AUTHORS NOTE: this ones long and its the first part of a two part chapter... oh and Izzy is just her nick name. You find out her proper name in this chapter.

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Izzy looked around the town in awe. Beige town was large, with beautiful old buildings. The streets were quiet, most people were either at work or school by now. Max and Tracy walked behind her. Tracy was also very impressed by the architecture.

A woman walked past them with a nice looking Evee on a leash. Pip squeaked at it and it looked at him. The woman looked down at Izzy's Evee and smiled.

"Thats a wonderful looking Evee you've got there." Izzy looked at the woman and grinned. Pip squeaked with delight.

"Thank you. But he wouldnt be half as good if My friend here didnt help me look after him." she said nodding over at Tracy, who went slightly red.

"I dont suppose you'd let your fine Evee breed with my Keechie here." She lifted up her Evee. Izzy blinked with surprise.

"Ermmmm... Im sorry, I dont think Pip's ready for breeding. He's still a little juvinial." the woman smiled and nodded, stroking her Evee.

"Shame. Oh well, if ever you want to breed your Pip here's my number."

the woman handed over a little card with her number on. It also had a little title at the top. 'Mrs. Chung. Evee Breeder.' Izzy smiled and slipped it in her pocket.

"Thank you." she smiled. The woman nodded and walked off with her Evee. Izzy watched her go then looked at Tracy and Max. "That was........weird."

"Oh, did I forget to mention some of the best breeders in the world live here." Max said. Pip jumped out of Izzy's hands and sat by her side. Izzy looked down at him and smiled then looked over at Tracy.

"You know I wasnt joking, you helped out a lot with him." Tracy went even redder.

"Well it was nothing." he said nervously. Max sniggered and tracy nudged him to stop. "Shouldnt we get moving?"

"Oh...yes of course... Max where's the gym in this town?"

"Follow me." Max took over leading.

They all stood out a huge building, it was a skyscraper. Izzy had to tilt back her head to see the top of it.

"Wow." she gasped. Tracy looked up also. Max lead them inside. There was a receptionist who was on the phone. Max told them they had to wait at the reception desk. Once the receptionist had finished on the phone she turned to them.

"hello. How may I help you?"

"Hello, We'd like to challenge the gym Leader." Max said. While he talked to the receptionist Izzy looked at Tracy and whispered.

"are all Gyms like this?" Tracy shook his head. Izzy looked back at the recetionist and Max.

"...thankyou. OK guys, we're allowed in. come on." She lead them to the lift and pressed the button '-2'. When it stopped the doors opened and they stepped out into a large empty room, there was a pokemon arena drawn out in the center and at the opponents end was a raise platform with a chair and a table with 12 pokeballs on it. The chair was half hidden in darkness.

"I take it this is the place." Izzy said, shrugging. She stepped forward into the arena. "Hello? Anyone there." she heard a little laugh and a person came from behind the chair. His face was hidden in the shadows. As he sat down he spoke.

"This will be a 3 pokemon match. Choose your first pokemon." Izzy looked back at Max and Tracy.

"Very forward isn't he." she then sent Pip out onto the arena. The gym leader made a little thinking noise then grabbed one of the pokeballs.

"Go....... Charmander." He said, throwing the pokeball out. It opened and a Charmander appeared from it. Pip got into a defensive stance. The Charmander also got in a stance, waiting for his owner to give him an order.

"Charmander.... Scratch attack." The Charmander ran at pip with his claws out. Pip stood there and waited until the last minute, Izzy suddenly shouted

"MOVE NOW!" Pip leapt over the charmander. It skidded to a halt and spun around, Pip was ready to make another move and saw his chance as the Charmander was turning. Izzy saw it too. "Pip tackle attack!" pip ran at the charmander. It didnt have a chance of getting out of the way or counter attacking. The little Evee's head Rammed into the charmader's stomach, knocking it back. It got up again though, hardly hurt. The leader spoke in a calm voice.

"Charmander, use your Ember attack." The charmander opened it's mouth and fired fire at Pip. He squealed out as he was caught by the flames.

" PIP! NO!" Izzy wanted to run out there and help him. Pip was engulfed in flames, squealing with fear. "Tracy, what should I do!" but something happened that no one expected.............. the gym leader ordered off the attack. Charmander stood and looked at the little evee. Pip let out a little squeal then collapsed. Izzy ran out onto the arena and lifted him up. "Pip. You'll be OK." she looked over at the gym leader, his face hidden. She could not make out what his expression was. She then handed Pip over to Tracy and grabbed a pokeball from her hip.

"Bolt, I choose you." She threw it out. The ponyta towered over the little charmander but Izzy knew size didn't matter, it was strategy and strength. Tracy looked worried.

"Izzy, be caeful. You've never had Bolt in a battle." Izzy looked behind her and smiled.

"I know. But I trust him. And Im sure he'll do fine." she gave a small reassuring smile. He couldnt help but smile also. She then turned her attention back to the match. "Lets do this." she said, a serious look on her face. "Bolt, use Stomp attack." Bolt reared up then slammed his feet hard on the ground, the ground shook and knocked the Charmander off balance. "Keep doing it!" every time Charmander ried to get up Bolt stomped. Max was sure he could sense a smirk on the gym leader's face.

"Charmander, jump up....... now." Just as Bolts feet were about to hit the ground Charmander jumped up, the shake of the ground didnt affect him. Izzy watched then spoke. " Bolt run circles around him." The ponyta began to run around and around the charmander. He became dizzy.

"Charmander, try to jump at the ponyta, use scratch!" The charmander pulled out it's claws ad watched the ponyta, he made his move and jumped on the Ponyta's back, rslashing at Bolts neck. Bolt Reared up in pain, throwing the Charmander to the floor......... Charmder was knocked out. The gym leader held out Charmander's pokeball and called him back. He grabbed another pokeball.

" time to see what your pokemon can do against something bigger then it. Rapidash, I choose you." The rapidash was called out of its pokeball. Bolt took a step back.

"Bolt dont be scared. You can do it. Use Ember!" Ponyta fired Ember attack, Rapidash was not harmed. She shook it off then began to run at Bolt.

"Rapidash,take down attack" Rapidash rammed into Bolt hard. The ponyta drove his hooves into the ground and whinnied.

"Bolt hold on!" Izzy's mind was racing. What to do? "BOLT!!!!! BUCK THAT RAPIDASH!"

both Tracy and Max were surprised by this...... bucking wasnt an official attack. Bolt lifted his rear legs and threw them out with great force, right into Rapidash's side. It whinnied and fell to the side. Izzy watched as the creature tried to get up. It struggled to its feet the reared up and slammed it's hooves hard onto the ground, the whole floor shook and Izzy's ponyta was almost knocked off his feet. He managed to keep his balance though. Rapidash did it once more on his owners comand then while Bolt was tryign to steady himself the radidash attacked with take down again. Bolt was thrown and landed on his side. He was too weak to get up. Izzy held out his pokeball.

"You did well Bolt." Izzy took the last pokemon filled pokeball she had. "It may not be my best choice but its my only choice. Pidgey, I choose you." She threw out the pokemon. Pidgey flew up intot the air and cooed. There was a chuckle from the gym leader.

"Dont you know bird type are weak against fire type?"

"I know....... but Pidgey doesnt. Pidgey use Gust on Rapidash." the pidgey flapped its wings in such a way that it threw huge winds at Rapidash. It's flame mane was became small and was about to go out.

"Rapidash..... Use ember!" Rapidash threw ember at Pidgey,

"PIDGY OPUT OF THE WAY!" Izzy shouted. Pidgey took higer to the air and hovered above the Rapidash. It threw ember at Pidgey again but yet again the bird dodged the attack. "now pidgey use quick attack!" Izzy ordered. The pidgey flew ast down toward the pokemon and Drove its Beak hard into the Rapidash.

"Rapidash....... kick dust up at the pidgey." Rapidash threw sand up, Pidgey simply blew it away with it's wings.

"pidgey! Keep using quick attack." Pidgey did so, and no matter how hard Rapidash tried to avoid the moves he was too big to get out of the way in time. One more quick attack and he was down on the ground. The Gym Leader called it back and hesitated. His hand hovered over the pokeballs, he was thinking which one he should chose. Finally after much thought he picked up one and threw it out, without saying a thing. A Charizard appeared. It let out a loud growl and fired flames up into the air. Pidgey flew in a circle then got ready for its next attack.

"Charizard. Grab that bird and fling it to the ground." The charizard growled and reached up. The pidgey flew just out of reach. The charizard took to the air. Pidgey took it on a chase. They flew around the arena, Pidgey weaving around.

"Pidgey, turn ar9ound and fly at Charizard." Pidgey did so and flew hard into Charizard. The huge creautre was surprised and before he had a chance to grab Pidgey he was alrea\yd away. He flew behind Charizard and rammed into it again. The charizard cried then spun around and gripped onto the Pidgey. The bird struggled and began pecking at Charizard. Charizard threw it hard toward the ground. Pidgey didnt have time to stop itself and plumeted. It hit the ground hard and lay there. Unconcious.

"Pidgey return..... you'll be all right." She put the pokeball back on her belt again and looked up at the Gym leader. He recalled his charizard. Tracy and Max walked up and stood on either side of Izzy.

"You did well for your first gym leader Izzy." Tacy said with a smile.

"yeah Iz' I was never that good at the beginning." The Gym leader stood up and spoke.

"You did well. Not that I doubted you would. I always knew you'd be a good trainer and now I see it." Izzy blinked in confusion. This guy was talking like he knew her. She heard him chuckle.

"don't you recognise me Elizabeth?" he stepped into the light so his face was visible. Izzy gasped. Max and Tracy looked at her then at the gym leader in confusion.

"..... Blaze!"