Here's chapter 8! I don't own pokemon!


10:00pm-Dewford Town

The ocean breeze howled against the pokemon center's walls. A group of rowdy teens had managed to organize a beach party or something. Winter pulled her pillow over her head. She had been resting all day, planing, organizing. She was going to face Brady in the morning though she knew she would lose. It was easier said than done. Amanda, Liz, Raymond and Anthony had abandoned her to join the other teens on this small island. Of course Liz had remembered everyone. It wouldn't even surprise her if Raymond and Anthony came back stoned or high...or something like that. The music and noise got louder and louder. Finally deafeated Winter sat up.

Her pokemon were in their pokeballs on the nightstand. Liz's were next to hers. She grabbed them and stormed out of the room furious. Her friends knew how important it was for her to win this battle, everyone knew she wanted to get some credit back home. "Ugh!" Winter groaned as she saw the huge bonfire.

"How does anyone on this island get any sleep!?" She stomped down the stairs.

She walked to the doors without glancing at Nurse Joy. The doors pushed open letting the breeze blow her hair. The waves roared as they crashed against the shore. Winter didn't acknowlege the partiers and went past them. Suddenly someone grabbed her arm.

"Hey-hiccup-I've seen you before! Why-hiccup-don't you-hiccup-join us?" A boy a few years older than her asked.

Winter cringed away and glanced at the now forming circle. "I can't...I have to go..." She backed up even more.

"Aw, come on!" He stared at her. His eyes were all lopsided and looked out of control. His breath was hot on her skin as he talked. She knew he was drunk.

"No! I can't...get off!" She meant to yank her arm out of his grip but lost her footing in the sand.

The boy caught her. Winter quickly stumbled away from him. "Leave her alone!" Winter looked for the source of the voice and saw Raymond standing not too far away.

"Fine...whatever..." The other guy mumbled and stalked off clearly irritated but he didn't feel like getting into a fight.

"You didn't have to do that! It was under control!" Winter defended herself.

"Sure, whatever. Look, are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, just fine, in a way."

"In a way?"

"I got scared. There, I admitted it!" Winter scowled.

Raymond shrugged his shoulders. "Where were you going anyway?"

Winter didn't answer at first. She looked around for a minute then back at him. He had been watching her the whole time. "I was going out to train a little."

"Oh."

"Do you want to come with me?" She asked looking hopeful.

Raymond looked out into the sea of people only a few meters away. "Alright. I guess I could come!" He smiled.

Winter smiled back and set off for a secluded area where no one from the party would be. She walked in front of Raymond until she felt him beside her. Winter sighed quietly and kicked at the sand. Soon they passed a house and saw a cave. "In here!" Winter called over he shoulder and walked inside.

It was dark with little light but Raymond quickly detatched a pokeball. A small yellow creature appeared. "Pika" The flash attack lit the whole cave up.

"Awesome!" She ran over to the corner where another door awaited to be discovered. Raymond followed behind and walked through the dark hole. He reappeared next to Winter and watched her bend over a few rocks.

"Look at this!" She held out a stone that had smooth edges.

"An Everstone..." He examined it briefly and then turned it over to Winter.

She tucked it inside her jeans pocket and walked away skipping lightly. Raymond stared after her and shook his head with a sly grin.

"Hey look over here!" She pulled away a few rocks. Underneath three stones with glittering. "A firestone, thunderstone and waterstone."

She gripped the firestone tightly. "Here, which one do you want?" Winter asked holding out the three stones.

"Uh...you pick first..." He waited patiently while she debated over the outcomes.

Finally Winter tucked the firestone in her pocket with the everstone. Raymond had two choices: water or thunder. He held his finger over the waterstone. Winter went to hand it to him but he shook his head and took the thunderstone. "Okay." Winter shrugged and placed the other stone back where she had found it. "We'll leave this one here for another trainer."

Raymond agreed and turned on his heel. Winter followed a step behind until they reached the mouth of the cave. "So much for training." Raymond laughed. The blonde haired girl shrugged and stepped out into the darkness.

"It wasn't that important. I mean it was still fun." She muttered.

"Right, whatever..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know you wanted to train for Brady's match in the morning. Don't lie to me."

"I'm not!"

"Yes you are! Winter, facing Brady means a lot because it proves something for you don't try to hide it."

Raymond had made his comebacks sound calm and secure. Winter huffed in defiance. Was it that obvious that she wanted to show up May so badly! So bad that she was mixing up her priorities: beating May first then dealing with friends and family?

"I'm sorry."

"For what? I'm just saying you're so crazy about beating all these gyms you've drained the fun out of it."

"That's exactly what I'm sorry for. I didn't realize I was making everything dull because of my obsessive want."

Raymond smirked. "Just don't beat yourself up over it...how'd we get into this argument anyway?"

"No idea."

"Huh...interesting..."

"What?"

"How easily time flys when I'm with you." He pointed at his watch. It was already 11:00pm.

6:55-Pokemon Center

Winter rose from her bed noislessly. Treecko was curled into a ball on the one corner. Raymond had brought her back at a quarter after 11 and she'd quickly fallen asleep. Her match with Brady would soon be starting.

"Ugh! I still have no idea what I'm going to do!" She rubbed her head. The words had only escaped as a whisper but had woken up Liz and Amanda.

"You really shouldn't worry that much about it. You're going to do great!" Amanda yawned trying to comfort her worrying friend.

Raymond once again rolled his eyes. "You're doing it again..." He muttered. Winter scowled at him but turned her attention to outisde. The gym was a very short walk away.

"I have to go..." She hopped down. Treecko obediantly followed his trainer and they exited the pokemon center.

Treecko happily ran circles around its trainer. The sand kicked up around him making him look like a moving sand creature. He continued this until Winter gripped the gym door handle. Her hand was trembling and her knuckles white. Treecko prodded her by nudging her hand forward. Winter sighed and pushed open the door to an amazing sight.

Battle-

Winter was in the challengers corner. She didn't remember how she'd gotten this far. The fear and temptation to run was so great it even surprised her. Brady had released his Machop first. Winter had called on Taillow.

"Cross chop!" Brady yelled.

"Wing attack!" Winter called.

The last thing she remembered was walking in and seeing the huge maze set before her. For some it was known by heart and to others it was a great surprise. The huge arena was in the middle with Brady waiting patiently. Treecko had nudged her hand and they had gotten through the maze easily and met an enthusiastic gym leader.

"Machop hang on!"

"Taillow! Finish it with peck!" The last flying move had finished off Machop. Brady, however, was already prepared with another pokeball. The switch was fast and a brown pudgy fighting pokemon appeared. It's expression clearly frustrated and it had meaty hands inside black boxing gloves.

"Makuhita! Use arm thrust!" Brady commanded.

"Taillow dodge it!" Winter pointed into the sky.

That was how she'd gotten into this battle early and, so far, she was doing pretty good. "Taillow use your double team!" Winter called. Now there were multiple bird pokemon hovering in the air. Makuhita was clearly even more frusterated now.

"Don't give up! Use your body slam!"

Winter bit her lip hoping the fighting pokemon didn't find the real Taillow. Suddenly an idea popped into her head. "Use your wing attack now!"

All the birds flew down like darts at Makuhita but most disappeared. "Behind you!" Brady warned but it was too late. Taillow had already slammed, hard, into the back of Makuhita's head. The pudgy pokemon staggered around clearly dazed.

"Tackle it now!" Winter commanded. The black bird hit the back of Makuhita's head again and it fell knocked out.

Brady sent out his last pokemon Meditite. The blue and white pokemon looked like a guru in some ways. Winter wouldn't let her guard down though. "Taillow! Return, you've done enough!" She held out her pokeball but the little bird refused and dodged the red beam. "Okay...then use peck attack!"

Meditite was weaker than the other two, so it didn't take much force to bring it down. Within the 5th attack from Taillow it went down.

Brady sighed and then smiled. "I admit it feels strange losing. Good luck in future battles Winter and here!" He handed over her second badge.

8:00am-On the Sea

Amanda leaned back against the railing of Mr. Briney's boat. He'd been generous enough again to let them hitch a ride to Slateport City. Then they could just circle back to Petalburgh through the next two cities. She'd planned it all out. Winter needed her third gym badge and that required going to Slateport. She absenmindedly stroked her Charmander while thinking.

"Hey."

Amanda straightened up and stared into Winter's curious eyes startled.

"Oh, hey! I was just thinking about our route to get your third gym badge." She spoke softly. The other trainers were spread out on the deck curlled up into balls. Raymond was the closest one to them.

Winter plopped down next to her and patted Blaze. Treecko was curled up on her knapsack sleeping. "Cool...I couldn't help but notice you were up..." Winter smiled cautiously. Amanda didn't seem to mind.

"I see you're going to be a worthy opponent for the Pokemon League if you keep this up." Amanda pointed to Winter's two badges.

Winter nodded. It was all she'd dreamed about. Beating every challenge, showing up May, and bringing back glory to her small hometown. Of course it would take some time and work but she knew she could do it. Amanda understood Winter knew that. She'd beaten all of her own gyms, but never tried for the championship. Her only excuse was 'I wasn't good enough'.

"Pretty soon I'll be better than May!" Winter pointed out.

"You still need ribbons though."

"True, but I'll get them some way!"

"That's right..." She paused yawning slightly, "we'd better get to sleep or else we won't want to get up!" Amanda laughed and slumped down further until she was laying on the wooden deck. Winter nodded and tiptoed back over to her spot.

"Night Treecko." Winter whispered and curled up into a ball clutching her badges while she slept.