AN UPDATE HAS ARRIVED!

I know this chapter is a bit shorter than usual (and you're wondering how it took 6 months to update just this little bit), but I am actually splitting my post in two. So here is the first part.

A great big many thanks and hugs to my constant support of tumblr followers and fanfiction readers! originallanguage and anons from tumblr, thanks for your messages! And lots of love to my reviewers here: 18Madison81, xXCode AngelXx, elesapesa, dewdrop6, Twizler86258, jayfeather12345, Ciradel the ChronicleWriter, pokemon, yosugar, pokemon lover, Simply Delicious, 0Shadow Panther0, Shadowed-Shikyo, yorushihe, and jenna.

My Great Big Adventure

Although the professor had told me to go rest, I wasn't that tired. Mostly just shaken up and looking for a distraction... a distraction in the form of the trainers on Route 7.

I hadn't paid much attention before, since the professor and I had been talking, but the area was covered with high grass. Tall wooden beams connecting every which way stretched over the route. I wondered if this was a practice area for tightrope walkers...

I challenged every single trainer, high road or low road. Battling helped ease my mind and prepare me for the upcoming gym match.

I also found a few more items buried under the ground, including a Leaf Stone. And unfortunately, I also ran into several more Foongus. This time, however, I ran straight away rather than try to identify them.

Back at the Pokecenter, I decided to shower while a nurse healed my Pokemon. I let Zorua out of my bag, and he wandered around the small bathroom while I freshened up. I didn't like having to always cram him into my purse (not to mention carrying his added weight around), but there was not much else I could do about it. I wasn't too concerned with Hugh seeing him anymore, as I was trying not to concern myself with him at all, but rather I was worried about everyone else. Although Zorua technically had no Pokeball and could not battle, I'm not sure people would be quite as forgiving as to allow me to carry around seven Pokemon.

"Sorry about having to cram you in my purse all the time," I said, opening my bag so he could crawl inside. Zorua stared at me.

I sighed exasperatedly. "Look, I know you can't really talk, but it makes me feel better, okay?"

Seemingly amused, he pranced around and made himself comfortable in my purse. Who ever said I was complaining?

I rolled my eyes and adjusted my visor. Time to face the music!

The Mistralton Gym was located on the edge of town, inside an old hanger off one of the long runways. Although the building was definitely old, the bright paint glowing in the sunset hinted that Skyla had probably renovated, at least some time within the last ten years. I couldn't help but wonder if the previous gym leader used this building, and if they were even a Flying-type trainer. If I was curious enough, I suppose I could have called my mother and inquired about it. But, aside from not wanting to call the woman in the first place, I doubt she'd actually tell me anything about the day her Pokemon career ended.

I was never scared of heights before, but battling in this gym made me reconsider my fears.

I was in the middle of battling the first lackey, who claimed to be a real airplane pilot (and I seriously hope he flies planes better than he battles), when I discovered just how much Skyla had actually renovated.

SHE ADDED HUGE, GIANTIC FANS THAT RANDOMLY BLOW YOU OFF THE WALKWAYS! YEAH. SERIOUSLY.

I COULD HAVE DIED!

The pilot, apparently used to such things, steadied himself on a rail as his Swoobat flailed about overhead. I, on the other hand, had no idea what was happening, and I all but flew off the platform, crashing into a railing about six feet behind me, my Ampharos following and crushing me flat.

Why do all of these gym leaders feel the need to add death traps to their gyms? Seriously, this is about Pokemon battling! Why do they insist on testing my physical endurance and puzzle-solving abilities? I bet one ego-maniac decided that his or her gym was just going to be full-on, decked-out... and then everyone else had to copy them, of course. And now they're all just trying to out-do each other.

And kill me in the process, apparently.

"Tee-hee~ I've been waiting for you!" Skyla chirped when I finally reached her platform an hour later.

"Don't laugh! I practically died!" I screeched.

"But you made it," she argued, wagging her finger. "Let's have some fun!"

By fun, she meant battling. And yes, it was all the fun. Ampharos wiped out her Swoobat and Swanna, while Growlithe took down her Skarmory. Another battle in the bag and badge in the box.

"That was so exhilarating! It's like I was walking on air," Skyla exclaimed. "That was a great battle! You are well-deserving of the Jet Badge."

"Thanks," I replied. Then I hesitantly asked, "Skyla... Who was the gym leader here before you?"

She leaned against one of those giant fans that had blown me around earlier. Evil things!

"Hmmm... You know, Rosa, I honestly don't know. I think he was some sort of Poison trainer. Or maybe a Dark-type trainer... Word is, he was a pretty creepy-looking guy. But I've never met him myself."

A creepy-looking guy...?

Well that certainly narrowed it down... not.

"One day he just up and disappeared," she continued. "No clue what happened to him. The gym was in a bit of limbo before my grandfather bought the property and then there was still my qualifying exams and such..."

"Exams?" I asked, curious as to what she was talking about. Perhaps pilot school?

"To be a gym leader," Skyla clarified. "They don't just let anyone become a gym leader, hehe! After I got my permit and official license, I redid the gym to my liking and well, here we are!"

She couldn't have designed this place any better?! Seriously... I wonder, if on those exams, it asks you to describe in detail how outlandish you would decorate your gym... and only the most ridiculous get through.

"Hmmm, I'd better check with the professor on when she wants to take off," Skyla mused. "She is so unpredictable sometimes..."

I nodded, looking around for an exit staircase; there seemed to be none.

"OH, OH!" Sklya cried, jumping about in excitement, and practically scaring the pj shorts right off me!

"What is it?!"

"I bet you're heading off to Opelucid City, right? That's where the next gym is. You're welcome to come with us on my plane!"

"Uh, thanks," I replied, "but I was just going to fly on my Tranquill... "

"What? You can't do that! You can only fly places you're already been, Rules of Flying 101 Rule 12," she chided. "It's settled then, you'll come with us!"

Great...

Again, I'm not really afraid of heights, but it's one thing to fly freely in the sky with your Pokemon, and another to be cramped into a piece of machinery that might crash. I'd rather just risk scaling Twist Mountain! Unfortunately Skyla said there were Pokemon rangers out there waiting to stop me from doing just that.

Dang mounties.

"So, Skyla, where are the stairs to get out of here?" I asked, not wanting to go back the way I came and risk getting blown around like a kite.

"Oh right! Sorry," she said, pushing herself away from the giant fan she had been leaning against.

Wait, NO...!

"See ya soon!" she waved, flicking the switch and sending me flying.