Episode 8:
Clan Caterpie and the Boulder Badge

Author(s): IcyPikachu, InsaneLlama, and RandomTask

After a good haul, the four took to the bunks to sleep for the night. Insanellama embraced his newly evolved Rapidash and laid down to sleep for the night. Random climbed above Llama’s bunk, threw his sack by the pillow and laid on his back. Excited by his new pokémon, Snorlax, Random popped his pokéball open: Snorlax burst out.

“SNORRR!!!” Surprise! Snorlax was sleeping!!! Random laughed at the lethargic beast and tucked over for the night. That was, until the bunk collapsed on an unsuspecting redneck, his horse, and several rabid Caterpie…

The next morning, the four awoke and ate a great breakfast a la Lonewolf: grits and sausage. Refueled and raring for action, our heroes made their way to the Pewter City gym. Navigating through the corridors of Junior Trainers, Icy, Random, Lonewolf, and Insanellama made their way to the Main Room.

Brock made his way to the floor of the stadium. “How can I help you?” Brock asked innocently enough.

“A POKEMON BATTLE!!!” Random retorted.

Brock didn’t loose his edge. “Of course….. 3 pokémon each. Who is first???”

“Me.” Icy pushed and shoved his way to the front. Icy shouted, “ABRA!!! GO!!!!” Abra walked out onto the stadium floor.

Brock returned fire. “Great. You look like a strong kid. But it’s gonna take more than strength to beat me. Geodude, attack.” The floating rock paraded into the corridor banged his fists.

“Abra, Confusion attack, NOW!!!” Abra began to glow.

“Geodude, TACKLE now!!!” Geodude dove down towards Abra and right as impact was made, Abra shot a bright blue beam of energy that shot Geodude to the wall, out cold!

“Nice work Abra!!!” Icy and the others applauded.

Brock nodded his head impressed. “Onix, your turn!”

“Abra return, lets go ODDISH!!!” The Oddish appeared very fearful of the enormous rock pokémon. “Oddish, use your sleep powder!” The Oddish tried putting Onix to sleep but it didn’t work.

“Onix, bind it now!” Onix wrapped around the little Oddish and tried to squeeze it.

While the others just watched poor Oddish about to get turned into jelly, Icy prepared to put his plan into action. “Time to have some fun. Oddish, stun spore!” Oddish released spores into the Onix and it promptly let go. “Now, use absorb!” Oddish quickly absorbed the last of Onix’s energy. “Good work, Oddish!!! Guess that means you owe me a Boulder Badge!”

“Not yet!! I still have a Zubat! GO ZUBAT!!”

“GO CATERPIE!!!” The small insect squiggled from the pokéball onto the floor. “CATERPIE!!! String Shot!!!”

“Zubat, use supersonic!!!” Zubat complied and let a horrible screech, rendering Caterpie disoriented.

“Keep it together, Caterpie!!! Use String Shot!” Caterpie fired the string for Zubat’s chest. Zubat tried to avoid the blast, but was too slow. The shot knocked Zubat unconscious!!!

Random commented a colorful, “How the f…-”

“Tarnations!” Lonewolf and Insanellama interjected with frightening simultaneousness.

“Simple vitamins, Iron & Carbos. I got some supplies from Oak’s kitchen before we left. Caterpie is healthy and in prime condition. He will be a strong Pokémon when he grows.” Icy smiled a wide grin.

Brock mumbled as he handed over the badge, “Boulder Badge Dispenser: Over 100,000 Served…”

“Now its my turn!!!” Random yelled, taking his guitar off his back and putting at his side, “Bubba, Open up a can!!!” Random tossed a pokéball above his head and Bubba dove out onto the floor.

Brock sighed and threw a ball onto the floor apathetically. Bubba glanced at Random and fired a vine whip at the second Geodude. A ONE SHOT K.O.!!!

Brock hates Bulbasaurs. “Go Onix..” Brock cringed. Bubba made short work of the Onix, gaining Random’s first Gym battle victory. Brock was running out of Boulder Badges, so he gave Random a voucher and his bus token.

Insanellama took the field next. Rapidash had no problems overcoming adversity to thoroughly spank Brock’s pokémon. Rapidash was showing great skill and loyalty. Insanellama showed his pride and gave Rapidash a snack after single-handedly winning his master a Boulder Badge.

Lonewolf tossed her hair back, stepped forward and threw her Vulpix on the floor. Brock’s eyes lit up. Icy and Llama put their attention to their pokémon. Random put his attention to Lonewolf. Brock released his own Vulpix and the two went at it. Lonewolf’s Vulpix used an ember attack and Brock’s returned a leer. Lonewolf commanded a Fire spin, and Vulpix wrapped Brock AND his pokémon in flame. Lonewolf laughed as she forced them into the corner. Vulpix let of a relieved belch of flame, and galloped back to Lonewolf. She collected her badge, and the team let themselves out.

Brock was demoralized; Onix carried the broken man back to the shower. Our heroes, sporting Boulder Badges, carried the great Caterpie above their heads. “Great job y’all!”

Lonewolf congratulated each trainer with a hug. Random really enjoyed his hug. As the group arrived at the Pokécenter, all other trainers circled around them. Icy, Random, Lonewolf, and Insanellama told the story of how they got their boulder badges, adding not to visit Brock again until he has had a nice, cold shower.

Finally, a young trainer tugged on Icy’s pant leg and asked, “So who are you guys???”

“Us?” Lonewolf bent down to the boy, “We are CLAN CATERPIE!!!”