THREE
Another day, another gym. Erika the Grass Pokémon Trainer hung out in Saffron City, and I wasn't scared of her. Uh-uh. OK, I'd been defeated by Surge, but Grass types would fall like ninepins to Cinder's mighty wrath.
That is, if Cinder would battle. Since his defeat he had begun to look hangdog and sorry again, hanging his head and dragging his tail in the dust. I had fussed him and petted him, but I knew he was thinking that he could defeat the Electricity Master if he evolved. Cinder had hardly ever lost a fight, and he was taking this defeat badly as he knew Gym battles were important. As we approached the Gym he started to lag behind, and when we reached the door he sat down and wouldn't budge.
"Rai raichu!" said Bouncer, giving him a little push. Cinder cringed away, obviously reminded of Surge's Raichu.
"Nice try, Bouncer, but tactless," I sighed. "O-kay." I turned away from the Gym and led my crew to a store, where I bought a bag of donuts. We sat down on a bench and I distributed them.
"Right, everybody. Erika's Gym. We can do this one, no sweat. Plant Pokémon, three on three, a doddle." I stood up and began to pace up and down, biting absent-mindedly at my donut between sentences.
"Now the key to this battle is you, Cinder. Yes, I know, but this is different. Fire types are strong against grass, so you have the advantage. It's not going to be about size and strength, it's going to be about getting those fire attacks in. So I'm relying on you." Cinder looked at me.
"Yes. You're very important and I know you can do it. OK?" Slowly Cinder's tail began to wag and a doggy grin appeared on his chops.
"Good boy! Now, you'll have Ricky and Bouncer to back you up if anything goes wrong. Sorry, Ripple, but you'll have your chance - against the Rock types in Pewter, I should think." My Pokémon all had their eyes fixed on me, and for a moment I felt like a proud general leading a campaign.
"Are you ready?" I asked.
"Grrowl!" "Rai!" "Rat!"
"Are you pumped?"
"CHU!" "RATICATE!"
"I said are you pumped?" I shouted, like a demented cheerleader.
"GROOOWLL!" Cinder breathed a jet of fire and danced on his hind legs.
"All right!" I set off towards the Gym at a brisk trot, my Pokémon at my heels.
We stopped at the gates to get our breath. I was starting to worry now and began another pep talk, but Cinder cut me off by grabbing his Pokéball in his teeth, banging it on the ground to open it, and flowing inside. He obviously felt it was time for action. I recalled the others and pushed the door open, clutching Cinder's ball at the ready in case Erika was as quick on the attack as Surge.
"Phew, it's a jungle in here!" I said aloud. Huge tropical plants bloomed in a humid atmosphere that made sweat break out on my forehead. A giant pink flower I could have comfortably sat in gave off a sickly smell.
"Hello?" I called.
A figure emerged through the steam. Erika, mistress of plant Pokémon, was wearing a shift dress with a pattern of flowers, a pink corsage at her shoulder.
"You've come to battle me." It was a statement, not a question. I suppose she didn't get too many social calls.
"Fine. Three Pokémon each. In your own time,"
I mopped my brow and cracked my knuckles. Now the moment had arrived I was nervous and didn't want to start. But the Pokéball started shaking and wobbling in my hand, and I threw it hastily before Cinder could burst out unbidden, which would have disqualified me.
"Go boy!" I shouted. I'd meant to say 'Go Growlithe' in official fashion, but I was too excited. A red flash and Cinder was standing foursquare in front of me, tiny flames escaping his nose and mouth.
"Victreebel," said Erika. I could see her thinking 'Another fire Pokémon! How original!' It was unfortunate that grass has an obvious weakness to fire; with most Pokémon types you need to do some research to find their weak spot, but this one was - pardon pun - elementary.
The pitcher plant Pokémon with its daft clown face emerged from its Pokéball and sat gaping round- eyed at the fire pup. Cinder looked at me doubtfully; he'd never seen anything like it.
"Roar, Cinder!" I commanded. I didn't want him to use up his fire attacks too quickly. The Growlithe's roar shook the ground, even though it went into a funny squeak at the end. I wondered what on earth it would be like when he was an Arcanine. The plant Pokémon furled its leaves and hid behind them, trembling.
"Victreebel! Use Wrap!" The cowering Pokémon drew itself together and prepared to wrap Cinder in its tendrils.
"Agility, Cinder!" I countered, and the Growlithe began to race round and round its opponent. But the atmosphere of the gym tired him - the sticky jungle heat was unlike the dry fiery heat he loved, and he had to stop and pant. The deadly tendrils snaked forward and coiled around my Pokémon, wrapping him up like a mummy. Only his nose and a pair of frightened eyes could be seen.
"Bite, Cinder!" I called. I could see him struggling, but his teeth weren't making any headway in the tough shoots.
"Keep it up, Victreebel!" called Erika. She was smiling now, pleased that her beloved Grass Pokémon was giving the Fire type such a beating.
"Cinder!" He looked weaker. "Do Ember!" I saw a puff of smoke emerge from the foliage where Cinder's mouth was, and the Victreebel dropped him like a hot potato - which is more or less what he'd become. Cinder fell, rolled and sat up looking dazed. Get it together, boy, I said silently. Aloud, I called "Flamethrower!" Cinder's head swivelled, targeting the enemy.
"Haaaaaaa-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-aaaaaarrrrrrrr!" breathed Cinder, as flame spurted from his mouth. How could such a little Pokémon produce so much fire? I wondered, not for the first time, as Victreebel was silhouetted by the flame. When the inferno died down I could see the flycatcher lying still, leaves curled up and scorched.
"Victreebel, return!" Erika said without emotion. I admired her for not panicking over the state of her Pokémon; she knew it would be safe in its ball until the battle was over and it could be treated.
"Go Tangela!"
If Cinder had been confused by Victreebel, he was floored by Tangela. His eyes bulged as he looked from the blue mess to me and back again.
"Cinder, it's just a plant. Don't worry. Stay clear of those blue things; they're vines. Get in there with Agility!" I commanded quickly. Cinder darted in and smacked the Tangela with a two- clawed paw. It was caught off balance and rolled off its little feet, squeaking helplessly. Cinder batted it about like a cat with a tinkle ball, while I tried hard not to laugh. Cinder was obviously pretty amused too.
At last Tangela stuck out a Vine Whip and hooked Growlithe's paw. He tripped, hit his chin and skidded, but bounced up growling. He whirled and faced Tangela.
"Rrrrrrrrrrrowl!" he announced with narrowed eyes.
"Ember!" I called, and Cinder spat a glowing spark at Tangela. A couple of its vines caught alight and it ran crazily about the gym, squealing in terror and waving its tendrils, which only served to make the fire worse. This one was in the bag, I thought - then one of Tangela's whips shot out at random, catching Cinder a lucky blow across the neck. He went down. A moment later the Tangela spun round and fell unconscious.
C'mon boy, get up! I willed silently.
Cinder struggled to his feet, making it my victory. Two down! "You OK?" I asked anxiously.
"grrrrr," came the weak but determined answer. Erika recalled Tangela. "You should return your Pokémon too," she said, in a tone that suggested she wouldn't care less if I did or not. I sighed and held out the Pokéball; the match would be much tougher without a Fire type, and I wasn't sure if I could pull it off.
"grrrOWLithe," said Cinder, shaking its head - not to clear it, as I'd thought, but in an obstinate No.
"You want to go on? But Cinder boy..."
"gr-ha-lithe," he said, wagging his tail but with a little pant and choke. Tangela's whip had hurt him.
"OK! Good boy! You can do it!" I said cheerfully. Secretly I was really worried about my Growlithe, but he needed this victory to restore his self-confidence.
"Go...Vileplume!" said Erika, cracking open her last Pokéball. She was smiling now, and I could tell Vileplume was going to be trouble. Grass types really were weird, I reflected as the stubby plant with its deathcap of red spotted petals burst out.
"Vileplume!" It sized up its opponent.
"Petal Dance, Vileplume!"
Erika wasn't messing about; that was its strongest attack. But it took a few seconds to build up enough power - seconds I could use.
"Cinder, Agility!" The Growlithe danced up to the plant-creature. But Vileplume was dancing too, pirouetting out of the way of those claws and teeth. The two Pokémon circled each other gracefully, neither able to reach the other. Then Vileplume stopped dead and blew petals from its top. They whirled in a pink snowstorm towards Cinder. I would have thought it a beautiful sight if I hadn't known how deadly the attack could be. Petals were getting in Cinder's eyes and nose, blinding him and making him sneeze smoke. Those soft-looking flowers could cut too, and small scratches began to appear on his body.
"Cinder, close your eyes and curl up in a ball!" I called. Not a recognised fighting move - I suppose it comes closest to Withdraw - but the best I could come up with. The Growlithe obeyed and rode out the storm, lying as flat as he could with his paws over his nose, while the petals blew over him. When the slashing rain ceased he opened one eye a chink. Vileplume was staggering dizzily; it would take a while to recover from its own attack.
"Now Cinder! Flamethrower!" If Erika could jump straight in with the strongest attack going, so could I. We'd see who fell over first. Cinder took a deep breath, and I could hear the fires building up in his body.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" he said, and steam came from his maw. Nothing else.
"Cinder? What's wrong?" Maybe he had run out of flame. "Try an Ember?"
The Growlithe coughed painfully, and I realised the Tangela's blow had injured his throat. Oh no! I thought silently. If Cinder couldn't use his Fire attacks...
Vileplume's dizzy spell was over and it was once again glaring at Cinder from wicked black eyes.
"Sleep Dust!" Erika commanded, clapping her hands. The Vileplume expelled golden pollen from its flower headpiece, which floated in an arc towards my Pokémon. If Cinder fell asleep that really would be the end.
"Use Agility! Dodge it!" I wasn't sure if that was even possible, but Cinder obediently began to run round. The cloud of pollen met the rush of air his movement caused and dispersed like cigarette smoke. It fell on both Pokémon, diluted but enough to make them both groggy. They staggered around each other as if drunk, Vileplume fighting against its flower's attempts to close up, Growlithe blinking and yawning.
"Cinder!" I called. "Cinder!" The Growlithe didn't respond, and sank slowly onto his chest. His sides began to heave evenly; he was asleep. Erika gave Vileplume the order to finish him off: "Vileplume! Petal..."
No. Not if I could help it.
"Cinder! Walkies!" I didn't care how ridiculous I sounded; that summons would have woken Cinder from the dead. His ears pricked and he got to his feet eagerly, though he was still woozy.
"Bite the Vileplume, boy! Bite it! Bite! I'll buy you all the big, juicy bones I can get..." But Cinder had already leaped into action. He didn't need to be bribed with bones; he'd remembered what he was there for. To win a gym battle for his trainer. Vileplume was trying to go into its dance routine again, but it was barely awake and Cinder seized his chance. His jaws locked around the tubular body and he began to squeeze, growls escaping from the sides of his mouth.
"Vilepluuume!" squeaked the plant Pokémon, and went limp.
"Leave it now!" I called quickly. Growlithe stood back. The Vileplume was completely unconscious.
"Return, Vileplume," said Erika. She didn't seem angry or upset, in fact it looked as though she had enjoyed the battle.
"That was a good one," she observed. I nodded, kneeling at Cinder's side and letting him rest his head on my lap.
"I hate it when it's just fire, fire and more fire. You used all your Pokémon's moves. I won't keep you; you'll want to get your Growlithe to the Pokécenter. Here's your badge."
Cinder watched with satisfaction as Erika pinned the badge to my coat. He looked up at me with pride and love in his eyes, wagged his tail - and fainted.