Finished the next chapter, enjoy
Chapter Nine:
Danny and Hiromi walked back up towards the bridge where the fight with Chad occurred, heading to Vermillion City.
“Nugget Bridge.” Danny thought aloud, read a wooden sign sitting a few feet away from the beginning of the bridge. “Why call it Nugget Bridge?”
“I think it’s because there’s a handful of trainers on the bridge, and if you beat them all you get a golden nugget. It’s some kind of challenge.” Hiromi said, recalling something she had heard back in Cerulean.
“A golden nugget!?” Danny exclaimed, dumfounded that people actually gave those out for free. “Damn, whoever’s in charge of that must be pretty rich.”
“Yea, wish I had that kind of money.”
Danny and Hiromi continue towards Nugget Bridge, stepping over cross wooden planks connected by rusted nails.
“You there, boy!” a young boy, no taller than the wooden sign, yelled. “If you wish to pass Nugget Bridge, you must defeat me in combat.”
Combat, what the hell does he think this is, war? Danny thought to himself, looking at the stupid little kid in front of him. “Sure kid, don’t cry to hard when I defeat you.”
“Hah, I won’t lose to a guy like you. Weedle, I choose you!” the boy flung his pokeball out in front of him, releasing a tiny worm-like Pokemon. It had fourteen petite red circular feet, with a large circular nose taking up half of its face. On the tip of its tail sat a white stinger, and a horn sitting on its head.
“Weedle, I’m insulted kid. Exeggcute, Hidden Power!” Danny tossed Exeggcute’s pokeball out, releasing the six egg Pokemon. The moment the Pokemon landed, they shot off the Hidden Power, the crimson fiery beam shot straight into Weedle, fainting it in no time at all.
“No, my super Weedle!” the kid cried, running over to his Pokemon. “You’re mean mister, I hope you scrape your knee!”
“Exeggcute, do me a favor. Sleep Powder that little brat so he shuts up.” Danny said, irritated at the kids nasally voice.
“Exeggcute-egg.” Exeggcute responded, shooting the attack in the kids face, putting him to sleep in no time at all.
“Danny, did you have to attack the kid, he can’t be any older than seven.” sighed Hiromi.
“I didn’t have to, but it was fun, gave me a sense of accomplishment.” Danny sarcastically said, continuing across the large bridge.
Hiromi sighed under her breath at Danny’s immaturity, and followed him. After a few minutes of walking, they came across another person. This time though, it was an older woman, standing in the middle of the bridge.
“Are you a challenger for the Nugget Bridge Challenge?” she curiously asked the two travelers.
“Yea, I am.” Danny answered, stepping forward.
“Ok, one-on-one, lets go.” she yelled, tossing her pokeball in front of her.
Emerging from the pokeball was a Pokemon that appeared to be a bending, bipedal creature vaguely in the shape of a tree trunk. It had a hook-shaped protuberance on its head, tiny feet, and a very simple face. It had a pair of three-fingered hands, with green spheres resembling leaves on a tree for fingers.
“Sudowoodo?” Danny asked aloud, looking at the tree Pokemon. “Let’s see, its rock typing makes it weak to Exeggcute.” Danny threw Exeggcute’s pokeball onto the bridge, releasing Exeggcute to fight. “Exeggcute, Leech Seed right away!”
Exeggcute shot out a tiny seed, attaching itself to Sudowoodo, draining its energy at a rapid pace.
“Sudowoodo, Mimic.” the lady commanded in response to Leech Seed.
Sudowoodo thrust its arm out, facing Exeggcute. Sudowoodo then shot out a seed of its own, attaching to Exeggcute.
“Mimic, Leech Seed, damn I’m so confused!” Danny yelled, not knowing what just happened.
“Mimic allows Sudowoodo to, well, mimic the attack you just used, in this case Leech Seed.” Hiromi explained while watching the battle.
“Hahaha, now that both Exeggcute and Sudowoodo are seeded, they’re both going to continue losing and regaining energy. Looks like this battle will go on forever.” the lady laughed with enthusiasm.
“Umm, no.” Danny contradicted, staring blankly at the lady. “Sudowoodo is still a rock type, and Exeggcute is still a grass type. Leech Seed will do much more damage to Sudowoodo than it will to Exeggcute.”
“Really?” the lady yelled, pulling her hair. “Sudowoodo no!”
“Idiot…” Danny garbled under his breath. “Exeggcute Barrage.”
Exeggcute began glowing, as it charged up its Barrage attack. After a brief moment, Exeggcute began to pelt Sudowoodo by shooting off fairly small spherical projectiles. Sudowoodo was overcome by mass of orbs pelting it, forcing it to be recalled by the lady.
“I am only number two out of five, you still have three more of us to defeat.” the lady said, running off in the opposite direction.
“What the hell kind of challenge is this?” Danny questioned, annoyed at the people he had battled. “First some little brat who had no idea how to battle, and then that lady.”
“Yea, it doesn’t really make much sense to me either.” Hiromi said, just as puzzled as Danny.
“Oh well, all we can do is hope that the next person actually has an idea of how to fight.” Danny said, walking back across the bridge.
“You there,” a young man from further up the bridge yelled.
“Are you a challenger for the Nugget Bridge Challenge?” a woman around the same age asked.
“Yea, who are you guys?” Danny asked, looking at the two.
“I’m Zander!” the boy yelled, reaching for a pokeball in his pocket.
“And I’m Sakura!” the girl yelled, pulling out a pokeball as well. “We are trainers number three and four for the Nugget Bridge Challenge.”
“We battle using a double battle, so choose two Pokemon!” Zander yelled, enlarging his pokeball.
“Hiromi, want to help out in this battle?” Danny asked, turning to her.
“Sure, I think Butterfree could use some practice battling.” she said, releasing Butterfree for battle.
“Aron, you’re up.” Danny yelled, throwing Aron’s green pokeball in front of him.
“Mareep, let’s go!” Sakura yelled, releasing a sheep like Pokemon, with a bright yellow fleece and dark blue skin. It had two cones for ears, both blue and gold, and an elongated tail, similar to its ears, with a yellow ball at the tip.
“Geodude!” Zander yelled, releasing his Geodude out.
“Aron, Mud Slap Mareep.” Danny commanded, launching his fist forward in front of him.
“Butterfree, follow Aron and use Psybeam on Geodude.” Hiromi ordered.
Aron charged towards Mareep, with Butterfree following above his head.
“Geodude, Rollout on Aron to stop him.” yelled Zander with ebullience.
“Mareep, Thundershock on Butterfree.”
Geodude tightened itself into a compact ball, and began rolling in place, while Mareep jumped over it and ran towards Butterfree. When Mareep was far enough away, Geodude began to spin towards Aron, while Mareep’s fleece began to spark.
“Not to impressive, right Hiromi?” Danny scoffed. “Aron, when Geodude gets close enough, use Metal Claw.”
“Butterfree, Whirlwind!”
Aron stopped where he stood, while its claw began to shine. Butterfree in turn violently flapped its wings, sending a fierce gust of wind in the direction of the other three Pokemon. Geodude and Aron remained unmoved by the Whirlwind, due to their heavy compositions unlike Mareep, who was sent flying back, hitting its head against the planks on the bridge, rendering it unconscious.
“Mareep, no!” Sakura yelled, unable to help her tiny sheep Pokemon.
Geodude continued streaming towards Aron, who began to charge Geodude as well. Aron propelled its metallic claw into the rotating Geodude, sending it flying back just like Mareep.
“Eh, Geodude.” Zander spat, recalling his Geodude. “Well, you two won, continue onwards to obstacle number five.”
“Nice battle,” Hiromi said as she passed the two trainers, continuing up the bridge.
“I’m getting sick of these battles.” Danny said with detestation in his voice. “How am I supposed to get helpful training fighting people like those?”
“Well, maybe you’ll think our battle will be more of a challenge then!” shouted a voice from up the bridge again.
“You the final person for the challenge?” Danny asked, walking up to the person.
“Yea, and unlike the other four, I actually think I might challenge you.” he said pulling out a pokeball from his pocket.
“I hope so. One-on-one?” Danny dryly asked, pulling out Exeggcute’s pokeball.
“Yea. Pidgeotto, come out.” he said, throwing his pokeball into the air. The large pigeon flew up to the sky, spreading its large wings.
“Pidgeotto, I remember seeing a handful of those back in the valley.” Danny said, throwing Exeggcute’s ball in front of him. “I’ll make the first move, Barrage!”
“Gust, send the Barrage flying away.” the boy dictated.
Pidgeotto frenziedly flapped its large beige wings, sending a zephyr in the direction of the incoming projectiles, deflecting them in various directions. The berserk gale headed toward Exeggcute, sucking him into the vortex of wind.
“Exeggcute!” Danny yelled, knowing there was nothing he could do until the destructive gust settled.
“Pidgeotto, go straight from Gust to Quick Attack!”
Pidgeotto stormed towards Exeggcute, who was still trapped in the Gust attack. Pidgeotto collided into the spinning Exeggcute’s, sending them flying straight onto the wooden planks of the sturdy bridge.
“Exeggcute, Confusion on the planks to form a shield!” Danny fervently yelled.
Exeggcute’s eyes began to glow, as shards of wood and rope surrounded Exeggcute, forming a dome-like shield.
“Hmm, not bad. Pidgeotto Steel Wing to break through the wood.” the boy articulated in a calm tone.
Pidgeotto’s wings began to shimmer rusted color, as Pidgeotto charged in the direction of the wooden shield guarding Exeggcute.
“Exeggcute, attack with anything you have left!” Danny screamed to his Pokemon, not knowing what to do.
Pidgeotto destroyed the wooden shield, revealing Exeggcute spraying a Stun Spore attack in the direction Pidgeotto came from. Pidgeotto’s wings returned back to its tan coloring, as it attempted to sustain airborne.
“Nice move Exeggcute, now finish it off with Barrage.”
Exeggcute shot off the glimmering projectiles at the staggering Pidgeotto, making it unable to battle.
“Pidgeotto, return.” the boy said, recalling Pidgeotto in a blaze of light back into its pokeball. “You win, proceed a little further up the bridge, and you’ll come across the man who will give you your prize.”
“Wow, what a waste of time.” Danny said, walking past the fifth trainer. “After I get my nugget I’m going straight to Vermillion.”
“I have to admit, for a challenge where they give out an expensive nugget, that didn’t seem very challenging.” Hiromi said, befuddled.
“Oh well, free gold for me.” Danny said, a huge smile across his face.
“So, you beat the Nugget Bridge Challenge, eh?” a man at the end of the bridge said, walking up to Danny and Hiromi.
“Yea, but you might want to get stronger people for that, they were a little weak.” Danny dryly said.
“Hahaha, I like your attitude kid, here.” he said, tossing a rather large chunk of gold at Danny.
“Golden Nugget…” Danny said, staring at the bar of gold in his hands.
“Now, there is one special gift for people of your caliber.” the man said, resting his hand on Danny’s shoulder. “You are hereby invited to join Team Rocket.”
Danny stared at the man, not knowing what to say. “Team Rocket!” he spat in disgust, jerking his shoulder away.
“Why would he join Team Rocket?” Hiromi interjected.
“So I can unfortunately take that as a no?” he asked, disappointed.
“Of course!” Danny yelled, reaching for Aron’s pokeball.
“He said no, get the girl.” the Team Rocket member said into a microphone attached to his shirt.
“What!?” Danny said, running in front of Hiromi, releasing Aron. “Headbutt that Team Rocket guy with everything you have Aron!”
“To slow, Arbok Glare.” he yelled out, as a giant purple king cobra emerged from underneath the bridge.
The sinister snake looked straight into Aron’s eyes, its forked tongue slithering outside its mouth. Aron fell to the ground in a spasm, paralyzed.
“****, this isn’t good.” Danny said, looking up at a massive black helicopter above head.
“Lunatone, Butterfree, Psychic!” Hiromi yelled, releasing her two Pokemon.
“Substitute.” The rocket ordered insensibly.
Hiromi’s Pokemon flew towards Arbok, their eyes shimmering brightly. The two Pokemon shot off the psychic beam at Arbok, causing it to be sent flying off the side of the bridge.
“Haze,”
Arbok flew out from behind a tree off the bridge, spewing a cloud of toxins into the eyes of Butterfree and Lunatone.
“What, that’s impossible, I sent it flying off the bridge!” Hiromi yelled, covering her eyes and mouth.
“Substitute, what you sent flying off the bridge was the shed skin of Arbok.” He explained, walking off the bridge.
“Hiromi, where are you!?” Danny yelled, reaching blindly out in front of him.
“Got the girl, lets go.” a voice yelled from inside the haze, grabbing Hiromi.
“Arbok,” the rocket yelled from across the bridge. “Bite to cut the ropes.”
Arbok lunged for the ropes holding the bridge up, cutting deeply into them with its razor sharp fangs. The ropes broke, causing the bridge fall into the abyss below.
*******************
Danny groggily opened his eyes, looking around where he was.
“Aro-Aron.”
“Aron, what's up?” Danny said, sitting up, rubbing his head. “Ouch.”
Danny got up, looking around to see where he was. All he saw was a leather-coated chair in the corner of a small room, and a small bed underneath him.
“Where am I?” he asked himself aloud, confused. Of course! How could I forget!? I beat the Nugget Bridge Challenge, and Team Rocket kidnapped Hiromi.
Danny sat back onto the bed, thinking about how useless he was in protecting Hiromi. “I-I couldn’t save her. And now because of me, she’s being held captive by Team Rocket.” He said, violently shaking with rage.
“Awake I see. That’s good.” A voice from outside the tiny room said. A hidden door opened, and revealed a tall man, a police officer.
“Who are you?” Danny asked, staring at the man in the blue uniform in front of him.
“Officer Dick, we had reports of explosions on Nugget Bridge, and I went to investigate. When I got there, I found you unconscious on the ground, with this Aron here nuzzling against you.” He explained, sitting in the chair opposite Danny. “Care to explain what happened?”
“Even if I did, what good will it do? If I couldn’t stop Team Rocket, what makes you think you can?” Danny coldly asked, laying down on the bed.
“The fact that I’m a trained officer, and you’re just a kid.”
“I was traveling along Nugget Bridge, taking that challenge, with my friend Hiromi. Made it to the end, the guy at the end offered me a position at Team Rocket, I refused, he kidnapped Hiromi and tried to kill me.” Danny explained, staring blankly at the smooth white ceiling.
“I see.” The officer said, clearly not understanding how Danny felt. “Leave it to us, we’ll find your friend.”
My *** you’ll find her, Team Rocket isn’t an organization that you’ll find so easily. Danny thought to himself, staring at the officer next to him.
“Silent huh, that’s fine with me. You’re free to go.” Officer Dick said, opening the door. “But kid, whatever you do, don’t chase after Team Rocket yourself. You’ll be hurt, or worse, if you do.”
“Yea, yea. Whatever you say Dick.” Danny said, walking past him through the door. When Danny got out of the door, he faced an average sized police station, with a lot of people just sitting there doing paper work.
“There’s nothing left to do here Aron. We’re going to Vermillion.” Danny said, upset, walking out of the station and heading south.
