Chapter 7: In Which there is a Gym Battle

"Okay, let's give this another shot," Andrea said to Eve, standing in front of the gym doors. With Lucas trailing behind she entered the dimly lit building, looking around.

The place seemed to be more outdoorsy then the actual outdoors she had just left had been. The floor was compact dirt and the entire place was dotted with boulders of varying sizes, most much larger than Andrea. High above them was a cave like ceiling, complete with stalactites. Or maybe stalagmites, Andrea couldn't really remember the difference. Here and there people were battling on patches of relatively rock free ground and while their ages and genders varied the Pokemon type they were battling with did not.

"Hello, are you both here to challenge the gym leader?" a man near the door asked. He was short and had a mass of brown hair that reached the top of the rims of his sunglasses. His purple shirt showed the obvious bulge of his stomach and his hands were shoved into the pockets of his khaki pants.

"No, just my friend Andrea," Lucas replied pleasantly, pointing to the brunet.

The man nodded and indicated for the two to follow him. "Roark just got his Pokemon healed from this morning's first battle so he should be ready for you." The man led them to the back of the building, past the numerous piles of rock and battling trainers. Some of them stopped to look over at the passing people, snickering when they saw Eve on Andrea's shoulder.

"Roark, you have another challenger," the man yelled once they reached a space edged by some of the larger boulders in the back of the gym. Out of the dim light at the on the end of the field a figure appeared. He became instantly easier to see when he clapped his hands and some bright spot lights focused in on the battle field.

A man in his early twenties with the working outfit of a miner, complete with hard hat and sturdy boots, smiled and waved in new comers' direction. "Thank you for bringing them over here Nigel. Could you go get Steven and tell him we need him to judge?"

"Of course," Nigel replied, hurrying off.

"So, which one of you is my challenger?" Roark asked, putting his hands on his hips as he inspected the two.

"That would be me," Andrea said, stepping forward.

"Ah, splendid, it has been awhile since I've had such a pretty female opponent," Roark commented with a clap of his gloved hands.

Before Andrea could respond another man, who Andrea could only assume was Steven, came rushing up. After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Roark he rushed over to stand on a slightly raised platform next to the field.

"Now we can begin," Roark said. "Your friend can sit over there," he instructed, indicating some seat like boulders near the platform. Lucas hurried over to the indicated seats and sat down. "Now, do you know how a gym battle works, Miss…"

"Andrea."

"Miss. Andrea?"

"I kick your ass in a Pokemon battle and you give me a badge?"

"Not my wording choice, but basically," Roark confirmed with a nod. "So, are you ready?"

"Yep," Andrea said as Eve jumped down to the ground. Reaching for her belt she pulled out Zora's Pokeball and released the electric Pokemon. Firmly planting her paws on the ground, tail swishing slowly, Zora looked across the field at Roark, waiting for him to release his own Pokemon.

Smiling in a manner disturbingly similar to that of Nolan's from the day before, Roark reached for a Pokeball and released the floating rock from within. With an overconfident cry of "Geoduude," the Pokemon flexed its arms and gave Zora a condescending look.

"Why can't we get any normal opponents?" Eve muttered at Andrea's feet, voice her trainer's own thought.

"Are the trainer's ready?" the referee asked. When both trainers nodded he gave a shout of, "Than let the battle begin."

Deciding that making the first move would be the best strategy, Andrea quickly shouted out an attack. "Zora, try spark."

The little electric Pokemon quickly gathered electricity and charged the other Pokemon. Roark, much to Andrea's surprise, did not order his Geodude to move but instead watched with a broad grin on his face as Zora collided with his Pokemon and…nothing happened.

"Shit," Andrea mumbled. Lucas had mentioned something like this yesterday when he had been going on about type advantages, hadn't he? Why, even when she was trying, could she not keep her full attention on the boy's explanations?

"I think it's my turn now," Roark said with a chuckle. "Geodude, rock throw."

With an affirmative "Geo," the Pokemon floated to the ground and picked up a rather large rock. With a small grunt he hurled it at Zora and caught the electric Pokemon a glancing blow as she dashed out of the way.

"Shit," Andrea swore again. "Looks like eclectic attacks aren't going to work. Zora, tackle then bite."

Zora rushed forward, leaping up to hit the floating rock Pokemon. As Zora's weight dragged them down and they tumbled to the ground the electric Pokemon bit down on the Geodude's arm. The attack did not have the desired effect however, probably doing more damage to Zora's teeth than to the Pokemon she was attacking.

"Shake her off Geodude. Then attack with rock throw again."

Geodude, trying to get back into the air, shook his arm and Zora, teeth unable to get a proper hold on the rocky flesh, was easily shaken off. As Zora fell to the ground Geodude quickly picked up another rock and hurled it at Zora, hitting the electric Pokemon directly on her exposed side.

Zora let out a loud hiss of pain when the rock hit but got quickly to her feet. Not waiting for the order to attack she charged leaped at the Geodude again, planning to bring it to the ground once more. The levitating Pokemon easily moved out of the way however and Zora flew past to land face first on the ground.

"Rock throw again."

"Come on Zora, move," Andrea shouted desperately as her Pokemon tried to re-orientate herself from her fall. She was unable to move out of the way and was hit square on by another rock. The rock hit with a loud and unpleasant thump, causing Zora to stagger on her feet before falling to the ground.

"Shinx is unable to battle, Geodude wins," announced the referee, holding up an arm to signal an end of the first match.

Andrea gave Zora's unmoving body a worried look before recalling her and releasing Roz. The bird Pokemon appeared with as much grandstanding as the Geodude had, flapping her wings with a loud cry of "Pidgg." With Roz's shout came the background noise that Andrea had become accustomed to after having to listen to it with her other two Pokemon.

"Ready? Battle," shouted the referee.

"Stealth rock," ordered Roark.

"Gust Roz," Andrea ordered at the same time.

Both Pokemon began their attacks as soon as the orders had left their trainer's mouths. Geodude, hands glowing slightly, clapped his hands together and raised them slowly. With his rising hands some of the rocks on from the stadium slowly came off the ground, to hover in an innocent manner near the edge of the battle field.

Roz's attack had a much more immediate effect. Hovering slightly in the air and pumping her powerful wings she started up a small twister of air, the vortex filling with dirt and rocks from the stadium as it headed towards Geodude. The rock Pokemon did not move out of the way of the attack in time and was assaulted by the strong wind and detritus. As Roz slowed the beating of her wings the wind died off, leaving a dazed looking rock Pokemon behind.

"Okay Roz, tackle," Andrea ordered.

Going from hovering near her trainer to shooting across the stadium like a small feathery missile in mere seconds, Roz soon barreled into the other Pokemon, sending it tumbling to the ground for the second time that day.

"Rock throw Geodude," Roark commanded, the slightest edge of worry in his voice.

As Geodude took back to the air, he picked up another large rock and hurled it at Roz, who had remained flapping over his head. Roz tried to move out of the way but was not fast enough, taking a hit from the rock that sent her to the ground. Shaking her head, Roz regained her feet and gave an angry squawk as she glared at her opponent.

"Back off Roz, then gust again."

Taking her trainer's advice, Roz moved away from Geodude with the hop-skip gate of a bird on the ground, making sure to keep an eye on the hovering rock Pokemon. Judging the distance was enough she took back to the air and began pumping her wings once more.

Again Geodude was caught in the swirling wind and once more, after quick order from Andrea, Roz shot into him with a tackle and sent him to the ground. Unlike the other times, Geodude did not get back up.

"Geodude unable to battle," announced the referee as Roark recalled his Pokemon. "Pidgey is the winner."

"You're doing well," Roark conceded as he enlarged his next Pokeball. "But you won't have such an easy time with my next Pokemon. Go, Onix," he shouted as he released the Pokemon.

The Onix came out with a roar and banged his large tail on the ground. Andrea craned her neck back, trying to see the head of the enormous moving pile of rocks. As the thing towered over her and made Roz look like some kind of small, feather covered plush toy Andrea realized why the ceiling was so high. So Pokemon like the Onix didn't bring it crashing down every time they were released indoors.

"Oh shit," came the mumbled comment near Andrea's feet. Looking down the teen saw her Eevee looking up at the much, much larger Pokemon with wide eyed panic. Before Andrea could say anything, Eve shouted in Roz's direction, "Go get 'im Roz. I'm sure you can kick his rocky ass." In a much quieter voice she mumbled, "Please, please don't let me be wrong."

Roz looked back at her fellow Pokemon and Andrea didn't even need to be able to understand what Roz shouted at Eve word for word to get the general drift. It was most likely something along the lines of, "Shut up before he hears you and gets mad. I enjoy being three-dimensional you know."

"Can you handle this mammoth Roz?" Andrea asked the bird Pokemon. Roz just flapped her wings in an irritated manner and turned back to Onix in way of a response. "Okay then," Andrea said with a smile at Roz's feathery back.

"Ready? Battle," the referee shouted.

"Onix, rock throw," Roark commanded.

Andrea just rolled her eyes, and watched calmly as Onix searched for a sizable rock. "Again with the rock throw. Dodge it Roz."

All calm was gone however when Onix bent down and clamped a large boulder from the side of the field in his mouth. Tossing his head in Roz's direction he opened his mouth and the huge rock went hurtling in the tiny bird Pokemon's direction. With a screech of horror Roz flapped hastily away, the boulder landing with a ground shaking thud where she had been moments before.

"What the hell?" Andrea shouted. The damned thing could have killed Roz. "Roz, aim a tackle for its head or something."

Furiously, Roz took to the air and went after Onix, aiming right between his eyes. She made contact but the tackle wasn't so much of a tackle as her crashing into Onix's head and bouncing away. Onix seemed relatively unfazed, simply shaking his head a bit.

"Roz, try for another-"

"Screech Onix," Roark shouted.

Opening his huge mouth, Onix let out an ear piercing shriek. Andrea covered her eras, cursing while Eve cowered down, pawing at her own ears. Roz, hovering in the air, seemed to freeze up and fell to the ground, getting herself back to her feet with a wince as the high pitched noise continued to assault her eardrums.

"Rock throw Onix." Onix picked up another rock in his mouth, this one much smaller than the last. Again he tossed it at Roz, this time hitting the bird Pokemon before she squawked and took to the air again. Her wing beats were labored and slow, but Roz did not look as if she intended to give up anytime soon.

"Quick attack Roz."

With a great burst of speed, Roz rushed Onix, aiming and hitting him in the head once more. Onix seemed rather unfazed by the attack though, something that caused Roz to give a frustrated shout of "Geyy."

"She just called him a lummox," Eve said, watching the scene with a look of horrified fascination.

"Why do I get the feeling that that will turn out to be a rather bad move?" Andrea asked, looking on with the same horror filled interest.

Onix glared at Roz and, against all the odds, seemed to become bigger, as if he had puffed up in anger. Roark, noticing his Pokemon's actions, smiled. "Onix," he said slowly. "Rage."

Eyes taking on a red hue, Onix brought up his tail and took a swip at the hovering Roz with it. The little bird Pokemon nimbly dodged but because of this did not see as Onix whipped his head at her. The rock hard skull connected with Roz, sending her to the ground. Vindictively, Onix brought his tail down on the felled Pokemon before looking down at the fainted bird Pokemon.

"Pidgey is unable to battle, Onix wins," announced the referee.

"Oh shit," Eve said as Andrea recalled Roz.

Andrea looked down pityingly at Eve. "If you don't want to go up I'll understand. That thing is huge."

"No, no, I'll go," Eve said as she stepped into the stadium. "I just wish Roz hadn't made him so mad before she fainted."

"Well, try not to make him any madder, eh?"

Eve gulped as she craned her neck back father and father just to see the bottom of the other Pokemon's chin. "I'll try."

As Eve took her position on the field and the next round was stared, Andrea failed to notice that the floating rocks that Geodude had called up from earlier had begun to move in Eve's direction. The fact was brought to her attention when the rocks, some of them far sharper than any normal rocks should be, began to pummel Eve. The little normal Pokemon tried to move away from the rocks that were raining down on her but was unable to get away from the floating rocks.

The rocks eventually all fell back to the ground, leaving Eve battered and bruised, bleeding in a few places where some of the sharper rocks had stuck her.

"What the hell was that?" Andrea asked, glaring across the field at a smug Roark.

"That was stealth rock my dear. It attacks the opponent's next Pokemon to enter the field. It can be quite effective, especially against inexperienced trainers like yourself who don't know much about battle and attacks like that one."

Inwardly seething at Roark's inexperienced comment, Andrea turned to Eve. "How you doin'?"

"Fine. Just give me a bit of help here. I have no idea how I'm supposed to take this guy down."

"Think you can climb up him?"

While Andrea and Eve were talking, Roark had, unknown to the two females, commanded Onix to attack. That was why, when a large shadow formed over Eve, they were both surprised to look up and see a small boulder heading in the little normal Pokemon's direction. Swearing, Eve scrambled out of the way as the boulder came crashing down where she had been standing moments before.

"I can climb up him," Eve shouted over her shoulder, dodging another boulder that was hurtling in her direction. "But why?"

"So you can bite him in the nose," Andrea replied as Eve dodged another boulder. Roark obviously wanted to finish the battle and he wanted to finish it fast.

"It that the best you can come up with?" Eve shouted, sprinting in the direction of the rock Pokemon.

"Got any better ideas?" Andrea asked as Eve reached her opponent.

"No," Eve replied, beginning to make her way up the Onix. The rock Pokemon tried to shake her off, but Eve eventually made her way to the larger Pokemon's head. Onix watched cross-eyed as Eve made her way to his nose.

"This is so stupid," Eve mumbled before she bit down on the other Pokemon's nose. When that seemed to have little effect, Eve bit down a bit harder as she worried about her teeth.

The added pressure must have finally caused Onix some pain because he let out a bellow and shook his head violently. Eve was flung off the other Pokemon, only enough time to squeak in fear before she plummeted to the ground.

As Eve lay on the ground, dazed, Roark commanded another attack. Onix willingly obliged, picking up another rock and throwing it at Eve. The Eevee, still stunned by her fall, was unable to move out of the way and was hit.

After the attack Eve remained motionless, lost in the oblivion of unconsciousness. A few more moments and the referee raised his arm, signaling the end of the battle. "Eevee is unable to battle, Onix wins."

As Roark recalled Onix with a satisfied smile, Andrea rushed forward to gently pick up her unconscious Pokemon, cradling the limp lump of fur in her arms as she slowly straightened up. When she looked up from the prone body in her arms, Andrea was met by the sight of Roark making his way across the field in her direction.

"Nice match," he said with a pleasant smile. "Although you never had a chance against me, what with you not even having a badge yet."

"Yeah, okay," Andrea said with a roll of her eyes. Turning away from Roark, she looked in the direction of Lucas. "Hey, come get the money out of my bag will you? I want to pay this guy and leave."

Lucas nodded and rushed over to the traveling pack Andrea had left on her side of the field. Digging into the pocket he knew she kept her money pouch in, he pulled it out and took a few hundred Poke before putting the pouch back into the pack. He came over to the two trainers, handing the money over to the gym leader.

"There, now we're leaving. When I come back you had better be ready to get your ass kicked in a battle," Andrea informed the gym leader.

Before Roark could respond Andrea had walked back to her side of the arena, picked up her bag and began heading out. Lucas quickly apologized to Roark for Andrea's actions and hurried after her.

The two quickly made their way back to the Pokemon Center where Andrea handed her Pokemon over to the resident Nurse Joy. They both sat in the chairs as they waited for Andrea's Pokemon to be healed. Lucas had picked up one of the magazines off of the low table in front of them while Andrea just stared moodily off into space, thinking.

"Hey, Andrea, listen to this," Lucas said after awhile, not noticing his companion's mood. "Says here that wild Pokemon have been acting weird lately. Like attacking trainers and-" He stopped abruptly when Andrea, who had not been paying attention, got up and walked over to the counter.

"Your Pokemon will be ready short-" the nurse began.

"Good, good," Andrea said over her. "Hey, are there any good places around here to train?"

"Ummm…Many of the townsfolk train in the mine," the nurse informed her, a bit worried by the intense look the girl was giving her.

"Are there lots of rock Pokemon there?"

"Yes, of course," the nurse informed her. "Would you like directions on how to get there?"

"Yeah, sure," Andrea said with an eager nod.

Lucas watched as the nurse tried to give Andrea instructions to the local mine, eventually giving up and drawing the brunet a map. Shaking his head in exasperation, Lucas went back to his magazine until a shadow fell over the page he was reading. Looking up, he saw a grinning Andrea towering over him.

"I've got it all figured out," she informed him happily.

"Wonderful." He paused before he felt it was necessary to ask. "And what do you have figured out exactly?"

"How to beat that rock head's ass of course," Andrea informed him as if he was some sort of simpleton for not figuring it out on his own. "I'm going to go out and do some serious training. I'm not going to come back until I'm sure that we can beat that guy."

Lucas could not help the horrified look that crossed his face as he contemplated the thought of having to go along with Andrea as she did her "serious training." His look of horror only increased with her next statement.

"Stop worrying. I'm not having you come along. You can stay here, leave if you want, I don't really care."

"But what if you get lost?" Lucas asked with worry.

Andrea just frowned at him. "I don't get lost," she stated simply. Lucas paused a moment before arguing anymore, wanting to see if such a boldfaced act of denial of the facts would cause the universe to rip at the seams or some other such apocalyptic event.

When the world continued to stay completely undestroyed, Lucas tried a different tactic. "But-"

Whatever well thought out argument he had come up with while waiting for Armageddon was cut short by Andrea. "I'm not arguing this with you. I just told you my plans to be polite. I'm going to go grab my stuff, so if my Pokemon are healed before I get back, grab them for me."

Mouth agape, Lucas watched as Andrea walked off. He sighed when her retreating back turned a corner in the hall and went back to the magazine he had been reading. Before turning his eyes back to the magazine, he did not miss the sympathetic look the nurse threw his way.

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AN: I know Roark's Onix in the game doesn't know rage but there is a reason he has it now. And sorry to all the Roark fans out there, I don't think I portrayed him in a very good light and he was generally out of character. I sort of dislike him for that badge comment he makes when you beat him in the game, something I know I shouldn't let affect my writing, but…Anyway, I'm warning everyone that I might not be able to update next week, so I apologize in advance if that happens. Thanks for reading the story and my ridiculously long author notes.