I woke up to the smell of fresh soup and a concerned Pikachu standing at my pillow side and an equally worried Togepi and Latias on my other side, with the gang all crowded around my bed. Where was I?

"Hey there sleepyhead, that was some scare you gave us." Misty said with a smile as she held a bowl in her hands. "Look what Brock made you, it's your favourite snacking starter soup!" Alright! Just what I need.

"I made it with extra peppers, because I know you like them so much." Brock added as I began to sit up a little against the pillows Ash and Brock plumped up for me, still getting to grips with everything. Latias called up to me, wriggling closer into my arms so I hugged her gently but securely.

"What happened?" I asked as Misty offered me some soup and I took it, my arms feeling too heavy to move too much or even think about holding a spoon.

"Well, after you passed out, Brock flew here with you on Charizard to get you plenty of rest. We're at the Pokémon Centre in Mahogany Town. You remember everything before fainting, right?" She asked and I arched an eyebrow.

"By everything you mean the red Gyarados and Team Rocket? Yeah. I think I've got all the details."

"Well, you were unconscious for three days. We were getting pretty worried." Ash said to me as I gave a little smile to Togepi and Pikachu then tickled their bellies, making them both squeal happily as Misty fed me another spoonful of soup. Hmm…that tastes so good. "Brock's been nursing you nonstop, making sure you didn't take ill. He even fed you by hand."

"Really? Thanks Brock. That really means a lot to me." I said to him and he smiled.

"Don't mention it. You nursed me once before, remember? I was merely returning the favour." He assured me.

"Well anyway, though I'm sure Ash was overcome with worry, he went and challenged Pryce to a gym battle." Misty continued. "You see, Pryce had a reputation for being cold and heartless, just like his ice type Pokémon, but then when Ash went out to find him with some help, they both fell down a cavern and landed in an ice cave."

"Yeah, turns out, Pryce's old Piloswine had left him when they were both healing after getting burned in a battle and he thought it had abandoned him. However when we got down to the cave, we found Piloswine frozen in ice, and it had some herbs in its mouth which help burns to heal! After we'd melted the ice, Pryce got his Piloswine back and I battled it." Ash said proudly but then rubbed his head. "Though Pryce forfeited the match, so technically I didn't win…"

"Pryce saw the strength of your Pokémon and what a great battler you were. He knew that if he continued the battle then both Pokémon would end up seriously hurt, so he decided it best to let you win the match." Brock told him. "You earned the win either way because of your determination to not give up so easily."

"Brock's right." I said to Ash with a gentle smile as I stroked Latias's soft body as she purred gently. "Winning isn't always about how a match ends, it's about how you perform and battle with your Pokémon. If you all worked hard and gave it all that you've got, then that's a win in our eyes. Don't sweat over it Ash." I gave a little chuckle. "I can't wait for my turn. I'll show Pryce how fire really burns!" I tried to sit up but Misty held me back.

"Oh no you don't. You're not getting up until we're all agreed you're completely better and you're in no shape to even give a half decent battle. Pryce will wipe the floor with you, fire or no fire. You'd better rest." Misty finished so I sighed and nodded my head.

"Okay." Latias instantly snugged closer and I smiled as Pikachu also curled up next to me, keeping a careful eye on my condition as Togepi tucked herself up into my arms as well for an afternoon nap.

"Aw that's cute. Quick! Get me her camera, this is just adorable!" I didn't even bother trying to argue that I looked a mess, I was already drifting back into sleep.


"Dewgong, Ice Beam!"

"Dragonair, use Thunderbolt!" I parried, watching as Dewgong leaped out of the water. Dragonair straightened out her neck, summoning the energy she needed before shooting a strong bolt of electricity out at Dewgong which collided with the Ice Beam attack, causing a massive explosion in the middle of the battlefield.

The force knocked both Pokémon back and they skidded across the ice before falling still, too exhausted to both continue. "Both Dewgong and Dragonair are unable to battle, this match is a draw." Giving a deep sigh to try and remain calm I returned Dragonair to her Pokéball.

"You battled so well, thank you Dragonair. I'm sorry I didn't know ice types were effective against dragon types like you. It's my fault." I told her before putting the Pokéball away.

"A great match, are you ready for the next round?" Pryce asked and I nodded my head with a smile.

"You bet!"

"Alright then, Piloswine! I choose you!" I knew he would choose Piloswine. In that case, there's only one option left for me.

"Charizard, it's show time!" I called and Charizard came with a roar, stamping both feet onto the icy field and dug in his claws to keep his balance, glaring menacingly at Piloswine.

"A Charizard, excellent choice, though it doesn't mean you're going to win simply having type advantage this time." Pryce warned me and I gave a little shrug with a smirk.

"We'll see about that." Behind me I could hear Pikachu and the others all cheering for me, encouraging me on so I took a deep breath and looked up at Charizard who turned his head to catch my eye. "We can do this Charizard, we'll show Pryce what a great team we make." With a nod of his head Charizard turned back to face Piloswine.

"Begin the match!" Sheila, our referee, called and waved her flags so Pryce kicked things off.

"Okay Piloswine, use Take Down!"

"Fly up Charizard, then use Flamethrower!" Charizard instantly flew up into the air with a flap of his great wings, lifting off the ground so that Piloswine's attack missed. The field was already completely frozen in ice, me having frozen up the water earlier to keep Dewgong from avoiding attacks so it now meant a perfect playing ground for Piloswine.

"Piloswine, use Blizzard to knock that Charizard out of the sky!" Instantly the entire battlefield was consumed by an ice storm, making Charizard roar as he was blasted with the cold.

"Charizard no!" I called, seeing him land heavily on the ground and when the blizzard disappeared, I saw one of Charizard's wings had been frozen around the tips, meaning he could no longer fly. "Charizard are you okay?" I called and he nodded his head with a sharp grunt, assuring me he was fine.

"You see, ice types also have great affect against flying type Pokémon, which is partly what your Charizard is as well. You can't just rely on the one part of your Pokémon to succeed in battle, you have to consider all areas of your Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses in order to succeed." I bit my lip, trying to think about this. He was right, if Pryce lands too many ice type attacks, Charizard will still take a lot of damage.

"In that case, we'll finish this quickly." I declared loud and proud then pointed at Piloswine. "Charizard, hit it with Fire Blast!" Charizard roared then blew out the fire symbol before pushing it at Piloswine.

"Take Down!" Piloswine charged forwards and I stared in horror as it slammed into the fire head on, stopping it in its tracks for a brief few moments before it ploughed on through then slammed into Charizard. "Now use Ice Beam!"

"Flamethrower!" Charizard blasted the Ice Beam with his fiery breath and saved himself from the hit but then Pryce was already moving forwards with another attack.

"Fury Attack!" Charizard was battered by the strong tusks of Piloswine and knocked backwards again, taking serious damage as he struck an ice pillar then fell onto his front.

"Charizard! Charizard you need to get up!" I told him, seeing Piloswine charge forwards with a Take Down attack. "Get up now! Charizard!" Charizard suddenly pushed himself up onto his feet and grabbed Piloswine, digging in his feet to keep Piloswine from chagrining into him and completely held off the Take Down. "Alright! That's the way to do it! Now toss Piloswine away before hitting with a full throttled Flamethrower!"

Charizard swung Piloswine around, gliding easily over the ice before letting go and Piloswine struck a pillar of ice with a trumpeting sound of shock as Pryce gasped and cried out. "Piloswine!" Charizard swung his weight around then blasted Piloswine with a powerful Flamethrower, hitting straight on and I punched the air with a smile.

"Yeah! Way to go Charizard!"

"Piloswine, use Rest!" Pryce called and instantly my smile dropped. No! He can't use Rest, because that means Piloswine will restore a lot of its energy!

"Hurry Charizard, use Flamethrower one more time." I pointed with both hands outwards then clenched my fists in determination, willing Charizard to continue battling despite being out of breath and beginning to feel the damage done by Piloswine's tough attacks.

Charizard blasted at Piloswine with another Flamethrower after he'd summoned the energy to do so but then Piloswine suddenly leaped out the way, avoiding the hit altogether then charged at Pryce who smirked. "Take Down, let's go Piloswine!"

"Dodge it Charizard!" Charizard tried to move out the way but his foot slipped on the ice and he couldn't move fast enough so I though quickly. "Use your wing as a shield and use your shoulder to hold off the attack!" Instantly Charizard moved his ice covered wing to shield himself and as Piloswine ploughed into him, used his shoulder and arm to hold off Piloswine and lessened the damage done immensely. I have to do something about that ice, but if I do then Pryce will only try freezing it again. I have to take Piloswine in one hit to win this before Charizard gets too tired to continue.

Looking back I saw Charizard fling out his wing and sent Piloswine back a few paces, skidding across the ice but still holding his ground, grunting and pawed at the ice with one heavy and furry foot as Charizard gave a dark growl in reply. "Piloswine, end this with Blizzard! Give it all you've got!" Pryce ordered and Piloswine instantly summoned another powerful blast of cold and ice. Suddenly an idea snapped to mine.

"Charizard, use Inferno as a shield and to melt the ice!" I called out and Charizard instantly began to glow with flames, the heat dancing out from his body as he wrapped himself up in a fiery cloak and the ice melted from his wing. "Now fly up!" He rose up into the air with one wing beat, rising above the blizzard as Pryce gasped. "Now Fire Blast!" With a final roar Charizard aimed his attack down at Piloswine, the air filling with sudden heat as Charizard released a flaming Fire Blast.

It powered down on Piloswine and struck in a direct hit, ploughing Piloswine through two ice pillars until finally, he lay still, groaning slightly and out of the battle. "Piloswine is now unable to battle, which means the winner is Ruby and her Charizard!"

"Yeah! Charizard! Charizard you did it! I love you so much!" I cheered, leaping up and flinging my arms around Charizard as he landed before me and began to blast me with hot air from his nostrils, smiling as he rubbed his face into me. "You were so amazing, a real hero." I told him adoringly before hugging him again.

"Well Ruby, you sure showed an old fool like me." Pryce chuckled as he walked over. "Your bond with your Pokémon is very strong, I can see that much clearer now that I've battled you. Here, as proof of your victory, I present the Glacier Badge." He said, holding out a silver badge that looked like a snowflake, which I took with pride. "Despite your Dragonair being at a disadvantage you still managed to defeat my Dewgong because you knew how to work with your Pokémon's strengths, and again with your Charizard, you kept him going even when it had taken a lot of damage. I'm proud to have battled you today."

"Thank you Pryce, the honour is all mine. I'm really glad you and Piloswine are a team again, you sure didn't make it easy for us." I said, still rubbing Charizard's head as I couldn't keep myself from smiling. "So this means Ash and I only have to win one more badge before we get to go to the Johto League, is that right?"

"That's correct, I think your friends have already decided the Blackthorn Gym to be your next stop. I wish you both all the luck in the world, though I don't think you'll need it." Pryce laughed before patting my shoulder. "You take good care of your Pokémon. They'll reward you in ways you can never imagine." He told me so I nodded my head.

"I will, I promise." I said before turning to find Ash and Pikachu racing over with excitement.

"You were great Ruby! That was some battle. You had us all worried for a moment there."

"Not a problem, Charizard can handle anything, right Charizard?" I asked and he growled in agreement before slathering his long tongue over my face, making me squeal in disgust before bursting into laughter as he came at me again, showering me in kisses and affection as everyone else merely laughed. Another badge, another victory, another step closer to the Johto league. And it's all thanks to Charizard!