I had ridden Arcanine plenty of times before this. Not just that first night with her. But usually we stuck to forests away from the city.
This time?
Arcanine was running straight down the main street of Viridian going faster than any car could hope to match. I know for a fact we were making a scene because I could hear the gasps from the pedestrians as we blazed past them in a blur of orange and red.
Which meant that despite having been walking for a few days out of the city. It took no time at all to reach home. Man. I could make return trips multiple times a day if I really wanted. I mean Arcanine didn’t mind. She was thrilled to be able to just run for a while.
As I ran down the main street my eyes happened to notice something off about the Pokemon center, but Arcanine was running too fast for me to get a close look.
But finally we stopped at home. Where, to my surprise, a police bike and another vehicle I didn’t recognize was already parked out front.
"Thanks Arcanine. Grab some water, and rest up for the return trip."
"Whuff." She offered lightly panting happily as she jogged off.
"Mama! I’m home!" I call out as I step inside, hearing a few voices inside still at my call.
"Victoria!" Ooh. That was Papa. He came around the corner looking actually a little mad.
"If this is about the Beedrill, I have an excuse." I offer hands up as I notice Officer Jenny turn the corner with a scowl, and another man that I don’t recognize, following behind.
"Victor. Let Vicky speak. She knows about the rules. She wouldn’t have caught so many Beedrill without reason." Mama said and while that at least gave me a moment of breathing room, Officer Jenny wasn’t having it.
"It had better be very good, because this could be an ecological disaster!" She said, glaring at me, and I nod.
"Well it was either capture them, or let them die." I say which after a moment the man behind Jenny grabs her shoulder.
"A bit more of an explanation perhaps?" He asks, and I nod quickly.
"Of course. It’s a bit of a story. You are?"
"Ranger Tetsuhara." He offers which made me wince. Pokemon Rangers were all about keeping the population stable.
"Right... Mind if I sit. Riding Arcanine all the way home is killer on my butt." I inform the group getting a snort from Papa as he reaches over and pulls me into a hug before tugging me towards the kitchen. Mama grabbed me into a hug as well for a moment.
Settled around the table I nodded. "Right so. It started when me and Ivy were walking down a stream. We heard a massive Beedrill commotion, a whole Colony got pissed at something... Then we heard a scream." I saw officer Jenny wince at that.
Beedrill were the leading cause of death in the area. Especially for kids just starting their Journey.
"Yeah. So I jumped on Arcanine and raced towards the scream, I-"
"Vicky! Beedrill swarms are dangerous I told you to avoid them!" Mama interrupted looking upset at me. "What if you had tried to help and only gotten hurt!"
"I was pretty confident I would be okay Mama. Besides... Well Kenta was the one who caused the problem. He tried to capture a lone Beedrill."
"Yeah Beedrill don’t tend to wander far from the Colony at this time of year." Ranger Tetsuhara offered and I hmmed interested. I hadn’t known that.
"Anyway he was in bad shape when I got there. Arcanine pushed them back with Flame spin, and Milotic created us some cover with Ice beam. Chansey did what she could to help. Kenta was... In bad shape. He was unconscious and his squirtle had jumped on top of him to try and keep him from getting hurt anymore."
"Arceus." Jenny whispered with a grimace.
"He is okay! A little puffy, but fine. Ivy is looking after him while he and Squirtle get some rest." I tell her with a thumbs up. "Chansey is a Goddess." I inform the officer of this important fact with a nod of my head.
Chansey is bless.
"So you pushed the swarm back. Why did you catch them?" Ranger Tetsuhara asked.
"Right. So there were still a lot of them. But I had hit them hard. I warned them away. But that didn’t work. So Chansey used Gravity." I tell the group earning confused looks from most of the listeners.
"Gravity causes flying pokemon to crash into the ground. They get too heavy to fly." Papa informs the group and I nod.
"When they crashed into the ground. Arcanine started smashing them a bit... But the grass was catching on fire, and the flames were building up. I noticed some of the Beedrill were knocked out, in the fire. So I had to do something. So I started throwing Pokeballs. I had a ton because I wanted lots of Premier balls." I inform the group pointing out on my belt that my three Pokeballs were all the white of Premier balls.
"Oh Vicky. You are definitely my daughter." Mama said with a laugh as I grinned.
"Anyway. So once I got Kenta healed up and I used a bunch of Antidotes to make sure he would be okay we met back up with Ivy and she is watching him while I race home... I was gonna have Mama call the Rangers honestly, so we could release the Beedrill maybe?"
"Possible but difficult. Beedrill that get captured tend not to re-integrate with wild Beedrill well. Unless they are strong enough to take over a colony anyways." Testuhara offered and I frowned.
"What can we do then? I don’t want to cause a disaster!"
"No. You did what you should have." Jenny finally offered with a sigh. "If what you said is accurate you aren’t in trouble. I’ll interview this Kenta, or have one of my sisters do it. Another time. Tetsuhara, This is in your purview now."
"Thanks Jenny. Okay Kid. Your colony is at the Pokemon center right now. Let’s figure out how to get them settled back in their home without causing them to frenzy."
"R-right!"
—---
There was a limit on how many Pokemon trainers can carry with them at any one time. It was enforced through the Pokemon transfer system which was basically science fiction in my eyes, but eh, you get the idea.
Except it was possible to carry more, you just had to have permission, like a Pokemon ranger.
So I was riding on Arcanine leading Tetsuharu through Viridian forest while carrying a ton of Beedrill in my backpack as I had the whole swarm once they were healed up at the Pokemon Center.
It was pretty cool. To know that at any time I could just unleash a swarm of bees.
"BEEES!" I cried out to myself unable to resist and burst into giggles as Arcanine jumped a stream. Having to slow to let the Ranger slowly drive through the water.
This was great.
With that, we were there. The clearing was scarred from our battle, but this is where we were trying to get to.
I waited for the truck to stop and turn off as Tetsuhara steps out. "Huh. I’m not used to being outraced in the forest. Your Arcanine is certainly something." He says as she walks up, having already grabbed a big jug from the back of his truck.
"Thanks. Arcanine likes to run."
"Arc!"
"I’ll say. Okay so here is the plan. We release them slowly, give them this honey water, as a peace offering. Hopefully despite them being captured it won’t mess with their instincts too bad. And we can walk away with just a days work. Ready?"
"Yeah!" With that Arcanine dug a small hole and Tetsuhara began pouring in the water going back to his truck for a few more jugs just to make sure it was full enough to keep the Beedrills attention.
"Go ahead kid." He ordered as he stepped back towards his truck, And I reached into my bag for the first Pokeball.
With that I started throwing. The first Beedrill was pissed although he wasn’t aggressive thanks to the whole being captured thing. But when I offered him the water, and then broke his Pokeball it seemed to confuse him. Even as he started drinking. Then I did the same to the next, and the next. Slowly the swarm started growing, but luck was with us. Since I was offering them something to eat first, that was a big priority for the Hive they calmed quickly instead of irritating the entire swarm.
By the end of it. More than fifty Beedrill were buzzing around the clearing, newly released and stomach filled.
And it was a relief when Tetsuhara mentioned that they were returning to their previous colony. "Looks like it all worked out." He muttered and I nodded as I grinned at the Beedrill. Funnily enough they were pretty chill with me now. I mean it was a fact of life that Pokemon respected humans that could beat them. So I had a few Beedrill that would buzz over and settle on my shoulder to rest before hurrying away.
I guess they understood I wasn’t a threat anymore.
"They seem friendly." I mentioned, and Tetsuhara laughs. He had hidden himself inside his truck once the release started so I was talking to him through his slightly opened window.
"They probably accept you as part of the swarm. You did defeat them after all. And then you gave them food. These will be pretty aggressive against any other trainer for a year or so until they get old enough for the new generation to take over scouting and food gathering. But we will post a warning and keep an eye on the swarm to make sure it doesn’t get any more aggressive. Just be aware, if we have any trouble with it, you will likely be called up."
"Oh. That’s kind of cool actually. Sure. I’ll come help."
"Glad to hear it, kid. C’mon let’s get out of here." He said his voice louder as the swarm had finally diminished leaving the two of them staring at the empty hole that had once been filled with Honey water.
"Yeah. I need to get back to Ivy and Kenta."
"Well I’ll come with. I want to check on the kid to make sure he is okay."
"Great!" I couldn’t help but smile. That would be nice. Kenta was doing okay, but having an adult look him over... Well an adult that actually knew what to check for with Beedrill stings, would be good.
—-
We came upon Ivy’s camp not long after. Arcanine was happy about all the exercise she got so I didn’t return her, letting her run around the camp and play in the water.
Zoomies man. Didn’t matter how big the dog was.
"Vicky!" Ivy blasted into me in a hug as she squeezed the nervous girl obviously was freaking out and it didn’t take me long to piece it all together. She had been worrying that Kenta was going to die or something while I was gone. The way she was hovering, the look of relief on the boy’s face told me that.
Well the part of the face that wasn’t a balloon.
"Ouch. You certainly got stung, didn’t you." Tetsuhara called out as he stepped out from his truck walking over to Kenta who flushed, although I could barely tell since his face was already pretty red.
"Imm finn."
"Sure you are. The missy took care of you, but as Ranger it’s my job to make sure. Honestly? You will be okay. Antidote, and Chansey heals is good enough to get you through it, but I could drive you to the hospital if you want. I bet you would feel a lot better with some proper work."
"Nuu. Imm Finn!"
The older man barked out a laugh "Alright kid. You’re on your journey and I certainly can’t force you. Here. This is a Antidote that has been made specifically for Beedrill stings. It should at least reduce the swelling." He offered, pulling out a bottle with Beedrill stripes on it and offering it to the boy who quickly accepted it. A few sprays from the bottle and while it wasn’t immediate. I could tell it was already working.
Pokemon Medicine was crazy.
"Alright. You look like you’ll survive and I can’t force you to come with. You two watch him tonight?"
"Sure. Chansey will help as well."
"Then he’ll be fine. I’m heading back to Viridian. Good work today Missy. You handled everything well. When you finish your journey, think about Ranger duty." He offered with a grin that I returned. Pokemon Rangers were cool. But I don’t think I really wanted to spend my life rescuing ten year olds from Beedrill.
With that we all settled in. Kenta started looking a lot better. And I set up my tent, as I told them what we had done with the Beedrill.
Kenta didn’t look very comfortable knowing the Colony was back up and running, but that was fine.
In the morning we were going the other way.
—--
"Whoa." Kenta muttered, catching my attention as he watched Ivy train with Bulbasaur and Caterpie. "Your pokemon are so strong!" His exclamation caused Ivy to flush bright red.
"I-it isn’t that impressive!"
"No way. That Bulbasaur is really fast! And look at your Caterpie! It can jump around the entire clearing! And String shot would slow down Pokemon that try to follow. Wow that’s a great move."
"Vicky is the one who came up with it!" She immediately deferred and I scoffed.
"Not a bit. You used it in the battle first, remember? I just reminded you that you had a good idea and should practice it."
"Squirtle and I don’t have anything that cool." Kenta mentioned his own Squirtle was watching in awe at the Pokemon around him training. Arcanine alone was a large focus as she was bouncing between trees, practicing moving without touching the ground. Or as little as possible.
I wanted her to be able to avoid ground moves like Earthquake, by avoiding the ground. So that was her current training.
Basically just playing the ground is lava. She was loving it.
Milotic was working on his defensive ice. Creating a structure of ice to control the battlefield was too useful a move not to work on, and so he was creating walls of ice around him as he moved trying to break up the flat ground.
"I don’t... Squirtle and I don’t have any cool training like that... We have just been practicing Water Gun." He mutters and I guess it was time for big sis Vicky to help out once again!
I grinned as I walked over and tried to throw an arm over his shoulder, but Kenta was tall for his age...
Fuck.
Realizing that wasn’t working I grumbled as I waved Milotic over and after a moment of confused staring by Ivy and Kenta. I stepped onto Milotics tail as he raised me up and then threw my arm over his shoulder.
"Just ask Big Sis Vicky for advice!" I tell him with a grin. A moment pause as everyone took in what I did before I earned myself a sound of disgust from Ivy and Kenta chuckled at my words.
"Please!" He offered with a chuckle.
"Okay. So first off there are three things you can focus on..."
"Impressive! To think a new trainer could handle my Golem. That Arcanine is truly a Legendary Pokemon!" Brock offered with a smile as he returned Golem, and another Pokeball made its way into his hand.
"Let’s see how it handles this! Go Rhydon!"
"Rhydon!" It called out thumping its chest. But Arcanine was too excited about its last victory.
"Rhydon! Earthquake!"
"3D Maneuvers Arcanine!" I called out just in time as Arcanine leapt from the floor to slam into the side of the gym before leaping off traveling across the entire room during her leap to hit the other side and then leap off again.
The Earthquake hit during the leap and the entire area turned wavy even I fell to my knees as the ground below me moved like water for a moment.
"Now Arcanine! Extreme Iron Head!"
"Rhydon! Drill run! Stop that attack!" Brock yelled out and as a blur of Fire rushed towards the Rhdyon it spun its entire body stomping towards Arcanine.
The smashing noise of a drill on steel echoed through the gym as the two Pokemon smashed into each other with startling force. "Arcanine! Don’t engage in a battle of power! Back off and move! Out speed him!" I call out, and instantly Arcanine pushes away from the power conflict, disappearing in a burst of speed that leaves Rhydon off balance as Drill run suddenly has nothing to fight against.
"Iron tail Rhydon’s legs! Slow him down even more!"
"ARCANINE!" The call echoed around the gym even as Brock ordered Rhydon to Dig. But it was too late.
Rhydon couldn’t match Arcanines speed. And Iron Tail came out in a buzz of power smashing into Rhydon’s leg, nearly knocking it off its feet and smashing into the ground.
"Don’t let up!"
Another Iron Tail was readied, but Rhydon was returned in a burst of red.
"Amazing. For a new trainer to push me so hard with just one Pokemon! I look forward to seeing where you go in time, but this isn’t over. Let’s see how you handle my partner. Onix!"
And then one of the biggest Pokemon I had seen in person burst into the arena floor.
Oooh. That was a big Onix.
"Arcanine Double team! Don’t let it hit you."
"Onix! Rollout!" And suddenly the entire gym consisted of boulders swirling around seeking out Arcanine.
"Extreme dodge! Whittle it down when you can with Iron head!"
And Arcanine tried. She leapt over the swirling stones smashing into the Rock type when she could before leaping away, but between the constant motion and difficult terrain Arcanine made a mistake. She mis-timed a jump, the ground too broken up from the earthquake before, and now with Onixs move damaging the ground. Her leg simply went through the earth instead of giving her height to jump.
I gasped as Arcanine was rolled over. And then as if Onix was trained to do just this. Arcanine was wrapped up in a coffin of boulders as Onix tried to squeeze the life out of Arcanine.
"Return!" I called out just snagging Arcanine between the curls of boulders. And then the arena went quiet for a moment.
"You care for your Pokemon. You might have been able to break your way out of that wrap, but not before your Arcanine was injured." Brock offered, with a smile that I could see across the gym. "Well done."
"Thank you." I reseal the Pokeball to my waist. Sorry Arcanine, you would have to wait for this battle to end before I could bring out Chansey.
"Milotic! Your turn!"
And then it was rock snake vs Water Eel. As Milotic fanned his tail.
"Amazing. I’ve never seen a Milotic in person! But this is a battle. Onix! Rollout!"
"Surf!" I shouted out and suddenly there was a wave of water coming off a Milotic. It wasn’t an amazing attack. Honestly Milotic and Arcanine fell behind a bit in special attacks. They were both still young, I had seen a Blastoise use surf in a tournament once that filled the entire arena with two feet of water.
Milotics surge of water was more like a wave enough to push something back, but not flood the gym.
But it was enough as Onixs Rollout was pushed back giving Milotic breathing room.
"Alright Milotic! Ice beam up the wall. We aren’t staying on the floor."
"Miii!"
"Onix Rock throw!" Milotic dodged the thrown rocks as he created a ramp of ice along the edge of the gym wall and slithered up. Literally taking him away from the ground.
"Milotic! Surf! Let’s flood the arena!"
"Onix! Smackdown!"
I cursed as Milotic, despite sending out another burst of water that Onix wasn’t happy about, had the ice structure he was climbing on shattered and Milotic was grounded to the earth.
"Milotic Rain dance! Bring in more water!"
"Onix Rock throw!"
I grimaced. Millotic didn’t have enough water to really get moving fast enough to dodge. So he tanked it, letting the rocks smash into him but he was a Milotic. He wouldn’t go down to a few pebbles.
As the rain began I nodded. "Now Recover!"
And all the bruises and scratches caused by the rocks and Onixs attack disappeared as Milotic trilled happily.
"Don’t let it go. Wrap it!"
"Milotic! Surf to avoid the attack!" I could only hope with rain dance and the water already in the arena it would give Milotic enough motion to escape. Onix roared as it smashed through the inch or so of water on the ground that was growing as it sought out Milotic, but Milotic was faster.
Gravity trained meant despite Milotic usually being a special attacker if anything my Milotic was all heavily trained muscle. As his surf pushed Onix back, it slowed the rock snake, but didn’t shake it off.
"Fine! Milotic Iron Tail that Onix when it moves in!"
"Miiii!" Onix rushed forward to finish its attack, but it wasn’t fast enough as Milotic’s tail began glowing white, spread wide his tail suddenly whipped out and smashed the rock directly in the face as it drew closer for a wrap.
The sound of steel smashing into rock echoed through the arena as Onix forward momentum was halted for a moment, literally stalling out the full force of Onixs attack.
Brock and I both were silent for a moment waiting to see, was Onix, out or just slowed. And then the rock type groaned as it rolled over obviously out of the fight.
"I guess it was a critical hit." I muttered. As Onix was returned.
"Amazing! That was a great battle. Unfortunately, I am ready for Water Type Pokemon. Go Kabutops!"
"Wha!" I gasped as the fossil Pokemon emerged the Kabutops didn’t roar, instead a clicking came from under its shell as the massive scythes shrieked as they met as if sharpening each other.
"Kabutops Stone edge!"
"Dodge!" I called out, and breathed out in relief as Milotic managed in a burst of speed to avoid the row of sharp rocks that burst out of the ground towards him.
"Don’t let up Kabutops. Cross Poison!" Brock called out and I stilled before smiling. "Milotic don’t dodge! Recover!" He stilled, letting the injured scales across his body disappear in a burst of light even as Kabutops rolled in with a crossed slash from his claws.
Milotic cried out in pain for a moment, and I could see that it had happened.
Milotic was poisoned.
"Milotic Iron Tail!"
The Kabutops actually nearly managed to dodge, somehow it was incredibly fast, much faster than I thought it should be, but it wasn’t enough. There was more water in the arena now. And Milotic was moving much faster still. Gravity training was crazy effective.
"Block it!" Brock called out. And Kabutops large scythes surged between him and Milotic. But it wasn’t enough to stop the force of Milotic when he got going. His Glowing fan-like tail smashed into the chest of Kabutops and lifted the ancient pokemon straight off its feet as it went flying through the air.
"Milotic! Surf again!"
"Kabutops! Use Whirlpool! Bring Milotic to you!"
"Milotic Ice beam! Cut off the Whirlpool!" I countered.
The two Pokemon were going at it. The floor of the gyms was filling with water. And I noticed it was designed to purposefully ensure the area could get filled with water. I don’t know if that was Brock just being really nice, or just a Gym rule.
Either way it was making this rock type Gym into a pool. And now it had an ice bridge cutting off half the arena.
"Milotic Aqua Ring!" Instantly the glowing ring surrounds Milotic slowly healing him. It would help stave off the poison at least a little.
"Kabutops! Ancient power!"
Kabutops clicked loudly as its scythes crossed an aura like ring of power generating behind it and then its claws open and a surge of power rushes outwards. Smashing through the ice and heading for Milotic.
"Milotic! Water Pulse!"
Milotic Water pulse was just like Arcanines extreme speed, a move they learn upon evolving. A pulsing blast of water that looked more like some magical effect than just water rushed out of Milotic, and the two moves connected in a frantic burst of power. But it was obvious that Milotics power was not quite on par with Kabutops.
We would have to train hard in our special attacks, after this!
Milotic cried out as the Ancient power smashed into him pushing him back into the water that was now deep enough to disappear into.
"Milotic! Recover."
"Kabutops! Rush in. Don’t give it time to rest!"
"Milotic. We are all set now! Use Extreme Speed Aqua Tail!" I called out just as Kabutops climbed over the ice Bridge. It suddenly found itself face to face with Milotics tail surrounded by a whirlpool.
But this Kabutops wasn’t just some novice trainers, Pokemon. It was part of a Gym leader’s top team.
It managed to cross its scythes Blocking the Aqua tail for a moment, but again. Milotic was much stronger on physical attacks than Special. His blow would not be stopped and for a second time Kabutops found its feet not touching the ground as it was thrown aside.
The momentum of Extreme speed mixed with Milotics gravity trained physique meant that Kabutops wasn’t anywhere close to strong enough to hold back Milotics attack.
Yet as Milotic swam forward to keep hammering Kabutops he stopped. I was blinking a little in shock as Kabutops was obviously out of the fight. Twitching a little from the blow.
I guess we had been wearing him down pretty heavily. Kabutops was a Rock and Water type, but that meant Water type moves dealt normal damage. I guess that Aqua Tail STAB was just too much.
"Kabutops can no longer battle!"
"Wow. Kabutops is my answer to water type Pokemon. I never expected to see him get taken out like that. Well done. Your Pokemon is truly well trained. I acknowledge your strength. I forfeit." Brock said and I was so shocked Milotics Pokeball slipped out of my hands and into the pool of water. Causing me to yelp as I dove for it. Pulling back my arm with a sigh as I found it quickly.
"What do you mean forfeit?! You said Six on six! You still have two more!"
"You set up the terrain well. Neither of my next Pokemon would handle being dropped into a lake well. And your Milotic is recovering through the damage. Sure it’s exhausted, but in order to defeat you, I would have to risk injuring my Pokemon. Plus you still have more Pokemon as well. Even if I defeat your Milotic... No, this was well fought. I never expected to be pushed back by a fresh trainer. I guess someone who has an Arcanine is on another level." He chuckles.
"Oh." I blinked. I had been so hyped up... Having so much fun. My heart was pounding, and I noticed I was practically shaking. I hadn’t really thought about that. Crap Arcanine was still hurt. And Milotic was poisoned. Even if all that did was give him more defense thanks to Marvel Scale.
"Chansey!" I called out as I released my girl, she quickly looked around and gave a little ’tut’ sound as she splashed into the water and started shooting out Healing Pulse. Kabutops actually sat up after a few moments of that and clicked at her, sounding pleased.
"Hoo a Chansey? Don’t see those on the battle circuit very often." Brock offered, as he too jumped into the waist high water splashing over to Kabutops to check him over, ignoring the rain and water that continued to build up. Kabutops clicked at Brock for a few moments but it looked like Brock was pleased as he stroked his Pokemons shell and whispered something to them.
How nice!
I joined him jumping over to Milotic who was getting mothered by Chansey at his condition. Milotic was looking a little purple from the poison.
"Hey buddy. You did it. You were amazing." I whispered to him as I pulled his big head in for a hug, earning a deep crooning noise from Milotic at my words. The lazy fish was of course more than happy to just curl up and bask in his rewards as Chansey healed him up.
I giggled as curled around me, his bulk more than I could hope to resist so I found myself seated on one of his curls as he covered me.
"You know I’ve never fought a Milotic before. I have to admit, I’m glad they aren’t native. That Pokemon is powerful for a Water type." Brock offered as he waded over to me.
"Milotic are the bestest!" I nodded seriously. Earning a crooning "Miiii!" in return as I grin and continue stroking his head, tickling his antenna and fins. "Do you need help clearing out the water? I’m sure Milotic can probably help out." I offer only to earn a shake of Brocks head.
"There is a system that will drain all the water. But we will need to get out first. I don’t want anyone sucked into the pumps. But first. Victoria Ferrous, of Viridian city. You have fought a hard battle, and earned this Boulder Badge." Brock pulled out a badge seemingly reaching deep into his pocket and pulling out a case with a Boulder Badge. There must be a ton of them in the case.
But I took it gently, because unlike all the others? This one was mine.
"Thank you." I offered a little choked up as I looked at the Boulder Badge. Mine. My first badge. A real badge. Wow. I had actually just finished my first Pokemon Gym challenge. I could feel the smile stretching across my face as I held it up showing it to Milotic, letting him see what he had fought so hard for.
"C’mon let’s clear the gym so we can get this cleaned up... I do have more challenges today." Brock offered gently, holding out his hand.
"R-right!" I called out grabbing it as I pulled out my Pokeballs. Time to return everyone and go to the Pokemon center for a checkup.