Beginning Arc: The First Gym

When Mari had bought five Poké Balls for each of them, she turned to Zorua. "Okay then, let's go!" She tossed a ball into the air, which opened and shot a beam at Zorua. It was retracted into it and the ball closed. Zorua didn't fight back and the ball made a soft clicking sound. Mari bent down and picked it up. "Gotcha!"
Jacky knelt down to Shinx and briefly touched its forehead with the ball. It disappeared into it and a soft click rang out. Mari looked at her with a sly smirk. "We got our second Pokémon. Oh, how lovely." Then, she looked outside. The rain stopped and the sky cleared. "Hey, look. It's like a spell, isn't it?",
"Yeah, for sure." Jacky chuckled softly and then pointed into the distance where the sun was already setting. "Beautiful, right?",
"Yes. The mischief has gone away for now... I'm glad.",
"Me too." Jacky briefly watched a flock of Pidove rise from the roofs of surrounding houses. Suddenly, she felt along her head.
"What is it?" Mari looked at her.
"I probably should have blow-dried my hair." She shook her hair through. Mari snorted, then laughed out loud. "Pfft. Hahahaha!" Jacky braided her wet hair while her friend put a hand on her stomach to get a grip again. The blonde-haired girl laughed quietly along with her. "I'm glad we're neighbors. I can't imagine life without you anymore." Mari smiled and then held out her hand to Jacky. "We always help each other, no matter what. Okay?",
"Sure, you can count on me!" Jacky chimed in.
"Then, she should go home now. Tomorrow morning, we'll meet at the gym. Giratina bite the hindmost!"
Jacky nodded and smiled. "I'm looking forward to it.",
"One more question..." Mari looked at her.
"Huh?" Jacky had already headed for the exit when she turned around. "What is it?",
"Can I battle gym leader Cheren first?",
"Eh, sure." She nodded, a bit taken aback, and smiled. "I'll cheer you on.",
"Thanks.",
"Don't mention it." Jacky waved modestly.
"See you then. And don't you dare be late again. Okay?",
"Okay, okay." She waved at her, then walked back home.

The next morning, Mari was already standing in front of the trainer school when she saw Jacky slowly shuffling over. "Where were you?!" she asked. Jacky yawned softly. "Good morning, Mari.",
"Well, well." Mari looked at her Xtranceiver. "It's been only two minutes this time. You're improving. I'm ready to go. You too?",
"We should go, not talk." Jacky walked past the black-haired girl, winking. "Otherwise we'll be late for class!",
"Haha." Mari grimaced. "I've had enough of that for now."

Jacky entered the school and was almost knocked over by a couple of hurried students. "Waaah!",
"Whoa, you almost got double-edged away." Mari snickered. Jacky pulled her bag close, then pointed at a teacher. Coincidentally, it was their former Biology class teacher, Mr. Ledger. "Maybe he knows where Cheren is.",
"Yeah, maybe.",
"Excuse me?" Jacky ran to him. "Do you know where the gym leader is? Because we're looking for him.",
"What do you know." He smiled at them. "I remember you two. Mari and Jacky, right?",
"Yep." Mari walked over to him with a smile. "Hi, Mr. Ledger. Long time no see.",
"Indeed. You're here to challenge the gym?",
"Yep.",
"You've come a long way. You're gonna rock this, Mari. I'd be disappointed if the ace of last school year would lose her first great challenge.",
"Too kind." She waved it off. "So, do you know where Cheren is?",
"Yeah, he's further in the back." Mr. Ledger replied, gesturing at a door.
"Let's go then. Thanks." Jacky looked at Mari and then ran ahead, full of joy.
"Hey, wait for me!" Mari protested. Jacky waited for her in front of the door, then pushed it open and looked around. She spotted a teacher with longer black hair, a white shirt, and a tie. "Found him~"
Cheren glanced at his Xtranceiver, then looked up. He noticed the two of them. "Looking for something? Can I help you?" he asked, books tucked under his arm.
"We...we want to challenge the gym," Mari replied. "Me first.",
"Oh?" Cheren tilted his head. "I remember you guys. You're Mari and Jacky, right? I recall teaching you guys in Battle Strat class once a year or two ago." He smiled in his usual cool demeanor. "Follow me."

Cheren led them to an open battle pitch that was on the school's sport grounds. He stood on one side of the field. "This is your first gym challenge", he said. "Each challenger is allowed to use as many Pokémon as the gym leader does, but not more than that. Most gym leaders use two specially trained Pokémon of one type for this. I'll be using normal types only. Once you're ready, step towards the line." Mari took a deep breath and then stopped by the line on her side of the pitch. "I'm ready.",
"I see. Let's get started then!" He pulled out a Poké Ball and threw it. "Go, Furret!" A weasel-like Pokémon with brown stripes appeared on the field. "Okay, go, Zorua..." Mari threw her Poké Ball forward, but was completely confused when Kirlia appeared on the pitch. "Huh, what the...? Did I switch the Poké Balls by accident?"
Cheren lifted his chin in amazement and straightened his tie. "Are you okay?" Mari pulled out her Pokédex in confusion and scanned Kirlia, but it really seemed to be Zorua. Seeing the ability, Mari understood. "Oh well, Illusion... Now it all makes sense." Mari stowed the Pokédex back into her bag after she had read the moves it knew. "No, it's all clear! Okay, Zo... um, I mean, Kirlia! Attack!" Zorua nodded and made the start with Tackle. Cheren narrowed his eyes. "Quick Attack!" Furret ran forward and threw itself against the camouflaged Zorua, but was also hit by its Tackle. Zorua slid back, but illusion flickered and dissolved. "I see, that's how it works... One hit and it breaks...",
"Aha!" Cheren stretched out his arm and commanded, "Don't let up, use Fury Swipes!", "Dodge!" With an angered face, Zorua dodged the attacks while prancing back, but some of the strikes still hit it. "Bite!" Zorua leapt forward just as Furret lunged for the next blow and bit his paw. Furret howled. 'Zorua knows Shadow Claw, but ghost-type moves are completely useless against normal types... guess I have to work with what I have.' Zorua managed to fling Furret to the ground.
"Scratch!" Cheren shouted. Furret lashed out and hurled Zorua away. The black Pokémon hit the ground and slid through the dirt, leaving behind a cloud of sand. "Are you okay, Zorua?" Mari looked at it. Zorua jumped back up onto its paws and shook the dirt out of its fur. Then, it nodded. "Quick Attack!" Cheren ordered. Furret lunged forward yet again and forced Zorua back into the sand. "Use Growl, Zorua!" Mari commanded, and Zorua got back up. "We're not going to let that happen! Finish it with Quick Attack!" Cheren shouted, and Furret charged at Zorua. Zorua jumped into the air, dodging Furret's attack. Then it landed behind the Normal Pokémon. "Growl!" Mari shouted, and Zorua proceeded to lower its foe's attack power this time. "Now Tackle, fight back!" As Furret wanted to retreat, Zorua jumped at it. It dodged. "Retaliate with Scratch!",
"Bite!" Zorua caught Furret's claws with its teeth and blocked the attack that way. "Well done! Now Tackle!" Zorua let go and used the moment Furret needed to gather itself to throw itself against it. Defeated, the opponent crashed to the ground. Zorua proudly stuck out his chest. "Yay! Way to go, Zorua!" Mari ran to the little fox Pokémon and hugged it. "Well done, Furret, I guess that Zorua was out of our league." Cheren smiled, withdrew it, and straightened up. "There's no denying it, you two get along well." Mari let go of Zorua and looked at him. "Really?",
"Yes, but..." Cheren looked at Zorua with a piercing gaze. "You're Zorua's trainer, and you're responsible for any wounds it carries. When Zorua dodged Furret's attack, it did so on its own initiative." He raised his index finger. "That's a good thing, but it can end badly. Be sure you've got full control of your Pokémon during a battle. If if decides to attack on its own, it can backfire terribly."
Mari nodded. "I'll take note of that.",
"Good. As the gym leader of Aspertia City, I have a duty to show how hard the road to the top really is!" He pulled out a second Poké Ball. "And this Pokémon will give you a tough run.",
"We're ready.",
"Here we go, Herdier." He threw the Poké Ball forward with momentum, and the Herdier landed in front of the much smaller Zorua, looming over him menacingly and barking. "A Herdier..." Mari mused. "That's the stage one form of Lilipup...",
"Attack is our best defense," Cheren said coolly, extending his hand. "Start with Work Up, Herdier!",
"Zorua, you must attack with Tackle, do you hear?" Mari shouted. Zorua went on the offensive with a growl. "Counter with Take Down!" Cheren commanded. Herdier surrounded itself with white light and then rammed Zorua so hard that it flew halfway across the battle pitch. It landed somewhat awkwardly on its four paws, panting heavily. It shook itself and then bristled its fur. "Okay, ready for the next attack? Growl! Let's counter them!" Zorua nodded and released sound waves that lowered Herdier's attack again. Herdier, on the other hand, was not impressed and stood valiantly on its four paws. "If you lower our attack, we'll do the same to your defense." Cheren was just as determined as Herdier. "Leer!" Herdier stared menacingly at Zorua and its eyes lit up briefly, then Zorua's body shimmered slightly. "Darn", Mari cursed through gritted teeth. "Tackle, go!",
"Take Down!" Cheren retorted, and his Pokémon ran forward.
"Dodge it!" Zorua was able to slow down the attack in time and narrowly escaped. "Bite!" It then whirled around and tried to grab Herdier. "Finish it with Take Down." Herdier was faster than the weakened Zorua, however, and dodged its teeth before it rammed itself against it. Zorua stumbled and crashed to the ground, unable to fight anymore. "Zorua!" Mari ran to it and picked it up from the ground. Zorua looked at her, exhausted. "You more than made good use of our first battle together. Get some rest." Mari withdrew it.
"My Herdier gives a good lesson, don't you think?" Cheren tightened his tie with a smile. "Yes." Mari nodded and stood up again. "But I'm not done yet either. Kirlia, it's time we show what we can really do! Come out!" She tossed Kirlia's Poké Ball and the Psychic-type Pokémon landed on the battlefield with an elegant bow. "A Kirlia?" Cheren ran a hand through his hair. "I've only seen one in books. It's nice that you and I can learn something, too." He crossed his arms. "Show us what you can do.",
"I won't let you down there", Mari said. "Kirlia, use Magical Leaf!" Kirlia pirouetted, then fired a volley of leaves at Herdier. "Dodge it, Herdier!" Herdier ducked and the leaves flew over it.
"Confusion!" Mari ordered. Kirlia's eyes suddenly lit up and a sweep of telekinetic energy hit Herdier. It hadn't expected that and was hit. "Not bad." Cheren smiled. "But our next attack will defeat you! Attack with Bite!" Herdier leapt forward and snapped at the foe. Kirlia cried out. "No. I'll guarantee you, you're a little bit wrong about that. Kirlia, Dazzling Gleam!" Kirlia freed itself with the help of a teleportation, then let loose a wave of light at Herdier. "Fairy type already, huh?" Cheren looked at Herdier. "But it's defenses are weak. Break through it with Take Down!" Herdier dashed through the light with difficulty and hit Kirlia. Kirlia was flung through the air, but caught its fall. "Confusion!" Mari commanded. Kirlia's eyes lit up again and it pushed Herdier back. "Now Magical Leaf!"