Author's note: I'm back! Sorry for taking so long to update, I've been busy. Anyway, here's chapter 7, hope you enjoy. Thanks to BlackflameofPheonixClan for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. I own Nicko and Katie, Reggie is owned by Jawzfrenzy

After both Nicko and Katie had earned their first badge, the trio were finally ready to move on. "Hey, Katie, Reggie, nice battle back there," the brunette complimented.

"Well, you weren't too bad," Reggie admitted, "You could get quite strong with some training." It seemed that the blacked haired boy had finally admitted that the blonde wasn't a bad trainer.

"Thanks," Katie smiled, "You're pretty tough yourself." Maybe the two could get on after all...

"But you're defence is weak," Reggie finished up. Or maybe not.

The girl growled, "We can't all be perfect." Luckily, it was just bickering, nothing too serious.

The group continued walking in silence, until Nicko suddenly asked, "Where's the next gym anyway? Maybe I should have checked this stuff out before leaving."

His travelling companions sighed, "Just follow us and you'll find the next gym," Katie answered. This caused the brunette to groan, not only had he failed to find out the location of the next gym, but he had failed to start a conversation.

After another few minutes of silence, the group heard a rustling in the bushes near them, just outside the city. "I bet that's a Pokémon," Nicko grinned, "I'm gonna catch it." It turned out that the brunette was right, as a black fox cub like Pokémon jumped out of the bush. "Wow, it's a Pokémon I never seen before," the less experienced boy shouted, shocking the group with is amazement. Not noticing the facial expressions of his companions, the brunette pulled out his pokedex, hoping to get some info on the Pokémon.

The machine stated mechanically, "Zorua, the tricky fox Pokémon. It disguises itself as people and other Pokémon. It protects itself from danger by never showing its true form." Right after the pokedex finished informing the trainers, the fox transformed into the spitting image of Nicko. "No way," the brunette grinned, "That is too cool."

Reggie snorted, "Weren't you listening to the pokedex? Zorua can transform itself into other people and Pokémon." While the boys were talking, Katie walked over to Zorua, still disguised as Nicko, and experimentally pulled the tail still sticking out of the Pokémon's back. Quick as a flash, Zorua reverted to it's true form, and giggled.

"That's it, I'm catching it," Nicko claimed, "Emolga, it's all you." The flying squirrel emerged from its pokeball and took to the air. It glanced back at its trainer, awaiting instructions. "Alright, use Thunderbolt!" The brunette ordered. A blast of electricity shot from Emolga's body, shocking Zorua, who was caught by surprise. It looked over at the squirrel, not seeming happy. It then shot a pulse of dark energy at the electric type, knocking it out of the sky.

"Wow, that was Dark Pulse," Katie said, amazed at the power of the attack.

Emolga struggled to its feet, and Nicko cried out, "Emolga, are you okay?" the flying squirrel nodded, looking determined. Its trainer smiled, "Okay then get some payback with Spark!" Surrounded by electricity, Emolga flew straight at Zorua, only for the dark type to roll out of the way, and then tackle the electric/flying type at amazing speed. "Cool, Quick Attack," Nicko noted, "Emolga, Thunderbolt again!" he ordered. Again, the blast of electricity hit its mark. "Great, follow up with Quick Attack." Emolga crashed into Zorua at break neck speed. "Finish it with Air Slash!" Emolga blasted blades of air at the small fox, leaving it defeated. "Now, Go Pokeball!" Nicko shouted, throwing a pokeball at the Zorua. After rolling three times, the pokeball confirmed the capture of Zorua.

"Not bad," Reggie said in a bored tone.

"Awesome," Katie Complimented, "You got a new Pokémon, and you showed us that Emolga has got stronger."

After about ten minutes of walking and chatting, Nicko and Katie heard a familiar cold voice, "About time you two caught up." They looked at the source of the voice to see...

"Jackson," they said in unison. "Hey look, I got my first badge," Nicko shouted, pulling out the badge.

Jackson sighed, "Obviously, otherwise you would have missed a gym. Anyway, I could us some training, so Nicko, up for a 3 on 3 battle?" Nicko's rival asked.

"You got it," the brunette accepting, "Let's go!" The two made room for a battle, and called on their first Pokémon, "Emolga, it's all you."

"Yamask, prepare for battle!" In front of Jackson, a shadow like Pokémon holding a mask appeared. "Hmph, you've got no chance," the bandana wearing trainer stated.

"We'll see," the cap wearing trainer replied. "Emolga, start off with quick attack." The squirrel shot at the shadow, only to pass right through it.

"Don't you know that ghost types are unaffected by normal type attacks?" Jackson questioned.

"Seriously, he didn't know that," Reggie exclaimed, surprises.

"What an idiot," Katie groaned.

"Well, I guess I'll have to show you how it's done, Shadow Ball." Yamask shot a ball of dark energy at Emolga, causing the latter to drop a few feet.

"Emolga, are you okay," Nicko asked, concerned. To his relief, the flying squirrel nodded. "Great," he smirked, "Then strike back with Thunderbolt." The blast of electricity hit Yamask head on, causing some serious damage. "Alright, follow up with Spark!" Nicko Shouted, and, surrounded by electricity, Emolga shot at the ghost type, gain causing damage.

"Don't take that Yamask, use Dark Pulse." The pulse of energy hit the flying squirrel hard. Both trainers knew that their Pokémon were heavily damaged.

"Emolga, End it with Thunderbolt!"

"Yamask, finish this with Shadow Ball!" the two attacks flew past each other, both hitting their marks, leaving both Pokémon unable to battle.

"Emolga," Nicko cried, "Great job, now rest up." He returned the squirrel to its pokeball.

"Pathetic," Jackson stated as Yamask was also returned to its pokeball. "Time for round two, Go Sandile." A small crocodile appeared in front of him.

"Cool, but let's see how it handles Snivy." The grass snake walked forward, looking confident. "Snivy start off with Leaf Tornado!" Nicko's starter Pokémon shot a cyclone of leaves at Sandile, causing the croc some major damage.

"Grr, Sandile use dig." The ground type quickly burrowed underground.

"Uh oh," Nicko muttered, before calling, "Keep ready Snivy." The crocodile finally emerged, crashing into Snivy.

"Good, follow up with bite." Sandile clamped it's jaws shut on Snivy's tail, causing some damage.

"Quick Snivy," Nicko shouted, "Free yourself with vine whip." Snivy used the vines to pry open Sandile's jaw, before smashing it into the ground. "Great job, wrap it up with Leaf Blade!" the grass snake slashed the ground type with its tail, leaving the latter unconscious.

"Useless," Jackson muttered, returning Sandile to its pokeball. "Now Pignite, Prepare for battle." An orange and black pig, standing on two legs, was released from the pokeball.

"Wait, isn't that Tepig's evolved form?" Nicko asked.

"That's right, my Tepig evolved." Jackson Smirked, "Now Pignite, show your power with Flamethrower!" The evolved starter Pokémon shot a blast of fire at Snivy, dealing serious damage.

"Oh no, Snivy," Nicko cried, "Fight back with Leaf Tornado." However, the cyclone of leaves didn't cause nearly as much damage as Nicko had hoped. "Okay, Try Leaf Blade." Again, the attack didn't do enough damage, although it did cause Pignite some pain.

"This is getting annoying, Pignite, Flame Charge." The pig, covered in fire, launched itself as Snivy, scoring a direct hit. Snivy was left unable to continue.

"Snivy," Nicko shouted, before returning it to its pokeball. "Don't worry," he whispered," you were great. Zorua, it's your turn now!" the Fox was released from it's pokeball, and it faced Pignite, looking determined.

That's all for now, tune in next time for the conclusion to the battle. I am accepting OCs, Please R&R and I'll update soon.