As we walked through the Celadon City, Daisy and I were trying to figure out where to go next. "I guess we can deal with the Double Battle Alley, but it doesn't seem super feasible."

What about the S.S. Anne? I suggested.

Daisy sighed. "It's worth stopping to check, but the chances of us getting tickets are pretty low."

As we pondered the conundrum, I noticed a large crowd had gathered around the Celadon Gym. I wonder what they're waiting for. I looked closely, and could see that several of them had merchandise for Yellow. Daisy, Yellow's taking on the gym!

Daisy raised an eyebrow. "It's up to you if you want to try and catch her." I nodded, and we hurried over to the Celadon Gym entrance.

The doors to the gym slid open, and Yellow walked out. The girl's arrival was met with the crowd roaring like rabid dogs.

"YELLOW!"

"OMIGOSH YELLOW! SIGN MY FACE!"

"HAVE PIKACHU US THUNDERBOLT ON ME!"

"YELLOW WE LOVE YOU!"

Yellow furrowed her brow, clearly uncomfortable from the scene. "Alright y'all calm down. Please, I just want to take on a gym without y'all followin' me 'round all the time." The girl's tone was progressively growing more stressed. The crowd's shouting didn't seem to stop.

Daisy took a deep breath and yelled. "Hey everybody! Better quiet down, or you'll wake up a very grumpy Snorlax!"

A few members of the crowd glanced at Daisy, confused by the threat. That was until they heard a loud grumbling from the forest. Then, the crowd quickly dispersed from the scene.

Daisy went up to the overwhelmed trainer. "Yellow, are you alright?"

"No, I'm not alright." Yellow admitted, "They won't leave me alone and I feel like... I don't know how to get 'em off my back. I'm so close to snappin' sometimes."

Daisy sighed. "Yeah, I don't know how you put up with it at all. I wouldn't worry about it, though. Maybe they just need to be scared off. Speaking of, though, we should leave. That Snorlax is actually crazy."

Yellow began to chuckle. "I appreciate you two, you've got good spirits." We started to walk down the path and away from the gym. "So Red, how's the journey been?"

I signed that it had gone well. I realized that Yellow wouldn't be able to understand, but she nodded. "You can continue if you were going to. I know a decent bit of sign language." I smiled and talked about the long day that Daisy and I had experienced, and the many adventures we'd had in Celadon.

Then I took out my badge case and showed her my five badges. "Wowie that's a mighty fine amount, especially since I just saw you with three a little while back. I just got my seventh badge, so I've just gotta get one more!"

"Wow, seven already? Bill probably won't be able to catch up to you at this rate," Daisy concluded.

Yellow whistled. "Shoot, y'all know Bill? How's the ole genius doin'?" I wondered how Yellow and Bill knew each other, but given Bill and Blue were friends it made a bit of sense.

"He's doing alright, helped us handle Team Rocket earlier today," Daisy answered. "He just got his sixth badge and was off to get some more. Pretty weird guy, but he seemed nice."

"Yeah, that sounds like Bill alright," Yellow chuckled. "I knew him when he was working on the PC system a few years back. I'm glad he's finally goin' on a journey, he always talked about goin' on one. Last I talked with him, he had been spending weeks trying to get his hands on a Clefairy."

"He's got a Clefairy now," Daisy informed her. I signed that Bill had also gotten his hands on a Dragonair.

We started walking to the fountain in the center of the city. "Well it's too bad I missed him, I've been wantin' to battle him for a while. He always said that if he had some Pokémon that he'd beat me easy peasy. I wanna put that to the test. Especially if he has a Dragonair. I'd love it if he evolved it when we cross paths since I only ever battled Dragons when I was up against Clair."

We both looked at Yellow with a bit of confusion. "The Gym Leader of Blackthorn City? You battled her?"

"Well, Blue isn't the only one who went to Johto. I traveled there for a while, it was where I started my journey. Just worked out that way, and I wanted to complete the Johto Pokédex. That's where I ran into Blue and Bill, and we traveled together for a bit before that all came to an end." The girl looked off, a bit saddened. "Then I figured I should at least see the sights of my home region. I started findin' Pokemon trainers only dream of findin'. I had the chance to fulfill your grandpa's dream, so I took it and completed the Pokédex."

Yellow stopped in her tracks, we were at the fountain and people weaved around us. Yellow seemed to become extremely self-conscious as people glanced at her. "Hey Red, how about we have another battle? I got a few Pokemon I didn't use in the gym battle who are rarin' to go, so what do you say?" It's like you read my mind! I nodded without hesitation and sent out Pikachu.

"Alright then, let's each use two Pokemon. Here we go, Golduck!" Yellow tossed a great ball into the air and a Golduck appeared. The duck-like Pokemon had light blue skin and a red gem sticking out of its head.

Golduck towered over Pikachu and we prepared for battle. "Golduck, use Scald!" Golduck blasted a stream of scalding hot water into Pikachu. The move was fast, and sent the mouse tumbling back.

Pikachu use Thunderbolt! Pikachu jumped into the air and sent a charge of electricity at Golduck. The duck hurried across the battlefield, evading the bolt. Pikachu chase him down with Quick Attack and then use Mega Punch!

Pikachu landed on the ground and bolted after Golduck. Using his superior speed, he caught up to Golduck and rammed into him. Pikachu then slammed a fist into Golduck's jaw. Golduck landed on the ground, picking himself up while Pikachu landed in front of him. Thunderbolt! Pikachu immediately fired another bolt of electricity into the opposing Pokémon.

"Golduck use Psychic!" Yellow's Pokémon quickly recovered from the barrage of blows. His eyes began to glow blue and a familiar wave of energy was sent out. Pikachu was grabbed by a blue outline and lifted into the air. "Throw him into the water!" Golduck launched Pikachu into the fountain.

The duck then charged forward to follow up on the moves. Pikachu stayed submerged, glaring at his foe from within. "Golduck, use Scald!" Golduck fired boiling hot water into the fountain. Use Mega Punch on the fountain! Pikachu burst from the water, slamming his fist into the surface.

The water sprayed into Golduck. Now use Thunderbolt! Pikachu quickly fired off another blast of electricity, slamming into Golduck's body. The Pokémon staggered back, and I could tell we had a chance to knock him out.

Yellow seemed to notice it too. "Golduck, finish this with Scald!" Pikachu, use Thunderbolt! Give it everything you've got! Golduck opened his beak and fired a torrent of hot water at my mouse. Pikachu countered by unleashing a rush of electricity into the approaching water. The moves collided, and my hair began to stand on end.

An explosion erupted between the two Pokémon's attacks. It consumed the battlefield, and when it cleared both of them were unconscious. Yellow called back Golduck, and I did the same for Pikachu.

"Great work Golduck. Your Pikachu did great too Red, I normally only see that kinda of power from my own Pikachu," Yellow commented. "It's a pretty big feat to bring down one of my Pokémon." Nice job Pikachu you were amazing. Now it's your turn Charmeleon! I sent out Charmeleon. I was starting to feel the weight of what I had accomplished. We had taken down one of Yellow's Pokémon.

Yellow smiled as she sized up Charmeleon. "So Charmander has evolved? Well, this'll be a mighty fine battle. Arbok, it's your time to shine!" Yellow sent out an Arbok, who hissed at Charmeleon.

Charmeleon use Flamethrower! Charmeleon unleashed a spray of fire into the serpent's face. Now use Slash!

"Arbok use Poison Tail!" Arbok shook off the fire as Charmeleon charged in. Charmeleon swung his claws into Arbok's tail. The cobra pushed back Charmeleon. "Now use Glare!" Arbok narrowed its eyes on the lizard, and he was frozen in fear. Shake it off, Charmeleon! Flamethrower again!

Charmeleon seemed to be unable to move now. He had been paralyzed by the Glare. "Poison Tail!" Arbok slithered across the battlefield and slammed Charmeleon across the face with its tail. Then, the opposing Pokémon jammed the tip of the tail into Charmeleon's chest. Charmeleon crumpled to the ground and shuddered.

Charmeleon are you OK? I asked Charmeleon's eyes shot open and he stood up, roaring in defiance. Alright buddy! Use Slash! Charmeleon's claws began to glow. He quickly lashed out, swimming his claws directly into Arbok's body.

The snake winced upon taking the blow. "Hang in there Arbok! Use Dark Pulse!" Arbok fired a blast of dark energy into Charmeleon, knocking him over. Charmeleon turned around as Arbok moved in for another strike. Use Dragon Rage! Now! Charmeleon charged the blue fire in his mouth.

The fire rocketed from Charmeleon's maw and directly into Arbok's face. You can use Dragon Rage now! This is great! Use Slash again! Charmeleon lashed out with his claws, forcing the snake back.

"My my it seems like Charmeleon has gotten ahold on that Dragon Rage. Still, you won't beat me and Arbok! Arbok show them your Mud Bomb!" Arbok dug his tail into the ground by the fountain, drugging up mud that flew out at my Pokémon.

The Ground-Type attack moved slammed into Charmeleon and knocked him over, doing Super Effective damage. "Poison Tail!" Arbok slammed his tail into Charmeleon's body once more for good measure.

Charmeleon! I cried. Charmeleon seemed to be defeated. The Fire-Type was laying on the ground and vaguely twitched from the paralysis. Then, a familiar red glow started to envelope his body.

Charmeleon staggered to his feet as the flame on his tail roared to life.

Yellow looked on in awe. "Oh, my word! That's Blaze, Charmeleon's ability!" Charmeleon's fire was roaring like never before. He was in the zone and even Arbok seemed surprised by the amount of power he had.

Let's show them just how much firepower we've got! Flamethrower! Charmeleon threw back his head, then he flung his head forward and took one step towards Arbok. Then he opened his mouth and fired an incredibly hot blast of flames. They were blindingly bright, and sent out waves of heat as they crashed into Arbok.

Arbok shuddered from the blow, and a wave of smoke consumed the opposing Pokémon. "What in tarnation?!" I heard Yellow shout.

One the smoke cleared, I saw that Charmeleon was facing down Arbok. Arbok winced and fell over, while Charmeleon stood tall. We... won? I was a bit shocked, and nobody seemed to move.

Yellow broke the silence by starting to laugh. "That was amazing Red! Your Charmeleon's firepower is something else." Yellow commented, returning Arbok. I went up to Charmeleon and pat him on the head, and then returned him so he could get some rest.

Yellow and I shook hands, and I noticed that the girl seemed to be on the verge of tears. "Thank you for an incredible battle."

"Great job Red!" Daisy said, running over to us. "You two are such amazing trainers! The Pokémon League isn't ready, I'm sure of it!"

"I'm certainly going for the Championship. Hopefully, you'll make it there too and we can face off against each other again, with all of our might." Yellow said to me.

I looked her in the eyes and then signed to her, saying that we would have a rematch. I wouldn't hold back against her.

Yellow covered her face with her hat. "Well y'all its been real nice gettin' to catch up with you both, but I need to head off to my final gym battle."

Daisy decided not to prod Yellow on her change in mood. "Which gym do you have left?" I was pretty certain of the answer before Yellow gave it.

"Viridian City, of course!" Yellow replied. "I hear it's a toughie, but I'm ready for it." Daisy's expression immediately soured.

"Well, we'll see you around Yellow. Best of luck on the final gym," Daisy said distantly. Yellow hurried off, heading to the Pokémon Center. "C'mon Red, let's get going."

We began walking off toward Saffron City. I could tell that Daisy wanted to get away from everyone else. Daisy, what's going on? I'm here if you want to talk. I told her.

Daisy took a deep breath as we headed toward the city. "Red... about the Viridian City Gym Leader. The gym was my father's." Daisy paused, and I immediately thought about how Daisy never talked about her parents. "My mom took care of us while he ran the gym. That was until Team Rocket showed up, they wanted to take it over... use it for their own plans."

Tears were now streaming down Daisy's face. "My mom and dad tried to fight them off. But both of them... they died. That's when we moved in with Grandpa. I don't know who's in charge of the gym anymore, but it's just a lot for me to think about. I might not be able to go with you to that battle. I'm sorry I didn't tell you any of this before."

We stopped walking, and I threw my arms around Daisy. So much about Blue and Daisy made so much sense with this information. You don't have anything to be sorry for. You're my best friend, and we're going to get through it. If you can't go, that's fine.

She brushed some tears from her eyes and a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Are you sure?" I nodded. "Man, I'm really glad I have you." The girl took my hand and charged off toward Saffron, dragging me along. "Let's do this, you just beat Yellow in a battle! We gotta get a move on! You're Pokémon League bound!"

I allowed Daisy to drag me along, as we hurried to our next stop on our adventure.