Author's Notes: RayTheZoroark here. It's been a while since I've updated this story, hasn't it? I'd originally planned on having the gym battle be one chapter, but due to length, I decided to split it up into two chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon

When I awoke, the first thing I noticed was a weight on my chest. Looking down, I recognized Inertia curled up on my chest, her own chest rising and falling as she slept. I wanted to wake her, but she just looked so cute lying there that I couldn't make myself do it.

Almost an hour later, and I remembered that she was a Slakoth. They tended to sleep for most of the day. I sighed, and reached out a hand to gently shake her awake.

"Inertia? Time to move, because I need to get out of bed."

"...snore..." She snored, which added another level of cuteness to her. I sighed again, and shook her a little harder.

"Seriously Inertia. I need to get ready for my gym battle."

"...snor-" She stopped mid-snore, and yawned, her eyes creeping open as she surveyed the position we were in. For the first time, her eyes opened completely, a small blush appearing on her cheeks as she quickly rolled off of me.

"I-I'm s-sorry!" She stammered, staring up at me with wide eyes.

"It's fine," I admitted, getting out of bed and grabbing some clothes, as well as a towel so I could take a quick shower. "anyway, you looked kind of cute when you were asleep." With that, I entered the bathroom, leaving a red faced Slakoth staring after me.

I took a quick shower, too eager about his looming gym battle to rinse thoroughly. As he took his shower, however, he began thinking.

Okay, Roxanne uses Rock type moemon, so Kane won't be of much use there. Then again, nor will Inertia, for that matter. Now that Kelly has learned Confusion, she should deal a decent amount of damage, and coupled with Shenzi's Bite attack, I should be able to win this battle!

With that, I turned the water off, and, getting out of the shower, dried myself off quickly, and got dressed in my usual attire.

I turned to the bed when I left the bathroom, only to find a sleeping Slakoth on my bed.

"Guess I couldn't really have expected her to stay awake." I muttered to myself, and returned her to her pokeball. I gathered my things, which weren't much, and headed out the door. Making a mental note to stock up on supplies before I left town, I turned the key in, and, leaving the Moemon Center, I headed straight for the Gym. It was rather plain, as far as gyms go. I opened the doors, and headed inside.

The entire inside of the gym was made of rock. the walls, the floors, and even the ceiling were made of brown rock. The only problem was that there was nobody inside.

"Hello?" I called, taking a couple more steps inside, letting the door swing shut behind me. I stood there for a couple more seconds, contemplating what to do. Suddenly, the door opened behind me, and a girl in a school uniform walked in.

"Hello." She greeted.

"Hi. Could you tell me where I could find Roxanne? I want to challenge her to a battle, so I can win the gym badge." I asked.

The girl smirked. "If you're looking for Roxanne, you asked the right person. I'm Roxanne, and I accept your challenge."

I was a bit surprised, especially by her choice in clothes.

She seemed to read my mind, because she said, "I was over at the Moemon School giving a lesson when I was told that you were entering my gym."

"Then let's cut the chatting and get down to business." I stated.

Her smile grew wider. "Very well. But beware; I've spent countless hours studying battle strategies. There's no way a beginner can beat me!"

I smirked. "Who said I was a beginner?" I asked.

"You only have four pokeballs on your waist." She pointed out. "Also, you don't have much gear with you, which means you don't have the money for more gear."

"Be that as it may, I believe I'm well enough off to beat you."

She nodded. "We shall see."

She led the way over to a large battle arena, and took her place at the other end. Turning to face me, she pulled out three pokeballs.

"I only have three moemon on me, so we'll stick with a three on three."

"All right." I agreed.

"Now, let's give him a look at the competition, shall we? Go, Geodude, Aron, and Nosepass!"

Out came a stout guy in a brown t-shirt, followed by a small kid in a silver hoodie, and another guy in a dull grey sweat shirt.

"Now I'll show you your's." I released Shenzi, Kelly, and Kane.

"You ready? Let's go Geodude!"

"All right, Shenzi, let's win this!" I looked over at Roxanne as the moemon took their places on the battlefield. "Ladies first."

Roxanne rolled her eyes. Then they turned serious.

"Geodude, use Tackle!"

"Shenzi, dodge and then use Bite!"

Just before the Geodude connected with her, she rolled sideways, finding her feet quickly, and jumped onto the moemon's back, sinking her teeth into the Geodude's shoulder. He bellowed in pain, and stamped around the battlefield, trying to shake her off.

"Geodude, use Rock Tomb!"

Instantly, the Geodude raised its arms as best it could, and struck the ground. large rocks broke away from said ground, and smashed into Shenzi, forcing her to release the Geodude with a cry of pain. She fell to the ground and rolled away from the Geodude, finding her feet quickly, although a grimace was apparent on her face.

"Shenzi, Howl!"

Her eyes narrowed, and she released a loud howl, pumping herself up.

"Geodude, Tackle!"

The Geodude charged forward, colliding with Shenzi as she finished her move, sending her reeling back, trying to regain her footing.

"Now, use Rock Tomb!"

Once again, the Geodude slammed his fists into the ground, sending large rocks flying towards the Poochyena.

"Drop to the ground, Shenzi!"

She obeyed, not a moment before the boulder went sailing over her head, followed by the rest.

"Now, use Bite once more!"

"Don't let up! Use Tackle, Geodude!"

They charged each other, eyes narrowed.

"Roll, Shenzi!"

Immediately, Shenzi tucked herself into a ball, and rolled in between the Geodude's legs. She found her feet and turned, hopping once again onto the Geodude's back. This time, however, she sunk her teeth into the Geodude's neck. He gave a cry of pain, and fell limp on the ground. Shenzi held him a moment longer before letting go of him, and stepping away from him.

"Return!" Roxanne returned her fallen pokemon, and looked up at me, a new look in her eyes.

"I'll be honest. I didn't expect you to be the first to beat a pokemon, but no matter, the battle isn't over yet." She directed her Aron onto the battlefield, and smirked. "No, this battle is just getting started! Aron, use Metal Claw!"

The Aron darted forward, its claws taking on a metallic sheen.

"Shenzi, dodge, then use Bite!"

Shenzi ducked the swipe, and tried to bury her teeth in the Aron's arm. However, since Aron is part steel, it didn't do much damage.

"Shake it off, Aron! Use Rock Tomb!"

Aron used its other arm to slam into the ground, causing rocks to fly up, nailing Shenzi at point blank range and causing her to stumble backwards.

"Now, follow up with Metal Claw!"

Aron charged the still dazed Poochyena, and connected with a harsh slash, causing a gash in Shenzi's skirt. She was sent flying, falling to the ground next to me.

I bent down, worried for a moment before her eyes cracked open, a defeated look on her face.

"Sorry, master. I tried." She whispered.

"It's fine. Take a rest." I returned her, then sent Kane to take her place.

"Aron, use Rock Tomb!"

"Dodge, then use Ember!"

Kane hopped around the flying rocks, shooting off the occasional missile of fire, slowly whittling the Aron down. One rock, however, managed to catch Kane before he could jump clear. He gave a cry as he was forced to the ground.

"Aron, Headbutt!"

The small kid charged forward, head extended.

"Kane, retaliate with Ember!"

Kane rolled onto his back and let loose a torrent of fiery missiles, stopping the Aron in its path with a cry of pain.

"Now, finish with Scratch!"

Kane leaped forward, slashing his talons across the Aron's chest. Despite the Aron's resistance to the attack, it collapsed with another, smaller cry of pain. Roxanne's eyes widened as she returned her second fallen moemon. Then she smirked again.

"It's been a while since I've had to use this moemon. Let's show them what we've got, Nosepass!"

Her final moemon took its place on the field.

"Take a rest, Kane. Let's do this, Kelly!"

Kane reluctantly stepped back over to stand behind me, and my Ralts took his place on the field.

"Okay, Nosepass, use Rock Throw!"

The Nosepass smashed his hand into the ground, and picked up a hunk of rock, which he lobbed at Kelly.

"Double Team!"

The instant before the rock connected with her, a dozen copies appeared, and the rock harmlessly fazed through the Kelly that was standing there.

"Okay. Use Rock Tomb!"

A dozen rocks were launched at the clones.

"Confusion!"

As the Ralts disappeared, one Ralts raised its arms, its horn glowing pink as the rock flying towards it stopped, and was sent flying back at the Nosepass, scoring a hit and a grunt from the moemon.

"Rock Tomb on the remaining one, Nosepass!"

Once again, a dozen rocks were sent flying at Kelly.

"Dodge!"

It was too late, however, as the rocks each nailed the poor Ralts, causing her to scream in pain and fly backwards straight towards me. I grunted as I caught her, and sighed in relief when I realized that she was still breathing. I looked up at Roxanne and her Nosepass, who was staring at us with confidence.

"I told you. No beginner is going to beat me." She stated.

I turned to Kane and nodded.

"She was right about one thing, Kane," I commented as he took his place on the battlefield, "This battle is just getting started."

End Notes: That's it for this chapter, folks. Sorry for that cliffhanger (no I'm not), but that's what writers do to keep their readers interested, so... Either way, I plan on updating FE:L, CoN, and post another bonus chapter for WIIAM next Wednesday, so look forward to that!

Anyway, hope you enjoyed reading this story, and as always, leave a review. RayTheZoroark Out!

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