The Incredible Poke-Odyssey ch.12

The Garden of Erika

Reiko was still surfing the seas on her Tentacruel searching for Jessie 
and Meowth.  She was thinking about the scary, but romantic adventure 
she had with Cameron and wondered if she'll ever have another chance 
to be with him again.  But not as a heartless Rocket criminal.  She 
then saw a huge buoy coming up the horizon and there were two figures 
clutched onto it tightly.  "Full speed Tentacruel!" commanded Reiko as 
they swam even faster while Kingler tried to keep up with them.

Jessie and Meowth had been holding onto the buoy for a long time and 
they were looking pretty dirty and hungry. "Care for some more plankton 
Jess?" asked Meowth as he plucked some little mites off his fur and 
offered them to Jessie.

"No thanks!" scowled Jessie, "I think the ones that are already in my 
stomach are starting to lay eggs so I'll probably be full for the rest 
of my life!  This is no way for a Queen to be living!  I sure wish 
Reiko were here!"

"I wish James was here", whined Meowth, "He always does the whining 
for both of us."

"Queen Jessie, Meowth-san, is that you?" called out a Japanese accented 
voice.  They looked up and smiled when they saw Reiko and her two 
Pokemon swimming up to them.

"Reiko!" cried Jessie happily, "You've come for us!" and she and Meowth 
jumped off the buoy and onto Tentacruel's head hugging their favorite 
intern. 

"Oh great and wise Reiko!" cried Meowth while stroking himself against 
her legs, "I've never doubted you for one minute!" and he started to 
kiss her boots.  "And he calls me a bootlicker!" thought Reiko.

"Well it's about time you got here!" said Jessie angrily, "I was 
beginning to think that you wouldn't be coming for us and that you'd 
be having a romantic encounter with one of those rotten rebels to think 
about your beloved queen!"

"Yes, that is an interesting theory", said Reiko smiling on the outside 
but serious on the inside. "Well, you do not have to worry about those 
rebels any longer.  It was reported that they were all sucked under the 
bottom of the sea all dead."

"You mean they're all gone?" asked Meowth all excited instead of 
sorrowful.

"I believe so", said Reiko hoping this lie would make them want to 
forget their mission on capturing Cameron. "So I suggest that we all 
head back to Rocketville so you can get cleaned up, fed, and be back 
on your nice comfortable thrones before ABC's TGIF night starts."

"Ah, home", sighed Meowth ready to get back on his wonderful throne 
which was actually a litter box.

"No", said Jessie.  That two-letter word caused Meowth's fantasy cloud 
to shatter.

"What'da'ya' mean no?" cried Meowth.

"I've known two of those twerps for a long time", said Jessie, "They've 
survived shipwrecks, typhoons, giant Pokemon, ghost Pokemon, 
prehistoric Pokemon, and lots of other cliffhangers.  So there's no 
doubt in my mind that they're still alive and on their way to Celadon 
City."

"I don't know about that your majesty", said Reiko, "My ninja senses 
tell me that they're all dead."

"Well my evil senses are more powerful and I say we head over to 
Celadon before they reach Giovanni", said Jessie, "And besides, I'm 
curious to know how our old tyrannical boss is doing these days."

"But that might not be wise", said Reiko.

"What's wrong Reiko", smiled Meowth, "Is the all fearless girl in black 
suddenly developing a yellow streak?" Reiko suddenly went from a 
serious look to an angry look.  She then whacked Meowth into the water 
with a mallet made from coconut shells and bamboo.

"Like the Lickitung that doesn't watch its tongue when it slurps up 
prickly pears, foolish Meowths should watch their tongues as well!" 
scowled Reiko not wanting her teammates to see her emotions. "Now let's 
get going to Celadon", she said as Tentacruel ferried her and Jessie 
east to Celadon City while Kingler picked up a damp Meowth by the tail 
and followed them.

*      *      *      *      *      *

We find our heroes at the Celadon City Pokemon center where Nurse Joy 
had just treated Cameron's injuries and fed him.  She was now healing 
all of Cameron's Pokemon while he was telling his friends about the 
encounter he just had with Reiko.

"That sounds like something that came out of a cheesy romance novel", 
said Misty.

"And what's wrong with chessy?" asked Bill.

"I don't think it's a good idea to be obsessed with this girl", said 
Brock, "After all, she is a Rocket and I've learned long ago not to be 
taken in by a pretty face.  Except for the one I'm holding in my arm 
right here" and he kissed Stella while she blushed.

"But it's true", said Cameron. "I don't think Reiko really is evil.  
She's just a troubled girl forced to serve Jessie with no choice."

"She does have a choice", said Stella, "She's just making the wrong 
choice."

"What a predicament", said Seymour who suddenly went into poem mode 
again.

"This girl had the beauty of a rose but survived in the cold.
Violence, destruction, and hate were all she seemed to hold.
Till one day a kind boy came and crossed her path.
But for some strange reason she couldn't show her wrath.
His kindness and concern seemed to melt her ice.
And for the first time, she started to act nice.
But she feels deep down that she's a bad girl still.
If only her love can destroy her evil will."

Everyone stood silent as they thought of Seymour's poem while Stella 
was thinking, "Why doesn't Brock write me poems?  Even corny ones?"

"I hope you realize Cameron that the next time we see her, I'm going 
to have to arrest her", said Jenny politely. "After all, she is an 
Rocket and what she did to my first van, I'll just, I'll....I'll" said 
Jenny starting to now sound angry but then went back to her normal 
self. "Right now we should concentrate on finding this game center that 
Giovanni owns so we can find him and get some answers!"

"Do you think Giovanni might still have Ash held captive?" asked Misty.

"I don't know Misty", said Jenny, "But we'll soon find out as soon as 
I get some info."

"Here you are Cameron", said Nurse Joy as she handed Cameron back his 
Pokeballs. "All your Pokemon have been healed and are fighting fit."

"Thank you", smiled Cameron as he hugged his Pokeballs and placed them 
back on his belt.

"Excuse me Joy", said Jenny, "We'd like to ask you a question?"

"But of course", smiled Joy, "Asking questions is a good way of finding 
out something." Everyone looked funny at Joy. "Oh, sorry", giggled Joy, 
"I was just watching Sesame Street with my five year old cousin Joy 
this morning."

"Well", said Jenny, "Our question is do you know if there's a game 
center in Celadon City?"

"Gee I don't know", said Joy, "I've never heard of a game center being 
in Celadon."

"But a person we met said that there was one", said Brock.

"Hmmm", said Joy, "I wouldn't really know.  I just took over my Aunt 
Joy's job here a couple of months ago so I don't really know much about 
this city."

"Well she was certainly helpful", thought Stella frowning.

"I know", said Joy, "You can go and ask Erika, the Celadon City gym 
leader.  She's lived here all her life so she might can give you some 
info."

"Yes", said Cameron, "And maybe I can challenge her and win a 
RainbowBadge."

"Ah, Erika!" sighed Brock remembering the pretty kimono wearing gym 
leader who owned a gym where women only worked.

"Brock, why are you levitating up in the air like that?" asked Stella 
as she yanked Brock down causing him to wake up from his daydream.

"Oops, sorry", said Brock, "My mind must've wandered off somewhere."

"You should put rocks on your mind to keep it there", said Misty, "If 
there weren't enough on it already."

*      *      *      *      *      *

Our heroes had arrived at a gym with a huge red flower sticking out at 
the top like an umbrella.  When they got to the door, they found a 
knocker in the shape of an Ivysaur. "I guess we should knock", said 
Cameron as he took the vine shaped knocker and knocked with it.  A 
window on the door opened and out popped a pretty girl with short blue 
hair. 

"Who knocked on that knocker?!" said the girl angrily. "Didn't you read 
the sign?"

"What sign?" asked Cameron.

"Oh dear", said the girl as she looked at a black screen right next to 
the door and closed the window.  A message started to appear the screen 
and everyone read it out loud, "Knocker out of order, please ring."
Cameron became puzzled, but he pushed the nearby doorbell and the girl 
popped out of the window again.

"That's better", said the girl now smiling, "Have all of you come to 
challenge Erika, our beloved gym leader and perfume manufacturer?"

"Yes, I would like to please", said Cameron.

"My what a polite boy you are", smiled the girl, "Tell me, do you like 
perfume?"

Cameron stood there nervous for a second and replied, "Yes, I do like 
perfume.  I can't get enough of the stuff." He hated to lie like that, 
but he remembered from the cartoon when Ash badmouthed Erika's 
perfume.  That same blue-haired girl stamped a huge red X onto Ash's 
face and banned him from the gym. 

"Well, come right on in everyone", smiled the girl as she opened the 
door and let them all in.

"Cameron", Misty whispered to him, "I thought you said that you were 
allergic to perfume."

"I am", whispered Cameron, "But it would seem rude to say I didn't
like the stuff."

"We'd also like to ask your boss a few questions", said Jenny.

The girl looked nervously at the policewoman and said, "Why, is Erika 
in trouble with the law?  I warned her about ripping the price tag of 
that mattress!"

"Relax", smiled Jenny, "We just want to know if Erika knows where a 
certain place in your fine city is located."

"Oh very well", said the girl now relieved, "Erika is busy with her 
perfume shop right now, but in the meantime you can hang out in our 
little greenhouse until she gets back." She pushed open a huge set of 
doors and they all found themselves in a huge indoor garden with all 
kinds of plant life.  There were women dressed in gardening uniforms 
all over the place taking care of the plants along with all kinds of 
grass Pokemon.  Cameron was hoping he wouldn't get any nectar in his 
nose while Misty and Stella were gazing at all the beautiful flowers 
while Brock was secretly gazing at all the pretty girls.

Bill started to smell something delicious and started to sniff around 
until he found it.  It looked like a piece of swiss cheese growing from 
a vine. "Miracles can happen!" smiled Bill thinking he could take a 
snip of that plant home with him.  But then the cheese started to open 
up a huge mouth and snapped up Bill until only his curly tail was 
showing.  Cameron heard Bill's muffled cries for help from the plant 
and managed to pull Bill out.

"Are you all right Bill?" asked Cameron.

"Yeah", said Bill covered with milk, "That thing could make the common 
mousetrap obsolete!"

"I see that your little friend had accidentally came near our new 
Velveeta Mouse Trap", said the blue-haired girl. "It's a new specialty 
cloned plant-life used for removing pesky rodents in gardens."

"Pesky is such an improper word", thought Bill.

"Hey girls", called out the girl as all her friends approached Cameron. 
"This boy here is a huge lover of perfume.  Isn't that wonderful?"

"Wow", smiled a green-haired girl, "Usually we can hardly find guys who 
like perfume.  You're one of a kind kid!" 

Cameron just blushed while feeling pretty small at the same time. "Uh, 
thank you", he said.

"You just have to try my new fragrance", smiled the green-haired girl, 
"It's called Bellsprout No. 7", and she took out a huge bottle and 
sprayed some kind of perfume in Cameron's face.  Cameron replied back 
with a small sneeze.

"That's very nice stuff", said Cameron who was wiping his glasses clean 
with his thumb.

"That's nothing", said a red-haired girl, "You haven't lived till 
you've had a whiff of Tangela supreme", She sprayed some more perfume 
into Cameron's face while he sneezed again.

"Are you coming down with a cold?" asked the blue-haired girl.

"Oh no", said Cameron smiling at the girl while imagining the stamper 
she'd yank out if she knew the truth about him and perfume. "It's just 
that I had a big lunch today and I sometimes sneeze after big meals."

"Oh, okay then" she said while smiling.  Then one by one the girls 
started approaching poor Cameron wanting him to try out each of their 
favorite perfumes.

*      *      *      *      *      *

Seymour found a bouquet of orange flowers sitting in a vase.  He picked 
one out and handed it to Jenny. "Here you go my cute cop", he smiled, 
"A flower for the girl who has me in her power."

"Aw, that's so sweet", smiled Jenny, "Thank you Seymour", and she 
kissed him on the cheek while he blushed happily.  But when Jenny put 
her nose up to the flower, a pair of tiny jaws popped out of the bud 
and bit her on the nose. "OW, OUCH, OWIE!" cried Jenny as she was able 
to pull it off and then looked at a worried Seymour angrily.

"Oh, I see you've discovered our rare Snap Dragonites", said the blue-
haired girl as she walked by them. "Just be careful not to sniff them 
too close or keep them near your pants."

"I hope you can forgive me Jenny", pleaded Seymour as he got down on 
his knees begging for her forgiveness.

"How can I stay angry at a sweet man like you?" smiled Jenny while her 
nose was still red.  Just close your eyes and stick out your lips and 
I'll show you that you're forgiven."

Seymour complied waiting for what was coming to him.  Jenny just placed 
a Snap Dragonite up to Seymour's lips and bit down hard on them.  
Seymour immediately pulled it off and looked at Jenny who was smiling 
lovingly at the red-lipped Seymour showing that he was forgiven and 
then she kissed him on the cheek instead of his now sore lips.

*      *      *      *      *      *

"Oh Brock", sighed Stella as she gazed at every flower she could find, 
"Isn't this the most beautiful place we've ever been too?"

"You can say that again", said Brock who wasn't looking at the flowers. 
He was looking at every girl who was there.

"You're not looking at those girls are you?!" Stella demanded angrily.

"Oh no my sweet", said Brock nervously, "I'm just admiring all the 
pretty flowers with you.  Don't they have such nice bosoms, I mean 
blossoms?"

Stella became so hurt that she slapped Brock hard.  Everyone in the 
room suddenly stopped what they were doing and stared at the two. "I 
just don't know why I put up with this!" Stella cried, "I sometimes 
think you don't really love me and that the only reason we came 
together is because you were forced to be with me these past five 
years!"  And she stormed out of the room while Jenny ran after her 
passing a purple-haried girl wearing a red kimono.

"Welcome home Miss Erika", said the blue-haired girl as she greeted 
her boss happily.  Erika looked at some of the new and familiar faces 
and saw Brock hanging his head down in shame. "Did something happen 
that I should know about?" she asked.

After explaining what happened with Brock and Stella, Erika slowly 
approached Brock and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yep, you're the 
same old Brock I met a few years back", she smiled, "And it looks like 
you've got a great girlfriend too."

"It doesn't look good though", moaned a sad Brock, "After what I pulled 
a few minutes ago."

"Are you sure you love her?" asked Erika.

"I..I think so", said Brock, "I just don't know why I'm still falling 
in love with every girl I see.  Maybe she's right.  Maybe we only fell 
in love because we were forced to be together.  I just don't know!"

"I think I may have something that might help", smiled Erika as she 
took out a bottle of perfume. "Meet my latest creation." She smiled as 
stars suddenly surrounded the bottle, "Essence of Exeggcute.  It's a 
special psychic perfume that can see into your heart and show you who 
your true love is.  Care to try it?"

"Sure, I'll try anything", moaned Brock as he closed his eyes (If they 
weren't always closed already) and Erika sprayed him.  He suddenly 
stood there quiet and motionless while everyone stared at him concerned.

"What did you do to him?" demanded Misty.

"Relax Misty", said Erika, "The effects will only last five minutes and 
when he wakes up, Brock will be a new man."

*      *      *      *      *      *

Brock suddenly found himself in a void of darkness wondering what was 
going to happen. "Brock, I need to know.  Do you really love me?" asked 
Stella who suddenly stepped out of the darkness wearing her old 
ringmaster's suit. "After all, you lost your best friend Ash to Team 
Rocket just to impress me."

Brock feeling very guilty at about what Stella said was about to speak 
until another voice called out. "What about me?" It was Rachel, the 
girl that Brock helped out when her father was too busy training his 
Hitmonchan to spend any time with her. "I thought we could've had 
something when you helped me with my father?"

"But I..." stuttered Brock, but before he could answer. Another girl 
appeared.  It was Cassandra, the girl who loved making healing potions 
for Pokemon. "We both love taking care of Pokemon." She said sweetly, 
"That should makes us the best pair." 

Brock was going crazy as one by one, all the pretty girls he met on his 
journey with Ash had appeared asking him which he loved the most.  
"Pick one of us!" called out all the Nurse Joy's, "We've got our 
stethoscopes all warmed up for you!"

"No pick one of us!" called out all the Officer Jennies, "We've got 
handcuffs!"

"Brock, Brock, he's the rock!  If you don't choose us we'll all be in 
shock!" cheered out Gary's cheerleading squad.

"I just don't know who to pick!!!" screamed Brock as he clutched his 
head in pain.

"Too bad", called out a familiar girl's voice. "That means we'll have 
to take them all away if you can't choose one!" Brock looked up in the 
air and found Jessie and James.  Giant sized!!!

"These lovelies will go good in our collection", smiled James. "And I 
just bought the new line of Barbie beachwear!" The two Rockets started 
throwing Pokeballs all over the place catching every girl.  Brock stood 
there wondering what to do.  He then saw Stella get sucked into a ball 
while she was screaming in fear.  Brock looked in rage as the ball 
containing Stella flew up to Jessie's hand.

"I think I'll put you in a Mr. Mime suit my little clown", smiled 
Jessie wickedly.

"NOOOOO!" cried Brock as he released his Golbat and Graveler. "Golbat, 
bite that witch's hand!" shouted Brock.  Golbat flew at high speed 
biting hard on Jessie's hand causing her to yell and to drop the ball 
while she and James suddenly disappeared.  The ball started to fall but 
luckily Graveler managed to catch it.

"Nice catch Graveler", said Brock relieved, "Now pry it open."  
Graveler ripped open the ball with its big rocky hands releasing Stella.  
Brock ran up to her and lifted her up into his arms.

"Oh Brock", said Stella, "You could've saved any one of those girls.  
Why choose me?"

"Because I love you Stella", smiled Brock as he kissed his one and only 
true love.

Brock suddenly woke up from his fantasy and found himself back in 
Erika's garden. "Oh thank you Erika!" shouted a happy Brock who was 
about to hug her, but instead gave her a handshake. "Your perfume has 
shown me that Stella is my one and only true love and I'm gonna do 
everything in my power to show her that!" and he left the garden to try 
to make things right with Stella.

*      *      *      *      *      *

Now that things were peaceful again, the girls continued to spray poor 
Cameron with more of their perfume.  Misty saw Cameron turning red 
with watery eyes and approached him. "Can I talk to my perfume lover 
alone for a minute please?" she asked politely as she dragged Cameron 
behind a group of shrubberies.  

"Did that boy look kind of red to you?" asked the green-haired girl.

"Those two must be in love", winked the red-haired girl while laughing. 

Misty handed Cameron a roll of tissues. "Thank you", he said while 
blowing his nose many times.

"Why are you letting them do this to you?" demanded Misty, "You're 
gonna make yourself sick if you keep sniffing all that perfume."

"I don't want to make them mad at me and get kicked out of this gym", 
sniffed Cameron. "Especially by Erika."

"Why hello you two", smiled Erika as she approached Cameron and held 
out her hand to him.  Cameron politely shook hands with her, but with 
the one that wasn't covered with tissue snot though.

"You must be Cameron", smiled Erika, "The girls have been telling me 
that you've enjoyed all their perfume.  I think that is so wonderful.  
Maybe later you can sample some of my strongest."

"Uh, yes.  I'd like that", Cameron lied.

"Another lie like that and his nose will be big enough to let in all 
kinds of allergies", thought Misty.

"Is there anything else I can do to make your stay here a nice one?" 
asked Erika.

"Yes", said Cameron, "I'd like to try competing for a RainbowBadge 
please."

"But of course", said Erika, "Let me get my Pokemon ready and we'll 
have a friendly little batlle."

*      *      *      *      *      *

A few minutes later, everyone was inside a huge arena seated onto 
benches excitedly waiting to see who'd win.  Brock had made up with 
Stella and they were seated together. "Oh Brocky", she sighed, "I sure 
hope I can trust you in the future now that you assured me that I'm 
your one and only true love."

"Yes you are babe", smiled Brock as he put his arm around her. "And if 
you do catch me gawking at another girl, I give you permission to give 
me any kind of torture you feel I deserve."

"Any kind?" smiled Stella wickedly as she imagined herself whipping 
Brock who was dressed in a Persian suit making him jump through rings 
of fire.

Cameron was standing on one end of the arena waiting for Erika to 
arrive, and she did.  She was out of her kimono and was wearing a blue 
squirtleneck with a red mini-skirt. "All right Cameron", she smiled, 
"How about we each use 3 Pokemon, no time limit?"

"Sounds good to me", said Cameron as he released his first Pokemon,
"Buzz, I choose you!" and out popped Buzz saluting his master 
shouting, "BUZZ, EL, BUZZ!" and was ready to fight.

"That's a pretty tough looking Electabuzz you've got", said Erika, "But 
can it take on the power of Parasect?!" and she released a bug with a 
huge red mushroom on its back shouting out, "SECT!"

"Buzz, use thunder wave to paralyze Parasect", commanded Cameron.

"Parasect, send Buzz to slumberland with your spore attack", commanded 
Erika.

The two Pokemon launched their attacks at exactly the same time.  And 
the result was one paralyzed Parasect and one sleeping Electabuzz.

"It looks like round 1 is a tie", said Erika as she sucked Parasect 
back into its ball while Cameron did the same with Buzz.

"Let's see if you can handle Exeggutor!" smiled Erika as she released 
a huge coconut tree with feet and funny looking faces on each large 
coconut.

"Zubat, I choose you", said Cameron and released Zubat who flew above 
the multi-faced tree. "Zubat, confuse that tree with supersonic", 
commanded Cameron.

"ZUUUUU", shouted Zubat as she started releasing her sonic waves.

"Exeggutor, use your psywave attack", commanded Erika. Exeggutor 
suddenly released a glowing psychic wave completely canceling out 
Zubat's supersonic and hitting her in the face.

"Zubat!" cried Cameron as he was about to call her back.  But Zubat 
waved her wing and replied, "BAT!" showing him that she still had some 
fight in her. "Okay Zubat", said Cameron, "How about showing it up with 
wing attack."

"ZUUUU!" shouted Zubat as she dove at Exeggutor.

"Exeggutor, double team now!" commanded Erika.  Exeggutor suddenly 
split into three coconut trees.  Zubat flew at Exeggutor #1, but it 
disappeared for it was a fake. Zubat then tried to go after the 
Exeggutor on the right, but it was also a fake too.

"Let's give this Zubat a lovely bunch of coconuts", sang Erika, "Give 
it your barrage attack!"

"EGG!" shouted Exeggutor as it fired coconuts at Zubat who was trying 
her best to dodge out of the way.

"Double team some more on it", commanded Erika and Exeggutor split into 
9 trees all trying to hit the poor Zubat with coconuts.

"What can I do?" wondered Cameron nervously then had an idea, "Zubat, 
mimic Exeggutor's double team!" called out Cameron.  Zubat concentrated 
hard and immediately split into 9 Zubats.  Each bat flew at an 
Exeggutor creating a huge cartoon fight cloud.  Once the cloud 
disappeared, they found one Zubat perched on top of a fainted Exeggutor.

"This round goes to Cameron", called out the blue-haired girl while 
Cameron gave a thumbs up to his Zubat who replied with a wings up.

"Poor Exeggutor", sighed Erika as she called back the tree. "Lucky for 
you, I've saved my best for last.  Go Gloom!" and she released a Gloom 
that looked almost like Cameron's.

"Oh boy", thought Cameron thankful that Erika's Gloom was way across 
the other side of the arena. "Zubat, use your leech life", he commanded.

"Gloom, use your stench attack", smiled Erika.  "GLOOM", replied the 
Gloom as it let loose a powerful odor causing Zubat to fall onto the 
floor while covering her face with her wings.  Everyone in the room 
covered their noses for the smell was terrible to them as well.

"Zubat, return!" commaned Cameron as he pulled Zubat back into her ball 
and then took out another one. "I may regret this, but it's the only 
thing I know that might be able to defeat her Gloom.  Go my Gloom!" 
and he released his own Gloom.

"Uh oh", thought Misty, "Two Glooms in the room could mean Cameron's 
doom.  Oh great, now I'm starting to sound like Seymour!"

Erika's Gloom sprayed its stench at Cameron's Gloom, but it had no 
effect. "You have a nice Gloom too Cameron", called out Erika smiling.

"Thank y.. y..., AACHOO!" sneezed Cameron.

"Bless you", said Erika, "Okay my Gloom.  Why don't you invite that 
other Gloom to dance?  Petal dance that is!"

"Gloom, Gloom!" smiled Erika's Gloom as it danced around shooting razor 
sharp petals at Cameron's Gloom.  "GLOOM, GLOOM!!!" cried Cameron's 
Gloom waiting for its master to make a command, but Cameron was still 
sneezing like crazy to even talk.

"Why isn't Erika's Gloom falling down?" Misty asked Seymour, "I thought 
you said that Glooms could hurt themselves if they use petal dance?"

"I guess Erika trained hers in the ancient arts of petal dance", said 
Seymour.

"AACHOO, ACHOO!" sneezed Cameron trying to think of a way to save his 
Gloom then managed to come up with something. "Gloom, use body slam 
now, AACHOO!" he shouted.

"GLOOM!" shouted Cameron's Gloom as it ran at lightning speed to 
Erika's Gloom and slammed into it hard.  "Oh no, GLOOM!" cried Erika 
as she ran up to her Gloom who was lying on the floor all paralyzed.

"Sorry about that, AACHOO!" called out Cameron while his Gloom waved 
at him feeling proud of itself.

"No problem and bless you!" smiled Erika as she picked up her Gloom 
and approached Cameron. "Well Cameron", she smiled, "It looks like the 
best Gloom won.  Here's the RainbowBadge as proof of your victory." 
And she held up a badge that looked like a flower with rainbow colored 
petals.  

"Thank, uh, thank, you-you-ACHOO!" sneezed Cameron and then started 
sneezing some more.  Now that two Glooms were near him, it was just 
too much for his nose.  He kept sneezing until he blacked-out.

*      *      *      *      *      *

When Cameron woke up, he found himself lying on a bed with Nurse Joy 
right beside him along with his friends, Erika, and all her girls. 
"Hi", smiled Joy, "I hope you're feeling better.  I just gave you a 
special sinus medicine so you could breathe again."

"Thank you", said Cameron who was glad that he had air going through 
his nose again.

"You really gave us quite a scare Cameron", said Erika, "When you 
fainted, I immediately called over Nurse Joy while my girls took you 
to my room.  Misty told me that you were allergic to perfume and flower 
nectar.  You should've told us that yourself instead of making yourself 
suffer like that."

"I just didn't want to offend any of you", said an ashamed Cameron, 
"I'm sorry."

"Misty also told me about what happened to Ash after he criticized my 
perfume", said Erika, "My girls had no business to ban him from my gym 
like that."

"And I'm sorry that you felt intimidated by me", said the blue-haired 
girl, "Miss Erika taught me better after that day.  I even donated my 
trusty stamper to my cousin who's a network censor."

"You truly are a good trainer Cameron and a sweet person", smiled 
Erika, "And you've definitely earned that badge." Cameron looked down 
and found the RainbowBadge pinned on his shirt.

"I'm also surprised that some who's allergic to nectar keeps a really 
great Gloom", said Erika as she pointed to Cameron's Gloom who was 
peeking from the doorway feeling sad about what happened to its master.

"I know", sighed Cameron, "I just wish there was some way I can be 
close to it again."

"I'm sure you can if you evolve it into a Vileplume", smiled Erika.

"Really?" asked Cameron.

"Yes, that's right", said Seymour, "Unlike Glooms, Vileplumes have 
special sacks in their bodies that keep nectar from oozing out."

"But the only way you can get a Vileplume is if you expose a Gloom to 
a Leafstone", said Brock, "And we don't know where to get one."

"Look no further", smiled Erika as she pulled out a small stone with 
a leaf inside it and gave it to Cameron.

"Wow, a Leafstone!" smiled Cameron as he gazed at the stone, "But are 
you sure you want me to have this?"

"Sure", smiled Erika, "At first I bought it for my Gloom, but for some 
reason it refuses to touch it.  So I thought you could use it for your 
Gloom."

"Thank you", smiled Cameron and then he called out to his Gloom. 
"Gloom", he asked, "Would you like me to evolve you into a Vileplume?  
That way we'd be close once again?"

"GLOOM!" cried out a happy Gloom as it hopped over to Cameron eagerly 
wanting to become a new and improved plant.  Before Cameron could 
sneeze again, he put the stone against Gloom's body and all of a 
sudden, it started evolving.  It grew bigger and the red bulb on its 
head sprouted into a huge red flower with extremely large petals.  
Cameron pulled out his Pokedex and aimed it at his new Pokemon.

"VILEPLUME, the evolved form of Gloom", replied Dexeena, "The larger 
the petals, the more toxic pollen it contains."

Cameron got near Vileplume and didn't even sneeze once. "It works!" he 
cried as he hugged his new Vileplume happily. "Thank you Erika!  
Things'll be better now that I got my relationship with it restored!"

"Vileplume!" smiled Vileplume as it started to do a happy dance but 
suddenly fell down. "VILE!" cried Vileplume as it tried to stand up, 
but toppled over upside-down again.

"Vileplume, what's wrong?" asked Cameron as he tried to help up his 
Pokemon but toppled over once again.  Cameron took out his Pokedex.

"Vileplumes have the largest petals in the world", explained Dexenna, 
"In fact, they're so large and heavy.  Some beginner Vileplumes have 
been known to keep falling over."

"Uh oh", said Erika, "Now I see why my Gloom didn't want to evolve."

*      *      *      *      *      *

The next day, we find our heroes outside of the gym with Erika.  "Yes, 
I remember there was a game center here in Celadon five years ago", 
said Erika. "Until a huge mystery explosion completely closed it down 
for good.  It just now sits there abandoned and untouched at the very 
edge of the city." And she pointed east to where the game center was 
located.

"What caused such an explosion?" asked Jenny.

"Nobody knows", said Erika, "But no one ever dared to go back there."

"That means Giovanni might not be there anymore", said Misty, "What'll 
we do now?"

"We'll go to that abandoned game center and search around for clues", 
said Jenny, "There must be something there that might tell us where 
Giovanni or Ash is right now."

"Well I want to wish you luck on your quest", said Erika. "And I hope 
you get Ash back too."

"Yeah, especially me", thought Misty sadly.

"Goodbye Erika", smiled Cameron, "And thank you for giving me a great 
Vileplume."

"I'm just sorry that it keeps tipping over", said Erika.

"That's okay", smiled Cameron, "I'm gonna train it until it can stand 
on two feet again.  I'm just glad that I can let it out of its Pokeball 
whenever I want to without sneezing."

"And thank you for helping me out with my relationship with Stella", 
said Brock as he wrapped his arm around his girl, "That Essence of 
Exeggcute is sure to make you a fortune."

"My pleasure", smiled Erika, "Why today I just sold 50 bottles."

"Now who would buy all that perfume in just one day?" asked Brock.  
Stella just secretly winked at Erika for she was the one who bought 
all that perfume just in case Brock would break his promise. "And it 
might be fun", Stella also thought while smiling sinisterly.

*      *      *      *      *      *

At a harbor nearby Celadon City, a fisherman was fishing from a dock 
hoping to catch something really big.  And he did.  He reeled it up and 
found two pretty girls clutching onto the line along with a Meowth.

"Wow, I caught me a harem!" he smiled as he started taking pictures 
ready to take them home with him.

"Reiko, I believe this man of fish deserves a big hug, what do you 
say?" asked Jessie smiling.

"You're so right my queen", said Reiko who was smiling as well.  But 
first you have to close your eyes."

"You got it my brides", said the man as he closed his eyes and waited 
for his hug.  Reiko had Tentacruel grab him and squeeze him until his 
eyes popped open.  Then it tossed the man right into a nearby fish 
stand. "I sure caught me a couple of feisty ones today!" said the man 
dazed, smelly, and happy.

"Now that we've had our fun for today", said Jessie, "Let's reel in some 
rebels before they reach Giovanni!"

"I was afraid you'd say that", though Meowth not looking forward to 
seeing him pamper that Persian once again.  Reiko too was afraid, 
afraid that it might be Cameron's last day of freedom.

TO BE CONTINUED