I'm sorry this chapter took so long. A friend of mine named SwiftShiftGear had to have his computer repaired and couldn't send me this chapter. Now that the chapter is sent and I fixed some mistakes I can post it.

XXX

The referee stepped forward and shouted, "This battle is between Gym Leader Lenora and the challenger, Pokémon Trainer Patrick. The challenger is welcome to use as many Pokémon as he likes and switch freely between them at will. Now, are both competitors ready?"

Lenora nodded with a smirk and Patrick simply pulled out a Poké ball.

"Very well, then let the battle begin!"

"Alright, Lily, let's get this battle goin'!"

Lenora tossed her first Pokeball out with a shout of "Let's go, Take Down!" Before the red light had completely faded, Lenora's Herdier dashed forward, making a beeline for Patrick's Lilipup.

"Shit, Lily, lookout!" The Lilypup tried frantically to scramble out of the way but the Herdier rammed into the puppy Pokémon like a freight train, sending it flying back into a wall with a pained yelp. "Are you okay?!"

Lily slowly pushed herself back to her feet with a grunt. She snapped out a bark and snarled ferociously like a Mightyena as she made her way back to the arena. Lenora's Herdier bared its teeth and growled, its eyes glinting dangerously. Lily's bravado faded just a little, but she narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hmph, your Lilypup's pretty tough. Not many Pokémon have taken that opening hit as well as yours has. Still," Lenora smirked. "I doubt it can take another one. Herdier, Take Down, again!"

With a snarl, Herdier dashed forward again.

"Lily, dodge!" The tiny dog didn't move, instead choosing to glare at the approaching Herdier as it bared down on her. "Lily, what are you doing?! Get out of there!" She didn't even move a muscle. And, just as the larger Pokémon was nearly upon her, she spread her paws, bracing herself, before she cast her jaws open and released a mighty howling sound.

"Whoa," Patrick murmured. "What's that?"

Lenora's Herdier stopped on a dime, flinched back, and was engulfed in the familiar red light of a Pokeball and was sent back to its trainer, only to be replaced by a tall, brown rodent Pokemon. Lenora's second Pokemon blinked, thoroughly surprised. It looked back at the gym leader with a questioning, "…'Hog?"

Unfortunately, it did not have much time to get its bearings before Lily slammed into the lookout Pokémon with a mighty Headbutt; a critical hit! The Watchog was knocked off its feet, laid flat on its back.

Patrick blinked confused. "Lily… What was that?" The puppy Pokémon looked back, giving him a confident yip in response. Lenora chuckled.

"It looks like your Pokémon is a better tactician than you, kid," she said with a grin. "That move is called Roar. It forces your opponent to switch Pokémon." Her Watchog pushed itself to its feet, scowling at Lily. "It's a great way to get the jump on the enemy."

Smiling, the young trainer said. "Well, guess one of us has to plan ahead sometimes. Good job, Lil'! Let's keep the ball rolling! Tackle!"

"Brace yourself, Watchog." The tall rodent Pokémon narrowed its eyes and held its paws out in front of it, as if preparing to catch the tiny dog mid attack.

Lily, with all the speed she could muster, slammed into the Watchog full force. Lenora's Pokémon gave a pained grunt of effort, but remained on its feet, holding Lily in place.

"Now, Watchog, use Hypnosis!"

"Shit, Lily get outta there!"

"Hold it down, don't let it escape!"

"Lily use Roar, quick!"

Lily struggled to get away, squirming and tugging to get away, but Watchog held her firm. Holding her head, the rodent forced the dog to look at its eyes. It glared into Lily's eyes, the red rings of its sclera seemed to glow and pulse. The Lilipup opened her mouth and released a loud, powerful howl. The Watchog was eveloped in the red light of its Pokéball and was sent back to Lenora, to be replaced once again by her Herdier. It barked and snarled, activating its Intimidate. Lily's eyes drooped and she swayed on her paws.

Lily is getting drowsy!

Lily fell asleep!

Patrick swore under his breath. "Lily, no! You gotta wake up!" Lily released a tiny snore in response and flicked her tongue out in her sleep. "Damn, Lily, c'mon!"

"Herdier, this seems like the perfect time to set up!" Lenora said with a grin. "Use Work Up."

The gym leader's Herdier began to growl and huff, releasing a slight red glow that faded after just a few seconds. It looked noticeably more powerful.

"Lily, wake up, please!"

"Again, Herdier."

Lily showed no signs of regaining consciousness as Herdier's attack raised a second stage. This time the evolved Pokémon released a loud battle howl.

"Once more, Herdier, then use Take Down!"

"Lily, you have to wake up right now!"

That seemed to do it. Lily's eyes snapped open and she shoved herself to her feet, growling. The glow faded from Herdier a third time and it charged like a truck at the smaller dog Pokémon.

"Quick, dodge!"

Lily leaped straight up into the air over Herdier. As the larger dog Pokémon passed beneath her, the Lilypup slammed straight down on its back, knocking it to the floor.

"Great job, now put some distance between it, quick!"

"Not so fast; Herdier, catch it with Bite!" With a pained snarl, Herdier whipped around with glowing fangs snapping at Lily's turned back. Lily just barely managed to avoid being caught by her tail as she surged away. Herdier stumbled in his haste to pursue.
Lenora and her Herdier both narrowed their eyes in annoyance.

"Slippery little…" The gym leader grumbled. "Herdier, try Take Down again. Full tilt!"
With a furious snarl, Herdier surged forward after the Lilipup, catching up to her within seconds.

"Three 0'clock, now!" Lily made a sudden hard right, causing Herdier to beeline right past her.

"Don't let up, Herdier! Don't give it a chance to rest!"

This continued on for several more minutes, Herdier charging, and Lily just barely managing to dodge until, finally, Lily was a little too slow to dodge and the gym leader's slammed into her sending her flying. Lily yelped and was sent tumbling head over heels before she landed with a thump, swirls dancing in her eyes.

"Challenger Patrick's Lily is unable to battle. Please choose your next Pokémon."

"Not bad, kid," Lenora said with an amused smirk tugging at her lips. "You've already done better than most of the other challengers. Her Herdier was panting heavily, but still continued to glare Patrick down, despite how, tired it seemed.

"Thanks, but this battle's not over yet." He tossed a Pokéball high into the air, with a shout of, "Force palm, on the double!"

Lenora swore. "Quick, dodge!"

Herdier was too exhausted and too slow to move. The Pokéball spat Meinfoo out, paw already glowing with the fighting-type attack. He arced down from the sky slamming his paw right down on the Herdier his head, slamming it down, face first, and was promptly knocked out.

"Gym Leader Lenora's Herdier is unable to battle. Please choose your next Pokémon."

"That was a dirty trick," she grumbled.

Patrick blinked innocently. "What? You mean that thing you did to me last round?"

Lenora narrowed her eyes but decided not to push it further, tossing out a Pokéball instead.
"Go, Watchog!" The lookout Pokémon appeared again in a burst of red light. It wasn't at full strength but still held its head up high.

"Let's start things up with Meditate, Meinfoo," Patrick said. The fighting weasel gave an affirmative cry, glowing with energy.

"Two can play that game. Watchog, Work up!" It stomped and snarled, releasing a huff and a burst of red light.

"Agility into Force Palm!"

"Dodge, Watchog!"

Patrick frowned, "We're gonna do this song and dance are we?" Lenora smirked. "Fine then. Let's dance!"