Star in the Storm, Chapter 6

Roary- "Aurora's Goldenrod Duel"

Earlier that day…

Man, talk about a page hog! Lody Chimera sure knows how to eat up those chapters. Well, hi again? Did ya miss me? That's right, Roary Ketchum's back for another round!

Let's see; where to begin, where to begin…I know! After Lody stomped out of my yard, it turns out that she left home to start her Pokémon journey. Ha, I knew she was gonna do it sooner or later! Bet she was just waiting for the chance to make a dramatic exit.

Shane found out that Lody was actually headed for Charicific Valley to visit one of Pika's old buddies, Charm. Being the nice, considerate guy that he is, Shane volunteered to go look after Lody, and invited me along as well, seeing as how I'm an experienced trainer who'll know how to handle any situations that might come up.

What? You're sayin' you already knew all that?

Well, it's the best part of the story so far, so I might as well repeat it, plus give you my take on things while I'm at it. To tell you the truth, I was worried at first that Shane might not let me come along. I guess he's kind of like Lody in that respect; both of 'em got this whole independent person thing that they just refuse to drop. Dad says I'm like that, too, only less reserved about it. I tell him he was no better at my age.

I know some kids who probably can't talk to their parents like that. But it's different with Dad and me; ever since Mom passed away, we've been real close. I'm also good friends with Ms. Waterflower down at PokémonLand, but Dad's always been like my best pal.

When other kids thought I was weird for wanting to be a Pokémon master and looked down their noses at me, Dad still supported me every step of the way. The day I got my Pokémon license, this lady from down the street came up to my father and demanded what he was doing letting a ten year-old girl leave home and wander around the regions on her own. She said all these things, about how if my mom were still alive, she'd never permit it. And Dad didn't even flinch. He looked that lady back square in the eye and told her that he had left home on a Pokémon journey when he was ten years-old, and seeing his ten year-old daughter becoming a Pokémon trainer today was by far the proudest moment in his entire life.

I've been trying my best ever since to make sure my dad really does have something to be proud of. Dad was one heck of a Pokémon master, one of the youngest the regions had seen in years. Like I've been told time and time again, his is an especially hard act to follow.

But if anyone can do it, Dad says, it's me. Pokémon mastery takes a lot outta you, Dad would say to me. Like me, Aurora, you've got the guts, you've got the nerve, and you've got the drive. I know you have what it takes to be the best because you remind me of myself when I was your age.

Ms. Waterflower was there when he said that, and she just smirked at that last remark and said something about a bike. She and Dad go way back.

Well, anyways, I was pretty excited when Shane decided to let me come with him to track down Lody. I'd been to the Johto region a couple times before, but never to somewhere as interesting as Charicific Valley. Nothing was going to make me regret this trip. Nothing, well except maybe…

"Hey, watch where you're stepping, Aurora!" Bryar called irritably as I stuck my head out over the balloon basket to wave at Shane. Grumbling in annoyance, the Meganium nearly shoved me out of the basket in an attempt to free its tail from under my foot, before going back to operate the burner.

"Oh, sorry," I said sheepishly, steeping cautiously to the side. "Uh, Bryar?"

"What?" the Meganium snapped, giving the burner rope an especially hard yank.

"Could you call me Roary? Everybody does."

Bryar rolled its golden eyes, the fine antennae atop its head twitching spastically. "Everybody 'cept me and your papa, Aurora Ketchum," it retorted with a sneer.

"Pi, pi!" Picassy crooned from its precarious perch at the edge of the basket. I caught the Pichu hastily before it had a chance to tip all the way over.

Bryar shot me another dagger-embedded stare. I grinned sheepishly once more; while I had been trying to save Picassy from becoming a splat on the hillside, I'd accidentally stepped on Bryar's tail again.

"How's it going, Shane?" I called, sticking my head out the balloon and waving, carefully avoiding Bryar's tail this time.

"Fine," he yelled back, not even turning around. "Bryar, are you handling the burner okay?"

The Meganium shoved its way to the front of the balloon, nearly knocking me and Picassy over. "'Course I am!" it called up to Shane and his Dragonite. "Ha! In your face, Pika! There ain't nobody who can outdo Bryar when it comes to balloon burners! Nobody!"

Picassy was hard enough to handle as it was. But as soon as it heard Pika's name, the little Pichu went into super hyper-mode. "Piii, pichu!" Picassy cried merrily, off and running up the basket lines before I could stop it.

"Cass, get back here!" I yelled, reaching over the edge of the balloon. "You're gonna fall if you're not careful!"

"Pichu, pichu!" Picassy crowed, making an impish face.

Now, I'm no Pokémon Interpreter like Rowan Chimera, but what Picassy was saying was as clear as day. It went something along the lines of "I can't hear you!"

Pulling a PokéBall from my pocket, I tried as hard as I could to recall Cass. Thinking it was some sort of new game, the Pichu ducked and dodged every single time the red beam shot out, making funny faces as it danced along the line.

"Bryar, please!" I got down on my hands and knees, and clasped my hands together real pleading-like. "I need to get Picassy back!"

"And you want me to do what?"

"Thanks, Bryar!" I said joyfully. "Now while I crawl out there to get Picassy back, you have to hold onto my leg with your vine whips or something so I don't fall."

Bryar stared at me incredulously as I started off. "You crazy or something, Aurora?" it yelled at my back. "You're gonna get yourself killed!"

But I wasn't paying any attention. Reaching forward, I held out a hand to grab Picassy. Grinning mischievously, the Pichu hopped out of reach and I felt myself toppling forward. Stomach lurching sickeningly, I yelped and groped wildly for the line…just as Bryar's thick vine whips lashed around my leg and yanked me back into the basket.

"You know," Bryar said sarcastically as I shakily got to my feet. "Did you ever consider the possibility that maybe I could have grabbed Picassy with one of these?" It held up a vine whip and shook it in my face. "These aren't just for looks, you know!" Scowling to itself, the Meganium reached out with its other vine whip and scooped Picassy back into the basket, all in one fluid motion.

Stuttering my thanks, I took Picassy from Bryar and held the little Pichu close. "I'm sorry," I said, stumbling over my words. "I didn't think…"

"You never do," Bryar said, turning its back on us. "You're like your father in that way, Aurora. Glory and guts don't mix."

Well, Bryar could insult me all day long as far as I was concerned. But if it was going to drag my father into it…

"Pi, pi!" Picassy cried, popping out from my arms and darting to the edge of the basket. "Pichu, ooo! Chu, pii!"

"What is it now, you little furball?" Bryar groaned, making its way to the front of the balloon and peering out. Suddenly, its entire attitude changed, and those little antennae perked right up from the back of the Meganium's head. "Hey, Aurora!" it called, gesturing me over with a vine whip. "Isn't that your friend, the professor's kid?"

"Where?" Scrambling to stand beside Bryar, I managed to grab Picassy before it decided to jump out of the balloon.

The Meganium pointed with one long vine whip at this tiny speck in the far distance, one that was steadily growing larger and larger. Shane had seen Lody's hovercraft as well and was pushing his Dragonite full speed towards it.

Bryar sniffed at the small yellow figure who was piloting the hovercraft. "It's good old Pikapal again," it said disdainfully, looking down at Pika like the Pikachu was dirt on the end of the Meganium's snout. "Never knew the little guy could fly one of those things, but I guess I should've expected it."

"Pi, pii? Pichu?" Picassy said, squirming out of my grasp and climbing onto Bryar's head.

"Oh, you!" Bryar said sulkily as Picassy started tying its antennae together. "I despise rodents," it groaned. "Especially the cute ones."

I yelped as the balloon jolted, then did a wild spin in the air (the balloon, not me).

"Watch how you're flying out there!" Bryar yelled at Shane's Dragonite, just before another jolt knocked it to the floor of the basket.

"Sorry!" Shane called back to us, still not taking his eyes from the course ahead. We were gaining speed real fast now, and the momentum of the charge threw me against the side of the balloon basket, knocking all the wind from me.

"WATCH IT!" Bryar snapped, yanking its tail out from under my foot once again. "How many times are you going to do that before we get off this thing! And you!" it yelled, hanging its head out the basket and shaking an angered vine whip at Shane and his Dragonite. "What are you trying to do! Get us all killed!"

"Pichu, pichu!" Picassy giggled, putting the finishing touches on Bryar's antennae knot.

"And especially you!" Bryar stormed, slumping to the bottom of the basket as we made another crazy turn that sent everybody crashing into the side again. "Somebody get that rodent off of me!" it growled threateningly.

"Pi?"

"Or else…" The Meganium groped for words as we slammed into the other side of the basket. "Or else…no more head rides for you, Picassy! And I mean it this time!"

I shook my head and grinned. "Of all the things you couldn't handle, Bryar, I never would've guessed little kids was one of 'em."

"Oh, shut up," Bryar sulked.

The balloon took another crazy wheel, just as Picassy decided to jump of Bryar's head. I barely caught it as the balloon swerved again, then righted itself.

The balloon was floating steadily now, still in mid-air. Poking my head out over the edge of the basket, I could hear Shane yelling from the front, along with Gauntal's frantic barks.

"They went in the forest!" Shane was groaning. "We'll never be able to follow them in there!"

Gauntal barked out a couple more yips and yaps, and Shane nodded. "You're right, boy," he said. "It doesn't matter. We know we're they're headed anyway, and we still have the tracker. We'll find them soon enough. Right, Ragnarok?"

The huge Dragonite chirped in agreement. I barely had time to brace myself as we took off once again.

"Teenage drivers will be the death of me yet," Bryar grumbled darkly. "I knew I should've stayed at home."

"Pichu! Ooo!" Picassy chimed happily, leaping back onto Bryar's head to tie more knots.

"Pikapal, if you're out there," the Meganium muttered, sinking lower in its seat, "I hope you die a slow, painful death by ketchup deprivation."

The next day...

I don't think I've ever seen Shane angry before. But his normally pale face was flushed and his voice strained as he ordered his Dragonite to a halt and announced a change in course early the next morning. I was almost too groggy at first to realize what he was saying; I had to do burner duty all last night, and good old Bryar hadn't made the job any better with its rumbling snores.

"What!" Bryar yelled as soon as it got wind of what Shane was saying, bolting up in its seat and nearly knocking Picassy and me out of the basket. "What about going to Charicific Valley!"

Shane looked over his shoulder at the Meganium, who was promptly slammed into the side of the basket as the Dragonite executed a rapid turn. "I've had a change of priorities," he said quietly, voice almost too calm.

"Listen, kid, I didn't volunteer to sit in this basket, operate your burner, and almost get myself killed by your inept flying skills! Are we going to Charicific Valley or aren't we?"

"I'll make sure we get there," Shane said, in the same too calm voice as before. "Right after we make a visit to Goldenrod City. I have to…pick up something there."

"Goldenrod City?" My eyes got all big and starry and I grabbed Picassy and hugged it in excitement. "He said we were going to Goldenrod City! You know what this means, don't you!"

"She's actually happy about this," Bryar grumbled irritably. "What is this, some kind of conspiracy to make me miserable?"

"We'll get to go to the Goldenrod Gym!" I cried happily, hugging Picassy even tighter. "I've always wanted to go into the Johto League!"

Picassy was nearly the point of suffocation by now. "Pi, pi!" it choked out.

"Now you know, rodent," Bryar muttered to Picassy. "Humans are trouble. Every last one of them."

"Quick, let's think! What kind of Pokémon does the Goldenrod City Gym Leader use?" I mused, giving Picassy just enough time to pop out and climb onto my head.

"Normal types!" Bryar snapped. "Big scary normal types like Miltank and Clefairy! I should remember; your father had an especially rough time."

"What kind of strategy did he use, Bryar? Please, tell me!"

"He cheated," Bryar snorted. "Couldn't win the first time, so he begged for a rematch on unauthorized gym land. The gym leader, Whitney, was pretty nice about it, considering he used three Pokémon against her one."

"Wow! I didn't know I could do that!"

Bryar slapped its forehead with a vine whip. "You're Ash's kid, alright," it said disgustedly.

"Keep on dising my dad, Bryar, and I swear you're gonna regret it! Why don't we settle this once and for all? Rock, paper, scissors, best two out of three!"

Bryar rolled its eyes and held up a vine whip. "If you think I can make any shape other than the one my whip is currently in, think again."

I sighed tiredly. "You know, this would be a whole lot easier if you were human, Bryar," I said. "Then we could just have a Pokémon battle. How about Tic-tac-toe?"

"No way."

"A round of I Spy?"

"Uh uh."

"Checkers?"

"You think I can move those tiny little pieces with my great big vine whip?!"

"Oh, fine. Chess?"

"Same concept!"

Goldenrod, at last...

"Ah, just breathe in that wonderful city air!" I cried, throwing my arms out and rapidly choking on some gas fumes. Picassy made a gagging sound and hid its nose beneath its paw. Skyscrapers and streets had been stuck around the city at odd angles and in impossibly cramped positions. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be another slough of honking cars or more concrete walls covered in colorful graffiti. Besides all that, the prevailing color of Goldenrod City was dirty cement grey, not at all like its whimsical name.

I felt another coughing jag coming on and my spirits began to wither, like I was sure any sign of plant life in the fair city of Goldenrod had already done long ago.

"Well, it's Goldenrod City," I defended determinedly. "Next thing is to find to Goldenrod Gym; what do you say, Picassy?"

"Pichu!" Cass crowed.

"How about you, Shane? Shane?" Skipping over, I noticed Shane and Gauntal standing a little to the side, in the shadow of an alleyway. Shane had his ear next to a strange gadget on his hand and was sharply muttering something out of the side of his mouth. His head jerked up as I approached, and he smiled smoothly.

"Just trying to fix my watch," he explained, holding out his wrist and showing me what indeed seemed to be just an ordinary, everyday wristwatch. "It stopped ticking a few minutes ago, but I think I've got it working again." Stuffing his hand in his jacket pocket, he stepped onto the narrow sidewalk, taking Gauntal with him. "Okay, first thing we have to do is stop by the Goldenrod Gym," he announced. "There's something there I need to pick up."

"Really? That's great!" I was practically dancing around with joy until I tripped over Bryar's tail and fell flat on my face in the street.

The Meganium flicked its tail irritably. "I say the sooner we're out of here, the better," it snapped crossly. "So make your Gym match short, you hear, Aurora?"

Scrambling to my feet, I did a quick victory pose, winking with one eye and cocking my head to one side. "You ain't got nothing to worry about!" I said confidently.

"Pichupi!" Cass chimed, landing atop my head.

"Right! Onto the Goldenrod Gym!" I started to march down the sidewalk, but stopped when I realized nobody else was behind me.

"Earth to Aurora!" came Bryar's distant voice. "The Goldenrod Gym is right over here!"

I executed a rapid about-face and sheepishly ran to catch up with the others.

The glass doors to the Gym were opened by a young redheaded girl, who looked up at us as we came barreling in. Well, actually only I came barreling in. The rest of the gang was hanging back embarrassedly as I started my trademark challenger's speech.

"I'm Roary Ketchum from the town of Pallet!" I proclaimed loudly, striking a pose in the middle of the lobby. "And I hereby challenge the Goldenrod City Gym Leader to a Pokémon battle for the…um, something Badge."

"Plain Badge," the redheaded girl corrected primly.

"Yeah," I agreed quickly. "What she said."

"I'm very sorry," the girl said, riffling through a clipboard on the lobby desk. "But I don't see a Roary Ketchum registered for a match anywhere."

"What?" I nearly fell over from holding my pose so long. "You mean I need to schedule a match beforehand?"

"That is the policy," the girl replied with a shrug. "Sorry."

"But…but that's unheard of!" I cried, planting my arms over the girl's desk and refusing to budge. "I've never heard of scheduling matches before!"

"That's a surprise," came a light, feminine voice from the back of the lobby. "I imagine it will become quite popular with Gym Leaders in the future. It's so inconvenient, you know, not knowing when you'll be having a challenger. You don't really expect us to wait around the Gym all day, do you?"

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "I guess not. Are you Gym Leader Whitney, ma'am?"

The woman smiled. Well, more half-smiled, I would say. Her light blue eyes sort-of crinkled up and her lips twitched a little. She had the thickest sandy hair I'd ever seen, which reminded me of when I was little and wanted thick, wavy hair instead of the thin, black rope I got stuck with. Her earrings jangled like little chimes as she nodded, then shook her head.

"Yes, I am the Goldenrod City Gym Leader," she said dryly. "No, I am not Whitney. Whitney was the old Gym Leader here. She left to start a tour guide business or something of the sort. My name is Hale, Molly Hale."

"Nice you meet you, Molly Hale, ma'am. My name is Roary Ketchum." If there's one thing my father really beat into me, it was how to be polite to adults. So I extended a hand, and Molly shook it, her long cape billowing out behind her.

"Ketchum, you say?" Molly mused. "I knew a Ketchum once, by the name of Delia."

My jaw dropped. "That's my grandmother!"

"Yes, it figures. Your family are old friends of mine," Molly said, turning back to the doors at the end of the lobby, the ones that led to the inside of the Gym. "But don't think I'll go easy on you, Roary Ketchum."

"You're going to let me have a match with you now?" I asked excitedly.

"No," Molly replied sharply. "Right now, I have to talk with a young man by the name of Shane Rising. Shane, is that you back there? Come over here where I can see you."

Shane stepped forward briskly, clutching Gauntal's leash in one hand. Molly bent down to pat the Umbreon's head, smiling a very real smile this time around. She really liked Pokémon, that much was for sure. "Clair wanted to know how you were getting along these days," Molly informed Shane, giving Gauntal a good rub under the chin.

"I'm doing fine, Ms. Hale," Shane replied. "Gauntal and I take care of one another quite well, you know."

"I'm sure you do. Good boy, Gauntal. Good boy." Giving the Umbreon one final pat on the head, she straightened and brushed off her clothes. "Alisha will show you to the back," Molly told Shane and Gauntal, putting a hand on the redheaded girl's shoulder. "Make it quick, won't you, Alisha?"

"Yes, Ms. Hale," the girl answered promptly. "This way, please," she said, taking Shane by the hand and leading him down a side hall. And he didn't even seem to mind.

I blushed angrily and started to follow, but Molly held up a hand. "Where do you think you're going, Roary Ketchum?" she said. "Do you want your Gym match or don't you?"

"Now?" I asked disbelievingly. "Really, you mean it? But I didn't schedule a match! Can you really squeeze me in now?"

Molly dished out another half-smile. "I'm supposed to be on a coffee break right now, so you'd better not tell Alisha about this. She's a stickler for the rules."

"Alright!" I whooped, high-fiving Picassy. "Watch out Johto League Championships, Roary Ketchum's on her way!"

"This match will be a single-sided 'recall match'," announced the referee who stood at the front of the Goldenrod stadium. "The challenger, Roary Ketchum, may use up to three Pokémon. The Gym Leader, Molly Hale, will also use three Pokémon. If the Gym Leader's Pokémon faints or defeats the challenger's Pokémon, the Gym Leader must recall that Pokémon. Let the match begin!"

I stared at Molly Hale disbelievingly. "I thought you weren't going to go easy on me!" I shouted. "But a recall match gives me a huge advantage over you!"

Molly pulled a PokéCap and smirked. "Trust me, it won't. Go, Precious!" And with an elaborate twist, she lobbed the Cap onto the battlefield, letting loose a huge bearlike Pokémon. It roared loudly, sending my ponytail flying straight out behind me in a gust of wind.

From its place in the bleachers behind me, Bryar yawned. "An Ursaring, big deal," the Meganium commented. "And what kind of Gym Leader calls her Pokémon Precious?!"

Rummaging through my pack, I quickly selected a PokéBall. "Well, if Ursaring's your choice, then I'm using…Jigglypuff!"

With a flash of red light, the PokéBall popped open, releasing my pink balloon Pokémon into the battle.

"A Jigglypuff?" Molly's eyes were collected and calculating. "I'll give you first move, Roary Ketchum. Let's see how you hold up."

I nodded. "Right! Jigglypuff, Rollout!"

Molly's Ursaring didn't even flinch as Jigglypuff came hurtling its way, curled into a tight ball. "Knock that Jigglypuff off course with Slash, Precious!" its trainer called out. Precious obeyed with a swipe of its huge clawed paw, missing Jigglypuff by inches.

"That was pathetic!" Bryar called from the stands. "You missed by a landslide! Go Aurora! Whoo-hoo! You can do it, girl!"

I glanced over at Bryar in surprise. "You're actually rooting for me?" I asked, hardly believing my ears.

The Meganium shrugged. "It was either you or Precious. Now hurry up and beat that thing so we can get outta this place!"

"Unroll and use Disable, Jigglypuff!" I commanded quickly. The burst of speed from the Rollout was just enough to send Jigglypuff rocketing off the bleacher stands and into the air above the stadium. Puffing itself out angrily, Jigglypuff performed an effective Disable attack while still floating in mid-air! The attack's blinding flash was just enough to stun Precious temporarily, giving Jigglypuff a chance to land behind it.

"You go, Jiggs!" Bryar whooped loudly. "And another devastating attack by Roary Ketchum and her Pokémon leaves the Gym Leader hanging by a thread! This could be the end for Molly Hale and her Precious, folks."

The referee turned to Bryar and shot the Meganium a death look. "Keep the commentary to yourself, if you don't mind!" she snapped irritably.

I sweated nervously. "She's right, Bryar. Try to tone it down a bit, will you?"

"Whatever you say," Bryar smirked. As soon as my back was turned- "Go and get 'em, Aurora! Defend the honor of Pallet Town! No pressure, of course."

"Now Sing!" I yelled to my Pokémon. "Put your opponent to sleep before it has a chance to attack!"

I heard the first strains of Jigglypuff's song before hurrying to plug my ears. I couldn't fall asleep now, of all times! When I looked up again, the Ursaring was fast asleep, snoring loudly.

"Yes!" I cried triumphantly. "Precious is unable to battle! Jigglypuff wins the round!"

"Jigglypuff!" my Pokémon chimed happily, waving at me with a tiny paw. But then- "Jiggly!" it yelped all-of-a-sudden.

I gaped, not believing my eyes. The Ursaring, apparently asleep, had somehow managed to roll over, completely flattening my Pokémon!

Molly half-smiled at my shock. "You forgot about Ursaring's Snore attack," she explained evenly. "Remember, Snore lets a Pokémon attack while sleeping. You let your guard down, Roary Ketchum. Better luck next time."

I groaned, caught myself, and set my jaw as I recalled Jigglypuff.

"You can still come through, Aurora!" Bryar hooted from the stands. "The Gym Leader has to recall her Pokémon now, because it just beat yours! You still have a chance of winning if you can beat the next two she sends out!"

"Don't worry about me!" I yelled back. "I know what I'm doing!"

Molly half-smiled again as she recalled Precious and pulled another PokéCap from under her cape. "For my next Pokémon, I select Petra," she said smoothly. I watched expectantly as the ridged, grey PokéCap became a snarling, stomping Donphan, tusks upraised.

"Ooh, a Ground type!" Bryar yelled. "Didn't see that one coming!"

I faced Molly uneasily. "But Donphan's not a Normal type!" I protested. "I thought the Goldenrod Gym only used Normal types!"

"You thought wrong, Roary Ketchum," Molly Hale replied evenly. "Gym rules are very lax about the types of Pokémon Leaders are and aren't allowed to use. You'll just have to adapt accordingly."

"Fine, then I'm using…" Rummaging through my pockets, I quickly found a PokéBall. "…Vaporeon!"

"In your face, Gym Leader Hale!" Bryar crowed. "That's what you get for trying to bend the rules! Water types easily cream Ground types! Aurora has this one in the bag!"

"Knock it off, Bryar!" I muttered out the side of my mouth. "You're just gonna make her mad at me."

"Conflict is always entertaining to watch," Bryar replied smugly. "You're going down, Molly Hale!" it yelled before I had I chance to stop it.

Ignoring Bryar, I started off the battle. "Vaporeon!" I yelled. "Hydro Pump!"

With a yip of determination, the aquatic Pokémon obeyed. I grinned as the blast of water from Vaporeon's mouth soaked the entire Gym. Vaporeon had learned Hydro Pump only months ago, and I couldn't think of a better time to put it to use!

"Rollout," Molly commanded calmly. I gasped as Petra the Donphan emerged from behind Vaporeon's water blast, curled into a tight ball and launching itself into an outer circuit of the arena floor. It feinted a lunge at Vaporeon before slamming my Pokémon into the ground.

"Quick, Vaporeon!" I yelled. "Donphan can't keep up that Rollout much longer! The ground's way too slippery! Use Mist, and then finish it off with Quick Attack!"

As a thick cloud of fog began to envelop the entire room, Petra the Donphan lost its orientation completely. It was totally unprepared when Vaporeon jumped out of apparently nowhere, knocking it into the ground.

"Not bad," Molly said calmly, recalling Petra and tucking the PokéCap away.

"You got that right!" Bryar called loudly. "Way to go, Aurora! That's showing them who the Pokémon master around here is!"

"Great work, Vaporeon!" I shouted happily. Quickly, I steeled myself for Molly's next Pokémon.

The Gym Leader didn't seem the least bit perturbed. In fact, that familiar half-smile was on her face again, and it made me uncomfortable just looking at it. "You used a type advantage to your benefit," she remarked coolly. "How wise. Now it's my turn to do the same. For my next Pokémon, I choose Lumius."

I gritted my teeth as Molly's newest Pokémon stepped into the arena. Lumius, as it turned out, was an Ampharos, a highly-evolved Electric Pokémon. And everyone knew Electric types had a huge advantage over Water types.

"Last Pokémon, Aurora!" Bryar cried out not so comfortingly. "If you beat that Ampharos, you win the match! No pressure, of course!"

"Thanks, Bryar," I muttered in exasperation. "Vaporeon, Quick Attack!"

"Thunderpunch," Molly commanded. Vaporeon didn't have a chance. It was out as soon as Lumius' sizzling fist made contact.

Recalling Vaporeon, I quickly realized that none of my Pokémon would be able to beat a powerful Electric type like Ampharos by type advantage alone. That was, except…

"Picassy! I choose you!" I said, plucking the Pichu from my head and setting it down on the ground. "You're an Electric type, just like Lumius. I know you can do this."

"And Ketchum sends in the mini rodent!" Bryar hollered enthusiastically. "No offense, Aurora, but it looks like the baby mousie is gonna get stomped."

"If that's what you think, you're wrong!" I yelled back. "Picassy, use Thunderwave!"

"You too, Lumius!" Molly instructed her Pokémon.

I watched, fingers crossed, as the two Thunderwaves sped through the air and met, sizzling and crackling with energy.

And then the ceiling exploded.

Notes:

Molly Hale is the little girl in the third Pokémon movie. She wanted to be a Gym Leader; here, she got her wish, but is a far cry from the sweet, naïve five year-old in the movie. My justification is that she had to grow up some time or another.