x-x-x

Episode 51: Poffins on the Sunny Side!

I glanced back only once at the Veilstone Prison as we sped off on Kyle's bike. I wrapped my arms around him as I always do, but without Buneary, I felt a little lonely. It was more fun with a pokemon in tow. Like buneary, and like Pichu back in Kanto.

Kyle kept me company by talking to me along the way. I told him about how I'd fought the gym leader in this city before he had accompanied me, and how I'd lost. I also told him how beautiful the city was, and that he would like it. He agreed that after seeing all the snow we'd been stuck in during our weeks at Mt. Coronet and Snowpoint, he was in need of a city where the sun always shines, and the roads are brightly lit solar panels.

I watched the landscape fly by on the bike as we drove along. Lake Valor loomed in the distance, and now, a bridge to Sunyshore was within sight. But standing up in front of it, was a blockade of construction signs and cones. Kyle pulled to a stop beside it, as a man in a hard hat approached.

"What's going on?" Kyle asked the man, looking down at him from atop his massive bike.

"Sorry. This bridge is closed. It'll be open in, oh I'd say another month or two."

"A month?" Kyle asked shocked.

"Or two?" I repeated.

"Well yeah. We had to totally rebuild it since that explosion at Lake Valor. It's not quite ready yet."

"Is there any other way to Sunyshore?" I asked.

"Oh sure." The man pointed to the ocean. "Most trainers have been surfing over, or you could always fly if you have a flying type."

"I didn't bring Gyarados or Pidgeot." Kyle stated. "I'd have to go back for a PC."

"Staraptor's really not keen on carrying us both, Pal-." I stopped myself. "My water type's still too unpredictable, and Aerodactyl's too far away to call out for."

"There's also a boat." The construction worker pointed to a nearby port. "But it just left, and isn't due back for hours."

Kyle scowled a little. "That's really our only choices?"

"Yep. Sorry." The man wandered off, back to work.

"This stinks." I hung my head. "I was really hoping we could see Sunyshore before nightfall."

A rustling in the nearby forest startled us. Just to the left of the bridge, was thick shrubbery. I gasped a little when I saw the man's figure step through the shadows, and his bright red hair. But I relaxed when I saw his hair arranged in an afro, and he had cool gray eyes.

"Hey! You guys looking for a quick way to Sunyshore?" The red-headed man called out.

"Yes actually." Kyle replied. "You know of a way?"

"Yes!" He answered. "But, it's a rocky path. It will require the use of some pokemon who can handle the terrain. You two are trainers right?"

"Yeah!" I yelled, stepping off Kyle's bike as he packed it up. "We are. And I'm sure we have pokemon skilled enough for any kind of climb."

Now the guy eyed me strangely. "Hey…" He stepped forward. "Have we met before?"

"What?" I stepped back a bit in surprise. "Umm no. I don't think so."

"Oh good grief." Kyle groaned as he snapped the capsule case for his bike shut. "Not another guy who thinks he's your boyfriend."

"It's not like that!" I held my hands in defense as the man walked casually up to us. "I don't know this guy, I swear." Even as I said it though, the afro did seem vaguely familiar.

"Yeah! I remember you. Boy, you sure have grown up since then though. Nice to see you again, Ms. Kanto Semifinalist." He held out his hand in a motion to shake. "I'm Flint. Remember?"

I shook hands with him out of politeness, though I couldn't recall. Then, it hit me. "Oh! You were there the last time I fought Volkner. You left before I battled him. I wouldn't have remembered if it wasn't for the hairstyle though."

"Hey!" He chuckled. "Don't rag on the hair. It's cool." He fluffed it up with his hands as he said this.

"Sure." I laughed. "So, you say you know a way to Sunyshore?"

"Yeah. I use it all the time, but it's kind of a secret, so don't tell." He looked at both of us as he said this. "Just follow me." Flint led us through a trail in the forest, eventually stopping at a rocky cliff side. "Here's the reason most of the general public can't get through this way. You sure you two can handle it?" He turned around, releasing a blazing red Rapidash. "You have to have a good climber of a pokemon."

"Hmph." I huffed. "Sure. Why not?" I let out my blue Rapidash, which made Flint's eye's widen.

"A shiny fire type!" He rushed up to it. "I've never seen one in person. If I'd known you had that, I would have stuck around to watch your battle." He grinned, composing himself. "See, I love fire-type pokemon. I specialize in them."

"Really?" Kyle asked, reaching for the pokeball around his neck. "You'll love this then." He released Arcanine.

"Oh!" Flint now ran up to Arcanine. "He's beautiful. I can tell you take great care of him."

"Arf!" Arcanine nodded in agreement.

"I try." Kyle smiled.

"Kyle likes fire types too!" I pointed out. "He has other types, but fire's his favorite."

"Oh really?" Flint took a good look at us. "I recognize you two now. You're the one's on tv all the time. Kyle and Shonna. The pokemon master and his somewhat good girlfriend?"

I bit my tongue at my demeaning title. "Uh… yeah."

"She's just as good as me." Kyle commented.

I blushed, looking away. "Not really."

"Either way," Flint hopped on his steed. "You two just might be what Volkner needs to get back into battling."

I crossed my arms. "Is that dude still moping about how boring battles are to him?"

"He is." Flint laughed. "He's even talking about quitting his gym. But if he fights a pokemon master, perhaps…"

I hopped on my Rapidash, tired of talking about how whiney Volkner was.

"I'll give it a shot." Kyle spoke up, while hopping on Arcanine. "Show us the way."

"Here's a proposition. How about a race?" Flint held a gleam in his eye.

"A race?" I looked up at the tiny rock ledges we'd have to scale. "Okay!"

"I don't know." Kyle turned to me. "I think you'd better take your time Shonna."

"Have a little faith Kyle. I'll be fine." I grinned. "You count it down Flint."

"Well okay." He smiled as each of us took a position at the base of the cliff. "Three, two, one!" With that, he bounded up the cliff to its very first pedestal. Arcanine sprang up to a small ledge that looked impossibly too small for him to stand on, but somehow he was standing, and he and Flint continued up the outcropping with ease.

"Move it Rapidash!" I screamed, pointing to the nearest ledge. He leaped up to it with ease, and stared back at me for confirmation on where to go next. By this point, Kyle and Flint had already scaled half the cliff. "Shoot. We've got to hurry. No time to stop and think about it." I pointed up to the next ledge, and the next, wildly pointing any direction where I saw a ledge jutting out. I glanced up now from the halfway point to see Flint and Kyle neck and neck at the top of the cliff. One more leap, and the victor would be decided. They glanced over at each other from their ledges, and grinned. They were obviously loving the competition. "There's no beating them now." I mumbled, letting my finger drop. Rapidash looked up to me, then to the small ledge I was now unintentionally pointing to.

"Brr." He looked questionable, but leaped across.

"What? No!" I pulled back on him to try and stop him, but it was too late. He brought his hoofs down onto a tiny and unstable ledge. It crumbled beneath him, making us both plummet. Rapidash somehow flipped over me, and I knew if we landed, I'd be crushed. All I could see was his silver flamed body above me as we fell, so I reached around to grab his pokeball. It would save him from falling, and me a fatal crushing blow. When I recalled him, and the light dissipated, I could see Kyle and Arcanine running down the cliff sideways, extreme speed in use. They looked more like an orange blur as they sped past me, and scooped me up just before impact. Arcanine slid on the dirt, coming to a stop with his claws. I opened my eyes, seeing Kyle holding me tight from atop Arcanine's back.

"Arf! Arf!" Arcanine barked, turning his head to look at me.

"He says you need to be more careful." Kyle said sternly, but with a smile.

I looked up to the top of the cliff, spying Flint and his Rapidash peering over the top.

"You okay down there?" He yelled.

"Yeah!" I yelled back, then lowered my voice. "Sorry for making you lose Kyle."

"It's alright." He brushed back some of my hair with his fingers. "As long as you're safe."

"Sorry about that!" Flint called out. "I guess the race was a bad idea. I didn't know your girlfriend was such a klutz!"

I hung my head in embarrassment.

"Ah well." Flint shrugged. "Take your time coming on up here. We'll call it a draw this time."

"Really?" I asked, feeling satisfied.

"Between me and Kyle!" Flint laughed. "You lost horribly."

Again I hung my head. I didn't even bother lifting it up as Arcanine gracefully leaped up ledges, and even when he reached the top. But I did notice grass below us now, instead of rock.

"Hey Shonna. Look!" Kyle lifted my head up with a finger. "You'll love this."

Before me stood a beautiful spring in the middle of the forest. A cavern sat in the back, and the water was crystal clear blue. Wild Bibarel and Golduck were splashing about, and a chimecho fluttered right by me, startling but amazing me at the same time. "This place is beautiful." I whispered.

"Yep." Flint smiled at the sight, before trotting forward on his Rapidash. "This place is called Sendoff Spring, and it is pretty much untouched by human hands. Another reason I'd like to keep this route a secret.

"You can trust us." Kyle nodded. "We won't mention it to anyone."

"Right." I nodded as well, watching as a chingling zoomed overhead. Arcanine followed slowly behind as we walked a little further. Just past the spring, was an area overlooking Sunyshore City. Sure enough, we were almost there.

"Like I said, the city's right down there." Flint smiled, looking out toward the view.

Sunyshore City was beautiful. Just like the last time I was here, it was covered in sunlight. It reflected on the roads, and the white sands of the nearby beaches. And the light even gleamed on the side of the lighthouse. As compared to my home in Solaceon Town, this place was totally different. There were new sights to take in, new sounds, and… new smells.

"Do you smell that?" I asked, lifting my nose to the air.

Flint glanced over at me strangely. "Don't look at me."

Kyle chuckled, trying to hold in a laugh.

"Not like that!" I yelled. "Something good. And familiar, something smells like poffins."

"Oh yeah." Flint laughed. "They're having a poffin making contest here today. I remember Volkner mentioning something about it."

"That sounds right up your alley Shonna." Kyle hugged me closer to him. "You gonna enter?"

"I don't know…" I blushed. "I'm not all that great."

"Have a little faith." He winked. "I know you could beat them."

"Well, alright then!" I pointed forward toward the city. "Let's get going then!" With that, Arcanine and Rapidash charged forward, heading down the hill, and into the bright city. Arcanine easily sniffed his way straight to the Sunyshore Market, where the contest was being held. I looked up at the balloons that bordered the place, then back down to a portly man who stood at the entrance.

"Welcome! Welcome to the Poffin Contest!" The fat balding man announced. "I'm the foreman, Mr. Poffin himself. Owner and creator of Grandma P.'s Poffins! I'm sure you've heard of me."

I glanced over to a shelf of boxed poffins with the Grandma P.'s recipe. I had always assumed it was the work of an old lady. But now…

Flint looked at them strangely. "I've seen those in pokemarts all over. You made those?"

"Indeed!" Mr. Poffin bragged. "It's my award winning recipe."

Kyle raised an eyebrow at this. "If it's yours, shouldn't you be the mascot, instead of some made up old lady?"

"Well." Mr. Poffin paused. "As hard as it is to believe, my devilish good looks didn't go over well on the boxes, so we changed it over before they were mass produced."

Flint chuckled, sliding off his Rapidash. "Well that makes sense."

"Umm…" I coughed, sliding down Arcanine's back as both men behind me recalled their pokemon. "Is there still time to register, Mr. Poffin?"

"Oh sure." He smirked. "If you feel you're up to the challenge. Right this way Miss."

I followed him to a nearby tent, with Flint and Kyle close behind. Mr. Poffin positioned himself behind a counter, and pushed a clipboard with names on it my way, along with a pen.

"Most of the other contestants have already found their tent with their stoves and poffin pots. You'll be number 12. I'm sure you'll find everything you need there, and feel free to use any of the fresh berries from the market. You can of course, use any other secret ingredients you may have as well." Mr. Poffin continued to explain. "Also, I've added something new this year. You may have one pokemon helper to assist you in making the poffins."

"Really?" I looked up from filling out my form.

"Yes."

"Awesome." I reached into my purse for Lucario's pokeball, holding it close. "I'm going to go get set up then! See you guys later!" With that, I ran off to my station, labeled number 12.

"Silly girl." Kyle smiled. "She doesn't even know what she's competing for."

"Ah yes." Mr. Poffin grinned. "The winner receives a years supply of pokemon food, and a 5000 pokedollar shopping spree at the Sunyshore Market."

"Hmph." He smiled. "Sounds like something she'd like. So who's judging this competition? You?"

"Heavens no." Mr. Poffin stated. "I have a special team of pokemon trained to recognize exquisite culinary skills. Their palates are unmatched."

"That sounds fair." Flint nodded. "We are dealing with pokemon here. It's only fair that they be the ones to judge a snack for pokemon."

Mr. Poffin smiled in agreement. "Of course. In fact, they all find my own recipe to be quite delectable, further proving their skill." He motioned to a board of rather stiff looking pokemon behind him, waiting impatiently.

"Oh really?" Kyle put one hand up to his chin in thought. "Have you ever met a pokemon who didn't like your poffins?"

Mr. Poffin looked shocked at the very thought. "Certainly not!"

"Well, I have a pokemon with me, that to my knowledge, likes no forms of food with the exception of one thing."

Flint eyed Kyle questionably. "That being?"

"Pond scum." Kyle grinned.

"Pond Scum?" Mr. Poffin jumped back a bit by the statement.

"Yep. My Kabutops won't touch a thing other than dirty weeds and grasses from the bottom of lakes and ponds. He's never even tried a poffin, so I don't know how he'd take it."

"Hmm…" Mr. Poffin rushed over to a box of his specialty, pouring out one into his hand. "Well I'm up to the challenge."

Kyle tossed the pokeball off his belt, letting Kabutops out.

"Bu-bu tops!" Kabutops ran up to hug Kyle, slicing a tear into his jeans.

"Watch the arms buddy!" Kyle pushed him back by his shoulders gently.

"Buto." Kabutops pulled one arm behind him, looking a bit embarrassed.

Flint and Mr. Poffin just stared down at him strangely.

"Umm.. here." Mr. Poffin handed him the poffin carefully, dropping it onto one of Kabutop's scythe-like arms.

"Bu buto?"

Kyle smiled at him. "Try it."

"Bu!" He flipped it up into the air, catching it in his mouth. He chewed, and looked contemplative for a moment, before spitting it up all over the ground. "Bu! Bu!"

"Unbelievable!" Mr. Poffin cried. "Obviously this pokemon has no sense of taste."

"Perhaps," Kyle laughed. "But I have a request. May he sit in as a guest judge? Think about it. If any of the contestants are able to make a poffin that pleases him, it should prove that they have real talent."

Mr. Poffin just stared at him and the Kabutops for a moment. "Fine. But don't let him slice up my tent or anything." He watched as Kabutops waddled over to the other pokemon, attempting to give them a hug. "Or the other judges!"

Kyle cracked up watching the judging pokemon scoot far away. "Will do."

"Hey Kyle." Flint whispered. "What are you doing? Trying to score bonus points for Shonna?"

"Nope." Kyle whispered back. "As I said, he's never tried a poffin. Not even Shonna's."

"I don't understand then. Why would you add another judge onto the panel? One that doesn't even like poffins!"

Kyle just smiled and crossed his arms. "I wouldn't do it if I didn't know Shonna wasn't up for the challenge. She may not be much in a cliff race, but no one's better at this poffin stuff than her."

"Pretty confident." Flint crossed his arms now, copying him. "Are you going to be that confident in her when you fight her in the league competition?"

Kyle glanced up with the same smile. "She's a good battler too you know. You'd better look out when you have to battle her."

Flint looked surprised, then relaxed. "Figured me out eh?"

"You specialize in fire types, but you're not a gym leader. You're friends with the strongest one in the region, and also the one who resides closest to the league itself. Even if I hadn't done a little research on the elite four before I came here, it wouldn't have been too hard to figure out."

"You are cunning my friend." Flint smiled a goofy smile. "But wait, by you saying that I'd have to fight her, you're implying that she'll make it to the elite four."

Kyle turned away, still holding a smile. "As I said, she's a good battler."

x-x-x

I worked feverishly on the poffins, stirring and churning away at the batter. I glanced over to Lucario who was ready with the pan beside me.

"Thanks for helping me." I said softly.

"No prob. I know you need it."

"I do. You're my best helper. I'm glad you can be with me." I chuckled. "Help keep my head on straight."

"Don't be so nervous." Lucario put on paw on my shoulder. "You're going to do great mom."

"And now, I have one final ingredient to add." I used one hand to continue stirring, and the other to reach into my purse for the jar of honey I'd received from that scary vespiquen.

Lucario pulled his paw away. "Isn't it a bit risky to be trying out new recipes in the middle of a contest?"

"I know I've never tried it in a poffin, but I think it will work out perfectly. If not, well then my judgment was terrible and you can make me regret for as long as you'd like."

"I wouldn't do that!" He laughed. "But I would say I told you so."

"Then you can do that too." I smiled, pouring in the jar of honey, and stirring it until it was mixed in thoroughly. "Alright." I slowly poured an equal amount into each mold, and let Lucario place it into the oven. "Now comes the waiting game. Ten minutes should be just about time before the judging starts."

"How's it going over there Miss Semifinalist?" I heard Flint call out. Kyle was walking behind him.

"It's about time you guys came over and spoke to me!" I leaned against the counter, watching Kyle come closer. "And I'll have you know, I won't be a semifinalist this time around Flint."

"Is that a fact?" He smiled, glancing over to Kyle. "Well good. You don't want to make your boyfriend's surprise go to waste." He chuckled, but Kyle glared at him, elbowing him hard in the side. "Ouch. I mean, uh… yeah."

"What kind of cover is that?" Kyle groaned.

"Sorry!" Flint whispered. "It just slipped."

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, baffled. "What surprise?"

"Ah! I got it!" Flint grinned. "Kyle managed to get one of his pokemon on the judging panel. That's your surprise!"

"Oh is that all?" I asked, a little disappointed. "Wait that's like cheating! All of your pokemon that have tried my poffins love them."

"Trust me." Kyle winked. "This one hasn't. But don't worry. You'll do great."

Flint laughed nervously. "Yeah so, the judging's going to start soon. We'll be waiting on you there." He and Kyle hustled back to the entrance, with Kyle still glaring, and Flint still looking apologetic.

"Why do I get the feeling there's something I don't know?" I turned to Lucario. "Hey! Did you happen to invade Kyle's mind back there and find out what that was about? Or maybe Flint's?

"I can't get inside a total stranger's head! Sometimes I'm able to see pieces of Kyle's, just because we've been traveling with him so long, but nothing then. Sorry."

"It's okay." I sighed. "But I hate surprises." I held up Lucario's pokeball to recall him, and peered into the oven. "Wish me luck."

x-x-x

I watched in horror as the previous contestants got bashed by the panel of pokemon judges. And Kyle's Kabutops wouldn't have anything to do with them. After the 7th one, he acted like he didn't even want to put anymore into his mouth, but he pressed on. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why Kyle would insist on putting his picky eater of a pokemon onto the judge's table. Was he trying to make me lose?

I felt very nervous when the tenth contestant rolled around, and so far only one girl had made anything that would even get a satisfied nod out of the judging pokemon.

I gulped as the last plate of pink poffins made their way to the stage. They were mine. And all the pokemon took one and munched away at it. The original four pokemon judges eyes all widened suddenly, and I prayed it wasn't in disgust. Two of them jumped up and down in delight, and the other two smiled, trying not to show that they were secretly looking for more crumbs.

Then, there was Kabutops. He sat there chewing and looking stoic for a solid minute, when suddenly, he lifted his sharp metal arms up to the air.

"Bu-butop!" He gulped down his poffin, with a wide grin on his face.

My eyes widened as I saw Mr. Poffin stare at him stunned. Kabutops approached me, as if he were going to run up and hug me for the treat, but in the corner of my eye, I saw Kyle hold up his pokeball and recall him.

"Guess that settles that." Mr. Poffin eyebrows raised as the pokemon cheered in an uproar for more. "We have a winner folks! Ms…" He then checked his clipboard with the contestant roster. "Ms. Dotson is the winner of this year's supply of pokekibble, and the 5000 pokedollar shopping spree at our local market."

I was sure my eyes lit up then. "That's what I won?"

Mr. Poffin smiled from the stage. "Why don't you come up here?" He held out his hand, helping me climb up. When I did, the small crowd that had turned out, and even the other contestants applauded.

"Yeah! Go Shonna!" I heard Kyle cheer, embarrassing me a little. I had a annoying habit of blushing intensely, anytime something like this happened, and I could feel it coming on.

"Look!" Flint yelled. "She's turning more red than my hair!"

"Oh!" I turned away, trying to ignore them as Mr. Poffin handed me a gift card for the Sunyshore Market shops.

"Would you like me to send the pokemon food to your pc?" He asked.

"That would be fine." I glanced up, nodding slightly.

"Alright!" Mr. Poffin turned to the crowd. "We had a good turnout this year, but let's try and make it even better next year! Thanks folks! And remember to buy Grandma P.'s Famous Poffins!" As the crowd began to thin, he turned back to me. "Kid, you've really got something going with that recipe of yours. I've never seen a poffin that every single one of my judges likes."

"Well," I looked away, feeling modest again. "The reason is, that I've worked real hard to make a poffin that every type of pokemon can enjoy. I finally got it to where all of mine do, and eventually… everyone else's."

"Astounding." He leaned forward in amazement. "Have you ever considered making profit off of them?"

"Well, when I'm around, I sell them in my hometown."

"That's not what I mean!" He shook his head in disgust. "I mean mass production! Factory lines! The big time! Look, putting it to you plainly, I'd like you to sell your recipe to me."

"What?" I stood stunned, and watched as the crowd thinned to just Kyle and Flint waiting. "Umm, sir, I'm honored, but…"

"But?"

"But, I won't. It's a local specialty back home, and I don't want to sell it. Sorry."

He frowned. "You're missing a big opportunity here."

"Perhaps. But I won't change my mind."

"Fine." He turned away. "I'll just have to work on trying to make my own recipe that pleases every type then."

This made me smile. "Good luck Mr. Poffin."

"I'll send you the food via pc. You may go now." He waddled off, looking deep in thought as he sniffed a tiny crumb left from my plate of poffins.

I chuckled to myself as I crossed the stage. Kyle was waiting and caught me as I hopped down.

"Well well!" Flint smirked. "I guess you were right. You sure showed you're not a semifinalist here."

"Nope!" I smiled happily as Kyle gave me a quick kiss.

"You did great." He said sweetly. "I knew you'd mop the floor with these guys."

"It was mainly girls." I corrected. "And I only won because I had a great helper." I glanced down into my purse, wondering if Lucario could hear me.

"You still won." Kyle said, twirling me around. "And you're going to keep winning from here on out."

"You think so?" I freed myself from him, feeling a little dizzy. "My next fight is with Volkner, and the last time I fought him, I lost horribly."

"Volkner's known as the toughest gym leader in Sinnoh." Flint commented. "You both have to fight him right?"

"Right." Kyle nodded.

"Well that's great." Flint glanced over to the gym high up on a hill in the city. Volkner by now had the place looking like a power plant, which was kind of intimidating. "Volkner's like my best friend, and rival. But, he hasn't been himself. For the past few years, he's been dissatisfied with being a gym leader. He says it's because he hasn't had a challenge, but I wonder."

"Why would he complain?" Kyle crossed his arms. "He's got one of the best jobs ever. And now you're saying he acts like he wants out?"

"More than that." Flint turned back to us. "He's even been saying lately that he wants to go out and try for the Sinnoh league."

"What?" I blanched. "He sounds even worse than when I fought him."

"Yeah." Flint sighed. "Everyday he gets even more bored with it. That's why I was hoping you two could go fight him. Surely one of you can give him an interesting battle."

I could tell Kyle was up to the challenge. He already had that typical fire in his eyes as he spoke. "Well I say we go give him a battle he won't soon forget!"

"Right now?" I whined. "But I…" I looked down at my gift card, and over to the market shops.

"Oh." Kyle smiled at me, not looking tense anymore. "Okay. We can battle him tomorrow. What will another day hurt?"

I beamed. "Thank you!"

Flint just laughed. "I'll head on up to the gym and let Volkner know you'll be there then. See you guys tomorrow." With that, he walked up the stairs to the rocky hill the gym sat on.

"Well angel?" Kyle held out his hand, facing the market. "Shall we?"

"We shall!" I took his hand and bolted forward, into the maze of vendors and shops.

x-x-x

We had a fun time shopping in the market. With my prize money, I was able to get a lot of supplies for the pokemon, plenty of fresh berries, and even purchased a couple seals to try out on their pokeballs.

Night fell quickly, and when we arrived at the pokemon center, I found that already a large sum of pokemon food had been deposited into my account. We headed on to bed as usual, but I was so nervous I was having trouble sleeping. I couldn't help but think about tomorrow.

Volkner is really tough. Much tougher to beat than I think Kyle knows. But then again, he can beat anybody. Supposedly, the only time he's lost a battle, is with me. Though I think sometimes he just goes easy on me.

I rolled over, shoving my head into the pillow.

What if I can't beat Volkner? Again. The pokemon league is only a month away now. That's not a lot of time. I guess, if I don't win tomorrow, I'll let Kyle go on and compete. I mean, he'll need that month to train, and not wait on my trying endlessly to get a gym badge.

I sighed, rolling over again, and feeling even more nervous. I'm going to try my hardest though, because I want to battle with Kyle again. I want to give him an even better challenge in the league than I did in Kanto. He still claims that that was one of the roughest battles he's been in. I grinned inwardly, and looked up to the top bunk above me. I've got news for him. He hasn't seen anything yet!