. “Double Team!” He didn’t waste time. Eevee used Double Team, creating copies of himself all around the platform, even the other platform. Golduck fired Hydro Pump on the reflections of Eevee as much as he could, but he could not aim on the real Eevee. Once he was done, all the reflections disappeared and Eevee appeared on the other platform.

“Ice Beam!” Misty ordered. She had no intention of letting go of Eevee easily. Golduck created a light blue beam on his beak and fired it on Eevee. Although Eevee jumped on the platform to dodge the move, the light blue beam caught him in the air. Eevee, with his entire body frozen, was covered with ice. He fell on the platform with solid frozen body. The platform shook and almost dropped Eevee into the water but did not.

“Eevee!” Redwald shouted. Eevee was frozen so bad that he couldn’t even move a muscle. “It’s not any good.” Greta said. “Red, hang on…”

“Eevee, use Tackle!” Redwald ordered, the best thing he knew that could just help. However, Eevee could not move. Misty responded right after. “Fury Swipes, Golduck!”

Golduck jumped on the other platform, his claws glowing bright and grew bigger. He slashed Eevee’s face and chest hard with those claws. Eevee cried in pain, attempted to dodge the move but it was impossible.

“Keep it up, Golduck!” Misty responded. “He can’t move at the moment. This is the end of his round!” Golduck, in the other hand, mercilessly used Fury Swipes on Eevee one after another, leaving Eevee in a great pain. “Hang in there, Eevee! Use Bite!” Redwald responded. Eevee did nothing.

All of a sudden, Eevee raised his right paw in the air and supported himself by putting it on Golduck’s arm, stopping him hitting him. He then ran really fast to get behind Golduck and hit him.

“That’s Quick Attack!” Eusine panted. “Eevee just improved a brand-new move!” Eevee apparently dumbfounded everyone, even Eusine.

“I am impressed.” Misty said. “Two times in a row, your Pokémon just improved new moves in the battle. That’s not something I get to see every day.”

“I think what we need is just something triggering.” Redwald responded. “Eevee, Quick Attack again!” He ordered. Eevee hit Golduck right on his stomach. Golduck lost his balance and fell in the pool, fainted.

“Golduck is no longer able to battle.” Tiffany said. Misty put a humble smile on her face. “Well done, the surprise of last seconds. I ought to learn to like them.” She said, while she called Golduck back in his Poké Ball. Redwald called Eevee back, too. “You’ve done enough, Eevee. Have some rest.” He said.

“This is the last round, you know.” Misty said. “It ought to be the hardest one yet, however. The one I am about to call out happens to be my Ace Pokémon.”

“I didn’t expect otherwise.” Redwald responded. “But don’t you forget, I have yet to use my last card as well.”

“Confident, huh…” Misty winked. “That’s the spirit. Bring it on, then! Go, my steady!” Misty threw the Poké Ball, pushing the button on it. A purple-like Pokémon with a bright red gem in the middle of it appeared on the platform. Redwald scanned it through his Pokédex.

Starmie didn’t have eyes or a mouth. Redwald was dazzled how to react to that. He did what he knew the best, counting on his Pokémon. He grabbed a Poké Ball, pushed on it. “Pidgeotto, I choose you!”

Pidgeotto appeared in the air, wings wide open, floating and drawing a circle around. “A Pidgeotto matched with my Starmie, then?” Misty sounded like underestimating. “My Pidgeotto is not like any ordinary Pidgeotto.” Redwald responded. He was right. When Pidgeotto was caught as a Pidgey, he showed impressive skills which surpassed him on his own species. He had been also the first Pokémon of Redwald’s to evolve. That was just about time to show off his skills.

“Pidgeotto, Wing Attack!” Redwald ordered. Pidgeotto flew relatively faster while his wings glowed. He aimed on Starmie and flew through it. In the air, Pidgeotto shook and failed to follow up a straight line towards Starmie a bit. In the end, although he managed to hit it with Wing Attack, he could not bring out his best potential. After the move, Pidgeotto took his time to stand on the other platform.

“Is your Pidgeotto getting older?” Misty responded. She was not being sarcastic, she was just surprised, Redwald thought, judging the look on her face. Pidgeotto really showed a bizarre performance. “This is because Pidgeotto is a newly evolved Pokémon.” Eusine said, standing up, getting all the attention on himself. “He needs to discover his new body and weight before keeping a proper balance in the air.”

“Oh…” Misty responded. “You just lack train, then.” She concluded. Redwald felt guilty for not letting Pidgeotto train some better before showing up in the Gym. But there was no point in regretting.

“Fly up in the air, Pidgeotto!” Redwald ordered. Pidgeotto flapped his wings and floated in the air. “Fire Psychic!” Misty ordered. The core of Starmie glowed bright in seven different colours before it used Psychic. Pidgeotto felt some mystic noises chasing him all around. He tried to ignore all the odd sounds, but he couldn’t manage to. Eventually, he lost his balance once again and fell on the platform.

“Pull yourself together, Pidgeotto! Quick Attack!” Redwald ordered. Pidgeotto flew against Starmie really fast. “Thunderbolt!” Misty ordered. Starmie, without wasting a second, hit Pidgeotto with Thunderbolt. Pidgeotto could not reach Starmie, fell in the water. He was standing on the surface, but he was already tired.

“Bubble Beam!” Misty ordered. Starmie created a beam all around its body and fired it on Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto was hurt seriously. He tried to reach to the platform to have some rest. Redwald did not order anything, Misty only watched and let him get there. Pidgeotto held onto the platform and pushed himself on the top of it. He was exhausted.

Misty pulled out a Hyper Potion. That was the one Redwald rescued in the cave during his trial. He recognized the item due to the scratch on it. It happened when Redwald saved it. “I reward you with this very Hyper Potion.” Misty said. “You may use it right about now.”

Redwald was surprised. “Why?” He asked. He had no such expectation as that. “This is what you deserve.” Misty replied. “I let the trainers one Hyper Potion in their battle if they make it to the last round and need it there.”

She interrupted the battle and jumped in the pool. Redwald watched her from his spot. She swam to reach Pidgeotto on the platform with Hyper Potion carried along. She sprayed it on him. Pidgeotto began to feel much better than before. He opened his wings wide and cried out to celebrate the energy that he felt inside.

Misty swam back to her spot and dried her skin with the orange towel there. Once she felt ready, she nodded. Thus, the battle meant to go on.

“Thank you, Misty. I will make it worth.” Redwald responded. With the willpower inside, Redwald ordered the following move. “Wing Attack!”

Pidgeotto stood up, flapped his wings so hard. It created a sound of manoeuvre and flew against Starmie. He hit Starmie on his core very hard. Pidgeotto felt the pressure on his beak after hitting stone-hard core of Starmie. Starmie stumbled and fell on the platform. He succeeded the move properly this time.

“Not bad at all.” Misty responded. “Starmie, Thunderbolt once again.” Starmie stood up and used Thunderbolt on Pidgeotto. “Dodge it!” Redwald yelled. Pidgeotto flew around faster than the move itself and dodged the move in the end. However, flying so fast and so long affected him either way. Pidgeotto needed to land on the platform and catch his breath nonetheless.

“Bubble Beam!” Misty ordered, Starmie followed. Redwald responded really fast. “Dodge with Quick Attack!” Pidgeotto did as ordered. He first used a fast Quick Attack and left the area of platform. Then, he caught Starmie unprepared and hit it on its core again. Starmie stumbled and fell on the platform. It did not faint, but it acted awkwardly. At first, Misty didn’t give it any meaning. But later, she saw the core was broken. Pidgeotto’s hard hit must had caused it, she thought.

“Without its core… Starmie would be unable to…” She was dumbfounded. Redwald took the advantage of this moment. “Use Quick Attack once more!” Pidgeotto flew around and hit the lying on the platform Pokémon with it. Once, twice, and twice more… Starmie was just lying and letting things happen.

“Wing Attack now!” Redwald ordered. Pidgeotto flew in the air with his glowing wings before he hit Starmie right on its core. The last move landed a critical hit on Starmie. After that, Starmie’s broken core began to make a siren sound with a light going on and off on repeat. Redwald and Pidgeotto did not know what it meant, until Tiffany took the word out.

“Starmie is unable to battle. Pidgeotto is the winner of this round. Therefore, the victory of this battle goes to challenger Walker from Pallet town.”

Redwald remained in silence for a moment of shock. Later, he absorbed the truth little by little by seeing it in the face of Misty, Greta and Eusine. He managed to defeat the Gym leader at his first try this time. Pidgeotto flew and landed on Redwald’s shoulder proudly. The audience of Misty’s students, Greta and Eusine clapped and cheered for Redwald while Misty stared at him with a mature smile.

They climbed down the stairs and met on the floor. Greta and Eusine stood next to Redwald. Tiffany handed Misty over a cerulean blue box. Misty opened the box gently and showed it to Redwald. The Cascade Badge was lying in there. “You are now awarded with this very badge as proof of your victory against me, the Gym leader.” She said. Redwald proudly grabbed the badge. “Thank you, Misty.” He said. “Thank you for giving me such great battle.” She said. “I was totally caught up with all of it.”

Therefore, Redwald, Greta and Eusine left the Gym to visit Pokécenter and let Redwald’s Pokémon have some rest and proper treatment. They still had a very long way to go but taking little and big steps were the motivation that Redwald and Greta needed to go on.

What was there to see more? Only time could show.

Humans

 * Redwald Walker
 * Greta Parker
 * Eusine Hunter
 * Misty
 * Tiffany
 * Misty's Students

Pokémon

 * Misty's Slowbro
 * Misty's Golduck
 * Misty's Starmie
 * Misty's Slowbro
 * Misty's Golduck
 * Misty's Starmie