PM: Well, here's Chapter 31, finally. I had to put this one on hold because my other fics were on fire, so anyway... Here ya go!

CHAPTER 31:

Sky Tamer – Winona

Melanie, Roy, and Steven had finally reached Fortree City, home to Roy and Steven's sixth Badge. Each house was built in a strange manner; IN A TREE.

"Cool!" cried out Roy in excitement.

"Huh... I wonder if we'll have to fight the Gym Leader in a tree..." Steven said.

"I doubt that." Melanie sweat dropped.

The trio climbed up a ladder leading to a small rope bridge on the southward part of the city and walked to the other side.

"Target in sight!" shouted Steven as he spotted the Gym. It wasn't hard to miss now; it was north of the city, built like a big silver pyramid with a flat top and stairs going up the sides.

"..." All three looked at the number of stairs, making their eyes turn into Anime-style white circles with black outlines.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They decided to use Skarmory power to get to the top instead, making an ascent much quicker.

Recalling their Skarmory twosome, Roy and Steven called out for the Gym Leader. It was then that a female landed onto the battlefield from a Flying Pokemon, about 19. She wore a one-piece blue suit over a white and blue striped shirt with white pants, a blue aviation hat with yellow lines, blue shoes, and gloves, and had gray-blue eyes and long purple hair.

"Welcome to the Fortree City Gym!" she called out to Roy and his friends. The female walked over to them, and said, "I'm Winona, Gym Leader of Fortree City!"

"Hello, Winona. I am Steven Stone." greeted Steven.

"The name is Roy." said Roy in a cool and calm voice.

"And I'm Melanie." she added.

"Well, I suppose you're up here to challenge me to a battle for the Feather Badge?" Winona smirked.

"Both of us are!" Steven and Roy blurted out at the same time.

"Well, then... Head up to the tower on the right." The female Gym Leader pointed to a large metal tower with a spot for trainers at the top.

"See ya in the sky!" Winona walked over to the left tower and rose up to the top, which was red, with help from a mechanical raising platform.

Roy and Steven went up to the top of their tower, marked with a blue top.

"Good luck, Roy!" Melanie called. Roy gave her a grin.

"Hey, what about me?!" Steven cried out.

"Uh, yeah. You too."

Steven sweat dropped. "I can tell it was from the heart..."

Winona broke the humorous scene by saying:

"Okay. This is a four-on-four double battle with no time limits. You guys can make substitutions, blah-blah-blah, yadda-yadda-yadda."

Winona held out two Great Balls and tossed them into the air, calling out:

"Go! Tropius and Pidgeotto!"

From the two blue-and-white flashed appeared a Tropius and a Pidgeotto, a Normal/ Flying Element with a cream-colored underside, pink feet with white claws, a pink beak, red and yellow tail feathers, a tan-colored back, black markings on its face around its eye, and long, reddish-pink streamer-like head feathers. White claws were on the feet of the somewhat graceful bird.

"Pius!" screeched Tropius.

"Geo!" grunted Pidgeotto, in a quick-paced voice.

"Hmm... A Grass, a Normal, and Two Flying Elements involved here..." Steven pondered.

"Well, I know what I'll use! C'mon out, Torkoal!"

Roy threw his Torkoal's Great Ball up into the air, which resulted in the Fiery turtle to come out. It blew black smoke out of its large nostrils.

"TORKOAL!" roared Torkoal, forcing out more smoke and ash.

"I still think that's gross..." groaned Melanie.

"Good choice, Roy." Steven complemented. "Now... How's my choice? I choose you, Lairon!"

Steven's Lairon appeared on the field from its Ball.

"Lai-ron...!" growled the metallic Pokemon, clawing the ground.

"Well, let's do this!" shouted Roy energetically.

Battle statistics: Did Winona's yakking fall on deaf ears or what? Anyway, this is a four-on-four double battle. Only Steven and Roy AKA the challengers can substitute. No time limit.

Roy's Torkoal and Steven's Lairon vs. Winona's Tropius and Pidgeotto

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Lairon, start off with Iron Defense!" Steven shouted down to his Pokemon.

Lairon's body glowed a shiny silver color briefly, which increased its Defensive stat dramatically.

"Torkoal, use Iron Defense as well!" called out Roy.

Torkoal retreated into its shell, which also gleamed a silver color, enhancing its Defensive stat a lot.

"Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack!" Winona shouted.

With wings spread wide and glowing white, Pidgeotto struck Torkoal with them. Because of the high Defense of the Fire Type, it didn't do much.

"Tropius, use Fly!"

Tropius, with a few flaps of its wings, flew up to its trainer's height, preparing to zoom down.

"Torkoal, use Flamethrower on Tropius!"

In Torkoal's mouth flashed a small spark, and soon it erupted into a beam of red, orange, and yellow fire, that blasted towards Tropius.

"Tropius, dodge!"

The Grass/Flying Type flew out of Flamethrower's path, and then began to swoop down swiftly towards Torkoal.

"Bad move, Winona." smirked Roy. "Flamethrower, Torkoal!"

Another beam of fire burst forth from Torkoal's mouth, this time slamming into Tropius' chest, causing a super-effective blow to it.

"Lairon," said Steven, "Use Iron Tail!"

Lairon's tail became illuminated by a metallic color, and Lairon charged towards Tropius, who had fallen onto the ground, a bit dazed, and then whapped the Grass/Flying Pokemon with its tail, knocking it out.

"Ah! Tropius!" Winona cried out. "Return!"

She held out her Tropius' Poke Ball, from which a red laser beam shot out, hitting Tropius and bringing it back inside its Ball.

"You did good... Okay, time for this baby to come out! Go, Skarmory!"

The female Gym Leader threw into the air a Great Ball, containing a Pelipper, a Water/Flying Element with a pelican-like body; a large yellow beak, a white-feathered body, black eyes, blue feet, and blue on the top of its head.

"Pelipper!" squawked the Pokemon.

"In that case... Return, Torkoal!" Roy shouted, returning his Torkoal to its Ball.

"Go, SuperSlicer!"

From an Ultra Ball Roy tossed up materialized in midair SuperSlicer.

Roy's Skarmory, SuperSlicer and Steven's Lairon vs. Winona's Pidgeotto and Pelipper

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Okay, Lairon!" shouted Steven. "Give that Pelipper the shocking of its life with Shock Wave! Now!"

The tip on Lairon's head began to glow a blue color, and from it shot a same-colored thunderbolt, at Pelipper.

"Pelipper, use Steel Wing on the ground!" called out Winona.

Pelipper's left wing began to glow a metallic color, and the Water/Flying Pokemon flew down to the ground and placed its glowing wing on the ground. Shock Wave had gotten to it, zapping the Pokemon with blue electricity. However, Pelipper didn't feel any pain...

"Electric attacks don't work that well on my Pokemon." smirked Winona. "With Steel Wing, any electricity is discharged into the ground."

"Ah, that's right...!" Steven groaned. "Lairon, stop Shock Wave and go into Take Down!"

Lairon ceased its Shock Wave attack, and began to charge towards Pelipper.

"Pelipper, Protect!"

The large-beaked bird's wing stopped glowing, and then Pelipper formed a golden shield in front of its body.

"Lairon, stop!"

Lairon skidded to a halt, nearly ramming into Pelipper anyway. The two Pokemon didn't move, and Pelipper's shield began to dissipate.

"Now, Roy! Attack!"

"Right!" replied Roy. "SuperSlicer, use Aerial Ace on Pelipper!"

SuperSlicer flapped its metal wings swiftly, disappearing into the air. It then reappeared, slashing Pelipper from behind. The surprise attack also made Pelipper's shield break.

"No! Pelipper!" cried Winona.

"Lairon, go! Use Take Down!"

Lairon charged towards Pelipper again, with its head down, and ready to slam into the Water/Flying Type.

"Hydro Pump!" Winona shouted.

Pelipper quickly opened up its beak and shot out two intertwining blasts of water, which hit Lairon in a super effective hit, which was also critical. Lairon flopped over on its side and fainted.

"Lairon!" Steven cried out. He brought out his fainted Pokemon's Poke Ball and recalled it with a flash of red light.

"Hmm... Okay, Metang! Come on out!"

Steven threw another Poke Ball up into the air, and, down on the ground, appeared his Metang.

"Met-ung!" grunted the Steel/Psychic Element in its quick-paced voice.

Roy's Skarmory, SuperSlicer and Steven's Metang vs. Winona's Pidgeotto and Pelipper

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Metang, use Thunderpunch!"

"SuperSlicer, use Peck!"

Metang's left hand began to crackle with yellow electricity, and soon the metallic Pokemon began to float its way towards Pidgeotto. SuperSlicer was flying towards Pelipper, with his sharp beak outwards and ready to strike.

"Pelipper, fly in front of Pidgeotto and use Protect!"

Pelipper flapped in front of Pidgeotto and formed a golden shield in front of it. Thunderpunch and Peck were both stopped by the barrier.

"And now... Water Pulse!"

Pelipper deformed the shield, and then opened up its large mouth and blasted out three watery rings, which slammed into SuperSlicer. The Steel/Flying Pokemon began to flap its wings around in a wacky manner, meaning it was Confused.

"Aw, man!" groaned Roy.

SuperSlicer still flew about crazily, hitting its head on the metal tower housing its trainer.

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Roy yelled, with gritted teeth.

Steven turned his attention back to Metang, and called out:

"Metang, use your Metal Claw on Pidgeotto!"

Metang's claws began to glow a metallic color, and soon after Metang slashed Pidgeotto, after floating over Pelipper.

"Follow with Take Down!"

Metang rammed hard into Pidgeotto as well, dealing out a lot of damage to the Flying/Normal Pokemon, and a little to itself.

"SuperSlicer... Uh..." stated Roy nervously. "Use Swift!"

Skarmory opened its beak and shot from it several spinning, golden stars, which spread out across the field, slamming into Pelipper, Metang, and Pidgeotto!

"Oops... Sorry, Steven."

"It's alright; it isn't very effective against Metang, anyway..."

Winona then shouted:

"Pidgeotto and Pelipper! Use Aerial Ace!"

Both of her Flying Pokemon disappeared into the air for a few seconds, then reappeared by SuperSlicer and rammed into the Steel Bird. While not very effective, the two powerful hits were enough to KO SuperSlicer, who flopped to the ground.

"No!" cried out Roy. He brought out SuperSlicer's Poke Ball and recalled it.

"Good job, SuperSlicer... Well, I guess I'll choose Torkoal then." He threw out an Ultra Ball, from which his previously-used Torkoal burst forth from.

"Torkoal!" The Fire Element blew black smoke out its nose, causing Melanie to groan again.

Roy's Torkoal and Steven's Metang vs. Winona's Pelipper and Pidgeotto

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Torkoal, use Rock Slide!"

Torkoal stomped on the ground, causing large rocks to fly up and hit Pidgeotto and Pelipper, both hits super effective.

"Metang, use Icy Wind!"

In front of Metang's needle-shaped nose appeared a small light blue sphere. From it came forth a large, widespread gust of cold wind, with several shards of ice and snow in as well. The Ice-Element attack hit both Pelipper and Pidgeotto, and, being super effective only to it, knocked out the latter.

"My Pidgeotto!" Winona cried out as her Bird Pokemon fell from its aerial position to the ground. She recalled Pidgeotto, and then grabbed another Poke Ball at her waist, yelling:

"Go, Altaria!"

From the Poke Ball materialized an Altaria.

"Tar!" chirped the Dragon-and-Flying-type Pokemon.

Roy's Torkoal and Steven's Metang vs. Winona's Pelipper and Altaria

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Metang, use Iron Defense now!" shouted Steven.

"You too, Torkoal! Iron Defense!" yelled Roy.

Both Metang and Torkoal, or at least the latter's shell, shone a brilliant metallic color for a second, enhancing their Defenses sharply.

"Pelipper, use Stockpile!"

Pelipper opened its mouth, where a blue energy ball formed.

'Stockpile?' pondered Roy in his mind.

"And Altaria, use Dragon Dance!"

Altaria began swaying in the air, as blue circles also danced around it, which increased the Dragon/Flying Element's Attack and made it faster.

"Quick, Metang! Use Psychic!"

Metang's red eyes glowed a bluish color, and a wave of rainbow-colored psychic energy shot towards Altaria, who flew out of the attack's path.

"Altaria, use Fury Attack on Torkoal!"

Altaria began to swoop down speedily towards Roy's Fire Elemental Pokemon.

"Torkoal! Use..." Roy paused for a second, so his plan would work, and then yelled out:

"OVERHEAT!"

Torkoal opened up its mouth and shot out from it an enormous beam of white fire, with some light orange lines running throughout the blazing beam. The Overheat attack slammed into Altaria, delivering a not-very-effective yet still powerful blow to Altaria's HP.

"Alright, Metang! Go! Use Thunderpunch on Pelipper!"

Metang's left hand began crackling with yellow electricity again, and the UFO-shaped Pokemon floated over to Pelipper, with hand in striking position.

"Protect, Pelipper!"

Pelipper formed another golden-colored shield in front of its body, absorbing the hit of Thunderpunch.

"Keep it up, Metang!" shouted Steven.

Metang grunted, and then kept pushing its electrically charged fist into the Protect shield. Pretty soon, Protect wore off, allowing Metang to finally deliver an extremely powerful, super effective blow to Pelipper, knocking the Water/Flying Pokemon out.

"No, Pelipper!" cried Winona. The Fortree Gym Leader brought out Pelipper's Ball, and withdrew her fainted Pokemon inside.

Roy's Torkoal and Steven's Metang vs. Winona's Altaria

BATTLE COMMENCE!

'Better go Defensive, just in case...' thought Roy.

"Torkoal, use Iron Defense!"

"You too, Metang!" called out Steven.

Both Torkoal and Metang curled up, after which their bodies shone in a metallic hue, showing their Defense had been increased sharply.

"Oh, yeah? You do know Dragon moves are Special Attacks right?" smirked Winona.

"...Crud." Roy muttered.

"Heh-heh-heh! Altaria, use Aerial Ace!"

Altaria flapped its wings quickly, which made the Dragon/Flying Element become invisible from its speed. Soon Altaria reappeared, slashing across Metang's body with its beak.

"And now use Earthquake!"

Altaria climbed up into the sky, and then flew down like a dive-bomber, slamming into the ground, landing on its feet. Orange shockwaves appeared on the ground, hurtling towards both Metang and Torkoal.

"Metang! Lift Torkoal up and float into the air!"

Metang brought its head down, allowing Torkoal to climb up onto it, and then floated up into the air using its magnetism, dodging Earthquake.

"Thanks, Steven. Okay, Torkoal!" Roy yelled. "Use Flamethrower!"

"And Metang, use Shadow Ball!"

From Torkoal's mouth shot a blast of red and yellow fire, streaming down towards Altaria. And in front of Metang's cone-shaped nose materialized a black and dark-purple, swirling ball of energy, which also shot out. Both attacks slammed into the airborne Altaria, knocking it onto the ground for two critical hits, fainting the dual Dragon/Flying Elemental... Roy and Steven had won.

"YEAH! WE DID IT, STEVEN!" cheered Roy loudly.

"Yes! Victory is ours!" exclaimed Steven.

Winona sighed, and recalled her KO'd Altaria, saying:

"You did good, Altaria... Take a rest from the action."

The mechanical risers that held the three trainers began to whir and go down, now that the battle was over.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Down on the ground in front of the large Gym, Winona handed Roy and Steven each a Badge.

"The Feather Badge is yours, guys. You certainly earned them!"

Steven and Roy clutched in their hands a silver-gray wing shape, the 6th Hoenn Badge.

Winona sent out her now-healed Altaria, got on, and then flew off, back to the top of the Gym.

"Congratulations, guys!" said Melanie. "Now you only need two more!"

"Piece of cake! Ha-ha-ha!" Roy laughed.

PM: Okay, so the update took a long, LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG time, but I was working on other stories. Just don't shoot me.