The place itself was huge the brown doors where made of good solid oak and gilded around the edges with gold.

The entrance doors creaked melancholy and opened themselves. I was a bit creeped out about what might be inside but when I opened the door I sweat dropped.

A tall muscular man with blonde hair and a surfer accent was in there completely surrounded by girls. It was really sickening to me.

I couldn't even look over there and I soon began looking for the gym area.

The surfer dude must have noticed I didn't join his fan club because he came over to me.

I think he said: "Hey babe." But I didn't quite hear him or rather I ignored him. I believe this was the point he started thinking to himself that his "charm" was irresistible to no girl and I had violated this.

Next he directly placed himself in front of Naktu and I but we walked around him. I also think I was getting jealous glares from his fan club. When some of them began hissing at my I briefly said: "The Mimbo's all yours where's the gym?"

As it turned out I was going the right way but that's when this guy got defensive.

"Oh, I see you're dating that one over there and your not looking at me because you can't have me."

That hit home. I grimaced, now he was playing my game. I had time to get the gym besides this was fun I ignored Naktu's slight blush.

I turned to him grinning evilly.

"No, I don't believe you're manly enough for Me." and promptly used my favorite S.I.N.G. technique (Side, in step, nose, groin)

"Go piss of someone else on your own time basturd."

While he was howling in pain I grinned rather smugly.

"Remind me not to P.O. you." Naktu squeaked.

"I'll make a special point of it." I assured him cracking my knuckles.

Okay, that's not how you're supposed to use karate but it was fun and I rarely get a chance to do that! Come on he WAS a jerk after all.

I had no more times for laughs now I entered the gym.

The gym was spacious and Sabrina sat on a chair eyes closed.

"I challenge you Sabrina to a one on one battle for a Marsh badge." I said indifferently.

"May it be so", She answered.

Her dark hair flowed around her. She was very pretty unlike me and she floated to her box in which she could battle me.

I knew she could read my mind so I kept my mind as clear as possible and put on my poker face (I'm very good a poker)

For the briefest second I saw something that utterly disturbed me it was a mental picture of Naktu slumped over in a pool of blood. I nearly screamed out but I didn't she was playing tricks on my mind. If only…

"Kadabra I chose you." She uttered clearly.

"Dragonair make me proud." I whispered. I called him out feeling my will starting to bend to a physic force.

Dragonair flashed out and that's when I realized I didn't know any of it's attacks.

"Physic attack." Sabrina commanded.

Kadabra launched the attack but it was as I thought it didn't affect Dragonair. I sighed realized.

"Wrap!" I commanded.

Dragonair did as told but after Kadabra had been squeezed for a moment it teleported away. I was going to need a beam like attack to get this done.

Kadabra kept trying to attack Dragonair with physic attacks and failed but finally it started a tri attack, which I knew would K.O. Dragonair he's lose all his energy.

But Naktu yelled behind me. "Hyper beam!"

The dragon pokemon recognized the command and the two attacks tri attack vs. hyper beam battled with each other but slowly hyper beam was failing.

The enemy physic beam was inches from Dragonair when Sabrina called out.

"I forfeit." Which was a strange thing for a gym leader to do. But there was no contact verbally between us and yet a strange but understanding.

"I present thee with a marsh badge." She said.

I had no idea why she gave up I was confused but accepted.

"Thank you." I said humbly.

"No, thank you." She said I don't know what happened next but we where at a pokemon center (I think we where teleported) and the nurse allowed us to stay for free!

I had a bed and a warm place and cooked food for once.

I tried to place these events but I couldn't place it. Thinking logically isn't one of my strong points. What had disturbed me that that little image I'd seen it was awfully cruel to see your friend dead and then LET you win? Or was he a friend. I stirred the food on my plate around some more.

"How did you know about hyper beam?" I asked of Naktu

"I've seen a Dragonair using the attack Tael, lots of other Pokemon can do it do, it might not be a bad idea for Jigglypuff to learn something like that." He said sheepishly.

I took a bit gingerly out of my baked potato.

"That timid bit has got to go Naktu nobody's going to take you serious." Told him I put my fork down and rested my hand next to my face. "Why did she forfeit!" was my internal conflict but I must of uttered it out loud because Naktu did his usual shrug.

The blue-eyed boy started on a piece of chocolate cream pie but I pushed my plate away I really wasn't hungry for once. Casually my eyes wandered around the room glancing at trainers scattered across the room.

"Naktu I think team rockets up to something." I said randomly I turned to look at my friend across from me expect he wasn't there. I forgot how he could wolf down food so fast.

In his place was a man with darker wild dirty blondish hair. His skin was tan and his manner uncomfortable he was quite calm though. I didn't notice his attire but of his threatening eyes.

"Team rocket up to something?" he told me justly.

"So it would seem."

This was another "game" he was obviously not who he appeared to be and I was to dig and try to find out. I didn't know him and there for if would be hard. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose.

However I managed when I had made my comment about team rocket to see some softness in his eyes. Something was amiss.

"It is not wise to travel alone who knows might happen." He said.

"Draw." I said promptly I knew he was trying to fish something out of me and he was good I wouldn't take my chances.

I got up from the table in search of Naktu. The man I saw before must not have stay that night because I didn't see him again.

I found Naktu in our room with a hard bitter face on. Not at all like his usual self. My eyes flared suspiciously. I don't probe as I told you my eyes jumped around the room looking for a subject starter. The calendar. It was October already? 14? The 16th happened to be my birthday. I would be 15.

"Oh!" I said aloud.

The platinum blonde haired boy looked up at me.

"Tomorrow's my birthday." I said and smiled faintly. It wasn't like I expected anything I really didn't pay attention to them but it was the only thing I could think of.

For once Naktu smiled and said: "Then I'm going to have fun tomorrow planning." He grinned and I laughed. I believe at this point he was now a friend, not just a petty thief. I looked at my two badges in a case I had. I realized I had a long way to go.

"Don't go out of your way, it's just me." I warned him.

"I wasn't me." he said automatically

"I didn't say you did anything." I questioned strangely.

"Oh, then disregard my last comment."