As Firenze had said the previous day, She, Nils and Ren arrived in Vermilion City that morning.
"Ok," said Nils, "Time to win my fourth badge."
"Um Nils," said Firenze, "I think you're starting to get overconfident."
"What makes you think that Firenze," asked Nils.
"Because you are acting like overconfident challengers that I had at my Gym," answered Firenze, "All of whom I defeated."
"But I managed to defeat three Gym Leaders already," responded Nils, "I'm sure this one won't be that hard."
"But didn't you abandon the idea of challenging the Pewter Gym Leader because he was too strong," asked Ren.
"I was a beginner back then," said Nils, "I am way more experienced now."
"If you say so," said Firenze. And the trio continued their way to the Gym
At the Gym, Nils, Ren and Firenze entered the building and was greeted by a young woman with long blonde hair and was wearing pants and a shirt that were as black as a thunder cloud.
"Are you the Gym Leader," asked Nils.
"I am," said the woman, "My name is Thalia, and you are?"
"I'm Nils," introduced Nils, "And I challenge you to a battle."
"Very well," said Thalia, "Let's head to the battlefield and begin."
The trio and Thalia then went to the battlefield. Once there, Firenze and Ren went to the stand to watch while Nils and Thalia each went to a different side of the field.
"The battle between Thalia, the Gym Leader, and Nils, the Challenger, will now begin," said a young boy who was the referee, "Each trainer will use three Pokemon each and the winner will be decided if all of the other trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle." "Furthermore, only the Challenger can substitute Pokemon." "Now begin."
"Go Electrike," said Thalia who sent out an Electrike.
"Go Spoink," said Nils as he sent out Spoink. "Use Psybeam," and Spoink managed to hit Electrike with the selected attack.
"Not bad," said Thalia, "But try this, use Thunder Wave," and Electrike paralyzed Spoink with the move of choice."
"Use Power Gem," said Nils but Spoink couldn't attack because he was paralyzed.
"Use Charge Beam," said Thalia and Electrike hit Spoink with the chosen move.
"Try Zen Headbutt," said Nils and this time, Spoink was able to attack and inflict damage on Electrike.
"Charge Beam again," said Thalia and Electrike prepared a second Charge Beam.
"Stop it with Psybeam," and Spoink tried to use Psybeam to stop Charge Beam but Electrike's attack was so powerful, it went right through Spoink's attack and inflicted damage on Spoink.
"How come that Charge Beam was so powerful," asked Ren.
"Because Charge Beam raises Special Attack," answered Firenze, "So the first Charge Beam powered up the second one."
"Use Discharge," said Thalia and Electrike used Discharge, which was very powerful due to the two Charge Beams, and knocked out Spoink.
"Spoink is unable to battle," said the referee, "Electrike wins."
"Return Spoink," said Nils as he returned Spoink, "You did what you could now take a good rest." "Go Machoke," and Nils sent out Machoke with an idea in mind. "Use Karate Chop," and Machoke used the attack of choice which missed Electrike.
"Thunder Wave," said Thalia and Machoke became paralyzed just like Spoink. "Now Charge Beam," and Electrike use the move of choice which went for Machoke.
"Revenge Machoke," said Nils and Machoke gave Electrike lots of damage by using Revenge right after getting hit by the Charge Beam.
"Now use Discharge," said Thalia and Electrike use the attack of choice which knocked out Machoke.
"Machoke is unable to battle," said the referee, "Electrike wins."
"This is bad," said Ren while Nils returned Machoke.
"I had a feeling this would happen," said Firenze, "I tried to warn him about his overconfidence."
"Go Ivysaur," said Nils who sent out Ivysaur while having a worried look. "Use Sleep Powder," and Ivysaur started to use the move of choice.
"Use Thunder Wave before you go to sleep," said Thalia and Ivysaur became paralyzed while Electrike fell asleep at the same time.
"Try to use Razor Leaf as many times as you can," said Nils and Ivysaur managed to attack half of the time because she was paralyzed.
After a short while, Electrike woke up but had taken a lot of damage from all of the successful Razor Leaves.
"Use Discharge Electrike," said Thalia and Electrike began to use the chosen attack.
"Use Sludge Bomb," said Nils and Ivysaur managed to hit Electrike with Sludge Bomb while getting hit by Discharge.
After getting hit by Sludge Bomb, Electrike was knocked out.
"Electrike is unable to battle," said the referee, "Ivysaur wins.
"You were amazing Electrike," said Thalia, "Take a good rest." "Go Flaaffy," and a Flaaffy appeared on the battlefield.
"Use Sleep Powder," said Nils but Ivysaur couldn't do it because she was still paralyzed.
"Use Electro Ball." said Thalia and Flaaffy gave Ivysaur lots of damage with Electro Ball because the paralysis increased the speed difference. "Now Signal Beam," and Flaaffy used the selected attack which knocked out Ivysaur.
"Ivysaur is unable to battle," said the referee, "Flaaffy wins, which means victory belongs to Thalia, the Gym Leader."
Nils then returned ivysaur and tried to prevent himself from crying.
"Well that was fun," said Thalia, "I hope you come again soon,"
After the loss, Nils, Ren and Firenze went to the Pokemon Center to get Nils' Pokemon healed.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you Firenze," apologized Nils.
"It's ok," said Firenze, "A lot of trainers get overconfident." "However, Thalia was really strong, how are you gonna beat her?"
"Did you say you challenged Thalia and lost," asked Nurse Joy who went by to tell them Nils' Pokemon were healed.
"Yeah," answered Nils, 'What can you tell me about her?"
"Well," said Nurse Joy, "Eight years ago Thalia, a trainer who loved Electric Types more than any other type, came here in Vermilion City hoping to become an apprentice to Lt. Surge who was this city's last Gym Leader." "Lt. Surge saw potential in Thalia and made her his apprentice." "After two years of training, Surge believed it was time to retire and pass the title of Gym Leader to Thalia." "However, Surge wanted to test his apprentice to see if she was strong enough and so, the two of them had a battle." "Thalia won the battle so easily, it was as if she was a member of the Elite Four and Surge was a rookie." "With Thalia having passed her test, she became the new Gym Leader and Lt. Surge retired."
"Well that explains why she's so strong," said Nils, "But how am I supposed to defeat her?"
Just then, the Egg Nils had obtained from the Unova Festival began to glow which meant it was hatching. The Egg eventually stopped hatching and the Pokemon turned out to be a Blitzle.
"I got an Idea," said Nurse Joy, "Why don't you use your newly hatched Blitzle?"
"Blitzle," said Nils who understood the idea, "I know you just hatched but are you willing to have a tough battle with me?"
"Blitzle," said Blitzle in a way everyone knew meant yes and Nils smiled.
Ok then," said Nils to Blitzle, "Let's start training you so you'll be ready for my Gym Battle Rematch."
And with that, Blitzle started his training.
