Author's Note

Last chapter we saw Chase about to take on Roxie for his second Gym Badge. He is only able to use his freshly caught Magnemite as his other Pokemon will be too exhausted to battle. What will the outcome be? Read onwards to find out

As soon as I got onto the stage Roxie asked "Are you sure you wanna battle me? Most of your Pokémon are clearly too exhausted to battle me".

I nodded then responded "I'm sure. I wouldn't have come here if I wasn't sure I could win'.

"Very well Chase but don't complain to me when you lose." She told me as she tossed her Pokéball releasing her first Pokémon which was a Koffing.

"Alright Khaeg, get in there and win this." I told my Magnemite. Khaeg floated onto the field while shooting sparks.

Roxie then started playing a rock ballad on her guitar and said with a grin "Alright Koffing use Tackle". Koffing then charged Khaeg hitting him but the attack did very little damage.

"Alright Khaeg Sonic Boom barrage." I countered. Khaeg spun around sending out 4 shockwaves knocking out Roxie's Koffing. Roxie then recalled Koffing.

"Impressive. But let's see how you fair against this Pokémon." She told he as she sent out her final Pokémon. Out of the Pokéball came a Whirlipede.

"Alright Khaeg give me another Sonic Boom barrage." I commanded.

"Whirlipede Protect quickly." Roxie countered. Khaeg spun around rapidly again sending out 7 shockwaves this time. Two of the shockwaves hit Whirlipede before a turquoise sphere surrounded it blocking the remaining 5 shockwaves. Roxie clicked her tongue in frustration as her Whirlipede dropped its Protect shield in exhaustion.

"Alright Khaeg launch one more Sonic Boom barrage." I told him. Khaeg once again spun around rapidly firing off 3 shockwaves at Whirlipede.

"Quick Whirlipede you gotta use protect." Roxie called out. Whirlipede once again surround itself in a turquoise shield just before the first shockwave hit. The second shockwave hit the shield shattering it. Roxie clicked her tongue in frustration once more as the third shockwave knocked out her Whirlipede.

Roxie stopped playing then recalled her Whirlipede then walked over to me and said "Well done gave me quite the trashing I'm impressed. Here's the Toxic Badge and Venoshock". I went to grab the badge and TM but ended up falling over due to the fact I'd barely slept in the past three days trying to prepare for this battle. I felt myself being caught by a pair of strong yet surprisingly soft hand and realised that Roxie had stopped my fall.

"Alright everyone this gig is over sorry." She told everyone as she gently lowered me. I then felt myself by hit by a claw, a wing, a vine and my own hand. I realised my Pokémon were annoyed at me.

"You idiot." Zelen yelled at me as the others chorused their agreement.

"You overworked yourself didn't you?" Lisbeth asked.

"Wanted to make sure we earned the badge." I responded before drifting off to sleep. As I drifted off I felt myself being hit once again.

The next morning

I woke up rather groggily. I looked around and saw Roxie standing above me holding two cups of coffee. "Morning Chase." Roxie said with a smile as she handed me one of the cups. I took it and took a long gulp draining half of my cup in one go. "So why did you collapse last night?" Roxie asked me curiously.

I just stared at her blankly and went "Huh?".

"Not really a morning person aye Chase." Roxie commented with a giggle. The part of my brain that was starting to wake up thought she had a rather cute giggle but that thought was drowned out by the rest of my brain screaming more coffee so I drained the remainder of my cup. A few minutes later Roxie asked again "So why did you collapse last night?" I looked around for more coffee instead of answering. Roxie noticed what I was looking for went out and came back a minute later with a pot of coffee and poured me another cup.

I took a sip savouring it then answered "Exhaustion. I stayed out late training my team then took ages to fall coz I was thinking of strategies to beat you then woke up early for more training. Probably only got maybe 12hrs sleep over the three days of training". Roxie nodded but didn't comment. I looked around then asked curiously "Where am I anyway?".

"You're in my crash pad at the gym. I usually end up crashing here half the time after a concert." Roxie told me.

I nodded then asked "And where are my Pokémon?".

Roxie giggled again then responded "They're at the PokéCentre. I would have thought that woulda been the first thing you'd have asked me". I just chuckled then finished my coffee. Roxie finished off her coffee then said "Oh yeah Chase I almost forgot. There's a rep from PokéStar Studio waiting for you at the Pokémon Centre". I got up looked around for my things then remembered I'd only brought my Pokèmon with me last night. I then headed back to the Pokémon Centre. When I was part way there I heard a voice calling out "Chase you deaf moron turn around". I turned around and saw Roxie heading towards me so I stopped. When Roxie caught up she said "I've been calling out to you for the last 5 minutes".'

"Sorry I was kinda zoned out." I told her apologetically.

"I figured that." Roxie responded.

"So why were you tryna get my attention?" I asked. "To give you these. You just walked out before I could." She told me as she handed me a badge and a TM. I took them nodding my thanks. "Also if you're going to Pokéstar Studios I'm going with you." She told me in a tone that brooked no argument then headed off to the Pokémon Centre.

We arrived at the Pokémon Centre a few minutes later and went in. As soon I walked in the nurse saw me and had a look on her face that said she was ready to give me a very loud and angry lecture so I walked up to the nurse and said "Before you yell at me about being an irresponsible trainer I'll have you know I only battled with my Magnemite".

The nurse looked at me wondering whether to believe me or not when Roxie chimed in "It's true he defeated me with just his Magnemite".

The angry look left the nurse's face and she responded "Very well," she then handed me my Pokémon and continued "Here are your Pokémon and remember your Magnemite is the only one who is able to battle as the rest of your Pokémon are still to exhausted to battle".

I nodded my thanks then I heard a voice behind me ask "You are Chase Graceson correct?"

I turned around, nodded and responded "Yeah, who are you?"

"I'm Greg Caine, a Pokéstar Studios talent scout and I want you to come to Pokéstar Studios." He told me. I could tell from his tone that he would be dragging me to Pokéstar Studios regardless of whether I wanted to go.

"Fine let's go." I told him.

Roxie then decided too join the conversation and said "I'm coming too. I want to drag my irresponsible father back here so he can do his damn job".

Greg nodded then responded "Alright my car is not far away". He then left with Roxie and I following him.

It took roughly an hour to arrive an Pokéstar Studios. We got out of the car and saw a balding man with a blonde mustache and blonde patches on the side of his head wearing a flamboyant purple suit. "Here is Chase Graceson sir. The one I told you about." Greg said.

The blonde man turned to me and said in a flamboyant tone "Hul-lo dahling. I am Stu Deeoh and I am the owner of Pokéstar Studios", he then turned to Roxie and continued "and Miss Venenum you must be here for your father".

Roxie nodded and responded "That's right, could you take me too him?".

Mr Deeoh nodded then responded "Ab so lute ly dahling". He then led Roxie and I through the studio.

"So Mr Deeoh why do you look for trainers?" I asked as he showed us through the studio.

"Because the films here are done by using battles and trainers give us the best showing dahling." Mr Deeoh explained. I nodded satisfied with answer.

Roxie then leaned over too me and whispered "Do you think he's gay?"

I shrugged then whispered back "He could be specially with the way he talks and dresses but I'm more interested to know whether or not that's his real name".

"I know right I had to resist the urge to laugh when I first heard it." She whispered back. We both shared a quiet giggle at that then continued following Mr Deeoh in silence. A few minutes later we arrived in front of a theatre.

"Well I hope you enjoyed the tour. This is the theater where we release our finished movies. Your father should be here Miss Venenum as we just released his movie he was filming. Now dahlings if you'll excuse me I have things I need to do." Mr Deeoh told us then walked off. Roxie and I then into the theatre.

As soon as we walked in Roxie started looking around for her father but before she could find her father walked up behind us. "Roxie sweetheart, what are you doing here?" he asked her. "

I'm here to drag you back to Virbank so you can do your damn job. Its been nearly a week since the ferry left. People are getting impatient." Roxie told him.

Mr Venemun nodded then responded "I know but please indulge my selfishness just a little longer. I want you to watch my movie with me. Your…er" he paused not knowing what to call me.

"Friend." Roxie and I said in unison.

"Your friend is welcome to join us." Mr Venemum said. He then took us to the counter and asked the woman behind it "Which cinema is showing Riolu Man vs Brycen Man?"

"Cinema 1. It will be starting shortly" the woman responded. So the three of us headed to the cinema, sat down with the movie starting shortly after that.

30 minutes later

'That movie wasn't very good. Mr Venenum made Riolu Man look like a spineless coward instead of a hero that stood for strong ideals and justice and his acting wasn't very good.' I thought to myself as we walked out. "So sweetheart what did you think it?" Mr Venenum asked.

"It was interesting dad and I enjoyed it. You didn't do too badly as Riolu Man," She told him but I couldn't tell if she was being sincere or not. She then asked "So will you go back and run the ferry?" .

"Yes I will dear, I've fulfilled my dream of starring in a movie so I no longer need to be here. Maybe one day I'll return to the silver screen," Mr Venenum answered before leaving. Roxie and I then headed out.

As we walked out of the theater I asked her "Were you being honest with your dad before?"

She thought for a moment then responded "Only about his acting". I nodded but our conversation was interrupted when Mr Deeoh showed up.

"So did you enjoy your film? Which one did you see?" Mr Deeoh asked.

"We saw Riolu Man. It was alright. I assume that's what you want me to do." I answered him.

"Yes. Exactly dahling." Mr Deeoh responded excitedly.

"If that's the case then I'll have to delcine." I told him.

"Oh, really dahling?" He asked a little dejectedly.

I nodded then explained "Yes. I just started my Pokemon journey and I would like to focus on that but maybe when it's over I'll come and do a few movies".

Mr Deeoh smiled then responded "Very well dahling I'll look forward to that day". Roxie and I then left and headed back to Virbank City.

It took us a couple of hours to get back to Virbank City and in that time Roxie and I spent it chatting. Once we got into Virbank Roxie asked me "You want me to take you to the ferry terminal?".

I nodded and responded "Yeah that'd be great, thanks".

It took us about 20 minute we were almost at the ferry terminal when we heard a voice yell "Get back here you bloody pokéthieves".

I let out a sigh of exasperation as I recognised the voice and complained aloud "What's that idiot got himself into now".

Roxie looked at me and asked "You recognise that voice?". I nodded but didn't answer and ran off in the direction of the voice with Roxie following closely behind me. We followed the sound of the yelling tilI saw Cameron yelling at three people, two women and one man, in vaguely grey familiar uniforms.

"Cameron what are you doing?" I called out.

"Chase these guys are with Team Plasma." Cameron told me as I got closed.

"Who?" I asked not recognising the name. I got incredulous looks from Roxie, Cameron and the three people in grey uniforms.

The man in the grey uniform said to me "Seriously you haven't heard of Team Plasma?".

I shrugged and responded "Nope".

The man looked at me and then said "Wait I know you. You were that brat I encountered at Floccessy Ranch". 'No wonder those uniforms looked familiar' I thought to myself as the man threw out at a Patrat. I put my hand on Khaeg's Pokéball ready to throw it out when a Scolipede appeared in front of Cameron and I. Roxie then stood next to the Scolipede and said "Team Plasma as the Virbank City Gym Leader I am taking you into custody". The three Team Plasma looked at Roxie then fled.

Cameron said "We better go after them". Roxie and I nodded then the three of us ran through the city looking for them. About an hour later we all came back to the ferry terminal.

"Did you find them?" Roxie asked.

Cameron shook his head while I responded "No, they must have gotten away".

Roxie thought for a moment then said "They must have gone to Castelia City as they didn't go to Route 20 or hadn't when I spoke to the gate guard".

"Then Castelia City is where I'm heading." Cameron said then walked into the ferry terminal to get his ticket.

I was just about to follow him when Roxie said "Chase wait a minute. I have something for you." I turned around and saw that Roxie was holding a TM disc and a piece of paper.

"What are those?" I asked curiously.

She handed to me and answered "This is a Hidden Machine more specifically this is HM01. And this is my Xtranciever number".

I took them then asked curiously "Why are you giving me your number?".

Roxie blushed a little then responded "I had fun today and it felt good venting to you about my dad yesterday".

I blushed a little myself then responded "I had fun too," I then pulled a pen and paper out of my bag wrote down my Xtransciever number handed it to Roxie and continued "and if you need to vent or just chat call me". Roxie smiled and nodded. I then headed to the ferry terminal, got my ticket and boarded the ferry. Shortly after I got on the ferry left and headed to Castelia City.

A/N

I decided not to put the Riolu Kid movie in because I felt it doesn't add anything to my story at this point. I may do something with Pokestar studios later down the line either including it in this story or as its own separate story.

Captures

None

Deaths

None

Badges

Basic Badge, Toxic Badge

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always please review.