"I have to catch another pokemon," Kenya said.

"Maybe you can find one on Route 6," Bianca suggested. We'd just arrived in Driftveil city. I noticed the gym immediately and started making my way to it.

"I'm gonna fight the gym," I said.

"I'm coming with," Kenya said. We headed to the gym. Cheren was already battling Clay inside.

"Razor shell!" Dewott charged across the battlefield, slashing at Krokorok. Krokorok backed up, taking the hits. "Keep up the pressure! Water pulse!" The blast of water knocked Krokorok back.

"Get up!" Clay ordered. Krokorok stumbled back, falling over. "I said, get up!"

"Another razor shell!" Cheren yelled. Dewott lunged forward, raising its shell.

"Payback!" Krokorok spun, whipping its tail at Dewott's feet. Dewott tripped. "Dig!" Krokorok burrowed underground.

"They're really going at it," Kenya said.

"You can do it!" Bianca yelled. Cheren looked over at us. Bianca and I waved at him.

"Now!" Clay shouted.

"Jump!" Cheren spun back towards the battlefield. Dewott hopped, the ground under its feet erupting. Krokorok lunged out after it. "Water pulse!" The blast knocked Krokorok out. Dewott landed by the hole, panting. Clay returned Krokorok.

"How many pokemon do ya have left?" Clay asked.

"Dewott," Cheren said that. "My last one." Clay sent out an Excadrill.

"You think your Dewott can handle this?" The Excadrill growled. Dewott brandished its shells.

"Looks like she's not backing down," Cheren smirked. Clay adjusted his hat and crossed his arms.

"Excadrill, use hone claws." Excadrill rubbed its claws against each other. "Dig!" Excadrill hopped and burrowed into the ground.

"Heads up!" Cheren yelled. "Get ready to jump!" Dewott looked back and forth anxiously.

"That won't work again," Clay said. The ground split under Dewott; it jumped. "Rock slide!" A volley of rocks and stones flew out of the hole; Dewott attempted to deflect them with its shells but took the brunt of the damage.

"Water pulse!" Excadrill was too fast, lunging out of the hole and evading the blast. Dewott landed on its side. "Can you keep going?" Cheren asked. Dewott winced, struggling to get up.

"Your Dewott doesn't know when to give up," Clay said. Cheren set his jaw. He was trembling.

"Oh no," Bianca covered her mouth.

"Excadrill, drill run."

"It's done!" Cheren shouted. He returned Dewott. He turned away from Clay and walked towards us. He pushed past Bianca and Me before leaving the gym. Clay returned Excadrill with a sigh. Bianca glanced between me and the door.

"Um. I'll be back!" She ran outside, Audino rushing behind her. I shared a look with Kenya before approaching Clay.

"Let me heal my pokemon, and I'll be right up to battle ya," Clay said as he walked over to a desk.

"No problem," I said.

"That boy, a friend of yours?" He asked.

"Yeah." He shook his head.

"Third time today. He's got strong pokemon."

"Apparently not strong enough," Kenya muttered; I elbowed her. I wondered if Cheren was aware of the Nimbasa tournament. Clay finished healing his pokemon.

"Which one of yous goin first?"

"Me." I took my place on the battlefield. He sent out a Palpatoad. I sent out Pansage. Despite attempting to maintain a type advantage throughout the battle, he still ended up winning. I decided not to try again today. We left the gym. I noticed Cheren and Bianca on a bench nearby. Audino was pacing behind the bench.

"That Excadrill is really strong," Kenya said as we walked over.

"I think I could've beaten it with Pignite if it wasn't knocked out by Krokorok," I started thinking about it. "Pignite has a weakness to ground type attacks, though. It might have to be Pansage."

"You battled him?" Cheren asked.

"Yeah. I lost." He got up.

"Pokemon center." He walked off. The three of us followed him to the pokemon center. I noticed a few team plasma members standing outside. We went inside and got our pokemon healed. Once they were healed, Cheren led me to the outside battlefield.

"Do you want to battle?" I crossed my arms. Kenya caught up with us. Bianca was getting her egg checked out inside.

"Are you guys gonna battle?" Kenya asked. Cheren took his place on the field.

"Cheren," I hesitantly walked onto the field. "You could at least talk to me." He sent out an Archen.

"Come on already." His Archen looked nervously up at him. I sent out Tirtuoga. "Quick attack!" Archen lunged at Tirtuoga.

"Take it," I said. Tirtuoga braced itself, taking the hit. Archen backed off, unsure of what to do.

"Again!" Cheren yelled.

"What are you trying to accomplish like that?" I asked. "Just switch to another pokemon." Cheren paused for a moment and returned Archen. He sent out a Zebstrika.

"Thunderbolt!" The bolt of lightning knocked Tirtuoga out instantly. I silently returned it. My mind was spinning. Something wasn't right. I looked over at Kenya; she shrugged her shoulders. "Hurry up!" Cheren yelled. I sent out Pansage.

"Vine whip!" Pansage attacked with vines. Zebstrika shrugged them off.

"Flame charge!" Zebstrika erupted in flames, rushing at Pansage.

"Get out of the way!" Pansage somersaulted out of Zebstrika's path. "Keep your distance, seed bomb!" Pansage hopped around, firing seeds at Zebstrika. The seeds were dissolved by Zebstrika's flames.

"Keep up the attack!" Cheren ordered. "Chase it down!" Pansage was more agile than Zebstrika. It was close, but Pansage managed to keep out of its path. Zebstrika was getting faster with each charge, though. I really didn't have an answer for Zebstrika. Pignite was the best bet. I returned Pansage and paused. A group of people had gathered by the battlefield. Cheren noticed at the same time. Kenya was on the ground.

"Get them!" A Musharna floated at the front of the crowd. My head grew warm, my muscles grew weak. I collapsed.