Hey, I'm back! Last time, Angelina arrives in Cherrygrove City and trains her Charmander for two days. On the following morning, she meets up with the boy whom threatened to steal Professor Elm's Pokemon back in New Bark Town. After the boy lost, Angelina finally departs to her next destination for her first Johto Gym badge, Violet City.

For those of you that are wondering about the trainer who helped Angelina save Professor Elm's Lab, read this chapter and you'll understand everything.

Chapter 5: Violet Sprouting, Flying High

About a week later and early in the morning, Angelina finally arrived at Violet City and she couldn't wait for her gym battle. She was so excited she had forgotten how hungry she was, and as she entered the city the first place she stopped was a cute little fast food stand to grab a quick bite. She was hungry no doubt, but she was too nervous to eat. As her half-eatten hotdog sat on her paper plate she glanced around the city. There were a lot of people hurrying to get to places. There were many different businesses trying to sell different things to people who were walking by and lots of billboards filled with advertisements. A school with tons of kids was centered in the middle, along with numerous homes of locals. A few lakes were thrown here and there along with tall redwoods, and they seemed to compliment the sunny sky. She didn't know what kind of gym was there, and didn't know what to expect, which put her at a serious disadvantage. She did know, however, that with her Marill and Charmander, she should do fine. She walked around and did some window shopping, hoping to get her mind off of the battle.

After she had her fill of window-shopping she headed over to the Sprout Tower; she looked up and took a good look at the outside.

"I wonder why they call this the Sprout Tower," Angelina thought to herself. "That sounds like a strange name for a tower."

Angelina walked up to the entrance of the tower and stepped inside.

"Are you here for the challenge?" A tall monk said as soon as Angelina entered, he was wearing a long brown robe.

"Um I am not sure," Angelina replied. She didn't realize she would be battling against monks.

"I am Kaemon," the tall monk introduced himself and then introduced another smaller monk as he approached, "And this is Makoto."

"If you accept the challenge you would battle Master Li, our head monk here on the top floor of the tower," Kaemon explained as he pointed up towards the ceiling.

"And if you win you will be presented with HM Flash," Makoto continued. "Which is said to decrease the target's accuracy stat and also illuminate the darkest of caves."

"I will think about it," Angelina replied, "I would like to look around a bit if that is cool."

Makoto nodded as Angelina turned and continued to look around the first floor of the tower. There were many pictures of grass pokemon on the walls and Angelina guessed that was the type of pokemon that is raised here.

Angelina was so interested in the photos she didn't notice a table shaking nearby and what intrigued her the most about the tower was the large support beam in the center. The beam was made of wood and swayed back and forth. She turned to the two guard monks and motioned them to come over. Makoto walked over to Angelina as Kaemon stayed by the door.

"Do you have a question my dear?" Makoto asked when he approached her.

"Is this beam supporting the whole tower?" Angelina asked as she pointed to the swaying beam.

"Yes it is. Besides the frames on the walls this beam is the only thing that holds this tower up."

"But aren't you afraid that this tower is going to fall because the beam sways back and forth?"

"The tower was built so perfect that the swaying doesn't affect the tower."

"Wow," Angelina said.

"Yeah, this tower means a lot to this city. Earl's Pokemon Academy uses this tower to teach their young students about growth."

"Growth?"

"Yes, this tower reminds us all that everything in this world, no matter how strong or smart, had to have a beginning. The tower symbolizes that everything starts small kind of like a Bellsprout with plenty of room to grow."

"And that is why it is called the Sprout Tower!"

"Very good," Makoto replied.

Before Makoto or Angelina could say any more there was, suddenly, a huge, powerful quake shook the whole building making them fall to the floor. The building trembled until it slowly died down and stopped abruptly. They laid there for a few minutes until they slowly sat up looking around for any problems. They stood up from the ground and scanned the room with alerted eyes.

"What was that?" Angelina exclaimed terrified.

"Ah, not to worry my dear. It was just the trainer battling upstairs wishing to be taught a new move. He seemed very stubborn and reckless though, but I don't see that in you, of course."

Angelina nodded and accended upstairs towards her awaiting challenge. The first floor had nothing, but the second floor she ran around tricky corners all over the room and the third floor had nothing as well. The fourth floor had a table in the corner shaking like the one on the ground floor, but Angelina continued her way to the staircase. Once she was at the foot of the staircase, she stopped and looked up to see the upper floor from where she was.

"This is intense, isn't it Charcoal?" Angelina asked the small fire lizard in her arms, which she let out to join her adventurous walk. It nodded slowly staring up at the floor above them.

She climbed up to the next floor and found no one there, but the same table there shaking like the other ones. She then saw a sage battling a raven-haired trainer; bending down behind the table and poked around one side, she examined the raven-haired trainer trying to find out who he was until it hit her like a ton of bricks.

"It's him." Angelina whispered softly narrowing her eyes at him.

"Char." Charcoal said narrowing his eyes at him too.

Seamus was standing with a serious expression with Squirtle in front of him while the elder stood with his Bellsprout in front of him. Squirtle was struggling to get up from the floor bearing a lot of deep wounds. Seamus glared at it deadly and spoke icily, "Just as I thought, you're weak too." Squirtle glanced back at him with a sad look before it tried to stand up again.

Angelina felt sorry for the water Pokemon given to the trainer back in Pallet Town. "Poor Squirtle." She whispered sorrowfully.

It fought against its unhealthy state and stood up trying to impress its trainer. "Squirtle, use Tackle." Seamus ordered the water turtle pokemon coldly. Squirtle charged towards the weed pokemon while it stood its ground.

"Bellsprout, use Wrap." The elder commanded wisely. Bellsprout's vines shot towards it and wrapped all around Squirtle squeezing him tight. "Good, Bellsprout. Now squeeze it tighter." The flower pokemon squeezed Squirtle tighter making it cry out in pain.

Seamus narrowed his eyes at Squirtle before he instructed harshly, "Squirtle, Bite the vines." Squirtle opened its mouth revealing its sharp teeth as it chomped through the vines releasing him.

"Now use Tackle." Seamus glared frostily at the old man. The water turtle charged once more and bashed against the flower pokemon's body rather badly. It landed on the ground unconscious from the painful attack in front of his horrified trainer.

Seamus smirked maliciously at him while Squirtle jumped back in front of him. Angelina crawled out from hiding behind the table and stood behind it with her pokemon. "It seems, old man, that you lost against me." He mocked unemotionally recalling back the wounded Squirtle.

The elder recalled his fallen Bellsprout and spoke intelligently, "You are indeed skilled as a trainer. As promised here's the move, Flash." He threw a small orange device at Seamus, who caught it and looked at it. "But let me say this: You should treat your Pokemon better. The way you battle is far too harsh. Pokemon are not tools of war…" He watched Seamus turn around uncaringly and didn't listen to what he said.

Seamus caught the sight of Angelina and recognized the girl, who he fought not that long ago. He moved towards her and got in her face scoffing off, "….Humph! He claims to be the Elder, but he's weak. It stands to reason. I'd never lose to fools who babble about being nice to Pokemon. I only care about strong Pokemon that can win. I really couldn't care less about weak Pokemon."

"But you should listen to him," Angelina murmured and then said louder, "I think he's right."

Seamus looked at her with a scowl. "I'll raise my Pokémon the way I want to, and spoiling them will only make them weaker. And I only care for strong Pokémon," he coldly replied. His eyes fell upon Charcoal, who was growling and glaring at him.

"Strong or weak, it shouldn't matter if it's your Pokémon," Angelina lightly protested, "And a Pokémon will get stronger the more you train with them, Seamus." However, her valid point was ignored by the boy, who observed her Charmander.

"It doesn't look like you've changed at all, Angelina. What a shame." Seamus lifted a golden rope—an Escape Rope—that was in his hand, and he spun it around him without much of a change in his expression that still locked on Angelina.

"Wait!" Suddenly Angelina called, reaching out her hand in vain as he vanished. Her eyes caught sight of a few leftover glitters while she continued to stare at where Seamus once was, then she gazed into the room ahead of her.

There was plenty of empty space on the polished floorboards, and in the center of the room was a man resembling the other sages in Sprout Tower except for the golden sash that went across his shoulder. His face had some wrinkles as well, but that was all. Behind him, a plaque with the etching—or perhaps a painting—of a Bellsprout with its eyes closed.

Frowning, Angelina walked over to him. "Excuse me," she began, "You're Master Li, right? I'm here to battle."

"I am, so good of you to come here!" The Elder went on with a rejuvenated energy, grabbing a PokéBall. "Sprout Tower is a place of training. People and Pokémon test their bonds to build a bright future together. I am the Elder, Master Li. Allow me to check the ties between your Pokémon and you!"

"Right!" Angelina made a half-smile as Charcoal leapt in front of her. "I choose my Charmander, Charcoal, as my first Pokémon!" She announced.

"That is fine," replied the Elder with a nod. He threw his PokéBall, sending out a sitting Bellsprout that stood slowly from its position..

"Bell," murmured Bellsprout. Charcoal only smirked, his fired-up emotions brazenly showing off now through his opened eyes.

"Razor Leaf attack!" Master Li ordered as he quickly started attacked first to gain the first strike advantage.

"Dodge it, Charcoal!" Angelina called.

Bellsprout released a few sharp razor-like leaves toward Charcoal as the fire lizard managed to maneuver out of the way.

"Charcoal, try Dragon Claw!" With a nod, Charcoal ran towards Bellsprout and leapt into the air, its right claw glowing crimson.

"Dodge Bellsprout!"

When Charcoal got close enough, it gasped as the Vine Pokémon leaned back flexibly, its head almost touching the floor with its root-like feet still standing firm. He flew right over it and landed nimbly, astonished for a moment before attempting another Dragon Claw from the other side. This, however, ended with the same result as Bellsprout leaned out of his way, not moving at all from its spot until Angelina called out, "Ember!"

Charcoal opened his mouth readily and fired the small fire balls at the vulnerable Bellsprout, whom was bombarded with flames. Charcoal slid as he landed, with his opponent falling back upon its defeat.

"You did well, Bellsprout. Return," the Elder softly praised, recalling his Pokémon then stepped over to Angelina, who was hugging her Charmander.

"You were great Charcoal," Angelina put her pokemon down when she saw Master Li approach.

"That was an excellent battle, and as promised this HM Flash is yours," he said, handing out a yellow disk that resembled a CD. It was encased in a small box, though the words "HM 05" were legible on the disk's flat surface. Angelina took it and bowed politely.

"Thank you!" Angelina smiled as she called her Pokemon back into its Pokeball.

"I also have another prize for you," Master Li said.

"Oh? And what's that?"

"These words...In order for your dreams to come true you must first wake up and believe you can fulfill them. Remember type doesn't always matter when you battle. Skill and level are also equally as important when choosing a pokemon. And last but not least, a journey of a thousand miles always begins with the first step."

Angelina was a little confused, but she nodded at his words of wisdom.

"You may not understand what I say now," Master Li said, "but you will when you are ready."

"Thank you, Master Li," Angelina replied, reaching in her main pocket and pulled out her multi-colored silver rope. "But I really have to go so I can have my gym battle."

"You're quite welcome and good luck with your match!" Master Li said.

"Thank you, and goodbye," Angelina said as she hugged Charcoal carefully and spun the rope over both his and her heads. Her voice echoed as they vanished into thin air and appeared outside of Sprout Tower. It was almost late afternoon, nearly the most comfortable part of the summer days in Johto as the sun lessened its abuse. She then made her way towards the Violet City Gym, the tallest building in the city. The tower was sort of fashioned in a spiral design and according to several trainers, gym battles were held on the top.

'Figures,' Angelina thought absently.

"Can I help you?" came a voice from behind Angelina.

Angelina spun simultaneously and blushed at a young boy in his early teens. He had dark blue hair which most of it covered his right eye, combat blue eyes, and he wore a white long sleeved shirt under a purple short sleeved shirt with matching purple pants.

"Hello, I've come to challenge the Gym Leader for the Zephyr Badge. Are you-"

"Ah, so you figured it out," the boy smiled.

"You're gonna challenge the gym leader too?"

"What? NO!" the boy exclaimed, then calmed down and took out a periwinkle badge with a pair of wings curving into a hexagonal shape and held it out in the palm of his hand. "This is the official Pokémon League Zephyr Badge and I'm Falkner, the Violet City Gym Leader."

"Oh..." Angelina blinked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you would already know what kind of Pokémon to expect, making the battle easy for you. Also, you wouldn't go around bragging that you are friends with a gym leader, and the other gym leaders might honor that and go easy on you. Plus, if you knew, and I beat you, than you might feel that we shouldn't be friends."

"No, I probably wouldn't have done any of that stuff." Angelina replied, looking down bashfully. "Well, may I battle you for the badge?"

"Yes, I accept your challenge as it is my duty under the league rules." Falkner replied.

'At least he's a professional,' Angelina thought, as the gym leader led her to an elevator.

The ride up seemed to last for hours, until the elevator stopped opening up to a large battlefield on the roof of the gym. Angelina settled herself in one of the 'boxes' and faced Falkner who was already in the other one.

"We'll have a two-on-two Pokemon match," Falkner announced.

"Fine with me!" Angelina yelled back.

"For my first Pokémon," Falkner smirked in a challenging sort of way. "I'll choose Hoothoot!"

The gym leader was looking at Angelina with a sort of confident air. It was too confident, no gym leader was that confident when it came to battling. It was like an unwritten rule that a gym leader was always on the alert for any nasty surprises – that was the key to their success.

The brown owl-like Pokemon appeared into the area, flapping its wings with a hoot and stood on one leg.

"Hoothoot? MY Hoothoot?" Angelina blinked as she stared at the Pokemon, she now realized why Falkner wanted to trade his Marill for her Hoothoot.

Falkner's patience prevailed, not even yelling out to ask if she'd hurry it up. Angelina breathed to clear her head – if she wasn't careful Falkner would walk all over her.

Angelina pulled out a Pokeball and threw it into the arena, her blue aqua-mouse Pokemon came out in a flash of white light. "All right, then I choose Spritz!" she said, as the Pokeball came flying back into her hand.

"Marill! Mar?" the aqua mouse squeaked. (Gym match, Angel?)

"Make me proud, hun!"

"Marill!" the water mouse almost growled. (that bird won't know what hit him)

Angelina fought the urge to roll her eyes- when she was given Marill, this Pokemon had always been a little…. Temper-mental. Believing she could blast out any opponent that came her way. If she ever lost a match, she'd be in a bad mood for a while after.

Falkner smirked at Angelina's choice. Angelina knew it probably wasn't the best idea using a Pokémon that Falkner was very familiar with but she also knew that Marill would be able to handle it.

"Looks like we'll have to slow down this Pokemon, Hoothoot!" Falkner yelled out to the owl-like Pokemon. "Use Hypnosis!"

"Spritz, dodge and use Water Gun!" Angelina ordered.

Hoothoot's eyes glowed red, but it was difficult for Marill to dodge the attack when she just had to look at the owl-like Pokemon to aim her water-attack. She was put to sleep, forcing Angelina to change Pokémon.

"Let's go, Charcoal!" Angelina ordered, throwing another Pokeball onto the field. The fire lizard appeared and flicked his flaming tail in anticipation. "We've got a match to win."

"Char, Char!" Charmander said confidently. (This guy's toast)

Angelina smiled, Charmander liked to talk a big game, but he was no fool. The small fire lizard knew that it was dangerous to get overconfident, and that sometimes it was best to use brain over brawn.

"All right Charcoal, Ember!"

"Hoothoot, dodge!"

"To your left, Charcoal!"

Charmander spun in circles and blasted its fiery embers to the left where Hoothoot had dodged, the brown owl Pokemon was burnt though it recovered and used Peck, but Charmander dodged it.

Hoothoot was now chasing Charmander and started pecking as fast as possible; most of which hit Charmander. Hoothoot was about to use Foresight when….

"Charcoal, finish it with Scratch!"

Charmander struck with it clawed arm and knocked Hoothoot out.

"Return, HootHoot!" Falkner held out the Pokeball as Hoothoot was sucked inside through a red beam. "Wow Angelina, you sure are different form other female trainers that I battle."

"Are you saying that in a good or bad way, Falkner?"

Falkner blushed a little bit. "I'll tell you later!" he took out another Pokeball, its finished surface scratched in some places, confidence then spreading across his adolescent face. "And with this last Pokémon, I shall redeem myself," he quickly tossed it in the air, "Pidgeotto, let's go!"

Angelina's eyes grew wide as a large bird Pokémonn appeared and fluttered its long feathers. Accenting the bird's brown and tan body were pink feathers on its head and tail. A weary glare from its eyes settled on the young opponent—Charmander—before it.

"That's a Pidgeotto?" Reaching into the side pocket of her backpack she wore, Angelina took out her Pokédex and pointed to the Pokémon, who stood fearlessly in a dignified pose. The Pokédex revived and displayed a photo of a similar, younger-looking Pidgeotto as it spoke in its mechanical tone.

"Pidgeotto, the Bird Pokémon. an evolved form of Pidgey. It has outstanding vision; however high it flies, Pidgeotto can distinguish the movements of its prey and immobilizes its prey with its well-developed claws."

Angelina looked from her Pokédex to the Pokémon, and did so again before staring curiously at Pidgeotto. "It...looks experienced."

"It was my father's Pokémon when he was Gym Leader of this city. He passed it down to me when I succeeded him," explained Falkner with a friendly grin.

"That was your father's?" Angelina asked in surprise. "Amazing..."

"Yes, it was. Now let's finish our battle, shall we? Pidgeotto, Razor Wind, now!" The first stage of this attack was creating a whirlwind and the second stage was firing the razor-sharp wind at the opponent.

"Dodge and use Ember, Charcoal!"

When Charmander did that, the spiral wind Pidgeotto was creating turned into a fire tornado!

"Pidgeotto, Razor Wind, now!"

When Pidgeotto's attack hit Charmander, it did double damage; damage for fire and flying. Angelina was forced to call back Charmander.

"I win," Falkner said.

"Not yet." Angelina grinned and threw out another Pokeball. "Go, Spritz!" revealing yet again her sleeping aqua-mouse Pokemon, but she quickly woke up after a Tackle from Pidgeotto.

"Marill, Mar! Mariiiiiiiiiii!" the aqua-mouse growled and blasted out water toward Pidgeotto, but the flying bird was too fast and dodged with its Agility.

Angelina started thinking. At this rate, Marill won't hit Pidgeotto not even once, and Pidgeotto can just use Wing Attack and K.O. Marill. She had to think of something quick. "Marill, use Rollout!" she commanded.

Marill started rolling around on the ground, then bounced up into the air, knocking Pidgeotto down to the ground.

"Mud-Slap, now!" Falkner ordered.

Pidgeotto's wings were covered with mud and slapped Marill with minimal damage.

Marill kept on rolling right into Pidgeotto.

"Pidgeotto, no!" Falkner cried, watching his injured and tired Pokemon fall to the ground in defeat.

"Spritz, cut it!" Angelina ordered.

Marill unrolled itself, looking confused until it saw its opponent had fallen.

Falkner rushed to his Pokemon's side, whispering words of comfort.

Angelina held in a grimace – she felt a little guilty. Maybe she shouldn't have let Marill pound for so long.

The water Pokémon nudged Angelina's leg, her arrogant-ness no longer resuming.

"Marill, Mar!" she stated simply. (We did what had to be done)

Angelina had to smile – Marill wasn't one for talking nicely, but when she did, she knew the right thing to say.

Angelina knelt and hugged her Pokemon. "I'm proud of you, Spritz." she grinned, "I knew all those attitude problems you gave me a while back would pay off one day."

Marill chuckled 'Who would've thought it'd be during the battle against my old trainer'.

Angelina laughed and stood when Falkner cleared his throat.

"Well done, Angelina! You've won fair and square, so here, take this Zephyr badge," Falkner pressed the small badge into Angelina's palm. "Think of it as a gift from me to you, as a friend." The badge looked a bit like the little wings you got when you traveled with a certain airline.

"Thanks" Angelina said, she held it up in her big moment and poised victorious saying, "Alright! I won the Zephyr Badge! This one means a lot to us, right Spritz?"

"Marill!" the aqua-mouse Pokémon nodded.

"Oh!" Angelina suddenly exclaimed, "Is Pidgeotto all right?"

Falkner smiled, "He's a little beaten up, and his prides a little bruised – but it's nothing a little trip to the Pokémon center won't fix."

"Okay," Angelina nodded, recalling her Marill. "And by the way, Falkner. Earlier you wanted to tell me something. That I was different from other girls."

"Yeah. You're, um... how can I put this? Your personality is different. You're very...unique in a good way."

"Nobody's ever called me unique before? They've all called me a nutcase or strange back at home."

Falkner chuckled, he stepped closer to Angelina and lifted her chin with his hand causing her to blush. Her hazel eyes locked with his dark blue ones. "Does this mean that I'm the first?"

"Y-Yeah." Angelina shuttered. "And thank you."

"You're very welcome." Falkner smiled, letting go of Angelina's chin and handed her a slip. "Maybe I'll see you around sometime."

"Sure, Falkner." Angelina waved then leaves the gym happily with the Zephyr badge in hand. Once she was out, the Pokegear hanging around her neck began to vibrate again close to her chest. She pulled it up to her eyes and looked at the caller I.D. to see it was Prof. Elm. She clicked the phone button and spoke into its speaker, "Hello?"

"Hello, Angelina?" Prof. Elm's curious voice asked.

"Yes, it's me." She replied happy to hear from him again holding the Pokegear like a microphone to her lips.

"Good to hear from you again. We discovered something about the egg!" he exclaimed triumphant through the speaker.

"Really? What is it?" Angelina asked intrigued at the good news.

"I can't explain, but my assistant is at the Pokemon Center in Violet. You should visit him and asked him yourself." He answered unsure himself.

"Okay, I'm going to the Pokemon Center now to heal my Pokemon." Angelina agreed along with him.

"Good, good, I better go. Call me if you find anything out. Bye!" He hung leaving the Pokegear to beep afterwards until Angelina pressed the phone button off and walked towards the Pokemon Center. She went inside and found Prof. Elm's assistant standing by the counter holding the familiar white egg in his hands. She walked up to him as he spun towards her and smiled.

"Angelina, long time, no see." The assistant greeted the bluenette warmly.

"Hi there! Prof. Elm called me saying that you're here in Violet City." Angelina spoke twiddling her fingers.

"Yes, Prof. Elm asked me to find you." the assistant explained carefully cradling the fragile egg.

"Me?" Angelina pointed to herself confused.

"Yes, he has another favor to ask."

"Of course." Angelina shrugged her shoulders and shook her head predictable. "What does he wants me to do?"

The assistant took the egg away from his chest and held it out to her. "Would you take the Pokemon egg?" he asked hopefully.

"Huh? Why?"

"You see, we discovered that a Pokemon will not hatch until it grows in the egg. It also has to be with other active Pokemon to hatch. Angelina, you're the only person we can rely on." the assistant explained looking at her pleadingly.

"Well? Okay, I'll take it." Angelina nodded and took the egg from his hands.

"Great! Please call Prof. Elm when that egg hatches!" the assistant ran out of the center while Angelina tried to call out, "But wait?" He was gone while she stood near the counter with the odd egg held close to her chest with both arms.

"Oh well! I'll talk this egg and make sure it's safe." Angelina smiled while she put her backpack down and opened it up wide. She carefully placed the egg inside and closed the bag with the egg secured inside before she placed it on her back.

Later that night, Angelina was getting ready for sleep to prepare for another day's travel to her next gym badge.

"What a day!" Angelina muttered to herself bushed. She picked up the slip Falkner gave her before and looked at it. It was his phone number and on the bottom, he wrote, "We'll have a rematch later on and we'll see who's the best! -Falkner." She smiled big at the note and put it back into her pocket again.

§To Be Continued§

*Angelina arrives in Violet City and takes on the Sprout Tower Challenge.
*Angelina's rival gets a lecture from Master Li, but only wants to get a chance to challenge the Violet Gym.
*Angelina finds out that the boy who helped her save Professor Elm's Lab is the Violet City Gym Leader.
*Angelina uses Marill and Charmander to defeat Falkner's Hoothoot and Pidgeotto, thus earning her the Zephyr Badge, and Falkner's phone number for a later rematch.
*Angelina receives a call from Professor Elm about the mysterious egg. She meets the assistant at the Pokemon Center and is asked to raise the Pokemon egg.

So after Angelina meets her rival again at Sprout Tower, she then finally meets the trainer who helped out in New Bark Town, who was actually the Gym Leader of Violet City. Kinda cool, huh? Well, chapter 6 will be posted next. Stay tuned and reviews are appreciated! Thanks!