Pokémon Journeys - Pt. IV - Brock'n'Brawl

[Tenebrae]

Link to Beginning
Link to Pt. III



"Thank you for waiting. We've restored your Pokémon to full health. We hope to see you again!"
"Thanks Nurse Joy," I replied. "Can I ask you a question though?"
"If you wish," She replied.
"How did you get from Viridian City to Pewter City so quickly?"
"I've never been there before," the nurse replied. "You must have met one of my sisters."
"You're identical?"
"Yes, and all my other sisters too. We are all identical, and share the same name."
"Ok… Thanks then Nurse."
I left the Pokémon Centre feeling quite perplexed. All Nurse Joys were identical… It was a bit much, and gave me a headache. In the distance I could still see smoke rising. I must have inhaled a lot of smoke, I thought, and coughed.
"Lets get something to eat, Amber." We walked to the Poké Mart and I bought both of us some food, and some food for Pierce and Pidgey, and we walked to a small flower park and sat down to eat. I let out Pierce and Pidgey, so they could eat too.
"Pidgey," I said. "I have to nickname you."
It looked at me, gave a small chirp, and went back to pecking at its food.
"The name Feather sounds nice, but I don't think it suits you, don't you think so too?"
This time it flew over to my bag, and poked around in it, until it retrieved my Pokédex.
Wow, I completely forgot about my Pokédex, I thought to myself. I opened it up, and took a look at the data I'd collected. I'd obtained three Pokémon, a Charmander, a Rattata, and a Pidgey. The Charmander on the Pokédex looked slightly different, I thought maybe the digital display's colours weren't working properly. Technology always has a fault somewhere, I thought.
I continued looking at my Pokédex. I'd also encountered a Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Caterpie, Metapod, Goldfree, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, and a Pikachu. A Pikachu? I thought for a moment. I hadn't seen any Pikachu on my journey. I checked the location, and it returned Viridian Forest. Something wasn't right here. I know for certain I never saw a Pikachu, and so I came to conclude my Pokédex was in some way faulty. I let out a sigh, and checked my Pokémon's stats with a Pokédex add-on I'd received in Viridian Centre when I checked in at a PC. I looked at Pidgey's stats.
"You have high speed!" I exclaimed to Pidgey. Pidgey let out a squawk, and flew around me. "I think I have the perfect name for you!"

***

"Hello there miss. Are you new here?"
An unfamiliar voice spoke behind me, and I instinctually turned around.
"I've noticed you walking around here, and saw you with some Pokémon earlier. I haven't seen you around here before."
"Yes, I'm from Pallet Town," I replied. "I've come to fight the gym leader in this town, and get his badge."
"I'll take you to the gym."
I followed the mysterious stranger.
"This here is the Pewter Museum," he said as we passed a large brick building. "There are some very old Pokémon artefacts on display inside."
We continued on, around a corner, and then another corner, stopping in front of a large stone building.
"This is the Pewter City Gym," the stranger said. "Inside is the gym leader, Brock. He specialises in rock type Pokémon. Good luck for your battle, you will need it. Goodbye"
With that, he left me standing there, and headed back to wherever he came from. Once again that day, I was left feeling rather perplexed. That man was strange, but I was where I wanted to be now, so I wasn't about to complain. A message was carved into the stone wall.
"Pewter City Pokémon Gym," I read. "Leader Brock. The Rock-Solid Pokémon Trainer!"
Sounds hard, I thought, and I opened the door and entered the gym.

***

It was dim inside, and the walls were made of solid rock. The ground was covered in a sandy gravel, and made a dull crunchy sound as I walked over it. There was a statue in the same room I was in. I went up to it, and looked at it in closer detail. It resembled a creature I didn't recognise, but it was most likely a Pokémon. There was a silver plaque on the base of the server, with some writings on it. I leant in closer to read the words etched on it.
"Pewter Pokémon Gym," I read quietly to myself. "Leader: Brock"
I continued reading. "Winning Trainers: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Crimson"
"Come to challenge the Pewter City gym leader?" A voice called out from somewhere behind the statue. An elderly man emerged out of the dim light. I stood up as he approached me.
I looked him in the eye, and he looked back. He repeated himself.
"Yes, I am," I replied. "How long has Brock been leader here? This plaque here says he has lost five times."
"Ahh, Brock. I remember when he took over the gym. That was four years ago now. Every trainer that has come past this way has fallen, except these few. The first four trainers passed by this way four years ago. The other trainer, Crimson as you can see, he passed by just yesterday."
"No way," I exclaimed.
"I also heard he defeated Brock with ease," he continued on. "But maybe thats just a trainer's arrogance at gaining their first gym badge."
"Where is Brock?"
"The other trainers were the same. Each one saying they found him quite easy."
This man, I thought. He's never gonna shut up.
"…fire type Pokémon. That trainer said it was a struggle to get the badge."
At the mention of fire type Pokémon I took to listening again.
"You say the trainer with a fire type Pokémon had trouble with the gym?"
"Yes," replied the man. "In fact, that trainer's Pokémon looked very similar to yours."
A few thoughts went racing through my mind.
"Where is Brock? I must battle him now."
"Down the end of the corridor there is a staircase, and a door, leading to the arena." The old man pointed down the passageway, into the gloom.
"Lets go Amber," I started walking. "Thanks sir," I said as I passed the old man.
"Good luck with your battle, miss," he said back, and we went out separate ways.

***

"I don't like this place," I said to Amber.
Amber snorted.

***

The walk was long, and unpleasant. While my eyes adjusted to the gloom quite quickly, its was just an eerie place, almost like a tunnel dug into a cliff. The staircase was quite perilous too, and I had to take it very slowly. It looked like a fall could be fatal. After the slow descent, I reached the door. It was more of a doorway, made of stone, like the rest of the gym's interior. I walked through.
Like the rest of the gym, the arena was also dimly lit, and filled something that seemed like floating dust, so visibility was even worse.
"I see you made if down here unharmed," said a voice from the shadows. "I am Brock, leader of Pewter City gym. You are here to challenge me aren't you?"
A figure emerged, entering my vision. He was tall, and well built, and young. A man of strength he looked. Perhaps thats why so few trainers had defeated him in the past, I thought.
"I am. I'm here to get your badge," I said.
"Very well trainer, but very few have bested me, and I will not submit to another trainer so soon."
Crimson, I thought. Crimson had beaten Brock yesterday, the old man had said. Could Crimson really be that strong? I had defeated him earlier, and the battle hadn't been a struggle either.
"Miss, are you ready now?"
What? Oh, the battle. I'd got lost in my thoughts. I was now standing on one side of the arena, opposite Brock.
"Miss, are you ready to start the battle?" Brock said again.
"Oh? Oh, yes. Yes I am," I stammered.
"Then lets get this show started!"
Brock threw a Poké Ball.
"Go Geodude," he said with enthusiasm.
"Go Pierce!" I threw the Poké Ball into the air, and Pierce came out, looking quite eager to battle.
"Geodude, tackle that Rattata!"
"Pierce, dodge and use Quick Attack!"
The Geodude sped towards Pierce at a rate that seemed surreal for a rock, Pierce jumped out of the way and charged straight towards the Geodude at a speed faster than I could follow. The next moment, I heard a loud cracking sound, and saw Pierce fall to the ground next to Geodude, with its hands and arms curled around its body.
"Good work Geodude, now finish it off with an on-target Tackle Attack!" Brock shouted out from across the arena. I peered through the gloom and saw the Geodude moving back to prepare another attack. It turned around, paused for a moment, and then started heading straight for Pierce again, picking up speed as it closed in. I looked towards Pierce and saw him struggling to stand up. I had to squint to see him properly, but he looked injured. I saw a moving shape in my field of vision, and realised Pierce was going to be hit.
"PIERCE!!!" I screamed out. "Watch out, Geodude will hit you!!!
I heard a low growl, and everything went black.

***

I opened my eyes a few moments later, expecting to see the worst. Instead I saw a sight that almost made me jump with joy, but cringe in disgust at the same time. From where I was, I could see Pierce's head had a wet patch, but I had no idea how that could be. He was standing on top of Geodude with his mouth obscuring its face. I ran up to the two Pokémon, Brock already there, knelt down beside the two. I could hear Brock whispering to himself.
"No, no," I could hear Brock whispering to himself.
"What is it?" I asked solemnly.
"Look."
Brock shifted his position, and I was able to see the full extent of damage to both Pokémon. Pierce's head was not only wet, it was drenched in a liquid that stuck to my fingers as I touched his fur. And then it hit me. I looked down in horror at Pierce. His head was drenched blood. Both Pokémon were still, appearing dead. Brock held Geodude, and I gently pulled Pierce off it. What befell my eyes I was not prepared for. As I peeled Pierce off, he squeaked, accompanied by a squelching sound, and came loose. His His fangs were wet with a liquid I was not familiar with, a drop dripping off the end of one of them, and onto my hand. It felt rough, like no liquid I'd ever touched before. I heard Brock let out a sniff.
"Whats wrong?" I asked, somewhat concerned.
"Look." Brock held up his Geodude for me to see.
What had once been an energetic Pokémon now sat lifeless in Brock's hands. There was a trickle of dampness running down the front of Geodude's head, but that was the least frightening feature. I looked into its eyes, and gasped. Its eyes, or where the eyes should have been, were now unrecognisable balls of goo, each with a hole through the middle, as though a nail had been hammered into it. I looked back at Pierce, and suddenly it all made sense. I felt almost dizzy.
Brock stood up, and walked away from me, still holding Geodude.
I called out to him, quietly. "Do you forfeit, Brock?"
"NO!" He placed Geodude on the ground, and turned around to face me. "We will continue this battle. I will not let Geodude's loss be in vain."
"Pierce, I'm sorry, I have to return you," I whispered. "You're too injured to battle."
Pierce let out a small squeak, and I returned him to his Poké Ball where he could rest until I can get him to a Pokémon Centre.
"Onix, you're my only hope now. Go!"
Brock sent out an Onix, which let out a deafening roar that shook the whole cavern the arena was in. The Onix towered high, and I didn't think any of my Pokémon would be able to defeat it. But I only had one choice, so I sent out my strongest Pokémon.
"Amber, do me proud."
Amber rushed out from behind me onto the battlefield, looking eager for a fight. He let out a jet of flame towards the Onix, but Onix didn't even seem to notice.
"Amber, Ember attack!" I called out.
Amber let out another jet of flame at Onix, this time bigger, but Onix still seemed to shrug off the attack.
"Ha, your fire attacks won't do anything to my rock Pokémon," Brock exclaimed, with renewed vigour. "But my rock Pokémon can obliterate a fire type Pokémon. Onix, use Rock Tomb!"
The Onix roared, and the whole cavern shook again, clouds of dust forming from rocks falling from the ceiling.
"Amber, watch out!" I shouted out.
I could see Amber stumbling about, trying to avoid the barrage of stones. One hit him on the head, and he fell to the ground.
"Onix, now use Bind!" Brock heartily called out, his voice ringing over the rumbling.
The Onix slithered around Amber, constricting him in its rocky, segmented body. I saw Amber regain himself, but he was already stuck in the Onix's Bind.
"Good job Onix," Brock called out sounding quite pleased. "Hold it like that until the Charmander can't battle any longer."
"Amber, you have to try get out!"
Everything Amber did failed. No matter how much struggling he did, there was no way he could escape.
"Amber, try scratch your way out. Its the only possibility left!"
I could see Amber getting weaker as he tried scratching away at the rocky body of Onix. I didn't think Amber would make it out, and I only had one Pokémon left if Amber were to fail. Amber had to do this. It was painful looking up at Amber's frantic effort. Suddenly I saw a flash, and Onix fell to the ground. There was a gash in the side of one of its rocky segments. Amber was on the ground, on the opposite side of the arena. Amber's claws were glowing!
"Great work Amber!" I shouted out and waved at Amber.
Amber looked back and grinned.
"Onix, Harden." Brock's voice had a hint of anger in it.
I looked over at the Onix which had started glowing, and I watched the gash fill itself in.
"Back in the game now," Brock chuckled.
"Amber, do what you just did again!" I nodded at Amber.
"Onix, Rock Tomb again!" Brock's voiced echoed.
Once again there was a deafening roar, and I had to cover my ears. The whole cavern started shaking again, and more rocks fell from the ceiling.
"Amber, watch out!"
Amber had to move fast to avoid the rocks, and he had to dive out of the way of one. When Brock's Onix saw that, it slashed its tail towards Amber. There was a blinding flash of light, and a lot of dust was thrown into the air. I could make out the Onix, lying on the ground, writhing about.
"Onix, Harden again." Brock's voice was quiet.
"Amber, use that attack again!" I screamed out towards Amber, just as Onix started glowing.
Amber rushed for Onix, and there was another blinding flash, and Onix was still. I ran over to Amber, who had somehow smashed a hole through one of the Onix's rocky segments.
"And the young challenging trainer is the victor!" A voice rang from the other side of the arena.
It was the old man from before.
"I lost, again," Brock said solemnly. "Here is the Boulder Badge."
Brock held out a shiny grey badge to me. I took it with glee. The badge was a perfect octagon, almost like a gem, if it weren't for the dull grey colour. I pinned it to the inside of my bag.
"Thank you, Brock," I replied. "That was a very tough battle."
Brock didn't reply. He was crouched down beside his Geodude. I thought I could hear a sob.
"Best let Brock be alone." The old man spoke softly to me. "You should heal your Pokémon, I'm sure they're quite weak after the battle."
He escorted me out of the arena, and then back into the gym lobby.
"Tell me, what is your name?" The man stopped and asked me.
"Lavender," I replied.
"Soon Lavender, your name will appear with these other trainers too, as a record of those that have defeated Brock and earned his badge. You should go now, your Pokémon's health is important."
I nodded and left the gym, smiling.

***

"Thank you for waiting. We've restored your Pokémon to full health. We hope to see you again!"
I received my Poké Balls back from Nurse Joy, and checked in at the PC. I had no new mail, but my Pokédex sent the data it had collected back to Professor Blackthorn in Pallet Town. I wondered how things were back home, and made a mental note to visit back when I had all eight badges. I shut down the PC and walked to the Pokémon Centre's door to continue my journey. I saw a poster beside the door, and stopped to read it.
"Wanted," I read to myself. "A teenage girl is wanted after using fire Pokémon to burn down Viridian Forest, and causing grievous harm to thousands of wild Pokémon. We are offering a reward for her capture. Below is a picture of the suspect. Signed, Pewter Police."
I looked at the picture, and felt sick. I ran out the door, stumbling as I rushed.
No way, I thought. I can't believe it. That picture, it was me.



Link to Part V

[doubleArmageddon]

cool

[WaffleDoc]

cool story

[Tenebrae]

Updated with Link to where PartV will may be

[Tenebrae]

Part V Added.

Make sure to reread it if you've forgotten it in the past year.

And more errors fixed >.>