Chapter 22: Nugget Bridge
~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Cerulean City]
Getting up early in the morning, it was time for me to explore Cerulean City. I had Growlithe walking beside me and Pikachu over my shoulder as we admired the scenery of Cerulean City.
Going down the city with people and Pokémon alike enjoying their company, I couldn't help but smile at the scene. But eyes wander towards something else instead…
Route 24 to 25 and The Nugget Bridge. The actual southern terminus of the route is at the southern extent of the bridge.
Route 24 follows the length of the bridge north, running parallel to an express path to the east that originates on Route 25, allowing Trainers to travel from Cerulean Cape to Cerulean City but not vice versa quickly.
At the northern end of the bridge, the route opens at a virtual three-way intersection. To the west is a long, narrow strip of land that contains Route 24's lone patch of grass containing a Trainer and wild Pokémon.
This location also serves as the docking platform for a water body that leads to an otherwise inaccessible portion of Route 4, as well as Cerulean Cave or the site of the Berserk Gene northwest of Cerulean. The water body can be crossed with Surf or the Secret Technique Sea Skim.
To the north of the bridge is a small plateau containing a variety of items and people, with the actual contents varying not only by Generation but also by game version. In Generation I, TM45 (Thunder Wave) is found here.
In Generation II, no items are present; however, a tree containing a hidden item is present. In Generation III, TM45 (Attract) is found here. In Generation VII, three Razz Berries are found here.
Additionally, in Pokémon Yellow and Generation VII, a non-battling Trainer is found here, offering his Charmander to any Trainer who will provide better care for him. Southeast of the plateau, Route 24 turns to the east and becomes Route 25.
In Generations I, III, and VII, the corner connecting Routes 24 and 25 is considered a part of Route 24. In Generations II and IV, it is included with Route 25. But most importantly, I can find a Psychic Pokémon this early in I need to have one in my Team…
Abra… Not only that Abra is good but also a Venonat would be a great addition to my team for the status effects.
Abra, Venonat, Bellsprout, Magikarp, Psyduck, Krabby, Pidgey, Weedle, Caterpie, or others inside this vast world of Pokémon. Or I could find a Squirtle or Mewoth, although I prefer to have the Water Type in my team, though.
Still, that Lapras is somewhere nearby with some kid looking to try and capture it with his Haunter. Hmm… Should I go for one of the Kanto Starters in my Team or go with capturing whatever I get in the wild?
Ah… Decisions, decisions, so many to choose from, and yet a six-main team would be hard to add unless I get them to my team.
Variety is good to have, but I never had any of the starters in my playthrough, though… And I already have a Dratini, Growlithe, and Pikachu to fill in the ranks!
This is a very hard choice to make, but ideally, I'll need to choose what I need for my team members. Smiling at this, I accepted what I should do first as I began to make my way to Route 24.
Saying it is the easy part, but doing it is another matter. While making my way to Route 24, I see some kids or Trainers running past me as I raise an eyebrow.
Did they get their asses kicked doing the Nugget Bridge challenge? Judging from their expressions, I'll take it as a yes, seeing the battle at the end with one of them running back in bitter frustration.
Seeing this, I checked the levels of their Pokémon with my [Observe]. Judging from their Pokémon levels, they range between levels 10 – 18, being the highest for trainers here on Nugget Bridge.
Checking my own Pokémon level, I smiled, seeing their growth. They have the right amount of strength to pull this off.
|Name: Partner Pikachu
|Type: Electric
|Level: 20
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: [Light Ball]
|Ability: Lightning Rod (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Hasty
|Moves: Thunder Shock [A], Quick Attack [A], Double Team, Tail Whip, Thunder Wave, Electro Ball, Iron Tail [A], Feint, Spark, Surf (HM), Volt Tackle (EM), Wish (EM) (5 Moves to learn)
|Name: Dratini (Dragon Pokémon)
|Type: Dragon
|Level: 18
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Marvel Scale (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Adamant
|Moves: Wrap, Leer, Twister, Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, Dragon Rage, Iron Tail, Surf (HM), Extreme Speed (IM), Dragon Dance (EM) (2 Moves to Learn)
|Name: Growlithe (Puppy Pokémon)
|Type: Fire
|Level: 20
|Held Item: None
|Gender: Male
|Ability: Flash Fire
|Nature: Jolly
|Moves: Ember, Leer, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility, Raging Fury (IM), Morning Sun (EM) (8 Moves left to learn)
Yeah. My team got this. Not only that, Dratini could use the EXP gained from battling them to level up.
/////
[Kanto Region, Route 24 – Nugget Bridge]
I couldn't help but be surprised standing right by the Nugget Bridge with how wide it was, and man, it was long. I couldn't help myself but admire it in a stunned tone, "Whoa! So, this is the Nugget Bridge, huh?"
Wandering, I had my Pokémon in their Poke Balls, seeing how big the bridge was. I couldn't help but mutter, "I wonder where the first trainer is?"
But before I could contemplate, I heard a voice. A voice asked as they looked to see a Bug Catcher with a Poke ball introducing themselves in a confident tone, "Hey, you here for the Nugget Bridge Challenge? The name's Cale, and I'm the first Trainer."
With a nod, confirming I came for a challenge, I asked curiously, "I'm here for the challenge. How many Pokémon are you going to use?"
Cale said, sending his first one out, a Caterpie, "Four. Go! Caterpie!"
*Pop*
Summoning his Caterpie, I brought out my Charmander in a sheepish tone, "Ok then. Go! Growlithe!"
*Pop*
Growlithe appeared with a battle cry at the ready in his battle stance. Although he did slightly frown, not liking that the first opportunity to battle he had first fought so far were Bug types and weak ones at that.
But regardless, remained at the ready as Cale ordered, "String Shot!"
With a helpless smile, I ordered, "Ember."
*Brrr*
As the Caterpie shot the silky string, its string then got burned up by Growlithe's Ember attack. And it led to the poor Bug-Type caterpillar Pokémon, sending him rolling and knocking him out by the fire.
Cale quickly returned him and sent out a Weedle. I warned him, not wanting to be poisoned, "Careful, Growlithe. Do not get poisoned."
He nodded as Cale ordered, "Poison Sting."
*Pew*
Needles shot out of the Weedle's mouth as Growlithe moved quickly to dodge them using Agility to escape their vision momentarily. And once again, a simple Ember attack destroyed another Bug Type due to type advantage and, you know… fire.
All Cale had left were a Metapod and a Kakuna, but Growlithe made short work of them as he looked a little winded but not completely exhausted. I kneeled, patting his head, offering him an Oran Berry in a proud tone, "Great job, Growlithe. The more we battle, the higher you climb, catching up with the rest of the team."
*Gulp*
He ate the Oran Berry and roared happily, "Arf!"
Growlithe now looked energized and ready to train some more as I returned him, knowing that he would dive head-first into training when they finished the Nugget Bridge Challenge. Cale said with a chuckle, "I did my best. Even if it was a Growlithe, I have no regrets."
Nodding my head, I commented on Cale just being good sports in a chill tone, "Same with fighting your Bug Pokémon; they'll get stronger; you'll be stronger when they become Butterfree and Beedrill."
Finishing saying my piece, I walked by Cale as the battle was easy. Not bad for a warm-up, though.
But seeing it would drain my Pokémon stamina; challenging Nugget Bridge would be my true test of knowing why so many Trainers lose here. Soon, the second trainer, a girl wearing a white shirt and blue skirt, walked up.
She asked in surprise before grinning, revealing her Poke Ball in a confident tone, "You beat Cale? My name's Ali, and I'm the second Trainer of Nugget Bridge."
*Pop*
With that said, she sent out a small blue Pokémon with leaves hanging on its head. Recognizing this as an Oddish, I pulled out my next Poke Ball and said calmly, "Oddish, huh? Growlithe had his turn, so… Dratini, I choose you!"
*Pop*
Dratini came out in her battle stance as she cried out with defiance, "Dra!!"
Ali's Oddish took a step back in fear. Ali, who was confident, now looked nervous as I commanded, "Twister."
*Swooosh*
Dratini cried and began blowing the Oddish across the bridge, causing her to tumble and roll. Ali quickly ordered, "Oddish use Absorb!"
Oddish pushed herself up, and vines shot out of its head to absorb energy from Dratini, who avoided it with Agility with clear ease. I grinned as I yelled, "Iron Tail to slice through them."
*Shinng*
Dratini lunged and flew through the vines, cutting them up as it scored a hit on the Oddish, and this time, she stayed down. Ali frowned as she returned the Oddish and sent a Bellsprout out.
I didn't pull any punches as I said, "Twister."
The Bellsprout was knocked out easily. No competition as Ali gave a resigned sigh and sent out her last Pokémon.
It was a Pidgey. The small bird froze on seeing Dratini, who didn't look too impressed as I said calmly, "Extreme Speed."
That was all I said before the Pidgey was knocked out. Man, these battles are easy.
Just as Ali accepted her loss, a fleeting thought of 'I expected it to be a lot harder' passed my head. Well, that's two down and three more to go.
I sighed before the third trainer, a boy wearing a hat, yellow shirt, and blue shorts, had his arms crossed with a smirk and introduced himself, "The name's Timmy, this is where you're winning streak ends! Go! Sandshrew."
As the small yellow armadillo Pokémon came out, I grinned and sent Pikachu, "Go! Pikachu!"
*Pop*
Pikachu appeared at the ready with an eager grin. Timmy ordered as the Sandshrew moved, "Scratch!"
I responded quickly, "Iron Tail."
*SHINNG*
It was too fast for Timmy to see as his Sandshrew was on the other side of the bridge, knocked out cold. His 40 Base Speed isn't gonna be a match for my Partner Pikachu's 120 Base Speed, not by a long shot.
Not one to give up despite seeing how badly he was outmatched, Timmy sent out an Ekan as it hissed. He didn't get to last too long as Pikachu used Electro Ball to one-shot the poison snake.
Light Ball Pikachu is OP. Especially if it's Partner Pikachu doubling his Sp. Attack and Physical Attack stats.
Moving on from him, we met the fourth trainer, a girl named Reli, who used two Nidorans, one male and the other female. Now, this one did give us a bit of trouble, but Growlithe, with his Ember, helped, along with burning their attacks with Raging Fury.
Whoever has the bright idea to experiment with a Growlithe, giving him early access to these moves, is mad. Oh, wait, Giovanni did… never mind then.
Finally, they were at the fifth and final trainer, who was a camper boy named Ethan, and he sent out a Mankey while I had Pikachu out. Ethan ordered as the Mankey moved quickly, "Low Kick!"
I said as Pikachu did block it, "Block with Iron Tail."
*Clang*
Having the chance, I ordered swiftly, "Now use Thunder Shock."
*Buzzz*
The Mankey spasmed as it stumbled back before Pikachu tackled it with a Quick Attack, sending it rolling back. Ethan said as Mankey shook his head and ran forward, his fist glowing, "Mankey use Karate Chop!"
Seeing this, I commanded as Pikachu stood there, "Wait for it…"
My partner's ears twitched slightly as I gave the command, "... Now use Iron Tail to jump and counterattack with Electro Ball!"
Pikachu did so, causing Mankey to miss before the electric mouse grinned as a small orb began to power up on his tail. The small orb slammed into Mankey, causing him to collapse, knocked out, as Ethan sighed and returned the Pig Monkey.
Ethan commented as he saw the other battles in a disbelief tone, "Man, you are a machine. We barely did anything to you."
Shaking my head, I patted Pikachu's head as he chirped happily and said to Ethan, "Nah. It was still great training for my team."
Turning around to leave, I made sure to deal with the Team Rocket Grunt ahead of Ethan. I smirked, seeing the chance to rob a grunt in broad daylight. And who would the Grunt turn to? The police?
Ha! Try to explain how that guy who steals Pokémon and commits a crime goes to the police explaining how he got robbed instead! The perfect way to make money fast is by bullying the Team Rocket Grunts!