If anyone asked me how I felt about battling I would use one word. Indescribable. The energy that swelled in my veins and the exhilaration that didn't ebb long until the Pokémon were returned and the trainer had left are essential to my adoration to battling. The bond I felt with my Pokémon as we synced and worked as one unit, one the trainer and the other carrying out orders was one I could never articulate. I normally loved this and felt it whenever I released my friend but now all I felt was irritation.

You see I was-rudely-accosted for a battle before I had had coffee, fed my Pokémon and even gotten out of bed oh and of course before my referee had even come for work. The arrogant male swept his eyes over my body when I eventually came down the staircase and his eyes stayed hungrily fixated on my womanlier features.

If it was one thing I hated, not surpassing mistreatment of Pokémon but was being looked at the way my Gyarados looks upon his food- like I was a piece of meat ready for consumption. After angrily and vividly showing my frustration for this rude and arrogant male I found myself staring across the water, the athletes jacket slipping form my slender shoulders and revealing the black bikini I had on underneath. He kept staring at me and it made me pull the jacket, which went to my mid-thigh firmly around myself and huff before zipping it and bending down to pat the vaporeon that was silently giving me strength.

I was jarred from my thoughts as my referee came tumbling in like an ocean wave, no doubt getting my message that the rude trainer was refusing to leave until we battled. Looking at me with sympathy and asking the other trainer his name he raised his flags and explained my gyms rules. We were to hav battle. The first to lose the most Pokémon win. No substitutes allowed. Smirking at him and his chosen Jolteon I released Quagsire.

He glared at me angrily as he caught sight of Quagsire who would make the electricity a distant threat before calling his Pokémon to release a blast of condensed electricity towards quagsire. He dived into the water before I released a command. The thunderbolt harmlessly landing on a smaller island. I smirked. Let the fun begin.

I waited until Quagsire surfaced. His hard head forcing the skin of the water to bend around him before breaking it. As I commanded him a blast of water projected towards the Jolteon who dodged using quick attack. A smirk slunk onto the face. I had expected this. Quagsire waited till the blur was a meter away from him before throwing up a glistening sphere of green energy, as solid as steel to which the Jolteon banged into. He was dazed. Using this opportunity Quagsire spat a water gun on the ground hosting himself up before landing a solid slam on the Jolteon.

He was down. Glaring angrily at me and Quagsire he returned his fallen friend. A smirk made its way on my face. We had beaten him in 4 moves. A personal record.

Turning myself back to the battle I smirked as he released his second Pokémon. Ivysaur. Regardless of the type advantage we were going to win this. It had become personal.

"Razor leaf" the boy commanded before the spinning projectiles came careening towards Quagsire. I simply called for another protect and the leaves bounced off, some returning to hit the Ivysaur which angered my opponent.

"Solar beam!" the boy screamed, his anger clouding his judgement.

"Use yawn followed my mud bomb on Ivysaurs bulb" I commanded calmly, the yawn caused the Pokémon opposite me to also yawn, the power in its bulb fizzing a little. Mud bomb was released and coated the bulb in brown, making direct contact with the sun not possible.

"Now use secret power!" I screamed quagmire charging up the attack and it slammed into the ivysaur, severely weakening it.

"Ivysaur shake of the mud then release poison powder" the other trainer said and the ivysaur shook of the mud and dazzling purple specks shot out and overed the water.

I smirked at his strategy. I had used my tentacreul to train my Pokémon against this.

"Water gun on the ground and spin and then aim toward the water the spread out the poison" I screamed and smirked as the poison floated harmlessly towards the edges near when ivysaur was.

"Time to finish it, water gun at its feet then follow up with brick break!" the water gun caused it to stumble back but the red glowing attack cause it the go flying into the water. Directly into the poison.

Knowing he was beaten and even if he could defeat Quagsire he would need to defeat two more of my Pokémon the insolent trainer returned his Ivysaur, thanked it and forfeited.

"Thank you Quagsire, you battled amazingly" I said to Quagsire who leaped into the water as the poison was gone and swam towards me, joining Vaporeon and me.

"You had a few good strategies, the poison powder was very good. However, you are not strong enough to beat me. I am the 8th gym leader for a reason. Remember that" I said shaking his hand to which he nodded, vowed to become stronger and left.

I am meant to train today however I needed a break. The arrogance of Samuels words at the start had ground my nerves like waves on the rocks that through constant pressure turned them into sand. Instead I recalled my Mantine, Gyarados, Togekiss, Kingdra, Dewgong and Lapras and decided to go for a swim in the ocean and clear my head.

I locked the gyms doors, released Togekiss and flew down to the beach, closing my eyes and enjoying the tug I felt on my rib length orange hair. Eventually we reached the beach and we landed. I nuzzled my gorgeous Togekiss thanking the gods that she returned to me before releasing my team into the ocean.

Their cries were deafening. Waves churned. I got drenched due to Gyarados materializing and slamming his tail down onto the surface of the water. It was also the happiest I had been all morning.

I swam out into the water and perched myself on the back of the serpentine Pokémon before climbing up and settling into the ridge on the top of his head. We backed away from the shore and soon were skimming across the water.

I never felt more alive than when I was out in the ocean, the sea breeze tenderly stroking my hair back like a banner and sea salt coating her legs as my powerful sea serpent powered onwards. This was the only time I let myself be at peace; let my hair down and fully engage in my element.

Closing my eyes and tipping my head back I savoured the moment as I knew when I entered the shore all the freedoms an opportunity that could occur on the water would be rolled away from me like the ebbing tide and I'd be anchored in place once again.

Opening my eyes as I felt a particularly large volume of water hit, I laughed as I saw my Dewgong look up at me, seemingly laugh at me before diving back and speeding away before leaping out of the water and letting her body fall back in. Smiling at my Pokémon's joy my eyes caught my kingdra who was powering ahead a stern look on his serious face however his lips tugged back in a small smile. Up ahead my Lapras swam next to my powerful sea serpent as Gyarados swam along leisurely enjoying the feeling of the ocean against his skin.

my large smile ebbed as I saw the horizon up ahead knowing my freedom was soon coming to an end and I would have to face the stagnation that I left on land in regards to being a gym leader. With land 50 meters away I leapt of the serpent's head and dove into the water the bubbles melding around me like a second skin. Grapping hold of my Dewgongs fin I allowed myself to be pulled forwards knowing Gyardos was going to struggle getting me close enough. Once the shore was in view I gracefully got out of the water before turning back to my awaiting Pokémon.

"I'm sorry guys but you know we have to go back' I said a bit of sadness and some resentment and acceptance coating her words. Looking back, I recalled I Gyarados, Lapras and Dewgong along with kingdra before turning to mantine watching them disappear like the freedom I felt on the waves they thrived in.

Sighing in resignation I clambered on top of my beautiful Togekiss and shot forth toward home. I loved the gym, I really did. Especially after my renovations and changes I made and my Pokémon have progressed hugely by being there and I was getting closer to my overall dream. However, I longed to feel the freedom and carelessness of the road, sleep under a canvas of glittering stars and my only worry being mundane ones like not getting lost, having food and catching and training Pokémon. Gone were those days and in replacement I got paperwork, arrogant league officials and more paperwork.

My thoughts were rudely interrupted by seeing something I never would have expected at a water type gym. Fire. Tongues of it licked the sky while stands of seaweed like smoke twirled in the air blowing slightly as if caught in a current. Below me there were millions of officials rushing about along with many civilians attempting in vain to remove the wall of flames.

I was shocked. It was if I accidently got in the way of Tentacruels poison sting again or lanturn accidently shocked me. How could this have happened? I had only been gone 2 hours.

Shaking myself free of such thoughts I robotically released my Pokémon who looked around confused at the lack of water before looking at the gym and releasing a flurry of water attacks.

Then I heard something that made my heart freeze and all the water in my body run cold. There was a bomb. Someone tried to kill me. They bombed my home.

"My Pokémon!" I gasped in realisation before rushing past the officials my hair streaming behind me like a beacon. People tried to grab me but nothing would stop me from saving my team. They were my family.

I was assaulted by smoke. It snaked down my throat and curled around my lungs seductively, trying to suffocate me in a way water never has. I hurled through the secret door that lead to my training room and in an armful I grabbed all my Pokémon's miniaturised poke balls. I didn't bother glancing at the skeletal remains of my gym my mind was focused on making sure my team were ok.

I burst through the doors and raced to the freshwater lake. I smiled in relief when I saw all my Pokémon safe under various protective shields. They removed them when they saw me. I nodded to them to let them know I was ok and recalled all of them, counting to make sure I hadn't missed anyone. Vaporeon refused to go in. She stayed out with me. She was currently the only thing keeping me together. We raced to the seawater pond. We repeated the process and soon everyone was safe in their poke balls. We ran to the artic section. Cloyster was the only one there. He was safe. I returned him.

Shock was settling into my system. The simple, straight forward thoughts all I could process. My hands were going numb and I could feel panic rising in my chest like a sea swell. Vaporeon nudged me and together we sprinted back outside, smoke trying to strangle us and I tried to keep it together as I saw the charred remains of my gym.

Outside I threw myself onto the floor as paramedics and my Pokémon rushed me. I don't remember after that. They called it shock. I called it the worst pain I have ever experienced.

I glanced back at the shell of my gym and felt the shock thaw a little as white hot anger flooded my veins. Who would dare to destroy my gym? My home? The left flank had fully been blown up and the steel pipes were charred and twisted. The rest was a charred mess and I released a breath I didn't know I had as the rest of it fell. The water had been evaporated but whatever was left spilled out as if it was weeping for its loss My brain briefly flickered towards the goldeen I had in there and let the pain was over me before my mind centred on one thing.

Someone destroyed my home. They put my family, my Pokémon in danger.

I had no idea who they were, why they did that or why they wanted me dead. It felt like there were massive obstacles on this path preventing me from thundering down it, destroying those who dared challenge me. I had no idea what the purpose was but all I knew was that this path beckoned me. I was a water Pokémon being sung to by the sea of carnage I had witnessed and let the sweet melody wash over me.

I knew this would be tough. I knew there was not a full chance I would succeed. I knew it would be dangerous however this path was calling me and I need closure. One glance at my burned Pokémon solidified this for me.

When I found who did this they would pay.

This I promise.

Hey all I know I said I would update yesterday but I got really busy so I am updating today. Hope you all like the battle, they boy was less than half her strength which is why she defeated him easily. Hope I captured the bond between pokemon and trainer well and FINALLY i could progress the story to her gym getting destroyed. Hope you all liked it and will have another update by next Monday. Hope you have a great day\night wherever you are and enjoed this chapter of Pathways.

Shadows