From: Time Lady <sailrgal@swbell.net> Subject: [PW!] A quick trip to Erika's Gym.... Date: Thursday, May 20, 1999 7:24 PM Despite my brain being totally fried, I figured I might as well try to get this written. BTW, my replacement modem is up and running (YEAH!) ---- After introductions and lunch, Sarah Jane, Runt, Christy, Damien, and Jon stop outside the restaurant surrounded by their various pokemon. Drake gives a suffering look to Shields as Sarah Jane's Nidorans decide that the Dragonite's tail would make an interesting plaything. "Before we go, I wanted to hit the gym," said Damien. "So do I," said Sarah Jane. "We should probably leave for our next destination in the morning, when we're all fresh." "Are you two going to come to the gym?" asked Jon. <insert Christy's and Runt's answers> Sarah Jane felt a tugging at her overalls. She looked down at Cuddles and Spunky. "Nido ran ran do," said Spunky. <We want to fight at the gym.> "I don't know if you two are ready," said Sarah Jane. "Gym battles are very tough." "Do ran ni ni do ni...," whined Cuddles. <You promised we could in Celedon....> "RAN!" added Spunky. <YEAH!> "I guess... but remember, this isn't like when we've battled wild Pokemon." "Ni do do ni nido," promised Cuddles. <We'll be careful.> "Ni ran ran nidoran. Ni ran nido nido," stated Spunky. <We know what to do. We've seen gym battles.> "What's up?" asked Runt. "They want to fight at the gym," explained Sarah Jane. "I don't know if they're ready yet, but they still want to fight." "All that in the conversation? You can understand them?" asked Christy in surprise. "I can understand Pokemon fluently, like they're speaking our language," admitted Sarah Jane. "It's a gift I have." ---- A little while later, the trainers enter the gym. One of Erika's assistants leads them to her. "Erika, we have some more people here for the Rainbowbadge." "Already?" sighed Erika as she stood up from tending to a Bellsprout. "Welcome to the Celedon Gym." "Thank you," said Sarah Jane. "Are all of you here for a badge?" asked Erika. The group nodded. "Very well. Who shall be first?" "I guess I will," said Sarah Jane, stepping forward. "This will be a three Pokemon battle," said Erika. "Weepingbell go!" "Spunky, you go first," said Sarah Jane. Erika looked at her in surprise. "Isn't your Pokemon a little young for a gym battle?" "He'll do fine," replied Sarah Jane, trying to keep a waver out of her voice. Spunky snarled, trying to intimidate the Weepingbell. Erika stifled a laugh at the little Nidoran. "Mega Kick Spunky!" called Sarah Jane. He lept at the Weepingbell, bowling it over. Surprised at Spunky's attack, Erika ordered her Weepingbell to use Razorleaf. A few moves later, Spunky was struggling to stay on his feet. The Weepingbell had also taken a lot of damage, but not enough. "Spunky, return," ordered Sarah Jane. "Ni..." <But...> Sarah Jane cut off his protests by calling him into his Pokeball. "Cuddles, go," said Sarah Jane with a tremor in her voice. Erika looked surprised to see Sarah Jane send out another young Nidoran. Sarah Jane used the pause to call out "Ice beam Cuddles!" The weakened Weepingbell found itself encased in a block of ice, which toppled over, cracked, and left a fainted Weepingbell in its place. "Very good," said Erika. "You took me by surprise. It won't be so easy the next time. Weepingbell, return. Go Gloom!" "Gloom, Gloom." "Megadrain Gloom!" "Move out of the way quickly!" shouted Sarah Jane. Cuddles moved as fast as she could, which wasn't quite fast enough. The Megadrain caught Cuddles. "Cuddles, Blizzard, now!" A few moves later, Cuddles was in the same state as her brother. Cuddles, however, didn't put up an argument when Sarah Jane called her back. Sarah Jane tried to mentally go over her Pokemon and decide on which one to send out. Regretfully, she didn't have any fire Pokemon... "Are you going to send out another pokemon, or do you forefit?" asked Erika. "Shields, go," said Sarah Jane, hoping an experienced Psychic Pokemon would be able to defeat the gym leader. "Petal Dance," ordered Erika. "Psybeam Shields!" The Mr. Mime's attack was just what was needed to knock out the Gloom. "Vileplume, go!" called Erika. The Mr. Mime's experience turned out to be enough. A few Psybeams and a lucky Metronome attack (which turned out to be fire spin) made the Vileplume faint. "Very good," said Erika as she handed Sarah Jane a Rainbowbadge. "Your Nidorans show promise. Do you have any plant Pokemon?" "Yes. A Tangela and an Oddish." "I'm surprised you didn't try to use one of them." "I promised Cuddles and Spunky. They do need to get the experience though." "Take this," she said, handing Sarah Jane a TM. "For one of your plant Pokemon." Erika turned to the others. "Okay... who's next?" -- (o)_(o) || Time Lady, sailrgal@swbell.net _(^*^)_ || sailrgal@hotmail.com, sailrgal@my-dejanews.com (__ __) || Visit the Mystic Manor Homepage /_/\_\ || http://members.tripod.com/~MysticManor