Viridian City was roughly the same size as Violet City, but with fewer major landmarks. The buildings were fairly uniform, and the Pokémon Centre sat in the middle of town, providing a hub for travelers and residents alike. James and Jen arrived at the Centre as the sky darkened, and quickly signed into a room before turning in. As Typhlosion made himself comfortable in a corner, the two youngsters checked their map of the region.
“So...here's Viridian,” Jen said, “and that little symbol next to the town means...what, exactly?” James checked the symbol, which looked like a small green leaf, and looked at the small guide to the Kanto gyms he'd taken from the lobby.
“It says that's the...Earth Badge.” He looked up at Jen. “Remember, the guide said that the Viridian Gym uses Ground-type Pokémon.” Jen looked worried.
“Do either of us have the team to take on Ground-types?” she asked. James shrugged.
“I'd put Typhlosion up against anybody, but if he went down, I'd have a fight on my hands.”
“And I don't really have much besides Tentacruel. Maybe Togetic's Magical Leaf might cause some havoc, but...” Jen shook her head. “We may be in over our heads here.” James yawned as he shrugged again.
“We'll train a little in the morning, then head over to the Gym and find out what's up. Right now, we need to rest.”
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The next morning, both youngsters had a light training session before starting to walk over to the Viridian Gym. Jen was muttering to herself about how she would mix in Tentacruel and Togetic's moves to fully take advantage of the type matchups, while James contented himself with looking at the buildings they passed. They were a lot more modern than the ones in his home town, with an almost bland, utilitarian feel to them. Even his own house seemed elaborately built compared to these...
“What?!” Jen's shout jolted James from his trance. He looked over, and saw that they'd arrived at the Viridian Gym. Jen was glaring at a sign on the door, which was locked.
“It says the Gym's closed until further notice. Just like the Olivine Gym was when...” Jen's frustrated groan cut him off.
“This is ridiculous! We travel all this way, get some good training in, and then the place is closed! It's Olivine City all over again!”
“Without the out-and-back trip to another town.” James added, trying to calm Jen down. “It's fine. We'll just go back to the Pokémon Centre, ask Nurse Joy what the story is with the Gym, then find the next town and head there. No need to get bent out of shape over it.” Jen looked at him impatiently, then relaxed.
“I guess so. It's just a bit jarring, you know? We did travel a long way just to hit a roadblock.” As they walked back to the Centre, James reasoned about their chances at this stage.
“I mean, I definitely don't have the personnel to go after certain types. It's probably for the best that we're gonna take on a different Gym first.” They walked through the Centre's double doors, and waited for Nurse Joy to finish directing one of her Chansey before asking about the Gym.
“You two aren't the first trainers to ask about it,” she said, smiling. “The Viridian Gym has developed a bit of a reputation for high Leader turnover. We must have gone through four or five different Leaders in the past few years. A couple of high-level championship contenders, somebody drafted in from another region, even an Elite Four member took control at one point. The original Leader was even rumoured to be a crime lord, which wouldn't lend itself to consistent availability.”
“How do you go from Gym Leader to professional criminal?” James asked no-one in particular as the two youngsters returned to their room. “That seems like...a bit of a stretch?”
“Who knows?” Jen replied. “I'd rather be a Gym Leader, honestly.” She looked at James, who was fighting to keep his face straight, and punched him lightly on his right shoulder. “Hey, you would too! Aren't you familiar with the phrase 'crime doesn't pay'?” James raised an eyebrow.
“Then why do they end up with really nice cars all the time?” Jen groaned at her friend's poor attempt at humour, and they reached their room moments later.
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Even though it wouldn't be as dramatic a backtrack as their run from Olivine to Mahogany, both youngsters opted against a trip south to Pallet Town. Because of the more straightforward track of the Kanto region, they were sure to pass through the small hamlet sooner or later. Instead, they planned their trek north, through the Viridian Forest, and eventually to Pewter City. A few days later, they were underway, traversing the relatively calm Route 2. The route was similar to Route 22, flat and relatively open. It took them less time than they thought it would to reach the Viridian Forest gatehouse, where a watchman handed them another map.
“This brochure shows the best path through the forest, as well as the Pokémon you can find here. And make sure you keep a tight grip on your belongings; trainers have been known to lose valuable items in the undergrowth.” Jen took the brochure and thanked the watchman, and the pair followed Typhlosion into the forest. The tree canopy wasn't quite as thick as the Ilex Forest's, but the grass was much longer, making it much easier to trip on twigs and rocks. James considered using one of Typhlosion's Fire attacks to clear a path, but Jen shot him down instantly.
“No way are you burning the forest down just for an easier trip. We'll just have to make the most of things.” Undaunted, she continued picking her way through the undergrowth, leaving James to grumble and follow. As they reached a clearing, a small figure was directing a small brown creature with long ears and a bushy tail. A ruff of lighter fur circled her neck. As James and Jen came closer, the trainer was revealed to be a girl with light brown hair that reached down below her shoulders. She was much shorter than Jen, wearing a white short-sleeved jacket over a pink t-shirt, denim shorts and white sneakers that looked almost new. The girl urged her Pokémon on, as if chasing something.
“C'mon, Eevee, we've almost got it. Just a little longer and we can get out of here...” As she instructed her Eevee, James stepped on a stray branch, and the resulting snap brought the attention of both girl and Pokémon on them. The girl's red eyes widened as she spotted them. “Don't I remember you two from somewhere?” James and Jen looked at one another, Jen's eyes narrowing.
“I think I do...” she murmured, as James gave a noncommittal shrug. The other girl's face broke into a smile as she saw Typhlosion.
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“I'm Stephanie! Don't you remember me? I saw you guys at the Pokémon Centre in Goldenrod City, right?” Stephanie looked at James. “Your Typhlosion was still a Quilava then, wasn't he? And you...” her expression faded a little as she looked at Jen. “Do you still have that Elekid?”
“Yes.” Jen answered, her eyes narrowing further. Stephanie shuddered theatrically before turning back to James.
“Eevee and I are trying to track down a Caterpie. Can you help us out? We want to get out of here before it gets too dark.” James gave Jen a sidelong glance; she had her arms folded, but made no move to stop him, and he shrugged.
“I guess so. Where did you last see...?”
“Oh, just over here,” Stephanie answered, pointing to a small alcove. “Eevee's been following its trail for a while now. Once we've taken away any escape routes, we'll catch it easily.” Typhlosion grinned, eager to join the chase. James put a hand on his back.
“Steady, pal. Just help follow, don't get too involved.” He turned back to Jen, who gave him a look that said if you have to. He gave her an apologetic grin, then followed Stephanie and Eevee towards the Caterpie's hiding spot.
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Fifteen minutes later, everything kicked off. A green Bug-type with a yellow underside and red antennae between its eyes inched out of the grass, and Stephanie's Eevee had pounced, chasing it towards a dead end to their left. Typhlosion set himself up behind the Evolution Pokémon, ready to shepherd the worm back towards its pursuers. Caterpie turned to face Eevee, its fear obvious in its large black eyes.
“Eevee, Tackle it!” As Eevee charged, Caterpie screwed up its eyes, and a nasty smell permeated the area. Eevee put her paws over her nose, and James felt his eyes water from the stench. Stephanie had both hands over her lower face. Caterpie began moving away from Eevee, but saw Typhlosion and cowered again. Eevee took advantage of the distraction and slammed into Caterpie, knocking it back towards the dead end. James looked over at Stephanie.
“Quick! Before it makes another run for it!” Stephanie squeaked in protest, but then found her voice again.
“Bite attack, Eevee!” Eevee darted in at Caterpie and bit down on its tail, causing it to squirm in pain. “Okay, I think we're ready!” Stephanie took out a Pokéball and threw it underhand at Caterpie. The ball struck the worm on its side, and it was drawn inside in a flash of red light. The ball shook several times, then pinged, signalling a successful capture. “Yeah! Way to go, Eevee!” Stephanie ran over to the ball and picked it up, then swept Eevee up and hugged her.
“Well done,” James said, scratching Typhlosion's ears. Stephanie put Eevee down and smiled at both of them.
“Thanks for your help. I might not have been able to stop Caterpie from escaping otherwise.”
“No problem.” James turned to leave, but Stephanie blocked his path. “Uh, what's up? I'm gonna go find Jen and keep moving.” Stephanie's expression flickered, but she brightened instantly.
“I'll come with you! I need to follow the main path back to the entrance anyway.” James raised an eyebrow.
“The entrance? Aren't you traveling through to the next city?” Stephanie shook her head as they started to walk towards the path.
“I've got a...well, my dad wants me to travel around, but I hate crawling through bushes and stuff, so a...friend of mine is chauffering me around the region.” James' eyebrow went up even further.
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Meanwhile, Jen was scrabbling through an even thicker patch of brush, not really sure what she was looking for, or why she was doing so.
“Stuck-up, vain little...” she muttered to herself. “First she insults my Pokémon, then James falls for her act and follows her like a...no, don't say that. James would help almost anybody. I can't let her get to me...” As she wandered further, she spotted a small yellow bug wandering through the brush, eating as many leaves as it could reach. Its body was segmented, each one resembling a ball the colour of brown mustard, with small reddish feet on most of them. It had a white horn on its head, a similarly-coloured stinger on the end of its tail, and two black eyes sitting above a prominent nose. Jen quietly reached for a Pokéball and let Togetic out. The Happiness Pokémon squealed in delight, but desisted when Jen shushed her. She took out her Pokédex and turned down the volume control before training it on the bug.
“Weedle, the Hairy Bug Pokémon,” the device announced. “Weedle eats copious amounts of leaves in this stage of its development, and uses a strong poisonous sting to deter predators.”
“Well,” Jen said as she stowed the device, “we just have to be careful, then. Togetic, up, then hit it with a Magical Leaf.” Togetic swooped into the air, took careful aim, then fired a volley of glowing leaves at the Weedle. The leaves cut at the Hairy Bug's body, and it turned with a furious expression on its face. “O-kay, we've made it mad. Keep moving!” Togetic swooped back and forth, but Weedle kept following her with its small eyes. When Togetic stopped to recover for a moment, Weedle launched itself in the air with a force Jen didn't think was possible, aiming its head stinger at Togetic's stomach. “Dodge that, and use Magical Leaf again!” Togetic barely avoided the attack, and knocked Weedle to the floor with another shining barrage. Weedle bounced a few times before turning to face Jen. “Oh, boy. Now it wants to sting me.” Before Weedle could attack, though, Togetic had plummeted headfirst into the bug's back, flattening it to the ground. “Thanks, girl! I've got it now!” Jen tossed a Pokéball at Weedle, and it was sucked in easily. Three shakes and a ping later, Weedle was caught. As Jen went to retrieve the ball, it glowed brightly before disappearing. “Right. I already have six Pokémon with me, so I have to switch somebody out when I get to a Pokémon Centre.” She patted Togetic's head as she flitted in the air near her shoulder. “Hey, can you help me find James and Typhlosion. We've got to get moving.” Togetic flew up high, and Jen followed her towards the main path.
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As Jen reached the intersection where she'd left James, she saw him emerging from a clearing to her right, Typhlosion and Stephanie behind him. She recalled Togetic, and folded her arms as she waited for the others to arrive.
“...defeat the purpose?” James was asking Stephanie as they approached.
“Trainers spend half their time in the mud and dust, chasing down Pokémon instead of maximizing their training time. Wouldn't you prefer to spend more time training than walking?” James shrugged.
“I don't think so. It's good exercise, and there's plenty of time to train along the way.” He spotted Jen, and headed over to her. “Hey! What've you been up to?”
“Spent some time in the brush. Caught a Weedle.” Jen watched Stephanie cringe again. “What? Going to insult that one, too?”
“You know what Weedle evolves to, right?” Stephanie asked. When Jen shrugged, Stephanie squeaked in disgust. “Weedle is the first form of Beedrill! As in, nasty toxic bug with big stingers!” Jen almost laughed at the look on Stephanie's face.
“So, in other words, it'll be of some use in battle eventually. Why, what does a Caterpie evolve to?”
“Butterfree! Elegant but strong!” Jen openly scoffed at this pronouncment, and James stepped between the two girls as they glared at one another.
“Alright, enough. Can't we just agree to disagree here?” When neither girl spoke, James sighed. “Jen, we'd better get moving.” Stephanie pouted as Jen relaxed.
“You sure you don't want to come with me? It'll be easier than spending weeks at a time on the road.” James shook his head.
“I told you, I prefer the grind of it all. Plus, Jen and I are watching each other's backs out here. I appreciate the offer, but I'll be okay.” Stephanie looked disappointed, but nodded.
“Okay. Thanks for your help with Caterpie. I hope I see you again soon.” Before either James or Jen could react, she had given James a quick hug, made a face at Jen, and darted off with her Eevee towards the gatehouse. Jen scoffed again.
“She's enough to drive anyone up a wall,” she said. James shrugged.
“I don't get her. She doesn't like the travel aspect, but is willing to crawl into a forest to catch a bug?”
“Either way, she may want to see you again, but I really hope we don't.” James started to laugh, then stopped when he saw the look on Jen's face.
“Let's...just keep moving towards Pewter City, huh?” Jen nodded, and she, James and Typhlosion started back along the path through Viridian Forest, intent on reaching the next city.