AN: Here is Episode 10 of Friends Until the End! I've had so much time on my hands, even though I should be working on a midterm…Oh well, I'll do it later. Anyway, here it is!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except our human characters…that's about it…

Episode 10: Towering Rivals

The next morning Zane was first up. It surprised everyone. She was excited that today was her gym battle. Her first official gym battle. After the contest she trained and felt ready. Korina looked better too and was more energized. The coordinator was ready to go and told Zane she better not lose. Zane wasn't planning on letting her down. As they walked out of the center Zane had a sense of confidence. Nothing could stop her.

"He's not here again!" Zane cried as she looked on the door to see a 'closed' sign. She had a crushed look on her face. She looked like she was going to cry.

"Maybe you're not supposed to challenge the gym," Korina commented.

"Like you weren't supposed to win that contest yesterday," Zane snapped. Zane meant the comment to be a joke, she hoped Korina thought so too.

"Touché, but harsh!" Korina snapped getting the joke.

"Look here...a notice. It says...anyone wanting to challenge the gym come to Sprout Tower and show me how high you can soar." Naomi said looking at the sign.

"What is with Violet City and heights?" Korina complained. Yesterday, today, she kind of wanted to fly out of Violet City.

"Well I don't know, maybe is has to do with that Sprout Tower is tall and the gym specializes in flying types," Zane explained. It was the best explanation she could give to them. Made sense to her.

Korina smirked and replied, "Someone's the sassy one."

"I'm heartbroken…leave me alone," Zane sighed.

The girls then made their way to Sprout Tower in hope to find someone to help them. Even if they didn't they could at least look around. The other two just decided that Zane was battling antsy. Zane agreed because Korina had her debut and now she wanted hers. When they arrived they looked up to the tall tower. They walked in to see people, sages, walking around. It seemed so peaceful, but a sense of battle. Zane immediately ran for the stairs. Korina followed while Naomi sighed before following.

"I wonder how much longer until the top." Naomi voiced after about two floors. She was tired of the stairs already.

"Shouldn't be too long." Zane answered often taking two at a time.

"It's really cool in here with the tower the way it is." Korina added. It felt like the place was dancing.

"Yeah, my mind can't help to think of designs." Naomi said trying to get use to view other aspects in designs. When talking about fashion, what was fatigue?

"Oh! I can't wait for my first gym battle! Come on guys!" Zane said getting to excited and rushed to the stairs.

"Zane wait!" Korina shouted before she ran into someone. Too late...was the thought when they heard a slam of bodies and then the floor. Zane ran into someone. "Now look what happened..."

Both girls went to the ground. They each winced at the pain, but quickly fought it off. Zane regained herself and looked to a light brown, long straight haired girl around her age. She didn't look happy that she had been had ran into.

"Sorry about that..." Zane apologized putting out her hand to help her up.

Zane's hand was smacked away and she snapped, "You should be!"

Zane looked like some hurt her and she said, "I said I was sorry..."

"Whatever! You're a Pokémon trainer right to challenge the gym?" the girl said. The dark haired girl couldn't be a trainer. She didn't look like one. She looked like she was from the school here on a field trip.

"I am."

The girl smirked as she looked at Zane. If she was here she had to have Pokémon to battle with.

"Then battle me 2 on 2! I think you need to be taught lessons!" she snapped in Zane's face. Zane was taught not to fight that way, physically, but with her Pokémon.

"No I don't!" Zane retaliated about needing a lesson. "Fine! Let's battle!"

"Name's Emily," she introduced in a snotty tone, "and my first choice is Swinub!"

"Cyndaquil I choose you!" Zane called upon her starter.

"Isn't Swinub a ground type?" Naomi asked. As soon as Zane brought out Cyndaquil she questioned it. Wouldn't Phanpy be a better choice?

"It's a duel type so it is also an ice type." Korina explained.

"I'll start! Swinub use Tackle!" Emily commanded to begin the battle.

"Jump to dodge! Now Ember!" Zane retaliated.

"Swi!" the Pokémon cried as he was being bombarded with embers.

"Get up and use Take Down!" Emily shouted. It was then Zane noticed she was more of a brute force type of person.

"Dodge it with Quick Attack!" Zane yelled. She'd have to outsmart and speed her.

"Mud-Slap!"

"Quil!" Cyndaquil cried. She brushed off the feeling and prepared to counter.

"Cyndaquil! Ember!"

"Powder Snow!"

"Great now, Cyndaquil can't really see..." Korina sighed.

"Oh no!" Naomi feared.

"Take Down!" Emily shouted and her Pokémon charged the other.

"Smokescreen!" Zane reacted.

"Take Down again!" Swinub ran through the smoke and missed his target. He turned and looked for the fire type.

"Ember!"

"Swinub!" Emily shouted in fear as Swinub fainted.

"Great job Cyndaquil." Zane said as her Pokémon came up to her.

"Cyndaquil Quil!" Cyndaquil replied cheerfully about the praise.

"Return and take a good rest." Zane said returning Cyndaquil to his ball. The Fire Mouse smiled before going in happy he had won his battle.

Emily was upset this fire type beat her, "You won't win next round! Go Teddiursa!"

"You're up Phanpy!"

Both Pokémon stared at each other waiting to see which trainer would make the first move. They both knew they had headstrong and stubborn trainers that both want the first move. However, Phanpy knew Zane at least could give it up sometimes.

"Teddiursa use Fury Swipes!" Emily called proud she got the first attack.

"Intercept with Rollout!

"Tedi!" the bear cried getting hit before meeting the floor. "sa..."

"Headbutt!"

"Keep going with Rollout!"

Korina smiled as she knew what Zane was up to. "This will be over soon. When you keep using Rollout it builds power."

"Lick!

"Mud-Slap with a Rollout!" Zane combined. Everyone cringed when some of the mud went into Teddiursa's mouth. The little bear quickly spit it out. Emily looked appalled that Zane's Pokémon would do such a thing.

"Dodge the Rollout!"

Naomi started to giggle seeing the bear try to get the mud out of both his eyes and mouth. "Teddiursa can't see and is a little preoccupied. Zane used the move against her."

"And now she's won!" Korina shouted happily seeing Phanpy attack his opponent and said opponent faint.

Zane cheered as she won the battle. She rushed to her partner and hugged him. She smiled and praised with, "Great job Phanpy."

"Phanpy Phan!" he replied.

Emily had a look of fury in her eyes. She was upset this novice beat her and her Pokémon that were from the area of the strongest gym in Johto. She was from Blackthorn after all.

"Teddiursa return. We'll train later. You only won because you copied me!" Emily said in a single motion. She went up and got in Zane's face. She ignore the growl the tiny elephant was giving her.

"That is not the case." They heard. They all turned to see a Sage.

"Huh?"

The Sage nodded and continued, "The victor simply used the technique better plus she has trust in her Pokémon. What are you names?"

"Emily..."

"Zane."

"Korina."

"Naomi."

The Sage hmmed before turning to the trio. "I see, thank you. Zane, you may challenge Faulkner first tomorrow. You wouldn't mind if I watched, would you?"

Zane smiled knowing the exact time of her first gym battle. She quickly answered, "No, go right ahead."

"What about me?!" Emily shouted thinking this was unfair.

"The day after you may challenge him. See you three tomorrow." The Sage left them with what he said. As he went back upstairs he kept thinking about what he witnessed. Both trainers would be great, but only one seemed like they would have any success.

"Thank you!" Zane called after him before he was out of reach.

A stomp on the ground got their attention. "That's so wrong! I'm the better trainer!"

Phanpy had enough of her talking. Zane was a great trainer. She was his trainer.

"Phan!" He cried as he used a light Mud-Slap on her pants. Everyone mouth's dropped at what the ground type had done. They never expected that from him. He was generally so calm.

A scream was let out by Emily. "Uha! Your Pokémon just put mud on me!"

Zane looked innocent and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know what you're talking about. That could have happened during the battle."

"Phanpy." He agreed.

"You better watch out!" Emily pointed at her before she left that almost looked like stomping. Zane kept her comment about making the tower shake even more to herself afraid she'd come back.

"You're terrible..." Korina sighed.

Zane smirked feeling proud of the comment and replied, "Thanks and thank you Phanpy."

He was becoming more like his trainer every day. No one really knew whether to consider that good or bad. At least he would have a strong side.

"Phan!"

"Looks like you have a rival." Naomi said looking where the girl just left.

"Oh joy, but I have my gym battle to think about so watch out!" Zane said changing the subject. She didn't want to think about seeing her again. She had more important matters to think about.

AN: There done! I finally finished it! Sorry for the delay! I hope you'll still keep with me!

Preview: Zane has her first gym battle! Will her debut end in victory or walk away with defeat? Find out!