Pokémon: Midnight Blue

Erika

I was starting to think pretty highly of myself after my battle with Giovanni. Once again, I parted ways with Robin and Kylie and went straight to the Celadon Gym.

I stood at the doorway of the gym and waited. Usually, the leader was standing at the other end, waiting for me, but Erika, the Gym Leader was nowhere to be found, and there were vines scattered all over the gym walls and floor. The lights were mostly off, giving it an eerie feel. I began walking towards the other end of the gym, when all of a sudden, a vine rose from the ground and tripped me.

"I'm afraid that's as far as you may go," a voice came from thin air, "No one is allowed to disturb Miss Erika while she meditates."

A guard appeared from the darkness. I sat up at the sight of him and slowly began rising as he walked towards me.

"What business do you have here?" the guard asked me, "You are a stranger to these parts."

"You don't say," my sarcasm did not seem to affect the guard in the least, "What do you think I'm doing here? I want to challenge Erika for the Rainbow Badge."

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until Miss Erika has finished meditating. If you'll please give me your name, I'll be sure to let her know you wish to challenge her when she emerges."

"Look, I don't have time for this, I think I'm just gonna come back later," I groaned, but the guard didn't seem too happy with my decision, "When she comes out, tell her Brian Phoenix is looking to fight."

"Brian Phoenix?" a more feminine voice called out. Erika stepped out from behind a vine-ridden curtain, "That's quite enough harassment for the young man, Axle. I can handle things from this point on."

"Very well, Miss Erika," the guard gave a slight bow before walking off, "So you shall."

As Axle walked off, I turned to smirk at Erika, "You sure put your employees to good work, don't you?"

"Oh, I don't employ them," Erika explained, "They were bestowed upon me by the Gym Leader Association. For some reason, they feel it's necessary to act as my servants. I've never asked them to act as such." Her voice was very calm and stable, but not to the point of monotony. She talked as though she were in a daze. There was a melody to her voice that seemed very enriching and inspiring. I was actually quite relaxed by its sound, but not to the point that would let me get my guard down. "But perhaps it's best if we leave that conversation for another occasion. I understand you wish to challenge me."

"Yeah. I just have one question: How and why did you recognize my name?"

"It's quite simple, really. I've been expecting you. I've received word from Brock, Misty, and Lt. Surge about a trainer with your name. I've heard only wonders about you, though Misty gave me most of her news in ill temper. I was wondering when I would have a chance to battle against you. I expect a superb effort on your part, Mr. Phoenix. I do trust you will not disappoint me."

"You can be sure of it."

"Then let us begin."

Erika released a Tangela from her Pokéball. I immediately pulled out a capsule and bowled it onto the battlefield. Out came Gyarados.

"Vine Whip," Erika commanded in her ever-so soothing voice that almost put me in a daze.

I stopped myself quickly enough to keep from drifting off, "Gyarados, Ice Beam!"

Gyarados blasted Tangela with a stream of ice. Tangela was badly hurt, but not defeated. It tried to take a step toward Gyarados for its next attack, but cringed up in the process. Tangela was frozen solid. Gyarados took advantage of this opportunity to charge at Tangela with a Tackle attack. It slammed its massive body on the small Vine Pokémon. We did not need Gyarados to slither off of its opponent to know who won that round.

"Well done, Brian," Erika bowed at me. Her gentility astonished me still. It seemed as if nothing could possibly provoke her. "We shall move on to round two. Go, Vileplume."

I returned Gyarados to his Pokéball. I thought for a second. Charizard was probably my best bet against the rest of Erika's Pokémon, but I did not want to reveal my strongest gun too early in the game. Furthermore, the Celadon Gym rules stated that Pokémon could not be used in more than one round of a battle. Then I remembered that Vileplume was a secondary Poison-type.

"Go, Haunter!" I grinned at my thought processing and was confident of the outcome of this round.

"A Ghost-type against a Grass-type?" Erika had a puzzled but untroubled look on her face, "What a peculiar matchup."

"You see a Ghost-type against a Grass-type," I smirked, "but I see something much more useful. Haunter, use Hypnosis!"

"Ah, a sleep-inducing technique. Quite wise on your part."

"It doesn't end there." I watched intently as Vileplume dozed off into a deep sleep. "Haunter. Dream Eater."

Erika's eyes widened as Haunter's ghostly hand grabbed hold of the Flower Pokémon's head and began to drain its energy. Vileplume suffered greatly as it slowly lost consciousness and conceded defeat to Haunter.

"Interesting," Erika observed. "I was busy focusing on the primary matchup of the two Pokémon. You used an alternative move that provided great damage against Vileplume's secondary type. Exceptional."

This did not feel like a Gym Battle anymore. It felt like every move I made was being evaluated and judged. It bothered me a bit, but I figured I should not mind as long as I was being judged by someone as calm and collected as Erika.

"The time has come for your encounter with the strongest Pokémon in my roster," Erika reached into her robe and pulled out her last Pokéball. She released the Flycatcher Pokémon, Victreebel.

"And the time has come for your encounter," I responded, "with my greatest advantage against your entire roster. Go, Charizard."

Charizard popped out of its Pokéball and roared mightily at its opponent. Victreebel seemed completely unaffected. Erika was not intimidated by my Fire- and Flying-type, but she seemed impressed for some unnamed reason.

"Victreebel," Erika said, "Acid."

Victreebel blasted a spurt of sludge at Charizard. I did not have to say a word to get Charizard to shoot up in the air and swooped down at its opponent.

"Charizard!" I was ready to finish this, "Ember attack!"

Charizard disobeyed, but not on purpose. As his mouth opened to shoot out small flames, a large blast of blazing fire escaped from his breath. A Flamethrower attack.

Erika watched in silent disdain as her strongest Pokémon was burned to a crisp right before her eyes. As she returned Victreebel to its Pokéball, she said, "Interesting strategy, to save your greatest advantage for last. It gives an element of surprise. You are indeed as superb a trainer as the other Leaders made you out to be. I bestow upon you the Rainbow Badge."

"Thank you, Erika," I bowed gracefully as I accepted the small emblem in the palm of my hand. I was officially halfway to the Pokémon League Tournament.