From: Magic T. Dragon <cvilagi@earthlink.net> Subject: [PW!] The Challenge Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 8:55 PM [Last time: Natasha reached Pewter City and took her Pokémon to the Pokécenter.] Natasha thanked Nurse Joy and took her Pokémon, sauntering outside. She sat down on a bench with her three companions. "Okay guys...are you ready? It's gonna be tough, but I know we can win!" This time, all three Pokémon were positive. She checked her backpack. Antidode, Paralyze Heal, Ice Heal...Potion. "All right!" With a wide grin, Natasha scooped up Weedle and headed for the Pewter gym, Cubone and Charmander following her. Due to Pewter's small size (especially compared to Celadon), it didn't take long to find such a large building as a gym. As she wound through the halls, several people tried to challenge her to matches. She waved all of them off with a simple statement of "After I get the badge." Although it only took about five minutes, it seemed like forever before she reached the main battle room. With a deep breath, she opened the door. The room was surprisingly plain. She scanned the room, noticing a man near the back. "Er...sir? Excuse me? I'd like to challenge the Pewter gym for a badge..." The man smiled. "Sure, if you think you're up to it! I'm Brock..." The girl smiled. "I'm Natasha." They both took their positions at opposite ends of the court. Natasha set Weedle down next to Charmander, waiting. "Go, GEODUDE!" Brock threw one of his Pokéballs into the arena. It opened with a flash of red light. "Dude, geo Geodude." "Go Charmander!" The little flaming Pokémon dashed into the arena. "Geodude! Tackle!" Natasha paused. "Charmander, get out of his way and use Ember!" Charmander sidestepped his much slower opponent and began spinning, leaving a ring of fire in the air. "Geodude, defense curl!" The rocky Pokémon crossed his arms in front of himself, mostly blocking the fire. "Charmander, scratch, NOW!" "Geodude, rock throw!" Charmander stopped spinning and slashed at Geodude, claws extended. Although it had little effect, it threw Geodude slightly off-balance. It recovered quickly and grabbed a rock almost as big as itself. Despite Charmander's best efforts, the rock hit him head-on. He stumbled, almost out. "NO! Charmander, come back!" Charmander got up slowly. He shook his head and moved toward Geodude, Growling menacingly. "What?! You want to keep fighting? Then...Scratch!" "Tackle again, Geodude!" Charmander moved forward slowly, staring down Geodude. With a startling burst of speed, the rock charged him. Charmander held his ground. Natasha's eyes widened. At the last possible second, Charmander leapt to the side, Scratching at Geodude on the way down. Geodude didn't have time to right himself before he slammed into the wall, knocking himself out. "YESSS! Charmander, come back! Go...Cubone!" "Geodude, return. Go, ONIX!" Geodude disappeared just as Onix materialized. Charmander staggered back to Natasha, with an eager Cubone taking his place. "Cubone, bone club!" "Onix, bide..." The huge rock-snake curled up in the center of the arena, seemingly asleep. Natasha gawked as Cubone moved forward, smacking Onix with his club. Onix flinched slightly. "Cubone, again!" Onix just sat there as Cubone hit him several times. Just before Natasha asked what Brock was doing sending a sleeping Pokémon into battle, Onix began glowing. First just a slight shimmer, before escalating into a bright red. Cubone had barely started moving back when an incredible burst of energy overtook him, flinging him like a ragdoll into the wall. Natasha gasped and pulled out her Pokédex. "Bide. The attacking Pokémon goes dormant for several minutes, taking hits. When it awakens, it releases a burst of energy approximately equal to twice the damage sustained." Cubone got up very, very slowly. Natasha took the Potion from her backpack and sprayed it on her masked Pokémon. "Onix, bide again!" Onix again curled up in the center of the arena. Natasha looked almost insulted. "Think I'm gonna fall for *that* again?! Cubone, growl!" Cubone moved toward Onix, growling loudy. After a moment, Onix glowed briefly and returned to normal. "What?! Onix, tackle!" "Cubone, bone club!" The huge snake moved back before charging Cubone. Cubone didn't move. Natasha held her breath, hoping it had worked... Onix rammed Cubone...with almost no effect. Cubone took the chance to strike Onix's head at least five times. Onix wobbled for a few seconds before falling over. "Onix, return..." Natasha couldn't control herself. She ran into the arena and picked up Cubone, hugging him. Still carrying her first Pokémon, she ran back to Charmander and picked him up, too. "You *did* it! I knew you could!!" She walked up to Brock. "Er, uh...sorry, but they just...uh..." Brock laughed. "Sure. Well, here's...the Boulder Badge!" He gave Natasha the litle scrap of fabric. She dropped it into her backpack. "And...here's TM 34, Bide. You figured out how to beat it, so you must know what it does..." She grinned, finding a pouch for the TM in her backpack. "Thanks, thanks, thanks! Wait'll mom hears..." --Natasha V.