In this chapter, when it comes to the gyms in Hoenn, mostly everything you know from the game and anime are going to be tossed out the window and straight into the trash compactor. In other words, I'm going to be making a few changes.

Disclamer: I do not own and will never own Pokemon. Otherwise Pikachu would've evolved into Raichu already and James would actually grow a set and be a man. (I know he's more of the sensitive type, but come on! they're turning the man into a freakin' pansy…oh wait, they already have.)

Chapter 4: The Gauntlet Is Thrown

Rex, Viki, and J.C. had made it to Oldale town as they approached the Pokemon Center, where Rex would register for the Hoenn League. Hopefully, Viki would find out where she could register for Pokemon Contests. J.C., however, was hoping he could find out more information about a Medicham and the perfect way to capture it. They wanted to forget about the Shadow Syndicate incident, especially Viki, at the moment.

"So Rex, any idea which gym you're going to go to first when you're signed up?" J.C. asked his friend.

"Didn't even think about it, to be honest…" Rex admitted. "I figured that whatever gym I found, I'd just be ready to take 'em on! No rush, really…"

"Rex, you must remember to at least check out the specific pokemon types they have at the gym." Viki reminded.

"Of course, I'm going to do my homework…" Rex smiled as he walked into the door. "The last thing I need is to walk into a battle with a major type-disadvantage." Once inside, they were greeted by a young lady with red hair in pigtails, save for a hospital cap on her head.

"Hello there!" She said.

"Nurse Joy!" Rex asked as he waved, "This place wouldn't happen to be the place where you sign up for the Hoenn league, would it?"

She nodded as she then went into a computer. "Well…what is your name?"

"I'm Rex Connelly, from Goldenrod City." He answered as Nurse Joy typed his name with a smile.

"I'm his sister, Viki." Viki said.

"And I'm J.C. Taikashi, from Saffron City." Nurse Joy wasn't surprised at the fact that the three trainers were all from places far from Hoenn: Two from Johto, the third from Kanto. Most trainers who began their journey to the Hoenn League here were from all over the world.

"Okay Rex, you're all set and registered. You have about three months to get eight badges."

"THREE MONTHS!?" The three said in unison. He knew that that the deadline for entry into the Hoenn League would be close, but three months was just too much.

Joy explained, "Over the past few years, the Hoenn League has become so popular that it's now only being held every three years. You're lucky to have made it around this time."

"So…Rex only has only a few months to get eight badges?" J.C. asks.

Joy nodded, "Yes. But fortunately more gyms have opened up in Hoenn. The gym in this town is one of the most recently opened gyms, so your first gym battle could be sooner than you expected.

"Well that's the bright side…" Rex replied, still not too fond of his situation. He had no idea that the Hoenn league was this tough, let alone being only held every three years. Add the three months left before the tournament starts to the equation and Rex was in a very tight spot.

"Nurse Joy…" Viki asked to change the subject. "I don't suppose that this would be the place to register for Pokemon Contests.

"I'm sorry Viki, but we do not handle registrations of Pokemon contests." Joy replied with a bit of regret.

"Oh…" Viki looked down in disappointment.

"But there is a contest hall in Verdanturf Town where you could be issued a pass to participate in them." Joy stated, hoping to bring up her spirits.

Viki gave a cheered-up smile. "Okay!" She then looked towards Rex. "I supposed you want to do some training, don't you?"

"Good idea." Rex nodded. With only three months to get eight badges, he didn't have any time he could afford to waste. "So…why don't we have a one-on-one battle?" He suggested.

"Okay!" Viki nodded as she then looked around. "Has anyone seen J.C.?"

J.C. was in the lounge area talking to a group of trainers, trying to find out as much information on a certain Fighting/Psychic Pokemon.

"So what kind of special attacks does it have?" He asked, pen and paper in hand.

"Well…" A young man in a green shirt and jeans explained to him, "It does have a pretty good confusion attack. Why are you looking for one, anyway?"

"Yeah, finding a Medicham in Mount Pyre is like finding a needle in a haystack. It's next to impossible." Another trainer added.

"Well…back in Kanto, there's this certain Psychic-type Gym Leader in Saffron City who I must defeat to-"

"Whoa, did you just say 'Psychic-type Gym Leader in Saffron City?'" A girl with wavy, bright-red hair with golden blonde streaks which it's length reached her shoulder blades walked up to J.C. She was wearing a school uniform which consisted of a navy blue jacket over a white blouse with a red bow at the collar, bavy blue pleated skirt that went down to her lower thighs and black Mary Janes over blue knee-length socks. She studied J.C. as if he were a lab specimen for a few seconds before it hit her. "Oh! You're J.C. Taikashi of the Fighting Pokemon Gym in Saffron City!"

J.C. nodded, "That's right!"

"You got annihilated in less than five minutes!" She exclaimed, much to J.C.'s embarrassment.

"I only had a Tyrogue with me!" J.C. stated, trying to maintain his pride a tough Fighting Pokemon trainer.

"I heard about it through the Hoenn Herald!" The girl held up the current issue of the Hoenn Herald with a split screen on the cover. On one side was a picture of Lance the Dragon Master. While on the other side was a picture of a Downwardly-Spiked Silver-haired man dressed in an expensive suit. In Gold font these words were imprinted: "Lance vs. Steven: Who would win?"

"It was a pretty exciting battle between your Tyrogue and Sabrina's Kadabra…for Fighting Pokemon vs. a Psychic type." She said the last part with less enthusiasm. It was as if she knew from the get-go that not only she had an idea who would win, but was expecting it right away. "Tyrogue did pretty okay, but wasn't really in Kadabra's league. After a Psybeam followed by Future Sight, it was sooooo over for you!"

J.C. was trying his best to keep his cool. If it wasn't for his somewhat laid-back nature, as well as for a fact that he made a point in the past not to hit ladies, he would've floored her with a roundhouse kick to the jaw. Being crushed into a humiliating defeat by Sabrina, which resulted the Psychic Pokemon gym becoming the number one Gym in Saffron, was already humiliating enough without her snobbish remarks adding on to it. "Let's see how you'd fair in a battle against a trainer whose Pokemon could trace your every move." He smirked, thinking that she wouldn't have a comeback.

Much to his dismay, the girl tossed out a pokeball. As it opened, an Umbreon then appeared between them. She then gave him a smirk which read "How's that for an answer, buddy?"

J.C. grumbled as he added, "With your pokemon being a Fighting type!"

She scoffed, "I wouldn't even bother! Everyone knows that a Psychic pokemon on their worst day can beat a Fighting Pokemon on its best day, silly. Hmph, no wonder your gym's second-rate."

J.C. had enough of her, more particularly her mouth, as his face went as red as a chili pepper. No one insulted his gym without having to go through any repercussions. "That does it! I challenge you to a Pokemon battle! Two of your best against two of mine! Let's see if your ass can cash in the checks that your mouth keeps writing with that big mouth of yours!"

She scoffed again as she walked off to the desk with her Umbreon. "Yeah, right… I just came back from a battle a few minutes ago! I don't know if my pokemon are actually in the mood for another battle. Besides, I have to get back to class." She looked back at J.C. "Oh, and speaking of moods, you need to work on yours. Ciao!"

J.C. watched on, teeth gritting, as the same trainer from before walked up to him. "Man…she punked you out… bad!"

"Who is that girl, anyway?" J.C. narrowed his eyes.

"Rei McKnight!" He explained. "She's a student at Pokemon Tech!"

"Pokemon Tech!?" J.C. responded as he then realized the connection. "I get it, a school where rich snobs go to learn about pokemon, right?"

"Not exactly… See, while most students are there because they can afford to attend such a high-standard school, some students are there because they excelled in Pokemon Academies all over the world, thus earning a scholarship. Rei happens to be one of the latter."

"So a huge brain with a huge ego to match…" J.C. muttered. "Figures…"

"So…what are you gonna do now?" He asked.

"Firstly, I'm going to find my friends." J.C. began to walk off…

"Hey, wait! I forgot to tell you, Rei's also-" It was too late as J.C. was already gone. He sighed, "The Oldale Town Gym Leader…"

Meanwhile, Rex and Viki were in the middle of a practice pokemon battle with their newest Pokemon. Seeing that J.C. would have taken forever, they decided to pass the time by sending their newest pokemon out in battles for the first time…

"Charex, use Slash attack now!" Rex ordered his Charmeleon.

"Courage, dodge and use Water Gun!" Viki ordered her newly-acquired Mudkip as it avoided a vicious slash as it then shot a stream of water at Charex, which really takes its toll on it. It didn't expect that Water Gun to be that strong. Shortly after she had gotten it, Viki named her Mudkip to remind herself to be strong and to give her hope in succeeding in her goals and dreams.

Charex falls on the ground but quickly gets back up as Viki smiled. She felt that she was actually going to beat Rex for once. "Courage, another Water Gun!" She ordered.

"Not this time, Vik!" Rex smirked, "Charex, Dodge that and use Iron Tail!"

"Iron Tail!?" Viki replied in shock, not expecting Charex to learn such an advanced move so quickly, as Charex jumped out of the way of the Water Gun attack as its tail began to glow white. It then leaped forward as it swung its tail at Courage at full force, knocking it back hard. However, being a water type, the steel-type move wasn't very effective, but it was enough for it to knock it down for the count.

"I don't get it…" Viki said to herself. "I thought I had the advantage…"

"True, but just because you have a type advantage, doesn't mean that it guarantees a win. Strategy also plays a huge role." Rex explained as he got out his Pokedex. He then checked Courage's level. "No wonder you couldn't win, it was only at Level 9. Most Starter Pokemon are usually at Level 5 as they're the ones used to give to beginning trainers, like when I got Drego and you got Ivy for Christmas, remember?" He then checked the level of his Charmeleon. "Level 18. That makes sense." Rex then saw an irate J.C. storming out from the Pokemon Center.

"What's up, Bro?" Viki's question was answered when she looked and saw J.C. "What happened, J.C.?"

"Rex, do we HAVE to go to this gym?" He asked, in a frustrated manner. "I know you only have three months, but I'm sure that you have more than enough time to get enough badges, without having to go to this one."

"Dude, what's wrong with this one?" Rex asked, wondering what exactly about Oldale town that's got his friend in a negative mood.

"It's just…" J.C. started to say but stopped. What was he supposed to say? "I think we should leave here because of some snobbish girl from a prep school made a fool out of me?" Rex and Viki would be laughing. Maybe not Viki, but Rex would be rolling on his back, laughing to death. He knew that Rex wouldn't ever let him live it down. "Nothing, it's nothing…" He finally said.

"Okay then, let's go to the Gym." Rex suggested as he walked quickly towards the gym. He knew that he was on a tight schedule and had no time to lose…

"I think that the whole Three-month time limit is finally getting to him…" Viki said aside to J.C.

"Give him a month…" He replied, almost as if it was challenging Viki to a bet.

"GUYS!" Rex shouted at them, wanting them to come along as well. J.C. and Viki decided to hurry along, not wanting Rex to scream again.

A few minutes later they approached a dome-shaped building with a bulletin board to the side which read: "Oldale Town Pokemon Gym. Leader: Come in and find out!"

"Well…that's really informative…" J.C. replied, with a bit of sarcasm.

"Perfect…I'm going to go into this blind." Rex muttered as he then walked up on the steps, followed by Viki and J.C. as the glass sliding door then automatically opened.

"So what type of Pokemon do you think our mystery leader uses, Rex?" Viki asked. She thought that since there was no information of the gym leader, there was even less information of what type the leader specializes in.

"Good question." Rex mused. "Good thing I made some substitutions with my Pokemon at the Center."

"That's a good idea, Rex. It's best to at least have one different type of all the pokemon you own." J.C. agreed with Rex's decision, as they approached the battle field. It was just a plain hardwood floor with the similar markings you'd see on a basketball court.

"Hello?" Rex called out, but no one answered.

"Is anyone there?" Viki asked out, also wondering where the Gym Leader is.

"Hmph, probably went hiding because I was coming here…" Rex said with a bit of confidence.

"Don't get too cocky!" Viki warned, "You remember last time you were this cocky?"

"Don't remind me…" Rex sighed, remembering all to well about his humiliating defeat in his match with the Legendary Dragon Trainer Lance. Not only did he lose, but he and Drego lost in a matter of minutes against Lance and his Dragonite. He vowed that not only would he avenge his loss to him, but he would never be defeated that easily again.

"Wow, looks like we have visitors!" A voice behind him exclaimed. Rex and Viki turned around, as did J.C. who then narrowed his eyes after he saw the person who the voice belonged too.

"You…" He muttered.

Well there you have it: My first cliffhanger in this story, even though it's already obvious who they see. Expect Rex to have his first Hoenn gym battle next chapter. The question is, will he be victorious? Or will the fact that he only has three months to get at least eight badges get to him so he blows it? Find out next chapter!