CHAPTER 26: CYLLAGE GYM: VS GRANT!

The next day, Calem and Serena decided that they would go battle Grant.

Calem and Serena got dressed for the battle and both of them used the PC to deposit Pokemon. Then they started to make their way to Grant's Gym. When they were outside, they saw a girl their age. She had dark skin and was wearing a black shirt and yellow shorts. She looked rather happy.

"Hey!" she said. "You going to challenge my brother?"

"Your brother?" asked Calem.

"My name's Julie," said the girl, "and Grant is my big brother."

"Yes," said Serena. "We are going to challenge Grant."

"Good luck with it!" said Julie. "By the way, he's a Rock-type enthusiast. You might want to use Water or Grass moves on his Pokemon."

"Sure," said Calem.

Calem and Serena walked up the zigzagging road to the cave that held Grant's Gym. When Calem and Serena went inside of it, they saw a large rock climbing tower with a waterfall in the background. Grant was at the top of the tower.

"How do we get up it?" asked Calem.

"You climb the knobs on the wall," said Serena, "and you get to the top of them. Just be careful that you don't fall down."

Calem looked really nervous about it, but he gave in to it, and he and Serena started climbing the walls.

"This is really scary," said Calem.

"You're doing great," said Serena. "Just don't look down."

Calem and Serena climbed higher and higher up the wall. Calem was feeling nervous, but Serena told him to follow her.

Eventually, Calem and Serena reached the top of the tower. They saw Grant standing in the center. Calem and Serena walked up to him.

"What's up?" said Grant. "You here to challenge me?"

"Yes," said Serena. "That's what we're here for!"

"I've been waiting for a worthy challenger to appear!" said Grant. "It's quite an achievement that you two came up here! And I hope your skills as Trainers surpass even mine. Now, which one of you wants to challenge me first?"

"I will," said Serena.

"Okay," said Grant. "Let the games begin!"

Grant sent out a Roggenrola. Serena sent out Chipper.

"Chipper, use Needle Arm!" said Serena. Chipper stuck out its arm and launched sharp needles into Roggenrola. This left it with one hit point due to Roggenrola's Sturdy ability.

"Roggenrola, use Mud-Slap!" said Grant. Roggenrola fired mud at Chipper.

Grant then used a Super Potion on Roggenrola.

"Chipper, use Needle Arm!" said Serena. And with that, Roggenrola fainted.

Grant then sent out Amaura.

"Chipper, use Vine Whip!" said Serena. Chipper attacked Amaura with vines.

"Amaura, use Aurora Beam!" said Grant. Amaura fired a rainbow-colored beam at Chipper. The attack was so effective that it made Chipper faint.

"Uh-oh..." said Serena. Serena then sent out Lucien.

"Lucien, use Water Pulse!" said Serena. Lucien fired water at Amaura. The dinosaur Pokemon fainted.

"Now it's my turn to shine!" said Grant. "Go, Tyrunt!"

Grant sent out Tyrunt.

"Lucien, use Water Pulse!" said Serena. This attack damaged Tyrunt normally due to Tyrunt's Dragon type.

"Tyrunt, use Charm!" said Grant. Tyrunt gazed cutely at Lucien and lowered his attack.

"Lucien, use Water Pulse!" said Serena. The attack damaged Tyrunt, but did not faint it.

"Tyrunt, use Rock Tomb!" said Grant. Tyrunt trapped Lucien in falling stones, lowering its speed.

Serena then switched out and sent out Saccharine.

"Tyrunt, use Stealth Rock!" said Grant. Pointy stones were fired, surrounding Saccharine.

"Saccharine, use Fairy Wind!" said Serena. The mystical wind that Saccharine fired made Tyrunt faint.

"Yay!" said Calem.

"Serena," said Grant, "you have proven to be a wall that I am unable to surmount!"

Grant cracked his knuckles.

"There are some things that seem out of reach no matter how hard you try," said Grant. "However, never give up, no matter the opponent or the odds. I'm sure you understand that. And now here I present you with the Cliff Badge." Grant handed Serena a Cliff Badge.

"With the Cliff Badge," continued Grant, "Pokemon up to Level 40 will obey you, even traded ones. And here's another gift." He handed Serena a TM. "That's TM39. It contains Rock Tomb, and it traps the foe in rocks, damages it, and lowers its Speed."

"Thanks," said Serena.

"Now I will go heal my Pokemon," said Grant.

"Can I battle you after that?" said Calem.

"Sure," said Grant. "But we'll do it outside. I'm sure you don't want to climb all the way back up."

"Definitely," said Calem.

"We'll slide down the mud ramp," said Grant.

Calem, Serena, and Grant went down the mud ramp. Then they went out of the Gym. After Grant went to heal his Pokemon, he challenged Calem to a battle. Serena cheered Calem on as he took down Grant's Pokemon - though two of Calem's Pokemon fainted in the progress. But after a close call, a Fairy Wind from Calem's Spritzee managed to faint Grant's Tyrunt.

Afterwards, Calem also got a Cliff Badge.

"You are both impressive," said Grant. "Now that you have conquered my Gym, it's time that you apply your skills to other areas. Think about how you can improve yourself and your Pokemon. When you find the answer, then you'll truly be able to smile!"

Julie came running up to them.

"I see you've defeated my brother," said Julie. "You must be impressive Trainers! Here's a gift." She handed the pair an HM02. "It contains the move Strength. It can help you move boulders."

"Thanks," said Serena.

"They sure are impressive, little sis," said Grant.

"There's still more Gym Leaders out there," said Julie.

"Why don't you head on to Route 10 when you're ready?" said Grant.

"Sure," said Serena.

"But right now we're going back to the hotel," said Calem. "We want to do something."

When Calem and Serena got back to the hotel, they decided to trade. Calem attached the Sachet to Snozzberry, and Serena attached the Whipped Dream to Saccharine. When the two traded Pokemon, both of them consumed their held items and evolved. Once this happened, Calem and Serena traded back. Calem now had an Aromatisse and Serena now had a Slurpuff.

"Now we have our favorite Pokemon," said Serena.

"We'll go to Route 10 tomorrow," said Calem. "Now I want to enjoy my Pokemon."

Grant's team: Roggenrola (level 23), Amaura (level 25), Tyrunt (level 25)

Calem's team: Frogadier "Naveen" (level 30), Pikachu "Volty" (level 29), Fletchinder "Athenais" (level 29), Floette (orange) "Marmalade" (level 30), Gloom "Fiore" (level 29), Aromatisse "Snozzberry" (level 30)

Serena's team: Quilladin "Chipper" (level 31), Pidgeotto "Marco" (level 31), Wartortle "Lucien" (level 30), Floette (blue) "Thumbelina" (level 30), Slurpuff "Saccharine" (level 31), Helioptile "Elizabeth" (level 30)