Hunter and Naomi hurried to catch up to Sayuri, although Naomi lagged a little behind her brother. The forested path was pleasantly quiet in more ways than one, and she wasn't all that eager to go back into an overwhelmingly loud city. She hesitated, lingering near the other gatehouse that led into Celadon.

"I... think I'll stay out here," she said after a moment. She bit her lip for a moment. She didn't want Sayuri to think she had to skip Celadon, but it seemed rude to make her go alone and then come back.

"I'll go, though," Hunter said, grinning cheerfully. He understood why his sister was staying behind. "Come on, let's go check out the Gym. We can be back by sundown, I'm sure."

"Good plan," Naomi agreed immediately, taking of her pack by a large rock and sitting down on it. "I'll wait here for you both."

Naomi waved them off and settled in to get comfortable. She'd be alright on her own for a while.

"Don't worry too much," Hunter said as he walked with Sayuri into the city. "She'll be alright, and I'll check in on her from time to time." He didn't explain how he would check on her, but it wasn't hard to figure out. Naomi was a blossoming psychic, and the two had their bond as twins. The two factors together made it so that they could 'whisper' to each other, at least over relatively short distances. Hunter wasn't sure if it would work for anyone else, but it didn't matter as long as he could contact his sister when he needed to. "Now come on. I happen to know for a fact that the Gym is open today. Erika only holds perfume classes on the weekends."

"Let's go see, then," Hunter said as he started walking in the direction of the entrance to the Gym. It was actually in the opposite direction of the Gym itself, which was meant to confuse trainers. There was a small opening in the treeline that gave way to a path that went straight to the Gym doors, and the path was completely secluded. Hunter was fairly sure he remembered a back door to the Gym, though, so there was a shortcut back to the city once the Gym Leader was beaten.

There was a small sapling growing across the break in the trees, but that didn't surprise Hunter at all. It happened fairly often, since there were so many Grass-types in the area. His fingers brushed across Cutter's pokeball.

"If you don't have anyone who knows Cut, I do," he offered. "But from here, I'm just going to follow you. I've already got my Rainbow Badge, so I'm just tagging along."

"Yeah. Let's see."

Sayuri knew about the odd opening with the blocking sapling as she'd been confused before even while living there. It was then she figured it out one day. And yet despite that she hesitated to go that far. Her Chikorita knew Cut by that time as she'd just come home from Vermillion city, but Sayuri hadn't feel ready to battle the same Pokemon type she was raising herself then. Now that she had other types in her party, she felt ready. Having Hunter there was helpful, too. A good confidence booster for her. and not for showing off either. She was glad he was around. Though, too shy to say so...

"Hanawa should still know cut from a year ago..." She pulled out her Pokedex and aimed it at the top of her head where Chikorita was resting. Taking a quick glance at the device of the moves, Sayuri found herself to be right. "Yup. Though it hasn't been used for a while. Not even in Johto... Should we try it?"

"Chiko!" She seemed ready to use it even after being a while. As Sayuri recalled, she had trouble aiming that attack...

Hunter nodded and took a few steps back, away from the little sapling. He didn't want to get in the way of the Chikorita's Cut technique, and he was serious when he said that he was just tagging along from here on in. It was practically part of the Celadon Gym challenge to get past this first tree. Absently, he thought back to the time when he and Naomi each faced down Erika. Naomi hadn't had too hard of a time, and she had gone first, which made Hunter a little cocky... Back then, he'd had Aron, Cutter, and Landslide, and he'd had issues beating Erika. It just wasn't wise to go up against a Grass Master with a Bug-type, a Rock-type, and a Steel-type. He was just glad Cutter knew Wing Attack by then.

"If you want, you can practice the move on Landslide for a few minutes," he offered, coming back out of his thoughts. "His defense stat is off the charts since he evolved into a Steelix, so he won't even feel a Cut attack."

"Are you sure about that?" She had a doubtful look on her face then. "After all, Landslide's a Rock type Pokemon." Sayuri knew that Cut was a normal type move, but she also knew her Chikorita didn't always use the move for these types of trees. Being who she was, Chikorita would often improvise with something else... It was considered more fun for her.

"Chiko!" She seemed ready to try battling the large rock snake even if was only for target practice.

"I don't know about this... You have a pretty strong Razor Leaf. Sure it's been helpful to cut down trees and you're used to doing it that way, but can you remember what we're actually practicing?" Aim was the goal here. It didn't bother Sayuri if Chikorita preferred to use Razor Leaf on the trees instead of Cut. Though Cut would be better since it was only required one motion rather than having several leaves fly toward a single small tree...

Sayuri still seemed worried about the whole thing as she watched her Chikorita get ready for battle with a determined look on her face. As if this was a real battle about to take place.

"Landslide isn't an Onix anymore," Hunter replied with a grin. He took several steps back, putting a lot of space between them as he pulled a Heavy Ball from his belt. He'd learned his lesson after Landslide had broken out of a regular Pokeball by accident. He tossed the ball into the air, and a truly massive Steelix appeared, shining in the sun. "This," Hunter said, "is the new and improved Landslide. Less rock, more steel, all tough."

"Steeeeeelix..." Landslide rumbled in agreement, his deep voice actually seeming to vibrate through the air. He could see the little Chikorita, and he remembered the itty bitty Grass-type from the last time he'd seen it. It still seemed ready for battle, and he shifted his massive weight back a little. He took full advantage of the defense-boost his Relaxed nature gave him.

"Go ahead and practice Cut all you like on him," Hunter said, moving so he could see Sayuri around Landslide. "Nothing's going to get through his hide, not once he uses Iron Defense."

"Landslide... Isn't?" She was about to ask why, but figured it out all on her own. "So you found a Metal Coat somewhere!" She was impressed even if she didn't know where the evolving item had come from. She didn't care really where as long as it was obtained somehow after he'd waited so long. "I love the Heavy Ball he's in. Must make it easier to carry him in without so many Pokeball halves everywhere after only a few days... If that." She observed the large metal Pokemon as he gleamed in the sunlight. "He's beautiful!"

Chikorita thought so, too and got closer to admire the reflection of herself in his mirror-like body. Seemed a bit self-centered or even selfish, but it was her way of agreeing with her trainer about how beautiful the Pokemon was. Chikorita was soon eager to start her training with the Pokemon, but noticed Sayuri wasn't as she seemed to be in a daze. "Chiko?" She ran up her friend's leg to her shoulder and waved her leaf in Sayuri's face. "Chiko!"

Hunter grinned.

"He needs a Heavy Ball," he said. "He's too big for a normal Pokeball. I looked it up, he's really on the heavy side even for a Steelix." Hunter was fairly sure Landslide was even bigger than Jasmine's Steelix, but he'd never been to Olivine City to be sure. "The only one on my team right now that isn't a Steel-type is Riptide, but I'm still working with him." After a moment, he added, "Riptide is a Prinplup. Empoleon is part-Steel, so we're working towards that."

((Heh... Sorry! This time I don't blame the slow laptop, even if it is really annoying...))

"So a somewhat abnormally large Steelix?" She'd heard the rumour about the large Onix, but never of a large Steelix. "He seemed to be the normal size when he was an Onix... Can Pokemon really have that big of growth spurt when they evolve?" Made her wonder what could happen to her Pokemon...

"Riptide..." She'd heard the name before...

After some thought and hearing the name from a recent memory, she remembered right away, but had only a glance at it from where she was at the time. "I remember that one now! From the creepy tower... Just before Hanawa tripped you." The Marowak battle helped her memory then, too. "So a Sinnoh Pokemon... I saw my first Sinnoh Pokemon. It's very exciting!"

"Not abnormal," Hunter replied. "Just... unusual. Besides, it makes it so Gyro Ball works even better, since he's so big." He shrugged. "I think it's a quirk with Rock-types, actually. Some are just bigger than others naturally, and Landslide was a decent size for an Onix when I evolved him, anyways. He grew a bit over the last few years." He grinned. "Now he's this hulking monster." He knocked on Landslide's side with his knuckles. Landslide rumbled a bit, and Hunter rolled his eyes. The Steelix knew he was teasing. "I've kind of been meaning to talk to Brock and Jasmine about it... Well, mostly Brock, because it's easier to get through Mt. Moon than it is to get all the way to Olivine..."

He gestured to Sayuri's Chikorita.

"So, are you going to have her practice, or what? Daylight's burning, and I'd rather not leave Naomi out on the path after dark."

"There's a pack of Houndour that runs out around Saffron at night," Hunter said. "Nao... doesn't so do well around dark-types anymore. It's why she was so adamant about getting something part-Fighting, so that she can take on dark-types. And I mean, she has Starmie and Medicham, so she shouldn't have any problems with the Houndour, but I still don't want to leave her on her own at night." It was clear he was worried about his sister, and just as clear that he was determined to be her protector. After a moment, he took a few big steps back from Landslide.

"Alright, buddy," he said to the Steelix, "Iron Defense." The steel-type rumbled, and his metallic hide seemed to shine brighter in the sunlight. The scratches and dings on the metal seemed to disappear, leaving Landslide looking sturdier and shinier. Hunter gestured to Sayuri. "Alright, go ahead. He's got Iron Defense going, so he can take just about anything Chikorita can dish at him."

"Houndour..." The thought of them running around made her shiver slightly as she remembered her childhood. She was out walking late at night one day while observing the area after getting lost when a pack of Houndour surrounded her. She forgot how she was saved after one of them pounced on her, but woke up in her own bed, safe and sound as her aunt looking worried by her bedside. "Yeah. They're pretty scary. We won't be here long I don't think. Even if practice takes longer than planned, I can always challenge the gym early tomorrow." Ever since that day, Houndour made her nervous, but after what Hunter had said about her being fine, Sayuri would still worry anyway.

Chikorita was getting tired of waiting for orders as she sent the first attack flying.

"No, no. Not Razor Leaf! Cut. Cut! Use Cut!" Sayuri was trying to break that habit of hers as she uttered out which attack her chikorita should use.

"Chiko!" She was slightly annoyed at the loud command and continued battling her way till the attack could no longer be used, forcing her to use Cut. This irritated her as she hesitated to run to the Pokemon Center to get healed so she could resume using it.

Though after a while of using Cut, Chikorita was getting more used to it, considering it was the same motion she used for Razor Leaf anyway. After a few more minutes and before the Cut attack ran out of turns, Chikorita finally had her aim right.

"That's a good girl! You've got perfect control now!"

Chikorita was pleased to hear that and stopped attacking the Steelix as her trainer thanked them both for the practice with a polite bow.

Landslide wavered a bit as his Iron Defense faded. There were some definite scratches on his hide from Chikorita's Razor Leaf, and he definitely seemed to be tired. He was still part-Rock, after all, so Grass-type moves still hurt.

"You did good, buddy," Hunter said affectionately, patting the Steelix's hide. He recalled the pokemon and clipped the ball back onto his belt. He looked at Sayuri. "Out of curiosity, what level is Chikorita at?" He knew that some pokemon, if they leveled up too far too fast, would refuse to listen to commands until their trainer had the right badge, to prove they knew what they were doing. He had a hunch that that might be the problem. If Chikorita was anywhere between levels fifty and seventy, that might be what was going on.

"It was just a theory," Hunter said. "Thirty-five should be plenty to get you past Erika, as far as I can remember." Pulling out his pokegear, he glanced at the time. "We have enough time to get to the pokemon center and back before the Gym closes for the day," he added. "I think Erika closes up at sunset." He glanced back in the direction of Route 7. If he had to, he could contact Naomi and have her meet them at the Gym. He figured she would be alright long enough for that.

"Yeah. During my first trip here, I didn't really raise her in public. That's probably why her level's so low. My other Pokemon as far as I know seem slightly ahead of her. Being a Grass type, however should make it easier for her to catch up. And quicker probably..." Sayuri wasn't sure. Chikorita seemed to be at a good level, but only for smaller battles. she worried about this one, being so little... "I'm not even sure if I'm using her in this battle actually. Erika has Grass and Poison types. Not the best advantage. My best bets would be types who have more of an advantage. I have at least two of those..."

At the same time, Sayuri also took a look at her watch and figured he was right about the time. Chikorita seemed eager to get healed so she could cut down the tree. Sayuri could tell as she had hopped down to the ground and was making her way there as she rambled on. "Hanawa! You're so impatient."

"Chiko!" She wouldn't listen as she continued to walk toward the center, not knowing where she was going.

"Well. Guess we should get this over with before she gets lost..." Sayuri had to giggle as she followed the little Pokemon, knowing right now she didn't want to be carried there. It was still pretty bright outside which left them lots of time to get this done.

Hunter chuckled and followed the two. Landslide needed to be healed, anyways. He 'felt' his sister's presence in the back of his mind as he walked, and mentally moved aside to let her in.

Did she win yet...? his sister's voice whispered in his head.

She hasn't started yet, he replied. He let the words flow, rather than pushing them at her. They both needed some practice, first, so I had Landslide act as a practice target.

Alright...

How are you holding up?

Meditating... It's quiet here...

Good. We'll be back as soon as we can. Hunter blinked and left the conversation when he realized he'd followed Sayuri right into the Pokemon center without realizing it.

Chikorita hopped up onto the counter with a running start, eager to get healed so she could try her aim after what she found was a boring training session, not that she would say that out loud.

Sayuri was right behind her as she reached into her bag. "Now hold on Hanawa. You're not the only one who needs to be healed, you know. The others do, too." She was thinking more for her Vulpix and Pidegot as she placed their Pokeballs on the counter. They'd taken quite a bit of damage from the previous gym battle and while still in Saffron, she'd forgotten to heal them. Remembering that, she figured it was the perfect time now as they'd be helpful for this upcoming battle.

Seconds passed by and her Pokemon were healed. Worried about Naomi as it was nearing dusk, Sayuri walked as quickly to the doors as possible not waiting for Hunter as they closed behind her.

Hunter unclipped the pokeball holding his Steelix from his belt and handed that over to Nurse Joy. It only took a few seconds for her to hand it back, saying that the pokemon was all healed. Thanking her, he turned only to find that Sayuri was already gone. Blinking, he went out the doors as well.

"Hey, wait up!" he called, jogging to catch up with her. "That eager to get on with the gym match already?" Knowing Sayuri, Hunter figured she probably wanted to be done with her gym battle by sundown, but she really didn't have to rush. He could always ask Naomi if she would be willing to meet them at the Gym.

Sayuri stopped slowed down her pace to allow him to catch up before explaining why she was going so fast. "I'm not that eager for this battle... Kind of nervous actually, but..." It may have seemed she was rushing to get the battle over with, but that wasn't the only reason a she looked around. "Hanawa... Well, she just ran out the doors as soon as she was healed and now I have to find her... Sorry for rushing out like that, but knowing her she's probably lost by now. I wanted to try to catch up to her..." Despite being small, her Chikorita was pretty quick when she was eager to do something.

Meanwhile Ruben, after having taken a nap once he returned home, was just walking out the door to the house he shared with Sayuri when he tripped over something green. "Whoa!" He caught himself and looked down at the Chikorita with an annoyed look. "You... Where's your trainer?"

"Chiko?" Chikorita looked up at the face right after getting back up again and flinched at what she saw before aiming and using Sweet Scent again as if she was a skunk protecting herself. The attack didn't work, however, as he picked her up in a way so awkward she couldn't free herself. "Chiko! Chiko!"

That made sense... Although he kind of wondered why Sayuri didn't keep a closer eye on her Chikorita. They weren't common pokemon, and a lot of people might like to steal one.

"Come on, then," he said. "We should find her before she gets herself into trouble. Once we find her, we can decide what to do from there." It was getting late, after all... The sun was setting quickly, and he didn't want to leave his sister out on Route 7 for too long in the dark.