Disclaimer: Pokemon and co. doesn't belong to me . . . . blah blah blah . .
.


Authors Notes: Here I am again and all ready for season 2 of this fic for
the few of you that'll probably come banging on my door to demand I
finish this already.
As usual, Feedback would be greatly appreciated!  And so would
suggestions for the final chapter of my fic Forever.  I kinda got writers
block on that one.



Ketchum: The Journey Continues
Season 2

Battle For The Earth Badge! - Part 1
Chapter 4


Okay, Viridian Gym uses a variety of pokemon.  So I should have a good
variety on my roster.
Fire Claw can take out most, but not strong Rock types or a strong Water
type.  But it will hurt.  B.B. can handle Water, Rock, Ground and a few
others except Fire with his special attack.  Rare Beauty can handle most
with Water Mirror.
So my team will be Inferno, Rare Beauty, Ramona, B.B., Makaar and . . .
Flutter?  No, she hasn't perfected her final attack yet.  Paradox?  Maybe.
Tananda?  Maybe.  I'd like my team to have a flying type.
Pirow's way too young.
And Raptor's only about three days old, no way.  I wonder what kind of
attacks he'll have.
Tananda then, her Feather Barrage is pretty powerful.
<"You've never fretted like this over the other Gyms.  What is it?">

<"I see . . . what is the Elite Four?">

<"And if you win?">

<"Oh, now I see why this is so important.  To be declared a Master of
Pokemon.">
"Musashi, who are you going to use?"
"Venusaur, Golbat, Lupis, Raichu, Blastoise and Pidgeot.  You?"
"Inferno, Rare Beauty, Ramona, B.B., Makaar and Tananda."  She
nodded and gave me a peck on the cheek.  
"Good luck."
I gave her a little peck too and whispered good luck to her as well.


"One trainer at a time!"  The guards announced.  They were dressed like
Roman Warriors.
"You first Musashi.  Good luck."  She gave me a hug.  
"Thank you."


~~~~~~Musashi's POV~~~~~~

I bit my lip and walked through the door.
"My name is Musashi and I challenge you for the Earth Badge!"  I
shouted to the man sitting up in a balcony.
"Very well then, six pokemon, no time limit."  I shivered at his voice and
climbed the ladder to the platform.  I clutched Venusaur's pokeball,
hoping she could take out a few of his.  Satoshi and I had a practice
match earlier before we left for the Gym.  I hoped I was ready.
One of his hands stroked a Persian by his side while another held up a
pokeball.
"Go, Machamp."
"Go Venusaur!"
(Ready!)
"Champ!"
"Razor Leaf!"
"Submission."
Machamp avoided the Razor Leaf and held Venusaur in a head lock.  I
called for Vine Whip, hoping she could pry Machamp off.
No luck.
"Stun Spore!"  The spores hit Machamp right in the face and he let go of
her, trying to clear it's eyes.  Then it froze as the paralyses took effect.
"Solar Beam!"
As she collected for Solar Beam a fine mist covered Machamp, he was
using a Full Heal to nullify the Stun Spore!
"Fire!"  I yelled.  Venusaur fired her Solar Beam and it engulfed
Machamp.  No way it could stand up to that!
"Mega Punch."
A glowing fist suddenly emerged from the beam and knocked Venusaur
for a loop.  Ow, poor Venusaur . . .
"Tackle!"  Venusaur shook her head and Tackled Machamp, taking it out.
"Yes!"
Venusaur groaned in pain, I recalled her.
"Great job Venusaur."
"Return.  Go, Kingler."
"Go Raichu!  Thunder!"
"RAAIIIIIIIII!!!!"
"Harden, then Hyper Beam."
My eyes widened, so did Raichu's when Kingler came out with barely a
scratch and used Hyper Beam.
I don't believe it, a Kingler beat Raichu!
"Nice try Raichu, return."  Who do I use against a Kingler?
"Go Golbat!  Confuse Ray!"
"Clamp."
With his air advantage Kingler missed.  Golbat didn't.  Kingler began
spinning in circles.
"Leech Life!"
(Right!)
He sucked Kingler's energy dry.
"Return.  Go Sandslash, Dig."
"Fly up to the ceiling Golbat!"  I yelled.  He nodded and flew as close to
the ceiling as he could get.  No way Sandslash could reach him now!
"Sandslash, 4d - 6g.  Now."
Huh?
"What the . . .?!"  I gaped as Sandslash erupted from the ground and
collided with Golbat, bringing him down.
Satoshi was going to have a really hard time with this Gym leader.
"Return Golbat!  Go Blastoise!  Hydro Pump!"  
Sandslash vanished under the ground again.
"Hydro Pump the tunnel!"
Sandslash was flushed out, fainted.
"Return.  Go Nidoqueen, Body Slam."
"Withdraw!"
Blastiose ducked into his shell and Nidoqueen slammed into him.  He was
sent spinning into the air.  
"Now!  Water Gun!"
Nidoqueen was thrown into the wall by Blastoise's attack but she wasn't
out yet.
"Poison Sting."
Blastoise was poisoned!  But before I could use a Full Heal Nidoqueen
tackled him.
"Nice try, return Blastiose."
Nidoqueen was weak, could Lupis or Pidgeot beat her?  We each had
two pokemon left and I'd have to beat them both for that badge.
And there was no way I was giving up.
No way, no how.
My family has a history of being unbelievably stubborn and bull headed
about things we want.  And I want that badge!
Meowth was beside me, acting like a normal Meowth for a reason I don't
understand.  I'll ask him later at the Pokemon Centre.

<"Lupis would be your best bet Musashi.  Use Fire Spin.">

<"You owe me a lot more than one my friend!"> She joked.
"Go Lupis!  Fire Spin!"
"LUUUUU!"
The Fire Spin was enormous!  When it died down Nidoqueen was fainted.
"Great going Lupis!" 
Only one more pokemon to go, and it was sure to be the worst.
"Return.  Go Mr. Mime."
Oh great!  A Psychic type!
Calm down, remember.  They have a powerful mind, but a weak body!
"Lupis Take Down!"
"Barrier."
Lupis yelped as she collided head on.  I winced.
"Psychic."
"Glare!"
Mr. Mime was stopped in mid attack, paralysed by the Glare attack.  If it
couldn't use it's hands, it couldn't attack.
"Take Down!"
"MIME!"
"Finish it!  Fire Blast!"
"Reflect."
Uh oh.
"Lupis lay down!"  She hit the ground as the reflected Fire Blast passed
over her.
Reflect was only good for elemental attacks, not physical. 
"Quick Attack!"
"Psychic."
Lupis was out, that Psychic attack combined with the unspent one
knocked out Lupis.  But Mr. Mime was weak now, Pidgeot should be
able to take it out!
"Go Pidgeot!  Whirlwind!"
Mr. Mime was blown across the arena.
No way!  By all means that should have knocked it out!
"Recover."
Oh no you don't!
"Wing Attack!"
Mr. Mime was out.
We won . . .
"We WON!  Great going Pidgeot!"
(Yes!)
"You have defeated me.  I give you the Earth Badge."
I smiled as I caught it and put it inside my badge case.  Here I come
Indigo Plateau!
The guards let me out, Satoshi met me at the stairs.
"I won Satoshi!  I got the Earth Badge!"
"Attention!  The Viridian Gym is now closed for the day.  No more
challengers will be accepted."
The guards announced.
"Rats!  Oh well, more practice for me then!"  He chirped happily.  So did
Raptor.

At the Pokemon Centre, Satoshi and I were sitting on the couch holding
hands.
"Satoshi, you've got to be careful.  His pokemon are super trained, his
Sandslash knocked out Golbat!"
"What?!  You're kidding!"
"No joke I swear!  His Kingler beat Raichu!"
"Impossible!"
I nodded.  He sighed.
"I'm in for a helluva battle, aren't I?"
"Oh yeah.  You should train your pokemon and raise their levels."
"You don't mind if we stay for a few days do you?  So we can train?"
"I don't mind.  I'll help you train if you want."
"You sure Musashi?  I don't think you'll like what I have in mind."
"Shhh . . ."  I put two fingers to his lips.  "Don't worry.  If it's with you I
won't mind."
He smiled and brought my hand from his face.  His hand cupped my face
and brought it closer to his I closed my eyes, I wanted to enjoy this.
Our lips connected.
I was in absolute heaven.
<"Mmmm . . . this is nice . . .">

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