Pokémon ABC - Episode 16

Episode 16: Finally, civilisation!

By 'Whisper Shadowhunter'/ Kitty Ocean
© Nintendo (their characters) and Kitty Ocean (my characters)

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Gazing at the large buildings, they entered Celadon City. They looked in every store, through every window and smelled the sweet aroma that filled the air.

"And I thought Hydron Town was busy…" Blade sighed. "But what is that smell?"

Chris giggled. "Didn't you know Celadon City is famous for its perfume? They make it in the gym." She stepped to a map of the city. "Now, where is that Pokémon Centre again?"

"You've been here before?" Blade asked curious.

Chris nodded. "I got my Rainbow Badge here. Erika was a great opponent. She used a Gloom."

Blade swallowed 2-3 times. "Gloom… brr… bad memories."

Aemilia and Chris smiled. They remembered the smell and thought the aroma of Celadon City was much better! Suddenly, Chris tapped at the map. "Now I remember, it's not too far from the Celadon Gym. Come on. I want Articuno!"



"He dad!" Blade yelled smiling to the phone. "I'm in Celadon City!"

Professor Midol angry looked at the screen. "You promised you'd call every 2 days!"

Suddenly, the professor leaped away from the screen, frightened for something. And within a flash, the screen of the videophone was frozen. Aemilia, Chris and Blade all looked curious at the screen. Where was the professor?

"What was that?" Chris asked after Professor Midol had cleared the screen.

Professor Midol looked around him, continuously looking if it wouldn't come back. "That, my dear Chris." Professor Midol started. "Was your Articuno! It doesn't like to be observed."

Again, the professor leaped away again and Chris saw a blue bird landing before the phone. She grabbed the horn from Blade. "Articuno! Behave yourself!" But the Articuno didn't agree and used his Ice-Beam attack to freeze the screen again. After a while, the professor cleaned the screen for the second time. "I came to free you from Articuno." Chris continued.

They suspected Professor Midol would agree, but he didn't: "No!" He yelled. "It's a great opportunity! Okay, I know it doesn't like Joey's Electrode, or Mayla's Exeggutor, but I still want to keep it for observing."

"But I want Articuno!" Chris said if she was a small child again.

"Please." The professor begged. "Just one more day."

Chris looked at Blade and Aemilia. "We are on the road for so long, one day more or less won't matter." Aemilia thought. Blade agreed. Chris turned to the screen again.

"All right." She said. "We'll spend the night at the Celadon Pokémon Centre, but tomorrow morning, I want it!"

Gratefully, Professor Midol hung up, and the 3 kids turned away from the phone. Aemilia asked to Chris: "For what Pokémon did you planned to trade it?" Chris looked shocked to Aemilia. "You're telling me you haven't thought about that?"

Chris walked to a table and sat down. She took her 6 Poké Balls. One by one, she looked at them. "For what Pokémon shall I trade it?" She asked. "I won't trade it for Wartortle. And Charizard won't be the one either."

"What about Nidoran?" Blade asked. "She is the weakest." Chris shook her head.

"Nidoran came along to gather experience. So I have to choose between Rapidash, Zubat and Bulbasaur."

Aemilia and Blade sat down too. "I would suggest Rapidash." Aemilia suggested. "You brought him along as transportation, and not really as a fighting one."

"But Zubat is also a flying type." Blade suddenly said. "It has some great powers, but it's still a weak Pokémon. I won't trade Bulbasaur, because he's your only grass type. And Zubat is a poison type, just like Nidoran."

Chris looked at Zubat's Poké Ball. "I guess you're right. Zubat is the best choice." She laid the Poké Ball down. "But I have the whole day to think about it. So, what shall we do now?"

"Let's find an Arcade hall!" Blade said. "I haven't played a good video game in days!"

"I prefer shopping." Chris suggested. "And sightseeing and stuff like that."

"That's for girls." Blade said.

"And what are we?" Aemilia asked. "Some guys in disguise?"

Blade didn't answer and felt embarrassed. "Well." Chris said. "It seems we want to do different things. Why don't we split up and have dinner together?" She looked at her watch. "Let's meet here again at 6 o'clock." She suggested. Blade agreed and stood up.

"I'm going to have fun." He said sarcastically. "If you are looking for me, look under 'Fun' in the yellow pages and you'll find the address of the Arcade Hall I'll be." He walked away from the girls out of the Pokémon Centre.

Blade decided to look at a distant city map to look for the Arcade hall. Such a big city must have a video game hall, he thought. He saw the doors opening of the Pokémon Centre and saw his friends leaving. He waved at them and they waved back. Strange, he thought, Chris hasn't insulted me since Crystal Mountain.

He remembered the walk to Celadon City. It had been much further than they expected. They thought it would be a few kilometres before they'd reach it, but the mountain was a lot larger and the climb down took a few hours. In the middle of the day they reached Celadon City, tired, no exhausted, of the long walk.

He turned left. The Arcade Hall should be around the next corner. He whistled one of his favourite songs.

Suddenly, someone bumped into him with great speed. Not able to see who bumped into him, he fell at the ground. When he opened his eyes, a young woman stood before him.

"I'm arresting you for stealing." She said to the astounded Blade.



Sitting in her new clothes Chris waited with Aemilia for Blade in the Pokémon Centre. They had visited the Celadon Gym again, but Erika was gone, concerning a theft. Shame, Chris had thought, I'd wanted to challenge her again, and maybe she'd become better and stronger. Impatiently, she looked at her watch again.

"Don't worry." Aemilia said. "Blade will show up. He's only 10 minutes late."

Chris shook her head. "He never came late, even at party's he even wasn't invited to. And I'm hungry, so he'd better show up soon or we'll start without him."

Aemilia agreed. She felt hungry too. She wondered where Blade might be. She thought he would show up within 10 minutes. But he didn't. "All right." Aemilia started. "I'm getting concerned too. Let's go to the Arcade hall and look for him."

Though Chris was very hungry, she also was concerned about Blade. Together with Aemilia she walked to the Arcade hall. But when they finally reached it: "I'm sorry girls, but you aren't allowed in. After 6 o'clock it's for 18 years and older."

"But we are looking for our friend." Chris said to the surprise of Aemilia. "It just will take a minute. When I find him, I'll drag him outside and we're gone."

But the man shook his head. "Sorry miss, but rules are rules. But if you give me the name of your friend I'll look for him." Chris gave him the name and the man walked inside. While Aemilia waited for the man, Chris got a hot dog at a little snack bar to ease the hunger. She bought a little snack for Aemilia too. But when she returned, the man also returned… without Blade.

"Thanks for looking." Aemilia politely answered. "We'd better go to the Pokémon Centre again, maybe he's there."



"Nurse Joy?" Chris asked. "Did a boy come here and left again?"

Nurse Joy shook her head. "I'm sorry. Nobody came since you'd left. Maybe you'd better go to the police. But it's very busy there. They caught the thieve who stole the secret perfume formula from the Gym."

"I heard about that theft, but it's better than doing nothing. Thanks Nurse Joy." Chris said and greeted the little Chansey too.



Walking through the streets, Chris didn't say a word. Aemilia felt she had to cheer up her friend. "Cheer up." She said. "We'll find Blade. Maybe he saw a pretty girl and followed her home or something like that." But Chris still didn't react. She worried too much.

If I get him in my hands, she thought, I'd break his neck! That will teach him not to worry me!

Slowly, they entered the Police-office. It was very busy there and through the running policemen they tried to get near the reception, but no one was there. They looked around them.

Suddenly, Chris saw it within a flash, but it was enough for her. She stormed at the door and opened it with a great slam. After that she ran and grabbed him. "Does this look like the Pokémon Centre?" She yelled.

"Miss, this is a private investigation. Leave immediately or I have to arrest you." Officer Jenny said.

"Wait…." They all looked at the young black-haired woman that sat at the other side of the table. "Do you know this guy?"

Chris furious looked at the woman. "Yeah, I know this pain in the bud. What have you done this time Blade? Even at home you weren't arrested and questioned."

"This young man is accused of stealing the secret formula from the Celadon Gym."

Aemilia entered too. "Blade?" She giggled. "He never steals anything. He just accidentally breaks something, but he's no thieve."

Suddenly, the black-haired woman stood up. "I remember you!" She said. "You're Aemilia!" She turned to Chris. "Than you must be Chris. How nice meeting you again."

"You know these children Erika?" Officer Jenny asked.

Erika nodded. "Aemilia is a very 'special' girl. I'll never forget her."

"Just have a party while I'm falsely accused." Blade angry mumbled. Chris felt sorry for him.

"Don't worry Blade, we'll clear you." Chris turned to Erika. "What do you know about the thieve?"

Erika didn't hesitate with answering. "He had black hair."

"Don't you know anything more?" Chris asked. Erika shook her head. It went within a flash, she said. "Than Blade is cleared. Blade's hair is dark-blue, not black. Come on, let's go."

But Officer Jenny didn't agree. "We had found him with the formula, that's reason enough to accuse him."

"But Blade is no thieve." Aemilia tried. "I swear it, he's to dumb for that!" Chris giggled. This was an unexpected thing to hear out of the mouth of the soft Aemilia.

Chris sat down on the table. "Look." She started. "If Blade was the real thieve, which he isn't, you can leave the formula at this table the whole night without getting stolen. The real thieve will try to steal it again."

Officer Jenny agreed. "So you are suggesting a trap that will clear Blade?"

"Just put it back in the Gym and Aemilia and I will protect it."

"What about me?" Blade asked. "I don't want to stay here."

Officer Jenny stepped before him. "You'll stay here to be sure you aren't the thieve. If the formula won't vanish during the night we're sure you are the thieve."

Erika walked to Aemilia and Chris. "Just come along to the Gym. You can spend the night there."

"Have a nice sleep Blade." Chris said. "Tomorrow you'll be a free boy again." She turned around.

"Chris wait…." Blade waited a second. "Love your outfit…."

Chris smiled to Blade and turned around again. Erika led the way and Aemilia and she followed the Celadon City Gym Leader.



"So, what has become of you too?" Erika asked while she gave Aemilia and Chris something too eat. "Still trying to get badges?"

Aemilia shook her head. For a moment she looked at Chris and she knew Chris allowed her to talk about it. "We opened our own Gym."

"Oh?" Erika said curiously. "Where? And did someone defeat you already? I doubt it, when you let Aemilia fight."

Chris shook her head. "Nope, no defeats yet." She took a bite. "But it sometimes was a close call."

"I know what you mean." Erika said smiling. "But defeats keep you alert. They tell you you've got to train harder. But you haven't told me where."

Chris took another bite of the delicious food. "It's the Ocean Gym." She said careless.

The sudden answer shocked her and she let a cup fall into shards. "You…?" She started trembling over her own words. "You are that mysterious dude… euh… Moonshadow?" Chris nodded. A moment of silence followed. "I knew you were a great trainer, but that good?"

"Aemilia is the one who helped me out you know? I couldn't be such a great trainer without her." She looked at Aemilia. "Actually, I'm nothing without her!"

Aemilia felt flattered by Chris' compliment and became a bit red. "I'm nothing without you too you know?"

Chris smiled. "You know, we can sit here competing who is right, but we have to save Blade's bud… again…."

"I'll prepare some beds near the formula." Erika said friendly. "I hope you wake up and catch the thieve when needed. I hope you are right and that it isn't your friend Blade."

"I hope that too…." Chris sighed. "For HIS sake!"



Tired from the long journey they had already walked, they both fell very easily asleep. Though both tried to keep their eyes open, they had to admit to the sleep. They were so tired; they didn't hear much what happened outside the dream world.

"Watch out!" Someone whispered.

Annoyed, someone replied: "Don't wine like a cry-baby, just get it!"

"I got it, now let's get out of here!"

Suddenly, Chris woke up. She heard a loud crash, indicating someone else was there. Doubting not another minute, she turned the light on. "You!" She looked upon Shana and Shane, who had fallen over Aemilia and Chris' backpack. "I should have known the black-haired man was you Shane!"

"I'm flattered you thought of me when you heard about the theft."

Aemilia had woken up too and stood next too Chris. "What do you want with some stupid perfume formula anyway?"

"Don't you know the value of this perfume formula?" Shana asked. "It's the most wanted perfume: Celadon Gloom number 1. And if we have the formula, we hold the world-market!"

The door opened. "Oh my God, its Team Rocket!" Erika yelled. "Blade IS innocent!"

"I already told you Blade was too stupid for that." Aemilia giggled.

"I'll call the police!" She wanted to turn back to the door again, but Shane threw his Poké Ball to Erika.

"Raticate, Go!"

Chris reacted instantly: "Nidoran, go for it!"

Shane laughed. "My Raticate is much stronger than that puny Nidoran." He said.

"Don't be sure about that." Chris smiled. "Shana also taught Wartortle couldn't defeat Geodude, or Graveler, but he still did. Nidoran, Scratch!"

The little poison Pokémon obeyed her trainer and leaped at the Raticate, but when Shane ordered, it dodged away and it used his Super Fang. Injured, the little creature landed before Chris' feet. Trembling at her legs, she stood up.

"Stop Chris." Aemilia shouted. "Nidoran is too weak, it hasn't got enough experience yet!"

"And now it's time she'd gathered some more. Nidoran, Poison Sting!"

Again, the Nidoran obeyed and dove to the Raticate, determent not to give up already. Surprised by the sudden strength of his opponent, it got hit and a little flow of poison entered his body.

"Ha!" Shana cheered. "Raticate is too strong for her poison. But if you let us go, we won't hurt her anymore."

But Nidoran had tasted victory with her fight with an Exeggutor, and didn't plan to lose now. She leaped again at the Raticate, scratching it again. Because he didn't expect this sudden assault, it couldn't react.

"Raticate, Focus Energy!"

"Nidoran, strike it while you can!"

Encouraged by her trainer's words, the Nidoran stormed at the focusing Raticate and before it was finished, Nidoran pushed some of her poison in the Raticate's body. Finally affected by the poison, his attacks became less precise and even useless.

Shane couldn't believe he was losing from an inexperienced Pokémon and returned his Raticate. "We'll get you!" He said and wanted to turn around, but Aemilia blocked their passage.

"The formula?"

Angry, Shana tossed the formula away. Distracted by this move, Shane took this opportunity to throw a can to the light and broke it. Suddenly, they all stood in the dark

Erika turned on the emergency light. "They had vanished…." She said unbelievable.

Aemilia took the formula from the ground. "But they left the formula behind and that's a good thing."

Erika turned to Chris. "I was very impressed how you fought with Nidoran." She patted it. "Though it hasn't got much experience yet, you've won with it." She took the formula from Aemilia and put it in the safe again. She pushed a button. Chris wondered what she was doing, when she saw Erika was pushing some other numbers. "I changed the code to the safe, so it will be safe again. Come, we have to get your friend."



"Finally, I got out of this dumb!"

"Blade…?" Chris said ironic. "Thank this nice lady for her hospitality."

Angry, Blade turned around. "What do I have to thank Officer Jenny for? Putting me into jail innocent? Now there is a story I've got to tell dad."

"I'm sorry, Blade." Officer Jenny apologised. "I guess you were at the wrong time at the wrong place."

Aemilia put her arm around Blade. "And Blade." She started sarcastically. "What have you learn from all this?"

"I'm never going to buy perfume anymore!" Blade said irritated. "No way!" Though he was irritated about the incident, the ongoing laughter of his companions irritated him more! "Just shut up!" He angry yelled. "You know how small such an irritating room is?"

"I hope it was bigger than your brains…." Chris giggled and Erika and Officer Jenny appreciated the joke too.

"You all can stay in the Celadon Gym." Erika suggested.

Chris accepted the offer. "And tomorrow, I'll hold Articuno!"


To be continued…