This chapter marks a very special occasion. It's Lyra's first Gym Battle! It took eight chapters to get here, but we finally made it! I hope the battle is as epic as everyone is hoping it will be. So, without further ado, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its characters, including Lyra or Ethan.


Chapter 8

"And that's what happened. Now do you see why I'm so worried?" Lyra explained to Prof. Elm, whose puzzled face was on the screen of one of the video phone in the Violet City Pokémon Center. The Pokémon Professor nodded his head slowly at Lyra's statement.

"Yes, I can see why that would be quite troublesome," Prof. Elm finally said. "Silver must have been training that Totodile nonstop in order for it to evolve in a few days." Prof. Elm paused for another moment more. "I guess that nothing can be done about it now. I would still like you to pursuit Silver; just to see how Croconaw takes to him. I'm very interested to see how that little Totodile grows up to be. Also, if you see Ethan, make sure to fill him in on the information you told me." Lyra nodded her head. "Now, anything else you want to ask me before I go?" Lyra bit her lip and took a deep breath.

"Actually Professor, there is," she admitted. "When I was at Sprout Tower yesterday, the Gym Leader of this city was there, and he asked me to try my hand at a Gym Battle." A grin spread across Prof. Elm's face as she spoke. "And I was wondering if it was okay if I participated in Gym Battles while following Silver. Of course they won't be my main objective, but I still think-"

"Lyra, Lyra, slow down! You're more than welcome to participate in Gym Battles," Prof. Elm answered. "In fact, I was actually expecting you to ask me once you got into Violet City. Most people do once they see the Gym there." Lyra squealed and jumped up and down, causing many people around the Pokémon Center to stare strangely at her.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Professor!" Lyra exclaimed, then realized that everyone was staring and quietly sat back down. Prof. Elm laughed as Lyra's face started to turn red.

"No problem, Lyra. Just make sure that you register your Pokédex with the Nurse Joy in that Pokémon Center before you enter. Otherwise, you won't be able to get into the Silver Conference even after collecting all eight badges," Prof. Elm reminded. "Now, make sure you keep me updated on everything, and tell me how your match went when you have the time. You have my number in your PokéGear." Lyra nodded.

"Yes, sir! Thanks again, Professor. You're the best!" Prof. Elm laughed, and the line was disconnected. Lyra stood up and walked up to the counter, where a Blissey brought out a tray with two Poké Balls on it. The round, pink Pokémon wearing a nurse's cap handed the tray to Nurse Joy, who then handed the tray to the brunette.

"Here are your Pokémon, all fit and ready to go!" Nurse Joy said to Lyra as she put the Poké Balls away.

"Thanks a lot, Nurse Joy. I was also wondering if I could register for the Johto League here? Prof. Elm says I have to register my Pokédex if I'm going to compete in the Silver Conference," Lyra explained, and Nurse Joy nodded.

"Not a problem. All you have to do is hand me your Pokédex and I'll do the rest," she replied. The brunette took out her pink and white Pokédex and handed it to the pink-haired nurse, who stuck the Pokédex into her computer and started typing. Lyra's face and her current team of Pokémon appeared on the screen, and a large sign reading 'O.K.' appeared over the images. "Okay Lyra from New Bark Town, you're all set!" Nurse Joy's computer spat out Lyra's Pokédex from the slot and she handed it back to the beginner Trainer. Nurse Joy then reached under her desk and pulled out a rectangular case with rounded edges and handed it to Lyra. It was light pink, the color of a Pecha Berry, with a red Poké Ball symbol on the front. On the inside, there was eight holes punched in blue velvet. "This Badge Case will be a perfect place for you to put the badges you win at the Gyms all around the Johto region."

"Oh wow, thanks Nurse Joy!" Lyra thanked, examining the case.

"I'm assuming you're going to battle against the Violet City Gym?" Joy asked her. Lyra nodded happily.

"It's my first Gym Battle. I'm so nervous," she stated. "I hear Falkner is pretty tough, too. Anyways Nurse Joy, thanks for everything!" Nurse Joy bowed at Lyra, and the brunette released her Marill from her Poké Ball. After the Aqua Mouse Pokémon was happily hanging from her arm, Lyra walked out of the Pokémon Center and headed towards the Violet Gym.

o 0 o

"Wow, so this is the Violet Gym, huh?" Lyra asked herself, looking up at the huge building. It was extremely tall, like a tower. It was violet in color, with a darker purple spiral going around the outside of the building. The base was square shaped, and Lyra guessed that was where the lobby was. "Well, I guess we have to go in through these doors," she said to Marill, pointing to the clear automatic doors in front of them. Suddenly, a shadow flashed over them, and Lyra looked up to see a triangle shaped hand-glider soaring in the sky above them. The glider itself was red and white, and holding onto it was Falkner. When the blue eyed young man noticed Lyra standing below, he flew down and stopped with a graceful landing. He walked up to Lyra and smiled.

"I was expecting you, Lyra," he welcomed, folding up and gathering his hand-glider.

"You hand-glide? That looks so cool!" she exclaimed, and Falkner smiled.

"Yes. I started hang-gliding so that I could try to understand my Flying Pokémon better," Falkner responded. "It's quite amazing to fly through the skies side-by-side with your Flying-type Pokémon." Falkner seemed to stare out into space for a small while, but then shook his head slightly and looked at Lyra. "Are you ready for our battle?" Lyra nodded, and Falkner led them into the Gym through the automatic doors. Inside was a desk, with a telephone and computer sitting on it. There was also many chairs around the place.

"Seems like a regular lobby to me," Lyra mumbled to herself.

"What?" Falkner asked, turning towards the brown eyed girl. Lyra jumped up and laughed nervously.

"Did I say that out loud? Sorry," she replied. Get a grip, Lyra! Don't act stupid in front of him! Falkner led them to a pair of doors towards the back of the Gym's lobby, and pressed a button on the side. The doors opened up and it was revealed to be an elevator instead of a room. Both Lyra and Falkner stepped inside, and Falkner pressed the button with a large 'R' on it. The elevator dinged twice and the doors closed as it started up. The elevator jerked up and Lyra fell on her butt as it did, making Marill bounce off the floor and wall. Falkner bent down to help her up, but she shook away his hand. "I'm okay. I fall all the time! No big deal." Lyra got back up and smiled nervously at Falkner, who smiled back and turned towards the doors to wait for the elevator to open. What is wrong with you? This is so embarrassing! Marill picked herself off the ground and huffed at Lyra, giving her Trainer a dirty look before jumping up and perching once again on her arm and pack.

Finally, the elevator opened, and both Falkner and Lyra stepped out. They were on the roof of the building. It was a flat brown surface with a stadium painted on the top of it. There were benches on both sides behind the boxes where the two Trainers would stand during the match. On the opposite side of them, there were many people dressed in white robes. "Welcome to the Violet Gym," Falkner announced, and Lyra almost peed herself. She was never good with heights, and being as clumsy as she was, she didn't feel too comfortable battling on top of a roof many feet above the ground. Falkner noticed Lyra's face starting to pale and looked at her. "You're not scared of heights, are you?"

"Who, me? Nah, I'll be fine. Let's just get on with the battle!" Lyra exclaimed, trying to act as brave as she could. Falkner pointed to her side and she walked over, placing her pack on the bench and taking Chikorita's Poké Ball, placing it in her pocket. "Okay Lyra, you can do this..." She turned around and stepped onto the Trainer's side of the stadium, Marill holding on tightly to her arm. One of the white robed people, whom Lyra assumed were Falkner's pep squad, stood up and walked forward and looked at the battlefield. He had short, spiky black hair, and his robe seemed to be darker than the others.

"The official Johto League battle between Lyra, the challenger from New Bark Town and Falkner, the Violet Gym Leader will now begin. At stake is the Zephyr Badge. Each will use three Pokémon. Begin the match when ready," he stated, then backed off to sit with the others.

Three Pokémon? I only have two! Oh no... Lyra thought, biting her lip for a moment. She felt so nervous from so many different things, most of her muscles were practically shaking.

"I hope you're ready Lyra. Just because you're a friend doesn't mean I won't go easy on you," Falkner said, taking out a Poké Ball from his robe and pressing the button to make it bigger. "Hoothoot, go!" Falkner tossed the red and white sphere out onto the field, and the round owl-like Pokémon came out of the ball.

"Hoothoot, I remember this Pokémon from yesterday," Lyra mumbled to herself, and took out her Pokédex. "Hoothoot, the Owl Pokémon. Hoothoot stands on one leg, but uses both its powerful eyes to see clearly even through the darkest nights." Lyra put away her Pokédex and looked at the Aqua Mouse Pokémon on her arm. "Okay Marill, I choose you. Show that Hoothoot who's boss!" Marill nodded and hopped onto the battlefield. Falkner seemed to be unfazed by Lyra's choice of Pokémon, and was silent as he waited for the referee.

"Begin!" the boy with black hair called, and another person wearing a white robe and a red headband around his head tapped a white and brown taiko drum, signaling the battle to begin.

"Okay Marill, use Water Gun attack now!" Marill jumped into the air and took a deep breath, releasing a stream of water from its mouth at Hoothoot.

"Hoothoot, fly up and dodge it!" Falkner commanded, and Hoothoot immediately shot into the air, flapping its stubby wings as hard as it could. The Water Gun hit the Gym floor, and Marill looked up at Hoothoot. "Now Hoothoot, dive down and slam into it with a full-force Tackle attack!" The Owl Pokémon flipped in the air and started to dive down towards Marill.

"Hurry Marill, dodge it!" Lyra shouted, and Marill landed on the ground. Before Marill could jump up, however, Falkner's Hoothoot slammed into it, sending it bouncing backwards on the Gym floor. "Oh no, Marill! Try an Aqua Jet attack!" Marill leaped off the floor and water surrounded its body. Then, it shot at Hoothoot like a rocket, slamming into it as hard as it could. Hoothoot was surprised by the quick attack, but recovered fast, flapping its wings hard and staying aloft. "Aqua Jet again!"

"Hoothoot, don't let it strike you again! Use Peck attack to stop it in its tracks!" Falkner ordered, and Hoothoot flew straight at Marill as soon as water started surrounding its body. When Marill was about to shoot at the Owl Pokémon, it started pecking Marill's head with its beak repeatedly, making the water around Marill disappear as the Aqua Mouse Pokémon tried to block the attacks.

"Get it away with Tail Whip, Marill!" Marill nodded its head while trying to keep Hoothoot from pecking it, and it swung its tail, the light blue orb at the end of it slamming right into Hoothoot's side. Its breath was knocked out of it as Hoothoot sailed through the air. "Okay Marill, now use Rollout attack!" Lyra wasn't an experienced trainer, but she knew that Flying-types were weak against Rock-type attacks like Rollout. Marill was her best shot at beating Falkner. If she failed, then Chikorita would stand no chance, and Lyra would lose! I'm not going to let that happen! Lyra thought as Marill curled up into a ball and started rolling towards the falling Hoothoot.

"Hoothoot, get out of the way!" Falkner shouted. His call was a wake-up call to Hoothoot, and it opened its wings just in time, flapping out of the way as Marill rolled through the air, right over the side of the rooftop. Falkner gasped and pointed at Marill. "Hoothoot, grab it! Quickly!" Lyra, however, smirked.

"Marill, Water Gun now!" she ordered. Marill uncurled itself and blasted the spiral of water not at Hoothoot, but at a building next to the Gym. When the Water Gun hit it, the blast Marill backwards, slamming its body right into Hoothoot, who was flying to help Marill. As Marill stopped its Water Gun, it turned around and started rolling, slamming right into Hoothoot as it fell. Finally, Marill landed on the ground gracefully, and Hoothoot fell on the ground knocked out.

"Hoothoot!" Falkner exclaimed, and ran up to help his injured Pokémon.

"Hoothoot is unable to battle. Marill is the winner," the referee called.

"You battled tremendously, Hoothoot. You deserve a good rest." Falkner recalled his Pokémon into its Poké Ball and walked back to his side of the Gym. "You surprise me. Your Marill shows a great deal of courage if it can get itself back onto the roof without batting an eyelash," he complimented. Lyra giggled.

"We used to play 'King of the Playground' all the time when we were younger, so Marill would use that Water Gun rocket technique to get back onto it if she fell," she replied. "I'm not one to be underestimated."

"Neither am I," Falkner responded, taking out a Poké Ball. "Now, let me show you how strong my Flying Pokémon really are!" Falkner tossed the Poké Ball and it flew through the air. After a moment (which seemed like forever to Lyra), the ball burst open and a large brown and white Pokémon came out of the Poké Ball. The bird had black markings around its eyes, and the yellow and red feathers on its head reached down to the base of its red tail feathers.

"Pidgeot, toh!" it called out, flapping its wings and taking to the sky. Lyra gulped as she pulled out her Pokédex.

"Oh god..." she mumbled as the Pokédex opened up. "Pidgeot, the Bird Pokémon. The evolved form of Pidgeotto, it can fly at twice the speed of sound at an altitude of nearly one mile." "Twice the speed of sound?"

"Begin!" the referee called, and the drummer hit the taiko drum with the wooden stick, signaling the battle to begin.

"And now, you shall see how fast Pidgeot can fly first-hand!" Falkner shouted to Lyra. "Pidgeot, use Quick Attack now!" Pidgeot immediately turned towards Marill, and it started to fly down at it. Then, it became a brown and white streak and it shot at Marill, slamming into it as hard as it could. Marill went flying backwards, not stopping until Lyra caught it. When she looked down, Marill was knocked out from the attack.

"Pidgeot is the winner!" the referee called out. Lyra sighed, smiling at her Pokémon, and then recalling it into its Poké Ball.

Great, now my only option is Chikorita. This isn't good, she thought as she pulled out Chikorita's Poké Ball. "Chikorita, I choose you!" Lyra exclaimed, tossing Chikorita's Poké Ball onto the battlefield. The red and white sphere burst open, and Chikorita came out of the Poké Ball, ready to battle. Falkner seemed to narrow his eyes.

"Bad choice. Don't you know that Grass-type Pokémon don't stand a chance against Flying-types like Pidgeot?" he asked Lyra.

"Just make your move," she told him.

"Begin!" the referee cried, and the man behind him tapped the drum.

"If you still want to keep your Chikorita, that's fine by me. Pidgeot, use Wing Attack!" Falkner commanded. Pidgeot started to fly down towards Chikorita, opening its wings as it dove towards the Leaf Pokémon.

"Chikorita, we have to fight back! Use Razor Leaf!" Lyra ordered, and Chikorita swung its head. When it did, multiple razor-sharp green leaves came out of the large leaf on its head and shot at Pidgeot.

"Spin in the air and dodge the attack!" Falkner called. Pidgeot nodded, and when the leaves were about to hit, Pidgeot spun to the right like a fighter jet, dodging the attacks. After, it continued its course to attack Chikorita.

"Okay Chikorita, use PoisonPowder now!" Lyra shouted. Chikorita raised the leaf on its head and started to wave it back and forth. Out of the leaf, a sparkling purple powder came out and started floating towards where Pidgeot would fly right through.

"Pidgeot, stop! Use Whirlwind to blow away that powder!" Falkner instructed. At once, Pidgeot turned and spun around, stopping right in its tracks. It then started flapping its wings as hard as it could, and a powerful gust came out of them, blowing the powder away and making it disappear. "Quick Attack now!" Pidgeot did as it was told and continued diving down at Chikorita. This time, it sped up and slammed into the Grass-type Pokémon as hard as it could, sending it bouncing off the Gym floor. Pidgeot flew up, missing Lyra's hat by just inches and turned around to fly back to its side of the battlefield. Slowly, Chikorita started to get up. It was hurt, but determined.

"Chikorita!" Lyra called, worried about Chikorita's health.

"Chika, chikori!" it said back to its Trainer.

"Now Pidgeot, knock out that Grass Pokémon with your Wing Attack!" Falkner commanded. Pidgeot turned around and shot towards Chikorita once again. When Chikorita turned around to face Pidgeot, it was hit by the Bird Pokémon's wing. Chikorita bounced off the Gym floor once again. This time, however, it did not get up.

"Pidgeot is the winner!" the referee shouted, and Lyra ran up to her Chikorita.

"Chikorita, are you okay?" she asked it. Chikorita nodded slowly, and went to sleep in her arms.

"Are you giving up?" Falkner questioned her. Lyra nodded.

"I have no more Pokémon; I have no choice," she replied quietly. Falkner looked at his referee and nodded. The man with the red headband tapped the drum once more, and the referee raised his right hand.

"Lyra has no more Pokémon and is thus unable to battle! The winner of this match is the Gym Leader, Falkner!" he called out. Pidgeot landed next to its Trainer, and he petted its head.

"You battled extremely well, Pidgeot. I'm proud of you," he said, and then put the Bird Pokémon back into its Poké Ball. Falkner walked up to Lyra after he put away Pidgeot's Poké Ball and helped her up. She also recalled her Pokémon into its Poké Ball and smiled sadly at Falkner.

"I should have known that I would lose. You are really powerful," she stated, and Falkner put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't be down. While you did lose, you still managed to impress me with that trick Marill did," Falkner replied, and Lyra smiled. Suddenly, she began to feel her eyes started to water and she quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of her shirt. "I recommend going out and getting stronger. Once you do, I will be waiting here for your return." The brunette nodded and smiled at Falkner. The two started walking towards the elevator, as Falkner's white robed posse murmured about the battle amongst themselves. "I recommend going to Azalea Town and battling the Gym there," he said as they got into the elevator and he pressed the down button. "It isn't far from here. Just go south from the city, and the path shall lead you right there." Lyra nodded her head once again.

"Azalea Town, eh? Okay then, that's where I'm going," she replied. "And you better be ready Falkner, because when I return, you and me are going to battle." Falkner smirked.

"I will be looking forward to it," he stated.


So, Lyra's first Gym Battle ends in a loss. Well, at least she's not down about it! Did the outcome of this surprise you at all? One of the main reasons why I like basing my stories off the anime and not the games. If I had based this off the games, then all Falkner would have had was a Pidgey and Pidgeotto. Boring.~

Now, there's not much that I want to talk about, but there's one thing in particular I want to mention. I don't know how long this next chapter is going to take, and I'll probably be completed with it by the time this comes by. As most of you know, during the weekends, I go to camp. Not summer camp, but a camp like trailers and fireplaces... and s'mores. Every year, my family stays there for a whole week, and we don't come back until the next Sunday. So, from July 30th to August 8th, I will be at camp, and thus will be unable to write. I know, it stinks, but I need a break, lol. As soon as I come back, I will start writing once again, but I'm just giving you guys a heads up just in case I don't finish the next chapter in time.

Also, a lot of you have been telling me that you've had problems reading the last two chapters I've posted. This is probably a FF.N thing, so it might pass soon. Okay, now to thank my reviewers:

Thanks:

NightmareSyndrom

Hotrod198

DragonforceX

Curse of the Black Rose

pokemondude

OMGItsRainingOttsels

Okay, that's it from me. Next chapter, Lyra meets a special guest, and together, they visit the Ruins of Alph. However, Lyra's clumsiness gets her into a 'hole' lot of trouble. Thanks for reading/reviewing. See you next chapter!