[Pokémon] Pokémon AgateRed and JadeGreen (Chapter 1: FireRed & LeafGreen)

[3:54 PM, Mar 18, Rocket Game Corner]
After Red spotted the Team Rocket grunt and ran away from Leaf, he followed the figure closely until the black-uniformed guy raises his speed, and hops out of Red's sight around a corner under the cloak of the crowds. The corner belongs to a building with orange walls, blue automatic doors, and purple arches, decorated with rocket-shaped symbols. The sign in front of the door reads:

"Is it related to those Team Rocket crooks? Perhaps that thug is in it!" thinks Red, who enters the building through the door.

Inside the game corner is a typical layout of casinos. The casino requires the players to exchange real currency for a special kind of tokens to play with any type of gambling machines. There are lines of slot machines in the main hall, with hundreds of players in front of them, anxious to win more tokens for themselves. Some players smile joyfully for consecutive winning, while others wail pitifully for their bad luck. There is a side door to the prize room where winners can exchange tokens for prizes. However, once bought, the tokens are not refundable.

When Red is observing around, he spots a suspicious poster sticking on a wall. There seems to be an unnatural bump in the center of the paper, as if concealing something behind it. Moreover, one of the corners of the poster seems to have been peeled up and stuck back.

Red looks around to ensure nobody is watching him, and he peels the corner up carefully, revealing a secret switch behind the poster as he suspects. The switch catches Red's attention more when he notices a red-painted R on it!

Sheesh, never thought those Team Rocket crooks should make money out of ignorant gamblers!

And when Red presses on the switch, he sees a hidden door open in an inconspicuous corner. The shelter of the walls and the gambling machines makes it even more impossible to spot the door even if it is not hidden closed.

Something must be wrong inside the door! Red sneaks into it before anyone can sense his presence.

[4:06 PM, Mar 18, Rocket Hideout]
After going through a dim corridor, a broad hall comes into Red's eyes as if he is in an ordinary office building. There are bonsais arranged in front of the walls of the hall, and some complicated machines with lights flashing on them lying in the corners. Red walks in the hall quietly, expecting to find some clues.

But unfortunately, a Team Rocket Grunt suddenly appears and notices Red. The man in black immediately activates the alarm, which echoes throughout the entire basement. It is not long before a horde of Team Rocket Grunts emerges from around the hall and surrounds Red.

"Are you the very urchin that meddled with our mates at Mt. Moon?" says a chubby Grunt arrogantly, "You're in big trouble now! Don't you understand?"

"Considering you're a kid, we'd take it easy if you just quit, but I sincerely admire your courage to pluck out some hair on a tiger's forehead!" says a tall and fierce-looking Grunt.

"Aniki (lt. big bro, used to refer to a male team leader) is right. We're too tolerating to harm someone like you, but not if you actively jumps into our snare again!" says a thin and cunningly-looking Grunt.

"No need to be easy on bait takers, is there?" asks the tall Grunt to his accomplices.

"Heheheh! You'll be like a meat bun thrown at a dog--once come, no return!" sneers the thin Grunt.

With cold smiles, the Grunts send out their Pokémon to assault Red. Their Pokémon underlings include Zubat, Raticate and Koffing.

(The Battle vs. Trainer theme plays)

"Why do we share our battle BGM with ordinary Trainers?" says one of the Grunts resentfully, "Bah, forget it! Attack that brat!"

A horde battle is much more difficult compared to a single one, but Red simultaneously sends out his three partners before he launches commands, "Charmeleon, Flamethrower! Rattata, Bite! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Charmeleon fires broiling flames from his mouth to burn the enemy Zubat up; The enemy Raticate attempts to bite Rattata only to be bitten hard on its forehead and faints instantly; The enemy Koffing releases plumes of Poison Gas from its mouth but Pikachu zaps it before the gas can take any effect.

"Grrr…How strong this twerp is! We have to report to our boss…" The Grunts scatter.

"Boo, you Team Rocket losers!" shoos Red.

Meanwhile, in a secret room…

"WHAAAAT? Another preadolescent intruder? What on earth did you guards do?" shouts a Grunt.

"But we did increase our security level! We came up with a perfect idea to hide the secret switch, but it was still found!" explains another Grunt.

"No excuses allowed! Go and find that intruder brat!"

"We tried! But all of our mates were beaten badly!"

"Screw it all! Are you eating your heads off? Boss Giovanni is gonna kill us if he finds out you good-for-nothing wasting his time and money!"

"But we did our best…"

"Those screwing things just won't go as expected!" shouts the first Grunt, "Crap! I feel like beating anybody up!"

And on Red's side, to avoid further unnecessary encounters, he tries to hide himself by sticking his body to the wall and avoid going under ceiling lights. He slides past some of the Team Rocket Grunts and descends to B2F via some stairs.

On the 2nd basement floor, there is a wide area consisted of a series of weird tiles. Some of them are equipped with flashing arrows in all four directions on them, and some of them have rougher surfaces than others. There does not seem to be a detour path or a way to cross the tile maze without stepping on any arrow tile.

"I've played many role playing games containing such a maze!" thinks Red, "Once I step on an arrow tile, I won't stop moving at the arrow's direction before I hit the wall or move onto a rough stopper tile. I have to think carefully before I attempt or I'll alert those Team Rocket crooks!"

After thinking for a while, Red tried his first attempt and successfully reaches the other side without bumping his nose into the walls.

Another more complicated tile maze is located on B3F. And in this maze, some items were dropped by careless Team Rocket members. Red manages to pick up all of them without being discovered. Those items include TM12 Taunt, TM21 Frustration, a Max Ether and an X Speed.

The area of B4F has decreased compared to the wide maze areas on B2F and B3F. Before stepping on the last step, Red senses someone nearby in front and he hides himself behind the wall on the side of the stairs, peeping out with only one of his eyes. He spots two Grunts guarding a locked door, evidently leading to their boss's office as the label on the door reads.

"I can't break in before I take out those watchdogs. And perhaps the key is on one of them." thinks Red. He takes out Pikachu's Poké Ball and is about to activate it, but he suddenly realizes that the popping sound would betray them. He returns to B3F and releases Pikachu there instead.

Pikachu cries out of habit as he exits the ball.

"Shhh! Pikachu, follow me and you tranquilize the two Team Rocket crooks in front of the office with Thunder Wave. But don't hurt them!"

Pikachu nods quietly and follows Red creeping back to the stairs.

"OK. Go, Pikachu!" commands Red in a low voice.

Pikachu jumps out from behind the wall at a lightning-bolt speed and releases weak electricity onto the guarding Grunts. The Grunts were instantly immobolized from moving and crying out, watching helplessly as Red loots a card key to the door on one of them.

There is a rectangular office table in the center of the office. Behind the table is a wide red sofa that can hold 3 people. A middle-aged man in black uniform sits in the middle of the sofa watching at Red coldly, as if Red's arrival is completely not unexpected.

"There you are, little intruder." says the man calmly.

"So you must be the boss of Team Rocket, are you?" asks Red nervously. Never can he forget Team Rocket's warning to blacklist him at Mt. Moon. Now that even the boss has appeared, what will they do to him, the single, innocent little fellow?

"First, I must say, I'm impressed that you should reach here!" says the boss, "My name's Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket. Team Rocket is a criminal gang who captures Pokémon from all over the world. They're important tools for our enterprise going. Even I, the boss, finds it unimaginable for a kid like you to dare interfere with our plans!"

"Wasn't it unimaginable for a boss to hire such incapable watchdogs?"

"But you should know that someone's too dangerous to provoke, kid. If you don't hold your insolence, I'll make you feel a world of pain!" Giovanni makes Red gulp as he gropes for Poké Balls in his pocket.

"Bzzzt!" Giovanni's smartphone vibrates as he receives a text message.

After reading the message, Giovanni puts back his Poké Balls, rises up, and says, "Unfortunately I've got something other to do. You're lucky this time, kid. A child like you will never understand what I want to achieve. I shall step aside now, but not in further times! If you keep meddling with us, you'll end up like that orange spiky-hair inside!"

After the parting shot, Giovanni leaves via an elevator near the stairs on B4F. The elevator requires another ID card to access, making it completely useless for Red. Furthermore, even if Red had the elevator ID, the noises of the elevator would give Red away.

"The orange spiky-hair inside? Dear me!" thinks Red, "Did he mean that a hidden place is somewhere inside this office? Aha, I can make use of Rattata and Pikachu's sensitive noses! Maybe they can find something useful!"

When Red additionally sends Rattata out, the rodents begin to sleuth thoroughly in the office, and assist Red in searching in drawers and behind shelves.

After a while, Pikachu informs his Trainer when he senses something strange under the sofa.

When Red removes the sofa with the rodents, they notices a hidden panel under it. However, the panel is locked by a padlock, and there does not seem to be a key to it around here, even on the guarding Team Rocket Grunts…

Wait a moment! Can't I just use Pokémon moves? It's reality, not a role playing game that allows the player to only use items in the item list!

"Go, Charmeleon! Break the lock with Metal Claw!"

Charmeleon pops out and splits the lock into fragments before Red raises the panel, revealing stairs leading to a dim and damp room. Red has Pikachu use Flash as illumination.

"Mmm…mmm…mmm!" Red hears someone trying to make noises in the depths of the room, but his mouth is disabled by something. And the time Red reaches the victim, he finds it amusing to watch him bound up tight and solid.

"Blue! How did you get here?" asks Red as he unties the rope on Blue and removes the cloth that covers his mouth.

"Tch, just because of some accidents!" grumbles Blue, "I noticed a Team Rocket thug sneaking into the game corner so I secretly followed him, down to their hideout. I thought I could do something here before I was whacked on the head and lost consciousness, and I found myself here when I woke up…"

"Where're your Pokémon?"

"No idea. They aren't with me since I woke up."

"Then I'll find 'em for you!"

"That's so kind of you, my best bud!" thanks Blue ironically, "And by the way, did you find Team Rocket's boss?"

"Just before I rescued you. I thought a fight was inevitable until he abruptly left."

After leaving Giovanni's office, Red and Blue root around the whole basement. Red protects Blue with his partners whenever a Grunt attacks. Finally, they retrieve Blue's Pokémon in a small warehouse at B2F. Blue has attached stickers to all his Poké Balls, making them easier to locate, and informing Red of Blue's current party--Wartortle, Pidgeotto, Kadabra and Growlithe.

"Nothing valuable here. Let's go now." says Red.

But when the boys are to leave, Red feels his jeans pulled by someone. Then, a cute voice strikes Red's eardrums. Red looks down and finds that it is an Eevee!

According to Bill, Eevee is very rare in Kanto. How lucky Red is when an Eevee comes to him itself!

While Red is observing the Eevee, he notices that its fur is dirty and unorganized, and the shape of some of its ribs are visible. It must be that the Eevee has been trapped and starved long in Team Rocket's base. It looks up to Red with its baby-doll eyes, as if begging Red to not leave it behind.

Red is overjoyed to add a new member to his party, but he hesitates as he thinks Blue may also want this Eevee.

"You want that Eevee, Red? Then go on. It looks that the Eevee likes you!" says Blue, "As for me, I prefer strong to rare Pokémon!"

"Hmm…" Red kneels down and asks Eevee, "So Eevee, would you like to travel with me?"

Eevee hops in joy.

"Haha. Then go, Poké Ball!"

As soon as Red takes out a spare ball, Eevee hops up, pats its front paw on the button, and goes into the ball itself. Three stars pops out of the ball seconds later, capturing the Eevee.

[6:31 PM, Mar 18, Celadon City]
"Haaa…the air outside is so fresh!" Red breathes greedily after he has got enough of the musty, stale air inside Team Rocket's hideout.

"I'd gotta go now. You'd better quit dawdling and rest your Eevee at the Pokémon Center. Smell ya later!" says Blue as he departs.

[6:47 PM, Mar 18, Celadon City Pokémon Center]
Shortly after, Red restores all his Pokémon's health at the Pokémon Center. Eevee returns to normal state after helping itself to lots of food and has its fur cleaned. After this, he opens all the Pokémon Balls to acquaint Eevee with its seniors.

While Charmeleon and Rattata greet Eevee politely, Pikachu leers at Eevee with his cheeks blushing. Eevee is digusted at Pikachu's manners and berates him, as if saying, "Don't stare at me like that, you pervert!"

Intrigued, Red opens his Pokédex entry for Eevee.

"Gee, no wonder Eevee behaves in such a feminine way." thinks Red, watching Eevee defying Pikachu's lustful look.
--End of Epsiode 18--
Save File:

[9:03 AM, Mar 22, Celadon City Gym]
Under the utmost care of Red and the staff in the Pokémon Center, Eevee turned sound and lively as her companions. Though a newbie, she actively joined Red's 3-day training and raised her level a little.

And this morning, Red pays a visit to Celadon Gym in the southeast of the city. He is long for his 4th Badge after he won the last one more than ten days ago. But Red decides that he needs to do some extra work when he approaches the Gym building.

"Nihihihi! This Gym's great! It's full of ladies!" An old man is standing outside the Gym, peeping into it through a window, cackling in a tone of lechery, "Oh, that one in the corner. She's in white today, uhehehe…"

"Poof!" Eevee's Poké Ball shakes violently and she pops out of it. The Evolution Pokémon attacks the old man with an all-out Tackle, sending him flying backwards and falling to the ground. Standing up unhurt, the old man flees frightened and crestfallen. Eevee yells at the old man crossly as he staggers away along the narrow path.

"I understand you, Eevee, now come back!" says Red and he recalls Eevee.

"Hey, what's going on here?" A Lass exits the Gym after she heard the sounds, "Ah? Are you that peeping tom?"

"No, I'm just a challenger. You must mean that old man we've just driven away."

"Oh, sorry I made a mistake. Are you here to challenge Erika-sama?"

"Yes, of course."

"But you must bypass me and others to reach our Leader! Come with me!"

Red follows the Lass into the Gym to find out that all of the Trainers in it are female (except himself). The Gym is decorated like an indoor garden. Colorful flowers are planted in pots arranged in a specific pattern which Red cannot understand. Fragrance of flowers fills the air.

"And now you battle me! Go, Bellsprout!" says the Lass.

"Charmeleon, I choose you!" Red responds by tossing a Poké Ball.

"Bellsprout, Razor Leaf!"

"Charmeleon, Flamethrower!"

Bellsprout swings its leaf-like arms and throws sharp leaves at Charmeleon, only for them (and subsequently itself) to be burned by the blazing stream of fire.

"Not bad, challenger, but there're still six of us!" says the Lass when she withdraws Bellsprout.

Red has his Charmeleon sweep all the Trainers before he finds the way to the Gym Leader, who is napping on a large pillow. The Gym Leader is a young lady in yellow-and-red kimono and black getas (a kind of Japanese footwear), wearing a red hairband.

"Urraaagghh…" Erika lets out a yawn before she senses the presence of the challenger and elegantly gets up, "Hello, Mr. Challenger. It's a lovely weather, isn't it? It's so pleasant. I'm afraid that I may doze off, sorry. Welcome to Celadon Gym, Mr. Challenger."

"Hello. My name's Red, and I'm here for your Rainbow Badge!"

"Hello, Mr. Red. My name's Erika. Apart from being a Gym Leader, I'm also a student of the art of ikebana. And my Pokémon are solely of the Grass-type."

"And I raise Pokémon of various types to face every type of challenge!" says Red.

"So are you ready for an official Gym battle, Mr. Red?" says Erika, "I've also dedicated all myself for fighting. I shall not easily lose!"

"Neither shall I! Bring it on, Miss Erika!"

"Good! My number one is this, Weepinbell!" Erika takes out a Poké Ball from inside her obi and throws it out.

"Pikachu, I choose you! Prepare for a battle!"

"Hmm? Why does he sends out a Pokémon not strong against Grass-type? What kind of surprise will he bring us?" thinks Erika as she watches at the electric rodent.

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu charges at Weepingbell and tackles it with full force.

"Weepingbell, Razor Leaf!" commands Erika.

Weepingbell spins its body and razor-sharp leaves fly out from its leaves at Pikachu.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu electrocutes all the leaves with a blinding stream of electricity, protecting himself.

"A brilliant reaction." says Erika, "But take this, Sleep Powder!"

Weepingbell breathes greenish, hypnotic powder at Pikachu. Pikachu begins to act like a drunken the instant he inhales the powder, and collapses onto the ground.

"No, Pikachu! Fine, switch out! Charmeleon, I choose you! Flamethrower!"

As soon as Charmeleon is released, he ignites a ball of flames, which extends into a stream of fire and shot at Weepingbell.

"Weepingbell, Toxic!"

Weepingbell creates a ball of venom and spits it onto Charmeleon before Flamethrower lands on it, knocking it out. The toxin permeates Charmeleon's body and continues sapping his energy.

"Excellent, Mr. Red. Now my next, Tangela!"

When Tangela lands on the battleground, it reminds Red of the Tangela who assisted him in saving Leaf's life on Route 21.

"Go on, Charmeleon! Flamethrower!"

"Tangela, Sludge Bomb!"

Tangela creates a ball of sludge after taking a hit from Flamethrower and flings it at Charmeleon using its vines. The ball explodes upon contact, making Charmeleon fall on his back.

"Get up, Charmeleon! Flamethrower!"

Charmeleon struggles up as Toxic from Weepingbell takes stronger and stronger effect. He attempts to load energy of flames in his mouths, but his motion slows down sharply due to his insufficient health.

"Tangela, Slam!"

Tangela grabs Charmeleon with some of its vines and slams him into the ground, fainting him.

"Gosh. Things are getting hard, I think." says Red.

"What do you mean? Are you going to surrender?" asks Erika.

"No way! Rattata, I choose you! Bite!"

"Tangela, Ingrain!"

Rattata bounces up and lands on Tangela before he bites down on it using his sharp fang. But Tangela lays some of its vines into earth like roots and starts absorbing energy from it.

"Sleep Powder!"

Before Rattata can retreat, Tangela spills Sleep Powder on Rattata, putting himself into sleep. Erika expects Red to switch Pokémon, but Red seems to be indifferent to Rattata's status condition.

"I'd like you to do anything you like before Rattata wakes up, Miss Erika." says Red as he spreads out his hands.

"What a wonderful taste from the challenger." comments Erika, "But expect no mercy! Tangela, Slam!"

Tangela grabs Rattata and smashes him into the ground.

"Another Slam!"

Tangela whacks Rattata with its vines, reducing his HP to near zero. But unfortunately the effect of Sleep Powder wears off and Rattata opens his eyes.

"It's now! Rattata, Endeavor attack!" shouts Red loudly.

"What?" exclaims Erika in astonishment.

Rattata releases a beam of light from his body and cuts the HP of the foe's Tangela down to the same as his.

"Haha, get it with Quick Attack!"

Rattata slams himself into Tangela and knock his opponent out. Red then recalls Rattata before he runs out of his remaining health.

"Well, well, I must have underestimated you, Mr. Red." says Erika, "Now that I have only one left, I guess I have to bring out all my power! Vileplume!"

Vileplume is a flower Pokémon with a rafflesia on its head, giving out a strong, smelly odor as its pre-evolution, Gloom.

Red ponders on his strategy for a while before he decides to send out Eevee. Though she is not very familiar with Trainer battles, she has to gain the first volume of experience from them.

"Eevee, put on with a Sand Attack!"

Eevee turns around and kicks sand at Vileplume with her hind legs.

"Vileplume, Protect!"

Vileplume generates a bright shield of energy, blocking all the sand particles.

"Protect cannot be successfully used consecutively! Eevee, another Sand Attack!"

"Vileplume, Sunny Day!"

When Eevee kicks sand at Vileplume, Vileplume raises its hands and an artificial sun appears above the Gym, intensifying the light drastically. And the time Sunny Day begins to work, Vileplume becomes very nimble and it dodges Eevee's Sand Attack quite handily.

"Gulp…Maybe it'll be a big shot!" thinks Red, before he orders Eevee, "Swift!"

Eevee swings her tail and hurls shining stars at Vileplume. No matter how fast the foe can move, it can by no means dodge any accuracy-bypassing moves such as Swift and Aerial Ace.

"Vileplume, Solar Beam!"

Vileplume absorbs energy from the miniature sun into the center of its flower. It then transforms the solar energy into a powerful beam of light and fires it at Eevee, severely damaging her.

"Solar Beam doesn't require charging in harsh sunlight. That's tough to deal with." thinks Red, "But Eevee can still fight…" before he commands, "Eevee, Swift!"

"Solar Beam!"

Eevee casts shiny stars at Vileplume, but is subsequently hit with a second Solar Beam. She falls onto her legs, her HP reaching the critical line.

"Eevee, take a rest. You can get part of Exp. Points from your partners." says Red, before he switches into the sleeping Pikachu.

"Vileplume, Solar Beam!"

Red has to wait for Pikachu's awakening before he can order any move, but Vileplume is determined to defeat its opponent before he is allowed any chance to fight back. Red's heart starts to beat wildly as he watches Vileplume launching its attack.

But god just likes to play tricks on his creations. The moment Solar Beam is to hit Pikachu, he rolls aside, perfectly avoiding any damage by the light beam, without even opening his eyes.

"Vileplume, Solar Beam!"

Vileplume takes in light and redirect it at Pikachu, only to be avoided another time. To make matters worse, the miniature sun goes out in this turn and Vileplume's speed is seriously down. Moreover, Vileplume has exhausted much of its energy creating Sunny day and launching multiple Solar Beams, and it is unable to summon another Sunny Day anymore.

"Aww, no choice. Vileplume, Petal Dance!"

Vileplume begins to dance as it releases petals from the center of its rafflesia at Pikachu. The petals turn into sharp blades when they land on Pikachu, stabbing him hard. Pikachu wakes up from the pain from the petals in the end.

"A-good! Pikachu, Iron Tail!" cries Red.

Pikachu's tail glows metallic silver. He leaps up, somersaults in the air, points his tail down, and jabs the foe's Vileplume.

"Barrage of Iron Tails!" commands Red.

Withholding the damage from the petals, Pikachu holds himself onto Vileplume's flower and recently jabs it with his tail. Vileplume can do nothing but continues its Petal Dance since the move cannot be actively paused without spending at least 2 turns.

When the timer of Petal Dance expires, Vileplume's eyes turns dizzy and it falls into confusion, still with Pikachu on its head.

"Vileplume, Petal Dance!" commands Erika.

But Vileplume is confused! It hurts itself in its confusion by bumping its head into the ground!

"Pikachu, the final Iron Tail!"

Pikachu's close-ranged Iron Tail sends Vileplume falling on to the ground, defeating it.

"Well, well! You're remarkably strong, Mr. Red. I concede defeat!" says Erika as she calls back Vileplume with swirling eyes.

"And I must confer you with the Rainbow Badge," Erika forfeits a flower-like octagonal Badge to the new victorious challenger, "It's the undoubted proof that you defeated me. It also allows the move Strength to be used out of battle."

"Thank you very much, Miss Erika."

"And please also take this with you." A TM53 case is given to Red, "It's Energy Ball. It draws power from nature and fires it at the target, and can lower the target's Special Defense. Wouldn't you agree it's a wonderful move?"

"Er, pardon me but I never saw you using this move in battle." asks Red in doubt.

"I taught it to Weepinbell, but it was knocked out before I could command it." says Erika, "What an impressive battle we just had! I feel that I'm full of energy now. Losing tastes bitter for me as a Trainer, I must admit, but getting to know about extraordinary challengers like you is sweet. How many Badges have you got, Mr. Red?"

"Four, including yours."

"Have you decided your next Gym?"

"Er…not really."

"I recommend the one in Fuchsia City. It's a bit far, but it takes not long if you have a bicycle. The Cycling Road allows you to travel south in hours' time, but please remember that pedestrians are now allowed on it."

"Many thanks, Miss Erika. It's a precious experience exercising with you." Red departs after he makes a civil bow to the flower arranging kimono lady.
--End of Epsiode 19--
Save File:

[12:16 PM, Mar 22, Celadon City]
The time Red makes his first step out of Celadon Gym, his phone starts to ring and vibrate.

"Hello! Red speaking! Blue?"

"Red! I've got something good! Wanna see it?"

"What's your 'something good'? Don't make me guess!"

"I pickpocketed it from a Team Rocket thug! It's said it a kind of ghost-identifying scope!"

"Gho…ghosts…" Red's arms shudder for a second when he hears "ghost".

"What's up, my best bud?"

"No…nothing. I mean I'm also looking for the thing you've got…"

"Then you hurry up to Lavender Town or I'll leave you behind!" urges Blue.

"Asap!" Red hops onto his foldable bicycle and rushes to the noble purple town.

[1:02 PM, Mar 22, Lavender Town]
"Look! Like this!" Blue shows Red a pair of odd-looking binoculars.

"This? Will it uncover the identity of ghosts?"

"If you don't believe me, I'll just go up the tower without you."

"I believe in you…But why did you call me?"

"Tch, just in return for you rescuing me from those thugs. Come on, let's go!"

Red follows Blue into the haunted Pokémon Tower. The surroundings instantly turns dark and creepy. There are lines and rows of tombstones as memorials for dead Pokémon. Each tombstone has a Pokémon's shape carved into it, with the acronym "R. I. P. [plus the Pokémon's name or nickname]" below it. If observed carefully, one may feel that some of the Pokémon seems to be staring at them, thrilling him like being in a horror house.

"Gwaargh!" a ghost with an amorphous, intangible body springs out behind a tombstone, making Red almost scream in fright, but Blue aims the scope at the ghost and reveals it to be a Gastly. The gas Pokémon's body is entirely constructed with poisonous gas, making it unable to withstand even the weakest flow of wind. Hence, only in dark and quiet indoor areas can they be found.

As the boy progress via the stairs through the labyrinths of tombstones, they would be affrighted to coma by Gastly and Haunter if they did not have the scope. Sometimes, the Ghost-type local inhabitants would like to lick the uninvited visitors with their extendable tongues while remaining invisible or camouflaged, sometimes paralyzing them.

Finally, the boys end up at the stairs on 6F to the uppermost floor.

"Get out…get out from here…" a ghost shrouded in purple gas with only its red eyes revealed appears, warning the boys in a horrible tone.

"I heard that there's a Marowak spirit in this tower. This must be her." says Blue, who discloses Marowak's identity with his newly obtained Silph Scope.

Seeing the true form of the ghost allays Red's dread as he attempts to communicate with Marowak, "Wait a minute, Marowak. We're not bad people. We're here to help you."

"Who are you…And what do you want…If you can't make it clear…then begone…" says the Marowak ghost.

"The name's Blue, and this is Red." says Blue, "I assume that you're killed by those Team Rocket thugs?"

"And Mr. Fuji went to see you to calm you down, but he hasn't returned, so we're looking into it." adds Red.

"Thanks to the Silph Scope, we're able to find you here and talk to you." says Blue.

"Yes…I was indeed killed by those men…They are just on the floor behind me…If you can beat those killers, I will trust you." says Marowak.

"No problem. Even horde fights are pieces of cake for me!" says Red confidently.

"Then I'll rely on you…Go ahead…" Marowak moves aside allowing the boys to pass.

And when the boys reach 7F, they found a bald old man facing a tombstone, with his back to the stairs. Unfortunately he is surrounded by three Team Rocket Grunts. They managed to hold the old man captive only for themselves to be unable to escape.

"Faq! I've been trapped here for days, and finally someone has come!" One of the Grunts loses his temper and vents his anger on the boys, "Do you know how miserable it was to lose freedom for such a long time? I'll show you!"

"Red! Leave him to me! You next!" says Blue who sends out his Wartortle.

"Drat! It's merely a Marowak, isn't it?" vociferates the second Grunt, "Pokémon are only tools for making money! If we don't do something, you'll never learn to stay outta our business!"

"Charmeleon, I choose you! Metal Claw!" commands Red.

"Wartortle, Water Pulse!" commands Blue.

After defeating their respective opponents, there is only one to be dealt with.

"Whadda heck, you persistent brats!" complains the last Grunt, "This old guy ranted at us on Team Rocket's Pokémon abusing when we went here. We wanted to talk it over as adults, but we're also confined to such a place! But it's still more than enough to teach you a lesson!"

The Team Rocket Grunt sends out a Golbat and a Drowzee. Golbat uses Supersonic but is diverted by Wartortle's Water Pulse, enabling Charmeleon to defeat it with a Dragon Rage. Wartortle then uses Bite on Drowzee. The super effective move decreases the foe's HP grievously and allows Charmeleon to finish it off with a Metal Claw.

When all enemies are vanquished, the hostage turns around, revealing himself to be Mr. Fuji.

"Hello, young men. I'm Fuji. Are you here to save me? I came here out of my own free will. I came here to calm down the spirit of Cubone's mother. Did you find her?" says Mr. Fuji.

"She's at the stairs. I suggest you directly talk to her, Mr. Fuji." says Blue, "I've identified her with the Silph Scope for you. Come with us."

Mr. Fuji follows the boys to where Marowak's spirit stands.

"So you are the elder who tried to rest me…" says Marowak, "I have truly witnessed the youngsters' deeds."

"Now that those Team Rocket crooks are beat, will you rest now?" asks Red.

"I might…but I want to see my child Cubone…" says Marowak.

"Reina had made efforts, but you seemed to stay unrested…" says Red.

"Maybe it is because of the existence of my killers…Please, be kind to let me see my child…"

"All right. You wait here for a minute." promises Red, who speeds out of the tower with Blue, assembles Reina and Cubone from the volunteer house, and escorts them back to Marowak. The orphan cannot be more excited to reunite with his dead mother.

"I'm glad to see you safe and sound, son…" says Marowak.

Cubone hugs his mother and screeches out as if wanting her to regain her body.

"…My son…You must know that deceased Pokémon can't be revived…My body has perished…leaving only my soul…What'a pity…"

Cubone's eyes turns teary, trying to discourage his mother from vanishing.

"…Don't be so childish…One day you'll grow up and become a true man…Be strong and staunch, my son…I can't always accompany you even if I were still alive…" says Marowak kindly as her spirit begins to glimmer.

Cubone clutches onto his mother more tightly and rattles his bone club, trying in futile efforts to keep her.

"Sorry, my son…It's time for me to go…" says Marowak as she slowly ascends, "You don't have to brood over your dead mother, 'cause you have so many kind people supporting you…And I can peacefully rest…"

Cubone bounces up flurried, trying to seize Marowak in a weeping accent as if saying "No, mama, don't leave me! I want mama!"

"Farewell, my son…I'll keep my eye on your growth…even in heaven…" Marowak leaves her last speech to Cubone before her spirit rises into heaven and disappears.

And when Cubone realizes that his mother is forever gone, he slumps onto the ground and wails, leaving Red, Blue, Mr. Fuji and Reina silent in sadness.

After Cubone stops wailing, Reina picks him up and cuddles him gently.

"Cubone, you mom is not here now, and it's an unchangeable fact. You should face future instead of your sorrowful past. If you can grow strong and mature, your mom would be happy, too."

Cubone lowers his head as if in identification.

"Nice! We've done our work. Time to go!" says Blue.

"Wait, you two!" says Mr. Fuji, "Follow me to my house, Pokémon House, at the foot of this tower. I have something to give you."

[2:11 PM, Mar 22, Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House]
"Here, young man. I'm not sure if these will help you, but I want you two to have them." Mr. Fuji presents the boys each with a recorder with a Poké Ball-like decoration in the front.

"What's this?" asks Blue.

"This is called a Poké Flute." explains Mr. Fuji, "Upon hearing its tune, sleeping Pokémon will spring awake. It's rather a snap learning to blow them. Come with me."

Mr. Fuji briefly instructs the boys how to play the recorder in an inner room, at the thought to not unwittingly awaken the catnapping Pokémon inside the main room.

And after the boys get hang of the recorders, Mr. Fuji advises, "The Poké Flute is useful against sleeping obstacles. But abusing it may result in a Pokémon subject to insomnia. Please use them as less often as possible unless you have to."

The boys express gratitude the old man before they leave the house.

"Guess what, Red!" says Blue, "There're two Snorlax jamming the ways to Fuchsia City. This dingus from that old gramps just comes in handy! Which one would you like?"

"……I'd like the one on Route 12, then." Red reaches his conclusion after thinking for seconds.

"And the one on Route 16 is mine! No being greedy, Red! Smell ya later!" says Blue as he departs.

"Hmm…lucky that I have the earmuffs with me." thinks Red as he marches towards Route 12.
--End of Epsiode 20--
Save File:

[2:36 PM, Mar 22, Route 12]
Strolling on the Silent Bridge, Red veils his ears with the very earmuffs from the Pewter policeman, under the notification from the Youngster on Route 11 and Reina from Lavender Town. Regardless of this, he can discern the snoring voice from the Snorlax from miles away. The bridge is built in a crooked way to increase the length of interface with water, making it a good fishing resort. There used to be batches of Fishermen fishing on this route, yet the presence of the Snorlax has compelled them to stay away, leaving Red the only current living being on the bridge.

And while the Town Map is displaying Red's inching towards Route 11, he noted a titanic chubby Pokémon lying at the very intersection. The position where the hefty guy not only cut off the connection between Vermilion and Lavender, but also the only pedestrian path to Fuchsia. Cracks are visible beneath the huge monster. The Snorlax must have been sleeping here for very long.

If I don't dispose of it, the bridge may be out! Thinks Red as he starts to play the Poké Flute.

Upon hearing the melody, the Snorlax gets bit and bit uneasy, but it is not until 90 seconds later before it ultimately wakes up and pounces on Red in a grumpy manner.

Red backs off to safety before he pulls out a Poké Ball, "Eevee, I choose you! Tackle!"

Despite her rather small size, Eevee does not cringe and leaps over, ramming into the Snorlax's torso, but she is bounced back by the thick fat.

The Snorlax falls towards Eevee, attempting to crush her with its ponderous body.

"It's Body Slam! Dodge it, Eevee!"

Eevee rolls sideways to safety before the Snorlax hits where she was, creating a small earthquake. The Snorlax arises to its feet soon after its attack missed.

"Eevee, use Swift at Snorlax's head!"

Eevee spins around and shoots gleaming stars at the Snorlax's face, forcing it to protect its face with its hands. The stars deals minor damage to Snorlax but is yet to take more effect.

"Not enough fire power. Eevee, switch out! Go, Rattata!"

When the Snorlax notices Rattata, it stands there looking at him in distain as if thinking that the tiny rodent would not be any big deal.

"It's not good overlooking your enemies! Rattata, get it with a Super Fang!"

Rattata clambers up the Snorlax's body onto its top. He then bites down hard on the beast with his keen fang. The Snorlax shrieks in pain before it clasps Rattata and lobs him into the air.

"Come back, Rattata! Pikachu, I choose you!" Red recalls Rattata before he can hit the ground, "A close-range Iron Tail!"

Much like Rattata, Pikachu makes his way onto Snorlax's head and spears his tail into it like a sword. The sudden aching inflicted on the Snorlax causes it to lose balance and fall on its back. Pikachu calmly retreats to Red before he is squashed into a pancake.

The Snorlax yawns and extends its limbs, and its body gets relaxed.

"You gonna Rest while I took efforts to wake you up? Do you believe I'll let you get away with that?" exclaims Red, "Pikachu, come back! Go, Charmeleon, Flamethrower!"

Charmeleon keeps heating the Snorlax's face with his scorching hot Flamethrower, preventing it from falling asleep and restoring its lost health. The Snorlax get up outraged and lowers its head. It then stick its head out and slams it at Charmeleon.

"Charmelon! Give it a Metal Claw when it draws near!"

Charmeleon stays steadily concentrating on his foe, kneeling down a bit with his claws extended into metal-sharp blades. And the minute the Snorlax is about to collide with him, Charmeleon slashes its head like a swordsman. The impact makes the Snorlax trip over and falls onto its face.

"Again, Metal Claw!"

But the Snorlax gets up in time and defends itself with its arms. Charmeleon's second Metal Claw is not effective enough to reduce his foe's HP as his first one.

"Don't give it a third chance! Fury Metal Claws!" commands Red.

Charmeleon begins to repeatedly scratch at the Snorlax's face like using Fury Swipes. Each hit is decreased in basic power, but the accumulation of Metal Claws gradually eats away the monster's health. In the end, the Snorlax cannot hold any longer and falls backwards onto the bridge, causing it to collapse!

"Go, Great Ball!" Red projects a blue-white Poké Ball at the wild Pokémon, sucking it in before it falls into water. The ball touches the ground and shakes violently as the Snorlax tries to escape.

But all its efforts turns into nil when the ball stops shaking and three stars burst out of it. Red's Pokédex chimes as it registers Snorlax's info into it.

When Red is about to put away his Pokédex, his Charmeleon's body glows brightly as his second stage of evolution is set off! Even if catching a wild Pokémon without defeating it does it win Exp. Points for all of the participating Pokémon in a Trainer's party, and Charmeleon was only a bit away from his evolution before the encounter.

And after the light dies away, Charmeleon grows even taller, his single horn becoming a pair, his body color reverting to his Charmander stage, a pair of dragon-like wings extending from his back. Red's Pokédex records another entry for the newly evolved Charmeleon, Charizard. What is more, a new Dragon-type move is added to his move slots, Dragon Pulse.

"Congratulations, Charizard!" Red pats on Charizard's chest in compliment.

Charizard howls, raises his arms and breathes fire into the sky in glory.

Moments later, a policewoman with a Growlithe hurry to the scene, apparently alerted by the noisy battle here.

"My, my. The bridge is completely in a mess!" says the policewoman as she watches at the broken bridge in front.

"I'm very sorry, ma'am. I intended to capture a Snorlax sleeping here." apologizes Red.

"Never mind, Trainer. We've been spending weeks trying to discard this large beast here. If it stayed longer, the bridge would crumple anyway. It won't take many days to repair the bridge, but I'm afraid that we have to close the entire route before the reconstruction finishes."

"Thank you, ma'am. Can I leave now?"

"Of course, but take this with you. It's a TM called Roar."

While Red is putting away the items, including the new TM05, into his bag, the policewoman describes the TM's usage, "The move Roar can be used to scare vexing wild Pokémon away. It can also force an opposing Trainer to switch between his party members. It is most useful when your opponent tries to strengthen itself."

"Many thanks, ma'am."

[4:17 PM, Mar 22, Route 17]
Filling an empty slot in his party, Red rides back to Celadon City and continues his journey via the western exit to Route 16. There is a Snorlax-shaped print in the middle of the route, its width approximately fitting the width of the route. Evidently, another Snorlax battle took place here, eventually the monster was either taken down or caught.

Passing through a gate and it is the Cycling Road. It is split into two halves, either going down southwards or up northwards. The gradient on them is high enough to defy the effect of friction, making cyclers going southwards automatically without having to apply force to their pedals. However, a south-to-north cycling is otherwise very fatiguing as a consistent component of gravity in the negative direction drags them from advancing. Regardless of this, many cyclers choose to start from the southern side as a method of bodybuilding.

[4:43 PM, Mar 22, Fuchsia City]
Covering the Cycling Road, crossing a gate, and passing by a small garden of bird Pokémon and Bird Keepers, Red ends up in a seaside city--Fuchsia City, at the end of the day. He plans to get to know a little about the Fuchsia Gym before he can carry out proper preparations for it.

Following the directions of signposts, Red comes to the gate to a traditional Japanese dojo-styled courtyard. The brand hanging on the gate reads "Fuchsia Gym".

"Excuse me! I'm Red the challenger! Is anybody in?" asks Red when he knocks on the gate.

The gate opens, and here comes out a ninja girl in pink cape.

"You're a challenger? Wait a minute. I'll tell father!"

The ninja girl runs into the courtyard. Half a minute later, she returns to Red with a middle-aged ninja in a serious look, wearing a red cape.

"So you are the latest challenger to me. May I have your name?" asks the ninja.

"My name's Red."

"My name is Koga, and this is my daughter, Janine." The Gym Leader introduces himself to Red, "Challenges are welcome 24 hours a day, except during maintenance times. It takes about a week to finish the maintenance, so sorry but you have to wait. You should train around here during this time. It is my duty to warn you that as a Gym Leader, I will not be a pushover!"

"Could you tell me something about your Gym?"

"Since I am a ninja, all I have to do is carry our handed down ninjutsu forward!" says Koga, "I believe that poison is everything, and all my Pokémon belong to the Poison-type!"

"And father is also a master in karakuri! You can never reach him if you can't bypass his traps and snares!" adds Janine.

"Being a ninja, it is an essential skill of survival to solve puzzles." says Koga, "And I will show you how we ninjas survive at the time I accept your challenge!"

"I see. Not only the process of challenging, but finding the Gym Leader is getting engaging!" thinks Red.

"I can help train you, Red!" offers Janine, "So you can get familiar with father's tactics. Is that OK, father?"

"Of course. You also need more training before you are promoted to a genuine ninja!"

[9:20 PM, Mar 29, Fuchsia Gym]
Before Koga completes his maintenance in his Gym, he had his daughter, Janine, training with Red at the outskirts of Fuchsia City. Both Trainers worked hard and raised the level of their respective teams considerably during this week.

Finally, Fuchsia Gym is reopened to challengers, and Red returns to the Gym with Janine.

After showing him around in the Gym, Janine leads Red to the entrance to a house in the depths of the yard, and explains, "Here's the karakuri house! If you can bypass it safely, you'll be eligible to challenge father!" before she opens the doors, lets Red in, and closes the doors behind.

Inside the karakuri house is a traditional Japanese room, about 10 meters wide and 50 meters long, laid with brown-pinkish tiles. Opposite of the room are the doors to the battlefield. The doors are not locked by any locks, except that the key to it is the challenger's safety crossing the maze.

Looking around, Red fails to discover anything suspicious, but not before he can take several steps forwards does he bump into an invisible wall, stars circling around his eyes, crying out with an "Oooouch!"

Red extends his had forward, and feels a glass-like transparent wall in front. However, it is a little elastic compared to traditional glass. What is more, even the joints and the edges of the wall are invisible, and looking for clues on the tiles is completely useless for all of them are perfect clones of each other. How skilled the craftsmen are if they were able to build such a flawless puzzle!

In order to go through the invisible wall maze, Red keeps one of his hands on the wall on his side while reaching for the wall in front with another hand. But nevertheless, it costs 30 times of bumping, 27 times of running into dead ends, and 59 minutes in total time for the red-capped challenger to cover half of the karakuri house, where invisible walls are no longer present.

However, Red remains skeptical about the second half of the room. In spite of the lack of the invisible walls, there must be other triggers somewhere on or under it. Red slows down his step and moves forward in a cautious way.

When Red steps on one of the tiles, it instantaneously opens, revealing a Voltorb below! The Voltorb attempts to use Self-Destruct on Red, coercing him to back off to safety. The Voltorb retreats under the tile and closes it soon after.

I'm freaking out! The snare is gonna kill me!

In fact, there are far more than Self-Destruct Pokémon traps at this part of the karakuri house. Some tiles will collapse and make victims fall into a pipe and be ejected from side of the house, forcing them to restart. Some tiles will plump up and pelt the victims onto the ceiling, making them falling and hurting their bottoms. Further, if hitting the ground triggers another traps in chain reaction, it would be a harsh time for the unfortunate challengers.

While Red is striving against the traps inside the maze, Koga is waiting on the battlefield, watching at his stopwatch, started the time Red entered the labyrinth, from time to time. He presses the stop button when he hears the doors to the battlefield opening at last, and the stopwatch displays 2 hours 11 minutes and 47.28 seconds.

"Not bad!" comments Koga as Red reaches him dog-tired and dripping in sweat.

"What's that 'not bad'? Huff, puff…My bones are falling apart! It, it was so terribly hideous…huff, puff…"

"That's only part of the trials we ninjas have to face!" says Koga solemnly, "If you cannot even finish the first and least difficult part, then go home!"

"……" A dumbstruck Red watches at Koga before he flops down weary and drained.
--End of Epsiode 21--
Save File:

[12:35 PM, Mar 29, Fuchsia Gym]
When Red successfully reaches Koga, he is almost out of his physical energy. Considering Red is a pure challenger, Koga allows him to rest for a while before he officially claims the onset of the Gym battle. During the battle, he asks Janine to watch the whole process carefully.

"Go, Muk!"

"Pikachu! I choose you!"

Entering the field, Muk extends one of its amorphous hand from its odorous body, pressuring Red to cover his nose in protection.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" commands Red.

A yellow outflow is shot onto Muk's body, but Muk simply stretches and burps as if it is nothing but a prickle to the back.

"Muk, Screech!" commands Koga.

A jarring, offensive screech is discharged from Muk's mouth, hurting Red's and Pikachu's ears in pain. However, Koga and his daughter looks completely unaffected by it.

"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

Pikachu slams his metallic tail into Muk, but Muk's soft and sticky body of ooze makes it not very effective.

"Mud Bomb!" commands Koga.

Hunks of mud are fired from Muk's mouth at Pikachu. Pikachu manages to dodge most of them but is unfortunately hit by the last one.

"Sludge Bomb!" commands Koga.

Explosive purple chunks of poison are released from Muk's mouth at Pikachu.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" commands Red.

Pikachu leaps into the air and uses Thunderbolt while he is still in midair, voiding most of the Sludge Bombs. He then falls back to where he stood, dodging the remaining chunks of poison.

"Hmm…Pikachu is able to defend himself but is not enough in attack force." thinks Red, "I think it's time to switch 'im out." And he withdraws Pikachu, sending out Snorlax.

"Snorlax, use Yawn!"

Snorlax learned Yawn during his weekly training at Fuchsia outskirts. He extends his arms, yawns loudly at Muk, and displays a sleepy look. The move Yawn is as contagious as the real yawning, as Muk yawns heavy-eyed and its body begins to sink to the ground.

"Muk, Sludge Bomb!"

A barrage of Sludge Bombs hit Snorlax's trunk, but they are bounced off into the air before they can explode.

"Snorlax, use Body Slam!"

"Muk, Explosion!"

When Snorlax is about to flatten his foe under his body, light beams are given off from inside of Muk and it explodes violently. Luckily, Snorlax keeps his balance and protects his face with his hands to avoid deep damage. And after successfully using Explosion, Muk faints.

"Now for this. Venomoth!"

A moth-like Pokémon with three antennas on its head enters the battlefield, hovering in midair as if it were a Flying-type.

"Snorlax, Yawn!"

"Venomoth, Psychic!"

Snorlax yawns at Venomoth, but Venomoth's eyes glow blue and it redirects the yawn back at Snorlax! A dopey Snorlax has a higher tendency to be affected by hypnotic moves, and he falls on his back asleep without having to wait for a turn.

"Oh, Snorlax, come back! Charizard, I choose you! Flamethower!"

"Disable!"

Charizard produces a sphere of flames in his mouth. But when he is about to shoot it at Venomoth, the moth Pokémon's eyes glow bright white and the fire ball is deactivated.

"Disable can't be used on two moves! Dragon Pulse!"

Another blue-greenish flame ball forms inside Charizard's mouth before it is fired at Venomoth in the form of a dragon. Still, the absence of STAB and type effectiveness makes a Bug- and Poison-type Venomoth withstand the move without much difficulty.

"Venomoth, Quiver Dance!"

Venomoth performs a graceful, mystic dance like a butterfly. Its body grows more nimble and flexible after the dance ends.

"Charizard, Dragon Pulse!"

"Venomoth, Psychic!"

A Quiver Dance-boosted Venomoth surpasses Charizard's speed, and it redirects the Dragon Pulse back to Charizard with its psychic power, delivering heavy damage to him.

"However I try, the moves will be deflected by Psychic. Charizard can't stand a chance in this way…Aha, got it! Charizard, you come back!"

Charizard is withdrawn, and the sleeping Snorlax is called out.

"You're free to do as you want before Snorlax wakes up." says Red with open hands.

"Huh? Then Venomoth, Quiver Dances!"

Venomoth carries on its Quiver Dance, maxing its Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed.

"The foe has not awakened! Venomoth, Bug Buzz!"

Venomoth releases powerful sonic waves from its mouth at Snorlax. Red is forced to protect his ears with the earmuffs, but Snorlax simply turns a deaf ear to the buzz in his sleep. Actually, any sound-based attempts to wake him up on Route 12 failed except Red's Poké Flute, even the noise of explosives. Moreover, Snorlax's lost health against Muk's Explosion is gradually recovered during his sleep, and his tough Special Defense and monstrous degree of HP makes it far more than arduous for Venomoth to deal effective damage to him.

"Psychic!" commands Koga.

The move Psychic can not only damage the foe, but can be used to lift objects with only one's brain power. A boosted Psychic can even lift heavy objects like boulders and vehicles. Despite Snorlax's average weight of over 400 kilograms, he slowly floats off the ground under the effect of Venomoth's Psychic, still in his sleep.

"Venomoth! Drop Snorlax down from meters high!"

Venomoth continues lifting Snorlax into the air. And once it receives Koga's command, it lets go of Snorlax and the burly beast crashes into the ground on his back, generating a miniature earthquake. The impact and the blast waves eventually awakens Snorlax.

What about Venomoth? Well, it is rasping heavily due to its exhausted strength lifting Snorlax.

What? Are you joking with me? Doesn't it simply cut down the PP by 1 when using a move?

Nope, of course. Psychic is only a substitute for physical strength to raise objects, and is very exhausting when the object is high in weight. Venomoth is in danger now!

"It's chance! Snorlax, Body Slam!"

Snorlax jumps up and throws his body at Venomoth, squeezing Venomoth between himself and the ground. After he returns to his feet, Venomoth lies on the battlefield fainted and flat like a piece of paper.

"Yeah! Two castles down!" says Red.

"I have tasted your power. But it is not confirmed yet who will smile to the last!" says Koga placidly as he sends out his last fighter, "Being a ninja, one can never lose the determination to fight however rough the environment can be! Go, Golbat!"

"Snorlax, you continue! Use Rollout!"

Snorlax curls himself into a ball and rolls towards Golbat at incredible speed.

"Golbat, Air Slash!"

Golbat flaps its wings after dodging Snorlax, releasing gear-like solidified air at him. Either attack is proved not very effective when the "gears" bounce off Snorlax's body under his speed and movement. After hitting the wall, Snorlax changes his direction and rolls towards Golbat again.

"Golbat, dodge it!" To avoid unnecessary health cost, Koga does not order any attack this time.

However, though its base power is quite low in the first turn, the power of Rollout will double as a turn is consumed. After several turns, the actual power of Rollout can increase to an atrocious degree. Golbat manages to avoid the first four turns only to be hit hard in the last turn. Snorlax's movement terminates as the turn timer expires.

"Now our turn! Golbat, Poison Fang!" commands Koga before Red can react.

Golbat flies up to Snorlax and bites down on his skin with its fangs, injecting venom into his vessels. Snorlax jumps about, yelping in pain.

"Snorlax! Where's your Immunity gone? Use Rollout!"

Realizing the situation, Snorlax slaps Golbat off his skin before he curls into a ball and rolls at it.

"Golbat, Roost!"

Golbat flaps its wings and feathers come out if it, restoring its energy.

But the moment Golbat recovers half of its health, Snorlax rams into it with great force, bringing down its HP down to critical points once again. The negative force stops Snorlax's movement and he stands up to his feet.

"Now the decisive Body Slam!"

Snorlax extends his arms and fall towards a tired Golbat, crushing it and wipes it out.

"Oh yeah! Our fifth victory!"

Red hop up upon seeing the last opponent defeated. But Snorlax is too exhausted to celebrate his winning. He rolls off Golbat, allowing Koga to recall it, and goes back to his sleep, before Red withdraws him.

"Argh, you have proven your worth." says Koga, "Here, take the Soul Badge!"

"Thank you, Mr. Koga."

"Now that you have the Soul Badge, you can use Surf outside of battle, too. And take this!"

"It's TM36 Sludge Bomb, huh?"

"When taught, the user hurls unsanitary sludge at the opponent. It may also cause poisoning. When afflicted by poison, a Pokémon suffers continuous damage. If afflicted by bad poison from something like Toxic or Poison Fang, it suffers worsening damage as the battle wears on! Either will surely terrorize foes!" says Koga, "Of course, don't even imagine poisoning Poison-type or Steel-type Pokémon or Pokémon with Immunity."

"Hah, how hazardous Poison-type moves can be!" says Red, "If I hadn't caught Snorlax…"

"And have you visited the Safari Zone?" asks Koga.

"Not yet."

"The place is inhabited by many kinds of wild Pokémon. It might be a suitable resort for Trainers who wish to expand their teams." says Koga, "It is just a mile from here to the north. You just have to remember that battling is strictly prohibited within the entire safari area."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Koga! It's time for me to go now 'cause I'm, kinda, hah, outta fuel!"
--End of Epsiode 22--
Save File:

[3:22 PM, Mar 29, Safari Zone]
Red ponders on his current team after healing them at the local Pokémon Center. Currently most of the members are pure Normal-type. Being a type specialist will raise difficulty if he encounters an opponent whose type specialization is super effective against his. He decides to expand his team more with various other types in the Safari Zone.

At the entrance to the park, Red is welcomed by two of the staff members.

"Welcome to the Safari Zone!" says the male attendant, "For just 500 Poké Dollars, you can play the 2-hour safari game! You can roam around the wide-open safari and catch what you like. Would you like to have a try?"

"Could you show me the detailed information about the safari regulations?" asks Red.

"Sure!" The male attendant hands over a brochure containing the rules. According to the regulations, only a special kind of Poké Balls, named Safari Balls, is allowed within the safari area. Since Pokémon battles are disallowed, all the Trainer's Pokémon and spare Poké Balls are temporarily kept by the staff until his safari game is over. The Trainer will be informed by the PA if he runs out of time or Safari Balls.

"OK, I understand. I'd like to have a try."

"Then 500 Poké Dollars please." says the female attendant.

After receiving the payment, the female attendant gives Red 30 Safari Balls and a small bag of Pokémon food. She then guides Red to deposit his Pokémon and Poké Balls at the counter.

"And please wear this on. It is a mandatory requirement during the safari game." The female attendant gives Red a watch-like timer, "Our PA will inform you of your end of the safari game. You can also view the remaining time at any time during your adventure. Call our staff at any time if you need help by pressing the button on the right upper side."

And after Red puts on the timer, the attendants activate it and leads Red into the safari park.

"Shhh! Be very very quiet, you readers. I'm hunting Pokémon!" says Red.

The map in the entrance area shows that the entire Safari Zone is divided into 4 areas. A diversity of Pokémon is distributed in every of them. According to the staff, a Trainer is permitted to throw small stones at wild Pokémon for attracting their attention, as long as he does not hurt them, so Red picks up some stones from the ground and puts them away in the bait bag.

When Red is searching in the first area, a wild Rhyhorn walks into his sight, apparently hunting for food. Red thinks for a while before he resolves to catch it.

After hiding himself behind a tree, Red throws a little sum of bait at the Rhyhorn. The Rhyhorn does not hesitate for very long before it runs up to the bait and starts helping itself to it. Red secretly takes out a Safari Ball and tosses it at the Rhyhorn, with the ball sucking it in and begins shaking.

Since lowering the HP of a wild Pokémon as an enhancement of catch rate is disabled, the possibility of success depends entirely on a Pokémon's basic catch rate and current level. Red stares at the shaking Safari Ball with his heart beating…

"Poof!" The Rhyhorn breaks free from the Safari Ball. It briefly looks into the direction where Red hides himself before it starts to walk away at a leisurely pace, as if nothing had happened. An non-resigned Red casts a stone at Rhyhorn, but the rhinoceros Pokémon will not pay any attention to it since its body is composed of rock itself.

"Fine. I'll search for other Pokémon." thinks Red as he continues wandering about in tall grass.

It does not take very long before Red catches sight of a Pinsir, two Nidorina and a Venonat in the first area, but it is too bad for him as every attempt to capture them botches. An out-of-patience Red has to shift his hunting position to the eastern area.

Near a rest station of the 2nd area, Red spots a double-headed, avian Pokémon tramping around in the grass. It's a Doduo!

Red obscures himself behind a tree before he pitches a stone at the Doduo. Being a Flying-type, getting hit by rocks or stones infuriates the bird. It looks around with both of its heads to discover nothing, thus going on its walk.

A second stone is tosses at the Doduo. The wild Pokémon is riled at the provocation, but it is yet to find the bold opponent who dares tricking with it.

And when Red casts a third stone, he is caught in sight as luck would have it. The eyes of the Duduo glow red like an angry bull, and it charges at Red with its beaks spinning like drills. Red attempts to pacify the Doduo with some bait, only for it to ignore the food and continues its charging. If Red did not shelter himself in time in the rest station, he could not imagine what would happen to him if hit by the Doduo's Drill Peck.

After convincing himself that the Duduo is gone, Red resumes his safari hunting. The 2nd area is quite a challenge for hunters as most of the local Pokémon are bad-tempered and tends to attack and hurt them, including Tauros, Kangaskhan, and Parasect. Whenever someone gets a rise out of them, they will chase him down recklessly until their target is lost. Letting out a sigh, Red gives up and shifts once more to the 3rd area in the northwest.

Apart from being surrounded by the trees at the borders, the northwestern area is fenced by a stretch of bushes. No plants visible are growing within this area except 5 tall trees an patches of tall grass. A bushed Red takes a brief rest near the grass before he resumes.

Suddenly, a grass patch rustles and a wild Pokémon appears! Red quickly gets up and bends down his upper body to avoid potential attacks.

As Red is carefully observing, a pinkish ovoid Pokémon steps out of the grass. There are three strands of "hair" growth at either side of its head. It grows stubby arms, short feet and a short tail. It holds a white, oval egg inside the pouch on its belly.

How super lucky it is that Red encounters a Chansey! As an extremely rare species, it is said that whoever meets or catches one of them will be brought good luck and happiness to.

"Haha. I'll surely get this lucky star to me!" says Red to himself as he stealthily slinks up to the Chansey.

"Ouch!" Red is tripped over by a rock hidden in the grass before he can get close, causing him to cry out involuntarily. The little hunter is filled with regret upon making noise at the thought of scaring the Chansey away.

But contrary to his belief, the Chansey runs up to him when she hears the noise. While the Pokémon is looking at the human stranger, Red is perturbed whether the Chansey would assail him.

However, the Chansey speaks out in a tone like a nurse as if asking if the boy is hurt or injured.

Oh, I remember! Chansey is a kind-hearted Pokémon who likes to take care of anyone.

Red stands up and finds that he is fine except that his jeans are stained with some dirt and sand.

"I'm well, Chansey. Thanks for your consideration."

The Chansey picks the egg from her pouch and gives it to Red.

"You want me to have it?" asks Red.

The Chansey nods.

"Thanks. Let's eat!"

Red takes the first chomp out of the egg and he is imbued with strong sense of happiness, "Uwoooow…I feel soooo happy…I feel the entire body is healed!"

The Chansey smiles and waves her arms.

"You're so kind, Chansey. If I had my partners, I'd like 'em to see you." says Red, "We carry out training every day and injuries are not infrequent. If I had a nurse like you, I would be free from resorting to Pokémon Centers."

The Chansey is a bit puzzled.

"I mean, would you like to travel with me? I think my team is in need of you."

The Chansey slaps and hops.

"Great. Now in the ball, Chansey!"

Red takes out a Safari Ball before the Chansey actively presses the button and captures herself in.

"Rest for a while, Chansey. I'll let you out after I finish my game." says Red to Chansey's Poké Ball.

In the rest of the time, Red's luck seem to skyrocket with Chansey in his party as he successfully captures a Poliwag, a Dratini, a Nidoran♂ and a Scyther, in spite of the cost of 6 times of escape, 4 times of missing, and 5 broken Safari Balls, in a total of 19 attempts. Normally, a hunter needs a Super Rod to hook a Dratini out of water before he can throw Safari Balls at it, but this Dratini is so curious at a human hunter that he cannot help watching at him above the surface of a pond, allowing Red to catch him with an itsy-bitsy deal of bait.

"Ding-dong!" Red's timer peals as the 2-hour limit expires, and he has to leave immediately. He retrieves his Pokémon and Poké Balls before he returns the remaining spare Safari Balls, bait and the wristwatch timer.

And when the little hunter is about to leave, the female attendant looks up on the computer screen before she smiles to Red, "Congratulations! You've won a stupendous prize!"

"What prize?" Red's feet halt as he hears the woman.

"We're currently holding a campaign, where hunters can compete for a secret prize. The only requirement for the competition is that they must capture at least 5 wild Pokémon during a single run without losing more than 5 Safari Balls. You fit the requirement like a glove, so you deserve it!" The attendant explains before she forfeits an HM case to Red.

"It contains Surf. Does it mean I can cross water by it?"

"Sure." says the attendant, "HM03 allows Pokémon to ferry you across rivers, lakes and seas when taught. And when used in battles, the user summons a huge wave and swamps it across the battlefield. It would be useful when you try to attack multiple opponents. But it has its flaw that your allies will be also implicated, so it's not recommended in double or triple battles where your allies are not resistant to water."

[5:28 PM, Mar 29, Fuchsia City]
After exiting the Safari Zone, Red releases all of his current in-party fellows outside of their Poké Balls. The warm-hearted Chansey greets her companions by producing eggs in her pouch one at a time and shares them among the Pokémon. All egg consumers are permeated with happiness at the first bites, and a big-stomached Snorlax and Pikachu demand that they want even more eggs after stuffing the first ones into their mouths, making Chansey grin awkwardly.
--End of Epsiode 23--
Save File:

[8:04 AM, Mar 30, Fuchsia City]
Exhausted from the Gym battle and the subsequent safari hunting, Red spent the whole evening resting in the Pokémon Center of Fushsia City.

The following day, Red is waken up early, but not by his alarm clock set to 8:30, but a phone call, nope, a text message from Blue:

Blue must be in an emergency! Changing into his Trainer's clothes swiftly, Red flies to Saffron City on his Charizard (Why do not he directly fly to Saffron? Don't you know that Fly cannot target a city you have not visited?), the proceeds east to Route 7. Before that, Red mutes his smartphone and disables all the alarm clocks to avoid any potential alarms.

Hiding next to the gate in bushes, Red notices that the guard on Route 7 is indeed still dozing off. He slides quietly before the guard into the city without alerting him.

Upon entering the city of golden buildings, Red sends a text message to Blue:

He receives the reply in seconds:

Those Team Rocket crooks are in Saffron City! Red raises his vigilance and conceals himself in a narrow alley between two buildings. Looking out into the streets, he spots a small number of Team Rocket Grunts patrolling along the main avenue. There does not seem to be an ordinary citizen outside, and all doors to the buildings are locked off.

Silph Co. is a tall, 11-storeyed building erected in the center of Saffron City. It is the headquarters of Poké Marts in Kanto, and the main developer and manufacturer of all kinds of Poké Balls (including the Safari Balls). The Silph Scope is also one of latest products of Silph Co., although it has not reached its volume production stage. Red has also heard that the company is recently developing a special kind of Poké Ball. It is said to significantly raise the catch rate of any Pokémon species, even the legendary Pokémon! If it is so, it is no wonder those Team Rocket crooks are attracted to the company to force them service the criminal gang.

Unlucky for Red, a Team Rocket Grunt is guarding the front gate to Silph Co.'s main building. But he is also napping as the guard on Route 7 does. In a flickering instant, Red steals into the building without startling the Grunt.

[8:26 AM, Mar 30, Silph Co.]
Wide as the reception hall on 1F is, there is seemingly nobody inside. Red finds it strange when a hand rises from behind a bench and signals Red to go there. Red follows the hand and it turns out to be Blue's. They whisper quietly in order not to give them away to the enemies.

"Blue! How did you find the guard drowsing?"

"I'd attempted times to enter Saffron but the guards just wouldn't make any exceptions. After days in Celadon, I found the guard on Route 7 was forgetful about his duties, never waking up before half past eight. That's why I called you early!"

"But why in Silph Co.?"

"On the streets of Saffron, I found it bizarre that no one is out before I noticed some Team Rocket thugs advancing towards Silph Co. murmuring something like 'Boss's order'. I beat them to lurking inside only for the entrance to be guarded by one of them afterwards. I texted you on the thought that two men are double as strong as a single!"

"Fancy you thinking of me! Look at what you was in those Team Rocket crooks' hideout!"

"Tch, the past is the past! In all, we're gonna explore this building. I'm afraid the boss of those Team Rocket thugs is working on something of their sinister plans!"

"OK!" agrees Red, who avoids the look of the guard at the gate with Blue and sneaks up to 2F via the stairs. They do not use the elevator to avoid making undesired noise.

Mon Dieu! The second floor is in an awful mess! A swarm of Team Rocket Grunts are swaggering along the corridors and in and out of the offices. Some of them are playing with and destroy objects as if they were toys. Some of them are rummaging in the shelves, drawers and safes. None of the employees dare stop them as none of them are with Pokémon. Both the boys are ticked off by the gang's audacious evil deeds.

"Eek! What do you think you're doing! Get your dirty hands off me, pervert!" cries one of the employees.

The boys stick their heads out and notice that a Team Rocket Grunt grabs the arm of a pretty female clerk in a lascivious way, obviously wanting to touch her up!

"HALT IT, YOU TEAM ROCKET CROOKS!" Red shouts out in a lusty way and he ambushes the criminals together with Blue. It is not until a whole of 5 seconds later do those men in black realize that they are confronting two preadolescent intruders and grasp Poké Balls from their waist belts , their Pokémon slaves lunging at the boys nefariously, yet only to meet their dooms like moths plunging into fire.

Before all the enemies on 2F are subdued, the boys perceive that one of the Grunts takes out his walkie-talkie and talks to somebody before he rushes upstairs.

Beyond doubt, the rascal is informing his leader, or rather, boss, about the presence of the boys as trespassers. The boys will be in jeopardy if they are encircled and suppresses by a large army of enemy soldiers. They talk over for a while before they reach the decision that they sweep the underlings before they join somewhere where they cooperate to fight the boss.

With the bona fide power of 5 Badges, Red wipes out all the Team Rocket Grunts from 2F to 10F with the help of Blue. A female janitor on 9F even offers a bottle of Hyper Potion to Red when she hears that they came to save their company.

Going up the stairs and it is 11F! The boss of those Team Rocket crooks, just you wait!

However, to Red's distress, the scene on the 11th floor is by no means pleasant--A downhearted Blue sits on his knees holding on to his fainted Blastoise, with Giovanni glaring at him with an icy look, his Rhyhorn standing beside him. The tiles, the walls, and the ceiling are in an odious disorder. Behind Giovanni are a terrified old president and his secretary.

It is discernible that a battle took shortly before Red's arrival, but it is beyond imagination when a fully evolved Water-type Blastoise with moderate speed should be stomped flat by a non-evolved Ground- and Rock-type Rhyhorn with rather slow speed.

"Oh, Red! It's no good…" pants Blue, "The boss of those Team Rocket thugs, are, are appallingly strong…I couldn't even…even match up to a mere Rhyhorn…you…be careful…"

Red flies off the handle when he reminds himself of the scenes where he rescued Blue from the dim, damp basement in Team Rocket's hideout, where his newly obtained Eevee was only in skin and bones, where he watches Marowak's spirit departing into heaven…

"GIOVANNI! Here we meet again!"

"Just when I visited the president did I hear that two 10-year-olds had trespassed into the Silph Co., and it must have been nobody but you two." says Giovanni, "The president and I were discussing a vital business proposition. It is quite daring of you to keep your nose on our grown-up's matters."

"No matter what you were discussing about, I would NEVER forgive you for your ruthless crimes and imprisonment of my best bud!" shouts Red.

"What a little mouse. Don't you know you have bitten more than you can chew? Since you persist in going on your own way, I'd make you experience a world of pain!"

After finishing, Giovanni withdraws his Rhyhorn and sends out a Nidoqueen, where Red responds by sending out Snorlax.

"Snorlax, Body Slam!"

Snorlax slams his heavy body into Nidoqueen, but Nidoqueen's fist glows white and she punches hard on Snorlax's belly. It is a Brick Break attack which is super effective against Snorlax, yet the actual damage is lessened by Snorlax's springy fat. Snorlax rises to his feet with the sustaining force from the wall behind.

"Snorlax, Headbutt!"

Snorlax lowers his head before he launches himself head first at full force into Nidoqueen, but Nidoqueen willfully takes the damage before she clenches her fist and punches Snorlax's head with a Counter, returning double damage to the Sleeping Pokémon.

Snorlax's speed is too slow compared to that of Nidoqueen, forcing Red to switch. His second fighter is Charizard.

"Charizard, use Flamethrower!"

Charizard fires a stream of fire onto Nidoqueen, only to be uppercut to the chin with a Brick Break soon afterwards. Though only half effective on damage infliction due to Charizard's Flying-type, the attack from Nidoqueen makes Charizard giddy and he is unable to even keep on his legs.

"Grrr! Charizard, back! You go, Scyther! Aerial Ace!"

Scyther flies up to Nidoqueen and slashes her twice with his scythes, but Nidoqueen whacks him with an Iron Tail and sends him crashing into the wall behind, fainting him when his back head is hit badly by the hard cement.

"Yowch! You ba…Scyther, come back! Go, Rattata, Super Fang!"

Rattata leaps up to Nidoqueen and tries to bite her, but Nidoqueen simply grabs him and slams him into the ground. Rattata is knocked out before he even has the chance to use Endeavor.

"Last resort! Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Red is driven reckless at his succession of defeats.

Pikachu somersaults in the air and slams his metallic tail into Nidoqueen. He then attempts to dodge Nidoqueen's counter attack but Nidoqueen stamps her foot and creates a small earthquake! The move Earthquake is a splashing move like Surf as it targets all Pokémon except the user on the battlefield. Trying to avoid it while standing on the battlefield is useless even if the user's accuracy is lowered, unless the target is Flying-type or possesses Levitate.

Finally, when Pikachu's butt is kicked by Nidoqueen's Earthquake, it has only been minutes since Snorlax's entry.

What a mortifying defeat! When Red's eyes meet Giovanni's forbidding look, he feels that he will soon meet his pitiful, inescapable demise…until Giovanni's phone vibrates.

After talking a little on the phone and putting it away, Giovanni says in an inhospitable manner, "I would be saying 'Blast it all! You ruined our plan for Silph!' if I weren't a mature man. I'd like to 'award' you of something for your arrogance, if I didn't have a new mission with me. I'll let you two go for a second time for the sake of you being kids, and we'll postpone our plans for Silph. But Team Rocket will never fall! And all Pokémon exist for Team Rocket! I must go now, but I shall return!"

Vowing to make a comeback, Giovanni retreats from Silph Co. with all his subordinates.

"Phew…And they're finally gone!" Blue rises up to his feet and wipes off the sweat drops on his forehead, "It's completely against the routine of a role playing game! You know, the single, aloof, wordless protagonist always defeats the antagonists no matter how strong they are…"

"Sorry, Blue, I involved you in…" apologizes Red.

"Oh, never mind, dear young men." says the president, "Thank you for saving Silph anyway. We'll never forget you saved us in our peril. Are you hurt?"

"Er…Not really." answers Red after he inspects his body, "But our Pokémon…"

"Just apply some Full Restore to them and it's done!" The president takes out bottles of potions from the drawers and sprays them on all of the boys' fainted Pokémon, restoring their energy. Afterwards, the president lets the boys sit on the sofa opposite to him and his secretary.

"Thank you, Mr. President." says Blue, "But I doubt the reason those Team Rocket thugs smelled your scent?"

"It must be because of our confidential research!" says the president, "We had kept it as a top secret but those scoundrels managed to grasp it somehow. But I never imagined that even children have heard more or less about it! Sigh…Seems we have to upgrade our security!"

"Oh, we're sorry but we aren't spying on your research!" apologizes Red.

"Hahahaha, why should I believe you anti-Team Rocket heroes to be spies?" laughs the president, "In return for your good deeds, I can offer you some exceptions. You can have these!"

The president has his secretary open a safe beside them and give the boys each a purple Poké Ball with a letter M on the purple hemisphere.

"Mr. President. Is this sort of Poké Balls your 'confidential research'?" asks Blue.

"It's NOT an ordinary Poké Ball!" explains the president, "We call it a Master Ball, 'cause it is a master in capturing Pokémon! Our ultimate plan is to develop a kind of Poké Ball that captures EVERY kind of Pokémon without fail! "

"Goodness! The power of technology just blows me away!" exclaims Red.

"But to tell you the truth, it is still years before the birth of a true Master Ball." says the president, "What we gave you are only two sample prototypes of the Master Ball. They have notably increased in catch rate compared to Great Balls and Ultra Balls, but still far from 100%, though they work approximately the same as ideal Master Balls when it comes to normal Pokémon."

"But aren't you concerned about we blowing the gaff?" asks Blue.

"We trust you, heroes." says the president, "Just promise that you'll be quiet whenever using them."

"We promise!" say Red and Blue in one voice.

After making the promise with the president and resting in his office for a short while, the boys are on their way of leaving the Silph Co., until they are stopped by a male clerk on 7F.

"Hey, you there, may I keep you for a minute?"

"What's up, sir?" asks Blue.

"I've heard from our president that it was you that got rid of those ruffians!" says the clerk gratefully, "And I've got an extra Pokémon here. You may take it if you wish!"

The man opens a drawer of his office desk, taking out a Poké Ball containing a Lapras.

"It's a Lapras, a very intelligent Pokémon." explains the clerk, "It was nearly snatched by those ruffians without your timely appearance! I think it'll be much better off with you!"

"But where did this Lapras originate from?" asks Red.

"I caught it during my holiday at Sevii Islands. It's very rare, but I think you'll be good Trainers for it. Lapras are good swimmers, and they can give you lifts across water. If you want to visit Cinnabar Island or somewhere without a boat, then Lapras may be your best choice."

"Hmm…Blue, do you want that Lapras?" asks Red.

"I hate to say no, but do you have a Water-type Pokémon?" asks Blue.

"I only have a Poliwag I recently caught at Safari Zone." Answers Red.

"Then you take the Lapras." says Blue, "My Blastoise can already carry me on water, but I don't think your teeny-weeny Poliwag can even hold your weight, hahaha!"

"Humph. Then thank you, sir!" Red accepts the Poké Ball from the clerk and registers a new piece of information in his Pokédex. Blue also records Lapras' information, though only the seen part.

[9:21 AM, Mar 30, Saffron City]
"Red, are you gonna take on the Saffron Gym?" asks Blue.

"Not before some training. And you, Blue?" asks Red.

"The same as you. I'll go for training now. Smell ya later, Red."

"See ya, Blue!"

The boys split apart at the entrance to Silph Co., devoting themselves to preparations for their respective 6th Gym challenge.
--End of Epsiode 24--
Save File:

[9:29 AM, Apr 4, Saffron Gym]
With a large assemblage of Pokémon in his party, Red carried out a half-week meticulous training plan at the outskirts of Saffron City. And now, it is time to challenge Saffron Gym!

Though the most famous, Saffron Gym is not the first actual Gym in the golden City. Before the establishment of it, it is proceeded by a smaller, ancient dojo, officially named Fighting Dojo, lying just west to it. It is said that the replacement of the official Gym is due to the new Psychic-type Gym is super effective against the old Fighting-type dojo. Regardless of this, Fighting Dojo was not demolished. Instead, it transformed into a fighting academy where lovers of fighting such as karate, judo, aikido and kung fu develop into Black Belts or Battle Girls (or Crush Girls formerly).

When entering the Gym, Red is at a small, rectangular room with violet-pinkish decoration, with nobody inside. He looks around and finds nothing but a square tile flashing in blue light. What's wrong with this Gym? Why is the Gym Leader absent while he/she keeps the door open?

Wait a moment! Maybe it's just a puzzle! Red steps on the flashing tile out of curiosity.

And the instant he put his foot on the tile, Red blacks out. Seconds later, he finds himself in another room. There does not seem to be doors or windows connecting the outside except the blue square tiles in each corner, apparently warping everyone between rooms.

"Is this a type of hi-tech? Then the power of science is truly staggering!" thinks Red.

Just then, a Psychic in purple clothes walks out of a wall as if it were magic, levitating two Poké Balls in midair without physically holding them.

"Have you tasted our superb layout of our Gym?" says the Psychic, "And here comes us Psychics! Though our Leader is young, she's a highly skilled Trainer. We won't let you reach her easily!"

Afterwards, the Psychic sends out a Slowpoke, prompting Red to send out Pikachu.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu zaps the foe's Slowpoke with electricity.

After taking damage, the foe's Slowpoke releases psychic waves from its body without its Trainer orally commanding it. It must be that Psychics even communicate with their Pokémon with psychic power.

But however odd the way the opponents react, Pikachu skillfully dodges Slowpoke's Confusion, a weaker version of Psychic. He then launches a second Thunderbolt, defeating Slowpoke.

The Psychic then releases his second Pokémon, a Slowbro. It is the evolution of Slowpoke, standing on its hind legs, with a strange-looking shell creature biting onto its tail. It is said that the creature is a transformation of Shellder, and both of them change forms when a Shellder bites onto a Slowpoke's tail. However, nobody has ever witnessed such a moment of dual evolution, and most Slowpoke under training simply evolve by leveling up, creating the shell creature out of nothing.

Though Slowbro is a tougher foe compared to Slowpoke, it still fails to withstand a pair of Thunderbolts from Pikachu after an unsuccessful attempt to hit Pikachu with a Zen Headbutt.

"You're not weak." says the Psychic, "But there're countless numbers of such rooms and us! Can you really reach our Leader without getting lost?" before he returns into the wall as if there were a door.

The Psychic is right, as every room with warp tiles are identically constructed. There are not any visible signs leading to Leader's room, making all unfamiliar challengers lost in confusion. However, they do not have to worry about being trapped in the Gym, as they can press the "Emergency Exit" button on the wall, warping them instantly back to the entrance.

However, Red manages to reach the innermost room where the Gym Leader should wait for him, by taking a note on his notebook, on how the warp tiles are connected. In spite of the identical construction, Red will land on a different number of warp tile (labeled in his note) if he enters a new room. However, he cannot view the whole map as he is playing a role playing game (and it is not provided in the Gym, either). Therefore, he nevertheless spends 20 minutes solving the warp puzzle and fighting the Psychics (sometimes Channelers). The Channelers use the evolution line of Gastly instead of Psychic-type Pokémon, although all their Gastly and Haunter know Psychic-type moves.

"Excuse me! I'm Red the challenger? Is the Gym Leader in?" asks Red.

With a flash of light on the stage in the opposite of the room, a young lady with long, bluish hair and red clothes appears in front of Red. Much like those Psychics, the lady levitates three Poké Balls above her hands with psychic power. The Gym Leader gives a glacial, unsmiling look in contrast to most other of her Leader workmates.

"…Hello, challenger." says the Gym Leader, "The moment you entered my Gym, I had the vision that you would find me in no time…My name is Sabrina, and I am a Psychic myself. My psychic power was awakened since I was a child. It started when a spoon I carelessly tossed bent. Believe it or not, I am telling the truth…I dislike violence, but if you wish, I will not hold my strength."

"Neither will I! Bring it on, Miss Sabrina!"

"…You call me Miss Sabrina? How old are you?"

"I'm 11."

"…Then just call me Sabrina because I am 18."

"OK. Bring it on, Sabrina!"

"…Fine. Go, Mr. Mime."

"Snorlax, I choose you!"

Mr. Mime is a humanoid Pokémon resembling a clown. The name origin comes from its expertise in pantomime. Though only half of them are male, the name "Mr. Mime" is specified as their official species name. Some Trainers with female Mr. Mime would like to call them Ms. Mime or Miss Mime, albeit considered as nicknames.

"Snorlax, use Headbutt!"

"…Barrier."

When Snorlax is slamming his head into Mr. Mime, the Barrier Pokémon raises its hands and creates a light barrier in front of its body. When Snorlax hits the barrier, his momentum is sharply slowed down and the impact on Mr. Mime is drastically alleviated. It should be noted that though the basic physical Defense of Mr. Mime is not high enough, it increases by 2 stages every time the user uses Barrier (until it reaches stage +6). At the maximum stage, a Mr. Mime's Defense can even be comparable to that of an Onix in basic stage.

"Snorlax, use Rollout!"

Red changes his strategy into multi-turn, PP-free (except the first turn) moves. The power of such moves doubles in power in every turn without consuming extra PPs and energy.

"…Barrier."

Seemingly not afraid of Snorlax's fierce movement, Mr. Mime continues strengthening the Barrier, despite taking continual damage from the Sleeping Pokémon.

"…The barrier should be stable now. Psychic." commands Sabrina.

Mr. Mime releases pinkish psychic wave from its hands at Snorlax. Unlike material attacks such as Air Slash, non-material moves cannot be deflected or bounced off by Snorlax's rolling body. After his brain cells are affected by Psychic, he nearly snaps into confusion and his Rollout is discontinued. He gets up to his feet and shakes off the dust on his skin.

"No good. The power of Rollout is instantly reset upon its termination." thinks Red, "Mr. Mime is too tough in this stage for Snorlax. I think I have to switch Pokémon."

The next opponent Mr. Mime faces is Charizard, Red's team leader.

"Charizard, use Flamethrower!"

Charizard creates a sphere of flames in his mouth and fires it as a stream at Mr. Mime. Being a special attack, Barrier has no weakening effect on it. The fire dragon penetrates the Barrier and directly hit Mr. Mime, damaging it a little.

Why do I mean by "a little"? Because Mr. Mime's Special Defense is implausibly high compared to its physical counterpart, making up for its low HP stat. Now that Mr. Mime has also boosted its Defense via Barrier, it seems that there are not any ways to effectively damage it anymore.

But Red ponders on himself for a while and comes up with an idea.

"…Psychic." commands Sabrina.

"Charizard. Dragon Rage!"

After taking a hit of Psychic from Mr. Mime in the last turn, Charizard creates a blue-greenish fire ball in his mouth and spits it onto Mr. Mime. The fire ball explodes on Mr. Mime and deals large percentage of damage to it, despite its rather low basic power when the target is high in level.

Why? Never forget that Dragon Rage is a fixed-damage move which ignores the target's defense! The rather low stat of HP of Mr. Mime makes it ridiculously weak to such a type of attacks, even including the Fighting-type Seismic Toss.

"…Psychic."

"Charizard! Dragon Rage!" cries Red.

After taking a second hit from Psychic, Charizard's second Dragon Rage bursts on Mr. Mime and knocks it out, albeit with his own HP dropping to a bit above zero.

"…Not bad, challenger." says Sabrina, "But I have already sighted it. And moreover, there is no reason that you cannot even pass my first…Now it is getting hard."

When Sabrina sends out her second--a Hypno, Red switches back to Snorlax.

"Snorlax, use Rollout!"

"…Future Sight."

Before Snorlax runs Hypno over for the first time, the Hypnosis Pokémon release a red beam of light into the ceiling, not seemingly damaging Snorlax at all. What does Sabrina mean by executing such a useless move?

"…And focus yourself on your opponent. Don't attack." commands Sabrina subsequently.

Centralizing all its focus on Snorlax's movement, Hypno just hops about to try to dodge being rolled over, sometimes with the help of its psychic power. In fact, it could easily hypnotize Snorlax if Snorlax were looking at it instead of rolling with his eyes temporarily disabled.

After turns, Hypno is a bit tired while Snorlax's velocity keeps shooting up. It seems absolutely that Hypno is getting steamrolled flat until the beam hidden in the ceiling suddenly strikes down onto Snorlax, not only injuring him badly but stopping his movement.

"…Psyshock."

Hypno waves its pendulum and a surge of psychic comes out of it, digging into Snorlax. The materialized surge cuts Snorlax's HP down to null, making him falling onto his back with swirly eyes.

"Oh, Snorlax, you take a rest! Eevee, I choose you! Sand Attack!"

Despite the clean floor, Eevee summons dust in the air around her hind legs and kicks it at Hypno's face, lowering its accuracy.

"…Future Sight." Commands Sabrina.

Hypno fires a beam of light into the ceiling before its face is covered in dust.

"And Shadow Ball!" commands Red.

Eevee creates a purple blob in front of her and hurls it at Hypno. Hypno hardly has the chance to dodge it since its vision is hindered by Eevee's Sand Attack.

"…Calm Mind."

After cleaning its eyes, Hypno sits down and begins to meditate, raising its Special Attack and Special Defense.

"Eevee, it's chance! Give Hypno a Sand Attack shower!"

Eevee assembles more dust from the air and kicks it onto Hypno's face. After Hypno finishes its meditation seconds later, its head is entirely masked in dust like a sand sculpture.

"…Psyshock." commands Sabrina.

Hypno briefly cleans its face before it releases materialized psychic waves from its pendulum, but Eevee dodges it using her agility and Hypno's lowered accuracy.

"Shadow Ball!" commands Red.

A second Shadow Ball lands on Hypno, and to Red's jubilation, it results in a critical hit! Hypno fall over in defeat, its head still veiled in dust.

Nonetheless, Eevee is subsequently jumped by Hypno's second Future Sight, fainting her and rendering the second part of the match a draw.

"Why. Never have I sighted such an unexpected battling style." says Sabrina with a surprised look, "I feel my brain is pumped with emotion. It's my last now. I want to taste more things out of my prediction! Alakazam!"

A yellow Pokémon with long moustache lands in front of Red, holding a spoon in either of its hands. It is said that the IQ of an Alakazam is times as that of a human being. Possessing extraordinary memory capacity, it is said to never forget anything it once remembered. Notwithstanding this, never can an Alakazam learn every Pokémon move, nor has its species threatened the dominant position of human beings in the Pokémon world.

"Alakazam has high Special Attack and Speed, but with rather low Defense." thinks Red, "Which one should I bring?…Yeah, this one might do!"

Red throws out another Poké Ball, and it is Chansey, his new fellow from Safari Zone, much to Sabrina's amazement. It should be noted that Sabrina has seen through Red's on-hand party via her psychic ability, and she expected him to send out other Pokémon such as Lapras. What is more, in most people's impression, Chansey is merely a doctor who specializes in healing. How high the battle power on earth can a Chansey have?

"Chansey, Minimize!" commands Red.

Chansey growls as she starts to shrink her body.

"Alakazam, Psycho Cut!" commands Sabrina.

Alakazam spins its spoons and two blade-shaped waves comes out of them, boomeranging at Chansey. However, Chansey dodges them with her shrunken body with luck as her name indicates.

"Another Minimize!" commands Red.

After a second turn of Minimize, Chansey has raised her evasiveness to three times as in her basic stage. It is very unlikely now for Alakazam to land a single hit on her…

"Alakazam, Telekinesis!" commands Sabrina after thinking for a while.

Alakazam shoots psychic waves from its spoons and drifts Chansey slowly into midair, ignoring her evasion. As she stays afloat, Chansey feels that her body is gradually out of her control.

"And Psycho Cut!" commands Sabrina.

While under the effect of Telekinesis, all moves from a Pokémon's opponent are ensured to hit. The psychic boomerangs jabs Chansey's plump body relentlessly, making her growl in pain.

"Chansey, use Soft-boiled!"

Softboiled is a signature move of Chansey. Normally, the user produces eggs to heal its allies. But this move is also a variation of Recover when used on the user itself, where the user directly restores half of its maximum HP…if Chansey could successfully execute the move. The additional effect of Telekinesis completely disables Chansey's actions, making her vulnerable to any attacks from Alakazam however weak they are.

"Alakazam, Psycho Cut!"

Chansey's body is slashed hard by Alakazam's psychic blades, decreasing her HP down to the red line.

"Alakazam, Psycho Cut!" commands Sabrina as she senses the coming of victory.

However, the mischievous god teases them again. The timer of Telekinesis expires before Alakazam's Psycho Cut takes effect on Chansey. The Egg Pokémon is dropped back to the ground, restoring her evasiveness status. The missed Psycho Cut hits the wall behind Red and bursts into oblivion.

"Time for revenge! Chansey, Soft-boiled!"

Chansey's body glows white as she recovers from her injury.

"We too. Alakazam, Recover!"

Alakazam's body shines as it restores its energy as well. In fact, the move Telekinesis is energy-consuming like weight-lifting. After all, it is an indisputable science law that energy cannot be produced out of nowhere.

After both Pokémon finish their respective moves, Sabrina orders immediately, "Telekinesis!"

It would be an unfavorable situation for Red if the foe's Alakazam hangs on indefinitely with a combination of Telekinesis and Recover. Despite her tank-high Special Defense, Chansey cannot hold long with her fragile physical Defense before Alakazam's covering move Psycho Cut…

…If our hero just stood there watching!

"Chansey, Double Slap!"

Before she can be lifted high, Chansey sticks out her arm and slaps hard in Alakazam's face. The sudden strike dumbs Alakazam like a deer caught in headlights. The process of Telekinesis is inevitably canceled and Chansey is dropped back to the ground.

"Chance! Chansey, consecutive Double Slaps!" shouts Red.

Chansey's arms strikes Alakazam like hail, forcing it to move backwards as Chansey steps forwards. To Red's satisfaction, Chansey cleverly neutralizes her low physical Attack by close combats against a low-Defensed opponent. Before Alakazam returns to normal, its HP has declined to the critical point.

"Now for the final blow! Double-Edge!"

Chansey tackles Alakazam with her whole body, bumping the foe into the wall behind Sabrina. Alakazam struggles off the wall before it gives out and breaks down, never to stand up again.

"Ya-ho! We won!" Red jumps up high with his fist rising.

"Ahhh, you fought hard, Alakazam. Come back." Sabrina recalls Alakazam with a disappointed look befor she walks up to Red, "What a stirring battle we've had! I've prepared well for all the countermeasures for your moves out of my psychic power, but your battling styles just beat my foresights! I haven't had such a battle since I possessed psychic abilities!"

Wait! Does Sabrina usually talk in this way?

Red looks up to Sabrina and sees a warm, smiling face, in sharp contrast to the one when they first met.

"The loss really shocks me, but a loss is a loss. You earned the Marsh Badge, Red!" Sabrina hands over a yellow, round badge with concentric circles to the newly winning challenger.

"Thanks. You changed quite a lot, Sabrina!" says Red.

"And you may have this TM04. It's Calm Mind. It raises the user's Special stats in a short meditation."

"Thank you."

"Honestly, I didn't use to be myself as what I am." says Sabrina, "Until the day I bent the spoon. Since then, fewer and fewer people were willing to get close to me. They took me as a psychic freak and kept far away from me. After years, only those who have psychic power as me, as you've seen, agree to be my company. I hate being alone, but I'm afraid that you'll hold bias against me like those ordinary people. I'm sorry for turning a such a cold face to you, Red."

"Not at all, Sabrina. I never thought you were a so-called 'psychic freak'." says Red, "In my opinion, you are just another boss of a level on my way to the Pokémon League."

"Thank you for talking with me in a usual way." smiles Sabrina, "I've decided that I'll seal my psychic power when taking on future challengers. It's too boring to foresee everything before they can actually happen, after all. Life is colorful just because of its unpredictability, isn't it?"

"Haha, I'm with you, Sabrina!" laughs Red.

"And have you decided your next Gym? You only have 2 Badges left to gain, don't you?" asks Sabrina.

"Um…Maybe it'll be the one on Cinnabar Island, I think."

"Then prepare yourself. The Gym Leader there is a queer old guy who loves to confuse challengers with quizzes. The difficulty of his quizzes even surpasses my psychic power."

"OK. I've decided to go there. By the way, Sabrina. Don't hide your good-looking smiles like a robot anymore!"

The Psychics inside Saffron Gym begin to gabble after Red's departure.

Psychic 1: "Listen, listen! Our Leader has totally changed since dat red-capped challenger!"

Psychic 2: "She has! Never has she smiled to anyone until that chap named Red! Did he exert some unknown psychics on our Leader?"

Psychic 1: "No way! I didn't sense any psychic power on him during my battle!"

Psychic 3: "Perhaps…That little lad has that kind of interest in our Leader?"

Psychic 1: "Whaddya think you're talking about?! Are you looking down upon Sabrina-sama?"

Psychics: "*Tittle…tattle…*"

Sabrina (in Gym Leader's room): "…I've heard all of you. You gossip gasbags…"
--End of Epsiode 25--
Save File:

[2:06 PM, Apr 4, Pallet Town]
With three quarters of his Badge case filled, Red is hit with a feeling of homesick. It was three weeks ago when Red last made contact with his mother. He does not want to make his mother worry about him while he is away for long. Thus, he flies home on Charizard and reunites with her.

"Red! You're back!" The woman opens the door in happiness to see her son.

"I'm home, mom!"

"It's been a long time since your departure. How's everything going?" asks mom.

"Everything's OK. I've already had 6 Badges with me. I only have two steps in front of myself to the Pokémon League!" says Red ambitiously.

"It's a good thing to have a goal, but nothing's more important than health." says mom, "Since you're home, mind as well rest here for days before you go on. Your Pokémon must be tired, too."

"Thanks, mom, but I have to be quick. Maybe one day is enough." says Red.

At that moment, Red's doorbell rings again. He opens the door and it is Professor Oak.

"Red! I saw you flying back, so I come to see you." says the old professor, "How much have you filled in your Pokédex? Can I see it?"

"Sure." Red shows his Pokédex to Professor Oak.

"Hmm…You've seen 110 kinds and owned 14 kinds. You're getting on the right track! Try to find and catch other species, Red!" The professor makes a brief evaluation on Red's quest.

"Have you heard from Blue? How's he doing?" asks Red.

"He phoned me hours ago that he has already obtained six Badges. How many Badges do you have, Red?"

"Six, too. I might as well set off for my 7th Badge tomorrow. I can't let Blue monopolize the eligibility to fight the Elite Four!" says Red.

"Oh, I know! Someone called Leaf went to me after you and Blue started. Have you met her?" asks the professor.

"By the way, she visited ours, too! She ran away quickly in search of you after I told her that you had gone!" adds mom.

"We made a quick meet in Celadon City. But I have no idea where she is now." answers Red.

"Red. I have a feeling you should cherish her." says mom.

"What are you talking about, mom? It sounds like…" Red blushes.

"Because she seems to be deeply concerned about you. She looks resolved to see you."

"Haha, I'm with your mother in this way. I can sense her feeling during her visit to my lab!" laughs Professor Oak.

"Hehe, you mean it was all my fault to run away from her in Celadon City…" smiles Red bitterly.

[12:20 PM, Apr 5, Route 21]
The next day, Red sets off for Cinnabar Island on his Lapras via Route 21. When he walks to the beach south of the town, he notices that there is a large patch of tall grass in the east, fenced off by a line of wooden rail, with a sign reading "Danger: No entry". He remembers that the rail was set short after the incident 6 years ago.

Before his arrival in Cinnabar Island, Red battles some Swimmers and Fishermen on the islands of Route 21, mainly gaining Exp. Points for his newer team members.

[9:19 AM, Apr 8, Cinnabar Gym]
Cinnabar Island is an island town located right south of Pallet Town. It was formed when a volcano erupted long, long ago, generating the land out of lava. The volcano is still active in the present day and erupts periodically. However, the town has established consummate measurements in case of eruptions, and the town survived all recent eruptions without any life and property losses. Cinnabar Island is currently a holiday resort, with hundreds of visitors spending their breaks and holidays on the beach surrounding the town.

But our hero is here not for his holiday, but for his newest Gym challenge, after days of training preparations on Routes 21 and 20. Most of his opponents were Swimmers, but he also took on some Bird Keepers and Picnickers on the islets.

Cinnabar Gym is the most well-known landmark of Cinnabar Island. It is built at the foot of the largest local volcano, called Cinnabar Volcano. It has experienced several times of eruption since its foundation, but it survived all of them as if a miracle.

At the door to the Gym, Red finds that it is locked by an electric lock with a multi-touch LCD screen. There is a note sticking next to the lock, reading:

Red presses the 'Answer Question' on the screen as instructed, and his question is:

Red takes out his Trainer's Card from his pocket. The card displays that the last 4 digits are 4238. Red enters the digits and presses "Enter".

"You are absolutely correct! Go on through!"

With a fanfare, the lock snaps open and the door slowly moves sideways, revealing the inside of the Gym, before locking shut again after he is inside. Before his entry, Red notices that there is a tiny camera on the lock panel.

Haha, it must be that the camera has taken a photo of Red and recognized his identity from the Pokémon League's database. The question on the entrance is only a test of a Trainer's honesty.

The whole inside of Cinnabar is divided into a number of battle rooms, connected by electric doors to form a zigzag corridor. A Trainer is waiting in the center of each room, respectively. According to the instructions on the wall near the exit, the challengers can bypass a Trainer for free by correctly answering the quiz on a machine in a corner of each battle room. However, they have ONLY ONE chance to get the answer correct. As long as they give a wrong answer, the machine will require a password for unlocking the door which only the Trainer knows (and the password changes every time the door is unlocked by the Trainer to prevent cheating). Of course, the Trainer will not enter the password unless the challengers beat him.

Red tries to answer the first question only to be left dumb-headed by the text on the screen:

Red found some wild Mankey and Pidgey on Route 3, and he also battled Trainers' Ekans and Spearow. But the problem is, one species belonging to a Trainer does not necessarily indicate its local inhabitance, nor does an unseen slot necessarily negates it. Therefore, it is only for sure that A and C are wrong answers. There is only a 50% chance that Red can conserve his energy with no cost. He makes a bet and selects D.

"You are absolutely correct! Go on through!"

The door to the next room opens with a fanfare chime from the quiz machine.

The question in the second room is:

Red remembers that he entered 5 different chambers while he was in Rock tunnel, thus pressing D without doubt.

"Sorry. Bad call! The correct answer is A. Please defeat the Trainer to unlock the door."

Red is not convinced by the result. Yet there is nothing that he can do except fighting the Super Nerd in the room. The difficulty is not in defeating his opponents but the conservation of health.

The question in the third room is:

"Caterpie can learn Tackle, String Shot and Bug Bite; Metapod inherits all of the moves from its pre-evolution plus Harden; Ditto can temporarily learn an opponent's moves via Transform. I don't know what Porygon is, but an unknown choice is most likely to be a wrong choice." thinks Red, who then presses A.

"You are absolutely correct! Go on through!"

The question in the fourth room is:

Red takes a brief view of all TMs he has obtained and fails to make out the correct answer. He makes a wild guess and presses C.

"Sorry. Bad Call! The correct answer is B. Please defeat the Trainer to unlock the door."

With a sigh, Red beats the Burglar inside the room and makes the man unlock the door for him.

The question in the fifth room is:

This problem does not baffle our hero as he noticed the introduction of the Pokémon Tower on a stone tablet near the entrance. The tower was erected 153 years ago. Undoubtedly, the answer is B.

"You are absolutely correct! Go on through!"

In the last but one room, the screen displays an additional line of text.

Red's brain cells are overloaded just reading the problem itself. Why does the Gym Leader have his challengers answer such a quiz when they might not have been to the so-called "Pokémon Mansion"? Do they have to search the mansion thoroughly before they can get the right answer? Red makes a rash decision by pressing C…

"You are absolutely correct! Go on through!"

The doors open to Red's amazement, revealing the innermost room where the Gym Leader awaits. The Gym Leader is a bald old man in white lab coat, with a pair of sunglasses.

"Welcome to Cinnabar Gym!" greets the Gym Leader, "I'm Blaine, the red-hot Leader of Cinnabar Gym! Hah, what do you think of my quizzes for you? They're awfully fun, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are! They are soooo fun that my brain has burnt down for countless times!"

"Hah! I just want everything to burn up like fire, including the brains of challengers!" guffaws Blaine, "Not only are my quizzes burning, but also my wild and fervid Pokémon! With their company, I would incinerate everyone who dares challenge me to ashes! If you don't have Burn Heals, then just you wait to be heated into plasma!"

"All right! I'm here just to burn myself up! Your Volcano Badge will definitely be mine, Mr. Blaine!"

"Hah! Watch your hands before you can reach my Badge! Go, Rapidash! Burn 'em down for me!"

"Lapras, I choose you! Hydro Pump!"

A high-pressured stream of water bursts from Lapras' mouth, showering on Rapidash.

"Hah! I'll boil your water into vapor! Rapidash, Flame Charge!"

Rapidash rears up and neighs, before it charges at high speed at Lapras with its body covered in flames. Though Lapras is too slow on land to dodge Rapidash's attack, her high Defense and Special Defense makes her withstand Rapidash's Fire-type attack without too much hardship.

"Lapras, Hydro Pump!" commands Red.

However, Lapras is not that lucky this time as her Hydro Pump is dodged by a speed-boosted Rapidash. The flame on Rapidash's body blazes brighter as its speed is increased by its previous Flame Charge.

"Hah! Let's see how you can extinguish the igneous fire my Rapidash has ignited!" says Blaine.

"Lapras, Confuse Ray!" commands Red.

Lapras opens her mouth and a bright yellow orb flies out of it, floating in the air towards Rapidash. Rapidash tries to avoid the orb, but the orb hits it anyway, before it bursts into oblivion. Confused by the light orb, Rapidash lets out a neigh and shakes its head irregularly, its hooves kicking about.

"Hah! Let's see how you can dodge Lapras' attack under confusion!" Red mimics Blaine's tone before he orders a move, "Lapras, Hydro Pump!"

The penetrating coolness of Hydro Pump instantaneously washes away all of Rapidash's HP. It slumps onto the battlefield, its eyes spinning in swirls.

"Hah! It's just a minor setback! I've been a scientist for 40 years, and there's no reason for me to give up against difficuities!" says Blaine, "Go, Magmar! May the sparks of fire set the entire prairie ablaze!"

"OK, Lapras, switch out! Charizard, I choose you!"

The battle continues as Charizard's and Magmar's eyes meet. Who will be the last winner?
--End of Epsiode 26--
Save File:

[11:22 AM, Apr 8, Cinnabar Gym]
"Charizard, Air Slash!"

Charizard flaps his wings quickly and releases multiple ratchet-shaped pieces of solidified air at Magmar. Magmar flinches as it protects its face and move backwards.

"Charizard, Air Slash!" commands Red.

Charizard's second Air Slash makes Magmar flinch again.

"Charizard, Air Slash!"

Unfortunately, Charizard's third Air Slash fails to unnerve Magmar. Instead, it runs up to Charizard, clenches its fist in sparks, and uppercuts Charizard with a Thunder Punch! Charizard is nearly going to scream in pain but he manages to hold his breath and return to normal, awaiting Red's next directions.

"Charizard, Dragon Pulse!" commands Red.

"Magmar, Thunder Punch!" commands Blaine.

"Charizard, fly into the air to avoid the attack!" commands Red.

Charizard flies up while generating the fire ball in his mouth. Magmar tries to punch him but is unable to reach Charizard's height. Charizard then launches the fire ball in the shape of a dragon at Magmar, defeating it.

"Hah! This battle ain't gonna boring!" laughs Blaine, "I haven't been pushed into the corner like this way! Great, that's so great! Arcanine, it's your task now!"

A large canine Pokémon enters the battleground. Though it is closely related to dogs, it has thick mane around its neck like a lion. It activates its Ability, Intimidate, upon meeting its first opponent. The name of the Ability originates from the metaphor that someone frightens his opponents with a ferocious look or overcome them with a majestic appearance, making them less likely to attack. However, the Ability always automatically activates when the user enters the battle, whether his opponent is scared or not. Moreover, it only affects physical Attack, and is notoriously ineffective against special attackers.

"Charizard, use Air Slash!" commands Red.

"Arcanine, Extreme Speed!" commands Blaine.

While Charizard is flapping his wings, Arcanine rushes up to him and leaps into the air in incredible speed as if teleportation, stunning him in astonishment.

"Hah! Arcanine, Thunder Fang!"

Before landing, Arcanine bites down on Charizard with its teeth sparkling in electricity, pulling him to the ground. The Electric-type move adds to Magmar's previous Thunder Punch, cutting Charizard's HP down to near zero. To make matters worse, the move activates its additional effect, paralyzing the flying dragon, forcing Red to recall him. He then sends out Lapras.

"Lapras, Confuse Ray!" commands Red.

"Hah! Who'll trip over the same rock twice! Arcanine, Extreme Speed!" commands Blaine.

Arcanine darts towards Lapras and gets close to her all of a sudden.

"Thunder Fang!" commands Blaine subsequently.

Arcanine bites down on Lapras' neck with its conducting teeth.

"Lapras, Hydro Pump!" commands Red.

Lapras tries to shower Arcanine with high-pressured water, yet Arcanine is too close for her Hydro Pump to hit.

"Arcanine, Thunder Fang!"

The second Thunder Fang hits Lapras' unprotected neck, knocking her out.

"Fine. Lapras, take a rest! Pikachu, I choose you! Thunder!"

Pikachu fires a beam of electricity into the sky…

"Arcanine, Overheat!"

Arcanine roars as it releases searing heat waves from its fur, covering the whole battleground, damaging Pikachu severely and makes Red and Blaine sweat heavily. However, Pikachu's Thunder then strikes Arcanine on its back, also damaging it.

"Pikachu, Thunder!" commands Red.

"Arcanine, Flare Blitz!" commands Blaine.

Arcanine's body bursts into flames and it charges at Pikachu at breakneck speed.

"Pikachu, dodge it with Quick Attack!"

Upon firing the Thunder into the air, Pikachu runs sideways, leaving a trail of energy behind him. However, his movement is still too slow before Arcanine, who tackles him with all-out force, sending him bumping into the wall behind Red and knocking him out. The Thunder also misses as it bashes the ground instead of its intended target.

"Argh! This is not my day!" says Red a little regretfully, "But I can still fight! Go, Snorlax!"

When Snorlax is sent out, his weight makes the battlefield shake like an earthquake.

"Snorlax, Rollout!" commands Red.

"Arcanine, Flare Blitz!" commands Blaine.

Snorlax rolls towards Arcanine while the canine Pokémon charges at him with its fur burning. The attacks clash and creates a miniature explosion, and both Pokémon receive damage. However, Snorlax continues accelerating while Arcanine has to stop for a while.

"Arcanine, Overheat!" commands Blaine.

Arcanine roars and it heats up the whole room, but the temperature's highest degree seems to significantly drop as Red and Blaine sweat much less than before.

"Looks like our opponent is running outta fuel! Snorlax, finish Arcanine off!"

Inflicted by recoil damage from Flare Blitz, Arcanine ends up run over inexorably by Snorlax's self-boosted Rollout. It collapses onto the ground with its limbs extending, lets out a deep growl, and faints.

"Snorlax, we've won! Now halt it!" cries Red.

Hearing the news of victory, Snorlax terminates his Rollout by actively bumping himself into a solid wall. He then stands up clapping his hands in joy, but is recalled shortly after.

"Hah! How could my trump card lose? Ahhh, I've burned down to ashes before my opponent! Nope, not even ashes left! I have to say goodbye to you, my dear Volcano Badge!" chortles Blaine, before he calms down and rewards Red with a flame-shaped badge and a TM50, explaining, "This Technical Machine contains Overheat! The user attacks everything around it with red-hot blaze, turning all of its opponents into the plasma state! Isn't it a horrible move?"

"Yes, it is. It makes my whole body dry like jerk!" says Red.

"Hah! It's good in everything except that it has a slight drawback. The effect will worsen if it's been used for too many times. But it's powerful and well worth it!"

"You're such an optimist, Mr. Blaine! Even in front of your loss!"

"Hah! It's thanks to my 40-year experience as a scientist! You know, you could encounter various kinds of errors and mistakes you can't explain during a science research. Without optimism and perseverance, I might quit years ago! Why should I make a fuss of a single Badge! Happiness is the best cosmetic! Laugh once and you turn 10 years younger! Don't you think so?"

"Oh, no, your laughter is … so contagious, ha, ha, Mr. Blaine. Ha, ha, haha…"

"Hah! Laughter is the most precious treasure of humans! Those who laugh more live longer than those who pull a long face! I still have decades to go before I lie in my grave!"

"Mr. Blaine, could you kindly hold your laugh? I can't endure it any longer! Ha, ha, hahaha…"

As a result, the elder and the youngster burst into cachinnation for a total of 10 minutes, spreading the uproar across the whole Gym like thunder and lightning!
--End of Epsiode 27--
Save File:

[12:44 PM, Apr 8, Cinnabar Island Pokémon Center]
After defeating Blaine's Arcanine at the cost of three of his fellows, Red swiftly scurries to the Pokémon Center and heal them there. After having lunch, Red is now thinking about the last quiz in Cinnabar Gym. According to the answer, there are 4 books of diaries in the Pokémon Mansion on this island. Where is the location of this mansion, and why should Blaine leave the question to challengers?

After reflecting for tens of minutes, Red decided to find it out by himself. He rises up and walks towards the exit…

"Bang!" The door opens and Red bumps his head into someone entering the hall, sending him falling onto his back (or rather backpack). He rubs his aching bottom after letting out an "Ouch!"

"I'm sorry! Are you all right? I'll help you up!" A pair of hands extends from in front.

"Thank you." Red rises onto his feet holding on to the hands, before he suddenly notices the face of the owner of the hands.

"Le…Leaf?" cries Red in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"Oh, no, Re-chan❤. How could you turn such a cold face to your lifesaver?" Leaf displays a shy face with her hands holding on to her cheeks.

"You…" Red is completely unable to burst his anger, "Enough of it. Would you mind telling me why you're here, please?"

"This…" Leaf pauses for a while with her face blushing red-hot, "Honestly, I set off my journey all because of you, Re-chan…"

"All because of me? I don't get you, Leaf. What have I done to attract you to me?"

"You remember the day you saved me on Route 21, don't you? Do you know why I should be there?" asks Leaf.

"Hmm…nope, not at all." Red shakes his head.

"I hardly had any friends when I was young." says Leaf, "Before I met you, I spent all my playing time by myself. I always aspired to have an intimate friend to kill time with me, whether human or Pokémon."

"It was impossible! Why should someone like you be void of friends?"

"But it was just the truth." says Leaf, "Bored of playing near my house, I secretly slips away to Route 21 out of my parent's attention. I met so many kinds of wild Pokémon there, including Rattata, Pidgey and Tangela…They were friendly to me and never hurt me, even if I was a stranger. I soon made friends with them and resorted to their nest every week, until the day of accident."

"So how could you fall into water? The ground there is not that slippery, is it?"

"That day, I was sitting on a slope on the brink of the woods on Route 21, watching into the distance, not realizing it was getting late. When I saw the sun setting, I got up for home only to lose my balance and fell into the sea below. I couldn't swim so I had to call for help, despite nobody seemed to be around. The rest is already clear, you know."

"Yes, that was so close." says Red, "How long did you spend to recover?"

"Just for a few days." says Leaf, "And after I returned to normal, I knew your address from mama and went there for you. To tell the truth, I was indeed afraid of getting rejected by you when I suggested we be friends."

"Haha, seems that my experience is similar to you, Leaf!" says Red, "I enjoy making friends, too, though I also spent most of my time solitarily before meeting you. Perhaps I'm highly adapted to being alone, as a single manga volume would prop my whole day!"

"Oh, never thought we share a lot in common!" says Leaf, "And Re-chan. Do you remember the day when I broke my knee while we played together?"

"Hmm…" A flashback glints across Red's mind.

[3:23 PM, Jun 1, Pallet Town]
One afternoon, Red was invited to play by Leaf in the yard.

"Re-chan! Let's have a running race today, shall we?" suggested Leaf.

"Yeah! I'm a fast runner!" said Red.

"Then our finish line will be that tree!" Leaf pointed to a tall, single tree feet away in front, "Whoever reaches there first will be the winner!"

"All right! I won't lose to a girl!"

The kids walked to approximately 160 feet from the tree and prepared to dash.

"On our marks…ready, GO!" The kids sprinted forwards upon Red's starting command.

Possessing quick feet, Red was filled with confidence that he would get the gold medal. Seconds later and he was only less than 20 feet to the finishing line…

"Ouch!" Red heard a cry behind.

Red turned around, and found that Leaf had fallen over! He quickly ran up to her and asked her caringly, "Are you all right, Lea-chan? I'll get you up!"

"Ah, tha-thank you. Ouch!" There sounds something wrong with Leaf's voice.

Red took a glimpse down, and found that Leaf's knee was bleeding!

"Why, Lea-chan. How did you abrade your knee?"

"Seems I tripped over a stone…Ouch! It hurts!"

"Hold on a minute." Red helped Leaf up with her holding on to his shoulder, "I help you to under that tree and you sit there. Mom told me that one should not be under the sun with skin abrasion. You'll be fine soon, I promise!"

"Thank you, Re-chan. Ouch…"

After resting his playmate under the tree, Red carefully examined her abrasion and found that it was superficial. He took out a wet towel from his pocket and wrapped it softly around her knee. During his first aid, some wild Pokémon got close and watched at them curiously, but Red asked them to keep off in order not to hurt Leaf accidentally.

"And it's done! I'll call your parents here, Lea-chan!" said Red after he finished everything.

"No, Re-chan. Don't go! Stay with me, will you?"

"But your abrasion…"

"I dunno why, but I feel it's not that hurt as long as you're with me."

"All right. I won't go." Red sat down beside Leaf.

After a while, Red felt it was getting boring to do nothing, so he suggested, "Hey, Lea-chan! How about we telling jokes? One won't feel hurt when he laughs!"

"OK. What's your joke?"

"Once upon a time, a Geodude met another Geodude. What did it say to the other?"

"Um…" Leaf thought for a while before she gave up and shook her head.

"It said, 'Let's rock'!"

"Haha! That's funny!" said Leaf, "And here's mine! A conceited man liked to tell others he is a star. What did he finally turn into?"

"'I'm a star'…I know! He turned into a Starmie!"

"Haha, you're right! Now your second joke!"

"A man fetched something far from his home. What was that thing?"

"Something far-fetched…Aha, it must be a Farfetch'd!"

"Bingo! You're smart!" Red raised his thumb up.

……

Unknowingly, the sun was setting in the west, and burning clouds covered the sky, like a Flamethrower from a Charizard.

"It's getting late. How's your knee, Lea-chan?" asked Red.

"…It's fine now! Thank you, Re-chan!" Leaf stood up without much difficulty after trying to move her leg, "Let's go home now, or mama will blame us!"

"Wait, Lea-chan. Hold on to my shoulder. Your wound hasn't fully recovered, and I can't let you fall over again!"

Red sent Leaf home with her holding onto him, watches her reunite with her parents and close the door after waving goodbye, and jogged home.

[1:49 PM, Apr 8, Cinnabar Island Pokémon Center]
"And that must be it!" says Red after he completed his reflection.

"Except for one more thing!" says Leaf, "You said to me on our way home, 'Even though you're a girl and you wounded your knee, you're strong and brave and didn't snivel. I like it!'"

"Eh? Did I ever say such things? I…" Red blushes with his heart beating.

"Maybe it was just your unintentional speech, but I keep it in my heart." says Leaf, "Our moving to Viridian City was too abrupt for me to ask you for your phone, and that's the reason we lost contact for years. On February 27th, I heard that two Trainers from Pallet Town were going on their trip, and one of them is Professor Oak's grandson. I guessed the other is you, and thus I decided to set off for my journey with my Pokémon as well."

"Mom told me that you once visited my house that day, so you must be with a Pokémon then." says Red, "But why did you wait until February 27th?"

"I only obtained my Trainer's Card on 26th, despite I met my first Pokémon early on 14th." says Leaf, "It was an Eevee my mama brought home from a friend. We both developed a liking to each other, and Eevee played with me in my bedroom every day. I begged mama to give Eevee to me the day I was qualified, and she agreed."

"So you hurried to Pallet Town with Eevee the instant you heard of me, right? I heard from Professor Oak that you also visited him."

"Of course! And he gave me a Pokédex, too! Look!" Leaf shows her blue Pokédex to Red.

"You have a Pokédex! How many species have you seen?" asks Red.

"The Pokédex says there're 104, but I believe there should be more." says Leaf, "And in order to find you, I kept asking local citizens whenever I reached a new city or town, whether they'd seen a boy in red cap and jacket, blue jeans and a yellow backpack. When I arrived in Cerulean City, someone told me you'd gone north for a PokéManiac named Bill…"

"He is a PokéManiac! So crazy that he got combined with a Clefairy!" says Red, "And you have a VS. Seeker, too. Did you get it from Bill?"

"Yes. I tried to follow you up north, but I was slowed down by the Trainers on Route 24." says Leaf, "The time I beat their leader, I spot a figure in red running towards Cerulean City, but I wasn't sure if it was you. I briefly visited Bill's cottage and he told me you should have returned to Cerulean. And he gave me the VS. Seeker as a meeting gift."

"And finally you got me at Celadon City, didn't you?"

"Mhm! I was so excited to catch you, and I had a lot of things I want to talk to you, but you were too fast…"

"I'm sorry, Leaf. I must have been too nervous. You suddenly jumped me by covering my eyes, and you seemed to be trying to show me something on you when you bent down…"

"Show you what on me?"

"Don't make me say it out! It's too embarrassing!" cries Red waving his arms blushing.

"Tee-hee❤!"

"Enough of your mischievous trick…" says Red with his eyes half-closed.

"I'm sorry, Re-chan. I was too enthusiastic to think of you…" apologizes Leaf.

"It's me who should say sorry. I shouldn't have left you behind chasing down those Team Rocket crooks! And by the way, do you collect Gym Badges, too?"

"Yes. I've got 6 Badges except the Volcano Badge and the Earth Badge."

"Amazing! I only have an extra Volcano Badge than you. I suggest most of the challengers just quit against those brain-overloading quizzes. What I care about is, the Gym Leader mentioned a burnt mansion, with some books of diaries in it. I dunno what he means."

"Ah, it must be the abandoned mansion I saw when I just arrived in Cinnabar Island!" says Leaf, "I didn't take notice of it at first, but you intrigued me! How about we exploring there together, Re-chan?"

"Sure. I have to find out the answer! Let's go!"

"That's great, Re-chan!" Leaf spreads her arms out and gives Red a bearhug.

"How soft…Wait! What am I thinking about!" cries Red in his mind as he perceives the strange looks from the crowds around the hall at him and Leaf.
--End of Epsiode 28--
Save File:

[3:00 PM, Apr 8, Pokémon Mansion]
Exiting the Pokémon Center, Red and Leaf arrive at an old mansion in the northwest of Cinnabar Island. This mansion is said to be abandoned since an unknown time. Chars on the wall, broken window glass, as well as dilapidated roof, are solid pieces of evidence that the mansion has undergone a fire. As time passes by, ivies have clung tight and high onto its wall, claiming their seizure of the mansion. There used to be a brand hung above the main door, but the words on it are unreadable due to decomposition.

Red steps close to the door and pushes it lightly. The rusty door leaves open into inside with a high-pitched squeak. Some rust on the hinges flakes off the surface and falls to the ground.

Inside the mansion is a wide and broad hall, with two lines of pillars towering along the sides of the main corridor. Shabby as the building is, the pillars keep standing firm like sentry soldiers. Glass fragments lie on the ground under the windows due to wind and rain, and some windows frames are shaking unsteadily, seemingly to crumble in any time. Water drops fall from the holes up from the ceiling with a "drip, drip, drip". Some of the passageways have been blocked by fallen cement blocks. The environment is especially creepy when wind blows from outside the window at night.

"Errh!" Red gasps upon seeing a figure entering a room via a hallway in the northwestern corner.

"What's the matter, Re-chan?"

"I'm sure I saw someone there!" Red points to the position where the figure was, "I can hardly believe this mansion is haunted, too."

"Hoho, you're afraid of ghosts even though you're a man?" mocks Leaf.

"Tch! Everyone has his fears!"

"Come on. Let's go and take a look. You'll protect me, won't you?" Leaf winks at red in an impish manner.

"Huuuh…All right." Red sighs and steps quietly with Leaf at the room, sticking his body onto the wall to avoid unwanted alerts.

"…Phew. It's only an ordinary adventurer." Red lets out a relief when he notices the true identity of that figure.

"Just the same as us. Let's go now." says Leaf, before something falls onto her head and makes her cry out with an "Eek!"

The Trainer inside the room is taken so aback by the sudden scream that he nearly bumps his head into a shelf. He burst into anger when he spots the duo outside the room.

"Grrr…You scared me! Now, battle!" The Trainer takes out two Poké Balls simultaneously and tosses them out, releasing an Arbok and a Raticate.

"Seems we have some work! Pikachu, I choose you!"

"I'll help you, Re-chan! Queeny, let's go!"

Leaf's nicknamed Pokémon turns out to be a Nidoqueen, kept in a Safari Ball.

"Humph! Go on, Arbok, Sludge Bomb! Raticate, Crunch!"

Arbok opens its mouth and fires explosive sludge at Pikachu, while Raticate reveals its large fang and attempts to bite on Queeny's arm.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" commands Red.

"Queeny, we Thunderbolt, too!" commands Leaf.

The double Thunderbolts converge into a blinding and mighty beam of lightning and strike down on both the opponents hard before their attacks land, defeating them in a single moment. Calling back his fainted Pokémon, the Trainer flees without leaving a word.

After recalling their respective partner, Red asks Leaf, "You've been to Safari Zone, haven't you?"

"Yes." answers Leaf, "Battles are not allowed inside, so I totally relied on bait to attract them. I had almost wasted all my 2 hours there if I hadn't caught Queeny."

"Your situation was better than me." says Red, "I'd been chased down to death by Duduo and Tauros!"

"Tee-hee! Actually, the most interesting thing wasn't hunting Pokémon but something other!"

"Really?"

"While I was resting at a station in the park, an old man came up to me. He gesticulated to me and jabbered in a way I couldn't understand."

"Was he insane?"

"Nope. He is in fact the safari park warden!"

"Hah? The owner of a park can screw up his own stuff?"

"I took out a notebook and had him write down what he wanted to express, and not until that did I realize he left his Gold Teeth somewhere in the park! That was hilarious! Tee-hee!" says Leaf, "I couldn't stop laughing for minutes before I agreed to find the teeth for him. I found 'em in the innermost house of the park and returned it to him. After he popped 'em in, he said, 'Thank you, lassie! You're a real lifesaver! No one could understand a word that I said, not a one! I was too ashamed to show my face around the Office, even.'" She even mimics the warden's tone and facial expressions while repeating his speech, making Red chuckle.

"Heheh. Never can I imagine such a goofy old guy could run a whole park!" says Red.

"And when I asked him why he lost his Golden Teeth, he explained he forgot to reinstall 'em after brushing 'em after lunch!"

"B……bwahahahaha!" laughs Red, "What a careless warden!"

"Tee-hee! That was really amusing, wasn't it?" giggles Leaf.

After minutes of laughter, Leaf takes out an HM04 from her bag, "And this is what I got in return for finding the warden's teeth. It contains Strength, and allows Pokémon to push away heavy objects that stand in their way. I've taught it to Queeny already. Would you like to teach it to your Pokémon, Re-chan?"

"Hmm…Then Snorlax will do. He's a Normal-type and has high Attack, so he must be the most suitable one." answers Red.

After teaching Strength to Snorlax, the kids go on their exploration in the room. They discover a weird-looking sculpture of a monster on a cuboid structure in the corner of the room, its artificial eyes glowing faint red. Since the sculpture is powered by electricity, it cannot be an ordinary sculpture. Instead, it must be a secret switch that connects to some hidden machines.

"I remember there're some locked iron gates in the hall. There don't seem to be lock holes or knobs on them. Maybe this is the controller of those gates." says Red.

"I think so." says Leaf, "Look! There's a strange circle behind the sculpture. It must be a button! But I'm afraid I don't want to trigger a snare by pressing the button."

Suddenly, with a heavy sound, an iron gate behind them rises open slowly. Behind the gate is another sculpture with the same structure, with a Trainer standing behind it pressing something on its back. However, they also notice that another iron gate lowers shut, blocking the initially clear path.

"I got it!" says Red, "We can press the button behind the sculptures to switch the opening and closing status of those iron gates. Also, I think we have to operate them in a specific order to prevent ourselves from getting trapped!"

"Yeah, I think so." says Leaf, "As soon as we walks into a dead end, we must immediately retreat and undo the switches. That's the safest way to advance if we don't wanna be locked inside by those rash explorers."

After trudging around 1F, the heroes find nothing valuable but some broken items. They ascend to 2F via a rotten stairway. The stairs creak as they step on them. They join their hands tightly so as not to trip over an obstacle or fall off.

In a small room in the southwestern corner of 2F, Red and Leaf spot a corroded notebook lying on a wooden table. The word on the cover reads "Diary".

Red opens the notebook carefully. The paper has turned brownish and wrinkled due to oxidation and soaking of rainwater. Most of the pages have become unreadable due to weathering and corrosion. He turns the pages until he reaches one with most words roughly distinct, before he calls Leaf to read the diary together:

"Have you ever seen such a creature, Re-chan?" asks Leaf.

"Nope. Professor Oak never mentioned it to me. Even the diary owner was not sure if it was categorized as a Pokémon! Let's go on reading." says Red.

After the lines above, nothing next in the diary is readable anymore.

"Not sufficient information." says Red after he closes the notebook, "Blaine's quiz implies there're a total of 4 diaries in this mansion. Let's go and find the other ones!"

The second diary is placed in the northwestern portion of 2F. Its cover is the same style as the first diary. Like its predecessor, most of this diary is not intelligible.

"Hmm, so that's how a Pokémon is named. Sounds absurd a Pokémon's offical name is based on its cry!" says Red.

After reading the second diary, Red and Leaf continue to search 2F to find nothing. They ascend to the third floor and find the third diary located in a wider room there.

"What on earth did they think they'd done to a poor Pokémon?" says Red angrily, "All forms of living beings depend on their genes. And even a subtle alternation of genes can lead to a considerable mutation, creating new species and regional forms. A species not compatible with the local environment can cause a huge catastrophe!"

"Wow, you're knowledgeable in biology!" praises Leaf out of admiration.

"Haha. I've read lots of biology books in Professor Oak's lab!" says Red, "And how merciless and cold-blooded those mad scientists were! If they enraged Mewtwo after long time of extreme torture, I can't imagine how the monster would take revenge on them!"

Closing the notebook, the children resume their exploration. They almost turn the whole area upside down in search for the last diary, only to get their hands on some other broken items and empty Potion bottles. Did Blaine deceive Red? Or was the diary stolen by a greedy adventurer or Ruin Maniac?

"Maybe we should return downstairs and restart." suggests Red.

"Alright. Let's……Oooooouch!"

When Leaf steps on a decayed wooden board, it suddenly cracks, revealing a large hole, with Leaf falling down through it! A low-pitched sound can be heard approximately 1 second later.

"Hey! Are you OK, Leaf?" Red cries into the hole.

"…I'm OK, thanks to the trash bags here!" replies Leaf from the bottom, "Except I seem to sprain my ankle. Ouch!"

"Where are you now? I'll get you soon!"

"Mmm……I must be in the basement." answers Leaf after looking around, "Never thought this mansion should have an underground storey."

"All right! You sit there and don't move! I'll be there quick!"

Less than a minute later and Red rushes to the basement, where he finds a hurt Leaf sitting on a pile of black rubbish bags.

Red carefully examines Leaf's ankle and says, "It's not a serious sprain. I happen to bring a handkerchief with me, and it just comes in handy!"

Red takes out a blue handkerchief from his backpack and wraps it around Leaf's ankle.

"Thank you very much, Re-chan. I'm so sorry for constantly troubling you…" apologizes Leaf.

"Not at all!" says Red, "It's all owing to you that I can remember my past with you, Leaf. It's all my fault to leave you alone back in Celadon City. And by the way, we shan't sit here with these smelly rubbish! I'll take you to somewhere clean, if you can stand up."

"Thanks." Holding onto Red's shoulder, Leaf rises to her feet and follows him to another room with a table in the center. Since there are no chairs or sofas, Red has Leaf sit down against a relatively clean wall, before he notices a notebook on the table! It must be the 4th part of the diary!

"Sigh……And the Pokémon eventually avenged on the cruel humans." says Red, "Have I pushed my Pokémon too far as well? I'd better listen to their truth of their hearts!"

All of Red's on-hand Pokémon pop out of their Poké Balls after he pushes the buttons.

Charizard expands his wings and growls into the sky with his arm muscles lumping up.

Pikachu stands on his head before he spins for 3 circles, crying out "Pika, pika, pi-kachu!"

Snorlax acts like a boxer and punches into the air with full passion.

Lapras opens her mouth and sings a brief, non-hypnotic melody, before she nuzzles against Red's face.

Chansey pats on her pouch in satisfaction with her arms with a "Chaaannn, seeey!"

Scyther waves his scythes and makes a karate chop gesture as if saying he will chop any enemies into loaves of bread if they dare stand in Red's way.

"Ah, thank you for understanding me. I feel relieved now." appreciates Red.

At that moment, Chansey notices Leaf sitting on the ground with a sprained ankle, before she walks up to her and picks the egg in her pouch out and tries to feed it to her.

"Thanks." Leaf accepts the egg and takes a bite out of it.

"Wooooow! I feel sooo great!" exclaims Leaf with her face aglow while chewing, "I feel my ankle's not that hurt now!"

After the whole egg is eaten, Leaf tries to stand up with no difficulty. She moves her foot and it is not hurt any longer. She unwraps the handkerchief and notices a sound and intact ankle.

"How do you feel, Leaf?" asks Red.

"Thank you and your Chansey. I'm fine now." says Leaf, before she takes another glance at the handkerchief and cries out, "Wait! This handkerchief…it looks somewhat similar! Could it be…could it be the very one I gave it to you?"

"Ah, you're absolutely correct." says Red, "I almost forgot it totally before I met you. But I still keep it 'cause it reminds me it came from someone very important to me whenever I look at it. Therefore, I always keep it clean and tidy……Huh? Are you crying, Leaf?"

"I'm not!" says Leaf with two currents of tears trickling down her face, "It must be dust in my eyes……Looks like it's been years since this mansion's last cleanup……"

"All right." says Red, "Let's go out as soon as you're fully recovered."

[6:01 PM, Apr 8, Cinnabar Island Pokémon Center]
After having their Pokémon healed, Red and Leaf sit on a bench in the waiting area.

"And how about your 7th Badge, Leaf? I can help you solve the quizzes in the Gym."

"No, thanks. I wanna solve them by myself. I mustn't rely on others on everything, must I?"

"And I'll go on training for my last Badge tomorrow. Will you be OK as a single girl?"

"How could I find you here if I weren't OK?" says Leaf, "And by ~ the ~ way, when is your birthday, Re-chan?"

"February 27th. My first day of journey is my 11th birthday."

"Tee-hee! My birthday is January 29th, so I'm a month older than you! You should call me onee-chan (lit. big sis) on that!" laughs Leaf.

"That's only a month's gap! We're legally the same age!" protests Red with his face turning Red.

"You're really cute, Re-chan❤!" says Leaf, "Now that we almost get all 8 Badges, the final destination will be Indigo Plateau for us. It's quite an irony that my house is only two routes from it while I have to run across the entire Kanto to reach there."

"And we'll meet there after we collect all Badges! You must be preparing for the League challenge, aren't you, Leaf?"

"I wasn't, but the time with you has ignited my passion." says Leaf, "Yes, I'll be fully prepared to take on the Elite Four as you!"

"Good! We shall have a battle to determine who has the right to challenge the E4 first! I won't be easy on you just because you're a girl!"

"Tee-hee, neither will I just because you're younger than me❤!"

After spending the night at the Pokémon Center, Red and Leaf split apart at the entrance, but not before they add each other to their friends' list, respectively.

Before he leaves Cinnabar Island, Red visits a local Pokémon lab and revives his Dome Fossil there, adding yet another member, Kabuto, to his arsenal.
--End of Epsiode 29--
Save File:

[9:16 AM, Apr 12, Viridian City]
With the advancing process of Badge collecting, battling wild Pokémon and normal Trainers whose levels are about twenty below Red's team is becoming less and less efficient. To earn Exp. Points more quickly for his newer teammates, Red has his older partners train them to make them used to fighting tougher opponents.

Four days later, Red's team's levels grow comprehensively. He proceeds to Viridian City on Charizard, landing at a short distance to the local Gym.

The time he reaches the ground, Red overhears two Trainers in their conversation.

"Hey, Tim. Have you heard the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym has returned?" asks the Trainer in brown shirt.

"Yes, yes, Harris!" answers the Trainer with a teal cap, "I've been here for weeks and this Gym kept turning a closed door at me! I'd better prepare for the newly returned Gym Leader!"

So the Gym is finally open! My final Badge is right under my nose!

Before he enters the Gym, Red notices a familiar figure coming out, holding an Earth Badge in his hand.

"Blue!" cries Red, "So you've collected all eight Badges, haven't you?"

"Yeah. The last battle was truly a hard fight!" whispers Blue to Red, "Believe it or not, this mysterious Leader is somebody we've both met! I'm sure you're itching to beat 'im up like me! I've already taken revenge, and I hope you, too!"

"Really? Does he really look like needing a spanking?"

"You'll believe me the moment you see 'im, I promise!" says Blue, "And now that I've had 8 Badges, I'm goin' to the Pokémon League to boot out the Elite Four. Don't make me wait for you until my hips are rooted in the throne!"

"I won't, will I?" says Red, "Let our rivalry end there!"

"Then good luck to you. Smell ya, Red."

[9:19 AM, Apr 12, Viridian Gym]
Contrary to other 7 Gyms, the atmosphere inside Viridian Gym is oppressive and gruesome. The lights are dim as if they are wearing out, and there are no Trainers practicing in the hallways. Instead, the entrance and the door to the main battlefield is only divided by a giant arrow tile maze like the Rocket Hideout beneath the Game Corner. There are two sculptures near the entrance, carved with busts of the Gym Leader, but the faces are too worn to be identified.

Solving the tile maze puzzle in minutes, Red pushes the door open to the battlefield. Behind the door is a broad hall with a battleground made up of earth. There is a man standing on the opposite side in black uniform, his face shrouded by shadow.

"Ah, so you're here, kid." says the man emotionlessly as he walks out of the shadow, "It's been the third time we've ever met."

"Giovanni! Fancy meeting a criminal boss running a Gym!"

"Your statement is upside-down." says Giovanni, "I'm firstly a Gym Leader, and secondly the leader of a gang."

"That's all the same!" shouts Red, "I lost badly to you in Silph Co., but time has changed! I'll make you pay for all you've done!"

"……You're just as when I first met you." says Giovanni, "As impatient, as impudent, as impetuous. I'd like to teach you a lesson as an adult, but I have to do a Gym Leader's job. You must be here for the Earth Badge. Then let me test your worth, as a Gym Leader and boss of Team Rocket!"

"Stop talking nonsense and BRING IT ON!"

"Nidiqueen, you first." Giovanni tosses out a Poké Ball.

"Snorlax, I choose you!"

On standby on the battlefield, Snorlax is determined to retaliate his previous loss.

"Snorlax, use your newly learned Ice Punch! Beware of Counter!"

Snorlax's fist is covered in ice and he punches at Nidoqueen. To prevent the double damage returned by Counter, he protects his head with another arm like a boxer.

"Nidoqueen, Brick Break." commands Giovanni.

Nidoqueen chops Snorlax with her hand, but Snorlax's protective arm tranquilize the overall damage to him. The Ice Punch then scores a hit, dealing heavy damage to Nidoqueen.

"Another Ice Punch!"

"Iron Tail."

When Snorlax attempts his second punch, Nidoqueen suddenly turns her back at Snorlax and sweeps him with her tail. A charging Snorlax loses balance and trips over, but he swiftly gets up and goes on as if defying his sluggish Speed stat, slamming the icy fist into Nidoqueen's chest.

"And finish Nidoqueen off with Ice Punch!"

A close-ranged super-effective Ice Punch hits Nidoqueen hard and deprives her of the chance to counteract. Nidoqueen falls on to her stomach and is out of battle.

"You've improved. You must be working hard while I'm not around." comments Giovanni.

"Just for the day I can stomp you flat under my feet!" shouts Red.

"You have two levels to clear before that." says Giovanni, "And the second, Dugtrio."

After Nidoqueen is withdrawn, a mole Pokémon with three heads pops its heads out of the ground when sent out. It looks like a combination of three Diglett, but its combined body is never visible.

"Snorlax, come back! Lapras, I choose you! Confuse Ray!"

On the battlefield, Lapras produced an eerie light orb in her mouth and lets it float towards Dugtrio.

"Dugtrio, Dig."

Dugtrio dives into the ground before the light orb touches it. Losing the target, Lapras stretches her neck and looks around in hope to catch sight of it.

"Thud!" Dugtrio digs underground to beneath Lapras' stomach and pushes her up. Lapras is forced into the air before she lands again on the ground, damaged by the rough surface. Dugtrio then returns to its original position to its standby status.

"Lapras, Ice Shard!" commands Red.

"Dugtrio, Dig." commands Giovanni.

Lapras produces multiple shards of ice in her mouth and shoots them at Dugtrio. Dugtrio tries to dive into the earth but is hit on the heads by the darting ice shards. It shakes the ice chunks off before it dives underground, then emerges from beneath Lapras and damages her as previously it did.

"Lapras, use Hydro Pump!"

"Dugtrio, Stone Edge."

Lapras bursts a powerful stream of water from her mouth at Dugtrio, but Dugtrio dodges it by diving underground. It then summons multiple rock pillars around Lapras, digging into her body. Though her back is protected by the sturdy shell, her neck and her stomach are not. Therefore, the super-effective Stone Edge (plus the two Digs) renders her HP down to critical line, and it would be too risky for her to take another hit from the speedy Dugtrio.

"Lapras, switch out!" Red thinks for a while before he calls back Lapras, "Go, Charizard!"

As a Flying-type Pokémon, Charizard is immune to any Ground-type damaging moves. What can a mere Dugtrio do when Charizard can stay in the air while it is confined to the ground?

"Charizard, Flamethrower!"

"Dugtrio, Rock Slide."

When Charizard is breathing a fire dragon at Dugtrio, it summons rocks in the air and make them rain over Charizard. The range of the rocks are too wide for Charizard to dodge. Numbers of rocks hit Charizard, dealing quadruple damage to him as normal.

"Charizard!" cries Red.

But Charizard proves his toughness by keeping at his idle position steadily and makes a gesture to his Trainer. After being hit by Flamethrower, there is only one hit for Dugtrio to be out of battle.

"Charizard, Flamethrower! And protect yourself with Metal Claw!"

"Dugtrio, Rock Slide."

Charizard fires another Flamethrower at Dugtrio while extending his claws into pointed, metallic blades. When the rock rain falls above him, he slashes most of the rocks into pieces. The Flamethrower then engulfs Dugtrio, burning it up.

"The final castle! Go, go, Red!" Red jumps up and raises his fists to cheer himself up.

"Mmm? Even Dugtrio has fallen. So it's time for me to discard my trump card." Says Giovanni, "Now go, Rhydon."

"Go, Lapras. I know you're tired, but just do a little extra work. Hydro Pump!"

Lapras' high-pressured water stream deals significant damage on the Ground- and Rock- type Pokémon. However, it is impossible for a high-leveled Pokémon undergone assiduous trainings to fall that easily, even if against its 4× weaknesses, just like Charizard against Dugtrio's Rock Slide.

"Rhydon, Rock Tomb."

After shaking off the water drops on its skin, Rhydon summons a circle of rock pillars around Lapras, sealing her in, rendering her entirely immobilized except her neck and head.

"Lapras, Ice Shard!"

"Rhydon, Horn Drill."

Lapras fires sharp ice fragments at Rhydon, but Rhydon simply shakes them off. It then runs up to Lapras with its horn spinning like a drill and stabs her. The moment the horn tip touches Lapras, she lets out a deep cry and droops her head, fainting.

"How terrible one-hit knockout moves are!" thinks Red, "Though they have low accuracy, their users can ensure a hit by fixing their opponents in one position. I have to figure out a strategy to counter it."

"What's up, kid? Are you gonna give?" asks Giovanni.

"Not a chance! Scyther, I choose you!" shouts Red as he lobs a Poké Ball into the air.

"Hah. I heard from other Gym Leaders that this kid sometimes throw a card out of their logical thinking. Let me see if your cards are good or not." thinks Giovanni, before he orders a move, "Rhydon, Rock Tomb."

"Scyther, dodge the rocks in the air! And Swords Dance!"

Scythers flies high into the air while Rhydon summons rock pillars under it. Since Rock Tomb can only affect opponents on or only a little above the ground, it is ineffective against Scyther in its hovering state despite his 4× weakness to it. Scyther then performs a dance with a circle of visual swords rounding him, sharply raising his Attack.

"Rhydon, Smack Down." commands Giovanni.

Rhydon raises its head and fires multiple stones from its mouth at Scyther. This move is specifically used to deal with airborne foes as it cancels out the immunity of Flying-type and Levitating Pokémon to Ground-type moves, as well as smacking all airborne foes (including the ones charging during Fly) to the ground, disabling them from flying up.

But Red is evidently prepared for such an attack.

"Scyther, dodge the rocks with Aerial Ace! Keep your Swords Dance!"

Scyther holds on to his dance while bolting among the rocks with invisible speed. Seconds later, all the rocks fall to the ground without even delivering a single scrape on Scyther.

"Rhydon, expand the range, then Smack Down."

"Scyther, Baton Pass to Nidoking!"

When Rhydon is firing rocks at Scyther, he returns to his Poké Ball within the time of a flash. Afterwards, Nidoking's Pokémon Ball activates and the Drill Pokémon lands on the earthy ground. The Smack Down of Rhydon missed again and all the rocks fall onto empty space.

"Game over! Nidoking, Brick Break!" shouts Red.

Nidoking leaps at Rhydon and whacks it with his drastically boosted physical strength. Even the high Defense of Rhydon fail to protect it from the super-effective Fighting-type chop, as it blacks out instantly and collapses.

"Humph! It's we that won, Giovanni, isn't it?" Red sneers at Giovanni upon his victory, in contrast to his usual celebration against other Gym Leaders' losses.

"Yeah. It's you that won." says Giovanni, "That was a truly intense fight. As a proof of your win, you've earned the Earth Badge."

Giovanni walks up to Red and takes out a leaf-shaped green Badge out of his chest pocket and gives it to the red-capped victor.

"What a shocker I won a Badge from a criminal boss…" mumbles Red.

"You're wrong. I didn't give you a Badge as a boss, but as a Gym Leader. It's a God's truth for a Gym Leader to forfeit a Badge whenever he loses a match, no matter how strong he is." says Giovanni, "And you can have this TM, too. Consider it a gift as your Pokémon League challenge."

After rewarding Red with a TM26, Giovanni explains, "TM26 contains Earthquake. It is a powerful attack that causes a massive tremor. In fact, I took part in burning the move into this TM when I first ran Viridian Gym here, far too long ago..."

"Thanks…Wait! When has a criminal boss become so kind?" cries Red.

"Because Team Rocket is finished forever since today!" claims Giovanni, out of Red's expectation.

"Huh? But you just said Team Rocket would never fall at Silph!"

"The battle between us reminds me of my childhood." says Giovanni, "When I was the same age as you, I was also a passionate and ambitious Trainer, and was willing to take on any challenges. I also fought alongside my Pokémon, sharing all of our joys and sorrows. But it was too bad when my heart was darkened by lust for money and power, forming Team Rocket and starting my criminal career……"

"Sure it was! Even killing a poor Marowak!"

"It was out of my plan to have my people kill that Marowak." argues Giovanni, "I did treat Pokémon as tools for making money, but I never intended to take their lives. I did send some of my people to Lavender Town for Cubone skulls, but I never thought a Marowak dared protect her child at the cost of her life…I'm also a father, and the deed of the Marowak reminded me of my son, so I instantly canceled the plan and ordered them to retreat."

"But both theft and murder are crimes! They differ only in quantity rather than quality!"

"I know." sighs Giovanni, "I have no right to comment on my degree of crime as a former criminal boss myself. Betraying their trust, I can't face my followers in this fashion. I'll send messages to them to tell them to split and not try to find me. And all the illegally captured Pokémon by Team Rocket will regain their freedom…"

"And how about you, Giovanni?"

"I shall dedicate myself to training again. Perhaps I would retrieve my lost love for Pokémon…" says Giovanni before he begins to leave, "Farewell, kid. Maybe we would meet again someday."

"Wait! I still have something to say…"

But Giovanni waves at Red and leaves through the door. When Red runs out after him, he spots nobody in the main hallway! A human cannot evaporate like water, and it is possible that Giovanni escaped via a hidden underground path.

You Team Rocket coward! Even prepared your way to flee upon defeat! Oh, forget it. Maybe It's me that's still too young and too simple.
--End of Epsiode 30--
Save File:

[12:10 PM, Apr 14, Route 23]
After inadvertently let Giovanni escape, Red had no choice but to let out a sigh and exit the Gym. Before he sets off for Indigo Plateau, he briefly rested at home for two days to conserve his energy. He also made an elaborate selection of six from his party of 12.

And now Red is at the Pokémon League front gate. A guard stands at the entrance to Route 23 as the first checkpoint of Badges.

"Halt! You can only pass here if you have the Boulder Badge! Do you have it?"

"Sure." Red flashes the Badges in their case.

"Oh! That's the Boulder Badge! OK, then, please go right ahead!"

Passing the guard and it is Route 23. The southern part of the route winds around through arches across grasses and a pond, connecting Victory Road and Route 22. There is a guard with a Growlithe each standing below each arch, who check their respective wanted Badges (from Cascade Badge to Earth Badge), and permit only the satisfying Trainers to pass. According to the Pokémon League, the guards have the right to dislodge a Trainer out of Route 23 if he refuses to cooperate with the checking, whether they own enough Badges or not.

After passing the last checkpoint, the Victory Road is only tens of feet away. It is a tunnel dug out manually inside a mountain, inhabited by diverse kinds of wild Pokémon. It is the last trial that sits between a Trainer and Indigo Plateau, the ultimate goal of all Kantonese Trainers.

[2:28 PM, Apr 14, Victory Road]
The Victory Road is equipped with lights to enhance brightness, decreasing the difficulty to traverse the tunnel, albeit that the lights are not too bright to negatively affect the propagation of dark-liking Pokémon such as Golbat. There are no visible signs inside the Victory Road unlike other dungeons, as it is part of the regulations of the Pokémon League that all Trainers must go through the tunnel BY THEMSELVES to gain the permission to challenge the Elite Four.

Even excluding the wild Pokémon here, it is not that easy to reach the other exit of Victory Road. Not long after Red entered the tunnel does he notice a rocky gate blocking his way. The gate is too tall for even a Pokémon to jump over. However, the gate is not planted to the ground but seems to be connected with something. It is very likely that the gate can be unlocked by triggering a secret switch somewhere.

Yes, they can. Just tens of meters away from the gate is a large, white button on the ground, with a diameter of approximately 160 centimeters. When Red steps on the button, he hears a clang and the rocky gate shrinks into the ground, revealing the path behind. Nevertheless, the moment he hops off, the gate immediately returns to its original status.

Hmm, maybe a heavy object on the button can keep the gate open.

Red thinks for a while before he notices a spherical boulder a short distance away from the button. The boulder does not look like being naturally formed but placed here on purpose. Evidently, the gate will be permanently unlocked if Red can push the boulder onto the button. But can a Trainer move such a cumbersome boulder with his physical power?

Thanks to Strength taught to him via Leaf's HM04, Red's Snorlax becomes useful at the point, as he moves the boulder without much trouble out of its original position. As soon as the boulder is stuck on the button, the rocky gate lowers itself into the ground, never to rise up again.

Solving the first rocky gate puzzle, Red continues to the second floor of Victory Road. Starting from this point, he is continually challenged by some Trainers practicing here. Some of the Trainers belong to the staff of Pokémon League, while others gain their permission here by collecting Gym Badges. In fact, Indigo Plateau may admit a Trainer with Badges from other regions if they submit a form of certificate issued by the alien Pokémon Leagues.

None of the rocky gate puzzles and Trainers are able to restrain the pace of our hero. 40 minutes later and the red-capped challenger is near the northern exit with his clothes wet. The sunlight and the fresh air flow from outside, captivating him like a case of gold and silver.

The moment Red's hind foot exits the tunnel, he hears clings and clangs behind. He returns to the tunnel and finds that all rocky gates are automatically reset.

Passing through a mini labyrinth of flower pots and ascending via tens of steps, and the main building of Pokémon League is right in front of Red's eyes. He rushes into the hall like an adventurer in the desert dying of thirst at the sight of an oasis. Sweating heavily and running out of energy, he sits down on a chair in the reception area and gulps down his bottles of Fresh Water with his throat gurgling.

Although it is steps away from Red to Elite Four's rooms, he is too exhausted today to start. Moreover, he made a promise with Leaf to battle her here before his entry. During his waiting period, he scheduled a more intense training plan for his Pokémon, as it is a rule that challengers must not exit in the middle during the serial battles with Elite Four unless he is defeated or throws the game (which is also viewed as a defeat), and a defeated challenger must restart from the very beginning. There is a large outdoor training field next to the main building, and the challengers are allowed to practice there if they are not confident enough to take on the challenge.

[10:21 AM, Apr 17, Indigo Plateau]
The morning three days later, Red is on his way to the training field with his selected partners. Just as he is about to exit the hall, he catches sight of a figure entering the building.

"Leaf! It's you! You keep our promise!" cries Red.

"Re-chan!" Leaf hears Red's voice and takes notice of him in delight, "I catch you again!"

"Oh, you're drenched in sweat, just like me days ago." says Red, "You must be tired now. We can have the battle after you recover. We can sit there."

"Thank you, Re-chan. You're so kind……Eh? Why are you blushing?" Leaf notices Red turning his head back at her.

"I……" Neither dares Red turn around or try to explain.

But Leaf instantly realizes the truth after she looks down for a second, and cackles mischievously. Red sits stiff with his face releasing boiling vapor.

Resting in the hall, Red asks Leaf, "Congratulations on your collecting all the Gym Badges. Only those who fully dedicate themselves into training can they win such an achievement. But I have some little doubt on your Earth Badge. How did you obtain it after the Leader of Viridian Gym had left? The Leader never mentioned to me that he had a third challenger."

"I'm sorry, Re-chan. I only got the 8th Badge by luck." says Leaf in a low voice with her face turning red, "When I returned to Viridian City, I heard from some local citizens the Gym Leader ran away after he was beaten by only two challengers. I could hardly believe it, so I hurried to the Gym, but the door was locked! I was thunderstruck by such bad news and slumped down. I could barely hold my tears if I hadn't been in a public place."

"Then what happened to you, you lucky girl?" asks Red.

"I roamed about around Viridian City aimlessly until this morning when I was walking on Route 22. I picked up something shining in the grass and it was the very Earth Badge I had failed to win. This really pumped me up, and I resumed my determination to catch you here."

"And you finally did! You're a great deal in spite of being a girl." praises Red.

"What do you mean by 'in spite of being a girl'? Don't you belittle our girl fellows!"

"Haha, forget it!" says Red, "We shall have a battle at 12 o'clock. Are you OK with it?"

"No problem." says Leaf, "But I'll quit the E4 challenge."

"Why?"

"Because I only have 7 Badges legally won. Strictly speaking, I'm not allowed to take 'em on according to the regulations. I'll go home after the battle with you no matter who wins. And I might as well legalize my Earth Badge when the next Viridian Gym Leader assumes office."

[12:00 PM, Apr 17, Indigo Plateau]
When the clock points both of its hands to 12, Red and Leaf go to the training field and stand on the opposite sides.

"Let's simplify the battle to 1v1, shall we?" asks Red.

"Of course!" agrees Leaf.

"All right! Pikachu, I choose you!"

"Wiggly, let's go!"

Even if her figure is not drawn like in a manga, the nickname itself implies clearly that Wiggly is a Wigglytuff. After exiting the Poké Ball, she inflates herself like a balloon before landing, using the buoyant force as a buffer.

"Lady first. It's your turn!" says Red.

"Tee-hee. Then we'll go on! Wiggly, Icy Wind!"

Wiggly blows freezing air from her mouth at Pikachu, creating ice flakes on Pikachu's fur.

"Good. You know how to gain the upper hand by cutting Pikachu's Speed." says Red, "But that's not enough! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu releases a blinding, sparkling beam of electricity onto Wiggly, zapping her from inside to outside. Wiggly struggles to standby while she shakes off the sparks on her skin.

"One good turn deserves another! Wiggly, Dazzling Gleam!"

Wiggly forms a light pinkish light orb in front of her and hurls it at Pikachu. Though Red has never heard of such a move, he orders Pikachu to dodge it. Pikachu rolls sideways before the orb misses him and strikes the open ground.

"Eek! I never thought a move can be avoided this way!" cries Leaf.

"And it's our turn now! Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

Pikachu leaps up high, performs a somersault, before he slams his metallic-hard tail into Wiggly's forehead. Wiggly falls onto her back and is knocked out.

"I totally lost to you. You're astoundingly strong, Re-chan!" says Leaf as she recalls her Wigglytuff.

"So are you and your Wiggly, Leaf." says Red, "Victories and defeats are common things for soldiers. They're nothing but a symbol. Whether we win or lose a battle, we improve ourselves in the process."

"Mhm! I'm with you, Re-chan."

After healing their Pokémon in the main hall, Red sees Leaf off at the entrance to Pokémon League before he advances towards the first room of the Elite Four, launching his ultimate challenge.
--End of Epsiode 31--
Save File:

[12:32 PM, Apr 17, Pokémon League]
As Red goes through the entrance to the Elite Fours' rooms, the door immediately closes behind him. He continues advancing through the hallway and enters the first room.

The first room is decorated to imitate the ice cave. There are three icicle-like pillars standing at either side if the room, with the battlefield placed in the center area. A lady growing red hair tied into a ponytail, wearing glasses, awaits him at the opposite end.

"Welcome to the Pokémon League! I'm Lorelei of the Elite Four. I specialize in Ice-type Pokémon." The lady introduces herself to Red.

"I'm Red, and I specialize in multiple types!"

"Being good at one is better than knowing ten, and mastering one is better than being good at ten." says Lorelei, "No one can best me when it comes to icy Pokémon. Freezing moves are powerful. Your Pokémon will be at my mercy when they're frozen solid! Hahaha! Are you ready, Red-kun?"

"Hah! Let's see if it's your ice that's more solid or it's my flames that're hotter!"

"You're talking big! We shall start now. My first is this, Cloyster!"

After throwing out the Pokémon Ball, Lorelei presses a button on the wall, opening a shallow pool on the battlefield between Red and her. It looks evident that Red's first Elite Four battle will also be an overwater one.

"Pikachu, I choose you! Thunderbolt!"

The moment Pikachu is sent out, he bent his body, cries out loud, and releases a thunderous beam of electricity onto Cloyster.

"Cloyster, Icicle Crash!"

Cloyster summons pointed icicles above the battlefield and make them rain over Pikachu.

"Pikachu! Smash 'em up with Thunderbolt! Including Cloyster!"

Pikachu fires another Thunderbolt across the entire battlefield. The Electric-type attack not only breaks the icicles into shards, but also electrocutes Cloyster, fainting it in no time.

"Oh? Two turns and Cloyster is down?" says an intrigued Lorelei, "And the second, Dewgong!"

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" commands Red.

"Dewgong, Ice Beam!"

After being delivered a hit on, Dewgong produces an icy ball on its horn. A beam of freezing energy then shoots from the ball at Pikachu.

"Dodge it, then Iron Tail!"

Focused on the Ice Beam, Pikachu performs a proficient side roll to avoid it. He then leaps up and rams his tail into Dewgong's forehead.

"Normal attacks will be avoided by that Pikachu…" Lorelei thinks for seconds, before she commands, "Dewgong, Surf!"

A huge wave is formed in front of Dewgong. The seal Pokémon then rides on the wave and makes it crash down against Pikachu.

"Pikachu, aim at the wave! Thunderbolt!"

When electricity is released onto the wave, it is conducted through water and eventually into Dewgong's body. An off-guard Dewgong falls off the wave, unable to battle.

"Good job, Pikachu!" Red does a thumb up at Pikachu, "It's your first time to sweep two opponents!"

Pikachu turns around smiling, and poses a V gesture with his tiny hand.

"Huh? Even Dewgong fell to a single Pikachu?" says Lorelei in shock, "Seems like things are getting difficult for me. The third, Jynx!"

A humanoid Pokémon with blond hair and purple skin lands in the pool. It has no nose but thick lips. It grows five fingers on either hand like a human. It wears a red "dress". Its feet is hidden under the "dress" and is invisible in most of the time.

"I can't make Pikachu fight in succession without taking a break…" thinks Red, "And it's time make a transfer!" before he switches for Snorlax.

"Snorlax, use Headbutt!"

Snorlax lowers his head and charges at Jynx. Weeks of training has made Snorlax as nimble and deft as many of his teammates, though he still eats a lot like the other individuals of his species and hardly loses any weight.

"Jynx, take the attack!" orders Lorelei.

When Snrolax slams his head into Jynx, the Human Shape Pokémon holds onto it, before she is sent into a wall by Snorlax's inertia behind her owner.

"And Lovely Kiss!"

Jynx kisses Snorlax with her lips glowing pink, releasing several hearts from them. Seconds later, she lets go of Snorlax and the Sleeping Pokémon falls asleep on his back.

"How does it taste, Red-kun?" says Lorelei, "My icy Pokémon ain't incapable, are they?"

"Nor is my Snorlax!" says Red as he puts on his earmuffs, "And Ms. Lorelei, I don't think it's a wise decision of you to hypnotize Snorlax."

"Why? I don't get you."

"Just you listen." says Red with his arms crossing in front of his chest.

Seconds later, and the sleeping Snorlax begins to snore! The noise of the snore is so ear-splitting that Lorelei and Jynx are forced to cover their ears in pain. In Lorelei's initial plan, she intended to put Snorlax into sleep and then beat her foe up with any move she likes in seconds. However, her plan is reversely utilized by the red-capped challenger when Snorlax's snore continuously damages Jynx with her unable to execute even a single counter move.

"Jy…Jynx, wake Snorlax up with Wake-Up Slap!" commands Lorelei, her hands still holding on to her ears.

Jynx struggles to get close to Snorlax and extends one of her hands, striking Snorlax with great effort. In normal situations, her attack will deal double damage to sleeping opponents. However, since Jynx has to protect her ears from Snorlax's snore, the power of such a move is drastically weakened to the degree of just waking Snorlax up.

"Chance! Snorlax, Body Slam!"

The next instant since Snorlax's awakening, he stands up and drops his torso onto Jynx, who is still inches in front of him. With a quaking bang, Jynx is squashed flat with swirly eyes under him.

"You've pushed me too far, Red-kun!" Lorelei is a little out of patience, "But I have to do my job until the last! Go, Lapras!"

"Snorlax, switches out! Pikachu, I choose you!"

After Pikachu resumes his work, Red squats down and whispers to him for seconds, at which Pikachu nods in agreement with a "Pika".

"Huh? What are you blabbing about? Lapras, Blizzard!"

"Pikachu, jump into water and get close to Lapras!"

The foe's Lapras releases a chilling blizzard from its mouth across the whole room, dropping its air temperature by degrees, freezing all the water in the pool solid, including Pikachu's legs.

But to Lorelei's surprise, Red and Pikachu show not a little bit of panic against such a crisis, as if they had foreseen it using psychic power.

"Pikachu, smash the ice with Thunderbolt!"

Lights of electricity burst from under the ice, cracking it into several fragments, freeing Pikachu in the process.

"Now, smack Lapras with those ice chunks via Iron Tail!"

Pikachu jumps into the air before the ice chunks fall back onto the ground. With his tail glowing metallic silver, he flips his body in midair while firing the ice chunks at Lapras like a machine gun, forcing Lapras to close its eyes out of instinct.

"Lapras, Hydro Pump!" commands Lorelei.

"Pikachu, jump onto Lapras' head!"

Lapras endeavors to create a high-pressured water sphere in its mouth, but before it can spit the water at Pikachu, the electric rodent vaults onto its head via the ice chunks in midair and holds on to its horn.

"Now, bomb the last castle with a million-voltage Thunder!"

Pikachu lets out a cry and releases a bolt of lightning into the sky. Lapras tries to shake Pikachu off, but the lightning bolt then comes down and envelops Lapras. Even the high double Defense stats fail to protect the Transport Pokémon from the deadly electricity. Taking the full strike of the zinging zap, Lapras lets out a deep cry and gives the battle.

"You…Things shouldn't be goin' this way!" exclaims a stupefied Lorelei, "…Oh, fine, because it's my first time since I became an Elite Four to get wrecked so terribly. You're much better than I thought, Red-kun!"

"Haha, thanks, Ms. Lorelei."

"And as you won, you can go on ahead." Lorelei unlocks the door to the next room by pushing her fingerprint onto an electric lock on it, and says, "But I still have to warn you, that you only got a small taste of the Pokémon League's power. I wish you good luck on your rest three battles."

"Hah! Then I'm so thirsty for a bigger taste of you Elite Four that I can drink a whole lake!" replies Red humorously before he enters the hallway behind Lorelei.
--End of Epsiode 32--
Save File:

[1:03 PM, Apr 17, Pokémon League]
The second room has the same length and width as the first one. The decoration of this room is quite plain except for the six stone statues and the red-brownish tiles, giving an atmosphere of a rocky, mountainous area.

The second Elite Four member is a tall, muscular and robust man. He is bare-chested and bare-footed in white pants, tying his dark bluish hair to his back head and a black belt around his waist. He also wears heavy metal bands around his wrists and ankles.

"Here you come, challenger." says the Elite Four, "I'm Bruno of the Elite Four. I'm a Fighting-type specialist just as my loving for physical exercises and fighting. Through rigorous training, people and Pokémon can become stronger without limit. Do you agree with me?"

"No doubts! I'm been training for 12 hours a day in order to make my way here!" answers Red.

"You're perseverating. That's good." approves Bruno, "And now it's test time of the willpower of men! I've lived and trained with my fighting Pokémon! And that will never change! We'll grind you down with our superior power! Hoo hah!"

With an intimidating roar, Bruno sends out an Onix as Red's first opponent.

"Lapras, I choose you! Hydro Pump!"

"Onix, Rock Slide!"

Protecting herself with the shell armor on her back, Lapras easily withstands the rock slide from Onix and fires a powerful stream of water at the rocky snake. A single Hydro Pump from Lapras is enough to crumble the Rock Snake Pokémon's body into dust, if it had not undergone years of training.

"Lapras, Ice Shard!"

With Onix's HP at critical point, Lapras seizes the chance to move first by executing an increased-priority move. The super-effective though weak move squeezes the last bit of health out of Onix, making it unable to fight.

"Wrrrooar! Time to all-out attacks! Hitmonchan, FIGHT!"

Bruno calls Onix and sends out a humanoid Pokémon resembling a boxer. He always wears a pair of boxing gloves on its hands and is never seen to take them off. Apart from battles, Hitmonchan are often seen in boxing tournaments, fighting against others of their species or even against human competitors. Of course, only physical movements are allowed and any Pokémon moves are prohibited.

"Come back, Lapras. Scyther, I choose you! Swords Dance!"

Entering the arena, Scyther raises his scythes and begins to dance.

"Hitmonchan, Thunder Punch!"

Hitmonchan's fist shines with electricity and he punches at Scyther.

"Scyther! Keep your postures of Swords Dance and dodge it!"

When Hitmonchan's fist is about to hit Scyther, Scyther flaps his wings and move sideways, evading the attack.

"Good, Scyther. Go on your Swords Dance!"

"Oh? Hitmonchan's punch missed? That's interesting." says Bruno, "But how about this? Bullet Punch!"

Both of Hitmonchan's fists punches at Scyther in high frequency.

"Scyther. Stop Swords Dance and Aerial Ace!"

Pausing his dance, Scyther then dashes at Hitmonchan at the speed of an arrow. After taking a hit from Bullet Punch, he slashes Hitmonchan with one of his scythes, halts inches behind Hitmonchan, makes a sudden switchback, and slashes Hitmonchan again, making his opponent breathe a little heavily with the boosted STAB super-effective move.

"Hitmonchan, Bullet Punch!"

"Scyther, Vacuum Wave!"

Hitmonchan tries to punch Scyther, but Scyther creates invisible circles of air waves in front of himself and shoots them at Hitmonchan, defeating the Punching Pokémon.

"Wrrroaaar! Even Hitmonchan was unable to crush you!" roars Bruno, "Looks that I have to be more serious! Hitmonlee, FIGHT!"

Hitmonlee's appearance is totally different from Hitmonchan in spite of their similar names. He looks like a headless man with his eyes growing directly on the chest, without ears, a nose and a mouth. All of his limbs can extend and contract like springs. He is said to be the kicking counterpart of Hitmonchan for his subtle kicking skills.

"Scyther, Swords Dance! Prepare to evade the attacks!"

"Hitmonlee, Blaze Kick!"

While Scyther is dancing, Hitmonlee ignites one of his foot in flames and he kicks at Scyther with his foot ablaze. Scyther tries to dodge it, but is still slightly burned by the edge of flames.

"It's not serious at all! Scyther, Swords Dance!"

"Hitmonlee, Blaze Kick!"

Hitmonlee accumulates more elastic potential energy on his blazing foot by contracting it. He then suddenly relaxes his foot and kicks Scyther. The speed of the "spring" exceeds Scyther's speed and he is hit hard, badly damaging him.

"OK, Scyther, Baton Pass to Nidoking!" commands Red.

Scyther stops dancing and returns to his Poké Ball all of a sudden. Nidoking's Poké Ball then activates and he lands on the battle arena, punching against the ground to announce his appearance.

"Nidoking, Earthquake!"

Learning Earthquake via the TM26 given from Giovanni, Nidoking stomps on the battlefield and the ground starts to shake violently like a real earthquake.

"Hitmonlee, Mega Kick!" commands Bruno.

Hitmonlee tries to kick Nidoking with his extended foot, but his barycentric point is too high for him to keep steady. The brutal force of the boosted Earthquake makes Hitmonlee fall onto the arena.

"Hitmonlee! Are you a man? Then STAND UP and let's CLOSE COMBAT!" roars Bruno.

"Nidoking! You're a man, too, aren't you? Then let's THRASH it!" roars Red.

Hitmonlee stands up after the termination of Earthquake, and the two Pokémon get close to each other. Afterwards, they starts to repeatedly punch, kick and ram their heads into their opponents.

However, Hitmonlee's Close Combat proves to be a suicidal move as it negatively affects its physical and special Defense states while facing a max-leveled Swords Dance-boosted Thrash. Not long after the melee starts does Hitmonlee give the fight with his zero HP.

"WRRROAAAAARRR! My masculine passion is bursting like tsunamis!" roars Bruno with veins standing out on his arms, "The final combat, Machamp, FIGHT!"

Machamp is a humanoid Pokémon with a muscular body and four arms. It appears to wear a yellow belt and black briefs. It is said to be able to launch a thousand of punches within one second. However, ironically, never has one of its species been recorded to have learned Comet Punch and Mach Punch.

"Nidoking, Earthquake!"

Nidoking stamps his foot, creating an earthquake.

"Machamp, Bulk Up!"

Holding on steadily, Machamp flexes its muscles with its body glowing crimson.

"Nidoking, Poison Jab!"

"Machamp, Dynamic Punch!"

With the Ability of No Guard, Machamp's Dynamic Punch hits Nidoking, at the cost of sacrificing its evasiveness from all of Nidoking's attacks. Both moves activate their additional effects upon hitting, confusing Nidoking and poisoning Machamp.

"Nidoking! Can you hear me? Shadow Claw!"

But a confused Nidoking simply stomps, howls into the sky, and scratches the air as if it were his true opponent.

"Machamp, Dual Chop!"

The lower hands of Machamp glow white and it karate chops Nidoking.

"Nidoking!" Red's voice rises, "Can you hear me? Are you a man?"

In fact, Nidoking can clearly hear his Trainer's words. It's just the confusion status that takes control of its body and temporarily disturbs his reflex arcs.

"Machamp, Dual Chop!" commands Bruno.

The second Dual Chop boosted by Bulk Up cuts Nidoking's HP down near the red line.

"NIDOKING!" roars Red at the most hoarse voice, "ARE YOU A TRUE MAN? SNAP OUT OF CONFUSION NOW and SHADOW CLAW!"

Fortunately, the timer of Nidoking's confusion expires and he returns to normal before Machamp can deliver a fatal blow on him. He then stabs Machamp with his claws emitting eerie shadowy auras.

"Machamp, Dynamic Punch!" orders Bruno.

Machamp punches at Nidoking and tries to confuse him for a second time. But Nidoking learns to be smart this time as he scratches his head while bracing himself, weakening the damage to prevent himself from fainting. The pain on Nidoking's head makes him snap out of his confusion in seconds, even without consuming a full turn.

"Good job, Nidoking. And finish Machamp off with a Shadow Claw!"

Pumping all his remaining energy to his claws, Nidoking stabs Machamp with full force. Having been hurt constantly by poison for turns, Machamp faints upon taking the last hit.

"Why? How…how could we lose?" says Bruno despondently with all of his Pokémon done like dinner, "Even our exercises for two decades turn to be nothing against a mere kid?"

"Nope. It's probably not because of your inadequate exercises but your underestimation of us youngsters." explains Red.

"Ah, fine. Since I lost, my job is done now. Go face your next challenge." Bruno unlocks the entrance to the next room by his fingerprint and allows Red to pass.
--End of Epsiode 33--
Save File:

[1:51 PM, Apr 17, Pokémon League]
Entering the third room, the light suddenly turns dark, and the atmosphere turns unearthly. The tiles are now colored violet and crimson, with the six statues resembling gravestones to add to the feeling. The speaker in the room plays a high-pitched, uncanny melody, reminding Red of his creepy experience in Pokémon Tower.

The third Elite Four member is an old lady with gray-blonde hair in violet dress and a white apron, supporting herself with a walking stick. Though she is nearly 60, she looks hale and healthy like a middle-aged.

"Ho-ho, it's quite rare a challenger is able to beat two of us!" says the old lady, "I'm Agatha of the Elite Four. You must be Red. I heard you from that Oak geezer. He sounds very interested in you."

"Ah. Professor Oak hasn't told me he has such an acquaintance." says Red.

"That old duff was once tough and handsome. But that was decades ago. He's a shadow of his former self, sigh…" says Agatha, "And one day, he suddenly told me he wanted to quit being a Trainer. Since then, he started to fiddle with his Pokédex. What's wrong with him tinkering with a dull electric device doing nothing but assembling texts…"

"It's his own choice." says Red, "And I dare say the Pokédex is not at all a 'dull electric device'. It's a convenient way for us to get to know more and better get along with Pokémon."

"Hah. I just don't have the heart to split hairs like that Oak geezer." says Agatha, "Maybe it's too subjective to assert he's wrong, but to me, Pokémon are for battling! Red-kun! I'll show you how a real Trainer battles!" and she sends out a Haunter.

"Nidoking, I choose you! Shadow Claw!"

When Nidoking spots Haunter, he extends his shadowy claws to slash his opponent.

"Haunter, Confuse Ray!"

Haunter produces a ghostly light orb between its hands and let it float at Nidoking, but Nidoking scratches his head and prevents confusion with the pain.

"Ho, you're smart!" comments Agatha, "But take this! Curse!"

Haunter's eyes glow red while posing weird gestures at Nidoking, while cutting down half of its health. Nidoking initially finds it funny and cannot help laughing at it. However, seconds later, Nidoking's whole body begins to ache and itch like hell, making him hopping about in agony.

"Nidoking, come back! Go, Scyther!"

"Hmm…he sent out a Bug-type against my Ghost-type, which is not very effective." thinks Agatha, "But I shall watch his next action."

"Scyther, Swords Dance!" orders Red.

"Haunter, Shadow Punch!" orders Agatha.

One of Haunter's hands flies up to a dancing Scyther and punches it. But Scyther makes no attempt to dodge the move because he knows that Shadow Punch is not evadable like his Aerial Ace. He only backs off a little to lessen the damage caused by momentum.

"Continue Swords Dance!"

"Shadow Punch!"

After the second turn ends, Scyther has boosted his Attack to 3× after hanging on against Haunter's Shadow Punches.

"Now Aerial Ace!" commands Red.

Scyther darts at Haunter and slashes it twice with his scythes, defeating the Gas Pokémon.

"Ho, you didn't disappoint me!" says Agatha, "Now your foe will be this! Arbok!"

When the cobra Pokémon lands on the arena, it activates its Intimidate Ability with its scary pattern on the hood, lowering the boosted Attack of Scyther by one stage.

"Scyther, Baton Pass to Nidoking!"

After returning to his Poké Ball, Scyther passes his Attack stage to Nidoking. Thanks to Red calling back him early, Nidoking is only slightly hurt by Haunter's curse, which automatically wears off when its target exits the battlefield.

"Arbok. Glare!"

Arbok's pattern glows with a dim aura.

"Close your eyes, Nidoking! Or you'll get paralyzed!" cries Red.

Nidoking closes his eyes before Glare can take effect, nullifying the paralysis induction.

"Seems that you're prepared for status problems." says Agatha, "But take this! Ice Fang!"

Chilling air begin to flow out between Arbok's fangs and it bites down hard on Nidoking. Partly frozen solid, Nidoking finds himself more difficult to move.

"Nidoking, break the ice with Brick Break!"

Fortunately, Nidoking's right hand is free. He chops at the frozen part of his body, shattering the ice. Because he is Poison-type, His own body is barely hurt by his own Fighting-type move.

"Hoho, Ice Fang tastes good, doesn't it?" says Agatha, "But we have something more exciting! Arbok, Mud Bomb!"

Arbok opens its mouth and spits explosive mud chunks at Nidoking.

"Nidoking, Earthquake!"

Nidoking stomps on the arena, shaking it in a violent way. However, the Mud Bombs still hit him, exploding into dirty taints on his skin. Ferocious as he looks, Nidoking has a strong dislike for dirtiness. He stops the Earthquake and tries to rub away the mud taints on him.

"I understand you, Nidoking." says Red, "But just hang on one more minute. I'll clean you up after this battle ends. Now, Earthquake!"

Venting all of his anger of staining him at Arbok, Nidoking stomps aggressively on the ground, creating a higher magnitude of earthquake.

"Arbok, Mud Bomb!" commands Agatha.

But Nidoking's second Earthquake is too harsh for Arbok to even behold itself. Though it manages to create the Mud Bombs, all of them simply fall to the ground after exiting its mouth, some damaging itself (which is super effective) in the process. In the end, Arbok's head collapses onto the arena, losing its consciousness to battle.

"Heheheh, looks like the old biddy is facing a thorny little guy!" says Agatha, "But it's only half over! Your Earthquake is useless against an airborne foe! Golbat!"

"Yes, Earthquake is useless against Golbat." says Red, "But it's time for Nidoking to rest. Pikachu, I choose you! Thunderbolt!"

"Golbat, Poison Fang!"

After being zapped by a Thunderbolt, Golbat flies at Pikachu, revealing its sharp, venomous fangs.

"Huh? What do you mean by a melee attack?" asks Red suddenly.

"Don't I know your Pikachu has Static?" says Agatha, "I've battle many opposing Pokémon with Abilities that activate via contacts. I have a good command in trying to not trigger them."

"But look at your Golbat, hehehe!" smirks Red.

Agatha takes a glance at Golbat and notices in surprise that Pikachu has hold on to its back! It proved to be that Pikachu dodged the Poison Fang with a side roll and leapt onto Golbat when it was off guard. No matter how Golbat struggles, Pikachu will not let go of it.

"The game is over! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

With a throat-dumbing "Pi-ka-chuuuuuu", Pikachu strains all his muscle power and converts it into a glaring bright beam of electricity, electrocuting Golbat like a fried fish. Golbat tucks its wings and falls onto the ground, fainted, its large, empty mouth open wide.

"Gahaha! This little guy is such a big deal!" says Agatha, "But never will I loosen my tense until the last second! I'm now relying on you, Gengar!"

Gengar is a purple Pokémon whose face is usually in a grin of sinister. It has spikes on its back, though they cannot poison any target that touches them despite it belonging to Poison-type. Gengar is widely believed to have Levitate as its pre-evolutions, but recently its true Ability is under dispute by many scientists.

"Pikachu, come back and take a break. Lapras, I choose you!"

"Ho, your team is not boring." says Agatha, "But how about this? Hypnosis!"

Gengar releases circles of hypnotic psychic waves at Lapras.

"Lapras, Safeguard!"

Lapras' body is covered in a white aura, and the waves of Hypnosis bounces off her when making contact, leaving Lapras intact.

"Gah, using status moves on you is such a bad idea!" says Agatha, "Looks I have to attack anyway. Gengar, Shadow Ball!"

Gengar forms a ball of dark power between its hands and fires it at Lapras.

"Lapras, Psychic!"

Lapras growls as her body is additionally covered in a pink aura. The aura then rushes towards Gengar and its Shadow Ball, lifting both of them into midair. The Shadow Ball then changes direction and hits Gengar instead.

"What the…I'm shooting an own goal…again?" exclaims Agatha.

"Haha! I used to disbelieve the idiom 'Psychic power is everything', but now it's the opposite!" laughs Red.

"Hoh! You know quite a lot. Gengar, we Psychic, too!"

Gengar braces itself and releases another pink aura surrounding its body. The Psychics from either side clashes in the middle of the battlefield at loggerheads. Both user tries to push the opposing attack back while pushing its own forward. They keep adding strength to their moves as if two persons pushing against each other physically.

One minute later, a younger and healthier Lapras takes the wind and hits Gengar with her second Psychic. But Gengar still hangs on with its defiant will.

"Lapras, Psychic!"

Exhausted by two Psychics and an own-goal Shadow Ball, Gangar is too tired to dodge Lapras' decisive Psychic. It blacks out, its grin disappearing, and falls on to the battle arena.

"Oh, my. You're truly something special, child!" comments Agatha, "I can indeed see what that old duff sees in you. Perhaps I have to swallow my arbitrary words before I fought you. I have nothing else to say. Run along now, Red-kun!"

Afterwards, the door to the final Elite Four room is unlocked by Agatha's fingerprint. But before Red passes Agatha, he takes out some handkerchiefs and wipes off the dirt on Nidoking's body, and dumps them in the trash can in Agatha's room.
--End of Epsiode 34--
Save File:

[2:47 PM, Apr 17, Pokémon League]
After restoring his Pokémon's health by Full Restores, Red goes on to face his final Elite Four challenge.

Going through an S-shaped pathway with Pokémon statues on both sides, Red is now at the battle arena surrounded by six dragon fang-shaped sculptures. A man with red spiky hair in a dark red cape stands in front of the exit, crossing his arms in front of his chest, waiting for challengers in a serious look.

"Ah, I've heard about you. Challenger Red!" says the man in cape, "My workmates told me you won against them without losing a single Pokémon. That's so uncommon."

"99% effort plus 1% luck. That's it." replies Red.

"And you can call me Lance the dragon Trainer." says Lance, "You know that dragons are mythical Pokémon. They're hard to catch and raise, but their powers are superior. They're virtually indestructible. There's no being clever with them. Well, are you ready to face me?"

"Of course! My Pokémon are eager to taste more about you Elite Four!"

"Then be prepared! It'll be a pity if your League challenge ends with me! Go, Gyarados!"

A blue, serpentine, aquatic Pokémon exits Lance's Poké Ball and floats in the air, giving a savage, vicious facial expression.

"Pikachu. I choose you!"

When Pikachu enters the battleground, he feels a cold, creepy aura that makes his hair stand. It is the activation of Gyarados' Intimidate.

"Pikachu. Quick Attack!" orders Red.

Pikachu runs towards Gyarados at lightning-fast speed.

"Gyarados, Stone Edge!" commands Lance.

Gyarados slams its tail into the ground and summons a line of rock pillars that rush towards the electric rodent.

"Pikachu. Jump onto Gyarados via those rocks!"

With a series of kangaroo jumps, Pikachu lands on the top of rock pillars and finally makes his way onto Gyarados' forehead.

"And Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu grabs Gyarados' crest and release electricity directly onto it. Unable to withstand its greatest weakness, Gyarados falls down, the Stone Edge vanishing from the arena.

Being the leader of Elite Four, Lance is able to keep calm at his initial loss. He withdraws the fainted Gyarados, and then sends out another serpentine dragon--Dragonair.

"Pikachu, you back! I choose you, Charizard!"

As the leader of Red's party, Charizard must be conserved to face the leader of opponents.

"Charizard, use Dragon Pulse!"

"Dragonair, Dragon Tail!"

While Charizard is charging power, Dragonair rushes to him and slams him with its tail glowing green. Charizard is then sent back into his Poké Ball and Snorlax is dragged out.

"Oh, no. He forces me to switch Pokémon to mess up my plan!" thinks Red, "And despite being a decreased-priority move, the speed of that Dragon Tail is too fast. I can't watch my Pokémon getting worn out in this way."

Thinking for a while, Red withdraws Snorlax, and sends out Lapras.

"Lapras, use Ice Shard!"

"Dragon Tail!"

Lapras produces sharp ice shards in her mouth and makes them fly at Dragonair. Dragonair attempts to slam Lapras, but the high-speed ice chunks rain on it first, causing it to shiver in coldness and temporarily pauses its movement.

"It's chance! Lapras, Confuse Ray!"

Before Dragonair returns to normal state, Lapras forms an eerily shining light orb and it floats at Dragonair. Getting hit, Dragonair is confused. It wriggles madly with its limbless body like a snake being grabbed at the critical point.

"Dragonair, Thunder!" orders Lance.

However, Dragonair is confused! And it hurts itself in its confusion!

"Sorry, Mr. Lance, but no mercy from us. Lapras, Ice Beam!"

Lapras produces an ice orb in her mouth. The ice orb turns into an ice dragon and it flies towards Dragonair, freezing it solid in a large bulk of ice.

"A quote from Ms. Lorelei. Your dragons will be at my mercy when they're frozen solid!" mocks Red.

"……" Lance is left speechless as the statement is absolutely flawless.

"Early to end, early to relief." says Red, "Lapras, Thunderbolt!"

Lapras smashes the ice with a lightning of electricity, freeing Dragonair and fainting it as well.

"Sigh…I came up with the Dragon Tail strategy only recently and it fails to work at the very first time." says Lance, "Fine. I shall go on. Aerodactyl!"

A pterodactyl Pokémon covered with rocky skin flies onto the battle arena. It has large, membranous wings with its claws extending from the middle bend of either wing. It grows a hump-like ridge on its back and an arrow-tipped long tail. Being revived from a kind of amber, it is said that this is only an incomplete resurrection of its original form. Many science and archeology researches have been conducted to restore its true form, but they are yet to succeed.

"Lapras, Ice Shard!" orders Red, at the thought that Aerodactyl is times faster than Lapras.

"Aerodactyl, Rock Slide!" orders Lance.

After taking a shower of Ice Shard, Aerodactyl summons rocks in midair and makes them rain over Lapras. But Lapras protects herself with her hard shell, alleviating the total damage.

"Lapras, another Ice Shard!"

"Rock Slide!"

When Aerodactyl's second Rock Slide rain down, Red notices that one of the pointed stones has left a deep scratch on Lapras' shell. A single scratch can grow into a large crack if hit multiple times, and may result in failure of the shell armor's protective function. At this thought, Red recalls Lapras and switches to Snorlax--even slower than his previous partner.

"Snorlax, use Yawn! Don't care about the opponent's attack!" says Red as he takes out his earmuffs.

"Aerodactyl, Rock Slide!"

Aerodactyl drops rocks from in the air at Snorlax, but Snorlax lets out a loud yawn at the pterodactyl and falls on his back, going to sleep. Being affected by Yawn, Aerodactyl also yawns deeply and its movement drastically slows down.

However, Snorlax will emit deafening snores at his sleeping time. Though only half effective in damage infliction against a Rock-type, it is enough to pierce Aerodactyl's ears like needles, nearly driving it crazy. The drowsiness prompts Aerodactyl to sleep, while the snores impede it, resulting in Aerodactyl being confused in the process.

"Calm down, Aerodactyl! Rock Slide!"

But Aerodactyl is too confused to obey Lance's command. It continuously flies into the walls and the ceiling like a psycho, with Lance watching at it in anxiety. While on the other side, Red is in high spirits to watch Snorlax tiring out the foe while recovering himself, his ears fully protected by the earmuffs from the Pewter policeman.

After it bumps its head into the wall for multiple times, Aerodactyl runs out all of its energy and collapse onto the arena, unconscious.

"What the…" grunts Lance in shock, "Was I tricked? How could Aerodactyl be beaten in this way?"

"Pokémon battles ain't just moves and turns, are they?" says Red.

"Well, you're truly out of my expectation." says Lance, "You have one opponent left now. Dragonite!"

And Lance's trump card finally comes. Both being a flying dragon, it highly resembles Charizard albeit that it has a taller and fatter body and smaller wings, and it grows antennae instead of horns on its head. It is said that a Dragonite can circle the globe in 16 hours at full capacity, but some researches argue that it is actually no faster than a Magikarp, the weakest Pokémon in record.

"Charizard, I choose you!"

At the match point, it is time to enjoy a death fight between two flying dragons.

"Charizard, Dragon Pulse!"

"Dragonite, Hurricane!"

Dragonite flaps its wings at a charging Charizard, creating a cyclone that rushes towards him. A newly charged Dragon Pulse is devoured by the Hurricane and is nullified, and Charizard has to back off for steps to avoid damage from the cyclone.

"Charizard, Air Slash!"

"Dragonite, Hurricane!"

Same as the last turn, Charizard's Air Slash is blocked by the Hurricane.

"That Dragonite can shield itself with Hurricane if I keep to long-range moves." thinks Red, "Maybe Lapras will be more efficient, but Charizard looks determined to beat his foe, so I'd better keep him. What should I do…Yeah!"

After a storm in his brain, Red orders Charizard to use Metal Claw.

"Dragonite, Hurricane!"

"Charizard, hold against the Hurricane! No retreats allowed!" orders Red like a general.

Charizard steps slowly but steadily towards Dragonite. Regardless of the cyclone roaring around him and trying to push him back, he keeps his pace forwards steadfast. To reduce the windward area, he tucks in his wings and puts his arms in front of him instead of extending them wide.

And in the end, Charizard's efforts pay off when the cyclone dies away and he is only steps away from Dragonite, much to Lance and Dragonite's amazement.

"Good job, Charizard! Metal Claw!"

"Dragonite, Dragon Rush!"

Charizard's claws glows metallic silver and he tries to slash Dragonite, but Dragonite suddenly accelerates and tackles Charizard with its body covered in a purple aura.

"Charizard, grab Draonite's tail!" cries Red.

Within an instant, Charizard turns around and holds onto Dragonite's tapering tail as if in a fighting race, despite himself also being dragged meters away due to Dragonite's inertia.

"Now Metal Claw!"

Before Dragonite can turn around, Charizard slashes Dragonite with his claws. Too bad for Dragonite, it is hit at the joints of its wings and its back! Many of Dragonite's moves, especially Hurricane, rely on its wings, and it has to endure times degree of pain if it attempts to execute them again.

"Dragonite, Dragon Rush!" commands Lance.

Dragonite turns at Charizard and tries to speed up, but the pain on its back badly impedes its acceleration. As a result, the actual damage turns out to be no larger than a normal Tackle.

"Hahaha! We're almost there! Charizard, Dragon Pulse!" commands Red in excitement.

Without the hampering of Hurricane, Charizard's Dragon Pulse hits Dragonite straight and hard. Dragonite staggers for seconds before it falls onto its stomach, stars circling around its head.

"What? How could my dragon army be in such a rout?" mutters Lance, "Even as the leader of the Elite Four, I couldn't even take down a single opponent……"

"Ahaha…" Sweeping the Elite Four, Red smiles embarrassedly scratching his back head, "Maybe the goddess of luck is playing a trick on us this time…"

"Honestly, I hate to admit my defeat, but you possess the qualities of a Pokémon Master." says Lance, "It's not easy for me to believe my dragons should have lost to you. But rules are rules. Red, you're now the Pokémon League Champion…"

"Wait a minute!" interrupts Red, "Should I face an extra opponent?"

"…Or rather, you would have been. Yes, you have one more challenge left." says Lance, "There's a challenger named Blue that came three days before you, and he also defeated us the Elite Four. But it's the first time for us to be beaten up so badly by you."

"So Blue is the real Pokémon League Champion, eh? That's not surprising to me." says Red.

"He would have been, if he had immediately accepted the title." says Lance, "He said, he refuses to become the Champion unless he wins the battle with you. He's now awaiting in the Champion hall behind me. You can pass now."

Unlocking the door to the Champion hall, Lance invites Red in a reverent manner.
--End of Epsiode 35--
Save File:

[3:52 PM, Apr 17, Pokémon League]
Not unexpectedly, Red learned from Lance that Blue defeated the Elite Four days ago, though he is a bit amazed that Blue has not been promoted to Champion. But at least, they should have a last battle in the Champion hall to determine the real owner of Pokémon League Championship.

Anticipating a long, tedious fight, Red asks for a brief rest at Lance's room before he advances, which Lance agreed to. During his break, Red almost uses up all the Potions in his bag.

And finally in the Champion hall, Blue is sitting on a chair cross-legged, propelling a Pokémon Ball into the air and then catches it, his left arm supporting his chin.

"Uuaaarrrrrrrrgh…" yawns Blue, "It's been three days. What take that red cap so long? I heard he was waiting for someone…"

Just then, the entrance to the hall slowly opens. From the shadows, a familiar figure to Blue walks in, gripping a Poké Ball in his hand.

Getting off the chair, Blue says, "Hey, Red! I was looking forward to seeing you! Hahah, that's so great! How was your battles with those Elite Four guys?"

"They cost me nothing but some Potions and hours of time." answers Red indirectly, "And how about you? Did you feel sleepy waiting for me here?"

"Not only a little bit!" says Blue, "Just when I booted out Lorelei, I heard a challenger was right behind me. It must be you, Red! Knowing your presence, I made a push and swept all of the Elite Four and reached here. I expected you to come here minutes later, but I was wrong. I thought you might have fled with your tail between your legs!"

"I would have come, if I hadn't have to wait for someone…" Red tries to explain.

"Wait for whom? An attractive bebe or who?" mocks Blue.

Red suddenly blushes, unable to say a word.

"Hahaha! Then I must be correct! Even a battle maniac like you should have normal lust in girls as a straight man!" laughs Blue, stressing the words "normal" and "straight".

"Tch. Let's stop wasting time and battle, shall we? I'm no longer the rookie boy on Route 22 anymore!"

"Yeah. My rival should be strong to keep me sharp. While working on my Pokédex, I looked all over for Pokémon. Not only that, I assembled teams that would beat any Pokémon type. I'm sure you're just the same, too. And now…We're both one step to the Pokémon League Champion! Red! Do you know what that means?"

"Sure! There's nothing but a fight here can prove who'll be the most powerful Trainer…in the world!" answers Red firmly.

"All right! We send out our first at the same time, shall me?" asks Blue, at which Red nods.

"Three…two…one…GO!"

The boys cry out and throw out their Poké Balls simultaneously. The first turn of battle is proved to be between Snorlax and Pidgeot.

"Though I'm not the Champion, but I'm half of a defender. Your turn, Red." says Blue.

"Thanks, Blue. Snorlax, use Rollout!"

Snorlax curls into a sphere and rolls at Pidgeot at quaking speed.

"A long shot in the beginning, eh?" says Blue, "Pidgeot, Feather Dance!"

Pidgeot releases white feathers from his wings onto Snorlax, but most of them are deflected by Snorlax's speed and movement, rendering in his Attack being cut by only a little, and is barely effective when Snorlax keeps accelerating without having to exhaust his PP.

"Pidgeot, Air Slash!"

Pidgeot releases gear-shaped solidified air at Snorlax, but most of them are simply deflected by Snorlax just as Feather Dance.

"Pidgeot, fly high and use Roost!" Blue thinks for seconds before he orders the next move.

Pidgeot flies close to the ceiling and his body is covered in a white aura. Since his height is out of Snorlax's attack range, Snorlax can do nothing but rolling about waiting for Pidgeot to descend. Seconds later, Pidgeot is fully recovered. However, the turn timer of Rollout also expires and Snorlax's movement terminates, its power reset.

"Snorlax, come back! Pikachu, I choose you! Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu bends while in midair and fires a sparkling beam of electricity at Pidgeot at light speed, heavily damaging him.

"Pidgeot, Roost!" commands Blue.

"I'll not let you recover again!" shouts Red, "Pikachu, jump onto Pidgeot!"

While Pidgeot is recovering, Pikahcu bounces up using the elasticity of his tail and lands on Pidgeot's back. Pidgeot is unable to avoid Pikachu's jump as he is in the middle of a move.

"And Thunderbolt!" cries Red.

Before the timer of Roost reaches zero, Pikachu zaps Pidgeot from skin to bone, fainting him.

"Haha, you're strong as I expected!" says Blue, "Pidgeot, your job is done! Go, Alakazam!"

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" commands Red.

"Alakazam, Reflect!" commands Blue.

Pikachu runs at Alakazam and tackles him, but Alakazam backs off and bends a little to lessen the damage. He then creates a greenish light screen in front of himself.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Alakazam, Light Screen!"

Pikachu shoots electricity at Alakazam, but Alakazam creates another pinkish light screen in front of himself, doubling his team's Special Defense. As a result, Pikachu's Thunderbolt becomes not every effective against him.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Alakazam, Psychic!"

Armored with double protective light screens, Alakazam easily withstands Pikachu's second Thunderbolt. He then releases psychic wave from his spoon at Pikachu, lifting the electric rodent into the air. Though Pikachu is proficient in evading material attacks, he cannot avoid Psychic as it is pure energetic. Alakazam then smashes Pikachu into the ground, beating him.

"Strong, that Alakazam…" says Red to himself, "I have to find a way to counter its high Special Attack. Nidoking has Brick Break to break through its defense, but he's weak against Psychic…"

"What's up, Red? What's your next?" asks Blue.

"My next is this! Scyther, I choose you! Swords Dance!"

Scyther flies into the air and performs a mystical dance, sharply raising his Attack.

"Alakazam, Psychic!"

Alakazam envelops Scyther with his psychic waves. He then smashes Scyther into the floor. But Scyther flaps his wings, creating some elevating force to reduce the total impact.

"Continue Swords Dance!"

"Alakazam, Psychic!"

Alakazam attempts to smash Scyther again, but Scyther still holds on using his advantage of being able to fly. As the turn ends, Scyther's Attack is now three times as in his basic state. Meanwhile, Alakazam's Reflect is out of turns and it begins to wear off.

"Time's up! Scyther, Night Slash!"

Scyther darts at Alakazam in an invisible degree of velocity and slashes his opponent with both of his scythes before Blue can order a counter move. The boosted super-effective move instantly wipes out all of Alakazam's HP and the Psi Pokémon falls onto his back, still holding his spoons, his Light Screen also fading out.

"Yoh! Seems sweeping you with Alakazam is not a bit possible!" says Blue, "Interesting! Now for the third! Go, Rhydon!"

"Scyther, Vacuum Wave!"

Scyther creates invisible waves in front of himself and shoots them at Rhydon. Though Scyther is not very good at Special Attacks, Rhydon's Special Defense is also very low compared to his physical counterpart, a characteristic shared among many Rock-type Pokémon. A Golem may hold on to a high-power Close Combat, but tends to fall in one turn when hit by a low-power Water Gun.

"Rhydon, Scary Face!"

Taking the hit from Scyther, Rhydon displays a scary face at Scyther. Chilled by Rhydon's fierce facial expression, Scyther's agility severely falls.

"Scyther, Vacuum Wave!"

"Rhydon, Stone Edge!"

Though Scyther's Speed is cut, Vacuum Wave hits Rhydon first as it is an increased priority move. But Scyther then meets his doom when he is unable to dodge the rock pillars shooting up below him and hitting his chest, delivering 4× normal damage to him.

"Darn! I should have used Baton Pass instead!" says Red with a facepalm, before he quickly changes his mind, "Or not, or Scyther's Speed loss will also be passed. Fine, Scyther, come back!"

Red withdraws Scyther, and sends out Nidoking.

"Nidoking, use Earthquake!"

Nidoking stomps on the arena. The ground underneath him begins to shake and the vibration rushes towards the foe's Rhydon.

"Rhydon, Scary Face!"

Rhydon makes a scary face at Nidoking, but Nidoking covers his eyes to prevent being scared into speed loss, while he continues his Earthquake. It should be noted that a short-timed vision loss does not affect the accuracy of Earthquake since it targets all the Pokémon other than the user on the battlefield wherever they are (except in midair, of course).

"Your Nidoking is smarter than I thought!" says Blue, "Rhydon, we Earthquake too!"

Rhydon also stamps his foot and summons a seismic vibration that rushes from his position to where Nidoking stands. The two vibration waves meet at the middle of the battlefield, but they do not conflict like many other moves. If one studies physics, he should know that vibration waves simply pass through each other when they meet without being strengthened, weakened (except in the interference area), or redirected a little bit. Therefore, both weak-to-Ground-type Pokémon are damaged badly by their foes' Earthquakes.

"Nidoking, Earthquake!"

"Rhydon, Earthquake!"

While both Pokémon are shaking the battle arena violently, all of the Elite Four members can clearly feel the vibration of the whole building. Lorelei even suspects that a real earthquake has happened until she gets to know that it is merely a turn of Pokémon move.

And when the second Earthquake dies down, both Pokémon falls onto their stomach, unable to battle.

"Haha! The first half is a draw!" says Blue, "Shall we take a 2-minute break before we resume?"

"Sounds good." answers Red, "I'm also a bit tired."

Two minutes later, the rivals return to their rest of Championship battle.

"Let's again send out our fourth at the same time, shall we?" asks Red.

"It's my line! Don't imitate me!"

"Then three…two…one…GO!"

Red's fourth partner turns out to be Lapras while Blue's is Exeggutor, a coconut tree-like Pokémon with three coconut-like heads and two thick legs.

"I moved first in the first half, so you'll move first this time!" says Red.

"Sounds like your fashion!" says Blue, "But expect no mercy! Exeggutor, Sunny Day!"

Exeggutor yells into the sky with his three mouths, summoning an artificial sun hovering above the battle arena. The entire room instantly turns bright like being outdoors as if the ceiling did not exist.

"Lapras, Confuse Ray!"

Lapras creates a light orb in her mouth and lets it fly at Exeggutor.

"Exeggutor, Solar Beam!"

Exeggutor absorbs sunlight and produces a light orb in front of his heads. He then fires the light orb in the form of a light beam at the speed of a meteor at Lapras, damaging her badly.

"Haha, how's my Chlorophyll-Sunny Day-Solar Beam combo?" mocks Blue.

"It's so devastating that I can't help shuddering in utmost fear!" jeers Red, "But look at your Exeggutor!"

"What? No!" Blue notices in horror that his Exeggutor is confused. It proved to be that Exeggutor was so agitated to land his Solar Beam in one turn on Lapras that he was caught off guard when Confuse Ray burst on his skin, unbeknownst to him. A confused Exeggutor loses his target and shakes his heads and leaves irregularly like a loony.

"I can help soothe you down!" says Red in a sadistic tone, "Lapras, Ice Beam!"

"Exeggutor, Solar Beam!" commands Blue.

But Exeggutor fails to obey Blue in his confusion, and is hit directly by Ice Beam, frozen solid.

"Sigh…Exeggutor is totally unable to move in the ice." moans Blue.

"Sorry, Blue, but I can't wait until the ice melts." Says Red, "Lapras, Thunderbolt!"

Lapras cracks the ice with electricity, freeing a newly pacified Exeggutor while further damaging him.

"What the…what do you think are you doing, Red?" says a perplexed Blue, "Exeggutor, Solar Beam!"

"Lapras, Ice Shard!"

In spite of Exeggutor's Speed boost in sunlight, Lapras' Ice Shard beats her foe's Solar Beam using its increased priority. The ice chunks dig into Exeggutor, knocking him out before he can launch the light beam.

"Heh! Shocking as it is, that's just why you deserve to be my rival!" says Blue as he recalls Exeggutor, "But I'll definitely take you down! Go, Arcanine!"

Upon his entry, Arcanine cuts Lapras' physical Attack with Intimidate, but Lapras gives a normal look as none of her attacks are affected except Ice Shard.

"Lapras, Hydro Pump!"

"Arcanine, Extreme Speed!"

Before Lapras can soak Arcanine with high-pressure water, Arcanine runs up to her in an extreme speed, and bites down her neck with his fangs.

"Arcanine, Thunder Fang!" commands Blue before Red can make an order.

Sparks of electricity comes out of Arcanine's fangs and is conducted into Lapras. Being previously hit by a Solar Beam, Lapras' head dangles down and she is no longer able to fight.

"Lapras, you're fighting hard! Come back, and go, Snorlax!"

Since Intimidate can work only once within the user's presence, Snorlax is completely unaffected by Arcanine's Ability despite the canine Pokémon's subduing look.

"Snorlax, Rollout!"

"Arcanine, Fire Blast!"

Arcanine creates a blazing orb, and shoots it at a rolling Snorlax. When the orb hits the target, it bursts into the shape of a pentagram and engulfs him. However, Snorlax's high Special Defense plus his thick fat greatly blunts the attack from Arcanine and he keeps rolling at the fire canine at the speed of a giant boulder coming off a steep slope.

"Arcanine, use Extreme Speed to avoid it!"

Arcanine begins to run swiftly around the arena, trying to evade being run over by Snorlax. However, the moment Arcanine changes direction, Snorlax immediately changes direction as well, keeping his aim at his opponent. Eventually, Arcanine is ineluctably hit by the rolling attack, albeit terminating the opposing move at the same time.

"Snorlax, Body Slam!"

"Arcanine, Crunch!"

Though too weary to avoid his demise, Arcanine manages to land a bite on Snorlax's head when the Sleeping Pokémon falls towards him, reducing Snorlax's physical Defense by one stage, before he is flattened under Snorlax's bulky torso.

"Heh, being pushed like this, I can hardly deny my astonishment." says Blue, "Time to discard the trump card! Go, Blastoise!"

Blue sends out the final form of his starter Pokémon, Squirtle, who has developed into an aquatic tortoise armored with two water cannons. Before he evolved, he used to spit water from his mouth, but now he can make use of his cannons to spout water with even higher amount and pressure.

"Snorlax, Rollout!"

"Blastoise, Hydro Pump!"

Two powerful streams of water blast from Blastoise's cannons and hit the rolling Snorlax. The pressure of the water is high enough to force Snorlax to a complete stop, much to Red's shock.

"Snorlax, Yawn!" commands Red, at the thought of torturing Blastoise using Snorlax's snores while he is asleep.

"Blastoise, Withdraw!"

Blastoise withdraws his head into his shell, preventing him from hearing the yawn. After Snorlax yawns, he falls into sleep, but Blastoise remains sober.

"Hydro Pump!"

Blastoise fires two streams of water at Snorlax while keeping his head hidden. The water is so cold that Snorlax is woken up with a start, ending his snores.

"What a wise counterattack, Blue!" says Red, "But Snorlax, Headbutt!"

"Blastoise, Withdraw!"

Snorlax charges at Blastoise head first, but Blastoise hides his head, limbs and cannons in his sturdy, solid shell, neutralizing the damage to his body, while hurting Snorlax's head with recoil.

"Bite!" orders Blue.

Blastoise quickly pokes his head and limbs out and bites down on Snorlax's head. Being impeded by Defense reduction from Arcanine's Crunch, Snorlax faints from Blastoise's Bite.

"You're always the toughest foe I've ever met, Blue." says Red, "Even days and weeks of training of me can't make a clean sweep against your team."

"Heh, don't you think you're the only one to have stood the gaff for two months!" says Blue, "If you want your Charizard's revenge, then bring it on!"

"I'm just waiting for this moment!" cries Red, "Charizard, I choose you!"

Catching sight of Blastoise reminds Charizard of his defeat on Route 22 when he was still a Charmander. His eyes is ablaze in rage, and his breathes weak fire from his mouth.

"Charizard, Dragon Pulse!"

"Blastoise, Hydro Pump!"

Charizard produces a dragon-shaped beam of energy and makes it rush towards Blastoise, but Blastoise then fires water streams from his cannons and drenches Chairzard from head to feet, and nearly extinguishes his tail flame. Nonetheless, Charizard proves his toughness as Red's team leader by shaking the water drops off and reignites the flame on his tail tip.

"Heheh? Even a Hydro Pump failed to wreck you?" says Blue, "But if one Hydro Pump isn't enough, then just add another! Blastoise, Hydro Pump!"

"Charizard, Flamethrower! Aim at the cannons!"

Charizard adjusts his aim and shoots a flame dragon at Blastoise, but a single Flamethrower cannot balance between two water cannons, causing him to be inevitably hit by the second Hydro Pump from Blastoise's left cannon, cutting his HP down to red line. However, the other half of Hydro Pump from Blastoise's right is successfully blocked by Flamethrower, resulting in the water vaporizing and floating between the Pokémon like a smokescreen.

"Charizard, get close to Blastoise!"

Blastoise tries to clear his vision when he hears footsteps in front of him. The time he restores his sight, Charizard is right in front of him. Since Blastoise cannot spit water from his mouth and Charizard is now in the dead angle of his cannons, Hydro Pump no longer works on the fire dragon.

"It's chance! Grab Blastoise's hands! Not the shell!" shouts Red.

Charizard extends his hands and holds on to Blastoise's hands tight. Blastoise tries to withdraw his hands, but Charizard will not let go of him.

"Blastoise, Bite!" commands Blue.

Blastoise extends his head and bites down on Charizard's neck, expecting the opponent to release his hands out of pain.

"Charizard, hold on to Blastoise and Metal Claw!"

Withstanding the pain, Charizard forces energy of metal into his right hand. He then suddenly releases his right hand and slashes Blastoise in the throat, causing Blastoise to let go of his neck. After the move, he grabs the free hand of Blastoise again.

"Ouch!" screams Blue as if it is he that is hurt rather than Blastoise.

"Dragon Pulse!" orders Red.

Temporarily immobilized by the throat pain, Blastoise fails to protect himself and is hit straight by a close-ranged Dragon Pulse, though the move also costs most of Charizard's remaining energy. At this critical moment, both Pokémon have their health below the alert line, and any extra hit from their opponents will cause them to lose the game.

"Blastoise, Bite!"

Blastoise moves his mouth close to Charizard's neck, but the pain in the throat and the tiredness keeps him from landing a bite, although Charizard is as well too tired to deal the final blow.

"Charizard, show you backbone! Perseverance means victory, you must know!" cries Red.

"The same to you, Blastoise!" cries Blue.

The two starter Pokémon stare at each other with a firm and confident look while holding on to their opponents. Though bathing in sweat and their bodies are growing heavier and heavier, neither of them will easily admit defeat under the mental support from their respective Trainers. Such a scene reminds Red of the Gym rematch of Pikachu against Lt. Surge's Raichu.

"Charizard, we've only one step there! I won't forgive you for wasting all our efforts!" shouts Red with his fist clenched, muscles standing out on his arm.

"That's exactly what I mean to you, Blastoise!" shouts Blue at a throat-tearing voice.

On the brink of collapsing, both Pokémon are suddenly pumped and they remain standing. As time passes, their eye expressions gradually change, as if developing acknowledgement to each other's power. They hope to end their rivalry as soon as they can, but they cannot.

……

Tick, tock, tick, tock! The time ticks to 5 minutes and 27 seconds!

At the very moment, Blastoise gives a regretful look as if saying, "Sorry, Charizard bro. I'm afraid I have to quit. Let's battle again next time!" And he lets go of Charizard, falls on to the battlefield, and faints. After forcing a bitter, pitiful grin towards Blastoise's fall, Charizard also faints.

"Phew…It's finally over." Red slumps onto the ground as if his body is hollowed up, before he finds himself totally soaked in sweat, "And it's a draw again…"

"Nope, you won, Red." Blue also flumps with his body all wet, "Your Charizard fell seconds later before my Blastoise, so it's you who won according to the rules…"

At this moment, the entrance to the Champion hall opens, and comes in Professor Oak.

"Why, why, I came here when I heard you two had put on a fight, but it seems it's already over!" says Professor Oak in amazement, "And who won?"

"Red. He won…" Blue raises his hand and points at Red weakly.

"Oh? You were doing good, Red!"

"No, Professor Oak, we ended in a draw…" moans Red in fatigue, "Except that Charizard held on for two more seconds…"

"No, it was not a draw but your victory." says Professor Oak, "Sincerely congratulations! Now, you two come with me to the Hall of Fame!"

Professor Oak helps the boys to get up and leads them to an inner room by unlocking the door with his fingerprint. The room has a large machine in the center, containing six slots for Poké Balls. On the walls, there are photographs of previous Indigo League Champions with their teams, with a total of 13. Blue notices that one of the ex-Champions somewhat resembles a younger version of his grandfather, though Professor Oak has never mentioned such an achievement to him.

"Er-hem! Congratulations, Blue and Red! This floor is the Pokémon Hall of Fame. Pokémon League Champions are honored for their exploits here. Their Pokémon are also recorded in the Hall of Fame." says Professor Oak, "You two have grown up so much since you first left with Charmander and Squirtle to work on the Pokédex. If you didn't treat your Pokémon with love and trust, you'd never become a Champ. Blue and Red, you must understand your victories were not just your own doings. The bonds you share with your Pokémon teams are marvelous. Now, you can record yourselves and your Pokémon in the Hall of Fame!"

"Wait, Gramps!" cries Blue in disbelief, "Could I really record my team here, too?"

"Yes, by all means." smiles Professor Oak, "You've beaten the Elite Four before Red, and according to the regulations, you've already been a Champion. Losing to Red never affects that fact of you once being a Champion. I'm very proud of having such an outstanding grandson!"

Professor Oak has both boys scan their Trainer's Card above the scanner of the machine, and put their six Poké Balls in the slots, inputting their personal and party information into the system, respectively. Seconds later, photographs of Red's and Blue's team are auto-generated on the screen of the machine.

"Again, Congratulations, boys! You and your Pokémon are Hall of Famers!" says Professor Oak, "It's such an unprecedented feat that two Champions are born at the same time! What a miracle it is!"

"Oh, stop teasing me as an ex-Champion, Gramps…" grunts Blue.

"Heh. I'll also become an ex-Champion one day like you, Blue." says Red.

After receiving their Certificates of Indigo League Championship printed by the machine, Red and Blue are taken back to Pallet Town by Professor Oak. After taking a shower, they fall fast asleep on their beds, extremely dog-tired, and do not wake up until the next morning.
--End of Epsiode 36--
Save File:

[9:35 AM, Apr 18, Pallet Town]
The following day, Red wakes up when he gives a yawn and stretch. The exhaustion from the League battle made him sleep as fast as a log, and even the alarm clock failed to pull him to reality. He sits up and finds that the alarm clock points to 9:35.

"Urrrrraaaaagghh…" yawns Red, "How long have I slept? Mm? I've got some messages…"

Red picks his smartphone and notices in surprise that most of the messages are from Leaf:

"Sigh…That's what Leaf is." Red sends a message to Leaf.


Half a minute later, and Red receives a reply from Leaf.

Reading the reply, red grins and puts away his phone.

When Red has just finished his breakfast, he hears the doorbell ringing. He opens the door and it is Leaf! The lass is standing in front of him blushing, as if still feeling sorry for inadvertently bothering Red last evening.

"Em, Red-chan. I'm sorry for disturbing you yesterday."

"Never mind, Leaf." says Red, "I should appreciate for your taking care of me instead. I never thought a League challenge will be such energy-consuming. I was dragged home by Professor Oak like a sandbag, and I felt I could sleep forever like a Snorlax…"

"Poooof! Tee-hee! You're so amusing, Re-chan❤!" Leaf bursts into laughter, "You must need some more time to rest, and I won't trouble you these days. I'll go now."

"Thanks for your consideration. I won't see you off then. See ya, Leaf!"

"See ya, Re-chan!"

[8:27 AM, Apr 21, Pallet Town]
Three days later and Red is fully recharged. He decides to take a jog around his quiet hometown to resume his daily exercises. However, his thought is interrupted when he notices Blue flying northeastwards on his Pidgeot, looking grave.

To find out the truth, Red visits Blue's house and meets his elder sister, Daisy Oak.

"Excuse me, Daisy sis. Do you know where Blue is going?"

"He only told me he was heading for Route 10, but he refused to tell me any more details…"

"Thanks, Daisy sis. I'll catch him soon."

Leaving Blue's house, Red sends out Charizard and rides on him, following Blue's direction.

[8:52 AM, Apr 21, Route 10]
Later, Red is in midair above the northern entrance to Rock Tunnel. From his bird's eye view, he can see the river extending to the south, crossing through a narrow valley, and ends at a strip of land separated from the rest of Route 10. Hidden behind the hills, there is a large, abandoned building equipped with four tall chimneys. It used to be the main steam power plant of Kanto, supplying electricity for most of the cities and towns. However, it was closed down years ago since clean energy sources were applied, such as wind farms (the largest wind farm is on Route 14) and hydropower stations, due to its serious air pollution and excessive consuming of coal.

When Red is viewing the scenery below, he spots some suspicious figures wandering near the entrance to the Power Plant. As he slightly lowers his altitude, the figures become clear, turning out to be some men in black, with a large, red letter R painted on their uniforms!

Those Team Rocket crooks! Haven't you received the information from Giovanni that you were disbanded? What do you want by breaking your words?

"Charizard, go down to 'em! Then Flamethrower!" shouts Red.

Landing on the ground, Red and Charizard take the Team Rocket Grunts by surprise. Hurry-scurry, the villains grab Pokémon Balls from their belts and defend themselves, only to be sprayed down by a single Flamethrower from Charizard.

[8:54 AM, Apr 21, Power Plant]
Finishing off the guarding villains, Red sneaks into the Power Plant. Being an abandoned building, rusty boilers, instrument panels and generators scatter everywhere. Paints have come off the walls and the ceiling, revealing the cement and bricks behind. Glass shards fallen from the broken windows and screws and nails detached from the machines are always ready to stab hard the feet of an imprudent trespasser. Weathered morals and signs are roughly visible on the walls, expressing a sense of age.

As Red moves on cautiously, he hears faint sound coming from head. When he follows the direction of the sound, he also notices some footprints on the floor. The dirt and soil forming the footprints prove themselves to be newly generated. Thinking about the Team Rocket Grunts at the entrance, Red is sure that someone else must be deeper inside!

Moving away a deformed iron door, Red's eyes expand wide in astonishment that there is a large flock of Team Rocket members inside the inner room! Some of them are attacking Blue ruthlessly with their Golbat, Koffing and Raticate, who is guarding his side with his Blastoise and Alakazam.

"Blue! I'll help you!" Red runs up to his ex-rival and throws out some Poké Balls, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Charizard, Dragon Pulse!"

"Thanks, my best bud!" says Blue, "Blastoise, Hydro Pump! Alakazam, Psychic!"

With the timely presence of Red, the boys quickly turn their disadvantage and defeat the pawn troop.

"Blue, why are you here?" asks Red.

"You'll soon get to know!" says Blue, "These Team Rocket thugs are also only guarding. They seem to be looking for some legendary Pokémon!"

When the boys enter the deepest room, they notice a larger horde of Team Rocket Grunts standing behind an Admin with green hair, watching at a yellow bird Pokémon in front. The spiky plumage of the large bird greatly resembles thunder and lightning, giving a clear impression that it belongs to Electric-type.

"Ah. And we finally find you, Zapdos!" says the green-haired Admin, "One of the three legendary birds in Kanto, why are you content with settling yourself in such a cramped and tattered abandoned plant? It was so painstaking for me, Proton, to manage to take a first look of your handsome face."

Zapdos stares at Proton and his underlings in a skeptical look.

"But you don't have to live here like a tramp now, Zapdos!" says Proton, "Because we, Team Rocket, will offer you a warmer and sweeter home! Not only will you eat and sleep better, but you can also bring into full play your actual and potential strength!"

Zapdos looks a bit confused. What do these humans mean by a "warmer and sweeter home"?

"Don't be modest, Zapdos! If you agree, then come into this ball!" says Proton as he shows an Ultra Ball to the electric avian, "Our contract is done the time you reside in it. We sincerely promise that we'll keep our words!"

Zapdos makes a deep growl, still not fully trusting the humans in black uniforms.

"Shame on you Team Rocket crooks for bragging such shameless nonsense at a legendary Pokémon!" A shout comes from behind suddenly, startling Proton and his subordinates. The villains turn around and it is Red and Blue, holding a Poké Ball in their hands, respectively.

"Don't believe in those rogues, Zapdos!" calls Red, "They're good at doing nothing but poaching and selling Pokémon for illegal profits! What you'll get are only cold eyes and inhuman maltreats if you fall to them!"

"And they even stashed me in such a cold, pitch-black basement!" adds Blue.

Zapdos looks at the boys and the men bewildered. Which side should it trust?

"Hey, you little rascals! Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to Team Rocket Admin Proton in such a way?" says Proton in a barbarous way, "Looks like I have to give you a little punishment to tame you, you scamps."

Proton sends out a Golbat and a Weezing. He then orders Golbat to use Air Cutter and Weezing to use Dark Pulse.

"Pikachu, I choose you! Thunderbolt!"

"Go, Alakazam, Psychic!"

Pikachu leaps into the air and electrocutes Golbat with a dazzling beam of electricity, while Alakazam lifts Weezing into the air with his psychic surges and smashes it into a wall. Both of the enemy Pokémon are knocked out in one turn, despite their owner at a rather high rank in the criminal group. All at the scene, including Zapdos, are shocked at the skillful battling techniques of the boys.

"Grrrr…Screw it! We retreat for now, Grunts!" grumbles Proton, who rudely pushes Red and Blue aside with his subordinates, and the villains flee from the Power Plant, leaving a dumbfounded Red, Blue and Zapdos behind.

After regaining his consciousness, Red talks to Zapdos, "You witnessed it, didn't you, Zapdos? Even towards human children should those Team Rocket crooks be so cruel, so why should a Pokémon expect any kindness from them?"

Zapdos nods in enlightenment.

"But I don't get it why Zapdos should make its nest here in an abandoned plant…" says Blue.

Zapdos flaps its wings and points at a lightning symbol on the wall, as if saying it was attracted here by the abundant electricity despite the abandonment of such a building.

"Oh, I forgot it!" says Red, "This Power Plant must be home to some wild Electric-type Pokémon. I caught sight of a Magnemite when I was tromping here, but it quickly hid itself."

"So did I!" says Blue, "I got the news from somewhere that those Team Rocket thugs would be doing something here, so I beat them here, seeing many Pokémon like Voltorb and Electrode. But before I could find a place to ambush them, they barged in and spotted me, and I had to confront them head-on."

"So it must be those wild Pokémon that feed Zapdos with electricity." says Red, "But why do they keep hiding? The bad guys should have been gone."

At this moment, some Electric-type Pokémon stick their heads out on hearing the news. Looking around and finding nobody dangerous, they reveal themselves in relief.

"Haha, there're so many of you here!" laughs Red, "You must have been more scared than hurt when those Team Rocket crooks invaded your home, weren't you?"

Nod all the Electric-type Pokémon in agreement.

"I understand you may have some fear against humans. But that's not the reason to shrink into the corner when your home is in danger, is it?" asks Red.

The wild Pokémon look speechless at each other, none of them liking being called a coward.

"As untrained Pokémon, you might not be sure if you can beat those invaders' power your own, but you're large in number! A united group is far stronger than dispersed individuals! A single chopstick is easy to snap while a bunch of them is hard!" says Red.

Listening to Red's speech, the Pokémon, including Zapdos, remain silent in deep thought.

"In short, union is strength!" says Red, "There's no reason to watch helplessly when those Team Rocket crooks are trying to take over your dear home! It's your Pokémon right to live and propagate here, and why should you all resign yourselves to foreign invasion? No matter who your enemies are, humans or Pokémon, you must have the guts to drive 'em out should they dare make their first step into your front door!"

Encouraged by Red's passionate talk, a Magneton stands out and gives out a firm, self-assured facial expression while buzzing at its fellows, as if saying, "That human child's absolutely correct! This home is for ours, not those human wretches in black! Why should we hide ourselves spinelessly while the invaders are trampling on our home as they wish?"

"It's just your rebellious will that counts!" says Red, "But never to be brave than wise. You can gain yourselves advantage if you are familiar with a foe's moves. If you don't mind, would you like to receive some training from us? I don't mean capturing you, just as a practice opponent."

Magneton buzzes as if asking, "You mean we battle you?"

"Sure." says Red, "It's too small here inside. We can have a practice battle outside the Power Plant. Who will be the first volunteer?"

Magneton buzzes and stands out as if recommending itself.

"All right. Let's go out. Zapdos and all of you watch on the side."

[9:31 AM, Apr 21, Route 10]
At the entrance to the Power Plant, Red and Magneton stand on the opposite ends while Blue, Zapdos and other local Pokémon dwellers watch their battle on either sides of the virtual arena.

"Brace yourself, Magneton. My Pokémon will not be as weak as those Team Rocket crooks!"

Magneton buzzes as if saying "I'm ready! Bring it on!"

"Pikachu, I choose you! Iron Tail!"

Pikachu jumps into the air and tries to slam his metallic tail into Magneton, while Magneton forms a steel bomb in front of itself and lobs it at Pikachu. It is a Steel-type move called Magnet Bomb, and it is also a non-avoidable move. Both of the Pokémon take some not-very-effective damage after being hit.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Usually, Electric-type Pokémon can absorb weak electricity and convert it to their own power, but a huge power degree of electricity will cause them to overload, damaging them instead of feeding them. But the brave Magneton hangs on and shakes off the sparks on its surface. It then produces a triangle with its angles colored in blue, yellow and red in front of itself, and fires the spinning triangle at Pikachu.

"Dodge the Tri Attack, Pikachu!" orders Red.

Pikachu leaps sideways to make the triangle miss, which then hits the ground behind him and causes a mini explosion.

"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"

Pikachu runs at Magneton, but he does not headbutt the Magnet Pokémon since it simply hurts his head with recoil. Instead, he leaps onto Magneton and pushes it, causing it to back off.

Afterwards, Magneton releases weak electricity onto Pikachu, but Pikachu absorbs the electricity without any side effects, making Magneton puzzled.

"Haha, Thunder Wave can't paralyze Electric-type Pokémon, Magneton!" laughs Red.

Magneton expands its eyes and gives an expression as if acknowledging its lack of trivial knowledge.

"OK, you can stop now!" Blue calls off the battle, "You both have tasted each other's power, and that's enough!"

Leaving the battle arena, Red takes out a bottle of Hyper Potion and sprays it on Mangeton, healing its damage.

And after witnessing the practice battle, the Electric-type Pokémon decide to found a "Power Plant Defense Team" (named by Red), and Magneton is elected the team leader, which it bashfully accepts.

"Now that you've firmed your resolution, it's time for us to say goodbye." says Red, "Last but not least, can you distinguish normal visitors and malicious invaders?"

All the Electric-type Pokémon cry and smile in confidence.

"Haha. That's fine! See ya!" smiles Red.

Riding on their flying Pokémon, Red and Blue wave goodbye to the Pokémon inhabitants before they disappear into the distance. The Pokémon then return to their home, determined to protect it from any aggressors.
--End of Epsiode 37--
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