Chapter 8: Vermillion Gym Challenge
Vermilion City had finally been seen over the horizon as Peter raced down the path with Meowth in his arms. "You sure you don't want to be in a Pokéball?" Peter asked.
"I already told you! There's nothing worse than being locked up like storage!" Meowth protested. Peter understood as he continued to the city limits. As Peter reached the Pokémon Center, he noticed a challenge letter on the door that read like an army flyer.
It read: To be the best, you must beat the best. Come to the Vermilion City gym and prove that you are all you can be.
The gyms are the only place in the Pokémon league that a trainer can go to earn their badges to advance to the final challenge. He thought about it as he entered the center. The nurse smiled as she took Peter's Pokémon for their checkup. Peter sat down on the couch and picked up a magazine. While reading an odd stranger tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir," he said, "You look like a pretty good trainer. How would you like to increase your Pokémon team with this little beauty?" He pulled out a Pokéball from his satchel. Peter looked at the ball for a moment.
"What's the Pokémon?" Peter asked.
"It's a powerfull water type. No other kind like it out there. I caught it myself, but I'm no trainer," he stated.
"A water type? I don't think I can use it for the time being," Peter said knowing what his next challenge was going to be.
"Awww, don't be that way. This Pokémon is a real powerhouse. You'll be glad you bought it in the long run," he protested.
"Buy?! Why do I want to buy a Pokémon when I can catch one?" Peter said in disgust.
"Don't think of it as robbery. Think of it as a great investment. You'll be glad you did!"
Peter knew this guy wasn't going to leave him alone, so he decided to take it off his hands. "How much then," Peter asked.
"Wonderfull! For a swell guy like you, I'll let you have it for $500," he replied.
"WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR!? THAT IS ROBBERY!" Peter shouted.
"$500 is a good deal! This is a rare find, I tell you," he assured. Peter didn't like the idea, but anything to get the loser off his back. "Alright. Take it and take off," Peter said handing over the money. The stranger handed Peter the Pokéball and left. Peter sighed as he decided to take a peek at his investment. The ball opened up to reveal a humble looking Magikarp. Peter was outraged. "It was a robbery!" he thought to himself as he recalled his Pokémon. Magikarp are mostly weaker than any Pokémon. It's only rare to find one that are smart. With the disapointment, Peter decided to transfer the Pokémon to his PC.
As Peter sent the Magikarp to his PC, the nurse walked over to him. "Your Pokémon are fighting fit," she said.
"Thank you," Peter said depressed.
"I was watching you with that guy a while ago," she exclaimed. "I should have warnned you he's a con artist."
"It's okay. I just left myself wide open," Peter said.
"You know, I think you came out on the better deal," she said as she put her hand on his shoulder.
"What do you mean? Magikarp can't do much but splash," Peter asked.
"True. But they do evolve. Why don't you work with it for a while?" she said as she returned to the front desk. Peter thought about it as he went for his Pokémon.
Peter left the Pokémon center with a better outlook about Magikarp. However, Meowth thought it was the funniest thing it ever heard. "Let me get this straight, you were robbed $500 for a worthless Magikarp? AH HA HA HA HA!!!" It said laughing.
"Laugh all you want. I can make this little fellow grow to be a powerfull Pokémon," Peter exclaimed.
"Okay. I think I'll laugh all I want," Meowth said as it continued to laugh.
"You won't mind being out of food for a while then," Peter stated.
"What do you mean?"
"It was your cat food I spent," he said walking away. Meowth's laughter turn to shouts of anger. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU SPENT MY MONEY!?"
The Vermilion Gym was like an army barracks. It seemed like the perfect place to train not only Pokémon, but people as well. Peter thought that this would be quite a challenge as he entered the gym. Inside the gym was a different story. "What is this place?" Peter wondered as he noticed garbage pails lined up in columns and rows. He looked to the far end of the room where double doors were closed shut. "This may get a little wierd," Peter said to Meowth.
"I'm not talking to you unless you get me my Meowth food," Meowth said pouting.
"If I beat the Gym leader, we'll have enough food to last us a while," Peter replied to his stubborn companion.
"Well... If you put it that way, then I guess I'll have to save your butt," Meowth said rather cocky.
Peter continued to look around for a way into the next room. "There must be a key around here. I wonder if it's in the pails?" Peter said to Meowth. Meowth looked at the trash cans and thought what harm could it do. It looked into the can next to Peter and found an odd switch. "HEY! I think I found something!" Moewth shouted.
"What is it?" Peter asked.
"Feels like a switch. Shoud I flip it?" Meowth asked.
Peter looked in the can opposite of Meowth. "Looks like I found another switch here," Peter exclaimed.
"You think mine is a dummy?" it wondered.
"I don't think so. Let's try both at the same time," Peter said. The two counted to three as they flipped their switches. As they did so, the double doors swung wide open. Peter and Meowth looked on as the figure behind the door walked out to them. He was a muscular man with a light buzz cut wearing army fatigues. Peter stood up as he began to speak. "You must be the Gym Leader," Peter presumed.
"You would be correct," he replied, "I'm the official ranking Gym Leader here. You may address me as Lt. Surge,"
"Yes sir!" Peter said as he saluted. "I'm here for the gym challenge!"
"You got spunk, kid. I like that in a trainer," Lt. Surge said, "I have ways of dealing with kids like you," Lt. Surge brought Peter into the other room where it was much larger than the other one. This was a regulation size arena and to the side were bleachers with a few sodiers looking on as an audience. Peter had an idea of what to use in battle, but his true reliance was the Sandshrew he traded for Meowth. However, this setback would not halt Peter's strategy.
"Whenever you're ready, kid!" Lt. Surge stated. Peter picked out his first choice. "I choose Charmander!" he said as he called out his Pokémon. Charmander hopped out of his ball ready to fight. Lt. Surge didn't look too impreased. "You'll have to do better than a baby Pokémon to beat me!" He said as he chose his Pokémon. A Magneton came flying out of the Lt. as sparks flew from its three components. Peter was well aware of Magneton's capabilities.
"We'll start off big, Charmander. Use your Headbutt attack!" he shouted. Charmander ran towards Magneton head first scoring a direct hit. Magneton flew back a few inches as it was a little stunned. "Not bad," Lt. Surge commended, "But not good enough. Use a Thundershock!" Magneton zapped Charmander with and electric shock that took it off guard. Peter realized that a physical attack was just pointless. Magneton had a solid defense for Charmander to dent. "We'll have to rely on something more hardcore, Charmander. Use your Ember!" Peter instructed. Charmander waved its tail throwing sparks of fire at Magneton. One of the flames caught Magneton in one of its eye. It appeared to be burned. "NO WAY!!!" Shouted Lt. Surge. "Magneton! Strike back with a Thundershock!" Magneton tried to zap Charmander, but its accuracy was off due to the burn. Charmander is able to dodge the electric barrage as Peter knew this Pokémon was through. "Let's finish this! Use a Flamethrower!" Peter said. Charmander spewed a blast of fire at Magneton which rendered it out cold. Lt. Surge recalled his Pokémon realizing that he had to act fast in order to win.
"You've trained that baby pretty well. But this is where I get things rolling!" he said choosing his next Pokémon. The next Pokémon was Electrode. It was shooting sparks all around the play area. Peter had a bad feeling about the decision Lt. Surge had made. "Use Explosion!" he ordered. In a flash, Electrode exploded right in front of Charmander leaving both of them out cold.
"What kind of trick are you pulling? That was just suicide!" Peter remarked. Lt. Surge grinned as he recalled Electrode.
"It's just a plan I have. The rest of your Pokémon won't beat my last resort," he said throwing out his final Pokémon. It was a Raichu. Peter had to pick fast another Pokémon to battle. He looked towards Meowth who was a little hesitant.
"Don't look at me!" Meowth said scared stiff, "That's a Raichu! Those guys can knock out a Dragonite with an electric bolt!"
"I know that. I still need someone to fight hard," Peter explained.
"I won't stand a chance! How 'bout Oddish, or that spikey jerk?" Meowth protested. Peter thought for a moment about Oddish's advantage.
"Maybe you're on to something, Meowth," Peter said to Mewoth while taking out his next choice. Oddish popped out dancing for joy.
"You're wasting my time, kid! There's no way a baby will beat my Raichu!" Lt. Surge shouted out.
"That's what you said about my Charmander. Now I'm ready to win," Peter exclaimed.
"Have it your way. Use a Thundershock, Raichu," Lt. Surge ordered. Raichu zapped Oddish hard, however, Oddish seemed quite okay.
"Yes! Oddish can take an electric attack since it's grass type keeps it grounded," Peter explained with pride. He then looked towards Oddish, "Let's give his Raichu a Petal Dance, Oddish!"
Oddish began dancing about throwing leaves at Raichu. Raichu was having trouble avoiding the leaves.
"So you wanna play like that? Raichu! Agility!" Lt. Surge barked. Raichu began to move faster than it was before. It was hard to keep up with it as it avoided the leaves of Oddish.
"Now use a Body Slam!" Lt. Surge ordered. Raichu jumped on top of Oddish with full force, pinning it to the ground.
"He thinks we're done Oddish, so show him what you got! Use Absorb!" Peter Shouted.
Oddish slapped its leaves on Raichu's face and started to sap its energy.
"Raichu! Use your Thunderbolt!" Lt. Surge shouted. Raichu let out an enourmous electric surge. Oddish seemed to be in pain as the electric attack began to surge through it.
"Don't let go of Raichu, Oddish! Keep it up!" Peter barked. He was worried that Oddish was wearing down. Oddish was struggling to keep its leaves on Raichu as it cried out in pain. It was only a matter of time before Oddish passed out from Raichu's Thunderbolt.
"Oddish, Return!" Peter said recalling his fallen friend.
"That was impressive, kid," Lt. Surge remarked, "Too bad I have to end it here,"
"Not yet! I have my own last resort," Peter replied as he took the Pokéball from his necklace and threw it out to the field. "Nido-G! It's SHOWTIME!!!"
Nido-G came out primed and fighting mad. Lt. Surge began to laugh at Peter who he thought made a horrible mistake. "This is your last resort? You must be desperate, kid!" he laughed.
"We'll see," Peter said confidently. He then looked at Nido-G, "You ready for a fight, G?" Nido-G growled as he nodded his head.
"Fine! Give it a Thunderbolt, Raichu!" Lt. Surge ordered. Raichu was still catching its breath, but did what it was told. Raichu tried to zap Nido-G, but Nido-G was able to dodge its attack.
"Give it the Poison Sting!" Peter shouted. Nido-G began to spit out needles at Raichu. Raichu was definately showing signs of fatigue from its encounter with Oddish. It took a direct hit from the needles.
"No way! Raichu! Pull it together!" Lt. Surge barked. Raichu now looked a little sick. Peter knew it was poisoned and saw his opening.
"Let's finish it, G. Horn Attack!" Peter shouted. Nido-G charged at Raichu head-on with his horn. As Raichu staggered a bit, Nido-G stabbed Raichu right in the belly and gave it an overhead toss. It was obvious to everyone that Raichu was out cold. The match was over and Nido-G was standing. Peter was the one standing victorious raising his fist in the air while the crowd cheered him and his Pokémon.
"You sure showed me a thing or two, kid," Lt. Surge said shaking Peter's hand, "I can see that you got more than what it takes to make it in the League."
"Thanks," Peter said as he gave Lt. Surge a bottle.
"What's this?" he asked.
"That should help your Pokémon. Especially your Raichu," Peter replied. Lt. Surge gave a smirk as he handed Peter something else.
"Since we're giving things away, take the Thunderbadge," he said greatfully. Peter smiled as he pinned the badge on his sweater. He left the gym with a greater inspiration than Cerulean. It was obvious that the gyms in other cities would be even more challenging than Vermilion. It seemed to be that the only option now is to work harder than ever. And with his Pokémon, he wasn't going to lose so easily.
End of chapter 8
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