I could always feel the footsteps of my challengers even before they approached the sliding doors to the front of my gym. Step by step they moved closer to the entrance. I had always had this ability, this deep connection with rock and ground, that's why I chose to become the gym leader of Diamond City. I felt the name was only fitting of course, with diamond being the toughest of all gems; it made sense that Diamond City would hold the strongest gym. Now, being the final obstacle for trainers before they challenged the Pokémon league. One might think my gym would involve mental and physical tests for the trainers and their respective Pokémon to face, this however, could not be farther from the truth. I was rather confident having been a League champion myself. Having been at this point in my career only a few years ago I still felt the aggravation caused by these puzzles and I always had the feeling they distracted from the true test. So, in my gym I simply asked the trainer to battle one person, me. I had lost three times in my two years here; however I have awarded many more badges to trainers based on their will, determination, and bonds with their Pokémon.
The doors slid open just as I presumed they would. "May I see your badges?" I asked.
"Yes, sir" replied a shy voice as the trainer handed me their case.
"7, seemingly legitimate gym badges from this region," I sighed, "Pick your three Pokémon, I will be using one Rock type, one Steel type, and one fighting type."
"Yes, sir," He replied again, placing three pokéballs in the tray behind him.
"I'll begin with Golem." I said throwing my first ball.
"Octillary, I choose you!" The trainer slung a blue topped ball toward the center of the arena.
"Predictable," I sigh this will be easier than I thought; "Although you appear to have the advantage based on type the environment is more suited to my Golem. Rollout!" The massive rock Pokémon began to spin. It shot across the floor with tremendous speed as it struck the red octopus forcing it against the back wall.
"Octillary, return." He gasped.
"You're going to have to step it up if you want this badge. Fight me with everything you have inside of you! Show me what got you those first seven badges!" I taunted from across the arena hoping to coax the fire out of him.
"Golem, you did amazing take a break," a red beam flashed onto the rock type. "Now it's time to show me what you're made of! Aggron, you're up."
"Arcanine, it's time to shine!"
"This again," I sighed "Aggron, use mega punch on the ground." My steel Pokémon swung his glowing fist hard into the ground forcing rocks to fly in all directions."
"Arcanine, use flare blitz!" The large dog was engulfed in flame and began to charge toward my Aggron.
"Now use rockslide on the debris and take his Arcanine out!" I commanded. The rocks began to glow with a bluish tint and quickly flew toward the speeding Arcanine, ending its charge decisively. "You have one last chance to show me you have earned this badge, you have to make it count. Here's my fighting type, Lucario!"
"Fearow, you're my last chance…" he trailed off.
Lightning began to form around my Lucario's fist. "Stop," the electric power was rapidly extinguished, "get out, you won't receive a badge today, not with that attitude. You didn't choose the Pokémon you were closest to. Those bonds make an incredible difference in the heat of a battle, that's why I was able to take out your Octillary and Arcanine with such ease. The bond you share with them isn't near my bond with Golem or Aggron. Although I was at a type disadvantage, my partners believed in our bonds and refused to waiver, resulting in my victory. I spared your Fearow because it shouldn't suffer for your incompetence. Come back when you're truly prepared." I turned my back to the boy and walked into my office in the back room. The boy stomped his feet in anger as a red beam of light engulfed his Fearow taking it back into his Pokéball. He turned and stormed out my gym bumping into the shoulder of the five foot seven blonde that walked in past him.
"That was rather harsh, don't ya think?" A familiar voice rang in through the door way connecting my office to the rest of the gym area. "I mean you didn't have to make him cry, not every gym leader is a former champion after all, you could've taken it easier on him."
"Hi Jennie, nice to see you again, I've been great thanks, how about yourself?" I teased her.
"Pardon my lack of manners in front of lifelong friend!" She laughed, flipping her long blonde hair out her face revealing her strong hazel eyes, still burning with the same passion they always had. "Anyways Ben, I'm here to talk to you about something, rather serious. The Pokémon league asked me to come on their behalf in order to ask that you…"
The sound of a colossal explosion filled my ears, "What the hell!?" I yelled over the ringing I now heard. I grabbed three other pokéballs from the drawer in my desk and sprinted through the sliding door. The cloud of smoke billowed up from the flaming remains of the International Pokémon Association building. "Jennie, come see this!" She came sprinting out and began whipping her head in all directions, the instant she turned to the IPA building she froze. I fell to my knees and held my face in my hands, sobbing violently. My father worked in the IPA building; he was the last family member I had. Jennie knelt beside me, "Ben, I'm so sorry." She wrapped her arms around me and began sobbing.