The sun peaked over the distant mountains as the first rays of light creeped into the battlefield. Erika was already on one side as well as Jade and Ochre on the opposite. Erika was dressed in her full kimono again, this time a blue one with white flowers around the bottom half, swooping up behind her back.

"Are you two ready?" Erika asked the two trainers.

Ochre and Jade looked at each other, giving the other a wink before turning their heads back toward Erika and nodding, each one of them throwing out their pokéballs. Pascal and Leafeon looked just as determined to win as Jade and Ochre. Erika smiled and threw out two pokéballs. Out of one, as expected, came her Exeggutor. Out of the other, a Vileplume.

Jade was the first to leap into action, who yelled toward Leafeon. "Quick attack, Charity! Charge toward Vileplume!" She scream, as her Leafeon ran with lightning speed toward the Vileplume. Erika raised her hand to counter with her Exeggutor. "Confusion." The Exeggutor stomped its feet again, directing its attack toward the Leafeon. Ochre yelled, "Power Whip!" As Pascal raised one of his vines up in the air, it grew to a much inflated size and fell down upon the Exeggutor, whose psychic assault was halted.

Leafeon managed to land its attack on Vileplume, whose flower started to glow while it was catching itself after being knocked back. Erika commanded, "Solarbeam!" As its flower shot forth a beam of light toward the Leafeon that had just attacked it. "Charity, Protect!" Jade screamed as a thin barrier appeared around Charity and the Solarbeam exploded directly in front of the pokémon. Exeggutor ran up to the Leafeon coming in for a Stomp attack, in turn shattering the barrier that was surrounding Charity. The Leafeon fell backwards onto the ground, too shaken to stand up immediately, as the Exeggutor and Vileplume both turned toward Pascal.

Vileplume and Exeggutor both inched toward Pascal as Erika shook her head, looking at the two trainers. "Maybe you two weren't ready for this." She remarked as she commanded both of her pokémon simultaneously. "Exeggutor, use Wood Hammer! Vileplume, Petal Blizzard!" The Exeggutor started to charge as the Vileplume shot petals into the air, which began to glow.

Jade's fear turned into confidence as she came up with a plan to quickly turn the tables on Erika. She gritted her teeth together as she exclaimed, "Charity, use Giga Drain on Exeggutor!" The Leafeon began to glow as it seemed to sap energy from the Exeggutor, who was stuck in position. The Leafeon finally was able to regain enough strength from draining the pokémon to get up.

Erika's eyes opened wide in surprise. "Oh!" Her eyes darted at all of the glowing petals now in the air around Vileplume. "Vilepl-!" She started to yell until the petals swirled around the entire battlefield. Engulfing every pokémon, including her own Exeggutor. The petal storm whipped up a cloud of dust from the ground and once it settled, her Exeggutor and Charity had both been knocked unconscious, leaving only Pascal and Vileplume standing.

Erika almost screamed as she saw her unconscious pokémon. She held out her pokéball and withdrew it, kissing the pokéball as she had once before. Her surprised expression turned into one of pride and joy. "I'm proud of you, Jade! You've gotten over your fear of losing to think of your partner!" Erika yelled across the field. "But it's time we finished this battle, Ochre!" She went once again into her previous stance as the Vileplume stood ready to combat.

The Vileplume was unscathed, while Pascal had managed to endure the Petal Blizzard. "Vileplume, Petal Dance!" The Vileplume started to dance around, throwing petal after petal toward the Tangela, each one becoming more and more powerful.

"Bind!" Ochre commanded his Tangela as its vines reached out, being knocked away by the petals, and not being quick enough to grab the Vileplume. Ochre couldn't help but feel helpless and his confidence only fell as his Tangela continued to be hurt by the barrage. He felt Jade's eyes upon him, waiting to hear her tell him how awful he was doing.

"You can do it, Ochre!" she yelled to his surprise. Ochre didn't know how he would be able to beat the Vileplume, but there was still one last idea that he had. Since he had come to the gym, he had learned many things from watching the other trainers and listening to their conversations. He hadn't been able to get very much one-on-one battle practice in, but he became determined to show Erika what he could really do.

"Ancient Power!" Ochre screamed, as the Tangela started to glow. Rocks came up from the ground and were hurled at the Vileplume, causing its Petal Dance to cease. Pascal continued to glow, and grow to a much larger size, arms stretching out of its body. Erika's eyes opened wide once more and a smile grew across her face. "Tangrowth…," she muttered. Ochre excitedly commanded, "Power Whip!" As the Tangrowth's arm grew out and came down upon the Vileplume, knocking it out cold.

Jade once again exploded with delight, wrapping her arms around Ochre as Erika withdrew her final pokémon. Pascal came up to the both of them and, for the first time, was able to hug his best friend.

Erika walked toward the two and joined in the embrace as they celebrated their victory, not only of a pokémon match, but overcoming their personal fears.

Erika stepped back and straightened her kimono out. "I am so proud of both of you. I knew you would both be able to defeat me from the moment I invited you to my gym." The two young trainers were once again embarrassed by the leader's compliments.

She turned to Ochre, extending a hand which was holding a Rainbow Badge. "Ochre, you have gained the self-confidence that your mother had taught to me so many years ago. My debt has been repaid." She smiled as kissed his cheek.

She then moved to Jade, doing the same motion and giving her a Rainbow Badge as well. "Jade, you have proven yourself not only a talented trainer, but one who can selflessly help others in their time of need." She beamed and gave her a kiss on the cheek as well.

"You two are welcome at my gym any time you would like, though I don't think you'll be having much time for that." Erika said, feigning that she was deep in thought.

"What do you mean?" The two almost asked simultaneously.

"I have already recommended you two to the Ranger Academy, and that Rainbow Badge will be your entry key." She winked as she turned around, heading back to her personal quarters.

"You mean?!" Ochre asked in almost an accusing tone.

"Get moving. You'll be late to your first day if you don't start to get ready." Erika turned around once more, giggled and then closed the door behind her.

Ochre and Jade embraced each other once more, then quickly ran out of the gym on to a new adventure.