Capítulo 35: Chapter 35: Flames Before the Storm(Rio)
The sky bled orange and violet as the sun sank behind the horizon, painting the secluded clearing outside Cerulean City in shadows. Rio stood at the edge of the cliff, his silhouette sharp against the fiery sky, green eyes gleaming with focus. Beside him, Zubat flapped its wings, unsettled, its small body vibrating with nervous energy.
"Focus, Zubat," Rio murmured, his voice low but firm, almost lost in the wind. "We've got to nail this. The Cerulean Gym is nothing like what we've faced before."
Zubat hovered in front of him, eyes narrowing in concentration. Rio knelt down to its level, ignoring the dirt and rock digging into his knees. His hand absently brushed the Charmander-shaped charm hanging around his neck, a subtle reminder of the weight he carried.
"You need to visualize it," he continued, his words more command than suggestion. "Sharp. Disorienting. The moment we face those Water-types, we'll need every advantage."
Zubat let out a shrill cry, its wings picking up speed. It strained, its tiny body quivering as it attempted to channel the Confuse Ray Rio had been drilling into it for days. A weak shimmer of light sputtered from its eyes before fizzling out mid-air.
Rio clenched his jaw, but his voice remained steady. "Again."
The clearing pulsed with Zubat's repeated attempts, each try more strained than the last. Around them, Rio's other Pokémon seemed to sense the urgency. Charmeleon and Machop's playful wrestling shifted into something more serious, claws and fists striking with more intent, their bodies colliding with a thud that echoed across the clearing. Pidgeotto swooped overhead, stirring the air with gusts of wind, while Geodude and Onix watched silently, their forms still and unmoving like the stones they were.
Another burst of light from Zubat fizzled out, and Rio felt his patience fraying. The stakes were too high. Failure wasn't an option. His eyes flicked to the distant skyline of Cerulean City, the towering Gym barely visible through the trees.
"We don't have time for this," Rio muttered, the frustration seeping into his voice.
But then, just as he was about to call it off, Zubat's wings flared, and a perfect beam of light shot from its eyes, streaking through the air with deadly precision. The target—a thick, gnarled tree on the edge of the clearing—was struck, its branches twisting unnaturally, leaves curling as if confused by their own existence.
Rio's breath caught. For the first time in hours, he allowed himself to smile—a small, hard-earned smile. "You did it, Zubat. That's our secret weapon."
Zubat let out a triumphant squeal, flapping excitedly, but before Rio could praise it further, a sharp snarl broke through the air. He turned to see Charmeleon and Machop locked in what was no longer just play-fighting. Charmeleon's claws flashed in the fading light, dangerously close to Machop's chest, while Machop's fists were poised to deliver a brutal strike.
"Charmeleon, Machop—enough!" Rio's voice cut through the noise like a blade.
Charmeleon halted mid-swipe, its fiery tail lashing in irritation, but it withdrew, respect in its eyes. Machop huffed, muscles still tense, but it, too, backed down. They both stood there, panting, eyeing each other warily.
Rio exhaled, his pulse finally slowing. He knew his Pokémon were restless, just like he was. The Cerulean Gym battle was hanging over them like a storm cloud, and the tension was starting to seep into everything they did.
Night crept in, the stars beginning to pierce the darkening sky. Rio lit a small campfire, the crackling flames a quiet companion to the sound of the nearby forest. His Pokémon gathered around the fire, the soft glow casting shadows across their faces. Charmeleon's tail flame burned brighter than usual, reflecting its restless energy.
Rio stirred the pot of stew over the fire, his movements slow, almost mechanical. His mind was far from the meal in front of him. The Cerulean Gym… Misty's Water-types were going to be a challenge, especially with his team. He could feel the weight of it pressing on him, heavy like a stone in his chest.
He handed out bowls of food to his Pokémon, each one accepting their portion gratefully, except for Zubat, who was still buzzing with energy from its success. It flitted around the campsite, never quite settling in one place.
Rio watched it, absently chewing on a piece of bread. His thoughts drifted to the gym battle, the strategies they would need to employ. He reached into his pouch, the magical one his parents had left him, pulling out a Poké Ball and turning it over in his hands. His gaze shifted to the broken one he'd found in Mount Moon, the cracks in its surface a reminder that not everything could be fixed so easily.
The fire crackled softly as the night deepened, the distant sounds of the forest becoming more pronounced. Zubat finally landed on a nearby rock, but its eyes never stopped darting around, as if it could feel the tension in the air.
"We'll need that energy tomorrow," Rio said softly, more to himself than to Zubat.
His fingers brushed against the Charmander-shaped charm again, the metal cool against his skin. He closed his eyes for a moment, drawing strength from the memory of his family. This battle wasn't just about the badge. It was about proving something—to the world, to his Pokémon, and to himself.
His team sensed his shift in mood. They gathered closer, their bodies a comforting presence around the campfire. Charmeleon's tail flame flickered brighter, Pidgeotto perched silently beside Rio, while Machop and Geodude settled into the dirt. Even Onix, too large to fit in the circle, coiled protectively around the edge of the campsite, its massive form a reassuring barrier against the night.
Rio glanced around at his team, a silent determination settling in his chest. "Together, we'll make it through tomorrow," he said, his voice firm but quiet. The words weren't just for his Pokémon—they were a promise to himself.
As the fire burned low and the stars blinked overhead, Rio lay back on the grass, eyes fixed on the Cerulean City skyline in the distance. His fingers tightened around the charm at his neck. Tomorrow wasn't just another battle.
"For the badge," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire. "And for us."
The night closed in around him, the fire casting long shadows across the clearing as Rio's eyes drifted shut, his mind already planning for the challenge ahead.
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