~BAM~

"YO GYM LEADER! I'M HERE TO BEAT YOU AND TAKE MY BADGE!"

Turtwig stood on his right with a confident smirk. "Yeah! Tell it how it is Lucas!"

"This won't last long. Pitiful grass types stand no chance against me."

Turtwig narrowed his eyes at Sparks. "Shut up!"

"Make me…"

Buizel shook his head. "Really guys? When we're about to fight a gym leader…"

"He's right you two! Get your heads in the game! You all trained hard this past week. Don't let it be for nothing."

"As if it'd be for nothing! I can handle this fight on my own." Sparks huffed.

"Tch...YEAH WELL SO CAN I!"

"Don't kid yourself. You're still just some little first form. You'll probably end up turning into a fanboy mid fight."

"I don't need to evolve to beat you!"

Sparks sneered. "Last I checked I beat you in our sparring match last week. Thus proving that I'm stronger."

Lucas and Dawn continued to watch the bickering between the two escalate into outright shouts of rage.

"You should probably stop them before it get physical…" Dawn suggested.

"Yeah I know…" He stepped in between the two and picked them both up in his arms. "Look, I need you guys at one hundred percent! That means you need to focus! We don't have any type advantages right now so it's time to really buckle down and get serious! We only have one badge so the team that she uses shouldn't be as high leveled as you both are. We can win but only if you both really want to."

"Yes Lucas." Sparks nodded.

"Ugh! Fine! So long as he shuts up about his dumb second stage!"

"Jealousy will get you nowhere pint size."

Turtwig got in his face. "Of you?! Not a chance house cat!"

"WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU?!?!" Lucas shouted.

"Looks like I was right."

They all looked over at the gym leader. Lucas caught wind of her tone and grit his teeth.

"What are you talking about?"

She folded her arms. "What are you doing here kid? I said you weren't ready and yet here you are in MY gym shouting at your pokemon while they fight with each other. They clearly don't get along and you have yourself to blame for that."

"YOU SHUT UP LADY! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT US!"

"We'll wipe your sorry excuse for a team and show you why Lucas can be a great trainer!" Sparks hissed.

"Yeah! What they said…" Buizel muttered.

"I'm not backing down. My team believes in me so I know that I have what it takes!"

"I won't battle you little boy. Not until you're ready."

Lucas clenched his fists and shouted. "YOU WILL BATTLE ME!"

"I said no. Now get out of my gym or I'll make you myself."

Dawn wasn't sure on what to really do or say. She personally saw Lucas training up his team and they had in fact made a lot of progress. She herself believed that he had the potential to become a actual trainer. However, that didn't mean he and his team lacked any flaws. They were all very strong but at the same time, very dysfunctional. Buizel was very much passive and often opted out of doing any real hard work. He was mainly ever motivated by the presence of food. Turtwig was very much arrogant and easily goaded into pushing himself. All stem from his need for attention. Sparks was a simple case of pride and unhinged aggression. He was ruthless and violent. His pride would also make it so that he wouldn't ever listen to anyone that wasn't Lucas. It showed whenever they ran team based drills. He never listened to his comrades and took the lead any chance he got.

She could see the struggle that Lucas dealt with on a daily basis. That one week she spent with them really showed their group dynamic. It was difficult to see how Lucas would become a trainer with a team as unruly and uncoordinated as his current one, but deep down she knew he had it in him. He truly did care for each of them and he was making an effort.

The gym grew quiet. All of the other gym trainers and spectators looked on with anticipation.

Lucas gave a hate filled stare towards the disapproving woman. His team was equally upset. None more so than the electric type.

"Forget what she says! She'll fear our power soon enough!"

"I agree with the fleabag. Let's show her how we do things."

Lucas looked down at his team and nodded. "Hey Gardenia! How's about a proposition?"

"I'm listening…"

"We battle. If I win you have to give me my badge proving that I am an actual trainer."

She sighed. "Okay. What happens when you lose?"

"...I give up on being a trainer. I'll quit battling and head back home."

"All this for what? To prove a point?! I'm not giving you the badge kid!" She yelled.

"What's that problem? If I'm such a lousy trainer than you should have no reason to worry. This'll be my last battle." Lucas said back.

"I'm trying to help you little boy. Just go home."

He shook his head. "Not until you battle me."

She glared and pulled out two pokeballs. She tossed them up and sent out both her Roserade and her Grotle.

"Fine! Since you insist on being such a pest. Two of my best against two of your choosing. This'll be a double battle. That alright with you?"

"Of course it is!" He lied. He never had a double battle before and to top it all off, his team was NOT built for a two on two legitimate match.

"Double battle...That seems very annoying." Sparks said, unamused.

Lucas looked at his team of three. Water, grass and electric. Not a good matchup against a grass type specialist. Buizel wasn't a choice at all for this battle. He wouldn't do much of anything against her two. Sparks could hang in the but would really have to push himself and Turtwig was just a smaller version of her Grotle.

"Darn…" He muttered against his own wishes. He was starting to fell a bit discouraged at the circumstances before him.

"Well kid? What's it gonna be?"

"...Turtwig...Sparks...Let's show her what we're made of!"

"No problem." Sparks said.

"…" Turtwig stared at both grass types and shook a bit. He lost his confidence yet again.

"What's the deal?"

"N...Nothing!"

Lucas saw this and knew exactly what was wrong. He knelt down a placed a hand on Turtwig's back.

"Relax. Don't let them get to you. Remember your training and you'll be just fine. I got faith in you. Both of you! Get out there and win this."

"Okay. I can do this!"

Lucas stood back up and let his two pokemon move forward to the grassy arena.

Lucas felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and faced Dawn. "What's wrong?"

"Are you sure about this? Giving up being a trainer is a little extreme."

"...I know." He looked at his allies. Both seemed all ready to go. "They can win this if they try. I know they can."

"Well good luck out there. I'll be in the stands watching."

"Sounds good. I'll meet up with you when this is all over with."

They parted ways and Lucas got serious once again. Buizel stood by his side, nibbling on a soft pretzel.

"Where did you get that?!'

"I uh...Well you see...OH LOOK! THE BATTLE IS STARTING!"

The referee lifted his right hand. "This will be a two on two double battle between the Eterna City gym leader Gardenia and the challenger Lucas. Limited items are accessible but switching is strictly prohibited."

Gardenia flung her hand out. "Roserade! Grass Knot on the Luxio! Grotle! Sunny Day!"

Sparks' back leg was wrapped up by a tight, long blade of thick grass. He snarled as he tried to tug himself free.

"What is this?!"

A bright ray of sunlight shined brightly across the gym's arena. Turtwig gained his bearings and stared down both of his opponents.

"Turtwig! Hit them with Razor Leaf!"

He swung his head, launching a stream of sharp leaves at both Roserade and Grotle. Neither seemed too affected by the attack.

Grotle gave the Turtwig a dissatisfied look. "Just give up now before you get hurt little guy. I really don't wanna fight you."

"I can't do that! I'm...I'm Lucas' first pokemon! I have to prove to him and everyone else that I'm worthy of that title!"

Roserade snorted at his statement. "Honestly it's quite adorable to see such a little tough guy. He's just like how you were Grotle."

He groaned and got himself in position for his next attack. "Enough talk!" The bushes on his back glowed brightly.

"That looks familiar…"

"DON'T JUST STAND THERE GAWKING YOU IDIOT!" Sparks shouted.

"Grotle use Solar Beam!"

Turtwig saw the magnificent ray of sunlight shoot forward towards him. His eyes opened wide as it quickly approached.

"MOVE TURTWIG!" Lucas shouted.

"...Huh?!" He lunged out of the way and just barely avoided the blast. "Woah! That was too close!"

Sparks had finally managed to cut himself free from the grass on his leg and let out a roar of anger.

He stared at the Roserade with his wild eyes. His claws were fully brandished and the saliva dripped down from his sharp fangs.

"Tying me up will do you no good, grass type!"

She lifted a rose covered hand to her face and laughed. "Ah, so you have a temper. Do be careful. Scowling can really ruin the beauty of one's face."

"I only see beauty in the death of my enemies!"

"Then shall we dance?"

Sparks let loose a blast of electricity before Lucas could even say anything. The Roserade twirled around, avoiding the bolt of lightning.

"Easy Sparks! Calm down before you start going overboard."

"I can handle myself Lucas! Focus on Turtwig!" Sparks yelled as he was hit with a Poison Sting.

Lucas looked at his starter and saw him dodging blast after blast. He could see the growing exhaustion on his face.

"Turtwig, counter with an Energy Ball!"

"That Turtwig knows Energy Ball already?!" Gardenia asked.

Turtwig skidded to a halt and opened his mouth. A bright green sphere form and grew with each passing second.

Grotle fired off another Solar Beam and for it to be intercepted by the Energy Ball, causing a short ranged explosion in between them.

"Not bad...It took me evolving to get that attack down. You learned it as a mere Turtwig?!" Grotle asked.

"Y...Yeah...I still can't fire it at full power yet. The highest I can go is about thirty percent. Any highet and I start getting weaker."

"THIRTY PERCENT?!?! That was enough to cancel out my sun charged Solar Beam!"

"I know. Pretty cool right? I figured it out all last week."

Grotle stomped his front two legs on the ground and glared at the pre evolution of himself. "I will not be out done by a Turtwig! You shouldn't be able to have learned that move in only a simple week!"

Gardenia looked at her Grotle with worry. She had never seen him get so worked up. She could tell he was losing his cool.

"You'll be fine Grotle! Just stay focused! Don't worry about the simple things! Think about the battle!" She said.

"...Yes. I should be more level headed. Thank you Gardenia."

Turtwig noticed his sudden and brief tantrum and grinned. He had a plan and was ready to execute.

"Boy, it must really suck knowing that a small fry like me is even better than a big guy like you. How long did it take YOU to learn that move?"

Grotle's left eye twitched. "I know what you're doing runt. I won't succumb to rage."

"I bet you're jealous of everyone around you. I mean, you're only number two right?" Turtwig taunted.

"Be silent!" Grotle tried to ram Turtwig but the smaller pokemon was able to easily slip away.

Oh boohoo! I evolved but my trainer still doesn't care about me!"

"I SAID SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Grotle tried to attack him again but ended up missing for a second time.

"I'm Grotle and I'm a big fat chump that couldn't finish of a Skuntank!"

Grotle was starting to see red. "STOP IT! STOP RUNNING FROM ME!"

"What's the matter?! Evolution made you all big and slow?!" Turtwig laughed.

Grotle stood there with a dark look on his face. He was panting heavily and was failing to suppress his anger.

Lucas saw what was happening and understood it. Buizel too understood and only folded his arms.

"Lil' Green should stop mocking that guy. Who knows what'll happen if he completely snaps?"

"I trust his judgment. I just hope I don't regret it." Lucas looked back at Sparks and saw him stumbling around. "SPARKS!"

"You...Won't...defeat me!" He huffed.

"My, you're a stubborn one. Most pokemon would be poisoned right about now. You're still up and kicking."

"Stupid little drops of poison won't bring me down!"

"I can see that. I guess I'll have to try something new." She laughed again. Gardenia looked at her Roserade and nodded.

Sparks was shocked to see a puff of yellow spores surrounding him.

"What? What is this?!"

"Sorry dear, but you won't be moving so well now. That's my Stun Spore. Inflicts paralysis on whomever I use it on."

As her words indicated, Sparks was indeed struggling to move an inch. "Your kidding."

"Paralyzed! Darn it!" Lucas shouted.

"Now Sparks doesn't have his speed advantage." Buizel muttered.

Turtwig saw his partner stuck in place and ran over to help him. He was quickly blocked off by an enraged Grotle.

"Outta my way!"

"..." The Grotle trucked him away and charged up another Solar Beam. This one was avoided but that only opened Turtwig up for a heavy slam.

"Okay! I take back what I said!"

"Little too late runt!" He placed a foot on top of Turtwig and opened his mouth. A wide green ball formed and he aimed it at Turtwig.

With quick thinking, Turtwig shot forth a miniature Energy Ball at the still forming one in Grotle's mouth and caused it to detonate early.

"Grotle!" Gardenia shouted.

"Turtwig!" Lucas yelled.

Sparks and Roserade looked at their partners with concern as they flew back from each other.

"Tch...That reckless...moron!" Sparks grunted.

"That was quite a gamble. Very risky indeed."

Lucas looked for his starter only to find him grounded and badly injured. Grotle was far across from him in a similar state a good portion of his face had darkened with burn marks.

Sparks made an effort to go and check on his teammate. He pushed through the paralysis and stood before the damaged Turtwig.

"That was pretty freaking stupid."

Turtwig chuckled in between pained grunts. "Maybe...But it was still pretty awesome!"

"Can you stand?"

"Of course I can! I refuse to be knocked out before you are." Turtwig stood on slightly shaky legs. "I'm not out of the fight yet!"

"You're pretty banged up. It'd be wise if you let me finish this."

"Nice try ya big jerk! You're not taking anymore battles from me. Besides, you're not looking too hot either. You okay?"

Sparks huffed. "I'm not your concern right now. That bigger version of you is getting back up. You better prepare yourself. He looks pretty pissed off."

"That's the thing. He gets reckless when he's mad. I just gotta keep taunting him until he's all tired out. I'm WAY faster than he is."

The Luxio grew a smirk on his face. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you picked up on one of my tactics. Bait and evade."

Turtwig rolled his eyes. "Don't flatter yourself furball. It's just a coincidence that I'm faster so I'm taking advantage of it. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Whatever you say loser." They both looked at their respective opponents.

"Just hang in there. I'll back you up when I'm done with the big baby." Turtwig ran off and tackled Grotle leaving a glaring Sparks behind.

"I don't need your help you idiot."

Lucas grinned. "This is the closest I've seen those two working as equals. It's still not all the way there but it's a good start."

Buizel gave a bored looked."Pssh, I give them a day until they go back to killing each other."

"That paralysis is a problem. I wish I had a way to cure Sparks."

"...I think I can help."

Lucas raised a brow. "How so?"

"Easy. All he needs is one of these." Buizel held up a red berry and grinned.

"A Cheri berry? Where did you find one of those?"

"Duh! I got it in the forest! Now to make Sparks eat it." He reeled his flipper like arm back and flung the red berry over towards Sparks. "Hey Sparky! Chew on that!"

"...What the heck is this?"

"EAT IT! IT'LL CURE THE PARALYSIS!"

"...No!" Sparks snarled as he stomped on the berry.

A vein bulged from the side of Buizel's head. "WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!?!"

"I don't need your handouts. Stay out of this water type."

Lucas could see Buizel's face go red. "INCONSIDERATE JERK!"

From the battlefield, Sparks was visibly smirking at the challenge. He knew that he could win. He had learned a couple of new tricks while training in the forest. He already got a good grasp on the abilities of his opponents. He knew what he had to do.

"Is there something amusing that I should know about?" Roserade asked.

"Just imagining the look on your face when I really start to go all out."

"Such bolstering pride. The situation that you're in makes it all the more confusing to me. You know that you can't win in your condition. Just look at you."

Sparks stood up straight and eyed his target. "Don't be so sure." Electricity danced around his body, giving off a threatening appearance. "Don't worry. I won't kill you. I'll just hurt you really bad."

"Whatever you say."

"UNBELIEVABLE! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE CRUSHED MY BERRY LIKE THAT!"

"Relax Buizel. He's confident about this so we should be too."

Buizel scoffed. "Pssh! I still think he's a jerk!"

The boy adjusted his hat and gave a deep look towards his electric type. "What are you thinking about Sparks?"

"Roserade! Use Magical Leave!" Gardenia shouted.

She thrusted her two rose hands in front of her and shot off a stream of glowing leaves straight towards Sparks.

"Sparks evade and use Thunder Fang!"

His muscles contracted as his body fought with the paralysis. He pushed himself away from the leaves and ran towards the Roserade. Static spewed from his mouth as he got in close. Before he could go through with his attack, a burst of leaves hit him from behind.

"But how?! I avoided them!"

Roserade giggled at his frustration. "That was a trick I learned a while back. Those leaves are a little bit harder to dodge than most."

"Now I know. You won't hit me with that pitiful attack a second time."

She aimed the roses at him again. "Wanna bet?"

He charged the electricity in his mouth once more and dashed around her with half his normal speed. "I'll just keep moving then!"

The swarm of leaves made an attempt to hit him from behind. Their aggressive tracking made Sparks more cautious as they flew at him.

"You can't keep this up! You'll tire out eventually!"

"Just shut up and watch!"

His paws scraped against the ground as he came to a complete stop. A thunderous boom erupted when he pushed himself forward.

"W-what are you doing?!"

He jumped right above her only to land directly behind. "Giving you a taste of your own attack."

Gardenia's eyes widened as the large crowd of leave flew at her pokemon. "ROSERADE!"

"Well shoot…" The leaves rapidly slashed against her body. She dropped down to her knees, panting heavily.

Sparks stood before her and snarled. He let his fangs show with pride and dominance. "This is over."

"How are you still so fast?! I paralyzed you! You shouldn't even be able to move a muscle!" Roserade yelled.

"You don't get it. I have much more to fight for than you could ever know. I could never lose to an eccentric blow hard that battles for some snarky girl scout. My trainer believes in my power! You have no idea what we've been through together."

"What kind of training did you do to get so fast?!"

Sparks smirked. "I ran through all of the Eterna Forest with a large rock tied behind me. Lucas helped me build up my speed over the course of that week. As you can see it very much paid off. Your stun spore couldn't even keep me down."

"Hmph…If you think that this'll stop me from fighting then you're-"

~CRUNCH~

Sparks sank his electrified teeth into Roserade's arm and zapped her until she was unconscious, forcing her trainer to recall her.

"Weak…" He turned his head and saw Turtwig engaging in a power struggle with the enraged Grotle. Their skulls were pushed up against each other. Turtwig pushing roughly against Grotle but to no real effect.

"Turtwig! Get some space already! You've got help!" Lucas yelled.

Turtwig grunted with opposition. "N...No way! I will beat him...on my own!"

Sparks stood near Lucas and nodded with approval. "As he should. This is his fight. If he wants to do it alone then I have no need to interfere."

This caught Lucas and Buizel off guard. "Did you just believe in Turtwig?!"

Sparks looked away and hissed. "Of course not! I'm just saying that it's his fight!"

"I think it adorable." Buizel rubbed the top of Sparks' head which led to a sickening shock that dropped him yo the floor.

Back on the battlefield was Turtwig who was standing his ground against the larger foe before him.

"Y...You're not beating me…"

Grotle gave him a hostile look. "You talk a lot more than you should."

"...I'm not afraid of you. I know that I'll become stronger. I have too many rivals in my life to just fall short."

"You aren't even in your second form yet. You honestly think that you're going to win this match?"

The smaller grass type let out a chuckle. "Either way you're done for. My partner beat yours so even IF you win, you still have to fight against him and I'll be honest...He's stronger than I am."

"Is that a fact?"

"Yeah...He is...I hate to admit it but as of right now he's stronger. He's the main pokemon that I wanna surpass. Once I do that I'll be ready to rematch him. Only because his strength pushes me to better myself. Not that I'd tell him that to his face."

Grotle seemed to calm down a bit more. He looked at the little Turtwig and acknowledged him more so than before.

"You are a very strange grass type. A hot headed and arrogant Turtwig isn't common."

"I guess that my teammates are starting to rub off on me." A bright green aura surrounded him.

Gardenia clenched her fists. "This is ridiculous! Grotle hurry up and finish this! Use your Solar Beam!"

Grotle unleashed a massive wave of sunlight that collided with Turtwig head on.

"WHY DIDN'T HE DODGE?!" Sparks shouted with mild fear in his voice.

The gym rattled from the sheer power of the Solar Beam. All of the spectators looked on with excitement as they cheered for their gym leader.

Lucas closed his eyes before letting out a loud yell. "TURTWIG!"

The middle of the arena was practically destroyed. The surrounding grass had been burnt to a crisp and all that could be seen was Gardenia's tired out pokemon.

"This match is over little boy. Your group put up a good fight but in the end, it didn't even matter.

"...No! I still have one pokemon left! Sparks it's time."

He gave a hate filled stare towards the gym leader and her grass type. "I'll destroy them in an instant!"

"Right. Sparks use-"

"I'M NOT DONE YET!" Shouted an odd yet somewhat familiar voice. A bright green glow was present in the arena.

"That's not right! You were hit!"

When the smoke cleared, everyone could fully see the being that was once Turtwig standing with a determined look in his eyes.

"Turtwig?!" Buizel said, waking up from his unconscious state.

"Not anymore." Everyone watched as he formed a large Energy Ball in his mouth. He aimed it at his weakened opponent and fired it off. As it collided with his target, it forced Gardenia's final pokemon into the wall behind her.

"Grotle!" The gym leader cried. She returned him and sighed. "You did a good job…"

The referee stood there with his jaw hung low. "The...The winner is Lucas and his team."

"What just happened?!" Lucas shouted.

Lucas' grass type looked back at him with an intense expression. "I have ascended. You're not dealing with the average Turtwig any more. For I have evolved into what you all fear most. I AM A SUPER TURTWIG!!!"

"Knock it off grass type!" Sparks snarled.

Lucas kneeled down and patted his now evolved pokemon. "Guess I can't call you Lil' Green anymore, huh? You're a Grotle now!"

"Sure am." His Grotle smirked at Sparks. "Looks like I'm bigger than you now housecat."

"Tch...Size means little in real combat!"

"So are we calling him Grotle now?" Buizel asked.

"Not too sure yet. We'll worry about that later for now, I'd say we've earned ourselves a gym badge."

Gardenia glared at him and thrusted the badge in his hands. "Take your badge and get out!"

"Why are you so butthurt?! I challenged you and proved that I can be a good trainer!"

"You're a far cry away from being a good trainer kid. I still don't think that you have what it takes!"

"Guess I'll just have to keep on going until I show you that I'm serious!" Lucas said.

"We'll see…"

The gang walked out of the gym and waited outside for Dawn. She met up with them with a genuine smile gracing her lips.

"Nice job out there you guys!"

"The human girl noticed my strength. Not unexpected in the slightest."

"Get over yourself. I think that she was too busy staring at our love sick trainer." Turtwig snickered.

Lucas heard this and lightly kicked him. "Thanks for being there. I'm sure you helped motivate them."

"Not as much as she motivates you."

This time Lucas outright buried his foot into his Grotle. "So uh...Where you headed too?"

She thought for a moment before shrugging. "My mom said she was going to Hearthome City to judge in a contest so I guess it wouldn't hurt to go there next. It's also on the way to Veilstone City."

"Hearthome...Does that place have a gym?"

"They do. The leader is Fantina. I think she specializes in ghost types."

"Ghost types. That'll be a new one."

"I heard she was pretty tough. You might wanna start planning for this one."

"I guess so. Might as well start with healing up my team."